Black Corporation - Joseon
Author: Gukppong
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
Publisher: traitorAIZEN
Rights: Copyrights as per source stories

– STORY –

The maniac who was crazy about all kinds of fields such as military and steampunk had been reincarnated.

However, his father was King Sejong the Great?

The mania-wise king and his crazy maniac son.

Along with the ministers, and countless humans who were getting exploited.

Even today, the night of Joseon was filled with the light of overtime.

– GENRE –

Fantasy Historical Seinen

Prologue

“…Carry out this affair as we've discussed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, I’m getting hungry. Let’s grab a bite and gather back after 30 minutes.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

[The Historian(1)say.]

Ting! Swoosh!

[The love the king has for his subjects is the most wonderful thing in this world.]

Ting! Swoosh!

[He gave consideration so that a mere slave did not overwork. The king's virtuous heart is like a spring sun.(2)]

Ting! Swoosh!

[But his retainers could not receive such a spring sun, so how could such a sad thing—]

“Historian? Are you writing insults for me now?”

“I’m not! Your Majesty!”

“Then why are you taking so long?”

“Because my hand is rather slow…”

“Is that so? Should I send you back to the Administrative Training Center?”

“I’ll do my best to write faster.”

“I’m watching you.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty…”

T/N:

(1) Historian (사관): An officer in charge of recording the history.↻

(2) Spring sun (봄볕): The sun that shines on spring. A warming sun.↻

Chapter 1
He is a Mania (1)

There is a popular saying.

The mania of the manias were the Western manias. (1)

But there is one above the Western manias, that is the crazy mania.

* * *

Outskirts of Gasan-ri, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

Tang tang tang! Zssst!

Jinho put the iron that was beaten by a spring hammer into the water. The water vapor rose with a loud noise.

Jinho took the cold iron out of the water, examined the condition, and nodded.

“Good.”

After checking the condition, Jinho put the iron in his hand into the forge.

* * *

“Hey! Lil bro! What are you making this time?”

“Oh? Hyungnim! You came?”

Jinho, who was busy moving between the furnace and the machines, was pleased to see the person who came to see him.

“What are you making?”

“I was making the ordered sashimi.”

“Sashimi?”

When his cousin made a strange face, Jinho hurriedly added.

“Fillet knife! It was ordered by a Japanese restaurant owner in Seoul! Don’t be so into your work all the time!”

His cousin Kim Byeongho was a detective.

After hearing Jinho’s explanation, Byeongho relaxed his expression.

“Is that so? Are you making a lot of money on orders?”

When asked by Byeongho, he wiped his nose with his finger and grinned.

“I managed to make a living. It’s the result of hard work.”

“Really…? Let me take a look.”

“I just got the shape now.”

“Hm…”

As if his interest had cooled quickly, Byeong-ho, who was looking at the still red iron fillet knife, turned his head to look around.

“Oh God, you have to clean up a bit.”

“Yeh.”

“Answer nicely. Nicely…”

Byeongho, who was looking around while giving Jinho rebuke, shone his eyes as he saw a knife covered with a soft cloth inside a wooden box.

“Hey! This half-moon knife, it looks like the blade’s upside down?”

Byeongho, who saw Kukri for the first time ever, pointed to Jinho that he had set the blade wrong. Jinho’s expression changed strangely at Byeongho’s words.

“What’s with that face?”

“…That’s a Kukri, that’s how it is shaped.”

“…Is that so? This is very unique. Which country’s knife is it?”

“Nepal.”

“I guess the personality of the people in that country is unique.”

Jinho shook his head after a moment of agonizing over what Byeongho meant.

“Try to say that in front of Nepalese people. I bet you’re gonna roll right off the top of Everest.”

“I said that because they’re not here. By the way, did you call me because of that Kukri or whatever knife it is?”

“Yes, I’d like to get a license to carry a sword.”

Byeongho nodded at Jinho’s words while measuring the size of the Kukri.

“Looking at the size seems like you need it. But why do you need a sword?”

“I’m going to take part in a competition in the U.S.”

“Competition?”

In response to Byeongho’s abrupt question, Jinho picked up the tablet that was put on the side and played a video. Byeongho clicked his tongue after he saw the video.

“Che! It would have been better to make a Joseon military sword or a traditional sword…”

“Do you know that there were some men who came out with a Katana and were then eliminated because their swords crooked? And do you think there were only one or two people who got eliminated because of a broken sword in the middle of the competition? Although Joseon's military swords or samurai swords were sharp, they’re not tough. In such competitions, heavy and tough swords are the best.”

“Is that so? All right, I’ll get the paperwork done.”

* * *

A few days later.

“Here is the document and card.”

“Thank you very much.”

Byeongho was looking around while handing Jinho documents and IC cards before suddenly fixed his gaze in one place.

“What’s that?”

“What?”

“That one! There!”

There was a flintlock rifle at the place Byeongho pointed to.

“Ah! That? I made it because there was an order from a foreign country asking if I could make it. They are re-enactors, cosplayers, and mockers of the American Revolutionary War era.”

“Hm…”

Byeongho let Jinho’s explanation off one ear while holding the rifle in his hand and looked at it closely.

Byeongho was looking at the trigger before turning to face Jinho.

“This is that gun, right? Was it in the American Revolutionary War movie starring Mel Gibson?”

“Yes. This is a Kentucky rifle.”

“Why are you making American guns?”

“I think the number of craftsmen has decreased a lot over there. Also, most of the guns they have had become treasures—”

“So you made it?”

Jinho answered Byeongho’s question with a nod.

“For now, I made only one bag. But, if the evaluation is good, I think I can export 5 to 10 bags every year. That means if I do well, I can earn about 2 to 3 billion.”

“Hm…”

Jinho looked into Byeongho’s reaction before adding the following words.

“So, starting with this one, I need some documents…”

“Do I have to do it again?”

“Please, I beg you. If this one goes well, I’ll treat you to a big meal.”

“You really are a smooooth talker.”

Unlike his dragged-on voice, Byeongho looked at the Kentucky rifle with a serious face. He cocked the rifle that wasn’t loaded with flint and pulled the trigger.

Clack!

“Whoops? It’s moving properly! Huh… Is the muzzle originally this small?”

“No. Even if gunpowder could be added, the bullets couldn’t.”

“Hm…”

While listening to the explanation, Byeongho found a small thread about a centimeter away from the muzzle.

Byeongho carefully examined the thread before gripping the barrel and pulling the end of the thread.

Poong!

With a small sound, the muzzle part was separated from the barrel, and Byeongho looked inside the muzzle.

There were six rows of coiled steel wires.

Byeongho, who had confirmed it was a rifling, grabbed Jin-ho by the collar.

“The fuck, you prick! You said it’s a prop! Why would you dig a rifling in a prop?”

“If you’re going to make it, you need to make it right so the customer’s needs ar—”

“Do you think your customer is shooting any snuff films?! You bastard! You’re here to take advantage of me in this situation, aren’t you?! How dare you use me as cover!”

“I can’t—”

“Bastard!”

“It was on the demand! For emergency cases-”

“Bullshit! They are humans living in a country full of vicious things beyond their means!”

After a long time of quarreling, Byeongho and Jinho agreed to seal a plug to the barrel of the already made rifle by electric welding, and then add the following phrase to the related product information on Amazon.

[In accordance with the laws of the country of manufacture, measures have been taken to prevent the use of live ammunition on the muzzle.]

“It’s a bum—”

“Ssh!”

Jinho, who could not hide his regret, lost his spirit when Byeongho glared at him. Not long after, Byeongho asked a question after he faltered over the advertisement which Jinho had posted on Amazon.

“It said that it was made according to history. Did you create the same ingredients first?”

“No way. If I made the most important material—the barrel, using the old way from scratch, I have to add one more zero after the price.”

“I guess so.”

While they were having such a conversation, an old woman came into Jinho’s smithy.

“Is the young blacksmith here?”

“Welcome!”

“This is potato seeds, please keep it in the warehouse.”

“Yes, I got it.”

After receiving a box of seeds from the old woman, Jin-o put it in a separate warehouse behind the smithy.

When the old woman left, Byeongho looked at Jinho with a fresh look.

“You must be close to the elders in the neighborhood.”

“Well, we are helping each other.”

“But, why is she using your warehouse?”

“Some chemicals used in blacksmiths are sensitive to the temperature, so I paid attention to the air conditioning system when I made the warehouse. Thanks to that, it’s good to store seeds and fertilizer. That’s why they use it often.”

“Really? Let me take a look.”

“What else are you looking for?”

“Ssh…”

As Byeong-ho’s expression became sharper, the spiritless Jinho guided him to a separate warehouse behind the smithy.

Byeongho turned to Jinho when he saw piled-up steel plates in the first warehouse.

“That’s a lot of scrap metals.”

“Spring steel is the best material to make knives and such. Thanks to that, I became a regular in the junkyard.”

“Is that so? Show me the other warehouse too.”

“…Okay.”

Jinho opened the second warehouse at the urging of Byeongho.

The two entered a cool warehouse, and Byeongho stared at Jinho after looking at the items inside.

“Why would a blacksmith need that kind of chemicals?”

“It is necessary for etching decoration or additional works.”

“You buy it the normal way, right?”

“Do you want to see the receipt? Oh, my… Who would doubt that you’re a detective?”

Despite Jinho’s retort, Byeongho’s eyes were fierce.

“I’ll kill you with my own hands if you make trouble.”

“Ah…, I won’t get into trouble!”

“Said the one who privately made the gun?”

“…”

Byeongho turned after warning Jinho before he sniffed around and grumbled.

“Whose field is it? How much manure has been sprayed that the smell—”

“My field.”

“Huh? Now you’re working in the fields too?”

“Hahaha…”

Because of Jinho’s strange laugh, Byeongho’s expression became sharp once again, and he looked at the field. Half of the field that was around 500 pyeong was occupied by solar panels, and the other half was covered with manure.

Byeongho was observing the composition before looking directly at Jinho’s face.

“The only good thing about your personality is that you cannot lie. I’m sure this is definitely not a farm field. What is this for?”

“This is… pyroelectric…”

“Pyroelectric?”

“I was thinking of making some potassium nitrate…”

“Why potassium nitrate?”

“I need some black powder to make sure the Kentucky rifle is well made, but it’s hard to—”

“Bastard! This is out of cover!”

Byeongho, whose face turned white because of Jinho’s unexpected answer, grabbed his collar and screamed.

The reason Byeongho turned white was not simply because Jinho made gunpowder.

* * *

Three days before Byeong-ho visited Jinho, someone who came from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), visited Byeongho and his colleagues.

The NIS agent’s visit was about the ‘domestic activities of Islamic terrorist organizations.’

“Since the death of Osama, Islamic fundamentalist terrorist organizations have been operating independently. Currently, no organization has been found in our country, but the situation still can be very dangerous. The reason is that a considerable number of illegal workers from Pakistan and Southeast Asia Muslim countries are employed illegally.”

According to the NIS agent’s explanation, the situation was very bad.

Most of the workers who were illegally employed were often subject to overtime work, unpaid wages, and even assault.

As things went on, the number of illegal workers who were hostile to Koreans and Korea was increasing, and the possibility of a self-sustaining terrorist organization being founded around them was increasing.

“…Because of this, I can’t tell whether I’m a member of the NIS or an investigator at the Employment and Labor Office. The day is running out to receive and return unpaid wages for illegal workers, and to get medical expenses for those injured in industrial accidents. Even if we are going to deport them, we have to get rid of bad feelings.”

The NIS agent complained about a moment before he went to the main point.

“The reason I met you is that of the special nature of Yangsan.”

“From what I know there are almost no factories in Yangsan where irregular migrants can work?”

When one of the detectives who attended the meeting pointed out, the NIS agent nodded.

“Yes, but there are lots of farms around. Another source of demand for illegal immigration workers these days is these agricultural and livestock complexes.”

Detectives nodded at the NIS agent’s reply. Farming was a tough job, but the livestock industry was even tougher. The NIS agent, whose neck was dampened, displayed several slides on the screen.

“The pictures you are seeing now are the bomb terror scenes starting from the Oklahoma City Bombing. What’s important here is the material of explosives which is the key tool of terrorism. There have been examples of actual military and civilian explosives, but there are many cases where materials available in the market were collected and used. In this case, the most useful ingredient is nitrogen fertilizer. A moderate mix of nitrogen fertilizer with ingredients like kerosene or diesel, or maybe lubricant makes a very good explosive.”

“Hm…”

The faces of the detectives sitting around the NIS agent’s explanation had changed seriously. It was because of the nitrogen fertilizer consumption that overflowed on the farms around Yangsan.

“Of course, it’s not only on Yangsan where you can get nitrogen. However, there is Busan to the east of Yangsan and Changwon to the west. If you build or get a detonator from the Russian mafia in Busan, and then drag a truck carrying explosives to the Changwon defense complex and explode it, a fatal situation will occur.”

The detectives nodded with a serious face at the NIS agent’s explanation. On the outskirts of Yangsan, fertilizers were overflowing in farms and agricultural materials shops. Fuel tanks full of fuel for vinyl houses and other agricultural facilities, as well as lubricants for agricultural machinery, were common there. In addition, 1-ton trucks were also common.

Last, there were quite a few people who bring in Pakistanis or other Southeast Asians to farm or raise livestock, and rumors said they were treated harshly.

Sensing that the detectives were aware of the seriousness, the NIS agent began to wrap up.

“The cooperation that the NIS has requested for you is regarding several cases of foreigners being hired illegally. But the truth is, this is gangster surveillance in Yangsan. According to the investigation conducted by the NIS, the brokers who find places to work for the irregular migrants are connected with the gangsters. The gangsters are involved in preventing and managing the escape of foreigners who have been employed. Please take care of this area with urgency. This is very important for our national security.”

TN:

(1)A popular saying in Korea, that Western fans are more than a normal fan. They do their fan activity to the fullest. E.g., if they do cosplay, they make the costume and do the makeup as real as possible.↻

Chapter 2
He is a Mania (2)

Because of such a situation, Byeongho turned pale before nagging Jinho.

“Bastard! There is a limit to asking for cover! Making gunpowder? Whose head do you think is gonna fly? You punk! Not only will it fly, but my head is gonna fly from the top to bottom, front to back, and left to right!”

“But… Obtaining gunpowder…”

“What crap are you talking about? There’s a lot of them in the stationery stores.”

“The impurities-.”

“Bastard! Plow it now!”

After a series of quarrels, Jinho promised to plow the field. Before leaving, Byeongho once again warned him strongly.

“I'll check it the day after tomorrow, so make sure to plow it! You got it?”

“I got it!”

Byeongho took over the gunpowder from Jinho, then walked back while grumbling.

“That crazy maniac bastard…”

* * *

‘Weirdo mania,’

It was a nickname given to Jinho by his relatives, including Byeongho, as well as his parents.

Due to various accidents he created while doing his fanatic activity since he was young, all of his relatives were worried about him. They said, ‘One day, he will make a big accident.'

‘Crazy mania,’

It was a nickname given by acquaintances who got to know Jinho through social media and online hobby forums.

At first, because Jinho was a maniac in various fields, they wrote it as ‘wide (広/광)'. But because of various accidents Jinho had created, they changed it to ‘crazy (狂/광)'.(1)

Since he was young, Jinho had shown an unusual performance. He showed better concentration and memory than the children of his age.

“I think he's a special kid!”

The words of the kindergarten teacher made the expectations of Jinho's parents increase.

By the time he entered elementary school, Jinho's parents tested Jinho's IQ and received the following answer from the doctor.

“Memory and concentration. All of his comprehension skills are above average and his IQ is on a genius level.”

“Thank you very much!”

After hearing the doctor's explanation, Jinho's parents were greatly delighted, and their expectations grew even higher.

However, their hope soon turned into despair.

The most important thing to bring out Jinho's outstanding concentration, memory, comprehension, and IQ was missing—and that was studying.

The memory of his parents' dark history—the fight between the couple—when he was around the age of 3 and just barely able to have a conversation. The memory of his black history in kindergarten, elementary school, and until he was a university student. The concentration to watch his favorite mid-series non-stop until he skipped meals and being taken to the emergency room. All of its traces could not be seen in his study.

“What's the use of your smart brain!”

In addition to the tutoring academy, Jinho's parents also guided Jinho in his study by swinging a stick and a carrot. However, they burst into anger whenever they accepted the report card. Jinho's grades were always in the middle, no matter whether he was in the excellent or inferior class.

His grades in memorization subjects such as the Korean language and history were very good. However, the situation where English stayed in the middle and mathematics stayed on the ground—holding his ankle—made Jinho become very frustrated.

“I can't recall…”

Jinho whined to his friend.

“Recall?”

“In Korean and history, and the other memorization subjects, I can recall them like movies while reading textbooks or questions. I mean, I have a clear memory and I can quickly understand how to solve it. But damn math…”

In the end, Jinho had no choice but to pursue a career in liberal arts.

Due to various kinds of stress, Jinho became more obsessed with his mania activity. From the fourth grade of elementary school until he entered middle school, he was absorbed in a famous robot animation—a hardcore supporter of the original work, universal century—and enthusiastically engaged in online activities and made acquaintances.

It was in the second grade of middle school that the mania Jinho became a crazy mania.

Jinho, who had become a fan of a steampunk drama set in the 19th century, eagerly sought and watched the drama. The airing of the drama ended in one season because it was a very mania-like drama, so he had to find it on the foreign sites through the ‘dark path'. In addition, because there were no subtitles, he had to translate the script he got from the internet, and so he became addicted to the drama.

Jinho's parents were angry to see him fell into the drama, but in the meantime, Jinho was able to watch the drama safely until the end of the series because his English grades rose at a high speed.

The impact of the drama in question on Jinho was great. Jinho, who was only a ‘maniac who watches and enjoys' became a ‘maniac who acts'.

Jinho, who had become enthusiastic about the steam engine, along with his friends, created a miniature model of Watt's steam engine with its generator, and they entered a science competition.

Except for the pressure-resistant cylinder part that has to withstand steam pressure and a few motor units, the miniature model which was made of items that were easy to find in the market, showed enough performance to light up LED lights when heating boilers with alcohol lamps, and won the Excellence Award.

Because that award was a great help for the entrance exam, Jinho received words of thanks and pocket money from his science department friends' parents. However, he also got reprimanded by his parents.

“Thanks, Jinho! This isn't much, but you can use it for your allowance.”

“What's the point of a liberal arts student getting an award? It’s better to use that devotion to learn mathematical formulas! Honey! Don’t give this kid allowance! He would use it to make something weird again!”

Even though his allowance was cut, the next year Jinho utilized the actual steam pressure to make a miniature model of a steam locomotive and made his parents hold their necks.

Under various circumstances, Jinho did his best to enter the university and passed not early admission but the worst gate—the regular admission, and accepted in the ‘In Seoul’(2) public administration department just below SKY.

On the day when Jinho's acceptance was confirmed, Jinho's parents gathered their relatives to have a feast.

“Now that you've become a university student, stop doing useless things and focus on your study!”

“Department of Public Administration? You have to work hard and become a public servant.”

“Don't think of anything else, just focus on your study! You know how hard your parents suffered because of you!”

All of Jinho's relatives gathered at the feast gave him a mix of threats and advice.

* * *

Although he already entered the university, Jinho, the maniac who acts, didn't stop.

In his first year of university, Jinho made a man-made seaplane with the money he saved from his part-time job during the summer vacation and succeeded in flying it in Han estuary.

“It’s flying!”

“It’s flying?”

Police and 119 paramedics were present at the scene due to safety concerns, and they looked at Jinho's man-made plane that was flying in the sky with a strange look on their faces.

Jinho's flight became a hot topic to the point of airing on public TV.

Although Jinho took the top of TV news under the title of ‘A University Student, Inventor Full of Talent', his parents had to lie down with their heads wrapped.

“He's not our child but an enemy…”

“What sin I've done in my previous life…”

It was what his relatives and acquaintances called ‘The first uprising of a crazy maniac'.

Maybe it was the effect of appearing on TV news that Jinho had established himself as the infamous eccentric person at the university.

Since then, Jinho's eccentricity continued. Once, he watched a historical drama that he had thrown away, and after that, he tried to make proper leather armor from the Three Kingdoms Period and wrestled with wearing said armor. There was also a time when he spent his vacation at the workshop of a traditional swordsmith, saying that he wanted to learn how to manufacture the Joseon military sword. In the middle of the school term, he was impressed by a crusades movie that he went to hammering in a workshop every weekend to make Western full-plate armor.

“What should I do with that punk…”

In order to prevent Jinho's eccentricity, Jinho's parents even beat their adult child. Nevertheless, Jinho's parents were distressed to see their child continue his eccentricity.

“If only he hasn't studied at all…”

Jinho's parents could not give up their child even more because he devoted himself to studying during the semester—except on the weekends—and had excellent grades.

Every time Jinho made an accident, Jinho’s parents were reminded of what Jinho’s career counseling teacher in high school had said.

“Jinho is a very smart kid. However, it’s not in the academic field. To put it simply, he is a child with inventor aptitude.”

“Inventors… Isn't their life difficult these days?”

“Therefore, this is very unfortunate. If only Jinho was born in Europe around the 18th or 19th century, he would be an inventor who would have made a name for himself in history.”

* * *

By the time he was in his third year of university, Jinho made a huge accident. It was because of a mail from an American acquaintance he got to know online.

They were gathering people to make the sailboat in the famous pirate movie based in the traditional way. Although it was made by reducing its size to a quarter, Jinho's eyes focused on the line ‘everything would be made according to the actual historical research’.

Jinho immediately took a leave of absence and flew to the United States.

It was ‘The second uprising of a crazy mania.’

Because of Jinho's flight to the U.S., Jinho's mother once again wrapped her head and his father exploded into anger.

“This little bastard! I will dig you out of the family register!”

Jinho's stay in the U.S. was longer than initially expected. The reason for this was the Arab rich mania who funded the project.

The Arab rich, who liked the finished product, gave an offer to the participants.

“Actually, I need a cruising yacht, so how about making it in full size? I'll provide you with dry funds and give you a monthly salary. Deal?”

“Deal!”

Participants agreed in one voice on the offer of the Arab rich.

Although the ship was converted into an engine-installed sailboat—not a 100% wind-powered sailboat—with modern convenience devices installed, most of the hull's structure and appearance were reborn to be an exact sailboat of the age of discovery by maniacs from numerous countries.

After the construction finished and the launching ceremony followed with the test voyage safely completed, Jinho returned to Korea with a copy of the design of the ship.

Jinho's parents only spoke shortly.

“Go to the army! Everything is ready.”

“Yes.”

Jinho bowed his head right away at the order of his parents, who were full of fire.

After going to the army, Jinho continued his school life calmly.

Jinho sincerely studied and prepared for the administrative exam and eventually passed the Open Competitive Exam for Grade 5 in one year after graduation.

On the day when he was decided to become a central government official precisely, in the Ministry of Finance, Jinho's parents once again gathered their relatives to have a feast.

“You've worked hard!”

“Finally, you can take a breath! Good job!”

The relatives praised Jinho's parents, not Jinho. It was because they were well aware of the hardships they had suffered from Jinho.

Having experienced such ups and downs, Jinho began his career as a civil servant.

Jinho's parents sighed in relief as Jinho began his career as a civil servant, but Jinho actually had a problem.

“This is suffocating…”

Jinho was suffering from mental thirst due to his daily tasks. To solve such a thirst, he worked hard to make a plamodel, played online games or smartphone games, and even joined bicycle clubs on his day off. However, his mental thirst became more intense and finally, he was diagnosed with depression and took medicine.

When the situation turned out like this, Jinho's parents had to make a choice.

“Live and do whatever you want to do.”

“Thank you very much.”

The day after his parents made the decision, Jinho submitted his resignation.

He submitted his resignation letter and the unemployed Jinho immediately got a job at a smithy.

After spending three years learning to work while staying in the smithy, the master called Jinho.

“Now open your shop. You've learned everything you can learn from me. From now on, all you need is experience, and only time can solve that.”

“Thank you very much, master.”

Afterward, Jinho went down to Yangsan. He bought an empty house with a field attached to it using the money he had saved during his four years as a civil servant, and with some supports, he set up a blacksmith's shop.

* * *

After seeing Byeongho off, Jinho scratched his head and grumbled.

“The impurities of fireworks sold at the stationery store are too much that the barrel gets rusted…”

The fireworks sold on the market were mixed with various impurities to produce various colors of flame and to kill the explosive power of gunpowder. And because such impurities seriously corroded the barrel, they had to clean the barrel thoroughly after fireproofing.

“Anyway, I have to plow it… guess I'll go to the old Hwang's house tomorrow and borrow a tractor.”

Jinho went into the warehouse after deciding what to do tomorrow.

“Let's see…”

Jinho entered the air-conditioned warehouse and searched the warehouse shelves. He put aside a row of chemicals before taking out a small box.

“If this one got discovered, I'd be in jail by now.”

Jinho opened the lid and examined the contents while muttering to himself.

Inside the box were two small glass bottles buried deep in buffer materials. Jinho let out a long sigh when he looked at the light brown liquid in a glass bottle the size of a little finger.

“I don't know why I made this……”

The thing inside the glass bottle was nitroglycerin.

After examining the glass bottle for a while, Jinho closed the lid of the box and pushed it back onto the shelf.

Grrr!

The moment Jinho was about to come out of the warehouse, the ground began to shake.

“Huh? Is there any construction work?”

Jinho tilted his head at the small shaking and immediately screamed as the shaking increased.

“No way! This is an earthquake!”

Jinho judged it was an earthquake, and he rushed out of the building. However, not even completing five steps, he had to turn around and run back to the warehouse.

“If that damn thing exploded, I can't even get insurance!”

Grrr!

Jinho ran into the warehouse while staggering due to the increasingly shaking ground. He grabbed the box and ran out.

Click!

After opening the box, Jinho took out two glass bottles and threw them into the field.

Boom! Boom!

“It's do—.”

Just as he was relieved to see the huge explosion in the field, the ground cracked and swallowed Jinho.

T/N

(1) Both are 광 but with a different meaning. One was ‘wide(広)' and the other was ‘crazy(狂)'. ↻

(2) abbreviation of In Seoul university. It is judged that major universities in Seoul are generally superior to local universities, but In Seoul University also has very wide differences between universities, so some universities are less competent than local universities. ↻

Chapter 3
Who is My Father? (1)

On a fine spring day with warm spring sun.

“That’s all for today, Your Highness.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Didn't he just turn 6 years old? The young boy sent out the young official with polite manners that did not suit his age before stretching out his legs and uttered foul language.

“Fuck… This is tiring.”

He glanced out the window while squeezing his legs, which were numb from sitting on his knees.

The blue sky over the tiled roof with lined layers entered his eyes.

The young boy looked at the sky and sighed.

“Sigh~ It's good to be born as a prince… But why should it be a crown prince? On top of that, why does King Sejong have to be my father?”

The young boy now let out a long sigh.

“Why don't I feel good when I've been reborn?”

The boy who said ‘reborn', something that was unbelievable to others, was Jinho.

He was reborn as Lee Hyang, the oldest child of King Sejong the Great, and King Munjong in the future days.

* * *

The first time he opened his eyes, Jinho thought he was in a temporary treatment facility at the scene. It was because the first thing he saw was the rafters.

‘Which house this roof-tiled house belonged to…?’

Jinho, who was pondering about whose house had been set up as a temporary treatment facility he was staying at, soon realized another problem.

‘What kind of room is this big? And why do I feel very stuffy? Is this a whole-body fracture cast?’

Jinho used all of his strength to turn his head before realizing something.

That his body was lying on tightly secured swaddling clothes, and his body was smaller than expected.

In a situation that was not expected at all, Jinho spontaneously blurted.

“Kkyaa?”

At that moment, from a place his field of view had not reached yet, a female voice was heard.

“Milady! The young master has opened his eyes!”

It took Jinho three days to recognize that he was born as a baby.

He had to eat, sleep, and count the number of rafters while repeatedly lying down in swaddling clothes. Even so, Jinho's head kept moving nonstop to find an answer.

‘I'm sure I've been reborn, but… where is this? The background looks like Joseon.’

Jinho couldn't be sure about the place he was going to live. It was because he couldn't understand the language.

‘Is this a different world that looks just like Joseon? Well, that's a novelty.’

Jinho, who had been in such confusion, could finally be sure as he understood the language after three months.

‘This is really Joseon! But why is the language… ’

Jinho blamed the language without thinking about the fact that over 500 years had passed.

Jinho's actions—to check on the situation—had led his parents to misunderstand.

“My husband, I feel like our child isn’t an ordinary child.”

“Do you feel the same way, my wife? That's what I felt.”

“That’s why I’m worried.”

“The same goes for me.”

The couple's worry was getting deeper as they became more convinced that their child was not an ordinary child.

‘Royal family, isn't it? Royal family… ’

Regardless of whether he realized that the worry of his parents from this life was getting deeper over him, Jin-ho was organizing the first round of situations he was in.

1. My father is from the Royal family.

2. The current residence is Kaesong. The capital of Joseon is Hanyang.

Conclusion 1: In the sum of 1 and 2, my present father is far from the throne.

3. Judging from the voices of slaves outside and my parents' clothes, they are quite rich.

4. As far as I know, the royal family consciously avoiding study for survival.

Conclusion 2: I don't have to worry about making ends meet. I didn't need to feel inferior wherever I went, and I only needed to study a little; the end.

5. Based on the information I've heard so far, I'm the eldest. I would never lose my footing in this family.

6. I remember the knowledge that I had in my past life.

7. After growing up to some extent, even though I made problems using my previous life memories, it will be recognized as the eccentricity made by a royal family that has nothing to do.

The last conclusion: Hooray! This is heaven!

Jinho smiled brightly, confirming his conclusion.

‘Looking at the situation, learning a bit of academic study should be enough… If this was after King Sejong the Great, Hunminjeongeum(1) must have come out, so I just have to learn that. Around that time, Western children who were wandering on the street must have visited China, so if I get some Chinese translations, I can do source laundering(2)! This is heaven!’

Jinho's nanny and mother laughed and talked while looking at Jinho, who was smiling—dreaming of a rosy future.

“Oh, Milady! The young master is laughing!”

“He is. What good things make him laugh this brightly?”

His mother, who was holding Jinho, looked around.

In the surrounding scenery, the voice of her husband—who was reading a book—could be heard as usual. The mother thought that her child was laughing from her husband's voice, and she stroked the child's head out of happiness.

“Looking that you are happy to hear the sound of scripture being read, our baby must have excellent literacy skills.”

It was a fatal illusion.

Meanwhile, Jinho was diligently grasping the situation and modifying the scenario.

‘First, if I look at my parents… ’

The first time Jinho saw his mother's face that became swollen because of childbirth and his father, his sentiment was simple.

‘Baby's got a baby.’

If this was the 21st century, both parents would have been in a state of chaos. However, it was understandable because this was during the Joseon Dynasty, where early marriage was common.

‘On top of that, I am the eldest son. Well, I roughly understand the situation, but the problem is that outfit.’

Jinho tilted his head while looking at the attire his parents were wearing.

‘If I think of the dramas that I’ve watched in my previous life, this looks like the early Joseon Dynasty. If I count from the first, Tae-Jeong-Tae-Se-Mun-Dan-Se… Is this around Seongjong era? Or is it Yeonsangun? If this is the era of Yeonsangun, this would be a real headache.’ (3)

Something more troubling happened to Jinho, who was agonizing about the era he was born.

* * *

After passing three to seven days and then a hundred days safely, as his first birthday came closer, people from his mother's family came and went from the house diligently.

One day in the middle of said event preparation.

“You guys stay out for a while.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

After sending the nanny and maidservants outside, Jinho's maternal grandmother spoke to his mother in a quiet voice.

“Does His Highness the Grand Prince still have books close to him?”

“As always, he is absorbed in his study.”

Jinho's mother proudly answered Jinho’s grandmother’s question.

After hearing the answer, his maternal grandmother continued while clasping his mother's hand.

“Nowadays, there are many words going around regarding the Crown Prince's wild behavior. As a result, there are also many words going around regarding His Highness the Grand Prince. Now, My Lady's father is on the move, so I hope My Lady and His Highness could wait and behave carefully.”

His grandmother's words struck his mother.

“Mother! What kind of inscrutable words are you talking about?”

“Please wait carefully and don't talk about this to anyone else.”

It was not only his mother that was shocked by his grandmother's words.

‘What are you talking about? Isn't that mean you're gonna change out the crown prince? Who was the king whose crown prince was changed?’

Jinho, who was laid on a blanket, frantically racked his brain.

‘The one who succeeded in replacement was King Sejong the Great, and how many people who were close to being replaced?’

Jinho was exploring his memory before he knitted his brow.

‘There are too many variables.’

There have been many disputes in the history of the Joseon Dynasty because of the qualification of the crown prince.

The number of cases where the problem of replacing the crown prince actually came to the surface was not small, and it was impossible to identify the cases that turned under the surface and fizzled out.

“Our Hyang, is there anything uncomfortable? Are you peeing?”

Looking at the baby's frowned face, the mother gave her mother a warning as she hurriedly looked at the diapers and was busy trembling to check on her child.

“Mother. I'll pretend I didn't hear what you had said today. Please, don't say it again.”

“…I understand.”

“I won't see you off.”

His mother's determined appearance made his grandmother leave the room quietly. His mother, who was only looking at Jinho with her back turned, sighed for a long time.

“Huff~.”

‘Am I going to become a slave as soon as the first birthday passes?’

Jinho—who was anxious about his future—found out at his first birthday party in what era he was born and whose child he was.

* * *“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

On the day of Jinho's first birthday party, people wearing colorful silk clothes flocked to congratulate him.

Whenever the guests came, Jinho's father diligently exchanged a bow and responded to their congratulations.

‘This father of mine, you're a pretty reputable royal, even though you live in Kaesong, aren't you? Wait, isn't that even more dangerous?’

While looking at the faces of the guests, Jinho wondered whether he should be happy.

‘I'd be in big trouble if I make a wrong bet… ’

“Our Hyang, why are you not happy on this good day?”

Jinho's mother, who was hugging him, took her hand to his butt when she saw Jinho’s frowning face.

“It’s not wet… our Hyang, what is it that makes you not happy?”

Jinho let out a little sigh after hearing his mother's word.

‘I don't know about other problems, but first I must live as Hyang from now on.’

Jinho, who still sometimes confused whether he was Jinho, concluded.

‘From now on I'll live as Hyang who has Jinho's memories.’

As soon as Jinho—no, wait—Hyang decided on his identity, the person who carried the most important answer appeared.

“Haha! Congratulations, Choongnyeong! Congrats, sister-in-law!”

“Congratulations, sister-in-law.”

When two young men—who seemed to be in their mid-20s—appeared, all guests who visited first stood up.

“Welcome, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Prince.”

One of the young men raised his hand and responded to the people, who politely offered their respect.

“Yo~. Nice to meet you.”

The young man in question came to the top seat, fluttering the hem of his dopo, and approached Hyang's mother.

“Sister-in-law, can I hold my nephew?”

“It's an honor, Your Royal Highness.”

The crown prince received Hyang from his mother and he looked at Hyang's face while humoring him lightly.

‘Smile! Smile!’

Hyang smiled brightly—using all of his efforts—when the crown prince hugged him. The crown prince saw Hyang's smile, then he burst out laughing and looked at Hyang's father.

“Haha! Choongnyeong! This child looks very smart, just like you!”

“Thank you very much, Your Royal Highness.”

“Don't be too formal when we are brothers. That is your problem.”

The crown prince rebuked his brother for always answering politely. He then returned Hyang to his mother before he sat on the very top seat, and the banquet continued.

Meanwhile, Hyang was unable to escape the shock.

‘He said Choongnyeong! Did he say my father is the Grand Prince Choongnyeong? Does that mean my father is King Sejong the Great? Then I am Munjong and my child Danjong?’

When Hyang—who could not escape from the sea of shock—managed to come to his senses, the doljabi(4) event was already in front of his eyes.

“Now! Let's see what will my nephew choose!”

Following the crown prince's loud voice, several items were placed in front of Hyang.

When all the eyes of those who attended the banquet were focused on him, Hyang, who was the center of attention, looked at the items placed in front of him.

‘Let's see. Brush, rice, gold nugget, jujube, thread, wooden sword… it's all just so-so.’

Hyang's eye was fixed in one place. He was thinking about what to choose.

The place where his eyes were fixed was the crown prince's ear. To be exact, it was the earring on the crown prince's ear.

‘Is that kind of craftsmanship possible at this age?’

The curious Hyang reached out to the crown prince without realizing it.

“Kkyaa!”

“Me?”

As soon as the crown prince hugged him, Hyang reached out his hand and touched the earring.

“Earring?”

“Kkyaa!”

When Hyang touched an unexpected object, the people gathered at the banquet began to think about how to interpret it.

T/N

(1) Hunminjeongeum: A document describing an entirely new and native script for the Korean language. It was made by King Sejong the Great. Later known as Hangul. ↻

(2) Source laundering: A word based on money laundering. It removes the genuine source of work and redistributes it. ↻

(3) Tae-Jeong-Tae-Se-Mun-Dan-Se: a short for Joseon kings’ temple name. Yeonsangun was a Joseon King that was well-known for his tyranny and a king who doesn’t have a temple name. ↻

(4) Doljabi: A Korean tradition on the first birthday party where the baby faced some items and had to choose one or two. ↻

Chapter 4
Who is My Father? (2)

There was a small confusion over the unexpected doljabi, but the first birthday party continued.

“Hahaha!”

“My Lord! Let me pour you a cup!”

“You too, My Lord! Have a cup!”

Those who attended the banquet laughed and poured each other drinks and continued to have fun.

“I never expected that I would be this happy to have a brilliant nephew.”

Grand Prince Choongnyeong smiled at the Crown Prince's words before replying.

“My wife said he always smiled whenever he heard me read a book.”

“Hahaha! Both father and child are full of talent!”

“It's a great joy for parents to see outstanding children. Congratulations, Choongnyeong.”

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness.”

Hyang was in the crown prince's arm while words of blessing were exchanged between the brothers. He had been there ever since he touched the crown prince's earring. As he stayed in the arms of the crown prince, Hyang continued to daydream alone.

‘It's better for me to sneak in the Korean alphabet, which will eventually be created, anyway. Even if it comes out earlier than historical records, it could expand my range of activities. And after that, I could get my hands on firearms… ’

Hyang, who was making his own plans, grumbled in his mind when he suddenly felt sleepy.

‘Damn this weak body! If I was this weak, I could only start my goal in three years.’

While Hyang was grumbling because he couldn't perceive that his body was the body of a baby that just passed its first birthday, a subtle shift began to occur where the crown prince and his brothers sat around.

The first birthday party was coming to the end. The bottoms of people attending the banquet started to move, but they kept on waiting for the one seated at the top seat—the crown prince.

“Why don't you go back now? Don't you have to attend the office early tomorrow?”

“Shouldn't Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince also return to the palace?”

“I need to talk a little more with my brothers. You guys should go ahead.”

“Then, excuse…”

Following the crown prince's words, those who attended the ceremony greeted each other one by one and began to leave.

* * *“It's a little stuffy.”

When the guests—including Hyang's maternal grandparents—had all left their seats, perhaps because the fever was rising out of tipsiness, the crown prince untied his dopo knot. When he was about to untie the jeogori knot as well, Choongnyeong immediately stopped him.

“Your Royal Highness, please dress properly.”

“What’s the problem? Humans should live comfortably.”

“Your Royal Highness is this nation's pillar. You should not forget about this.”

“Huff~.”

The crown prince let out a breath filled with tipsiness at the words of Choongnyeong before he fixed up his clothes.

Choongnyeong bowed his head and expressed his gratitude when he saw the crown prince follow his words.

“Thank you for hearing this little brother of yours, Your Royal Highness.”

The crown prince was pouring alcohol into a glass as he started a conversation with Choongnyeong.

“Choongnyeong.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

“I said to our mother, that you aren't an ordinary person. You already have academic accomplishments at that age, don’t you? This older brother couldn't even reach your level.”

“You flatter me immensely, Your Royal Highness. It's just that Your Royal Highness did not come close to the scripture. With a little effort, Your Royal Highness would quickly surpass the humble achievement of this little brother.”

The crown prince burst into laughter as he heard Choongnyeong's answer. It was as if he was in a good mood.

“Hahaha! Choongnyeong, I don’t know that you have a knack for flattery too!”

“This is not flattery. If only Your Royal Highness comes a little closer with scripture—”

“Choongnyeong, do you believe in Virtue Politics and political ideology that a virtuous person should rule over a morally dark person?”

“Isn't that the just path, Your Royal Highness?”

The crown prince shook his head at Choongnyeong's answer.

“That is only a utopia. Our Joseon, or that Ming, is in the age where we are ruled by force. If I ascend to the throne, I will reclaim those stolen lands of old Samhan(1) and make Joseon into Great Joseon.”

“Your Royal Highness!”

The frightened Choongnyeong warned, but the crown prince was confident.

“Do not worry. When I ascend to the throne, I will definitely accomplish great work.”

Choongnyeong continued to argue despite the crown prince's confidence.

“Your Royal Highness, that is impossible! Ming is a great nation! Current Joseon would definitely be defeated! You should not forget the reason King Taejo retreated from Wihwa Island and why our father severely punished Jeong Do-jeon!”

“Are you a prince of Ming?”

“I am not! What I mean is that current Joseon is impossible to accomplish such a dream! We need to build up our capabilities!”

When Choongnyeong pointed out his mean, the crown prince answered with his right hand slightly raised.

“Ah-ah. I am aware of that fact. I also don't plan to start great work right away. Likewise, I was thinking of spending 10 years as a preparation period.”

“10 years is too short!”

“10 years is enough! Most of the bright-star-like generals who were with Zhu Yuanzhang disappeared due to old age and Zhu Yuanzhang's purges. Besides, all the remaining generals also disappeared because of the civil war made by the current emperor, Yongle. And the generals raised by Emperor Yongle disappeared as well because of civil war and subjugation. Hence! Once again, 10 years is enough!”

As if the crown prince's answer was frustrating, Choongnyeong abruptly rose from his seat.

“Oh, fuck! Hyung! Do you have something called thoughts, or not? Have you forgotten how many troops Yongle mobilized after he rose to power to defeat the remnant of his enemies? It was 500 thousand—500 thousand! It's not like there has been only one subjugation. Even though every time he did subjugation, a thousand to ten thousand of his soldiers were dead, wounded, or even lost, he kept sending 500 thousand to carry out the subjugation! It was terrifying to see him mobilized such an army, but what is even more terrifying were the administration and supply systems that made such mobilization possible! Meanwhile, what about us, Joseon? The census hasn't been done properly, and the rice field survey has not yet started! But you said 10 years is enough? Stop dreaming!”

“This kid! It's enough to do the field survey in one year and the next one for the census. And considering our father's age, the time when I rose to the throne—in 10 years, that so great Ming's generals would have disappeared.”

“You don't think that middle-ranking officials who had gained merits through the subjugation would fill their positions, do you? If we also calculate until they're out of politics, we will need 30 years! That too, on the assumption that the next emperor will not create any war!”

The crown prince and Choongnyeong had already stood up from their seats before they knew it. They were on the verge of grabbing each other's collar as they created a menacing atmosphere and continued their verbal battle.

Hyoryeong quickly hugged Hyang and moved back, then he sighed while emptying his cup.

“Huff~. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, apparently… They really are sons of a military general…”

While Hyoryeong was grumbling, the verbal battle between the crown prince and Choongnyeong was coming to its end.

“Once the army maintained, the first thing that needs to be taken care of is private soldiers and Japanese pirates! You have to protect your back first!”

“The private soldiers had already taken care of by our father! The Japanese pirates have also been calm lately. The ones that are still active and as troublesome as Japanese pirates are Jurchens! If we think about the future, we have to clean up the Jurchens first!”

“So, have the private soldiers gone? I said the first priority is to take care of private soldiers and Japanese pirates!”

“Shut up! I am the crown prince! I acknowledge you are smart, but the one who will rise to the next throne isn't you, but me! All you need to do is help me!”

“…”

Choongnyeong clenched his teeth at the crown prince’s loud exclaim and stared at him.

Meanwhile, Hyang, who was watching the situation from Hyoryeong's arm, opened his eyes wide and examined Choongnyeong's face.

Hyang confirmed there was a flow of subtle feeling in Choongnyeong's face before he broke out in a cold sweat inside.

‘Wasn't this man pushed to be king?’

In his previous life, this was what was commonly known.

[The reason Choongnyeong became the king was that Yangnyeong’s behavior was a mess; Hyoryeong was absorbed in Buddha's teaching; and so Choongnyeong unavoidably became the king, which was rather a divine move.]

Choongnyeong's subtle expression was a shock to Hyang, who had this common knowledge.

In Hyang’s head, an OST of a famous historical drama could be heard as he stared at Choongnyeong’s face.

‘Holy shit! So this is not a fusion historical drama, but an authentic historical drama? Don't tell me just because I had reborn, the butterfly effect would take place!’

Despite being full of worries, the body of Hyang that just passed its first birthday couldn’t win against fatigue. Hyang grumbled as he gave strength to open his eyes, which kept closing.

‘Ah! This damn weak body! Poor physical strength!’

Hyang didn’t know, but the rivalry between Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong was gradually rising to the surface.

* * *

One day in December, two months after Hyang’s first birthday party, Choongnyeong visited Nam Jae's house with a lot of people—but Hyang didn’t know about this.

As the meeting continued, Nam Jae praised Choongnyeong's deep learning and said:

“In the old days—when His Majesty has not yet ascended to the throne, I advised him to learn and said to him, ‘A mere prince has no place to take part, so why don't you just take part in learning?'. His Majesty replied, ‘Who said the king's son couldn't be a king?'. Now, seeing that Your Highness loves to learn like me makes me happy.”(AN1)

It was a very meaningful story.

Nam Jae did not explain what he meant by telling that story, but because of his position and the content of his words, this news immediately reached King Taejong. However, when this news reached King Taejong, he said the following and laughed it away.

“That old man was exaggerating.”

King Taejong laughed it off, but the competition about the next throne owner between the supporters of Crown Prince Yangnyeong and the supporters of Choongnyeong began to pick up its speed.

The definite cause of this competition was King Taejong's ambiguous response. In principle, he recognized Yangnyeong—his oldest son—as the crown prince, but he continued to pay attention and favorable reviews towards Choongnyeong.

“Look at Choongnyeong!”

Whenever there was a report that Yangnyeong, the crown prince, was lazy in his studies, King Taejong mentioned Choongnyeong and scolded the crown prince.

Once, the crown prince, who could not stand this comparison, criticized Choongnyeong in his private audience with King Taejong.

“Choongnyeong is weak-hearted!”

King Taejong openly refuted the crown prince's rebuttal.

“Although he is weak-hearted, there is no one comparable to him in facing big problems and deciding it for a great cause at this time.”

Apart from this evaluation, because Choongnyeong felt pity and showed his benevolence towards people's misery, he became Yangnyeong's strongest competitor.

Even though King Taejong was the one who caused such fierce competition, he continued to recognize Yangnyeong as the crown prince.

Eventually, whether it was based on King Taejong's will or if it was a voluntary move by his retainers to prevent another ‘prince rebellion', Park Eun warned Shim On—the head of those who supported Choongnyeong.

“Because Grand Prince Choongnyeong is a kind-hearted that he focused his heart on everything, the right thing for you is to ask him and conduct yourself properly.”(AN2)

Park Eun warned him, but Shim On ignored those and didn't deliver that warning to Choongnyeong. Finally, Park Eun, who was tired of holding back, visited Choongnyeong in his private residence.

That day's event was one of the events which Hyang remembered. Even though he was in a situation where he had to sleep more than half a day, like a normal child that just passed his first birthday, the commotion that happened outside was enough to wake Hyang up.

“Lord Shim! Do you have thought or not!”

“Hoho. Lord Park. This is not like—”

“You cannot do this, Lord Shim! Would you like to once again experience the bloody tragedy that happened in the reign of King Taejo?”

“There is no way, isn't it?”

“Then what would you name the conduct you're doing right now?! Move over now! I have to meet His Highness the Grand Prince!”

“Last time, I only forgot to tell him. This time, I'll tell him for sure. So, please go back for now.”

“Look, Lord Shim!”

“Now, now… Please go back for now.”

Even though Hyang didn't see it with his eyes but ears, he knew that the situation was very serious.

‘Isn't this really a problem?’

“Huff~.”

Shim On let out a long sigh after sending back Park Eun from the front gate. He watched the back of Park Eun got farther away for a while before turning his body with a stiff face.

“The die is cast, anyway.”

Shim On’s faint voice was full of determination. The current crown prince—Yangnyeong, was not lacking. However, many people were questioning his qualifications because of his behavior. There was also the second prince—Hyoryeong, but he was known to have no interest in the throne. After eliminating the two, Choongnyeong—his son-in-law—was the only one of the king's legitimate children that remained.

‘Grand Prince Choongnyeong is the only answer for the future of Joseon!’

The determined Shim On pushed Choongnyeong to be the crown prince. It was a move with his life on the line, but Shim On believed there was a chance of winning. The reason was that King Taejong's reaction was lukewarm. As the number of people supporting him increased, Shim On's confidence became stronger.

“Although His Majesty doesn't like maternal relatives, everything will be solved when the Grand Prince becomes the crown prince! I just need to stay low for a while until His Highness becomes the crown prince and ascends the throne!”

And on the day the Grand Prince ascended to the throne, he would rise to the position of the king's father-in-law, the maternal grandfather of the crown prince, and the most influential person after the king.

A/N

(AN1): Annals of King Taejong, Year 15 of reign, December 30th. ↻

(AN2): Annals of King Taejong, Year 17 of reign, October 6th. ↻

T/N

(1) Samhan: Before the Korea Three Kingdoms Period, three countries were in the middle and south of Korea. Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. ↻

The author's note was to tell that he took the passages from the Annals of King Taejong. I’ve tried to find the English version, but I haven't found it. I want to apologize in advance if there are mistranslations.

Chapter 5
Who is My Father? (3)

“History won’t change, right?”

Hyang looked out of the East Palace. He was still massaging his numb legs. There were remorse and lamentation in the eyes looking at the outside scenery.

The summary of the battle for the Crown Prince's position between the defender Yangnyeong and the attacker Choongnyeong, was flowing as the history recorded, with Choongnyeong as the winner.

Yangnyeong was not an incompetent person. Although it wasn't recorded, he was a man with ambition, like the one he had shown at Hyang's first birthday party.

However, like what had been recorded in the Annals, rather than learning academics, he enjoyed hunting in the mountains and fields. Yangnyeong was a ‘free soul’ who liked booze and women.

Because he was such a person, he could not overcome the enormous stress caused by the competition.

Eventually, in order to relieve that stress, he fell more into hunting and nightlife. It even led to an extreme incident in which he committed a taboo, which was adultery.

In the end, Yangnyeong's defeat in the battle for the crown prince position was because Choongnyeong’s talent was better than his. Also, the biggest cause of his defeat was he couldn’t overcome stress and sank his own ship.

* * *

Although Grand Prince Choongnyeong was the winner of the crown prince's decision, he was also severely wounded in the process. All of his wife's family had been killed.

When Choongnyeong was installed as the crown prince, Shim On emerged as the most influential figure among the influential figures. However, King Taejong was not someone who would leave such Shim On.

The day Hyang came to the palace after Choongnyeong installment and saw King Taejong for the first time, he was reminded with a memory from his previous life.

When Jinho—Hyang in his previous life—was in high school, his Korean History teacher, Samcheonpo—a nickname given because he often got sidetracked in class, judged King Taejong like the following:

“If Catholic priests who assert the divine right of kings arrived in Joseon during the reign of King Taejong, he would certainly make Catholicism the national religion. Of course, after that—except for the minority who were obedient—he would behead the others.”

Teacher Samcheonpo said it was ‘IF’. But Hyang, who had entered the palace with Grand Prince Choongnyeong, couldn’t help but agree with his teacher’s words the moment he saw King Taejong for the first time.

‘Samcheonpo was right!’

Despite the old age and fatigue that filled his face, the glint in King Taejong’s eyes made people feel intimidated.

“Welcome.”

King Taejong, who had received the greeting from Choongnyeong couple who just became the crown prince, had an unexpectedly soft voice.

“Many things have happened, but from now on, you are the Crown Prince. Prepare to rule this nation after me and strengthen your ties with your brothers.”

"I will engrave Father's precious words in my mind."

When Choongnyeong's answer was over, Queen Min, who was sitting next to King Taejong, began to speak.

“Crown princess. In the future, the inner palace will be in your rule. You'll have to work hard to make sure there's no clamor to happen.”

“I will engrave Mother's words in mind.”

The gaze of King Taejong and Queen Min, who was giving advice, eventually fell upon Hyang.

“He looks very bright.”

Choongnyeong smiled and responded to King Taejong's words.

“He's already learning elementary learning.”

“He is? This child, isn't he only 4 years old now?”

“This October he will be 4 years old.”

“That's so fast!”

“I could see that he is more talented than me.”

King Taejong seemed satisfied with Choongnyeong's answer.

“This is a blessing for our Joseon and the royal family!”

Hyang, who was observing King Taejong and Queen Min, quickly straightened his posture when King Taejong and Queen Min's eyes gathered on him. When the Taejong couple showed satisfaction with Choongnyeong's praise, Hyang grumbled inside.

‘How much effort have I poured out!’

While the competition between Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong was getting fierce, Hyang continued to agonize over what was best for him.

“Why isn't he eating all of a sudden? Nanny, call the doctor!”

“Yes, Milady.”

Hyang, who was agonizing to the point his mother, Lady Shim, called a doctor, finally made up his mind.

‘I’ll upgrade my level! At worst, I need to have at least an intellectual and physical basis! No, even though the physical basis is impossible due to time problems, at least, I need to have an intellectual basis!’

Hyang, who was filled with determination, began to learn the Thousand-Character Classic as soon as he could speak out after passing his second birthday.

“I think this child is a prodigy.”

“Yeah, I do think so!”

The Choongnyeong couple was pleased to see Hyang memorizing the Thousand-Character Classic, despite his voice was still being that of a baby voice. Regardless of whether Hyang knew his parents' feelings, he worked hard to learn the Thousand-character Classic.

‘Fortunately, the hardware is good! Is it because this body is Munjong?’

Maybe it was because his body was the body of the real Munjong from history, but thanks to the excellent hardware such as memory and comprehension, Hyang had already passed the Thousand-Character classic and moved to Tong-Gam-Jeol-Yo(1) at an earlier age than the others. And when Choongnyeong was confirmed as the crown prince, he was already on the Elementary Learning.

“It's pleasing to see his eyes shining brightly!”

While bowing to King Taejong's praise, Hyang scrutinized the atmosphere between the Taejong couple.

‘As expected, there is an odd atmosphere between them.’

“There is a saying, ‘past life’s enemy becomes this life’s spouse’, right? If you look at the Taejong couple, this proverb fits. A love-hate couple?”

Hyang was reminded of Samcheonpo’s story before he came back to reality, right when King Taejong talked to his mother.

“I heard your father has been busy lately.”

“My knowledge regarding that matter is lacking because I only spend my time in my room.”

“Is that so?”

A smile was erased from King Taejong's face as he asked back.

“I'd like it if you tell your father to live a relaxed life and consider his age. Even though he is in good times, wouldn't everything end up in vain if he lost his health?”

The crown princess was perspiring cold sweat as she bowed her head to the suggestive word of King Taejong.

“Yes. I will make sure to tell him.”

It was King Taejong's warning.

* * *

But the history was flowing as what was recorded.

On September 9th, four months after Grand Prince Choongnyeong was installed as the crown prince, King Taejong handed over the throne to him. In the message announcing the transfer of the throne, King Taejong declared:

[Until the king is completely ready to lead, I will personally judge the military, and I will order the State Council and Six Ministries to carry out the nation's hard-to-decide matters, respectively, but I will also take part in the discussion.]

It was an adamant expression to assist his son, who no matter how smart he was, would certainly be pushed by his cunning retainers, and to strengthen the foundation of the nation that is not yet firm. It indicated not only his cynicism but also expressing that he kept holding the military authority by having the office of military command.

In spite of King Taejong's firm expression of his power in the military rights, rumors still broke out.

The start of this case was Minister of War, Kang Sangin. Despite King Taejong being the one who had the military authority, Kang Sangin only reported directly to King Sejong. Not only that, he illegally installed his brother Kang Sangrye as a senior fifth rank in the military.

As a result of this event, King Taejong interrogated Kang Sangin. A series of appeals were filed to sentence Kang Sangin to a heavy sentence, but King Taejong who was taking into account his contribution as a meritorious subject had only forced him to return home and confiscate his meritorious retainer title along with his letter of appointment as a government official. This was the first stage of the ‘Prisoner Kang Sangin’ incident, which lasted from August to September.

However, the reason this incident was related to the fall of Shim On was, the chief state counselor—Shim On—had to leave as an envoy to get Ming Dynasty's approval over passing the throne.

King Taejong felt a sense of danger when he got a report about his subjects and many high-ranking officials flocked to see Shim On off, who was leaving as an envoy.

[Father-in-law of the crown prince—the next throne owner, and the chief state counselor. Not only that, his brother Shim Jeung held a key position in the Central Post of Uihuengsamgunbu(2)!]

As King Taejong's suspicion grew deeper, an event that made the said suspicion as certitude happened.

On November 26th, a junior eleventh rank officer named Ahn Heonoh reported to King Taejong.

“Kang Sangin, Shim Jeung, and Park Heung had a private meeting the other day.”

“And so?”

“On that spot, they said ‘Recently, the orders came from two places, but it didn’t seem like they came from one place(3).’”

King Taejong smashed the armrest as he shouted after listening to Ahn Heonoh’s report.

“What!”

The ‘Prisoner Kang Sangin’ once again rose to the surface and blazed even bigger than before.

* * *

As the ‘Prisoner Kang Sangin’ was ignited once again, Hyang’s maternal house was struck by a bolt out of blue.

Kang Sangin was sentenced to goyeolhyeong(4) while Park Seub and Shim Jeung were beheaded. Shim On, who had just returned from his duty as an envoy to Ming, was harshly investigated then sentenced to death by poison, and all of his family members became slaves.

While these things were going on, a storm was raged on inside the palace.

“Is it not enough with my family that you also did this to your daughter-in-law's family?”

Queen Wongyeong, who saw a tragedy that had happened to herself was repeated once again, raised her voice, but King Taejong busied himself with the cleanup work.

While all those chaoses happened, Hyang fell into agony.

‘It sucks that my body is still a child!’

If this was a normal 4-years-old child, they wouldn’t have been able to grasp the situation. However, for Hyang, who had the memories and personality from his mid-30s, it was a tough time to bear.

‘If there is a suitable maternal relative, they could be a strong protective wall. If I could meddle in and reduce the anger on my mother’s family, wouldn’t it be a great help for me in the future days?’

Hyang was determining what to do while thinking about the future, and the fact that King Taejong had been very fond of him since he entered the palace. Nevertheless, he decided to not meddle in.

‘No. I think it’s better for me to stay still. That's what happened in the actual history. There is a possibility I'll be successful if I do a ‘bawling show', but there is also a possibility this problem will only get bigger if this is seen as taking advantage of a 4-year-old kid. And the most important is this father of mine… ’

Even though his in-laws’ family was falling apart, King Sejong didn't show any response. No matter how powerful his father, King Taejong's authority was, his unresponsiveness was beyond the limit.

Hyang decided on his move in response to his father's reaction.

‘King Taejong and King Sejong are in a tacit agreement! Then it is best not to move!’

As a result, Hyang had to watch his mother shed blood tears for days and nights.

King Sejong's in-laws’ family had been shattered because of ‘Prisoner Kang Sangin', but the storm didn't subside easily.

“It's inappropriate for the traitor's daughter to hold the queen consort position. We must depose her!”

The officials from the Office of the Inspector-General and Office of Censors had been petitioning the deposing agenda, but King Sejong put his throne in line and showed utmost opposition.

In the end, King Taejong ended the dispute of the deposing agenda with the following word.

“There is no need to speculate. It was unreasonable to depose someone who has borne three sons of the king.”

With King Sejong's opposition and King Taejong's decision, Queen Soheon(5) was able to keep her position.

Hyang nodded his head when he saw the deposing dispute ended.

“I'm glad I didn't meddle in.”

Hyang praised himself. Then, after praising himself for a while, Hyang looked at the place where the King and his vassals do their work.

“As expected, is it really impossible to fool your blood?”

[Perhaps because they were born from military blood, King Taejong as well King Sejong were cold when deciding on a matter.]

“My thought was right that the ultimate goal was strengthening the throne.”

Hyang, who had seen the situation in real-time, shook his head when he saw what was the real goal of King Taejong and King Sejong.

“It's not easy to be a king…”

T/N:

(1) Tong-Gam-Jeol-Yo: A summarized version of Zizhi Tongjian by Sima Guang that was distributed in Joseon.↻

(2) Uihuengsamgunbu: A military office in Joseon period that was divided into three posts, center, left, and right. Later disbanded on King Sejong 14th year reign. ↻

(3) Refer to even though the government was held by two kings, it should be the same because King Taejong only assisted King Sejong in military affairs.↻

(4) Goyeolhyeong: A death sentence by having the arms, legs, and head tied with ropes to oxen moving in opposing directions.↻

(5) Lady Shim, Hyang’s mother.↻

Chapter 6
Who is My Father? (4)

The issue of deposing Queen Shim ended with the rejection from King Taejong and King Sejong, and along with the end of this issue, the maternal relatives purging work ended as well.

Afterward, until the day of King Taejong's death, there were not many major obstacles except for Ming's suspicion.

Ming Dynasty that never lowered down their caution towards Joseon since the plans for the conquest of Liaodong made by King Taejo and Jeong Do-jeon in the early days of founding the country went to ashes, took issue with the sudden passing of the throne, and renounced their statement. Thanks to this, King Sejong had to spend a lot of energy and money trying to persuade the envoys sent from Ming.

Because he was busy persuading Ming’s envoys and the military authority was in the hand of King Taejong, King Sejong could only watch the Invasion of Daemado Island(1) unfold.

“This is really unfortunate.”

King Sejong grumbled as he was looking at the reports related to the Invasion of Daemado Island after placing Hyang, who came to give his greetings in his lap. Hyang had heard the grumble before turning his head to look at him, and King Sejong let out a faint smile.

“If only I had more strength and freedom, I’m sure I could have prepared better for this invasion…”

Hyang racked his brain as he saw King Sejong’s appearance that was full of regrets.

‘What happened to Lee Jongmu’s invasion of Daemado Island? Was it half success?’

Hyang was itching out of curiosity that he reached out his hands. King Sejong smiled brightly as he saw Hyang, who was in his embrace, reached out to the scrolls of public appeals and reports on the table.

“It seems like my little prince has already taken an interest in political affairs? Hmm~ It takes learning to understand political affairs.”

King Sejong pondered for a while before turning to face Head Eunuch, who was standing on the side while bowing respectfully.

“Call the Chief Royal Secretary!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang watched the Head Eunuch walk out to deliver King Sejong’s order, and cold sweats began to perspire in his back.

‘Isn’t this dangerous?’

* * *

When Grand Prince Choong-nyeong was confirmed as the Crown Prince, Hyang made his own plan.

“The thing that will be the main basis is the fact that King Sejong is a maniac. On top of that, he is a pretty devoted man in developing engines.”

Hyang folded his still short arms and legs—posing like a noble he was—and diligently beat the calculator in his head with a serious face.

1. The original Munjong was indeed a maniac, especially a military maniac.

2. Just like the earrings I saw at my first birthday party, artisans in the early Joseon Dynasty are not bad at all. In particular, artisans related to the royal family will be superior.

3. In Joseon, people are recognized as adults at 15. There are 11 years left now.

4. Combining the background of a crown prince and artisans with good-dexterity, there is no need for me to suffer all alone. I just need to give orders, and particularly all kinds of calculations. That will lessen my headache because all I have to do is provide ideas. This is the most important part!

5. Considering Sejong’s maniac personality and his mindset about the importance of national defense, maybe it’s okay? I think I could get some support for something like a flintlock or percussion cap. Skill level? If this is about the skill of artisans from this era, I expect they could overcome the hardness. They can’t? I’ll force them. I am the Crown Prince after all…

6. If I could achieve success in this way, it would not only strengthen my position but also expand my field with solid material support.

The conclusion: Profit!!!!

NOTE: Make sure to have a full understanding of Confucian knowledge by the age of 15. If I can't, it means that it's the end if I get behind in an argument with the ministers.

Addendum: I should make the officials in charge of Crown Prince’s studies on my side as much as I can. When I reach the age of maturity, they will hold a position, so it’s better to mark them in advance.

“In the end, the problem is my memorization skills and the officials in charge of the Crown Prince’s studies.”

Hyang lightly tapped on his folded arms with his fingers. He was thinking about the officials from the Crown Prince Education Office.

* * *

King Sejong ordered the officials in charge of Hyang’s study through the Chief Royal Secretary to pay more attention to his study.

The four years old Hyang was only a prince before he went through the crowning of the prince. However, because of his very outstanding talent, the officials of the Crown Prince Education Office became the ones in charge of Hyang’s education.

Under these circumstances, King Sejong's order to pay more attention to Hyang’s study was great pressure on the officials who were teaching Hyang.

The Head of the Crown Prince Education Office called all the officials, including the senior officials, and the junior officials who were in charge of Hyang's study after he received the king's order from Sejong.

“The age of Prince Hyang is only about to reach five… How far is His Highness learning now?”

“He is learning the Great Learning.”

“Hey you, at what age did you understand the Great Learning?”

“It was when I was eleven.”

“You are a prodigy, aren't you?”

“You flatter me.”

“You’re called a prodigy when you had learned the Great Doctrine at 11, but… His Highness still hasn't reached 5. If we make the wrong move, there is a possibility that he will lose interest in studying.”

“Are you talking about too much is as bad as too little?”

“That’s right.”

“Huff~.”

All the officials sighed when they heard their leader's statement.

‘Educate the prince who will succeed the next throne.’

In a way, the Crown Prince Education Office was the place where they could seize the best opportunity to go to the core of the next regime administration. However, being the one in charge of the Crown Prince's study was indeed a chance, but also a threat.

As in the case of King Taejong and Yangnyeong, the king wanted the next ruler to be smart and had no fault in his conduct. However, just like the case of Yangnyeong, it was not easy for the crown prince to satisfy the demand.

If the demand was not met, the king would definitely hold the officials accountable.

The problem was, the father of Prince Hyang, King Sejong, was remarkable in his learning since he was still a Grand Prince that even senior vassals admired him.

As much as he had excelled, it was certain that the standards he demanded from the prince would be high. And the newly coined king's order had made it true.

The officials of the Crown Prince Education Office were worried about the prince. They were afraid that the prince who showed outstanding talents would lose his interest in learning if he received excessive pressure.

After giving many thoughts, the Head of the Crown Prince Education Office drew a conclusion.

“The conclusion is we have no choice but to protect our moderation.”

“That's our principle, but…”

“Difficult matters could only be solved by principle.”

The officials of the Crown Prince Education Office trained Prince Hyang according to principles. They would praise him when he did well in his study, but they also warned him not to fall into conceit. On the other hand, if there was any slack or laziness in his studies or behavior, they disciplined him severely.

“The King isn’t an ordinary man, but Prince Hyang is also a formidable one.”

All the officials in charge of Hyang’s education praised Hyang’s achievement, and they became speechless.

Hyang showed greater achievement in learning much more than what they had expected him to be. Even all of his actions were impeccable.

If you wonder to what extent it was, it was to the point that the following jokes were circulating among the officials of the Crown Prince Education Office.

“Is it true that Prince Hyang’s age hasn’t reached five? He is too mature for his age.”

“I feel the same way. Looking at the fact that he is not simply accepting the teachings, but asking questions…”

“I was worried that it would be too much to carry out His Majesty’s order, but if Prince Hyang’s talents and capabilities are this great, I think it’s not bad for us to be a little greedy.”

“Same here. I’ll have to talk with the superiors again.”

Officials from the Crown Prince Education Office concluded to take a step toward a more active education and discipline.

The reason the officials in charge of the crown prince's education concluded the decision was because Prince Hyang's outstanding talents played a big part in his achievement, but the main reason was Hyang's own resolution.

“I have to advance the plan!”

As July passed, Hyang decided to revise his plan altogether.

“I was going to start my plan when I became 15, but I can’t stand it because I feel stuffy.”

Hyang beat his chest and didn’t hide what he felt.

“As soon as possible! At the latest, I have to start my plan when I reach 10!”

Hyang, who can’t stand the stuffy feeling, found water and then gulped it down before letting out a breath.

“Huff! If I don’t start soon, I’ll explode inside and die!”

There were two reasons that made Hyang revise his plans and move them forward.

One of the reasons was the Invasion of Daemado Island. The mobilization order of the warships and troops that were sent to do the Invasion of Daemado Island had been issued. The areas where the mobilization order was issued were Gyeongsang-do, Jeollanam-do, and Chungcheong-do.

The reason Hyang exploded into anger was the content of the mobilization order.

[For the three areas, 200 warships and armored low-level soldiers, middle-class in mandatory military service, soldiers in charge of military camp protection, clown, butcher, jobless people, soldiers from noble lineage, by conscripting nobles on the ship… (omit)… Order them to board the warship and gather at Gyeonnaeryang by June 8th.](AN1)

“Wonderful! This is very wonderful!”

Hyang was reading a copy of the mobilization order before bursting into anger.

“Well, let’s say it’s fine with the reserve like warships, armored low-level soldiers, and middle class military mandatory service, but… In charge of protecting the military camp is something like a clown, jobless and untouchable, the lowest ranking officials… Isn’t noble supposed to be someone who was proficient in liberal or martial arts? Noble who is proficient in the ship, they say… They just collect everyone except farmers who are busy in the farming season.”

Hyang sighed as he looked at the subject of conscription.

“Huff~. Although this is Joseon Dynasty, isn’t this too much? Not only the combat troops, but the skilled naval force is too lacking as well.”

Hyang, who was checking the contents about the conscription of troops, recalled a scene from a foreign movie he had seen in the past.

It was a scene when the sailors who just returned from their long voyage in the sea were talking loudly in the bar, then suddenly soldiers with a club in their hands broke into the bar and beat the sailors up with the said club while dragging them to the warship. Amidst that, the first mate and boatswain showed their permit certificate and protested, but the soldiers answered their protest with the club.

“The problem is, this is not a fiction movie, but… Looking at this mobilization order, the same situation will inevitably occur.”

Hyang sighed as the composition of the human resources was too lacking in expertise than expected, but anyway, the preparations for the invasion were over.

“Prince, you’re coming too?”

“Yes, Father.”

King Sejong pondered over Hyang’s words that he would join the dispatching ceremony of the expeditionary force, then nodded his head.

“Okay, let’s go together. Head Eunuch, prepare for the Prince as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

May 18th. The dispatching ceremony for the forces starting with the General of Three Forces, Lee Jong-moo was held at Baeksajeong, Seobinggo-dong.

‘At least they are wearing their armor.’

Hyang was confirming the soldiers’ outfit before letting out a breath. It was because, unlike the historical dramas he had watched before, the lined-up soldiers were only armored on their chests.

* * *

The Invasion of Daemado Island, which began just like that, ended its first round on July 3 with the expeditionary forces returned to Goeje Island. While the forces were organizing on Geoje Island, the Japanese pirates' plundering occurred once again, and the court discussed the second invasion.

As more and more opinions were insisting on the postponement of the second invasion due to the decline in morale of the soldiers and the timing of the typhoon, there was sudden news that the Japanese pirates who invaded Ming were wiped out.

Upon receiving the urgent news, the court disbanded the expedition force and sent an envoy to Daemado Island.

[Daemado Island was recorded in the literature as a territory of Joseon. Therefore, the Chief of Daemado Island should restore his relationship with the king.]

[All the residents of Daemado Island must migrate to Joseon.]

[Failure to fulfill the above order will result in a second invasion.]

In response to the pressure given by Joseon, the Chief of Daemado Island sent a letter through the envoy.

[Since Daemado Island has poor land conditions, let the residents of Daemado Island move to Geoje Island and other islands. Also, if the king of Joseon gives a title and a seal stamp to the Chief of Daemado Island, I will obey the order as a subject of the king.]

Upon receiving the letter, the court regarded it as a document of surrender from the Chief of Daemado Island. Because there was a view that the migration of Daemado Islanders to Joseon could turn Geoje Island and its affiliated islands into Japanese pirates' den, they gave the Chief of Daemado Island a name ‘Jong-ssi Dodo Ungwa'. (AN2)

In the East Palace, Hyang clicked his tongue as he heard the progress of the invasion.

“Lenient! They're too lenient!”

“The strategy, the operation, and the command are too poor!”

“First of all, they should have accepted all the residents of the island as Joseon. If they had fully accepted the residents of the island, they don't have to pay attention to their chief! If they send all of them to the north, not the island, it will be over!”

“They underestimated the value of the Daemado Island!”

Hyang, who was organizing the results alone, burst into anger.

“I can’t hold it anymore.”

AN

(1) 1st year of King Sejong reign. ↻

(2) Military strategy from Joseon Dynasty, Military Research Institute, Ministry of Defense. ↻

TN

(1) Known widely as Ōei Invasion. Invasion of Tsushima Island. You can check this link for more information. ↻

Chapter 7
Who is My Father? (5)

The funny thing was, the second reason Hyang changed his plans was because of a physiological phenomenon.

“Shit! Crap!”

Hyang suddenly felt a need for a basic necessity before running into the room where the chamber pot was located.

He threw the disturbing hem of his red dopo back, then cursed in a low voice as he did his business in the chamber pot.

“Oh, shit! As bright as ever!”

Once Hyang reached the age where he didn’t need diapers anymore, the thing that bothered and annoyed him the most was relieving himself.

There were bathrooms in the palace, but they were few in number and far away.

Because of that, Hyang had to do most of his needs in the chamber pot, and every time he did that, he had to endure the discomfort.

Hyang personally had a complaint about this, but relieving oneself was a problem that had to be solved.

‘This palace is full of shit’s smell and urine’s smell!’

In every secluded place in the palace where there were many trees, there were traces of shits and urine.

The most extreme case was the tree in the favorite place where court ladies do their business, dried up and its leaves turned yellow.

It was not just a matter of smell. There was also a hygiene problem. A problem where a slight loss of attention during relieving oneself could lead to stained clothes.

‘No, in the first place, the attire is the problem!’

Hyang remembered a memory from when he was younger.

It was a scene that happened back in the days when Grand Prince Choong-nyeong still lived in his private house. That day, Hyang’s mother changed her clothes because she was about to wash them.

‘How many fuck of layers is that?’

First, she wore dari-sokgot, sok-sokgot, sok-baji, and after that she wore dan-sokgot, then she wore neoreun-baji and daesyum-chima, on top of that, she wore mujigi-chima made with layers of fabric of different colors, and then a skirt with a gorgeous gold pattern.(1)

Hyang cried out inside as he blankly stared at such a scene.

‘What about those movies I’ve seen? Tell all those in charge of historical research to resign! Isn’t ass supposed to be after the outer skirt and the inner skirt? Even if it was an erotic story, it was still a movie! Isn’t this too much?’

Hyang went sideways. But the skirt itself, which was worn in layers, became the worst obstacle to women when they had to relieve themselves.

Because it was such trouble to go to the bathroom due to the attire that was uncomfortable to wear or take off, it became a daily routine to use a chamber pot or go to a secluded place to relieve oneself.

There was another important hygiene issue that had arose from this attire and toilet issue.

“We greet His Highness the Prince.”

The court ladies passing by while carrying baskets of laundry saw Hyang and behaved respectfully.

“Yeah, you have worked hard.”

When they saw Hyang reply with a dignity that did not suit his age, the court ladies held back their smiles as they picked up their stuff and headed back on their way.

“Wait a minute, Court Lady.”

“Pardon?”

“Not you, but the third court lady from behind.”

“Is His Highness talking about me?”

The court lady who was getting pointed out came forward with a clueless face.

She had hoped for the thing called fortune(2))—even though there would be a problem because court ladies were king’s properties—because the prince’s age had passed Jihak(3)), but the prince in front of her eyes was only a 5 years old kid.

When the court lady that he had pointed came forward, Hyang simply said,

“You. There is something on your back.”

“Pardon?”

“There is something on the back of your skirt.”

“Pardon?”

“There is poop on the back of your skirt!”

The face of the clueless court lady who kept tilting her head reddened at Hyang’s words. Then she took a look at the back of her skirt.

“My God!”

“Go and change!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As the reddened court lady sprinted out, Hyang glared at the remaining court ladies.

“What were you all doing?”

“Pardon?”

“There’s a problem with your colleague’s clothes, and you don’t even care about that?”

The court ladies bowed their heads to Hyang’s scolding.

“Forgive us, Your Highness.”

“Make sure nothing like this happens again in the future.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang sighed after giving a warning to the court ladies, then continued his walk.

In the afternoon study, Hyang told the official in charge of his study about the thing that happened during the day and asked a question.

“The proper way for humans is to excrete naturally. However, if the clothes they were wearing were bothering them from doing so, wouldn’t this be out of the proper way?”

The official in charge of the study let out an embarrassed expression as he gave an answer to Hyang’s question.

“However, the thing called clothes isn’t simply to block heat and cold but to conceal someone's disgrace. And from there, a person’s class is shown, so we must endure the discomfort.”

“Class… Isn’t that also inappropriate to have one’s class determined by their clothes? There’s a saying, ‘even if a virtuous man wears a rag, the scent of his virtue spreads through the sky,’ right?”

“Well, that’s true…”

“Don’t you think it needs to be changed?”

“Ha, haha…”

Hyang’s question made the official sweating bullets.

That night, Hyang made a resolution as he lied up in his bed.

“I will definitely make a flush toilet and reform the attire!”

* * *

These two reasons became the biggest reason for Hyang to change his plan. Hyang always let out profanities whenever he got involved with the natural environment.

“I can’t live because this is stuffy and dirty!”

The word ‘dirty’ here was because the situation was really dirty that it was unbearable for him. Even in the house where King Sejong had lived in when he was still Grand Prince Choong-nyeong, the bedbugs, ticks, and fleas were common to find. On top of that, because of the circumstance where they didn’t bathe very often, and their scent was mixed with the perfume pouch(4)in their waist, it became a very dirty situation to express.

The problem above, coupled with the bathroom and attire problem made Hyang determined to change his plan.

“Even in the military of the 21st century Republic of Korea, except for a few places, traditional toilets have disappeared…”

While thinking of the bathroom problem that he couldn’t get used to, Hyang modified his plan.

“So, is this ver.1.5?”

As he calculated the number of revisions, Hyang revised the items in the plan he had in mind.

- Bring forward the start of external activities at 9 years old. At the latest, when I reach nine I should be installed as the crown prince, not prince anymore. When I become the crown prince, I will hold power to some extent.

- When I get installed as the crown prince, I will go outside the palace. Find out about the life outside the palace, the life of the commoners in the capital city, and empower the reformation policy pursued by King Sejong.

- In addition to the above, take a role in accelerating the creation of Hunminjeongeum.

“This is enough.”

Hyang rose up from his seat after reflecting on the revised plan. He opened the window, looking outside as he mumbled.

“Is that kid doing well?”

‘That kid’ that Hyang talked about was Grand Prince Suyang.

When King Sejong was installed as the crown prince, a shift also happened to his family.

Since Hyang was the oldest child, he came along to the palace; and the third son—Anpyeong, was born in the palace. However, Suyang—who was stuck in the middle—was living in his private home.

It was a situation where he should enter the palace, but because of various events such as the coronation of King Sejong, the Invasion of Daemado Island, and the birth of Anpyeong were overlapping, the time for Suyang to enter the palace had yet to be decided.

In history, the time Suyang entered the palace was when Hyang was 8 years old and Suyang was 5 years old.

“Looks like this one will flow just like the actual history…”

Hyang recollected the memories from his past life. According to the memories from his past life, it was a rule for grand princes or princes, and princesses to leave the palace when they became adults at 15 years old. However, in reality, it was usual to make them be independent when they reached 8.

“But, now are the early days of Joseon…”

Hyang lightly counted with his fingers.

“Is 3 years the earliest and 10 years the longest,… what should I do with that kid during that time?”

Hyang racked his brain on how he should take care of this little brother of his; since he knew that his little brother, who was currently living outside the palace, would seize the throne in later days.

“I just let him be because I had no time until I entered the palace. But now, I should do something when he enters the palace. Should I randomly pick on him? Or should I gently treat him as a kind older brother?”

Hyang was deep in thought about whether to treat his brother with ‘stick or carrot’ then he giggled and couldn’t stop his sudden burst of laughter.

“Cut it out… I just reached 5 years old, and when that time comes I would be around 8. If a kid picks on a kid, I will get cursed…”

* * *

While Hyang was racking his brain about what to do with his brother, who will be the one to seize the throne in later days, Hyang’s mother—Queen Soheon—was also deep in thought.

“Yoo also has to enter the palace, but… huff~.”

While sighing, Queen Soheon directed her eyes to the direction where Hyang’s room was located.

The first time Hyang saw Yoo, who was just born and was dressed in swaddling clothes, Queen Soheon detected Hyang’s odd reaction.

‘Hostility? Why?’

Queen Soheon was concerned about Hyang, who was showing enmity toward his newborn little brother, and she asked the nanny with worry.

“It looks like the eldest hates the second. What should I do about this?”

The nanny answered Queen Soheon’s question with a smile.

“It is natural, Milady.”

“Natural?”

“When they have a little sibling, it is natural for the child who was born first to not like it. This is about the affection that was previously only given to them turning to the little one. This thing will soon get fixed when the older sibling grows a bit more and becomes educated.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it is.”

Despite the nanny’s answer, Queen Soheon couldn’t ease her worry and ordered the nanny.

“I need you to take care of Hyang.”

“Understood, Milady.”

After that, as if the nanny’s efforts paid off, there was no hostility shown from Hyang to his little brother. However, Queen Soheon’s worry couldn’t fade easily. The hostility from Hyang had disappeared, but indifference, and then excessive standards, took on its place.

“Hyang, what are you doing?”

A few days after Yoo’s first birthday party, Queen Soheon found Hyang who was looking for a book in the Grand Prince Choong-nyeong’s study. Hyang quickly fixed his posture and politely answered Queen Soheon’s question.

“Mother, I am looking for a few miscellaneous books to cool my head and a book that is suitable for Yoo to learn later.”

“Hyang, Yoo just passed his first year. Isn’t it too fast to look for a book for him to learn?”

“I learned that it is best to prepare in advance.”

“That is not wrong, but…”

Queen Soheon’s words were fading because Hyang’s words were not wrong, and she asked another question.

“So, what do you think is good?”

“I think Tong-Gam-Jeol-Yo is good. His first year has passed, and when he passes his second year, I think it’s good for him to start.”

Hyang’s answer made cold sweat flow on Queen Soheon’s face.

“Isn’t that too fast?”

“Is that fast?”

Queen Soheon nodded at Hyang’s question.

“That is fast. Hyang, you started to learn earlier because you are a brilliant child, but the others didn’t start that early.”

Hyang showed his dissatisfaction at Queen Soheon’s explanation.

“All the subjects of Joseon know about Father’s outstanding talent. The children of such a person are absolutely not allowed to be mediocre.”

“Huff~.”

Queen Soheon only let out a long sigh after Hyang’s resolute answer.

* * *

“Huff~.”

Queen Soheon once again let out a long sigh as she remembered about the past event.

“I thought giving birth to a brilliant child is fortune…”

Having a child that was not only brilliant but excessively brilliant was frustrating.

Compared to the first child, the second and third were brilliant, but they were a bit lacking. It was like the brightness of the moon that couldn’t even be compared to the sun.

The problem was Hyang set his little siblings’ standards to be the same as him. No, the problem was not only Hyang. From the moment the princes started their education, it was certain that the retainers adjusted their standard of judgments to Hyang.

“Huff~.”

With a sigh, the sleepless night of Queen Soheon continued.

T/N:

(1) Check this link if you want to know more.↻

(2) Fortune: Love. Court Lady wasn’t allowed to marry, and they were the King’s properties. If the King or prince took a liking on them, that is a fortune for them. It was possible for princes to take the court lady as lover or concubine, but they had to get the King's permission.↻

(3) Jihak: Back in Joseon days, it was the age when someone is said to reach maturity, which was 15. But someone was also said to pass Jihak when they properly could understand the meaning of learning. My guess for the minimum is Great Learning of Four Books.↻

(4) Perfume pouch: A traditional handmade personal adornment with a pleasing fragrance. Seems like if the scent from the pouch mixed with someone who has not taken a bath for days will bring bad news.↻

Chapter 8
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (1)

On October 27th, the third year of Sejong’s reign (1421), Hyang was installed as the Crown Prince. Finally, he was officially recognized as the successor of the next reign—not only a prince anymore.

The others didn’t know, but the night when the installation ceremony ended, Hyang tightly clenched his fist, as he was very happy.

“Finally, the time has come!”

* * *

“Let’s see… the policies that our king has carried out till this day are…”

Hyang folded his arms after pushing back the scripture on the table. He was reviewing all the policies that had been carried out by King Sejong in his head.

“In the first year after the coronation, it was a mess because Prison of Kang Sang-in happened, so there is nothing except a reshuffle…”

After that, King Sejong steadily carried out his policies.

He gave tax exemption for the starving farmers in Gangwon-do; he met the officials dispatched in the provincial by himself; he expanded the Hall of Worthies and added Four Books (the Analects, Mencius, Doctrine of the Mean, Great Learning) as an exam subject for the military. After that, the Invasion of Daemado Island took place.

Among King Sejong’s policies, the policy that attracted Hyang’s attention was related to salt.

A policy that refused the salt farmers’ request to reduce the tax on salt and simultaneously expanded the monopoly of salt was being executed.

“Exclusive right to sell salt… well, it really makes money.”

King Sejong paid as much attention to national prosperity and defense as he did to the public welfare. The most important thing in national prosperity and defense was the security of the budget. The exclusive selling right of salt was used for this security of budget.

To resolve the national budget problem, King Sejong had sent a credential to the Ming Dynasty. The content of the credential was about the bowl made of gold and silver to be excluded from tributary items.

However, Hyang didn’t give a good evaluation.

“It’s fine to exclude gold items from the tributaries, but the problem is, that much of the tributary is being stolen by the envoy. What should I do about this…”

Besides that, there were many that Hyang thought to be problems. However, the most concerning was the land and smuggler problem.

“For the problem of the great landlords and ministers’ opposition to the land possession limit, the tax system needs to be changed. And then the smuggler… not to mention the trade, this part of contempt in the business itself needs to be changed first…”

Hyang let out a long sigh as he considered other various kinds of minor improvements and solutions.

“I can come out with several solutions, but there is one big constraint for that… the government of Joseon has no money. Ah, has no gold.”

‘Gold’ was the ultimate solution Hyang had thought of.

- Money circulation is essential in order to certainly improve the land system and taxation system. However, the circulation of the money continually failed. King Sejong will try again sooner, but according to history, he will fail.

- However, the reason money circulation keeps on failing is that the government couldn’t guarantee the existence of the currency through the new method of money-making.

- Most of the money-making methods by the rich such as local landlords and high-ranking officials are through goods such as grain and cotton. However, the lifespan of things like grain and cotton is short. Therefore, in order to preserve their wealth for a long time, the rich change the goods into something such as gold and silver.

- In order to seize the wealth accumulated by the rich, radical taxation policies and land policies are necessary.

- However, executing radical policies like this will arouse the rich’s opposition.

- To suppress this opposition, the central government—in particular the King—must possess a definite military power.

- However, possessing a certain military power meant that it required an equally large budget. What to do to solve that problem?

Hyang had kept thinking over and over again and showed a dejected expression.

“No matter how much I revise the plan, if I can’t resolve the first problem, which is money, I will only get back to the same repeat mark. Only the king’s decision could solve this motherfucking repeat mark. Luckily, this is possible for King Sejong the Great. My role is… seasoning him?”

Hyang nodded at his conclusion.

“I’ve become the crown prince, but since I was just an eight-year-old, my authority is still weak. It’s best to throw something like bait occasionally. And the start is…”

Hyang stared at the brush in the holder on the side of the desk.

“That is the start.”

* * *

[December 10th in the 3rd year of King Sejong. The crown prince made a golden brush and offered it to the king. The king tried the brush and praised it for its convenience in rapid writing. The crown prince petitioned the king for the historian and others who needed to write fast to use the brush and the king gave his permission.]

Around the middle of November, Hyang went to the arsenal bureau(1)). The highest senior ranking official among those who were in charge of the arsenal bureau hurriedly came out when he heard the news of the Crown Prince’s visit.

“I greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

The senior official lowered his head even more at Hyang’s praise.

“Is it fine for me to look around for a while?”

“It’s an honor!”

When Hyang was about to take a step under the guidance of Lee Chang-ho—the senior official of the arsenal bureau, the craftsmen of the arsenal bureau who had heard about the Crown Prince’s visit came out and showed their respect.

“We greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Thank you very much for your hard work. I'm really thankful because you guys are here so that the defense of our Joseon becomes stronger.”

The craftsmen who were prostrating themselves were touched by the crown prince's praise and answered.

“We don’t deserve the Crown Prince’s praise.”

“It is really an honor for us!”

The craftsmen, who were touched by the praise of someone as high as the sky, took a lead and guided Hyang to every corner in the arsenal bureau.

There were some reasons for Hyang to visit the arsenal bureau, but the biggest reason was the arsenal bureau is the place to make weapons.

‘Weapons, explosives… from now on I'll often come here, so it’s better to leave a mark here. I do want Jang Young-sil, but he is from the royal tailor. He is a high scholar and backer of King Sejong, so… ’

Hyang pushed back his regret of Jang Young-sil while he was looking around the arsenal bureau and got down to business.

“Who is the most talented at handling gold and iron in this place?”

“Gold and iron?”

“That’s right. There is something he needs to make.”

“Someone profound in handling gold and iron…”

At the Crown Prince's question, the senior official of the arsenal bureau pondered over all the blacksmiths’ faces. The senior official who was looking for someone who was suitable enough suddenly thought of one person.

“There is someone who is decent enough.”

Not long after, a middle-aged blacksmith entered the senior official room after got summoned.

“Did you call for me?”

“I did. Blacksmith Gong, the Crown Prince said he has something to order.”

When he heard Crown Prince Hyang had requested for him, Blacksmith Gong courteously showed his respect to the Crown Prince.

“This lowly person greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Please don’t lower yourself. How could a blacksmith of the arsenal bureau in charge of our Joseon national defense be such a lowly person?”

“Tha, thank you, Your Royal Highness!”

Blacksmith Gong prostrated himself because he was very touched by Hyang’s praise.

“Raise up. There is something I urgently need your help with.”

“Please give me your order! I will do it by risking my life!”

‘The status of a blacksmith of the arsenal bureau wouldn’t be low, but how much did they suffer that… ’

Hyang drew a bitter smile because the response of Blacksmith Gong was more than he had expected. Then he took out a paper from his sleeve and handed it out.

“Can you make it this way?”

“This is…”

“This is an item that will replace the brush.”

The thing that Hyang gave out was a blueprint of a pen nib.

Blacksmith Gong examined the blueprint that was given by Hyang with a serious face. Then he began to talk.

“It holds the ink, but the ink will flow down while it is being used… the point is the ink cannot flow out all at once; and if it doesn’t flow out at all, that is also unacceptable.”

“On top of that, it shouldn’t get stuck in the paper, so the bead that will be installed at the tip of this nib should be round. One more, this slit where the ink flows out. There is no use if it’s too wide or too thin. Blacksmith Gong, how thin is the slit you can make?”

Blacksmith Gong pondered over Hyang’s question for a while before answering.

“With all my capability, I could make it to five mo.”

“Five mo?”

When Hyang wondered as he tilted his head, the senior official of the arsenal bureau by his side explained.

“It is five mo of a chon.”

Upon hearing that, Hyang calculated inside his head.

‘A chon is the same as a chi, a chi is around 3cm, because it is hal-pun-ri-mo… 1 of 10000? That is possible? Anyway, it is approximately around 0,15mm? Is this possible manually?’(2))

Hyang was dumbfounded at the unexpected result, then quickly set his expression right and asked a question.

“There is a possibility that you’ll not only make one but dozens. On top of that, the time for you to make it isn't months but as fast as possible.”

Blacksmith Gong calculated over Hyang’s question, then answered.

“Because it will touch water, we must not use an iron but gold or silver, so it’ll not get rusty. And because it will be turned into thin plates, if I make the mold correctly then it is possible for me to make 20 in a day. If there is a problem, then it is that slit.”

Hyang rushed into calculating after blacksmith Gong’s answer.

‘A sharp lead around 0.5 milli is okay, right?’

“When used to write, the thickness of the stroke can be a bit more than 1 ri.”(3))

“Then, I’ll try to set the slit standard to be 1 ri for now.”

“So when can I see the end product?”

“If you give me two days-.”

“I’ll give you three days. So, can you show me the best result?”

“Your wish is my command.”

“I believe in you.”

On the way back to the palace with the escort from the officials of the arsenal bureau, Hyang turned to the eunuch attending him.

“Eunuch Jo.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

“Is there any property that I can use personally?”

“I will check on the Royal Properties Office, Your Royal Highness.”

Three days later, Hyang visited the arsenal bureau once more.

Blacksmith Gong gave a fine wooden box containing five pen nibs to Hyang.

“I made it with five types of thickness. Please choose the thickness you like.”

“Okay.”

Hyang wrote on the waste paper near him and compared the result. Then he chose the nibs he liked.

“Make 100 for this one. However, for the 10 of them…”

Blacksmith Gong carefully noted down the options Hyang talked about and quickly replied.

“It is possible, Your Royal Highness.”

“And can you carve a plum flower in the body of this golden brush?”

“I can, Your Royal Highness.”

“Then, how many days do you need?”

“Ten days is enough, Your Royal Highness.”

Hyang thought over Blacksmith Gong's answer for a moment, then made a conclusion.

“I give you an extra two days to do that. Instead, there shouldn’t be any defects. Can you do it? I’ll offer it to the King.”

“I will make it with no single defect in it.”

“All right, I entrust you with this. Ah, you should keep this as a secret until I offer it to the King.”

“Your wish is my command.”

As he finished his business, Hyang left the arsenal bureau with a joyful expression. The arsenal bureau senior official—Lee Chang-ho, turned to face Blacksmith Gong after sending Hyang off.

“He is someone who is completely out of his age.”

“I agree, Sir. I heard this year he is eight years old, but looking only at his speeches and manners it is possible to mistake him as a man in his prime age.”

“Well, that's true, and you got a great deal.”

Lee Chang-ho couldn’t hide his envy as he looked at the paper in Blacksmith Gong’s hand.

Before Hyang left the arsenal bureau, he left a thank you note for Blacksmith Gong.

‘The Best Artisan of the Promising Joseon. Lee Hyang, the Crown Prince.’

Blacksmith Gong trembled with emotion when he was handed a piece of paper with a stamp of the Crown Prince’s palm next to his name.

“I will tell the wood factory supervisor and ask him to make the coolest picture mounting. This is something that is worth being an heirloom.”

* * *

Two weeks later, Hyang visited King Sejong, who was in the middle of a discussion with the officials. During his visit, Hyang presented the pen nib and pen barrel to King Sejong.

King Sejong fixed the nib to the barrel and tried to write with it while listening to Hyang’s explanation. He was very satisfied.

“What a piece of work! This is very comfortable to use and above all, the arm and wrist are comfortable! You made a very good item, Crown Prince! You did splendid work, Crown Prince! Historians, record nicely what the Crown Prince did today!”

“I don’t deserve your generous praise.”

Hyang remained humble at King Sejong’s praise. King Sejong was looking at the nib and the barrel that was decorated with lacquerware before he saw a floral pattern at the pen nib.

“Is this flower the plum flower?”

“That’s right. I thought it was suitable as a symbol of the royal family, so I carved it.”

“This is beautiful!”

King Sejong used the pen in the paper once more before turning to Hyang.

“I will make good use of this.”

“It is an honor. However, there is a favor I want to ask.”

T/N:

(1) Arsenal Bureau (Gungi-gam): A bureau under the Ministry of Military Affairs that was in charge of manufacturing weapons, flags, armor, utensils, and miscellaneous items. Sometimes called Gungi-si and at Gojong’s era called as Gigi-guk.↻

(2) Hal-Pun-Ri-Mo: An ancient unit of measure(?) Sometimes it is still used tho. 1 hal = 10 pun = 100 ri = 1000 mo. But since hal mostly counted as 10-1, 1 mo counted as 10-4. 1 chon = 10 pun = 3.03cm. So, 5 mo of 1 chon which is 3.03 cm = 30.3 mm/1000*5 = 0.1515 mm.↻

(3) 1 ri = 0.3 mm↻

Chapter 9
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (2)

“A request? Tell me.”

When King Sejong gave his permission, Hyang turned to a eunuch. Another eunuch attending Hyang politely presented a little bigger box to King Sejong.

“Hm?”

King Sejong opened the newly received wooden box, and he showed curiosity. Pen nibs and pen barrels were filling the wooden box. The pen nib he had previously received was made of gold and inlaid with silver, and the pen barrel itself was a luxurious lacquerware decoration. However, the ones he received now were simply made of gold, engraved with only plum flowers, and the pen barrel as well was only made of finely carved wood.

“Please bestow those golden brushes to the historians and the officials.”

“This one?”

“Yes. The historians, without even resting for a moment, always recorded all the affairs done by Father and the high-ranking officials. Because it is a job that needs a significant amount of effort, I think there should be an item to help them even if it’s only for a bit.”

King Sejong pondered over Hyang’s request for a while before discussing it with the officials.

“I think the Crown Prince’s opinion is very brilliant. What about you all, sir?”

All the retainers tried the mass-produced pen nibs presented by Hyang, and they agreed to King Sejong’s decision.

“I think Your Majesty’s opinion is right.”

“Even at this young age, he is already thinking of the retainers, so how is this a bad thing?”

With the agreement of the officials, the historians who would be the users also tried the pen and expressed their satisfaction.

Thus, the pen nib and pen barrel were decided to be the official office supplies of the court and palace.

Hyang erased the smile from his face when he returned to his room before muttering about something.

“Now, what kind of butterfly effect will this bring on?”

With the offering of the pen nibs and pen barrels under the name ‘golden brush’ to the King, the officials' favorability for Hyang began to take an upward trajectory. Especially the young officials, including the historians, began to show outrageous favor to Hyang.

“Have you tried the golden brush made by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

“I have. It is superb!”

The ones who were most delighted with it were the historians. It was because no matter how small the brush they used, it was quite a pain to write according to traditional calligraphy technique—arm raised and brush upright. However, with the gold brush, the arm naturally descended, reducing the pressure on the wrist and the entire arm.

After that, Hyang made a writing board and offered it to the King.

“In general, there are times when the commanders of the military issue a sudden command because they are positioned in a post that is lower than their rank. That’s why I made this to be of help for that. I think this is good to use along with the golden brush.”

“Marvelous!”

King Sejong rejoiced and ordered to produce the board in large quantities and distributed it along with the golden brush to the military.

The responses of the commanders about the distribution of the golden brush and the writing board were divided into two. The young commanders and the commanders who had knowledge of the literature showed a very favorable response, but the illiterate commanders couldn’t help but showed a difficult expression.

Nevertheless, Hyang could understand King Sejong’s decision.

As soon as King Sejong rose to the throne, he added Four Books as a subject for the military service examination. Hyang, who heard about this, nodded his head.

“That’s right. This is not the era to decide the outcome of the war by individual dauntless vigor nor military force. That's even more so in the future.”

Hyang twisted his head even more since he had predicted that the military would hold simple office supplies such as ‘writing board and golden brush’.

“Is Sejong even thinking about changing the military?”

If in the military itself there were pros and cons regarding the writing board, there were also some people who enthusiastically welcomed the writing board. These were the historians and the low-ranking officials of each department in the court. It was not easy to write in the book when they had to hold the rolled empty book and chase after the king as they recorded or when they investigated the inventory or other fields. It was because the book that floated in the air couldn’t receive any power. However, the writing board was an item that definitely solved that problem.

With all this happening, the demand for golden brush and writing board increased sharply, and the arsenal bureau became busy.

With the distribution of golden brushes and writing boards to the court and the military, more and more people took out the golden brush used in the Sixth Ministries Office and Military Administration and used them outside. It was convenient to use, and the plum flower carved in the nib made the users proud.

In a fish shop located in Unjongga, a young scholar asked the shop owner about the fish price while choosing the fish.

“How much is this?”

“Eh… all is 2 mal and 3 dwe of polished rice. But since you are regular, I’ll just give you for 2 mal and 2 dwe.”(1)

“It’s very expensive.”

“Oh my~ Sir, isn’t it winter now? The waves are so strong that ships can’t float.”

“In summer, the fish is expensive because it is damaged by hot weather, and in winter the fish is expensive because the waves are so strong that it is impossible to sail… For real, when will the time for fish to be cheap?”

“Hehehe.”

The scholar stared at the merchant’s face, who answered vaguely with a laugh before reaching out his hand to the merchant.

“Give me your ledger. Also, the ink slab.”

“Here, Sir.”

The scholar swiftly wrote in the ledger given by the merchant.

“The value of goods I buy today is… two mal of polished rice.”

“Sir!”

“Let’s make it two mal. Isn’t that a good cut off?”

“Haah~.”

The merchant sighed and when he saw the golden brush in the scholar’s hand, his eyes sparkled.

“Is that the rumored golden brush?”

“You’ve heard about this?”

“Yes. I've heard that everyone who works in the government has one.”

The merchant, who was looking at the golden brush with eyes filled with curiosity, smacked his own lips.

“It looks very good to use.”

“This is very good to use whether on the go or in urgent situations. Here! I have urgent business to attend to, so please deliver the fish to my house.”

“Goodbye, Sir!”

The merchant who had seen off the scholar, spitted out using all of his might.

“Kuegh~ Twegh! What a bullshit! Is going to Gisaeng house an urgent business? I bet he cut two dwe but spent countless in the Gisaeng house!”

The merchant clicked his tongue after cursing the scholar who had cut the price recklessly.

“That golden brush looked so convenient… Looks like it will bring money?”

* * *

Perhaps because people who had the same thought weren’t small, various items that imitated golden brush began to appear one by one. The rumors about these items quickly entered the palace and became the discussion topic in the morning assembly.

“Your Majesty, there has been a blasphemy going on in the city lately.”

“Blasphemy? Tell me.”

“The golden brush that was made by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and offered to Your Majesty was imitated, and the said imitation is being circulated.”

When one of the officials reported this, another official quickly added.

“This is a very disrespectful thing! How dare they mindlessly imitate the valuables that were carved with the royalty symbol on them! You should give them a heavy punishment!”

“Please give them a heavy punishment!”

After hearing the officials' unison pledge, King Sejong fell into thought for a while, then opened his mouth.

“I can give my decision right away, but I think the opinion of the involved party, the Crown Prince, is important. I will hear the Crown Prince’s opinion then I will give my decision. Head Eunuch, summon the Crown Prince!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Not long after, Hyang, who had received King Sejong’s order, entered the audience hall.

“Dear father, did you call me?”

When Hyang asked with courtesy, King Sejong smiled and answered.

“Yes. I called you because I want to ask about your judgment.”

“What kind of judgment could this young and lacking me make?”

“I know very well about your extraordinary intelligence, so don’t feel burdened and just answer, Crown Prince.”

“I understand, Father.”

King Sejong explained things regarding the golden brush to Hyang.

“…That’s why the officials personally assert that we should give hard punishment to the merchants who have imitated and distributed the golden brush. Crown Prince, what about you?”

Hyang closed his lips and lost in thought at King Sejong’s question.

The appearance of an eight-year-old kid who was creasing his forehead as he was deep in thought was unexpectedly cute. That appearance made the gaze of King Sejong and the officials gather on him as they smiled.

Hyang, who had been thinking over and over again in times that were not short, finally opened his mouth.

“My opinion is, the arsenal bureau is the leading pursuit of making weapons that is to serve as the national defense for our nation. So…”

* * *

One month later, the Ministry of Taxation.

People gathered in one of the many rooms in the Ministry of Taxation.

“Have everyone here yet?”

All the participants bowed their heads at the young official’s question.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Wait a minute.”

The young official came out, and then Hyang entered with the lead of the Minister of Taxation.

The people sitting around the table in the room rose from their seats and prostrated to the floor as soon as Hyang came in.

“These lowly merchants greet Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Raise up and sit in the chair.”

“How could we sit in the presence of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

“As long as you don’t commit any sin, it’s fine for you to sit in the chair. Take your seat!”

Because of Hyang’s firm answer, the participants finally sat in their seats. Hyang, who sat in his seat with help from the officials of the Ministry of Taxation, took out the imitated pen nib and pen holder from his sleeve then put it on the table.

“I heard this item has been circulating in the market.”

The merchants who saw the pen nib and pen holder that was put on the table by Hyang quickly prostrated on the floor and answered.

“In our merchant guild, we have never done such a disrespectful thing!”

“Our guild is the same as well!”

“I didn’t call you to ask of your sin. Sit in your seat!”

In spite of what Hyang had said, the merchants couldn’t easily raise themselves up. Hyang faintly clicked his tongue when he saw that and talked once again.

“Don’t make me talk twice.”

“Get up quickly and sit in your seats!”

At Hyang’s warning, the Minister of Taxation quickly rushed the merchants. When the merchants sat on their seats back, Hyang proceeded to the main issue.

“His Majesty has given his order.”

The order of King Sejong that was revealed by Hyang was like the following:

- The production of the golden brush and its pen holder will be transferred from the arsenal bureau to the merchant guilds.

- The selection of the merchant guild to be the producer is the guild that has passed the quality standards and has the cheapest price.

- The selected guild must reveal that the produced golden brush is decorated with the royalty emblem, which is the plum flower, as an official item.

- The selected guild will get the right to sell the produced golden brush in the market. Afterward, if a forged golden brush or if there is no plum flower seal is found, both producers and sellers will be sentenced to death.

- The guild producing the golden brush pays the nation 20 percent of the profits from the sale.

- Commercially sold prices are prohibited more than 60 percent of the price sold in the court.

- In 4 times a year, the Ministry of Taxation will inspect the quality. The timing is irregular, and undercover officials of the Ministry of Taxation will randomly obtain a golden brush and inspect the quality. May the inspection finds any disqualification, golden brushes with the royalty official seal—plum flowers—will be withdrawn, and the contract will be terminated.

- If the contract is terminated due to the above issue, a new merchant guild will be selected. The guild, which got its contract terminated, couldn’t reapply for selection for a year.

All merchants closed their lips and started to think after hearing the condition Hyang had just read. One of the merchants, who was calculating over various things, suddenly talked.

“Your Royal Highness, pardon me to talk…”

“Is there any problem?”

“I want to ask about the standard price for selling in the market.”

“It is the final sale price. Why? Is there any problem?”

“I’m sorry to tell you, 60 percent of the profits are generous, but considering the wages given to the artisans, and the profits taken by the peddlers, only 30 percent of 60 percent that we could take. However, if 20 percent of that is for the nation, then what will we have…”

“Silence!”

Hyang stopped the merchant’s word with a harsh voice.

“In presence of whom you dare to tell lies now? Alright, let’s say that 30 percent is the amount of profit you’re going to take. But, what I said is 20 percent of the profit you take. Is 20 percent of 30 percent more than 6 pence? Did you tell lies despite knowing what kind of place is this? Minister of Taxation! Kick out that disrespectful person from the palace right now and take out his guild right to operate!”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness!”

As soon as Hyang gave his order, the Minister of Taxation gave his order. The palace soldiers came inside when they heard the order of the Minister of Taxation and came out, dragging the merchant in question.

“Your Royal Highness! Your Royal Highness!”

When the loud commotion subsided, Hyang stared at the merchants.

“His Majesty the King and I believe that merchants are also an important presence to our people. Because it is impossible for a person to create everything they need alone in life, so it is natural that they need another person to work as a middleman. However! As long as there is someone who uses dirty tricks like him, you merchants will not be able to escape from being treated as a lowly being! Keep this in your mind!”

“We will engrave this in our mind, Your Royal Highness!”

T/N

(1)1mal=5.3kg 1 dwe=530gr↻

Chapter 10
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (3)

When the ‘tender briefing of the golden brush' ended, the merchants left the Ministry of Taxation one by one. Just before he passed the gate of the Ministry of Taxation, an oldish merchant started a conversation with an official.

“Excuse me, My Lord.”

“What is it?”

“How old is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince this year?”

“It is eight.”

“Ho~.”

As the merchant couldn't hide his surprised expression, the young official of the Ministry of Taxation talked with a voice filled with pride.

“He is an amazing person. The reigning His Majesty the King is not an ordinary person, and even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is also very brilliant. This is such a great fortune for our Joseon.”

“I see.”

After the merchant said goodbye courteously to the official, suddenly a raging fire burned inside him.

“Someone's child is that polite at eight years old! But, my grandchild is, hah!”

At the same time, East Palace.

Hyang, who had come back to his room, was talking face to face with a man. The man was the one who had been kicked out by the officials earlier.

“Good work, Eunuch Jo.”

“It’s nothing, Your Royal Highness. But, do you really have to do this?”

“I have no other choice since I am too young.”

Eunuch Jo thought over Hyang's age and nodded. Then he rose from his seat and spoke courteously.

“I will go back to change my clothes.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

* * *

As the production of the golden brush made by Hyang came under private management, the golden brush spread across the nation. While the golden brush became a one-time hit, an unusual scene began to happen.

At a noble house in Naju, Jeolla Province.

An old nobleman was waiting for someone in the big living room of a large tile-roofed house that looked at least 40 units.(1)

Not long after, a peddler with a rather big wood crate in his shoulder entered the yard. The peddler put off the crate in the ground, then bowed to the nobleman.

“My Lord, are you looking for me?”

“That’s right, I summoned you. Do you bring the golden brush?”

“I brought it this time.”

“O-oh, really!”

When the nobleman rejoiced, the peddler laid out a piece of cloth in the yard, then took out a luxurious nacre box from the crate and carefully put it on the cloth.

After putting down the nacre box, the peddler bowed down to the box, then stepped up to the big living room where the nobleman sat while holding the box carefully. When the peddler put down the nacre box on the table, the nobleman made an exclamation.

“O-Oh! This is!”

When the thrilled nobleman reached out his hand, the peddler immediately stopped him.

“My Lord! You should pay your respect.”

“Ah!”

At the peddler’s comment, the nobleman quickly tidying up his clothes then politely bowed in front of the box.

“The grace of His Majesty the King is so deep that he has given me such a precious item. His grace is immeasurable.”

The nobleman carefully opened the box after expressing his gratitude to the King.

There were ten shiny pen barrels with lacquer and golden pen nibs inside the box that was covered with soft silk inside.

The silk that covered the ceiling of the box and the pen nib was clearly stamped with plum flower patterns.

“You put the golden brush to the barrel…”

While listening to the peddler’s explanation, the nobleman fixed the nib to the barrel, then dipped it in the ink that had been grounded nicely, and wrote in the paper.

He wrote a phrase from his favorite scripture in one stroke. The nobleman then exclaimed.

“This is really a precious item.”

* * *

Because the golden brush had become a big hit, smiles never left the face of the Minister of Taxation.

“The budget, the budget is increasing!”

It wasn’t only the Minister of Taxation that couldn't stop smiling. The officials of the Ministry of Taxation also couldn't erase the smile from their faces.

Since the day Joseon was founded, no, since the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, the national budget had never been in an abundant state—not even once.

When Joseon was founded, the royal family reduced their salary to 1/6 and the government officials to 1/4, but the budget was still insufficient.

In this kind of situation, the profits that came from selling the golden brush were a very welcomed thing.

In reality, it was an insignificant amount, just like ‘pee in your pants for warmth in the winter’, but it was inevitably good to see that the court was able to expand its scope little by little in the process of running state affairs.

If there was one positive influence, it was that King Sejong and his retainers began to pay attention to the positive effects of trading.

However, negative movements began to happen behind the scenes.

“How come the court became a place to do business…”

“You’re right. His Majesty the King and the courtiers are showing too much favor to the business done by the low people.”

“The lowest in the society are the merchants. They are part of the commoners, but they are not different from those low people! At this rate, we will follow the evil practices of the former dynasty!”(2)

The Orthodox Neo-Confucian scholars, who were dissatisfied with how King Sejong and the retainers became interested in the funds that came from selling the golden brush, began to complain. And those dissatisfied people turned their swords to Crown Prince Hyang.

“In the first place, the one who started this was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“A young person already fell down the wrong path… This is the fault of those in charge of the Crown Prince’s discipline!”

“His Majesty the King is also a problem. No matter how brilliant the Crown Prince is, how could he let a young child recklessly settle an important matter! This is something that must be corrected!”

“I also think that we must pay more attention to His Royal Highness’ education! He should read more even if it’s only one letter of sage’s words and keep it in his heart. How could he do a mere play when there is not enough time to make this Joseon the center of the world! This is something that shouldn’t happen!”

“We need to file an appeal right now!”

“That’s right!”

When those discontent factions tried to file their complaints, an unexpected thing held them back.

It was the death of King Taejong.

May 10th, 4th year of Sejong reign(1422), King Taejong died at age 56 years.

During King Taejong's funeral, the inquiry was suspended for 10 days and the trade for 5 days.

The national affairs were continued, but because it was during King Taejong's funeral, the controversial appeal could not be filed.

“Let’s wait for the next chance.”

“I think we have no choice.”

The people who filed a petition had no choice but to aim for the next chance.

Without knowing that kind of thing was happening under the surface, Hyang was immersed in reading during King Taejong's funeral.

“Hm… Can this be translated like this?”

Hyang had opened several books at the same time before meticulously comparing them.

The books which Hyang was looking at were books from Europe that entered China and their Chinese translation.

* * *

Just before the envoys left for China, Hyang summoned the envoys' leader.

“Your Royal Highness, did you call for me?”

“I did. I’m sorry to call you when you're busy preparing for the trip.”

“It’s fine, Your Royal Highness.”

After such a light conversation, Hyang immediately brought up the main point.

“I’d like to ask you a favor.”

“A favor?”

“That’s right. If you're going to Beijing this time, please get me some books.”

“Books… What kind of scripture would you like me to bring?”

“It’s not scripture but miscellaneous books. Miscellaneous books related to medical technique and… Ah! Do you know about the people who live in the west?”(3)

“People who live in the west… Are you talking about foreigners?”(4)

“That’s right. Please find me books about their laws or technologies. Whether it is the translation or original copy.”

“Why do you want the barbarians’ books…”

When the envoy leader drew out a reluctant expression, Hyang explained the reason.

“It is called Saimhengpilyuasa.(5)There is also a saying called Tasanjiseok gai-gongok.(6) If it helps me to straighten myself up and run my country, even though it is barbarians' things, how can I not learn from it?”

“…”

The envoy leader shut his mouth at Hyang's explanation.

If the one in front of his eyes was a mediocre prince, he would warn him ‘in this time, please read the scriptures first’. But the one in front of his eyes was a more frightening genius than his father that was acknowledged by the ministers.

The Crown Prince was someone who finished the Four Books and Three Classics even before he reached 6, and when he was 7, he finished the Thirteen Classics.(7)

Even at such a young age, he didn’t sleep more than 6 hours and fiercely learned the scriptures. By the time he was installed as the Crown Prince, he even discussed policies with the officials from the Crown Prince Education Office.

Because of this, some of the young officials who liked to be straightforward had even said the following.

[If the crown prince is a little bigger and finds out what's going on outside the palace, the court will be turned upside down.]

Because of that, the envoy leader could only bow his head as he said the following.

“I will carry out Your Royal Highness' order with all my heart.”

“Please do so.”

After that, Hyang asked a similar favor whenever the envoys went to Beijing. Of course, after the first time, he even made a list and handed it over.

“I already have the books in this list, so please find me the other books.”

“…I understand, Your Royal Highness.”

Thanks to that, the envoys had to work hard to find the books. It was because even though Europeans and Arabs had entered China since the Yuan Dynasty, their books were something that wasn't common.

* * *

“This will solve the reference problem.”

Hyang smiled as he looked at the bookshelves made on one side of the room, which was three-quarters full.

While confirming the industrial technology of Joseon during King Sejong’s period, more and more ideas were available for Hyang to apply.

“The problem is that if I come up with all of these, there are a lot of people who will look at me with prejudiced eyes. Not to mention the medical field, in this case, it's better to give a reference.”

Before he came to this conclusion, Hyang had obtained not only Chinese books but also European books that had been introduced to China through envoys to Beijing.

Through the envoys, Hyang had collected books from Europe late of Middle Age and the early Renaissance and also books from the Middle East. He also had collected the Chinese translation of those books and began to read them meticulously.

“I need to know roughly what's in which book. So I can make it plausible when I talk about it later. Isn’t there’s saying that you need to know to trick?”

The reason Hyang thought of this was because of the hardships he had to go through when he offered the golden brush to the King.

“This is indeed a good item, but how did you come to think about this?”

Hyang quickly answered King Sejong’s question.

“It was because I saw something unusual in the process of applying ink to the brush.”

“Something unusual?”

“I saw the ink rising between the brush hairs. The thing called water is supposed to move from the top to bottom, but this one contradicts it, so how can I find it not to be amusing? About this…”

Hyang made a plausible reason why he made the golden brush and talked about it.

After hearing the explanation, Sejong slapped his knee and expressed his admiration.

“Until this time, there were many people who used the brush, but there is no one who thinks like you! If this is not an example of perfecting knowledge by studying the logic of a real thing, then what is this?!”

With that, the golden brush issue had safely ended, but Hyang really knew that it was hard for this kind of luck to continue.

“The big reason I made the golden brush and offered it to the King was to let him know that I, the Crown Prince, have this kind of skill. Because it is something that can’t be put out of the blue. But, ‘by chance’ only works a few times. I need a reference to make it more plausible.”

* * *

“Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has come.”

King Sejong, who was looking at the state affairs through appeals and reports at the little chambers he used during King Taejong’s funeral, put down the appeals he was reading and answered.

“Let him in.”

Hyang entered the chamber and greeted King Sejong.

“Dear father, your face doesn't seem good. Have you eaten your dinner?”

“I ate because the ministers keep annoying me.”

‘This guy!’

King Sejong's answer made Hyang enervated inside.

‘A meat lover who can't live without meat! Even though you can’t eat meat because this is a mourning period, you should eat properly!’

Hyang insulted him inside before talking in earnest.

“Father is the pillar of this nation. Even if you’re in the midst of mourning, you have to eat.”

“I will do so. So, what’s happening?”

“This son has collected miscellaneous books of the west people through the envoys.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. Is there anything I could help with?”

“Father, I need you to give your judgment.”

King Sejong, who was smiling comfortably as if he were looking at his son acting cute, straightened his posture and made a serious expression.

“Tell me.”

“Yes, father. I plead you to use their number.”

“The west people’s number?”

“Yes. To be exact, it is Hindu numbers. To elaborate, this number first started in India, then…”

T/N

(1) The house was around 193 m2. Sorry if my calculation is wrong.↻

(2) Four occupations(사농공상): The traditional four classes of society (scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants). The merchants were said to be low since they were seen as a social disturbance for excessive accumulation of wealth or erratic fluctuation of prices.↻

(3) 서이 (西夷): In the past, a word used in China that meant ‘the western barbarian', which was used as a low-key word for the people living in the western regions.↻

(4) 색목인(色目人): During the Yuan Dynasty in China, it was used to refer to foreigners from Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. It refers mainly to Turks, Iranians, and Arabs, but the name is given because the color of the skin and eyes are different.↻

(5) If three people go together on a trip, one of them must be a teacher. It means that if three people do something, they need someone who can differentiate between good and evil.↻

(6) Jade can be polished with stones from other mountains. Even the insignificant words and deeds of others can help one to sharpen their manners and virtues by taking those words and actions as a lesson.↻

(7) The Analects, Mencius, Classic of Poetry, Book of Documents, Classic of Changes, The Three Ritual Classic, Erya, Classic of Filial Piety, The Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals.↻

Chapter 11
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (4)

Starting from the word—chain letter—that he had heard somewhere, Hyang diligently explained to King Sejong about the usefulness of Arabic numerals.

King Sejong listened to Hyang’s presentation with a serious face before stroking his beard and falling into deep thoughts.

After continuing his thoughts in silence, King Sejong finally drew his conclusion.

“I think this is a good opinion, but I don’t think it is right for me to conclude this alone. When the morning meeting starts tomorrow, come again and explain about this.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang politely left King Sejong after he finished his business.

King Sejong, who was quietly watching Hyang walking back, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Hyang.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I’m really proud of your intelligence. But, you’re still young. For now, focus on your physical and mental growth rather than on the national affairs.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang’s face reddened at King Sejong’s praise. Then he lowered his head. King Sejong smiled while looking at Hyang’s back, who left with a happy feeling.

“Now he looks like a kid his age.”

King Sejong was looking at the documents without erasing his fatherly smile before suddenly clicking his tongue.

“Tsk! I forgot to ask him about this.”

* * *

The next day, when the morning meeting started, King Sejong summoned Hyang like he had promised. Hyang, who joined the morning meeting, explained the Arabic numerals to the high-ranking officials.

“…Therefore, I think it is much more useful to express numbers using these Hindu numbers, which are called by west people ‘Arabic numerals’.”

After finishing his explanation, Hyang bowed politely to King Sejong then stepped back to sit down aside.

When Hyang’s presentation ended, King Sejong asked the high-ranking officials.

“What do you think of the Crown Prince’s proposal?”

The first one to answer King Sejong’s question was the Minister of Taxation, Kim Jeom.

“I think it is quite useful for expressing numbers.”

“I, Minister of Personnel, Heo Ji also think that this is quite useful.”

The Minister of Taxation who worked the most with numbers agreed, and the Minister of Personnel who worked the most with numbers next also agreed.

As the ministers from the two departments most closely related with numbers agreed in favor, King Sejong concluded.

“Then, with the two departments as the center, try to use these numbers for a month. If the results are good, it should be implemented nationwide.”

“We accept your order!”

When the agenda about numbers was decided, King Sejong moved to the next agenda.

“I think I had to hear this one with the Crown Prince to decide. Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Father.”

“The Emperor of Ming sent a Royal letter.”

Hyang let out a blank expression at the unexpected words.

“Pardon?”

King Sejong explained the full stories of the incident after looking at the Crown Prince’s face.

[King Sejong, who was very delighted with the golden brush made by the Crown Prince, ordered the arsenal bureau to make a golden brush to be presented to the Emperor. The golden nib was inlaid with silver and in the shaft, two dragons were lacquered with yellow dye. Emperor Yongle, who received such a splendid golden brush, expressed his satisfaction.]

Emperor Yongle really liked the golden brush that he sent a royal letter through Joseon’s envoys, who were sent to congratulate the Emperor’s birthday.

[Tribute 10,000 pieces of the golden brush.

Because I know that Joseon’s products are scarce, tribute a thousand pieces of the same quality that had been presented and nine thousand pieces with a slightly lower quality.]

King Sejong and the retainers agonized over the official letter from Emperor Yongle.

There were four grades of the golden brush that were sold with the court's approval. The special grade was for the royal family, and it was a high-end product with pure gold that was inlaid with silver, and the next grades 1 to 3 were made of gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.

Emperor Yongle said it was okay even if the grade was lower, but he would only be satisfied if it was at least grade 1.

* * *

“If it’s 10,000 pieces, the budget…”

The Minister of Taxation, Kim Jeom, held his twitching head while muttering at the unexpected request of Ming.

“The reason the Crown Prince made such a precious item… I mean, why did His Majesty the King present that? There is a limit to bragging about your child…”

“My Lord!”

“Gasp!”

When the Vice-minister beside him warned, Kim Jeom hurriedly closed his mouth and took a look at his surroundings. Fortunately, he was in the Ministry of Taxation’s office and there was only the vice-minister around.

“Huff~.”

Kim Jeom let out a breath of relief, then warned the Vice Minister.

“Pretend you didn’t hear that.”

* * *

Hyang lost in thought after hearing about such a situation. He calculated over various things while slowly nodding his head alone before looking at King Sejong.

“Dear Father, why don’t you run a business?”

“A business?”

“Business! Why such a thing!”

“Inspector General, be quiet. Crown Prince, you can continue.”

As soon as Hyang let out the word ‘business’, Inspector General of Saheonbu(1), Seong Eom, quickly tried to oppose it. However, his attempt was blocked by King Sejong. Hyang then continued his speech on King Sejong’s order.

“If Ming sent a letter and ordered us to include the golden brush in the tributary, it means the golden brush is quite liked in Ming. Let’s think about the grand territory of Ming and their population. No, just look at the numbers of people related to literature, how many times is it compared to Joseon? If we contact the guild in charge of manufacturing the golden brush, we will be able to make more in addition to the amount asked.”

King Sejong and high-ranking officials tried to calculate inside their heads at Hyang’s question. Then they quickly made a conclusion.

‘We can make a profit!’

Hyang saw the response from King Sejong and the officials, then continued his explanation.

“Then, we will order the merchants to accompany the envoys to Ming. They will go officially, not in secrecy like what a few of them did until now.”

- Merchants accompanying the envoys pay two seok (about 320 kg) of polished rice per person. The court guarantees their accommodation and safety until they arrive in Beijing.

- The court supports the commercial activities of merchants by renting a building near the Hoedonggwan, a residence dedicated to the envoys of Joseon in Beijing.

- Merchants pay 20 percent of their profits from the sale to the court. However, they should pay 40 percent of their profits from expensive goods such as ginseng.

- If the officials belonging to the envoys and their attendances have something to sell, they entrust it to the merchants. The profits gained are also paid to the court at the same rate as merchants.

- The Ministry of Taxation accurately records the list of items and quantities of goods that will be sold by merchants and envoys before their departure. In addition, officials from the Ministry of Taxation are accompanying the envoys to accurately record the sales status.

“…I think it would be good to do it like this.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang’s explanation ended, and then King Sejong and the retainers reviewed it. While they were examining the pros and cons of the plan that Hyang had said, Seong Eom suddenly talked.

“I, Inspector General, think that we should not run the plan made by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Why do you think so?”

“The Crown Prince’s plan will surely bring us great fortune. However, as what already happened in the past, if we gain a lot of fortune, not only the royal family but also the people will drown in luxury, and this will lead to tyranny where people will be imbued with heavy taxes.”

“I, Chief Censor, agree with the Inspector General’s opinion. Both the monarch and the people should be poor but honest and content with the poverty(2) while they accumulate virtue and spread a beautiful fragrance to the world so that the other countries admire them. I think this is the true meaning of political virtue.(3)”

“I, Minister of Rites, agree with the previous two opinions. How could the lowly merchants participate in the trip to meet the Emperor of a great nation? This is something that defiles Joseon’s dignity. I know that Your Royal Highness is smart, but it seems like you don’t really understand national affairs and diplomacy. It is better for you to work harder in your study and learn about national affairs and diplomacy from a king’s viewpoint.”

In short, it was ‘what does a young kid know about national affairs and diplomacy that he dares to intervene?’. Hyang's eyebrow raised at the remarks of the Inspector General, Chief Censor, and Minister of Rites.

“Huff~.”

Hyang breathed out while soothing down his anger, then looked at King Sejong.

“Dear Father, can you let this son answer that?”

“You can.”

King Sejong’s voice didn’t sound good as if he was also offended. With King Sejong’s permission, Hyang began to refute.

“I ask the Inspector General. Did you say that if we gain fortune, the royal family will drown in luxury and this will lead to tyranny?”

“That’s right. If we look at what had happened in the past…”

“If we look at that example, people had to squeeze out their sweat and blood to gain that luxury. Are you saying that I am squeezing people’s sweat and blood now? Do I not bring that fortune from outside?”

“Maybe you can bring the fortune from outside once. However, isn’t there no guarantee that it will continue like that? It may sell well because it's the first time, but we can't guarantee the next one. If it becomes like that, the one to bear the burden will be the people.”

“Are you living only for today, Inspector General?”

At the young Hyang’s rude question, Head Inspector Seong Eom let out a baffled expression.

“What do you mean by that!”

“Are the things sold by merchants only the golden brush? There are a lot of other things, too! And why are you sure that golden brush is only a one-time sale?”

“Are there any of the high-ranking officials who use the golden brush? At first, we bought it because we were fascinated by it, but it was an item that can’t follow the grandeur and elegance of a wooden brush! The golden brush is no more than a children’s toy!”

Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation who kept quiet, intervened at Seong Eom’s words.

“You are wrong, Inspector General. Do you know how much the consumption of golden brush is in a month now? 60 pieces for grade 1, and the total for grades 2 and 3 is 400 pieces. This number is only in the court. The number of sales in public is more than 1000 pieces a month, with the grade 1 more than 600 pieces.”

Kim Jeom’s additional explanation made Seong Eom’s eyes widened.

“In a month?”

“In a month.”

Seong Eom unconsciously muttered at Kim Jeom’s answer.

“Huh… How can such a frivolous thing…”

Hyang immediately responded to Seong Eom’s words.

“I’m sorry. It is frivolous because it is made by a young kid.”

“Gasp!”

Seong Eom, who realized that he had made an improper remark, quickly bowed his head to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive my rudeness!”

“I forgive you.”

“Thank you!”

While Seong Eom was wiping cold sweat inside, Hyang continued his attack.

“Inspector General and Chief Censor objected, using ‘sangjeo-okbae’(4) as an example, but this trip is necessary for the people. Eunuch! Bring a book from my room. The title is ‘Geography of The World’.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

After a short time, the eunuch, who came back panting, held out a book to Hyang.

Hyang opened his desired part, then gave out the book to the eunuch.

“Show that to my father.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

King Sejong received the book and while he was looking at the contents of the book, Hyang continued his talk.

“That book is one of the miscellaneous books I collected through the envoys. Like the title ‘Geography of The World’, it is a book that records the geography and regional products of China and nearby countries. According to that book, Gangnam in Ming harvests rice twice a year, and Daewol, which is farther south than Ming, harvests three times a year. Therefore, we have to buy rice from Gangnam or Daewol with the profit earned from the merchants who will join the trip. Then we relieve people from starvation with the rice we got.”

Hyang, whose mouth was dried up from constant chatter, stopped talking for a moment and swallowed his saliva. After moistening his dried mouth, Hyang continued his offense.

“Did you say to be proud poverty and be content with that poverty? Do you see people as a proud poverty because they want that poverty? The people are now in extreme poverty. Being content with poverty? They are drought to death in summer, frozen to death in winter, and starved to death in spring! Under these circumstances, who will praise the monarch for his virtue? Are you saying the nation's dignity is at stake when the people are dying from hunger?! There is a saying, ‘if their child was starving for three days, even a noble would jump over the wall’. How can parents stay still when their child is hungry! A king is the father of all people! His children are crying from hunger, shouldn’t he do anything for them?”

“Wonderful talk, my boy!”

The court froze at King Sejong’s sudden shout.

Hyang and the ministers looked at King Sejong with their mouths opened, and the historians stopped their records and looked at King Sejong.

Hyang, who was looking at King Sejong, suddenly remembered his first birthday party. He remembered the situation where Sejong and his brother, Yang-nyeong were in a heated discussion and was about to start a fight before clicking his tongue.

‘Tsk! He really had endured that personality for a long time.’

T/N

(1)Saheonbu (사헌부/司憲府): Office of the Inspector General. You can check this link for more information.↻

(2) Poor but honest/proud poverty (청빈/淸貧): Pure in character and has no desire for wealth. 안빈낙도(安貧樂道): Being content amid poverty and taking pleasure in acting in an honest way. ↻

(3) Political virtue (왕도정치/王道政治): An old Chinese political idea that a virtuous person should rule a morally dark person.↻

(4) Sangjeo-okbae(象著玉杯): Chopsticks made of ivory and wine glasses made of jade. It means to be on the lookout for insignificant waste that can lead to luxury that ruins the country. Another meaning of this is greed begets greed (man's greed has no end).↻

Chapter 12
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (5)

King Sejong, who had realized his mistake, opened his lips with a reddened face.

“The historians…”

However, when King Sejong looked at the historians who were eager to write with their golden brush, he closed his lips then looked at Hyang.

“Crown Prince, you can continue your talk if you still have something to say.”

“Yes, Father.”

After a brief skit, Hyang continued his attack.

“All the high-ranking officials here and the nobles outside the palace can hold their hunger because they have learned to reason, but people who were lacking knowledge couldn’t fully learn to reason that they can’t hold their hunger. If we want to teach reasoning to these people and build virtue, shouldn’t we at least make them not hungry?! Virtue over wealth is important, but the promotion of public welfare is also important!”

“That’s right!”

King Sejong exclaimed as he slapped his knee at Hyang’s remarks. Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the court froze once again.

‘This man is too excited, he explodes!’

After letting out a little sigh, Hyang looked at the high-ranking officials. Those officials who were objecting to Hyang's plan were in a dying state because of Hyang’s attack.

‘This is the last card! If I succeed, I can perfectly turn them into porridge!’

Filled with a fighting spirit, Hyang began his last strike.

“Since ancient times, it has been said that ‘people’s heart is heaven’s heart’. No matter how much virtue we have, how will heaven respond to us when people’s hearts are wailing? ‘Man proposes, heaven disposes’. Doesn't that mean we should do everything we can before we wait for heaven’s response? But, when drought comes, you said it is because of the king's lack of virtue, when an epidemic happens, the king's lack of virtue, people dying from starvation, the king's lack of virtue. The one who tells the king to build up his virtue is you all! This order is wrong! Before drought comes, prepare water control properly. Before the epidemic comes, prepare medicine in advance and store grains before the year of famine comes. Isn’t that the right order? But you didn’t do such preparations and say it is the king who lacks virtue. Don’t tell me…”

Hyang stopped talking for a moment and glared at the ministers.

“All the sir here saying that this Joseon lacks virtue? There are a lot of officials here who have been in the government since the previous dynasty. So… it was unfair of King Taejo to establish a nation despite being a subject of Goryeo, and he lacks virtue. It is also injustice and vice of my grandfather to draw his sword, and for my father to ascend the throne instead of my uncle who was the oldest son was also…”

“Your Royal Highness, that is certainly not!”

“We never had such heinous and insolent thoughts!”

The officials were very shocked that they forgot they were in the middle of a meeting and shouted their denials. Some of them who saw unpleasant expressions in King Sejong prostrated altogether.

“Your Majesty! We never had such a heinous thought! Please show us your mercy!”

“Please show us your mercy!”

Starting from the Chief State Councillor, Ryu Jeong-hyeon, all the officials prostrated while denying the accusations, but King Sejong didn’t easily open his mouth.

After a long period of heavy silence, King Sejong opened his mouth.

“Crown Prince, you’re too harsh.”

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“Be more careful with your words next time.”

“Yes, Father.”

After warning Hyang, King Sejong looked at the officials.

“The tribute problems asked by Ming’s emperor will be executed as the Crown Prince’s plan, so prepare thoroughly. This year, the farm is not good, and the rain is low even though summer is approaching, so I think it is right to prepare grains to relieve people.”

“Your wish is our command.”

There was no one who objected to King Sejong’s decision. After looking at the officials, King Sejong looked back at Hyang. His face softened when he looked at Hyang.

“Is there anything you want to add to your father’s words?”

“When distributing the grains to people, I think it is right to give it in return for work rather than just give it.”

“In return for work?”

“The biggest reason for frequent drought is low rain, but it is also because the irrigation facilities are lacking. Each district should repair its small castle and reservoir. If there is none, they should make a new one, and the riverbed should be dredged to prevent flooding. If we mobilize people to do this work and in exchange, we give them grains, I think we could expand the irrigation facilities and at the same time we could prevent people from idling and starving.”

“Killing two birds with one stone, huh? I think that is good. What about you, retainers?”

All the officials answered King Sejong’s question in one voice.

“We think that is a very good idea!”

“Then let's do it like this.”

“We accept your order!”

King Sejong turned to Hyang after hearing his retainers' answers.

“Crown Prince, you can go back now.”

“Yes, Father.”

“And when the funeral ritual ends, participate in the political discussion.”

Hyang was surprised by King Sejong’s order that he stared at him but soon bowed his head.

“Your wish is my command. Thank you for giving this young and immature son an honor to participate in Father’s political discussion.”

“Now go back and continue what you were doing.”

“Yes.”

After sending Hyang back, King Sejong looked at the officials with a stiff expression.

His gentle smile when looking at Hyang had disappeared, and he was filled with a coldness like the freezing cold winter wind and snow.

“Let’s end the morning meeting here. Now go and do your work.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Well, that’s all, and I think I should ponder about what you all really think of this Joseon.”

As soon as King Sejong’s words finished, the officials threw their bodies to the floor.

“Your Majesty! Not even once we ever thought of such disloyalty! Please show us your mercy!”

“Please show us your mercy!”

With all their might, the officials plead for their innocence to the point of straining their neck.

King Sejong, who was looking at them with a cold face, turned his head.

“Go and do your work.”

“Please show us your mercy!”

“I said go and do your work!”

Hearing King Sejong’s roar, the officials left with a confused expression.

* * *

The officials who had come out of the office where King Sejong was staying let out a long sigh.

“Huff~.”

“Haah~. This is bad. If we make a wrong move, we could invite a bloodbath.”

“He is someone who has the blood of King Taejo and King Taejong, so… Huff~.”

The theme of conversation between the high-ranking officials, who were worried about when bloodshed would occur, changed to Hyang.

“His Majesty the King is an outstanding person, but the Crown Prince is also outstanding.”

“He is not only outstanding but scary. He dominated the political situation with his small tongue…”

“He is just about to reach nine, but if we only look at his speech, he is cunning, like an old man over sixty…”

“He’s definitely not an ordinary person…”

“By the way, I’m worried about His Majesty’s heart.”

The officials who couldn’t hide their wary stared at the main culprits of this incident.

“Why did you uselessly open your mouth!”

“Don’t you know that mouth is a door to disaster!”

Inspector General and Chief Censor, also Minister of Rites, continued their steps in silence despite criticism from other officials.

“Hey! Say something if you have a mouth!”

“You talked well at the meeting, but why are you silent now!”

“How will you solve this situation!”

As the other officials flooded them with critics, Seong Eom spoke as their representative.

“Sorry.”

“Do you think sorry is enough!”

“…”

The inspector general and his party moved to one side to avoid the other officials.

After they passed the palace gate and came out to Yookjo Street, Inspector General and his party let out a breath.

“Huff~.”

“We have been struck hard. We took him too lightly because he is young.”

The three people nodded at the Chief Censor’s words.

“What do you think is the best for us from now on?”

The Inspector General answered the Minister of Rites’ question.

“If nothing’s working, we have no other choice than to give our resignation letter, right?”

“Resignation… letter?”

“That’s right. Since suspicion already bloomed in the King’s heart, disaster will come. What kind of blood does the King have? It is the blood where you can’t save yourselves when he makes up his mind. If it’s not like that, then there would be no dispute with his brothers and he wouldn’t stay still when his wife’s family were broken apart. Handing out our resignation letter may be the only way to prevent the disaster coming to our family.”

Chief Censor and Minister of Rites nodded with a gloomy expression at Seong Eom’s words. Seong Eom then let out a long breath.

“Huff~. Even though I want to build this nation with the rule of right and virtue…”

* * *

At the same time, Hyang, who had come back to the east palace, twisted his head and reflected back.

“I used the phrase ‘promotion of public welfare’, but did I use it correctly? I said that because I get carried away by the situation…”

The moment the opposition of officials that was filled with ‘Confucianism Principles’ and ‘four occupations hierarchical theory’ came out, anger filled Hyang from head to toe.

‘Woah! Watching this live makes me even angrier!’

The angered Hyang mobilized all ‘historical miscellaneous knowledge’ he had learned in his previous life. Among all of them, he took out ‘promotion of public welfare’ which could be said to be the foundation of silhak from late Joseon, and slapped back the high-ranking officials who opposed him.

Thinking back about it, there was a high possibility that he would be the one slapped by those opposers if they gained even a little of time.

Hyang burst into laughter while thinking of that critical moment.

“This is all thanks to Father.”

Right at that time, the shout of King Sejong the Great became ‘a miraculous move’.

The appearance that he never showed even once since he became a king had made the officials stop their minds.

“But the historians were eager to record that. I wonder how this will be recorded in the annals.”

Hyang scratched his head while remembering the historians who recorded with the golden brush as if they were possessed. Then he looked far away.

“I’m thankful to teacher Samcheonpo.”

* * *

While the officials were worried about their futures and Hyang was reviewing his actions, King Sejong was talking with Queen Soheon.

Queen Soheon sat in front of the door of the chamber that was made for the mourning period, and King Sejong sat inside the chamber. It was because according to Confucianism manners, a married couple was prohibited to sit or sleep together while mourning.

“Did you have your lunch?”

“I ate thin rice gruel.”

“Your Majesty is this nation’s pillar. Only when the king is strong, the nation will stay strong. Please have your meal properly.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

While they were conversing about King Sejong’s health, the tea had been prepared. The tea for King Sejong was brewed by a eunuch and for Queen Soheon was brewed by a court lady.

After taking a sip, Queen Soheon spoke.

“I heard that the Crown Prince caused an uproar at today’s morning meeting.”

“He didn’t do anything. He talked about a very good policy. It was me who caused the uproar.”

“Sorry?”

“I couldn’t beat my excitement that I used my speech back on our old house. This is why the dignity of a king is…”

“What? Hohoho!”

Queen Soheon burst into laughing at King Sejong’s complaint. After wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, Queen Soheon looked at King Sejong.

“Even so, your complexion looks far better. Why don’t you just talk comfortably? Is there any need for you to worry about the historians’ brush?”

King Sejong nodded at Queen Soheon’s words. The skit that happened today had made him embarrassed, but it made him feel better inside. It felt like his stiff neck and shoulders were released at once.

King Sejong opened his mouth after finishing his thought.

“You’re right, my queen. My comfort is the first priority.”

“Your Majesty, that is a wise judgment.”

“I also asked the Crown Prince to participate in my political discussion after the funeral ritual ended.”

Queen Soheon let out a worried expression at King Sejong’s words.

“Will that be fine? He is still young…”

“Just like the golden brush, looking at his actions today makes me think it is fine.”

King Sejong stopped for a moment, then let out a sigh.

“Huff~. Our son isn’t ordinary. You also know that, right, my queen? His action, speech, everything is like a subject in his forties…”

He said ‘precocious child’ with a troubled tone, but King Sejong was drawing a proud expression. Looking at King Sejong, who showed such an expression, Queen Soheon also smiled.

“Not a long time ago, you were worried because he is too smart, and he built too many barriers between you. But it seems like you are reassured now.”

“I am.”

King Sejong nodded his head.

Chapter 13
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (6)

Since the time he was able to speak and read, Hyang already showed an unusual appearance from others. Since then, Hyang had been acting so politely to the Sejong couple. There was no flaw in his politeness which made Sejong couple worry instead.

“Even though we’re his parents, I feel like this child is addressing us like strangers.”

“I feel the same. There is a strong feeling that he drew an invisible barrier, and he has been guarding that barrier. Is it because he is too smart?…”

The only one who could come close with that child who built such a strong wall was Princess Jeonghye.

“Because my noonim has strong social skills…”

Hyang always smiled whenever he thought about his sister. The oldest daughter of the King Sejong couple, Princess Jeonghye, was a cheerful and smart person who was loved by all the royal family, starting from the King Taejong couple. In the 21st century, Princess Jeonghye was a ‘super insider’.

When Queen Soheon left after enjoying the tea together, King Sejong stared at the eunuch.

“Get out for a moment. I want to be alone.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The eunuch left, and King Sejong, who was alone, muttered in a low voice.

“Will they personally go, or should I make them go? No… should I end it nicely, or should I shed blood?”

Sejong’s voice that came out faintly was filled with bloody intentions.

“The Great Hall now is only filled with Father’s subjects. I need my own subjects. My only subjects who only hear my words…”

* * *

After the Royal letter from Emperor Yongle came and King Sejong gave his decision, the Ministry of Taxation began to prepare the production of golden brushes that will be presented to Emperor Yongle.

However, a grave problem arose amid the preparation process. The problem was, it was impossible for the merchant guild that was in charge of supplying the golden brush to meet the timing until the envoys departed.

Hearing that the production schedule could be a problem, King Sejong summoned the high-ranking officials and Hyang. After hearing the situation, Hyang stared at King Sejong.

“Dear Father, I think we need to know the detailed situation. How about summoning a representative from the guild and hearing it from him?”

“That is impossible! How could we summon the lowly merchant in the place where we decide the important affairs of this nation!”

As soon as Hyang finished his opinion, Chief Censor shouted no.

Then King Sejong stared at the Chief Censor.

“Then, do you have the answer?”

“…”

“Your job is to remonstrate, and I don’t belittle your advice, but I hope you know when is the right time for that.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty.”

King Sejong, who had blocked the Chief Censor’s mouth, gave his order.

“Call the representative from the merchant.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After a while, the representative who came after receiving the order quickly laid down on the floor.

“This humble merchant greets Your Majesty the King.”

“I summoned you because the Crown Prince has something he wants to ask. Answer his question truthfully.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Crown Prince, you can ask now.”

“Alright. Mister, how does your guild make the golden brush? Does one person take responsibility in making it from the start till the end?”

“Yes, that’s right, Your Royal Highness.”

“Really?”

Hyang thought over something for a while before looking at King Sejong.

“I think I will get the answer after talking with the craftsmen from the merchant guild.”

“Is that so? Then I have to summon their craftsmen.”

Right when King Sejong finished his words, Chief Censor immediately spoke out.

“Your Majesty! You cannot do that! Not only summoning the merchant, but you're also about to summon the craftsmen to this sacred palace. That is something you really can’t do! Please understand this!”

King Sejong gave a firm answer to Chief Censor’s advice.

“So I can’t summon them, although it is for the nation’s benefit?! Chief Censor, you better shut your mouth!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Shut your mouth! If you can’t do that, I have no choice but to question your loyalty.”

The Chief Censor shut his mouth at King Sejong’s roar. In this court that was frozen because of King Sejong’s roar, the representative could only breathe while maintaining his prostrating position.

“Go immediately and bring the craftsmen.”

“Ye-Yes!”

The representative, who had felt the threatening atmosphere, brought the craftsmen and came back to the palace in a short time.

‘Woah! In this Joseon that was famous for being slow, he moves really fast! As expected, people move quickly when they are in a crisis!’

Hyang, who felt frustrated when looking at the people of Joseon who moved so slowly, was satisfied with how the representative moved so fast.

What Hyang taught to the craftsmen in their meeting was the very basic concept of ‘division of labor’ and shift work.

“What do you think of this?”

At Hyang’s question, the leader of the craftsmen rubbed his chin for a while before answering.

“I think this is worth trying. It will take time until we get used to it, but when we get used to it, I think we will be able to make more than now.”

After hearing the leader’s answer, Hyang turned to King Sejong.

“Father, their leader says it is possible.”

“I see. I expect you all to bring good news.”

“Your wish is our order!”

The craftsmen prostrated on the floor and answered King Sejong’s order.

Five days later, the representative from the guild visited the Ministry of Taxation while bringing the answer from the craftsmen.

“They said they can advance the deadline.”

“Really? How about the quality?”

“They also said they’re confident with the quality.”

“You’ve worked hard!”

The Minister of Taxation, who had praised the representative, rushed to King Sejong. At the Minister’s report, not only King Sejong but also the other high-ranking officials had their faces lightened up. King Sejong, who was tapping the desk with his finger, looked at Hyang.

“Dividing the work increases its efficiency… Crown Prince, how did you come up with this marvelous idea?”

“I had visited the royal kitchen before. There, I saw the assistant chefs and court ladies divided their work according to the head chef’s order. I remembered about this and thought of that idea.”

“You are really not an ordinary kid!”

King Sejong exclaimed his awe loudly at Hyang’s answer.

“In the place ignored by others, you found a marvelous idea. This is very wonderful! What are you thinking about this, sir?”

“It is very incredible!”

Most of the officials slowly nodded their heads in agreement with King Sejong’s brag about his child. However, there were always those people who commented regardless of the time and place.

“The Crown Prince’s intelligence is something to congratulate, but I think it is bad that he only paid attention to very trivial things. I think it is right for him to use that intelligence to learn and understand the words of the wise.”

King Sejong’s face turned fierce at the Chief Censor’s words.

“I think it is better for you to call a doctor right away and have your eyes checked. How can you not see properly? Did you say the Crown Prince only focused on trivial things? How can you say thinking about a situation that only passed by the ordinary person and finding the meaning behind that situation as something trivial? Didn't the old sages also ponder over the national prosperity and the welfare of the people then share their thoughts? Why are you being so narrow?”

In response to King Sejong’s rebuke, the Chief Censor hurried to make excuses.

“What I mean isn’t that, but—”

“Then what is it? Just like what the Crown Prince said the other day, are you thinking that the previous kings and I have no legitimacy that led you to say such a ludicrous statement?”

“I have never had such a wicked and disloyal heart!”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Please understand me!”

The morning meeting ended with that scene. When that atmosphere ended, the historians wrote in the manuscript of the annals like the following.

[It is true that the Chief Censor’s remark is narrow-minded, but it is also hard to say the King’s pressure to be right. The desire to brag about his extraordinary child is human nature, but it is unfitting to a monarch’s dignity to press the one who does not agree with him using his authority.]

* * *

Without regarding the historians who wrote sentences filled with criticism in the manuscript of the annals, King Sejong led the retainers and proceeded with the works. And of course, Hyang frequently had to respond to King Sejong’s summons to give his opinion.

King Sejong always summoned Hyang when he had something to discuss. Hyang always did his best to give his answer, and that answer satisfied King Sejong. And after completing a quest like that, Hyang always grumbled when he returned to his room.

“No matter how I look at it, it looks like I dug my own grave. Although it was meant to make me stand out earlier……”

If King Sejong was satisfied and Hyang regretted his decision, the retainers lamented while staring at the sky.

“Ah! I want to resign!”

“How could that father-child do this to us!”

Some of them, who were a bit radical, found a quiet place with no one there, then put the hem of their sleeves in their mouths and cried out.

“Like father, like son!”

It was because whenever Hyang gave answers that pleased King Sejong, the work that they had to do kept getting piled up.

* * *

Hyang, who just came back after explaining about ‘division of labor,’ sighed.

“Huff~. It was close.”

The best method to answer the scheduling problem of the merchant guild was only the division of labor. While the representative went to call the craftsmen, Hyang worked hard to rack his brain.

- It is obvious that I will be asked the reason I think about the division of labor. Even if I was dead, I can’t say ‘I learned from my previous life.’

- I had to find a suitable example of division of labor.

After looking for a suitable enough example for the division of labor, the thing that came up was ‘teamwork in the royal kitchen.’

“It was a success by a narrow margin.”

Hyang, who was evaluating himself, clicked his tongue.

“Thinking about it… there is still no concept of work division even at this time, is it…?”

As he thought over ‘division of labor,’ the voice of Teacher Samcheonpo could be heard in Hyang’s memory.

"Even before Adam Smith talked about ‘division of labor,’ it had already occurred naturally. However, what made the division of labor regularized in the industry must be the connection between ‘the absolute monarchy’ and ‘the mercantile system.’"

“The absolute monarchy…”

Hyang focused on the word absolute monarchy. Teacher Samcheonpo connected Joseon with absolute monarchy, then said the following.

"Then what about Joseon? It was a nation with absolute monarchy, but if you look closely in the history, it can be seen as a power struggle between the king who wanted an absolute monarchy and the retainers who dreamed of a republic."

“After that, he said don’t be happy because of that republic, right? He said in front of the republic we know, there is democracy to make it perfect. And he said the republic that was dreamed by the retainers of Joseon was power in the hands of retainers.”

Hyang, who was ruminating over his past life memories, massaged his head.

“First, what should I do if I want to make my current self comfortable and my future be easy?”

After thinking about that for a while, Hyang finally drew his conclusion.

“They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? Let's do it one by one, too. For now, I should start with the thing that Father really wants… The start is strengthening the throne.”

Hyang gazed at Main Palace.

“Definitely stretch out Father’s power even to the closed society in the countryside. What I need to do is… capital.”

* * *

After making a plan, which was ‘to strengthen the throne, we have to expand the capital,’ Hyang went to visit King Sejong.

“Dear Father, I think there is something that the leader of the envoy has to do regarding this trip and business.”

“Tell me.”

“I think there is something that must be confirmed by the Emperor.”

“Something that must be confirmed?”

“Yes. First, we have to get the exclusive rights to the golden brush sold by Joseon’s merchants in Ming to be recognized. Just by looking at the Emperor's order to offer the golden brush this time, it can be seen that the response to the golden brush is very good. The Great Ming Dynasty is a nation many times larger than our Joseon. Then, just like what I have mentioned before, the demand for golden brush will be several times higher.”

“That’s right.”

“But, there are also merchants in Ming, and will they just stay still? Surely there will be people who reproduce and sell the gold brush. We should prevent this from happening.”

King Sejong thought over what Hyang had pointed out before nodding.

“The Crown Prince's opinion is valid.”

“However, if this goes wrong, we could get trampled by the Emperor—”

When the Minister of Rites tried to raise an objection, King Sejong cut his words.

“Are you a subject of this Joseon, or a subject of Ming?”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Minister of Rites prostrated at King Sejong’s comment. Hyang, who glanced at the Minister of Rites, continued his speech. The second thing was a big bomb that shaken up the court.

Chapter 14
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (7)

“The second is, we must obtain a decree prohibiting excessive demands for goods from their envoys who come to Joseon.”

“Ho~?”

“Gasps!”

King Sejong became surprised at Hyang’s remarks, and the officials turned pale.

In the midst of the frozen atmosphere, the Minister of Rites raised his voice.

“Your Royal Highness! You can’t! I mean, we can’t do that, Your Royal Highness!”

“Why can't we do that?”

The Minister of Rites quickly answered Hyang’s question.

“This Joseon is in submission to Ming. It is not right for a nation that pays tribute to protest against a subject of a great nation.”

“Why are you saying that is discourteous? Isn't the subject of a big nation oppressing a small nation that should be called immoral? If all the sir here are true noblemen, aren't you supposed to point out the immoral things?”

“Those who come as envoys are eunuchs. They are the closest to serving the Emperor! If they speak ill of this Joseon to the Emperor, our Joseon will be endangered!”

“Is our Joseon such a weak country? From what I have learned, 10,000 Ming troops were deployed in Liaodong because they were worried that our Joseon might invade their great nation. Is it our Joseon that makes Ming this wary, such a weak nation?”

“That is…”

“And are you seeing the emperor of a great nation as a slow-witted person? That he even declared war at the provocation of someone like a eunuch?”

“That is…”

When the Minister of Rites was getting pushed back in the verbal battle, the Chief Censor intervened.

“Since ancient times, it is natural for a small nation to be submissive to a great nation. And it is absurd for a small nation to act against a great nation. If our Joseon shows a protest, Ming and Joseon will inevitably face a military confrontation. If this happens, we have to expand our military forces, which not only wastes human resources but also becomes a heavy burden to the people. This is a shortcut to a ruined nation, none other than leaving the virtue. Of course, I really understand what is Your Royal Highness saying, but how can you think a foolish idea that will incur a great loss by pursuing a small profit when—”

“Are you just saying, incur a great loss by pursuing a small profit?! I heard that every time an envoy of Ming goes back from here, a two-kilometer road is blocked by carts loaded with goods they took away! The goods that filled those carts are property that they stole from this Joseon’s treasury and people’s warehouse! Are you saying all of this is small? If so, Chief Censor, starting from next time, you are in charge of preparing all those goods! A sage from ancient times said that the duty of a monarch and nobles is to make people live comfortably without starving! But, just because of pleasing a mere eunuch, the people are getting exploited, and the nation's treasury is drying up. Are you saying this is the practice of virtue and contributing to society the nobles have learned?”

Hyang, who was panting because he spoke too long, collected his breath before continuing.

“And which one of the two sages—Confucius and Mencius—taught us not to be submissive but to be humiliated?”

“Your words are too outrageous! It is not to be humiliated, but—”

The Chief Censor felt Hyang had crossed the line, hence he tried to refute. Nevertheless, Hyang immediately interrupted him.

“I haven’t finished talking! It is said that a great man is to live in the largest house, stand in the most right position, and walk on the greatest road!(1) Is there any of the three above applicable to present wealth to a mere eunuch and kissing their ass? Are you all still saying yourselves as a great man? In the old days, when Qi threatened Qufu, Confucius boldly came forward to criticize that injustice and defeated them. Are you saying your action now is the same as Confucius?”

The faces of the retainers reddened at Hyang’s criticism. In this place where the King was present and the historians were recording everything, what the Crown Prince just said was none other than—you petty people!—a blatant insult.

However, Hyang still had something to say. He turned to face King Sejong, then prostrated.

“I am asking a favor to Your Majesty the King! The important officials are gathering here, but rather than people risking their lives for the national prosperity and people’s welfare, there are only those who want to spend their lives wearing silk uniforms while lying up in bed! This son will go as the leader of the envoys this time! I’ll go to petition the Emperor and stop this wrong practice no matter what! Please grant me your permission!”

“Crown Prince.”

“Whenever those retainers gather and open their mouths, they always recite the sages’ words and say we have to build Joseon just like those words. They say Ming is absolutely right, and they do not hide their admiration for them. But, when we strive to make Joseon like that great nation, they always use any kind of excuses to not do that. How can they claim this is not treacherous? Father! That great nation has already used coins since the Song Dynasty, and of course the current dynasty, Ming, also used coins made of gold, silver, and bronze. Furthermore, now they are starting to use gold and silver to pay taxes, not goods anymore! But, what about Joseon? Even though we’ve worked hard to make paper money for people to use since the reign of King Taejo, we kept failing! What do you think is the cause of this? This is because the national treasury is lacking! Because of this, I’m trying to fill the treasury by sending the merchants to accompany the envoys! Only when the treasury is filled, we can relieve the starving people and circulate the currency, then we can make this Joseon more prosperous! This son earnestly asks you, Father! Please let me go as the leader of the envoys this time! Although this son is only a nine-year-old kid with a small body, I’m confident that my heart is higher than high mountains!”

“Crown Prince, the road to Beijing is far and rough.”

King Sejong tried to stop him, but Hyang didn’t stop his charge.

“From what I’ve read about the western people’s history, there was a great empire called Rome. It is said that Rome started as a small city. However, one day, the ground cracked, and they needed wealth to build their nation. At that time, a young noble of Rome came forward by himself to solve the situation because Rome had nothing except their people. Was it only the western people who acted like this? Please look at the hwarangs who unified the old Samhan. Not only the government but also the men from influenced families became hwarangs and were the first to jump into the battlefield! These days, Joseon is in a crisis situation, but this is a good opportunity! If we can make good use of this situation, this Joseon will lay a foundation for a thousand years. But if we can't, we’ll just be a small, isolated nation! Father! Please understand me!”

“Go back to your room.”

“Please understand me, Your Majesty!”

“I said go back! Eunuch! It seems like the Crown Prince is too excited! Take him back to his room and make him calm down!”

“Father!”

After Hyang was carried out by the eunuch and disappeared, King Sejong stared at the officials, who were bowing their heads. His eyes were filled with bloody intention.

“You petty people.”

“Your Majesty…”

“You are noblemen. Aren’t you supposed to be a wise man?! Even a kid about to reach 9 is ready to risk his life for this Joseon, but what are you doing?! Are you noblemen?! Are you great men?! And are you wise men?!”

“We deserve to die!”

With the lead of Chief State Counselor Ryu Jeonghyeon, all the officials prostrated and shouted their pleas to be killed.

“Do you think it is enough with you asking to be killed! If you ask to be killed, that is the end! What nation are you really from? All of you, really befitting to be called ‘yuksiral bastards’(2)!”

King Sejong, who was always polite and kept his manners, threw his manners away and scolded the retainers in a fierce tone.

“Do you know how long the Crown Prince sleeps in a day? It is no more than six hours! While that kid who hasn’t reached nine thinking over how to make this Joseon rich and powerful, and how to make the people live comfortably, that he even reduced his sleep, what is it that all of you were doing?! These rice bugs! You bastards are always looking for the impossible way rather than the possible way! If that is not a bug attitude, then what is it?! What is the use of your big body and your white hair, huh?! You petty people whose hearts are no better than children!”

“We deserve to die!”

“We deserve to die!”

“Don’t only say that, but quickly find the answer! If you can’t, then I will grant your wishes to be killed! Get lost now!”

The official quietly left at King Sejong’s thunderous roar. Meanwhile, the historians who recorded all of this wrote the following.

[Even if the Crown Prince’s remarks were extreme, there is nothing wrong with his remarks. Are the current Chief State Counselor and Six Ministers the retainers of Joseon or retainers of Ming? In order to follow the sage’s teaching, this situation where forgetting eating and sleeping for national prosperity and welfare is not enough, the six ministers only went to work wearing uniforms made of silk, but busy asking to sleep in bedding made of silk. In this kind of situation, what the Crown Prince has said is really refreshing.]

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had come back to his room, sighed after sending the eunuch off his room.

“Huff~. Fuck! I was too reckless.”

After watching the retainers’ action in King Sejong's chamber for a long time, suddenly the situation overlapped with the situation in 21st century Korea. Because of that, Hyang went berserk.

“Does this mean I should prepare to go to Ming… But, I have no plans for going to Ming…”

Hyang, who was analyzing what would happen due to his outburst, scratched his head nervously and came to a conclusion.

“This is a race! Either I will lose my legs or the retainers lose their position!”

Hyang made up his mind before shouting.

“Eunuch!”

“Yes, Your Royal Majesty!”

“I have to prepare to go to Ming!”

“Pardon?”

“It means packing up now!”

* * *

When King Sejong heard the news—the crown prince was packing up his stuff—he abruptly stood up from his seat.

“Why is that kid packing up?”

“That… He said that he has to go to Ming soon… Furthermore, he said he can’t waste any second because this is for the nation and its people…”

After hearing the Head Eunuch’s answer, King Sejong stormed out of his chamber.

“This son of mine!”

In the Queen's Palace.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! We’re in trouble!”

“What is it that you’re being this noisy about?”

Queen Soheon, who was reading a novel she obtained from a court lady, made a questioning look when her lady-in-waiting came and talked in a hurry.

Because she came in a hurry, the lady collected her breath first before speaking.

“His Royal Highness said he will go to Ming, and I heard he is preparing for that now!”

“The Crown Prince will go to Ming? Why? It’s not like Ming is located next to Hanseong! Why does that little kid want to go there?”

“He said the envoys from Ming who come here are exploiting our people, so he wants to stop that… And because the ministers said it is impossible, he wants to do it by himself…”

Even before her lady-in-waiting could finish her words, Queen Soheon already stood up and ran outside.

Bang!

“Your Majesty!”

“Move!”

Queen Soheon, who had roughly opened the door even before the court ladies opened it, grabbed the skirt with both hands and started running through the palace wearing only her socks.

“You girls! What are you doing?! Quickly assist Her Majesty the Queen! Your Majesty!”

“Ye-Yes!”

The queen’s lady-in-waiting who came out to chase Queen Soheon shouted to the court ladies who were staying still like a log before back to chase the queen again.

* * *

“Huff~. Who should I recommend as the leader of the envoys?”

Kim Jeom, the minister of taxation, was agonizing over who should be the leader of the envoys. Usually, he would offer himself as the leader, but he couldn’t do it this time. If something went wrong, he could get his head beheaded by Emperor Yongle, but on the contrary, if he couldn’t do it properly, his head would be beheaded for sure when he came back.

“Who is it…”

When he was deep in his thoughts, suddenly the Minister of Personnel came running, with a pale face.

“My Lord! This is trouble! We’re in trouble!”

“What is it that makes you come without your dignity?”

“What is the use of dignity now?! We’re in trouble!”

“Are Jurchens on the move? Or is it the Japanese pirates?”

“It is better if this is Jurchens or Japanese pirates! The Crown Prince is on the move!”

“The Crown Prince?”

“The Crown Prince said he will go to Ming and is packing up his things now!”

“What?”

Clang!

Kim Jeom abruptly stood up at the Minister of Personnel’s words. The chair he was sitting on rolled far away, but without taking back his chair, Kim Jeom left the ministry of taxation office and ran to the palace.

T/N

(1) One of teaching by Mencius about a great man (대장부/大丈夫). What I found about this is a great man use benevolence as a foundation, manners as guidance, and follows the right path. If one holds a position in government, they should guide people to the right path, and if one doesn’t hold a position in government, they shall walk on that path alone. When one becomes rich, they don’t lose on their wealth. When one in a humble situation, they stay strong and not bend to power. ↻

(2) yuksiral(육시랄): A curse to say ‘you are befitting to get yuksi.’ Yuksi: Criminal with dead sentence, who died before the execution, will still have their head beheaded and body mutilated. ↻

Chapter 15
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (8)

King Sejong, who had arrived outside the East Palace by half running, saw the eunuchs from the East Palace who were in a hurry, then called them with his hand gestures.

“The eunuchs there, come here.”

“We greet Your Majesty the King!”

The eunuchs immediately greeted King Sejong, but King Sejong stopped them and asked.

“Forget your greetings. Where are you going?”

“I am on my way to the Ministry of Taxation.”

“I am going to the Royal Secretariat.”

“Why are you going to the Ministry of Taxation and Royal Secretariat?”

“We received an order to take a note of all items that has been given to the envoys from Ming since King Taejo reign, and bring—”

Even before the eunuchs could finish their answers, King Sejong suddenly shouted.

“This kid really! Seems I've been spoiling you too much, huh?!”

Filled with rage, King Sejong flapped his royal robe before running to the East Palace.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Maaajesty!”

When King Sejong began to run, the eunuchs and soldiers who were following behind him also began to chase him.

King Sejong and people attending him disappeared just like a wind, and the ones left there were the eunuchs who were on their way to execute Hyang’s order.

“What should we do now?”

“What do you mean by that? Don't we just need to execute the order we received?”

“Well, that’s true…”

The eunuch who got an order to go to the Ministry of Taxation stared at the East Palace with a worried expression.

“If this goes wrong, there might be a bloodbath…”

* * *

When the Queen and her attendees, and the high-ranking officials arrived at the East Palace, King Sejong’s roars and Hyang’s rebuttals already leaked out from Hyang’s room.

“This kid! Crown Prince! Why are you being absurd like this?!”

“I am not being absurd! I am only preparing to do the things I have to do as a crown prince!”

“You rascal! Are you doing this despite knowing your age?!”

“There is no age limit in doing the right things! It is just an excuse to say someone is too young to act!”

“There are the high-ranking officials, aren’t there?”

“Isn’t this because they don’t want to move, that I have to do it?”

“You rascal! You don’t want to give up, huh? Eunuch, get out and bring me a stick and a block!”

When King Sejong shouted his order to bring the stick and the block, Queen Soheon, who was at a loss what to do, cried out.

“Your Majesty!”

“Don’t come inside, My Queen! Eunuch, what are you doing? Hurry and bring me the stick and the fulling block!”

“Ye-Yes, Your Majesty…”

With the scolding from King Sejong, Head Eunuch and eunuchs attending King Sejong opened the door of Hyang’s room and walked out.

Queen Soheon immediately stepped up after seeing Head Eunuch’s pale face and entered Hyang’s room.

“Your Majesty!”

“Get out, My Queen! Eunuchs, escort the Queen outside!”

“Your Majesty!”

“What are you doing?!”

After the commotion, Queen Soheon was dragged out by the eunuchs. Queen Soheon, who collapsed in front of the East Palace, screamed her lungs out.

“Your Majesty! He is our child! Please be more merciful!”

“Head Eunuch, what are you doing?! Bring me the stick and the block!”

At King Sejong’s shout, the Head Eunuch and the other eunuchs went to take the stick and block, then immediately came back.

“Are you still thinking your absurd action is right?”

“If Father, the King of this Joseon is the father of this nation's people, then I am their oldest brother! As the oldest, how can I stay still when my siblings wail whenever Ming’s envoy comes! Father, didn't you have already seen the report about the envoys’ evil doings! Every time an envoy comes, they rob property from people in villages on their way back! Then what can those people do? In the end, those powerless people at the bottom of this society only suffer repeatedly from this!”

“That is a problem for the retainers to solve!”

“Those retainers are the ones who can’t find the solution despite it has been decades since Joseon was established! They are blabbers who only know how to have fun! If they are noblemen—noblemen of this Joseon, if they are the ones who claimed to have learned the sages’ teaching and behave like the sages, they shouldn’t stay still and only watch all of these evil practices happening!”

All the high-ranking officials, who were standing in the yard of the East Palace and hearing the debate between that father and son, lowered their reddened faces out of shame and let out a lamentation that reached the sky.

“Hooh~.”

“So, are you still insisting that you are right?!”

“I don't think I have done anything wrong!”

“You really! Show me your legs!”

Queen Soheon, who was outside, paled at King Sejong’s shout.

“Your Majesty! The Crown Prince is only an eight-year-old kid!”

“We must punish him severely when he is still young! Show me your legs and stand on the block!”

Not long after, Hyang’s voice broke out.

“Eunuch Jo! Why are you standing there?! I'm responsible for what I did! Move away!”

“Your Royal Highness!”

“I said move!”

“Your Royal Highness…”

Hearing the eunuch’s tearful voice, Queen Soheon cried and called Hyang.

“My son! My Hyang!”

Afterward,

Whack!

“Your first mistake is being arrogant with your petty knowledge!”

Whack!

“Your second mistake is you dare to look down on the retainers when you’re only a little kid!”

Whack!

“Your third mistake is stubborn with your opinion!”

Whack!

“Your fourth mistake is taking this father’s order lightly!”

Every time a mistake was declared, the stick struck once, and every time that stinging sound transpired, the retainers who were standing in the yard flinched.

Only when he had struck him around twenty, King Sejong stopped.

“Reflect thoroughly about today and make sure this kind of absurdity never happens in the future.”

“I accept the command, Your Majesty.”

After hearing Hyang’s answer—which said while clenching his teeth, King Sejong left the room.

When he reached the yard, King Sejong turned to the Head Eunuch.

“Call the Royal Physician and make him treat the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Head Eunuch signaled with his hand, and a eunuch in the back immediately ran to the Royal Physician Office.

“Huff~.”

After letting out a long sigh, King Sejong glared at the officials who were standing in front of him.

With the lead of Three High Councilors(1), all the high-ranking officials who had seen King Sejong’s angry face kneeled all together.

“We deserve to die!”

“We deserve to die!”

King Sejong briefly answered their shouts.

“By the evening, decide the envoy leader from the Three High Councilors, and two vice leaders from the Six Ministers. It is by the evening. If you all can’t do this, including the Three High Councilor, I’ll judge you all with high treason.”

“Understand, Your Majesty!”

While ignoring their answers, King Sejong walked closer to Queen Soheon. After bringing Queen Soheon, who was sitting helplessly with a face filled with tears, to her feet, King Sejong spoke calmly.

“Please take care of the Crown Prince.”

Thenceforth, King Sejong walked to his chamber with a tired face.

Queen Soheon sent him off while still wet with tears before glaring at the officials with a raging face.

“I won’t forget what happened today and all your faces until I die!”

“We deserve to die!”

“Shut up!”

Queen Soheon shouted instead of answering them before running to Hyang’s room.

“Hyang! Eunuch, what are you doing?! Hurry and call the Royal Physician! Hurry!”

* * *

While the Royal Physician treated Hyang’s wounds, Queen Soheon cried and looked over his wounds. Of course, she also frequently added a few smashes on Hyang’s back.

“Who is it you take after that you’re this stubborn?!”

“Why don’t you listen to your father?!”

“Mother, it hurts!”

“I hit you to hurt you!”

It took five days for Hyang’s wound to heal. In the meantime, even his discussion with the officials from Crown Prince Education Office was suspended, and Hyang spent his time alone.

“A—ah! Ssss~~~.”

Hyang knitted his brows when the pain from his feet crept up while he was sitting on the chair, translating a book from Europe alone.

It was because of his feet that he swayed unconsciously, bumped into the chair legs, and triggered his pain. Hyang looked into his legs before laughing.

“No matter in the previous life or now, these legs suffer a lot.”

Even in his previous life, his legs and back had truly suffered because of his outrageous maniac activity.

* * *

Because of the big accident created by Hyang, the situation in the court was like treading on thin ice. The historians recorded the situation at that time like the following.

July 2nd, Sejong 4th year (1422).

After the King disciplined the Crown Prince severely, he ordered the Three High Councilors and Six Ministers to appoint the envoys’ leader and vice leaders immediately. Following the king's order to finish it before evening, the Three High Councilors and Six Ministers were locked in a room in Gyeongbok Palace(2), and the king’s guards watched over that room. The King ordered his guards to watch over them and ordered panuigeumbusa(3)

to prepare the interrogation. This was done in preparation in case the retainers couldn't give their answer by evening.

The historian said.

The crown prince’s action is extreme, but he didn’t say anything wrong. However, because his action took a wrong direction, it is right for the King to scold him.

It is also not wrong for the retainers to value the submission. But, it is also the truth that this submission is beyond the limit.

However, it is unjust to corner the retainers in a room and mobilize the royal guards to persecute them. This is an action that took a wrong step from the virtue of politics and a king's path, and at the same time leading to caprice and tyranny that the king must avoid at all costs.

* * *

Perhaps the pressure had really worked. That day, before the night came, the appointment ended.

“So the leader is Chief State Councilor and the vices are Minister of Taxation and Minister of Public Works… I approve this appointment.”

“Your grace is immeasurable.”

“Your grace is immeasurable.”

When King Sejong approved, the retainers prostrated all together and replied. With this matter finished, King Sejong gave his next order.

“The Ministry of Taxation and Royal Secretariat note down the reports asked by the Crown Prince and bring them here.”

With the order from King Sejong, the officials from the Ministry of Taxation and Royal Secretariat had to sort out all the evil doings of Ming’s envoys who visited Joseon since it was founded and documents related to that.

As everything finally organized through such a long process, the officials who were filling out the document couldn’t help but sigh.

“This is really going too far!”

“How could…”

The young officials who were organizing the documents couldn’t hold their rage that they beat their chests.

King Sejong sighed after looking at the reports brought from the Ministry of Taxation and Royal Secretariat.

“Huff~. What the Crown Prince said is right, after all.”

According to the report, after Joseon was established, the amount of tribute demanded by the envoy of Ming was increasing overtime every time the new kings were installed. The volume of demanded goods was soaring faster in proportion to the number of visits the envoys had.

The years in which the tributes demanded the most were the first and subsequent years of his accession to the throne.

In order to convince the envoys who were skeptical about himself—the third son—who rose to the throne when the crown prince, who had received the imperial recognition, was ousted; and in order to convince the envoys who doubted if the subjugation of Tsushima was real, the Joseon court had to pay huge amounts of money as bribes.

“The smallest amount they received was two months of a year's budget, and the biggest was six months… If we include the goods they have robbed from small villages, four months for smallest and one year for biggest…”

Just like how they were rumored as ‘recording lovers,’ the officials and scholars of Joseon recorded all the villages where the envoys passed by and properties of the most influential families there that they took away without missing anything. Then they sent it as reports. Thanks to that, King Sejong could know the exact value of the property that was stolen by the envoys.

“Take a look at this!”

Following King Sejong’s command, the Three High Councilors and Six Ministers read the documents in turn.

“Hmm…”

“Hoh…”

The high councilors and high-ranking officials sighed after reading the reports. It was because they finally recognized the seriousness which they had only heard in words by confirming it with numerical values.

“Did you compensate the influential families who lost their wealth to the envoys?”

“…”

“…Because it was for the nation…”

“So you didn’t compensate for them? No wonder, they rake in villagers’ wealth—several times more than what was stolen. Haah~.”

King Sejong sighed before looking at the high-ranking officials.

“All of you couldn’t even think about this thing when the young crown prince could?”

“Forgive us, Your Majesty.”

The retainers bowed at King Sejong’s rebuke. The words ‘aren't you also the same?’ was already at the tip of their throats, but their duty was only to bow while saying ‘we're honored!’.

“Those who will go as an envoy must definitely solve this problem!”

“Understand, Your Majesty!”

T/N

(1) Chief state councilor, left state councilor, right state councilor. They are the leader of the state council of Joseon, the highest organ of government at that time. ↻

(2) You can check this link for more information.

↻

(3) Panuigeumbusa (판의금부사/判義禁府事) The highest position in Uigeumbu. ↻

Chapter 16
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (9)

The dialogue “The king struck the crown prince with a club,” and “The officials received insults from the king” began to spread as rumors throughout the capital city. Although the officials who were worried about losing face ordered people to keep quiet, it was only a matter of time before those who liked to talk would start speaking, unless it was a matter of national secrecy.

As a result, the rumor spread at the speed of light, and within five days, there was not a single person living in the capital city of Hanyang^1 who did not know about the incident. Most of the common people who heard the rumor supported the crown prince’s words, except for the conservative aristocrats.

“Ah! There is nothing wrong with what the crown prince said! Every time those damn envoys from the Ming come, there is endless complaining!!”

“Yes!”

“Owner^2, bring us a pot of makgeolli! We should drink on a day like today!”

As many people in the capital expressed their support for the crown prince, similar-aged boys who resembled him, unintentionally had to shed their blood. They were boys who were similar to him in their background, ranging from the grandsons and great-grandsons of courtiers to the sons of farmers, and all had to endure similar insults.

“The crown prince is already so proficient in his studies that he can debate with the officials, but what are you doing? You can barely read the Thousand Character Classic! Is this the reputation of our family?”

“I-I’m sorry! Grandfather, This grandson will try harder…”

“Shut up! Ah Beom-a! Bring me a club!”

“The crown prince is even dealing with those arrogant officials, but you, you brat, are just causing trouble in the neighborhood! Come here! Let’s teach you a lesson today! Anyone^3! Bring a thick club!”

While sons and grandsons were being beaten with insults and clubs by their grandfathers and fathers, the interest of the women who had taken over the aristocrats’ inner quarters, starting with Lady Jeonggyeong^4, turned to something else.

“I wonder how the crown prince’s mother raised him.”

“We are also curious.”

“We want to ask, but since the crown prince’s mother’s relatives were killed in the previous rebellion…”

The women who were looking for a connection with the crown prince’s mother found a connection with Lady Yeongbin Gang^5, who was the consort of King Sejong.

“As far as I know, the crown prince learned on his own.”

“Really…”

Lady Yeongbin Gang’s words disappointed the women greatly.

“The way the crown prince teaches his younger brothers is amazing.”

“His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince is not only exceptional at studying, but also excellent at teaching.”

“Pardon?”

“The way Crown Prince taught his younger siblings was very impressive.”

* * *

Hyang, who was worried about how to educate his younger siblings, especially Su-yang, finally came to a conclusion: “It’s unreasonable to punish someone before they’ve done anything wrong. Don’t push them until they die! No, push them until they die, and then push them once more!”

After reaching a conclusion, Hyang immediately put it into action. “If I’m going to do it properly, I need to make them learn from a properly trained person!”

And after confirming the reality, Hyang slapped his hand on his forehead, “You haven’t even learned the Thousand Character Classic yet… How am I going to deal with this…?”

When Queen Soheon heard a rumor that Hyang was lamenting about his younger siblings’ academic achievements, she summoned him and said, “My prince, it’s only because Crown Prince is exceptionally talented, not because your siblings are falling behind.”

“Oh my god, even my younger siblings are of the same bloodline as Father. It is an undeniable fact that Father has passed the imperial examination with the highest score, and behaving like this is an unfilial act that tarnishes his reputation. As his son, I cannot bear to see this.”

“Those deceitful guys, trying to trick me will only burn themselves!”6

With a resolute determination, Hyang thought of a way to help his younger siblings with their studies.

“First of all, I need to make sure they learn the Thousand Character Classic properly…”

Hyang soon found a solution to the educational problem of his two younger siblings, Su-yang and An-pyeong. His solution was flashcards.

He then ordered the production of flashcards from painting bereau^7 (Do Hwa Won). Thick pieces of wood were covered with paper on both sides and on one side, four-character phrases from the Thousand Character Classic were written, while on the other side, a drawing that depicted the meaning of the sentence was added.

In addition to the Thousand Character Classic flashcards, Hyang added competition in addition to the “carrot and stick approach”—mainly with the use of snacks, as well as “a sense of rivalry” to teach Su-yang and An-pyeong. With the appropriate use of a whip, the education proceeded, resulting in Su-yang and An-pyeong mastering the Thousand Character Classic in just 40 days.

Hyang’s education did not stop with the Thousand Character Classic. Using pictures that depicted the contents of the scriptures, he explained them in the form of storytelling and engaged Su-yang and An-pyeong in learning.

“Since my younger siblings seem to be following along well, it would be best to continue with this method of education for the time being.”

“I am greatly impressed by the Crown Prince’s methods of discipline!” The princes’ assistants who had been struggling with the education of the two younger princes—especially Su-yang, and had spent a long time in the royal court, admired the prince’s methods and bowed their heads in respect.

“Pardon us, but how long will we be using this method?”

“We need to refine their attitudes before they can approach the Four Books and the Five Classics, so until then, this should be sufficient.”

“Very well.”

Meanwhile, when King Sejong heard reports that Hyang had come up with a unique method to help his younger siblings with their studies, he was delighted and pounded his knee.

“He truly is a Crown Prince! Truly a great teacher!”

* * *

After hearing about the method and results of education in the royal palace through Lady Yeongbin Gang, the women’s bodies trembled with excitement and their hips shook.

“How can we obtain the educational tools that Crown Prince created?”

“Crown Prince instructed to keep them well-preserved for use in teaching his younger siblings.”

“Oh…”

“How can we obtain them?”

“Well, I’m not sure…” As Lady Yeongbin Gang made an awkward expression, the impatient women began to pressure their husbands.

“Your Excellency! Please speak to the prince about it!”

“Oh… my reputation…”

“Your Excellency! Is your reputation more important than your grandson’s education? He is the future of our family!”

“Uh… okay…”

In the end, the government officials couldn’t bear the women’s pleas and decided to find a solution.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, the thing is…”

Upon hearing the officials’ explanation, Lady Yeongbin Gang let out a bitter laugh. “What am I, some sort of peddler?!”

Anyway, the officials’ complaints led to a decision by Lady Yeongbin Gang.

“We can sell the educational tools for the Thousand Character Classic. But we need someone who can teach it properly, and those people are hard to come by. So we’ll only teach up to the Thousand Character Classic. Is that acceptable?”

After a brief consideration, the officials nodded their heads. Their grandsons were at the age to learn the Thousand Character Classic after all.

“Just the Thousand Character Classic would be enough. Thank you. How much is it?”

“It’s one hundred bags of rice.”

“One hundred bags of rice!”

As the officials gasped at the unexpected price, Lady Yeongbin Gang explained the reason. “Among the one hundred bags of rice, one part will be used to pay for the cost of creating the educational tools, one part will be given to the artists in the painting department for their work, one part will go to the state treasury, and the last remaining part is for my personal use.”

“What will you use it for?”

“Well, the cost of making the books is quite high.”8

One hundred bags of rice were not a small amount of money. However, the women, who were devoted to their children’s education, paid without hesitation. As a result, the artists in the painting bureau received an unexpected bonus and cheered, and as for Lady Yeongbin Gang, she smiled contently as she looked at the pile of rice bags in the corner of the Eastern Palace.

“Now I can pursue my own interests with peace of mind.”

* * *

Amidst the turmoil caused by the scent-driven^9 upheavals in the palace, time passed, and the funeral period of King Taejong was almost coming to an end. On September 6th, they went to Hyeonreung^10 (Royal Tomb) to pay respects to the deceased.

On September 18th, King Sejong and the officials gathered at Gwanghwamun^11 Palace to perform the Jolgeokje^12 (memorial) ceremony. After that, for the first time since King Taejong’s death, meat^13 was presented to King Sejong. At the end of the Jolgeokje ceremony, King Sejong and the officials dressed in white court robes with black hats and black belts.

On September 20th, they performed a ritual^14 to appease the ancestors with owl calls.

On September 21st, King Sejong and the officials finally returned to the Pyeonjeon^15 Palace (temporary palace) to attend to state affairs.

* * *

As the court returned to Pyeonjeon Palace and resumed its formal duties, the royal government began to regain its footing. They distributed precise scales and strengthened the regulations for those entering and exiting the palace, all in an effort to restore stability to the country that had been somewhat lax during the funeral of King Taejong. King Sejong and his regents were busy trying to accomplish this task.

However, King Sejong and his regents were not the only ones who were busy. King Sejong had fulfilled his promise and invited the scholars to participate in a ritual (Kyeongyeon)16 debate. But King Sejong’s event was not simply about lecturing on Confucian classics.

“From the Book of Poetry…”

Starting with a reference to a section of Confucian classics, King Sejong and his regents engaged in a heated debate. The debate intensified not only because of the different interpretations of the classics but also because of how Confucian ideals could be applied in actual policy.

“Your Majesty! The principles of sincerity and honesty are like gold and jade threads. It is essential that you keep this in mind and abide by them!”

The officials’ arguments generally maintained the same premise as above. The writings in the classics were the teachings left behind by Confucius and Mencius, so the king must wholeheartedly follow those teachings.

“It is the duty of the state to cultivate its people! In cultivating the people, justice and virtue take precedence!”

While the deeply committed scholars of the Sunggyunkwan^17 advocated for the supremacy of virtue over wealth^18 and for placing moral values above personal gain, those who supported King Sejong’s policies, including the promotion of practical benefits and the inclusion of commoners, engaged in heated debates with them.

“If you read the Daewu-mo from the Book of Rites, it is clear that the Confucian scholars considered ‘governing the world and benefiting the people’— to be the ideal of virtuous rule.”

“Confucius emphasized the importance of enriching the people before educating them, while Mencius believed that providing people with a stable livelihood is the foundation for realizing the the Way of Kings^19.”

The chariots that dismantled the scholarly orthodoxy and rejected Sunggyunkwan’s neo-Confucianism were led by King Sejong and his son, Crown Prince Yi Hyang. After a fierce debate during a competition, the exhausted and sweaty senior scholars were forced to retreat.

“I thought the Crown Prince was only skilled in miscellaneous studies…”

“You still think that way even after what happened last time?”

“This is the first time in my life that I’m afraid of the royal examinations.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask for a reduction in the number of exams rather than asking for it to be easier?”

During the reigns of Taejo and Taejong, officials who used to argue that kings who avoided taking the royal examinations should be caught and forced to take them now found themselves thinking about reducing the number of exams.

While the officials were on the brink of death, Sejong couldn’t help but smile. Since he ascended to the throne, he had constantly been under pressure from his officials. Dealing with many officials at the same time was difficult, even for Sejong, who was known for his academic prowess. It was like the saying, “One hand can’t pull two hands.” Sometimes through negotiation, sometimes through avoiding confrontation, Sejong led his administration, but it was hard to withstand the overwhelming force of the officials.

“If I had more officials who shared my vision…” After difficult debates with his officials, Sejong always lamented like this.

People like Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong^20 were still in lower positions, and there were too few reform-minded courtiers. In such a situation, it was a blessing from heaven that Prince Hyang showed exceptional ability. Even though he was only 9 years old, far from the age of aspiration^21, his academic achievement was on par with his own, and his ability to debate was sharper than his own. When he opened his mouth, even the former king Taejong and the ministers he had worked so hard to raise would be silenced by Prince Hyang’s arguments.

Perhaps because of the relief of mental burden thanks to Hyang, King Sejong also regained his physical vitality. From some point, many of the illnesses that had been bothering him, such as tuberculosis, disappeared, and even headaches and shoulder stiffness disappeared.

“The saying that a child is a treasure seems to be true.”

“Hahaha! If others hear what the king said now, they will say he’s lost his mind.”

“You!” Thanks to Hyang, every time King Sejong faced Queen Soheon, he became nervous. However, there was only one moment when even King Sejong felt burdened by Hyang.

It was during mealtime.

“Oh my goodness! I told you not to eat only meat!”

“You brat! You shouldn’t even touch anything except meat when you eat!”

“It’s because dogs eat meat that I don’t touch it! Eating in harmony is the beginning of keeping your health, Father!”

To protect King Sejong’s health, Hyang scolded him at every meal, and the officials followed them, and recorded the incident.

Translator’s Notes

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! For faster updates, join Blossom Translation’s discord and get this novel role there!

1. ‘Capital city of Joseon’[↩]

2. The raws states 주모 (jumo) = A calling for female pub owner.[↩]

3. Calling for servants[↩]

4. A title for wife of high officials[↩]

5. I believe it is Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jinji Gang clan, based on history.[↩]

6. Ermm, I guess his siblings complained to their mom. Lol[↩]

7. An institution where it is responsible for producing official documents and records in the Joseon dynasty.[↩]

8. So, she likes books???[↩]

9. “평지풍파(平地風波)” is an idiom that literally means “a windstorm on a plain” but is used to describe political turmoil or chaos.[↩]

10. 헌릉” refers to the Royal Tomb, which is the burial site of a king or queen of the Joseon Dynasty. It was built to honor the monarch’s memory and to provide a place for ancestral rites.[↩]

11. “광효전(廣孝殿)” is one of the main halls in Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the king held official ceremonies and meetings with his ministers.[↩]

12. “졸곡제사(卒哭祭祀)” is a ceremony held to mourn the death of a king or an emperor[↩]

13. Eating meat is not allowed during the mourning period.[↩]

14. “액막이 제사” is a ritual to appease the ancestors by calling owls. In Korean folklore, owls are believed to be messengers of the underworld and have the power to communicate with the dead.[↩]

15. “편전(便殿)” is a temporary palace used for state affairs when the main palace is under repair or unavailable.[↩]

16. Kyeongyeon (경연) was a Confucian ritual that involved interpreting classical texts. The king would invite scholars and officials to participate in the ceremony and discuss the texts’ meaning and implications for governance.[↩]

17. Sunggyunkwan: It was the National Confucian Academy during the Joseon Dynasty, responsible for training officials and promoting Confucianism as the official state ideology[↩]

18. Deokbonjaemal (德本財末): This phrase means “virtue before wealth,” indicating the belief that moral values should be prioritized over personal gain.[↩]

19. Wangdo (王道): This phrase means “the Way of Kings,” indicating the ideal of virtuous rule, which emphasizes the importance of the ruler’s moral character and the well-being of the people over personal gain.[↩]

20. “황희와 맹사성” – Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong were two officials who were known for their reformist ideas, but they were still in lower positions at the time.[↩]

21. “지학” (志學) refers to the age of aspirations in the traditional Korean system, which was around 15 years old. It was the age when young men were expected to start pursuing their aspirations and careers.[↩]

Chapter 17
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (10)

“To be comfortable, Sejong must live a long life, a healthy long life!” Following this decision, Hyang persistently persuaded King Sejong.

“If we look at the medical texts obtained through emissaries during the Yuan Dynasty…” Hyang persuaded King Sejong with medical evidence.

“Father is known to prefer meat. However, biased meals disrupt the harmony of yin and yang and the five elements…”

“Eating too much meat and grains can make the blood turbid…”

Hyang actively adjusted Sejong’s diet by reciting passages from the medical texts or even spreading them out if necessary. To the point of residing in the Royal Kitchen for a month, practicing and studying with skilled and novice chefs.

“The broth is too salty! Do it again!”

“Eating a little frequently is better than binge eating all at once. Offer fruits and simple desserts from time to time!”

Hyang didn’t just turn the Royal Kitchen upside down.

“If you call yourself a physician, why are you still only looking at medical texts from the Tang Dynasty? There are several new texts that have come out since then, go get them and read them now!”

“If you read medical texts, you should follow them. What’s the point otherwise!”

“If a herb is mentioned in Ming’s medical texts, but not found in our Joseon, then we must either go and obtain it or find an herb in our own Joseon that has the same effect. Isn’t that the duty of a physician? If we continue to sit idly by, will the herb just grow on its own? Go outside the palace walls immediately and find the herb!”

In the inner medical quarters of the palace, the royal physicians had to study the latest medical books and research herbs, sweating to achieve their goals.

“Regardless of what others may say, exercise is the best!”

Hyang closely observed what type of exercise Sejong enjoyed. It turned out that he enjoyed playing Geokbang^1.

“Geokbang? Is it similar to golf? Although golf is quite a good sport…”

After considering his options, Hyang chose “jump rope” as his exercise of choice.

“It may be amusing, but being a king is not a profession that allows for leisure time and space, so jumping rope is appropriate.”

With the help of skilled craftsmen, Hyang let out a small sigh as he held the jump rope in her hand. “Even creating just one jump rope requires so much effort…” From making a lightweight and durable rope to creating a light and sturdy hoop, Hyang had to go through considerable trial and error.

“Surely the problem is not the technique, but the lack of concept… Do I have to roll it again?” In the constantly upgraded ‘Tech Tree^2’, where secrecy is maintained for security purposes, there was only one item that never changed.

“Yes, just roll it.”

As Hyang grew and became more compatible with King Sejong, it became an item that would cause cheers from many. Hyang, holding a rope and a bell made through twists and turns, and a foreign book in the other hand, went straight to King Sejong.

“What is that?”

“While looking for a document for Father’s health, I found this in a book written by the Western scholars. If I translate it, it says that jumping rope is a form of exercise.

“Jump rope exercise?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. May I show you the book?”

“You may.”

As soon as King Sejong allowed it, Hyang stepped into the middle of the convenient^33 hall and started jumping rope with both hands on the rope.

Whip whip whip whip! Jingling! Jingling! Jingling! Jingling!

Every time Hyang jumped lightly, the bell on Hyang’s ankle rang cheerfully. After jumping rope about ten times, Hyang politely handed the rope to King Sejong after taking a deep breath.

Upon receiving the rope, King Sejong looked at Hyang.

“It doesn’t seem too difficult. But does this really help one improve his health?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. According to what Western scholars have written, ‘If one jumps over it 100 times a day without rest, the lower body will become stronger, chronic illnesses will disappear, and if a man continues to do this 100 times a day for several years, his foundation will become stronger… '”, the next part was difficult to translate, so it was retranslated from the Chinese interpretation: ‘There will be no withdrawal in the matters related to the couple’s intimacy^4.”

“Huh?”

“Uh?”

At that moment, not only Sejong but also the eyes of everyone present in the room, except for the inner court ladies, widened. Sejong tightly gripped the rope in his hand and looked at Hyang.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. According to the writings of Western scholars. They added this: ‘Those who hold high positions or spend a long time on boats tend to have weaker lower bodies. The best way to strengthen a man’s lower body is horseback riding or running, but those in high positions don’t have the time, and those sailing doesn’t have enough space to do so. That’s why this was developed.’”

“Indeed! Truly!” Sejong slapped his knee in admiration upon hearing Hyang’s supplementary explanation. Both his father and Taejo had drilled into his ears the importance of a strong lower body for men, achieved through horseback riding or running.

“Are you saying I should jump over this 100 times?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It doesn’t seem too difficult. But what are these bells?”

“They are to be worn on your ankles, Your Majesty. When you jump properly, they produce a pleasant sound, and when you stumble, they make a harsh sound, helping you focus. In particular, Chief Eunuch,”

“Yes, Crown Prince.”

“His Majesty must carefully count the bell sounds while jumping and make sure he reaches exactly 100. As written by Western scholars, ‘Moderation is key’. Begin by aiming to jump 30 times without stopping, then gradually increase the count to 100.’ That is the instruction.”

“I will bear the Crown Prince’s command in mind.”

After passing on the precautions to Chief Eunuch, Hyang approached King Sejong. “Your Highness, my utmost wish is for Your Majesty’s long life without illness. Please, consider the importance of a proper diet and exercise.”

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, the court officials chimed in. For them, it was an opportunity to score points with the king after a long time. “Your Highness is correct! Ensuring Your Majesty’s well-being is indeed the most important matter!”

In the end, King Sejong began his morning routine by stretching his neck and jumping rope. “This is not as easy as I thought!” Although he stumbled repeatedly at first, King Sejong gradually became proficient at jumping rope.

* * *

Upon starting rope jumping, positive changes began to happen to Sejong, and the most significant change was that he began to see things clearly. As Sejong started to see things clearly and his complexion improved, Hyang had a gratified smile on his face.

“Eat plenty of fiber and stimulate the organs by jumping rope; if you don’t have a bowel movement, that’s unfortunate!”

As rumors spread that rope jumping was effective for constipation, the royal concubines in the inner palace started to show interest in it.

“Your Highness, they say that rope jumping is so good; would it be good for me as well?” At the command-like question posed by Queen Soheon, who had taken the lead, Hyang responded immediately, “Oh, please forgive this son’s incompetence!”

Hyang, who readily replied, immediately created rope jumping for the queen and royal concubines. Queen Soheon and the royal concubines, holding the splendid ropes made of twisted five-colored threads, encountered another problem.

“The skirt is uncomfortable!”

“Should we tell His Highness?”

After some deliberation, Queen Soheon took the lead once again. “Your Highness, rope jumping is good, but there’s a problem. The clothes are a bit…”

“This son will try to find a solution.” Although he answered like that, it wasn’t an easy task for Hyang.

‘Did I go too far?’

Hyang, who had been struggling to find an answer in order to produce a result, found an answer. He made a design by adopting the design of riding pants that Western noblewomen or upper-class women enjoyed wearing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and sent it to the Royal Clothing Bureau.

When Queen Soheon and the court ladies received the clothes, they were slightly hesitant about the unfamiliar design, but soon began to enjoy wearing them not only during exercise but also in everyday life, as they were more comfortable moving in than the clothes they had previously worn.

As a result, an unexpected butterfly effect occurred for Hyang, as Sejong’s nightlife became busier than expected. This was due to the design slightly emphasizing the waist and hips, unlike traditional designs.

* * *

To maintain King Sejong’s health, the rope jumping skill that Hyang had developed quickly spread throughout the country. Ironically, the speed at which it spread far surpassed that of the spread of the previous brush’s invention.

“If the rope doesn’t work, use a calf rope. But the biggest reason was ‘vitality’!”

While reading a document sent through Sangdan (government office), which had become a personal information network for Hyang during the process of supplying brushes, Hyang burst out laughing.

Among the reports related to rope jumping, the most impressive one was that of a rural aristocrat who was over 60 years old and had been groaning with aches and pains, but as soon as he heard the rumors, he started jumping rope.

However, there was also a butterfly effect that Hyang had never expected.

“Riding pants are in fashion? Oh, come on!”

Riding pants, which palace women loved for their ease of movement and activity, began to spread among the women of the wealthy class.

“Why?”

While investigating the cause, Hyang discovered an unexpected fact. The riding pants that slightly accentuated the curves of the waist and hips were the perfect means to lure men passing by into the inner chambers. Surprisingly, women in early Joseon were quite open-minded and active. No, the customs of the Korean Peninsula have been quite liberal since the Three Kingdoms period, even before the early Joseon period, and that trend has continued to this day. In such a societal atmosphere, clothes that were easy to move in and sexy(?) were enough to become a trend.

“So, the Gate of Virtuous Women must have been created…”

Hyang remembered the ramblings of Samcheonpo, the teacher, once again.

“The fact that they say the Gate of Virtuous Women was created and even provided benefits proves that virtuous women were rare! Similarly, in the West, or even in Catholicism, they searched for ‘saints’ in the same way!

‘Come to think of it, didn’t the clothing of the Tang Dynasty that exposed the collarbone also spread to Silla?’

* * *

Time flowed steadily, and the departure of the official envoy to Beijing drew near. Hyang created a hypothetical scenario and educated the envoy party.

“So, if it goes like this, I think it’s best to answer like this.”

“That may be so, but it could also lead to lying to the Emperor and cause diplomatic problems.”

“But it’s not entirely false, is it? It’s true that the national treasury wobbles every time a Ming envoy comes and that there is a shortage of gold and silver. It’s also true that we want to emulate the Ming’s system, but we cannot because of the shortage of gold and silver. It’s just not entirely accurate. It’s slightly exaggerated.”

“If it gets exposed, it could cause diplomatic problems.”

When the Chief Envoy, Chief State Councilor^5 Ryu Jeong-hyeon, made this suggestion, Hyang looked at him suspiciously.

“If it gets exposed, it could cause diplomatic problems…”

“And the Chief State Councilor should always be honest…”

“Then, should we tell the emperor that all the war horses we have given to Ming were fakes and that we have nearly doubled the price we paid for them in Yeojin? Or should we tell him that it’s not that there is a shortage of gold and silver, but that we just don’t mine and excavate as much as we could?”

“That’s…”

Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon was at a loss for words at Hyang’s reproach. Hyang, who had been eyeing him, pressed on, “Are you saying this out of concern for the safety of Joseon or just to quell my ambitions?”

“God has never had such an unpredictable mind!”

“Then what is the correct answer?”

“…I will follow the plan of lowering the Crown Prince’s status.”

After the Chief State Councilor surrendered, the meeting proceeded more normally.

“According to the rules of the tribute system established by the Ming, we, Dawei^6 and Seomra are granted a visit once every three years. If Ming revives this rule, what should we do?”

“Why does Ming want to revive this rule?”

The magistrate, who asked the question in response to Hyang’s inquiry, explained the reason. “Because the size of the accompanying trade delegation raises doubts about the nature of the tribute mission.”

“In that case, just as we have established the Wae-gwan^7 for Japan, ask the Ming to create one in Joseon. It might be mutually beneficial to make it a permanent institution rather than having them accompany us on trade missions. Attendant, get me some maps.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After examining the map brought by an attendant for a while, Hyang pondered. After some time had passed, he spoke up. “If we only allow sea routes, it would be best to make it in Sandong^8, and if we only allow land routes, it would be better to build it in the Yoha^9 river area. Please submit a proposal to the King for his consideration.”

“I understand.”

Hyang sighed as he returned to his room.

“Phew~. There’s no answer except for Sandong!”

Translator’s Notes

There’s parts of the historical context in this chapter that I don’t quite understand. So, it’d be helpful if someone could enlighten me…

1. “격방”: geokbang, a Korean game played with a stick and ball, similar to hockey[↩]

2. Tech Tree: a term used in video games to describe the tree-like structure of technology and upgrades that players can acquire.[↩]

3. “편전” (convenient hall) refers to a small building or a room in a palace where the king would conduct daily administrative affairs.[↩]

4. Nightly activities… Ehem[↩]

5. It refers to a high-ranking government official who was responsible for the education and military training of the crown prince and other royal family members in the Joseon Dynasty.[↩]

6. 대월 (Dawei): a former kingdom in present-day Myanmar, which was a tributary state of China during the Ming dynasty. While Seomra = Kingdom of Siam, now Thailand[↩]

7. Japanese embassy in Joseon.[↩]

8. “산동” (Sandong) is a region located in the eastern part of China’s Shandong Province, facing the Yellow Sea.[↩]

9. “요하” (Yoha) is an archaic name for the Liao River, a river in northeastern China that flows into the Bohai Sea.[↩]

Chapter 18.1
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (11)

The content of the meeting that took place between the Hyang and the civil officials was immediately documented and reported to King Sejong as soon as it ended. King Sejong examined the documents with his ministers.

“Hmm… It seems best to proceed with this matter as the Crown Prince suggested.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“And as for the Joseon Office… I think this is acceptable, but if we request the Ming Dynasty to establish the Joseon Office, which location would be most likely?”

“…”

None of the ministers immediately responded to King Sejong’s question. Observing their silence, Sejong’s expression grew sharp. “Why is no one answering? Is it because discussing such lowly trade is beneath you?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then why is there no answer?”

Pressured by Sejong, Kim Jeom, the chief of the Office of Taxation 1, stepped forward.

“In my humble opinion, if a market is established in the Yoha^2 region, the presence of our Joseon troops would be inevitable due to the Jurchen^3 issue. As this would not be welcomed by the Ming Dynasty, I believe it is more likely that the office will be established in the Sandong region.”

“That could be possible. On the other hand, if the Ming wishes to establish a market near the Amnok^4 River, what should we do?”

“In that case, our Joseon must oppose it.”

“Oppose…” King Sejong, who had been mulling over the words, nodded his head. “It seems we have no choice. Then, what do you think about the permanent establishment of the trading posts?”

“I believe it would be better than having them accompany the envoys each time.”

After considering the response from the Chief State Councilor^55, King Sejong turned to look at the Senior Second State Councilor. “Senior Second State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Convince the Ming Emperor on this mission to successfully establish the trading posts.”

“…I will accept the order.”

King Sejong glared at the Senior Second State Councilor, who hesitated before responding. “Senior Second State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are the other officials, like the Crown Prince, concerned about Joseon’s security, or are they stubbornly trying to break the spirits of you and the Crown Prince?”

“Your Majesty! The officials have never harbored such disloyal thoughts!”

“It seems to me that I see the figure of Sam-bong (Jeong Do-jeon)6 in you all.”

“Your Majesty! The loyalty of the officials is as solid as a rock! Please put your doubts to rest!!”

“Your Majesty! Please forgive us!”

For the officials who had experienced the Prince’s rebellion and King Taejong’s reign, even mentioning ‘Jeong Do-jeon’ was a taboo that should not be spoken of. However, the fact that Sejong had brought up Jeong Do-jeon was like a final warning.

“Your Majesty, please grant us your guidance!”

Upon hearing the cries of the officials prostrated on the floor, King Sejong stood up from his seat.

“We will see about that. I need to rest for a moment.” This statement seemed like the final ultimatum.

* * *

When Sejong left the room, the officials followed suit and came out one by one.

“Sigh~.”

“It’s stuffy in there.”

“That’s right.”

The officials’ faces were gloomy. Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-Hyeon looked up at the sky with a sullen face and glared at Inspector General^7.

“Don’t forget that this whole thing started because of your slip of the tongue.”

At the Chief State Councilor’s rebuke, the Inspector General became visibly angry. “Your Excellency! That’s going too far! What slip of the tongue have I made? I haven’t said a word today!”

“Who’s talking about today’s events? Whose idea was it to provoke the Crown Prince in the first place?”

“Hmmph.”

Despite the Chief State Councilor’s anger, the Inspector General only grumbled in frustration. Despite the legitimacy of the Crown Prince’s concerns about tradition, King Sejong had not brought up any related topics except for one instance. Nevertheless, the officials had to be cautious around King Sejong for a while. However, King Sejong was always one step ahead. Just when the officials thought the tension had eased, King Sejong suddenly struck with the forbidden ‘Jeong Do-jeon’ incident.

The Inspector General, who had been grumbling, turned to Chief State Councilor and said, “Alright! Let’s say I provoked the Crown Prince! But haven’t you done anything wrong as well, Your Excellency? What did you do to the Crown Prince today? Even a three-foot child knows that you shouldn’t underestimate the Crown Prince. If you’re going to cause trouble, prepare properly and do it right!”

“Hmph.”

In response to the rebuttal from the Inspector General, the Chief State Councilor had to make groaning sounds with a face that looked like he was chewing on feces. The Inspector General, whose breathing became rough due to anger, came to a conclusion. “What’s the use of determining whose fault it is? We have already missed the opportunity. For the time being, we have no choice but to act according to the will of the king.”

“If we make a mistake, the monarchy’s tyranny may intensify.”

“What can we do? We have to rely on the wisdom of the king for now.”

“Ha~.”

“How did we establish Joseon in the first place…?”

“Sigh~.”

Not only the Chief State Councilor and the Inspector General but also the assistants who gathered around them all let out a sigh.

History Time!

Who is Sam-bong or Jeong Do-jeon?

Sam-bong (삼봉, 三峰) is a nickname for Jeong Do-jeon, a prominent Korean scholar-official and politician during the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. The term “Sam-bong” is derived from Hanja (Chinese characters used in the Korean language) and can be translated as “Three Peaks.” It symbolizes Jeong Do-jeon’s multifaceted talents and prominence in the fields of politics, scholarship, and philosophy.

The nickname reflects Jeong Do-jeon’s significance and achievements in these areas, as he was instrumental in the founding of the Joseon dynasty and the establishment of its legal and institutional framework. The term “Three Peaks” emphasizes his exceptional contributions and high regard in these fields, making him a key figure in Korean history.

Why mentioning Jeong Do-jeon is considered taboo?

Mentioning Sam-bong (Jeong Do-jeon) was considered taboo during King Sejong’s reign due to the controversial role he played in the founding of the Joseon dynasty and his eventual execution by Sejong’s father, King Taejong.

Jeong Do-jeon was a prominent scholar-official and politician who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Joseon dynasty. He was instrumental in overthrowing the Goryeo dynasty and helping King Taejo, the founder of Joseon, ascend to the throne. Jeong Do-jeon was a key figure in drafting the new laws and institutions that shaped the early years of the Joseon dynasty. However, his radical reforms and increasing influence led to conflict with the royal family, particularly with King Taejo’s son, who would later become King Taejong.

When King Taejong took the throne, he saw Jeong Do-jeon as a threat to his power due to his strong influence in politics and his reformist ideas, which sought to limit the monarchy’s authority. This resulted in a power struggle between Jeong Do-jeon and his faction and King Taejong. In the end, King Taejong had Jeong Do-jeon arrested and executed, effectively consolidating his power and marking the end of Jeong Do-jeon’s faction.

King Sejong, the son of King Taejong, was aware of the controversial history surrounding Jeong Do-jeon and his father’s role in his execution. Mentioning Jeong Do-jeon’s name during Sejong’s reign was considered taboo because it could bring up uncomfortable memories of the power struggle and remind the court of the brutal actions taken by his father to secure the throne. This could have potentially undermined Sejong’s authority, as the legacy of Jeong Do-jeon’s execution was still a sensitive issue within the royal court.

* * *

As for Hyang, why did he not want the Ming officials to accompany them during their tribute procession to the Ming?

Accompanying the Joseon envoys allowed Ming officials to monitor and control their activities, ensuring that they did not engage in unauthorized trade or diplomatic activities outside the scope of the tributary relationship.

So, how will Hyang accomplish his plans of not allowing the Ming officials to accompany their entourage?

Well, let’s just see how it rolls out in later chapters. ( ﾟヮﾟ)

Translator’s Notes

Second half of this chapter is coming soon!

1. A high-ranking official position in one of the six ministries in Joseon government, responsible for managing administrative affairs and finances.[↩]

2. Liao river.[↩]

3. In the raws, the Koreans refer them as Yeojin people. However, I think for the sake of clarity, I think writing it as the Jurchens would be clearer to readers. The Jurchens are a group of people who inhabited the region encompassing Manchuria, Siberia and parts of Korea and China. They had a long history of conflict with Joseon and Ming at the time.[↩]

4. Amnok River (압록강): Also known as the Yalu River, it is a river that forms part of the border between North Korea and China.[↩]

5. Prime Minister in today’s time.

[↩]

6. Please read the Extra notes at the end of this chapter. [↩]

7. Aside from the State Council, which almost directly controlled the Six Ministries office, there is another collective body called Three Offices—in which the officials provide checks and balance on the king and the officials. The highest rank in this group is Inspector General.[↩]

Chapter 18.2
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (11)

They too did not share the same intentions as Jeong Do-jeon, but there was one thing they agreed upon:

The establishment of an ideal Confucian royal state.

In order for such a royal state to be created, a republican government through the harmony of the king and nobility—originally the high-ranking officials, was essential. And the restraint of the royal authority was necessary for the completion of the republican government.

When King Taejo made his youngest son the crown prince, Jeong Do-jeon agreed for such a reason. It was true that he was King Taejo’s political comrade, but the king was old, and his youngest, who became the crown prince, was young. Therefore, Jeong Do-jeon calculated that he could take the initiative in the political landscape after King Taejo’s death by exploiting the situation under the pretense of utilizing the weak king which led to strong ministers seizing the power of governance.

Plans were even made to absorb the private armies of powerful families, including the biggest obstacle, Yi Bang-won, into the central army under the pretext of suppressing the rebellion, and then consuming them. However, Yi Bang-won, no, the later King Taejong, took the first move, causing Jeong Do-jeon’s dream to vanish like a bubble.

The ministers, who had only been sighing, gathered their wits.

“We must do our utmost to fulfill what His Majesty has ordered in this winter solstice envoy mission. If we fail, we will all be dead, and we will never regain control.”

“That’s true.”

“Let’s think about that part first. How can we ensure success?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

As the Chief State Councilor drew the conclusion, the other ministers agreed and moved on.

* * *

The conversations exchanged between the ministers quickly reached Hyang’s ears.

“If I’ve heard about it, His Majesty must have heard it already.”

Hyang marveled at the speed of the ultra-fast communication network built within the palace. As the saying goes, ‘There are eyes and ears in the walls of the palace.’ The eunuchs, palace maids, internal officials, and imperial guards laid all around constantly gathered and relayed information about the ministers’ every move in real-time.

“Since His Majesty has even mentioned Sam-Bong, he will surely exercise control for the time being.”

According to the history Hyang learned in his past life, the most successful cooperative politics among military officers took place during King Sejong’s reign. However, King Sejong’s reign that he saw after reincarnation was a bit different. Cooperation was happening, but it was only on the surface.

The officials tried to take control of the national administration whenever they got a chance, and it was routine for King Sejong to block such moves and counterattack. Hyang’s decision to attack the ministers by making an issue of the official envoys was a heaven-sent opportunity for King Sejong.

Justice and practicality, everything perfectly fell into King Sejong’s hands, and he was thoroughly seizing the opportunity.

“The next step must be the cabinet reshuffle. Is it finally time for the appearance of the famous Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong?”

Hyang, who had been briefly anticipating the future, shook his head. “Let’s think about that later, it’s not important now. Eunuch!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” At Hyang’s call, the eunuch who had been waiting outside quickly entered.

“Go and bring the Minister of Taxation!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

A moment later, the Minister of Taxation appeared before Hyang.

“Did you call for me?”

“Sorry for calling you when you’re busy preparing for the tribute procession.”

“No, not at all. So, do you have any special requests for this servant?”

“Please bring me some books.”

Hyang handed over a bundle wrapped in a small wooden box. “Inside the bundle, there is a list of the names of books that I have collected so far, and the box contains silver that can be used to purchase books. Please use this silver to acquire as many books as possible.”

“Can the purchase price be covered by the taxes paid by the officials who have engaged in gambling?”

“That money will go into the national treasury. It would be embezzlement for me to accept it, even if I am a tax collector.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s response, Minister of Taxation’s expression showed signs of being shocked beyond belief at the young boy’s clear distinction between public and private matters.

“It’s astounding how clear his understanding is at such a young age! It’s frightening, to say the least!”

“Ahem! ahem!” clearing his throat and quickly adjusting his expression, Minister of Taxation looked over the list of books on his scroll as he untied its string. “Um… so, do we need to acquire miscellaneous books that are not on this list?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Understood. I’ll put my best foot forward to get them.”

This time, it was Hyang who was surprised by the man’s calm response. “Aren’t you worried at all? Others have criticized purchasing miscellaneous books, haven’t they?”

“You’re not just acquiring miscellaneous books for no reason, are you? Regardless of their size, if they contribute to the country, there is no reason to stop doing it. It is the foundation for you to continue to do what you do.”

“Is that so?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Minister of Taxation stroked his beard and answered, “To be honest, when you work at the Ministry of Taxation, there are always two things that are lacking. One is time, and the other is budget. We can’t increase our time, but we can increase our budget, can’t we? The more the budget increases, the more the country can do, and most of what you do helps to increase the budget, so there is no reason to stop you.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Then, please take care of it.”

“Yes, I will. Goodbye.”

After bidding farewell, Minister of Taxation left Hyang’s room. Left alone in the room, Hyang muttered with a disappointed expression, “It would be nice if other officials were like him. Should I tell my father to make sure that all the officials go through Ministry of Taxation?”

* * *

Time passed, and the official envoy finally left for Beijing. In the midst of the increasingly cold weather, Hyang was deep in thought. “Even though it’s a cliché that has already been foreseen, what can I do…”

Hyang sat in front of the fireplace for a while, pondering. Then he stood up and exclaimed, “Although it’s the most important and difficult task, as the most trusted servant of our lord, I must carry out this task to prevent the death of our master, who is the greatest of all greats and the most respected of all respected! Eunuch! Get my carriage! I will go to Father. Inform the Pyeonjeon Palace!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Upon arriving at the palace, Hyang informed King Sejong that he wished to go out.

“Going out?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you going in this harsh winter weather?”

“I’m going to Yeouido.”

“Yeouido? Why?”

“I have an important matter to confirm.”

Sejong looked puzzled by Hyang’s response. “There is only livestock raised for the royal family in Yeouido…”

“That’s why I’m going.”

“You have to go?”

“I must.”

After Hyang’s firm response, Sejong hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. “Permission granted.”

“The castle is in danger!”

“What kind of danger…”

King Sejong laughed as he watched Hyang’s exaggerated bow and his triumphant exit.

“Hahaha! He’s still just a child!”

However, before the sun sets that day, King Sejong would have to unleash a roar of anger, not laughter.

* * *

While King Sejong was conducting an afternoon meeting with his ministers, a palace servant entered with a solemn expression. Upon receiving the report from the servant, an official looked at King Sejong with a pale face.

“Your Majesty…”

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty…”

“What happened?!”

“It is said that the Crown Prince has committed suicide!”

“What?!” King Sejong, who was dignified, jumped up from his seat. “Where is the Crown Prince now?!”

“He was just taken to the Crown Prince’s palace…”

—Bam!—

King Sejong kicked the writing desk in front of him and rushed outside.

“Suicide?”

“Yes, it is suicide!”

“Why would he do that?!”

The ministers, who were also at a loss for words at the unimaginable situation, followed King Sejong outside.

Chapter 19
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (12)

Startled by the report that “The Crown Prince has committed suicide!”, King Sejong rushed out of his palace. Then, he met Hyang as he turned around the corner of the building.

“Uh? Father? Where are you hurrying off to?”

“It’s the Crown Prince!”

When King Sejong saw Hyang, he rushed towards him and examined his body all over.

“Why are you like this, Father?”

“Phew~. You’re not hurt anywhere,” King Sejong breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the messenger, who had followed him in a hurry.

“What? The Crown Prince committed suicide?”

“I received the report…”

Not only Sejong but also the rest of the ministers looked at the messenger, who had reported the news.

“Oh, eunuch! What’s the meaning of this!” the troubled messenger rebuked and turned to the servant who had reported to him, who was currently standing next to Hyang.

“Eunuch Kang! Speak up. Didn’t you tell me this? The gods are unjust!”

Upon messenger Oh’s words, King Sejong and the ministers all looked at the servant standing next to Hyang.

At that moment, the voice of Queen Soheon was heard. “Your Majesty! What’s going on? How could the Crown Prince have committed suicide!”

As the king, queen, and ministers all glared at the person in question, Eunuch Kang turned pale.

“You! Why did you even think to say something you shouldn’t have? Explain it now!”

At Sejong’s command, Eunuch Kang prostrated to the ground and opened his mouth, “Your Majesty! For heaven’s sake I have never told a lie! Have I ever made a false statement?”

When Eunuch Kang spoke, King Sejeong looked at him. He and his attendants who followed after him then turned their attention to Hyang to which the latter opened his mouth with a puzzled expression.

“Ah, perhaps Eunuch Kang misunderstood the treatment I received.”

“Treatment? Misunderstanding?”

Seeing King Sejong’s face showing complete incomprehension, Hyang turned his head back.

“Let me show you. You, come forward.”

“Yes? Yes! Your Highness!” In response to Hyang’s call, an elderly man among Hyang’s entourage who followed him came forward and bowed deeply to King Sejong.

“T-This lowly servant greets Your Majesty!”

“Who are you?”

“I am called Soedori, and I take care of the royal livestock in Neobeol Island 1.”

“Seodori?”

“My name means one who strikes cows well.”

Even as Sejong heard Soedori’s reply, his expression showed that he didn’t quite understand. Eventually, Sejong looked back at Hyang. “Crown Prince, explain the reason. Leave nothing out!”

“Yes, Father. In fact, while reading medical texts from the Northern Kingdom (China)…”

According to Hyang’s explanation, the course of events went as follows:

Records in Chinese medical texts from the Song and Yuan dynasties mentioned a practice called ‘Variolation’ to prevent smallpox. Not only in Chinese texts, but also in the medical texts of the Western barbarians, the variolation method was described. As Hyang delved deeper, both Chinese and Western texts stated that the variolation method had a high probability of failure. Variolation involved taking pus from a person recovering from smallpox and pricking it into the body of a person who had not yet contracted the disease or making a powder from the scabs and having the person inhale it through the nose.

Naturally, this method was very risky. Taking pus from a person who had not fully recovered had little effect, while in the opposite case, the person could immediately contract smallpox and face a life-threatening crisis. While reading medical texts that detailed the risks of variolation, Hyang found an unusual sentence in a Western text:

Among cowherds, there were a significant number of people who did not contract smallpox. The common factor among them was that they had contracted cowpox while tending to cows that had the disease. This is worth further investigation.

Upon discovering this sentence, Hyang immediately headed to the remote island to verify the facts. When Hyang arrived at the remote island, he gathered the cowherds. As expected, their faces were lined with wrinkles due to hardship, but all of them, except for one, appeared clean.

“Among those gathered here, raise your hand if you have suffered from the disease.”

At Hyang’s words, only one person raised their hand.

“Did you suffer from it after becoming a herder?”

“No, sir. I was like this before I entered the ranch.”

“Who is the oldest person here?”

Upon Hyang’s question, a man named Soedori came forward.

“Has the epidemic never occurred on this Neobeol Island and its surrounding areas?”

“No, sir. It happened at least once a year.”

“But why?” Hyang paused. It was because the old man named Soedori, who stood before him, seemed to know something. “You seem to know something. Is there any secret technique involved?”

“It’s not exactly a secret technique.”

According to Soedori’s explanation, the story was as follows: Soedori’s family had been raising livestock for the royal family since the time of King Gongmin of Goryeo. As Soedori grew older, he too began to raise cows.

One day, a cow that Soedori particularly cherished got stuck with an illness called cowpox. Although cowpox was not fatal to cows, there were cases where unlucky cows would die due to inflammation in their udders. Soedori took care of the cow without sleeping for days, but eventually, the cowpox was transmitted to him. Soedori suffered from a high fever for several days and went through a lot of hardship.

However, his father looked at him with a peaceful expression. “Son, you won’t have to worry about the evil spirits for the rest of your life.”

After recovering from his illness, Soedori asked his father about the reason why he said that. His father gave a simple answer, “I don’t know the reason, but if you get cowpox, the evil spirits won’t come for you.”

“I see. If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell a physician or the officials about it? Then many people wouldn’t have been bothered by the evil spirits then.”

Soedori answered Haeng’s question with a bitter smile. ” Do you think people would just accept it? Of course, I told the physicians, but all I got was insults and being chased away. They said how could such a trivial cow-caught disease could stop the likes of evil spirits?”

“So, you’re the only one who avoided contracting the disease?”

“Well, I’m also human… I couldn’t bear to see my family turn into lepers. So…”

Although Soedori trailed off, Hyang could deduce the rest. “You forcibly infected these people with the disease?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

At Soedori’s answer, Hyang clenched his fists tightly.

‘We’ve safely completed the human trials! We couldn’t eat, but we’re making progress! No, if we stop now, we’ll be cowards!’

“I need to try that remedy as well.”

“Your Highness!”

“Your Highness!”

The officials and guards who accompanied Hyang were shocked, but Hyang didn’t care.

“We’ll soon have to perform the royal procession, so hurry up. Is there a cow with the disease?”

“Since there are children who need to receive treatment every year, we intentionally infect at least one cow for them.”

“Excellent!”

—”…That’s why I received the disease’s pus.” Having finished speaking, Hyang examined King Sejong’s face.

King Sejong’s face was pale, and Queen Soheon was on the verge of fainting. There was no parent who could maintain their composure knowing their child, who seemed fine in the morning, had received an unknown treatment for a disease they had never heard of before.

“You, brat!” King Sejong, who shouted angrily, raised his hand, and Hyang immediately knelt down.

“Father, mother! How many people die of this disease every year? If we can save those dying people, what’s the problem?”

“There’s no reason for you to be the first to step forward! You are the Crown Prince!”

“Where is the distinction between noble and humble when it comes to human lives? And we have healthy people here already, so why are you scared?”

At Hyang’s response, King Sejong placed his hand on his forehead and sighed, “Sigh~. You, brat… Can’t you be quiet for just one day? Do you think you’ll get a boil if you do? Sigh~,” King Sejong, who sighed again, turned to Soedori. “So, what happens after receiving the disease’s pus?”

“For the next five days, His Highness will have a high fever, so it is not advisable to move. Then, boils will appear on the shoulder that received the treatment but do not pop them. Wait until they naturally form scabs. After about ten days, His Highness can get up and move around.”

“Is that so? Take this man into custody! But do not torture him, and make sure he is fed three meals a day.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Following Sejong’s command, Soedori was taken away.

“If anything happens to the Crown Prince, I will immediately take your life. However, if your words prove true, I will bestow a great reward upon you.”

At Sejong’s words, Soedori bowed deeply and was led away to the prison by the guards. As Soedori disappeared into the distance, King Sejong looked at Hyang, who was still kneeling and tried to say something while pointing a finger at him. However, King Sejong held back his words and turned away.

“You will suffer for the next few days, so go and rest. The officials should take care of the Crown Prince wholeheartedly.”

“We accept your command.”

The officials who received King Sejong’s command led Hyang to the Eastern Palace. Following them, King Sejong gave another order to the ministers.

“Ministers, return to the side hall first. I will briefly observe the situation in the main hall before entering.”

“We accept your command.”

After the ministers who had paid their respects left, King Sejong looked at Queen Soheon. “Are you alright?”

“I am fine, Your Majesty. How are you?”

“Hoo…” Sejong answered with a long sigh. He gazed toward the Eastern Palace and continued speaking, “”I can’t determine whether that child will be a blessing or a curse to our Joseon. At times, he seems like a sage with no equal in the world, but at other times, he’s like a thunderbolt that would not be satisfied even if it struck a boulder for a hundred days…”

* * *

Meanwhile, sitting in his room, Hyang chuckled as he examined a medical text written in Latin.

“So, only Jenner^2 was the first to know about vaccination, huh…”

The medical text titled “A Treatise on Diseases” was written by an Italian monk whose name was unknown.

While managing cows with cowpox, cowherds showed similar symptoms to those of the infected cows. Based on my observations, these cowherds were not affected by smallpox during its outbreak. Although it piques my curiosity, it could be a simple coincidence. Especially since the doctrine states…

The monk who wrote the text ended it with a negative statement, quoting Catholic doctrine. In other words, the monk, like the physicians of Joseon, had reached the same conclusion.

‘How can the disease of humans be prevented by the disease of a beast like a cow?’

Hyang muttered to himself as he saw that both Eastern and Western doctors had reached the same conclusion in the medical texts he had reviewed for references.

“Didn’t Teacher Samcheonpo say that? Newton was not the only one who saw the apple falling. But only Newton left his name in history because he took a step further……”

Hyang chuckled as he mulled over Teacher Samcheonpo’s words.

* * *

As Soedori predicted, Hyang’s fever started rising that night.

“Have my court officials and royal physicians check and record the Crown Prince’s condition without missing a moment!”

Following King Sejong’s order, the court officials and royal physicians stayed close to Hyang and observed every single move. The physicians monitoring Hyang’s condition reported their findings to King Sejong and the ministers every morning and evening.

“According to the physicians, it’s just like what that Soedori guy said. If that’s the case, isn’t Soedori’s statement true? What do you all think?”

The ministers pondered over King Sejong’s question. After a while, Left State Councilor Lee Won spoke up, “Since the Crown Prince’s symptoms almost match what Soedori said, it seems that the secret technique Soedori mentioned is indeed effective.”

“That’s right. Then, it means we can prevent the epidemic… What about implementing it nationwide?”

King Sejong’s suggestion was met with opposition from Right State Councilor Jeong Tak. “I think there might be problems with carrying it out on the entire population without exception. It could be a mere coincidence.”

“Do you think it’s a coincidence, even though Soedori and his family have proven it over several decades?”

“The number is too small.”

“Hmm…” After a moment of contemplation, King Sejong reached a conclusion. “If the Crown Prince recovers completely, administer the cowpox vaccination to the palace women and the people of Hanyang. The number of people in Hanyang should be enough to determine whether it’s true or false.”

“We will follow Your Majesty’s command.”

The ministers unanimously responded to King Sejong’s order. They had no reason to object.

Translator’s Notes

Lol. Hyang’s giving headaches to both his parents in his previous and current lives.

1. “너벌섬” (Neobeol Island) is an island located off the coast of the Korean peninsula that was used to raise and care for animals owned by the royal family.[↩]

2. Mostly known as Father of Immunology, and the one who discovered and created the world’s first vaccination.[↩]

Chapter 20
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (13)

After about ten days had passed, Hyang had fully regained her health. King Sejong summoned Soedori, who had been imprisoned in the palace.

“The crown prince has recovered. Are you confident that he won’t catch smallpox?”

“I am confident. It’s my own experience, and those who live with me have also not caught smallpox.”

“This king is still worried. Therefore, I will administer the cowpox vaccine to all those in Hanyang who have not yet suffered from smallpox. Can you prepare enough for everyone?”

Soedori thought for a moment before answering Sejong’s question. “We would need at least 50 cows infected with cowpox.”

“Choose enough from the royal cattle you raise. How long will it take?”

“We will be ready within 15 days. However, cowpox lasts for a short time, as little as a week and as long as ten days, so we need an exact date to proceed.”

“Be fully prepared and on standby so that you can proceed as soon as you receive a message from the royal medical center. And…” King Sejong paused for a moment, glanced at Hyang standing next to him, and continued, “I am appointing you to the position of Mokchambong (Chief of Shephards) at the royal pasture on Nureub Island.”

“I am deeply grateful for your kindness!” Upon hearing King Sejong’s words, Soedori deeply bowed. Although he was considered a commoner, he was now given a position closer to that of a low-ranking official.

“Go and prepare immediately.”

“I shall obey your command!” Soedori, filled with joy, left the palace.

Meanwhile, King Sejong, who had returned to his quarters, looked at Hyang. “First of all, Crown Prince, congratulations on your recovery.”

“Thank you, Father.”

“However, I will not tolerate such incidents happening again. Be sure to report beforehand and obtain permission from the officials.”

“I will remember that, Father.”

Sejong then unknowingly muttered under his breath. “What a glib tongue… Oops!” Sejong glanced at the scribes in the room, but they were already busy writing. He then cleared his throat and continued speaking, “Although that Soedori seems confident that the cowpox vaccine will prevent smallpox, this king is still worried. Therefore, we will conduct an experiment on the people in Hanyang. What do you think, Crown Prince?”

“It is a wise decision. However, I would like to add a few things.”

“Additions? Let’s hear them.”

“First, the royal physicians and their attendants should be the first ones to receive the cowpox vaccine. If the vaccine causes smallpox to spread, we will send out the vaccinated physicians and attendants. By doing so…”

“We can more confidently verify whether Soedori’s claim is true or false?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Hmm…” King Sejong, who was considering Hyang’s suggestion for a moment, looked back at the Minister of Personnel, who was in charge of the Royal Clinic.

“Once the preparation for the cowpox vaccine is somewhat complete, have half of the physicians and female medical practitioners at the Royal Clinic receive the inoculation first.”

“Half, not all of them?”

“Looking at the example of the new… I mean, the Crown Prince, it takes at least two weeks to properly recover. So, I think it’s appropriate to divide them into two groups.”

“I will do so.”

Hearing the Minister of Personnel’s response, King Sejong looked back at Hyang. “Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

“Yes. When administering the cowpox vaccine, it would be better to visit each and every household personally and perform the inoculation, rather than calling people together.”

“And the reason is?”

“It’s because cowpox vaccination is unfamiliar. People are afraid of smallpox, but who would willingly step forward to receive a never-before-seen cowpox vaccine?”

“That’s true. So, let’s visit everyone personally and make sure they are inoculated? That makes sense.”

“In addition, when visiting to perform the inoculation, officials from the Ministry of Personnel should accompany and conduct a census.”

“Brilliant! What a clever strategy!”

King Sejong applauded Hyang’s suggestion. Conducting a census was truly a difficult task. Many commoners fled whenever a census was conducted to avoid taxes and labor services. As a result, even the capital Hanyang, where the royal palace was located, did not have a proper census.

“Killing two birds with one stone! What else would you like to add?” King Sejong, pleased with Hyang’s proposal, asked, his face beaming into a smile.

Hyang promptly responded to King Sejong’s question. “Your Majesty might not be convinced yet, but I am certain that this cowpox vaccine will be successful. Therefore, it is only natural to implement this cowpox vaccination not only in Hanyang but also nationwide.”

“That’s possible.”

“In that case, Your Majesty should receive contributions from the nobles in the provinces, as well as the high-ranking officials.”

King Sejong’s face immediately grew serious at Hyang’s suggestion. “Receive contributions from the nobles?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Just like smallpox, a cow that has been infected with cowpox once will not contract it again. This means we must continually obtain new cows to be infected with cowpox. This alone requires considerable expenses. In addition, dispatching physicians, female medical practitioners, and officials to conduct the census also entails costs.”

“That’s true.”

At the suggestion of Hyang, not only King Sejong but also the ministers nodded in agreement.

“It’s difficult to ask the common people for money as well. Most of them are struggling to get by even after the spring season.”

“Sadly, that’s true. It’s all because of this king’s incompetence and lack of virtue.”

The ministers collectively bowed their heads at King Sejong’s self-blame. “No, Your Majesty! The common people know well of Your Majesty’s great virtue! It’s an inevitable natural disaster, so please don’t worry!”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty!”

Hearing the ministers’ unanimous agreement, Hyang secretly clicked his tongue. ‘These nobles would normally blame the king’s incompetence… Is it different this time?’

As the ministers’ conversation died down, Hyang continued, “How can we take money from the people in this situation? However, isn’t the situation different for the local landowners and aristocrats? Though it’s my personal opinion, if we collect the value of half a cow from the hundred-stone landowners, three cows from the thousand-stone landowners, and twenty cows from the ten thousand-stone landowners, we should be able to cover the costs.”

“Hmm…”

Not only King Sejong but also the ministers began to calculate the profits and losses in Hyang’s words. After a while, the Right State Councilor opened his mouth. “Although the Crown Prince’s idea is a good one, will they willingly give it up?”

“We have to make them give it up. If they voluntarily give it up beforehand, we can erect a monument praising their virtue or grant them a plaque. If they don’t, we must collect it forcibly. If they still refuse until the end…” Hyang paused for a moment, his eyes cold and sharp, “…Then we can simply not protect the village they belong to.”

“It seems a bit harsh, doesn’t it?” the Right State Councilor pointed out, and the Minister of Personnel raised his voice in opposition, “It’s not harsh! Even just a hundred-stone landowner is the highest-ranking person in their village! If they are an aristocrat and an elder, they should naturally step forward as a matter of course! If they refuse that, they don’t deserve the title of an aristocrat! What kind of aristocrat only recites the classics but doesn’t act accordingly? They should practice what they preach!”

This time, the Left State Councilor intervened, “But isn’t the cost the problem?”

“Even if the cows are expensive, can’t a hundred-stone landowner afford the value of half a cow? They just don’t want to pay!”

With the conflict between the ministers and the Minister of Personnel, the ministers began to divide into two sides and argue.

“Aristocrats should naturally contribute!”

“But the state can’t force them to do so!”

Watching the ministers’ argument, King Sejong looked at Hyang with tired eyes. “You certainly have a talent for stirring up trouble in calm waters.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Does that sound like a compliment?”

Upon this, Hyang showed a subtle smile, and King Sejong clicked his tongue softly, “Tsk!”

Seeing Hyang’s reaction, Sejong clicked his tongue softly again while watching the ministers’ debate and then clicked his tongue loudly, “Tsk, tsk, tsk!”

“Hmm! Ahem!”

When Sejong clicked his tongue, the ministers cleared their throats and straightened their postures.

“I have listened to your opinions well. Let’s discuss the issue of cost again after seeing the results of the preliminary test to be conducted in Hansung^1. The departments of Personnel and Finance should thoroughly check and report everything from the census of households to the expenses incurred during the test. It seems better to discuss further after seeing the results.”

“We accept your command.”

As the issue of ‘vaccination for Hansung residents’ seemed to be somewhat resolved, Hyang quickly opened his mouth. “Your Majesty, I have a request to make.”

“A request?”

As soon as Hyang mentioned ‘request,’ Sejong and the ministers were all on edge. This was because every time Hyang made a request, a whirlwind of events ensued.

“…Is it absolutely necessary to make that request?”

“I believe it is essential.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong let out a long sigh, “Sigh~. Go ahead and speak.”

“Yes. Firstly, I would like to talk about the Royal Infirmary.”

“The Royal Infirmary?”

“Yes. It was a subject brought up by the department of Personnel a few years ago, but the issue was that the physicians were only interested in passing the exam and getting promoted. As a result, they focused solely on memorizing the books containing medical prescriptions and neglected the actual treatment.”(Note 1)2

“I see, I remember that.”

Following King Sejong’s response, the Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel interjected, “Your Majesty, when I recall, we did have a public debate on that issue. At that time, His Highness ordered that promotions be based on treatment performance.”

“Indeed, I remember.”

King Sejong nodded and looked at Hyang. Hyang was currently holding the horse’s reins.

“At that time, Your Majesty made a wise decision.”

“What was the problem then?”

“It’s the same problem as this time. There are many physicians, but there are still many illnesses they don’t know about, and many treatments they don’t know.”

“I see. Then we must obtain more medical books from Ming.”

“New Chinese medical books can help, but they are not the answer. The mountains and rivers in northern kingdom are different from those in our Joseon, and so are the people. Therefore, during King Jeongjong’s reign, ‘Hometown Remedies to Save Lives^3’ was compiled. It must be supplemented.”

“Supplement… That makes sense. What do you think, Minister of Personnel?”

Upon King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Personnel nodded in agreement, “I believe that the Crown Prince’s words are indeed reasonable!”

“Any other opinions?”

There was no one among the officials who contradicted King Sejong’s question.

“Good. Minister of Personnel, cooperate with the Royal Infirmary and Jiphyeonjeon (Royal Research Institute)4 to supplement the medical books.”

“I accept your command.”

After deciding to supplement the ‘Hometown Medicine Compilation for Saving Lives,’ King Sejong turned to Hyang. “Anything else?”

“Yes. I have observed the discussions of the King and the ministers regarding state affairs, and there was one problem.”

“What problem?”

“When a problem arises in the management of state affairs, the ministers recall and reflect on similar cases from their memories. Isn’t that what just happened?”

“Indeed.”

“In particular, the elder ministers here have experience working in the previous dynasty.”

“That’s true.”

“Similar problems tend to repeat themselves. In as short as 10 years or as long as 30 years, not only the elder ministers but also young officials will have retired. What will you do then? When a generation without memories or experience to reflect on will manage the country’s affairs.”

“That would be problematic…” at Hyang’s point, Sejong answered with a serious face.

As Sejong became serious, the Left State Councilor interjected, “Indeed, 30 years from now, old people like me will have returned to the soil, and even these rosy-cheeked young men will have retired. However, policies and systems are like a flowing river that continues endlessly, so there will still be experienced people by that time. Even if problems arise, they will be able to solve them.”

“Is today the same as yesterday, and tomorrow the same as today?5” Hyang immediately refuted the Left State Councilor’s words, which left the old man speechless.

Translator’s Notes

1. Another name for Hanyang.[↩]

2. Not sure, but the author inserted a footnote here: Sejong 3, March 18.[↩]

3. 향약제생집성방 (鄕藥濟生集成方, Hometown Remedies to Save Lives) is a medical book from the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The book was compiled during the reign of King Jeongjong and focuses on various remedies and treatments for illnesses using local herbs and medicines found in the Korean peninsula.

The primary purpose of this book was to provide practical and accessible knowledge on traditional Korean medicine and treatments, catering to the specific needs and circumstances of the local population. This compilation recognized the differences between Korean and Chinese medicine and emphasized the importance of adapting medical knowledge to the unique conditions, resources, and people of Joseon.[↩]

4. 집현전 (集賢殿, Jiphyeonjeon) was an important institution in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. It was established by King Sejong the Great in 1420 as a royal research institute and library. Its primary purpose was to foster the development of scholars and the study of various academic fields, including Confucianism, literature, history, science, and technology.[↩]

5. It is used to question whether the current situation remains the same as before and whether it will continue to be the same in the future.[↩]

Chapter 21
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (14)

“There is a difference between acting with knowledge and acting without it. Those of you who are making and implementing policies now may know very well why those policies were made, but in just one or two generations, most people may not know why they are being implemented, and they will follow them mainly because of ‘customs.’ Wouldn’t that be the case?”

‘Damn customs! Bureaucracy! It’s sickening!’

The reason why the village suffered from depression in the 21st century was due to those damn customs, bureaucracy, and desk work. However, the opposition of the officials was not insignificant either.

“That’s possible. However, a properly crafted policy will work without any problems for 100 or 1000 years.”

“It was said that even mountains and rivers change in ten years. There is also a saying that goes, ‘Sangjeonbaekhae[1].’ The world is constantly changing, so how can the same policy continue for 100 or 1000 years? That’s not a well-made policy, but rather a sign that the entire country has stagnated. If the world is changing and you are alone in standing still, it is tantamount to regression. ”

“A change in the current is inevitable. If you only follow the change in the current, you will lose depth, and eventually forget even the fundamentals. From that perspective, a consistent policy like ‘virtue of consistency’ is more ideal than a policy that flows like the Bupyeong stream[2] according to the current.”

The voice of the officials grew louder in response to the Left State Councilor’s answer, which was faithful to Confucianism.

“It’s not that there is no change in the current, but that people cannot keep up with its flow. Then what is the reason for the many changes in laws and systems since the early days? It is the law and system that has been handed down for hundreds or even thousands of years, whether it be a short or long time.”

“That is…”

“Let’s take war as an example. If we follow the words of Your Excellency, Left State Councilor, we will still be deciding the outcome of the war through individual duels[3] by commanders. But what about now? Various branches of the military move together as one, and new weapons like cannons are being used. Therefore, Your Excellency, Left State Councilor’s words are not the ‘virtue of consistency,’ but rather the ‘ignorance of the frog in the well.'”

“Your Highness! Isn’t that too harsh?”

When the officials voiced their criticism, the voice of the Left State Councilor minister rose, and Sejong intervened.

“Stop it! There is nothing wrong with what the Crown Prince said! Just like how the mountains and rivers change over time, people and customs also change. Therefore, it is right to discuss countermeasures accordingly! Crown Prince! Speak of your countermeasures!”

After King Sejong supported Hwang, the officials fell silent. Meanwhile, Hwang, who gained Sejong’s firm support, spoke of his own plan.

“All six ministries must leave a record of their governance. Whether it is a policy that is put into action, rejected, or postponed, everything must be recorded. It should be recorded monthly at the shortest and annually at the longest. For each policy, we must record the reason why it was made, the result of its implementation if it is implemented, and the reason for rejection or postponement if it is decided. We must keep all these records. ”

Upon hearing Hwang’s words, the Left State Councilor immediately opposed, “Everything is already recorded in Department of Records and ‘Daily Records of Royal Court’[4]. This is unnecessary duplication.”

“The Department of Records and the ‘Annals[5]’ cannot even be seen by the king. And although everything is recorded in the ‘Daily Records of Royal Court’, it is not properly classified, is it not? Ten years from now, finding records of policies will take several days. However, if the policies implemented by each ministry are separately classified and preserved, how much time can we save?”

“The Crown Prince’s opinion is correct.”

“I also believe the Crown Prince’s opinion is correct.”

When the officials of the six ministries heard Hwang’s explanation, they all agreed and retreated.

Seeing that most of the officials agreed, King Sejong nodded his head. “From ancient times, it has been said that we should learn from the past to understand the present. However, as human beings are finite, it is inevitable that there will be things that future generations want to know but cannot. Therefore, it is a natural duty for us, the ancestors, to work hard so that future generations do not lose their way and find the right path. Each ministry’s officials should accept the Crown Prince’s suggestion and write and carefully preserve records.”

“We will receive your command.”

“Now then…”

“Your Majesty, there is another matter I wish to address.”

Thinking that Hwang had finished his petition, King Sejong stopped talking and looked at Hwang for a moment. He then smiled slightly and gave his permission, “Go ahead.”

“While addressing the supplement of the ‘The Collection of Prescriptions for Universal Relief of Rural Medicines,’[6], I realized that not only those who are over sixty years old, but also some farmers over seventy years old may have knowledge on agriculture that should be documented.”

“That is true.”

“We should seek them out, ask about their farming experiences, and record them.”

Upon hearing Hwang’s proposal, King Sejong stroked his beard and muttered to himself, “Ask them about farming and record it? Hmm…” After a brief pause, Sejong’s face brightened. “I see! They must have experienced a lot in the years they’ve lived! They must also know the secrets of bountiful harvest! It’s like a millstone knowing the secret techniques of pestle pounding!”

Hyang nodded vigorously at King Sejong’s words. “Yes, it’s not just about the secrets of farming. They will also know the signs of natural disasters such as droughts! They may seem like small signs individually, but if we gather them to make a guidebook…”

“We can prepare in advance!” King Sejong slapped his knee and cut off Hyang’s words.

Hyang nodded in agreement. “That’s right. We can reduce the damage caused by water disasters such as floods by taking care of dams and reservoirs and dredging rivers, but if we don’t know in advance and prepare for droughts, they can cause significant damage.”

“Your words are correct! Instruct the Royal Observatory[7] to compile a book as soon the data arrives!”

“We shall follow your orders.”

“Also, during the period of ‘spring proverty’[8], as well as during droughts or water disasters, we must definitely use the power of medical treatment. But if we know the signs in advance…”

King Sejong cut off Hyang’s words by slapping his knee once again. “We can prepare medicinal herbs in advance and be ready! Indeed!”

‘Indeed, Sejong! Your mind is really sharp! But please don’t forget to turn on the light when you come in! And please don’t slap your knee so hard! It hurts my ears!’

With a mixture of admiration and irritation, Hyang nodded his head slightly. “That’s right. If ‘Bureau of State Welfare’, ‘Royal Dispensary’, and ‘Great Compassionate Temple of East and West’[9] can prepare in advance, we can also prepare in advance in local government offices and significantly reduce the number of people suffering from illnesses.”

“The Crown Prince’s words are correct! Instruct the Royal Observatory to implement this as well!”

“We shall follow your orders!”

There were no visible objections to King Sejong’s command. In a country that prioritized agriculture, nothing was more important than bountiful harvest crops, and relieving people from the suffering of diseases was also regarded important from a Confucian perspective.

Sejong was very pleased. The petitions presented by Crown Prince Hyang were worth their weight in gold. Moreover, the officials who had always opposed and criticized the Crown Prince’s proposals were now responding positively without any objections.

King Sejong looked at Hyang with a bright face. “Is there another petition?”

As soon as King Sejong finished speaking, Hwang opened his mouth. “Yes. Not only in our Joseon but also in the previous dynasty, there hasn’t been a proper geographical record. Although it is said that there are few resources in Joseon, this is not an absolute shortage compared to Ming. Therefore, we must thoroughly examine the rivers and regions of Joseon and create a geographical record.”

“A geographical record… It requires a lot of labor.”

“That’s true.”

Hwang nodded in response to King Sejong and the ministers’ comments. “Of course. However, if a proper geographical record is made, it can reduce the people’s hardships.”

“Reducing the people’s hardships with a geographical record? Crown Prince, please explain in more detail.”

“Yes. If we create an accurate geographical record, we can precisely understand the resources produced in each village nationwide, which can reduce the burden of offering tributes. The suffering of the people due to tribute offerings has been the biggest issue since the previous dynasty, and to solve this, we must first accurately know the resources produced in each village.”

“Well, that’s true…”

King Sejong hesitated, and the vice minister who took the place of the absent Minister of Taxation who left for envoy procession spoke up in his place, “Indeed, the Crown Prince’s words are correct and should naturally be carried out. However, the labor required for this task is not easy.”

The comment from the Vice Minister of Taxation reminded the high officials of something they had forgotten.

“Of course, that is true. However, we are in a situation where we are moving throughout the country for the sake of compiling medical knowledge[10] intermediation and to collect the knowledge of the farmers. Since we are already sending personnel from the center to the whole country, we can take on one more task. Is one plus one not two?”

“Ah!”

King Sejong and the officials both exclaimed in agreement with Hyang’s suggestion.

“Thank heavens, why did we not think of this!”

“Even this scholar did not think of it!”

“We can greatly reduce the budget!”

As King Sejong and the officials looked on, Hyang recalled the words of teacher Samcheompo in his mind.

“The people of the past were all idiots, and the people of the present are not all geniuses! It’s just that people in the past had a lower influx of information, and the sight of modern people, who have an absolute amount of information, has become broader! Shall I give you an example? Multi-tasking, which is now considered basic, only became commonplace in the mid-1990s! Before that, even the great computers could only perform one task at a time, and people were satisfied with that!”

With King Sejong and the officials experiencing a sort of enlightenment, Hyang’s petition was officially adopted as policy.

And from that day on, the famous “Yukjo Street[11] of the City that never Sleeps[12]’ began.

* * *

That night.

“Do not follow us.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It is a private conversation between a father and son.”

When King Sejong spoke firmly, the officials stepped back. King Sejong, who had pushed the officials back, led the way to the Donggung (Eastern) Palace[13].

“He’s still awake?” King Sejong asked the eunuch behind him.

As King Sejong looked at the brightly lit room in the Donggung Palace, the chief eunuch who was following behind him spoke, “I heard that His Highness often stays awake until the fourth watch (between 1-3 AM), even though one should go to sleep earliest is between second watch (between 9-11 pm) and third watch (between 11 pm-1 am).”

“He is still a young child, how can he push himself so hard?” King Sejong said while unable to hide his concern for Hyang, as he continued to walk.

“Your Majesty King, please come in!” the inner court official, who had been waiting outside of Hyang’s room, announced upon seeing King Sejong’s arrival and immediately opened the door.

As soon as King Sejong entered the room, Hyang stood up and bowed.

“What brings you here at such a late hour?”

“I was just taking a break and heard that the lights were on, so I came to check. What have you been doing until this time of night?”

“I was reading a book for a moment.”

“Oh really? Well, have a seat for now,” King Sejong sat in Hyang’s seat and looked at the book spread out on the desk. “Ah, it’s a book by the Western barbarians. What is it about?”

“It’s a book with the title ‘A Small Study on Alchemy.’ As the title suggests, it is a critique on alchemy.”

“What is an alchemy?”

“It is a study of adding various substances to metals like lead or iron to make gold.”

King Sejong’s eyes twinkled at Hyang’s words. “Is that possible?”

“According to the writings of the author, even the ancient scholars studied it for hundreds of years but couldn’t find an answer. However, in the author’s preface, it says, ‘Alchemy is impossible. However, creating useful alloys through further study is the true alchemy.'”

“Creating useful alloys through further research is the true alchemy,” King Sejong concluded after pondering Hyang’s words.

“Your Majesty is truly wise.”

“So does Crown Prince think the same way?” King Sejong smiled at Hyang’s response, before picking up the book on alchemy and started reading it.

“There’s a translated version. Do you want to read it together?”

“No, I am just curious about the characters used by the Westerners.”

However, King Sejong did not put down the book for a long time. When Hyang’s waist began to ache from standing for too long, King Sejong finally put down the book and spoke.

Footnotes

[1] ‘Sangjeonbaekhae (桑田碧海)’ is a Chinese idiom that means ‘a mulberry field turned into an ocean’ or ‘drastic changes over time.’ It refers to how the world and society constantly change, just as a mulberry field can become an ocean over a long period.

[2] “Bupyeong stream” refers to a stream in Bupyeong district that flows in a meandering and winding manner

[3] 單騎接戰 (단기접전) is a Chinese idiom that means “single combat” or “duel.” In the context of the given text, it refers to the outdated way of fighting wars in which commanders fought against each other in individual battles to determine the outcome of the war.

[4] 승정원일기 (承政院日記, seungjeongwon ilgi): the daily records of the royal court, recording the king’s daily

[5] Silok (시록) refers to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a set of official historical records kept by the government officials during the Joseon dynasty in Korea. It chronicles the reigns of all the monarchs from the foundation of the dynasty in 1392 until its end in 1910. The Silok is considered an important primary source for understanding the political, social, and cultural history of Korea during the Joseon dynasty.

[6] “鄕藥濟生集成方” (향약제생집성방 in Korean) is the name of a Korean medicinal book written during the Joseon Dynasty. It was compiled and edited by the government officials of the dynasty and published in 1613. The book contains a comprehensive collection of various medical treatments, prescriptions, and remedies based on traditional Korean medicine. Its title can be translated as “The Collection of Prescriptions for Universal Relief of Rural Medicines.” The book was widely used by doctors and pharmacists during the Joseon dynasty and is still regarded as an important medical reference in Korea.

[7] 觀象監 (관상감) refers to the Royal Observatory, an astronomical observatory established during the Joseon Dynasty in 1433 by King Sejong the Great. Its purpose was to conduct astronomical observations and calculations to create accurate calendars and almanacs. The Royal Observatory played a significant role in developing astronomy and mathematics in Korea and remained operational until the late 19th century.

[8] 春窮期 (춘궁기) is a Korean term that refers to the period of spring poverty, which is the time when stored food from the previous year is running low, and new crops have not yet been harvested. This was a challenging time for farmers, and it was also a time when people had to be frugal with their food and resources. The term “spring poverty” is used to describe this period because it typically occurred during the spring season.

[9] Bureau of State Welfare (惠民局) was a government agency established during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea with the aim of improving the lives of the common people. Its main role was to provide assistance to the poor and vulnerable, including the provision of food, clothing, and shelter. It also oversaw various welfare programs, including healthcare and disaster relief efforts.

Royal Dispensary (濟生院) was a medical institution established during the Joseon Dynasty. It provided medical treatment to the royal family and government officials, as well as to the general public. Its physicians were trained in both traditional and Western medicine and were known for their expertise in treating a wide range of illnesses.

Great Compassionate Temple of East and West or Dongseo Daebiwon (東西大悲院) was a Buddhist temple established during the Joseon Dynasty. It was known for its philanthropic activities, including providing shelter, food, and medical treatment to the poor and needy

[10] Hyangyak Jeseungbang (향약제생집성방): A medical book compiled during the Joseon dynasty that contains information on traditional Korean medicine.

[11] Yukjo Street (육조거리) was a street in Hanyang (한양), the capital city of Joseon dynasty Korea, where government officials and scholars gathered to study and discuss various topics.

[12] Byulyaseong (불야성) was a nickname for Hanyang that referred to its lively and bustling nature, as it was a city that never slept. Therefore, the phrase implies that after the establishment of Hyang’s petition as an official policy, the famous Yukjo Street of the city that never sleeps began, and it became a hub for intellectual and political discussions.

[13] Crown Prince’s palace.

Chapter 22
Sprout… Sprout of Cancer? (15)

“The writings of the Western Barbarians is truly fascinating.”

“Pardon?”

“Come here and take a look,” King Sejong beckoned Hyang over to his side and pointed to the Latin script, tracing the lines with his fingers.

” Considering that these words keep appearing everywhere, they seem to indicate the grammatical case of the subject of the sentence. Based on the words written here, this part represents the initial sound of the word, this part here represents the medial sound, and this part represents the final sound of the word. So, they come together to form a single character. It seems that these characters, which represent the medial sound, are these ones. Looking at the way they create words and sentences, Westerners have phoneticized pronunciation rather than meaning. Am I right?”

“Yes, that is absolutely right!” Hyang stammered in response, half out of breath.

‘He’s a real genius! No, a monster!’

In just a short amount of time reading the book, King Sejong had grasped not only the articles and indefinite articles of Latin but also the structure of words and the use of phonetic symbols.

It was at this moment, that Hyang realized King Sejong’s ingenious mind that he had only known through textbooks up until now.

King Sejong returned to his book and continued to read, then turned to Hyang. “Do all the Western Barbarians use this kind of writings?”

“No, they all use this writing as a base, but it differs slightly.”

Hyang then selected books in French and German and placed them on the writing desk.

“Hmm… let me see…” King Sejong stroked his beard as he alternated between books in French and Germany languages, while comparing them to the previous book in Latin. “The forms of the characters are generally similar, but there are some variations in the characters that determine pronunciation… hmmm…”

With a nasal sound, King Sejong turned to face Hyang with a serious expression. “Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you think about creating our own language for Joseon?”

‘He’s asking me!’ Hyang inwardly cheered and promptly answered, “I believe that creating our language for Joseon is absolutely necessary! How many people know the Chinese characters that the literati revere as true texts? And how many of those who know them actually write them properly? If Chinese characters are true texts, then why are we using a ‘phonetic’ system?

“Did you have difficulty writing sentences?”

“Hehe!”

Seeing Hyang’s childish behavior, King Sejong chuckled and nodded his head.

“Haha! I too remember struggling when I first wrote a sentence. I spent over an hour pondering and writing a poem, but my father and grandfather burst into laughter when they read it.” King Sejong, reminiscing about his childhood, looked at Hyang, “Indeed, the Chinese language and our Joseon language are completely different, and this is a problem. It is not easy for the common people to submit their grievances, even if they want to. The problem is that creating language system is not an easy task.”

“Your Majesty has many wise people around you, so if you decide to do it, it will become an easy task.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong lowered his head, “If I publicly declare that I will create a language system, the ‘Hall of Worthies’[1] scholars will become my enemies at that moment.”

“Your Majesty.”

Seeing King Sejong’s face full of things to say, Hyang called out to him. However, King Sejong did not continue speaking and stood up from his seat.

“The night is deep. It is time for us to sleep.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please get some sleep, Your Majesty. Only when Your Majesty is in good health can Joseon be stable.”

“You little rascal…”

King Sejong, who was about to leave the room with a chuckle, stopped in his tracks and looked back. “I hope you grow up quickly and reach the age of 15, when you can devote yourself to learning.”

“Pardon?”

“Go to sleep.”

After seeing King Sejong off, Hyang prepared to go to bed. As he lay down on the blankets that the palace maids had prepared, he suddenly got up and murmured. The words that King Sejong had said before leaving the room lingered in his mind.

“Ah, that gives me the chills.”

* * *

As preparations for vaccinating the palace residents and the people of Hanyang against smallpox were underway, the palace, especially the area around the Inner Palace, was bustling.

The head of the Inner Palace, the Chief of the Inner Palace, checked the situation with the medical officers.

“Are the needles for vaccination prepared?”

“100 have been prepared.”

“100 is not enough! Prepare 200 more!”

“What about the cows?”

“5 cows are ready!”

“How many people can be vaccinated with 5 cows?”

“As expected, even after vaccinating everyone in the palace and the six ministries who has not contracted smallpox, there will still be plenty left.”

“Good! Make sure to accurately record how long the pus collected from the infected cow can last!”

“Understood!”

“And how much ethanol for disinfection has been secured?”

“We are still in the process of distillation.”

“Make sure there is enough prepared, as we can’t afford to run out.”

“Yes, sir.”

After organizing the situation to some extent, Jeong let out a small sigh. “Whew~ Disinfection… the work has increased manyfold. His Highness the Crown Prince guaranteed it, but will there really be any benefits?”

* * *

At that time, the concept of disinfection was hardly established. Not washing hands when attending to patients was the norm, and reusing needles was a common practice. However, these practices were completely overturned with the implementation of cowpox vaccination.

“Wiping the cow? And boiling the needle?”

Upon hearing the question, Seodori immediately replied while scratching his head, “Yes, that’s right. As you can see, cows are covered in feces, aren’t they? If you’re not careful, you could get fecal poisoning.”

“I understand the fecal poisoning, but why boil the needle?”

“When the cowpox vaccine was first administered, there was a person with a severe pus-filled infection. After using the needle on that person, it was used on another person and the infection was transmitted. Since then, needles have been boiled in hot water after each use, and they were also wiped with thoroughly dried cotton cloth that had been boiled.”

“I see.”

Hearing Seodori’s words, Jeong nodded his head and recorded the relevant information. Hyang, who had been watching from the side, sprinkled MSG[2].

“May I add something?”

“I will attentively listen to Your Highness’ words.”

“I’ve looked at some of the Western medical texts. They were collections of knowledge from military physicians of a great empire called Rome.”

In response to Hyang’s words, Jeong dipped his brush in the ink and prepared to write. It was a well-known story that there were many valuable medical books that they did not have among the prince’s possessions. He wanted to see those books, but there wasn’t a single high-ranking official who dared to ask the prince to hand them over or borrow them. They all just sucked their fingers, but when Hyang spoke up, they couldn’t miss the opportunity.

“In those books, it says… ‘All tools used for treating patients must be boiled in water and then wiped clean with a clean cloth before being used on the next patient. Both the cloth used to cover the patient’s wounds and the one used to wipe the wounds should be boiled in water and dried thoroughly in strong sunlight before being used again.'”

“Dried thoroughly in strong sunlight?”

“Oh! And another thing, ‘Physicians must always keep their hands clean when touching patients. When touching one patient and then another, they must wash their hands thoroughly and wipe them clean with a clean cloth. When treating patients’ wounds, they must clean the wound area with alcohol.'”

“…Wipe them clean. Is this really effective?”

“According to the author of the book, it’s very effective. So, if we follow the same methods, there shouldn’t be any harm.”

“Your Highness’s words. I will deeply consider them.” Jeong bowed his head in response to Hyang’s words.

The members of the courtiers who saw the documents recorded based on Hyang’s words were divided in their opinions.

“It’s nice to be clean, but isn’t this too excessive?”

“No, I’ve experienced it myself. When bedding and other things are clean, the recovery is much faster.”

“Can we really trust Western medicine?”

“They are also people who exert effort to save others. There seems to be no need to deny them absolutely.”

The members of the courtiers who were divided into two sides finally reached a tentative agreement: “First, since these are the words of the Crown Prince, let’s prepare as much as possible and confirm the results on-site.”

While these people were making such a decision, Hyang classified books full of Latin and played a small whistle.

“I added a little MSG, but the books of the Eastern Roman Empire were unexpected.”

Among the Western books that came through the envoys, a considerable number were books of the Eastern Roman Empire. However, the surprising thing was that while many other field books were translated into Hanja, almost none of the medical books had been translated. The reason was written at the end of the barely found Hanja translation.

‘The Western medicine does not consider the mutual generation and mutual restraint[3] of the Five Elements[4] in using herbal medicine and is not afraid to use a knife when treating external and internal injuries. Therefore, there is no need to be interested in Western medicine as their method is too extreme.”

Upon reading a sentence that made a definitive assertion, Hyang burst out laughing. “Just wait 500 years and see.”

Contrary to the evaluations of the Chinese, Hyang held the books of the Eastern Roman Empire in high regard.

“The quality is higher than expected. Is it because they are descendants of the Roman Empire after all?”

What particularly caught Hyang’s attention was a book about public hygiene. As he perused the book, which was filled with information about installing sewage systems, preventing fires, and organizing urban areas, he murmured quietly to himself, “Since the urban area of Hanyang is still incomplete… should we try creating a SimCity?”

It was a remarkable coincidence that during the reign of Prince Jeong when he was still a crown prince, he had improved the urban areas of Hanyang.

“That’s beside the point…” Hyang mumbled to himself as he looked through the many books that filled the room.

The Western books that the envoys had brought back were quite diverse and not few in number. Since there were not a few Confucian classics among them as well, Hyang converted one of the rooms in Eastern Palace into a study. Bookshelves lined the walls of the room, and a large desk and chair were placed in the center.

What Hyang was curious about was how there were so many Western books in China. Considering the size of the Chinese continent, the books in that room were sure to be only a very small portion. There is no need to be interested in Western medicine.

“To be precise, there are so many books, but it doesn’t seem like they have had a significant influence on China’s industry or science and technology.”

Hyang, who was pondering “why,” recalled the review of a book she had read before.

“Is it China’s pride?”

Hyang’s speculation became certain when the people who went as envoys returned.

“These are new books that have been newly acquired, excluding those on the book list you gave me.”

The books that Minister of Taxation brought in response to Hyang’s request amounted to three large wooden boxes.

“That’s quite a lot. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Not at all.”

“Looking at the number of books, it seems that the Hui[5] believers are steadily coming into Ming Dynasty?”

“If you go south of the Yangtze River, there is still some exchange, but publicly there is none.”

“Still, there are many books.”

“Most of the books are made by Ming Dynasty’s enthusiasts.”

“Why do they make these books?”

“They’re doing their best to rid the remnants of the Yuan dynasty.”

Hyang nodded at the Minister of Taxation’s explanation and said, “Is that so? Thank you for your hard work.”

After seeing off the older man, Hyang muttered quietly while looking at the books on the wooden shelves, “As expected, it’s not without basis.”

During the reign of King Sejong, explosive growth was not something that fell from the sky! It was the result of absorbing the technologies that flowed out during the transition from the Yuan to the Ming Dynasty! The problem was that everything went downhill from there.

Hyang nodded repeatedly, recalling the words of Teacher Samcheonpo, the great scholar.

* * *

As the winter solstice approached, preparations for the smallpox vaccination targeting the palace and the residents of Hanyang were entering the final stages.

“Let’s double-check that all the preparations are well done!”

“I have checked each item twice.”

“We can finish it before the start of the spring hardship[6] period, right?”

At the question of the chief physician, the medical officer nodded his head. “We can finish it!”

“Then I will report it to Minister of Personnel.”

* * *

“Can we definitely finish it before the start of the spring hardship period?”

“The medical officers are confident.”

At the answer of the chief physician, the Minister of Personnel stroked his beard.

“Alright. Then I will report to the king.”

* * *

“Until the beginning of spring, we must not forget to complete the inoculation without fail.”

Upon receiving the report of the Minister of Personnel, King Sejong issued a similar order.

Minister of Personnel nodded his head in agreement with King Sejong’s command, “I will do my utmost with all my heart and soul.”

Footnotes

[1] Jiphyeonjeon (집현전, 集賢殿), also known as the Hall of Worthies, was a royal research institute established during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea (1392-1897). Founded in 1420 by King Sejong the Great, it was a place where the most talented scholars and experts gathered to research various fields such as literature, science, and philosophy. The Jiphyeonjeon scholars played a significant role in the development of the Korean Hangul script and various cultural and scientific advancements during the Joseon Dynasty.

[2] Literally in the raws

[3] 상생상극 (相生相剋) (sangsaengsanggeuk): means “mutual generation and mutual conquest.” It is a concept in East Asian philosophy that describes the complex relationships between the Five Elements.

[4] 오행 (五行) (Ohaeng): means “Five Elements,” which is a concept in East Asian philosophy that categorizes everything into five elements: water, fire, wood, metal, and earth.

[5] Historically, Hui people are a Chinese ethnic group of predominantly Muslim faith that dates back to Tang dynasty.

[6] 춘궁기(春窮期): spring hardship period, refers to the period from late winter to early spring, when food was scarce and people suffered from cold and hunger.

History Time!

What happened during the transition of Yuan to Ming dynasties?

During the Yuan-Ming transition, Ming dynasty experienced significant political turmoil, including wars and rebellions, which resulted in the displacement of many skilled workers and scholars. As a result, many of them fled to neighboring countries including Joseon for safety in order to avoid Ming’s persecution. This in turn, led to significant impacts on Joseon in terms of the advancement of various fields, including science, medicine, and technology.

Chapter 23.1
Winds of Change (1)

The most damaging season for smallpox was during the spring and early summer. The main routes of smallpox transmission were through respiratory and skin contact among people. Due to this characteristic, the season when smallpox mainly broke out was from autumn to the early summer. This was because the weather became colder, causing people to gather in family units indoors. However, the spread of smallpox was not fast in mid-winter due to people not engaging in outdoor activities because of cold weather.

Moreover, during the autumn, the harvest was complete and there was plenty of food, so even if someone got infected with smallpox, the survival rate was high. Although they might become a cripple or experience various after-effects.

However, the early summer was deadly. People searched for food, wandering in and out of the mountains, causing smallpox to spread rapidly over a wide area. When they became malnourished, their resistance decreased, leading to a sharp increase in the death rate.

For this reason, the government set a goal to complete the smallpox vaccination before the onset of early summer.

* * *

When the court was busy preparing for the aristocracy’s inoculation, messengers who had gone to Ming returned.

The messengers who returned from Ming reported the results of their mission.

“…Therefore, starting from the next time, Ming will send only civil officials as envoys to Joseon. Here is the document issued by the Emperor[1].”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Sejong, who had checked the contents of the scroll handed by the Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon, looked back at his officials.

“It would be best to hang this as a display at the banquet hall of Mohwagwan.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

The officials all expressed their agreement with Sejong’s words. No matter how arrogant an envoy might be, they couldn’t act recklessly in front of the Emperor’s handwritten document. If they dared to do so, it would be equivalent to slitting their own throats.

“What about the major issue of creating a trading post?”

“Indeed, reaching an agreement on that matter was not easy. To put it briefly, we decided to establish a trading post in Shandong province.”

“Is that so?”

According to the Chief State Councilor’s explanation, Joseon wanted the area near Shanhai Pass[2] as a strong candidate, while Ming preferred the area near the Amnok (or Yalu) River.

The problem was the security in the Liaodong region. Although Ming claimed to maintain defense and security based on the Wèi Suǒ System[3], the Liaodong region was where Jurchens and even bandits were located. Therefore, a certain number of troops always escorted the merchants.

If a permanent trading post was established and many merchants gathered there, it was certain that a considerable number of troops would be stationed at the trading post, responsible for the protection of the post and escorting the merchants. This was where the issue arose.

Joseon did not want Ming troops to be permanently stationed near the Amnok River, and Ming did not want a large number of Joseon troops stationed right at Shanhai Pass.[4]

As a result, the officials from Ming and the ambassadors from Joseon had to engage in an intense war of words.

The Chief State Councilor, who was reporting to King Sejong, recounted a short anecdote that occurred during the heated debate.

“Amid the stagnant situation, one of Ming’s officials came up with a new proposal.”

“A new proposal?”

“To establish a market exactly halfway between Ming and our Joseon.”

“Oh, and then? What happened?”

“He disappeared from sight the next day.”

“Hahaha!”

After the brief anecdote, Ming and Joseon ended up in a deadlock, continually going in circles. When both sides were exhausted from the war of words, the Chief State Councilor put forth a new suggestion.

“How about opening a port instead?”

“A port, you say?”

“Yes.”

The Ming officials pondered over his proposal. After some time, they nodded their heads.

“That’s a good idea.”

“It’s worth considering.”

After reaching an agreement among themselves, the Ming officials asked the Joseon envoys.

“Do you have a suitable candidate location in mind? We will submit the petition to His Majesty the Emperor.”

In response to the Ming officials’ favorable reaction, the Chief State Councilor suggested a suitable candidate location.

“How about Shandong?”

“Shandong?”

“Shandong, indeed…”

When the Chief State Councilor mentioned Shandong, Ming officials stepped back and whispered amongst themselves. The Ming officials who had been whispering for a while finally stepped back.

“We will report this to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“We hope there is a good answer.”

Three days later, officials from Ming and Joseon gathered again in one place.

“His Majesty has decided. He permits the establishment of a Joseon consulate in Shandong.”

Upon the Ming official’s words, the Joseon envoys, including the Chief State Councilor, politely responded.

“We appreciate His Majesty the Emperor’s grace.”

With the decision made by Emperor Yongle[5], the matter proceeded swiftly.

“How about naming the consulate ‘Joseon Emporium[6]’ and setting its location at the old Silla-district (neighborhood located in Gyeongju) site?”

“If it’s the Silla-district site…”

The Ming official pointed at the location of Silla-district on the map. After confirming the location on the map, the Chief State Councilor nodded.

“That place seems to be suitable.”

Once the location was decided, the next issue that came up was maintenance. To be precise, it was the construction and maintenance cost of the consulate.

“How about charging an entry fee?”

“We have to cross the sea by boat. You should also consider the risk burden.”

Ming tried to get more, while Joseon tried to give less, continuing a push and pull.

Eventually, after tedious pushing and pulling, Ming and Joseon agreed to collect 1% of the transaction amount as customs duties from Ming and Joseon merchants trading at the Joseon Emporium. In return, Ming agreed to construct all buildings entering the Joseon Emporium.

“That’s acceptable…”

Listening to the report from the Chief State Councilor, Sejong assessed the profit and loss and nodded. As Sejong showed a positive response, not only the Chief State Councilor but also all the envoys who went and returned sighed in relief.

“So, when can the Joseon Emporium open its doors?”

“We expect it to be next summer.”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

After a moment of organizing his thoughts, King Sejong spoke, “Let’s move on from that… Did the accompanying merchants do well in their business?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Chief State Councilor looked back at the Minister of Taxation, who promptly answered under the Chief State Councilor’s glare.

“Everyone has made a great profit. The least successful ones have made a profit three times, and those who made the most have made twenty times more.”

“Twenty times? What did they sell?”

Footnotes

[1] Emperor of Ming

[2] One of the passes in the Great Wall of China was one of the easternmost strongholds along the Ming Great Wall. It is located in Hebei province.

[3] Wèi Suǒ System (衛所制): A system in Ming China for maintaining defense and security in the border areas. Wei (guards) and Suo (battalions).

[4] Shanhaiguan (山海關): A pass located in Hebei Province, China, which is the eastern starting point of the Great Wall of China.

[5] Emperor of Ming

[6] I’m taking liberty with this, the original just a state office or building, but since I wanted to differentiate it from other building’s purposes, I translate it as Emporium instead. A place where trading takes place.

Chapter 23.2
Winds of Change (1)

At the mention of ‘twenty times’, not only King Sejong but also the ministers seated around him widened their eyes. The curious King Sejong asked, and an official from the Ministry of Taxation promptly answered.

“It was hundred-year-old wild ginseng.”

“Ah…”

“That makes sense if it’s wild ginseng.”

At the answer from the Ministry of Taxation’s official, both King Sejong and the ministers nodded their heads. Wild ginseng was considered a top-quality medicine. It was difficult to obtain in Joseon, so it fetched a high price as soon as it was available.

“So, how much did the Ministry of Taxation collect?”

At King Sejong’s question, the official replied immediately, “Four thousand nyang in silver.”

“Four thousand nyang!”

“Whoa!”

At the official’s response, King Sejong and the ministers were astonished. With ten jeong[1] or one nyang (37.5g) of silver, one could buy a som (approximately 144kg) of rice even in a famine year. And with one som of rice, an ordinary commoner family could eat for at least a month.

What surprised King Sejong and the ministers was that 4,000 nyang was only 10% of the total net profit.

“So, the total profit amounts to 40,000 nyang in silver?”

“Yes, one trading expedition produced four successful merchants.”

“Four successful merchants…”

The influence of a ‘successful merchant’ was enormous. They had the power to affect not only the village they lived in but also half of the province. That’s why there was a saying that when a successful merchant moved, the local governor would come out to greet them in his socks[2].

Of course, there were dozens of merchants who participated in the trading expedition, and it was an exaggeration to compare them with successful merchants who had amassed wealth over decades. However, a significant number of wealthy individuals had appeared as a result of just one trading expedition.

“The Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Bring him in.”

At King Sejong’s call, the Crown Prince, who had come to the chamber, paid his respects to the king. “Did you call for me, Father?”

“Yes, I thought you should know about this. The amount collected from the merchants who went on this trading expedition is 4,000 nyang in silver.”

“4,000 nyang is not a small sum.”

“You don’t seem very surprised, Crown Prince?”

Seeing the Crown Prince’s calm demeanor, King Sejong was rather surprised and asked. Not only King Sejong, but all the ministers couldn’t hide their surprise at the Crown Prince’s composed demeanor.

“Is it your boldness? Or do you not yet fully understand the situation?”

“Well…”

The ministers murmured softly, but Hyang still answered with a calm expression.

“Is it that surprising? The merchants also calculated that they could make a significant profit, and they participated because they were confident. And since those merchants who participated did their part, what is there to be surprised about?”

21st century.

Although it was a series of precarious economic situations, Hyang lived in Korea, which consistently maintained its position as one of the top-class economic powers in the world. In addition, Hyang had experience working in the public sector, specifically in the economic field, although he had quit halfway through. Hyang was familiar with numbers in the order of a trillion, so a thousand units – even when converted to the 21st-century economic unit, it was only a few billion – didn’t hold much excitement for them.

“Well, that’s true. Since the merchants are good at calculating, they wouldn’t have moved without being confident they could make a significant profit.”

At Hyang’s response, King Sejong nodded his head in agreement.

The ministers also nodded their heads as if they understood, and Hyang continued to speak, “Now is the time to research how we can consistently gain such profits.”

“So is that why we are creating the trading post?”

“It’s not the existence of the trading post that’s important, but the products sold there. What were the most sought-after items by the reputable merchants, the noble gentry?”

“Overall, there was a shortage, so they couldn’t sell much, but the most sought-after item was indeed the gold pen, followed by medicine and medicinal herbs.”

King Sejong showed interest at the unexpected answer that these items sold well.

“Medicinal herbs?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ming is a vast country. They shouldn’t be lacking medicinal materials, should they?”

“But they say there are too many counterfeit products in circulation.”

“Ah~. It’s an item that deals with people’s lives, and it’s counterfeit.”

King Sejong sighed at the answer from the Minister of Taxation, and the ministers shook their heads. Hyang, who was listening to the conversation, also shook their head.

‘As expected, the country of counterfeits!’

“What kind of medicine were they looking for, besides the medicinal herbs?”

“It was the Ox Bezoar Antidote Pill[3]. Again, because there were many counterfeits…”

“I see. The Crown Prince…” King Sejong, who was about to ask for Hyang’s opinion, stopped talking. It was because the Crown Prince’s eyes were fiercely shining.

“Do you have a good idea?”?”

“Please gather herbalists and herb gatherers! We can promote the health of the people and greatly increase the national revenue!”

“Herbalists and herb gatherers?”

After hearing Hwang’s answer, King Sejong thought for a moment and immediately caught on.

“Wait… Are you trying to cultivate herbs?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

‘As expected of King Sejong! He understands right away without any explanation!’

Hyang nodded his head with a bright smile. Unlike the Crown Prince, whose face was white and expressionless, the courtiers had puzzled expressions, unable to understand. The only one who seemed to understand was the Minister of Taxation.

“Crown Prince, please explain it in more detail.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As soon as King Sejong gave the order, Hyang began his explanation. “Herbs and wild ginseng are mainly supplied by herb gatherers and herbalists. The problem is that the supply is not consistent. There is even a belief that, unless the mountain spirit approves, ginseng that has grown for over fifty years cannot be dug up for the rest of one’s life.”

Hyang added, “However, if we investigate carefully, there must be soil and geomantic[4] conditions that are suitable for growing herbs, and experienced herb gatherers would know this well. Therefore, if we can identify these characteristics and artificially create such an environment, we can stably supply herbs, and as a result, the value of medicinal herbs will decrease, making it easier for people to obtain them… In addition, we will secure a product that can be continuously sold during the Ming dynasty.”

As soon as Hyang finished his explanation, the courtiers all nodded their heads.

“Your Highness, your opinion is truly excellent.”

Starting with Chief State Councilor, the courtiers expressed their approval. They had no reason to oppose it, as they had already seen the results of vast wealth flowing into the country.

Everything was going well until the Minister of Taxation threw a bomb, although it was not his intention.

Footnotes

[1] A type of currency in silver. Translated as ten parts silver or 90 percent of pure silver.

[2] Basically in a hurry. If in today’s time, you’re greeting your guests in your pajamas, I guess.

[3] A traditional Chinese medicine used to treat various conditions.

[4] Geomancy, the study of the energy flow and the balance of the Earth’s energies believed to affect human life, health, and prosperity.

Chapter 24
Winds of Change (2)

“And if there’s something a bit unusual, there were many merchants looking for our Joseon paper.”

“Our Joseon paper?”

“Yes. Compared to the paper made in Ming, our Joseon paper is of superior quality, so many people were looking for it. In the great nation, since the previous dynasty, it has been called ‘Hae-dong-paper or ‘Goryeo-paper’ and many people sought after it.”

King Sejong stroked his beard at Minister of Taxation’s response.

“Hmm… It would be good to issue an order to increase the production at the Papermaking Bureau.”

As soon as King Sejong’s words fell, Hyang opened his mouth, “Your Majesty! Please hear my request!”

“Speak.”

“Please reform and abolish the Papermaking Bureau!”

Hyang burst the bomb thrown by the Minister of Taxation.

At Hyang’s request to reform and abolish the Papermaking Bureau, the atmosphere froze for a moment. King Sejong and the ministers all failed to understand Hyang’s words momentarily.

“Abolish the Papermaking Bureau? In this situation, where many people from Ming are looking for paper?”

“It doesn’t seem to be consistent with the prince’s usual claims.”

“It’s an opportunity to gain new benefits. Why?”

Shortly after, King Sejong and the ministers all presented their criticisms one after another. It was a different statement from the usual Hyang. However, Hyang had already prepared his rebuttal.

“Reforming and abolishing the Papermaking Bureau is consistent with what I have been advocating.”

“Consistent? Explain.”

“Yes.”

Hyang explained the reason for abolishing the Papermaking Bureau to Sejong and the ministers. The paper currently produced at the Papermaking Bureau is of six types. However, the types of paper circulated in the previous dynasty were more, and the quality was even better.

What this means is that the situation is getting worse as time goes by. (Note 1)[1]

If so, eventually, the merchants of Ming will no longer want paper, and this will result in losing an important market.

“Hmm… Prince, I understand what you’re saying. If the quality of the paper deteriorates as you say, the merchants of Ming will not buy the paper. But! I don’t understand why that’s a reason to abolish the Papermaking Bureau. Isn’t it a matter of supervising the papermakers well?” King Sejong, who had been listening to Hyang’s explanation, interrupted him.

Hyang immediately responded to Sejong’s criticism, “Among the words circulating among the common people, there is a saying, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ No matter how strictly you supervise, will it work properly if the artisans’ motivation is at rock bottom?”

“The artisans’ motivation is at rock bottom?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. You know that I have been visiting offices with artisans, including the Military Arsenal[2], right?”

“I know.”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong nodded. “And every time, my head ached because of the troubles you created, Crown Prince.”

At Sejong’s remark, the ministers nodded unknowingly, and Hyang gave a bitter smile.

‘I don’t remember causing that much trouble, but let’s set that aside!’

Hyang explained why the artisans in the offices lacked motivation. “Their salaries were miserable. The salaries they received were barely enough for their families to survive. As a result, many of them had side jobs or quit their work.”

“What do they do when they quit their jobs?”

” Some became tenant farmers who leased fields or worked as peddlers, and some even worked in private workshops in the market. With the situation like this, would supervision be effective? Supplies are increasing and management is becoming more complicated, but the salary remains the same, which will only lead to more people quitting.”

Sejong’s face grew serious at Hyang’s words. Meanwhile, the Chief State Councilor, who had been listening to Hyang’s explanation, raised a counterargument, “Those who belong to the military workshop or other royal workshops receive a rank of 9th grade and the corresponding salary. However, among the officials of the same rank, very few resign. This means that the low salary cannot be an excuse for the artisans’ laziness.”

Hearing the Chief State Councilor Minister’s rebuttal, Hyang exposed the officials’ disgrace by revealing, “Don’t you know that those officials receive a lot of benefits behind the scenes? Even at your house, Chief State Councilor, I’m sure you know that people come with gifts, creating a market-like atmosphere at your door.”

“That’s just a gift!”

“Who said otherwise?”

Hyang, who had silenced the Prime Minister, continued speaking while looking at King Sejong, “Under these circumstances, who among the artisans belonging to the royal family and the government would do their best in their work? What’s worse is that they don’t even want to pass on their skills to their children. They say that it’s better to be a tenant farmer than to live off the skills they inherited. How many of the techniques accumulated over a long period of time have disappeared under such circumstances? Also, how can progress be made when those with talent do not cultivate their skills?”

“The Crown Prince is right.”

As King Sejong agreed, the Chief State Councilor immediately raised a counterargument, “But what was the reason that King Taejong created the paper supply system? It was because the quality of paper collected as a tribute was not uniform, causing a great inconvenience of having to sort through it again. If the paper supply system is abolished, we will have to suffer the same damage as in King Taejong’s time. Please reconsider!”

“Please reconsider!”

Following the Chief State Councilor’s lead, the other ministers joined in the chorus.

“What should we do?” King Sejong, making a troubled expression, glanced at Hyang.

‘This brat! He must have already known the answer!’

“Sigh,” Hyang sighed and opened his mouth, “Why do we have to give out tributes?”

“Excuse me?”

“Have you forgotten the example of the gold brush? All we have to do is clearly specify the standards for paper quality and specifications required by the government, and then sign a contract with the cheapest supplier among those who meet the criteria.”

“But if we do that, the expenses…”

“Is paper a commodity that only the royal family and the government need? It’s clear as day that ‘royal supply’ will sell well in the market, just like the gold brush! The government can collect taxes on the profits they make and earn multiple times more income compared to the expenses.”

“…”

At Hyang’s words, the mouths of the Chief State Councilor and other ministers became tight-lipped. This was because there was already a precedent with the gold brush. Hyang then went in for the kill.

“Didn’t the Ming merchants ask us for paper recently? If our Joseon merchants can continuously produce high-quality paper through competition, they can make a lot of money in the big market of Ming, which means our government can also secure more revenue.”

The debate had ended, but there was no one among the ministers to raise any objections. After a brief silence, the Minister of Personnel spoke up, “In my humble opinion, the Crown Prince’s suggestion seems to be quite reasonable.”

“Minister of Personnel!”

The Chief State Councilor glared at the Minister of Personnel, but the latter continued undeterred, “Whether it is to provide relief to the people, maintain the government organization, ensure public order, or protect our borders, all of these require funding. It has been nearly 30 years since our Joseon dynasty was founded, and there has never been a clear solution to this issue. Instead, as time goes on, the difficulties only seem to be intensifying. If we have a solution, why wouldn’t we make use of it?”

Upon hearing the Minister of Personnel’s words, the Minister of Rites snapped back, “Minister of Personnel, watch your words! If all people were to realize the Way of the Sages and become virtuous, the country would be at peace, and even the barbarians from the border regions and Japanese pirates would be moved by our virtue and become peaceful. Therefore, our responsibility as ministers is to first think of how to enlighten the people and turn them into virtuous individuals! Your Majesty! The Crown Prince’s suggestion may seem right at a glance, but in reality, it is nothing more than a temporary solution that only addresses superficial wounds! For true peace and prosperity, we must first consider the enlightenment of the people!”

At the Minister of Rites’ statement, the Minister of Justice retorted, “Your Majesty! While the Minister of Rites’ words may seem right at a glance, they are nothing more than empty talk on paper! How could starving people who have collapsed from hunger understand the teachings of the sages? Enlightenment is important, but the people’s livelihood is even more crucial!”

‘Huh? Didn’t I say that before?’ Muttering to himself, the Crown Prince observed the heated debate among the ministers with great interest. ‘I need popcorn!’

As the ministers engaged in their heated argument, the Crown Prince sneakily glanced at King Sejong. King Sejong had a calm expression on his face with his mouth closed, but his eyes were smiling.

‘That man is enjoying himself!’

The ministers’ debate intensified. As they cited real-life situations and passages from the classics, their fierce back-and-forth continued. The scribes and secretaries hurriedly recorded the proceedings with their brushes.

“Enough.”

As the debate among the ministers escalated to the point of personal attacks, King Sejong raised his hand to stop them. Watching the ministers catch their breath from the intense debate, King Sejong made his decision.

“I have listened carefully to your opinions. Educating the people is indeed important and must be done. However, addressing the people’s livelihood is also a critical task that must be resolved. Various measures are needed for this, so I ask you all to investigate further.”

“We accept Your Majesty’s command.”

“As for the matter of the Papermaking Bureau, I believe the Crown Prince’s proposal is correct. However, abolishing it immediately seems too hasty. Investigate how to resolve this issue and report back within three days.”

“We accept Your Majesty’s command.”

After giving orders to the ministers, King Sejong turned to the Crown Prince. “Listen, my son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I am well aware of your concern for the prosperity of the nation and the well-being of the people. As the Crown Prince, this is something you must naturally do, so I will neither criticize nor praise you.”

“Your Majesty is too kind.”

At King Sejong’s evaluation, the Crown Prince bowed his head. ‘Did I not just get scolded?’

The conversation between Hyang and King Sejong continued, unlike the relief on Hyang’s face.

“However, it is clear that the great confusion that follows whenever you express your opinion is a problem. This is because not only the officials here but also the ministers, do not know what criteria you use to express your opinions. Hence, you should explain your political views on national affairs.”

“Yes?”

“Your Highness, it is not unknown to the officials and ministers that your intellect is excellent, and your thoughts are deep. However, your age is still immature, so it is possible to believe that you perceive your own misguided thoughts are correct. As a father, it is also my responsibility to know this beforehand and correct it.”

“Yes…”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang bowed his head quietly.

“Do you need time to prepare?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang thought for a moment and then replied, “Please give me five days.”

“Alright.”

The end of the meeting was marked by King Sejong’s decision that the Crown Prince would announce his political views in five days.

The ministers leaving the meeting were visibly divided into three factions. The first faction was the group of three high-ranking officials spearheaded by the Chief State Councilor, and those who followed them.

“We must prepare thoroughly for the next five days.”

“Preparation?” At the question of the follower, the Chief State Councilor replied.

“We need to review not only the classics but also the policies that have been in place so far.”

“Do we have to prepare that much for a 9-year-old child?”

At the question, the Chief State Councilor’s face turned fierce in an instant. “What do you think we have been subjected to by that 9-year-old so far?”

“Well…”

“Huh! Don’t you know who’s behind the Crown Prince! It may be the Crown Prince’s mouth speaking, but it is reasonable to think that the thoughts come from the King. Think about what has happened so far! Among the things the Crown Prince insisted on doing, was there anything the King opposed?”

“There was none.”

“As you said, the Crown Prince is only nine years old. Of course, his accumulated knowledge is commendable. However, political views cannot be achieved with knowledge alone. Experience is necessary, and only time can provide that. When the Crown Prince first started the work, I thought it was because he was a genius. But has the Crown Prince only done it once or twice? No matter how genius he is, that’s impossible. It’s only possible to think that the King is behind him.”

At the Chief State Councilor’s conclusion, everyone around nodded their heads.

“So, everyone, prepare thoroughly! How did we establish this Joseon?! Are we going to just watch the evil habits of the previous dynasty revive again!”

“We understand. Your Excellency.”

Footnotes

[1] Note 1) Korean Cultural Encyclopedia – “Jojiseo” entry.

[2] I think in a previous translation made by the TL before, the TL called this a ‘Weapons Office or Bureau’ or something. But, I believe the correct term is Military Arsenal, where the artisans handle everything related to weapons making and steel/iron.

Chapter 25
Winds of Change (3)

The second group consisted of officials mainly from the Ministry of Taxation, Ministry of Personnel, and Ministry of Public Works.

“Shouldn’t we bring writing instruments in five days?”

At the words of the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Taxation stroked his beard. “Do we need writing instruments?”

“They are absolutely necessary.”

“Isn’t it just the opinion of a nine-year-old child?”

At the Minister of Personnel’s objection, the Minister of Taxation explained his reason, “Of course, the young prince is only nine years old. Thanks to that, some people say that the King is behind all the actions and words of the prince. However, I don’t think so. The prince is a heaven-sent genius, even astonishing.”

“Is there a reason to think that way?”

When the Minister of Personnel asked for the reason, the Minister of Taxation’s eyes gazed into the distance. “There are several things. First, do you remember the day when the King wielded a club on the prince?”

“How could I forget that?”

“The fact that the King wielded a club means that the prince’s eccentricity was unheard of until then. That’s why he was so furious.”

Hearing the words of the Minister of Taxation, the Minister of Personnel immediately refuted, “That can be thought of that way. However, isn’t it too much to say that all other cases were the prince’s independent thoughts? Think about the prince’s age. He’s only nine years old. Isn’t it more reasonable to think that he was caught by chance that day?”

“It would be easier for an outsider to think that way. But have you been to the famous library of the Eastern Palace?”

“I haven’t. Have you?”

“I had been there when the prince asked for books and told me to take the list. I went into the library and saw that the books were all covered with fingerprints, and red lines were drawn on the passages that were considered important. That’s not all. Some books had papers inserted, and on those papers, there were plenty of writings about how to apply it when introducing it to our Joseon. And the handwriting was not the King’s.”

At the words of the Minister of Taxation, the Minister of Personnel’s face became serious. “That means…”

“We are looking at a truly frightening person. He’s smart, has execution power, and has power on his side.”

“Huh…”

At the words of the Minister of Taxation, the Minister of Personnel sighed, either out of admiration or lamentation.

The third group consisted of young officials from the Office of Inspector General and the Office of Censors.

“What do you think?”

“What do you mean what do I think? Shouldn’t we immediately raise a complaint? The Crown Prince is only nine years old! What is national policy? It’s what moves the country. National policy is that heavy, and what could a nine-year-old possibly know? This is the King deceiving us, his subjects!”

“But, as you can see from this golden brush, don’t you have to admit that the prince’s abilities are outstanding?”

“What I regret the most is this golden brush! I should have opposed mass-producing it! Because of that, everyone from the King to the attendants only thinks about wealth, and I can’t help but lament! What’s the difference from the previous dynasty? Why did our Joseon enter this situation?!”

Unable to hold back his anger, the young official’s fists trembled as those nearby seemed to agree. “Let’s go! We must write a complaint quickly!”

* * *

The reactions of the subjects were quickly conveyed to Sejong through the inner servants.

“You’ve worked hard.”

King Sejong, who gave thanks to Chief Eunuch, let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~. How come there are only such stubborn people?”

King Sejong deeply lamented upon hearing the reactions of his ministers. The officials were now openly protesting.

‘If they had actually acted, they should have met outside the palace. Very discreetly!’

Seeing King Sejong’s poor complexion, Chief Eunuch quickly made a comforting remark, “There were also quite a few who showed their loyalty.”

At his servant’s words, King Sejong bitterly laughed. “Is that something to be thankful for? After all, it’s often hard to believe that even the crown prince is nine years old…”

King Sejong, who had been smiling at Hyang’s excellence, let out another long sigh. “Sigh~. These young officials have no flexibility at all…”

What disappointed him the most was the rigidity shown by the young officials coming from the Office of the Inspector General and the Ministry of Rites.

The Chief State Councilor’s group was also rigid in their thinking, but they had moved somewhat flexibly when needed, based on their experience. However, the problem lies with those young bureaucrats. They were the ones who blindly upheld Neo-Confucianism as their everything.

They thought that thinking and living in accordance with Neo-Confucianism was the only righteous path. To them, everything that Hyang promoted was enough to be called heresy.

In fact, they were making a much unnecessary fuss.

“The country is going backward! Prioritizing commerce! That’s why King Jeonjo fell! Have we forgotten the principle of focusing on fundamentals and suppressing the trivial?”

King Sejong let out another long sigh and lamented, “There is a lack of talent. A lack of talent.”

It had been five years since he had received the throne from King Taejong and over half a year since King Taejong’s death, but his own father’s shadow still loomed large.

As soon as he inherited the throne, King Sejong partially reformed the cabinet, and the ministers followed his words well. However, he knew that he was still seen as a fledgling in the eyes of his ministers. In the end, King Sejong needed competent talents who would follow his words well.

“It’s still too early to call upon them…”

The “them” King Sejong was thinking of were Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong.

Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong were talents recognized by his predecessor, King Taejong. However, both had faced crises by being involved in King Taejong’s efforts to strengthen royal authority. In the end, they returned to the central government but had weak grounds to be immediately placed at the core of power.

“The problem is whether they alone can properly control those ignorant young officials…”

King Sejong, recalling the young officials with rigid thinking, put his hand on his forehead. “I have a headache.”

At his remark, Chief Eunuch’s face was immediately filled with concern.

“Shall I call the royal physician?”

“It’s not that bad. I’ll feel better after a short rest.”

King Sejong, who stopped his servant from calling the royal physician, turned his gaze to the documents and petitions he had not yet processed.

* * *

King Sejong was agonizing over a problem when Hyang heard a similar story from his inner servants.

“So, to what extent has the distinction between us and them been made? Anyway…”

Hyang muttered softly, tapping his writing desk with his finger, “We’re still in the early days of Joseon, and already at the level of the Taliban…”

“Your Highness? What did you say?”

“It’s just me talking to myself. Don’t mind it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the servant closed his mouth, Hyang became lost in thought while tapping his writing desk.

‘Damn it! If we’re already at the level of the Taliban, what are we supposed to do? How can I deal with these people who have minds as solid as the foundation stones of Gyeongbokgung (Main) Palace?’

Hyang felt distant at the thought of dealing with the young officials, particularly those from the Office of the Censors and the Office of the Inspector General. After various deliberations, Hyang finally reached a conclusion.

“Servants, leave me alone for a while.”

“Yes?”

“I have some things to sort out on my own.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Sending the inner servants away, Hyang, who was alone in the room, clenched his fist tightly. “Damn it! They solve everything without considering the circumstances! Our King Sejong will surely pick out the best from within! Starting with that, I’ll execute the rest as soon as I ascend to the throne! If they can’t keep up, just replace them all! Those who need to go will go, and those who need to be pushed will be pushed, and things will eventually work themselves out!”

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang spread a blank sheet of paper. “Hmm… where should I start?”

How long had it been since he flipped his own switch?

The inner servant who was standing outside the door shouted loudly, “His Royal Majesty, is entering!”

Hearing that King Sejong had arrived, Hyang got up from his chair, checked his clothes, and politely greeted his father, “Have you arrived? Your Majesty.”

“It’s late at night, and you haven’t slept yet? That’s not good for your health.”

“Is sleep an issue when I have things to do? Besides, your health is more important than mine.”

“My child…”

King Sejong, seemingly pleased with Hyang’s answer, lightly patted his shoulder and turned his head to the writing desk.

“May I take a quick look?”

“Yes.”

However, King Sejong began to read the papers even before Hyang’s answer, examining the contents carefully. Seeing this, Hyang pouted his lips and grumbled inwardly, ‘If you were going to read before I even answered, why did you bother asking? These high-ranking people… ’

Not knowing whether he understood Hyang’s feelings or not, King Sejong, who had been carefully reading the sentences written on the paper, asked Hyang a question, “Hyang, what do these ‘?’ and ‘!’ mark next to the sentences mean?”

“They are punctuation marks used by the Western barbarians. The curved ‘?’ signifies a question, and the straight ‘!’ indicates an exclamation or surprise.”

“Really? A single symbol can make the meaning of a sentence clearer! Hmm… I see, I see…”

Having learned the meaning of the punctuation marks, King Sejong examined the papers even more closely.

“Your Majesty, would you like to sit down and read?”

“I was just thinking my legs were aching a bit.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong sat down in a chair, showing a half-smile.

‘Hey, you nobleman, lose some weight! Why do you still have a pyramid-shaped body even though you’re jumping rope?’

Seeing the obese King Sejong, Hyang grumbled to himself and sat across from him. With numerous papers spread out on the desk, King Sejong examined the contents, moving back and forth, and then glared at the papers with his arms crossed.

“Administrative reorganization, diversification of local positions, reforms to the tax system, land system reforms… This is not just a simple policy proposal, is it?”

“My policy is indeed simple. It’s the ‘Hongik Ingan’[1] that Hwanwoong[2] once mentioned. Aren’t the golden sayings of the sages ultimately the same meaning?”

“You’re right.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong nodded his head as if he agreed. It was called royal politics, but the conclusion was simple: ‘Let’s live in peace, from the king to the common people.’

“To actually implement such a principle, there are many shortcomings in the current system. Correcting these shortcomings and creating a peaceful Joseon for the royal family and the common people is my dream.”

“That’s a good dream. Honestly, just by looking at what you’ve written, I would want to adopt it as a policy immediately. However, there will be many people who will not listen properly, finding fault with your age of nine.”

At King Sejong’s point, Hyang shrugged his shoulders. “Isn’t that not wrong? It’s a fact that I’m only nine years old, and because I’m young, my experience is shallow.”

At Hyang’s response, King Sejong clicked his tongue, “Tsk! Prioritizing age and experience in discussing politics and governance is not the intention of the sages…”

“Doesn’t that help in some ways?”

“Help?”

“Doesn’t it make it easier to identify those who are genuinely helpful to you?”

“That’s true!”

At the same time, King Sejong and Hyang smiled. It was a pleasant sight to see a father and son laughing together, but if the ministers had seen it, they would have been sweating.

Feeling uplifted by Hyang’s response, King Sejong stood up from his seat. “Stop and go to sleep. Children should sleep early to grow well.”

“Yes, Father. You should go to bed too. The peace of Joseon depends on your good health.”

“Alright.”

With a snicker, King Sejong was about to head outside when he stopped and looked back at Hyang. “Ah! I just remembered! The attendees at your presentation will include not only high-ranking officials from the central government offices (ranging from first to third rank) but also middle-ranking officials (ranging from the lower third rank to the sixth rank). Make sure you’re well-prepared.”

“Yes.”

“Take a break.”

After sending King Sejong off, Hyang furrowed his brow, “Damn it!” The scale of the event had grown larger than he expected.

Footnotes

[1] Founding philosophy of Joseon. “Hongik Ingan” is a Korean term that roughly translates to “benefiting all mankind.” The term has its roots in the traditional Confucian philosophy of Korea, which emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and ethical behavior in creating a harmonious society. [↺]

[2] Hwanwoong is a figure from Korean mythology who is said to have been the grandson of the god Hwanin, the lord of the heavens. According to legend, Hwanwoong descended from the heavens to establish a new civilization in what is now Korea. He is often revered as a symbol of wisdom, virtue, and leadership. Read more on Dangun mythology HERE. [↺]

Chapter 26
Winds of Change (4)

The scale of the event had become larger than expected, which made Hyang swear, but he had to accept the reality.

Reviving memories of the lessons and assignments from the 21st century, Hyang stared at the papers with the things he thought were important and soon nodded his head.

“Great! Now, let me show the people the taste of… no, capitalism and modern administrative organization!”

The next day, as soon as the sun rose, Hyang moved busily. He went to the Painting Bureau to order the production of hanging banner, and to the Military Arsenal to order the production of loudspeakers. The blueprint presented by Hyang made the head blacksmith scratch his head.

“It looks just like a funnel.”

“It’s similar. Will it take a long time to complete?”

“I’ll have it ready by evening.”

“Thank you.”

After completing the physical preparations for the presentation, Hyang diligently searched through classics and Western books.

“To reshape the systems of the 21st century into the 14th and 15th-century Eastern and Western world, and launder the origin through the classics of Confucianism…”

As he was organizing how to structure the presentation, Hyang circled the word ‘small government.

“If there’s a Q&A session, controversy will arise here, and if there’s no Q&A, this is the part where they will bombard with memorials. To be honest…” Hyang trailed off, leaning against the chair back and stretching. “Ugh!”

“Your Highness! What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

After inadvertently letting out a strange sound while stretching, Hyang sent the frightened inner servants away and muttered under his breath, “Damn! Being a prince is great on everything else, but this is the problem. There’s no privacy, no privacy…”

Grumbling, Hyang tapped the circled ‘small government’ with his finger and continued speaking, “In the 21st century, the so-called classic ‘small government’ would be seen as a ‘terrifyingly large government’ by these nobles.”

As Hyang pondered while tapping the problematic word with his finger, he made a decision. “I have no choice but to point out this issue and move on. Otherwise, nothing will change, and it will go back to the messed-up Joseon I knew.” With determination, Hyang began organizing the structure. “Let’s put off the military-related issues for now. It’s certain that if I talk about it all at once, it’ll be buried…”

As he put off the military issue, Hyang looked at the map hanging in the study. “Anyway, there’s going to be a huge event next year…”

* * *

Five days later, the officials from the Six Ministries rushed in and delivered King Sejong’s order.

“Everyone above the rank of Senior Councilor (3rd rank) must attend?”

“Yes.”

“Huh~. Just…” the Chief State Councilor barely held back the words ‘just a nine-year-old’ and nodded, “I see. Let’s do that.”

“His Majesty also said that since it seems to take quite a long time, everyone except the Senior Councilors should bring their own chairs.”

“Bring our own chairs?”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

As the inner servant who had received the order withdrew, the Chief State Councilor clicked his tongue in annoyance, “Tsk! What is the world coming to?” and bit his tongue.

Nevertheless, His Majesty’s command was still the royal command. It was a command that could only be issued in such a situation, and it was understandable.

Chairs were provided in the side chamber to prepare for lengthy discussions with the king. However, the number of chairs was only enough for the high-ranking officials. As a result, the lower-ranking officials had to bring their own chairs. But that was not the reason the Chief State Councilor Minister bit his tongue.

“What on earth is he trying to do with a nine-year-old… Instead of making the child do it, the king should do it himself… Ah!” abruptly halting his words, as the royal secretaries were busy delivering King Sejong’s orders along the corridor of the government office building. It wasn’t good for him if the secretaries to hear such words.

* * *

Gyeongbokgung Palace

In accordance with King Sejong’s summon, officials of the rank of councilor and above gathered at the main audience hall.

“Oh, Brother Cha! Long time no see!”

“Brother Park, isn’t it? It’s been a while! When did you come back from the provinces?”

Although they passed the state examination at the same time, they worked in different government offices or were dispatched to local administrations, so their meetings were infrequent. They greeted each other warmly and asked about each other’s well-being.

On the other hand, those who had been working continuously in the six ministries and had built close relationships sat quietly in their chairs, sharing stories.

“Is it the Crown Prince’s policy announcement?”

“Yes, it is. What a waste of time…”

“Shh! There are many people listening.”

“Let them listen. Eight or nine out of ten here probably share the same opinion as me.”

“Shh! Quiet!”

“Hmm! Ahem! Cough!” As the person next to him continued to warn, the official who made the problematic remark expressed his discomfort with a series of fake coughs.

A moment later, an announcement signaled King Sejong’s entrance.

“His Majesty the King~. Entering~.”

At the shout of the announcer, all the seated officials stood up and bowed their heads. Receiving the respect of the officials, King Sejong entered and sat on the throne on the dais[1].

“Everyone, please be seated.”

“We shall receive your command.”

All the officials sat down and looked at King Sejong.

“You all know that the Crown Prince has put forth many opinions. You should also be aware of their originality and outstanding effectiveness. However, these opinions are like branches that extend from a single root. It goes without saying that without knowing the root, one cannot make proper judgments. Therefore, I have instructed the Crown Prince to present his policy ideas today. The reason I ordered your attendance is that the Crown Prince is still young. While his exceptional abilities are well-known, he is still young and could be led astray. Thus, I ask all of you gathered here to listen carefully and guide him so that he does not go down the wrong path.”

“We shall receive your command.”

At King Sejong’s words, all the officials bowed their heads and responded in unison. A moment later, the Crown Prince entered the hall. The royal secretaries accompanying him hung the scroll on a temporary stand and fixed the microphone to a metal rod. Once all the preparations were complete and the Crown Prince ascended the platform, he deeply bowed to King Sejong, who was sitting on the throne.

“Father, it is a great honor to have this opportunity granted with your grace.”

“Yes, do your best.”

“Yes.”

King Sejong’s words made Hyang nod once more, and he rose to his feet to look at the gathered officials in Geunjeongjeon Hall.

After taking a light breath, Hyang bowed slightly and brought his mouth close to the microphone. “Thanks to His Majesty for giving me this golden opportunity, I have had the chance to meet many distinguished officials. Nice to meet you all.”

“We greet the Crown Prince!”

After exchanging greetings with the officials, Hyang finally began the announcement.

“Firstly, to state my conclusion, my opinion is ‘Hongik Ingan’ (benefiting all mankind)’. Yes, as you all may know, this was the national policy established by Hwanwoong when founding the old Joseon. And this ‘Hongik Ingan’ is also connected to the ‘Way of King’ and ‘Minbon (People’s Foundation)’ that the sages advocated.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, the officials from the Office of Censors and the Ministry of Personnel, led by the Chief State Councilor, nodded their heads with an uncomfortable expression. The beginning did not have much to criticize.

However, the smooth beginning soon led to a series of radical proposals.

– To embody ‘Hongik Ingan’ and ‘Way of King,’ first and foremost, the people’s peace and stability must be achieved. For the people to be at peace, their ‘permanent livelihood’ must be secured.

– However, the situation in our Joseon is characterized by a scarcity of flatlands, rugged mountains, and people living overcrowded in small plains. Therefore, securing the people’s livelihood is not easy.

– To solve this, we must not only consider agriculture as a means of livelihood but also allow commerce and industry to become tools for a stable livelihood. If commerce and industry flourish, and we can obtain what is lacking in our Joseon from outside, the people’s poverty can be alleviated.

– To achieve this, the current system must be radically changed. Not just the simple Six Ministries system, but dividing the government into three main branches—legislative, judicial, and executive—and establishing necessary offices and positions under them to ensure expertise.

– The system of local administrators also needs reform. Imposing judicial, administrative, tax, and military duties on a single magistrate is too burdensome; these duties should be divided and delegated to multiple officials.

– The ‘village official’ system must also be abolished. Unpaid village officials are bound to become corrupt. Thus, the village official system must be abolished and salaried officials should take over their duties.

– To aid the impoverished people, the court must take active measures. To achieve this, the ‘Three Taxes’[2] system must be reformed.

(Abridged)

– To carry out all these reforms, the court’s finances must be strong and robust. To secure finances, not only should taxes be reformed, but gold and silver mines should also be developed and invested in.

– The first step in tax reform is to unify the tax system. Currently, in addition to the basic land tax, our Joseon has numerous miscellaneous taxes which can easily lead to corruption.

– Unifying the tax system is as important as fair taxation. The prerequisite for this is the simultaneous reform of the land and tax systems, which is the best policy.

– In reforming the land system, the most basic principle is to remember that the land of Joseon belongs to the monarch. Moreover, the principle of “land to the tiller” should not be forgotten. However, if this is impossible, reforming the tax system is the best option.

– In reforming the tax system, the most important thing is the fairness of taxation. Fair taxation means that those who earn more should pay more, and those who earn less should pay less. Therefore, a progressive tax rate should be applied.

(Abridged)

– Through the expanded administrative organization, the government should actively engage in poverty relief, based on the finances secured through tax reform and industrial promotion. This poverty relief should not be simple relief but should give hope to the poor that they can escape poverty.

– In order to escape poverty, the people must have ambition. To encourage this, the government should provide various conveniences to the people to actively participate. As the most basic policy for providing such conveniences, the government should educate all people to have at least a minimum level of education.

– In this educational process, it is most important to assure that there is no distinction between the social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Without distinction among the social classes, people will develop their innate talents, and this will transform our Joseon into a prosperous nation.

(Abridged)

As the presentation continued, they took a break for about an hour. During the break, King Sejong had a meal with Hwang.

“How amazing! How did you come up with all these ideas?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hwang replied with a calm expression, “I studied the classics of the ancient sages, history books, and the writings of the scholars.”

“Really? I can see how much effort you put into this.”

“His Majesty has given me too much praise.”

King Sejong continued to praise Hwang’s humility. “To be honest, many of your ideas were things I had never thought of before. Since the founding of our Joseon, many systems have been established, but more often than not, we have simply followed the traditions handed down from the past. In a positive light, this can be seen as preserving good customs, but in a negative light, it can be seen as complacency.”

“If all of those systems and laws were good customs, there would have been no reason for the previous dynasties to collapse and new ones to rise.”

King Sejong sighed heavily at Hwang’s cold response, “Sigh~ That’s true.”

After finishing his meal, Hwang earnestly advised King Sejong, “Your Majesty. The scriptures our scholars believe in say, ‘Put new wine into new wineskins.[3]‘ It has been 30 years since the fall of the Goryeo dynasty and the rise of our Joseon. One could say it’s been a long time or a short time. However, since the people’s poverty remains unchanged, reform is absolutely necessary. Sambong [4]proposed reforms, but his reforms were only for the few. We need reforms for the greatest happiness of the majority.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong slapped his knee in admiration. “Your words are indeed correct!”

The official who had been recording beside the two men wrote the following at the end:

The prince’s words are radical and aggressive. However, the phrase ‘the greatest happiness of the majority’ should not be taken lightly. Isn’t ‘the greatest happiness of majority’ the crystallization of the royal politics that the ancient sages advocated and the aristocrats dreamed of?

Footnotes

[1] Platform.

[2] Implemented during King Taejong’s reign, ‘Three Taxes’ system was implemented which required peasants to pay a combination of taxes, including a land tax (租), a military service tax (庸), and a corvée labor tax (調). Under the system, each household was required to pay taxes based on the size of their land and the number of people in their household. In addition to paying taxes, peasants were also required to provide labor for government projects and military service when necessary. This taxation system aimed to provide revenue and a military force for the government but put a burden on rural populations who struggled to pay taxes and provide labor.

[3] “새 포도주는 새 가죽 부대에 담아라” (Sae podoju-neun sae gajuk budae-e dama-ra): This phrase is a proverb that means one should adapt to new situations or changes with new and appropriate methods or tools.

[4] Refer earlier chapters.

Chapter 27
Winds of Change (5)

When King Sejong and Hyang were enjoying the daytime festivities, the high and low-ranking officials were bustling about, forgetting the fun.

“Writing tools! Writing tools!”

The officials who returned to their respective offices hurriedly dipped their brushes in ink and began to write on paper.

“What did he say?”

“Darn it! There’s so much to write down!”

Those who had thought lightly of the nine-year-old’s speech were now racking their brains, trying to remember and record what Hyang had said. While the members of the Council of State and the Six Ministries struggled with their papers, some were surprisingly relaxed. Among them were the military officers.

“Hey, Your Excellency, Instructor, do you understand what the Crown Prince said?”

“If I understood that, would I still be here as the instructor?”

“Hehe! That’s true.”

Those who laughed bitterly were those who had risen through the military examination. Sejong had added a classics section to the military examination as soon as he ascended the throne, but many of them were still more like hoodlums in official uniforms.

Another group were the officials from the Ministry of Taxation. Having brought writing tools from the start, they could take notes whenever necessary. Thanks to that, during their breaks, they could enjoy the daytime festivities at ease.

Hyang’s longer-than-expected presentation ended around sunset.

Having finished the presentation, Hyang looked at King Sejong and the ministers. “Do you have any questions?”

“…”

There was no one who immediately opened their mouths to answer Hyang’s question. Since no one spoke even after waiting for a moment, Hyang concluded, “Then, I will conclude my policy presentation here.” Hyang, having finished speaking, politely bowed to King Sejong on the royal dais.

“You did well. Let’s have dinner together later.”

“Yes, Father.”

King Sejong, who had not hidden his satisfaction, looked at the ministers. “Let’s end it here for today. You all worked hard.”

At Sejong’s words announcing the end, all the officials stood up from their chairs and bowed politely. As Sejong and Hyang left the hall, the officials began to exit as well.

The faces of the officials leaving the hall, starting with the high-ranking officials, were more serious than ever. The only difference was that the high-ranking officials held only writing tools, while the lower-ranking officials and intermediate officials also carried chairs.

“What do you think, Chief State Councilor?”

In response to the Left State Councilor’s question, the Chief State Councilor replied irritably, “How can I think? My brain has gotten freezing!”

“We must write a memorial to the throne immediately! The Crown Prince wrapped it up with fancy words like ‘Hongik Ingan’, but he is ignoring the values of tradition! Not only that, he intends to follow the teachings of Legalism rather than Confucianism when it comes to establishing laws. I cannot help but lament!”

The enraged Right State Councilor headed towards the Council of State building with a quick stride. Similar reactions came from the remonstrators of the Office of the Censor.

“We must write a memorial to the throne immediately!”

“That’s right!”

“The Crown Prince’s words may seem right at first glance, but they follow the hegemonic path of the Legalists! This is like following the oppression of Qin Shi Huang[1] and must be stopped at all costs!”

Various opposing remarks jumped out chaotically, and the intensity of the comments grew stronger.

“If necessary, we should consider replacing the Crown Prince!”

“Look at this! Isn’t that too extreme?”

“What’s extreme? Even the current king wasn’t originally the Crown Prince!”

“Shush!” the colleague who silenced the official who made the problematic remark looked around and warned him. “Be careful with your words! Do you think you have an iron plate around your neck?”

“Why? Did I say something wrong? A 9-year-old is making such an inappropriate statement! This is because the Crown Prince’s Tutoring Institute and its guests have failed to teach properly! Discipline should be strict, but only praising their achievements leads to such unfortunate events!”

“Well, you should just say that discipline needs to be strengthened, not replacing the Crown Prince…”

“Look at the current situation! Even if we try to correct, it’s already too twisted! For the sake of the royal way of governance, it’s better to replace immediately!”

“Hey, lower your voice!” the colleague warned the official whose voice had grown louder again and looked around. However, the young officers from the Office of Inspector General and the Office of Censors pretended not to hear.

But the cautioning official knew very well. There were many who seemed to agree silently but would report the situation when a crisis approached. On the other hand, there were quite a few officials who actively agreed with the Crown Prince’s opinion.

“Ha! It’s been a long time since I felt so refreshed!”

“I agree! Hearing a realistic and reasonable statement after listening to nonsensical talks all the time feels like our ears are cleansed. Hahaha!”

“Loyalty and filial piety are important, but there are things that must be protected first, and that is the trust and righteousness between the nation and its people! Wow, that was a great saying!”

“Did you see the King’s expression? It seemed like he would adopt the policy immediately.”

“The Crown Prince is so outstanding, and the King is wise; this is the prosperity of our Joseon!”

The officials who continued to praise the King and Crown Prince were mostly practical bureaucrats from the six ministries, including the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Personnel.

The proposals and related measures suggested by the Crown Prince, along with the King’s positive response, were like refreshing cold water to the bureaucrats who had been struggling with various administrative issues. However, the bureaucrats of the six ministries, who were showing a favorable response to the Crown Prince and the King, heard the noise from the Office of Inspector General and the Office of Censors.

“Those scumbags who waste their time!”

“Just bear with it!” the six ministry officials, who heard the remarks from the inspectors and censors, cursed in response.

Some hot-tempered officials tried to grab the collars of others, but their colleagues stopped and dissuaded them. The bureaucrats from the Office of Censors and the Office of Inspector General also stopped walking, and both sides stared at each other.

“Fake righteous men clinging to power!”

“Fake righteous men who only have mouths!”

Both sides insulted each other as fake righteous men and exchanged curses. Soon, they spat on the ground and turned their backs.

“Ptooh~. Go! It’s useless to talk with those fake righteous men; it will only make our ears dirtier!”

“Ptooh~, Go! Who wants to talk? Go!”

As they turned their backs, the bureaucrats shouted to their colleagues.

“Write a petition! Only a petition is the answer!”

“Agreed!”

This is how the ‘debate on the correct view,’ had left a folk tale saying ‘it raised the price of paper in Hanyang,’ took place.

* * *

King Sejong and Hyang were enjoying their dinner together, not knowing whether they were aware of the commotion happening among the officials.

“Today’s speech was excellent.”

“Thank you.”

“Although it’s the wisdom of a nine-year-old, I missed a lot too. There are many policies that I want to adopt and implement right away.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. But honestly, the policies would be too difficult to implement right now.”

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s remark and opened his mouth, “Is it because of the budget?”

“Yes. To be honest, it’s beyond our control, but I think it’s better to postpone the circulation of copper coins planned for next year.”

“Is it because of the problem with the supply guarantee you mentioned earlier?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Can’t we start with the secured budget first?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hyang put down the spoon and opened his mouth, “Then, the issued coins will all end up buried in the granaries of local landowners, and the people in need will continue to trade with rice and cotton.”

“Why would the issued coins end up in the granaries of local landowners?”

“It’s simple. No matter how well rice and cotton are stored, they can’t last more than five years. But coins aren’t like that, right? They’re small in size too.”

King Sejong nodded his head with his arms crossed at Hyang’s answer, “Hmm… I see. So how do we solve this?”

In response to his father’s question, Hyang leaned towards the king and whispered after looking at the historians and scribers sitting next to him.

“In my opinion, we need to prepare thoroughly for at least 10 years, or even 5 years, and then launch a decisive attack at once. Like starting a war, no, it’s a war.”

At Hyang’s leaning, Sejong leaned over as well and asked in a small voice, “War?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang answered in an even quieter voice, “It’s a war. A war that decides whether the state will move this Joseon or the local landowners who have come down from the old days of the Three Hans (Three Kingdoms) era. Only by winning this war can Joseon truly establish itself as a country of our people.”

“I see.”

Bang! Clatter!

As King Sejong nodded his head while listening to Hyang’s answer, he suddenly stood up at the unexpected noise and looked towards where the sound came from. The noise came from where the historians and the scribes were. As King Sejong and the Crown Prince quietly exchanged words, the officials and scribes leaned in to listen, causing a commotion when they stumbled over each other.

“Really… If you’re tired, why not take turns with others? What a disgrace!”

At King Sejong’s scolding, the historians and scribes bowed their heads immediately, “Our apologies, Your Majesty!”

“Apologies aside, can you tell us what conversation the two of you were having? We need to record it…”

“It’s a private conversation between father and son. Don’t worry about it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Despite King Sejong’s response, the officials added the following statement.

An official says that there should be no secrets in discussing the policies of a nation. However, today, the King and the Crown Prince have discussed the important matter of currency operation with many secrets, which is not right.

After the small commotion, a messenger arrived to relay the reactions of the ministers. Hearing the messenger’s report, King Sejong seemed to lose his appetite and put down his chopsticks.

“You did well. Has the Crown Prince finished eating?”

“Yes.”

At the Crown Prince’s response, King Sejong pushed the table forward. “Then, clear the table and bring the tea tray.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The attendants came in and cleared the tables for King Sejong and the Crown Prince, who then sat facing each other with teacups between them and continued their conversation.

“From tomorrow, there will be a downpour of petitions.”

“The Royal Secretariat will have a hard time.”

“Maybe we should send some royal cuisine to the Royal Secretariat.”

“That would be a wise decision, Your Majesty.”

The father and son, who expressed their condolences in advance to the officials of the Royal Secretariat who would suffer from the influx of petitions, continued their conversation.

“Father, could you please tell me about the progress of smallpox vaccinations for the residents of Hanyang?”

“The palace has already completed all vaccinations, and preparations for vaccinating the residents of Hanyang have also been completed. As the New Year’s Day closing in three days, vaccinations will begin on the first day of the first lunar month.”

“I hope many people can escape smallpox through vaccination.”

“I share the same hope, my son. If we manage to prevent smallpox, you will have accomplished a great feat.”

“What have I done? It’s all due to your decision, Father. I have no merits to claim.”

“My boy.”

At the Crown Prince’s response, King Sejong looked at him with admiration. ‘If the smallpox vaccination brings the expected results, no one can stop you. No, even if someone tries, I will remove them! Because it’s an important step for our Joseon to rise!’ With a firm resolution in his heart, King Sejong looked at the Crown Prince. ‘My son! You will be my greatest treasure sword! Let’s lay the foundation for the prosperity of Joseon together!’

Suddenly, the Crown Prince felt an inexplicable chill wrapping around him.

‘What is this strange feeling?’

Footnote

[1] Emperor Qin Shi Huang (Qin Dynasty) was a follower of Legalism and implemented many Legalist principles during his rule, such as centralizing power, standardizing laws and punishments, and implementing a strict hierarchy of officials. He also established a system of spies and informants to monitor the activities of his subjects, and ordered the burning of books and the burying of scholars who disagreed with his ideas.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s use of Legalism helped to consolidate his power and establish a strong, centralized government in China. However, it also led to widespread repression and harsh treatment of his subjects, which ultimately contributed to the downfall of his dynasty.

Chapter 28
Winds of Change (6)

The next day, as King Sejong and Hyang had anticipated, memorials began pouring in from the morning.

“Truly diligent.”

As the rolled-up memorials piled up, the Royal Secretary complained, to which all other chiefs nodded in agreement.

“I thought we’d have at least two days…”

“Did they stay up all night? They have such great stamina. I get scared just crossing the threshold of the inner quarters.”

As the chiefs grumbled while looking at the memorials, the Chief Secretary stepped forward.

“Will complaining lessen the work? Start by categorizing them.”

“Categorize?”

“Don’t you remember from yesterday? There were those who criticized the Crown Prince and those who supported him. So, categorize them into two groups.”

“Wouldn’t there be those who fall in the middle?”

“Would those in the middle write a memorial?”

“Ah…”

At the Chief Secretary’s words, the chiefs unknowingly nodded. Although they didn’t say it, among those who fell in the middle were the chiefs themselves. And among the chiefs, none of them had written a memorial.

In any case, after half a day had passed since the morning assembly began in the Pyeonjeon Palace (audience hall), trays full of categorized memorials were brought to King Sejong.

“There’s so many.”

Looking at the piled-up memorials before him, King Sejong commented while looking around at the ministers.

“You are all truly diligent.”

At King Sejong’s pointed remark, the ministers silently bowed their heads.

“Let’s take a look anyway.”

King Sejong untied the string that held the rolled-up memorial and read its content. As he read through each one, his expression grew increasingly stern. Finally, irritated, he put down the scroll and ordered the eunuch.

“Bring the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, Hyang entered the hall, following the eunuch.

“Did you call for me?”

“Yes, sit down.”

As Hyang courteously took a seat, King Sejong began rummaging through the rolled-up memorials. After a moment, he picked one up and began to speak.

“It seems there are still many who do not fully understand what you said yesterday, Crown Prince. Explain it to them once more. Chief State Councilor!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Read the memorial in front of the Crown Prince properly.”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty?”

At King Sejong’s command, the Chief State Councilor was startled.

However, King Sejong continued, “Shouldn’t the person in question read it himself to avoid misunderstandings? Read it!”

At his order, the Chief State Councilor began to read the memorial he had written.

“I, Chief State Councilor, Ryu Jeong-hyeon, humbly bow my head and hold the brush. Your Majesty…”

“Skip the beautiful phrases and just read the main text!”

The Chief State Councilor paused momentarily when faced with King Sejong’s stern command, then continued reading the letter of remonstration.

“The Crown Prince’s ideas may seem correct at first glance, but they contain many incongruities. The first one is that our Joseon upholds Neo-Confucianism as its national policy. However, the Crown Prince follows the Legalist school of thought. Generally, Legalist laws are harsh, inevitably leading to the people’s suffering and causing harm to the nation and its rulers. This is proven by the self-destruction of the states during the Warring States period and the fall of the Qin Dynasty.

The second incongruity is the proposal to abolish the restrictions on illegitimate children. These restrictions were established by the late King Taejong, our predecessor. How can we recklessly abolish them? This would be an act of filial impiety. Furthermore, if illegitimate children were freely allowed to serve in the government, as seen in previous dynasties, they would disrupt the administration. Therefore, it would be an unjust act.

The third one is increasing the number of government officials. The more officials there are, the heavier the burden on the people. Why do you think the ancient saying ‘harsh government is fiercer than a tiger’ exists? The court only needs to establish broad policies. The affairs of the villages can be managed by the local magistrates and the local gentry at the administrative offices.”

The Chief State Councilor’s letter of remonstration ended with these three points. The Crown Prince, who had been silently listening, looked at King Sejong.

“May I respond?”

“Granted.”

With King Sejong’s permission, the Crown Prince began to refute the Chief State Councilor’s points.

“Your Excellency, you mentioned that Neo-Confucianism is the national policy of Joseon, but the true policy is the King’s Way politics by putting people first, as advocated by the sages. Neo-Confucianism is merely a tool to implement the national policy.

“Crown Prince!”

The Chief State Councilor immediately tried to refute the Crown Prince’s argument, but the Prince continued.

“Neo-Confucianism is just one branch of Confucianism. Insisting on Neo-Confucianism alone is narrow-minded, isn’t it? Let me reiterate, the national policy of our Joseon is the King’s Way politics as advocated by the sages, and Neo-Confucianism is just a tool for that purpose. To give you an analogy, if the King’s Way politics is a dish, then ideologies, systems, and regulations are the vessels. Do we need to distinguish between Neo-Confucianism and Legalism when implementing the King’s Way politics in reality? There is a story of a king in the far west who advised his successor to ‘act like a bee, searching for the sweetest nectar among the flowers in the field.’ I believe this is the fundamental attitude a ruler should have.”

The Chief State Councilor closed his mouth, searching for a logical counterargument, but the Crown Prince did not give him a chance to speak.

“You also said that abolishing the restrictions on illegitimate children is wrong and an act of filial impiety, as it goes against King Taejong’s decree. However, it is well-known that these restrictions have caused many problems. If we leave them unchanged, the issues will only worsen, and resentment will grow. This resentment will ultimately be directed at King Taejong, who established the restrictions. As his descendants, is there anything more unfilial than causing our ancestor to be the target of resentment? You mentioned that illegitimate children disrupted the government in previous dynasties, but were they the only ones responsible?

Didn’t people from powerful and influential families, regardless of their legitimacy, contribute to the corruption of state affairs? Blaming everything on illegitimate children is not fair. Lastly, did these children choose to be born as illegitimate children? Shouldn’t those who sowed the seeds be the ones held responsible for their actions?”

Taking a break from speaking, Hyang glared at the high-ranking officials gathered in the room.

According to the law, those who sleep with court women without permission should be impeached, and high-ranking officials who keep concubines should also be impeached. However, are there any among you, the esteemed officials, who do not keep concubines? Is it the way of the nobility to ignore their own wrongdoings and discriminate against illegitimate children?

“Ahem! Cough!”

“Cough!”

At Hyang’s rebuke, the high-ranking officials in the room, regardless of their status, all made uncomfortable faces and coughed awkwardly.

The Chief State Councilor tried to speak again with a flushed face, but Hyang did not give him a chance to do so.

“Finally, you cited the ancient saying, ‘harsh government is fiercer than a tiger’. Are the most terrifying figures to the people of Joseon today the officials at the royal court, or the local scholars that you praised so highly? Ever since I sat beside my royal father and watched him handle national affairs, I have heard countless reports of people starving to death or becoming refugees in all corners of the eight provinces of Joseon. However, I haven’t heard much about local scholars starving to death or opening their granaries to save the people. Chief State Councilor, do you really think those who don’t even save their neighbors in their own village can handle affairs fairly?

“Well, that’s just a small part of…”

“If you keep adding parts to parts, they eventually become the whole!”

At Hyang’s outcry, the Chief State Councilor closed his mouth. Hyang continued to press the Chief State Councilor.

“Who are the ones that take advantage of their neighbors’ hardships, lending them money at exorbitant interest rates until they are forced to sell themselves or become refugees, and then swallowing up their now-ownerless land? They are the local scholars that you spoke of, Chief State Councilor! Tell me, who is more terrifying to powerless people than the tigers? Is it the officials of the royal court, or the local scholars?”

“That is…”

“Speak!”

“…It is the local… scholars.”

“Indeed!”

Upon hearing the answer from the Chief State Councilor, Sejong slapped his knee and replied, while the anti-Crown Prince faction ministers, including the Chief State Councilor, tightly shut their eyes.

‘It’s over!’

“Do you need more explanation, Your Excellency?”

At the question from Hyang, the ministers remained silent. Seeing this, King Sejong searched through the pile of petitions and handed another one to Hyang.

“The people who submitted them are all different, but the content seems as if it was copied by one person, quite amusing. However, this one is written differently, so read it.”

“Yes.”

Hyang unrolled the petition and began to read it carefully.

“Hoo~.”

As Hyang finished reading the petition and straightened her back with a sigh, King Sejong opened his mouth.

“It’s a petition from the Office of the Historiographers, would you like to summon the petitioner?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Alright, what do you think?”

“‘There is no such thing as sound consumption. If consumption is encouraged, the trend of luxury will spread, and merchants, who pursue profits, will fan the flames. Artisans will only create luxury items, and farmers will stop farming and only seek quick fortune. Eventually, society will change from one that venerates virtue to one that worships wealth. That’s why the ancient sages established the hierarchy of scholar-farmer-artisan-merchant.’—”

Hyang paused, lost in thought, and then opened his mouth again.

“It seems right at first glance, but I think the person who submitted this petition should be punished.”

“Why?”

“First of all, the petitioner said the ancient sages established the hierarchy of scholar-farmer-artisan-merchant, but in none of the classics I’ve read have the sages ever said to establish such a hierarchy. When they mentioned the four classes, they meant ‘all the people.’ However, this confusion is like covering the eyes and ears of a fool, and it is truly an act of disloyalty! I believe such a person should be strictly disciplined!”

Upon Hyang’s insistence on punishment, the eyes of not only King Sejong but also the ministers present in the hall widened. Hyang had said a lot and had many debates up until now, but had never directly asked for punishment to be administered.

“This person worries about extravagant lifestyles spreading, but rather, it’s better to have extravagance. It’s because we can tax luxury goods. But look at the nobles of Joseon now! They wear hemp clothes and boast of their frugality, but in their storerooms, grains and cotton fabrics are rotting away. Is there virtue in not wearing silk clothes? Is there virtue in reading only the classics while wearing hemp clothes, ignoring the cries of starving people during famine and spring famine? The author of this appeal says that ‘even with scarce resources, contentment and delight in poverty are the way to follow.’ Your Majesty! I dare to speak! That’s not contentment and delight in poverty, it’s self-abandonment! I beg you earnestly, please expel this treacherous minister who pretends loyalty with cunning words!”

The shocked Chief State Councilor quickly intervened in response to Hyang’s strong remarks.

“Your Majesty! The person who submitted this appeal is a censor of the Office of the Inspector General. It is a censor’s job to offer remonstrance. Punishing a censor for not liking their writing is tantamount to blocking freedom of speech!”

“What this person has submitted is not a remonstrance but a wicked word! Our Joseon has already specified in the law that there is a distinction between good people and lowly people, but there is no distinction between the four classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. What qualification does this author have to divide the people into the four classes and discriminate? With such a wicked heart in those who should speak the truth to the monarch, will there be any right words? Punishment must be administered immediately!”

Chapter 29
Winds of Change (7)

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, the ministers tried to hastily present a counterargument, but there was none to be had. Nevertheless, the ministers could not back down.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince! No matter how much you are the Crown Prince, you cannot recklessly punish the ministers!”

As the minister directly involved in the matter stepped forward, Hyang immediately countered.

“Why not? I too am a servant of His Majesty! The duty of a servant is to speak the truth to the monarch, and the responsibility of a servant is to faithfully carry out the monarch’s orders! Yet this man tries to cloud the monarch’s vision with clever wordplay; how could I, as a servant, not impeach him?”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your words are too harsh! Although I am not sure of the exact content of the petition, it is the teachings of the sages that we must distance ourselves from extravagance, as it is the disease that leads to the ruin of a nation! But are you saying that extravagance is better than frugality with such sophistry?”

“Their frugality is not frugality but extortion! Did the sages instruct us to provide long-term benefits? Or did they tell us to suck the blood and sweat of the people through high-interest private loans? A wealthy man who indulges in luxury is more helpful than a miser pretending to be frugal! At least they scatter their wealth, do they not?”

“You must never advocate for extravagance!”

“Then how will you extract the wealth lying dormant in the landlords’ storehouses and share it with the people?”

“A stern admonition will suffice! All scholars who have mastered the classics…”

“Do they commit such wickedness because they are ignorant of the classics? Do you know the proportion of those who have passed the lower-level civil service examinations among them and still make such a statement? They exploit the policy of granting tax exemptions upon passing the higher civil service examinations as a means to accumulate wealth!”

“Land-owning scholars providing tenant farming and long-term benefits have been a traditional way of making a living! To call this a sin is an absurd argument!”

“Just because something has been done since ancient times does not make it right to ignore the wrongs! With high land rent and interest, the number of commoners becoming slaves is increasing! For the country to prosper, the number of commoners must grow, but now we are going in the opposite direction! And yet, you say we should just let it pass because it has been done since ancient times? And you still call yourself a minister of this Joseon?”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Enough!”

As the verbal battle between Hyang and the minister went beyond acceptable limits, King Sejong stepped in.

Upon King Sejong’s command, both Hyang and the minister ceased their verbal battle and bowed their heads. Looking at the two and the ministers, he spoke, “Although the two people’s opinions diverge significantly, I understand that they both have our Joseon in mind. However! Even if it is the right opinion, if it goes beyond propriety, it becomes overboard! Both of you should stop here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s admonition, which was not exactly a scolding, the ministers bowed their heads.

“Show the document to the minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Minister, read the part that the prince did not mention in the document.”

Following King Sejong’s command, the minister read the problematic part of the document and bowed deeply.

“What a disgraceful account! Your Majesty! This is merely my personal opinion, not the will of the entire office!”

“I know that, which is why the prince did not mention it. The same goes for the other minister.”

“Your Majesty!”

Curiosity filled the faces of the ministers at the reaction of King Sejong and the minister. King Sejong reached a conclusion while looking at the curious ministers.

“As for the punishment of the author, the minister will take some time to think and decide. Let’s end it here for today.”

With his command, the ministers had to leave the meeting. Some friendly ministers politely bowed to the censor as they left, while the unfriendly ones only gave a perfunctory bow before turning away. At the forefront was the minister.

“Look, Your Excellency. No matter what, he is the prince. Aren’t you afraid of future consequences?”

The Chief of Justice, who belonged to the same faction as the Crown Prince, warned him, but the minister scoffed.

“Humph! Why worry when His Majesty is still healthy and well?”

“Isn’t the problem that His Majesty is favoring the Crown Prince?”

“I can just quit this damn position!”

“Watch your words!”

“I have urgent matters to attend to. Excuse me.”

As he said this, the minister disappeared with large strides. The Chief of Justice clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… He’ll get into big trouble like this…”

The place the minister hurried to was the office.

Bang!

The minister violently opened the office door and looked around before grabbing the collar of one of the officials.

“You, bast*rd!”

“Gah!”

As the minister shook the official by the collar, other officials rushed in.

“Please calm down, my lord!”

“Please restrain yourself!”

“Don’t stop me! This d*mn guy is going to get us all killed!”

“What?”

Growling, the minister continued to hold the official’s collar.

“You… What do you mean by talking about deposing the Crown Prince? What gives you the right!”

“Gasp!”

As soon as the word ‘deposing the crown prince’ came out of the high-ranking official’s mouth, the surrounding officials quickly stepped back.

“Speak up! What makes you think you can talk about deposing the crown prince?”

“Abandoning Confucianism and being tainted by heresy, how can we let such a person sit in the crown prince’s seat?”

“So, you talk about deposing the crown prince? Deposing a crown prince who is only 9 years old? Did you really think that makes sense?”

“In preserving the way of the sages, what does age have to do with it?”

“You foolish man! To change the direction of great power, one needs the right timing, geographical advantage, and harmony among people! The reason the current crown prince could become the heir was because the previous king’s will aligned with the right timing, there was someone with outstanding qualities to replace the crown prince which matched the geographical advantage, and the majority of the officials agreed, creating harmony among people. But now, which of the three—timing, geographical advantage, and harmony among people – do you see as unfit? Because of your pathetic judgment, not only you but also the other officials’ lives are hanging in the balance!”

Upon hearing the high-ranking official’s words, the faces of the surrounding officials turned pale. However, the official who raised the issue did not back down.

“A so-called aristocrat cannot call something wrong right! It is natural for an official to risk their life when remonstrating!”

“What a foolish person!”

While the high-ranking official was fuming in the Office of Censor, Hyang, who had returned to the palace, let out a long sigh.

“Ugh, this is why I hate traditional historical dramas… Trendy fusion historical dramas are the best.”

Preparing for the announcement of his views, Hyang had to expect and prepare for significant opposition.

“I have no choice but to respond to their eloquence with my own, but the problem is that their specialty is using ancient stories to dodge the issue.”

To win the debate, Hyang prepared by determining the anticipated questions and finding appropriate idiomatic expressions from numerous classics. Although Hyang had an extraordinary memory from his past and present lives, this preparation was not easy. Whenever he took a break from memorizing, hhe continued to mutter.

“Of course, fusion historical dramas are better… They don’t use difficult words…”

Hyang, who was tired from the debate, moved to the library to prepare his brush and ink.

“Damn it! They think they’re the only ones who can write a memorial!”

The next day, as soon as the royal attendance began, an inner official from the palace visited the Royal Chief Secretary.

“What is the matter from the Eastern Palace?”

In response to the question, the inner servant held out a tray containing a scroll.

“It’s a memorial from the crown prince.”

“Gasp!”

Hyang’s memorial was quickly processed and delivered to King Sejong. Holding the scroll of the memorial, King Sejong put his hand on his forehead and muttered softly, “This child…”

King Sejong had experienced how Hyang’s determination could cause a commotion.

“Phew…”

Sighing, King Sejong unfolded the scroll and read Hyang’s memorial. As the content of the memorial progressed, King Sejong straightened up, and his face became serious. Finally, having read the entire memorial, King Sejong looked towards the Eastern palace and laughed loudly.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Sejong, feeling relieved by his laughter, handed the memorial to the Chief Royal Secretary.

“Let the Chief State Councilor and the Minister of Rites read this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chief Royal Secretary’s face turned red as he read the memorial. The Minister of Rites, who read it next, had a similar reaction.

“Uh-uh.”

“Ahem!”

Unable to contain their curiosity at the pained expressions of the Chief Royal Secretary and the Minister of Rites, the other high-ranking officials looked on. Sejong called for the royal scribe.

“Scribe, deliver the Crown Prince’s memorial to the Inspector General.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Inspector, read it aloud for all to hear.”

“Ye-yes.”

Upon hearing Sejong’s command, the Royal Inspector began to read the Crown Prince’s memorial in a loud voice.

“I, your loyal subject, Crown Prince Hyang, submit this complaint. Some of the ministers have accused me of following the ways of the Legalists. They cite the self-defeating policies of Shang Yang^1 and the downfall of the Qin Dynasty as examples. However, through Shang Yang’s laws, the Qin became the dominant power during the Warring States Period and eventually unified the Central Plains, establishing an empire. Since then, Shang Yang’s laws have remained the most fundamental laws, even as dynasties and state titles have changed in the Central Plains.

Oh, how many Confucian scholars throughout the long history of the Central Plains have followed the will of the sages and strived for the perfection of the royal governance? What could be the reason for these scholars to have based their legal systems on Shang Yang’s laws? Moreover, was it really the fault of Legalism that the Qin Dynasty collapsed?

The downfall of the Qin was due to Emperor Qin Shi Huang and his officials abandoning the righteous path. How could a nation not fall when it exploited its people, killed innocent commoners indiscriminately, and turned away from the righteous principles of Heaven?”

(Continued)

“Even in strong winds, the towering tree does not fall because it has sturdy roots, and the well does not run dry even in a drought because of its depth. Examining this, the tree’s roots are wide and deep, enabling it to withstand strong winds and to dig a deep well, one must start by digging wide from the surrounding area.

The method of finding the way and the method of governing a country are the same. It has been only 30 years since our Joseon opened its doors. In order for our newly rooted Joseon to grow into a towering tree, bearing the flowers and fruits of the royal path, and becoming a deep well that quenches the thirst of the parched people, it must become wide and deep.

Therefore, I believe that in order to achieve the revival of our Joseon and the completion of the King’s Way politics, we must see widely and embrace various thoughts. Would Confucianism, which has strived to follow the noble intentions of the sages, be limited to Neo-Confucianism alone? Similarly, isn’t the ultimate goal of the Hundred Schools of Thought the same?”

Although the reading of the royal memorial by the Royal Inspector had ended, the hall continued to remain silent. While the officials were known for their talkativeness, no one was able to open their mouths easily.

Hyang’s memorial was that groundbreaking.

As the silence continued, King Sejong spoke, “My child is quite smart, isn’t he? What do you think, Inspector General?”

“…I think so.”

Sejong looked at the Inspector General, who answered with a trembling voice as if he found it amusing.

“Although the Crown Prince’s memorial is groundbreaking, I think there are many things we can learn from it in various ways. Now, I would like to hear the opinions of the courtiers. Please think carefully and give an answer to the examiners.”

“We will obey your command.”

“Let’s take a break for a while and then continue.”

1. 상앙(商鞅) – Shang Yang: A Chinese statesman and reformer who established the legal system of the State of Qin during the Warring States Period.[↩]

Chapter 30
Winds of Change (8)

From the following day, petitions began to flood in once again to King Sejong. There were many who agreed with the crown prince’s opinions, but the forces opposing them, led by the chief state councilor and the great scholars, were not to be underestimated.

- The crown prince’s opinion may seem good at first glance, but it is indeed a dangerous thought. If we follow his opinion, it means that if the goal is good, there’s no need to question the right or wrong of the means. This is a very dangerous idea. The means must be justified as much as the purpose.

Thus, a fierce debate began between the Great Confucians faction (Daerupa^1), who agreed with the ‘multiple instruments theory (Dagiron^2)’ advocated by Hyang, and the Small Confucians faction (Sorupa^3), the orthodox Neo-Confucian scholars who insisted that only the Neo-Confucianism is correct, which upholding ‘single instrument theory (Ilchigiron^4)’ instead.

As the debate began to unfold, it intensified with the implementation of Sejong’s ‘reformation’, and throughout Sejong’s sixth year (the Gapsin year, Wood Dragon Year^5), countless petitions, resignations, and dismissals followed. This became the starting point of the Gapsin Debate, where the intellectuals of Joseon were divided into two factions and engaged in fierce battles.

The announcement of Hyang’s views and the ensuing debate with conservative officials soon spread to the people of Hanyang, causing a chain reaction. The victims of this chain reaction were the children of prestigious families.

“When our child begins his service, the crown prince will either have succeeded the throne or be holding real power. Considering the crown prince’s disposition, simply mastering the classics won’t be enough to take on important responsibilities. So, from now on, make sure to study not only the classics but also the various schools of thought.”

“Yes, Father.”

“The same goes for you. Where do you think the crown prince’s nature comes from? For the survival of our family, you must also make an effort.”

“…Yes, Father.”

In the homes of officials and aristocrats who sought the prosperity of their families by analyzing the situation, they soon began to study not only Neo-Confucianism but also various schools of thought.

On the other hand, the anti-crown prince faction families were not just sitting idly by.

“We cannot stand by and watch the king and crown prince go down the wrong path! The only solution to bring the king and crown prince back to the right path is a thorough refutation! We must delve into the various schools of thought and find their flaws!”

“Yes, Father.”

“Why is this child not speaking? The crown prince is your age, and when you begin your service, it will be when the crown prince comes to the forefront. If you don’t make an effort now, you will disgrace our family!”

“This son is already working hard…”

“Is that so-called hardworking boy only now getting around to the Analects! Anyone! Bring me a cane right now!”

“Father, please quell your anger…”

“Bring it now!”

Thanks to Hyang, the calves of the sons of noble families in the capital city never had a peaceful day.

* * *

Around the same time, Hyang was reviewing a past debate.

“I just said what I wanted to say, which was refreshing. And it felt good that my father seemed to be on my side…”

Hyang spoke with a tired face. According to the reports from the officials of Donggungjeon Hall, there were lines of petitions from ministers who agreed with Hyang’s views and those who opposed them. The number of petitions was so large that some officials in the Royal Secretary Office collapsed from overwork, and King Sejong had to send them special royal meals and medicine.

With a blank sheet of paper in front of him, Hyang burst into a faint laugh. “Am I lucky to be reborn in the early Joseon Dynasty? If I were reborn in the late Joseon Dynasty and had spoken out like this, I would have been called a ‘vandal of culture’ and possibly even been locked up as a wastrel prince. Anyway, it’s fortunate that there are ministers who support me this time, right?”

Hyang paused for a moment, tapping his fingers on the desk and looking towards Geunjeongjeon Throne Hall.

“The vaccination will begin soon. If the results are good, the balance will tip in my favor…,” Hyang trailed off, sighed, and looked up at the ceiling. “Ah, is it all about doing one’s best and leaving the rest to fate?”

* * *

King Sejong’s 6th year, the first month, the third day of the new moon.

“Begin!”

“Yes!”

At the command of the Minister of Personnel, many medical officials, female medical practitioners, officials conducting a simultaneous population census, and soldiers to guard them in case of emergency, left the palace gates and paired up to disperse in all directions.

“Hear the royal command!”

At the shout of “Hear the royal command!” from outside the private house, the whole family rushed out and knelt down. Seeing the bewildered expressions of the kneeling family members, the officer explained the reason.

“By His Majesty’s order, we will administer vaccination against smallpox. Everyone, line up! Men, go to this medical officer, and women, go to the female medical practitioner over there!”

“Eh? You can prevent smallpox?”

“Isn’t that what they say? Line up quickly. Ah! Has anyone here had smallpox before?”

“There’s none.”

“Then line up!”

“But, we don’t have any rice or cloth to count.”

The head of the household replied, and the official responded immediately, “It’s free.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you rascal! How dare you doubt my words!”

The head of the household bowed his head to the ground, frightened by the official’s scolding, and gestured to his family. “No, no, no. Line up quickly! Hurry!”

Following the head’s command, the family members lined up, separated by gender.

“Have you ever had smallpox before?”

“No.”

“What about the other family members?”

“None of them have had smallpox either.”

“I see. Then take off your upper garment.”

Thus, the vaccination proceeded. Men were vaccinated in the yard, and women behind a folding screen in one corner. An official standing beside them recorded their personal information on a scroll.

“Hear the king’s command, we are receiving a vaccination that can prevent smallpox, and it’s free!”

As the rumor about the smallpox vaccination spread, Hanyang was buzzing.

“When will they come to our house?”

“In a day or ten days, you will have a fever and develop blisters on your shoulder. Prepare in advance. Do not burst the blisters.”

In houses where no one had experienced smallpox, adults were waiting outside, anxiously anticipating the arrival of the medical team. In houses that had already been vaccinated, people were busy preparing cold water and clean towels.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“It’s nothing.”

“We don’t have much to offer, but please have some refreshments before you go.”

Those who visited the homes of the aristocracy or wealthier households received generous hospitality after the vaccination. As fine food and alcohol were served, the guests laughed and enjoyed their meal.

“Here, have a drink.”

As the homeowner offered a cup of alcohol, the official in charge of the team respectfully declined.

“I am grateful for your kindness, but I cannot drink while on duty.”

“I see…”

Offering food and alcohol to the medical team was not limited to the affluent. In neighborhoods with many poor people, they pooled together grains and food in a ten-to-one ratio to serve the medical team.

“You probably don’t have much to eat; are you alright?”

“We can eat sparingly if we lack food, but smallpox is different, isn’t it? It’s cheap compared to the cost of a life.”

“Ah…”

Hearing the people’s responses, the officials sighed. Most of the young officials who had just started their careers were moved by the people’s words and felt emotional.

“Indeed! What could be wrong with the prince’s words?”

* * *

Not all residents of Hanyang welcomed the smallpox vaccination. A considerable number of doctors submitted a joint appeal.

“Generally speaking, when examining ancient and modern precedents, there has never been a case where humans and animals share the same illness. So, what is this bizarre method of using the pus of a cow to treat human smallpox? Is this really any different from bringing in shamans who believe in strange powers and performing rituals? Goodness!”

Reading the appeal, an infuriated King Sejong threw the document and shouted at his ministers.

“Do these people even know what they’re saying? The primary duty of physicians is to save lives and maintain health. To do this, they must constantly study diseases, practice new techniques, and seek out medicinal ingredients to devise prescriptions. What? Bizarre? Believing in shamans with strange powers? Can these people even be called physicians? Relay my order! Tell the Hanyang Magistrate to arrest these people right away!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Due to King Sejong’s furious command, all the doctors who submitted the joint appeal were imprisoned.

“It’s unfair!”

“We’re being wronged!”

The imprisoned physicians protested for their innocence, but King Sejong did not forgive them.

“Punish all the criminals with 20 strikes of the cane!”

Only after receiving 20 strikes each, by King Sejong’s command, then the physicians who submitted the joint appeal were released.

Meanwhile, smallpox vaccinations and household surveys for Hanyang residents were completed.

“After we tallied everything, there are a total of 103,328 people living within the four main gates of the capital, including both upper class and commoners.”

“You’ve done well.”

King Sejong was in the process of giving his approval after hearing reports from the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Taxation when an official entered with a tray full of petitions.

“The Crown Prince has been quiet these days. Oh, what kind of petition is this?”

“It’s not about the Crown Prince, Your Majesty. These are petitions related to smallpox vaccinations. The petitioners are asking for vaccinations in their own villages.”

“Really?”

Upon hearing the official’s words, King Sejong quickly untied the scroll bundle. As he read the contents of the petitions, he unknowingly sighed, “Phew.”

The petitions, written by local officials and physicians from various regions across the country, were earnest.

- Protecting the people from smallpox must be done promptly.

- There are already several successful cases, so there is no need for further experiments. It’s just a waste of time.

- Although the hope it brings may be as thin as a silk thread, the vaccination must be carried out without delay.

- If there is a shortage of cows, we will release our wealth and gather all the cows within 100 li (approximately 25 miles) to vaccinate. There is no wealth more precious than human lives.

“Ministers, read these too.”

“Yes.”

Following King Sejong’s command, the ministers took turns reading the petitions.

“What do you think should be done?”

It was an obvious question, but none of the ministers responded immediately. Even the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Taxation, both known to be staunch supporters of the Crown Prince, merely looked around cautiously.

Although King Sejong was angry, he could understand the situation. The submitted appeals were only a small fraction compared to the number of scholars residing throughout the eight provinces of Joseon. Considering the cost of the widespread vaccination and the tasks to be carried out simultaneously, there would undoubtedly be significant resistance. Moreover, such resistance could lead to defiance against the royal authority, and it was highly likely that it would proceed as impeachment of the ministers as scapegoats.

“The Crown Prince…” King Sejong was about to call for Hyang but soon stopped himself.

Given Hyang’s character, he would have insisted on immediately implementing the nationwide vaccination without question. However, if the resistance against the widespread vaccination turned into a political move, it could become a significant stain on Hyang’s reputation.

In the end, he had no choice but to step back.

“Let’s take some time to think about this matter.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was an uncomfortable conclusion for both Sejong and his ministers.

As Sejong and his ministers were contemplating a clear solution for the nationwide implementation of the vaccination, there were people cautiously discussing the issue in a large shop on Yunjeong Street^6.

“…So, what about the Crown Prince?”

“He submitted an appeal for the immediate implementation, but it was not accepted.”

“He must be very upset.”

“I heard he’s writing appeals every day.”

“Ah…” the old man sitting in the seat of honor sighed deeply as he listened to the report and became lost in thought. After much deliberation, the old man finally made a decision. “It’s time to use some of our wealth.”

1. “大儒派” (Daerupa) was a school of thought or a group of scholars who emerged during the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea. Literally, “大儒” (Daeru) means “great Confucian scholar,” and “派” (Pa) means “group” or “sect.” The members of the Daerupa school were Confucian scholars who emphasized the practical application of Confucianism in society, rather than just studying it as an abstract philosophy. They believed in the importance of education and the need to cultivate virtuous individuals who could serve as exemplary models for society. They also emphasized the role of the state in promoting the welfare of the people and the need for officials to be accountable and responsible to the common people. The Daerupa school was influential in shaping the political and social reforms of the late Joseon Dynasty, and many of its members held important government positions. However, the school was also criticized for being too conservative and for obstructing more radical reforms.[↩]

2. “多器論” (Dagiron) is a concept that originated in ancient China and was also influential in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The term “多器” (Taqi or Dagi) means “many talents” or “diverse abilities,” while “論” (Ron) means “theory” or “philosophy.” The Dagiron philosophy emphasizes the importance of developing and utilizing one’s diverse talents and abilities to their fullest potential. According to this philosophy, every individual possesses multiple talents and abilities, and it is the duty of both the individual and society to cultivate and utilize these talents for the benefit of the individual and the community as a whole.[↩]

3. “小儒派” (Sorupa) is a term that was used during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea to refer to a school of Confucian scholars who emphasized the study of the classics and the theoretical aspects of Confucianism, rather than its practical application. The term “小儒” (Soru) means “small Confucian scholar,” and “派” (Pa) means “group” or “sect.” Members of the Sorupa school believed that the most important aspect of Confucianism was its theoretical framework and intellectual content, and that practical application was secondary. They were often critical of the more pragmatic and utilitarian approach of the Daerupa school, which emphasized the practical application of Confucianism in society. The Sorupa school was influential in shaping the traditional Confucian education system in Korea, but it was also criticized for being overly rigid and dogmatic.[↩]

4. “一器論” (Ilqiron) is a philosophical concept that originated in China and was also influential in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The term “一器” (Ilqi) means “one talent” or “one ability,” while “論” (Ron) means “theory” or “philosophy.” The Ilqiron philosophy emphasizes the importance of focusing on one’s primary talent or ability and developing it to its fullest potential, rather than trying to develop multiple talents or abilities simultaneously. According to this philosophy, every individual has a unique talent or ability, and it is the duty of both the individual and society to cultivate and utilize this talent for the benefit of the individual and the community as a whole. In practice, the Ilqiron philosophy has been applied in a variety of fields, including education, art, and business management, with the goal of maximizing individual potential and achieving excellence.[↩]

5. It corresponds to the 28th year in the cycle in the sexagenary year cycle.[↩]

6. Famous street in Hanyang.[↩]

Chapter 31
Winds of Change (9)

Ten days later, an overseer^1 arrived with a report for King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, the Great Head of Merchant Song group has offered up thirty pairs of cows.”

“Thirty pairs? Why?”

King Sejong asked, to which the overseer explained, “They said it was to help with the government’s cowpox vaccination campaign, even if just a little.”

Hearing this report, Sejong’s face immediately brightened, his mouth grinning, “Is that so? I must meet this meritorious person myself.”

“Your Majesty! Meeting a lowly merchant face to face would harm your dignity!” the Chief of Censor tried to dissuade him.

However, King Sejong just snorted and stood up, “Hmph! That lowly merchant has offered up thirty pairs of cows that even the high-ranking officials haven’t! Ask yourself who truly had harmed my dignity!”

Silenced by King Sejong’s rebuke, the Chief of Censor couldn’t helped but shut his mouth.

Later, King Sejong left the Geunjeongjeon Hall with the guidance of the chief eunuch and the overseer.

In the large courtyard in front of the Geunjeongjeon Hall, a group of merchants were lined up.

“Presenting His Majesty!”

At the chief eunuch’s declaration, the gathered merchants prostrated themselves in unison.

“Rise.”

Immediately after King Sejong’s command, who was seated on a chair brought by the inner officials, the merchants respectfully stood up, with their hands folded together under their sleeve’s garments.

“So, are you the ones who offered up the cows?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Upon hearing rumors that you needed cows for cowpox vaccination, we decided to offer them.”

“Offering thirty pairs of cows must have required a significant amount of wealth. How did you all come to such a decision?”

“Your Majesty, abundant wealth alone bears no fruit without the presence of your loyal subjects. The prosperity of our trade shall not flourish if the people do not find solace and peace.”

King Sejong slapped his knee at the great merchant’s response, exclaiming proudly, “What wise answer to a such foolish question!” Admiring the great merchant’s response, King Sejong discreetly shifted his gaze at the high-ranking officials who had followed him, as if to tell them to listen carefully.

“Trade shall not flourish if the people do not find solace and peace. Isn’t that much better than those who only talk while sitting in comfort?”

“……”

The officials had no response to King Sejong’s sharp remark.

Having scolded the officials, King Sejong asked the merchants standing in the courtyard. “So, tell me about the cows you offered up for the cowpox vaccination.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We have thirty pairs of cows, male and female, and they have just matured. Lastly, they have never had cowpox.”

“Hahaha! How meticulous! Indeed! Thirty pairs of cowpox-free cows will be a great help! You have given so much to the country. What do you desire? A government position? Or something else?”

“Your Majesty, as a humble merchant, how could I dare to desire a government position? I have merely done my duty as a loyal citizen of Joseon, and I do not seek any reward for my service. However, if I may express a small wish, it would be that our families may all live in Gaeseong^2. Your Majesty, I humbly request that you consider expanding the cowpox vaccination campaign, starting from Gaeseong, for the well-being of our people.” Pausing briefly, the great merchant glanced at King Sejong and the rest of the courtiers before adding more, “This is only a small wish of a lowly merchant who only knows how to trade.”

“I have been hearing many different opinions regarding the cowpox vaccine’s effectiveness. However, I must ask, do you all truly believe that this vaccine will completely eliminate the threat of cowpox?”

“Your Majesty, what father would not desire the safety and well-being of his children? Moreover, this matter has been decided by your wise judgment. Is there any reason to doubt your decision?”

Listening to the great merchant’s response, King Sejong burst into great laughter. “Ha ha ha! Very well! Let’s start with my own palace! Issue the order!”

At his clear answer, the merchants immediately prostrated themselves on the ground and shouted loudly, “Long live Your Majesty! “Long live Your Majesty!”

As the merchants were shouting their words of gratitude, Hyang, who heard the news, entered the courtyard.

“Prince, have you come?”

“Yes.”

King Sejong raised his hand and pointed to the merchants. “Aren’t they truly remarkable subjects?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I would like to express my gratitude to them; may I?”

“Granted.”

“Thank you.”

With King Sejong’s permission, Hyang walked down the stairs to the merchants. As Hyang approached them, all the merchants bowed together in unison.

“Your Highness, we are honored to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you.”

The sight of the young child speaking politely like an adult was amusing, but the tense merchants didn’t notice that the crown prince had walked towards them before grabbing the great merchant’s hand.

“I am truly grateful.”

“Oh my! To hold the hand of such a lowly merchant like me! What an honor!”

“What’s wrong with the hand of someone who works hard at their job? If anything, it’s a truly valuable hand.”

At Hyang’s words, the great merchant bowed deeply with heartfelt gratitude.

“It’s an honor! Truly an honor!”

“Neither His Majesty nor I will criticize you for working hard. We will not despise you for being merchants. However, I humbly request that you conduct your business with integrity and uphold the principles of fairness and honesty. It is my hope that you will refrain from pursuing wealth through unethical means that could cause harm to our fellow subjects. As long as you stay true to these values, there shall be no discrimination or persecution against you as merchants.”

At Hyang’s request, the great merchant reacted in a loud voice, “I will keep your words in my heart and follow them!”

After meeting the king and the prince, the great merchant, who had left the palace, turned his gaze at the palace with a satisfied face.

“A sage king has been born, two of them even.”

Upon hearing the great merchant’s words, the fellow merchants who had accompanied him chimed in, “Indeed, that is true. I’ve heard that His Majesty is exceptional, but the Crown Prince is also extraordinary. Although our encounter was brief, he was certainly not an ordinary talent. I only heard rumors and what others who participated in the writing contest said, and thought of him as merely an eccentric individual…”

The great merchant, who had been nodding in agreement, turned around, “Let’s place a little hope on him. If the palace’s ruler has such character, perhaps we can roam the four seas just like our ancestors did.”

“Yes, my lord.”

With a contented face, the great merchant walked down the road when his expression suddenly turned fierce in an instant. “Now that I think about it… Why is my grandson behaving like that, while the Crown Prince is like this! Ugh! It’s infuriating!” As he grumbled, recalling his mischievous grandson, someone behind him muttered softly.

“It’s because the seeds are different…”

“Shush!”

Eventually, the rumor that “the Song Merchant Group” was relinquishing its wealth by presenting cows to the king” spread quickly among the people.

“It’s the Song Merchant group, after all.”

“Who would have doubted for him to be a businessman?”

“Even though he’s a businessman, look at the results. They are vaccinating the people using the cows from the capital.”

As the people discussed the rumors, the local leaders of their village and surrounding villages became the topic of conversation.

“It’s not just the Song Merchant group. Have you heard about the scholar Kang in Gamgol village beyond the mountain?”

“What about Scholar Kang of Gamgol?”

“They say he secured five pairs of cows that didn’t have smallpox and sent them to the capital.”

“Really?”

“It’s not just Scholar Kang. Choi Saengwon from Narutogol is also busy collecting the cows.”

A farmer who heard the conversation spat out a curse, “Those bast*rds! What is our local leader doing that it’s so quiet?”

“Maybe he’s too busy beating his concubine’s butt*cks since he recently brought her during the fall of the year before last.”

“Darn it… When it’s time to accumulate wealth, he doesn’t even move a muscle, but when it’s time to fill his stomach, he’s suddenly busy.”

“That’s right… He only releases his wealth when it’s time to buy silk for his concubine’s butt*cks… Our fate is truly miserable.”

As the rumors spread, the gap between the local notables and the common people widened. Of course, the notables who took the lead in spending their wealth to acquire cows and advocate for the nationwide implementation of vaccination received the absolute support of their fellow villagers. However, such notables only accounted for less than 30% nationwide.

Receiving the reports that came up through the overseers and the petitions, King Sejong glared at his ministers.

“What was it that you said earlier? That it is not appropriate for the kingdom to meddle in the minor affairs of rural areas? That oppressive rule is more fearsome than a tiger?”

At his reproach, ministers from the anti-Crown Prince faction, including the Chief State Councilor, had no way but to bow their heads.

“We deeply apologize!”

“We deeply apologize!”

Although all the courtiers begged for his forgiveness by bowing their heads, King Sejong could no longer hide his anger and waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. Prepare for the nationwide implementation of the smallpox vaccination.”

“But Your Majesty, our finances are in a dire state for a nationwide implementation.”

“Didn’t we decide to finance this by collecting money from the local landowners?”

“If we collect money for a smallpox vaccination whose effectiveness is not yet proven, the nobles will revolt…”

“Shut your da*n mouth right now!” King Sejong exploded at the continued opposition coming from the Chief State Councilor.

The mood in the hall swiftly turned icy as soon as King Sejong mentioned vulgar language, which was not expected during his speech. Afterward, he roughly went through the petitions and reports placed on the desk. After picking up a report, he threw it at the Chief State Councilor’s direction.

“Unbelievable! The hypocrisy that I have only heard of is right in front of my eyes! Do you even understand the contents of this report? It is about the smallpox vaccination campaign conducted in Hanyang! And yet, not a single official among you remained unvaccinated. Not one! If you have anything to say, speak now! You hypocrites! First, you all get vaccinated and then claim that you don’t know whether it is effective, and we should not roll it out across the nation? You hypocritical pseudo-gentlemen! Ugh! I can’t stand the sight of you! I, the King, will personally exercise my authority on this matter, so you all better keep your mouths shut! Financial issues? If we face any monetary problems, I will deduct them from your salaries and properties. It will only require a small portion of your precious gifts! Leave my sight at once!”

At Sejong’s furious outburst, all the officials, starting with the Chief State Councilor, bowed their heads to the ground and shouted, “Please execute us!”

“Your Majesty! Please execute us!”

“Get out now!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Ugh! I’d rather leave myself!” Unable to contain his anger, King Sejong stormed out of the hall.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

Although the officials called out in unison, Sejong did not look back and left the hall. The remaining officials in the hall all directed their arrows of criticism at the Chief State Councilor.

“How could you act like this, Your Great Excellency!”

“Why can’t you distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be said? Have you gone senile?”

“…”

The Chief State Councilor remained silent with his eyes closed amid the concentrated barrage from the ministers. However, his reddened face and trembling beard alone spoke for his emotions. The ministers, with the Chief State Councilor in front of them, searched for a solution.

“What should we do now?”

In response to the question from the Minister of Personnel, a member of the royalist faction, the Minister of Taxation grumbled, “What do you mean what should we do? Is there any other answer besides ‘repentance ritual^3? After the repentance ritual, we need to come up with measures for nationwide implementation.”

“That would be for the best.”

The Minister of Taxation glared at the Chief State Councilor as if telling him to listen carefully. “With my old, rickety knees already aching, a ‘repentance ritual’? And in this severe winter cold Do you even have any sense at all? Ugh! Let’s go!”

“Let’s go.”

As the Minister of Taxation led the way, the royalist faction ministers filed out of the main hall. The ministers of the opposing faction, who had only been observing, soon followed suit, leaving only the Chief State Councilor, the officers, and the scribes in the main hall.

With his eyes closed, the Chief State Councilor, who was now truly alone, sighed deeply, “Sigh~. I have lived too long. Too long.”

* * *

The commotion in the main hall reached the ears of the chief eunuch.

“So, where did the Prince go?”

“His Highness went to see the middle-ranking eunuch.”

“I see. Good work.”

“Yes, sir.”

After dismissing the inner servant, the chief eunuch sighed quietly, “Sigh~. Have the ministers in the main hall lost their ability to learn? After going through all that, they should have known how to avoid trouble by now… Or are they still fighting amongst themselves?”

The same question was on the minds of the royalist faction ministers.

“Minister! Minister!”

While preparing a mat for the ‘repentance ritual’, the Minister of Taxation turned his head at the desperate cry of the Minister of Personnel.

“What is it, Your Excellency?”

In response to the Minister of Taxation’s question, the Minister of Personnel opened his mouth, catching his breath, “His Excellency, the Chief State Councilor, is writing a petition saying that it is not right for the King to exercise one-sided authority!”

“What?!”

At the Minister of Personnel’s words, the Minister of Taxation was shocked and jumped up from his seat.

“Has His Excellency really gone mad?!”

Translator’s Notes

Lol. The political drama in the last few chapters really cracks me up

1. 도승지 (都承旨), Doseungji was a high-ranking official who was responsible for managing and supervising royal ceremonies, rites, and events, as well as acting as an intermediary between the king and other government officials.[↩]

2. 개성 (開城): Gaeseong is a city in North Hwanghae Province, North Korea, which was an important city during the Goryeo and Joseon periods.[↩]

3. 席藁待罪 (석고대죄) is a Korean idiom derived from the Hanja characters 席 (석, seok, meaning “mat”), 藁 (고, go, meaning “straw”), 待 (대, dae, meaning “wait”), and 罪 (죄, joi, meaning “crime” or “offense”). This idiom refers to waiting for punishment or trial while sitting on a straw mat. In other words, it means to await punishment for one’s crimes or offenses. Otherwise, known as the ‘repentance ritual’ one would normally see in Kdramas.[↩]

Chapter 32
Winds of Change (10)

When the high-ranking officials heard the news, they rushed to the Royal Secretary Office. The Chief State Councilor had just finished writing an appeal to the king.

“Your Excellency! A petition? What a rash act!”

“In a situation where it would be insufficient even to prostrate oneself before the king in remorse, you are submitting a petition? Are you out of your mind?”

Although the high-ranking officials gathered and criticized him in succession, the Chief State Councilor’s expression remained calm.

“It is a petition that must be submitted. If we consider not the present of Joseon but its future, we must inquire into this matter and defy the king’s will.”

“Your Excellency! Are you truly possessed by a reckless spirit?”

When the Minister of Taxation raised his voice, the Chief State Councilor also raised his voice in succession, “The king has forgotten how significant it is to rule the country! He has also forgotten why there are officials!”

“Your Excellency!”

Although the other high-ranking officials tried to stop him, the Chief State Councilor entered the Royal Secretary Office, holding the petition, and handed it over.

“Submit this petition to the king.”

“…Understood.”

Seeing the nervous expressions and voices of the officials, the Chief State Councilor added, “Don’t make such faces. This is all for the future of Joseon and the king.”

The official, whose face had hardened at the Chief State Councilor’s words, received the petition from the man’s hands. “…I will submit it to His Majesty.”

* * *

“It’s the Chief State Councilor’s appeal.”

“Leave it and go.”

The Chief State Councilor’s petition was placed on King Sejong’s desk, passing through the official and the courier. Without a word, King Sejong stared at the rolled-up petition and began to read it as he unfurled it.

“I, Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon, prostrate myself and submit this petition to His Majesty. In brief, the matter of state administration…”

The contents of the petition written by Ryu Jeong-hyeon were as follows:

State administration is, as the name implies, the management of a nation. Therefore, making and implementing policies lightly is something that must never be done. What must be avoided when deciding and implementing policies is changing one’s mind frequently and capriciously, a fact known even to a child three feet tall. This is because the issue involves the trust of the people in the nation and its policies.

However, looking at the nationwide implementation of the cowpox vaccination, the king has abused his power through a unilateral decision. This is not right.

Initially, the plan was to vaccinate the residents of Hanyang and confirm its efficacy before implementing it nationwide, and this was something the king also agreed to. However, as a few people submitted an appeal to expand the vaccination nationwide quickly and made a breakthrough, reversing the initial plan is not a change but rather a capricious act.

The king criticized the majority of the scholar-officials based only on the fact that a few scholars and merchants made a breakthrough. This is not right. The efficacy of the cowpox vaccination has not yet been proven. Therefore, most scholar-officials are waiting for its efficacy to be confirmed. Of course, there may be some who refused to perform their duties as nobles due to their own greed, but they are an extreme minority. After all, these are the nobles who have mastered the classics, followed the teachings of the sages, and have known righteousness and principles.

State administration, that is, the creation and implementation of policies, should only be carried out through consultation between the king and his officials. What is the reason for needing officials in the management of a nation? It is because it is not an easy task for the king alone to see and judge wisely. The king and the officials must examine from various angles, gather their intentions, and make decisions in order for policies to move in the right direction. If all matters of state affairs were decided and implemented according to the king’s will, what need would there be for the royal court and officials? It would suffice to have eunuchs in charge of document management. This is not only a departure from the royal way but also from the hegemonic way and is simply a dictatorship.

Furthermore, it is not right for the king to habitually abuse power as a customary practice for the future of the nation. We have no doubt that His Majesty, the present king, possesses the qualities of a dragon among men and will not deviate from the righteous path. Also, the Crown Prince has outstanding qualities, so there is less worry. However, what about the future? If a tyrant likes Jie of Xia^1 or Zhou of Shang ascends the throne and abuses power because it is custom, what will become of the fate of Joseon? In order to prevent such a situation, the consultation between the king and his officials must be strictly observed, and policies determined through that consultation must be carefully prepared and implemented.

Our Joseon has barely passed 30 years since its founding. To compare it to a house, it is now just laying the foundation. Ensuring consistency in the relationships between the king, officials, and policy implementation is the only way to avoid political disasters and ensure the perpetual prosperity of Joseon. The reason Goryeo went down the path of destruction was that it neglected this.

In conclusion, the nationwide implementation of cowpox vaccination through the abuse of power should be stopped. As initially planned, its efficacy should be confirmed first, and then a decision on nationwide implementation should be made.

“…If it is indeed effective, I, Ryu Jeong-hyeon, will gladly offer all of my property.”

Upon reading the entirety of the Chief State Councilor’s petition, King Sejong clenched his fists in anger and put down the document.

“What a cunning man!” Holding onto the arms of his throne, King Sejong suppressed his boiling anger and issued an order to the court attendants. “What are those haughty ministers doing now?”

“They are currently performing the ritual of repentance in front of the Royal Council Hall.”

“Order them to enter the main hall immediately! Without missing a single person!”

“Your command shall be obeyed!”

Upon receiving the command through the court attendants, the ministers hurriedly entered the main hall. Starting with the Chief State Councilor, the ministers took their places, and King Sejong handed the problematic petition to the court attendant.

“Read it out loud, so that all the ministers can hear.”

“Yes.”

Upon King Sejong’s command, the court attendant read out the Chief State Councilor’s petition loudly.

As the content unfolded, the ministers’ faces, which had been tense from the beginning, grew even stiffer. The petition criticized King Sejong’s decision-making as dictatorial, although it was written in polite language. The final sentence, which offered to submit willingly, could actually be interpreted in the opposite way.

I was told to get vaccinated, but would it really work? If it does, I’ll give away all my wealth!

After finishing the reading, the court attendant quietly rolled up the scroll and placed it on King Sejong’s desk. Meanwhile, the main hall was silent as a tomb. The secretaries and scribes also stopped their brushes, merely swallowing their saliva.

King Sejong broke the silence, “When I first learned about the vaccination, I have thought about implementing it nationwide immediately. However, the Chief State Councilor said it was too hasty, and I agreed with his reasoning. I ask the ministers, have I ever abused my power?”

“…”

“Have I ever abused my power before or after that? I have always consulted with the ministers and chose the measures that everyone agreed were right. Is that also abusing power?”

“…”

“The Chief State Councilor regards the abuse of power as a sin, but it is also one of the tools of governance a monarch possesses. When managing a country, there are times when quick decisions are necessary. However, if the situation remains indecisive, a monarch has no choice but to abuse power. Is not a monarch who misses the opportunity while waiting for his subjects to reach a conclusion truly incompetent? Whose responsibility is it that the practice of abusing power becomes a routine? The monarch or the subjects?”

“…”

As King Sejong’s rebuke continued, the ministers’ heads sank closer to the ground.

“The more I read the Chief State Councilor’s petition, the more cunning it appears. The sentences are beautiful, but they reek of malice. Most of the scholars know shame and propriety? Then, why reward the aristocrats who open their granaries to relieve the people during a famine? If they follow the way of the sages and know shame and propriety, shouldn’t relieving the people be a natural duty? However, that is not the case, so they are rewarded to set an example for others. Why is what the Chief State Councilor says different from reality?”

“…”

“Chief State Councilor, answer me!”

At King Sejong’s command, the Chief State Councilor bowed his head.

“Your Majesty, I humbly apologize.”

“What are the aristocrats who, whenever there’s an outbreak of smallpox or another epidemic, spend their wealth to buy medicinal herbs to treat their neighbors, even resorting to summoning shamans to perform rituals in hopes of borrowing supernatural powers? And what about those aristocrats who, like now, spend their wealth to buy cows for vaccination? Are they just acting hastily due to their shallow understanding?”

“Your Majesty, I humbly apologize. However, in the case of cowpox, its effectiveness has not been definitively proven…”

“What about the cowherds of Jeju Island! Generation after generation, they have been vaccinated with cowpox and avoided smallpox. Wasn’t that evidence enough?”

“Allow me to reiterate, Your Majesty. The number of cowherds alone is too small!”

“Enough!”

King Sejong, who had been gripping the brush in his hand, released his grip.

“Fine. I’ll ask you one thing. If smallpox were to break out in Gangwon Province instead of Hanyang, what would you do? Wait for it to spread from Gangwon Province to Hanyang? Even if many people die or become disfigured or disabled in the meantime?”

“…”

“Is it worth sacrificing so many lives by not vaccinating, even though we have a way to prevent smallpox, just because it has not been proven sufficiently? Is it worth only following the ways of the military and abandoning civilian control?”

“While it is heartbreaking that sacrifices are made, establishing a firm national policy is of greater value. It is pitiful for the people suffering from smallpox, but there have been smallpox victims since ancient times. If it is to properly establish the laws of Joseon from the beginning, I believe we can endure that level of sacrifice!”

“Ridiculous!”

There were sighs among the ministers at Chief State Councilor’s answer. To the ministers, Chief State Councilor’s response seemed stubborn.

At Chief State Councilor’s answer, King Sejong clenched his teeth, “Fine! I will definitely prove its effectiveness! Starting today, if there are reports of smallpox outbreaks anywhere in the eight provinces of Joseon, immediately move 103,328 people, including all officials in the palace and Hanyang residents, to the outbreak site! Investigate those among them who contract smallpox to verify the effectiveness!”

At Sejong’s bombshell statement, all the ministers stood up.

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider!”

“Please reconsider, Your Majesty! This is impossible!”

“Moving 100,000 people is an impossible task!”

All the ministers opposed King Sejong’s decision. However, King Sejong’s resolve was firm.

“Silence! If we follow your wishes, we will have to wait until smallpox spreads from somewhere other than Hanyang or until it breaks out in Hanyang! Who will bear the resentment of the people who have been sacrificed in the meantime! And is moving 100,000 people impossible? How do the military forces move then! This is nothing but an excuse!”

After a brief pause to catch his breath, King Sejong stared at Chief State Councilor and concluded, “I will not tolerate any objections to this, as it is for the sake of firmly establishing the laws that protect the people from the whims of the military! And, Chief State Councilor, listen! If the effectiveness is proven, you will be held responsible for this sin!”

With his final words, King Sejong stormed out of the room.

“I will not tolerate any opposition, as this is to firmly establish the rule of law to protect the orders of military officials! And, Chief State Councilor, listen! If the efficacy is proven, you will bear the guilt upon your neck!”

King Sejong finished speaking and stormed out of his seat.

The scribe recorded everything without omission:

The Chief State Councilor’s objection was like pouring oil on a fire, exacerbating the situation.

After finishing the record, the scribe immediately added a comment.

The implementation of royal governance requires harmony between the king and his ministers. However, harmony is merely a tool, not the ultimate goal. Today’s statements and remarks made by the Chief State Councilor can be considered an inversion of priorities. My heart aches seeing the fall of the esteemed old minister in the spring.

Upon hearing about the conflict between King Sejong and his ministers, Hyang bit his tongue. “It has completely turned into a chicken race. Politics is about legitimacy, but this is going too far, isn’t it?”

Hyang, who had been clicking his tongue at the dire situation of the court, suddenly became serious.

“Could this lead to a rebellion that has never happened in history?”

Hwang, with a serious face, crossed his arms and sank into thought. After a while of mental calculation, Hwang concluded, “I should start preparing just in case.”

That night, Sejong visited Hyang’s room.

“Crown Prince, I assume you’ve heard about today’s events?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think your father went too far?”

“The intransigence of the Chief State Councilor is indeed frustrating. Legitimacy is important, but so is practicality.”

King Sejong smiled at Hyang’s answer and patted his shoulder. “Crown Prince, I feel reassured with you here.”

“You flatter me too much.”

“Whew.” Sejong let out a long sigh and grumbled, “Now that things have come to this, I find myself hoping for an outbreak of disease nearby.”

“You will surely achieve a favorable outcome.”

* * *

Five days later, urgent news reached the court.

“An outbreak has occurred!”

“Where?”

“In the Yeongdeungpo^2 area of Geumcheon County!”

Upon hearing the location of the outbreak, King Sejong and his ministers appeared relieved. They had all been exhausted from the stress brought on by the tense situation that felt like walking on thin ice.

“Perhaps this is for the best. It’s for the best.”

1. 걸주 (桀紂) – refers to the tyrant kings Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang, who were notorious for their brutal and oppressive rule.[↩]

2. Southwest area of current Seoul.[↩]

Chapter 33
Winds of Change (11)

As soon as a report came in that smallpox had broken out in Geumcheon District, across of the central of Hanyang, the court moved quickly.

Prohibit ferry crossings at all docks except Mapo Port^1 and Noryangjin Port^2

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Mobilize the soldiers of the 12 agencies protecting the center of Hanyang to prevent people from entering Geumcheon District from other regions. Access to and from Geumcheon District should only be allowed through northern Hanyang.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following King Sejong’s command, the soldiers defending the center of Hanyang blocked the main entrances leading to the Geumcheon district. Not only were roads blocked, but the Han River and its surrounding waterways and estuaries were also closed off to ships. The only people allowed to enter were military personnel and officials who had received the smallpox vaccination.

King Sejong gave them a command:

“It’s certain that food supplies in Hanyang and Geumcheon district will be insufficient due to the blockage of transportation routes. I give you a special mission: military personnel and officials should manage rice supplies from the granary at Bupyeong Prefecture^3.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The granary in Bupyeong was a newly established facility. At King Sejong’s command, based on Hyang’s suggestion, the Minister of Taxation imported a large amount of grain from Ming. However, the volume was much larger than expected.

“Last fall, a great harvest occurred in the south of Ming, causing grain prices to drop significantly, so we were able to acquire more than we anticipated.”

Upon hearing the explanation from the Minister of Taxation, King Sejong showed an ambiguous expression.

“Should I be glad or envious? It’s truly a mixed feeling.”

“I had the same thoughts, Your Majesty.”

“Anyway, the amount of grain we obtained through the Winter Solstice envoy and the New Year’s envoy should be enough to endure a temporary food shortage. It is fortunate.”

“Indeed, it is thanks to Your Majesty’s wise foresight.”

At the Minister of Taxation’s praise, Sejong showed a modest smile.

“It’s not my foresight; it’s because the Crown Prince is smart.”

King Sejong’s remark prompted Hyang, who was sitting next to him, to express his modesty. “What did I do, Father? It is said that even a pearl needs to be strung to become a treasure. If you hadn’t made the decision, how could this have been possible?”

“You are absolutely right, Crown Prince!”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, the ministers of the Six Ministries unanimously responded.

While the ministers and the Crown Prince were praising Sejong, the senior officials, including the Chief State Councilor and the Inspector General, were barely opening their mouths.

Ever since the recent confrontation between the king and the Chief State Councilor, these officials had been pushed away from the majority. The ministers who were with them, including the Minister of Rites, had moved to the Crown Prince’s faction. As a result, today’s situation unfolded.

King Sejong raised his hand lightly to stop the ministers’ praises and summarized the situation.

“We have deployed soldiers to prevent people from entering to and fro upper Hanyang and Geumcheon district from other regions. We have also addressed the food shortage issue by utilizing the granary in Bupyeong prefecture. The remaining issue is medical treatment… Minister of Personnel, how are the preparations going?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Personnel responded immediately while scratching his head, “We are preparing to dispatch doctors and nurses from the Royal Clinic, ‘Bureau of State Welfare’, ‘Royal Dispensary’, and ‘Great Compassionate Temple of East and West’4 to Geumcheon.”

“Finish the preparations as soon as possible so that the sick people can receive treatment. Also, how about vaccinating those who have not yet contracted smallpox in Geumcheon with cowpox?”

“Your Majesty’s foresight is excellent. We will prepare to execute as instructed.”

“Great.”

As the Minister of Personnel responded, King Sejong nodded and turned to the Crown Prince.

“Do you have anything to add?”

“How about recruiting people from Hanyang to help the doctors and nurses in Geumcheon? Among the residents of Geumcheon, the families of smallpox patients must be occupied with taking care of the sick, and they should be isolated as they may have contracted smallpox as well. Moreover, the doctors and nurses will be busy treating patients. If we mobilize the uninfected residents, it may lead to the further spread of smallpox. Instead, we could find people from Hanyang to work for daily wages and send them to Geumcheon. They can assist the doctors and nurses and prepare food for the patients and their families.”

“But the smallpox could also spread among the residents of Hanyang, couldn’t it?”

As the Chief State Councilor raised an objection, the Crown Prince chuckled and replied, “Did you forget? All the residents of Hanyang have already been vaccinated with cowpox.”

“The cowpox vaccine’s effectiveness…” the Right State Councilor, who had been about to argue against Hyang’s words, suddenly stopped speaking.

Hyang seized the opportunity to chime in, “I understand what you are trying to say, but I have no doubt in the efficacy of vaccination.” Hyang, who silenced the Right State Councilor, made a sincere appeal to King Sejong, “Your Majesty, as a servant of Your Majesty, I request this. If the people of Hanyang hesitate, please send me! I will take the lead in treating the sick!”

At Hyang’s words, the record-keeping officer muttered under his breath, “Once again…”

It was not just the officer who had a similar reaction. From the ministers to King Sejong himself, they all had a similar response. King Sejong, who had been glaring at Hyang, made his decision, “Announce my decree to Hanyang’s people to gather workers.”

“Your command is received.”

“How much should the daily wage be?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Taxation paused to recall his memory and answered, “According to the last survey, the average household in Hanyang had five members. Considering this, and since the work will be difficult, I think it would be appropriate to give them five hobs (홉)5 per day.”

King Sejong nodded his head as he stroked his beard and calculated, listening to the Minister of Taxation’s response.

“Five hobs… then let’s pay that as the daily wage and gather people.”

“Your command is received.”

As soon as King Sejong’s order was given, the royal court moved quickly. The balance of power had shifted completely to King Sejong, and they needed to act fast due to the risk of an epidemic called cowpox.

The soldiers who received the order began to block the roads leading to the Geumcheon district and upper Hanyang. Those who were stopped from entering Hanyang from other regions protested fiercely, but the soldiers’ words immediately turned them back.

“Cowpox is spreading.”

“Oh my goodness!”

It was not just the land routes that were blocked. The ports along the Han River and other nearby rivers like the Imjin River^6 were also closed off. The royal court, having blocked the spread of cowpox from Geumcheon district, began to focus on treatment in earnest.

In the vicinity of Yeongdeungpo district, a considerable number of people entered the village.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes.”

At the response from the village official, the royal officer leading the doctors and nurses from the Ministry of Personnel ordered the soldiers.

“Set up tents for the doctors and nurses next to the well, and set up tents for patients at a distance from the well. As soon as the tents are set up, gather the patients!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following the officer’s orders, the soldiers began setting up large tents next to the well and in the open area. As the tents were erected, the soldiers moved beds from the carts into the tents. It didn’t take long for the beds to be prepared for the patients.

While the soldiers were busy moving tents and other equipment, the doctors and nurses began preparing for treatment.

“Search every house in the vicinity and bring all the patients.”

“Yes, Joo Bu elder.”

“Also, prepare the herbal medicines, starting with Sosihotang^7, which is most needed to reduce fever.”

“Yes, Joo Bu elder.”

* * *

The battles with smallpox that took place throughout the Geumcheon district were reported daily and brought to the royal court. King Sejong and his ministers would check the progress with serious expressions whenever the reports came in.

From about two weeks in, increasingly hopeful reports started to come in from the Geumcheon district.

“The number of confirmed smallpox cases has not increased for three days!”

“Oh!”

“Is that right!”

At the report of the Minister of Personnel, King Sejong clenched his fist, and the ministers exclaimed in admiration.

The Minister of Personnel continued with the report, “Of those who received the cowpox vaccination ten days ago, only five have developed smallpox, and it was confirmed that they were already infected with smallpox before receiving the cowpox vaccination.”

“Is that so? What about those who came from Hanyang?”

“Not a single person has been infected with smallpox!”

King Sejong heaved a long sigh at the Minister of Personnel’s response and leaned back on the armrest of his chair. While King Sejong’s face was full of relief, the Chief State Councilor’s face was turning dark.

King Sejong glanced at the Minister of Personnel, “When can we confirm that smallpox has been completely eradicated from Geumcheon district?”

“Since the last patient was three days ago, at least two more weeks should pass…”

“Then, are the dispatched doctors and nurses staying there until then?”

At his question, the Minister of Personnel immediately replied, “No, Your Majesty. Since the number of patients is decreasing, we plan to withdraw about half of them in five days.”

“Is that so?”

After stroking his beard and thinking for a moment, he issued an order, “When the doctors and nurses who were dispatched for smallpox treatment return, give them a five-day vacation, and as soon as the vacation is over, prepare for a nationwide vaccination campaign.”

“We accept your command.”

“Also, give the doctors, nurses, officials, and soldiers involved in this event a reward according to their rank, from a sack of white rice to a horse. They have worked hard for the country and the people, so they should be rewarded, shouldn’t they?”

“Really?”

At King Sejong’s unconventional order, the ministers’ eyes widened. At that moment, Hyang took the opportunity to intervene.

“It’s a truly wise decision, Your Majesty! It’s unfair to give them only as much as they deserve. In an extraordinary situation, it is only natural to give rewards!”

“Loyalty and filial piety should not be subjects of trade!” the Chief State Councilor shouted angrily at Hyang’s words.

In return, Hyang’s voice grew louder, retorting, “For loyalty and filial piety not to be subjects of trade, there must be even more solid trust in compensation! The belief that even if I die or become disabled, the country will take care of me and my family! The belief that my parents won’t abandon me no matter how hard it is! However, with so many parents who abandon their children during famines or treat their deaths in battle as a matter of course, who will practice loyalty and filial piety!”

The hall fell silent at Hyang’s words. Hyang continued in a louder voice, “Let me say it again: who will practice loyalty and filial piety without such a belief? Instead, practicing Wu Qi’s benevolence^8, which sucks pus from sores, is right! Treating what shouldn’t be treated as a matter of course is what destroys the country and society! Reflect on the history of the Central Plain and our history in the east!”

“……”

In the face of Hyang’s words, the ministers maintained their silence. They wanted to argue, but there was no proper counterargument. There had been several severe famines since the founding of Joseon. Each time, orphans overflowed, and there was no shortage of heart-wrenching reports about the situation. The army was the same. Even when conscripting soldiers, many committed self-harm to avoid military service, or fled in the middle to become refugees.

In the end, King Sejong concluded, “Indeed, loyalty and filial piety are the basic attitudes that the people should have. However, the state and parents should also have the right attitude towards their subjects and children. I think it is best to proceed with rewarding those who were responsible for handling the incident in the Geumcheon district as originally planned. Is there any objection?”

Upon King Sejong’s question, the ministers all bowed their heads.

“We accept Your Majesty’s command.”

The scribes who recorded all this added the following at the end:

Prioritize faithfulness over loyalty and filial piety. The crown prince’s words may seem heretical. But considering the reality of the time, one must think deeply about it.

After confirming the reward proposal, King Sejong looked at the Chief State Councilor. Sitting on the throne above the platform, he looked down at the man and muttered in his heart, ‘Such a pitiful old man… ’

“Chief State Councilor, do we not have any more accounts to settle?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Chief State Councilor, who had been bowing his head, closed his eyes tightly.

‘It has come!’

The Chief State Councilor immediately prostrated himself on the floor and raised his voice, “I, the Chief State Councilor, Ryu Jeong-hyeon, am only loyal to the country for the sake of the nation…”

“Enough,” King Sejong, who had stopped Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s words, let out his resolute words.

“……”

Extra Info!

Here’s a map of today’s Seoul. Geumcheon district mentioned in this chapter is located in the south of current Seoul. In the chapter, whenever the characters mentioned Hanyang, they were actually referring to central Seoul or Hanyang, which is centered in the Jongno district, where the main palace is located.

Places mentioned:

- Geumcheon (Cowpox outbreak)
- Mapo Port (Mapo district)
- Noryangjin Port (Dongjak district)

- Bupyeong Prefecture (A place where the granary is situated in Incheon)

- Yeungdongpo district (A place where the medical officers and some workers set up tents to treat patients from Geumcheon)

1. Located in Mapo District. Please refer to the extra info above.[↩]

2. Located in Dongjak District. Please refer to the extra info above.[↩]

3. Located in Incheon, and one of the 10 administrative divisions that comprise Incheon.[↩]

4. Bureau of State Welfare (惠民局) was a government agency established during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea with the aim of improving the lives of the common people. Its main role was to provide assistance to the poor and vulnerable, including the provision of food, clothing, and shelter. It also oversaw various welfare programs, including healthcare and disaster relief efforts.

Royal Dispensary (濟生院) was a medical institution established during the Joseon Dynasty. It provided medical treatment to the royal family and government officials, as well as to the general public. Its physicians were trained in both traditional and Western medicine and were known for their expertise in treating a wide range of illnesses.

Great Compassionate Temple of East and West or Dongseo Daebiwon (東西大悲院) was a Buddhist temple established during the Joseon Dynasty. It was known for its philanthropic activities, including providing shelter, food, and medical treatment to the poor and needy.[↩]

5. An old Korean unit of measurement, used during the Joseon Dynasty. 1 hob equals 100ml. I guess they’re referring to 5 small sacks of rice, with each sack equivalent to 100ml/100g.[↩]

6. Upper of Incheon. Currently located in the crossings between North and South Korea.[↩]

7. A traditional Korean herbal medicine used to reduce fever and treat various illnesses. It’s a mix of thorow wax, skullcap, ginseng, licorice, pinellia, ginger, jujube dates.[↩]

8. 연저지인 (吮疽之仁) – Benevolence that sucks pus from sores; refers to an anecdote about Wu Qi, who sucked pus from a soldier’s sore to save him from infection, demonstrating his commitment to caring for his soldiers.[↩]

Chapter 34
Winds of Change (12)

“The Chief State Councilor has been blocking the nationwide implementation of the smallpox vaccination, saying, “Its efficacy has not been proven,” and “It is a priority to establish the law.” What happened as a result? A tragedy occurred in Geumcheon district, where smallpox broke out. Look at this tragedy in Geumcheon district: so far, 25 people have died, and over 60 have become disabled, blinded, or suffered from other disabilities. What’s worse is that we don’t know how many more will die or become disabled. If the vaccination had been implemented nationwide without delay, the tragedy in Geumcheon district could have been prevented. The Chief State Councilor caused unnecessary sacrifices by using the excuse of “upholding the law” as a shield to protect his power! Therefore, this court will hold Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon responsible for this crime!

Upon hearing King Sejong’s verdict, the Chief State Councilor quickly submitted and raised his voice, “Your Majesty! It was not to protect my power that I did so! The efficacy of the smallpox vaccine was not proven, and it would be unfair to enforce it, which is why I said so!”

“Be quiet! Are you still trying to deceive the situation with your cunning rhetoric? Look here! Summon the Royal Guards right now!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, please be merciful!”

As soon as King Sejong’s command fell, the ministers, chief scribe, and chief inspector immediately submitted and stepped forward.

However, King Sejong did not back down. “Mercy? Show mercy!”

“Your Majesty! Although the Chief State Councilor’s words were somewhat excessive, they all came from his concern for the country; please be merciful!”

“Has everyone’s concern for the country frozen to death?”

“Your Majesty, please be merciful!”

As the ministers and the chief inspector stepped forward to dissuade him, the chief scribe sobbed, “Your Majesty, although the Chief State Councilor’s words were excessive, his patriotism is as solid as gold and stone. Do not pay attention to superficial words but consider his true intentions!”

“Shut your mouth! Speech is a vessel for thought, so how can superficiality and true intentions be different? If superficiality and true intentions are different, it is the epitome of hypocrisy, and how can one be called a gentleman?”

“Your Majesty, please be merciful!”

“Do not provoke my patience! If you keep babbling, I will consider you to be on the same side as this hypocrite!”

King Sejong sternly warned them, but the ministers, chief scribe, and chief inspector did not back down, “Please be merciful! It is unjust to call an innocent person guilty!”

“Please be merciful!”

“Can a subject stand idly by when his lord is about to walk an unjust path? It is not right to accuse the Chief State Councilor of a crime! Please be merciful!”

In response to the ministers’ opposition, King Sejong slammed his armrest in fury: “Unjust? Unjust, you say? What is unjust? The number of people who lost their lives due to the tyrannical rule over the past years was literally incalculable! Moreover, how many were there who, though their lives were spared, became slaves or beggars wandering the streets? We had a plan to prevent such tragedies, so why did we have to delay its implementation? Moreover, some people even sold their properties and used cattle to transport the vaccine. But who was it that blocked it all under the flimsy pretext of “change in the morning, alter in the evening^1” overnight? Who, I ask you, is the real perpetrator of injustice here? ”

Despite King Sejong’s furious scolding, the ministers, chief scribe, and chief inspector did not back down, “Once again, we advise that the remarks made by the Chief State Councilor were indeed excessive! However, the foremost principle in conducting court affairs is that the monarch and the ministers must share the same will, and once a decision has been made, it should not be taken lightly! The reason the Chief State Councilor opposed Your Majesty’s decision is that it violated the second principle! The consensus between the monarch and ministers and the solemn conduct of court affairs are the fundamental basis of the royal governance that the sages have spoken of!”

As the Right State Councilor vehemently made his case, King Sejong slammed his armrest, furiously, “Truly the epitome of flattery and sycophancy, serving one’s own interests, and deceitful words and appearances! Do you think you have followed the will of the sages by preventing the King’s decision? You have only acted for your own petty desires! You seek to suppress me, the King, with those same petty desires! What you desire is not the cooperation between the ruler and his subjects, but the creation of a court where the King is weak and the ministers are strong, making the King a puppet! You are even more cunning than Jeong Do-jeon, the traitor! I can never forgive you!”

As King Sejong mentioned Jeong Do-jeon once again, the ministers unanimously denied the accusation and stepped forward:

“Your Majesty! We have never had such intentions!”

“Your Majesty! Please recognize our loyalty!”

The court was frozen still during the heated exchange between King Sejong and his ministers. With their backs bent, the high-ranking officials who had been watching the confrontation already seemed to smell the scent of blood.

“Your Majesty, the Royal Bodyguard Jinmu is at your service,” the chief eunuch spoke out.

At the Chief State Councilor’s words, King Sejong could not hide his anger and immediately gave an order, “Royal Bodyguard Jinmu, come in! Immediately confine the high-ranking officials, the Left and Right Chief State Councilors, the Chief State Councilor, and the Secretaries to their residences! Prepare the executioners and the provincial officials to carry out the King’s order as soon as it is issued!”

“Your command will be obeyed!”

As soon as King Sejong’s order was issued, the Royal Bodyguard Jinmu called the palace guards and took the Chief State Councilors and their party away.

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider!”

“Your Majesty! This is defying the will of the sages!”

“Your Majesty!”

Until the very moment they were taken away, the Chief State Councilors’ party tried to change King Sejong’s mind. However, King Sejong remained unchanged.

“High-ranking officials, listen.”

“We will listen attentively!” as soon as King Sejong spoke, the high-ranking officials replied in unison.

“Take today’s events as a lesson, and refrain from rash actions.”

“We will bear it in mind and comply!”

“As the positions of the three Chief State Councilors, the Secretaries, and the Chief Inspector are vacant, select suitable people and report to the King. I will give you five days.”

“Your command will be obeyed!”

King Sejong, who had been glaring at the frozen officials, turned his gaze to the overseer.

“Overseer, tell the Royal Bodyguards to confine all the traitors’ families as well, and seal all their property.”

“Your command will be obeyed!”

“Let’s end it here for today. Go and attend to your duties.”

Following King Sejong’s command to dismiss, all high-ranking officials paid their respects to him and left the royal court.

Left alone in the court, King Sejong placed his hand on his forehead and sighed deeply, “Sigh…”

* * *

Returning to the Eastern Palace, Hyang had a serious expression as he sorted out the situation.

“If this were a TV drama, the ratings would have skyrocketed in an instant. It would have been unbearable for the actors to memorize their lines… So that’s why traditional historical dramas were pushed out, and fusion historical dramas took off…”

Unaware that he was mumbling to himself, Hyang shook his head vigorously, “Da*n it! Should I follow Teacher’s Samcheonpo too? Why am I going off track?”

Having finished his self-reflection, Hyang sorted out the situation once more, “There won’t be any noisy chatter for a while due to today’s events. The problem is filling the empty positions… Is it finally time for Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong to step up? The formation of Sejong’s Avengers?”

“Your Majesty, enters!”

At the announcement of the palace servant waiting outside the door, Hyang stood up from his seat. After adjusting his clothes, he bowed his head when King Sejong entered.

“Father, have you arrived?”

“Yes, what were you doing?”

“I was reflecting on what happened today.”

“Is that so? Well then, let’s sit down first.”

“Yes.”

The father and son sat down in chairs with a table between them.

“Shall I bring the tea?”

“Sure. Let’s have a cup. But they won’t be serving willow bark tea here, will they?”

“No, they won’t.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang let out a bitter smile and shook his head. The willow bark tea Sejong mentioned was made from well-dried willow bark.

[Intermission]

“The biggest problem for King Sejong’s longevity is diabetes and vascular diseases…”

Hyang, who had been searching for various ways for Sejong’s longevity, recalled Teacher Samcheonpo’s ramblings.

During a lecture on the beginning of the Imjin War, Teacher Samcheonpo suddenly went off on a tangent while talking about General Yi Sun-shin^2.

‘When General Yi Sun-shin broke his leg during the military examination, he wrapped it with willow bark. Why did he use willow bark? Just as a simple splint? Or was it a painkiller?’

Teacher Samcheonpo’s digression eventually led to aspirin.

Since the beginning of human history, one of the most important topics has been creating a ‘cure-all’. And the closest thing to a cure-all is aspirin. It serves its original purpose of reducing fever and relieving pain, as well as treating vascular diseases and even being used as an anticancer drug.

For reference, one of the people Jinho’s^3 parents, in Hyang’s past life, disliked the most was Teacher Samcheonpo.

“He doesn’t teach what he’s supposed to, and just talks about irrelevant things, making the kids lose interest!”

Anyway, recalling Teacher Samcheonpo’s memory, Hyang immediately ordered the palace medical staff to make tea from willow bark and served it to King Sejong.

“Drinking this will alleviate headaches, thin the blood to relieve chest tightness, and prevent stroke.”

“The taste isn’t very good, is it?”

“It’s medicine. Is there medicine that tastes good?”

By doing so, the fragrance of willow bark tea deeply caught the attention of the physicians.

“It’s necessary for replenishing the body, but it’s not a medicine you should take unconditionally. Thinning blood means it’s harder to stop bleeding. His Majesty should take a break here and a while before drinking it.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the physicians replied to Hyang’s reminder.

[Intermission ends]

With teacups between them, the father and son continued their conversation.

“Crown Prince, I’m thinking of executing the Chief State Councilor. I will also eliminate those who conspired with him. Do you think that’s too much?”

“If it’s done frequently, it could be a problem, but otherwise, I think it’s enough “as a warning to a hundred.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong made a face that seemed to let out a sigh of relief, “Is that so? I’m relieved to hear that. If you were against it too, I would have felt very lonely.”

“The cause of this incident was those stubborn officials.”

“That’s true. But what do you think about the Chief State Councilor’s appeal regarding the my authority?”

“There is a valid point. If a ruler misuses their power, and if someone like Jie or Zhou were to succeed the future throne, the nation will head towards ruin. No one knows what the future holds.”

‘The prime examples of such controversial figures are Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun. The latter had settled down to some extent, but Yeonsangun was exiled! Ah… or is he not?’

Although the mainstream view is that Yeonsangun was a tyrant, there are counterarguments. Since Sejo’s reign, Joseon’s central politics have continued the pattern of a weak ruler and strong officials. Although Seongjong strengthened royal authority, it was not enough to completely overturn it. However, Yeonsangun was the one who completely overturned it, using his mother’s deposal and granting death as an excuse. But in showing off the strengthened royal authority, he lost the support of the people and his legitimacy, which was his downfall. As a result, the reign of Jungjong returned to weak ruler and strong officials. Well, Jungjong wasn’t an easygoing person either.

Refer to Extra Info below on brief history of all these kings. Its too complicated to explain here (￣_￣|||)

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s response, “That’s true. I didn’t know I would have a child like you…” When Hyang made a sullen face, King Sejong quickly added more words, “Ah! I mean that in a good way!”

Grumbling to himself, Hyang continued, “If a tyrant appears and practices tyranny, it is natural for it to lead to ruin. It is necessary to guarantee and maintain the power of officials to prevent this. However, looking at the current state of Joseon, the power of officials still threatens the royal authority. To be precise, compared to the power of court officials and aristocrats, the royal authority is very weak.”

He then pulled a piece of paper that had been set aside and drew a rectangle on it. He then divided the rectangle into four sections and marked diagonal lines in three of them.

“This represents the current state of power in the Joseon Dynasty. The sections with diagonal lines represent the power held by the aristocrats, and the remaining section is the royal authority.”

“Even so, surely the royal authority must be more than just one section?”

In response to Sejong’s rebuttal, Hyang lowered his head, “It only appears that way because the aristocrats cooperate with the royal authority for their own power struggles. If they see that their interests will be taken away by the royal authority, they will immediately join forces.”

“I see,” King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s explanation and sighed, “It won’t be easy to make them give up what they have.”

“We need to use a different method. Not by directly taking away what they have, but by expanding the entire board.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong’s eyes began to sparkle.

Extra Info

Basically, following from Sejo’s (7th Joseon King) reign, there had been attempts to overturn the ‘weak king, strong officials’ conducted by Seongjong (9th Joseon King).

Seongjong (9th)

Seongjong, in particular, was heavily influenced by his mother, Queen Dowager Jeonghyeon who had close ties with the powerful officials in the government. Therefore, in his later years of reign, Seongjong took steps to strengthen his authority by implanting new laws that restricted the officials’ ability to amass wealth and influence and promoted officials who were loyal to the monarchy and willing to serve the people. Despite his efforts, Seongjong’s attempts to overturn the power of the officials were only partially successful. Although he was able to assert more control over the government and promote a more loyal and efficient bureaucracy, he was unable to completely overturn the entrenched power structures that had developed over centuries of government rule.

Yeonsangun (10th)

As for Yeonsangun, he took a more radical approach to enforce his authority. He abolished the Council of State, which was composed of high-ranking officials, and created a new advisory council that was made up of low-ranking officials and commoners. He also implemented a new system of taxation that was intended to increase royal revenues and reduce the power of the aristocracy. However, Yeonsangun’s attempts to centralize power were met with resistance from the officials, who saw his reforms as a threat to their own power and privileges. They conspired against him and eventually succeeded in deposing him in a coup, after which he was exiled and later died.

Jungjong (11th)

After Yeonsangun’s tyrannical rule, Jungjong was selected by the powerful officials of the royal court to be the new king, as they hoped he would be more pliable and easier to control. Initially, his reign continued the trend of strong centralization of power established by his predecessor, but as he grew older, he became increasingly weak and relied on powerful officials to govern. This led to factionalism among the officials, with the Sarim faction gaining significant power and enacting political reforms aimed at reducing the power of the royal court and emphasizing the importance of meritocracy. Ultimately, Jungjong’s reign saw a return to the traditional Korean model of governance that emphasized the importance of strong regional officials rather than centralized royal power.

Translator’s Notes

Another 2 more chapters before this arc ends. We will be moving onto the next part of the storyline soon!

1. Being inconsistent, changing principals according to situations.[↩]

2. See movie The Admiral: Roaring Currents to sort of know his background.[↩]

3. I believe its Hyang’s previous name.[↩]

Chapter 35
Winds of Change (13)

“Expand the board?”

“It means utilizing the merchants and public officials to increase the economic and national power of Joseon. It’s about expanding the size of Joseon.”

Hyang drew three rectangles of the same size as the first one he had drawn, then divided the area again.

“The foundation of their wealth lies in agriculture. The plan is to foster commerce and industry, increase economic power through trade, expand territory, and gradually increase the number of self-sustaining farmers. By doing so, they will become relatively weaker. As you can see from this drawing, initially, they controlled three-quarters of Joseon, but if we grow the size like this, they will only have 3/16. It’s a decrease from 75% to 25%, so they would become more than 1/3 weaker. We can then tax them as well. If that happens, they will have no choice but to follow the general trend.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong slapped his knee.

“I see! So there was such a plan!” King Sejong, who was pleased with Hyang’s answer and slapped his knee, soon pointed out a problem, “However, even if we foster merchants and public officials, in the end, those nobles must become the main consumers. Ordinary people don’t have enough wealth. In that case, is it possible to grow the size as you mentioned?”

“Your Majesty, please look at the bigger picture.”

“Look at the bigger picture? Hmmm… Ah! You’re talking about trade!”

‘Impressive!’

Admiring King Sejong’s comprehension, Hyang nodded, “Yes, it’s about increasing the size through trade.”

“I see. If we engage in trade, we can grow beyond the limitations of the land. If the nobles remain tied to the land, they won’t be able to keep up with the speed of the growth. There’s a limit to the income from agricultural lands.”

“That’s correct.”

As Hyang confirmed, King Sejong immediately pointed out another problem, “However, increasing the size of commerce and industry requires capital. Most of the wealth that can become capital is in the hands of those nobles. If they invest their wealth in commerce and industry, wouldn’t their power grow contrary to your expectations?”

At King Sejong’s point, Hyang nodded once more, “That’s true. We need capital to grow commerce and industry, and we also need capital for trade. If the royal court doesn’t intervene, those nobles will become the money lords and soon monopolize all the profits. To prevent that, the royal court, or more specifically, the government should become the money lord instead.”

“The government should become the money lord?”

In response to King Sejong’s inquisitive tone, Hyang explained the concept of a bank, more specifically, a state-owned bank.

Listening to the explanation, King Sejong’s face filled with admiration, exclaiming, “I see! In that case, merchants who need capital can borrow money at low-interest rates, and the government can control the flow of wealth!”

“By ensuring the government holds control, we can create a new market called the investment market.”

“Investment market? A market where capital is treated as a commodity and traded. Hmmm…”

Sejong stroked his beard, lost in thought. After a moment of contemplation, he opened his mouth to speak.

“As you mentioned, if we proceed this way, we will need a large number of officials. Isn’t this beneficial for the aristocrats?”

“Rather than those who have studied Confucianism, we will need professionals who are knowledgeable in specific fields. In simple terms, the number of people entering official positions through miscellaneous subjects should need to increase.”

“That’s a problem too. There are more than a few who, once they ascend to an official position, put pressure on their subordinates and engage in corruption.”

“There’s a saying, ‘If you want power, give up wealth; if you want wealth, give up power.’ However, it is also true that it is difficult to maintain one’s livelihood with the current salary system. We need to modernize the salary system and, at the same time, impose restrictions.” Hyang explained the concept of ‘salary reform’ and how to use it as a restraint, then stopped talking. Then, he continued, “Although the current civil service exam allows anyone but slaves to take it in principle, in reality, most of the candidates are aristocrats. Ordinary people don’t have the luxury to comfortably study literature. So, one solution would be to select the best and brightest among those with a minimum level of education, then train and utilize them at the national level.”

“Are you suggesting that we educate all the commoners?”

“I believe it is appropriate to guarantee a minimum level of education for those with at least the status of commoners. If the common people are educated, they can avoid injustices and seek redress from the country when they suffer injustices.”

King Sejong fell silent at Hyang’s words. After a long period of contemplation, Sejong spoke again, “There are two main issues: one is budget, and the other is the language script. We can solve the budget issue by developing mines and reforming the tax system, as you mentioned, but the script is a difficult problem.”

“I’m sure Your Majesty can find a solution.”

“Are you putting too much faith in me?”

“No, Your Majesty!”

At Hyang’s unwavering belief, King Sejong smiled, “Then, I must not become a disgraceful father.”

* * *

As King Sejong and Hyang were discussing future plans, some officials of the Saganwon^1 were gathered in a courtesan house in the southern village, sharing their thoughts. While King Sejong and Hyang were having a warm and amicable debate, the atmosphere among the officials was filled with sadness and indignation.

“It’s unacceptable to humiliate us like this!”

“You’re right!”

“The legal system is collapsing!”

The drunken officials, without exception, raised their voices in anger. Among them, one was particularly loud. “The culprit behind all this misfortune is the crown prince! A mere ten-year-old child is trying to control national affairs! This is completely unreasonable!”

“Look here, Gocheong!”

“We must replace the crown prince…”

“Look here, Gocheong!”

Despite his colleague’s urgent attempts to stop him, Gocheong, as the official was called, remained determined. “Why! Did I say something wrong? Isn’t it a fact that the legal system of national affairs has been disrupted by the crown prince’s meddling?!”

“No matter what, he’s still a pillar of our nation. As the envoy said before, we shouldn’t casually speak of such matters!”

“I wonder what kind of tribulations that envoy must be going through right now!”

“That’s something we can address through a formal complaint! Haven’t you heard the saying that the mouth is the door to disaster? I don’t know if you’re worried about yourself, but are you thinking about bringing trouble to our family and reputation?”

“The official is speaking the truth, so what’s the problem?”

“The problem is the timing and the place!”

Upon his colleague’s advice, Gocheong had to keep his mouth shut. However, unable to suppress his anger, Gocheong downed a glass of alcohol. As time passed and the atmosphere turned tense, Gocheong, with his eyes half-open, put his arm around the shoulders of the courtesan seated next to him and tried to seduce her.

“My dear, how about sharing a night of passion with me tonight?”

“You’ve had too much to drink. Your too drunk, so let’s save the night of passion for another time.”

As the courtesan politely and respectfully declined with a smile, Gocheong’s face turned fierce, “You wen*h! Who do you think you are? You should just do as I say!”

At Gocheong’s harsh words, the smile disappeared from the courtesan’s face. Standing upright, she confronted Gocheong. “Isn’t a courtesan considered lower than farmers, artisans, and merchants, a mere beast wearing human skin? And yet, how could a nobleman like you share a night of passion with a beast? Ah! Perhaps you have a peculiar taste?”

“You wen*h!” Gocheong’s face turned from red to blue at the courtesan’s words, as she had essentially accused him of being a pervert who engaged in b*stiality. In an instant, the room that had been filled with laughter and music became quiet, and Gocheong’s colleague stood up to calm him down.

“Come on, Gocheong.”

“You wen*h! Do you want to die?”

“Are you trying to flaunt your power to a mere courtesan? You speak like a nobleman with integrity, but your actions are those of an unrivaled lowlife. Go ahead and try to kill me.”

“You wen*h!”

Bang!

Just as Gocheong was about to throw a punch, the door burst open.

In front of the open door stood a towering giant of nine feet tall, holding a slender bamboo cane in his arms and crossing his arms. At the sight of the giant, Gocheong stepped back hesitantly.

The giant, who had been glaring at Gocheong, opened his mouth, “You’re drunk. How about going home now?”

“That’s a good idea! Gocheong, let’s go.”

Although his colleague intervened, Gocheong was at a loss for what to do. He wanted to punish the arrogant courtesan right then and there, but he couldn’t, given the presence of the imposing figure.

Seeing this, his colleague forcefully grabbed Gocheong’s arm, “Come on, Gocheong! You’ve had too much to drink! Let’s go!”

Thus, the officials left the drinking party. Behind Gocheong, who was being dragged away, the courtesan’s voice rang out.

“Congratulations. Soon your name will be widely known throughout Hanyang.”

“You wen*h!”

“Come on! Let’s go!”

Gocheong yelled angrily, but his colleague forcibly restrained him and left the brothel’s house. Naturally, they had to pay a hefty price.

As the courtesan had predicted, it didn’t take a day for the rumor about Gocheong to spread throughout Hanyang. “An official of the Saganwon caused trouble while drinking at a courtesan house.” As soon as the rumor spread, the chief officials of the court began to investigate.

As the investigation began, the officials started to argue, “This is an attempt to oppress the Saganwon and block our freedom of speech!”

“This is ignoring the precedent!”

Officials, of course, and even the king, would risk their necks to argue if they thought something was wrong. As a result, they were granted considerable freedom in the face of the risks they faced. There was no distinction of rank among the officials, and it was common practice not to be punished for drinking during work hours. In other words, they had been turning a blind eye to minor troublemaking.

However, this time the chief officials had a point.

“Trying to force a state-owned courtesan into sleeping with him, and even attempting violence – this has tarnished the name of the court officials and nobles!”

In the end, after the investigation, Gocheong was caught and King Sejong made his judgment.

“An official, who should impeach injustice, commits a great sin by relying on his power and engaging in unjust acts. The criminal shall be immediately stripped of his official position and sentenced to 500 li of exile.”

“Your command is accepted!”

According to King Sejong’s command, Gocheong was sent into exile immediately. However, Gocheong’s case was handled more severely than usual. Typically, when an official was sentenced to exile, they would depart from their home without an escort. Moreover, the country would provide horses and food, and the criminal’s son or servant would be allowed to accompany and serve them, which was customary. However, in Gocheong’s case, he had to be taken to exile in a caged cart with a knife around his neck.

The reason for this was that during the investigation, it was revealed that Gocheong had said, “The crown prince must be deposed.” Upon receiving the report, King Sejong was furious and added to the punishment.

“The mention of the abolished prince is a great treason. However, since it was a lowly person who wielded violence against a courtesan, I will not go as far as to grant death. Instead, change the exile from 500 li to 1,000 li, put a knife around his neck, and send him off on a raft.”

“We accept your command.”

Of course, King Sejong already knew about it through the previous report. The reason why he had kept silent and not punished him right away was because he was waiting for a situation like this to arise. From now on, the officials had to be careful with their words.

Hearing the full story of the incident at the East Palace, Hyang lost his appetite.

“They say a gisaeng’s wit is the best in the world, and it’s really sharp.”

As Hyang said, the wit of the Joseon courtesans was famous. During the “Gye Yu Jeongnan” (see short intermission below) upheaval and when Suyang seized power, the court officials had a drinking party at a courtesan parlor. A heavily drunk minister asked a courtesan to sleep with him.

“Yesterday, you matched horoscopes with that man, and today with this man, I wonder how it would be to match horoscopes with a wandering wallflower^2 like you?”

The courtesan immediately retorted to the minister’s words, “Since yesterday, you’ve entered Gyeongbokgung, and today you entered Myeongnye-gung (Suyang’s residence), it seems the wandering wallflower like me and the lord indeed have the best match.”

The Gye Yu Jeongnan upheaval was a political conflict that occurred during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea in the late 15th century. It was a power struggle between two factions, one led by Prince Suyang (later King Sejo) and the other led by his younger brother, Grand Prince Anpyeong. The conflict arose due to the sudden death of King Sejo’s brother, King Munjong, and the succession dispute that followed.

Prince Suyang emerged victorious in the power struggle and became King Sejo after King Danjong (Munjong’s son). However, his ascension to the throne was not without controversy and violence. He executed many of his political rivals and their families, including Grand Prince Anpyeong, to consolidate his power and eliminate any potential threats to his reign.

I guess, Hyang is insinuating that a courtesan is more adept in interpreting political events surrounding them more than ordinary people think.

King Sejong did not only judge Gocheong’s crime.

“Convict Ryu Jeong-hyun tried to lead the king in the wrong direction with his narrow-mindedness, which can be called deceiving the king and ignoring the superior. Therefore, Ryu Jeong-hyun will be granted death, and all his family members will be turned into government sl*ves. Also, confiscate all his property.”

“We accept your command.”

“Also, exile the Right Chief State Councilor, Left Chief State Councilor, and Chief Inspector, who formed a faction with him, 2,000 li away. However, leave their families as commoners, but confiscate 80% of their property.”

“We accept your command.”

As a result, the old ministers who had made a name for themselves in the early days of King Sejong’s reign met a different end than their original historical fate.

Translator’s Notes

We’re finally hitting the end of this arc! As the chapter namesake suggests, ‘Winds of Change’, we’re shifting gears to the next part of the story, where things in Joseon are gonna get wild with Hyang leading the way. So, keep your eyes open until next time!

1. 司諫院 (Saganwon) was a government office during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. Its primary function was to advise the king on political affairs and to monitor the conduct of other officials.[↩]

2. “路柳墻花” is a compound noun in Chinese characters (hanja) used in Korean. It refers to a woman who wanders around the walls of a palace or house, waiting to be summoned to entertain guests or be courted. The first character “路” (로 in Korean) means “road” or “path”, “柳” (류 in Korean) means “willow tree”, and “墻花” (장화 in Korean) means “wallflower”. Together, they create the compound noun “路柳墻花(노류장화)” which is a poetic term used to describe such a woman in ancient China and Korea.[↩]

Chapter 36
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (1)

In particular, in the case of Ryu Jeong-hyeon, he was a scholar-official who experienced the turbulent period of the end of Goryeo and the beginning of Joseon. He was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Naval Provinces and commanded the suppression of the pirates in the Japanese islands under the supervision of Lee Jong-mu.

Although he was highly regarded for laying the foundation of cultural integration during King Sejong’s reign, contrary to his original history, he became a criminal of rebellious delusions and met his end.

It was a bitter example of the butterfly effect created by the unexpected existence of a character named Hyang.

However, the most unfortunate person was the Right State Councilor. The previous year, on October 21st of Sejong’s 5th year, the Right State Councilor, Jeong Tak, died at the age of 61, and Ryu Jeong-hyeon was recommended to take his place. He lost power and property within a few months of taking the position and was eventually exiled.

With the exile of Ryu Jeong-hyeon and his followers, Sejong, who had completely seized power, gathered the ministers in March and declared:

“I will carry out the reform for the sake of Joseon!”

With his declaration, the Great Reform, which took 10 years to prepare and 5 years to execute, began. This was the start of the Great Reform, which was later regarded as having completely changed the constitution of Joseon. Scholars marked the day of Sejong’s declaration as the beginning and called it the ‘Gapjin Reform’ or ‘Gapjin Great Reform.’

The basis of the reform that Sejong declared to implement was Hyang’s work.

A long time before Sejong’s declaration, the people living in Hanyang were being prepared for vaccinations.

Late at night, King Sejong sought out Hyang.

“Bring me the map you’ve made.”

“Yes? Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Right. Attendant, take care of the map.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s command, the attendant took care of Hyang’s map.

“Oh, and don’t tell anyone that I took this.”

“Yes? Yes.”

After King Sejong took the map, Hyang realized that he had dug his own grave.

After some time had passed since the meeting, King Sejong sought out Hyang again, “About this part here…”

“Yes, that is…”

Sejong, who had questions while examining the map, asked Hyang, and Hyang answered the questions.

“Then, let’s end here. You’ve worked hard.”

“No, not at all.”

After seeing off King Sejong, Hyang hit his head on the table and sighed, “Sigh~ I’ve dug my own grave…”

Later on, King Sejong’s visits soon became part of Hyang’s daily routine. That was fine, but the problem was that the depth and sharpness of King Sejong’s questions increased almost vertically as time passed.

Eventually, Hyang’s daily life became a series of overwork. In the morning, he had to attend the Gyeongyeon (The Reading Hall^1), in the morning he had to debate with the guests of the Crown Prince’s Lecture Hall or attend the royal council to observe the operation of the government, and in the afternoon, he had to go through the regular process of training in martial arts with the military officers of the palace. And from the evening, he had to do the source laundering work in preparation for King Sejong’s visit.

“Who would believe me if I said, ‘Everything came from my own head’? I can’t believe it myself. Otherwise, I would be exhausted from morning till night.”

By the time he finished the source laundering work, King Sejong arrived. After a round of questions and answers with King Sejong, it was already past 3 gyeong (11 PM to 1 AM) and approaching 4 gyeong.

And it was when King Sejong declared the reform plan that Hyang learned the whole story. Using the calendar Hyang had given him as a base, King Sejong began to create a master plan to reform the overall system of Joseon.

“The main purpose of the reform is to realize ‘royal politics’ and ‘Hongik Ingan’ (benefiting humanity).”

Using punctuation marks he learned through Hyang, King Sejong skillfully created a plan for the reform.

Starting with the reform of the administrative organization to the expansion of education, King Sejong made the plan while building the structure and adding details. When he encountered questions or difficulties, he waited for the night and sought Hyang.

When the plan was about 80% complete, Sejong threw it to the Hall of Worthies’ scholars.

“This is the reform plan created by this Majesty. Look carefully for improvements or problems.”

“We accept the order!”

“If there are improvements or problems, submit them to the minister in writing immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Also, keep silent about this until this Majesty officially announces it. If anyone leaks information, they will be punished for treason.”

“We will engrave it on our bones and remember it!”

The Hall of Worthies’ scholars who received the reform plan from Sejong did their best to analyze it. However, they encountered difficulties from the beginning, due to the punctuation marks that only Sejong and Hyang knew.

“Your Majesty, what are these symbols?”

“Oh, that is…”

The Hall of Worthies’ scholars who learned about the punctuation marks from Sejong began to concentrate on analyzing the reform plan. And that’s when it started. The level of questions King Sejong threw at Hyang increased almost exponentially in difficulty.

When the scholars found problems and reported them to Sejong, he pondered the solution. If he continued to think and couldn’t find an answer, he discussed it with Hyang. Once he found a satisfactory answer, Sejong threw it to the Hall of Worthies, and they applied the solution and resumed their analysis.

Upon the announcement of the reform plan, Hyang complained to Sejong, “Wouldn’t it have been more efficient if you had let me work with the scholars at the Hall of Worthies?”

Sejong replied with a smile, “You rascal. Don’t you know that there is a big difference between doing something knowingly and doing it unknowingly? When changing the entire country, if the king doesn’t understand properly, the king will only become a mere existence that says ‘Do it like this’ and puts a seal on it.”

“If you had listened to the explanation beforehand…”

“Which would bring better results, the king intervening and understanding directly, or just listening and understanding?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang bowed deeply, “I cannot help but admire Your Majesty’s wisdom.”

This was Hyang’s sincerity.

Although the basis of the reform plan announced by King Sejong was Hyang’s, it was heavily diluted to the point where it was hard to call it Hyang’s. That’s how much King Sejong’s thoughts went into the reform plan.

That’s why it took 10 years of preparation after Sejong announced the reform plan, as he put in tremendous effort, almost obsessively.

Although Sejong declared the reform plan, he didn’t immediately change everything. He started with finances, preparing step by step, dealing with various issues along the way, and refining the framework of the reform plan. When he felt preparations were complete, King Sejong issued an order to the officials.

“Select personnel from the six ministries.”

Sejong formed a scaled-down model of the new administration – more precisely, a scaled-down model of the central government – with the people selected from the six ministries and entered into an experiment. He observed the division and efficiency of tasks created through reports and petitions from the provinces and the field in real time, along with the officials, and entered into adjustments.

As the experiment on the reorganization of the central government proceeded successfully, Sejong entered into an experiment on the local administrative organizations.

“Select 5 counties in Hwanghae Province, 7 in Gyeonggi Province, and 5 in Gangwon Province.”

The selection process was not random. In Hwanghae Province, which is in the northwestern region of Joseon, Gangwon Province in the northeastern region, and Gyeonggi Province in the central and southern regions, similar environments were chosen.

The areas had to be within one- or two-days’ distance from the capital, using relay horses.

After selecting the counties, the large-scale experiment began. Personnel were assigned according to Sejong’s local administrative organization, and a large number of investigators, scholars from the Hall of Worthies, and central government officials followed. It was a huge experiment.

As the experiment began, relay horses carrying reports, written by the officials in charge of administration and the investigators, ran daily from the counties where the experiment was being conducted to the capital. Sejong, Hyang, and the officials continued to make adjustments while reading these reports.

Despite such meticulous adjustments, various problems emerged when it came to actual implementation. Ultimately, it took five years to solve these problems, make adjustments, and establish the system.

However, now was the beginning of the reform plan declaration, and it was just the starting point after buttoning up the first button.

* * *

Upon King Sejong’s command for the nationwide execution of cowpox vaccinations, couriers carrying King Sejong’s orders hurried to all eight provinces.

Following his command, all regional officials began preparing for cowpox vaccinations. Among them, some began to cause a commotion; the source of this disturbance was the regional nobles.

“Are you asking for a contribution?”

“Here is His Majesty’s handwritten order. The local nobles, the aristocrats, are advised to contribute.”

Upon seeing the official letter presented by the inspectors or magistrates, the nobles fell into contemplation.

“Since the King wishes, we must follow the order.”

“It’s not only for our family but also to help our neighbors, so we should contribute!”

A considerable number of aristocrats agreed without much ado and promptly made their contributions. The officials sent by the inspectors recorded these facts without fail, and this information was sent straight to the court.

“I cannot contribute!”

“Our family has already suffered from the illness once, so there is no need for vaccination!”

Of course, there were also those who refused to contribute, feeling that it was a waste. The reason they could refuse was because Sejong did not force them but “advised” them to do so. Of course, even if the king “advised,” it was common sense to follow; however, some people were blinded by wealth and forgot common sense.

“Look, Nobleman Kwon. Even so…”

“I said I can’t!”

Although the village magistrate and other nobles continued to advise, there were those who stubbornly refused until the end.

As a result, the distressed magistrates had to write petitions seeking a response.

* * *

“Have you ever seen such insolent people!”

King Sejong, who received the petition, did not hide his anger. Clenching the scroll of the petition, he glanced at the vacant seats of the Three State Ministers, the Chief State Councilor, and the Chief Royal Secretary, then turned his gaze toward the six ministries.

“Chancellor, read this petition aloud!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chancellor, who received the petition from King Sejong, read the contents aloud in a loud voice.

As the reading continued, the heads of the six ministries gradually lowered.

Upon the completion of the reading, King Sejong spoke, “Are these really aristocrats and village elders?”

“Your Majesty, it’s outrageous!”

“Even if we combine all the numbers in the petitions received so far, it exceeds a hundred! A hundred! Are these truly nobles? Are these the ones who pledged to serve and enlighten Joseon?”

“Your Majesty, it’s outrageous!”

“Truly… truly…” Unable to contain his anger, King Sejong stammered.

The Crown Prince, who was watching him, became alarmed. ‘He might collapse! It’s dangerous!’

“Your Majesty! Please quell your anger! You will harm your body!”

“Hoo…”

At the Crown Prince’s words, King Sejong took a deep breath and began to suppress his anger.

The Crown Prince urgently continued, “These people have already proven themselves to be hypocrites. How fortunate is this? From now on, we don’t have to treat them as gentlemen! It’s actually a blessing that we can distinguish between the good and the bad through this incident!”

At the Crown Prince’s words, King Sejong took a deep breath and spoke, “You’re right, my son. Through this incident, we have learned how these people really think about this country, Joseon, and its people. Let the Ministry of Personnel compile a list of those who have not paid the vaccination contribution fee until the end of the cowpox vaccination. And ensure that the people of the villages where those who refused to pay the fee receive help from neighboring villages for vaccinations, minimizing the number of those who cannot be vaccinated. However, exclude the households of those who did not pay the fee from the vaccinations. If they caused the problem, they must take responsibility.”

“Your command is received.”

“Let us take a break for now. All of you ministers must be tired.”

“We heed your command.”

As the ministers bowed and stepped back, the Crown Prince immediately spoke, “I will call for the royal physician right away.”

“It’s alright, I just need a little rest.”

“Your Majesty, your health has been greatly affected. For Joseon to function properly, Your Majesty must be healthy.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, Sejong smiled. “Even just hearing your words, I feel better. Alright, let’s do that. Chief Eunuch, call for the royal physician.”

Upon receiving the call of the merchant, the physician rushed over and immediately took King Sejong’s pulse.

“Your pulse is beating somewhat strongly, but it is not worrisome. I will prepare a decoction, so please drink it and take a brief rest.”

“I shall do so.”

A moment later, after King Sejong drank the herbal decoction the doctor brought and was seen resting with a peaceful expression, Hyang finally left the royal chamber.

Returning to his own room, Hyang finally let out a sigh, “Phew, that was a close call. But the bark of that birch tree seems to have paid for the meal.”

The decoction made from birch bark helped maintain the stability of Sejong’s pulse. Sitting in a chair and drinking tea, Hyang muttered quietly, “Our popular sister should live and enjoy longevity without illness.”

1. A place to discuss Confucianism philosophies.[↩]

Chapter 37
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (2)

In the original history, Princess Jeongso should have died in February. The problem was the cause of death. The records she had briefly read in the 21st century were unclear about the cause. Some records said it was smallpox, while others said it was measles.

“What kind of 50% chance is this!”

Knowing that King Sejong would be deeply emotionally affected by Princess Jeongso’s death, Hyang decided to vaccinate Princess Jeongso against smallpox, betting everything on a 50% chance.

And that 50% chance proved to be true.

* * *

As the nationwide smallpox vaccination campaign neared its end, King Sejong was in the final stages of making sure everything was completed. He called for the Minister of Personnel and ordered, “Has the list of scholars who have not paid the contribution fee been completed?”

“Yes, it has been completed.”

“Bring it to me.”

A moment later, the official from the Ministry of Personnel, who had received the order, brought the list and submitted it to the minister, who then handed it to King Sejong. Looking over the list, Sejong opened his mouth, “It’s quite a lot.”

“A total of 143 people.”

The list submitted by the Minister of Personnel included names, family lineage, residence area, and the extent of their property.

After reviewing the list, Sejong issued an order:

“Remove all of these people from the list of local scholars. If there are any who have passed the lower-level examination and received tax exemptions, immediately revoke all their privileges. Lastly, prohibit their descendants from serving in office for three generations.”

“We accept Your command!”

This decision caused a significant upheaval among the local scholar-gentry class. As Sejong’s order was executed, the local Confucian scholars faced a tumultuous time.

“This is too harsh a punishment!”

Those who had their names removed from the list of local scholars protested vehemently, but there weren’t many who agreed with them. Most reactions were as follows:

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You should have been modest with your greed. How much is the grain tax worth?”

“If one claims to be of noble status and a landowner, shouldn’t they at least be worthy of their name?”

“You people should know your manners and propriety! Get out of here! How dare people like you come to this place without being nobles!”

Those who were expelled shouted at the closed doors of the local office.

Driven away, they yelled at the closed doors of the local office.

“How unpolluted are you people!”

The aftermath of King Sejong’s order did not end there.

“What are these petitions?” Faced with a sudden influx of petitions, Sejong looked at overseer.

The overseer soon replied with a troubled expression, “These are petitions from fathers asking for permission to grant their daughters a divorce.”

“A divorce?”

King Sejong unrolled the scroll and read the content. The content of the petitions was largely similar to one another.

- My son-in-law has lost his qualifications as a noble due to his lack of manners and propriety. After such an event, it’s only natural to reflect and repent, but instead, he claims he’s innocent, showing no remorse whatsoever. He even resorts to violence against my daughter, his wife, when drunk. Please grant my daughter a divorce.

In contrast to the Goryeo period, when marriage and divorce were easy, marriage and divorce among the nobles in the Joseon period were very difficult. In order for the nobles to divorce, they had to submit a petition to the local magistrate and even to the king.

Having reviewed the petitions, King Sejong made a decision.

“It is unbecoming of a nobleman to use violence against his wife. However, one cannot make a decision based solely on one side’s story. Order the local magistrate in the village where the petitioner resides to verify the facts. If the content of the petition is true, allow the divorce and ensure a fair division of property.”

“I will follow your order.”

Upon King Sejong’s command, numerous couples proceeded with their divorces. Divorce was not the only outcome; annulment, which did not require the complex procedures of divorce, increased several times as well.

King Sejong’s reform plan had been meticulously prepared over a long period of time. However, surprisingly, one area was making rapid progress: the military. While discussing national affairs with his ministers, King Sejong took a break to visit the palace’s East Palace Hall.

As the eunuch standing at the entrance of the chamber tried to announce his arrival, King Sejong gestured for him to be quiet.

“Hush, I want to observe the Crown Prince’s everyday life.”

At Sejong’s words, the eunuch hesitated and pointed to one side, “His Highness, the Crown Prince is currently in the restroom.

“The restroom?”

“It is the toilet.”

“Ah, the restroom… What a charming name,” King Sejong looked in the direction the eunuch had pointed.

A palace maid holding a towel was standing in front of a room on one side of the East Palace Hall.

Suddenly, a loud sound of water could be heard, and the palace maid quickly entered the room. A moment later, the Crown Prince emerged with a book tucked under his arm and a refreshed expression on his face.

Upon seeing King Sejong, he hurried over and bowed, “Father, have you come? I am sorry for my disgraceful appearance!”

“Disgraceful? Anyway, do you always read in the toilet?”

“Surprisingly, it’s quite conducive to reading.”

“Well, I do like books, but…” King Sejong shook his head, looking exasperated at the prince’s response.

* * *

The Crown Prince’s dream of having a flush toilet dated back to his days as a prince. As soon as he was designated Crown Prince and received the king’s recognition for his skills, he began attempting to create a flush toilet. However, from the outset, he encountered difficulties.

The flush toilets the prince was familiar with were made of pottery, but the historical context of the Joseon period posed a problem. The source of various ceramics used by the royal family was the Office of Royal Meals, which supplied ceramics through taxes. Therefore, he had to find a kiln that produced pottery directly, and the closest place was Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province.

After the Neobeolseom Incident, Hyang’s activities were limited to Hanyang, and Hyang himself had no intention of going as far as Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province.

“In the 21st century, it would be a quick trip by car, but now it’s Joseon, isn’t it?”

In the end, Hyang had to find an alternative. Searching for various alternatives and recalling memories, Hyang finally found a solution.

What Hyang found was a scene from a movie in which a one-sided love, pure-hearted macho lad – who shouted ‘anaksoona-moon’ until the end – turned out to be a hero in the city of Jinju. Hyang remembered the iron flush toilet in the bathroom, which was the place where the child, the key character in the movie, escaped from the train.

As soon as he recalled the memory, Hyang, who created the concept and rough blueprint, immediately found the blacksmith at the Military Arsenal.

It was from then on that the blacksmith’s ordeal began. Although Hyang created the blueprint, it was close to organizing the concept. The actual measurements had to be tested by the blacksmith himself.

It was the same in the 21st century. When Hyang – known as Jinho in the 21st century – and his friends made steam engines, Hyang was responsible for the concept and overall design, and all the numerical calculations had to be done by his friends.

“I’m a liberal arts person. Why should a liberal arts person do calculations too?”

Anyway, after all sorts of trial and error, the blacksmith made an iron squat toilet.

“You did a great job, well done!”

Upon seeing the completed flush toilet, Hyang highly praised the blacksmith. He not only praised him verbally but also rewarded the head blacksmith with a bag of rice, and the other blacksmiths with rice according to their rank, from a bag to a handful. The blacksmith, who received an unexpected reward, bowed deeply and shouted, “Please entrust me with anything in the future! I will do my best to make it!”

“I trust and expect you to!”

In retrospect, the blacksmith slapped his own mouth. “This mouth of mine is my enemy!”

Anyway, after seeing the flush toilet and the restroom it was installed in, King Sejong wanted to install flush toilets in the Geunjeongjeon (Main Palace) as well. However, his intentions were thwarted by the opposition of the royal physicians.

“In order to check Your Majesty’s health, we must examine the excrement! But in this condition, we cannot examine it!”

“Is that so? I understand…” King Sejong backed down due to the opposition of the royal physicians, but he did not bend his will. “I will have them installed someday!”

In the end, flush toilets were not installed in the Geunjeongjeon, but they were installed in many other places, including the Donggungjeon. The places where flush toilets were installed were where the queen and concubines resided. Crouching over a chamber pot was never a comfortable task. Especially for pregnant women with swollen bellies, a flush toilet was the best thing. Of course, it was hard labor for the palace officials and maids who had to clean the dung pots placed under the toilet floor and fill the toilet water tank.

In the future, this flush toilet began to be released to the public, and various problems arose as a result. It was inevitable that the public health system had to be completely overhauled to solve these problems.

* * *

The scent that came from the incense burner moved to the library with King Sejong. King Sejong, facing the scent across a large table, opened his mouth right away.

“Prince, I came here because I had a question after looking at the calendar you made.”

“What’s your question?”

“You mentioned various parts, but you didn’t mention the military. It couldn’t have been an oversight, could it?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang smiled faintly. At that sight, Sejong shook his head disapprovingly. “You sly fox…”

“If I had mentioned the military, there would have been even more chaos.”

At that, King Sejong nodded his head, “I know.”

“What do you think, Your Majesty?”

At Hyang’s question, King Sejong answered firmly, “The military must also be reformed. Instead of just looking at individual strength, we need to value intelligence more.”

Hyang nodded in return at King Sejong’s response.

In Sejong’s fourth year, he set new criteria for the martial arts examination.

“The purpose of the civil service examination is to select talented individuals. The same goes for the martial arts examination. From now on, even if someone can’t hit a target from 200 steps away with an arrow, if they are proficient in the classics, select them.”

The statement was favored by scholars but nevertheless disdained by the warriors. However, Hyang thought differently. “Even Jedi die in the jaws of the enemy. Your Majesty’s words are not wrong. We need smarter people from now on.”

‘Who was that? I can’t remember? Anyway, I’ll make use of that!’ Muttering to himself, Hyang opened his mouth, continuing, “I think like this. In a country, civil and military are like the two arms of a person, and also like the two wheels of a cart. It’s hard for a person to live with just one arm, and a cart cannot move with just one wheel. I think the civil and military are just like this in a country.”

Hearing this, King Sejong nodded strongly. “Your words are truly right! That’s why I’m thinking of reform as well. However…” he sighed. “Those officials who are attached to the past will immediately question and listen to these words. National defense is a matter of a thousand, no, ten thousand gold coins, and they will bring up the military regime of the previous dynasty.”

“We cannot disparage the military. If we do, this Joseon will fall immediately. Please consider the precedent of the Song Dynasty.”

The fragrance from the tea that eunuch brought refreshed their throats as they conversed.

“There was once an empire called Rome in the west. They had a saying in that country, ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum.’”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, ‘If you want peace, prepare for war.’ It’s like the phrase, ‘Being prepared prevents misfortune.’”

“Being prepared prevents misfortune…” Tapping the table with his finger, King Sejong mulled over the phrase ” Being prepared prevents misfortune.”

Seeing this, Hyang added more to the conversation, “There’s no need to look far. Just look at the end of the Goryeo dynasty. How many people suffered hardships due to the Jurchen and Japanese pirates? It’s true that national defense consumes a lot of resources, but if you’re not properly prepared when something actually happens, you’ll have to spend several times more resources and manpower.”

“You’re right. You are…” Nodding his head, Sejong made a conclusion, “—Right. If we need to overhaul it, then we must!”

As King Sejong hardened his resolve, Hyang clenched his fist under the table, ‘Yes!’

With his determination strengthened, King Sejong asked Hyang another question, “Reforming the military isn’t something that can be done overnight. We’ll have to take the time to solve it one by one. Where do you think we should start? The northern army facing the Jurchens? Or the southern army facing the Japanese pirates? Or the central army defending the capital?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hyang answered immediately, “We need to divide it into land and naval forces. The navy, or rather the mounted-ship army, must never be underestimated.”

Chapter 38
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (3)

“Naval forces?”

“That’s right!” Hyang’s voice grew stronger as he explained. “When I first talked about the establishment of a trade port, I briefly considered the Shandong Peninsula. But later, I deeply regretted it, and eventually, I despaired.”

“You despaired? Why?”

“The trade port built in Shandong wouldn’t just be used by the Ming and Joseon. When the products of Ming and Joseon gather there, countries wanting to trade will inevitably flock to the port. Nearby country of Japan would head there, as well as faraway countries like the Dai Viet and even further places to trade. Think about the wealth we could obtain from those people.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong thought of the customs duties he had promised to the Ming during the negotiation. The amount anticipated at that time by the Ministry of Finance was by no means small. If you add Japan and Dai Viet, and even nameless other countries on top of the Ming and Joseon trade?

King Sejong grew anxious. “What if we also build a trade port? It might be a bit late, but it seems like there could be competition.”

“It’s exactly at that point where I despaired. Our Joseon…” Hyang answered with a gloomy expression, before adding, “We do not have a navy capable of seizing control of the seas.”

King Sejong looked puzzled at Hyang’s words. “We don’t have a navy? I don’t understand.”

“We do have a navy in name, but its capability is truly pitiful.”

“Pitiful? Have you forgotten that our navy made it possible to conquer Tsushima Island^1 last time?”

“Why wouldn’t I know?” Hyang stood up and walked over to the bookshelf. He pulled out a book from among various other books and explained its contents to King Sejong. “This is the record of the last Tsushima conquest. As you know, the number of troops mobilized for the last Tsushima conquest was a total of 17,285. The number of warships mobilized was 227.”

“I see.”

“If we do a simple calculation, it means that each ship carried 70 to 80 people, but more than half of these were rowers. That means that our actual strength is only half of that.”

“I see.”

“Moreover, there is another problem. The number 227 might seem like a lot of ships, but a significant number of these are small boats that had to risk their lives just to cross the strait between Busan and Tsushima (Island).”

“That’s right.”

“It is a well-known fact that our Joseon forces are weak in hand-to-hand combat compared to the Japanese pirates. To compensate for this, firearms are essential, but such small boats cannot carry them. Is this problem only limited to the navy of the three provinces that participated in the expedition?”

King Sejong’s face turned serious as he listened to Hyang’s explanation. “It is indeed a problem.”

“If we build a trading port, Japanese pirates and water pirates will flock to it. Ming can immediately gather the forces to defend it, but we Joseon cannot. Look at the past invasion of Tsushima. No matter how much it is a conquest, if you look at the way you recruit soldiers, you have to scrape together everyone, including the lower-ranking soldiers and the farmers who are not farming. If the Japanese pirates had taken advantage of the gap left by the conquest, what would have happened? Look at the recruitment criteria. Not only did they^2 gather combat troops, but they also gathered people who could sail ships. In other words, the navy itself is also insufficient.”

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s point. At the time of the Tsushima invasion, it was reported that the southern coast of Ming was being raided by Japanese pirates. At that time, King Taejong breathed a sigh of relief when he received the report.

“It is truly a blessing from heaven!”

Recalling the past, Sejong nodded, “That’s right.” His face was more serious than ever when he answered. It was because the memory of that time was vivid.

As a result of the Tsushima invasion, the lord of Tsushima promised to submit, and at a similar time, the Japanese pirates in Ming suffered a great loss. As a result, the Japanese pirates have been quiet in recent times, but no one can say for sure that they will continue to be quiet.

Hyang continued to speak, assuming the worst-case scenario: “If the Japanese pirates and water pirates become so active that they cannot be controlled, Ming may issue a sea ban. This means blocking the sea route and moving the residents living on the coast to the inland. Ming has a lot of land, so it can move the people to the inland, and their inland waterways are also developed, so there will be no big worries. But what about us Joseon? Do the people have any place to move to? We can also implement the policy of vacating the islands, but this will result in tying our own hands and feet.

King Sejong nodded silently at Hyang’s words. After a while, Hyang took a sip of water and continued, “In the end, the best means of maritime defense that our Joseon must choose is nothing but offensive defense. The Tsushima invasion was also executed for the same reason, wasn’t it? We need to build bigger ships and strengthen our firepower.”

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words. “Your words are true. The problem is… the budget.”

“Yes, the budget is a problem. To increase the budget, we need to expand the tax revenue, but if we rely only on agriculture, the people will suffer. In the end, as I said before, we need to increase trade to expand the tax source.”

“That’s right. Phew~.” King Sejong having let out a long sigh, rose from his chair. “I came here to cool my head for a while, but it feels like I’ve just added more weight.”

“I am sorry.”

“No. For the sake of the wealth and strength of this Joseon, I, the king, must suffer.”

* * *

Ultimately, Sejong, who was reviewing various problems, made a conclusion.

“No matter how you look at it, it is possible only if we have wealth! Without wealth, its all castles in the sand!”

Sejong, who made a conclusion, sent a letter to the provincial governors all over the country.

‘Find those who are proficient in mining immediately and send them to the palace!’

Accordingly, the provincial governors began to search for those who were proficient in mining in the villages they governed, and sent them to Hanyang.

Meanwhile, at the court, Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers exchanged opinions on what should be sought first.

“We must look for gold and silver.”

“We must not seek gold and silver! It can be demanded as tribute from Ming!”

“But we need gold and silver to secure the funds! If Ming makes a demand for it, we should negotiate diplomatically!”

As the debate went on tediously, Sejong drew a conclusion, “For the success of our Joseon’s policies, we must mine gold and silver. If Ming makes a demand, we will solve it through diplomacy.”

“We accept your command.”

Once the issue of mining gold and silver was resolved, the topic moved on.

“Well then, let’s proceed with gold and silver, what else should we look for?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the ministers answered in unison.

“Copper! It’s essential for making weapons and minting coins!”

Upon hearing the ministers’ answer, Sejong, with a golden pen, wrote down gold, silver, and copper, and opened his mouth.

“And what else might there be?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers were deep in thought. After observing this, Hyang interjected, “In my opinion, we need iron, coal, limestone, and sulfur.”

“What is coal?”

“Simply put, it’s a stone that burns. The Mings has been using it as fuel since the Song Dynasty.”

Hyang explained about coal in response to Sejong’s question. Sejong and the other ministers nodded in agreement.

“If we use this kind of stone instead of firewood, we could prevent deforestation.”

“Indeed. We’ve made a lot of efforts to prevent deforestation, but it hasn’t been easy. The reason was because it was used as fuel, but if we use coal, we can prevent deforestation.”

Following the ministers’ answers, Hyang then continued, “If the state monopolizes the supply of coal, it could also become a sufficient source of revenue.”

“I see!”

“I understand about coal, and I understand about iron, but why do we need limestone?”

“It’s necessary for refining iron and also for construction.”

“For construction?”

“I only know the theory…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong made a decision, “Then let’s postpone the priority of limestone.”

“Yes.”

Although Sejong postponed the priority, Hyang wasn’t particularly upset. ‘Limestone is the most common thing on this Korean Peninsula!’

Listening to the conversation between Sejong and the ministers, Hyang then recalled the words of Teacher Samcheonpo.

“Iron, coal, sulphur! These are the essentials for the Industrial Revolution! Simply put, the basic set for the Industrial Revolution is these three! Capital? Yeah! Could the Industrial Revolution happen without it?”

However, the most controversial was sulfur.

“Your Highness, sulfur is not produced in our Joseon.”

“That’s right. Sulfur can only be obtained from Ming or Japan.”

“That’s true. Crown Prince, sulfur is not produced in our Joseon.”

Even Sejong said that sulfur is not produced in Joseon, but Hyang’s will did not bend. “Why are you all so confident? Couldn’t it be something we haven’t discovered yet?”

“We haven’t discovered it?”

“Come on. It can be found in both Ming and Japanese territories, but not in our Joseon? Don’t you think that doesn’t make sense?”

‘Damn! Oil even comes out when you dig for it!’

“Hmm… That seems possible…”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s words, both the ministers and Sejong pondered with expressions that seemed to agree.

“Of course, unlike Ming and Japan, it could be in a difficult place to mine. But think about the uses of sulfur. It’s used as a medicinal ingredient, but the most important use is for gunpowder. Gunpowder, the most crucial item for national defense, and sulfur, the most important raw material for making gunpowder; if we depend on imports for sulfur, we could face a big loss someday!”

When Hyang mentioned ‘national defense,’ Sejong and the ministers immediately reached a conclusion.

“Right! Let’s search for it!”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince’s opinion seems correct!”

“I think it’s right to order more attention to exploring this item!”

In the end, sulfur was added to the list of exploration targets.

As skilled miners arrived from all eight provinces of Joseon, Sejong and the ministers created an institution called the ‘Resources Bureau’

“First, establish it as a permanent technical office under the Ministry of Public Works, and have the Minister of Public Works serve as its chief.”

“We accept your command.”

Thus, the miners belonging to the newly created Resources Bureau were given ranks from (senior 8th rank) to (junior 9th rank), and their salaries were determined. The Minister of Public Works informed the prospectors gathered in the courtyard of the audience hall of their duties.

“From now on, your job is to travel around the eight provinces of Joseon and search for the minerals listed here. If you find them properly, there will be a reward, so do your best.”

At the Minister of Public Work’s words, the miners all bowed and responded, “We will do our best!”

“Your Majesty, please take a look.”

Upon hearing the call, the miners immediately prostrated themselves and offered their bows, “We, the commoners, greet Your Majesty!”

“Rise. Who said you were commoners? You are all precious subjects of the kingdom.”

At Sejong’s words, the miners’ faces filled with emotion, and they responded loudly, “Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

“We hope you remain strong and healthy forever!”

The miners all cried out in hopes of Sejong’s eternal prosperity until their throats were sore. As Sejong raised his hand with a satisfied smile on his face, the noise subsided.

When the miners quieted down, Sejong began to speak, “I’m sorry for entrusting you with such a challenging task. However, the prosperity and strength of Joseon hinge on the results you produce, so I hope you will do your best in your given tasks.”

At Sejong’s words, all the miners bowed deeply once again and replied, “We will devote our lives!”

After Sejong’s instructions, the miners then scattered across the country. The miners, who packed their belongings and left the palace, checked the list of minerals they needed to find.

“Gold, silver, copper, iron… I get it, but… coal? What’s this?”

“Ah! I’ve heard of that. They say it’s a shiny black stone that burns? They use it for fuel in Ming, right? They use it in blacksmith shops too.”

“A stone that burns? Well, that’s peculiar.”

“Sulfur? Is this even found in our country?”

“We wouldn’t be looking for it if we knew, would we?”

“Limestone? Isn’t this just a common stone? Is there any use for this?”

As they shared their opinions on the list, the miners soon focused their attention on one corner of the list.

“Report immediately upon finding the following ore too? A shiny black stone, similar to coal but does not burn and easily crumbles?”

“What is this?”

“It seems familiar yet unfamiliar…”

The mineral that puzzled the miners was an additional item listed by the royal secretary. That mineral was graphite.

Translator’s Notes

Translating this chapter reminds me of Senku in Dr.Stone in his search of finding all kinds of mineral, chemical stuff…

1. Read more on Tsushima Island and its relationship with wokou (Japanese pirates) HERE.[↩]

2. They here referring to the decisions made by the ministers and King Taejong during his reign.[↩]

Chapter 39
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (4)

“A ship has arrived in Jemulpo^1!”

“Really? Did it arrive without any issues?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

By the command of Emperor Yongle, King Sejong, who had procured hawks for hunting, dispatched a Falconry Envoy. Naturally, merchants followed the hunting party, and they returned with a significant gain.

They also plentifully extracted reciprocation gifts for the hawks they offered as tributes. And as always, they used half of the funds acquired from the top to purchase rice. As much money was spent, the rice came to Jemulpo using a ship from Ming.

“Did those books and goods also arrive?”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

If Sejong and the ministers were interested in grain, Hyang’s interest was elsewhere. Where Hyang’s interest lay were the books recording the expeditions of Zheng He^2 and the goods optimal for resale.

Two days later, a tremendous number of chests arrived at the palace.

The chests were placed in the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon Palace, and for the confirmation of the contents, not only Hyang and the ministers but even Sejong came out to the courtyard.

The scholars from Hall of Worthies, who were checking the contents as the chests were opened, looked at Sejong with surprised eyes.

“Your Majesty, these do not seem to be copies, but originals.”

“What?”

* * *

(Flashback)

Although the court was noisy due to the issue of expanding the vaccination with the first shot nationwide, apart from that, there were piled-up tasks that had to be done, and Sejong and the ministers proceeded by discussion.

“Has the issue of the hawks to be sent to Ming been resolved well?”

“The falconers from Falconry division are catching and moving five of them.”

At the ministers’ response, Sejong frowned and replied, “Five… falcorners and the people must have had a hard time.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Please provide the necessary compensation for them.”

“We will obey your command.”

Having dealt with the issue of the hawks to be offered as tribute, Sejong and the ministers moved on to the next agenda.

“What would you subjects like to receive in return for offering the hawks as tribute?”

“Primarily, sulfur and copper would be best.”

The Minister of Military Affairs casually mentioned sulfur. As the importance of gunpowder weapons was gradually increasing, the supply of sulfur and copper was essential. However, since sulfur was not produced in Joseon, it had to be procured mostly from Ming and Japan, making the supply considerably difficult.

The same was true for copper. No, copper was even more difficult than sulfur. Copper was not produced in Joseon, but the problem was that copper, a mineral that is not easily exported due to its high domestic consumption in both Ming and Japan.

Eventually, copper and sulfur took up the most significant part of the tribute trade between Ming and Joseon, and the rest were rare books and cotton fabrics.

At the end of the continuous discussion, it was decided to request sulfur and copper as per the Minister of Military Affair’s opinion.

“And what else would be good?”

As soon as Sejong’s words fell, Hyang stepped forward. “There are rare books we absolutely need to acquire!”

“Books we absolutely need to acquire?”

Sejong and the ministers’ eyes gathered on Hyang’s remark.

“What kind of books are you talking about? We have all sorts of classics in Joseon too?”

“Not classics. It’s Zheng He’s voyage records.”

“Zheng He’s voyage records?”

When Sejong expressed his confusion, the Minister of Rites feigned knowledge, exclaiming, “Ah! Among the emperor’s eunuchs, there is a man named Zheng He.”

“But what are these voyage records?”

“He led a fleet on an expedition under the emperor’s command.”

“Ah! I heard about that.”

At the Minister of Rites’ answer, Sejong nodded. Not only Sejong, but most of the ministers also nodded.

In the 5th year of Taejong’s reign, the court was stirred up by rumors that an eunuch, who had received Emperor Yongle’s command, was embarking on an expedition with a huge fleet composed of massive ships. At that time, the Joseon court was in a state of emergency when they obtained information that such a massive fleet was about to set sail.

-Where is the destination of that fleet? Is it Joseon? Or is it heading to another foreign country?

Amidst the tense atmosphere in which King Taejong and the court were on high alert, word came that the fleet in question was heading not towards Joseon or the foreign country, but towards the distant open sea. Only after confirming that the rumor was true could Taejong and the court relax.

“But why do we need those navigation records?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang appeared bewildered. “Huh? Why do we need them? They’re worth their weight in gold!”

Although it was Sejong who asked, seeing that the ministers also wore similar expressions, Hyang’s blood pressure rose.

‘These noblemen, no, are they for real?!’

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Hyang explained why Zheng He’s navigation records were important.

-Zheng He visited countries that our Joseon could not, and those records are the navigation logs.

-If we get those records, we can know the countries that have what our Joseon needs.

-It’s not just about knowing the countries. We can know in advance the routes to get there, the time it takes, the risks, and so on, reducing trial and error.

“Hmm… is that so? Hmm… perhaps…”

“Hmm… uh huh…”

After listening to Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong showed a reaction of gradually understanding while nodding his head, but the other ministers still looked as if they didn’t understand.

Seeing this, Hyang not only felt his blood pressure rise but also felt disheartened.

‘These noblemen for real… not even ignorant country bumpkins would act like them… ’

Hyang, regaining his composure, gave an easily understandable example.

“Think of the composite bow, the most important weapon of our Joseon soldiers. The most important ingredient among those used in the composite bow is the water buffalo horn. But where do we get these water buffalo horns from now? Mainly from the Ming country. But does Ming country give them easily?”

“Not at all.”

At Hyang’s question, all the ministers answered in unison. Joseon’s composite bow was famous for its powerful force. Therefore, the Ming country did not sell many water buffalo horns, the main ingredient of the bow. Hence, even though Joseon suggested them to sell the water buffaloes, Ming had remained silent so far.

Consequently, despite the Joseon court strictly forbidding smuggling, it actively encouraged smuggling when it came to water buffalo horns. Ultimately, a significant portion of the water buffalo horns needed by Joseon had to be imported through the foreign country and Ryukyu.

As soon as the ministers understood, Hyang added more.

“Are water buffaloes only found in the southern region of Ming? While they exist in the southern regions of foreign countries and in the continent, I’ve heard that they are common in Dai Viet and Siam. Especially in the case of Siam, an envoy came during the time of King Taejo, but there hasn’t been proper trade since. What’s the reason? Isn’t it because we don’t know the way there?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s words, all the officials let out an exclamation. It was a matter they remembered.

During Taejo’s time, an envoy from Thailand came and offered tributes, and Taejo also showed interest in trade, but he didn’t achieve any notable results, and it ended up in uncertainty. Or rather, uncertainty was a good expression. Most of the officials at the time thought, ‘We’ve been deceived!’

In addition, most officials who ran the court from Taejo to Sejong believed that one of the biggest reasons for the fall of Goryeo was commerce. The nobles who colluded with the merchants indulged in luxury, leading to the corruption of the national administration, and all the damages ended up falling on the ordinary, powerless people.

Sharing these thoughts, the court officials and the Confucian scholars in the common houses moved as follows based on Neo-Confucianism: “To avoid such a situation, the nobles had to be frugal, and the country had to focus on the fundamentals over the details.”

Although they said this, the main source of income for the Confucian scholars, who were also landlords, was the agricultural products produced by the farmers. Ultimately, the hardship of the lives of ordinary people, including the farmers, did not change much.

In the end, today, the officials who ran the national administration based on such a mindset clashed with Hyang, which led to the purge of the government officials, chief state councilors, and chief inspectors.

Ultimately, Hyang’s proposition was accepted, and it was decided to obtain Zheng He’s voyaging records.

And with a birdcage filled with eagles, the envoy set off for Beijing.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

At the words of Emperor Yongle’s greetings, the high-ranking envoys accompanied by the lower-ranking officials, bowed their heads in gratitude.

Emperor Yongle, who was looking at the eagles in the birdcage with satisfaction, opened his mouth, “Well, since we’ve received something precious, we must reciprocate. What does Joseon want?”

“We desire sulfur and copper.”

At the envoy’s response, the Emperor glanced at his own Minister of Internal Affairs and Grand Councilor.

“Grand Councilor, consult with the envoys and give an appropriate amount of sulfur and copper.”

“I obey your command.”

After issuing the order, the Emperor turned to the Joseon envoys and opened his mouth, asking once again, “And is there anything else you want?”

“Apologies for the inconvenience, but we desire a copy of the expedition records carried out by the eunuch Zheng He.”

“Oh? Zheng He’s expedition record?” The Emperor showed curiosity at the interpreter’s words.

“Why does Joseon want that?”

At the Emperor’s question, the envoy deeply bowed and explained the reason:

“Our Joseon, a small nation nestled in a remote corner of the expansive world, remains unaware of its true vastness. It is only through the Emperor’s benevolence that our humble country has learned about the existence of numerous other nations. This revelation deeply moves us, yet we have received news that Zheng He, under the Emperor’s decree, has brought the Emperor’s prestige and the Empire’s grandeur to the farthest reaches of the oceans. Despite receiving such grace from the Emperor and gaining insight into the vastness of the world, our Joseon still resembles a frog newly emerged from a well, oblivious to the immensity of the Yangtze River. We yearn to comprehend the vastness of the seas and witness the Empire’s magnificence spanning across those waters. Therefore, we humbly request a copy of the documented records.”

The words made the translator cringe. Of course, this dialogue was not made by the envoys. It was a dialogue created by Hyang in a mock conversation held together with the envoys and Sejong.

The Hyang who created the dialogue went back to his room, scratching his arms, grumbling, “Augh! It’s so disgusting that it makes my skin crawl! Goosebumps! I sucked it off so well! But, ah! Goosebumps!”

“Puhahahahahaha!”

When the words were heard through the interpreter, Emperor Yongle laughed out loud. The Emperor, who had laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes, opened his mouth, “The current king of Joseon is really virtuous! He knows his limits well! Better than his father or grandfather!”

At his words, the Joseon envoys clenched their teeth. But, they endured it and bowed their heads.

“The Emperor’s grace is boundless!”

“That’s right! A small country in the corner wants to know the width of the four seas, so I’ll give it to you! The royal scholar will write a copy and send it to Joseon!”

“We will obey the Emperor’s orders!”

When the Emperor’s order was given, the Joseon envoys raised their arms up and shouted, “The Emperor’s grace is boundless! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”

And so, Zheng He’s records came to Joseon.

* * *

The problem was that the original came, not a copy.

“Is it an administrative mistake?”

“Isn’t this a problem?”

When faced with an unexpected problem, not only Sejong but also Hyang and the envoys were pondering, a scholar of Hall of Worthies who was opening another box found a sealed letter.

“Here is a sealed letter!”

The Minister of Rites, who received the sealed letter in an expensive silk envelope, broke the seal, read the contents, and tilted his head.

“What is it?”

“It’s a letter sent by the Grand Scholars of the Inner Palace.”

“Let me see it.”

Sejong, who received the letter from the Minister of Rites, read the contents and made a more puzzled face.

“It’s even more incomprehensible.”

At the reaction of the Minister of Rites and Sejong, Hyang intervened, “May I read it?”

“Yes. Try reading it.”

Hyang, who received the letter, immediately checked the contents.

The contents of the letter were simple.

-This was done through legal procedures, so Joseon should not doubt or inquire about it.

Hyang, who read the contents of the letter, raised his head. ‘This is no matter how I look at it…… ’

No matter how many times he read it, the atmosphere of the sentence was this.

-Just put it in! Hey! It’s not stolen goods! Just put it in! And don’t say anything! Shush! Shush! Hey! Just put it in!”

Thinking about it, Hyang recalled his memories of the 21st century and muttered to himself.

“Was it really a chicken rib (little value) after all?”

“Chicken rib? Crown Prince, do you know what you’re saying?”

When Sejong asked a question after hearing Hyang’s muttering, Hyang nodded, “Yes, it’s just my personal opinion but…”

He then began to explain.

1. A port in Incheon, South Korea. It was a significant trading port during the Joseon Dynasty, especially with China and Japan.[↩]

2. Zheng He (1371-1433) was a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, fleet admiral, and court eunuch during China’s early Ming dynasty. He was originally born as Ma He in a Muslim family and later adopted the surname Zheng conferred by the Yongle Emperor. Commissioned by the Yongle Emperor and later the Xuande Emperor, Zheng commanded seven expeditionary treasure voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and East Africa from 1405 to 1433.[↩]

Chapter 40
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (5)

The reason why Hyang thought of the expedition as a chicken rib was due to a lecture given by a professor of Chinese history, which was a liberal arts course he chose during his university years.

The professor, whose main focus was the Ming and Qing dynasties, explained ‘Zheng He’s voyages’ as follows:

-What was the reason Emperor Yongle conducted the grand voyages through Zheng He? To understand that, we need to know how he came to power. As you all know, Emperor Yongle took power through the ‘Jingnan Campaign’. Like most leaders who seize power through a coup d’etat, he needed his own political achievements to boast to the people. So he chose the expedition of Zheng He and the suppression of Mongols.

-But why wasn’t Zheng He’s voyage, called the greatest adventure of the 15th century, repeated afterward? If you think about it a little, the famous ‘Age of Exploration’ could have appeared in Asia rather than in Europe first, right?

-This is because the Ming dynasty’s foreign trade was not an actual trade, but instead a tribute trade. There wasn’t much profit to be made from going to distant countries. Likewise, there wasn’t much use even if an envoy came.

-And if you think about the funds put into Zheng He’s voyages, the answer doesn’t come from the tribute trade. Once you go out to sea and come back, you have to reward various contributions, repair the broken ships, and if a ship sinks, you have to make new ones to replace it. Is this a job where only a small amount of money is involved?

-And what was important to the emperor was the foreign artifacts brought by Zheng He through his voyages. It was important to boast his dignity through exotic and fascinating goods. Ultimately, the voyage itself was not important.

-So after the emperor’s death, his subordinates erased the expedition records. In case the new emperor sees the records and wastes money again.

“…Therefore, the servants of Ming would have thought this as a chicken rib.”

At Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong and the ministers all nodded.

“Indeed, that would be the case.”

“That’s right. The expedition is something that involves a great deal of wealth. And they were carrying out expeditions on both the sea and the land…”

What Sejong referred to as ‘an expedition carried out on the land’ was the ‘suppression of the Mongols’.

After Emperor Yongle took the throne, there had been four suppressions, and rumors were spreading that another suppression was being prepared this year.

Upon learning the reason why the original, not a copy, arrived, the Minister of Rites opened his mouth. “If even a great nation struggles to the point of erasing records, shouldn’t we not do the same?”

In response to the question of the Minister of Rites, several ministers nodded and Hyang stepped forward. “Ming and us are different. Ming trades in the form of tribute and silver payments, but we need to move in the form of mutual trade.”

“Mutual trade?”

“In simple terms, it’s commercial diplomacy.”

Hyang explained in more detail:

-Initially, diplomats will move, but afterwards, merchants become the center of the movement.

-Since the commercial diplomacy of merchants is at the core, it becomes trade where goods needed by the other country, and the goods we need are exchanged. It’s not tribute trade like in Ming.

So, what is the role of the royal court here?

1. Providing transportation, protection of the merchants, and in this process, collecting fees and taxes.

2. Stabilizing the prices through the monopoly of goods that are essential to the people’s livelihood.

Upon hearing Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Taxation intervened with a crooked expression. “Goods essential to people’s livelihood? Do such things exist abroad? Most of the decent stuff is already produced in our Joseon. No, even if it’s not produced in Joseon, we’re already used to the absence of such things, would there be any use?”

Hyang responded to the Minister of Taxation’s statement, “Your Excellency, aren’t you aware of pepper?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s question, not only the Minister of Taxation but all the other ministers finally seemed to understand.

Pepper brought in by Arab traders during the Goryeo era was a premium spice. Garlic and ginger were used to get rid of the smell of meat, but pepper was a powerful spice that could drastically change the flavor of food even in small amounts. And it was just as expensive.

As a result, most of the common people who didn’t have money had to eat water pepper^1 (Polygonum hydropiper).

After listening to Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Taxation kept asking questions while nodding his head. “I understand by taking the example of pepper, but do we really have to import such products? If not handled properly, there is a high risk that the people will recklessly spend their wealth to buy such goods, and the wealth of the country will be drained out.”

“There is such a risk. However, when people have spare money, they start to look for better things to eat and wear. If we blindly block it because the wealth is being drained out, acts of smuggling will flourish. As it’s smuggling, due to the risk burden, people will end up paying more for goods, which will lead to a vicious cycle of price increases. No, it would be a relief if only the vicious cycle of price increases occurred. They will also bribe officials to cover up smuggling. That famous ‘frog payment’. Can you imagine the outcome? Corruption would then proliferate unchecked.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Taxation nodded. Until the merchants formally joined the diplomatic missions, a large part of trade with foreign countries was smuggling.

Listening to the conversation, Sejong, who was next to them, joined in with a nod. “The frog payment… I understand it too well.”

Pleased by Sejong’s praise, Hyang bowed his head, “I’m flattered.”

The ‘frog payment’ was a Chinese anecdote related to the scholar Lee Kyu-bo during the reign of King Munjong of Goryeo.

-The bullfrog and the cuckoo had a fight over whose voice was more beautiful. When they couldn’t reach a conclusion, they asked the stork, their neighbor, to make a judgment. The stork, who was asked to judge, requested three days, during which the bullfrog secretly offered the stork a frog. In the end, the stork raised the hand of the bullfrog, and the word ‘frog bribe (蛙餌料)'2 came from this.

Ironically, Sejong and the ministers knew it by looking at the old records, but Hyang learned about it through his high school Korean teacher in the 21st century.

-There’s something you guys often get confused about. First of all, ‘frog bribe’ and ‘business as usual’, at first glance, the frog bribe sounds like Japanese, and business as usual sounds like our language, right? Actually, it’s the opposite.

With the momentum from Sejong’s compliment, Hyang continued to speak. “Again, as our Joseon becomes more affluent, the lives of the people will also become richer. When life becomes richer, no matter how frugal one is, it is the common nature of people to look for better and tastier things little by little. Do you agree?”

“We agree.”

At Hyang’s question, the ministers nodded their heads.

“So, first of all, we have to monopolize the goods that will be affected the most, food (provision).”

“We understand now.”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers nodded their heads once again.

Seeing this, Hyang asked the Minister of Taxation, “Did the items I asked for instead of the books in this mission come in?”

The Minister of Taxation, who was rummaging through the book where he had recorded the goods, answered Hyang’s question, “They are already here. In those 20 boxes at the back.”

“Is that so! That’s more than I expected!”

Hyang, after receiving the reply from the Secretary of the Office of Taxation, rushed toward the chests with a half-smile. As he opened the lid of one of the chests, a wide grin spread across his face.

“Indeed!”

As Hyang was brimming with joy, King Sejong and his ministers, unable to curb their curiosity, approached him.

“What is it?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang replied with a grin, “It’s sugar!”

“Sugar!”

* * *

Hyang, who was examining the list of books brought by the envoys, grumbled under his breath, “Why are the number of books brought back getting less and less? Of course, it’s expected from this time period’s Ming Empire, they would not be able to obtain new publications.”

With the decreasing number of books brought by the envoys, Hyang began to ponder. “What should I ask them to bring?” His eyes immediately fell on a plate filled with sweets. He then snapped his fingers at the sight of the plate.

“That’s it!”

“Your Highness? Is there a problem?”

“It’s nothing!” Hyang, responding to the inner palace servant standing outside the door, grumbled in a low voice, “This… there’s no privacy. Privacy…”

Hyang’s decision to choose sugar was largely influenced by the advice from Teacher Samcheonpo.

-In the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, sugar was a very precious ingredient. By looking at the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, one can see how closed off Joseon was. When Munjong’s biological mother, Queen Soheon, fell ill and wanted sugar, they were unable to procure it. As a result, there’s a story of Munjong weeping profusely while offering sugar at his mother’s shrine after he managed to procure some. During the reign of Jungjong, when an envoy came from Ming, he offered sugar to Jungjong saying, ‘In our country, it’s a cheap food you can buy off the market floor, but in Joseon, it’s a luxury item used only for offerings. Here, take this.’ The words were polite, but don’t you get the feeling, ‘Hey, you country bumpkins! This is what sugar is!’?

* * *

The practice of making sugar using sugarcane originated in India and has been carried out since ancient times. This technology was transferred to China during the Tang Dynasty, and with the advent of the Song Dynasty, mass production of sugar began. Large-scale cultivation of sugarcane began in the southern region, initiating the mass production of sugar. Afterwards, in the Ming Dynasty of China, the use of water transportation such as the Grand Canal popularized sugar, it became widely available at a low price, even ordinary people added sugar to their tea.

“I’m surprisingly pissed off.” Remembering the words of Teacher Samcheonpo teacher, Hyang became angry.

“The conclusion is sugar! Chili peppers are still a ways off, but thankfully, sweetness, in a spicy red-hot form, can be saved for later, but sweet and salty can be possible now! I’m refusing experiencing salty taste only!”

* * *

“Sugar, this expensive thing…”

“Your Highness, no matter if you are the Crown Prince, this kind of extravagance…”

King Sejong and the ministers, having heard that all the items in the tremendous number of chests-20 in total-were sugar, one after the other, glared at Hyang and began to speak their minds.

However, Hyang just smiled and asked the Secretary of the Office of Taxation, “Secretary, is the purchase price written in the list of goods, in previous completion (request)?.

“Yes.”

“How much is it?”

“Let’s see… sugar… sugar… Eh? Silver 20 nyang?”

“What’s the weight of the sugar bought for 20 silver nyang?”

“…200 kwan (800 kg).”

Upon the Secretary’s answer, King Sejong and the ministers were speechless. To buy 200 kwan of sugar in the markets of Joseon would cost a fortune. No, even for the royal family, it was impossible to buy 200 kwan of sugar all at once.

But the Crown Prince had done it. And at a bargain price of just 20 silver nyang^3.

Of course, 20 silver nyang was not a small amount. However, considering 200 kwan of sugar, it was an incredibly low price.

“So… all of that is sugar, and you’re saying it was bought for just 20 silver nyang?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“200 kwan… that’s a massive amount.”

“It’s like nuggets of gold.”

“Gold nuggets? Right, it might be common in Ming, but it’s an expensive item here in Joseon.”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean that along with salt, this sugar will take a significant share when sold by the government. With this item, we can greatly fill the national treasury. I assure you.”

At Hyang’s words, the ears of King Sejong and the ministers perked up.

Seeing the reactions of King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang first decided to tidy up the situation. “It will take a long explanation if I were to explain it here. Shall we tidy up here first?”

“Alright!”

Eager to hear Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong quickly gave his command. “The scholars of the Hall of Worthies must take this record and tidy this place up immediately! Sort out the locations, routes, climates, customs, habits, and special products of the foreign countries without omission, so it is immediately apparent! And these chests of sugar should be carefully stored in the warehouse!”

“We accept your command!”

“Now, Crown Prince! Let’s go inside!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sejong, taking Hyang by the hand, headed toward the Geunjeongjeon Palace, followed by the ministers with swift steps. After Sejong and the ministers vanished like the wind, only the scholars of the Hall of Worthies and the porters were left.

“How many volumes is all this?”

In response to the scholar’s mutterings, a Treasury officer, flipping through a book, answered, “A total of 360 volumes.”

“Three hundred…”

The crestfallen scholar from the Hall of Worthies gestured to the porters, “Move the chests containing the books to the Hall of Worthies.”

“Yes, my lord.”

As the chests containing the books began to be moved, the Treasury officer also gave orders to the porters, “Move all these chests to the warehouse!”

“Yes, my lord!”

1. Another name includes marshpepper knotweed. Typically grown in damp areas.[↩]

2. 蛙 (wā): frog; 餌 (ěr): bait or food; 料 (liào): payment or fee[↩]

3. A nyang was a coin with high silver content. In today’s currency some sources put it at 3,000 dollars and others at 25,000 dollars.[↩]

Chapter 41
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (6)

Hyang returned to Geunjeongjeon Palace and began to explain to Sejong and the ministers.

- Just like salt, sugar and pepper must also be monopolized by the state.

- The need for a monopoly on sugar is especially strong because of its addictive nature.

- If it were to be entrusted to the private sector, sugar is the most likely to lead to a monopoly or collusion. No, a monopoly or collusion will inevitably occur. This is because sugar is not produced in our Joseon.

- If a monopoly or collusion occurs, all of this will become a burden on the people. And the people’s grievances will be directed towards the court and the king.

- However, if the state monopolizes it, it can receive a reasonable tax, fill the national treasury, and stabilize prices.

While listening to Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Personnel asked a question, “If there is such a risk, wouldn’t it be better not to import it? We have been managing without sugar so far. We already have sweeteners like malt syrup and honey, don’t we?”

In response to the Minister’s question, Hyang asked back, “Honey is hard to come by, and malt syrup… when we don’t even have enough rice and barley to eat, is that possible?”

“…I see.”

At Hyang’s counter-question, the Minister had to step back.

In reality, it took 2kg of white rice to produce 1kg of malt syrup. Yeot 1(a traditional Korean sweet similar to toffee) required even more grains.

Hyang, who didn’t know this fact even in the 21st century, learned about it at the market. With Sejong’s permission to explore the market, Hyang saw a yeot vendor and started haggling. However, hearing the price of the yeot, Hyang was surprised.

“This is pricey, more than I thought?”

Despite wearing a traditional overcoat (dopo) and a traditional hat (gat), the young Hyang, who is still young, started questioning the price, and the yeot vendor smiled and answered, “Ah! It seems like the young master don’t know the market well! Do you know how much barley or rice it takes to make this yeot?”

And then, the yeot vendor thoroughly explained to Hyang how yeot is made. After hearing the yeot vendor’s explanation, Hyang nodded his head, “I see. I understand well. Then give me some of this hard yeot.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Hyang who finished the deal left, the yeot vendor tilted his head. “Is he a young master I’m seeing for the first time? Is there a new nobleman who moved to Hanyang these days?”

* * *

After hearing Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers shared their opinions.

“Certainly, if we import sugar, it can replace malt syrup and yeot, thereby reducing the waste of rice and barley.”

“I disagree. Sugar is not a product of our Joseon, so our wealth will drain out to foreign lands. However, malt syrup and yeot are made from precious rice and barley, but they come from our land. This can prevent wealth from going out.”

“I disagree with that opinion. Even now, those who can get sugar can get sugar. However, if we compare the purchase price of the sugar that the Crown Prince purchased, we have to buy it at least dozens of times more expensive. Moreover, since it is a prohibited import item, it is certain to give bribes every time it crosses the border, and this will lead to corruption. Rather, it would be better for the country to monopolize it to reduce corruption and stabilize prices.”

The ministers, divided into pros and cons, argued fiercely. The argument of the opposition was, ‘Why spend money and import when there are alternatives?’, while the proponents argued, ‘Anyway, those who have it are eating it somehow. It is more profitable to bring it in openly!’

As the two sides were in a deadlock, Hyang asked a question, “Has anyone here ever tasted sugar?”

At Hyang’s question, the ministers’ gaze scattered here and there.

“I once did a long time ago…”

“When I passed the civil service exam…”

“Regrettably, I never have…”

At the ministers’ answers, Hyang’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘These gentlemen who only know how to pass gas (lies)!’

Hyang, who was thinking such, turned to look at Sejong and realized, ‘Now that I think about it, I’ve never tasted sugar since I entered the palace!’

Not only when he was still the Crown Prince, but also since coming to the palace, Hyang never tasted the unique sweetness of sugar.

Having realized this fact, Hyang murmured without realizing, “Our Joseon is truly obscure and backward…”

“Cough!”

“Hmm!”

At Hyang’s mutterings, the ministers and Sejong coughed awkwardly, their faces turning red.

“Cough! Crown Prince, our Joseon is frugal, not backward.”

Although Sejong spoke up, Hyang’s face was full of disbelief. Seeing this, Sejong yelled in annoyance, “You brat! Believe me, will you!”

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, what you said is incorrect.”

“That’s right, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

As soon as Sejong finished speaking, the ministers unanimously agreed, supporting his statement. At this, Hyang replied with a slightly sour tone, “So you say.”

“You brat!”

“I trust in my father’s words. And I have a request for my father.”

“What is it?”

“Since we’ve received sugar, how about distributing it as a reward to the ministers and palace staff?”

“Distribute it as a reward?”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers’ eyes began to sparkle. Just like the eyes of children looking at their father who brought home chicken, Hyang glanced at the twinkling eyes of the ministers, court officials, and palace staff, and explained his reasoning:

“They have been taking care of state affairs and the palace with all their heart and effort. It would be nice to acknowledge their hard work and share a little.”

“Hmm…” Sejong, who had been pondering Hyang’s words for a moment, nodded. “That’s a good idea. So how would you like to distribute it?”

“Depending on their rank, how about distributing from 1 doe (1.8L) to 1 hop (0.18L)?”

Sejong, who had been calculating for a moment, nodded at Hyang’s words.

“That seems fair. Let the Minister of Taxation do so.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

No sooner had the Minister of Taxation’s praise ended, the ministers, as well as the palace staff, shouted in unison.

“Your grace is boundless!”

That day, when the work was over, not only the ministers but also the palace staff, palace ladies, and the soldiers guarding the palace received sugar as a reward.

“Your Highness! Your grace is boundless!”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“May Your Highness live a thousand years!”

“Live a thousand years!”

“Long live the Crown Prince!”

Everyone who received the sugar exclaimed in unison in gratitude, ‘Long live the Crown Prince!’ The court ladies and soldiers in the East Palace bowed their heads in thanks every time they saw Hyang.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, we are immensely humbled by your kind gift of sugar!”

“We’re humbled!”

“That’s enough, enough. Make your families happy with it.”

* * *

Following Hyang’s words, the family heads who received the sugar returned home with renewed vigor in their steps.

“Please take this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s sugar.”

“Oh my! How can we accept such a valuable gift?”

“His Majesty, the Crown Prince, praised you for your good work!”

“Oh my! Such an honor! I was just thinking about taking a bath today!”

“Hmph! But… I’m a bit tired today…”

While every household that received sugar was having their own joyous time, Hyang was conversing with Sejong. Side note, these deep night conversations that had become almost a daily occurrence were the last hurdle for the officials to overcome.

“Are you not concerned about giving away such precious sugar?”

“I’m not. It was a necessary step to monopolize the sugar trade.”

“A necessary step?” Sejong, who had been mulling over Hyang’s words, looked at Hyang sharply. “You cunning fellow! Was it a bribe?”

To Sejong’s remark, Hyang replied with a smile.

* * *

Whether the bribe worked or not, before long, the officials approved the monopoly of the sugar trade.

“Then, as soon as the construction of the Joseon office in Shandong is completed, import sugar. But don’t forget to establish the monopoly bureau before that.”

“We obey your command!”

In the midst of tirelessly overseeing political affairs, the vacant seats were filled. The positions of the Left and Right State Councilors were filled by the famous Maeng Sa-seong and Hwang Hui, who rose to high ranks about 2 years earlier than in the original history.

Hyang, upon hearing the news, muttered quietly, “Are Sejong’s Avengers finally emerging?”

At the gathering where the new officers filled the vacant seats and paid their respects, Sejong warned his ministers. “You all know why the previous occupants of your positions had to step down. Keep that in mind as you serve in state affairs, and help this Joseon thrive.”

“We will engrave it in our bones and hearts!”

Meanwhile, Hyang was deep in thought about a new problem. “I’ve always been curious about something. Is our King Sejong’s talent pool small, or are talents scarce in this era?”

Hyang, lost in thought, came to a conclusion.

“No matter how I see it, King Sejong’s talent pool seems very narrow. The evidence is clear in the consorts…”

Hyang had evidence to support her conclusion. And that evidence was King Sejong’s consorts. Specifically,

- Consort Shin of Kim clan: Originally a maid in the palace of Queen Soheon, she was granted favor and became a royal consort.

- Consort Hye of Yang clan: A nanny who looked after the sickly Hyang when she was young, she also gained favor and became a royal consort.

Many other consorts had similar paths to become royal consorts. Seeing this, Hyang shook her head and muttered, “Does he favor these women because he sees them often, or does he choose according to his preference and then place them by parachute drop?”

Upon further observation, Hyang came to a new conclusion. “Whether it’s about consorts or appointments… this man is a procrastinator!”

From Hyang’s perspective, if King Sejong had lived in the 21st century, he would have been the perfect ‘introverted loner’ or ‘professional procrastinator’.

Unlike his grandfather Taejo or Yi Seong-gye, his father Yi Bang-won, and his other brothers who enjoyed vigorous sports like polo or hunting, the only sport King Sejong enjoyed was chuiwan (a game similar to golf).

“Golf can be quite a workout, but it’s incomparable to polo or hunting.”

What Sejong loved most was reading, pondering, and especially studying policies for the future of Joseon. Moreover, the personnel selection process in Joseon was quite exhausting.

“You! Become my Minister!”

“Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!”

(This part is in English in the raws)

Such situations never happened. Whether due to old age or disease, or events like purges, if a position became vacant, the king would command his officials, “Recommend suitable successors.”

“As you command!”

When suitable candidates were selected, the auditors clung to them. Auditors from the Office of Censors and the Office of Inspectors scrutinized everything from the candidates’ work records to their reputations and presented the results to the king.

“This candidate can’t do it for this reason, and that candidate can’t do it for that reason…”

This process was tiring not only for the candidates but also for the king.

“So, was our King Sejong tired of this, and that’s why he overused Hwang Hui?”

Hyang tilted her head. In actual history, Hwang Hui was a great talent but also the main character of various scandals. Naturally, there were continuous impeachments from auditors, but Sejong did not let go of Hwang Hui until the end.

In the end, Hyang concluded,

-Sejong’s insistence on Hwang Hui was due to his competence, but it was also because the personnel selection process that had to be faced after dismissing him was bothersome!

* * *

After Hyang imported a large amount of sugar, its consumption in the palace continued on a large scale. Starting from Sejong, the royal family began to add sugar to the tea they drank or served, and sugar started being used as a sweetener in food.

Particularly, the food that became sweet and salty from the sugar incited Sejong’s taste buds. Anticipating this, Hyang ordered that almost no sugar should be added to Sejong’s meals, but Sejong enjoyed sugar in various ways.

“Has this gentleman forgotten the saying ‘moderation’?”

Hyang, witnessing Sejong’s love for sugar, once again rolled up his sleeves. “Your Majesty. I heard you have been eating a lot of sugar recently.”

“I don’t think I’ve eaten that much? I just add a bit to my tea.”

‘What about the rice cake and that sugar cube placed next to the teacup!’

“Huh…”

Hyang, after a deep breath, began to press Sejong.

1. Something like a hard sugar candy[↩]

Chapter 42
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (7)

“As I’ve mentioned before, sugar not only pleases the palate but also helps prevent food spoilage. Moreover, when you are exhausted, consuming a moderate amount can quickly restore your energy. However, eating too much can lead to significant side effects. First, it damages the teeth. It also leads to obesity.”

“Cough!”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong coughed awkwardly. He had been gaining some belly fat lately. Regardless, Hyang continued, “And, the most significant side effect is that it can cause diabetes. Didn’t the physician diagnose signs of diabetes in Your Majesty not long ago?”

“Cough! Okay. I’ll moderate my intake.”

Even though King Sejong waved a white flag, Hyang didn’t stop. “I couldn’t sleep after hearing about the signs of diabetes in Your Majesty. So, I went through the medical books. If diabetes worsens, it can cause eye diseases leading to blindness. Then, you wouldn’t be able to read, which you love…”

“I told you I’d moderate!”

King Sejong became irritated, but Hyang continued nevertheless, “An even bigger problem is impotence!”

“Impotence?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang silently glanced at his lower body. Following Hyang’s gaze, King Sejong quietly pushed a candy jar aside.

Seeing this, Hyang arrived at the conclusion. “It’s hard to quit due to the sweetness of sugar.”

“That’s true.”

“Medical books pointed out this too, but the best remedy for diabetes is to reduce the intake of candy as much as possible, and to exercise.”

“Exercise?”

“Yes. Besides skipping rope, you should take long walks, and increase your muscle strength.”

“Increase my muscle strength.”

“The medical books say ‘Bones are like the pillars of a house, and muscles are like its walls. Just as a house with strong pillars but thin walls can’t resist the heat and cold, if your muscle strength is weak, you can’t resist disease.'”

“Increase muscle strength. Got it. I will do so.”

“Your Majesty’s understanding is profound. Your muscles will know well about this issue.”

“I got it.”

So, Hyang’s ‘King Sejong’s Longevity Project’ was reinforced. Hyang’s final goal was simple.

‘If losing weight is difficult, let’s make you a healthy pig!’

* * *

As the empty spots were filled, the court affairs began to speed up. Just as the nationwide smallpox vaccination was nearing its end, a new debate began in the court. The new issue was ‘cattle’.

The nationwide smallpox vaccination required large quantities of cattle infected with smallpox. This was solved by the national landowners voluntarily culling their cattle.

“As a result, we received 1153 cattle. We need to think about how to handle these cattle.”

“1153, that’s a lot. Hmm…”

After pondering for a while, King Sejong gave an order to Chief Eunuch.

“Call the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, Hyang, summoned, entered the hall.

“Father, did you call me?”

As Hyang who showed respect took his seat, King Sejong broached the main subject.

“…This is the situation. Crown Prince, what would you do with these cattle?”

Pondering King Sejong’s question for a moment, Hyang asked the Minister of Taxation, “What’s the gender ratio among these cattle?”

Answering the Crown Prince’s question, the old man flipped through the book he brought. “There are 470 pairs of male and female.”

“470 pairs make 940… so the remainder is 213.”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm…” Hyang, who had been doing some calculations, soon reached a conclusion, “Father. How about creating cattle and pig farms across the eight provinces of Joseon?”

“Raise cattle and pigs?”

“Yes. Divide the whole area of our Joseon into north and south, and east and west, assigning two locations each, a total of 8 cattle farms, including another one in Neobeol Island, to make 9 cattle farms in total. Then, allocate 50 pairs of cattle to each cattle farm. After about 2-3 years, we should be able to raise more than 100 cattle per farm, right?”

“Would that be so?”

“Can you imagine how beneficial that would be?”

Hyang explained the reasons for setting up cattle farms.

- Nationwide smallpox vaccination has been carried out, but there are those who are too young or live in too remote areas to receive the vaccination. Cattle infected with smallpox should be prepared annually for these people. For this purpose, calves are born and raised in cattle farms.

- After raising cattle and pigs in large quantities in the cattle farms, meat is supplied to the people. Specifically, in the case of cattle, although slaughter was prohibited because they are essential animals for farming, it’s almost a situation in name only.

While explaining this part, Hyang added, “What’s important here is that many people are accustomed to violating the cow ban^1. The cow ban is also a law in the country. If violating such a law becomes a daily routine, people will take the country’s laws lightly, and they will inevitably take and commit more serious crimes lightly.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers nodded. Hyang continued speaking, “By supplying cattle and pigs in large quantities, the nomads can be fully absorbed as the people of Joseon. By managing and operating the cattle farms, and handling the butchery in each village, the issue of constant production is resolved. In doing so, the court can gain justification for dealing with the nomads.”

“Will these nomads really agree?”

To the question of the Right State Councilor Maeng Sa-seong, Hyang answered resolutely, “Anyone with a head would agree. Don’t we have the example of Seodori, the headman of Neobeol Island?”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, the ministers nodded.

While carrying out smallpox vaccinations nationwide, King Sejong acknowledged Soedori’s contribution and granted him a surname.

“I grant you the surname ‘U’. The reason I give you this surname ‘Yu (愚^2)’ is not because you are foolish. It’s because you’ve persistently kept your promise like the old man in the old saying ‘yú gōng yí shān (愚公移山)3’. I highly respect that, hence I give you the surname ‘Yu’. I hope that you continue to faithfully keep your duty.”

Sejong not only personally called him to Gyeongbokgung Palace and gave him a surname, but also explained the reason.

Soedori, who couldn’t contain his joy, wept bitterly, “Oh! Your Majesty’s grace, Your Majesty’s grace is infinite! Sob! Sob! Long live the King! Long live! Long live forever!”

After a round of tearful celebration and when Soedori’s emotions had settled, King Sejong asked a question, “Yu headman, are you of nomadic (hwacheok) origin?”

“That’s correct.”

“I’ve heard that it is the custom of the nomadic people to wander, so how did you settle down?”

“My grandfather did so, I heard. He said it is natural to follow the laws of a place to which you’ve migrated… hence, he found a way to earn a living and ended up becoming a cattle farmer.”

“Your grandfather was indeed a wise man,” Sejong murmured, recovering his composure. “How nice it would’ve been if all the nomads were like your grandfather.”

The nomads were a thorn in the side of Joseon to the extent that Sejong lamented about them. Despite having infiltrated into Joseon quite some time ago, they couldn’t let go of their nomadic customs and became alienated from Joseon society. As a result, they committed theft, robbery, arson, murder, and so on, as they moved around in groups.

* * *

The policy Hyang put forth using the example of Yu Seodori was quite radical.

“We should assign them the operations of cattle farming and slaughtering, sort out the population registry, levy taxes, and impose military duties. By doing so, they will surely settle down as citizens of Joseon. However, if they still resist, despite this policy, they should be punished and annihilated.”

At Hyang’s statement, Sejong and the ministers wore serious expressions.

“Isn’t annihilation a bit excessive?”

“It seems too harsh even considering humanity and justice.”

However, Hyang’s response was cold. “These people, despite living on this land for hundreds to tens of years, make light of our laws and customs. A stern response is necessary!”

The reason why Hyang made such a claim was because of the reality of Joseon, where complaints related to the crimes committed by the nomads were constantly being raised, and because of the refugee problem he had experienced in the 21st century.

While Sejong and the ministers were pondering over Hyang’s words, the Minister of Law Enforcement spoke up, “I think the Crown Prince’s opinion is reasonable. Looking at the complaints that reach the Ministry of Law Enforcement, at least half of the perpetrators of heinous crimes such as murder and robbery nationwide are the nomads. If we don’t solve this, public sentiment will be disturbed.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Consider the Hui ethnics. Although they possess foreign religions and customs, aren’t they following our Joseon laws faithfully?”

After both Hyang and the Chief Secretary agreed, Sejong and the ministers fell deeper into thought. After repeated contemplation, Sejong made a decision. “Honestly, it was necessary to make a decision about the nomads. Let’s sort this out on this occasion.”

“We will obey your command!”

Thus, a hard-line policy against the nomads was decided.

◈◈

As the issue concerning the slaughterhouses was decided, Hyang started talking about the final reason why we need slaughterhouses.

“The last reason we need slaughterhouses is for national defense.”

“National defense?”

Upon the unexpected mention of ‘national defense’, King Sejong and the ministers pricked up their ears.

“Yes, for national defense. Firstly, we need it for the soldier’s provisions. Upon looking at the documents I’ve gathered, I found this passage. ‘While grains offer immediate energy, they also result in rapid hunger. It’s akin to kindling that ignites quickly, burns intensely, but soon diminishes. On the other hand, meat resembles a sturdy log, requiring time to ignite, yet once it does, it provides sustained energy.’”

Hyang proceeded after a brief pause, stating, “In comparing the Ming dynasty to our own Joseon, it becomes evident that our people consume a greater amount of food. When our army mobilizes, a significant portion of the space is occupied by provisions for the soldiers. This is primarily due to our grain-based diet. Thus, it is imperative for us to produce preserved foods such as beef or pork jerky and salted meat, which can be supplied to the military.”

The words of Hyang prompted thoughtful expressions and approving sounds from King Sejong and the ministers, who stroked their beards in agreement. Although they did not offer a verbal response, their countenances conveyed a message of concurrence, as if to say, “Hmm, that sounds reasonable.”

Hyang proceeded to present his final point, “Moreover, it is of utmost importance that we harness the potential of cattle and pig manure to create fertile fields. Presently, the collection of feces, urine, and soil from private hearths yields a meager amount in our Joseon. This scarcity arises from the fact that farmers utilize them as fertilizers in their fields, leading to perpetual conflicts between farmers and officials. However, by establishing slaughterhouses and collecting the manure of cattle and pigs, we can generate vast expanses of fertile land without imposing hardships on the populace.”

“I see!”

“What a brilliant plan!”

King Sejong and his ministers, particularly the Minister of Law Enforcement, expressed strong approval. However, the Minister of Taxation, who had been silently contemplating, raised a counter-argument.

“While the Crown Prince’s proposal is commendable, there is one issue regarding livestock feed. Cows pose no problem as they solely consume grass, but pigs are a different story. Pigs have voracious appetites yet yield less meat. Moreover, they spoil quickly in the summer. Setting aside taste considerations…”

Upon hearing the Minister of Taxation’s words, Hyang concurred, saying, “I agree. However, during your visit to the Ming Dynasty as an envoy, did you happen to see their pigs?”

“Yes, I did.”

“What were the pigs like in the Ming Dynasty? Did you observe them?”

“I caught sight of them a few times while procuring books for the Crown Prince. Well, to exaggerate a bit, they were as large as houses.”

“Then, couldn’t we simply import breeding pigs from the Ming Dynasty?”

“But wouldn’t their larger size result in increased food consumption?”

The discussion between Hyang and the Minister of Taxation grew more heated, capturing the keen interest of King Sejong and the other ministers.

“To address that concern, we can cultivate soybeans in the fields adjacent to the slaughterhouse. Soybeans thrive with ample water, and slaughterhouses require significant amounts of it.”

“However, that would necessitate additional land separate from the slaughterhouse site.”

Upon hearing this, Hyang promptly proposed an alternative. “In that case, we can negotiate with local landlords to rent their land.”

“Would the landlords readily agree? They are barely managing to grow rice and barley on their farmland.”

“We could lease exhausted land. I’ve heard that cultivating beans in a field restores its fertility.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s suggestion, the Minister of Personnel diligently conducted calculations. After completing the assessment, the Minister of Personnel nodded approvingly.

“It appears to be entirely feasible.”

1. Cow ban refers to a historical law implemented during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea, which prohibited the slaughter of cows. The Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from 1392 to 1897, was characterized by a strict social hierarchy and Confucian ideology. This law was primarily driven by Confucian principles that emphasized the importance of agriculture and the value of oxen as essential animals for farming. In an agrarian society like Joseon, oxen were crucial for plowing fields and transporting goods. By prohibiting the slaughter of cows, the law aimed to ensure a stable agricultural base and prevent the depletion of valuable working animals.[↩]

2. It means foolish or ignorant. Other connotation would be humility or simplicity.[↩]

3. “愚公移山” (yú gōng yí shān) is a well-known Chinese idiom that translates to “The Foolish Old Man Moves a Mountain” in English. It comes from a popular Chinese folktale that carries a moral lesson.

The story goes that there was an old man named Yu Gong who lived with his family at the foot of two massive mountains, named Taihang and Wangwu. The mountains obstructed their way and made their lives difficult. Yu Gong, despite being old and considered foolish by others, was determined to overcome this obstacle. He decided to move the mountains, believing that with persistence, they could be relocated. When Yu Gong’s determination and perseverance reached the ears of the gods, they were moved by his unwavering spirit. The gods decided to help him and sent two divine beings to move the mountains away.[↩]

Chapter 43
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (8)

When the Minister of Taxation reached a positive conclusion, the situation proceeded smoothly.

“Then let’s try to operate the cattle farm, the bean field, and the pasture.”

As King Sejong was about to conclude, the Left State Councilor, Hwang Hui, intervened. “Your Majesty, I think it is premature to build cattle farms nationwide.”

“Why?”

Although the expressions of Sejong and the ministers became sharp, Hwang Hui firmly continued, “The Crown Prince’s intention is indeed magnificent, but the environment is still insufficient. To build a cattle farm, we need vast land and water, but if you look at the situation in the Eight Provinces of Joseon, such lands are already occupied by rice paddies and fields. If we make cattle farms, we have to take away these farmlands, which will inevitably cause backlash from the people.”

“That makes sense.” At Hwang Hui’s point, Sejong nodded. He had hastily made a decision in the hope of creating large pastures, and Hwang Hui had pointed that out. “So, what would the Left State Councilor like to do?”

“We already have a royal cattle farm on Yeomul Island, so let’s start operating the cattle farm and pasture there first, let the nomads defectors gain experience there, and then expand to the entire Eight Provinces. In the meantime, the court should buy suitable land for cattle farming.”

At Hwang Hui’s words, one of the ministers raised an objection. “Don’t you think we can raise cattle and pigs even without a vast plain? Aren’t hills and slopes near springs also usable as cattle farms and pastures?”

‘What about Daegwallyeong^1 Farm!’

At the minister’s point, Hwang Hui immediately explained why it was impossible. “Of course, you can do that. However, if you release cattle and pigs in such areas, they will most likely become prey to tigers and bears.”

“Ah!”

Not only the minister at Hwang Hui’s point but also Sejong and all the ministers sighed.

At this time, the mountains of Joseon belonged to tigers and bears. Bears did not cause much damage, but tigers often came down to the village and caused harm.

Reports of tigers coming down to the village and taking away livestock or people came up at least four to five times a year. Each time, the court had to dispatch a tiger-hunting soldier.

“Hmm… The problem of tigers.”

As Sejong expressed regret, Hwang Hui reiterated his opinion. “In addition to that reason, the issue of the nomadic defectors must also be clearly resolved. They are adept at riding and fighting regardless of gender or age. In order to assimilate them with our Joseon commoners, their temperament must be pacified. By teaching them how to herd cattle at the cattle farm on Yeomul Island and pacifying them, there will be no major disturbances in the future.”

“Will Yeomul Island be big enough to accommodate numerous cattle and pigs, the nomads, and those who will manage them?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Personnel responded immediately, “It’s perfectly possible! However, even a little bit of the Han River water can be covered up with sand^2, so we need to prepare for that, in case it happens.”

“It will be quite a project.”

In response to Sejong’s comment, Hyang proposed a measure, “Anyway, it is now spring. As I mentioned before, we can give rice to the people who have run out of grain, and if we enforce corvée, it will be sufficient.”

Before Hyang could finish, the Minister of Justice interjected.

“If we mobilize the residents of Hanyang, Geumcheon district, and Bupyeong districts, we should be able to build the embankment.”

“Is that so?”

In response to the Minister of Law Enforcement, Hwang Hui questioned him, “Neobeul Island is vast, is it possible with the people from three places?”

In response to Hwang Hui’s question, the Minister of Justice answered, “It is definitely difficult to complete it at once. However, if we build wooden fences this year, and reinforce them with stones and soil next spring, it should be finished in 3 or 4 years. Therefore, it should not be too burdensome for the people.”

The ministers all calculated in their heads. After roughly calculating, they all responded in unison.

“It seems that the Minister of Law Enforcement plan is right.”

“Let’s proceed that way. By the way, Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Father.”

“When I think back to what you said earlier, there are 433 cows left excluding the ones to be sent to the cattle ranch. What do you plan to do with them?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang answered briefly, “How about vaccinating the people who have contracted smallpox?”

“Vaccinating?”

“Yes, even after vaccination, the fever persists for a while, and they must rest.”

“I see.”

“It is now spring. As I mentioned before, we need to repair the dam and reservoirs. It will require a lot of energy. Even if we distribute rice, their strength will definitely wane. I thought it would be good to give them beef to boost their energy.”

“Hmm…”

After considering Hyang’s response, Sejong looked at the ministers. “What do you think of this proposal?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the ministers who had been calculating various things all responded in unison.

“We think it’s a very good idea.”

“Then let’s proceed that way.”

* * *

That evening, after the meeting of Sejong and the ministers ended, the Minister of Taxation visited Donggungjeon Palace.

“You did great work today.”

At Hyang’s compliment, the Minister of Taxation laughed and shook his head. “It was nothing. I am rather regretful for not having thought of such a thing sooner.”

“No, it’s because you didn’t oppose it that things went smoothly.”

Hyang’s mind wandering about the pigs, started when he visited Neobeul Island because of the smallpox problem. The blacksmith was washing the cows clean to vaccinate them against smallpox, and he took out a silver needle.

“Ah! I have prepared needles and various other things.”

“Ah! Is that so?”

Hyang rummaged through his sleeve and pulled out a small case containing a silver needle, and another case.

“I understand the needle case, but what is this?”

“It’s cotton soaked in alcohol.”

After finishing the sterilization process and vaccinating procedure, Hyang took a moment to check on the animals being raised on Neobeol Island.

“Is this a pig?”

“Yes, it is.”

Hyang, having seen the pigs running around in front of him, looked back at the rock. “Have they all grown up?”

“Yes, they have.”

“Wow…” Hyang couldn’t believe his eyes. “My goodness! Pigs have a slender body line! And why are they so small!”

The pigs running around in front of his eyes were small and slim. Returning to the palace, Hyang was immersed in thought.

“I need a lot of lard for my plan… but with the pigs in this condition…”

To solve the pig problem, Hyang called over the Minister of Taxation who had been leading the envoys to Ming. Together, they devised a plan that was passed today.

As the Minister of Taxation was about to leave after finishing the conversation with Hyang, he asked a question, “By the way.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you looking for pigs? Pork is tasty, but isn’t it not comparable to beef?”

At the man’s question, Hyang chuckled and replied, “Pork is delicious in its own way. However, what’s important to me isn’t the pork, but the lard.”

“Ah?”

“You’ll understand in due course.”

“Yes… I see.”

“Take care.”

As he saw off the Minister of Taxation, Hyang muttered softly, “Soap may be cliché, but soap isn’t my priority. It’s the byproduct that matters. And that applies to paper as well.”

* * *

When Sejong’s order was passed on, fortunate cows were brought up to Hanyang from all over the country. The remaining cows were assigned one each to the villages with many people throughout the country. Following the magistrate’s orders, the villagers surrounding the designated villages gathered. The magistrate read Sejong’s proclamation at the gathering where everyone, young and old, was present.

“…Therefore, you should slaughter this cow, make a soup to nourish your body. Once you have regained your strength, sincerely repair the dam and reservoir. If there is no dam or reservoir, create new ones to prepare for a drought.”

As soon as the magistrate’s announcement ended, the people, who seemed eager, raised their arms and shouted cheers.

“Long live the king! Long live! Long live! Long live forever!”

“Long live!”

The people were excited and shouted out the cheers.

Then, a commoner stepped forward and slaughtered the cow. The slaughtered cow was divided according to the size of the village, and soon a feast began in each village.

Once the village feast was over, the magistrate mobilized the strong men and started the water management work.

“Repair the dam and reservoir!”

“Dig a canal and create a reservoir!”

“Dig a well!”

Amidst the people laboring and sweating in each village for the public works, the relief rice sent by the state arrived. The officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Public Works who came with the relief rice stayed at the county office, distributing the rice according to the population registry they made while conducting smallpox vaccinations, and meticulously recorded the repairs or construction of the dams, reservoirs, canals, and wells.

Not only the common people were busy while the public works were going on. Landlords, who had been alarmed by previous incidents, opened their purses and slaughtered cows and pigs.

“Eat these while working.”

“Thank you, noble sir!”

“We will eat well!”

As a result of the people’s efforts, the old dams and reservoirs were newly repaired, and a significant number of new reservoirs and dams were built.

Looking at the water filling up in the repaired dams, reservoirs, and canals, the farmers swelled with hope.

“This year, the farming will definitely go well.”

* * *

May 6th.

“I will follow your command.”

Upon receiving His Majesty’s command, the Assistant Secretary of State Affairs called for Jang Yeong-sil, who was in the ‘Royal Attire Bureau’.

“His Majesty has ordered to make a water clock. So gather capable people and make the water clock.”

“I will follow your command,” Jang Yeong-sil replied, bowing his waist.

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had heard the news, clenched his fist tightly. “It’s here! It’s really here!” Excited, he started to rummage through the scrolls stacked in one corner of the study.

After searching for a while, Hyang, who had found what he wanted, called for the inner servant.

“Inner servant!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“I must go to ‘Royal Attire Bureau’! Guide me there!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Upon arriving at ‘Royal Attire Bureau’, Hyang immediately searched for Jang Yeong-sil.

“Who is Officer Jang Yeong-sil?”

At Hyang’s question, one of the officials hurriedly came forward and answered, ” Officer Jang is currently at the water clock. I’ll call him right away.”

“No, don’t. We shouldn’t casually summon busy people. Did you say he’s at the water clock?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I see. Well, carry on then.”

Hyang immediately headed towards the water clock.

* * *

“Is that him?”

At the spot where Hyang’s gaze was directed, a man who seemed to have just entered his 40s was observing a water clock. Next to him was a piece of paper laid out with sketches of various mechanisms drawn on it.

“Are you Officer Jang Yeong-sil?”

Turning his head at the sound of Hyang’s voice from behind, the man quickly stood up from his seat and paid his respects as soon as he saw Hyang. “I am humbly in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Humbly… If Officer Jang Yeong-sil of the fifth rank says that he is humble, people will criticize.”

“Your Highness is too gracious!”

Hyang, who had moved quietly to the side of Jang Yeong-sil, began a conversation while looking at the water clock.

“Have you been watching the water clock?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What do you think? Can you understand how it moves?”

“I think I roughly understand it.”

“Is that so? Then could you easily create it?”

Scratching his head at Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil replied, “It’s a bit difficult to calculate the numbers.”

“That’s a problem.” Hyang’s face became serious at Jang Yeong-sil’s answer.

‘Look here! I’m terrible at advanced maths! If you’re like that too, what should we do!’

While Hyang was contemplating a solution to the sudden problem, Jang Yeong-sil proposed an answer, “However, if Sir Jeong Cho could help a little…”

“Sir Jeong Cho?”

“He is currently the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.”

“I see!”

‘I just remembered!’

Having found the solution to the problem, Hyang handed a roll of parchment to Jang Yeong-sil.

“What is this?”

“It’s a clock I’ve thought of.”

“A clock?”

“That water clock is too bulky. Therefore, this is a clock that measures time in a different way.”

What Hyang had designed was a mechanical clock that used falling weight as an energy source.

“Hmm…” As he looked at the blueprint Hyang handed over, Jang Yeong-sil’s expression grew more and more serious. While he had known that the crown prince was famous for his eccentric behavior, he had not expected it to be this much.

‘A clock is not an easy thing to make, how absurd… ’

However, the moment he saw the first page of the blueprint, Jang Yeong-sil had to discard his prejudice. After scrutinizing the blueprints several times, Jang Yeong-sil looked back at Hyang.

“Did Your Highness design this?”

“To be honest, about 30% of it was made using the foreign people’s knowledge.”

‘To be precise, it’s 100% 21st-century knowledge… ’

Because the mechanical clock using weights was not too difficult, various blueprints could be found on the internet in the 21st century. Not only using wood or iron, but even designs made with plastic or origami were circulating.

In such circumstances, Hyang, who was a fan of knowledge, couldn’t just pass it by.

1. One of the most important sheep farm situated in Gangwon province.[↩]

2. I guess it means something like, no land is big enough if there’s a major influx of people all of a sudden.[↩]

Chapter 44
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (9)

Hyang continued explaining to Jang Yeong-sil^1, who was buried in the blueprints.

“As you can see, I’ve divided it based on 12 sections,, then divided the middle in half to indicate the ‘beginning,’ and then divided that in half again. So, the smallest unit is 2 gak 2.”

“I understand.”

“But there’s a problem. It’s difficult to connect it to the device that tells time by sound. I wish you could handle this one.”

“But, we have just received a command from His Royal Majesty right now…”

“Isn’t it the same clock, after all? Think of it as a warm-up before you build the big one. And, I’ll explain it well to His Majesty. Don’t worry.”

At Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil began to ponder. Seeing Jang Yeong-sil’s serious face, Hyang was inwardly pleading and pleading again.

‘Please do it, just do it!’

As if unaware of Hyang’s feelings, Jang Yeong-sil, who had been pondering, opened his mouth, “To be honest, I really want to make the Crown Prince’s clock. But, there is a strict command from His Royal Majesty…”

“That problem! I’ll solve it!” Hyang hastily cut off Jang Yeong-sil’s words.

“Huh? What?”

“I’ll solve the problem regarding His Majesty! And, you said the calculations were difficult, didn’t you? Do you know someone who is good at that?”

Taken aback by the sudden shift, Jang Yeong-sil stuttered in response, “We have Officer Jeong Cho from the Ministry of Rites, and Officer Jeong In-ji^3 from the Hall of Worthies, and I’ve heard that even Il-cheon from the Ministry of Law Enforcement is good at arithmetic calculations, and umm…”

“That’s enough! Got it. Keep those blueprints safe!”

“Huh? What? What? Your Highness? Your Highness!”

Holding the blueprints that Hyang practically threw at him, Jang Yeong-sil desperately called out to the fading figure of Hyang in the distance. But, Hyang didn’t hear him.

“If I can’t do basic calculations, and Jang Yeong-sil can’t do basic calculations, then we should find people who are good at calculations!”

As he hurriedly moved towards the Royal Secretariat, a warning light went on in Hyang’s mind for one person’s name. “Wait? Jeong In-ji? That Jeong In-ji? The one who’s in cahoots with Suyang^4?”

Pausing at the name Jeong In-ji, Hyang quickly made a decision. “Oh, yes! Jeong In-ji, you are definitely going to work overtime!”

“The Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

King Sejong, who was discussing government affairs with the ministers, granted entry at the unexpected news of Hyang’s arrival.

“What brings you here?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied, “I have a request to ask of you, Father.”

“A request?”

At the word ‘request,’ all the ministers, starting from the Minister of Personnel, froze. The storm that dyed the beginning of the year in blood was triggered by that very ‘request.’

King Sejong also asked Hyang with a tense face, “A request? So, what is it?”

“Please assign people to me!”

“People?”

“Yes! Jeong-cho from the Office of Administration, Il-cheon from the Ministry of Law Enforcement, Jeong In-ji from the Hall of Worthies. Ah! I also need Jang Yeong-sil, and I also need military technicians from time to time.”

“Jeong-cho, Il-cheon, Jeong In-ji…”

King Sejong started to search his memory for information about the mentioned individuals. As King Sejong was trying to recall, the officials from the departments to which the people in question belonged turned pale.

“Your Majesty! These people…”

“Why? Is there a problem with them?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Looking at the hesitant ministers, the Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel took charge. “Your Highness Crown Prince, the individuals you requested are important talents in each department, and if they are pulled out, it will be difficult to carry on with the work. It seems that you must have something important in mind to have made such a request, but managing the nation is also a serious matter…”

To put it simply, it was ‘What do we do if you take away those who work well? We will not give them up!’.

“Is that so? Why does the Crown Prince want them?”

“I’ve contemplated a few mechanisms for the advancement of Joseon. However, to implement these into physical reality requires precise calculation, and for that, individuals skilled in arithmetic are necessary.”

“Hmm… mechanisms…”

When Sejong seemed intrigued, Hyang quickly struck while the iron was hot. “First and foremost, I intend to make a clock!”

“A clock?”

“Yes. The current water clock that Your Majesty mentioned is bulky enough to require a separate building.”

“That’s true.”

“However, the clock I intend to make can be as small as a full-grown man, or large enough to be installed on top of a tower.”

“The size of a grown man?”

“Indeed! If properly completed, it could be installed not only in the palace but in all government offices and provincial offices as well. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in Joseon could easily tell the time?”

“Hmm… putting them in the palace and government offices… nationwide…” Sejong, who had been pondering over Hyang’s words, came to a conclusion, “Good! I will assign the people you want to you! However, this is only temporary. If you manage to create the clock, I will remove the word ‘temporary’! This is because the people you want are also talents needed for national affairs!”

“Your Majesty’s generosity is boundless!” Hyang responded loudly and bowed deeply.

Thus, the ‘Dream Team’5 that will make Joseon fly’ gradually began to take shape.

Those selected by Sejong’s decree gathered at Eastern Hall (Donggungjeon).

“Oh! Your Excellency Jang! How have you been?”

“Same to you! It’s been a while!”

Jeong Cho and Jang Yeong-sil greeted each other with happy faces. Jang Yeong-sil, who was specially selected by Sejong, first formed a relationship with Jeong Cho. After a light exchange of greetings, Jeong Cho asked Jang Yeong-sil a question.

“I heard that the Crown Prince is making a clock, is that true?”

“Yes.”

“He said he can adjust the size freely, is that true?”

“Yes.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s answers, others who were summoned to Eastern Hall gathered around. As people came together, Jang Yeong-sil brought out a bundle of blueprints he had set aside and spread them out.

“This is the blueprint for the clock designed by His Highness. It uses a falling weight instead of water.”

“Hmm…”

“Huh…”

While listening to Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation, people looked over the blueprint. While tracing the parts with their fingers and examining the paths of movement, Jeong Cho opened his mouth. “This… it seems like it uses a fixed hour system to define the whole day?”

“That’s right.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s response, all fell into contemplation.

In Joseon, daytime was divided by the fixed hour system using twelve divisions, and nighttime was divided into five watches by the variable (temporal) hour system. However, the variable hour system had the problem of fluctuating time lengths depending on the season.

“His Highness said he wants the people to use it, but won’t this be a problem?”

Just as Jeong In-ji pointed out a problem, Hyang’s voice came from behind: “If the length of the night determines the length of the hour, won’t there be problems during the day as well? Then, it would be better to get used to the fixed hour system. Even for the sake of the future.”

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived!” an inner servant exclaimed.

Upon discovering Hyang, everyone present respectfully bowed. Hyang, who returned a light bow, gestured with his hand. “Please take your seats.”

At Hyang’s command, everyone gathered around the conference table. Hyang, who was sitting at the head of the table, placed a bundle of papers he had been holding onto the table and continued speaking, “His Majesty referred to this occasion as ‘temporary,’ but I intend to smoothly shed that label. Have you all seen the blueprints?”

“We have, Your Highness.”

“What do you all think?”

“While it only uses the fixed hour system, I believe it can certainly function.”

“I also hold the same view.”

At Hyang’s question, everyone present affirmed their belief in the success of the project. Hyang, who lightly nodded his head, spoke, “I too share your views. The issue now is creating a device that links to this and notifies the time audibly. I would like you to work on the calculations and designs for that part.”

“Hmm…” People who had been briefly pondering responded unanimously, “We will follow the Crown Prince’s command!”

Although there was a moment of hesitation, everyone accepted without delay. They were also intrigued by the project.

Upon hearing the response, Hyang held out the bundle of papers to them. “To begin with, I’d like to gauge your arithmetic abilities. Please solve these problems.”

Hyang offered them problems he had found in the mathematics books of the Eastern Roman Empire. Those who received the test papers immediately brought out their gold pens and inkwells from their sleeves and began to calculate.

“Stop.”

About an hour later, Hyang declared the end of the test. After collecting the test papers, Hyang checked the answers while looking at the answer sheet he had prepared in advance. “Hmm…,” while grading the answer sheet, Hyang looked around at the people surrounding him. “First, let’s start with the construction of the clock. Now that you’re under my command, there won’t be any moonlighting 6. So, put all your efforts into completing the prototype of the clock.”

“We will follow your command!”

“How long do you think it will take?”

At Hyang’s question, everyone leaned their heads together and mumbled. After a brief discussion, Jeong-cho, appointed as the representative, answered, “The design of the most important part, measuring time, is already completed, so we only need to design the part that announces time audibly. So, we believe we can make the prototype in about a month.”

“Then, I will report to His Majesty that it will take a month. Not only my reputation but also yours is at stake, so you must do your best.”

“We will do our best!”

Assigning a workspace for his Dream Team, Hyang returned to his library and muttered, “That’s a close call…”

What Hyang referred to as a close call was the mathematical skills of his Dream Team. The problems he had picked out in advance were selected from the maths books of the Eastern Roman Empire. The problems were of middle and high school level—excluding calculus. When Hyang himself solved them, they were roughly 80 point problems, but among the officials just now, the highest score was 70, with most hovering around 50 to 60 points.

“I thought the Joseon nobles liked to solve maths problems. What should I do about this?”

What Hyang expressed as a difficulty was that it was hard to teach maths with his own skills. After much contemplation, Hyang soon found a solution.

“Ah! There’s Hui people!”

___________________

A month later, the Dream Team kept their promise. Sejong was greatly satisfied with the completed clock.

“Produce these in large quantities and install them primarily in the palace and the Six Ministries!”

“We will follow your order!”

Thus, clocks were installed throughout the palace and every corner of the Six Ministries.

And soon, a nightmare for all the officials present.

As the balance of power was significantly inclined towards Sejong, the official debates were drastically reduced to half in the hours of 9 AM~11 AM and 3 PM~5 PM. This was because there was no longer a need to humble the ministers through debates, as it was deemed unnecessary.

When it was time for the debates, the government officials and ministers hurriedly moved to the debate hall. If anyone was even slightly late, Sejong, who had come early and was waiting, silently glanced at the tardy minister and then at the clock.

Without uttering a single word, every time this happened, the late minister had to sweat coldly.

If the ministers were sweating cold, for the other regular officials of the Six Ministries, the gates of hell had been wide opened for them.

“When can you finish this report?”

“I can finish it by exactly 4 PM.”

“Really? Understood.”

And when the promised time came, the superiors reprimanded their subordinate officials.

“Look at this! It’s already 4 PM! Is it still far off?”

“I apologize. Just a bit more time…”

“Hmph! Hurry up!”

As these incidents increased, the subordinates came up with strategies, but they too became the subject of squabbles.

“When can you finish this report?”

“If it’s exactly by 6 PM…”

“Only by then? It’s now 7 AM~9 AM. Have you given up on getting promoted?”

“No, that’s not it!”

“Hmph! A talent from Sungkyunkwan University is this slow in doing his work… tsk tsk.“

“I apologize.”

“Get back to work!”

Eventually, the highly stressed officials made it a routine to head straight to the bar or a nearby tavern to drink as soon as they got off work.

Sejong kept his promise.

“Right. Those you wanted are now your people. What are you going to do now?”

“Please establish an independent agency.”

“An independent agency?”

Hyang explained in detail to Sejong. After listening to the explanation, Sejong fell into deep thought. After a long contemplation, Sejong spoke, “It’s tough to make a decision on the spot. I’ll give you an answer in five days.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Five days later, Sejong made his decision. “I permit it.”

“Your graciousness is immeasurable!”

Unable to hide his joy, Hyang bowed deeply.

This is how the largest research institution in Joseon, the ‘Joseon Science and Technology Development Institute'7 was established.

1. Famous Korean scientist and engineer during Sejong’s reign. Read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jang_Yeong-sil for info.[↩]

2. 刻, gak = quarter, 15 minutes[↩]

3. Read more about him HERE[↩]

4. Hyang’s younger brother, also later reigned as King Sejo after setting a coup d’etat against his own nephew (Yi Hong-wi (or King Danjong)) for the throne.[↩]

5. Anecdote for a reality Korean TV Show, a sports game genre[↩]

6. doing 2 jobs at once[↩]

7. LOL. A Joseon version of KAIST[↩]

Chapter 45
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (10)

The institution named the ‘Joseon Science and Technology Development Institute’ was as impressive as its long name.

The Joseon Science and Technology Development Institute (hereinafter referred to as the Institute) is an independent institution that only obeys the king’s command.

“The chief executive of the Institute shall be limited exclusively to the Crown Prince.”

“The Institute’s annual budget is guaranteed to be a minimum of one-tenth and a maximum of three-tenth out of the country’s annual budget.”

“The intellectual property rights obtained from the commercialization of technologies or apparatus developed by the Institute are divided into three parts: 40% for the state, 30% for the Institute’s finances, and 30% for the developers or the development team.”

(Abridged)

Thanks to the Crown Prince being the chief executive of the independent institution that only obeys the king’s command, it was freed from political influences and, due to the guaranteed budget from one to three-tenths of the national annual budget, it was the birth of a powerful institution with no financial worries.

Of course, the things to uphold were as massive as the enormous benefits they received.

“Researchers in the Institute must announce their results at least once every two years. However, forming a group for announcement is also valid.”

“Duplicated results are not allowed. If duplication is revealed, all benefits will be stripped and the individual will be expelled from the Institute.”

“The use of the budget is to be thoroughly disclosed. If it is discovered that the budget is being used for non-research purposes, the provided budget will be fully reclaimed and the individual will be expelled.”

“Everything studied in the Institute is treated as a state secret and if it is privately announced or leaked, it will be punished as treason.”

Although there were quite strict compliance matters, over time, it was the birth of an independent institution that took its place as the highest academic institution in Joseon alongside the Hall of Worthies. And it was the birth of an institution that became a challenge and a nightmare for the following Crown Princes who wished to surpass their ancestors.

The remarkable status and position of the Institute was a story of a far-off future, and at present, it was indeed pitiful. The people that Hyang was leading were the fixed members Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, Lee Cheon, and Jang Yeongsil, along with the craftsmen from Military Arsenal and other departments, whom were called when needed.

“It started humbly, but the end will be grand… bullshit! The staff is small, but no one can underestimate us!”

Sejong had allowed it, but Hyang, after seeing the reaction of the officials who were full of question marks, clenched his teeth.

“First of all, let’s start with an organizational chart!”

Hyang started by systematizing the organization of the Institute. He decided that him, the Crown Prince would be the director first, and the sub-organization would be divided into the ‘Department of Basic Science and Technology Research Development’ and the ‘Department of Applied Science and Technology Research Development’.

The vice-director of the Institute would receive the rank of senior-rank-2^1 while serving as the head of the Basic Science Department, meanwhile, the head of the Applied Science Department would receive the rank of junior-rank-2 while concurrently serving as the general-director of the Institute.

The heads of each research group under them, who would directly conduct research, were given at least a rank of junior-rank-3, so as to completely block any potential for political exclusion.

“There won’t be any high-ranking official who will pick a fight with the Crown Prince as their backbone, but we have to block any backlash from the start.”

Hyang, having created the organizational chart, ran straight to Sejong to request his approval.

“The vice-director is a senior-rank-2… isn’t this too high?”

“The Chief Scholar of the Hall of Worthies is also a senior-rank-2. The head of the Board of Six Ministries is actually a senior-rank-1, and they are serving concurrently.”

“That may be true but…”

Seeing Sejong hesitate, Hyang added more. “The Institute is not my playground. This Institute will become an academic institution of Joseon as important as the Hall of Worthies.”

Hearing Hyang’s words, Sejong who was contemplating, came to a conclusion, “Alright. Do as you fit… I will push for it.”

“Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful!”

After bowing deeply, Hyang quickly left the royal court. The ministers, who had been watching his actions, expressed their concerns to Sejong.

“We worry that you are providing too much support.”

“If you think about what the Crown Prince has shown so far, I believe he is fully capable.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers closed their mouths. They could have argued, but the words of their predecessors were still vivid in their memories.

Hyang, having received Sejong’s affirmation, returned to the Eastern Palace and cheerfully shouted, “Now, shall we indulge a little?”

“Alright, everyone, gather around!”

Jeong-cho and his party, who were crammed into a room of the same class, immediately gathered at Hyang’s call, as the workplace was not yet determined. As the people gathered, Hyang went into an explanation showing the organization chart.

“The organization is primarily divided into two.”

((I’ll shorten the names of the departments into Basic Science Dept. and Applied Science Dept. for convenience))

Hyang explained the structure of the organization and the allocation of personnel. The Basic Science Dept. was entrusted to Jeong-cho and Jeong In-ji, while the Applied Science Dept. was handed over to Lee Cheon.

“…And the chief in each department will oversee the heads of the military supply department and various other departments to create artifacts needed for research, or to make prototypes of artifacts that will go into mass production. Do you understand?”

“I understand the allocation, but what does each organization do?”

To Jeong-cho’s question, who had unexpectedly become the representative of the people, Hyang answered immediately, “Basic Science… or in short, the Basic Dept., will literally study basic disciplines and technology.”

“What do you mean by basics?”

“From study of mathematics to metallurgy, chemistry, architecture, and more. As for the Applied Science Department, you will be tasked with advancing one step further based on the research results and knowledge already known in the Basic Science Department.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Jeong-cho asked another question, “I understand the need for studying mathematics, but why should we also consider areas like metallurgy, chemistry, and architecture as academic disciplines?”

“Of course they are academic disciplines. If you look at the examples so far, they’ve all been passed down through generations of artisans and learned from their own experience. This is not particularly good. If a skilled artisan dies without teaching his technique to a disciple or his child, everything he has worked for disappears. But what would happen if we record and classify this?”

Jeong-cho immediately answered Hyang’s question, “If there are people who want to learn, they can learn based on that and further develop it.”

“That’s right.” Hyang’s explanation continued afterwards. After quite a long time spent in explanation, Jeong-cho and the others were able to understand why the part they had said was the artisan’s share was actually part of academic discipline.

“I now understand why you call this field an academic discipline. Then, should we gather the artisans in this field?”

At Jeongcho’s question, Hyang shook his head. “No. The Basic Science Department has something to do before that.”

“What is it?”

“Start learning arithmetic.”

“Pardon?”

Hyang designated tasks for the Basic and Applied Science Departments.

“We have been established as an independent organization and are planning to spend a considerable budget. So you all know what would happen, right?”

At Hyang’s words, everyone but Jang Yeongsil nodded.

“There will be a lot of checks and balances.”

“That’s right. Therefore, you need to produce visible results first. And as soon as possible.”

“It won’t be easy.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong-cho and Lee Cheon nodded with worried faces. Jeong In-ji, who was still a newcomer, looked as if he sort of understood, and Jang Yeongsil, who had been busy enough to do what he was told, looked as if he had no idea.

“Indeed. So, let’s start with things that can yield results as soon as possible. First of all, the task of the Basic Science Department is to revise the stratigraphy^2. That’s why you need to learn arithmetic.”

Jeongcho then pointed out Hyang’s words, “We are already working on the revision of the stratigraphy.”

“But the speed is not good because most of the officials involved in the work are serving multiple roles.”

“That’s true.”

“Therefore, I want you, Your Excellency, and Sir Jeong, to take charge of this task. If necessary, you can recruit those who are good at arithmetic and interested in it, or you can even bring in the Confucian scholars and give them official positions.”

“Bringing in Confucian scholars could be problematic.”

“You can call it guidance for teaching arithmetic. If they keep objecting, just mention my name.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t forget that we need to produce results as soon as possible. For the time being, please report the progress to me every fortnight.”

“We will keep it in mind.”

Hyang, who had given tasks to Jeong-cho and Jeong In-ji, turned to Lee Cheon.

“My Lord, let’s work together.”

“What are we going to do?”

“We are going to improve the firearms.”

Hyang’s words made Lee Cheon’s eyes flash dangerously. He was also a martial artist. Observing such a reaction from Lee Cheon, Hyang continued speaking, “Do you have anyone to recommend?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Lee Cheon immediately replied, “There is General Choi Hae-san^3 who is working as the Military Equipment Supervisor.”

“General Choi Hae-san?”

“He is the son of General Choi Mu-seon^4”

“Let’s go immediately!” Hyang, who abruptly stood up from his seat, gave an order to Jeong-cho. “We are currently arranging a pavilion for use as a lab. So for the time being, use this place as a lab.”

“I understand.”

After assigning a task to Jeong-cho, Hyang turned to Lee Cheon.

“Sir, let’s go!”

“Yes!”

Upon leaving the Eastern Palace, Hyang turned to Lee Cheon.

“Where is General Choi Hae-san now? I don’t think I saw him the last time I went to the Military Equipment Bureau?”

“He is serving in the Ministry of Law Enforcement.”

“Then let’s go to the Ministry of Law Enforcement!”

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Law Enforcement, Hyang immediately searched for Choi Hae-san. Responding to the summons, Choi Hae-san bowed politely to Hyang, “Did you call for me, Your Royal Highness?”

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you like this. I’m glad to finally know your name.”

“I am honored!”

As Hyang displayed friendliness, Choi Hae-san responded with a hearty smile. Seeing this, Hyang cut to the chase. “Let’s create some works together.”

“Pardon?”

In the private office set up in the Ministry of Law Enforcement building, the three of them continued the conversation.

“What do you mean by creating works?”

“I mean we should upgrade the main weapons used by our Joseon.”

“You’re talking about the weapons?”

“That’s right. If you look at the situation of our Joseon army, we cannot even compare with Ming, our cavalry is on par with the Jurchen but we certainly can’t overpower them, and in hand-to-hand combat, we are pushed back by the Japanese. Do you agree?”

At Hyang’s pointed remark, Choi Hae-san nodded. “I agree.”

“And we can’t simply increase the size of our forces given Joseon’s dire financial situation.”

“That’s true. It’s a sad state of affairs.”

“So, I think we should first improve the quality of our weapons and then gradually expand the size of our forces.”

To Hyang’s words, Choi Hae-san offered a rebuttal: “I’m sorry to say this, Your Highness. Our Joseon’s swords and spears are not inferior in quality.”

“Swords and spears are not the only weapons. And they are the main weapons in hand-to-hand combat. They don’t suit the situation of our Joseon army. The weapons I’m talking about are gunpowder weapons. I mean cannons and guns.”

“You’re talking about cannons and guns?” Choi Hae-san’s face, asking again, was mixed with equal parts anticipation and worry. He was hopeful about Hyang’s innovative ideas, symbolized by the golden brush and printing plate. But as someone who had personally handled gunpowder and manufactured cannons, he was also deeply concerned.

‘Cannons are not something anyone can mess with!’

Hiding his concern, Choi Hae-san continued his inquiry, “You mentioned cannons and guns. How do you plan to improve their quality?”

“Right now, there’s only a plan, but first, we need to start by increasing their destructive power. Next, we need to improve the production materials and methods for making them.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing Choi Haesan deep in thought, Hyang continued speaking, “First, I would like to see the actual power and operation of the ‘hwapo‘5 and ‘chongtong.'6 Would it be possible to have a demonstration?”

“This requires the permission of His Royal Majesty, your Highness.”

“I will inform Father.”

In response to Hyang’s request to see the demonstration of ‘hwapo’ and ‘chongtong,’ Sejong asked a question.

“Is it absolutely necessary? I won’t allow it if it’s just for your amusement.”

“It’s not for amusement. If we want to strengthen national defense, improving the ‘hwapo’ is essential. So far, the courtiers have not had a proper opportunity to see the ‘hwapo’ in action.”

After hearing Hyang’s firm response, Sejong made a decision. “Prepare the demonstration of the ‘hwapo’ and ‘chongtong’ as proposed by the Crown Prince.”

“We will follow your command!”

“And the courtiers will also attend the demonstration. ‘Hwapo’ is a vital presence for our Joseon army, but the courtiers haven’t properly examined it since their promotion. This is an opportunity for them to see it firsthand.”

The attendants responded in unison to Sejong’s command.

“We will follow your command!”

1. 정2품, 종2품, 종3품: These are official ranks in the Joseon Dynasty. ‘정’ and ‘종’ distinguish civil and military officials respectively, and the number following is the grade of the official rank. Lower numbers indicate higher ranks. Not me trying to literally read historical books, making sense of the officials ranks during Joseon time.[↩]

2. the branch of geology concerned with the order and relative position of strata and their relationship to the geological timescale.[↩]

3. A general who created the first hwacha or known as handcart cannon[↩]

4. A renown military commander during Late Goryeo and early Joseon. He is known for creating gunpowder recipe.[↩]

5. A type of hand cannon[↩]

6. A musket[↩]

Chapter 46
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (11)

It took ten days to prepare for the demonstration of cannons (hwapo) and muskets (chongtong) in the military training ground.

The reason it took so long was that the initial plan for a small-scale demonstration with cannons and muskets had transformed into a formal firepower demonstration involving both cavalry and infantry, which required more time and preparation.

“Ever since I ascended the throne, I have yet to witness our Joseon Army’s appearance since the last conquest of Tsushima Island. In addition to the artillery demonstration that will be held this time, I will also watch the demonstration of cavalry and infantry.”

“We humbly accept!”

According to King Sejong’s command, the number of units increased from 10 companies to 12 companies immediately after the coronation and then decreased back to 10 companies. Captains and soldiers were selected, and artillery troops and musketeers were chosen.

While preparing the soldiers, the location for the demonstration was also decided.

“Wouldn’t it be best to hold it in front of Yongsan by the riverside?”

“That place seems to be the most suitable.”

Following the decision of the officials, a venue for the demonstration was arranged in Yongsan. The firm ground facing the riverside was chosen for the demonstrations of infantry and cavalry, while the sandy beach by the river was designated for the demonstration of cannons and muskets.

Even after the location was determined, everything wasn’t finished. They continued working overnight, creating straw men as targets for the soldiers and painting wooden boards to serve as targets for arrows, cannons, and muskets.

And after ten days, the long-awaited demonstration was held. It was a busy time for farming activities, but when the rest of the people heard that the king was coming, all peasants and nobles alike gathered on the road from the south gate to Yongsan.

“Halt~. Kneel! His Majesty is passing by!”

As the majestic music from the royal band and the sound of court officials’ carriages reached the street, the people who had gathered there kneeled on the ground.

“To see His Majesty’s countenance is a lifelong honor!”

“Long live His Majesty!”

“Long live!”

“May you have ten thousand years of prosperity!”

Since the implementation of the smallpox vaccination, the support of the people for King Sejong was almost absolute. Although life was still tough, the fact that they had prevented the deadly epidemic called cowpox was enough for the people to show their loyalty to King Sejong, even to the point of pretending to die for him.

When King Sejong climbed up the temporary stage set up at the demonstration site, the general in charge of commanding the soldiers shouted loudly.

“Present arms!”

“Attention!”

King Sejong responded to the soldiers’ salute and sat down on the chair, giving the order.

“Begin.”

“Yes!”

Following King Sejong’s order, the demonstration of the Joseon Army began.

The demonstration started with the cavalry.

Cavalry soldiers wearing iron plates, leather plates, chainmail, mirror armor, and helmet armor lined up and started moving slowly in formation.

“A combination of spear cavalry and bow cavalry, is it?”

As the demonstration began, Hyang, with an excited expression, unfolded a signboard. The paper attached to the signboard had characters written in Hanja, such as spear, sword, bow, cannon, and musket, and the items to be checked were listed beneath them.

These signs were prepared by Hyang in advance to prevent any accidents. The possible accident referred to inadvertently using Hangul instead of Hanja due to being distracted during the demonstration.

“Hmm…”

Hyang carefully observed the spear infantry preparing for a charge. The spears used by the cavalry appeared similar to the ones used by the soldiers defending the palace.

“If I recall the spears I saw at the palace…”

Hyang remembered that the specifications of the spear he saw were a length of 10 cheok (210 cm) for the shaft and a blade length of 1 cheok 5 chon (31.5 cm).

As Hyang observed the spear infantry, he murmured softly, “They seem quite short, don’t they?” Hyang raised his head and marked a note with an arrow symbol on the pre-prepared document.

While Hyang was making a negative evaluation, the cavalry began their demonstration.

“Fire!”

Upon the order of the cavalry commander, the palace guards at the rear row simultaneously released their arrows.

Swish!

With a fierce sound of flight, the arrows flew in an arc towards the distant scarecrows.

“Charge!”

“Yah-ah!”

“Woo-ah!”

As soon as the commander’s charge command was given, the spear infantry struck the sides of their horses.

*Clatter! Clatter!*

Amidst the sound of galloping horses, the spear infantry charged forward and skillfully adjusted the speed and direction of their horses, thrusting their spears at the scarecrows in front of them.

“Stab and withdraw? Slow down the speed?”

Hyang continued to raise his head quizzically. It was because, based on the knowledge he acquired from movies and the internet in the 21st century, he couldn’t quite understand the meaning behind the soldiers’ actions…

According to the knowledge from the 21st century, the role of cavalry was to break through the enemy’s front line like tanks. The cavalry would collapse the enemy’s front line with their spears and then penetrate the enemy’s formation with their swords. Once the cavalry stopped, they became easy targets for the infantry.

“Why are they deliberately reducing their acquired speed?” Hyang continued to tilt his head in confusion.

However, this was a misunderstanding on Hyang’s part. In order for the spear infantry to be effective, they needed to be protected on the flanks. Furthermore, the attack route of the spear infantry was limited to a straight line. If the opponent in a cavalry versus cavalry battle was a skilled rider, they could slightly twist or tilt their body to dodge the attack. It was basic to thrust into the inside of the opponent’s spear and counterattack.

And the Jurchens had skilled riders.

Therefore, the test method for the horse-mounted spear technique in the Joseon Military Exam was as follows:

- The examinee had to thrust twice at five scarecrows placed at regular intervals. Each time they stabbed the scarecrow’s face, they would receive 7 points, and an additional 7 points for each additional hit.

Upon learning this fact later, Hyang sighed, “Sigh~ Nothing is easy.”

After the demonstration of the cavalry, it was followed by the demonstration of the infantry. The spearmen and shieldbearers constructed a defensive formation under the protection of archers.

“The enemy is retreating! Charge!”

“Woo-ah!”

At the commander’s order, some of the soldiers who were forming the defensive formation shouted and rushed forward.

However, the unit that had formed the defensive line maintained their formation and protected the main unit. After the charging unit hypothetically struck down the scarecrows, the demonstration of the cavalry and infantry came to an end with the victory cheer.

“Now, we will have a demonstration of cannons and muskets.”

When the demonstration of the cannons was mentioned, Hyang’s eyes began to sparkle even more.

After a while, large and small cannons were brought out on wheeled carriages to the demonstration ground.

“Starting now.”

Upon Sejong’s command, the commander ordered the artillerymen in a loud voice.

“Fire the cannons!”

Bang! Bang!

According to the commander’s orders, the artillerymen fired their cannons. Each time the cannons spewed fire, large arrows soared into the sky, creating pillars of water in the Han River.

“Wow!”

Whenever the water pillars formed in the Han River, the attendants exclaimed in admiration. Their admiration reached its peak as they fired the last shot at the general’s target.

The arrows flew diagonally across the Han River towards Dongjak district (across from Yongsan) from the demonstration site, reaching the vicinity of the opposite riverbank.

“Amazing! How far is that?”

King Sejong asked in astonishment, and the commander proudly replied, “It’s approximately 1300 bo (about 1.6km).”

“Truly impressive! Prince, what do you think?”

Prince Hyang, lost in thought, couldn’t answer right away when asked by King Sejong.

“Prince?”

Only after King Sejong called him again did Hyang regain his composure and hastily responded, “Yes? Yes?”

“What do you think of the power of the general’s artillery?”

“It would be excellent to have them on our warships. Since the enemy tends to approach us and engage in close combat, wouldn’t it be best to annihilate them before they get close?”

“I see.”

While King Sejong nodded, the commander looked at Hyang with an admiring expression.

“To possess such knowledge of military tactics at such a young age, this is the revival of Joseon!”

“Now, let the chief’s demonstration begin.”

“I receive your orders!”

Following the commander’s orders, soldiers handling the chief’s artillery stepped forward, holding their weapons.

“The one loaded on that cart is the one-barrel musket.”

“I see. Proceed.”

“Fire!”

Bang! Pang! Pang!

Following the commander’s orders, starting with the musket, various types of artillery spewed fire. Only the musket, with the longest range, fired towards the Han River, while the others aimed at targets about 100 bo (about 120m) away.

After the demonstration ended, King Sejong praised the commander, “It was truly remarkable. Well done.”

“I am humbled!”

“Crown Prince, what do you think?”

“With a commander and soldiers so elite, I feel truly secure.”

“I am humbled!”

When even the crown prince praised him, the commander smiled and respectfully bowed his head. After finishing his words, Hyang turned to King Sejong. “Your Majesty, may I take a moment to examine the targets and speak with the soldiers?”

“Why are you like this?”

“I have something to confirm.”

Sejong narrowed his eyes at Hyang’s response. ‘This rascal? Does he have another scheme?’ Sejong pondered for a moment and nodded his head, “Permission granted.”

“Thank you! General, let’s go with me together!”

Following the commanding general who directed the demonstration, Hyang headed towards the place where the soldiers and weapons were. Upon seeing Hyang, the soldiers all saluted in unison.

“We greet the Crown Prince!”

“Good job. I am truly grateful to have soldiers like you, who allow me to sleep peacefully!”

“We are honored!”

The soldiers’ morale was boosted by Hyang’s praise. Observing them closely, Hyang confirmed the situation.

“The armor you all are wearing, did you acquire them yourselves?”

“Yes, we did!”

“I see…”

“No wonder. I heard there is a wide variety of armor available.”

In the Joseon Dynasty, conscripted soldiers had to procure their own weapons and armor. Especially in the case of cavalry, they had to provide their own horses as well, which meant that the majority of them came from wealthy families.

‘That’s why, as the number of cavalry soldiers increased, all sorts of unreliable people joined, and the true cavalrymen who devoted themselves to their studies were neglected. As a result, our defense has become a mess… Damn it! We’ve gone astray again!’

Having a brief moment of self-criticism, Hyang diligently inspected the equipment. What interested Hyang the most were the cannons and artillery pieces. After scrutinizing the inside of the cannons, Hyang nodded, “As expected…”

The main cannons of the Joseon army had the gunpowder compacted by a solid piece of wood^1. The elongated shape combined with a cylindrical structure made it impossible to use clay-based material as a compactor. This was because the diameter of the barrel was wider than the narrowest part of the muzzle. In such cases, only large pieces of clay could be used.

Nodding his head, Hyang carefully examined the artillery, which belonged to the celestial and terrestrial rankings.

“So they are the solid-wood barrier cannon type… Is that correct?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang looked at the cannons with a contemplative expression.

‘How should I handle this? Should I start with upgrading the cannons?’ Deep in thought, Hyang turned to the general. “I would like to see the cannons.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang headed towards the location where the artillery soldiers were stationed. He meticulously inspected the cannons and examined the arrows and windage they used, then headed towards the target range.

“As expected.” Arriving at the target range, Hyang nodded.

The number of arrows stuck in the target was noticeably low compared to the number fired.

“Using a single shot multiple-rounds-method for target shooting, it seems that only area suppression^2 is hit.”

While examining the target range, Hyang turned to the commander who had followed behind. “What about its penetration power?”

“When you say penetration power…”

“The Jurchen tribe people must be wearing armor too, right?”

“Yes.”

“How does our Joseon compare to them?”

“We can consider them to be similar. For smaller tribes, they mainly wear leather armor, and for relatively powerful tribes, they wear iron or chainmail.”

“What would happen if we shot them with these artillery pieces?”

Hyang’s question left the commander in a perplexed expression. “We haven’t conducted any experiments… However, there have been reports that even at a distance of 40 bo (about 50 meters), that shots from these artillery pieces have pierced and killed Jurchen tribe people.”

Hyang stroked his chin in response to the commander’s answer. ‘I think I’ve seen videos on the internet where arrows were even deflected at close range, right? I should start from here, as expected.’

“I understand. Let’s return now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As Hyang walked towards where Sejong was, he muttered softly.

1. Gunpowder is compacted to maximize the buildup of combustion gas inside the barrel[↩]

2. Firing a high volume amount of rounds or projectile towards a target area as a means of suppressing the enemy in a designated area[↩]

Chapter 47
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (12)

When Hyang returned, Sejong declared the end of the demonstration.

“With this, I will conclude the demonstration. I will provide alcohol and meat for the hardworking soldiers, so enjoy the feast.”

“Wahhh!”

“Long live the King! Long live!”

Although the demonstration was over, Hyang shook his head and got up from his seat. “I just can’t stand it. I can’t resist my curiosity.” Hyang, who had left his seat, continued to search for and investigate the artillerymen and gunners.

“I’m sorry for holding you up like this when our Majesty has provided a feast.”

“Not at all!”

“Absolutely not!”

At Hyang’s apology, the artillerymen and gunners vehemently denied, shaking their hands.

“I won’t let you feel disappointed, so please help me a little.”

“Not at all!”

“Just give us the order!”

“Thank you. First of all… What is inconvenient about using these cannons?”

In response to Hyang’s question, the artillerymen took a moment to think and then shared their issues.

- It’s difficult to use. Other than the Ilchongtong placed on a mini-carriage, all other types are used by placing them on a pole and even a sturdy soldier finds it hard to fire more than two shots.

- The distance to fully suppress the enemy is too short. If a small one is fitted into this Ilchongtong (hand cannon) and fired, it can fly about 200 steps (approximately 240 meters), but it’s difficult to hit accurately. Considering the time taken to reload, a shooting method of firing multiple rounds at once is used, but in that case, the enemy must be drawn in to at least 50 steps (approximately X meters). To definitely hit, it has to be shot from within 40 steps, or even 30 steps.

“Hmm… I see.” Hyang, who had been nodding his head and taking notes of the soldiers’ words, looked at the Ilchongtong they were holding.

“Is this the it? May I hold it for a moment?”

“Yes, sir.”

Hyang, who held the weapon handed over by the soldier, murmured softly, “So, the problem is the center of gravity? How much does this one weigh?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Choi Hae-san, who was next to him, answered promptly, “It weighs about 3 geun 8 ryang (approximately 2.2 kg) and is about 1 cheok 4 chon 4 bun (approximately 44.6 cm) long.”

“What about the length of the handle?”

“There’s no exact standard, but it should be at least 4 cheok (approximately 1.2 m).”

“The lengths vary quite a bit for that, don’t they?”

At Hyang’s remark, Choi Hae-san replied with a perplexed expression, “The difference is a little depending on the cheok (尺, traditional unit of length) used.”

“Damn…” Hyang clicked his tongue at Choi Hae-san’s response. He then noticed that the size of the one-muskets the soldiers were holding varied.

This was a problem penetrating the Joseon era. The standard of the measurement (cheok), the unit to determine the length, was ambiguous in Joseon. What Hyang had heard was that various lengths such as Huangzhong unit system^1, architectural unit system (營造尺)2, and ceremonial artifact unit system^3 were used.

“Isn’t the unification of measurements basic in manufacturing?”

“When we receive it as a tribute…”

“Tsk!” While clicking his tongue and looking at the Ilchongtong (hand cannon), Hyang tilted his head. ‘Even if the center of gravity is heavily biased towards the front, if you look at the size of the soldiers, it doesn’t seem like they can’t shoot twice and cause a fuss, right?’

No matter how much he thought about it, Hyang, who couldn’t understand, asked a question with a slight hope, “How much gunpowder is put in the cannon?”

“1 yang (approximately 37.5 g).”

“What?!”

“Your Highness! What happened?!”

Nearby soldiers, commanders, and Choi Hae-san rushed at the startled Hyang. Hyang hastily waved his hand, “It’s nothing! Nothing at all! I was just surprised because more gunpowder was put in than I expected!”

“Ah, yes…”

Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, the people finally relaxed.

‘I’ve figured it out! The culprit was this!’

Thinking that he had found the root cause of the problem, Hyang hurriedly organized his place. “I have all the information I need now. General, I’ll send meat and alcohol through my servant. Please distribute it to them.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Both commanders and soldiers expressed their gratitude at Hyang’s words. Seeing this, Hyang waved his hand lightly. “This is for those of you who work tirelessly (day and night without rest) for Joseon. Please eat well, regain your strength, and solidify the defense of Joseon.”

“We’ll bear it in mind and follow your words!”

After the demonstration ended, Hyang spoke with Choi Hae-san on the way back to the palace.

“Does the operation of the cannons involve working in pairs?”

During the day’s demonstration, the artillerymen moved in pairs. One soldier held the barrel of the cannon tightly while another soldier beside him lit the fuse. After firing, a waiting soldier handed over a pre-loaded cannon, and the soldier holding the wick prepared to fire the new cannon by inserting the wick into the barrel.

In response to Hyang’s question, Choi Hae-san answered immediately, “Basically, we operate in pairs.”

“How do you manage when operating alone?”

“We hold the handle with the right hand and light the fuse with the left, or we secure the barrel under the right armpit, hold it with the left hand, and light the fuse with the right hand.”

“That must be inconvenient, isn’t it?”

At Hyang’s point, Choi Hae-san nodded. “Yes, it is. So while the two-person operation is the standard, it leads to the problem of consuming more manpower, making it difficult to expand the number of artillerymen.”

Choi Hae-san’s regretful expression was identical to a face Hyang had seen in a popular 21st-century commercial.

-‘It’s great for the men, so what can I say?’

Hyang nodded at Choi Hae-san’s explanation. “I see. To properly fire an Ilchongtong alone, even if not at the level of the tri-bicep and dual-kidney (三頭穴腎, a phrase indicating extreme physical prowess), one had to be at least at the level of the dual-bicep and quad-kidney (二頭四腎, referring to considerable physical strength).”

“Ha, ha, ha! That’s right!”

Back in the palace, Hyang opened an empty book and murmured, “The culprit was the amount of gunpowder.”

In the 21st century, when Hyang was in America making gunboats, he met numerous enthusiasts. Among the enthusiasts he met, a significant number were firearm enthusiasts, especially those collecting and shooting classic steam-powered guns.

Later, he had formed a close relationship with one such enthusiast, who had collected guns ranging from rifles of the American Revolutionary War period to firearms from World War II at a museum-level scale. Not content with just collecting firearms, the man also enjoyed shooting, and even purchased black powder in bulk to create reloaded bullets.

Just before returning to Korea, when Hyang visited his house, he had the chance to watch him reloading ammunition for a Henry rifle.

“This is the gun that appears in Western movies, right?”

At Hyang’s question, the enthusiast laughed and replied, “That’s a Winchester, this is what you could consider its predecessor.”

“How much gunpowder do you put in?”

“30 grains.”

[In the context of firearms, a grain is a unit used to measure the mass of bullets and the propellant (“powder”) used in ammunition. It’s one of the smallest units of weight in the imperial system, where 1 grain is approximately equal to 0.0648 grams.]

As the enthusiast continued to explain while reloading, the amount of black powder going into the 44-40 bullet was 30 grains.

“That seems a small amount for 30g?”

“No, No. 30 grain(gr). not gram.”

“Ah…”

For reference, the amount of black powder that was put in at that time was about 2g when converted to grams. With those 2g, they were able to shoot a lead bullet weighing about 14g at the speed of sound.

“Black powder has about half the power of smokeless powder, but with one nyan (traditional Korean unit of weight), it should produce at least the power of a cal 0.50… But because they hold it in such a sloppy position, problems occur…”

Hyang recalled a video she had seen on the internet in the 21st century.

It was footage of a demonstration at a Middle Eastern weapons expo. It was a shooting experience event with a large caliber hunting rifle. The Arabs, who clumsily held the gun, were unable to overcome the recoil and rolled around here and there. The video ended with someone, who seemed to have received proper training, shooting perfectly without making such a fool of themselves.

Recalling the video, Hyang sighed. “There’s no proper aiming device, so they have no choice but to aim visually, to get any effect they have to stuff in arrows or balls, and to get the bullets they’ve stuffed in to properly exert their power, the amount of gunpowder has to increase, and then the soldiers die… it’s a vicious cycle. Sigh~“

Hyang, who had let out a sigh, came to a conclusion. “I guess I have to start by making a proper personal weapon. But before that…”

The next day, Hyang went straight to General Choi Hae-san.

“General, I have a question.”

“I will answer sincerely.”

“Are the wicks that go into the guns all the same thickness?”

“That’s correct.”

“Could we possibly get those wicks now?”

“Please wait a moment.”

After asking for Hyang’s understanding, General Choi Hae-san called for someone and gave an order. A little later, the person who received the order handed the wicks over to General Choi Hae-san.

“Here they are.”

“Could you light the candle for me, please?”

“Uh? Yes.”

Hyang, who received the wicks, held a wick to the candle as soon as the flame lit up.

Chiik!

With a harsh smoke, as soon as the wick caught fire, Hyang blew it out immediately.

“Fuh!”

Fssst!

When Hyang blew, the burning wick fizzled and went out. Hyang performed the same experiment with other wicks and similar results came out. Seeing the results, Hyang nodded. “As expected… General, do you see what the problem is?”

At Hyang’s question, General Choi Hae-san nodded. “Yes. The wick is weak to the wind.”

“Was there no report about this problem?”

“No, there wasn’t. If the wick goes out due to the wind, they just replace it and light it again.”

At the response of General Choi Hae-san, who seemed to think it was not a big deal, Hyang’s expression sharpened. “On the battlefield where time is pressing? Please immediately contact the military inspector and find a wick of appropriate thickness.”

“I understand.”

A fortnight later, a report came from the military inspector to Sejong through the Ministry of Law Enforcement.

“Following the order of the Crown Prince, we conducted an investigation and found that the diameter of the line holes (fuse holes) of various types of artillery and guns was 7 ri (approx 2.1 mm), but the fire suddenly went out when firing, so we experimented with adding 1 ri to the diameter and the fire did not go out. However, there was no adjustment depending on the distance of the shots and the depth of the target hit. I respectfully suggest that the diameter of the line holes of artillery and guns should also be increased by 1 ri to a total of 8 ri.”

After confirming the report, Sejong gave an order to the Minister of Law Enforcement. “The content of the report is absolutely correct, so adjust the diameter of the line holes of all artillery and guns to 8 ri.”

“I understand!”

Sejong, who had given the order to his minister, had a pleased expression on his face. “As expected, of the Crown Prince.”

At this, Hyang still did not know, but changing the thickness of the fuse was something that had been done in real history during the reign of King Munjong^4.

Sejong knew only about the wick incident, but Hyang was busily moving under the water.

“The Crown Prince hasn’t been seen lately.”

At the words of Jeong-cho, Lee Cheon replied, “He found something very important in the documents from the Western scholars and has been conducting experiments in the separate annex building for five days already.”

“Experiments?”

“Yes. Through the Military Inspector and the merchants, he had obtained various types of acid solutions and mercury.

“Is that so?”

Upon hearing Lee Cheon’s reply, Jeong-cho turned his gaze towards the separate annex building set up on one side of the Eastern Palace.

Following Hyang’s request, two separate annex buildings were set up right next to the Eastern Palace. The larger of the two buildings was the main building where Jeong-cho and others worked, and the smaller one was assigned as a space for Hyang to conduct experiments alone. And this small building had become the place that the members of the Research Institute wanted to enter the most.

“The Crown Prince is coming!”

At the announcement of the inner guard, everyone who had been conversing casually straightened their posture. A little later, Hyang, holding a long wooden stick and a blueprint scroll, entered.

“Everyone, please sit down.”

“Yes.”

Centered around a large table, the people began a conversation under Hyang’s leadership.

“Have you all had your meal?”

“Yes. And you, Your Highness?”

“I have. It’s the prime of my life, so I need to eat well.” Hyang, who lightened the atmosphere with a light joke, checked the progress of the work. “Sir Jeong, how is the revision of the calendar method?”

At Hyang’s question, Jeong-cho responded with a slight bow, “There has been considerable progress. We’ve accurately identified the discrepancy between the recent established calendar method and our calendar system, and we’re creating rituals to correct it.”

“What about in the case of solar and lunar eclipses?”

“We are also creating equations for those.”

Upon hearing Jeong-cho’s response, Hyang’s face brightened. “You’ve worked hard. So when can we expect the results?”

“We should be able to finish by the end of this year.”

Upon hearing Jeong-cho’s response, Hyang’s eyes narrowed. “By the end of the year is too late. I would like to see the results before Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) at the latest.”

“Before… Chuseok?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s order, Jeong-cho’s face paled. Even now, he and his fellow scholar were pulling all-nighters as if it was a meal. They had planned to finish by the end of the year, fully prepared for the hard work. But the Crown Prince wanted it even sooner.

Seeing Jeong-cho and his fellow scholar’s faces turn pale, Hyang added, “If necessary, recruit more officials who are good at arithmetic. If it’s too much for two people, three can do it, if three can’t, then four or five can do it, can’t they?”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong made a distressed face. “We are short of volunteers…”

There had been a rumor going around among the officials working in the palace and the six ministries.

‘If you go to the Royal Library, the king will make you suffer, and if you go to the Research Institute, the prince will make you suffer.’

“I’ve told you before, bring them under my name. Why are you so hesitant, considering your high rank?”

At Hyang’s reproach, Jeong-cho bowed his head. “I accept your order.”

1. Measurements based on pitch system[↩]

2. Measurements used during constructions[↩]

3. Measurements used when creating ritual instruments[↩]

4. King Munjong is his reigning name, after Hyang took the throne in the future (if according to real history).[↩]

Chapter 48
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (13)

Having finished matters with Jeong-cho, Hyang looked back at Lee Cheon and Choi Hae-san.

“General Choi Hae-san. General Lee Cheon.”

“Yes.”

“I have an important matter to discuss with you, along with the other military engineers.”

“An important matter?”

“It’s the improvement of the guns.” Hyang unfolded the blueprint as he spoke. “If made properly, it can change the course of future battlefields.”

“Did you say, change the course of the battlefield?”

“Yes.”

Hyang spread out the unfolded blueprints in the middle of the table for everyone to see.

“This is the gun as I’ve envisioned it.”

“Hmm…”

“Huh…”

As soon as the blueprints were spread out, everyone in the meeting room began to scrutinize them, their eyes gleaming.

While they were examining the blueprint, Jang Yeongsil was the first to speak up. “Your Highness, looking at the blueprint, it appears that if one pulls on the ring-like component attached beneath the handle, this bent component moves. But how do you use the fuse then?”

“How would you do it, Astronomer Jang?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil pointed at the c_ck (계두, 鷄頭) and the nipple of the gun drawn in the blueprint and answered, “If it were me, I would attach the fuse here, and either drill a hole here or place a plate to hold the gunpowder that connects to the part where the gunpowder of the gun goes in. Then, if this lower part…,” pointing to the trigger with his finger, Jang Yeong-sil continued to explain, “If you pull this crescent-shaped part, the portion holding the fuse above it would move and ignite the gunpowder on the plate, and the fire qi created would enter the barrel and cause an explosion.”

“Hmm…”

“I see…”

Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon nodded at Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation. It was then that Choi Hae-san opened his mouth.

“After hearing Astronomer Jang’s explanation and looking at Your Highness’s blueprint, I see it is indeed an ingenious mechanism. With this, we won’t need a separate soldier to attach the fuse, and the time from igniting the fuse to firing will definitely be reduced. That was the problem.”

At Choi Hae-san’s insight, it was Hyang’s turn to be surprised.

‘He knew about the concept of ‘lock time’1?’

Although Choi Hae-san showed a positive evaluation, Jang Yeong-sil shook his head. “But, looking at Your Highness’s blueprint, there’s an unfamiliar protrusion instead of the hole or tray for the gunpowder that I mentioned.”

“I see.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s comment, everyone’s eyes turned towards Hyang. Particularly, the eyes of Lee Cheon and Choi Hae-san, who were most directly involved, could be said to ‘shoot lasers,’ if we were to use a 21st-century expression.

Under everyone’s gaze, Hyang began his explanation, “I have thought about that part separately. You all haven’t looked closely.”

Hyang shuffled through the blueprints on the table, found the one on the very bottom and brought it up. The blueprint Hyang found contained the design and specifications of the nipple^2 and the percussion cap to be used there.

Pointing at the parts drawn on the blueprint, Hyang continued, “This cap is used by covering it over this nipple part. Gunpowder will go into this cap. Astronomer Jang, what do you think will happen then?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil looked at the blueprint and immediately replied, “Then, this elongated component above…”

“Call it the c_ck.”

“Yes. The c_ck moves and hits the cap attached to the nipple?”

“That’s correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, Jang Yeong-sil nodded his head then immediately threw out a question, “But what do nipple and cap mean? I immediately understood the part you called the c_ck because it resembles a chicken’s head, but?”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s question, others also nodded. Hyang immediately responded to Jang Yeong-sil’s question. “Ah! They are names given by the Westerners who developed a similar form of gun. Since they’re foreign words, it’s natural that you hear them for the first time.To explain the meaning, the Westerners called it the ‘C_ck’, but ‘계두(gye-du)’ seemed to fit better so I changed it. I couldn’t think of suitable words for the others so I just used them as is, but why don’t you all give it a shot?”

“Then we need to know the meaning of the words given by the Westerners.”

At Choi Hae-san’s words, Hyang immediately explained the meanings of nipple, cap, and trigger. There was a brief moment of embarrassment while explaining the meaning of nipple.

“Well, the meaning is… quite…”

“Do Westerners lack dignity…”

Looking at the records of the Westerners, it seems that there was originally a different term, but the nickname attached by the soldiers has been used so widely that it has become the official term. In order to train soldiers, it has to be easily understood by them.

“It seems that soldiers in the East or West are all alike.”

“That’s correct.”

At Hyang’s response, Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon nodded their heads, indicating their understanding.

This was because it was commonplace for the soldiers of the Joseon Army to give all sorts of vulgar nicknames to the weapons they used.

“Shall we think about this?”

When Jeong-cho and Jeong In-ji showed enthusiasm in naming, Choi Hae-san put a stop to it.

“Before that, the main issue is the gunpowder to be put into this cap. There’s a problem with the gunpowder that our Joseon Army uses.”

“I see.”

At General Choi Hae-san’s critique on the matter of gunpowder, Lee Cheon immediately nodded, but the others tilted their heads.

At Choi Hae-san’s critique, Hyang rose from his seat. “Please wait a moment.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As Hyang left for the annex, Jeong-cho asked Choi Hae-san a question, “General, what do you mean by there being a problem with the gunpowder?”

“Well… the gunpowder (焰焇, yeum-cho) is really quite a troublesome thing to handle. It’s so troublesome that it’s even called “laxative, (Mang-cho)” among the soldiers.”

According to Choi Hae-san’s explanation, black gunpowder was a series of dangerous processes from the moment of its production.

-The act of mixing each ingredient was dangerous. If the finely ground materials are shaken excessively during the process of transferring them after mixing, they can rub against each other and explode. The container for the gunpowder has to be specific, so it must be made of wood, or brass.

-Storing it was also tricky and risky. As mentioned above, if you do not manage it properly after storing it in a specific container, the mixed ingredients would separate into their original form. To prevent this, they would dampen the mix to make it sticky, then form lumps. Once these lumps were appropriately dried, they had to be ground and filtered for use.

-The real problem came after. Even after making it like this, saltpeter, the main component of gunpowder, absorbed moisture very well, and if this absorption and drying cycle repeated, it would clump together and harden like a rock. This is where it gets genuinely dangerous. If you try to use the hardened gunpowder again by hitting it with a hammer, it explodes. It also explodes if thrown into a fire.

“…So, the military mixes soil into gunpowder. It’s not just because they want to increase the quantity due to the high price. It’s because the soil absorbs the moisture instead. If you’re going to use this ‘cap’ that the Crown Prince mentioned, you could put in completely dried gunpowder, but it’s not easy to store it since it absorbs moisture so well. Phew…”

At the end of his sighing explanation, Jeong In-ji opened his mouth, “So General, are you saying that His Highness’s design is useless?”

At Jeong In-ji’s question, Choi Hae-san answered cautiously. It was because this could become a political issue if mishandled. “I can’t confirm it since we haven’t experimented with the actual object. But one thing for certain is that it would be impossible with the gunpowder we use.”

“General Choi’s statement is correct.”

“Ah, geez!”

“Huh!”

People were taken aback by Hyang’s sudden interjection.

“I apologize if I startled you. Inner servant! In a little while, there will be a loud noise, so do not be surprised!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Having warned the inner servant in advance, Hyang placed a spacious copper plate on the table and opened the lid of the wooden barrel he brought.

“What is that?”

“Should I call it my own version of gunpowder? I named it ‘Silver Powder’”

“Silver Powder, you say? You surely didn’t use actual silver, did you?” Choi Hae-san questioned with a face full of worry at Hyang’s statement. As a gunpowder expert, he knew all too well that gunpowder was a monster that consumed an enormous amount of wealth. ‘Silver, of all things?’

In response to Choi Hae-san’s question, Hyang answered with a smile, “I didn’t use silver. I made it with nitric acid, mercury, and ethanol. I named it ‘silver’ because the ingredient contains mercury.”

“Is that so?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, Choi Hae-san let out a sigh of relief. While mercury was mostly imported as it was scarce in Joseon, it was easier to obtain compared to sulfur or copper.

Seeing Choi Hae-san’s expression, Hyang placed a flat copper plate on the table and scooped a small amount of Explosive Silver powder into the center with a spoon.

“Now… Master Jung.”

“Yes?”

Calling out to Jung Inji, Hyang passed him a hammer.

“Seeing your face, Master Jung, it seems you’re curious. Give it a try.”

“Yes? Yes? Okay!”

“Hurry.”

Receiving the hammer from Hyang, Jung Inji alternated his gaze between the hammer and the Explosive Silver powder, then clenched his teeth and swung the hammer down.

Bang!

“Ah!”

The loud explosion caused the table to shake. Startled, Jung Inji dropped the hammer, letting out an involuntary scream.

Watching this, Hyang chuckled inwardly.

‘I’ll give you a hard time from now on!’

“Let’s see.”

With an unperturbed expression, Hyang cleared away the hammer and examined the plate. Not just Hyang, but everyone else, except Jung Inji who had retreated, huddled around to look at the plate.

“Wow!”

“Hooo!”

Seeing the dark scorch marks that radiate outwards from the plate, everyone gasped in awe.

“General Choi, General Lee. What do you think?”

Upon Hyang’s inquiry, Choi Hae-san responded immediately, “It’s certainly useful!”

Once Choi Hae-san made a positive conclusion, Hyang picked up a long bundle of wood that he had brought earlier. “This is roughly made by modeling after the blueprint. If used on the battlefield, it will be utilized like this.”

Hyang then placed the butt of the rifle on his shoulder and assumed a shooting stance.

Choi Hae-san, who was watching, extended his hand. “May I inspect the firearm for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Receiving the rifle, Choi Hae-san pressed the butt to his shoulder as Hyang had done, aiming the weapon.

“Hmm… This is interesting.”

“General, let me give it a try.”

“Go ahead.”

Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon took turns aiming the rifle. After examining the rifle back and forth several times, Choi Hae-san looked at Hyang.

“If used this way, a multi-round system wouldn’t be suitable.”

“I agree. Perhaps a single round would be most fitting.”

At the words of Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon, Hyang nodded vigorously. “That’s correct!”

Jeong-cho, who had heard Hyang’s words, interjected, “I don’t know much about military strategy or weapons, but wouldn’t it be difficult to hit a target properly with just one round?”

In response to Jeong-cho’s question, Choi Hae-san pointed to the front and rear sights attached to the rifle. “It seems the role of this front metal piece and rear piece is to help with aiming.”

“I see.”

As Jeong-cho was nodding, Lee Cheon added, “And the elongated barrel of this gun will also help make it easier to hit the target.”

“How so?”

“Think of it as a ‘sighting device’ and a ‘barrel’.”

“Ah!”

At Lee Cheon’s explanation, Jeong-cho exclaimed in understanding, nodding his head. He too was familiar with using a bow and knew well how to use a sighting device.

“Your Highness, I have a question.”

“Astronomer Jang, go ahead.”

With Hyang’s permission, Jang Yeong-sil opened his mouth. “I’ve been looking at the blueprints, and I’m curious. This gun’s barrel, it doesn’t seem like it’s made by casting.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s question, Hyang nodded. “You’ve observed correctly.”

With Hyang’s affirmation, everyone’s eyes turned to him. Hyang pointed to the rifle barrel drawn on the blueprint and explained, “This gun barrel will be made by forging.”

At those words, Jang Yeong-sil’s eyes widened. “If it’s forging… are you thinking of making it with iron?”

“That’s correct.”

“Now! Let’s wrap up this roundtable discussion… we’ll continue our talk while inspecting the troops.”

At Hyang’s words, people slowly stood up from their seats.

“Please make sure to take the blueprints.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As Hyang and his group exited, the chambermaids and palace women entered and began tidying up. One of the chambermaids, who had been sweeping and cleaning the floor, grimaced.

“Here, what’s this liquid… sniff sniff! Ew! Urine! These old gentlemen… who on earth…”

The chambermaid began to chatter away about someone who had peed on the floor.

“Huh? Scholar Jeong, why are you walking like that?”

At Jeong-cho’s question, seeing Jeong In-ji hobbling along, Jeong In-ji waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s nothing. My leg’s just a bit numb for a moment…”

“Maintaining physical strength is as important as studying.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. my lord.”

1. Lock time or action time refers to the time interval (often measured in milliseconds) from when the trigger of a firearm is activated until the firing pin strikes the primer, and depends on the design of the firing mechanism – Wikipedia[↩]

2. The nipple contains a hollow conduit which goes into the rearmost part of the gun barrel, and the percussion cap is placed over the nipple hole.[↩]

Chapter 49
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (14)

“What has this boy been up to lately…”

As Sejong was taking a brief break after dealing with his ministers and handling state affairs, he murmured to himself while gazing out the window. The ‘boy’ that Sejong was referring to was Hyang.

After consuming a considerable amount of human resources, buildings, and not a small budget, Hyang rarely showed up at the royal court.

“May I be excused from this afternoon’s contest?”

“Do you absolutely have to?”

“Yes.”

“…Very well then.”

In the face of Hyang’s firm response, Sejong eventually gave his permission.

As soon as Sejong gave his approval, Hyang began to move busily with the people he had gathered. The problem was that he did not inform them of what he was doing while moving so busily. Actually, he did tell them.

“I’m conducting research for the livelihood of the Joseon people and for the national defense of Joseon. However, there is a problem.”

“A problem?”

“Understanding arithmetic knowledge and converting experience into written documents is taking some time.”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

After gazing at Hyang in silence for quite some time, Sejong nodded his head, “As a father, I trust you, my son.”

“Your trust, Your Majesty, will never be disappointed.”

A few days after the Chuseok (Mid-Autumn Festival), Hyang and Jeong-cho made an announcement at a gathering of Sejong and the ministers.

“The matter I and the staff of the research institute have researched.”

“What is it?”

“It is the formulas to adjust the ‘continuous-year-cycle’, a lunisolar calendar, that we receive from Ming to fit our Joseon.”

“Really?”

At Hyang’s announcement, Sejong and the ministers showed interest. Receiving the attention of Sejong and the ministers, Hyang continued his announcement, “You must have remembered the ‘Solar Eclipse Obsolete Ritual^1’ from a few years ago. Due to an error at Royal Astronomical Bureau, the timing was wrong and the person in charge at that time, Lee Cheonbong, was punished. Your Majesty must have remembered such occasion well.”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong nodded his head, “I remember.”

The event in question occurred in the fourth year of Sejong’s reign.

On January 1 of the 4th year of Sejong’s reign, a solar eclipse was predicted. As per the tradition, Sejong and the ministers prepared for the ritual in their ceremonial robes. However, the eclipse started one day later than the Royal Astronomy Bureau had predicted. As a result, Lee Cheonbong, who was in charge of predicting the solar eclipse at that time, was punished.

Referring to past events as an example, Hyang continued his explanation, “The unfortunate incident occurred because the Chinese calendar did not match with ours in Joseon. To fix this, we have studied arithmetic formulas to revise the calendar.”

Hyang, who had paused his words, gestured to the officers behind him. Upon seeing Hyang’s gesture, the officers presented a few thick books to Sejong and the ministers.

“Revision of the Calendar’s Calculation: Version One? Very straightforward indeed.”

“If necessary, we are considering renaming it.”

Sejong, having read the title, flipped open the book and examined the contents. The formulas for adjusting the solstices recorded in the calendar used by the Ming were complexly recorded, in accordance to the actual conditions in Joseon.

“It’s not bad. It will be helpful in many ways.”

“As you can see from the title, this is not the final version.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong scrutinized the title and contents again and looked at Hyang. “Indeed, the title suggests so. But, looking at the content, it seems to be already sufficiently useful, no?”

Sejong, who had his own insights in arithmetic, evaluated the value of the formulas recorded in the book as excellent. However, Hyang shook his head. “There are still many errors. The content written in the book is only an approximate calculation. It needs to be corrected. Otherwise, there will be errors every year.”

“Is that so?” Filled with regret, Sejong closed his mouth at Hyang’s reply. “Then I’ll wait for the proper one. Work diligently.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With his response, Hyang once again shut himself in the research institute with his people.

Since then, there was no news even though the end of the year was just around the corner. Well, it wasn’t completely silent.

They increased their workforce by recruiting mathematically proficient members from the Huis as teachers of mathematics , brought in the Chinese astronomical calendar book from Ming, through regular trade routes, and sent people all over Joseon to measure constellations. They were moving busily.

And whenever these things happened, Hyang always wrote a report and submitted it to Sejong.

“Astronomical observation equipment? What is this?”

“It’s literally equipment for observing celestial bodies.”

“The report seems a bit sparse?”

At Sejong’s observation, Hyang looked at the officials and ministers, and answered in a low voice.

“I will submit a separate report later. For external purposes, this level of detail is just right.”

“Huh?” Sejong, who was pondering what Hyang’s answer meant, sighed, “Hoo~. I understand what you’re saying.”

That night, Sejong, who climbed up to the pavilion alone, sighed as he looked in the direction of the Eastern Palace.

“Hoo~. You’re carrying a heavy burden because this father and country are weak.”

The astronomical observation equipment Hyang mentioned were equipments to observe specific events such as ‘Ritual of Praying for Rain and Clear Skies^2’ (Hocheonui), ‘Great Sacrificial Ritual^3’ (Daejangui), and ‘Small Sacrificial Ritual[A smaller-scale sacrificial ceremony, performed on a regular basis, often in households or private settings.]] (Sojangui). To make these devices, Jang Young-sil and the craftsmen forgot the night and devoted themselves to their work.

Until the results came out, the researchers at the institute traveled around the country with observation devices that were officially or smuggled in from Ming Dynasty.

However, the reason Hyang did not report all this in detail was because of diplomatic relations with Ming. Observing astronomy could be a huge diplomatic issue considering the tributary relationship with Ming. For this reason, the calendar method was also expressed as ‘correcting the calendar given by the Ming Dynasty’, not ‘using an independent calendar method’, and the astronomical observation equipment was also reported as just simple astronomical observation equipment. In this way, Hyang made sure that even if Ming made a fuss later, Sejong would not suffer direct harm.

It was because Sejong knew why Hyang did this that he sighed.

For this reason, although he was holding back his curiosity, what Sejong was really curious about was the military field.

Since the report that he was developing a new gun with Lee Cheon and Choi Hae-san, Hyang had not submitted a report.

“Why is the Crown Prince not submitting a report?”

“It’s a matter that is being carried out in the utmost secrecy, please give me a little more time.”

“Don’t you know it’s hard to execute the budget without a report?”

“Please give me a little more time. And since we’re on the topic, if we could just have a little more budget…”

“You, rascal!”

Even though Sejong was angry, Hyang was stubborn to the end. It wasn’t just Hyang. Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon were the same. No matter how much Sejong and the ministers coaxed and cajoled, the two men’s mouths never opened.

“Do I have to wait until that rascal reveals it?” Sejong forcibly suppressed his curiosity, but the work Hyang was doing was growing bigger and bigger.

Due to major incidents in Ming between the Jurchens, Sejong accelerated the pace of the military reform he had been planning.

As part of that reform, the existing Training Academy was expanded into a Training Institute, and Hyang asked Sejong for support.

“Support for the soldiers and soldiers of theTraining Academy? Why?”

“We need people to actually handle the newly created weapons.”

“Hmm…” Sejong, who was looking at Hyang with his eyes wide open, made a helpless expression.

“Ah! Can’t be helped. Granted.”

“And a little more budget…”

‘You rascal! Get out!’

So, a considerable number of the soldiers and soldiers belonging to the training institute were seconded and assigned to Hyang. With the manpower supported in this way, Hyang built a training ground for them to train, which was under Namsan in the southeast, a place with a military atmosphere.

The interesting thing was that the soldiers and soldiers who were assigned in this way also kept their mouths shut. There were those among the seconded soldiers and soldiers who liked to chat, but for some reason, they all kept their mouths shut about what Hyang was doing.

In addition, the area where these seconded soldiers and soldiers trained was surrounded by high and dense wooden fences, and soldiers were strictly guarding it. From inside, which was hidden like this, loud explosive sounds could be heard every day.

As a result, not only Sejong and the ministers, but also all the residents of Hanyang were focusing their attention on this forbidden place – the sign hung on the pillar blocking the entrance to the training ground read ‘Area 51‘.

As time passed, rumors began to leak out little by little, such as ‘A great gun is being developed.’, ‘A weapon that is not one-to-many, but one-to-ten-thousand is being made.’ Along with these rumors, a new word became popular, ‘Game Changer^4‘.

“Game Changer? What does that mean?”

“It’s a phrase from the West.”

At the response of the inner official who reported the rumor, Sejong unknowingly nodded his head, “It’s just like the Crown Prince.”

Sejong, guessing the source, looked at the clock. Confirming the time on the clock, Sejong lost his appetite. “It must be time for him to be at the military academy.”

Various activities made by Hyang gave the Minister of Taxation a headache, but it wasn’t easy for Sejong or the ministers to say anything to Hyang. Sejong and the ministers were all tired from their busy schedules, but Hyang’s workload was also not to be underestimated.

Regardless of whether it was summer or winter, Hyang got up at the precisely at 6 a.m., attended the morning meeting without fail, and received martial arts training in the afternoon. In his spare time, he went back and forth between the research institute, the military academy, and Area 51, dealing with work. To save time on this commute, Hyang began to ride a horse, and his busy movements along with his escorts became a new attraction in Hanyang.

By the time Hyang finished his busy day and sat down, it was almost, just before midnight. Before the research institute was established, he used to sleep later than that, so King Sejong and Queen Soheon were rather pleased.

“I’m relieved! You were not sleeping enough before.”

“Yes.”

Whether he knew the situation or not, every night before going to bed, Hyang measured his height leaning against the doorframe, content with his growing stature day by day.

“It’s my crucial growing period, so I should sleep well! Anyway… horse riding has been helpful in many ways, hasn’t it?”

The ministers also welcomed Hyang’s regular daily routine because it meant no more headache like to them…

Of course, Hyang who used to visit the warfront diligently during the important incidents in the latter half of the Gabin year (a year in the 60-year cycle according to the lunar calendar), was a welcome event. However, as the end of the year approached, the ministers too found it hard to contain their curiosity.

Because right after Chuseok, ‘the Royal Military Guard’ (one of the six ministerial posts in the Joseon dynasty) joined the group of the curious.

Even Sejong seemed to notice that the ‘Royal Military Guard’ had known something, but the official too remained silent.

“Your Majesty! It’s time we check the outcome of the recent projects carried out by the Crown Prince.”

“I agree! A lot of funds are currently being directed to the Crown Prince’s research institute. We need to check if the budget is being used correctly.”

Eventually, the curious ministers couldn’t contain themselves and stood up as December began.

King Sejong nodded at the unified ministers. “I agree. Call for the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, a horse carrying the royal command bolted from Gwanghwamun Palace.

About half an hour later, Hyang, catching his breath, entered the ministers’ meeting. As soon as Hyang, who had paid his respects to Sejong, sat down, Sejong opened his mouth.

“I know you’ve been busy since last spring. Among them, there were events like the correction of the calendar which, although incomplete, showed good results. I’m proud that you achieved such results at a young age.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Hyang bowed his head at Sejong’s praise.

“But, that’s where the praises stop. There were many other events, but the ministers and officials have not received a proper report. This is different from the promise you made to the ministers and officials. What did you write in the plan you submitted when you first set up the research institute? Didn’t you promise to make the costs used in the institute fully transparent?”

“I apologize. However, it was a matter that required utmost secrecy…”

“Do the ministers and officials also have secrets they need to keep?”

“It was a matter related to our Joseon’s defense, so we had to keep it as confidential as possible until the final product came out. Just in case.”

“Hmm…” Sejong fell into thought at Hyang’s reply. Sejong, watching Hyang’s humble appearance, opened his mouth, “We cannot always execute the budget based on your word using secrecy as a reason. Even if it’s a work-in-progress, it needs to be examined. We must avoid wasting precious budgets on vain attempts. Therefore, I will audit the works you are carrying out. How long do you need to prepare?”

Hyang pondered Sejong’s question and replied, “Please give me five days.”

“Good. We will start the audit in five days.”

1. A ritual that is observed by the King when a solar eclipse occurs. Since an eclipse is considered bad fortune, the king and his retainers will change into white garbs and perform the ritual, observing the eclipse until it sets.[↩]

2. Ritual that is conducted during times of drought.[↩]

3. A major sacrificial ceremony conducted to honor and pay respects to ancestors, deities or important figures.[↩]

4. This is in English[↩]

Chapter 50
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (15)

As promised, five days later, the ministers swarmed into the Eastern Palace under the pretext of understanding the state of the research institute. They weren’t the only ones who came. King Sejong was with them.

“I will accompany you as well.”

“There’s no need for Your Majesty to…”

Hwang Hui tried to dissuade him, but Sejong cut him off, “I’m curious about what the crown prince and his team have been developing. That’s why I’m going.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Let’s get moving!” As Sejong took the lead, the ministers followed him reluctantly.

When Sejong and the ministers arrived at the pavilion of the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince and the officials of the research center who were waiting in advance bowed deeply.

“We greet Your Majesty.”

“You’ve been working hard. Now…” Sejong thoroughly scrutinized those standing in front of the research center. Initially, when he had sought out Sejong, it had started with Jeong-cho, Jeong In-ji, and Lee Cheon, but now there were quite a number of people standing behind them.

“Has the number of people increased?”

“It’s still not enough.”

“Still not?” At the Crown Prince’s reply, Sejong shook his head in disbelief. At least twenty people were standing in front of him. Yet, his son was saying it was still not enough. “Let’s discuss issues regarding personnel and budget after seeing the results.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This way.” The Crown Prince guided Sejong towards the door of the research institute.

“Hmm?”

Entering the interior of the research institute, Sejong let out an expression of curiosity. Following the hallway of the research institute, there were various devices displayed on the shelves that lined one wall, instead of books.

“Let’s see… Daejangui and Sojangui…” Sejong, who was examining the displayed devices, looked back at the Crown Prince while reading the plaques in front of them. “Is this all there is? Compared to the budget invested…”

“What is displayed there are all specimens for display purposes.”

Creak!

In response to Sejong’s question, the Crown Prince opened the sliding door of a nearby room – a room labeled ‘Equipment Rental Room’.

Inside the sliding door, rows of cabinets stood in five rows and ten columns. All the drawers of each cabinet were locked with a thick padlock. The Crown Prince continued his explanation, “The actual devices in use are inside those cabinets.”

“How is the management?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the Crown Prince pointed at the internal officials standing at the door.

“Two people are assigned as a team to handle the incoming and outgoing devices.”

“You are thorough.” Sejong nodded as he looked at the ledger on the desk. The ledger meticulously recorded the date, the name of the visitor, the equipment taken out, and the return date.

“I’ve heard that I’m thorough…”

Sejong, who had been nodding his head and taking his eyes off the ledger, praised the standing internal officials. “You guys have worked hard. Your hard work is for this country, so work even harder.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

Exiting the equipment rental room, Sejong examined the devices displayed on the shelf again. “Hmm…, let’s see. The level, the plumb line?”

“Those are devices for measuring horizontal and vertical levels.”

“Hmm?”

Curious, Sejong picked up the level. A metal part was inside the long wooden plate. Inside the long hole in the metal plate was a cylindrical piece made of the same metal.

‘Swish, swish.’

Whenever Sejong moved the wooden plate back and forth, the cylinder inside made a sound and moved left and right.

“When the cylinder stops at the exact center, it’s level and plumb.”

“I see!”

King Sejong, who had just learned how to use the level and plumb line, was even more curious.

“So, where are these used?”

“They are used in construction.”

“In construction?”

“Yes. The most important thing when installing devices for astronomical measurements is to ensure the base is perfectly level and plumb. With the level and plumb line, this can be achieved easily and accurately.”

“Ah-ha!”

At the Crown Prince’s answer, Sejong nodded his head greatly and burst out in admiration. The ministers standing behind him did the same.

Especially the Minister of Public Works, filled with ambition, immediately made a proposal to Sejong.

“Your Majesty! When constructing walls, government offices, dams, and reservoirs, the most important thing is to align the levels properly! If we use this device, the task becomes easier. We should mass-produce and distribute them immediately!”

“Do you also think so, Crown Prince?”

At Sejong’s call, the Crown Prince bowed his head. “I’m sorry, but what we have made so far is not a finished product.”

“Not a finished product?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The ones you see now are made with iron and copper. Iron and copper rust easily. To prevent this, oiling must be done as soon as a gap appears, and careful maintenance must be done to prevent rusting, which is a cumbersome process. We have come up with a solution for this and the improved version will be out soon.”

“Your Highness! When will the improved version be available?”

“I’m curious too.”

The Minister of Public Works was aglow as if it would consume the body in heat. Hyang, noting that Sejong was wearing a similar expression, briefly responded, “Do you remember the business trip report I submitted a while ago?”

“Business trip report? Let me think… Are you referring to the one where we dispatched the Hui followers to Shandong? The objective was talent acquisition, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. The speed at which they complete their work was crucial.”

“And what kind of talents would those be?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang answered immediately, “They are glass artisans.”

“Glass?”

“Yes. If we have glass, management becomes more efficient.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong looked back at the office for royal secretarial duties.

“It’s a pity, but it seems better to wait.”

“That’s not true! Even in its current state, it’s quite useful in the field!”

The expression and remarks of the Minister of Public Works were simple.

‘So noisy! Enough with the chatter, hand it over right now!’

“What to do about this…”

Sejong was immersed in contemplation. There was reason in both Hyang’s words and those of the Minister of Public Works.

During the last spring palace rotation, when construction was undertaken nationwide, Sejong had ventured out of the palace under the pretense of comforting the people and had inspected construction sites around Hanyang.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

As the supervisors overseeing the construction site paid their respects, the common people at work stopped what they were doing to kneel or bow deeply.

“You’re working hard. It may be difficult now, but once this construction is finished, it will greatly aid in farming, so I encourage everyone to exert a bit more effort.”

“We obey your command!”

“Long live the King! Long live! Long live forever!”

At Sejong’s exhortation, the common people shouted in unison. As he comforted the people and examined the site, Sejong posed a question to the supervisor in charge: “What’s the most difficult part about the construction process?”

At Sejong’s question, the supervisor answered right away.

“Aligning the horizontal and vertical lines, Your Majesty.”

“Why?”

“Simply put, constructing reservoirs to contain water or digging wells is relatively straightforward. However, connected floodgates and canals are not so simple. If the vertical alignment of the floodgate isn’t correct, opening and closing it and blocking the water becomes difficult, and canals without proper horizontal alignment and gradient don’t allow water to flow efficiently.”

“I see.”

At the supervisor’s response, Sejong nodded in understanding.

Later, when he briefly observed the construction of a separate building in the Eastern Palace, he noted that the main focus was on aligning the vertical and horizontal lines of the pillars and crossbeams. Given the information he had heard and seen, Sejong could understand why the Ministry of Public Works was making such a fuss.

“What should we do about this?” Sejong, who had been contemplating and reconsidering, finally reached a conclusion, “Crown Prince, some might say that you’re not yet fully matured, but from my perspective, you’re more than capable of fulfilling your duties. Please provide the related technology to the Ministry of Public Works.”

“…Understood. I accept your command, Father. In relation to this, I have a few more devices to show you. Would you like to see them?”

“Yes, let’s take a look.”

Hyang presented several devices to Sejong and the ministers. The devices Hyang introduced included a compass, a set square, a 360-degree circular protractor, and an adjustable protractor that could measure up to 180 degrees. The adjustable protractor, in particular, had a screw-based locking device, allowing it to firmly fix at a desired angle.

“Artisans and many other professionals have already been using similar devices for generations. This is an enhanced version of those devices for more precise use. They are the product of the hard work of our researchers.”

“Truly amazing!”

Sejong sincerely admired the value of the devices that Hyang had presented. Despite Hyang’s humble words, it was clear who came up with these innovative ideas.

‘It certainly couldn’t have come from the rigid minds of bureaucrats!’

Sejong looked at the Minister of Public Works, who couldn’t hide his eagerness to possess those devices right away. With a proud expression, Sejong teased the following ministers.

“Do you know what the Minister of Public Works is feeling right now?”

“We are not sure.”

“The Crown Prince is so remarkable to the point I’m tempted to issue an amnesty decree in celebration.”

“Your Majesty!”

“It’s a joke, just a joke.”

Although he said it was a joke, Sejong’s expression indicated otherwise. ‘Look! My son is this smart! Do any of you have such an intelligent child?’

Having made a decision about the devices related to architecture and civil engineering, Sejong began examining the next set of items.

“Is this a ship?”

“Yes. What you’re looking at now is the largest warship, the Military Supply Ship, currently used by our Joseon navy. Next are the vessels that are being researched.”

“Hmm? The sizes are all different?”

“They are all scale models.”

“Eh? Then…” Sejong’s gaze, which was once again surveying the models, stopped at the model of the largest ship. “It’s quite large, isn’t it?”

“That is a model of the warship that our researchers are studying.”

The battleship model that caught Sejong’s eye was a warship.

“A warship? I don’t see any oars?”

“It moves purely by wind power.”

“And the armament?”

“The primary armament is a cannon. If calculated correctly, it can carry at least 80 cannons.”

“80 cannons!”

Hyang explained about the warship.

“…So, these warships are designed to form a line to maximize firepower, hence the name ship-of-the-line.”

Ship of the line, also known as a line-of-battle ship, was a powerful and heavily armed warship that played a significant role in naval warfare from the 17th to the 19th centuries. These large sailing vessels formed a line formation during battles and engaged in broadside cannon fire. They were known for their size, stability, and firepower, with multiple decks of cannons firing from both sides.

“That’s an impressive name. So, Crown Prince, are you saying that based on the research results of you and the researchers, we should use these flat-bottomed ships in our nearshore waters of Joseon, and these ship-of-the-line for our open ocean voyages?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm.” At Hyang’s response, Sejong stroked his chin beard. “Now that I think about it.”

Sejong remembered a report that came up through the Minister of Law Enforcement not too long ago. It was a report brought up by the newly established Joint Chiefs of Staff and the training academy due to changes in international affairs. The report outlined the necessity for naval reform and the need to create plans for it. Upon reading the report, Sejong had immediately given his approval.

“The defense of the land is important, but it’s a fact that the defense of the sea nevertheless holds the same importance. I grant permission.”

Of course, except for the Ministry of Law Enforcement, the ministers opposed, citing budgetary issues. However, Sejong did not waver in his decision.

“If we do not even make plans because we lack budget, it’s an act fit for a fool! Our budget is gradually increasing, so it’s not an issue at the moment!”

As Sejong strongly pushed forward, the ministers cowered. They did not want to tread on the old path of Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

While listening to the explanations and examining the models, Sejong expressed doubt. At the end of the ship model, there was a cold noodle bowl.

“Why is this lacquer noodle bowl (Mukgi) here?”

“It symbolizes a ship made of iron, not wood.”

“A ship made of iron?”

Sejong and the ministers all looked at Hyang with surprised eyes.

“A ship made of iron, you say?”

“That’s correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, everyone present, from Jeong-cho to Jang Yeong-sil, shook their heads.

“That’s impossible.”

“Even a child knows that iron sinks in water.”

“Correct. Making a ship out of iron is impossible.”

As everyone gave a negative response, Hyang countered, “You are all mistaken. It’s not impossible. We just haven’t found the way yet.”

“We haven’t found the way, you say?”

“Yes.”

With a brief answer, Hyang called the attendants and gave an order, “Go to the kitchen and bring a bronze noodle bowl and a large tub filled with water.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Shortly after, the attendants came back with a large tub filled with water and the bronze noodle bowl.

“Put the tub on that table.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the attendants placed the tub on the table, Hyang floated the noodle bowl on it.

As the bronze noodle bowl bobbed on the water, Hyang looked at the people.

“It floats, see?”

Chapter 51
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (16)

“It floats, see?”

With this one statement, the situation was resolved. Those who had insisted that it was impossible to build a ship out of iron had no choice but to be utterly flabbergasted.

Hyang spoke to them, “Let me reiterate, it’s not that it’s impossible, it’s that you just haven’t found a way yet.”

He then explained to the flabbergasted people concepts associated with this, such as fragments of knowledge, volume, weight, density, and so forth. After a lengthy explanation by Hyang, Jeong-cho opened his mouth.

“So, if we spread the iron sheets as thinly as possible and attach them together, we can make a ship… is that correct?”

“To put it extremely, yes.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong In-ji pointed out a problem, “However, there is a problem. That is the method of attaching the iron sheets. Is there a way to connect the iron sheets to each other firmly while ensuring that no water seeps in?”

“That is your task to research.”

“So that is why the bowl noodle is here.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong and his ministers nodded their heads. However, Hwang Hee, representing the ministers, pointed out another problem, “To make a ship out of iron… According to your explanation, it’s clear we can build a large ship. But can we find that method?”

“If we do our best to research, we can find it.”

“Is it possible?”

Hwang Hee’s negative reaction sharpened Hyang’s expression. Sejong’s expression was the same.

“Do you think it’s impossible?”

Seeing the expressions of Hyang and Sejong, Hwang Hee evaded the question, “It may be possible, but I think the time and cost involved are the problem.”

“We can’t just give up because of that. There are many people like me who think the same. If we can make a ship out of iron, which is much stronger than wood, we can make a larger and stronger ship, which means we can sail further. Do you want our Joseon to just sit and watch while other countries are running around?”

“That’s not what I meant, but…”

Seeing Hwang Hee hesitate, Hyang spoke again, more resolutely this time, “In order for our Joseon to be known throughout the world, the development of iron ships must be achieved, even if it takes time!”

At Hyang’s resolute answer, the ministers closed their mouths and looked at Sejong.

Sejong, who had been pondering with a serious expression, opened his mouth, “It’s clear that it will take a lot of time and budget. You feel the same, Crown Prince?”

“Yes, I do. But…”

“But you insist that this is necessary. And you keep mentioning the Westerners, is there a connection?”

“It’s not irrelevant. As you know, I have read many books by Westerners.”

“I know.”

“In those Western books, there are things about history. The history of the West is a history of struggle. And the ones who understand the importance of wealth through that history better than anyone else are the Westerners.”

‘Did they say that the outcome of the Thirty Years War taught them that ‘the outcome of war is determined by the economy’?’

“And so?”

“For that reason, the Westerners are doing everything they can to find ways for their country to become wealthy. But they realized that there are limits if they only look inward. So, they are turning their eyes outward.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong took over. “So, the Westerners will eventually head to the sea, and they will come to Joseon? All the way to this distant country?”

“Already, Christian missionaries have been coming and going to this land for hundreds of years, can’t the Westerners come?”

“I suppose that’s true.”

When Sejong nodded his head, Hyang continued, “When the Westerners see a way to gain wealth, they conduct fair trade if they are equal or stronger, and if they are weaker, they immediately use force to take what they want. Of course…” After stopping for a moment to catch his breath, Hyang added, “Of course, international relations is a place ruled by the law of the jungle, so every country behaves like that. However, the Westerners, who don’t know the concept of saving face, would act blatantly. Ah! To be precise, they do save face among themselves. Among themselves, that is.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong muttered quietly, “As if it’s only the Westerners who do that…”

“Exactly.”

“That’s enough, I understand what you’re trying to say.” Sejong, who had interrupted Hyang’s words, fell into thought.

Seeing Sejong’s serious face, the ministers and Hyang quietly waited for Sejong to speak.

After a while, Sejong opened his mouth, “Crown Prince, do you think we can produce an iron ship in my reign?”

“Of course, there is a higher probability that we won’t see it in my reign either.”

“Despite such a low probability, do you think we should continue to research? Accepting the expenditure of time and resources we don’t know the extent of?”

“Yes, I think if we give up now because the odds are low, our descendants will pay the price many times over.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s resolute answer, Sejong fell into thought again. Sejong, who had been stroking his beard and looking at the models of ships, reached a conclusion.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

“Thank you!”

“But we can’t blindly invest time and money. Prepare a detailed plan and submit it.”

“I am at your command!” Hyang responded to King Sejong’s order with a vigorous affirmation.

The heated debate about the iron ship, which began over a cold noodle bowl, ended with King Sejong making the final decision. The sight of King Sejong, who had overcome the hurdle, was drawn to the strange device placed under the display cabinet.

“What is the purpose of that object?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyangresponded immediately, “It’s a Heron’s steam ball.”

“Heron? Steam ball?”

A scholar who was well-known in the old times in the West.

Hyang’s argument about the potential of iron ships was convincing, but Jeong-cho had a feeling something was missing.

‘I feel like I’m overlooking something… ’

As he was contemplating what he might have missed, Jang Yeong-sil pointed out the area in question.

“Even if we could use iron to build a ship, and even if we could make it larger than one made of wood, there is a problem. Wouldn’t there be a problem moving the ship just with sails and oars if the ship gets larger?”

“You’re right!”

“That’s it!”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s insight, Jeong-cho and Jeong In-ji exclaimed in unison. At the reaction of these two men, Hyang muttered internally, ‘I thought they were about to shout “Eureka.”‘

While complaining internally, Hyang, who seemed to have been prepared already, responded immediately, “The problem of propulsion is something I have anticipated. Therefore, there is something I would like to research with you all. Call the attendant!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s call, the attendant, who had been outside, came in, and Hyang issued the following order: “Bring the device sent from the Military Arsenal department some time ago.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A little later, two attendants came in, grunting under the weight of a large device made of bronze.

“What is this? It’s a very uniquely shaped object.”

The first to express curiosity was Jang Yeong-sil. The others also gathered around the bronze object, their eyes sparkling.

“Hmm?”

“Oh…”

The object the attendants had brought in was indeed unique. Two bronze tubes protruding from a cylinder held up by four legs were inserted into the sides of a bronze ball made of bronze. From the bronze ball, four tubes extended out, and their shape looked somewhat like the character ‘卍’ (which refers to a Buddhist swastika (refer to picture above)). The ends of the tubes that extended were drilled with small holes.

“Bring a brazier with a flame and a kettle with water.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After some time, the attendants brought in a brazier with a flame and a kettle.

Hyang then put the lit charcoal in the lower part of the cylinder, opened the cap on the top, and poured in water. After closing the cap again, he gazed at the people surrounding him.

“Have you ever watched rice being cooked in a kitchen?”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s question, everyone nodded. Unlike the late Joseon period, it was not considered inappropriate for men to go into the kitchen at this time.

“Have you ever seen the lid of a rice pot moving when cooking rice? The power source I thought of uses water and fire. I named it a steam engine.”

“Steam engine? You’re using the energy created when water boils?”

“Yes.”

“Can that really be a power source?”

“It’s the power that moves the heavy lid of a rice pot. I believe it’s completely possible.”

Despite Hyang’s confident answer, people were still skeptical. Seeing their skepticism, he grumbled internally, ‘What an era of disbelief! Don’t they know that faith brings blessings?’

Anyway, as time passed, the water started to boil, and steam began to seep from the holes in the tubes that extended from the bronze ball.

“There’s no particular movement yet?”

“Please wait a bit longer. Just a little more.”

And as time passed, the bronze ball slowly started to rotate.

Whistle~.

With the sharp whistling sound made by the steam spouting through the small holes, the rotation of the bronze ball gradually sped up.

“What do you think?”

At Hyang’s words, the faces of the people became serious. The device was heavy enough to require two attendants to move it.

Of course, it was only the bronze ball at the top that was moving, but it was obviously not a light object just by looking at it. But the steam created by boiling water was turning that bronze ball.

Jeong-cho, who had been silently observing ‘Heron’s steam ball’, opened his mouth, “It seems worth studying. If we can produce good results, it would be very good to use on a ship. Even beyond the use with iron ships. There’s no need for us to wait either for a favorable wind or to manual rowers.”

“My belief is just that! Moreover, this engine is not only used in ships!”

“Not only used in ships?”

“What would happen if we made a carriage powered by that engine?”

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

At Hyang’s words, the people’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Therefore, among the ongoing research, there is also research related to the steam engine.”

King Sejong, who had been watching Heron’s steam ball, turned to look at Hyang upon hearing this explanation.

“Making a carriage that moves with a steam engine?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Will that be of any use?”

“Why wouldn’t it be useful?”

At Hyang’s question, King Sejong pointed out a problem. “Ultimately, a carriage is a vehicle for transporting loads. However, for the steam engine that you’ve mentioned, in order for it to work properly, it constantly needs to be supplied with water and fire. The issue is that to do this, the water and firewood need to be loaded onto the carriage, leaving no space for the actual load, wouldn’t it?”

‘This gentleman is sharp. As expected of King Sejong!’ Hyang internally exclaimed but then answered the man’s question, “You may think so. However, the steam engine exerts a tremendous amount of force relative to its size. It doesn’t just pull a single carriage but can move several carriages at once, which is indeed useful.”

“It pulls several carriages?”

Still unable to hide his doubt, King Sejong, along with his ministers, watched as Hyang raised his hand, pointing inside the research institute.

“Please, come this way.”

‘Let me show you the ultimate result of the indulgence that’s been called the ‘ultimate end-game!’

“Here it is.”

The place Hyang led them to was a room guarded not only by court officials but also by soldiers armed with swords. At the sight of Hyang and King Sejong, the officials and soldiers saluted in unison.

“Good work.”

“Your graciousness is boundless!”

As the saluting court officials straightened their bodies, Hyang commanded, “Open the door.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Wow!”

“Whoa!”

Entering through the door opened by the court officials, King Sejong and his ministers let out exclamations.

In the middle of the large room, about two rooms wide (approximately 4.8m) and five rooms long (approximately 14m), a huge table was placed. On that table, there were mountains, plains, lakes, rivers, and oceans. And a railroad track was laid out in this small, artificially created world.

Looking at the surprised King Sejong and his ministers, Hyang smiled.

‘It’s a model railway, which was also called the ‘ultimate end-game’ of indulgence in the 21st century!’

“I will show Your Majesty a carriage with a steam engine in use. Official! Prepare the locomotive!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Hyang’s orders, the officials placed a model locomotive and connected passenger and freight cars onto the railroad track. As the officials stepped back after connecting the model train cars with hooks, King Sejong began to examine the model locomotive closely.

“You’ve connected the steam ball and the wheel you were talking about earlier?”

“Yes.”

The model locomotive that Hyang had created was a primitive contraption placed on a wooden carriage, with a small model of ‘Haeon’s steam ball’ on top, connected to the wheel with a leather strap.

“Since it’s small, we will first use alcohol as fuel.”

As he explained, Hyang pushed a lamp filled with ethanol under the steam ball and lit the wick.

Squeak!

As time passed, steam started to escape from a pipe sticking out of the steam ball, making a sharp noise.

At that sound, Hyang released the brake that had been holding the wheel. As the brake was released, the model locomotive slowly began to move, pulling the passenger and freight cars with it.

Chapter 52
Laughing and Crying in Devotion (17)

“Ah! It’s moving!”

Upon witnessing the train in motion, King Sejong clapped with delight.

Hyang, watching with a proud face, opened his mouth to speak, “This is the land transportation system I’ve been thinking about that uses steam engines. If research proves successful, one could travel from Hanyang to Busan in a single day. No, we could move from the southernmost to the northernmost tip of Joseon in a day. If that happens…” Hyang’s words trailed off, prompting King Sejong and the ministers to focus their attention on him. With all eyes on him, Hyang finally delivered his conclusion—

“…If that happens, the once stagnant pulse of Joseon will beat again.”

“The pulse of Joseon will beat again?”

“Yes, that’s correct. If we look at the current situation, the pulse of Joseon is stagnant. There is virtually no movement of goods, and the common people are unable to leave their place of birth, they live and die on the same land. Unless a significant event happens, they won’t know what is happening in the outside world, and their lives remain unchanging. Then, who do you think benefits the most? Only the landlords who rule these villages benefit. Isn’t it the same even now? Why did Your Majesty prohibit accusations from the populace? Even though there are as many disadvantages as there are benefits.”

At the mention of the ‘Law Prohibiting Accusations from the Populace^1‘, the faces of King Sejong and the ministers hardened.

Upon its founding, Joseon strived to strengthen central authority. Conflict with local powers and administrators appointed by the central government was inevitable. Whenever such conflicts arose, a deluge of accusations followed. The countless accusations filed by local nobles against officials, either individually or in collusion, had more than once filled King Sejong’s desk.

Eventually, King Sejong made a decisive move.

“Confucius said that ‘The military is one body!’ The regional officials are those who have been sent on behalf of this oneself, to carry out this oneself’s will! Just as it is not in accordance with propriety for a child to criticize their parents, it is also not in accordance with propriety to criticize them!”

Referring to the classics, King Sejong created a law prohibiting accusations from the populace, which even the reigning King Taejong agreed to implement.

However, the Crown Prince’s comment on the ‘benefits and disadvantages’ suggested there was a problem with the ‘Law Prohibiting Accusations from the Populace’.

“So, you’re saying that it was not right to prohibit accusations from the populace?”

“In the previous situation, it was an unavoidable choice to prohibit accusations from the populace. But as time goes by, those who take advantage of this to satisfy their own greed will appear. Isn’t Your Majesty trying to prevent this by pushing for reforms?”

“Well, that is true.”

“I believe that everything in this world, if it has a beginning, it also has an end. Even people have lifespans, so why shouldn’t laws have them too?”

“Well, that’s a valid point.” Upon hearing Hyang’s words, King Sejong nodded in agreement.

Hyang then turned his gaze towards the Minister of Law and Enforcement, Heo Jo, who was standing behind Sejong, and continued, “I think the important thing about a law is not its content, but the principle it represents. Your Majesty prohibited accusations from the populace because you wished for your will to be properly executed even in remote areas, so once the reforms are completed, won’t this law become unnecessary?”

“Well, that is true.” King Sejong repeatedly nodded his head, and Heo Jo, who was known to be a strict principled person, also nodded.

Hyang first knew about Heo Jo when he switched sides from the former Left State Councilor to Sejong’s party. Hyang, who had predicted that if a purge took place, Heo Jo would be washed away with the Left State Councilor, was perplexed by Heo Jo’s change of course.

“A principled person, you say? Why is he so fickle?”

As time passed and Hyang gathered various rumors, he revised his assessment of Heo Jo.

“This gentleman is a staunch royalist and Confucian fundamentalist, he’s in a risky position…”

While adjusting his assessment of Heo Jo, Hyang changed the subject.

‘He will be a useful card if there’s a problem with the Avengers in the future.’

And so, Hyang continued his explanation, having broached the ‘Law Prohibiting Accusations from the Populace.’

“If we look at how blocked the roads are in Joseon right now, there are famous villages for apples and pears, but it takes so much effort just to cross one mountain to see them, and if we cross two mountains, it would be fair to say, ‘there is such a thing.'”

‘Oh! I want to eat the mackerel from Andong… Argh, my mind’s wandering off again!’

Hyang hurriedly gathered his thoughts and continued, “However, if we lay down these railroads and run trains, we can move many people and goods at once. Then, Joseon, which has been stagnant like a pond, will flow steadily like a stream.”

“Hmm…”

After Hyang’s explanation ended, King Sejong stroked his beard, lost in thought.

“Your Excellency, look here.”

As King Sejong was contemplating, Hwang Hee called Jeong-cho in a soft voice.

“What is it, Sir Hwang?”

When Jeong-cho asked for the reason, Hwang Hee pointed at the model locomotives and trains with the tip of his chopstick and asked, “Do you think these toys will be of practical use?”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Jeong-cho chuckled and responded, “Do you think those are mere trifles for amusement, Your Excellency?”

“It’s not that, I’m curious if they will be effective.”

“Do you see the chunks of iron placed on the carts behind that toy?”

“I see them.”

“If we add those up, they weigh about 10 geun (6kg). The toy you referred to can move 15 geun, including the weight of the cart. Do you grasp the magnitude?”

At Jeong-cho’s words, Hwang Hee closed his mouth. The other ministers who were present did the same.

Meanwhile, King Sejong, who had been lost in thought, asked Hyang a question, “It’s well known that the roads in our Joseon are in a mess from ancient times. Therefore, not only in ancient times, but also in our Joseon, we mainly use boats to transport goods. Will these railroads be able to substitute that?”

“There would be a substantial amount of resources invested in the construction process. However, as time passes, it will not only recover the invested resources, but also more. Furthermore, if we discuss water transportation, every time we transport the collected grain from the southern regions (Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, Gyeongsang-do) by ship, a significant amount gets lost each year. Every year, a tenth of the total amount of grain coming in is lost, usually due to the ships sinking in a storm or getting stranded on hidden reefs. Isn’t it a successful situation if we only lose a tenth?”

“Indeed.”

“Is it really?”

“Eh?”

At Hyang’s question, King Sejong and the ministers’ ears perked up. Hyang continued, looking at King Sejong and the ministers.

“The sailors of the cargo ships transporting the grain have a lot of experience. Do you think these people wouldn’t know the signs of a storm? Or they wouldn’t know the location of the reefs on a path they travel back and forth all the time? Isn’t it simply the lack of concrete evidence that makes us overlook it?”

“That makes sense…”

At Hyang’s point, King Sejong and the ministers nodded. As Hyang pointed out, most of the grain collected from the southern regions was transported to Hanyang via cargo ships. During this process, a significant amount of grain was lost due to various accidents. The government had tried various ways to prevent this loss, but no optimal solution had been found. Once the ship went out to sea, communication was impossible until it arrived.

‘No! There were times when even Cheonan and Wonju were considered part of the metropolitan area! Crossing the Han River and communication is cut off – how does that make sense! We’re talking about a country that’s only as big as the palm of your hand!’

Hyang insistently laid out the benefits of the railroad.

“It’s not only beneficial for the transportation of people and goods. It is also very advantageous for communication.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong stroked his beard and nodded his head.

“‘Beneficial for communication’…indeed. If we can arrive at Hanyang from the southern or northern end within a day, as you said, we would be able to receive urgent reports more quickly. Then we could respond more rapidly and accurately.”

“That is indeed correct. Of course!”

When Hwang Hee and the other ministers who were about to speak appeared, Hyang raised his voice. As Hyang’s voice rose, the lips of the ministers who were about to say something tightened shut.

Hyang, who silenced the ministers, continued, “Of course, we have the ‘Beacon System (bongsudae – an ancient beacon system) even now, and we are still announcing emergency notices through beacon fires. However, we can only receive information related to national defense through the beacon fires. Even then, we can only know that something has happened in a certain direction, and we have to wait until the couriers arrive to get detailed information. If we’re not careful, we might miss crucial moments while waiting for the courier.”

“…That’s true.”

At Hyang’s point, the ministers nodded. Hyang continued, “Emergency notices are not only confined to wars. There are things like epidemics, floods, and droughts. If we can receive news faster when such disasters occur, wouldn’t we be able to handle them with a bit more leisure?”

“That’s certainly true.”

The ministers also started to lean towards finding the railway useful.

Hyang then called Jeong-cho. “You there, submit the plan to His Majesty.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, Jeong-cho, together with Jeong In-Ji, took out a pile of thick books and laid them on the table with the railway model.

“What is this? Hmm… ’Comprehensive National Land Development Plan?'”

“It is a plan to strengthen Joseon’s capacity based on the geography and economic situation of Joseon, which we surveyed while traveling across the country for astronomical observations, population distribution, and the distribution of underground resources reported by the resource agency. I prepared it hoping it would be of even a little help to His Majesty’s reform policies.”

King Sejong counted the number of books Jeong-cho and Jeong In-Ji had brought.

“One, two, three…… Forty-two, this doesn’t seem like ‘a little bit’?”

“It’s just a little bit.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s response, King Sejong sighed as he opened the book.

“Hoo~.”

The book was filled with sentences written in small characters. As he read the densely written sentences, King Sejong muttered quietly, “I hate metal pens at times like these.”

The reason why the officials preferred metal pens over brush pens was that they could write smaller. Although a brush pen could also write small using fine calligraphy, a metal pen could write even smaller. This reduced the consumption of paper compared to the past, which was good, but it was a torture for the ministers whose vision was declining. Hence, King Sejong had to specify a minimum character size for official documents.

Having briefly examined the content of the book that was on top, King Sejong handed the book over to Hwang Hee.

“I think it’s worth reviewing. Examine it with the rest of the ministers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Having handed over the books to Hwang Hee and the ministers, King Sejong examined the interior of the room where the railway model was placed. He hadn’t had the chance to look around as his attention was drawn to the railway model as soon as he entered.

“There are many maps?”

“Yes. There’s a world map derived from Zheng He’s navigation records, and a map of Joseon based on the surveys by researchers who went out for astronomical measurements to correct the ephemeris^2.”

“Hmm…”

As he examined the map of Joseon hung on the wall, King Sejong turned to look at Hyang. “It’s much more precise than the old maps.”

“It’s thanks to the researchers’ efforts.”

“The hard work is evident. Everyone, come and see.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The moment King Sejong’s order fell, the officials approached and began examining the maps. The one showing the deepest interest was Jo Mal-saeng^3. After scrutinizing the maps, he made a request to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, the army is in most need of these precise maps. Although we have gathered talents through military reform, there are many shortcomings in carrying out their intentions, and the maps are part of them. Please bestow these maps to the army.”

“The Minister of Military Affairs speaks truly. Crown Prince, make sure to pass these maps to the military.”

“I will obey your order. However, is it alright even if they are not the finalized version?”

“They are not the final versions?”

“The research institute has only been established for seven months. We lack people, so it’s impossible to produce a proper outcome.”

“We lack people?”

As King Sejong pondered, Jeong-cho spoke earnestly, “Indeed, the lack of talented personnel is a serious issue. Even now, including us, the rest of the members of the research institute can hardly go home.”

“Is it that serious?”

At King Sejong’s words, Jeong-cho nodded his head with a face that seemed on the verge of tears.

“As you can see, Your Majesty, we’re not just dealing with one or two tasks. There are many tasks and few people, how can we possibly be comfortable?”

“Can’t we gather more people?”

At King Sejong’s question, Jeong-cho replied, almost whimpering. “The rumors of the work being arduous deter people from coming. Initially, we managed to bring people in with promises of promotion, but whenever the number of people increased, you assigned more work… As you may see, the research institute has barely been established for over half a year, but it has produced so many artifacts and performed tasks. Among these tasks, not a single one is easy.”

Recalling the hardships, Jeong-cho’s eyes filled with tears, and he could not continue his words properly.

Looking at the pitiful state of the elderly official, King Sejong glared at Hyang. Upon receiving King Sejong’s sharp gaze, Hyang playfully stuck out his tongue.

“Oops!”

“You rascal! Enough!”

1. During the Joseon Dynasty, there was a law called “부민고소금지법 (Bumin Gosogumjib)” that prohibited the filing of complaints against high-ranking officials by commoners. This law aimed to protect the privileged class and maintain the social hierarchy. Under this law, commoners were not allowed to take legal action or bring grievances against the aristocracy or government officials, regardless of any injustices they may have experienced. The law essentially shielded the elite from accountability and prevented commoners from seeking justice or challenging the authority of those in power.[↩]

2. a table or data file giving the calculated positions of a celestial object at regular intervals throughout a period.[↩]

Minister of Military Affairs during King Taejong’s and Sejong’s reign. In the history, he was a civil officer during King Taejong and King Sejong’s reign. In 1401, he passed the civil service exam and became a government officer. Even though he was involved in bribery scandal in 1428, he was seen as competent as King Sejong never allowed him to resign even if he appealed to the king about his health problems several times. In the end, he couldn’t retire before his death as is often the case with King Sejong’s subjects.[↩]

Chapter 53
New Weapons (1)

“I will give the issue of personnel further thought. The research staff is working so hard, it’s only right to provide adequate support.”

“Your Majesty’s graciousness is boundless!”

Upon receiving an affirmative response to his lament, Sejong and the officials embarked on a serious inspection.

“Here are the account books.”

The officials began to scrutinize the ledgers documenting all the expenses used in the institute.

While the officials conducted their inspection, Sejong went around the institute, looking at the devices in use or under construction with an expert eye.

“We are done.”

“Is that so? How was it?”

Hwang Hee answered Sejong’s question, “There are no discrepancies in the books.”

“Is that so?”

“However, 60% of the funds have been directed to Area 51. We need to inspect Area 51.”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong looked out the window. Having seen the sky transition from afternoon to evening, Sejong made a decision, “Crown Prince, we will inspect Area 51 tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

The next morning, Sejong left the palace with his officials.

“Area 51… what does that mean exactly?”

Sejong’s question left Hyang slightly embarrassed.

“Is there some unspeakable hardship there?”

“No, not at all. It’s just a name borrowed from the research institutes in the Western countries, which boast excellent research achievements. I was ashamed to tell you. I was afraid we’d be accused of relying too much on Western things without fully understanding our own.”

‘While there were rumors about aliens in Area 51, how come there’s not a single alien dropping in Joseon?’

At Hyang’s reply, Sejong nodded, “Indeed. There is an old saying: too much is as bad as too little. You must make sure you don’t go overboard and maintain moderation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Anyway, it feels good to be able to move around on horseback like this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Both Sejong and Hyang were riding horses, dressed in full armor with helmets.

Sejong was on a white horse, while Hyang, on a brown one, moved side by side toward Area 51. The officials, too, followed Sejong and Hyang on horseback.

The Area 51 that Hyang had arranged was a little to the southeast of the military headquarters. In terms of 21st-century geography, the military headquarters was near Seoul City Hall, and Area 51 was in the Hoehyeon-dong^1 area.

“It’s a rather large site.”

“Yes, so we had to spend a considerable amount of money to purchase the land.”

“Well done. Even if it is for the state’s affairs, we should not arbitrarily seize people’s properties.”

Sejong did not spare his praise, apparently pleased with Hyang’s work.

‘At least they only took the market price, considering it’s a state affair!’

When Sejong, Hyang, and their party arrived at the main gate of Area 51, the commander of the soldiers guarding the gate stepped forward.

“Halt! Only authorized personnel are allowed in! Show your identification!”

At the commander’s words, Hyang led his horse to the front. Upon reaching the commander, Hyang pulled out a small wooden plaque from his attire and presented it to him.

“Here it is.”

After confirming the emblem on the wooden plaque, the commander stepped back and saluted respectfully.

“Long live the king!”

“Open!”

At the gesture of the commander who gave the military salute, the soldiers guarding the door swung open the main gate.

Hyang, who had returned to Sejong’s side, guided him. “Your Majesty, please enter.”

“Very well. The security is indeed thorough.”

“Without a pass, even I cannot enter.”

Upon Hyang’s response, Sejong looked surprised. “Really? Our Crown Prince certainly has put a lot of effort.”

“It’s because this is the most important place for security.”

Sejong, who had passed through the main gate, shook his head as if exhausted, and looked at Hyang.

“To the point of obsession.”

Contrary to expectations that they would go straight into the interior after passing the main gate, Sejong’s party moved along a white passage to the right. Both sides of the passage were blocked by high wooden fences, and soldiers stood at regular intervals behind the fences, watching the passage.

Sejong, seeing the soldiers saluting him, looked back at Hyang.

“What on earth are they doing inside to require such strictness?”

“Matters where confidentiality is life itself.”

“Ugh…”

Meanwhile, the officials following behind Sejong and Hyang looked serious.

“Such a strict facility for a research institute?”

“What on earth are they researching?”

“This is definitely a waste of budget!”

In the midst of these various remarks, Hwang Hee glared at Jeong-cho.

“Your Excellency! What have you been doing while the Crown Prince was doing all this? Aren’t you also a subject of Joseon? If the expenditure is this large, even you should have stepped up and reported!”

Jeong-cho calmly brushed off Hwang Hee’s criticism.

“I just stood by because I am a subject. Even I feel this is still not enough. Ahem!”

“What?”

Hwang Hee raised his voice, but Jeong-cho was mumbling to himself, looking far away. “A nobleman should be diligent. Being so casual like this…”

“Hey! Your Excellency Jeong!”

Hwang Hee shouted, but Jeong-cho continued to mumble, “That’s why they say desk work doesn’t work. It’s not too late to talk after seeing the field…”

“Your Excellency Jeong!”

Just as the situation was about to escalate into a fight, the second door opened, and Sejong and Hyang entered.

“Whoa…”

Sejong, who had entered, let out an exclamation. On a vast site – by Hyang’s rough estimate, about two-thirds the size of Hoehyeon-dong, Myeong-dong, and Eulji-ro in the 21st century – buildings were erected, and black smoke was rising on one side. To welcome Sejong’s party, trainees, soldiers under the Internal Security Office, craftsmen under the Military Equipment Supervisor and the Chief of the Armoury stood in rows.

“Salute!”

“Charge!”

At the command of the commander, Choi Hae-san, the soldiers saluted, and the craftsmen knelt on the ground and bowed.

“Well done, everyone.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Sejong’s praise continued, and Choi Hae-san gave an order to the soldiers.

“Dismissed!”

At Choi Hae-san’s dismissal command, the soldiers and craftsmen returned to their places.

Sejong’s party, who had dismounted from their horses, moved their steps under the guidance of Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon.

“What a remarkable facility.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. But most of the facility is what His Highness the Crown Prince has been involved with.”

“Is that so? Then what is the main work here?”

“Improvement of gunpowder and development of new gunpowder, improvement of cannons and gun barrels and development of new cannons and gun barrels, development of new armor, development of tactics using newly made weapons, and so on.”

As soon as Choi Hae-san’s words ended, Lee Cheon took over. “To put it simply, we are working on everything related to the military, except for ships.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing the answers of Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon, Sejong looked around. The color of the uniforms worn by the soldiers and military officers was significantly different from what he had seen before.

‘Do they even take care of the uniforms when they say everything?’

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been surveying the area with a snort, turned to Hyang. “Then let’s see what you’ve been doing so far.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Generals.”

“Yes! Your Majesty, please come this way.”

Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon led Sejong and the ministers to a large open space.

On the open space guided by Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon, there were a long table and several artifacts in place.

Choi Hae-san, who had guided people to the place with the table, started to explain, “The first thing we will show Your Majesty are the gunpowders.”

“Gunpowders?”

“That’s correct.”

Choi Hae-san pointed to the dishes placed on the table. Small amounts of gunpowder were contained on the dishes made of copper.

“Starting from the far left, this is the explosive that our Joseon army has been using. Our lab has named it single-round (gap-sik) gunpowder.

– The next one is the double-strength (eul-shik) gunpowder, which has adjusted the ingredients of the previous, original gunpowder. Next to that is the silver gunpowder, developed by the crown prince himself, and next to that is the explosive oil also made by the crown prince.

– And next to that is the prototype of cotton explosive made using various acids including sulfuric acid and cotton cloth, and finally, the hand shell explosive (grenade), which has been made easier to use.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been examining the explosives as Choi Hae-san explained, asked a question, “How are each of these explosives different? And you said you made them easier to use, what kind of method is that?”

“I will explain.”

Choi Hae-san explained to Sejong how they made them easier to use.

The improvement began almost the same as the existing method.

– Mix the raw materials of the explosives well, then sprinkle water on it to make it sticky, shape it like a small meju (a dried block of fermented soybeans), and dry it.

– Crush the moderately dried explosive lump and sieve it.

Up to this point, it was the same as before. The traditional method mixed clean oil at this point and went into storage, but Hyang added a few more steps here.

– When sieving the crushed explosive lump. Use sieves of various thicknesses. The powder that passes through the finest sieve is used in the gun barrel, and the powder that is sieved at the next thickness is used in the cannon.

– Mix the sieved explosive powder with graphite powder.

“Graphite?”

Sejong questioned the word ‘graphite’, which he heard for the first time. Hyang intervened at Sejong’s reaction.

“It’s a mineral I added to the list when the Resource Department was established and miners were being dispatched.”

“Really? What benefits does it have?”

“It prevents moisture penetration and prevents the explosives from self-detonating. It has many other benefits, but I will explain that part later.”

Sejong looked at Hyang with wide eyes at Hyang’s roundabout answer.

‘What is this brat up to again… ’

“Hmm… Okay. General, continue.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. As per your explanation, when the process that is closer to coating, no, applying graphite is done, storage becomes very easy. Of course, we’ve also added a process of making a double-layered box for storing explosives, filling the space between the inner and outer boxes with charcoal, and covering it with oil-soaked paper to prevent moisture penetration as much as possible, but it’s a fact that graphite is doing the most work.”

“Coating?”

Sejong expressed confusion at another unfamiliar term. Immediately, Hyang jumped in. “It’s the language of the scholars. They’ve been deeply involved in the refinement process of gunpowder, and thus, their terminology has been frequently used. We’re currently in the process of translating them into our language…”

Sejong raised his hand to stop Hyang’s explanation. “I see the situation. That’s not the important part, General, please continue.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang, who had been watching Sejong’s reaction, clenched his fists behind his back.

‘Success! We’ve passed the 80% mark of laundering the origin!’

As he became more engrossed in his hobby, Hyang had unwittingly begun to consider solutions for dealing with the sudden emergence of English words. And thus, the Western and Roman books that filled the library had emerged.

From then on, every time English words popped out unknowingly, Hyang navigated the crisis by saying,

“My apologies. I’ve been reading too many of the scholars’ books…”

The issue was that as such instances became more frequent, those working with Hyang also became accustomed to using English, Latin, and German words.

Anyway, Choi Hae-san continued with the explanation.

“Next is our improved sulfur-free gunpowder. The key focus was changing the raw material composition. We’ve removed sulfur.”

“Removed the sulfur?”

At Choi Hae-san’s statement, Sejong and the other ministers began to murmur.

“Can gunpowder explode without sulfur?”

“It can explode.”

At Choi Hae-san’s response, the eyes of the Minister of Taxation began to sparkle. Miners had found a few sulfur mines, but the locations weren’t good, and the mining cost was nowhere near insignificant.

‘We can save on budget! Wonderful!’

Contrary to what the Minister of Taxation liked, Sejong, with a serious face, asked, “Are there any problems with removing sulfur? For example, does the explosive power decrease?”

“The explosive power remains almost the same.”

“But adding sulfur to gunpowder has been practiced since long ago, hasn’t there been any difficulty? Are we really okay without sulfur?”

“You raise a valid point.”

After taking a moment to breathe, Choi Hae-san responded to Sejong’s inquiry. “When you remove sulfur from gunpowder, one characteristic emerges which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.”

“What characteristic?”

“With a normal fuse, the gunpowder won’t ignite.”

“So it’s useless… Ah!”

Sejong, who was about to question further, looked at Hyang and Choi Hae-san.

“So only our Joseon army knows how to ignite that gunpowder! That’s why it’s both an advantage and a disadvantage! Our army can use it, but the enemy can’t even if they capture it, so the disadvantage becomes an advantage! That’s it!”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang, Choi Hae-san, and Lee Chun bowed their heads in agreement. Sejong praised them repeatedly.

“It’s a clever strategy! So, are there any other benefits?”

“Yes. The biggest advantage is that production costs have significantly decreased by not using sulfur. Also, both charcoal and sulfur corrode the interior of guns and artillery, but by removing sulfur, the rate of corrosion has weakened. This means the lifespan of guns and artillery has increased. Lastly, it produces less smoke when fired.”

At Choi Hae-san’s explanation, Sejong, with a face full of doubt, stroked his beard. “If there are so many advantages, why didn’t Ming… Ah! Is it the ignition problem you mentioned earlier?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

At Sejong’s self-answer, Choi Hae-san, Lee Chun, and Hyang nodded. In particular, Hyang nodded even more vigorously.

‘Thank you, internet!’

The idea of removing sulfur from black powder was something she learned while searching the internet in the 21st century. But the information was only available on one site, and there were no exact ratios, so Hyang and the artisans had to go through numerous trials and errors.

After all those trials and errors, they were able to find the optimal ratio for maximum effect and choose the right wood for charcoal. And that information was classified as top-secret and stored in a vault located in the deepest part of the laboratory.

1. Near Nandaemum Market, largest traditional market in Korea. One of the popular tourist hotspots.[↩]

Chapter 54
New Weapons (2)

“Then, how does the improved gunpowder ignite?”

“It uses the gunpowder that His Highness the Crown Prince made.”

Upon hearing Choi Hae-san’s answer, King Sejong pointed out a problem. “Wouldn’t that make things too complicated? Now we have another type of gunpowder going between the fuse and the original gunpowder.”

Upon King Sejong’s remark, all the accompanying officials nodded in agreement.

Most of them were civil officials, but some had experience in the military, and even those who didn’t knew how to use firearms. They all had heard about it at least once. They also knew from the previous demonstration that a fuse was absolutely necessary to ignite gunpowder.

Choi Hae-san immediately replied to Sejong’s remark.

“We do not use a fuse with double-strength gunpowder. Instead, we use a cap (spoken in English), no, a ‘copper ignition cap’.”

“Copper ignition cap?”

As King Sejong expressed his confusion, Hyang quickly wrote the characters on a memo and handed it to him.

“It’s written like this.”

“Hmm… Do we have a real one?”

Upon Sejong’s words, Choi Hae-san moved a copper plate on a tray to Sejong’s front.

“The small one is for guns, and the large one is for cannons.”

“Hmm…”

King Sejong closely examined the copper ignition cap placed on the copper plate.

The one for guns was slightly smaller than the nail of an index finger, and the one for cannons was about the size of a thumb joint.

As Sejong inspected the objects, he looked at Choi Hae-san.

“Can we have a demonstration?”

“It has already been prepared. This way.”

Choi Hae-san guided Sejong and the officials a bit away from where the tray was placed.

The place Choi Hae-san guided them to was an area approximately 20 zhang (丈, about 60m) wide and 150 zhang (about 450m) long.

Seeing the place Choi Hae-san guided them to, Sejong commented, “This place is quite desolate.”

As per Sejong’s observation, the area was indeed desolate. Aside from where the people stood, there were dirt walls at least two zhang tall on three sides. They also piled up bags of dirt up to chest height to create a wall where the people stood. Inside the wall, there were numerous pits dug here and there.

As Sejong and the officials took their place behind the dirt wall, Choi Hae-san began to speak, “Then I will start the demonstration. Start!”

At Choi Hae-san’s command, the waiting artisans moved a small tray to the front of the demonstration area. On the tray were copper plates and small wooden barrels.

“The stuff in the barrel on the left is single-strength gunpowder, and in the right barrel is double-strength gunpowder.”

While Choi Hae-san was explaining, the artisans scooped the gunpowder onto the copper plates using a spoon made of magnetite, then inserted the fuses. Once they confirmed the fuses were properly inserted, they lit them and retreated.

Bang! Fizz.

The single-strength gunpowder lit by the fuse exploded with smoke, but the double-strength gunpowder only burned the fuse and ended.

“This time, we will use the modified gun with a copper ignition cap. Let’s start.”

At the command, the artisans brought two guns. The artisans who moved the gunpowder from the barrels into the guns then inserted a wad of paper and started ramming it.

The artisans who had tightly rammed it pulled the striker sticking out from the back of the gun and then attached the copper ignition cap. When they finished all the tasks, the artisans held the gunstock firmly under their right armpits, gripped the cord connected to the striker in their left hand, and aimed at the wall across from them.

“Fire, fire, fire!”

Boom!

After loudly shouting the command three times, when the artisans pulled the cord at once, the two guns simultaneously spit out fire.

“Oh!”

“Wow!”

As the two guns spat out flames, the officials let out exclamations of admiration.

Sejong looked at Hyang.

“So this is why you don’t use a fuse? Hmm… There seem to be fewer constraints than when using a fuse.”

“That’s correct.”

“Indeed, you have worked hard.”

King Sejong looked at Hyang with an expression of admiration. However, his face quickly hardened, and he threw out a question, “You said the name of the gunpowder you’ve made is ‘silver powder’. You’re not using precious silver, are you?”

“No, your Majesty. It uses mercury. Of course, mercury is valuable, but it is easier to obtain than silver and is only used for ignition, so it costs less than expected.”

“But still. That’s a relief.”

At Hyang’s response that the cost was lower than expected, King Sejong’s face brightened. Regardless, gunpowder was an item that consumed a massive amount of wealth. With a much relaxed expression, King Sejong turned his head towards the demonstration area.

“I would like to know about the other gunpowder you made, General.”

“Yes, your Majesty. Bring the ‘silver powder’.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Choi Hae-san’s order, the artisans came in carefully holding a small wooden box.

“Tilt the box to show the inside.”

The artisans tilted the box so King Sejong and his officials could see inside. In the center of the box, filled with sawdust, was a tiny ceramic bottle.

Choi Hae-san, who took out the ceramic bottle from the box, pulled out the cork and tilted it slightly towards the empty ground.

Boom!

A single drop of ‘silver powder’ fell from the mouth of the ceramic bottle onto the ground, and a loud explosion occurred at that moment.

“Gasp!”

“Good heavens!”

As the officials were surprised by the unexpected explosion, Choi Hae-san introduced it with a mischievous smile.

“This is ‘silver powder’.”

“Amazing! Astonishing! My prince, it’s truly astonishing! It truly lives up to the name ‘silver powder’! General, then how about its power?”

“It cannot be compared to the gunpowder used by our Joseon army. The saying ‘sky and earth difference’ would be fitting. Prepare it.”

“Yes, General.”

The artisans began to prepare a demonstration to compare the power of the black powder and ‘silver powder’.

“This is a thick cannon tube made for testing power. The amount of gunpowder used is 1/4 ‘nyang‘ (a traditional unit, approx. 9g) for both sides. First, it’s the single-strength powder.”

After packing 1/4 ‘nyang’ of single-strength powder into the cannon tube, the artisan fastened it to a tripod set up in advance on the ground. Then, he fitted a large mushroom-shaped iron cap to the slightly tilted mouth of the cannon tube. The artisan who had pulled back the igniter with a fuse, stepped back and shouted loudly.

“Fire! Fire! Fire!”

Boom!

With a loud explosion, the iron cap flew in a parabolic path and fell to the ground.

The artisan began to count units as he retrieved the rope attached to the iron cap.

“1 ‘bo’! 2 ‘bo’!…” Choi Hae-san quickly explained to King Sejong.

“We can measure the distance it flew using ‘bo’ units.”

“Is that so?”

“50 ‘bo’! (approx. 60m)”

“Now we will experiment with ‘silver powder’.”

At Choi Hae-san’s signal, the artisans began preparing for the second firing. The artisans handling the ‘silver powder’ were extremely cautious.

“You’re being very careful, aren’t you?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately responded, “It is an incredibly delicate substance, your Majesty.”

“But still?”

“Fire! Fire! Fire!”

In the midst of their conversation, the artisan who had finished preparing pulled the rope connected to the igniter.

Bang!

With an even louder and sharper explosion than the previous gunpowder, the iron cap soared into the sky and started to fly far away.

The artisan who retrieved the iron cap that had flown a considerable distance shouted out the distance loudly.

“110 ‘bo’! (approx. 132m)”

At the artisan’s shout, King Sejong’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It flew over twice as far, didn’t it?”

“Yes, your Majesty. As finicky as it is, its power is extraordinary.”

Seeing Hyang’s responding expression, King Sejong clicked his tongue. “Tsk! Looking at your face, it seems it’s not something we can use easily.”

“Yes, your Majesty. Given our current situation in Joseon, ‘silver powder’ itself is something we can’t make use of.”

“What a shame.”

At Hyang’s response, King Sejong couldn’t hide his disappointment and licked his lips. “It’s a pity.”

“I agree.”

Listening to the conversation between King Sejong and Hyang, the officials also had a similar expression to King Sejong.

The Prince they knew seemed to prioritize performance, but surprisingly, he also took production costs into account.

However, the fact that the Crown Prince didn’t mention the cost indicated that the court could bear the production cost. However, the Crown Prince had judged the item to be ‘useless’ at present.

“How tedious could it possibly be to have you say so?”

“It’s extremely tedious.”

Hyang explained the reasons to Sejong.

- Firstly, production itself is impossible in the warmer spring or summer seasons. The synthesis process generates high heat and there is a high possibility of self-explosion or catching fire due to this heat. Hyang himself could only attempt synthesis when winter began and had to use a large amount of ice from the ice storage house.

- Great caution is required during the synthesis process. Protective equipment must be worn to protect the skin of the hands and face because a highly concentrated acid is used. Ventilation equipment is also essential.

- Even a little impurity can greatly increase the risk of explosion. Due to this, Hyang had to go through numerous refining processes before and after synthesis.

- Storage is also not easy. It’s extremely sensitive to shocks, so if the containers bump into each other or are shaken hard during transportation, it immediately explodes.

If a lightning bolt were to strike nearby, it would immediately explode. If impurities are not properly removed as mentioned above, it will self-destruct over time. Due to the issue of self-destruction, it must be stored in a cool place. In Hyang’s case, he had to dig a hole in Namsan (South Mountain) to make a storage place.

“For these reasons, this gunpowder itself is absolutely useless.”

“Truly a cursed thing.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong unwittingly spat out a curse. However, this time the ministers agreed.

“Truly a cursed thing.”

“It’s very powerful, but… with such a terrible disposition…”

Setting aside his regrets about gunpowder, Sejong moved on.

“The next gunpowder I will introduce is cotton powder.”

“Cotton powder? Is it named cotton powder because it uses cotton cloth? Or does it use cotton cloth for the gunpowder?”

Sejong, who remembered the explanation given by Choi Hae-san when he first saw it, wore an incredulous expression. The ministers were the same.

“Do they make gunpowder from cotton cloth?”

“Of course, cotton cloth does burn…”

While Sejong and the ministers were murmuring with suspicion, Choi Hae-san picked up a piece of cotton cloth on the tray with tongs.

“Light it.”

“Yes, General.”

Boom!

“A—ack!”

“Goodness!”

When the artisan set the cotton on fire, it burned to ash with a loud explosion.

Laughing at the sight of the startled ministers making a fuss, Choi Hae-san opened his mouth, “It is made using well-twisted cotton cloth and several types of acid. As you can see, it has powerful firepower. And… there’s one very important thing. Starting with that gunpowder, cotton powder, and ‘virtuous’ style gunpowder are all smokeless gunpowder.”

“Smokeless… does it not produce smoke?”

“To be precise, it produces very little.”

In the ensuing demonstration, the cotton powder showed enough power to be stronger than black powder, though weaker than the gunpowder.

“Finally, I will show you Virtuous (Deok)-style gunpowder.”

“Virtuous-style? What’s the reason for that name?”

At Sejong’s question, Choi Hae-san looked at Hyang. Following Choi Hae-san’s gaze, the eyes of Sejong and the ministers were all focused on Hyang.

Hyang answered, scratching the back of his head.

“Hmm. I thought that it would be a virtue to make it convenient for all soldiers using gunpowder, and that it was thanks to Father that we could make it that way, so I named it that way.”

“Huh? It’s a little embarrassing, but it’s a pretty good naming.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s explanation, both Sejong and the ministers nodded in agreement. However, Hyang couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

‘Through my obsession with the Internet, I came across a piece of information about explosives and the manufacturing method used in Germany. I absolutely can’t say that it was borrowed from a fandom community called “deok-guk” which used to refer to people who were hardcore fans devoted to something!

Choi Hae-san continued to explain, “This ‘virtuous’ gunpowder is made by mixing cotton gunpowder, nitroglycerin, and gunpowder in a certain ratio.”

Upon hearing Choi Hae-san’s explanation, Sejong, with wide-eyed surprise, pointed out a problem, “You mixed in gunpowder? Didn’t you just say that the nature of gunpowder is so difficult that it can’t be used?”

“Cotton gunpowder and glycerin have neutralized that characteristic.”

“Is that so? But the cotton gunpowder was white, why is this gunpowder black?”

“It’s coated with graphite, or rather, it’s wrapped around it.”

In the subsequent demonstration of its power, ‘virtuous’ gunpowder showed a power equivalent to that of nitroglycerin.

Upon seeing its power, Sejong clapped his hands in delight.

“Truly splendid! Excellent!”

As Sejong seemed overjoyed, Hyang felt proud.

‘As expected of the hardcore fans!’

However, this was a mistake on Hyang’s part.

What Hyang remembered was not a German formula, but a British one. To be precise, it was the formula for Cordite MD^1…

Sejong, who was very pleased with the newly created gunpowder, looked at the ministers.

“Since we have such good gunpowder, how about we mass-produce it?”

In response to Sejong’s proposal, Hwang Hee asked Hyang, “How much would the production cost be?”

“It costs about 30% more than producing the same weight of smokeless gunpowder. However, even if we only put in half of the smokeless gunpowder, it has more power.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, Hwang Hee nodded and then said to Sejong,

“Even though it costs more, we can compensate for it by using less, so I think it would be good to mass-produce it.”

“I think Left State Councilor Hwang’s words are right.”

Once the ministers agreed, Sejong looked at Hyang and Choi Hae-san.

“Prepare for the mass production of ‘virtuous’ gunpowder.”

Upon hearing Sejong’s order, Hyang responded with a troubled expression. “I am sorry to say this, but given the current situation in Joseon, it is impossible to mass-produce ‘virtuous’ gunpowder.”

1. Cordite MD is a type of smokeless propellant originally developed by the British military as a replacement for black powder in the late 19th century. Specifically known as Modified Cordite or Modified Double Base Cordite, it consists of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. Cordite MD was widely used during World War II in firearms and artillery due to its improved performance and reduced smoke. However, its usage has declined since then with the introduction of newer propellants[↩]

Chapter 55
New Weapons (3)

“Why!”

“Why indeed!”

Upon hearing Hyang’s statement, “Mass production is impossible,” King Sejong and the ministers all barked in unison. Especially Sejong, with an angry expression, questioned Hyang.

“Why is it impossible?”

“Because it is impossible given the current situation in Joseon.”

“So why is it impossible! Isn’t this the same thing you’ve been saying! Rather than saying it’s impossible, wasn’t it your belief to find a possible way!”

“Your Majesty, I humbly insist that it is impossible with the current situation in Joseon. The reason is…”

“You kid!”

Sejong exploded in anger. However, Hyang merely wore a bitter expression.

‘One of the most infuriating things is having your rice bowl snatched away. But what can you do when the situation is messed up?’

Observing Sejong’s inability to contain his rage, Hwang Hee intervened in the conversation.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. There must be some difficulty in this.”

“Huuh~. Hoo~.”

Following Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong took deep breaths. Barely containing his anger, Sejong glared at Hyang and opened his mouth. “Explain the reason.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will explain in detail. It is possible to produce the virtuous-style gunpowder. However, mass production is impossible.”

“Why?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang explained the reasons.

– High-purity acetic acid and sulfuric acid are needed to make Deokgap-style gunpowder. With the current situation in Joseon, it’s hard to acquire large quantities of vinegar and sulfur.

– There’s also an issue with cotton cloth. The primary ingredient for virtuous-style gunpowder is high-quality cotton without any fluff. However, looking at the current situation in Joseon, the so-called “Jungpo” (正布, top-quality fabric) is only used for paying taxes, and the third or fourth quality cloth is so poor that it’s used as currency.

“As I explained above, skilled artisans are required to handle high-purity acids. Of course, as we can see from the Bureau of Royal Attire or Military Arsenal, there are skilled craftsmen. However, for mass production, their number is too small.

“The main ingredient of virtuous-style gunpowder, which uses nitroglycerin, presents another problem. It actually comes from camphor oil.”

“Why? Is camphor oil an imported good?”

“No, Your Majesty. It’s a product produced in our Joseon.”

“Then why is it a problem?”

“Because the main ingredients of camphor oil are pig and cow bile.”

“Ah!”

Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, Sejong and the ministers had to sigh in unison.

To make nitroglycerin, a large amount of glycerin was needed. However, in the current situation where the petrochemical industry of the 21st century was absent, the only option Hyang had was to extract glycerin from the process of making soap.

However, the issue was the supply of raw materials. The most readily available source was pig fat, which had a fat content of about 15%.

In numerical terms, if a pig weighed 100kg, that meant 15kg of it was fat. Even if you try to reclaim all the fat and other fatty tissues during the meat processing, you couldn’t reclaim 100%, and the glycerin extracted through saponification would be even less.

“To put it simply… even if all the people in Joseon eat pork for all three meals a day, it’s impossible to secure enough glycerin for military use.”

Hyang, twirling his pen, was examining the results and shook his head vehemently.

‘Whether it’s the 21st century or now, the economics of eco-friendly natural products are a mess… Ha! Even if they’re called the main culprit of environmental destruction, long live the petrochemical industry! Long live the heavy chemical industry!’

“What a pity. If only I hadn’t known we could make gunpowder of such high performance. It would have been better not knowing…” Sejong sighed deeply, to which the ministers also nodded their agreement.

“Your Majesty, giving up in national defense is a path to ruin.”

At Hyang’s rebuttal, Sejong roared in anger. “Who wouldn’t know that! But what can we do when the state of our Joseon doesn’t allow it!”

“Why do you think Your Majesty is conducting the reform! Isn’t it to break down the difficult situation of our Joseon!”

At Hyang’s protest, Sejong stiffened.

Looking at Sejong, Hyang swallowed hard and continued, “Right now, at this very moment, everyone, starting with me, including General Choi Hae-san and General Lee Chun, are in deep thought to find a solution! Your Majesty, I believe survival is a challenge! Survival is a challenge against death! Giving up is death! For me, Prince Lee Hyang! Giving up is an unknown word!”

“You are right!”

Sejong shook as he was filled with emotion. “The moment I ascended to the regency, I made up my mind to do everything for the prosperity of Joseon! You reminded me of what I had briefly forgotten, you truly are a loyal subject! Listen, ministers! Regain your scattered minds! Risk your lives to succeed in the reform!”

Just like Sejong, the ministers, caught in the heat of the moment, answered in one voice.

“We will obey the order with our lives!”

Later, the exhausted ministers all muttered the same words.

“I shouldn’t have visited Area 51. This mouth of mine is the real enemy…”

Just as he had said in front of Sejong, Hyang never gave up on mass producing glycerin.

One day, while searching for a possible method even during his busy schedule, Hyang, who was sleeping, suddenly jumped up from his spot.

“Cooking oil! Brilliant, my brain! It’s worth the meal this time!”

The next day, as soon as the day dawned, Hyang, who had rushed to Area 51, found Choi Hae-san. On the other hand, Choi Hae-san also seemed to be looking for Hyang, as he came running with a bright face as soon as he saw Hyang.

“Prince! I have been waiting!”

“General! I think I’ve found a way with sesame oil.”

“This General also has something in mind!”

When they realized they were on the same page, a moment of embarrassment passed over them. Hyang, having composed herself, opened his mouth, “General, you go first.”

“Your Highness, you should go first…”

“It’s okay.”

Upon Hyang’s concession, Choi Hae-san spoke first. “I was thinking, how about using beans?”

“I was thinking the same thing!”

Hyang and Choi Hae-san promptly began experimenting with making bean oil. After confirming the results of the experiment, they put their heads together.

“It seems promising, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Let’s report this to the King!”

“Yes!”

Upon receiving the report, King Sejong was delighted and looked at the courtiers.

“The Crown Prince has made another achievement!”

“Indeed, Your Highness!”

“With this, we have further strengthened the defense of Joseon!”

“We congratulate you)!”

“We congratulate you!”

The beans initially used in the process were harvested from bean fields linked to the lumberyard on Neobol Island. It had been confirmed from the test results that the leftover bean pulp after oil extraction could be used as feed for cows and pigs.

However, the beans harvested from the lumberyard’s bean fields were not enough to meet the demands. Therefore, Joseon became the first country in world history to ‘officially recycle resources’.

The efforts of the Joseon government to obtain oil were a ‘war with the kitchen’. Pork and beef fat gave a savory flavor when cooking, so they were often used.

For this reason, the government paid to collect pork and beef fat, leading to the birth of the term ‘Pig fat collector’ following ‘Beef fat collector’.

The government’s full-scale ‘war with the kitchen’ was due to beans.

In Joseon at that time, beans were one of the important staple foods. Additionally, as a country that used a lot of doenjang (soybean paste) and soy sauce, the demand for beans was enormous.

To solve this situation, King Sejong came up with the best solution.

“We buy all the beans from the pioneer farmers who volunteered to move to the northern frontier! This way, we can solve the issue of the migrants’ livelihood and the problem of raw material supply!”

“We accept your command!”

With this method, a different outcome occurred than the original history; the number of farmers willing to move northward significantly increased.

Through various attempts like this, Joseon secured a way to significantly increase the production of virtuous-style gunpowder. However, Hyang’s face did not brighten much.

“Considering the current consumption, the current increase is not enough. The amount used by the military is increasing, but the amount used in the civilian sector is not small.”

Looking at the reports piled on one side of the desk, all expressing urgency due to a lack of gunpowder, Hyang, who was furrowing his brow, mumbled while looking at the world map hanging on the wall.

“Should we look to the south again…”

“Is this all we have?”

Sejong, who had a heated discussion over gunpowder, looked at Hyang with a slightly regretful expression.

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“No, Your Majesty. We still have the most important things left.”

“The most important things?”

“First, I will show you the artillery. General.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Look here! Call for the artillery soldiers!”

“Yes, General!”

A moment later, a group of riflemen marched into the demonstration area.

“Hup, two! Hup, two! Stand at your places! Left face!”

Clink!

At the command of the supervising officer, the riflemen, each with a long rifle resting on their right shoulders, moved in perfect synchronization to face King Sejong.

“Present – arms!”

“Salute!”

At the commander’s command, the riflemen simultaneously performed the military salute.

In response to the soldiers’ salutes, Sejong did not hesitate to lavish praise on General Choi Hae-san and Hyang.

“These soldiers’ discipline and orderliness are far from ordinary! I can see the efforts of the Crown Prince and the General!”

“Indeed, they are elite soldiers!”

“I have been in the court for quite some time, but I have rarely seen such elite troops!”

In response to Sejong’s praise, the ministers also did not hesitate to give their compliments.

The riflemen, having received the praises of Sejong and the ministers, were full of pride. Hyang, who was watching from the side, was also filled with a sense of satisfaction.

‘I worked hard to train them!’

When he had made a satisfactory number of rifles, Hyang requested Sejong for soldiers and officers to train.

When the officers and soldiers he had obtained arrived, Hyang couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“They said these people chosen from the Office of the Royal Guards were assigned to the training center… They seem elite, but…”

Comparing to his 21st-century military life, and the 19th-century European armies and the American soldiers during the Civil War that he had seen in movies, the soldiers in front of him seemed to lack spirit and elitism.

Scratching his head in frustration, Hyang clicked his tongue. “Tsk! There’s no helping it. We need to train them harder.” Thus, the soldiers were first mobilized for the construction of their lodgings and a large-scale testing ground for various weapons.

“I thought we were here to solve military issues…”

The soldiers, who were given shovels instead of rifles, were a little confused, but they had no complaints. It was because Hyang fed them extremely well. At least once every three days, they had pork and beef.

The soldiers were delighted and had a feast with the meat. Among them, a unique object that caught the soldiers’ eyes was the grilling plate placed over the fire.

The device, made of thick cast iron, had holes on all sides. As the meat was grilled, the oil dripped down through the holes into a bowl.

After each meal, the bowls were immediately sent to the artisans’ workshops.

While the soldiers were working, Hyang collaborated with General Choi Hae-san, General Lee Chun, and the officers from the training center. They created names for each part of the newly made rifles and regulations for formal training.

“Do you think these movements and calls, as you called them ‘formal training,’ will be useful, Your Highness? We are already doing similar training.”

At first, the training center’s officers doubted the necessity of what Hyang proposed.

Their combat experience involved clashes of large groups. The tactic for victory in such battles was to not break the line until the end. The Joseon Army had been conducting training related to this diligently.

“So, is that why the disgrace event took place during the subjugation of Tsushima Island?”

At Hyang’s pointed question, the military officials shut their mouths.

During the punitive expedition to Tsushima Island, Lee Jongmu had made up his mind to attack their base to annihilate the Japanese who did not give up resistance.

For this assault, Lee Jongmu drew lots among the restraint officers of the left and right army to decide who would go. As a result of the lottery, the left army led by Park-sil landed and began the attack, but their formation collapsed due to the enemy’s surprise attack, causing about 180 casualties.

It was a natural outcome for Hyang, who had obtained and read the report at the time, to explode in anger, exclaiming, “There was no strategy or tactics!” Even if we set aside the strategy, the tactic of sending in the left army alone without properly establishing an additional operation plan on how to respond when they encountered difficulties due to the enemy’s surprise attack or other problems was a problem.

In the end, because Hyang’s criticism was valid, the military officials proceeded with the study of ceremonial training and swordsmanship along with Hyang.

Chapter 56
New Weapons (4)

Sejong praised the elite nature of the General’s troops before getting to the main point.

“Are the cannons they carry on their shoulders the new ones?”

Upon Sejong’s inquiry, Hyang replied promptly.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s named ‘Fortified-style Siege Cannons^1.”

In response to Hyang’s reply, Sejong stroked his beard while expressing his appreciation. “‘Siege Cannons’…It’s a fitting name. However…,” his gaze was fixed on the shimmering barrel of the Siege Cannons. Sejong, who was looking at the silver glittering barrel of the said weapon, turned his head to Hyang.

“It’s not made of copper, is it?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. It’s made of iron.”

“Iron?”

Listening to the conversation between Sejong and Hyang, Hwang Hee cut in. “Your Majesty, while copper is expensive, iron is also costly…”

Sejong raised his hand to interrupt Hwang Hee’s words. “Enough,” he remarked and continued, “The Crown Prince must have had a reason to use iron. We can talk about that later.”

“I understand.”

Sejong, who stopped Hwang Hee’s words, issued an order to Choi Hae-san. “I want to see its power.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon receiving the order, Choi Hae-san gestured to the craftsmen standing nearby. As the craftsmen saw Choi Hae-san’s hand signal, they brought a board the size of a human body. The red cloth-covered board had armor plates lined up in a row.

Choi Hae-san pointed to the board with his baton and began explaining, “This is the armor plate that we’ll use as a target. Compared to the actual armor, the thickness of the iron plate is increased by 1 li (a traditional Chinese measurement unit, approx. 0.3 cm) to 4 li (approx. 1.3mm) for reinforcement.”

“Is that so?”

“Set up the target.”

“Yes, general.”

The craftsmen took the target to the opposite side of the demonstration area. Upon seeing the craftsmen installing the target far from where the cannon troops were located, Sejong called out to General Choi Hae-san.

“General, how far is that distance?”

“It’s about 250 bo (traditional Korean unit of length, approx. 300m), Your Majesty.”

“Ho!”

Sejong began to glow with admiration. Meanwhile, the craftsmen who finished installing the target signaled and ran to the ditch made under the earth wall.

Upon seeing the craftsman’s signal, the commander yelled at the cannon troops.

“Load the cannons!”

At the commander’s order, the cannon troops set up the Siege Cannons they were carrying on the ground.

“Clean the barrel!”

“Add gunpowder!”

“Add the cartridge paper^2!”

“Load the lead ball!”

“Push in the lead ball!”

Following the commander’s order, all the cannon troops finished their process and returned to their loading stance, and the commander issued an order.

“Front cannon! Fire the cord!”

The cannon troops picked up the Siege Cannons, pulled the trigger halfway, and inserted the fire cord filled with gunpowder into the knob.

“Pull the trigger! Aim!”

The cannon troops pulled the trigger all the way back, stepped forward with their left foot, tilted their bodies slightly, placed the stock on their shoulders, and aimed at the distant target.

“Fire!”

Boom!

Smoke and sparks spewed out and disappeared into the air.

“Reload!”

The cannon troops who had finished shooting returned to their loading stance, and the craftsmen who had hidden in the ditch retrieved the target and returned.

“Amazing!”

“Such a powerful weapon!”

Sejong and the ministers couldn’t hide their surprise as they looked at the retrieved target plate.

There were 9 holes in the target plate.

Hyang and Choi Hae-san were full of pride as they watched Sejong and the ministers inspect the target plate with amazed faces.

“Truly amazing. I knew that cannons were powerful but their range was significantly shorter compared to arrows. However, this Siege Cannons has a range similar to arrows, and its power is incomparable. It is indeed the ultimate weapon.”

“The craftsmen have worked hard.”

Hyang modestly responded to Sejong’s praise. Choi Hae-san, who was listening to Hyang’s reply next to him, nodded vigorously. There was a small tear in his eye.

At Choi Hae-san’s strong reaction, Sejong turned to Hyang. Seeing Hyang’s somewhat embarrassed smile, Sejong sighed.

“General Choi, just how hard did the craftsmen have to work… Please explain the process of completing this cannon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. So…”

※※※※

The process of making a barrel began with the crafting of a specific tool to create the iron body of the barrel.

“To shape the barrel using a hammer, we need a specially made anvil,” the blacksmith explained.

Following this instruction, the craftsmen used high-carbon steel (also known as ‘bong steel’ in Korean) to create a custom anvil. Unlike a conventional anvil that has a flat top, the custom anvil had a long groove shaped like a series of semi-cylindrical pillars, starting from a large semi-cylinder to a smaller one just slightly bigger than the targeted thickness of the barrel.

After the anvil was completed, the next item ordered was an iron core made of bong steel, slightly thicker than the inner diameter of the barrel.

After the custom tools were made, the crafting process was guided step by step.

Following the instructions, the blacksmith and other craftsmen began to roll a sheet of iron of appropriate size.

Once the iron sheet was adequately rolled, they inserted the iron core into the center and started hammering it on the custom anvil. When the ends of the iron sheet met as it was rolled, they sprinkled a mixture of iron and charcoal powder on the seam before placing it into a furnace. The intense heat of the furnace melted the mixture, filling the creases of the rolled sheet.

Once the crevices were completely filled, the craftsmen checked for smoothness and accuracy. If everything was fine, they hammered the circular barrel to give it an angular shape.

This was to facilitate the subsequent processing by stabilizing the barrel.

Finally, after heating in the furnace, they buried the barrel in ashes to cool it, and then used a tool invented by the blacksmith to smooth the inside.

After the interior was smoothed and both the exterior and interior of the barrel were confirmed to be straight without warping, they made the barrel’s section octagonal. Then they made a female screw in the back and inserted a male screw with a cap attached to it. The cap was the part where the touch hole, the hole through which the gunpowder is ignited, was installed.

However, the work did not end there. The wooden body made by the woodworker, including the trigger and the lock, and the barrel were assembled. Then, a trigger guard made by a brass craftsmen was attached, as well as a front sight and a rearsight. On the end of the muzzle, a robust and pointed part was installed. The real struggle started from then. There were no rifling grooves in the barrel of the gun drawn by the blacksmith. This was intentional.

“Going forward, the number of things to make and test will gradually increase, so I can’t do everything myself, can I?”

When five prototypes were completed, Hyang, together with Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, began a comprehensive performance test.

“First, let’s find out how much gunpowder it can withstand.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“The existing barrel could hold one ‘nyang’ (a unit of weight in the Joseon period), but let’s start from half of half ‘nyang’, shall we?”

“That seems appropriate.”

Choi Hae-san, Lee Chun, and the craftsmen began the test by filling the barrel with half ‘nyang’ of gunpowder and a bullet.

For safety, they fixed the barrel in a rig, attached a string to the trigger, and hid behind a protective wall.

“Fire! Fire! Fire!”

Bang!

The loud noise filled the testing area, and the test ended when the barrel withstood up to one and a half ‘nyang’ of gunpowder.

“Considering the intended use of this barrel, there’s no need to go up to two ‘nyang’.”

“Agreed.”

“Then let’s try with blasting powder (mercury fulminate).”

In the subsequent test, the barrel withstood one and a half ‘nyang’ of blasting powder. After confirming the results, the blacksmith changed the test item.

“Then let’s find out what the optimal amount of gunpowder is. They said that they killed a Jurchen wearing armor with a musket at a distance of 40 ‘bo’ (approximately 50m), so let’s use that as a standard.”

“Yes, sir.”

This time, they gradually reduced the amount of gunpowder. The result of the test was two ‘don’ (approximately 7.5g) of blasting powder. The bullet fired from the barrel cleanly penetrated a four ‘li’ (approximately 1.2cm) thick iron plate set up as a target.

After checking the result, the blacksmith looked at Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun.

“Looking at the power, it seems possible to kill from an even greater distance, doesn’t it? The further the better, right?”

“That’s obvious.”

“Then shall we see if it’s possible at 50 ‘bo’?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Choi Hae-san responded with excitement.

In the conducted test, the long gun barrel that contained two “don” (approx. 7.5g) of gunpowder had pierced a target up to 70 “bo” (approx. 85m). Beyond this range, although the bullet reached, it failed to hit the target despite shooting more than 20 times.

’70 bo, that’s unexpected, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s time to start with rifling^3?’

Despite the results exceeding his expectations, Hyang had no intention of stopping.

From that point onwards, Choi Hae-san, Lee Cheon, and the craftsmen were no longer enjoying their work.

“General, it seems that the process of loading the gun takes too much time due to sieving and ramming. Let’s try it without these steps.”

“But without those steps, the bullet might fall out…”

“Can’t we custom make the bullets to fit the barrel?”

Hyang’s suggestion gave Choi Hae-san something to consider, and he nodded his head, “It seems worth trying.”

Hyang planned to impose trial and error based on the content of a video he saw on the Internet. However, in the subsequent experiment, the long gun barrel caused a problem after firing five shots.

“The residue from the gunpowder makes it strenuous to prepare for another shot.”

“I see.”

“So, we need to sieve after all…”

However, Hyang shook his head. “General, think about it. Do you think cavalrymen, who ride faster than humans, have the leisure to sieve while charging at full speed?”

“That’s true, but…”

Choi Hae-san, Lee Cheon, and the craftsmen began to search for a solution. However, it was not easy for people to come up with ideas about rifling.

‘Do I have to step in again?’

On a rainy day, when Hyang was considering his involvement, one of the artisans who had been staring blankly out of the window suddenly stood up.

“Ah!”

“What’s the matter!”

“How about drilling a groove?”

“Drilling a groove?”

Hyang pointed to the ground with his finger as he explained. “Do you see that ditch? The stagnant water flows down the ditch, doesn’t it? The flame of the gunpowder might flow in a similar way, right? If we drill a long groove inside the barrel, won’t the flame flow and the residue also escape through the groove?”

At the artisan’s words, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun looked at Hyang. Hyang nodded.

“It seems worth a try.”

With Hyang’s decision, seven more barrels were manufactured.

“Let’s make two barrels each with 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 grooves, and compare them with barrels without grooves.”

“Yes.”

They accepted the order, but the artisans faced a new dilemma.

‘How do we even drill the grooves?’ After several sleepless nights of contemplation, they finally crafted a dedicated tool, and drilled grooves in the barrels, ranging from 3 to 15.

In the subsequent tests, Choi Hae-san, Lee Chun, and the artisans encountered a new problem. The power of the output seemed to diminish as the number of grooves increased.

“That’s expected. The more grooves there are, the more power will be lost through them,” Lee Chun pointed out the cause, and later Choi Hae-san murmured with a troubled expression, “Is a three-barrel gun[Triple Rifle all barrels can be fired independently, in any sequence and at any time, without them affecting each other.]][ the only answer after all?”

“What are the exact results?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Lee Chun flipped through the book with the results as he replied, “There is little loss of power up to 6 grooves, but there’s a lot of residue. From 9 grooves, the residue decreases but the power drops significantly.”

At Lee Chun’s response, everyone scratched their heads.

“Do we need to go with 9 grooves…”

“The problem is that the power visibly drops from there…”

“Is 6 grooves the only answer then? But that also has the residue problem…”

While they were agonizing over the problems that couldn’t be solved at the same time, Jang Yeong-sil, who had been unable to bear watching, opened his mouth. “How about twisting the grooves?”

“Twisting the grooves?”

At Jang Yoeng-sil’s words, everyone’s attention focused on him.

Watching from behind, Hyang clenched his fists under the desk. ‘Ahjussi (mister), nice!’

Hyang quickly composed himself and ordered Jang Yeong-sil. “Astronomer Jang, please explain in detail.”

“Yes, your Highness. So… um… wouldn’t the length increase if we twist the grooves like a screw? If that happens, even with 6 grooves, there will be enough length for the residue to escape. And because the grooves are twisted, the force from the gunpowder explosion won’t be able to escape straight away, right?”

The meeting room fell silent at Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation. As Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun pondered over what Jang Yeong-sil meant, they both exclaimed at the same time.

“That’s it!”

“That’s it! Crown Prince, twisting (it) may be the answer!”

At the words of Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, Hyang made a decision. “Then let’s try it.”

That night in his room, Hyang grumbled with a tired expression as he got into bed.

“Ah… The path to the rifled musket is so long and difficult… Explaining the concept of surface area in terms of length… And the ability to understand it as if it’s obvious… Are all the people living in this era monsters?”

The decision to twist the grooves drilled into the inside of the barrel had been made, but a problem arose from that.

“How many rotations should we make?”

Facing this problem, people were again in a quandary. Hyang had to step in again.

“Make a prototype with half a rotation up to two rotations at half a rotation intervals!”

“Orders received!”

And so, the artisans had to spend another night to create a new barrel.

1. There’s no particular reference for the names, so I decided to translate it to names that kinda make the most sense.[↩]

2. Before the formation of lead bullets, ammunitions are stuffed in a cartridge paper like this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chassepot_paper_cartridge.jpg[↩]

3. the arrangement of spiral grooves on the inside of a rifle barrel.[↩]

Chapter 57
New Weapons (5)

The decision was made to carve a large rifling inside the cannon, but the artisans fell into another dilemma.

“In which direction should we turn it?”

When they began discussing the rotation direction of the rifling, Hyang remarked, “When looking from the muzzle, why not make one rotate in the direction of a clock’s hand, and the other in the opposite direction?”

Upon hearing this, Choi Hae-san opened the ledger and began to calculate.

“Four types of rotations ranging from a half to two turns, two types of rotation directions, and needing to check the deviation… a minimum of five for each… that makes 40 in total. It’ll take some time.”

“We must strive.”

At Hyang’s words, the artisans in the room sighed lightly. However, no one complained. The work was hard, but surprisingly, they found relief in firing the cannon, and checking the results was somewhat enjoyable.

Of course, for Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, who were sandwiched in the middle, it was more of a headache than fun.

In the ensuing tests, all 40 cannons showed better results than expected. All 40 were able to fire at least five times without any problems, and there was no significant decrease in power.

However, an unexpected result appeared during the analysis of the test results: the hit rate was higher than expected. Surprised by the unexpected result, Choi Hae-san suggested as he submitted his report.

“Even before, at a distance of 70 ‘bo’ (Korean measure of distance, 1 bo = 3.927m), if we fired 20 shots and hit 5, we considered ourselves lucky. But, in this test, all 40 cannons hit the target at a distance of 70 ‘bo’ (~275m). We need to research this!”

“I see. Let’s do it! Be ready.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As the excited Choi Hae-san left, Hyang clenched his fist, looking at his back.

“Yay! I’ve got it!”

To determine the cause of the unexpected result and to find a way to use it, Choi Hae-san, Lee Chun, and the artisans fired hundreds of bullets.

Through this process, the officials and artisans discovered several facts.

-The best performance was achieved when the rifling carved inside the cannon made one and a half turns.

-When the bullet was tightly bound to the fixed part and fired, it hit a target 500 ‘bo’ (approximately 600m) away. However, this means it hit the target, not a bullseye.

-However, this does not mean that the firing range of the cannon has increased. Regardless of the presence of rifling, 2 ‘don’ (approximately 7.5g) of blasting powder (mercury fulminate) can fire a 5 ‘don’ (approximately 17g) bullet up to 800 ‘bo’ (approximately 960m).

-At a distance of 500 ‘bo’, the bullet could not penetrate the iron plate used as a target. However, judging by the dent in the iron plate, it can be assumed that it can inflict considerable damage on the enemy.

-The direction of the rifling must be the same as the direction in which the cannon’s body and cap are tightened. If done in the opposite direction, the body and cap of the cannon loosen as more shots are fired.

“How about trying an experiment by increasing the amount of gunpowder?”

Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun showed enthusiasm, but Hyang shook his head. “There is a high chance of repeating the problems of the existing cannon.”

“Oh…”

“Instead, let’s systematize the results we have obtained.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang, Choi Hae-san, and Lee Chun classified the results as follows.

-Maximum range: The farthest distance the bullet flew when firing with the prescribed gunpowder and bullet. There is almost no power in the bullet.

-Maximum effective range: The distance at which at least 30% accuracy can be expected when aiming and firing. However, it must retain enough power to inflict a certain level of damage on the target.

-Effective range: The maximum distance at which trained cannon soldiers can hit the target when aiming and firing.

According to the classification by Hyang, Choi Hae-san, and Lee Chun, the performance of the rifling cannon was a maximum range of 800 ‘bo’, maximum effective range of 350 ‘bo’, and an effective range of 250 ‘bo’.

While Hyang, Choi Hae-san, and Lee Chun were expressing considerable satisfaction with the results, the officials and artisans of the research institute were pondering how to solve the task that Hyang had given.

“‘Analyze the reason why the performance of the cannon suddenly improved.’…”

“Looking at the results of the tests we’ve done so far, the only reason for such a dramatic improvement in performance is the rotation of the rifling. But why did this result come out…”

“Yes, that’s the problem…”

The most likely culprit was ‘the rotating rifling’, but the officials and artisans couldn’t easily figure out what the rifling was doing.

While the officials and artisans were thinking, the military strategist’s arrow maker put forth his opinion.

“Wasn’t it the grooves that caused the bullet to spin?”

“Make the bullet spin? Could you explain further?”

The arrow maker elaborated in more detail, even using gestures.

“When the Europeans attach feathers to an arrow, they stick it on slightly skewed. Then the arrow spins like this when it leaves the bow. This makes the arrow fly straight. It’s also less affected by crosswinds.”

“Really?”

The craftsmen and officials thought it seemed plausible and began testing bullets of various sizes. The results confirmed that a bullet fitting into the protruding grooves of the spinning barrel improved accuracy.

All the knowledge and data obtained from the tests were documented and securely stored in a vault in the deepest part of Donggeubjeon (the main hall used for discussion of state affairs).

“This is a top-secret matter related to our national defense. Everyone must maintain utmost confidentiality.”

At Hyang’s warning, the officials and craftsmen answered in unison.

“We will bear it in mind!”

This confidential information was kept even during audits. Choi Hae-san did not reveal the part about the spinning grooves to Sejong while explaining the process of making the barrel.

Sejong only discovered this part after the audit was over. Choi Hae-san, who had an exclusive audience with Sejong, submitted a written report. After reading the report, Sejong nodded.

“I understand why the crown prince and the ministers were silent about it until the end. Then I must also follow suit. Chief Eunuch, bring the furnace.”

Sejong threw the report into the furnace and burned it.

Meanwhile, as Choi Hae-san was submitting the report to Sejong, Hyang muttered while looking at the related records.

“When the performance of the long barrel becomes known, it will inevitably leak out. Whether it’s captured during a battle, stolen, or sold for a bribe. And then they’ll gleefully replicate it. But by the time they understand the principle and attempt to improve it, we’ll be one step ahead. That’s why we’re doing all this.”

“Once again, you have created a truly marvelous weapon.”

“The barrels for the riflemen will be standardized with this armor-type long barrel.”

At Choi Hae-san’s statement, Hwang Hee tried to say something, but Sejong raised his hand to silence him.

“Hmm… if we gradually deploy it starting from the northern regions, it should be fine. Good! Review that plan.”

“Your majesty’s graciousness is boundless!”

“Your majesty’s graciousness is boundless!”

When Sejong made a positive decision about the production and deployment of the armor-type long barrel, Hyang, Choi Hae-san, and the related officials all bowed together and shouted, “Your majesty’s graciousness is boundless!”

“So, have you decided on the barrel?”

“No, there is one more type of barrel. It’s called a mounted barrel.”

“Oh?”

As Sejong showed interest, Choi Hae-san gestured. At Choi Hae-san’s signal, a soldier wearing blue armor entered.

“The color of the armor…”

“This is a newly developed type of armor we’ve been working on. I’ll explain later.”

“Is that so? Then proceed.”

At Sejong’s command, Choi Hae-san continued, “What I’m going to show you now is an armored mounted small barrel.”

As soon as Choi Hae-san finished speaking, the soldier opened the long leather pouch attached to his right waist and pulled out a silver barrel. He bent his arm to point the muzzle upward.

“I want to see it closely.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

At Sejong’s command, the soldier extended the barrel respectfully with both hands. Sejong’s gaze, examining the barrel he received from the soldier, stopped at the round metal tube in the middle of the barrel.

“There are six holes? Don’t tell me this barrel can shoot six shots?”

“That’s correct.”

“Huh!”

Surprised, Sejong turned to look at Hyang.

Seeing Sejong’s surprised eyes, Hyang answered with a smile, “It’s one of the results from the Area 51.”

‘Of course, its design already existed.’

The object in the soldier’s hand was a remodeled ‘Colt 1860 Army’, adjusted to the situation of the Joseon army. It was a device that Hyang had been preparing as a successor to the Kentucky rifle when he lived in the 21st century.

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong returned the barrel to the soldier, saying, “I want to see how it shoots.”

“Yes.”

In the ensuing demonstration, the warrior hit all six shots on a target board set up 30 paces (approximately 36 meters) away. The target board brought back by the artisans had six holes cleanly drilled through it. The artisans turned the board around. Behind the red cloth studded with lead pellets, iron plates were meticulously attached.

King Sejong and the ministers closely examined the target board. While examining the target board, Jo Mal-saeng shared his thoughts with Sejong.

“Any Jurchen or Japanese pirates who come within 30 paces will likely see hell.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes!”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s affirmation, Sejong looked at Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun. Their faces, hardened from their martial lives, were filled with confidence. Seeing their faces, Sejong nodded.

“Looking at your expressions, I understand. Now, about the armor…”

“Your Majesty, I apologize. There are still other firearms left to introduce.”

“Still?”

Sejong looked slightly bored. Just from the cannons they had seen, the hard work that the crown prince and his followers had put in was evident.

If they could properly supply the gunpowder and cannons, securing the safety of Joseon would be as easy as turning the palm of the hand.

‘No, with a little more effort, we could recover the former territories of the Three Han, just as Yangnyeong-hyungnim^1 once said!’

While suppressing the greed that was growing within him, Choi Hae-san was reigniting the flame.

Just as Sejong was about to leave his seat, he sat back down at Choi Hae-san’s words.

“General! Proceed!”

“Your Majesty, the weapon we will introduce next is a fire bomb. We must move to a different location.”

“…Lead the way.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Choi Hae-san’s guidance, Sejong moved.

“The distance is quite far?”

As Sejong started to pant a bit, Hyang explained the reason, “Given the nature of the location…”

“Should I have ridden a horse?”

“Your Majesty. It is said that a man’s two legs are like the pillars of a house. A house is sturdy only when its pillars are sturdy…”

When Hyang tried to give a lengthy speech about health, Sejong hurriedly cut him off, “…Just walk, walk.”

“The legs need to be strong to prevent impotence”

“I said I’m walking! My, my, what a talkative child! Always on about impotence… How did I give birth to such a child…”

While grumbling continuously, Sejong moved his steps even bigger.

The place where Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun led Sejong was even larger than the previous demonstration ground. Not only was it larger, but there were also taller and thicker earthen walls erected.

In front of the platform where Sejong and his ministers sat, walls of dirt piled in bags were placed even higher and thicker than before. On the opposite side was the beginning of Mount Mokmyeok^2, with a bare patch of ground at least 50 meters in length and width visible.

“Did they cut down the trees?”

“Yes, because a fire could occur.”

“What a shame…”

As Sejong and his ministers took their seats on the platform, the waiting artisans and soldiers brought a large table and quickly placed various tools on it.

Beside the table, Choi Hae-san began to introduce the new weapon.

“The fire bomb that I will show you now is a fire bomb that is launched from a trigger.”

Choi Hae-san pointed at a round fire bomb made of iron with a baton.

“We named this fire bomb Flying Strike Sky-shaking Thunder^3.”

“Flying Strike Sky-shaking Thunder… Is it a kind of Sky-shaking Thunder?”

“What is Sky-shaking Thunder?”

“I have only read about it in records, but it’s said to be similar to a canister gun. It was used by the Song and Jin dynasties, according to the records.”

“Is ‘Flying Strike’ added because it uses a trigger?”

The ministers shared their thoughts, trying to remember their knowledge as Choi Hae-san explained. Watching the ministers’ reactions, Hyang showed a smug smile.

‘The hallmark of King Munjong is the Singijeon (fire arrow rocket launcher) and Hwacha (multiple rocket launcher), but we can’t overlook the cliché! The ultimate cliché! On the sea, there are Turtle Ships, and on the land, there is the Flying Strike Sky-shaking Thunder!’

1. Grand Prince Yangnyeong, eldest prince of King Taejong, a.k.a. Sejong’s older brother.[↩]

2. An old name for current Namsan[↩]

3. The long-ass name, LOL[↩]

Chapter 58
New Weapons (6)

Hyang, who had more or less figured out personal weapons, immediately delved into the area of supporting artillery.

Before a blank canvas, Hyang folded his arms and muttered to himself, “Given the level of craftsmanship, we could afford to be ambitious, but if others can’t keep up… We’ll have to stick with what’s achievable.”

Hyang opened a scroll he’d left aside and scanned the listings.

“Singijeon (fire arrow rocket launcher) and Hwacha (multiple rocket launcher)… They need developing too, but we need something that will certainly instill terror in the enemy.”

Hyang tapped his fingers on the listings of fire arrow rocket launchers and multiple rocket launchers, lost in thought.

Among the late Ming era weapons, these two types of weapons were the most renowned. Their practical wartime uses could not be overlooked. However, Hyang felt they were lacking in terms of cost-effectiveness.

“We must deliver tangible results before the year is out. After all, the councilors won’t stay idle due to budget concerns.”

Hyang, who had been pondering what the best option for supporting artillery would be, finally reached a conclusion.

“There’s really no other answer. The ‘sneak bombs 1’. Turtle ships for the sea, and the ‘sneak bombs’ for land. Clichéd as it may be…”

Hyang straightened his back.

“It’s the best for impact!”

Having decided on the ‘sneak bombs’, Hyang fell into another quandary.

“Will it turn out to be Mk.1 or Mk.2^2 in reality… or maybe Mk.2-1?”

The labels ‘Mk.1’, ‘Mk.2’, and ‘Mk.2-1’ that Hyang affixed were arbitrary distinctions depending on ‘how the sneak bombs would explode’.

Mk.1, Mk.2, and Mk.2-1 were things that troubled Hyang for a while, even in the 21st century.

Mk.1 was what we typically see in dramas. That is, when the gunpowder contained within explodes, the accompanying star-shaped iron and iron casing shatter and spread fragments in all directions, killing the enemy.

Mk.2 ignites from the inside, with the flame and star-shaped iron being sprayed through the hole where the gunpowder was inserted. Due to the placement of the hole, the ‘sneak bomb’’ rotates, spraying flames and star-shaped iron in all directions, inflicting casualties on the enemy.

The reason for the emergence of Mk.2 was the slow burning speed of black powder used by the Joseon. It was difficult to achieve instantaneous combustion at a high speed, surpassing the threshold in a flash, and shattering the projectile with explosive pressure, scattering fragments, star-shaped iron, and flames everywhere. Instead, the inserted gunpowder would be shot out through the hole blocked by the fuse after the fuse was ignited. When Hyang heard this argument, he was skeptical.

“Why? The ‘sneak bomb’ has two holes, doesn’t it? One to insert the fuse, and the other to load the gunpowder and filler. But why only from one place?”

Unable to find a clear solution to the question, Hyang simply retained a curious memory and forgot the fact.

Some time passed, and the actual ‘sneak bomb’ was excavated, and news of an exhibition came. Hyang, who had just quit his government job and was preparing for a forge, immediately visited the exhibition as the memory of the past came to mind.

Hyang, who visited the exhibition, walked in circles around the glass barrier protecting the unearthed ‘sneak bomb’, examining it in detail. After studying the said explosive’ for a while, Hyang stepped back.

“Solved one problem, and another one comes up?”

The problem Hyang had solved was the ‘iron lid’ issue. According to the records, it was supposed to be covered with ‘iron lid’ after the time fuse^3 was installed.

“How did they secure it when I don’t see any special lock?”

Hyang’s question was answered upon viewing the real thing. The lid of the real ‘sneak bomb’ was squared, and in the center, there were holes for the round ‘time fuse’. And in the squared carved part, the answer lay.

The carved part appeared square but was actually rectangular. And a thick groove was carved lengthwise into the wall. In other words, after placing the ‘iron lid’, if it was rotated 90 degrees, the ‘iron lid’ would fit into the groove, securing it. In this way, one problem was solved, but another problem arose. The hole to load the gunpowder and the ‘ironstone (siderite)4’ was smaller than expected.

The triangular ‘ironstones’ depicted in various restorations was considerably large. The CG shown at the exhibition solved the issue by putting in ‘ironstones’ before hammering in the ‘time fuse’, and loading only gunpowder through the hole on the side.

“Wouldn’t that scatter the fragments unevenly? That’s something…”

To solve such a question, Hyang searched the Internet diligently. And, a video he saw on the Internet raised more questions.

It was the appearance of the Mk.2-1. The video was from the early 2000s, aired on a television station.

A professor from a naval research institution appeared in it. There, the triangular ‘ironstones’ and gunpowder were put into the ‘time fuse’ entrance, the ‘time fuse piece’ was hammered in, and then the ‘iron lid’ was covered. After covering the ‘iron lid’, a lead sheet was inserted into the gap between the sneak bomb’s body and the ‘iron lid’, and hammered in to secure the lid.

In the subsequent firepower test, the ‘sneak bombs’ poured out fragments from the ‘iron lid’ part and was completely emptied. The nearly undamaged body of the completely empty ‘sneak bombs’ were seen.

In the end, Hyang, who failed to resolve the lingering questions, decided to solve them on his own, and the result was the furnace behind his cousin’s smithy.

Recalling the turbulent memories of the 21st century, Hyang, who was debating whether to choose Mk.1, Mk.2, or Mk.2-1, fiercely shook his head and grabbed the pen.

“Why should I worry about that? Since I decided to make it! I’ll go with Mk.21! The 21st century version!”

Hyang’s choice was to maximize productivity and lethality.

※※※

Observing the ministers debating about the origin, Choi Hae-san opened his mouth.

“This ‘sneak bomb’’ is a device that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has personally planned and designed.”

Upon Choi Hae-san’s explanation, the eyes of King Sejong and the ministers focused on Hyang.

When all eyes were on him, Hyang spoke confidently, “Your Majesty will surely not be disappointed.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong accepted them with a proud expression. “You have never disappointed this father of yours so far. General, proceed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. First, if you look at the structure of the sneak bomb, it is filled with gunpowder inside the shell. When the fuse is lit, it explodes. On the outside, it looks very simple, but there is a very ingenious trick hidden within.”

“An ingenious trick?”

“You can adjust the explosion time.”

Choi Hae-san explained about the use of the sneak bomb.

“You wind the fuse around a piece of wood, insert it into a cartridge, and insert it into the sneak bomb and seal the lid. Then, you fill it with gunpowder through a hole on the side and block the hole. After that, you put it in a cartridge filled with gunpowder and launch it. It then flies 300 paces (about 360m) to 500 paces (about 600m) and explodes.”

At Choi Hae-san’s explanation, King Sejong opened his mouth, “Do you adjust the time by winding the fuse around the wood?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“What about its power?”

“I will show you now. Execute!”

At Choi Hae-san’s command, soldiers came into the demonstration area with a large cannon and the sneak bomb. The soldiers who stopped in front of Sejong laid down all the things they had brought and saluted.

“Loyalty!”

The saluting soldiers moved the cannon and the sneak bomb to the middle of the demonstration area. The muzzle of the cannon was aimed at a vacant lot about 100 yards (approximately 330m) away in Mount Mokmyeok. There, straw dummies clad in red and blue targets, stone armor, leather armor, friction armor, and other things, were densely set up.

The soldiers who installed the cannon prepared the sneak bomb. They inserted a cartridge containing wood and then tightly sealed the lid by rotating a specialized tool. Similarly, they filled the hole on the side with gunpowder and sealed it using the same tool.

The soldiers who had finished preparing the sneak bomb inserted it into the cannon. Afterwards, the soldiers pulled back the firing lever attached to the back of the cannon, fitted the fuse, pulled the cord attached to the firing lever, and hid behind the protection wall made at the back.

“Your Majesty should also take cover for a moment. It’s to prevent any unforeseen danger.”

“I understand.”

At Choi Hae-san’s words, King Sejong and the ministers hid their bodies behind the protection wall set up in front of the podium. As soon as Sejong was safely hidden, the military officer standing next to Choi Hae-san vigorously waved a red flag.

“Fire! Fire! Fire!”

Boom! Whoosh! Crash!

As the hidden soldiers pulled the cord, the cannon fired the sneak bomb. The sneak bombs, which fell on the vacant lot after crossing the sky with a whistle-like flight sound, exploded soon with a huge noise.”

“Ah!”

Sejong let out a small groan with the shock wave that came along with the blast.

“Your Majesty! What’s the matter!”

Hwang Hee, who was standing right next to Sejong, asked urgently upon hearing his groan.

Sejong waved his hand in response to Hwang Hee’s question.

“It’s nothing. I just got a bit surprised.”

“Your Majesty, you may rise.”

“Ugh!”

Hyang mumbled to himself as he watched Sejong strain to stand up, using his thighs for support.

“He really should lose some weight… Should we reduce his meals?”

He muttered in a small voice, but Sejong, having heard him, shouted angrily at Hyang, “You brat! Are you planning to starve your father?!”

“N-no, Your Majesty! Please look at the target!”

In his hurry to change the subject, Sejong muttered his displeasure and turned his head away.

“Huh…”

Sejong and the ministers, who turned their heads to look at the target, were unable to close their mouths in surprise.

Even from a distance, the targets and straw men that had been set up around the field were a complete mess.

“Shall we go closer to see?”

“Let’s do that!”

With his curiosity piqued, Sejong was the first to stride forward.

“Good heavens…”

“This is the power of a single sneak bomb…”

The ministers, who arrived where the straw men were, could not hide their astonishment.

There was not a single straw man left standing upright. The posts that held up the targets had been blown away with the targets, and the straw men dressed in armor were scattered everywhere.

Sejong and the ministers examined the fallen targets and straw men.

“If these had been real people… I shudder to think.

“If these had been real people… it would have been hell.”

Seeing the targets and the armor full of holes, the ministers shook their heads.

As they said, if this had been used against people in armor, it would certainly have been a terrifying sight, even in a dream.

“If there were any survivors in this situation, would it be merciful to kill them?”

Sejong muttered under his breath, looking at the target he held in his hand, which had a hole big enough for a fist.

Not all ministers reacted negatively. Jo Mal-saeng, who was in charge of the army, completely lost his composure.

“Your Highness! Crown Prince! Can this sneak bomb be mass-produced immediately? No, please say it’s possible!”

“Well, with a little effort…”

At Hyang’s answer, Jo Mal-saeng prostrated himself in front of Sejong.

“Your Majesty! We must immediately start mass-producing this sneak bomb! Both the long-ranged cannons and rifles are impressive weapons, but compared to this sneak bomb, they are nothing! If we can mass-produce this weapon, we can solve the problem with the Jurchens right away! Not just the Jurchens! We can perfectly subjugate that detestable island of Tsushima! No, not just Tsushima, we can also conquer the mainland of those Japanese pirates!”

“Hmm…”

“Your Majesty! We must mass-produce this!”

“Hmm…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s persistent plea, Sejong’s face softened. However, Sejong decided to take a moment’s pause.

“We’ve confirmed its power, let’s take a closer look before making a decision. This could be a burden on Joseon’s resources, after all.”

“Your Majesty! If the resources are lacking, we can gather more! If we are short of copper, we shall comb every kitchen and backyard throughout Joseon! If we lack mercury, we’ll get it, even if it means engaging in wheat trade! If charcoal is insufficient, we’ll cut down every tree in Joseon if we must! We absolutely must produce in large quantities!”

Jo Mal-saeng appeared ready to grab King Sejong’s legs and plead. That’s when Hwang Hee interrupted.

“Your Excellency! Didn’t you hear His Majesty’s words! He said to listen to further explanations and discuss! Why are you in such a rush! Get up, this is disgraceful!”

“Uhh…”

Chided by Hwang Hee, Jo Mal-saeng stood up and looked at King Sejong. Seeing Jo Mal-saeng’s desperate expression, Hyang mumbled to himself.

‘Why am I reminded of that cat from the movie?’

“Explain why this sneak bomb displays such power.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Sejong’s command, Choi Hae-san began his explanation.

-The shell of the fire bomb is made as thin as possible. It can withstand the shock of launch and impact, but not the internal explosion, for which the strength and thickness are adjusted accordingly.

-Inside the shell of the fire bomb, small iron shrapnels are embedded. These shrapnels increase the number of fragments, enhancing the lethality.

-The power of the gunpowder has been enhanced. Although it is not an explosive oil or smokeless gunpowder, the power has been maintained by skipping the process of mixing soil with black powder.

“Indeed, your hard work is visible.”

At Sejong’s assessment, Choi Hae-san bowed his head and replied, “The challenging part was adjusting the thickness of the shell. The rest was just following what the Crown Prince had already decided.”

There was a lot in Sejong’s gaze when he looked at Hyang after hearing Choi Hae-san’s answer. Then Sejong, who had been looking at Hyang, threw a question at Choi Hae-san:

“Just now, the Minister of Military Affairs requested mass production of this bomb. Is it possible?”

“If there is enough supply of gunpowder, I think it is possible.”

At Choi Hae-san’s answer, Hwang Hee cut in, stating, “General, is it really possible? Earlier, the Crown Prince said that the reason mass production of smokeless gunpowder was impossible was due to the shortage of craftsmen. From what I know, to mass-produce such a tremendous sneak bomb, we would need many skilled craftsmen. Won’t the same problem arise?”

At Hwang Hee’s point, Choi Hae-san nodded, “Your point is correct, my lord. However, the Crown Prince had considered that aspect when creating this sneak bomb.”

1. Original name would translate as Flying Strike Sky-shaking Thunder. The explosive is made of casted iron, filled with gunpowder and iron shrapnels.

[↩]

2. They are grenades[↩]

3. made of wood[↩]

Chapter 59
New Weapons (7)

“Creating the sneak bomb in the original way was too inefficient.”

The original sneak bomb used a whole, casted sphere. By the 21st-century standards, this method had many issues. Of course, the technology involved in creating a hollow spherical shape was admirable, but it wasn’t a particularly recommended method in terms of production efficiency.

“When you look at the performance, ‘mass production without questions’ would obviously be better, you need a strategy.”

The first step Hyang took was to divide the sphere of the sneak bomb in two.

Hyang changed the design so that one-half of the divided sphere would have a female screw and the other half a male screw. By matching and turning the engraved screws on the two halves, the two halves would become a complete sphere.

Hyang also applied screws to the part where the fuse is inserted and the hole where the gunpowder is inserted. The idea was to make it even more secure by engraving screws on the cap that covers the fuse and the cover that seals the hole after the gunpowder is inserted.

Hyang then conducted a firepower test with the prototypes made this way.

“First, let’s try without the launching process from the weapon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As a result of the test, the improved sneak bomb exploded wonderfully, as Hyang expected.

“That’s incredible!”

“How about we send this to the North right away?”

Looking at the testing area turned into a mess, Lee Chun and Choi Hae-san couldn’t help but marvel. However, Hyang, smiling, shook his head.

“We still have many things to test. We should start with the launching test.”

“Launch… Right. I forgot about the ‘non-standard’ part.”

In the ensuing launching test, the non-standardized sneak bomb was safely launched. Hyang, having confirmed the result, moved on to the next task.

“Now, I should report to the King and arrange for…”

“Alright! Shall we try reducing the thickness of the shell? Let’s start by decreasing it by a dolly (about 1.5mm) each time.”

At Hyang’s command, the artisans started making prototypes with the shell thickness reduced from a dolly to 4 hal (4/10ths of an inch, about 1.2cm), in increments of 5 ri. This was literally a process of trial and error.

“When we launched it from a weapon with twice the amount of gunpowder, the thinnest surviving shell from launch to impact was the one we shaved down to 3 hal (about 9mm).”

“Now, shall we try filling it with gunpowder and testing?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

In the ensuing test, the non-standardized sneak bomb, shaved down to 3 hal, survived the repeated impacts of launch and landing and exploded properly. Seeing the results, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun became greedy again.

“Since the results are good, should we report…”

“The blast radius is too wide. There’s a risk of our allies being hit. Let’s look for ways to increase the lethality while reducing the blast radius.”

“You are right, Your Highness. We will consider it.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s command, Choi Hae-san, Lee Chun, the officials, and the artisans began looking for various strategies. However, it was hard to find a way to satisfy the contradictory conditions of ‘strengthening lethality’ and ‘reducing danger radius’ at the same time.

Eventually, Hyang had to step in again.

“Bring me clay and paper, and chicken egg-sized iron beads.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

When the artisans brought the materials, Hyang gave them orders.

“Coat the inside of the non-standardized sneak bomb’s shell with clay, about a half-inch thick, and embed the iron beads all over it. Then, once the clay dries, apply paper to keep it securely fastened so it doesn’t fall off.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s command, the officials and the artisans let out exclamations of admiration.

“Ah! That’s the solution!”

In the subsequent test, the improved non-standardized sneak bomb had a reduced danger radius compared to the first version, but its lethality was even greater. Hyang, who was examining the results, looked back at Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun.

“Let’s try to improve it a little more. Just a bit more…”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

In the subsequent second phase of the improvements, the artisans and Hyang etched gold into the interior of the non-standardized sneak bomb in a pattern resembling a Go board. They also layered in additional explosive charges.

After the second improvement phase, Hyang observed the results of the following tests and ordered Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun.

“I think this is sufficient. If we push any further, future generations will view us as bloodthirsty and ruthless.”

“I agree!”

At Hyang’s words, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun nodded vigorously. The scene created by the improved non-standardized sneak bomb was a genuine slaughter.

“Now for the report…”

“Now let’s improve the cannon that launches this sneak bomb.”

“Excuse me?”

At Hyang’s words, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chunn looked depressed.

Hyang observed the Daewangoo (large bowl-shaped cannon) that fired the non-standardized sneak bomb.

“The amount of gunpowder that enters the powder chamber is 35 yang (approximately 1.3 kg)… The problem is that it’s not an efficient design.”

What Hyang pointed out was the overall design of the cannon.

“Let’s change the structure!”

Hyang redesigned the cannon that fired the non-standardized sneak bomb into a traditional linear form. He created a cannonball similar to those used on Western cannons of the 18th and 19th centuries.

“Is it too Western-style? I don’t think so.”

Looking at his sketch, Hyang chuckled. More accurately, the design Hyang created was closer to the medium-sized infantry cannons created during the Daewongun^1 era in Joseon.

Hyang hung up the drawing of the cannon and cannonball he had envisioned and exchanged opinions with Choi Hae-san, Lee Chun, and the artisans.

“Mount it on a large-wheeled cart. The mobility will improve.”

“Considering our battles with the northern Jurchen tribes, wouldn’t it be much easier if the cannon was mobile?”

At Hyang’s words, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun nodded. Having ample combat experience from both the south and north, the two men were able to understand the advantage Hyang was talking about immediately.

Lee Chun, who was looking at the drawing, drew a conclusion. “If we create a cart carrying the cannon and another cart carrying the bombs and gunpowder… Even if the non-standardized sneak bomb only travels with two wheels, the Jurchens would not dare to act rashly.”

As Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, who could be called the top experts in the Joseon military on cannons, agreed, the development of the cannon and cannonball progressed rapidly.

A distinguishing feature of the newly developed cannon compared to the existing ones was that the back part of the internal powder chamber was round, as well as its exterior.

“General Choi, do you remember when we first tested the explosion?”

“Yes.”

“At that time, we saw that the burns created on the copper plate radiated outwards. I think this suggests that when gunpowder explodes, the force radiates outwards.”

Choi Hae-san, who had been pondering Hyang’s words, nodded his head. “That seems likely.”

“If so, wouldn’t the cannon become much stronger if we hollow out the back of the powder chamber like this? It would have the same thickness at any angle.”

Choi Hae-san, who had been carefully examining the blueprint, nodded his head. “It seems worth trying.”

After the first cannon was manufactured, Hyang and Choi Hae-san immediately began testing.

They placed double the normal amount of gunpowder in the powder chambers of both the old large bowl-shaped cannon and the new type of cannon, sealed them tightly with a plug, and then inserted a heavy stone.

In the four rounds of continuous firing, the new type of cannon showed no problems, but the bowl-shaped cannon developed a crack in the bottom corner of the powder chamber.

Upon checking the results, Choi Hae-san opened his document and wrote:

“Test results confirm that making the rear of the cannon and powder chamber curved strengthens its structure. It seems appropriate to upgrade other cannons or design new cannons in a similar shape.”

“…Therefore, this non-standardized sneak bomb not only serves as a missile, but everything down to the design of the cannon has passed through the hands of His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

At Choi Hae-san’s explanation, Sejong and his ministers once again looked towards the Crown Prince.

“This fellow… you’re making even saying ‘astonishing’ tiring now.”

At Sejong’s words, all the ministers nodded their heads. Having seen a series of amazing devices, the ministers were exhausted. No, the chief state councilors and the Assistant Secretaries of the Treasury were singing to the heavens, calculating the budget that would be required for mass production.

“I would like to see this newly-created cannon.”

“As you command.”

A moment later, two carts entered the demonstration area. Each cart was drawn by two horses.

“The first cart carries a cannon mounted on a gun carriage, and the second cart carries the non-standardized sneak bomb and gunpowder to be used for the cannon.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to Choi Hae-san’s explanation, Sejong scrutinized the carts. On the cart connected to the gun carriage, there were two wooden boxes.

“Those boxes contain the missiles and explosives that are to be used immediately after the cannon is dust-proofed.”

The soldiers opened the lids of the boxes that were loaded on the cart. Small bags caught the eyes of Sejong who had been examining the boxes.

“What are these bags?”

At Sejong’s question, Choi Hae-san opened a bag and pulled out its contents.

“They are a fuse (fire rope) which determines the time until detonation, a cotton wick to wrap the fuse, and a paper tube, which holds one ‘nyang’ of starting explosive used to ignite the main charge, and all of which are to be inserted into the non-standardized sneak bomb.”

At Choi Hae-san’s explanation, Sejong nodded his head. “I see. The main explosive doesn’t catch fire from the fuse, so we ignite it with the starting explosive. But, a paper tube?”

“At first, we used bamboo, but there were issues with uniformity so we decided to make tubes out of paper.”

“I see. That’s a good idea.”

“It was the wisdom of His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

When Choi Hae-san credited the Crown Prince, Sejong looked back at him.

“I can see your efforts.”

“It is the merit of General Choi, General Lee, and all the other military officers and craftsmen.”

Now, it was the Crown Prince crediting the soldiers and craftsmen in turn.

Sejong, who had been looking at the cannon, stopped his gaze at the back of the cannon. What caught Sejong’s interest was the part that was connected to the base of the cannon. There was a screw-engraved column standing there, and next to the gears that were connected here and there was a handle similar to a winch. Next to that, there was a half-circle dial with Chinese characters written on it – ‘long-range’, ‘short-range’, and ‘very short-range’.

“Crown Prince, what is this used for?”

“Yes, it is used to adjust the angle of the cannon to control the range.”

“Control the range?”

“Yes. It works like this.”

As the Crown Prince turned the winch-like handle, the muzzle of the cannon moved up and down. Watching this, Sejong turned his head.

“So you adjust the distance by adjusting the angle of the cannon muzzle?”

Choi Hae-san, who was next to him, answered Sejong’s question right away, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How so?”

“It’s the same principle as shooting a bow. When you want to hit a target far away with a bow, don’t you lift the bow and shoot it in a parabolic trajectory?”

“Aha!”

At Choi Hae-san’s explanation, Sejong nodded his head and let out a sigh of admiration. Choi Hae-san explained, pointing to the semi-circular distance gauge.

“According to this scale, if you adjust the angle of the muzzle, you can control the distance from 300 ‘bo’ to 500 ‘bo’.”

(Note: The “bo” here is a traditional Korean unit of length equivalent to about 3.03 meters or 9.94 feet.)

Sejong, who had been carefully examining the scale under the guidance of Choi Hae-san, looked back at Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun.

“You must have put a lot of effort into figuring out this scale.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Sejong’s words, Choi Haesan and Lee Chun nodded.

By a mix of intentional design and fortunate discovery, they had fired hundreds of rounds of sneak bombs to accurately measure a fact they had stumbled upon.

Filled with soil and pebbles to reduce the unnecessary consumption of gunpowder, the firings of these sneak bombs did not rest, continually flying through the air. Eventually, they had to make nearly a hundred new sneak bombs to replace those broken from metal damage. But that was not all.

A considerable number of cows raised in the nearby farms of Area 51 had died from the stress caused by the explosive noise, requiring a significant sum for compensation. The meat from these slaughtered cows ended up on the tables of the craftsmen and soldiers.

“If we can adjust the distance like this, it would be more effective in battle. Can this be applied to other artillery?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang replied, “The scholars at the research institute are currently studying it.”

“But?”

Having heard the response, Sejong sought out Jeong Jo among the officials.

“Vice Director Jeong, your faith in science is immeasurable.”

At Sejong’s words, Jeong Jo bowed his head and replied, “I am honored by your words, Your Majesty.”

Jeong Jo’s voice was filled with emotion.

‘I can’t even go home right now… ’

Thanks to the same order issued by Hyang, the scholars at the research institute were clenching books that recorded the results of the artillery fire, fighting a ‘war with numbers’.

They were investigating the changing range in all sorts of diverse and bizarre situations, creating charts, formulating them, and making range adjustment plates for each type of artillery under Hyang’s order.

Due to this, the scholars at the research institute could only go home on their designated days off – 9 days of work and 1 day of rest. It was only thanks to Hyang strictly adhering to this rule.

However, there were times when the scholars voluntarily worked overtime. That period was when they were fermenting ‘meju'2.

Joseon was a ‘soybean paste country’, consuming a lot of doenjang (soybean paste) and soy sauce. As consumption was high, every house was filled with jars of paste, and the neighborhoods of Hanyang were filled with the smell of doenjang. Thus, the people of Joseon were familiar with the smell of soybean paste. However, even for them, the smell of fermenting meju was a hardship.

Especially, the houses with many family members inevitably had to ferment a large amount of meju. Therefore, the homes of high-ranking officials with many servants and guests suffered more from the stench of meju.

The palace also fermented a large amount of meju, but because the palace had a vast space, the smell of meju was not so severe. For this reason, officials tended to delay their return home as much as possible during the meju fermenting period.

In any case, due to the orders of Sejong and Hyang, Joseon became the first country in the world to create and implement a shooting range chart 3 for artillery.

Having inspected the artillery firing sneak bombs and the associated equipment, Sejong straightened his waist.

“Hmm, it seems we’ve seen everything. But before we check the accounts, there’s one last thing to confirm. The armor worn by the soldiers and officers here is different from what I’ve seen before, explain this to me.”

“We have prepared for that. Let me guide you.”

1. Regent and father of King Gojong (a.k.a Last King of Korean dynasty)[↩]

2. Brick of dried fermented soybeans[↩]

3. “A specialized tool designed for specific firing devices such as guns, cannons, rocket launchers, etc., including the corresponding types of ammunition and their propellant numbers. It is a handbook that contains the corresponding relationships between firing angles, ranges, and other ballistic parameters. It serves as the basis for accurate and effective shooting, the production of aiming devices, and can also be used as fundamental ballistic data for design and command instruments.”[↩]

Chapter 60
New Weapons (8)

Under King Sejong’s order, Hyang and Choi Hae-san guided Sejong and other ministers to a building prepared on the side.

In the largest room of the building, chairs were prepared, where Sejong and his ministers could sit comfortably.

Once all preparations were finished, Hyang stepped forward to start explaining in detail about the new style of armor.

“If we examine the armor used by our Joseon troops, typically we wear chainmail or lamellar armor most frequently. However, these armors take a lot of work to produce and maintain. Not only the armorers who need to constantly maintain them, but also the soldiers who serve their military duties all have to prepare their own armor, and thus their quality varies greatly.”

(Chainmail)

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and his ministers all nodded. This was because complaints about the hardship of the people related to this issue and petitions requesting solutions often came up.

“Among the soldiers, due to financial difficulties, some wear paper armor or wooden patch armor, but it’s also a fact that their defense is inferior compared to the metal armor.”

(Paper armor)

“That’s true.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded his head. Hyang pointed to the lamellar armor with a baton and continued, “This is the two-layered armor we started using anew since the reign of King Taejo. It’s reinforced by hammering iron lamellae (thin layer sheet) onto the back of the wooden patch armor made of cotton and pine. Judging by its defensive power alone, it can withstand an arrow shot from a distance of 50 steps. It is our strongest armor in terms of defense to date.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and his ministers all nodded. Even during the previous acquisition of Daema Island, the two-layered armor had demonstrated its supreme defensive power.

Hyang continued his speech, “However, this two-layered armor has several problems.”

Hyang pointed out the problems of the two-layered armor.

– First, it requires a lot of time and labor to produce. The iron lamellae that are fixed with two layers require that each piece is forged, and each one has to be hammered one by one.

– Cost is also a problem. Even if we ignore the cost of iron and cotton, the prices of silk used for the lining, the fabric (cuff) at the wrists, sides, collar, and the fur for the edging is not insignificant. Of course, there are many cases where it’s covered with cotton or silk, but to make it properly, you need to use rabbit fur, deer fur, or fox fur.

– Despite having the strongest defense, it also has many weaknesses. Not only the fabric (cuff) but also the front and sides are all open. If you’re under an arrow attack from a distance, unless you’re extremely unlucky, statistically, it’s not an issue. However, in hand-to-hand combat, this becomes a problem. To prevent this, additional protective gear like armpit covers or groin covers need to be worn. Even so, the problem of the front being unguarded remains.

– It’s hard to endure wearing it for a long time. This is because the shape of the armor takes the form of a robe. Because all the weight of the armor is supported by the shoulders, fatigue easily sets in.

“To solve the aforementioned problems, the new armor has been restructured as follows.”

– The iron scales inside the face armor have been replaced by a single iron plate. Both the front and the back, two iron plates secured the upper body’s defense.

– Issues with front and side defense have been resolved. Because there is only one iron plate, the front problem has been solved, and the flank issue was resolved by overlapping the front and back plates by half a chi (chi is an old Korean unit of length that is approximately 30.3 cm). The armpit problem was resolved by attaching a circular piece of iron to the protective part covering the shoulders and arms.

– The armor was divided into two parts, called upper armor and breastplate. By doing so, all the weight of the armor was not supported by the shoulders but was distributed across the entire body, making it less tiring even when worn for an extended period.

– The protective capacity has also been enhanced by adding newly structured armor plates to the shin area, elbows, and thighs.

“This armor was created in that way.”

Hyang ended his words, pointing at the armor hung on the last hanger.

“Hooh~.”

“Hmm…”

After Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers closely inspected the problematic armor. Sejong, who was scrutinizing the armor, asked Hyang a question, “Compared to the existing helmet armor, how much has the weight increased?”

“It has increased by 8 geun (about 4.8 kg). The weight increased due to the addition of protection for the elbows, thighs, and shins.”

“That’s all it increased?”

As Sejong made a suspicious expression, Hyang immediately explained, “First of all, the number of helmets dramatically decreased, and instead of covering the iron plates with cotton face armor, it was replaced with cotton cloth.”

Upon Hyang’s report, Sejong stroked his beard and made a calculation, “So, the added weight is a total of 10 geun.

“Those who will wear these armors?”

“Those who wear the full body armor are horsemen and swordsmen, and the remodeled upper armor will be used by the commanding officers and gunners. The helmets will be used in common by all troops.”

“What do those who’ve tried this on say?”

“They say that although the weight has increased a little, it is surprisingly bearable as the weight is distributed throughout the body. In addition, because more parts are covered by the iron armor, they feel more secure and their fear significantly reduces.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong stroked his beard. “That part would only be known after experiencing a real battle. I would like to look at the structure of this armor in more detail.”

“I’ve already prepared for it.”

At Hyang’s signal, the soldiers came in carrying a large tray. On the tray were iron armors, with their cotton covers removed, neatly placed.

“Hmm… the shape of the iron armors is truly unique.”

Sejong’s eyes sparkled as he examined the shapes of the breastplate, backplate, and other plates of metal. Hyang smiled inwardly at Sejong’s reaction.

‘I must admit, even I was surprised at what I had created!’

When Hyang first checked the prototype of the new type of armor, he had frowned slightly.

‘What in the world? This grotesque hybrid?’

The armor designed by Hyang was a blend of Western full plate mail and Joseon’s traditional studded armor.

(Studded Armor)

Another example is kinda like this, as worn by Lee Sun-shin in that KR movie.

In his research on the issue of armor, Hyang was at a crossroads. The full plate mail had slightly superior defensive capabilities, while the studded armor led in terms of mobility.

“Hmm. What to do with this? Should I just skip the armor part?”

But Hyang couldn’t just skip the armor part. There was the issue of the swordsmen, who were to bear the brunt of the infantry battle.

“This is troubling…”

The main factors that eventually led Hyang to decide to improve the armor were the maintenance problems of the chainmail and lamellar armor and the production cost of studded armor. The cost to properly manufacture studded armor was 16 seok and 10 du for the armor, and 4 seok and 5 du for the helmet.

“Why is this so expensive!”

Hyang looked into the reason for the unexpectedly high price. He discovered that although the material costs were significant, labor costs were also substantial.

In the end, Hyang made a decision.

“Let’s just change it! Cut down all the costs we can, including material and labor costs!”

To achieve this goal, Hyang adopted the design of full plate mail.

As Sejong was discussing his impressions of the new armor, Hwang Hee, who had been carefully observing the armor, asked Hyang a question, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“Yes.”

“From what I see, it appears that everything from the helmet to the armor’s metal plates were all made from a single sheet of iron. Is that correct?”

“That’s correct.”

“If so, does that mean the craftsmen hammered out these plates one by one? Wouldn’t that require a lot of labor? That could lead to cost issues.”

At Hwang Hee’s remark, Hyang nodded. “You’re absolutely right. I had the same concern, so…,” and paused for a moment, before looking at Hwang Hee, smiled, and continued, “We made it by stamping (it).”

‘The start of mass production is the press!’

This was the reason why Hyang had to borrow the design of the full plate mail.

Sejong questioned Hyang with a stern expression.

“You said the new armor was for the cavalry and swordsmen. But as far as I know, there isn’t a corps of swordsmen. Did you create a new corps?”

“Yes, I have. I’ve integrated the existing shielded infantrymen (paengbaesu), spearmen, and long swordsmen.”

“Why?”

“If we consider the performance of the newly made cannon and rifle, our Joseon army will operate primarily around these two weapons, and cavalry in the future. If so, cultivating shielded infantrymen, spearmen, and long swordsmen separately would be a burden on the budget. Therefore…”

“You’ve integrated these corps into one, right?”

“That’s right.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong immediately pointed out a potential issue. “Your point seems valid at first glance. However, battlefield situations can change in an instant. Relying solely on swordsmen could prove difficult. If the firepower of the rifles and cannons is insufficient to suppress the enemy, and they break through the defense line of the swordsmen, what will you do?”

At Sejong’s remark, Hyang nodded, “I am aware of that. That’s why I’ve prepared a number for the long rifles. The long rifles can also be used as a spear. And I am currently devising and teaching spear techniques using long rifles to our current riflemen.”

“Using long rifles as a spear? Hmm…”

Upon hearing Hyang’s explanation, Sejong contemplated the possibility, recalling his own memory. The length of the long-barrel rifles he had seen at the demonstration site was considerable.

‘Attach a spearhead to that? Hmm… perhaps… ’

Sejong, who was contemplating various possibilities, nodded. “It seems there is a possibility. However, I’ll postpone adjusting all the formations of the Joseon military according to your opinion. I believe it’s not too late to make a decision after confirming the results in the field.”

Upon hearing King Sejong’s decision, Hyang bowed his head in acceptance. “I will follow your decision, Your Majesty.”

The demonstration of the new weapons created through the collaborative efforts of Hyang, Choi Hae-san, Lee Chun, and the researchers and artisans from the research institute had ended. King Sejong and his ministers began preparing for a thorough review of the accounts.

“But it’s a little tiresome.”

Having watched the demonstration from early morning, a weary King Sejong felt hungry and turned to look at his ministers. “How about returning to the palace for a while to eat some lunch?”

Upon hearing King Sejong’s words, Hyang interjected, “Your Majesty, would you like to try the rations prepared for the soldiers?”

“Rations? Are they tasty?” King Sejong showed curiosity at Hyang’s suggestion.

However, upon hearing Sejong’s question about the taste, Hyang shook his head slightly, “The rations are the food that soldiers eat when they cannot cook rice on the battlefield. I can’t brag about its taste.”

‘It’s not that famous French military (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) MRE!’

“Hmm… what should I do…” While stroking his beard and pondering for a moment, King Sejong soon made a decision, “Alright, let’s try it. How can we understand the soldiers’ hardship without trying the rations? Ministers, let’s eat together.”

“We humbly accept your order.”

The ministers replied with a nervous tone, as they had to eat a meal even the king himself was not confident in the taste of.

Soon after, the soldiers brought in a pot with steaming hot rice. Following them, other soldiers brought in bowls filled with white kimchi and empty bowls. The soldiers, who had cleared the armor parts and placed the pots and kimchi on the empty table, took their seats behind.

“Your Majesty, please try it.”

“Hmm? Uh-huh. Let’s do that.”

As King Sejong stood in front of the table, a soldier politely served a bowl of thick porridge scooped out from the pot. Sejong seemed to enjoy the taste, as he finished a bowl of porridge cleanly.

Handing the empty bowl to a court lady, Sejong continued to question Hyang, “Do soldiers eat the same amount per meal?”

“Yes, they do.”

“It’s porridge, not rice. How long can they endure?”

“They can last at least until the next meal. It’s not just barley and rice, but it also contains a good amount of meat.”

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words while continually asking questions to identify any potential issues. “Making porridge requires a lot of water. But, securing drinking water can be the biggest difficulty during a war. What’s the solution for this?”

“We’ve made a prototype for purification when it’s difficult to find clean drinking water.”

“A prototype for purification? Let’s see it.”

“I’ll guide you.”

Hyang led King Sejong to a spot outside the building. There, a wooden frame about the height of a man’s calf (about 90 cm) was placed on a wooden stand, and a square rice cake mold was stacked layer by layer.

“This is a water purifier.”

“How does it work?”

“We start from the bottom, stacking charcoal or firewood, and sand layer by layer, each about 3 chi (approximately 10 cm) thick, and at the very top, we place gravel to a thickness of 2 chi (approximately 7 cm).”

After giving his explanation, Hyang gestured to the soldiers standing by. Upon receiving his signal, the soldiers filled a large vat with water and dirt to create muddy water, then poured it over the area where the gravel was laid.

Shortly afterwards, clear water began to trickle out from a metal pipe embedded in the barrel at the very bottom. Hyang, who collected some of the water with a cup, handed it to King Sejong.

“It’s clear water indeed.”

“We’ve filtered out the visible sediments, but there might be invisible impurities left, so it’s best to boil it once before drinking.”

“Hmm… With this device, we can somewhat counteract the enemy’s guerrilla warfare at night.”

Guerrilla warfare at night was a tactic most commonly encountered when suppressing the Jurchen tribes beyond the national borders. When the Joseon army advanced, the Jurchen tribes often spoiled the water sources by throwing dead animals into the wells or blocking them with rocks. Because of this, suppressing the Jurchen tribes was not an easy task and took a considerable amount of time.

Most military officers at the Joseon army headquarters or training institutions who had combat experience against the Jurchens pointed out this issue, and as a countermeasure, Hyang made this makeshift water purifier.

“Hmm…” King Sejong, who had been inspecting the water purifier while listening to Hyang’s explanation, turned his head to look at his ministers. “When there’s a drought or flood, the most difficult thing for the people is securing drinking water… Doesn’t this seem like it could solve that problem? It’s easy to make, doesn’t require a lot of resources, and its performance is quite impressive.”

Upon hearing King Sejong’s words, the ministers, who had been contemplating, all nodded their heads in agreement.

“Truly a wise judgement!”

“When the people face water shortages due to drought or flood, this will indeed be the best solution!”

There was not a single minister who opposed it.

During a drought, people would dig wells to find drinking water. However, they couldn’t drink the water as soon as it came up from a freshly dug well because it was muddy. The people had to endure their thirst until the well’s mud settled.

The same was true during floods. Not only the streams and rivers but also the wells were turned to mud, so even when water was overflowing, the people had to suffer from thirst. If the people who couldn’t resist their thirst drank such muddy water, they would immediately fall ill, and this often served as a breeding ground for epidemics.

When even the ministers agreed, King Sejong ordered Hyang, “Make a document related to this purifier so that it can be spread across the country. It will be distributed to all the administrative offices nationwide.”

“Your orders are received!”

“And for the ration, it seems fine even in the old preservation method. Once it’s confirmed that it can be stored for a long time, look for ways to produce it in large quantities.”

“We will follow your command.”

“The ration, it tastes better than I thought. It would be good as a snack in the palace when hungry.”

“Thank you very much!”

‘He finds the salty ration tasty? Good heavens! Could it be that His Majesty has a soldier’s palate?’

Chapter 61
New Weapons (9)

The meal made of millet had come to an end at noon. King Sejong and his ministers formally began their audit.

They meticulously went over the records they had kept to see if anything was missing or if there was any trace of corruption. The ministers pointed their inquiries toward General Choi Hae-san.

“Why have you continued to purchase land? What is the reason for this? Didn’t you properly calculate the necessary area from the start?”

The ministers were questioning General Choi Hae-san, but in reality, they were questioning the Crown Prince. They were indirectly attacking Choi Hae-san to avoid giving a foothold against King Sejong by questioning the Crown Prince directly.

In response to the ministers’ question, Choi Hae-san calmly replied, “As you have seen, the main things researched in this Area 51 were weapons using gunpowder. Gunpowder creates loud explosions, and there were many people who couldn’t stand it, so we bought their land. The reasons for purchasing cattle and livestock are the same. There were continued instances of livestock dying from being startled by the explosion, and we bought these dead livestock.”

Despite the ministers’ relentless questioning, Choi Hae-san confidently answered without hesitation. Since the establishment of the research center, especially Area 51, no funds had slipped through the cracks. All the budget received from the royal court was tightly held by the Crown Prince, and no one scrutinized the budget execution more rigorously than the Crown Prince himself.

It was almost sunset when the audit finally ended. The ministers who had completed the audit reported the results to King Sejong.

“There seems to be no problem with the records.”

“Is that so? You all have worked hard.”

After thanking his ministers for their efforts, King Sejong turned to the Crown Prince. “You’ve also worked hard, Crown Prince. And Generals Choi and Lee, you both did well. Seeing the weapons today, I can tell how much effort you and the Crown Prince have put in. You’ve really worked hard.”

In response to King Sejong’s praise, the Crown Prince, Choi Hae-san, and Lee Chun bowed their heads.

“Your high praise is too kind!”

“Your efforts are making the defense of Joseon more robust, so please continue your hard work.”

“We will devote ourselves wholeheartedly!”

“Then, today is…” Just as King Sejong was about to rise from his seat to leave, he noticed the new armor worn by the soldiers standing guard and turned to his ministers. “Before we return to the palace, let’s visit the Armory.”

“Your Majesty, it seems we may not have enough time to visit the Armory.”

Minister Hwang Hee stepped forward to inform him that it was late, but King Sejong shook his head. “If we delay it again, state affairs will pile up. Since we’re here, let’s go and check.”

“Your command is received.”

Upon King Sejong’s decision, Hwang Hee bowed his head immediately. King Sejong’s tone was much softer than it was in the morning. If they maintained their grounds here, it was certain that King Sejong’s tone would change immediately, which was a sign of King Sejong’s anger.

‘Avoid the avoidable storm.’

So, King Sejong left Area 51 and headed for the Armory. As Area 51 expanded, it was built next door to the Armory, so King Sejong could get to the Armory right away.

The armory’s managers and artisans all came out and paid their respects at the sudden news of the king’s arrival.

“We greet Your Majesty!”

Seeing the managers and artisans bowing deeply, King Sejong lightly raised his hand.

“Rise.”

At King Sejong’s command, the managers and artisans timidly stood up. Seeing them standing, King Sejong turned to the Secretary of Personnel Affairs.

“Doesn’t it seem like there are fewer managers overseeing the Armory than I thought?”

“That’s because many of them are holding multiple positions…”

“If there are many tasks for the artisans, and there aren’t enough managers to supervise them, that’s a problem. Prohibit those in charge of the Armory from holding multiple positions.”

“Your command is received.”

The Secretary of Personnel Affairs who answered King Sejong’s order sighed softly, “Hoo…”

‘We’re already short on people （；´д｀）ゞ!’

“I’m well aware of the shortage of people in the court. The issue of lack of personnel will be solved as soon as possible while carrying out the reform. You will have to endure it for a while.”

“Not at all! It’s not a hardship! It’s not justified!”

The Secretary of Personnel Affairs, who felt that his inner thoughts had been exposed, hastily denied it.

As he stepped into the Armory, King Sejong said to the Crown Prince, “It is clear that all the weapons you have made have considerable power. However, it is also a fact that they require a lot of labor. Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not.”

“So, I’ll examine the production process of these weapons. As you said, the number of artisans in Joseon is small, and it’s a problem to mobilize them carelessly since there are also needs of the people. Therefore, I will examine the production process, weigh the power I learned from the demonstration in the morning, and decide the priority. Any problem with that?”

“None. It’s a reasonable decision.”

The Crown Prince obediently agreed to King Sejong’s words.

‘Given the current situation in Joseon, it’s necessary to choose and concentrate. It’s a pity, but what can I do.’

“Then, let’s start by observing the production of the cannon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Under the guidance of the officials, Sejong watched the process of manufacturing a cannon.

From the start, when the cannon barrel was being wound, to the stage when various components were attached, Sejong looked back at Hyang. “It seems quite labor-intensive.”

“Yes. That’s why we have attempted to implement a lot of division of labor.”

“Division of labor?”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong calmly observed the production process again. Young-looking craftsmen were hammering iron plates on the anvil, shaping and assembling them. Then, an older craftsman meticulously checked the barrels made this way.

The process of refining these finished barrels and carving the grooves was mostly carried out by young craftsmen as well. The more experienced craftsmen were in charge of inspecting the quality of the parts and finally assembling the whole thing.

“I see.”

Having seen the process of making a cannon, Sejong nodded as if he understood. Having had his curiosity satisfied, Sejong turned to Hyang and Choi Hae-san to resolve another curiosity. “The armor worn by the soldiers in Area 51 seemed unusual. Is it made here too?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’d like to see that, too.”

“Understood.”

At Sejong’s order, Hyang gave instructions to the arsenal officials and craftsmen. At Hyang’s command, the cannon-making craftsmen stopped what they were doing and stood up.

“Huh?”

As Sejong tilted his head in confusion, Hyang explained the situation, “I’m sorry. We are short of craftsmen…”

“Oh dear! Tsk!”

At Hyang’s reply, Sejong seemed regretful and clicked his tongue. Seeing Sejong like this, the accompanying ministers were uneasily muttering.

“This… is getting more worrying?”

“He’s definitely going to demand measures…”

Leaving behind the uneasiness of such ministers, Sejong followed the craftsmen to the place where armor was made.

“Hehehe… Really now…”

Upon arriving at the place where the armor was made and seeing the craftsmen making armor, Sejong let out a chuckle.

In response to Hwang Hee’s question, Hyang answered, ‘We mass produce them.’ And now, the craftsmen were literally ‘mass producing’ them.

The first thing that caught Sejong’s eye was the part that covered the chest. A thin, heated iron plate was placed on a large iron mold, and then another craftsman turned a large pulley, lowering another iron mold over it.

“Heave ho!”

As the two molds overlapped, a young craftsman exerted all his strength, pushing the handle attached to the upper mold down. The end of the handle was curved into a semi-circle, and as the handle was pushed, the most protruding part of the semi-circle pressed down on the mold.

Thus, when the two molds were completely attached and a little time had passed, the craftsmen pulled the handle up, turned the pulley, and separated the two molds. When the molds were separated, a craftsman standing nearby used tongs to remove the iron plate. The plate from the mold was perfectly shaped like a breastplate.

“Hehehe…”

Having seen the peculiar way the armor was made, Sejong kept on watching, laughing. Helmets to be used with the armor, even ones with a flange, were being made from a single iron plate.

Unable to help but laugh at the completely unexpected and innovative method, Sejong asked the craftsmen a question, “This is indeed a novel method! Whose idea was it?”

At Sejong’s question, all the craftsmen and officials focused their eyes on Hyang. Sejong looked at Hyang with a disappointed face.

“You again?”

“Hahaha!”

Sejong, having seen the process of making armor, wanted to see the place where gunpowder was made, but Hyang stepped forward to stop him. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but you cannot see the place where gunpowder is made right now.”

“Why not?”

“Because very dangerous substances like mercury and sulfuric acid are used, the designated personnel are equipped with specific gear and work for only a set amount of time.”

“I see… Sigh.”

Disappointed, Sejong looked around. He toured places where traditional weapons like bows and arrows were made, and praised the craftsmen, but Sejong’s expression had significantly faded.

“Your Majesty, it’s getting quite late. It’s time for your return to the palace…”

At the words of the accompanying eunuch, Sejong looked at the clock on the arsenal wall and nodded. “Indeed. Let’s prepare to return to the palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Sejong and the ministers were mounting their horses to return to the palace, a soldier carrying a large bag approached Hyang. As Hyang checked the contents of the bag and nodded, the soldier handed the bag to Choi Hae-san.

“Good work.”

As Choi Hae-san received the bag, another soldier presented wooden tags to Hyang and Choi Hae-san.

“These are the new identification tags for you to use tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

As Hyang took the tags and mounted his horse, King Sejong, who had been observing the scene, asked a question, “I understand about the tags, but what is in the bag?”

“It contains blueprints for the armor and cannons. I take them to the military base every morning, and retrieve them every evening.”

“Then where do you keep these blueprints?”

“I store them in a safe built in the deepest part of the Eastern Palace.”

“You seem to take security seriously. Let’s return to the palace then.”

As they hurried back, Hwang Hee summoned the chief of the Ministry of personnel.

“Chief Officer, contact the Ministry and have them prepare a report on the supply of iron. Make it available as soon as we return to the palace.”

“Pardon?”

“When we return to the palace, His Majesty will undoubtedly want to discuss the mass production of new weapons, including cannons. So, we should prepare in advance.”

“Ah, of course!”

The Chief Officer issued an order to the accompanying officials. The officials from the Ministry quickly broke from the procession and galloped towards the crossroads.

As Hwang Hee had predicted, King Sejong brought up the matter as soon as they returned to the palace.

“Seeing the demonstration today, the weapons made in the Area 51 are indeed powerful. What do you think, ministers?”

“They indeed are, Your Majesty. Particularly, the power of the sneak bombs can certainly be considered unrivaled.”

“The power of the cannons, too, is remarkable and incomparable to the famous cannons.”

Upon hearing King Sejong’s evaluation, all the ministers agreed. As they concurred, King Sejong went straight to the point.

“Thus, I would like to mass produce these. What do you think?”

“Well…”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers started to dodge the question, calculating this and that. Amidst this, Hwang Hee glanced at the chief of the Ministry of Personnel. The Chief Officer then whispered something to the internal officer. Shortly after, a book was handed over to the internal officer. The Chief Officer then reported to King Sejong after receiving the book.

“Here is the amount of iron received by the court last year. To look at the immediately noticeable numbers…

Gyeongju contributed 6533 geun (an old Korean measurement, approx. 1.8 kg) of cast iron, Ulsan provided 12500 geun of raw iron… In total, the military base and construction department use or hold about 130,000 geun (approx. 78 tons) annually, and the stock held by each province is about 600,000 geun (approx. 385 tons).”1

“Does this include both cast iron and raw iron?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…” As King Sejong stroked his beard in thought, he turned to Hyang. “Given this quantity, isn’t it possible to mass-produce them even if it is a bit of a strain?”

Hyang answered King Sejong’s question directly, “We may have enough material, but mass production will be difficult. This is because there are too few craftsmen.”

“Can’t we recruit more craftsmen from the private sector?”

Hyang then explained why it was impossible in response to King Sejong’s question.

“We have conducted experiments with the sneak bombs.”

The experiment Hyang mentioned was about subcontracting the projectile part of the sneak bombs. They gave the foundry prototype to the blacksmiths in and around Hanyang and received the finished products. The assessment was carried out in two stages.

The first stage checked if products produced in the same foundry could be assembled together. The second stage tested if they could be assembled with products from different foundries. If the original prototype was copied correctly, it should pass not only the first stage but also the second stage.

“Fourteen foundries were involved in the experiment, among them eight passed the first stage and only three passed the second stage. Moreover, the majority of the finished products used in the test were produced in these three foundries. Considering this example, we can estimate that only about 20% of the blacksmiths are skilled enough.”

“That’s fewer than expected…”

“The most basic type of sneak bombs took 20% effort. The more advanced types, that needed to be crafted more skillfully, wouldn’t even account for 10%. If we must mobilize the blacksmiths from the civilian sector, it would only be possible to produce non-sneak bombs and armors.”

Hyang’s response cast a gloomy look on Sejong’s face. Having faced a more negative situation than expected, a tired Sejong waved his hand towards his ministers.

“Think about a solution to this situation. That will be all for today.”

That night, Sejong didn’t seek out Hyang’s room. Hyang, who had been waiting just in case, settled into his spot with a bitter face.

“He must have been shocked. The reality is a cesspit, you see. But is he going to throw everything away and give up altogether?”

There was a reason why Hyang said this. Sejong was 27 years old. It was a time when his experience and wisdom were still shallow.

The next morning, Sejong gathered his ministers and Hyang. As Hyang and the ministers all gathered, Sejong opened his mouth, “I have thought carefully, and I believe that we cannot delay the production of the long guns and cavalry guns. However, if we leave it all to the military factories, I don’t think it’s a good solution either. Therefore, I have thought of a way to solve this.”

When Sejong announced that he had come up with a plan, Hyang and the ministers focused their attention on him.

“My idea is to receive the barrel parts of the armor-piercing gun from blacksmiths all over Joseon, the neck partsfrom the carpenters, and the brass parts from the metalworkers.

For the cavalry gun, only the important mechanical parts are made in the military factory, and the barrel, blood trough, and wooden parts are supplied in the same way. Let the prince write precise specifications for these parts, print them, and distribute them to the craftsmen, making it a standard for review.”

“However, that might increase the possibility of classified information leaking.”

Against Hyang’s objection, Sejong promptly gave his answer, “What we receive from the blacksmiths is parts just before processing. The steel part of the gun is limited to receiving it just before the groove is drilled, that is, it includes only the process of making the inside straight and smooth and the part of cutting the screw. Drilling the groove and assembling the parts for the final assembly are done in the Armory.”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words, Hyang and the ministers began a cost-benefit analysis. During the calculation, moving back and forth, Hwang Hee pointed out the problem: “If we receive it as a tribute from the blacksmiths, there may be quality issues. The weapon is the most important part of national defense, so we must solve the quality issue.”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong immediately responded, “We will not receive it as a tribute. Currently, direct sales offices under the Ministry of Taxation are being established nationwide. We will purchase the necessary things through these direct sales offices. This not only makes wealth circulate, enriching people’s lives but also prevents the public from viewing their jobs as inferior. In other words, it aims to make more and more people become merchants and public figures.”

The proposal from Sejong sparked a heated debate between Hyang and the ministers. Although there were ministers who opposed it, Hyang was the first to express his consent, and after the civil servants also expressed their support, it was ultimately decided to follow Sejong’s will.

1. Let’s just say I’m currently dying converting the units to today’s measurements.[↩]

Chapter 62
Variables (1)

Ryu Jeong-hyun, along with the obstinate conservative scholars who refused to acknowledge the superiority of the new order, were eliminated, giving Sejong the opportunity to enact his reform. As these scholars were removed, the balance of power undeniably shifted in favor of Sejong, allowing him to govern state affairs as he wished.

As summer arrived, Sejong gathered his advisors.

“It seems Princess Jeonghye is now of age. Should we start the search for a suitable husband?”

“I believe it is indeed the right time.”

“Then, let us commence the search.”

“We accept your command.”

The ministers responded enthusiastically to Sejong’s directive, conscious of the need for some good news to divert attention from recent unfortunate events. The main figure of this upcoming event, Princess Jeonghye, was a darling member of the royal household.

News of the search for a spouse for Princess Jeonghye reached Hyang, who responded with a smile.

“My sister is to be wed? The elders must feel somewhat sorrowful.”

Hyang’s view of his sister, Princess Jeonghye, was straightforward.

“Maxed out sociability. The insider among insiders^1.”

Princess Jeonghye’s outgoing personality was such that it initially baffled the reserved Hyang, who was surprised by her ability to charm adults.

‘Could she really be from the 21st century?’

Rumors began to swirl that the scholars of the Royal Secretariat were starting to compile a list of potential suitors, which triggered Princess Jeonghye to lash out at Sejong.

“Father, mother! I want to continue living with both of you!”

Despite Princess Jeonghye’s outburst, Sejong remained calm and affectionately comforted his daughter. “Don’t I feel the same? However, it’s natural to meet a partner and start a family when the time comes.”

At Sejong’s words, tears began to well up in Princess Jeonghye’s eyes. “All I want is to spend a little more time with mother and father if I have a wish.”

“Hmm!”

Even though Sejong attempted to maintain a stern facade, Princess Jeonghye continued her protest with her tear-stained eyes.

“I don’t want to! I will keep living with father and mother!”

“Hmm! This child! Why is she throwing such a fit?”

“Father, I hate you!”

With that, Princess Jeonghye stormed out of her seat.

“Jeonghye!”

Sejong called after her, but Princess Jeonghye didn’t turn back.

Seeing this, Sejong turned to Queen Soheon with a downcast look.

“Oh dear…”

Queen Soheon offered him a comforting smile and defended the princess. “She is still a young girl, isn’t she? Plus, she spent more than half of the year living at the house of Hanjae^2. She must want to avoid being apart from her parents.”

In the Joseon royal family, it was traditional to send young princes and princesses to live in the homes of ministers, and as per this tradition, Princess Jeonghye was living in Lee Myung-kyun’s house.

Seeing Sejong’s crestfallen face, Queen Soheon reassured him, “Don’t worry too much. I’ll calm Jeonghye’s upset heart.”

“I’m relying on you. Ah~. It’s always difficult when things with children don’t go as planned…”

Despite Queen Soheon’s intervention, Princess Jeonghye remained steadfast in her refusal.

“The princess refuses to eat!”

“Oh dear!”

※※※

Upon hearing of Princess Jeonghye’s hunger strike, Sejong was profoundly alarmed.

“What is the queen’s take on this?”

“She is trying to reason with the princess at the moment, but the princess appears unyielding…”

“Oh dear… Sigh~.”

Upon receiving the report from the Chief Eunuch, Sejong let out a deep sigh.

“When one quiets down, now another one starts…”

The following day, within the quarters of Princess Jeonghye at Gyeongbok Palace, an event unfolded.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince has made his arrival.”

When the court lady announced the arrival of Hyang, Princess Jeonghye responded with an almost dying voice from inside.

“Let him in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As Princess Jeonghye gave her consent, the palace servants opened the door and greeted Hyang with deep bows.

“You’ve endured much.”

“You are overly kind, Your Highness.”

As Hyang entered, the door was sealed behind him. He quickly approached the blanket under which Princess Jeonghye lay, and heavily sank into a seat, addressing the princess.

“My goodness! Sister, you are really having a hard time.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Princess Jeonghye abruptly sat up, throwing off her blanket.

“Enough of that! Hand it over!”

“Well, well… Tsk!”

Hyang, making a light clicking sound with his tongue, rummaged in his sleeve, and produced a paper bag containing hard candy and another with rice cakes. Hyang had purchased these from the market after concluding his palace duties.

As Princess Jeonghye bit into the hard candy from the bag, Hyang clicked his tongue in jest. “Really, enjoying these market treats in a palace filled with culinary delights, is that royal conduct?”

“Quiet! Do you think our parents would yield if I didn’t resort to this?”

“Just marry a decent young man. If you don’t, people will call you an old spinster.”

“Silence! All I do, I do for you!”

“What?”

Taken aback by her surprising declaration, Hyang appeared puzzled.

After having her fill of candy and rice cake, Princess Jeonghye spat out the candy remnants. “Hmph! I think I can survive now.”

“My! A princess without a shred of dignity…”

“That’s enough!”

“Okay, let’s drop it. But why am I suddenly dragged into this?”

“Even if I leave, that damned rascal Yu (reason, Grand Prince Suyang), I’ll make him human before I go.”

“Good gracious…”

At the pronouncement of Princess Jeonghye, Hyang couldn’t help but force a strained smile.

In the annals of history, Princess Jeonghye was originally documented as Princess Jeongso, the first offspring of Sejong. Later, her posthumous title was changed from Princess Jeonghye to Princess Jeongso as it was identical to that of her aunt. She was expected to pass away the previous winter, but survived through Hyang’s successful vaccination, adding an unforeseen variable to events.

Given her status as the eldest and only daughter, Princess Jeonghye held a significant place in the royal family. Among Sejong’s yet unborn children, Princess Jeonghye was the eldest and thus was especially loved by Sejong and his wife.

Princess Jeonghye’s personality also contributed to this.

Princess Jeonghye was so sociable that Hyang called her the “insider of insiders.”

The Taejong couple (Sejong’s parents) also adored her until they died, and even Hyoreung Daegun, and Grand Prince Yangnyeong (Sejong’s elder brother), who had an awkward relationship with Sejong, found her cute.

While Princess Jeonghye monopolized cuteness among the adults in the royal family, she was a bit different to her siblings. Hyang evaluated Princess Jeonghye like this.

‘Military commander’

“Perhaps due to her Sejong lineage, Princess Jeonghye was also quite unique. Her vivacious nature, likely attributed to the addition of Yi Seong-gye’s (King Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty) bloodline, was quite prominent. However, from a young age, Jeonghye, who had learned her place and responsibilities, would scold her younger siblings harshly if they misbehaved.

For such siblings, the most unfortunate thing was that Jeonghye’s standard was the somewhat impeccably behaved Hyang.

“I’m well aware that Hyang is not ordinary, but even taking that into account, you guys are way too unruly!”

Whenever her siblings showed even a slight deviation, Princess Jeonghye would scold them sternly. She was so strict that Queen Soheon, upon seeing her scold her siblings, would scold Jeonghye herself.

“I’m not against you disciplining your siblings. But aren’t you being too strict?”

At the Queen’s claim of her being excessive, Princess Jeonghye responded with a firm voice.

“Mother, while these children are your precious offspring and my adorable siblings, they are also, concurrently, esteemed princes and princesses. How can I just ignore them causing trouble, far from setting an example? As the eldest daughter of the royal family, I cannot overlook this!”

At Jeonghye’s firm response, all Queen Soheon could do was sigh.

“Sigh~”

The image of her eldest son, who would argue with Sejong even if it meant getting kicked, overlapped with the sight of her eldest daughter. Queen Soheon sighed and placed a hand on her forehead.

“Sigh~. It’s either Jeonghye or the Crown Prince…”

The one who got scolded the most by Princess Jeonghye was Yu (Prince Suyang), followed by Yong (Prince Anpyeong).

It was difficult to deny that Yu’s circumstances had a significant environmental influence. Yu’s immediate older sister, Princess Jeongyi, entered the palace with Sejong and his wife, and Yong, his younger brother, was born in the palace.

However, Yu was too young to travel far at the time, so he had to live outside the palace until he turned five. Thanks to his status as a prince, there were few who dared to reprimand him, thus developing a quite carefree and reckless disposition.

Being of such a nature, it was commonplace for Yu to stir up various troubles even after entering the palace. As time passed, Yong also started participating in these mischiefs.

The eldest brother, Hyang, was already involved in important matters with Sejong and the ministers. It was because Yong was also at an age where he enjoyed stirring up trouble, and he got along well with Yu.

And Princess Jeonghye was not one to overlook such a situation.

“You guys!”

As soon as she heard that Yu and Yong were causing trouble, Jeonghye scolded them. Knowing well that they would be severely scolded by Jeonghye, the two tried to escape immediately, but each time, Jeonghye chased after them, clutching the hem of her dress.

“Stop right there!”

And of course, if they were caught, they were severely scolded, it was a natural consequence.

Through such repetitive incidents, Princess Jeonghye became a tiger-like figure to Hyangi’s siblings, who wouldn’t dare move when she stood before them.

As soon as she heard the rumors about arranging a husband, Jeonghye set a single goal.

“I will correct Yu’s habits before I get married!”

Anyhow, due to Princess Jeonghye’s sudden protest, the decision about the prospective husband was postponed. It wasn’t only because of the protest, but also because Sejong himself was reluctant to marry off Jeonghye too soon.

“We still have some time until Jeonghye’s rites of passage ceremony. Let’s postpone it a bit.”

“As you command.”

At King Sejong’s decision to delay the search for a husband, the ministers gathered in groups to discuss.

“The King is indeed lenient with his children.”

“She is the princess he dearly loves, isn’t she?”

Since Jeonghye had a good image even among the ministers, there were none who objected. The only worry was…”

“If this goes wrong, we could be caught up in the royal wedding preparations.”

“That’s correct. Once the selection of the princess’s consort is over, the crown prince’s wedding will be imminent.”

Meanwhile, Yu, who received the news that ‘The selection for Princess Jeonghye’s consort has been postponed!’ turned pale.

He was the one who cheered the loudest at the news of ‘Looking for a consort for Princess Jeonghye!’.

“Just a little longer, and the world is mine!”

The news that the one who treated him most strictly would soon be leaving the palace made Yu feel as if he had the world. However, when he heard the news ‘The selection of the consort has been postponed’ not long ago, Yu felt his world darken and his body began to shudder.

“I’m done for… What am I to do?”

Yu’s nightmare had not ended yet.

* * *

Even Hyang could tell Yu was panicking. This was because as the rumors of the ‘consort selection’ were circulating, Yu, who had shown signs of relaxing a bit, turned right back into the model student he had been.

“It seems there really is such a thing as a natural enemy.”

Hyang chuckled as he watched Yu and Yong, studying their texts diligently.

Hyang had no complaints. Though history had changed, it was a good thing for him that there was definitely a figure that could instill fear in Suyang.

“So… If my sister gets married, am I next?” Hyang leaned back in his chair after putting his pen down. “The conclusion… This is really troubling. How do I exercise choice? I can’t just get married three times like in the original…”

Hyang fell into deep thought about the massive event named ‘conclusion’ that was fast approaching. In the midst of his various thoughts, Hyang suddenly grew curious.

“But I wonder. Did this gentleman in the original mess up his married life because he was a playboy? Or did he become a playboy because his married life was a mess?”

Hyang started to wonder, recalling the stories he heard in Korean history class. However, there was something Hyang failed to realize, or rather, refused to realize.

That is, even when Hyang was living in the 21st century, he was a playboy in the ‘terminal phase’, except, him being with no luck with women.

During his school days – especially in college – his legendary behavior made female students refrain from approaching him, and afterward, he built a wall between him and women due to the so-called ‘sour grapes syndrome’ – to put it coldly, ‘psychological victory’.

‘Sour grapes syndrome’ was a common symptom among playboys in the terminal phase. It was a reference to the fox in Aesop’s fable ‘The Fox and the Grapes’.

“The reason why I don’t have a girlfriend is that my standards are too high. I need to lower these standards, but it’s not easy? Hahaha!”

This was the same for the Hyang in the 21st century.

And, it was the same even now that he had reincarnated in the Joseon era. Until just now, Hyang was worrying about his own marriage, but once he established his research institute and started his antics in earnest, thoughts about marriage were thrown far away to Andromeda.

1. Basically it means popular kid, smthg like that.[↩]

2. Hanjae (漢齋) is a pen name for Lee Myung-kyun, a minister in the Joseon period.[↩]

Chapter 63
Variables (2)

While the princess was causing a stir in her search for her stepmother, the royal court was also in chaos. The cause of the disturbance was the sugar monopoly’.

“The decision to monopolize sugar has been made, but how should we go about it?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the ministers immediately offered an answer.

“We believe it would be best to transfer the retail rights to suitable merchants.”

Following that, the ministers heatedly debated, arguing whether the wholesalers or the merchants of Gyeonggang were better. However, to Sejong’s ears, it sounded like “I received a bribe from the wholesalers,” “I received a bribe from the merchants of Gyeonggang.”

As he quietly watched the ministers wrangle, Sejong’s face gradually hardened. Finally, Sejong slammed his desk with his fist and shouted.

“Silence!”

At Sejong’s shout, the arguing ministers closed their mouths and bowed their heads immediately.

Over the heads of such ministers, Sejong continued to scold, “Are you ministers even listening and thinking about what I’m saying? It’s only been a few days since I declared my intention to implement reforms and discussed preparations for reform policies!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Look back at your answer to my question just now! Was that an answer for the sake of reform? Or was it for the gifts that will come to your homes? Was it an answer for the sake of Joseon? Or for your own granaries?”

At Sejong’s scolding, the ministers bowed their heads in unison.

“We deserve death!”

“We deserve death!”

The ministers, who had all begged to be killed, started to break out in a cold sweat at Sejong’s continued words, “You say ‘deserve death’, ‘deserve death’, but… Depending on how this policy is formed and the results it yields, I’ll decide whether to grant your wishes.”

“Gasp!”

Shocked by Sejong’s warning, the ministers all raised their voices in unison.

“We will do our utmost!”

“We will devote our lives!”

Seeing the ministers trembling as they answered, Sejong glared at the chief state councilors who were bowing down in front of him.

“I will say this to the chief state councilors. I appointed you to the seats because I trusted your assessment. However, I have recently been quite disappointed.”

“Your majesty!”

“I deserve death!”

The chief state councilors bowed their heads to the ground. Sejong’s gaze at them was cold.

“I hope you do not disappoint me any further. I warn you, if you fall short of the rumors I heard about you, there will be no reason for me to keep you in your position. Do you understand? Left State Councilor and Right State Councilor.”

“We will keep it in mind!”

“We absolutely will not disappoint you!”

Hwang Hui and Maeng Saseong, who were publicly singled out, answered with pale faces dripping with sweat.

Contrary to the frozen atmosphere of the ministers, Sejong continued the meeting in a dry voice, “Now, let’s move on to the next agenda.”

“Yes! The next agenda is…”

“Next is…”

“Tsk!”

Sejong clicked his tongue as he watched the ministers hurry to check the next agenda. Their frantic behavior was not at all to his liking.

Since Hyang had reincarnated and started to interfere in earnest, many variables had arisen. Among those variables, some were expected by Hyang, but many were not.

One of the unexpected variables was that Sejong’s assessment of the ministers had become mercilessly high.

‘Why can’t they think like a 10-year-old child?!’

‘Why can’t they think ahead? If I have to tell them everything, why should they even occupy the positions of state councilors or ministers’

By themselves, compared to the solutions Hyang provided sometimes even in advance, Sejong’s evaluation standards became Hyang-centric. And the victims of such raised hurdles were Hwang Hui and Maeng Saseong.

“I’ve heard from Father that their abilities are excellent. The surrounding ministers’ evaluations were the same. But why?”

They were talented individuals recognized even by Taejong, Sejong’s father.

However, upon examining the abilities of the two men occupying the positions of State Councilors after their appointments, Sejong could not hide his disappointment.

“Am I too demanding? Or was the evaluation of these two overrated? The latter seems unlikely, given the number of people saying the same thing. The former also seems unlikely, as their lack of ability is plainly visible…”

Sejong had to contemplate deeply, observing Hwang Hui and Maeng Saseong who were underperforming compared to his expectations.

“Can I really trust them with important duties? For the success of the reform, someone more capable than anyone else is needed.”

As Sejong’s disappointment grew, so did the misery of Hwang Hui and Maeng Saseonng. Because they took over after highly respected veteran ministers were purged, for the sake of survival and retaining their power, they had to do their best. However, immediately upon occupying the state councilor’s position, what they faced was the colossal wall of ‘reform.’

“That whole family is full of monsters!”

After reading about 20 books related to the reform, Hwang Hui, drinking with Maeng Saseong, lamented.

If King Taejong, the predecessor, maintained his regime by terrorizing his ministers, the current king was oppressing his ministers with work. Not just throwing work at them and leaving it, but making everything meticulously with high quality, and then evaluating how the ministers handle it.

If the ministers simply followed, they would become wasteful bureaucrats draining the budget. It was only by finding shortcomings in the policy and improving upon it that they could justify their title as ministers.

In the case of the state councilors, they had to produce a solution that was not just a simple improvement but one that resulted in a better outcome.

Of course, these were not formal standards officially established by Sejong. However, each time the ministers put forth a countermeasure, they could feel it clearly. And the rumors about it had already spread all over the capital.

At the end of the day, men emptying their cups at the tavern brought up the hottest topic in the capital as a side dish to their drinks.

“What’s the most common phrase you hear at the Ministry of Justice these days?”

“Is this your best?”

“You got it right!”

“Well, now it’s my turn. Do you know what the next common phrase is?”

“It’s less than what I heard…”

“Ha ha ha! Exactly! And finally…”

“Tsk tsk tsk!”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

The men sharing the conversation laughed and emptied their cups. It was a sight of haughty noblemen having their noses cut down.

However, the expressions of the noblemen who happened to overhear the rumor were not very good. It was because those were the most common words they actually heard from their superiors. And the origin of it all was Sejong.

“Is this your best?”

Every time Sejong asked this question, the ministers had to sweat profusely. And for Hwang Hui and Maeng Saseong, there was one more sentence added.

“It’s less than what I heard…”

Finally, while irritably clearing away the report, Sejong clicked his tongue.

Eventually, within a few months of becoming state councilors, both of them felt an overwhelming desire to throw in their letters of resignation.

“I want to quit!”

※※※

In the end, the ministers who had been reprimanded by King Sejong had to wrack their brains to come up with a new plan.

“Surely… we must deploy directly from the Ministry of Taxation?”

“From the Ministry of Taxation? To the eight provinces of Joseon? How far?”

“For the land trade to work properly, it must at least reach the Provincial Office…”

“If we do that, the Ministry of Taxation’s office will be completely empty!”

“Then what are we supposed to do? If we entrust it to the merchants, we’ll all be dismissed.”

“No, it’d be a blessing if we just got dismissed. Have you forgotten what happened before?”

All the ministers knew that King Sejong wanted the Ministry of Taxation to manage directly. However, due to the lack of officials, they couldn’t come up with a clear answer and kept going in circles.

In the end, Hwang Hui stepped forward to solve the situation, which was like a squirrel running in a wheel.

“Let’s look at the past.“

“Look at the past? Hmm…”

As King Sejong murmured while stroking his beard, Hwang Hui further explained.

“Yes, Your Majesty. For the fiscal expansion through land trade to work properly, the Ministry of Taxation must directly govern. However, the number of officials in the Ministry now is too insufficient. Therefore, we can supplement this number by referring to the past.”

Hwang Hui’s explanation continued, but King Sejong’s expression did not improve much. After a moment of contemplation, Sejong tossed the topic to Hyang.

“A bit lacking… Crown Prince, what is your opinion?”

Upon receiving the toss from Sejong, Hyang immediately responded, “Implementing the civil service examination would be a good idea, but it is urgent and costly.”

“That’s true.”

“So, if I may voice my opinion, I would suggest immediately deploying the Confucian students from Sungkyunkwan to practical work.”

“The Sungkyunkwan students?”

“Yes, Father. Please think back to the events of the Year of the Tiger.”

“Year of the Tiger? The Year of the Tiger… Ah!”

In the fourth year of Sejong’s reign, the Inspector General of Jeolla Province submitted a petition.

-The Sungkyunkwan students who were taking care of their old and sick parents were appointed as local schoolmasters to serve their parents. However, as these students were restricted from taking the civil service exam due to their insufficient attendance at Sungkyunkwan, they asked for a solution.

Upon receiving the petition, King Sejong allowed Sungkyunkwan students, who were taking care of their aged parents, to take the civil service exam regardless of their attendance days.

As Sejong seemed to recall, he nodded, and Hyang continued.

“The biggest goal of the Sungkyunkwan students is to pass the civil service exam and become an official. Then what is the problem with deploying them to practical work a few years earlier?”

Hyang’s words were interrupted by Hwang Hui.

“Crown Prince’s suggestion might seem reasonable at first glance, but what is the purpose of taking the civil service exam? It is to select those who are competent. Just because they are Sungkyunkwan students, if we recklessly send them to official positions, we might inadvertently cloak the inept.”

As Hwang Hui pointed out the problem, Hyang made a frustrated expression.

“What about the exams the Sungkyunkwan students take every month? Why not preferentially select those with good grades? And, it would be even better to see this as a kind of exam. The administration will run smoothly when those who know the practical work become officials, right?”

At the mention of practical work, some of the ministers sighed and nodded. Especially, the heads of the Secretary and the Inspector in charge of the Ministry of Taxation were nodding significantly.

Meanwhile, Hyang’s words continued, “Especially, there is a reason why the students must be involved in budget-related work. Those who understand the importance of the budget can create proper policies, not just empty table talk. Therefore, it can arguably be their most important examination.”

“…I think your point is valid.”

Unable to counter Hyang’s argument, Hwang Hui had no choice but to surrender. Seeing this, Sejong made his decision.

“Send orders to Sungkyunkwan to pay special attention to the officials of the Ministry of Taxation. Moreover, establish the Ministry of Taxation’s direct sale offices at least down to the army unit level.”

“We will heed your command.”

The ministers bowed their heads in response to Sejong’s decision. The loudest voice came from the Minister of Taxation, whose personnel reinforcement had been determined – a predictable result.

However, Hwang Hui’s face was scrunched up. This was because Sejong’s gaze at Hwang Hui was not very friendly.

In the end, Hwang Hui, who retired from the office that day, had to drown his anger in alcohol.

“Damn the rich!”

* * *

During the nationwide establishment of the Ministry of Taxation direct sales offices, an urgent message arrived from the Ming dynasty.

“The Ming Emperor is dead!”

The Ming Emperor was dead. Upon receiving the urgent message, Sejong discussed countermeasures with the ministers.

“Form a condolence delegation as quickly as possible.”

“We obey your command.”

“Do you know anything about the young heir, who will become the new Emperor?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers fell silent. Sejong clicked his tongue at this.

“Tsk!”

The ministers reflexively exclaimed as soon as Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Your Majesty, please calm down!”

“Fine! You find a face-reader who is known to be tactful and include him in the condolence delegation right away! Also, choose someone who is good at diagnosing by observation among the medical officials and include him in the delegation as well!”

“We obey your orders!”

* * *

While the delegation was hastily being organized to mourn the death of the Yongle Emperor, Sejong sought out Hyang.

“Will you also get books through this delegation?”

“Although it is not a good reason to send a delegation, wouldn’t it be a waste to miss this opportunity? It will not be so cumbersome once the embassy in Shandong is completed.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong nodded his head and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Hyang.

“Then, please bring some books related to this.”

“Yes? Yes.”

Hyang, who received the piece of paper and read the contents, looked at Sejong with round eyes.

“Father. Is it phonology (Studies on phonetic)?”

“That’s right.”

‘Could it be? Already?’

Hyang asked Sejong about the reason, barely holding back his trembling heart.

“Father, may I ask why?”

“Because I’m frustrated. Really frustrated. The ministers who fill the office are only ministers in name. They are rice thieves. What need is there for ministers if they can only do as they are told? New people are needed. However, looking at the situation in Joseon, that is not an easy task.”

Sighing with his head down, Sejong continued his words, “There are too few people. No, there are plenty of smart people, but it’s not just one or two who are buried because they don’t know the damn Chinese characters. Then, if we create characters that they can easily learn and spread them, they can also have opportunities, and I can also recruit competent people, wouldn’t that be a win-win?”

Hyang unknowingly nodded at Sejong’s explanation. However, Hyang wanted to know more.

“But why phonology?”

“Because all the letters I saw in the books you brought were letters expressing sounds. I thought it would be more comfortable to read and understand if it expressed sounds rather than meanings.”

“Then, Father, you could issue the order yourself, couldn’t you?”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong chuckled, “Those damn ministers will surely not let that go without a fuss.”

“Ah…”

And so, Hyang was tasked with procuring what Sejong requested.

Chapter 64
Variables (3)

After the condolences delegation group departed for Beijing, Sunkyunkwan scholars received the royal order of King Sejong.

“…Therefore, the students studying in Sunkyunkwan are encouraged to follow the order of the imperial authority.”

The governor who read the royal order addressed the students.

“What is the reason you all study in this Sunkyunkwan? Isn’t it to advance Joseon by going out into the world? A great opportunity has come, so delay no further.”

After finishing his words, the governor left the Myeongryundang Lecture Hall (A lecture hall for Confucian scholars studying in Sunkyunkwan.)

(The building in this 1,000 won banknote)

As the governor left, the students who remained began to discuss amongst themselves.

“Brother Yi, what are you planning to do?”

“And you, brother Kim?”

“I’m thinking of venturing out into the world. I’ve been at Sunkyunkwan for already 5 years, and I have no confidence in the state examination next year, so I cannot miss this opportunity.”

“I’m also the same. It bothers me to see my parents struggling, and I think this could be a great opportunity.”

Among the students staying at Sunkyunkwan, a considerable number decided to venture out into the world, but not a small number of students decided otherwise.

“Why should we venture out now and only achieve a lowly ninth-ranked position? It’s foolish.”

“You’re right. If you were born a man and dreamed of venturing out into the world, shouldn’t you at least start as a sixth-rank official?”

“Hahaha!”

At that time in Joseon, the system allowed for 33 people to be selected through the state examination. The top-ranked, the top-ranked state graduates (Jangwon)1, would start at the sixth-rank. The rest were divided into three groups, depending on their scores, and their rank was determined. According to this division, the lowest 23 successful candidates of the state examination began as ninth-rank officials. Those at the very bottom, the ninth-rank officials, were those who entered through the auxiliary examination.

So, those who are making such noise now are aiming for the rank of the Jangwon (top-ranked) class scholar. However, not many among those who are so loud actually had the skills to match that level. Most of them were children from wealthy families.

What was important to them was the name of being a Sunkyunkwan student. With it alone, they could at least maintain the position of the nobility for three generations, and they could benefit from tax exemption.

The roster of Sunkyunkwan students who wished to venture out into the world was handed over to the senior officials by the Minister of Taxation who had compiled the list.

“How many in total?”

“143.”

“Hmm…”

The answer coming from Minister of Taxation made the senior officials’ expressions complex.

“It seems like a decent number… but I can’t understand why I feel so uneasy.”

“I agree.”

The number of students studying at Sunkyunkwan was 200. Of them, 143 had applied, which was quite a large number. However, the feeling of unease crept into both the Minister of Taxation who had compiled the roster and the senior officials who had checked the roster.

Eventually, Chief State Councilor Yi-jik^2 took the roster. “Anyway, these are all who decided to venture out within the deadline. Let’s report this to His Majesty.”

“We must.”

“Tsk!”

King Sejong’s first reaction after checking the roster submitted by the senior officials was to click his tongue.

“143? I know the capacity of Sunkyunkwan is 200, did the rest not apply?”

“That’s correct.”

“Why?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Taxation answered, “They stay at Sunkyunkwan with the aim to pass the state examination…”

Before the official could finish his words, King Sejong clicked his tongue. Right away, the minister bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, forgive me!”

“What would make me angry? I’m just dissatisfied with the scholars of Sunkyunkwan, who are supposed to be the talent that will carry the future responsibility of the court. Their vision is too narrow. Tsk!”

As King Sejong clicked his tongue, Hwang Hui interjected. Regardless of the situation, the students of Sunkyunkwan were indeed the future of the court.

“They lack experience yet…”

“What nonsense are you talking about! The breadth and narrowness of one’s vision is not a matter of experience but of innate ability! Are you planning to fill the court with such people?”

Chastised by King Sejong, Hwang Hui had to prostrate himself. “Your Majesty! Please forgive my mistake!”

“Goodness, why is he like this? Tsk!”

“Your Majesty!”

At King Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui had to bow even deeper.

Watching Hwang Hui, King Sejong then asked the official. “Enough about Sunkyunkwan but what should we do after this?”

First, the students of Sungkyunkwan will learn mathematics and commerce. The duration will be approximately three months.

“Three months… It’s currently September, so are we starting the preemption business^3 next year?”

“Yes, that’s correct. During that time, we will secure sugarinventory and also build the preemption center building.”

Sejong nodded in response to the Chief State Councilor’s answer. “That sounds reasonable. So, how will the personnel be arranged?”

“First, we will assign Jiui (3rd rank) to eight provinces, as for the local provincial administrative agencies, we will send Sain^4 and Jangryeong^5 (4th rank) officials. Lastly, in the smaller provinces and counties, we will place Jwarang (administrative official) (6th rank).

“Hmm…”

As the Chief State Councilor explained, Sejong stroked his chin and made a judgment.

“It’s appropriate. By assigning those with lower ranks than local magistrates, we avoid provoking their pride. However, it doesn’t mean that the rank is so low that the local magistrates can underestimate them. Moreover, it is an organization connected directly to the Royal Secretariat, so the local magistrates would not be able to handle them recklessly.”

In the end, they had obtained another means to monitor the local officials in Hanyang.

“The local officials will have a hard time.”

However, Sejong continued to bombard the Chief State Councilor with questions. “It’s a good method, but won’t there be a shortage of personnel of that rank to send out?”

“That’s correct. Therefore, we will select the well-performing managers and initially assign them to the provisional rank. And that provisional rank will be changed to the real rank, or promotion or demotion will be determined based on their one-year work results.”

“So, they will have worked for at least a year when assigned to the preemption center?”

“Yes, that’s correct. We don’t plan to assign anyone to the same place for more than two years, no matter how long they have worked.”

The items traded in the preemption center were salt and sugar. They would be essential for the people’s diet, so it was certain that a tremendous amount of wealth would circulate. Considering the future additional tasks, it was essential to keep rotating the managers to prevent corruption.

“Then, will the Sungkyunkwan students fill the vacant positions left by the officials?”

“Initially, we will promote the existing managers to fill the positions. The method will be the same as the managers going to the provincial preemption centers. The Sungkyunkwan students will be given a provisional rank based on their academic performance during the training period, and they will be assigned tasks accordingly.”

“How high of a rank will the Sungkyunkwan students receive?”

“We will start from the junior 9th-rank and go up to the junior 6th-rank.”

“The 6th-rank…”

Sejong once again assessed the situation.

The starting rank for the existing state-level examination top-ranked graduates used to be Senior 6th-rank. However, although it was still in the lower ranks, it was now one rank higher, at Junior 6th-rank.He was planning to gradually increase the number of officials, but even as their number increased, the standards for promotion were also set to become more stringent.

Sejong, who had been considering the feasibility based on the personnel plan presented by the Ministry of Taxation and future plans, looked at its Minister.

“Everyone will work desperately.”

“That is the purpose.”

Having heard the Chief State Councilor’s answer, Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Very well! Proceed with Minister of Taxation’s plan!”

“I will take note of it!”

“But! Even though it is a provisional rank, make sure to pay them accordingly to their rank! If the work is difficult,they should at least be compensated appropriately.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

Later, upon hearing the plan, Hyang muttered with a bitter expression, “Whether it’s the 21st century or Joseon, interns are always expected to work desperately.”

And those who had decided to stay at Sungkyunkwan could only regret their decision.

“To think it’s 6th-rank!”

* * *

Meanwhile, chaos ensued as a large number of newbies entered the Ministry of Taxation. The cause of the uproar was the ‘Rite of Initiating the Newcomers'6.

A large number of newbies entered Sungkyunkwan, and with the existing officials also getting promotions, the superiors weren’t idle.

Extravagant feasts were set up as a matter of course, and when all sorts of bizarre events started to occur, the Office of Censors raised a protest about it.

“How dare they!”

King Sejong erupted in anger when he received the protest.

The chaos of the Rite of Initiating the Newcomers was famous since ancient times, and the kings of Joseon have been trying generation after generation to eradicate this bad habit.

King Sejong himself had punished officials who performed the rite just last year, in the GyeMyo (Year of Black Rabbit) year (1423).

“I issued an order to prohibit the Rite of Initiating the Newcomers just last year! Have you seen these impudent creatures? Minister of Taxation! What have you been doing?!”

At King Sejong’s roar, the minister was literally pinned to the ground.

“Please, I beseech you, take my life!”

“What did the rest of the ministers do?!”

The other ministers too had to be pinned to the ground at Sejong’s reprimand.

“Please, I beseech you, take my life!”

“What happened to those impudent creatures who conducted the Rite of Initiating the Newcomers!”

“First, they kept vigil in their homes…”

“Herald! Call the palace guards immediately!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Due to the furious Sejong, all the officials who conducted the rite were locked up in the palace prison.

Receiving the report, Sejong gnashed his teeth and glared at his ministers. “A king’s command should be obeyed no matter what… do you guys think of me as a joke?”

“Please, I beseech you, take my life!”

“If you don’t think of me as a joke, then why did this happen!”

“Please, I beseech you, take my life!”

The ministers had to follow the Chief State Councilor and the Minister of Taxation, bowing down to the ground. Over the heads of such ministers, Sejong’s roar flowed.

“Do you guys only know to say ‘granting your death’? Should I really do so?”

“Your majesty is just!”

Shortly after, the summoned palace guards entered the hall. Sejong immediately issued a command to the palace guards.

“Immediately arrest and imprison the officials from Ministry of Taxation who are keeping vigil at home!”

“We receive your command!”

Following Sejong’s furious command, 23 officials were imprisoned in the palace jail. Upon receiving the report, Sejong gnashed his teeth and muttered, “How should I punish these damn bastards…”

Hearing the rumor, Hyang ran to the palace and smirked at Sejong’s figure. It was because he remembered his past life in the 21st century. The welcoming party for new students after entering university in the 21st century was a memory that Hyang definitely wanted to forget.

Villains under the name of seniors forced him to drink ‘bowl alcohol’ mixed with all kinds of weird trash, or forced him to drink until he was almost dead.

‘This damn tradition… ’

Remembering the nightmare of the 21st century, Hyang smirked and spoke to Sejong, “Your Majesty. It seems that the officials have enough leisure to perform the Rite of Initiating the Newcomers.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s expression turned vicious. “Is that so. So they asked for more personnel because they were short-handed?”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words, the Minister of Taxation exclaimed with a pale face. “Absolutely not! We really do need more personnel!”

“Even though they have enough leisure to conduct the initiation rite?”

“That was the misdeeds of a few officials who forgot their responsibilities!”

The Minister of Taxation adamantly defending himself.

Seeing such a scene, Hyang spoke to Sejong, “Your Majesty. Judging by the words coming from the minister, it seems that those who violated your Majesty’s orders this time are quite competent.”

“Huh? How so?”

“Given the situation where everyone, including minister here, is screaming for more people due to the workload, the fact that they conducted the initiation rite suggests that they had spare time after completing their own tasks, doesn’t it?”

“Ah! I see! So they must have been quite competent personnel!”

“That seems so.”

Listening to the conversation between Hyang and Sejong, the ministers increasingly felt an unknown sense of anxiety creeping up.

As the ministers trembled in fear, Hyang proposed a way to utilize them.

“The sorting of the registry data (census) and the preliminary land register collected during the recent vaccination campaign have not yet been completed. These now imprisoned individuals were competent enough to hold the initiation rite with time to spare after completing their own tasks. How about entrusting this job to them?”

“That sounds right!” At Hyang’s words, Sejong slapped his knee. “Truly a bright idea! Registrar! How long did you say it will take to organize the census data and preliminary land register?”

“At least 5 more years…”

“Immediately assign the people involved in this incident to the organizing task! The deadline is 1 year! If they fail to finish within that time, they will be immediately sent to exile! The exile period will be proportional to the unfinished amount! If 10% is left, they will be exiled for 1 year, if 50% is left, for 5 years! Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, yes!”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers broke out in a cold sweat and replied. Looking at such reaction, Sejong continued his words, “During the organization, cut 80% of their salary and pay the rest. There’s no need for their families to suffer as well. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I fully understand!”

“Then carry it out immediately!”

“Yes! I’ll heed your command!”

Thus, the saying “Document organization punishment is scarier than execution or exile” began to circulate among the officials of the Joseon Dynasty.

1. “장원급제자” (Jangwon Geupjeja) refers to the top-ranked state examination graduates in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. The state examination was a rigorous and highly competitive test conducted to select individuals for government positions based on their knowledge, skills, and moral character. They were considered the most talented and accomplished scholars among the candidates who passed the examination. The title “Jangwon” refers to the first-place position in the examination rankings.[↩]

2. A real person, and was Sejong’s minister.[↩]

3. purchasing of goods rights before others[↩]

4. an official in charge of managing governmental documents and archives.[↩]

5. an official who takes charge of a government office.[↩]

6. In other words, hazing[↩]

Chapter 65
Variable (4)

After nearly a month, the emissaries who had gone to Ming to pay their final respects for the former Emperor returned. The emissaries immediately began to report to King Sejong.

King Sejong began with words of comfort. “You must be tired from the long journey. I apologize for summoning you immediately. However, considering the importance of the matter, I hope you understand that we cannot delay any further.”

“No, Your Majesty. As your vassals, we merely did our duty.” The chief envoy who led the funeral delegation, the Minister of Rites, responded with humility.

“Good. How is the new emperor?”

“He seems to have a fairly mild personality, with a relaxed and gentle voice, and an easygoing demeanor.”

“Is that so? And the assessment of his subjects?”

“Based on brief conversations with various dignitaries, including the Grand Council, whenever the previous emperor had to leave his position for conquest expeditions, the new emperor took over, and they said he was very stable, as an acting Emperor.”

“Is that what they said? Does it seem like the new emperor will also be active in conquest expeditions as well?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Rites shook his head. “No, Your Majesty. He reportedly publicly declared that he will not engage in conquests unless there is a major incident, as there are budget issues due to the frequent campaigns carried out by the previous emperor.”

“Is that so? Then the situation with the Jurchens should be quiet for a while.”

Upon the Minister of Rites’ answer, King Sejong’s expression brightened. Whenever the Ming Emperor moved to punish the northern barbarians, the Jurchens also became noisy. This, in turn, caused Joseon to become restless.

With a brightened face, King Sejong moved on to the next topic.

“Where are the accompanying physician and physiognomist?”

At King Sejong’s call, the physician and physiognomist came forward and bowed deeply.

“Imperial physician Lee Hansu pays his respects to His Majesty.”

“This lowly physiognomist Choi Gae pays his respects to His Majesty!”

“Good. What kind of person did you see the emperor as?”

At King Sejong’s question, the physician and physiognomist began to tell what they had analyzed about Emperor Hongxi.

King Sejong’s face turned serious upon hearing the two men’s stories.

“So, you’re saying there is a serious problem with the new emperor’s health?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm…”

After hearing the two men’s responses, King Sejong stroked his beard, lost in thought. After a long while of thinking by himself, King Sejong gestured to the two men.

“That was a good report. You may leave.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

After the physiognomist and physician left, King Sejong threw a question at the Minister of Rites. “Did you also see any problems with the new emperor’s health?”

“I also did not see him in good condition, Your Majesty.”

The Minister of Rites recalled the appearance of Emperor Hongxi^1 he had seen. The heavily obese emperor had to breathe heavily even while speaking.

“Well, that’s…” Listening to the Minister of Rites, King Sejong grimaced with a bitter smile. “So this is why Hyang kept making a fuss about me losing weight…”

‘How to make him lose weight?’ was one of Hyang’s biggest concerns. Because of that, Hyang controlled Sejong’s diet, the amount of food he ate, and made him exercise.

“You brat! Someone catch him!”

Every time Hyang nagged, Sejong would grumble, but honestly, he didn’t feel bad. It felt good that his child was caring for his health. Thinking about Hyang’s work, Sejong once again smiled bitterly.

“It’s all good, but the word ‘obesity’…”

Sejong was 27 years old. Even if he spent time with women in every chamber, the vigor of his youth would still prove its presence every morning.

Anyway… Minister. So, does it mean that it will be difficult for this emperor to reign for a long time?”

“Nobody can guarantee life expectancy, Your Majesty.”

At the Minister’s answer, King Sejong nodded. “That would be the case. Only heaven knows the length of a human’s life…”

“Your Majesty.”

“There is no need for you to worry, Minister. I was just being a bit hasty… Anyway, with the change of emperor, what do you think will happen to the completed commercial office that was completed in Shandong?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Minister responded in a bright voice.

“Ah! That was the most talked topic this time. It has been three months since the Shandong’s commercial office was first built, but it is said that the merchants of Joseon and Ming have gathered to trade actively, and the taxes paid to the Ming court are increasing.”

“That is true, even this Majesty is aware of it. The amount of money coming into our court is increasing significantly, so what are you all planning to do?”

For King Sejong, the issue of the retention of the trade port in Shandong was one of the most important concerns.

In response to Sejong’s inquiry, the minister replied, “The new emperor also issued a decree, stating that the trade port in Shandong should be respected, and is beneficial to both Joseon and Ming, being akin to a symbol of Goryeo. Also, all the subjects of the Ming court have all agreed.”

“Is that so? That’s fortunate.”

In addition, to brace for unexpected encounters with the Japanese or pirates, the Ming court has opted to consolidate their naval forces. An imperial decree to construct a new naval base adjacent to the trading port has been issued as part of their strategic plans.

“Really?”

Upon hearing the minister’s response, King Sejong’s expression hardened. However, the ministers, unaware of Sejong’s expression, began to express their delight.

“This is indeed good news!”

“Indeed!”

“It is a blessing from the heavens!”

As the ministers enthusiastically continued their chorus of approval, almost in unison, Hwang Hui interjected, only with slightly different wording, “If the Ming navy defends us, our safety will be guaranteed! This is a favor from the Ming!”

“Tsk!”

The ministers, who were reveling in joy, instantly froze at the sound of Sejong clicking his tongue. Sejong glared at the ministers with a furious expression.

“You all… I’m starting to wonder if maintaining connections with you all truly serves Joseon’s best interests.””

At Sejong’s words, all the ministers bowed and exclaimed.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“If you’re going to respect me, then don’t do things that shouldn’t be done. Isn’t that right, Right State Councilor?”

Hwang Hui, who was directly pointed out, nervously responded, “P-please punish us!”

“I said don’t do what shouldn’t be done. Do you know what mistake you made?”

“Your Majesty!”

“Tsk! Good grief… Who started this rumor… Argh! Let’s take a short break!” An infuriated Sejong declared a recess and stormed out.

As Sejong left abruptly, the ministers exchanged conversations with grim expressions.

“Where in the world did our mishap originate from?”

“I’m curious about that as well.”

One by one, the ministers turned their attention to Hwang Hui. This was because Sejong declared a recess immediately after Hwang Hui spoke. As the attention focused on him, Hwang Hui angrily shouted.

“You’ll all find out!”

Hwang Hui, who stormed out, looked up at the sky, letting out a long sigh and murmured, “Sigh~. It’s so frustrating, I can’t handle this anymore. I really should quit…”

Recently, Hwang Hui had often been overwhelmed with the urge to resign several times a day.

‘Damn it! My son is the same age as you! It’s so frustrating! I should just quit! Who spread the rumor? It’s your father^2, you brat!’

He wanted to say this to Sejong’s face and hand in his resignation, but each time, he had to grit his teeth and bear it.

‘My lord! You must endure! Think of your children! Especially your daughter who married into the Lord Seo’s family and has yet to bear any children! For her sake, you must bear it and hold on!’

“Sigh~.”

Recalling his wife’s desperate plea, Hwang Hui sighed while looking up at the sky. In his eyes, there were small teardrops.

While the ministers were scratching their heads unable to find an answer, the Minister of Taxation left the royal court and headed to Eastern Palace. The place he headed was an annex building next to Eastern Palace.

“You’ve arrived, Minister?”

“Good work.”

After a light reply to the guard guarding the separate building, he entered.

“Is Lord Jeong here?”

“He is inside. This way.”

Guided by the steward, he headed to where Jeong-cho was working. Jeong-cho, who was discussing with his subordinate officers, warmly welcomed the Minister of Taxation.

“Isn’t this Lord Minister of Taxation? What brings you here?”

“Ah, I wanted to seek your opinion, so I came.”

“An opinion?”

“Can we have a little chat for a moment?”

At his request, Jeong-cho led him to his office.

“Follow me.”

The minister, following Jeong-cho into his office, began to vent his frustration as soon as he sat down.

“…Given the situation, I can’t live, I just can’t live with the current situation! I need to know what kind of mistakes we made… Lately, I feel the urge to hand in my resignation and return to my hometown twelve times a day.”

With a bitter smile, Jeong-cho consoled Hopan, who was venting his frustrations.

‘It doesn’t matter whether it’s here or elsewhere… ’

The main issue was that His Majesty was extremely angry.

After a moment of thought, Jeong-cho stood from his seat. “Let’s go together.”

“Where to?”

“There’s someone who knows the answer.”

Jeong-cho headed for the main Eastern Palace.

Hyang, who had just returned from Area 51 and was organizing documents, had to stop what he was doing to listen to Minister of Taxation’s complaints.

Listening to the old man’s teary complaints, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Haah~. This is really…”

Minister of Taxation became tense as Hyang’s reaction was similar to that of Sejong.

“Your highness…”

“You should’ve refrained from doing anything frustrating. Aren’t you in charge of the finances of our nation?”

“To a lesser extent, I am indeed in charge.”

“You’re in charge, yet you don’t understand the problem? Huh~. I can’t believe it. Tsk!”

Upon seeing Hyang reacting just like Sejong, something hot welled up inside Minister of Taxation from the bottom, but he had to forcibly suppress it.

“I’m frustrated. Please enlighten me on what I don’t understand.”

“It’s simple. The issue is the Ming Empire’s naval base being constructed next to our nation.”

“Excuse me?”

“Is the Ming Empire overflowing with finances?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s words, Minister of Taxation let out a word of admiration. Seeing him like this, Hyang explained in more detail.

“The barbarians’ movement has decreased, but we haven’t fully suppressed them. That means the navy entering next to our nation is a newly formed one. How much do you think it costs to maintain it? And what about the maintenance fee? Where do you think they’ll get the funds to cover these costs?”

“…From our nation’s taxes, I suppose.”

“That’s right. The Ming Empire’s court will surely propose to raise the tax rate from our nation. But do you think that’s a good thing?”

“No.”

“Moreover, who knows if the cost the Ming Empire is putting forward is solely for naval maintenance, or whether it includes filling the gaps in other areas?”

At Hyang’s pointed words, Minister of Taxation bowed his head. Hyang’s words echoed in his ears.

“You need to send someone from our nation right away to gather information. We need to know the scale of the newly established Ming Empire’s naval base, how much a navy of similar scale in the Ming Empire uses in a year, and so on to prepare in advance. Do you understand?”

“Yes? Yes!”

“Then get moving! Didn’t the King tell you last time? He said he’d do as you nobels wish. If you don’t want to collectively drink poison, move quickly!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Upon the completion of Hyang’s sentence, Minister of Taxation hurriedly got up from his seat, bowed respectfully, and rushed off to the side room.

Watching the back of the minister disappear with the dust, Hyang turned his gaze to Jeong-cho standing next to him.

“Do you think the minister will report exactly as he was told?”

“He likely will.”

“And how do you think dear Father will evaluate it?”

“If compared to a test score, it would be a grade of ‘fail’.” Jeong-cho quickly replied to Hyang’s question. He was already accustomed to Hyang’s way of assessing.

Hyang always demanded an answer that was even a penny more improved than what he said. That’s Hyang, the child of Sejong.

“I’ve got the answer! I’ve found the answer!”

The ministers, who hadn’t been able to find an answer despite much debate, flocked to Minister of Taxation shouting “I’ve found the answer!” led by Hwang-Hui.

“Well then, what is it?”

At Hwang-Hui’s question, Minister of Taxation conveyed the solution that Hyang had suggested. The ministers simultaneously brought their hands to their foreheads as they heard Minister of Taxation’s explanation.

“Oh no!”

“How could we have overlooked that!”

Realizing their mistake, the ministers showed a stunned expression. If Minister of Taxation’s explanation was correct, they had failed to recognize the biggest problem and were obliviously happy.

“What should we do now…”

“If the king evaluates us…”

“Even if we are scolded…”

Hwang Hui, who was watching the stunned ministers, stepped forward.

“What’s done is done. Since we know the answer now, let’s report it to the king. And, let’s make sure this doesn’t happen again in the future.”

“Understood.”

After a moment,

“His Majesty, the king has arrived!”

At chief eunuch’s shout, the ministers returned to their seats and straightened their clothes.

Sejong, who entered the side room and sat at the top of the house, looked down at the ministers.

“So, do you ministers realize the mistake you made?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm, let’s hear it, Right State Councillor.”

At the curious Sejong’s command, Hwang-Hui cleared his throat and explained the problem. Sejong, who listened to the explanation quietly, stroked his beard.

“Is that all?”

“Yes? So far…”

At Hwang Hui’s answer, Sejong sighed deeply. “Huh~, it can’t be helped. I hope you’ll work harder in the future.”

“We will abide by your order!”

“Then, let’s move on to the next agenda.”

“Yes. The next agenda is…”

“Tsk!”

1. Emperor Hongxi died of a heart attack, and had only reigned as an Emperor for less than a year.[↩]

2. It’s kind of an insult[↩]

Chapter 66
Variables (4)

The turbulent Joseon, having undergone major events such as Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s imprisonment and the death of Emperor Yongle, was gradually quieting down as autumn passed and winter approached.

However, perhaps not content with this calm, a messenger on horseback rushed into the palace with an urgent report.

“An urgent message!”

Even before his horse had come to a halt, the messenger leaped off, pulling out a scroll from his robe and handing it to the officer on duty.

The scroll was immediately delivered to King Sejong. Upon reading it, King Sejong issued an order to his scribe.

“Summon all court officials, from Dangsanggan (a mid-level government post) and above, to the Royal Council Chamber immediately!”

“I obey the order!”

On King Sejong’s emergency call, all ministers, who had been handling state affairs in various offices and the Council of Ministers, rushed to the Royal Council Chamber.

The same was true for those working in Area 51. Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, who had been riding horses, as well as Hyang, hurried towards the Gwanghwamun Palace.

Upon arriving at the palace, Hyang, heading to the Royal Council Chamber, asked a question to an inner officer.

“What’s happening?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but I’ve heard an urgent report has come from the north.”

“The north?”

Hyang looked back at Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, who seemed unusually rigid.

‘The smell of blood somewhere… ’

Hyang felt as if the smell of blood was wafting from somewhere nearby. As he traced the source, he realized the scent was coming from Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, and immediately became on high alert.

‘Is this the predatory instinct of soldiers who have been through hell?’

Upon entering the Council Chamber, he saw that the summoned ministers had already gathered.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“No, Your Highness.”

The ministers reassured Hyang, who apologized for his late arrival.

“His Majesty is entering!”

Not long after Hyang took his place, an announcement was made of King Sejong’s arrival. As Hyang and the ministers respectfully bowed, King Sejong, who had ascended the dais, began to speak.

“It may take a while, so everyone, please sit.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

‘Is this one of the good points of not having ondol (Korean floor heating system) fully popularized yet? That we have chairs.’

‘Oops! I’ve gone off track again.’ Hyang, who had been daydreaming while sitting on the chair brought by the inner officers, lightly shook his head and focused his attention.

When the small disturbance caused by the arrival of the chairs subsided, King Sejong got to the point. “An urgent report has just arrived from the north. Scribe, report its content.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After bowing to the king, the scribe began to speak to the ministers, “As you might be aware, there has been turmoil among the Jurchen tribes in Jianzhou since last year. Although the conflict occurred within the Jurchen tribe, given their nature, we in Joseon cannot ignore it and have been tracking the source of this trouble. And recently, our spies found out the cause and sent the urgent report.”

The ministers listened intently with serious faces to the scribe’s words.

In the deathly quiet council chamber, the scribe’s voice echoed. “The turmoil in Jianzhou Jurchens^1 occurred because a large tribe from the north moved south.”

At the scribe’s statement, minister Hwang Hui spoke, “What was the reason for their southward movement?”

“They were pushed south by the pressure from the Daldan (Tatars).”

“What’s the scale of their migration?”

“It’s said to be about 10,000 households.”

“This is bad…”

“That’s a serious matter.”

Upon hearing the scale of the migrating tribe, the ministers let out sighs of despair. Unlike Joseon and Ming, who considered a family of five as one household, a Jurchens tribe’s household typically consisted of 15 people.

“So, you’re saying they have at least 10,000 to 30,000 cavalry.”

“That’s right. And they also have at least 3,000 to 10,000 infantry.”

This was precisely why Joseon was extremely nervous. Due to their semi-agricultural, semi-nomadic lifestyle, the Jurchens’ cavalry was known for their formidable skill.

Looking back at history, the Jurchens tribes were not entities to be taken lightly. Although they had been subjugated by the Liao Dynasty established by the Khitans, after gathering strength, it was the Jurchens who overthrew the Liao and established Jin. The Jin had inflicted severe damage on both the Song and Goryeo dynasties.

After the Yuan invaded and collapsed the Jin, the Jurchens were fragmented into tribal units, and this state had continued to this day.

This fragmentation of the Jurchens was the result of interference by Joseon and Ming. If there was someone who could unite the Jurchens tribes, who shared almost similar languages and customs, it could lead to the birth of a powerful state. This was something neither Joseon nor Ming wanted.

“Who is the tribal leader?”

“His name is Yi Manju.”

“If such a large tribe moved south, it’s a significant issue. Did the Ming just let it happen?”

“They say the Ming gave permission.”

“What?!”

“This is unbelievable!”

The ministers were taken aback by the scribe’s response. Minister Hwang Hui expressed his opinion to King Sejong with a grave face.

“Your Majesty, there’s a possibility that this is a scheme by the Ming.”

At Minister Hwang Hee’s remark, King Sejong nodded.

“I thought the same.”

“Jurchens…”

Hearing the report from the chief eunuch, Hyang recalled his memories of the 21st century.

When he wandered the internet aimlessly for his fangirling activities, he came across a post titled ‘The Presence of Yi Seong-gye’.

“What’s this?”

The post in the blog she clicked into was created based on the annals of King Taejo. It marked the tribes of the Jurchens who surrendered to Taejo and the state of their assimilation on a map. Hyang’s jaw dropped at the sight of the map.

“Wow…”

Yi Seong-gye’s direct influence clearly extended beyond the northeastern border of Goryeo all the way to the Gando (Jiandao) region. His indirect influence further spread up north to the southern part of the Heilongjiang Fortress.

“Is this a joke? Is the source reliable?”

The post left a strong impact on Hyang’s memory.

After his reincarnation, Hyang collected bit by bit information about the relationship between the Jurchens tribe and Joseon. It was a sort of cross-validation act for him.

As he checked the collected data, he let out a soft laugh.

“This reminds me of a scene from a gangster movie?”

What Hyang referred to was the debate between Taejong and Yongle Emperor. That part totally reminded him of a scene from a gangster movie.

— (Intermission)

J: Hey! Chairman Zhu^2! This isn’t right!

J: Even though we, the Joseon gang, have joined the Ming gang, this can’t be tolerated!

J: Look! Those Ming gang jerks are strutting around in the Jurchens’ territory!

M: Hey! The Jurchens area was declared ours by the previous Chairman Zhu! Don’t you even know the Gangster’s Code? It’s against the rules!

J: What? You say the Jurchens’ territory is the Ming gang’s territory?

J: Are you out of your mind? Shall we start a fight?

J: Even if our Joseon gang gets beaten, do you think you, the Ming gang, will be alright?

M: Huh? Huh? Shall we fight now?

M: Forget about the Northern gang, shall we start a fight?

—

At the end of the rough debate over the Jurchens territory, Taejong, who brought out ‘Chairman Ju’s Assurance’, managed to get a concession from Yongle Emperor.

From then on, the Jurchens territory became a battlefield of the three countries. Ming and Joseon were gradually expanding their influence, trying to stab each other in the back in Geonju Jurchens^3 and the savage (Yain) Jurchens^4 territories, and the Northern Jurchens were watching for an opportunity to dominate the entire area.

* * *

Because of this complex situation, not only the ministers but even Sejong began to suspect the Ming’s operations.

“The situation is critical, so think of a good countermeasure.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the ministers began to exchange their opinions after receiving the command, Hyang recollected his memory—Yi Seong-gye’s^5 presence and influence were indeed strong among the Jurchens tribe.

— However, as it descended to Taejong and Sejong, this influence was gradually decreasing. This was because, unlike Yi Seong-gye who had quite direct contact, the number and intensity of direct contact decreased as they stayed in the palace.

— Although the influence is decreasing, the influence of Yi Seong-gye and his descendants is ‘still’ alive. The problem is that the subject exercising this influence is ‘the descendants of Yi Seong-gye’, not ‘Joseon’.

‘Let me see… Was it from Sejo’s reign that it became a purely profit-based relationship? Quite a few powerful Jurchens tribe chiefs got involved in Danjong’s restoration movement and died, and I think I read somewhere that the relationship with the Jurchens tribe completely fell apart… Damn it! My habit of remembering vaguely when I’m less interested is causing trouble here.’

Hyang grumbled to himself, continuing his contemplation for a good solution.

However, after much thought, the only answer he came up with was a standard one.

‘Shit! Is this the best I can do?’

Cursing at the situation where he couldn’t come up with an innovative solution, Hyang opened his mouth with a resigned look.

“Your Majesty, in this situation, I believe extraordinary measures are not very useful, instead we need to take a conventional approach.”

“Conventional?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I believe we need to strengthen the capacity of our Joseon, reform the military system to build a solid foundation, and then gradually assimilate the Jurchens.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong stroked his beard.

“So, that’s the best option?”

“Given the current situation, this is the only best option.”

‘Because the reality is such a mess!’

“If I consider your usual wit…”

“Once again, Father, I must reiterate that it’s difficult for us to use extraordinary measures given our current situation in Joseon. After all, extraordinary measures are a lucky shot that rarely beats a standard approach.”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong let out a sigh. Seeing him, Hyang added, “Extraordinary measures shine the most when there’s room for them. Even if there’s an extraordinary measure, a common foot soldier cannot beat a cavalryman, right?”

‘Well? If a foot soldier had a machine gun instead of a spear, the story might have been different… ‘

Hearing Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded. “That seems to be the case. What a pitiful situation! Hear this, ministers!”

“We will follow Your Majesty’s command!”

“Create and submit a plan to reform the military system. This is necessary even for the financial management. I was thinking of creating and implementing it a little later, but as the situation has rapidly changed, we need a quick solution.”

“We receive your command!”

The command had been issued to the ministers, but Sejong didn’t seem satisfied.

“I think there must be a more effective solution…”

Upon hearing Sejong’s regretful words, the ministers started to rack their brains in a cold sweat. If they were to think a little further, an annoying ‘Tsk!’ would soon follow, and after that, they’d be in a situation where they would have to shout ‘Your Majesty!’ until their throats burst.

‘Think, think!’ While the ministers were desperately brainstorming, Hyang made a suggestion to Sejong.

“Your Majesty. As a preliminary plan, how about inviting the chieftains of the Yain Jurchens tribes to the palace?”

“Invite the tribal leaders to the palace?”

“Yes. There is a saying among the words in the street, ‘If the body is far away, so is the mind.’ This isn’t only confined to the relationships between men and women, right? If you invite the tribal leaders, they will be touched by your benevolence, Your Highness.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded. Seeing that Sejong’s response was positive, strength began to fill Hyang’s voice.

“If our Joseon becomes stronger, the chieftains who have come will have to make a choice. They will have to choose between the gift in one hand, or the club in the other.”

“That’s a great idea! Then we would need a very sturdy club, wouldn’t we?”

“Yes, we would.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded deeply.

“I like that very much.”

* * *

Five days later, the ministers submitted their plan for military reform to Sejong.

“Let’s see…”

Sejong, who was reading the measures submitted by the ministers, looked up at them.

“Is this your best?”

“We apologize, Your Majesty!”

“Tsk! Did you even properly look at the financial management plan that this Majesty made?”

“We apologize, Your Majesty!”

In the midst of the repeated apologies, Hwang Hui stepped forward.

“We believe that given our current situation in Joseon, this is the best we can do…”

“Look here, Right State Councilor! Is just changing the names of the positions a reform? How is this the best you can do?”

“We apologize, Your Majesty!”

“Alright, enough! I’d rather do it myself!”

“Please excuse our incompetence!”

“Do you really want that?“

“We apologize, Your Majesty!”

In the end, Sejong started creating his own plan for military reform, as he had said.

“First, based on the expansion of the government’s finances in the future…”

Sejong, who created a basic plan based on his previously written financial management, passed it on to the Hall of Worthies.

“Review it and find points for improvement.”

“We receive your command!”

Sejong, who received the plan that had been reviewed by the Hall of Worthies, went through a re-review. After scrutinizing the plan several times, Sejong frowned.

“I’m still not satisfied…”

Sejong, who had been pondering, sought out Hyang.

“…I made this plan, but what do you think?”

“The work Your Majesty created after much deliberation is undoubtedly the best, isn’t it?”

“Even if you flatter me like that, increasing the research institute’s budget is impossible.”

In the end, Hyang created an improved plan together with Sejong.

“Are we going to completely separate the military positions and fill them with the military officials? Wouldn’t the civil officials resist? If we do this wrong, there might be those who cry ‘military dictatorship.'”

“That’s why we are leaving the authority over budget and personnel to the Minister of War and the Chief State Councillor, aren’t we? And both of them won’t be military officials.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if I, after all the separation, took charge of everything?”

“Then there’s a high possibility that the military officials will completely ignore the civil officials and monopolize power. If that happens, it would be a ‘return of the military dictatorship.'”

“Even if I’m there?”

“Your Majesty will become the justification for that monopoly.”

“Would it?”

“It definitely will.”

Hyang answered firmly.

‘There actually was such an organization. It was called the Imperial Japanese Army!’

Thus, with this back-and-forth debate, the reform of the military system began.

It was a reform symbolized by the ‘General Staff Headquarters of the Joseon Army’ and the ‘Training Institute’.

1. One of the three main Jurchen tribes identified by the Ming.[↩]

2. Birth name of Emperor Youngle: Zhu Di, lol[↩]

3. Geonju Jurchen people united with Koreans to establish Goguryeo together in the 1st century BC, and operated a joint state with Koreans until they parted with Koreans due to the destruction of Balhae kingdom and the formation of a large lava area due to the explosion of Baekdusan volcano in the 10th century.[↩]

4. One of the main three factions of Jurchens. These Jurchens can be classified into; Haixi Jurchens in Heilongxiang, Jianzhou Jurchens in Jilin, and barbarian Northern Jurchens[↩]

5. King Taejo[↩]

Chapter 67
The Misery of Minister of Taxation

“Haah~.”

With piles of scrolls and books stacked like mountains before him, the Minister of Taxation let out a sigh.

His name was Kim Jeom, a man who, in the original course of history, would have served as the Minister of Taxation in the early days of King Sejong’s reign, before transferring to the Ministry of Law Enforcement, and eventually serving as the Inspector of Pyeongan Province.

However, in this altered history, his fate had changed. Although several regular royal personnel reassignments—a practice where officials would typically change positions once a year—had taken place, Kim Jeom had remained stationed as the Minister of Taxation.

“I don’t know if this is fortune or misfortune.”

Although Kim Jeom himself was unsure whether his prolonged tenure as Minister of Taxation was a good or bad thing, his wife was quite pleased.

“Isn’t it a good thing that you don’t have to go far away to the provinces, and can just stay in Hanyang?”

But the true reason Kim Jeom’s wife was pleased was something else entirely. If Kim Jeom was sent to the provinces, the most likely position he would be reassigned to was as the Inspector of Pyeongan Province. And the place where the Inspector of Pyeongan Province resided was the infamous ‘city of lust’, Pyongyang.

Regardless, Kim Jeom’s life was completely overturned after he remained stationed as the Minister of Taxation, starting with the appointment of Hyang as Crown Prince.

The appointment of Hyang as Crown Prince was a significant event, as even if he was young, it meant he would have a certain degree of say in matters. In this sense, Hyang’s ascension to the position of Crown Prince marked the beginning of a nightmare for the officials.

Glaring at the golden pen held in his hand, Kim Jeom grumbled, “All of this started because of this thing.”

Ever since the production of golden pens was handed over to private companies, the volume and intensity of work that the Ministry of Taxation had to handle started to increase dramatically.

“Haah~. It was good at first.”

When he first heard that production was being handed over to the private sector, Kim Jeom was pleased. He saw many uses for the golden pen.

Compared to the traditional ink brushes, these pens were easier to maintain, had a reasonable lifespan, and even a second-tier silver pen was cheaper than most ink brushes. Moreover, thanks to this, there would be fierce competition among manufacturers to produce these pens, ensuring a steady influx of gifts for him.

“I didn’t realize the Crown Prince was so damn clever.”

The Crown Prince, who had pleaded with the King to gain authority over the production of golden pens, came up with a preposterous system.

It was called ‘open bidding’.

As per the Crown Prince’s command, the specifications for the golden pens were distributed to all the merchants who had responded to the bid.

Under this system, merchants had to state their production cost, and there was a public evaluation under the Crown Prince’s supervision. This was the moment when Kim Jeom’s expected gifts flew away.

The Crown Prince handed a small piece of paper to the Minister, Second Minister, and Third Minister of Taxation.

“Please exclude any merchant who quotes a price lower than this.”

“What is this price?”

“This is the production cost when artisans at the Military Arsenal make the golden pens. This includes the cost of materials and wages for the workers, and it’s an average amount. Therefore, please exclude any merchant who quotes a price lower than this.”

Kim Jeom expressed his confusion, “Isn’t it better if it’s cheaper?”

The Minister of Taxation questioned, and Hyang clicked his tongue.

“The materials for the golden pens made in the Military Arsenal all come from tax collections, so it’s hard to get a lower price than that. But if they can produce for even less? Minister, do you think that’s possible?”

“…There would certainly be problems.”

“Furthermore, the golden pens of the selected merchant will bear the ‘Four Seasons Pattern’ as a sign of quality approval from the nation. If there’s a problem with the quality of such products, do you think the people will trust the nation?”

“Your Royal Highness is right.”

Stung by Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom had to rub his temples, and as he lowered his head, he heard Hyang grumble, “I can’t believe the minister of a nation can be so short-sighted… Tsk!”

And thus, starting with the golden pens, Kim Jeom’s tribulations began. In a way, among all the high officials, the Minister was the first to face difficulties from Sejong and Hyang.

* * *

The hardships experienced by the minister intensified with the nationwide implementation of the smallpox vaccination.

In the process of executing the smallpox vaccination, the population records of the eight provinces of Joseon were overhauled. The first batch of these revised records was submitted to King Sejong. Seeing the numbers, King Sejong reprimanded his court officials.

“Just two years ago was the last overhaul of the population records. You’re telling me the population has ballooned so much in just two years? Can the officials believe this?”

“Your Majesty!”

“Stop creating situations to be alarmed about!”

King Sejong roared, but the court officials had nothing to say.

Joseon revised its population records every three years. The revised records were made into three copies; one copy was kept in the respective provincial office, another in the Ministry of Taxation, and the last one was sent to the local government office.

However, when looking at the household heads recorded in these registers, the population of Joseon during its foundation in 1392 was merely around 300,000.

Since then, by continuously settling refugees and vigorously conducting population surveys, Joseon’s population began to increase rapidly. According to the population survey conducted two years ago, the population of Joseon was about 1.9 million.

But the population of Joseon verified through this smallpox vaccination was around 4.3 million.

“Speak! Speak up! Have the people of Joseon been doing nothing but producing children for the past two years! Can the population increase by over 2 million in just two years?”

“Your Majesty!”

“Stop creating situations to be alarmed about!”

The court officials could only bow their heads in response to King Sejong’s anger.

However, both King Sejong and the court officials knew why this happened. Both the local administrative agencies and the people were trying to avoid tax burdens, especially public service. It was because the benefit they could gain from evading it was significant.

The people could lessen the burden of public service, and the local administrators could conveniently fill their pockets.

Unable to contain his anger, King Sejong, with a red face, scolded his officials.

“When Joseon was founded, we had a small population and were devastated by the nobles’ pillage, so we reduced the taxes! Naturally, as less was coming in, less had to be spent. That’s why compared to previous dynasties, the stipends for the royal family and officials were significantly reduced!

But look! The actual population is this large, yet the population recorded in the registers is less than half! The state is receiving less in taxes, yet the people are still unable to escape poverty, so where has all the wealth gone!”

“…”

“Can’t you answer? Isn’t it obvious? If not the aristocrats, then who else! Those very aristocrats that you are so wary of!”

“We apologize deeply.”

King Sejong grinded his teeth with frustration.

“In the current chaotic state of the nation, you’re saying the aristocrats are without fault? These damned individuals!”

Sejong’s fury was directed at the ministerial officials who have accepted his rebuke. The officials, enduring Sejong’s wrath, clicked their tongues in disapproval.

‘It looks like they won’t be released from their exile anytime soon.’

‘Considering their age, they probably won’t be free from exile before they die, unfortunately.’

“Sigh…”

With a long, deep breath, Sejong suppressed his anger and gave an order to his officials.

“Immediately create precise household and land registries!”

“We will follow your orders!”

“Even though this Majesty have acknowledged your hard work and included the implementation of salary reforms in the state policies! But do you think I need to show such favor while you work like this?”

“We deeply apologize!”

“We will work diligently to complete the task!”

Upon hearing the replies of the officials, Sejong showed a cold response.

“Let’s wait and see!”

* * *

With the command from King Sejong, the department that became the most pressed was the Ministry of Taxation. The household registry and land registry both were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Taxation. An official named Kim Jeom gathered all his subordinates and passed on the royal order.

“Therefore, we must supplement both the household registry and land registry. Do your utmost best.”

“Your Excellency, we’re already overwhelmed with work!”

When one of the subordinates protested, Kim Jeom exploded in anger.

“Then resign! Do you think anyone wants to do this job? No one is doing this because they enjoy it!”

At Kim Jeom’s furious shouting, all the personnel were like mice, being careful and watching for Kim Jeom’s mood.

“If you have a problem, criticize the regional officials who did a sloppy job! Firstly, find out where the population has increased the most compared to two years ago and report it!…”

Two weeks later, Kim Jeom presented a scroll to King Sejong.

“What is this?”

“It’s a list of villages where the population has unusually increased while we were updating the household registry.”

“Are there more than one or two such villages?”

“Yes, there are many, especially some very severe cases.”

At Kim Jeom’s reply, Sejong spread out the scroll and read its content. After reading the content carefully, Sejong furrowed his brows.

“This is too serious…”

The villages written on the scroll, a total of 12, had their population increased by at least five times, and up to eight times. Sejong, examining the list with a scowling face, turned his gaze.

“Call for the Inspector General.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon Sejong’s order, officers and commanders from the Board of Censors headed towards the 12 villages. The officials who arrived at the villages thoroughly questioned the local officials, stewards, and their direct supervisors, and as a result, 26 former and current local officials, and 40 stewards received dismissal or exile as punishment.

Kim Jeom and his subordinates from the Ministry of Taxation seemed to have released their pent-up anger quite refreshingly, but not much later, they received a suitable payback.

“They’ve come again!”

“Again?”

At his subordinate’s report, Kim Jeom gripped the back of his neck that was starting to ache.

“Where is it this time?”

“It’s Gwangju District in Jeolla Province.”

“Damn it…”

Kim Jeom spat out a curse.

As local officials were punished for irregularities in the household registry, other local officials, trying to avoid the edge of the inspection, made desperate countermeasures. They prepared ‘explanatory documents’ by thoroughly examining the records left by their predecessors and their own records.

They made a basis for population increase by checking the number of refugees who successfully settled, their children, and the number of slaves who became commoners through exemption from their servitude, although it was not common. They also noted the scale of increased land by developing ownerless land and wasteland, and the current owners, and sent these carefully created documents to the Ministry of Taxation every day.

From the perspective of the Ministry of Taxation, after letting off some steam, their workload seemed to have multiplied.

“Hehehe…”

“Ha! Haha! Ha!”

With the stacks of documents piling up, the officials of the Ministry of Taxation and Kim Jeom could only let out a bitter laughter of disbelief.

* * *

In the midst of all this work accumulating, the Ministry of Taxation was assigned yet another task.

“Establish a nationwide organization to handle the monopoly of sugar and salt.”

“I’m really going to quit my job!”

“We’re all going to die!”

“Either way, we’re going to die!”

When everyone from Kim Jeom to the officials of the Ministry of Taxation were making grim resolutions, Hwang Hui suggested ‘personnel reinforcement through the state exam’ on their behalf to King Sejong.

In response to Hwang Hui’s suggestion, Hyang submitted a plan to hire ‘students from Sungkyunkwan’ considering the ‘time and cost’ issues, and King Sejong approved this.

When the officials of the Ministry of Taxation heard the news that ‘The ministry’s staff is being replenished with Sungkyunkwan students’, they all let out a cheer.

“Long live the King!”

“Long live the King!”

* * *

“Well, please bear with it a little longer.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Kim Jeom’s comforting words, other officials put their spirits together and got back to work. However, some officials were overly energetic.

“What! ‘Rite of Initiating the Newcomers’!”

Kim Jeom, who was handling the piled-up reports, was shocked. He jumped up from his seat and asked the his Second Minister.

“Who? Where? When?”

“Three days ago…”

“Drag those bastards here now!”

Shortly after, the officials who had committed ‘Rite of Initiating the Newcomers’ were brought in a line in front of Kim Jeom.

“How many are there?”

“There are 23.”

“Damn it… Too many…”

Kim Jeom shouted at the officials standing in front of him.

“Do you guys have any brains or not! ‘Rite of Initiating the Newcomers’! Why the hell ‘Rite of Initiating the Newcomers’!”

“We apologize. However, ‘Rite of Initiating the Newcomers’ is a tradition…”

“You bastards! This tradition has been abolished! Especially, the current King punished ‘Rite of Initiating the Newcomers’ doers just a year ago! What, tra~di~tion? Stop talking about traditions!”

“We apologize!”

“If you have to apologize, you should have avoided doing something to apologize for! Go home right now and reflect!”

“Yes, my lord…”

As Kim Jeom scolded, the concerned officials began to leave his room, shrinking back.

Kim Jeom, whose clothing was disheveled due to the rage, shouted.

“Do you have shackles on your feet! Get out right now!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Just as Kim Jeom was worried, upon receiving the report, King Sejong was furious.

Looking like he would issue a severe punishment immediately, Hyang made a suggestion to King Sejong. Following Hyang’s suggestion, King Sejong immediately executed the punishment.

It was the ‘Document Organization Punishment’.

The punishment was to complete the organization of the Family Register and Land Register, which would take 5 years even if half of the Ministry officials were working on it, within one year.

If they fail to complete it within a year, an additional punishment of exile was waiting.

Thanks to this, the concerned officials had to solve their lodging and meals in the newly built storage room next to the Ministry office without being able to go home.

Despite the replenished personnel, the workload that the Ministry had to handle had multiplied, so everyone from Kim Jeom to the lowest-ranking officials were always overworked.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, King Sejong ordered a feast in the royal kitchen. To be precise, he held a banquet disguised as a meal. As King Sejong prepared a banquet for the Ministry officials, he encouraged the attending officials.

“I am well aware of the hardships you are going through. However, for the administration of Joseon to run smoothly, the Ministry must function without a hitch, so I have no choice but to ask you to work a little harder. When the administration of Joseon improves, I will increase the personnel, so I hope you will be patient and stay strong.”

“We are forever grateful!”

The officials all bowed and expressed their gratitude at King Sejong’s encouraging words.

In this process, a new proverb was born.

‘The day the Ministry receives a feast.’ This proverb was a metaphor for treating someone well before assigning them a difficult task.

Meanwhile, King Sejong handed a medicine pouch to Kim Jeom through the royal secretariat.

“I ordered the royal physician to prepare a good tonic for you. Please take good care of it.”

“I am forever grateful!”

“I put a lot of valuable medicinal herbs in it, so it will be of great help to you.”

“I am forever grateful!”

He kept expressing gratitude, but what Kim Jeom heard from King Sejong’s words was, ‘You’ll have to pay for the medicine, right?’

Chapter 68
People (1)

In the 7th year of Sejong’s reign (1425, the Year of the Rooster), the state examination was held. This was an irregular examination, only for the literary and military branches, as it was not a regular Siknyeon exam years^1.

Contrary to the original history, this examination was peculiar in many ways. The reason was simple:

“We are short of officers! (We lack people to push around!)”

Due to the implementation of new positions and systems in both the literary and military branches, there was a dire need for a massive influx of personnel. Accordingly, Sejong issued instructions to the observers conducting the first round of examinations:

– In the case of the literary first round, do not conduct the examination for the national-ranking graduates, only for those who graduated from a local-ranking examination.

– The number of successful candidates should be 50% more than the sum of the successful candidates from the previous national and local examinations.

“Eh?”

Although the observers who received the instructions scratched their heads, they held the local examination and selected the successful candidates according to the instructions. As soon as the selection was completed, the records of the successful candidates from the first round were immediately sent to the capital.

“Father, I passed the examination!”

“Oh, it is the glory of our family! We must hold a feast!”

In accordance with the expanded quota, feasts were held in decent-sized villages throughout the country to celebrate the passers. There are 162 administrative regions in Joseon, including counties. Previously, through the Hyangsi (local examinations), the number of successful candidates would be 140. As a result, about 50 villages would not produce successful candidates.

However, this time, 220 candidates passed. As a result, the number of villages that did not produce successful candidates was only 11 throughout the 8 provinces of Joseon. The local Confucian schools in those villages were thrown into chaos.

“What on earth are they teaching their children!”

“Shame, shame, where in the world is there such shame!”

* * *

In March, the successful candidates of the first round went up to Hanyang to take the second round of examination.

Some arrived in Hanyang with sl*ves carrying sacks of rice and bundles of firewood, while scholars and commoners arrived carrying their own luggage, looking for places to stay. Those without relatives in Hanyang sought accommodation in decent-looking houses or unpacked their luggage in temporary accommodations set up by the local officials.

On the other hand, those who had well-off relatives in Hanyang found lodging with them.

“Has my brother-in-law not returned from work yet?”

“He’s been coming home late every day recently.”

“I see.”

In a refined hanok (traditional Korean house) located north of Jonggak, a major aristocrat residence area known as Bukchon^2, a young man from the countryside was having a conversation with an aged woman. While talking about his mindset for the examination and other personal affairs, a servant informed the woman.

“The master has returned from work!”

“I see.”

Upon hearing that the homeowner had returned from work, the woman and the young man quickly got up from their seats. That evening, the homeowner and the young man faced each other over a drink in the main hall.

“So, are you confident about the second round?”

“I will do my best.”

“That’s the right spirit. So, have you had your Daerye (大禮, Hanja for wedding)?”

“Yes.”

“And the children?”

“I have two sons and one daughter.”

Hearing the young man’s response, the homeowner murmured under his breath.

“Fortunately, the lineage will not be broken. No one knows, but it’s easier to control…”

“Pardon? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you well…”

“Oh! I was just talking to myself, just talking to myself!”

Waving his hand to interrupt, the homeowner shifted the topic.

“As you may know, the number of successful candidates in this first round has increased. The number of successful candidates in the second round will also increase substantially.”

“Is that so?”

Seeing the young man’s face relax, the homeowner warned him.

“That’s not something to be happy about. Now, the issue is not whether you pass the second round, but what happens after.”

“Ah…”

“If I were to offer you some advice, you’ll likely want to resign at least a dozen times in a single day. It’s by enduring this that you’ll be able to climb up the ranks.”

“I am prepared for the civil service examination.”

Upon hearing the young man’s response, the landlord chuckled softly.

“Heh! The civil service exam? Is there a big shot out there who could take that? The moment you take it, you’ll experience a living hell… Well, there’s no point in me telling you. You’ll understand once you experience it.”

“Yes? Yes…”

Believing the conversation to have concluded, the landlord stood up and left his seat.

“Your room should be ready by now. Start by relaxing and clearing your mind. Then pray for luck.”

“Thank you!”

* * *

Three days later, the civil service examination took place. Seats were set up in the spacious area in front of the Geunjeongjeon, right after passing through the Geunjeongmun. Candidates who had confirmed their identities started to come in and take their seats.

[T/N: Geunjeongjeon is the main throne hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the king formally granted audiences to his officials. Geunjeongmun is the gate to this hall.

(Geunjeongjeon Hall)

(The Geunjeongmun gate at the back of the examiness)

“The king has arrived~!”

All of the seated candidates stood up and bowed their heads.

Soon after, King Sejong and the ministers entered and took their seats, and the candidates paid deep respects to King Sejong. After King Sejong returned the bow and stepped forward, the attendants brought out the loudspeakers that Hyang had created before and set them up.

King Sejong, standing in front of the loudspeakers, encouraged the candidates.

“…Therefore, what we need most in order to expand our Joseon is talented individuals. I sincerely hope that you all will be those talents.”

“We will do our best!”

After King Sejong’s encouraging words, warnings about cheating followed. Lastly, instructions about the examination procedures were given.

“…thus, the candidates will take the exam in two stages. The first stage will be on the classics, and the second stage will be on arithmetic.”

“Arithmetic?”

“Why arithmetic?”

With the unexpected subject added, the candidates murmured and whispered to each other.

“Quiet! This is all done with the intention of selecting talent, in accordance with the king’s and the ministers’ opinions. Do not question it! If you cannot let go of your doubts, leave the examination site immediately!”

At the proctor’s scolding, the murmuring quickly subsided.

“Then, let the examination begin!”

Thus, the first exam, which tested understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics, ended, and the second exam on arithmetic began.

The second exam was peculiar from the start, as the court officials handed out printed exam papers with the problems on them to each candidate.

“Do not forget to write your department and name at the top! Then, begin!”

* * *

After the exam was over, the candidates began to leave the examination hall one by one. And then, the war amongst the officials began.

“Let’s see…”

“Hmm? Is this interpretation possible?”

While the officials responsible for grading the first exam, which evaluated understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics, were in a rather relaxed mood, those grading the arithmetic portion were in a tense atmosphere.

There, officials from the six ministries of the court and researchers from institutes gathered and engaged in fierce arguments as they graded the exam papers.

“Let’s see, the score is…”

“Hey! Why are you taking that paper! Are you trying to cheat from the start!”

“Maintain the integrity! Maintain the integrity!”

If they had had knives in their hands, they would already have been cutting each other down in this intense atmosphere.

* * *

The day began with an exchange of opinions on this year’s examination for government service.

“I have a request for your Majesty.”

“A request?”

As soon as Hyang mentioned the word ‘request,’ the ministers and envoys tensed up.

“Speak.”

“Yes, your Majesty. Please add one more subject to the test in the upcoming civil service examination.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s request, Sejong stroked his beard, expressing his doubt.

“Add a subject to the test? What subject do you want to include?”

“Arithmetic.”

“Arithmetic?”

“Yes, there is a shortage of staff in the research institute. Therefore, we wish to hire from among the civil service examination candidates who are proficient in arithmetic.”

“Why the civil service examination?”

“Because those who take the advanced examination are the ones who have already been screened and hence, are more valuable candidates for your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong pondered while stroking his beard at Hyang’s words. A positive feeling seemed to hover around Sejong’s silent contemplation.

“Your Majesty! The Ministry of Taxation also needs those who are good at arithmetic!”

Seizing the opportunity, the Minister of Taxation demanded more staff. Sejong expressed doubt at the request.

“Didn’t the Ministry of Taxation just receive additional personnel?”

“Your Majesty! The staff we have is barely enough to ‘piss on an ice surface’! We are severely short of staff to cover all the nationwide taxation offices, not to mention to monitor price trends and conduct surveys on source materials!”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

“Your Majesty! The Ministry of Public Works also needs them!”

“So does the Ministry of Military Affairs!”

“The Ministry of Law Enfooorcement also lacks personnel…”

“So does the Ministry of Personnel…”

The Minister of the Ministry of Taxation’s request had broken the dam. Just as the Minister of the Ministry of Rites was about to open his mouth, Hwang Hui interjected.

“Why on earth do you need so many people?”

“In the case of the Ministry of Public Works, the officials are working all night just to organize the status of new and maintenance projects for levees, fortresses, and bridges across the nation! To conduct research on the ‘National Land Development Comprehensive Plan’, we need people proficient in arithmetic!”

“The same goes for the Ministry of Military Affairs! To organize the types of weapons and soldiers from each jurisdiction, we need people who are proficient in not only writing but also arithmetic!”

“The same goes for the Ministry of Law Enforcement! To investigate and organize the number and types of crimes happening all over Joseon, we need people proficient in arithmetic!”

Each of the ministers of the departments ardently argued why they needed additional personnel.

“Each of you makes a valid point…”

Sejong mumbled with a troubled expression and looked at the ministers.

“Do we really lack so many people in our Joseon?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui explained the reason.

“It’s not that we lack people, but that we lack the budget.”

At Hwang Hui’s response, Sejong unknowingly spat out a curse.

“Damn it…”

In the meantime, the department heads were having a heated debate among themselves.

“Didn’t the Ministry of Taxation just get more people? They should have some conscience!”

“Why are the ministries of Military Affairs and Law Enforcemenr, which already have a lot of people, saying that they lack personnel!”

“What’s the use of having many people! Half of them are illiterate! Do you think those who only know how to use a sword can do paperwork! By the way, why does the Ministry of Rites need people! Why do they need to do arithmetic in the Ministry of Rites!”

The heads of the six departments bitterly argued back and forth.

“Like parents, like children…”

“Stop!”

As the heated debate advanced to the point of inquiring about the condition of the opponent’s parents, an overreach bordering on personal insults, Sejong decisively ended the argument with a shout.

Seeing the ministers fall silent in an instant, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Good job! You guys are doing so well~”

“Your majesty!”

At Sejong’s words, all the ministers bowed down, their heads lowered. Sejong turned his gaze to Hyang.

“You, brat…”

Just like the ministers, Hyang, who had been hit with a criticism, had to bow his head as well.

“Your majesty!”

“That’s enough! How many of you do I need?”

“At least twenty…”

“Can’t we fill the positions through recruitment?”

“The caliber of the candidates may vary…”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“I understand when you say ‘The caliber varies.’ It means they must be somewhat smart if they’re considered for the lower civil service exam.

“It is a clear fact that we’re short on manpower, but there’s the issue of the budget…”

Sejong, who was summing up the situation, asked the ministers, “How long did they say we would have to wait to mine gold and silver from the gold and silver mines discovered by the Resource Department?”

“They said it would take at least half a year, your majesty. However, to get a properly refined product, it would take at least a year at the earliest.”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing the answer, Sejong started to calculate in his head.

‘Taxes collected by the district offices and revenue from the trading post… Hmm… ’

After a long time of addition and subtraction, Sejong came to a conclusion. “Crown Prince, did you say we need twenty?”

“Yes, Father. At least twenty…”

“Cut it down to ten.”

“…Your order is accepted.”

Starting with Hyang, Sejong began to adjust the headcount.

“We will increase the number of successful candidates for this lower civil service exam. And, as per the Crown Prince’s request, we will also hold an arithmetic exam. You ministers should coordinate the necessary people for each department and report to the exam commissioner. Just now, the exam commissioner has halved the Crown Prince’s request. I hope you ministers also will not only think about satisfying your own greed, but reach an agreement through concessions.”

“Your order is accepted!”

* * *

And the result was the fierce stare-down taking place now.

“The marking is complete.”

“Let’s see. They’re arranged in order of grades, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Upon the chief examiner’s answer, Jeong-cho quietly selected ten from the top and got up. At that moment, the Minister of Personnel held onto his sleeve.

“Wait!”

“Why so?”

“Does my lord truly have no morals! What is the use of just taking the smartest ones! You, your excellency… You’re shameless!”

“The research institute needs people who are good at arithmetics.”

“Isn’t that the case for all of us!”

“Right! Lord Jeong, now that I see it, you’re truly a bad man!”

The examination hall was filled with voices condemning Jeongcho in an instant. However, Jeong-cho didn’t back down.

“It is the Crown Prince’s command.”

Even though Jeong-cho mentioned the Crown Prince’s name, the other officials did not back down. The representative was the Minister of Personnel.

“Have you forgotten His Majesty’s command! He said not to only satisfy your own greed! Where are you trying to commit such an impiety!”

“Stop!”

“Discard your greed.”

“Ugh!”

Jeong-cho clicked his tongue. Everyone gathered here were first ministers. They were not people Jeong-cho could simply push around, whether it be in terms of career or age.

In the end, Jeong-cho proposed a compromise.

“I’ll take five from the top, and five from the average. Don’t I also have to follow the Crown Prince’s order?”

At Jeong-cho’s words, the moaning ministers proposed a compromise.

“Four from the top. Among the top ten, one each must be taken, shouldn’t it?”

After contemplating the Minister of Personnel’s compromise proposal for a while, Jeong-cho nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

* * *

Once he stepped outside, Jeong-cho sighed.

“Phew~. His Highness was right.”

Before coming here, Hyang had called Jeong-cho and laid out a plan.

“Although I’d like to bring all of the top ten performers, that would be impossible.”

“That’s right.”

“So, I thought about it and…”

The plan Hyang laid out was a ‘bluff from the beginning.’ Naturally, there would be objections, and from then on, they would gradually make concessions while creating drama, aiming to secure as much talent as possible.

1. Siknyeonsi is a regular exam held every three years[↩]

2. Popular hanok area, you can wear traditional Korean garments and walk along the streets that housed rows of traditional hanoks[↩]

Chapter 69
People (2)

After the supplementary (bok-shi)1 sogwa (preliminary civil service examination) concluded, five days later, the announcement of successful candidates took place. Near Gwanghwamun Palace, the candidates who took the examinations gathered, waiting for the results.

“Has the list not been posted yet?”

“Hey, move your head!”

Amidst the slight disturbance caused by the anxious candidates, the side gate of Gwanghwamun opened, and the officials and palace personnel came out.

As the officials emerged from Gwanghwamun, the commotion among the candidates quieted. They swallowed nervously, their eyes darting around.

An official spread a paste on a massive billboard constructed on one side of the wall next to Gwanghwamun and attached a notice.

“It’s the list of successful candidates!”

As soon as the list of successful candidates was posted, they hurriedly ran to the billboard to check if their names were there.

“I’m on the list!”

“Me too!”

“Hahaha! I’ve passed!”

There were those who celebrated their success, but there were also those who vented their frustration over failing.

“I’ve failed again!”2

“What should I tell my parents…”

In front of these people expressing joy, anger, and sadness, the palace staff reappeared and set up a small podium.

As the podium was set up, an official in dark blue uniform climbed onto the platform, raised a funnel-shaped object to his mouth, and shouted.

“Yi Soonji!3 Is Yi Soonji here? Yi Soonji from Yangseong^4!”

Upon the official’s shout, a young man who must be barely in his twenties ran forward from among the candidates.

“Present!”

“You are Yi Soonji? From Yangseong in Gyeonggi-do?”

“That’s correct.”

“Year of birth?”

“It’s the year of Eul-yoo^5.”

Upon hearing Yi Soonji’s response, the official checked his records.

“Yi Soonji… Yangseong… Eul-yoo year… That’s correct. Stand to the side.”

“Yes? Yes.”

After Yi Soonji stood aside, the official called out another nine names.

“Let’s see… one, two, three, four… ten… it’s all correct. Follow me.”

“Yes? Yes.”

With questions swirling in their minds, Yi Soonji and the nine other successful candidates followed the official into the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“Who are those people? Hey, look. Chief Examiner, do you know anything about this?”

“I’m not sure either.”

As the candidates were murmuring, an official in a blue uniform climbed onto the podium.

“Quiet! Quiet! Everyone be quiet!”

With the official’s shout, the gathered candidates fell silent. The official placed the funnel-shaped object to his mouth and shouted, “Successful candidates move to the right for verification procedures! And those who failed, better luck next time!”

Following the official’s instructions, the candidates moved in two different directions. The successful ones went to a place on the right of Gwanghwamun for the verification process, while those who failed turned away, looking disappointed.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the side hall, a conversation about this round of sogwa (preliminary civil examination) was taking place between King Sejong and his ministers.

“How many are the total successful candidates for ths time’s sogwa?”

“The total is 185.”

“185? The number of successful candidates has actually decreased?”

Hwang Hui responded to King Sejong’s question.

“They passed the classical literature examination, but those who failed the arithmetics exam were disqualified.”

“What’s the failing standard for arithmetics?”

“Those who scored below the average by 20 points.”

“Hmm… They are talents who passed the literary examination, isn’t it a pity?”

Upon King Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui explained his reasoning.

“It might seem so, but teaching arithmetics from the basics and deploying them in work takes too much time and resources.”

“Is that so? I understand. They are talents carefully selected for national affairs, so they must be utilized as much as possible.”

Upon King Sejong’s instructions, the ministers all bowed their heads.

“We will heed your advice!”

“How about those who finished their education after the selection process? What about their ranks?”

“Like the students of Sungkyunkwan, they will be divided into grades according to their performance in the arithmetics class. After a probation period of three months, they are planned to be evenly distributed in the six ministries.”

“That sounds good. But what if there are those who insist on going to Sungkyunkwan?”

“Even if they pass the Daegwa (higher civil service exam) through Sungkyunkwan, unless they are Jangwon (top-ranked) scholar, they have to start from the 9th rank. If they have their own plans, they will know that it is much more advantageous here than being at Sungkyunkwan.”

“I see.”

At Hwang Hui’s response, King Sejong nodded his head. Seeing King Sejong’s reaction, Hwang Hui continued his explanation, “In addition, Sungkyunkwan will have a different role from now on, so we plan to make all students leave.”

Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong chuckled, “Huh! Those who were trying to take an easy route would end up like the dog chasing the chickens^6.”

* * *

Similar stories emerged while explaining the situation to the successful candidates.

“…so, after you complete the process, you will be assigned to your respective duties.”

As soon as the official’s explanation ended, one of the successful candidates quickly raised his hand.

“I’m aiming to take the Daegwa (higher civil service exam)! Is it impossible to get back into Sungkyunkwan?”

The official who was asked the question gave a brief answer.

“No, it’s not possible. Sungkyunkwan’s duties have changed since this year. Sungkyunkwan will only conduct ceremonies for the Confucian (Munmyo) shrine and educate candidates to be high-ranking officials. Oh, and while I’m at it… the eligibility for the daegwa exam will also change. Simply put, if you want to become an dangsanggan (high level government officials), you need to be an official first.”

The official provided a simple explanation, but the actual situation was far from simple.

To become an upper government officials, one had to pass another civil service exam, and to take that exam, one had to prove their capabilities in their job.

However, the official didn’t go into details for a simple reason.

‘We have to weed out the unripe ones from the start!’

The ones in front of him now and those who would continue to come were his subordinates and potential competitors. While they were in competition, they had to choose the capable ones for their immediate convenience.

As the official’s explanation ended, the earlier successful candidate again swiftly raised his hand.

“Can’t I just return to my hometown, continue studying, and then sit for daegwa exam?”

At these words, the explaining official roared angrily.

“You foolish chap! Have you been listening to my explanation, or have you been eating it? What did I just say? Didn’t I say the nature of the daegwa exam has changed? What rubbish are you talking about after hearing my explanation! You, dismissed!”

“Dismissed, you say…”

“Fail! You idiot!”

At the official’s words, the concerned successful candidate roared angrily.

“But, this scholar (me)! Do you even know who I am!”

“Who are you!”

“A relative of mine served as a Censor in the Office of Inspector General, and my cousin is currently a Left Lieutenant in the Ministry of Law Enforcement!”

At his words, the official snorted with laughter, “Humph! So, in the end, you’re saying you’re a nobody.”

“What did you say!”

The one who had been treated as a low-grade citizen got very angry, but the official gave an order to another official next to him.

“Go to the Office of the Censor-General and bring someone from the Song family. If they ask who sent you, say it was Minister Kang from the Ministry of Personnel.”

At Minister Kang’s words, another official, who was sitting with him, nodded his head and stood up from his seat. The official who stood up from his seat glared at the concerned successful candidate and went outside.

Meanwhile, the successful candidate who had been boasting about his connections turned pale at the mention of the ‘Office of the Censor-General’.

Watching such a successful candidate, Minister Kang raised his voice, “Where is this good-for-nothing bragging about his connections! This good-for-nothing! You don’t think I can dismiss you as I wish? It’s all orders! Got it? My backing is His Highness the Crown Prince! How dare you, a rotten thing, brag about your connections!”

Eventually, the successful candidate who had caused the commotion was dismissed and failed at the same time.

“Just forgive me once!”

The dismissed successful candidate was dragged out, pleading for mercy, but the officials were unyielding. After a brief commotion, Minister Kang warned the frozen successful candidates.

“If you cause trouble during the academic training and practical period, or if you can’t keep up with the task, or if you cause a scandal, you will be dismissed immediately. Remember this. Understood?”

“Yes!”

The successful candidates answered in a loud voice.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Censor-General immediately submitted a report to King Sejong. King Sejong, who had read the report, immediately ordered punishment.

“The fact that a newly successful candidate from the entrance examination was so arrogant shows that he firmly believed in his connections he mentioned. As an old man, reading the report and recalling the past incident of Ryu Jeong-hyeon, I feel truly dejected.”

“Your Majesty speaks the truth!”

At King Sejong’s words, all the subjects bowed their heads. Over the heads of such subjects, King Sejong’s words continued, “If he’s audacious enough to throw a tantrum at a royal official, we can guess what kind of audacity his connections have committed. Chief State Councilor, command the Board of Punishments to investigate the relatives this man mentioned and uncover any wrongdoings.”

“I receive the command!”

Following the investigation by the Board of Punishments, the one who had served as a Censor in the Office of Inspector General had all his government posts revoked, and the one who had been working in the Ministry of Law Enforcement was demoted to a commoner, then was given the punishment of ‘sorting out documents’.

* * *

While the chaos unfolded outside, Yi Soonji and his group were also steeped in disorder.

“Where are we heading right now?”

As they passed through the gates of the Gyeongbokgung Palace and continued deeper into the palace, Yi Soonji asked the leading official in a voice filled with fear. The official who had been walking ahead answered succinctly.

“We’re heading to the Donggungjeon (Eastern Palace).”

“Aack!”

At the mention of ‘Donggungjeon’, Yi Soonji and his fellow candidates for the officialdom were shocked. They were heading towards the place where the next heir to the throne resided.

Seeing the tense faces of Yi Soonji and his group, the official who had been leading the way chuckled.

“Relax. Anyone would think we’re heading into a tiger’s den.”

“Yes, sir! Yes, sir!”

Looking at the faces of Yi Soonji and his group, who still couldn’t relax, the official muttered to himself as he turned away.

“Maybe the tiger’s den would be better?”

* * *

“Welcome, everyone. I am Jeong-cho, the Deputy Director of the Research Institute.”

The one welcoming Yi Soonji and his group was Jeong-cho. First, Jeong-cho conveyed his apologies.

“Under normal circumstances, the crown prince would have welcomed you all, but due to the busyness of Area 51, I am here to welcome you. I apologize.”

“Ah, no, my lord.”

As Jeong-cho bowed his head, Yi Soonji and his group hastily followed suit.

“Now, please sit down.”

As Jeong-cho offered them seats, Yi Soonji and his group quickly sat down on the chairs. Looking at the faces of Yi Soonji and his group, who sat rigidly in their chairs and looked only at him, Jeong-cho smirked.

‘When I think of what these guys are about to go through, I feel sorry for them.’

“Hmm, ehem!”

Clearing his throat lightly, Jeong-cho got straight to the point.

“Let me tell you what you’ll be doing from now on. First, does anyone know about the celestial chart?”

At Jeong-cho’s question, Yi Soonji quickly raised his hand.

“Oh? I thought celestial chart isn’t widespread yet, how did you know about it?”

“I saw the peddler who often visits my home use it.”

“Is that so? The rest of you… you’re alone then. So, what’s your name?”

“I am Yi Soonji, who came from Yangseong.”

“Okay, you will learn the celestial chart together with other students for revision.”

“Understood.”

“Once the learning of celestial chart is over, you all will learn arithmetics. And…”

Jeong-cho told them what they would be learning and doing from then on. After finishing his explanation, Jeong-cho concluded as follows.

“You will be given a month and a half to go home, inform about the appointment, manage your household and return to Hanyang. I look forward to seeing you again. The crown prince has great expectations of you, and I too have high hopes.”

“We’ll do our best!”

* * *

After a month and a half, Yi Soonji and the other students all arrived at the research institute without fail.

“Nice to meet you all!”

Hyang warmly welcomed the newcomers. The 10 people in front of him were the ones who had been recruited through direct evaluations, different from the existing staff who had been pulled in based on nearby evaluations.

“I believe that you all will do great things!”

In response to Hyang’s words, filled with expectation and trust, the new researchers all replied in unison.

“We will devote ourselves!”

And it took less than two weeks for that cheer to turn into groaning.

“Oh my, I’m going to die…”

“Fellow brother Song, did you work overtime yesterday as well?”

“I haven’t been home for five days already. I’m worried if this continues, I might be seen as a bachelor.”

During a brief rest, the new researchers gathered in the break room and complained about the toughness of the work while massaging their necks and shoulders.

“At least the salaries are good…”

“The ones placed in Group 6 are still in practical training and dying. They’re falling apart because they’re evaluated every day.”

“Well, I wonder… if we’re the lucky ones or if they are…”

While they were discussing the hardships of the other successful candidates who were suffering as trainee officials after receiving temporary ranks, Yi Soonji walked by in front of them. With a heap of documents in his arms and a spring in his steps, Yi Soonji had an energetic look on his face.

Looking at him, the new researchers all grumbled.

“That scholar really found his true calling.”

“Indeed, he did.”

1. An exam held for candidates who narrowly missed the cut-off marks for the main preliminary civil service examination, or sogwa[↩]

2. The candidate failed the supplementary exam after failing the main (sogwa) examination[↩]

3. Yi Soonji is an actual historical figure, and was a civil official and astronemer during Sejong’s reign. While many thought Jang Yeongsil the most famous scientist then, but Yi Soonji was thought to be unparalleled in terms of developing Joseon’s astronomy and calender. His notable accomplishments include creating the first Hanyang-based calender or almanac, called, “Internal and External Parts of the Seven Planetary Calculations” replacing the previous Ming’s almanac. He was also the most talented out of all many civil officials who were ordered to learn arithmetic by Sejong as well. At the end of his life, his highest position was the Royal Secretary, and also the head Judge of Central Secretariat Office.[↩]

4. 陽城, current city of Anseong in Gyeonggi province[↩]

5. 50th year in the 60th year sexagenary cycle[↩]

6. Comes from Korean proverb/phrase: “Like a dog that chased a chicken looking at the roof”. Basically it means to describe a situation where someone has given their all to achieve something, but in the end, the object of their efforts is beyond their reach, leaving them feeling frustrated or empty-handed. The imagery in the proverb is of a dog that has chased a chicken, but the chicken has flown onto a roof where the dog cannot reach.[↩]

Chapter 70
People (3)

Even when studying in his hometown to prepare for the exam in the past, Yi Soonji enjoyed solving arithmetic problems in a moment of ecstasy more than memorizing Confucian scriptures. His talent was enough to seriously concern his parents.

“My husband, wouldn’t it be better if we let our Soonji take the chwijae examination^1?”

“The chwijae examination? Ha! Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that! Even if he passes the chwijae examination, he would only be a petty official, right? We have to consider our family’s reputation! To become more than a low-ranking official even after passing the sogwa (preliminary civil service exam) and daegwa (higher civil service exam) examinations, we need a strong family background. Do we have that kind of power in our family?”

“Cough!”

“Besides, do you think our Soonji is that clever?”

“Co, cough! Well, that may be true…”

Yi Soonji’s father trailed off.

He was well aware of his son’s scholarly talents. While his son’s Confucian studies, essential for becoming a nobleman, were average, his son’s mathematical skills were unparalleled.

The problem was Yi Soonji’s character.

The son liked to laugh and was always jovial, but he was also capable of silencing people with just a few words or turning them into enemies with his sharp tongue.

His father’s main concern was the sharp tongue of his son.

‘Even if he makes great strides, that tongue of his will stir up trouble… ’

In the end, Yi Soonji’s parents came to a temporary agreement.

“The preliminary examination is ending soon, let’s make the decision after seeing the results.”

When they found out that Yi Soonji had returned from the exam and had not only passed but had been appointed to an agency directly under the Crown Prince, his parents were astounded.

“Round up all the cattle in the village! Slaughter the pigs and chickens too! Gather everything we can! There’s a great celebration in our family! It’s a feast!”

“Yes!”

“Hold on! Hold on!”

Relatives and friends who had rushed over after hearing the news of the celebration tried to calm down Lee Soon-ji’s father as he started to get carried away.

“Catching cows, slaughtering pigs, you’ll end up getting the roots of the pillar too^2! It’s a joyous event, but you’re overdoing it!”

“Is this an ordinary event? Our son, our son! He’s directly under the Crown Prince! What does it matter if we caught the pillar roots!”

“It’s a good thing he’s directly under the Crown Prince, but isn’t the starting position a low-ranking official? Also, shouldn’t we consider the money needed for the Soonji and his wife to live in Hanyang? We’re already tight on money, do you want to make us paupers?”

“Hmm? Oh, I see.”

At the advice of his relatives, Yi Soonji’s father came to his senses.

So the feast was smaller than initially planned, but it was still quite grand. Even the local officials who were in charge of recruitment came to give their congratulations.

* * *

Once he settled into the research institute, Yi Soonji made full use of his talents. He passed the basic mathematics course in just ten days, the intermediate course in a month, and the advanced course, which was administered by regular institute members, in two months.

Hyang, having received the new interns’ mathematics education scorecards, discussed with Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji.

“I want to give Yi Soonji a rank of regular 5th rank.“

“But he has just passed the preliminary exam.”

“We might not care, but others in the court might talk.”

Despite the concerns raised by Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji, Hyang shook his head.

“If one is talented, they should be treated accordingly!”

“That’s true, but…”

“If that’s your opinion, there’s nothing more to say.”

Convinced by Hyang’s argument, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji agreed. They too had received benefits.

* * *

At the last inspection, the two were recognized for their contributions and were promoted to the positions of senior 2nd rank of Jaheondaebu (2nd class official)3.

Their ranks hadn’t changed, but their official titles had been raised.

The benefits were not only for them. Among the institute members, those with lower ranks were promoted, and those who were of below of senior 3rd rank officials, they were granted a higher title.

These benefits also extended to the craftsmen who had worked together.

Jang Yeong-sil’s position changed from byeoljwa (miscellaneous, lower 5th rank official)4 to jeongrang (senior 5th rank official).

“Your—your grace is immeasurable!”

Hearing that his position had changed from byeoljwa (lower 5th rank) to jeongrang (senior 5th rank), Jang Yeong-sil shed tears of gratitude to King Sejong and Hyang.

It was miraculous enough for him to rise from slave status to byeoljwa, but the change from byeoljwa, a murokgwan^5 who had no salary, to jeongrang, which actually yielded a salary, held another significance.

Jang Yeongsil wasn’t the only one who benefited.

There were changes in rank and department for the master craftsmen, including Ko Yajang.

They moved directly under the research institute. During this moving process, master craftsmen at the managerial level like Ko Yajang had their ranks elevated from chambong (9th rank) to bongsa (8th rank).

“We are immensely grateful!”

“We will dedicate our all!”

At the news of their elevation in rank, the craftsmen, like Jang Yeong-sil, shed tears of gratitude.

It was because a ‘rise in status’, allowing them to hear the term ‘my lord’, was made possible in the Joseon society where there was class discrimination of the four classes^6, where they were treated worse than peasants.

What particularly moved them was the fact that the newly elevated ranks were directly bestowed by Sejong. This was Hyang’s achievement.

“Would it be alright if Your Majesty personally congratulated them?”

“Me?”

“If Your Majesty personally congratulates them, they will have hope and be absolutely loyal to Your Majesty.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong fell into thought.

Hyang’s suggestion was quite excellent.

Right now, between him and the common people like them, the aristocrats had taken their place. For a king like Sejong, these aristocrats were a ‘double-edged sword’. They were a solid support force for the king, but at the same time, they were the ones who tied the king’s hands and feet.

After a moment’s consideration, Sejong made his decision.

“You are right!”

And so, Sejong personally summoned Jang Yeong-sil and the craftsmen, bestowed the ranks himself, and encouraged them.

“The reason I, the king, personally distribute these ranks to you is to commend the merits you have accumulated so far and to give a warning at the same time. The rise in rank implies that your responsibility has increased equivalently. Do not forget this and do your best.”

“We will keep your royal command in mind!”

“We will do our utmost!”

Seeing the craftsmen full of tears responding, Sejong saw Hyang’s face, filled with pride.

Looking at this, Sejong added on a whim.

“Currently, I address you all as ‘you’, but I hope the day will come when the prince and I can call you ‘honorable’ instead of ‘you’. Can I expect that from you?”

“We will stake our lives to meet Your Majesty’s expectations! We will never disappoint you! Long live Your Majesty!”

“Long live the King!”

“Long live the King!”

This was the moment when a support force, almost ‘religious’ for Sejong and Hyang, was formed.

* * *

Because there was a precedent like this, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji agreed to Hyang’s words without any particular resistance.

When the two agreed, Hyang immediately requested approval from Sejong.

“Senior 5th-rank? Isn’t that too high?”

“The case of the last Sungkyunkwan students and the recent top-ranked candidates also ranked at senior 6th rank. So…”

“So, my point exactly. The ones with the best grades even start at senior 6th rank, isn’t senior 5th rank too much?”

“They are fully qualified for it.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong firmly expressed his refusal, “If their qualification is merely academic performance, I cannot accept it.If you want to give that rank, bring a result that can prove it. The rank that I can permit now is senior 6th rank at most.”

“Yes, Father.”

As Hyang tried to refute, Sejong raised his hand to stop him. “Crown prince. I know you’re smart and competent. And, I know you value integrity. However, the most fundamental thing for all this is ‘fairness’ and ‘justice’. This Yi Soonji might be a talent as you say. No, he must be talented. However, if I give him senior 5th rank immediately as per your request, will others working in different departments accept it? They will think it’s not because they recognize Yi Soonji’s talent, but because he entered your research institute. So, I can only give him senior 6th rank. Do you understand what I mean?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang nodded his head. “Yes, Father. I will follow your will.”

“Right.”

So, Yi Soonji started as senior 6th rank

* * *

“Ah, it’s impossible!”

“I’m dying, I’m dying!”

“This is hell!”

The newcomers who had joined the research institute with Yi Soonji began to whine.

The industry-academia education that started as soon as they joined was tough, but the practical training was even tougher. When the new researchers began to groan, the senior researchers who were watching them said a word.

“Tired? Can’t handle it? Then tell the Crown Prince and change your position. We only need those among you who want to come here. Instead of dragging those who are forced to work, we just have to endure a little more hardship.”

At the words of the senior researchers, the new researchers immediately surrendered. Life in the research institute was hell, but the outside world was just as hellish. Getting out of this hell meant resigning and leaving, but under the newly changed system, if you quit, you simply became a commoner.

Even if they went back to the past and started again, they had to start all over again in the same hell.

As the new researchers were disheartened, the senior researchers subtly offered a carrot. “Don’t just think about how hard it is, look for satisfaction in your work. If you do well, not only the Crown Prince but the king will reward you greatly. And this work will also become enjoyable in time.”

The senior researchers of the research institute had reached a state of ‘enjoying the pain’ in just a year. No, they had become fans, traveling around the country and conducting various experiments in Area 51.

While the other newcomers were going through a hard time, Yi Soonji was actually enjoying every day.

* * *

Thanks to his exceptional talent demonstrated in industry-academia education, Yi Soonji was able to be deployed in the field in less than four months. However, as he was so talented, it was only natural that people who envied him emerged.

Furthermore, Yi Soonji was the youngest among those who came in with him. And he was also the one who received the highest rank.

In the end, they started calling Yi Soonji a ‘freak’.

“Hey, freak!”

“Where are you going, freak?”

Every time they called him a freak, Yi Soonji dealt with them with laughter.

“Hahaha! Why are you doing this?”

However, as soon as he judged that those who were jealous of him had crossed the line, Yi Soonji immediately began to hit back. One of her weapons was the highest rank among the newcomers, ‘Jwarang‘, and the other was a talent known only to his family—sharp tongue.

It was Yi Soonji’s job to review the assignments brought by the researchers.

“Here are the results. Please review them.”

Yi Soonji, who received the result, began to check it while snorting.

“Let’s see. Hmmm… Hmm? Uh? This calculation is wrong.”

“Eh? Where?”

“Here, this part. You got such an easy thing wrong… Were you thinking of the courtesan at your regular brothel while calculating?”

“Uh…”

From then on, Yi Soonji’s biting remarks began to pour out to the researchers.

“Hehe… You got such an easy thing wrong… You need to take industry-academia classes again.”

“Oh my… Isn’t this the most basic addition? If you get the addition wrong, use the formula, use the formula!”

“You used a formula for this? Do you have leftover paper?”

“You got this wrong? You should do the calculation by counting your fingers and toes! What’s the point if you get the most basic one-digit addition and subtraction wrong!”

“What’s that thing on your neck, something you wear because you feel empty without it, or something you wear to think?”

“Is your skull three times thicker than others? If not… You could solve it with the same size brain as others… It’s impossible to get this easy thing wrong! Unless your brain is much smaller than others, it’s an impossible problem to get wrong!”

“Do you use your power well at night? With your work like this, promotion is out of the question, you have to use your power well at night to avoid poverty, don’t you?“

“……”

“Ahhh!”

“Ah, that freak!”

The researchers who were shaken down by Yi Soonji had to vent their frustration as soon as they left the palace gate after being dismissed.

The notoriety of Yi Soonji even reached the ears of higher-ups like Jeong Inji and Jeong-cho.

“It seems this official is quite tough in his work.”

Jeong-cho’s words were immediately answered by Jeong Inji.

“Yes, he is. But it’s also true that the products are turning out better as a result.”

“Sometimes it’s necessary to be tough to handle subordinates, let’s leave it for now.”

Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji nodded at the suggestion of Lee Cheon, who was listening to the conversation.

“Right.”

In fact, the three of them didn’t say it out loud, but they all had similar thoughts.

‘It might be harsh, but this officer might get along well with His Majesty or the Crown Prince. Neither of them has a good temperament.’

The truth is, the three of them also couldn’t hear any good words about their temperaments from their subordinates. Rather, they were all talking behind Yi Soonji’s back, who was trusted by Jeong Inji and Jeong-cho.

“Birds of a feather flock together!”

“Do one needs to have a bad temperament to receive a high rank?”

1. Basic aptitude test[↩]

2. A saying that its too much or exaggerated or going overboard[↩]

3. Individuals with the title of 2nd class or Jaheondaebu can be appointed as Governors or heads of the six ministries[↩]

4. In today’s words would be unpaid interns[↩]

5. non-salaried officials[↩]

6. The social status of people during Joseon’s time is divided into four classes (from highest to lowest}: scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants[↩]

Chapter 71
People (4)

Yi Soonji, along with the new and existing researchers, were grappling with the tasks assigned by Hyang.

While the increase in personnel made some tasks easier to complete, there were quite a few that did not benefit from the extra hands. Among the remaining challenges, the most outstanding of all was the calibration of the calendar system.

[Late at night…]

“Hmm… I don’t understand…”

Yi Soonji, with a book filled with formulas spread out in front of him, crinkled his forehead. His current concern was that the formula for calibrating the calendar system had too many variables.

“On leap years… leap months, leap days, and the solstices…”

He could simply add a leap month according to the existing tradition, and adjust the solstices as taken from Chinese calendars, but then, there would be no point in revising the calendar system now.

“No, if I adjust the formula based on the data I’ve researched, the accuracy would surely increase. But… Ugh~”

Yi Soonji stretched and continued his soliloquy with a groan.

“Every year I’d have to calibrate it, and every two or three years I’d have to recalibrate the calibration… This doesn’t make sense. The teachings of the sages, as well as Buddha’s, were definitely simple (than this).”

As far as Yi Soonji is concerned, even the teachings of the sages and Buddha were simple indeed.

As a result, Yi Soonji had the following principles.

‘Truth should be simple and concise!’

According to his newly gained principle, the formula that he was creating (now) was a complete mess. It needed to be calibrated every year, and every two or three years, a leap month had to be added. Moreover, the two and three years were variables. In other words, it meant that there was an absurd situation where repeated calibrations were needed.

Yi Soonji kept pondering this unsolved problem, even delaying his departure from the office. He moved the tea cups that were next to him, mumbling.

“This is the earth… the sun, moon, stars revolve around this earth, creating day and night…”

Placing a teapot in the middle and spinning the teacups around it, Yi Soonji suddenly stopped.

“Wait! What if the center of this rotation isn’t this earth we’re living on?”

Yi Soonji began to calculate, drawing imaginary orbits with his own finger. After waving his hands around and muttering like a madman, Yi Soonji came to a conclusion.

“If the center of the rotation is the sun, then the formula works! I just need to place the sun at the center!”

He then grabbed the empty papers stacked on one side and started writing down the formula quickly. As if enlightened by a deity, Yi Soonji wrote the formula frantically, then at one moment, he put down his pen and clenched his fist.

“Finally! There are no more variables for variables! Hahaha! Uwaa!”

Yi Soonji burst out laughing as if he had gone crazy, and let out a triumphant shout. A sensation stronger than when he had his first rain and sunshine^1 combined was flooding his entire body.

He stood up, opened the window, and shouted, “The center of the world is not this earth! This earth is just a dependent variable!”

* * *

Having found the solution through an overnight epiphany, Yi Soonji dedicated himself to organizing the formulas he discovered. Forgoing his departure was a given, and he even skipped meals occasionally, so rumors began to circulate among the researchers.

“The weirdo’s gone crazy!”

Upon hearing the rumor, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji, who came to check the situation, were left open-mouthed at the sight of the papers stacked next to Yi Soonji.

“What’s this…”

While scanning the shocking sight before them, they soon began to scrutinize the contents written on the papers.

“Hmm… Huh?”

“Wait, what?”

As Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji, who both had expertise in arithmetic, recognized the value of the formulas that Yi Soonji was working on. With a tense expression, Jeong-cho turned to Jeong Inji.

“I’m going to report this directly to His Highness, you stay here and keep an eye on him.”

“Understood, sir.”

Not much time passed before Hyang, who rushed from the Area 51 after receiving the urgent news, examined the papers in question.

Hyang’s face crumpled in seriousness as he looked over the contents of the papers.

‘Damn it! This level is even too much for me!’

Others didn’t know, but in the 21st century, Hyang had chosen arts due to math. His most confident approach was a traditional one, where he tackled problems head on. While he couldn’t understand it fully, he grasped the general concept and ordered Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji.

“Summon the physician right away!”

“Understood!”

“Also, until this friend finishes his work and formally report to my royal Father, keep this matter confidential.”

“We receive the command!”

“And… it seems like I’ve won the debate, hasn’t it?”

“Urgh…”

At Hyang’s question, Jeong Cho and Jeong Inji groaned.

* * *

There had been disputes among Hyang, Jeong Cho, and Jeong Inji as the institute was established and modifications to the calendar system were underway.

The subjects of debate were ‘The Earth is round.’, and ‘The Earth revolves around the Sun.’.

Observations of celestial bodies were essential for revising the calendar system, and in the process, these conceptual conflicts arose.

The ‘The Earth is round.’ argument was easily won by Hyang.

This was thanks to the observation report stating ‘The horizon seen from the high mountains and sea draws a circle.’ and the help of the Hui people.

However, the heliocentric theory had a quite long debate, as for Hyang, who only had a shallow understanding through entrance exam education, perfect refutation was impossible.

Moreover, as this debate ended in a stalemate, the study hall of the institute did not have a celestial globe in place.

‘Ah! The damage of my entrance exam education that only knows Galileo, Copernicus, and annual parallax!’

Hyang, who could not win the argument because he only knew the names but not the contents, shouted at the harm of his previous entrance exam education while looking up at the sky.

* * *

A month later, Hyang held a presentation about ‘calendar system correction’ with Sejong and the ministers.

The presenter was Yi Soonji. To relieve tension, Yi Soonji, who even took Cheongsimhwan (a calming pill), proceeded with the presentation calmly.

“…That’s all.”

When Yi Soonji ended the presentation, Sejong, who had been concentrating on the presentation until the end, praised Yi Soonji.

“You’ve worked hard. It was a truly great theory. Crown prince, what do you think of this offficail’s theory?”

“I compared it with previous calendars and records of solar and lunar eclipses, and there were no discrepancies.”

“Then, shall we say we’ve finally created our own calendar system?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang corrected the term.

“It’s a correction method. Father.”

“Right, it’s ‘correction method’.”

Sejong, who had been nodding with a bitter face, looked back at the ministers.

“What do you guys think?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui responded as the ministers’ representative.

“I think the correction of the calendar system should be applied and used immediately. However, the problem arises when we make it into a book and use it for education. The book will inevitably be released to the outside, and that may cause issues. We need to remove a few sentences.”

“Remove sentences?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui responded, “‘The world is spherical’ and ‘the world revolves around the sun.’ These notions might cause problems with the Ming dynasty if mishandled.”

“Hmm… I see.”

King Sejong nodded to Hwang Hui’s caution.

The prevailing worldview so far had been ‘The world is flat. And the center of the world is the ‘Ming’’

However, the theory emerging from the research institute now was contradicting this. Removing such statements did not sit well with King Sejong’s palate. Of course, with the Ming being a superior nation and due to the difference in national power, they needed to be mindful of the Ming’s mood, but he didn’t like the idea of compromising his pride.

“Is there no other way?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui replied again, “We need to emphasize that these are just simple truths of nature.”

“Simple truths of nature? Hmm… I see.”

As Sejong nodded, Hwang Hui added, “To make this claim, we need solid evidence to back it up. The evidence provided by the research institute currently is insufficient.”

“I see. Inform the crown prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you know what you need to do?”

“Yes, I will gather more evidence to solidify the theory.”

“Good. Then, what should the Ministry of Rites do?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Jik stepped forward to answer. “We need to make them understand that these are just simple truths of nature, not straying from the rites of the four cardinal directions.”

“You’re well aware. Minister of Rites, your responsibility is grave.”

At Sejong’s words, the Minister of Rites, bowed his head and answered, “I will receive and carry out the royal command with utmost devotion!”

“Then, let’s wrap it up here.”

As Sejong announced the end of the meeting, the ministers brushed off their seats and left the room.

“Sigh~.”

“My lord, you’ve worked hard.”

“My lord, you have a long road of hardships ahead.”

As the other ministers who came out with him said a word or two, Hwang Hui burst out.

“Gosh! Why is the crown prince doing such unnecessary…”

“My lord!”

The Minister of Rites, who was about to say something about the crown prince and the research institute, immediately shut his mouth at Hwang Hui’s sharp reproach.

“Unnecessary? Do you really think that?”

“Well, so far, just enough…”

“You’re so frustrating! You’ve forgotten about the people who suffered because we couldn’t follow the seasons properly because of that ‘just enough’? And yet you’re a minister!”

“I apologize.”

At Hwang Hui’s criticism, the Minister of Rites had to bow his head.

In Joseon, where agriculture was everything to the economy, following the seasons was extremely important. If they didn’t follow the seasons properly, the people’s complaints were all directed at the king, and the king had to answer by disciplining the relevant parties.

“I know the burden on you and the Ministry of Rites has increased! But it’s your duty to solve it! How can you only look for what’s convenient for you! If you want to live comfortably, submit your resignation and go! I’m sick of being criticized as a minister! Sick of it!”

Hwang Hui was sincere in his last sentence.

Therefore, to avoid a clash with the Ming dynasty, the problematic sentences were removed from the books distributed at the Astronomy department, and the original copy was treated as top-secret and stored in a safe.

* * *

Ever since His Majesty’s announcement, the ministers have changed significantly.

No, they had no choice but to change.

They had to adapt to Sejong’s rebukes that sprang up whenever a task was even slightly unsatisfactory.

At the forefront of these changing ministers were the government officials. The first to take the brunt of criticism when the work of the six ministries or those under them was inadequate were the officials.

Thanks to this, the disposition of the officials also became rather harsh.

Not only Lee Jik and Hwang Hui, but even Maeng Saseong, known for his amiability, would regularly spit venom when the work was inadequate.

“Ah! After becoming an official, people change! He’s turned into a real nasty nobleman!”

Looking at the three grumpy people, the common assessment was made.

However, the ministers had something to say too.

“Then do your job well!”

“Why should I get scolded by your excellency? Am I a scapegoat?”

“If you don’t want to be scolded, don’t do anything scold-worthy!”

“If you’re unfairly treated, file a complaint or resignation letter! Submit your resignation!”

Thus, being pressured for change, the ministers became quicker in their work.

A prime example was when they returned after inspecting Area 51.

Noticing that Sejong wanted mass production, Hwang Hui told Minister of Taxation in advance, so he could prepare the records regarding iron production and present them to Sejong.

Such changes meant the ministers heard less of what they least wanted to hear.

“It’s not as good as I’ve heard…”

These were the words.

* * *

Hwang Hui and the ministers were recently troubled by one issue.

The issue they pondered was ‘iron supply.’

With the decision to mass produce the armored gun and the b0mb, the government needed a large amount of iron, especially cast iron.

During the Goryeo era and the early Joseon era, the iron distribution center was in place where the people directly received iron, but due to severe opposition from farmers, the system had to be changed.

The iron mining assembly system was chosen as an alternative to iron distribution center, where an iron mill was created near the iron mines, and farmers were mobilized during the farming off-season to produce iron.

However, this center had its problems too as it involved forced labor from the farmers, leading to their resistance and a decrease in motivation.

In the end, Sejong’s answer was simple.

“We buy those that satisfy the set standards and quality!”

However, the officials and ministers in charge of practical affairs had headaches.

“There’s no budget! No budget!”

Eventually, the ministers, unable to find a good answer even after putting their heads together, informed Sejong of the issue.

“Your Majesty, there is an issue in implementing the solution you proposed.”

“Issue? Hmm… Is it about the budget?”

“That is correct.”

At the ministers’ reply, Sejong clicked his tongue for the first time in a while.

“Tsk!”

But this time, the ministers had something to say too.

“Your Majesty, we are sourcing from the amount coming in through the assembly iron mill system to solve the budget issue, but there is a portion we must use. After deducting this amount, there is not much left.”

“Your Majesty, the budget is the issue when it comes to purchasing the deficit even after such sourcing.”

“Your Majesty, to solve this budget issue, we need to resolve the taxation issue, but the preparations are insufficient.”

“Taxes aren’t the only issue. When we buy iron, we have to pay for it. There are limits to the grains and cotton fabrics that can be used as payment. To solve this, we must implement currency usage, but again, the preparations are…”

“Oh dear…”

At the ministers’ responses, Sejong also felt frustrated. He wanted to enthusiastically carry out the tasks, but the lack of capacity in Joseon was holding him back.

“Let’s think a bit more.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After sending the ministers out, Sejong sighed.

“Hoo… What kind of a country is this… It’s not even all it’s cracked up to be…”

Hearing the rumor, Hyang clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! It’s so hard to build up…”

Hyang started writing on a blank piece of paper.

“A state-owned enterprise would be the best, right? Ironworks! How nice would that be?”

* * *

Sejong, who received the report suggesting, ‘Let’s create a state-owned enterprise to handle iron supply,’ immediately slapped his knee.

“That’s right!”

However, the ministers who read Hyang’s report shook their heads.

“How could the state engage in commerce…”

“Even if it’s a state-owned enterprise, it will pursue profits. How can the government pursue profits?”

“Tsk!”

At the ministers’ responses, Sejong clicked his tongue.

As soon as Sejong clicked his tongue, the ministers tensely reconsidered their words.

“Do you only think short-term? Does the government only benefit if it produces iron? Isn’t it the case that not all regions in Joseon produce iron? In regions where iron is produced, the price is low, and in other regions, it’s high, causing the people to struggle. Don’t you think that if the government produces iron, it can solve these difficulties? Can’t you see it can also solve the trade deficit problem?”

“Ah…”

“Please think before you speak, a bit!”

The ministers were lost for words at Sejong’s scolding.

1. Just a saying of having great luck or fortune[↩]

Chapter 72
People (5)

As the reform progressed, the craftsman community of Joseon, especially the blacksmiths, were suffering a lot.

The reason behind their suffering was a chain reaction that started from the military arsenal.

As a large number of craftsmen from the military arsenal relocated to the research institute and Area 51, it became apparent that there was a shortage of craftsmen at the military arsenal itself.

“Select skilled craftsmen from the land provincial forces, naval forces, and the garrison forces throughout Joseon and bring them to Hanyang. Examine the skills of these craftsmen who have arrived and fill the vacancies in the military arsenal.”

“We accept your command.”

Following King Sejong’s orders, there was an uproar at military camps across the country.

Craftsmen who known for their skills, who had been making swords and archery equipment at the military arsenal, came to Hanyang.

King Sejong also attended the screening of these craftsmen who would work in the military arsenal.

King Sejong’s greed for talent shone here as well, as he chose about 30% more than the quota of the military arsenal.

“After satisfying the quota of the military arsenal, send the rest to Area 51.”

“…We accept your command!”

Overjoyed by the unexpected gift, Hyang immediately paid his respects to King Sejong.

“Your grace is immeasurable, Father!”

Following this event, It was inevitable that a chain reaction would occur in such a situation.

“If they take away the craftsmen who make swords, what are we supposed to do?”

“It’s bad enough when someone picks only the meat from the feast, but when they take people like this…”

The military, depriving of their best skilled craftsmen, had to scout for renowned craftsmen from the civilians and bring them into military.

If there was a silver lining from all this chaos, it was that the perception of craftsmen changed slightly for the better.

Both officials and civilians began to value skilled craftsmen, and their treatment improved.

It was a butterfly effect created by King Sejong and Hyang, who was greedy for people’s talent.

* * *

As soon as the decision was made to establish a state-owned enterprise that would be in charge of iron production, Hyang and the ministers exchanged opinions about preparations for it.

To be precise, Hyang forced his way into the ministers’ discussion.

“Even without this, you have many responsibilities. You don’t have to get involved in this…”

“Considering the volume needed for the research institute and Area 51, this is absolutely necessary.”

Hyang took a place in the discussion, unfazed by Hwang Hui, who was trying to avoid a situation akin to, ‘a sister-in-law who was more mischievous than her mother-in-law.’

“Since we’re doing it in Area 51, I’ll take care of the evaluation!”

“There’s no need to go that far…”

“This is a great undertaking of the state! As the crown prince, I should step forward!”

“…Very well.”

Hyang, who had announced that he would be in charge of the evaluation, persuaded King Sejong and obtained permission.

“Will it be okay?”

In response to the worried question of the ministers, Hwang Hui answered with a nonchalant expression.

“Isn’t it good for us? We already have plenty of tasks to do.”

* * *

The first selection criteria for iron-related craftsmen was proposed by Hyang.

– Regions where the proportion of crude iron^1is high in the total tribute.

Instead of places with an absolute large quantity regardless of crude iron or wrought iron, they set the standard for places that relatively produced a lot of crude iron, and quite a few regions fell away.

Through this first evaluation, one place was selected from Chungcheong Province, and Gyeongju and Hapcheon were selected from Gyeongsang Province. Although there were other places with a large production volume of iron fields, only these three places had a higher proportion of crude iron to wrought iron.

Once the first candidates were decided, horse riders carrying the royal edict sped off.

“Royal edict!”

At the cry that the royal edict had come down from Hanyang, the local officials neatly arranged their official robes, bowed deeply towards Hanyang, and politely received the royal edict.

Upon opening the seal and checking the content of the edict, the local officials sighed.

“Huh~, another task.”

* * *

Following the royal edict, people selected from the three iron fields came to Hanyang.

“We need a place to test their skills.”

At Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong looked at Hyang. At his silent command, Hyang immediately gave an answer.

“I will prepare a place in Area 51.”

“Very well.”

So the place for these craftsmen to compete their skills was decided, but a problem arose among them.

“The craftsmen refuse to forge in the same place.”

At the report from the head of the blacksmith, Hyang frowned and asked the reason, “What is the reason?”

“Extracting iron is a secret technique among secret techniques, and they say it cannot be shown to competitors.”

“How frustrating…”

Facing the awkward situation, Hyang looked around at his advisors. Among them, Hwang Hui, who had a similar expression, opened his mouth.

“Why not just force them?”

At Hwang Hui’s suggestion, the Master Blacksmith shook his head.

“Then they will simply storm out.”

“Even though this is a national affair?”

“They are all rough and proud because of the dangerous work they’ve done. They would rather get beheaded than do it by force.”

“Goodness… tsk!”

At the Master Blacksmith’s answer, Hyang studied the map of the Area 51.

“How much space is needed to build a steel foundry? Here and here, and here in the empty lots, if we make room, they wouldn’t overlap each other, would they?”

“Just a moment!”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, the Master Blacksmith, who was studying the map, immediately went out to take actual measurements.

After going around the lot and taking actual measurements, the Master Blacksmith returned and reported to Hyang.

“It seems possible.”

“Then, talk to the iron craftsmen.”

All the craftsmen accepted Hyang’s proposal right away.

Through a lottery, the craftsmen determined their spots and led their people to establish their territories in the designated areas.

Watching from one side of the laboratory as the leader of each blacksmiths group and their followers settled in, Hyang looked back at the Master Blacksmith.

“There are quite a few people joining us, aren’t there?”

“With the iron forgers, iron moulders, fire-blowers, assistants, charcoal burners and charcoal carriers included, it’s quite a crowd.”

“Is that so?”

Upon hearing Master Blacksmith’s response, Hyang nodded enthusiastically, visibly excited.

“This will be fun when the real competition begins.”

“Will you continue to observe?”

“When else will I see such a spectacle?”

“…I suppose so.”

Hyang was excited.

Although he had seen the process of making iron from small furnaces when he was taught by a traditional swordsmith in the 21st century, he had never witnessed such a full-scale iron-making process.

Upon deciding on the venue, Hyang gathered the craftsmen together.

“The venue is prepared, and the materials you all said you needed are also ready. Let’s check if anything is missing.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the craftsmen headed to where the prepared materials were.

The first thing the craftsmen checked was the most important materials: iron ore and charcoal for fuel.

And then, came the first test process Hyang had prepared.

“Huh?”

When the craftsmen went to where the iron ore was stacked, they all looked perplexed and turned to look at Hyang.

“Your Highness, is the crude iron we should extract is from stone iron?”

In response to the question asked in a unique dialect, Hyang nodded.

“Most of it is stone iron. I found a good source of iron ore recently. Why, can’t you do it?”

“It’s a bit troublesome, but it’s not impossible.”

“Right.”

“Well, it’s not impossible.”

At the craftsmen’ response, Hyang muttered to his inner officer standing behind him.

“Everyone gets one point.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang, who was evaluating the craftsmen, soon widened his eyes in surprise. The craftsmen were showing him an action that he had not anticipated.

The craftsmen randomly picked out iron ores from the pile here and there, took out a hammer from the basket they were carrying, and crushed the iron ores.

Once they produced a proper amount of iron ore powder, the craftsmen took out iron spikes and lamps from the basket.

The craftsmen sucked the iron spike once to moisten it, then stuck the iron ore powder on it.

The craftsmen, who had a proper amount of iron ore powder stuck on the iron spike, lit the lamp and put the iron spike into the flame.

As the color of the flame changed with the insertion of the iron spike, the craftsmen all murmured.

“This one… has a lot of sulfur?”

Hyang was intrigued at this point.

‘They knew about the flame reaction!’

Having confirmed the status of the most important raw material, iron, the craftsmen moved to a pile of yellow soil. Without exception, the craftsmen tasted the yellow soil with their fingers and slightly shook their heads.

“What’s the problem?”

“This iron stone is mixed with a lot of sulfur. If we want to make good iron, we need to get rid of the sulfur, but it’s a bit hard with the energy this soil has.”

“Right!”

“The soil is a bit poor.”

At the response of the craftsmen, Hyang quickly summarized the situation.

“Then, you guys find the appropriate soil.”

“And, I don’t see any lime.”

“I’ve prepared it.”

In this continued sorting process, this time the craftsmen found themselves in a predicament.

“What’s this stone?”

“It’s coal. You use it instead of charcoal. Master Blacksmith.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, Master Blacksmith stepped forward and explained about coal to the craftsmen.

After the miners found coal, the first place to use it was the artisans working in the Area 51.

Therefore, Master Blacksmith, who had the most experience with coal, stepped forward.

Whether the explanation of a person from the same industry worked or not, the craftsmen soon nodded their heads.

“Coal… it looks fun?”

“They said it has more firepower than charcoal, right? Hmm… how should we adjust the ratio?”

“And sulfur is mixed in… we need more yellow soil and lime…”

“Can’t you do it?”

At Hyang’s question, all the craftsmen shook their heads.

“Then, as soon as you prepare the materials, you start making the furnace. Since Gyeongju’s kiln takes the longest time, we will start the competition as soon as Gyeongju’s is completed.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

That day, when Hyang returned to Eastern Palace, he scratched his head and grumbled nervously.

“They knew about flame reactions… Really! How much did this damn Joseon forget what it had!”

* * *

As the craftsmen began constructing the kiln with the required materials, Hyang meticulously documented the process while conducting the evaluation.

“A square-shaped kiln, eh?”

“Building it this way makes it easier to pile up iron ore and charcoal.”

“This kiln is somewhat high, isn’t it?”

“If it’s high, the quality of the iron improves.”

“Is that so?”

While Hyang engaged in conversation with the craftsmen, the officers standing behind him recorded their conversation and added or subtracted points based on Hyang’s signals.

During the kiln-making process, what caught Hyang’s attention was Gyeongju’s team.

In contrast to other places that mainly used clay to construct clay kilns, Gyeongju was primarily using stones to build their kiln.

“Making it out of stones, what’s the advantage? Is it good at withstanding heat?”

“Stone alone cannot withstand the heat. We have to cover it with clay. However, if we do it this way, there’s no need to rebuild it every time, is there?”

“Is that so?”

Upon hearing the response, Hyang made a small hand gesture.

According to Hyang’s signal, the officer recorded the score on the table.

“Gyeongju bonus points: 2.”

Once the kiln was constructed, the craftsmen began the process of extracting iron.

There were some trials and errors while using coal instead of charcoal, but Hyang didn’t consider it a problem.

“This is a process we must experience, so I won’t consider it a problem!”

After a brief period of trial and error, the craftsmen began the process of extracting iron in earnest.

The competition had begun.

* * *

Excluding the time spent making the kiln, the winner of the two-week-long competition was the craftsmen of Gyeongju.

Hyang explained to King Sejong why Gyeongju had emerged victorious.

“First and foremost, Gyeongju used stones to build a stone-structure kiln. While it’s not that other craftsmen did not use stones, clay was primary in their cases. In contrast, stone was primary and clay secondary in Gyeongju’s kiln. This allowed…”

“So, they can continuously use the kiln, right?”

“Yes, indeed. Secondly, there’s the matter of manpower involved in the production of refined iron. Other kilns took crude iron out of the kiln, heated it again in the kiln, and then the laborers hammered it to create wrought iron.”

“So, it requires a lot of manpower.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“And how about Gyeongju? Did they use a different method?”

“Gyeongju melted the produced crude iron again after mixing it with selected scrap iron.”

“Melt it again? Isn’t that a waste of effort?”

“It wasn’t a wasted effort. When the iron mixture that was melted again was cooled, it was mostly wrought iron, and there was a substantial amount of steel.”

“Ah~. How ingenious!”

Upon hearing King Sejong’s evaluation, Hyang nodded.

Unknown to Hyang, the double-melting process used by Gyeongju was similar to the Bessemer process, undergoing a similar transformation process. This method dramatically reduces the amount of carbon mixed in the iron during the double-melting process, similar in a basic sense to the 20th-century ironmaking method. (Note 1)

* * *

The craftsmen of Gyeongju, who became the ultimate winner through the competition, were summoned to a place where King Sejong and all the ministers were present.

Summoned to a gathering where all the illustrious ministers, known throughout the kingdom, were present, the craftsmen was trembling and prostrating himself, only drawing breaths.

“Fellow craftsmen, be at ease.”

At King Sejong’s command, the craftsmen replied in a voice loud enough to burst his throat.

“Yo-yo-your highness, I am deeply honored!”

“Calm down, calm down… I have a question for you. We are planning to open the biggest ironwork in the country. Would you be willing to take on this task?”

“If-if-if-if you command, I will dedicate my life to it!”

At the craftsmen’s response, King Sejong smiled.

“You don’t have to stake your life… A large iron mine has been discovered in Pyeongan-do. Coal was also found in Pyeongan-do. But there’s some distance between the two places. Where do you think would be the best place to build the ironworks?”

As the question shifted to his area of expertise, the craftsman found his tension eased somewhat.

In response to Sejong’s question, the craftsman asked him.

“This servant doesn’t know the geography well, only a countryman who knows nothing but Gyeongju. How far apart are these two places?”

“It’s 100 li. The fortunate thing is that there’s a river, so we can utilize water transportation.”

Upon hearing Sejong’s answer, the craftsman organized his thoughts before replying.

“When forging iron, stone iron and charcoal are important, but the most important thing is clay. If the clay is good, the iron comes out well. This time, I saw that not only the stone iron but also the coal is heavily mixed with sulfur. To capture this sulfur, we need a lot of good clay and lime.”

“So what?”

“We need to go and see for ourselves. Even if there’s a struggle to carry the stone iron and coal, we need to go to a place with good clay. The most important thing is clay.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is!”

Taken aback by the craftsman’s firm answer, Sejong fell into deep thought. After a long period of silent contemplation, Sejong made his decision.

“Very well! I will confer upon you the position of a Master! You will go, assess the situation, and find the optimal location to establish a foundry!”

“Y-yes, I will obey your command!”

“What is your name?”

“I don’t have a surname, my name is just Deok-su.”

“I will grant you the surname Kim! As Kim signifies ‘metal,’ I hope that your descendants will continue your profession!”

“Your generosity is overwhelming!”

Having been granted a surname in addition to his position, the craftsman wept as he left the room.

As soon as craftsman left, Hwang Hui and the ministers all looked at Sejong together.

“Why? Are you dissatisfied that I gave a mere foundry worker the rank of a fifth-grade official?”

“We are not questioning your judgment, Your Majesty, but is the rank not too high?”

“Among you ministers, is there anyone who knows how to make iron?”

“…No, there isn’t.”

“And yet you look down on a mere foundry worker?”

“…We apologize.”

“It’s been said over and over again that one shouldn’t apologize unless absolutely necessary.”

“We apologize.”

“Tsk!”

Like in the days of Jang Yeong-sil, granting an official position to someone in a low-status profession would have caused a great uproar, but such incidents were becoming less common.

Because what’s difficult the first time isn’t so difficult the second time.

And because it was now known that this was just in Sejong’s character, it was guaranteed that such words would be uttered.

“Why don’t you ministers try to make iron?”

* * *

Ten days after Deok-su was granted a surname and left, officials dressed in court and military uniforms gathered at Deok-su’s house in Gyeongju.

“His Majesty’s command!”

“What? What did you just say?”

Deok-su’s family, who were working in the house and the adjacent foundry, were thrown into confusion.

“All family members of Kim Deok-su, come out and receive His Majesty’s command!”

“Kim Deok-su? Your father’s name is Deok-su, but Kim?”

“Is that the problem right now? It’s His Majesty’s command!”

Quickly rushing out, Deok-su’s family members all knelt in the yard.

The official standing before Deok-su’s family unrolled a scroll and read it out loud.

“Craftsman Deok-su of Gyeongju foundry is bestowed with the rank of an Iron Master, a fifth-grade official! Also, the surname ‘Kim’ is granted to Deok-su!”

The official who read for a while afterwards asked a question while rolling up the scroll.

“Who is the eldest son of Master Kim?”

In response to his question, a sturdy young man emerged from the foundry.

“It’s me.”

“Congratulations.”

The official congratulated the young man and handed over the scroll with the command written on it, along with various other documents about the bestowed rank and rewards.

“Where is my father?”

“Master Kim left for Hwanghae-do as soon as he received the command.”

That day, Deok-su’s family used all their assets to throw a feast.

And the miraculous story of Deok-su’s family’s rise in status became a legend in that region.

———

Note1) Research on the Operation Method of Stone-Pile Brother Iron Furnace. Shin Kyung-hwan, Kim Kwon-il, Choi Young-min.

Outdoor Archaeology Issue 22 (2015.03)

1. Its a type of iron that was used during the Joseon Dynasty. It is obtained by refining 숙철 (Sukcheol), which is iron with a low carbon content that can be forged. 정철 was used to make strong and sharp weapons, as well as tools and decorative ironwork[↩]

Chapter 73
People (6)

“Neither less nor more, it would be great if I had exactly two bodies.”

As the year of the Ulsa treaty came around, Hyang frequently started to grumble like this.

Because, as far as Hyang felt, there indeed had been a lot of work. And behind the work becoming this busy, there was Sejong. To be exact, the problem was Sejong’s ‘purchasing habits’.

“The Kingdom of Jin has made its own characters…”

“Mongolia also had its own letters?”

“Try to obtain some characters of Tianzhu (India) while you’re at it.”

“I need some records about Hyangchal (writing)1. I should know where the rules of using Idu (script)2 started.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Every time Sejong requested a purchase, Hyang had to twist and turn to get the books.

“The military system of the Jin Dynasty established by the Jurchen tribe will help us understand the behavior of the Jurchen tribe. Please get related books. Preferably, first obtain the ones recorded in the script of Jin.”

“I want to know about the Northern Yuan, so get me records about Yuan, its predecessor. Since the ones written by the Ming Dynasty can be biased, first get the ones written in Mongolian and also get the explanatory books.”

“Tianzhu had made significant advancements in mathematics. Could you get related books?”

“I need to look at the academic books written by our ancestors. Get them.”

“The book you got last time had a lot of Idu. Can you get some more records on Hyangchal?”

After twisting and turning to get the books, it wasn’t over. While the actual destination was Sejong, the recipient that was made public was Hyang. Therefore, Hyang had to understand the content of the books with a reluctant mindset. Because of the questions sometimes thrown by the elder gingers-like officials.

“Your Highness, you said you got a peculiar book last time? You seem to be interested in foreign books. Can we know what it’s about?”

“Ah, I’m still organizing it. There were many books that came with it.”

“Is that so? Those books cost a lot…”

Hyang instantly caught the hint of them trying to pressure him about the source of funds.

“Haha! That’s why my pocket is always empty. Unlike some people, I have no ties to gifts.”

“Oh, is that the case? Hmm! Hmm!”

Because of such reasons, Hyang had to learn foreign languages in addition to phonetics against his own will.

Hyang’s hardship didn’t end here. He also had to open the library he made for money laundering and reference purposes.

“Are a lot of books missing?”

“His Majesty has taken them.”

“Is that so?”

Listening to the answer of the interior minister, Hyang looked at the empty slots in the library.

‘He should’ve just taken the phonetics books, why the math books… is he laundering money too?’

‘The library in Eastern Palace has a lot of amazing books!’

‘His Majesty even borrows a few books!’

Those attracted by such rumors were the staff of the research institute.

“I would like to see a more advanced academic book…”

“I want to see the original books about city creation that I’m working on for a project…”

Unable to resist their desires, the staff members wrote a formal request and submitted it to Hyang.

“Sigh! Can’t help it! It’s troublesome to write down each one separately. With the amount obtained so far, money laundering should be somewhat done.”

Hyang, who made the decision, immediately requested to build an annex in Eastern Palace.

“Isn’t it okay to just modify and use the rooms in the Eastern Palace as we do now?”

“I need a personal space to live.”

“It’s really convenient to visit now.”

“Your Majesty, if you want to hide a tree, you have to hide it in the forest.”

Upon Hyang’s last words, Sejong accepted the request.

Thanks to a large number of skilled builders gathered, another annex was quickly completed.

As soon as the building was completed, Hyang moved most of the books he had there, except for a few he absolutely had to keep by himself.

“Now… I’ve moved everything, but if there’s a fire, it’s all over?”

Worried about a fire, Hyang immediately took action. He placed buckets full of sand at regular intervals, and dug a small pond outside the annex.

After all the preparations were done, Hyang made a request to Sejong.

“Please bestow it a name.”

“A name…”

After contemplating, Sejong picked up a brush instead of a golden pen and wrote a name on the paper.

‘Jipjiwon (Collective Wisdom Institute)’

“Books contain knowledge. Your library has not only our Joseon books, but also books from faraway Western countries. Isn’t it a place where all the world’s knowledge gathers? The name Jipjiwon suits best.”

“Thank you very much!”

With Sejong’s handwriting on the signboard, Jipjiwon officially started its activities. The main business of Jipjiwon was book management and lending.

There was a hierarchy in book lending: Hyang and Sejong, who were the owners of the books, had no deadline; the royal family had a maximum of ten days; the staff of the research institute had five days, and the staff of other departments had four days.

After returning, they prevented one person from monopolizing the book by prohibiting immediate re-borrowing.

When making rules about lending, what Hyang worried about was ‘the royal family’.

“Would there be royalty who come this far to borrow books? However, one cannot predict the far future, so preparing in advance may not be a bad idea.”

What Jipjiwon sought out the most when he started his activities was Sejong.

“These are books that the prince referred to, so I thought the scholars might want to refer to them as well.”

Saying this, among the books that were being borrowed six at a time, there were always books related to language.

“All the books are in their original language, so there is a need for translation…”

Whenever the officials saw him, Sejong would give this excuse and naturally borrow linguistic books.

* * *

Of course, with Jipjiwon and the research institutes being built around Eastern Palace, people always came and went around Eastern Palace.

This bustling scene drew Yu’s attention.

“Why are there so many people at Eastern Palace?”

Yu, who was just turning eight, was trying to behave more maturely.

In response to Yu’s question, the prince’s tutor simply answered.

“Because His Highness the Crown Prince has a lot of work.”

“My brother?”

Yu, who had been tilting his head, asked the prince’s tutor, “Can I go see what’s going on?”

Considering Yu’s request, the prince’s tutor weighed the possibilities.

‘The prince is very active, and there are many things in the institute that could cause problems if tampered with recklessly… But might he become interested in academics if he gets stimulated there? I need to make him interested in learning, even if it’s not formal learning!’

Having decided, the prince’s tutor answered Yu, “I will ask His Majesty and the Crown Prince.”

Upon hearing the prince’s tutor’s request, Sejong asked him.

“There are many delicate items in the institute that must not be touched recklessly. Won’t Yu touch them?”

This was a question Sejong asked because he knew well that Yu was full of energy.

In response to Sejong’s question, the prince’s tutor answered in a firm voice, “I will personally stay by the prince’s side and supervise him.”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing the prince’s tutor’s words, Sejong stroked his beard and fell into deep thought. After a long time of consideration, Sejong came to a conclusion.

“Alright. Tell the prince to set a date.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

Upon receiving the prince’s tutor’s message, Hyang set a date and responded.

“Your grace is boundless, Your Highness!”

“Immense? Thank you for caring about Yu’s education.”

At Hyang’s praise, the prince’s tutor remembered all his hardships and shed tears.

“Your grace is boundless, Your Highness! Sob, sob!”

“Hey! A grown man shouldn’t be weeping so much! Stop!”

A peculiar situation unfolded where a fresh-faced child was comforting a middle-aged man with a white beard.

* * *

When the promised date came, Yu visited the institute with the prince’s tutor.

“Your Highness, how are you?”

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you too. I’m sorry I’ve been too busy to see you often even though we live in the same palace.”

“No, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s words, Yu hurriedly shook his head.

From Yu’s perspective, Princess Jeonghye and Hyang were the same.

– People who cause others distress when seen often.

This was how Yu felt about Princess Jeonghye and Hyang.

Despite this, Yu couldn’t help but be interested in the equipment rumored to be in the secret area.

Once inside the institute, Yu gaped at the exhibits displayed in the corridor.

“Wow~ Wow~.”

Yu repeatedly exclaimed “Wow~.” as he looked at all the strange equipment.

Especially at the place where models of battleships and battleships were displayed, he couldn’t even take a step, standing there like a statue.

“He’s a child…”

Hyang said a single sentence when he saw Yu, who was lost in sightseeing, and everyone around looked at Hyang with an absurd expression.

‘Then, what are you?’

This was a common thought among everyone present.

* * *

Yu, who was forced to move his feet, arrived in a room that surprised even Sejong.

“Your Highness, what is this room?”

“This is the room with a geographic model of Joseon and a model of a train.”

“Geographic model? Train model? Tutor, what are those?”

At Yu’s question, the prince’s tutor answered with a puzzled expression.

“I… I’m not quite…”

“This is a place that’s supposed to be confidential, so there are many things that people don’t know. Especially since you, Yu, are here, I will show you. Open the door.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the inner officer opened the door of the room. When the sliding door opened, the first thing that entered Yu’s eyes was a huge table in the middle of the room.

Being a young child, Yu couldn’t see what was on the table.

“Bring the stand.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Wow!”

Yu, who climbed onto the platform brought by the inner officials, yelled at the geographical model on the table. It was the most marvelous spectacle he had never seen in his life.

“Is this Joseon?”

“It’s a rough imitation of the land and rivers of Joseon. It’s not accurate.”

‘Wow.’

Looking at Yu, who kept exclaiming in amazement, Hyang grinned slightly.

‘He’s like children who’ve just been to an amusement park.’

With a wide-open mouth, Yu kept spouting words of admiration, which brought a chuckle to Hyang. Seeing the prince, who was also staring in amazement just like Yu, Hyang had to tightly grip his fist to suppress his laughter.

“Your Highness, what is this path?”

Responding to Yu’s question pointing at the railway, Hyang immediately answered, “It’s a path for trains to run on. It’s called a railway.”

“Railway?”

“Inner officials.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the inner officials brought over the model locomotive and passenger car displayed on one side and placed them on the railway. The officials connected the locomotive, passenger car, and freight car, then inserted a lantern filled with alcohol into the locomotive and lit it.

“Just wait a little.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Yu, who had been impatiently waiting for the water to boil, quieted down at Hyang’s words.

Squeak!

As soon as the signal indicating sufficient pressure was heard, Hyang loosened the lever and set the locomotive in motion.

“Ah… Ah!”

Seeing the locomotive move, Yu was left dumbstruck. Just opening his mouth and watching the model locomotive run on the railway, Yu’s breathing began to hasten.

“Haaa~. Haaa~.”

“Yu?”

Seeing Yu’s strange symptoms, Hyang called out to him, but Yu only kept panting and watched the movement of the train in a daze.

Seeing Yu like this, something occurred to Hyang.

‘Could it be! A train fanatic!’

The model locomotive, which was puffing steam and pulling the model passenger and freight cars, made two rounds around the large geographical model and stopped when it ran out of water.

When the locomotive stopped, the inner officials removed the model locomotive and trains from the railway. Yu, who had been watching the model locomotive being safely put back on display, turned to Hyang in a rush.

“Bro, No! Your Highness, Your Highness! Do they actually move like this in reality?”

Just by his address, it was clear that Yu had lost his bearings.

“That was just a demonstration of the theory, the actual thing looks different.”

At Hyang’s gesture, the inner officials brought over the model locomotives on display on one side.

From something that looked similar to Stephenson’s Locomotion to the steam locomotive familiar through movies and dramas, four types of locomotive models had been made under Hyang’s order after Sejong’s visit. However, unlike what Sejong and Yu saw, these models were just models and didn’t move.

Starting from the locomotion, Hyang pointed out each one and explained.

“As industry and technology advance, they’ll progress from this to this.”

“Wow.”

“When these locomotives and trains are complete and the railways are laid, traveling across Joseon will only take a day.”

“Wow!”

Yu’s mouth gaped wider at Hyang’s explanation. While looking at the model locomotives and listening to the explanation, Yu said to Hyang.

“Your Highness! I want to make these locomotives!”

But Hyang shook his head immediately.

“You can’t.”

“Why not!”

“You don’t study, do you?”

At Hyang’s blunt statement, Yu’s face fell. Looking at Yu’s face, Hyang explained in more detail.

“To create this locomotive, not only do we need skilled craftsmen, but also smart scholars. To give a simple example, at our research institute, passing the state exam is basic, and there are also quite a few who have passed the higher state exam. Of course, you may think that classics and industry don’t have much to do with each other. But do you think a guy who doesn’t even properly study Confucian classics because he finds them boring, will do well in industrial studies?”

“Hiii…”

At Hyang’s stern words, Yu began to well up with tears.

“You are a prince. If you get involved in this work, you’ll have to start with a responsible position. Can you receive proper treatment if you’re poor not only in classics but also in industrial studies? Will you then try to get your way by crying, like you’re doing now?”

“No, no I won’t!”

“Confucian classics are both a basic subject that you need to learn and a discipline that harmonizes human relations. If you want to participate in this grand project, start by studying properly!”

“Huhu!”

At Hyang’s stern words, Yu wiped his tears with his sleeve and asked, “Then, if I study hard, can I participate in this?”

“If you have the skills!”

“I will definitely make you satisfied, Your Highness!”

“……”

Looking at Yu’s determined eyes and his fervent declaration, Hyang mumbled in surprise.

‘What, what’s with this scary passion!’

After that, Yu’s behavior changed completely.

He studied Confucian classics with a serious attitude, not to mention his martial arts training, and whenever he had time, he spent it in the room with the train model, reaffirming his determination. Unbeknownst to him, he began to fall into the path of a train fanatic.

“Haaa~. Haaa~. Trains are the best~.”

Of course, he sometimes made such remarks, causing the inner officials to become tense.

With Yu’s transformation, this time, it was Yong that made trouble.

1. Hyangchal is a traditional Korean writing system that uses Chinese characters to represent the Korean language. This writing system is unique because it transcribes the sounds of Korean using Chinese characters, rather than using them for their semantic meaning.[↩]

2. Idu is an archaic writing system that represents the Korean language using hanja.[↩]

Chapter 74
People (7)

When Yong turned three years old, he was registered as the adopted son of the Grand Prince Seongnyeong^1, who later passed away at tender age of fourteen.

From then on, as he grew older, he lived between the palace and Grand Prince Seongnyeong’s house. One day, while on his way to the palace, he saw a performance by the Namdasang troupe^2, which became a turning point in his life.

In the midst of the noise coming from outside, Yong, who was riding in a palanquin, showed curiosity.

“Huh. What’s all this noise?”

In response to Yong’s question, the chamberlain who was accompanying him assessed the situation and answered, “It seems that the Namdasang troupe is putting on a show.”

“Namdasang? Let’s take a look.”

At Yong’s words, the chamberlain attempted to dissuade him with a troubled expression.

“It’s too crude for your viewing, so it would be better if you didn’t.”

“But I want to see!”

When Yong was stubborn, the nursemaid who was also riding in the palanquin with Yong, came forward to help the chamberlain.

“My lord, in a place with so many vulgar things…”

“I said I want to see!”

As Yong’s voice grew louder, the nursemaid sighed and spoke to the chamberlain.

“Let’s stop and watch for a moment.”

“Wow! Wow! They’re so good!”

Yong, who had watched the Namdasang’s performance, clapped continuously in delight.

The acrobatics of the performer, walking a tightrope hung high up, were fascinating, and the tricks of the clown spinning dishes and bowls on a thin stick while exchanging jests were also intriguing.

Thus, after watching three rounds of the Namdasang’s performance – originally there should have been six rounds, but Yong joined in the middle so he only saw three – Yong couldn’t forget the experience.

It seemed like he saw an unattainable freedom in the scene of a child of his own age flying through the sky, performing acrobatics, and dancing.

And above all, it was exciting.

In the end, Yong made up his mind firmly.

“I’m going to be a Namdasang!”

* * *

When Sejong heard that Yong, his third son, had something to say, he called for Yong. Taking a brief break from his official duties, Sejong sipped his tea and threw a question at Yong.

“So, what do you want to say to your father?”

“Father, I want to become a Namdasang!”

“What! You, this child!”

At Yong’s absurd remark, Sejong spit out his tea in anger.

Following this, not only Sejong, but also Queen Soheon and Princess Jeonghye scolded him, but Yong’s stubbornness did not waver.

“No! No! I’m going to be a Namdasang!”

Receiving the chamberlain’s report, Sejong put his hand on his forehead and let out a long sigh.

“I thought things were getting better with Yu, but now Yong… these kids…”

* * *

As the worries of the entire family, including Sejong, deepened, eventually Hyang stepped forward.

Having called Yong and seated him, Hyang asked him quietly.

“Yong, did you say you want to become a Namdasang?”

“Yes!”

“Do you like to dance and sing like a Namdasang, or do you like to watch their performances?”

“Um…”

Unable to respond immediately to Hyang’s question, Yong tilted his head in thought. Seeing Yong struggling to discern what he truly liked, Hyang asked another question.

“If you become a Namdasang, you won’t be able to eat your favorite medicine or candy properly, would you still want to be a Namdasang?”

“I don’t want that…”

“You don’t want that, but you like to watch the Namdasang’s performances, right?”

“Yes!”

“Then it’s simple. You can grow up to be a great person and invite the Namdasang to perform for you, right? If your name becomes prominent, you could even invite all the Namdasang troupes in the country to perform, couldn’t you?”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Yong’s mouth opened wide as he imagined the scenario in his head. Then Hyang poured cold water on his joyful imagination.

“But here’s the thing. From what I can see, you don’t seem like you can grow up to be a great person.”

“Why not!”

“Look at you now. You’re causing your father, mother, and sister to worry by throwing a tantrum about becoming a Namdasang, how can you become a great person?”

“I will become a great person!”

At Yong’s outcry, Hyang shook his head.

“That’s difficult. No, it’s impossible. You don’t listen, you don’t study. It definitely won’t work.”

“I can if I try! I can!”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“You promise!”

“I promise!”

At Yong’s firm response, Hyang smiled.

“Good, then I’ll also make a promise. If you learn properly from the prince tutor, I’ll personally arrange for you to see a Namdasang performance! And if you grow up to be a great person, I’ll invite all the Namdasang troupes from across the country to perform for you!”

“You promise!”

“It’s a promise!”

At Hyang’s words, Yong walked a similar path to Yoo. When Sejong received a report that said ‘Hyang had set Yong straight’, he was overjoyed.

“Hahaha! As expected of the crown prince! As expected of the eldest son!”

As Sejong rejoiced, the court officials also joined in.

“Truly, they are the good fortune of our Joseon!”

“Indeed!”

Meanwhile, Hyang, thinking of his two brothers in his room, shook his head vehemently.

“One is a fanatic and the other is an otaku… How could they have fallen into hobbies that are known to be difficult to recover from, even with all the treatments… At least I succeeded in making them study, I should thank my teachers for that.”

The teachers Hyang mentioned were those who taught him when he was a high school student in the 21st century. The teachers who knew about Hyang’s notorious fanaticism habits advised him as follows:

“If you don’t want to be criticized as an otaku, be successful! Become a talented or successful fanatic, then you won’t be called a ‘damned otaku,’ but a ‘enthusiast with a maniac hobby’!”

“Even if you like drinking, if you empty a soju glass while dragging your slippers and slurring, you’re seen as an alcoholic, but if you sip premium whiskey at a hotel bar in an upscale suit, you’re evaluated as enjoying a drink! Isn’t it disgusting? That’s how the world is.”

Hyang, ruminating on his past memories, scratched his head.

“Anyway, whether it’s me or those guys… If such otakus keep coming out, I wonder if there would be a ‘Jeonju Yi clan Otaku faction’ or something?”

Even though a small storm was brewing over the issue of the princes’ education, many court officials didn’t care much.

“We should spend the time caring about work rather than that, which is more beneficial!”

They were the officials for whom the princes’ future paths were a story of another world, when they saw the books and scrolls piling up no matter how hard they worked.

And the biggest reason they didn’t care was because Hyang, who had an extremely strong presence, was holding out as the sole heir.

“Why would we need to worry when the Crown Prince is holding out well?”

* * *

However, there were those who were having headaches over questions that did not get resolved amidst all this.

Hassan, having joined as a 9th-rank official via the industrial-academic training course, was now an 8th-rank industrial-academic instructor. In addition, he also held the position of a research staff member at the research institute.

“Senior Hassan, why do you look so troubled lately? Is there a problem at home?”

A research institute colleague who found Hassan with an unhappy expression asked him. Since Hassan’s younger brother was also working as an industrial-academic instructor and a research staff member, the research institute officials were distinguishing between them by calling them ‘Senior Hassan and Junior Hassan.’

The catch was that his younger brother was actually physically larger.

When asked by his colleague, Hassan muttered with a downcast head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“You look like you have a big crisis at home?”

“Well, there’s a problem that I can’t quite resolve…”

At Hassan’s reply, his colleague sympathetically responded.

“If there’s a problem you can’t solve, you should ask that oddball! Why are you torturing yourself alone? Go ask right away!”

“Yes, yes…”

To Hassan’s lukewarm reply, his colleague stepped in.

“Hey! Is there a problem between you and your wife? Let’s go together!”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Come on! Follow me!”

The meddling colleague ended up dragging Hassan to find Soonji.

“What can I do for you?”

When Soonji asked, Hassan hesitated.

“Well, it’s just that…”

“Speak up quickly. Isn’t time passing? It’s precious time.”

Pressured by Soonji, Hassan steeled himself and opened his mouth.

“I have a problem that I just can’t solve.”

At Hassan’s words, Soonji’s eyes started to sparkle.

“A problem you can’t solve? Oh? A mystery that even the great Hassan can’t solve… This is intriguing. So, what’s the problem?”

“Who on earth are these Western Barbarians that His Highness the Crown Prince speaks of?”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

Both Soonji and his colleague blinked their eyes at Hassan’s question, which was far from what they expected.

“I don’t understand… why all of a sudden Western Barbarians?”

At Soonji’s question about the reason, Hassan added more, “As much as it sounds like self-praise, in the current court, the ones who know most about the Western Barbarians would be my brother, myself, and the rest of the rest of the scholars who entered along with us.”

“That’s probably true.”

Both Soonji and his colleague nodded at Hassan’s words.

After pausing for a moment to organize his thoughts, Hassan continued, “Even though it’s been 30 years since our family settled in Joseon, we still had some contact with the Catholic nations known as the Western Barbarians in Joseon. Through that, we heard stories about the Western Barbarians. But…”

* * *

Hassan’s explanation continued for a long time. Listening to his story with a serious face, Soonji reached a conclusion.

“This doesn’t seem like a problem that can end with my expertise. You should move with me.”

“Yes.”

Soonji, who stood up from his seat, warned the colleague who had come with him.

“It would be best if you could keep this matter quiet. Its for your own safety.”

At Soonji’s warning, the colleague swallowed with a pale face and responded.

“Yes, sure!”

“No, you should also move with us.”

“I will definitely keep it a secret!”

“There’s a saying, isn’t there? ‘A body already abandoned’. Stop hesitating and follow me.”

At Soonji’s firm command, the colleague responded with a gloomy face.

“Yes…”

Hassan, who was watching the spectacle from the side, patted his colleague’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, I just dug my own grave. This meddlesomeness of mine…”

“Come quickly!”

“Yes!”

* * *

“Hmm… so you’re saying the things that the Crown Prince claimed to be from the West, are things that even the Westerners couldn’t make?”

At Jeong-cho’s question, Hassan nodded his head.

“Do you have any concrete evidence?”

At Jeong-cho’s question, Hassan immediately responded, “The most definitive proof is those ships.”

“The ships?”

“Yes, do you remember when I went to Ming under His Highness’s command to find glass artisans?”

At Hassan’s question, Jeong-cho nodded his head.

“I remember well. You couldn’t find artisan at the desired level, so your brother returned to his hometown, didn’t he?”

“Yes. The condition proposed by His Highness was ‘an artisan capable of producing flat glass and a device called a lens’. And the standard for the flat glass was 2 cheok (about 70cm) in both length and width.”

When Hassan told his relative about this, the latter was shocked.

“Is this Crown Prince an Italian?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It was only recently in Italy that they started mass-producing such large flat glass! We only heard the news recently!”

“…So, the Crown Prince knew about a technology that was recently developed in a country he never visited.”

At Hassan’s words, Jeong-cho immediately put forward a counterargument.

“Maybe the Crown Prince just set high standards? Like, ‘It has to be at least this good.'”

“It’s possible, but the standards were too detailed, so detailed that one could not set them without a certain degree of specific knowledge. And…” Pausing for a moment, Hassan pointed to the hallway. “The most incomprehensible thing is those ships. Especially the last line-of-battle ship is the biggest problem.”

“The line-of-battle ship? Why?”

“From what I’ve heard, there is not a single country in the West that has built a ship like that.”

“Eh?”

Shocked by the issue of flat glass, his relative responded to Hassan’s question about what he was most curious about.

“By the way, aren’t there ships built by those Catholic infidels that move only with sails and don’t use oars?”

“Yes, there are. I went to my hometown with an imperial envoy from Ming named Jeonghwa. On the way back, we went as far as the Mediterranean to earn more money, and the Spaniards had built a large ship. They called it a carrack?”

[T/N: A carrack is a type of ship that was widely used for ocean travel in the 14th to the early 17th century. It was a large, durable vessel with high rounded sterns and a significant amount of cargo space, making it suitable for long voyages across the sea. Carracks typically had three (or sometimes four) masts and a combination of square and lateen sails. These ships were notably used by European explorers during the Age of Exploration. The Santa Maria, the ship sailed by Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the New World, is one of the most famous examples of a carrack.]

“What did it look like?”

“Well…”

At Hassan’s question, his elder cousin remembered and drew a picture on paper. Hassan asked again after seeing the picture.

“So, this is the latest model used by the infidels?”

“That’s right!”

“The ship in the picture drawn by my relative at that time was the ship that the Crown Prince had called ‘1st generation’.”

“Do you have that picture?”

At Jeong-cho’s question, Hassan searched his sleeve, took out a piece of paper, and handed it over. Jeong-cho’s face stiffened as he looked at the drawing on the paper. The ship drawn on the paper was a bit sloppy, but it resembled what Hassan called the ‘1st generation line-of-battle ship’.

Seeing Jeong-cho’s expression, Hassan continued his words, “Even stranger is the new armor that started being supplied to the royal guards. Although it is covered with cloth on the outside, it is undoubtedly the Westerners’ plate armor, no matter how you look at it.”

“Well, the swordsmanship that the royal guards are learning is Western swordsmanship…”

“Yes, I know. Among the books His Highness procured, there was a book on Western swordsmanship, and those royal guards swordsmen who had not learned any other swordsmanship were made to learn it. However, it is impossible to create such a perfect armor with just a few drawings. Even the Westerners didn’t have the technology to stamp it out in a mold at once. It’s literally a new technology. That’s why I’m telling you that I don’t know. Just where is this West that the Crown Prince speaks of?”

“Your words are…”

“I’m sure the place His Highness calls the West is mistaken. Then the question arises, ‘Why did he say it was the West? Why is he so wary of the West?'”

“Hmm… It’s a matter that requires thought.”

Nodding his head, Jeong-cho gave a warning to Hassan, Yi Soonji, and the servant who was dragged along.

“We will have to keep this matter a secret for now. It could be a matter that affects the rise and fall of Joseon.”

“Yes.”

* * *

A few days later, on the official holiday of the research institute, a servant came to Hassan’s house.

“He asks you to come to Jeong-cho’s house by Sulsimal (9 PM).”

“I understand.”

After delivering the message, the servant bowed and quietly disappeared.

At 9 PM, Hassan headed towards Jeong-cho’s house.

A servant waiting at the main gate quietly guided Hassan into the living room when he saw him.

“My lord, the guest you’ve been waiting for has arrived.”

“Bring him in.”

“Yes, please come in.”

“I understand.”

Upon stepping into the living room, Hassan turned his head and looked towards the inner room. Seeing Sejong seated at the farthest seat in the inner room, Hassan quickly bowed.

“Y-Your Majesty…”

“Shh! Come in quietly.”

“Yes.”

Upon Sejong’s command, Hassan entered the room and took the last seat.

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s get down to business.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The start of this matter is with that Hassan…”

Jeong-cho explained the circumstances of the case in detail.

After listening to the explanation, Sejong nodded.

“Recently, I’ve also been having similar doubts. I’ve read the books that the Crown Prince has collected, but I couldn’t find any that explain what the Crown Prince said. So, where did the Crown Prince’s knowledge come from?”

At Sejong’s question, Jeong-cho took over the conversation.

“I also had similar doubts. Thinking about the issue of heliocentric theory most recently, it seemed as though it was self-evident, making it hard to explain.”

“Is that possible?”

At Sejong’s question, Yi Soonji stepped forward to answer, “In my case, when I see certain formulas, the answer immediately comes to mind, but I sometimes struggle to explain the solution. It could be something similar.”

As Yi Soonji defended Hassan, Choi Hae-san added more, “When we look back at the time when we designed and tested the musket, even though we already knew the outcome, I strongly felt that he was leading us to understand it.”

“But why?”

At Sejong’s question, no one immediately responded.

After a moment, Jeong Inji spoke up.

“I think it’s because of his age.”

“Because of the crown prince’s age…”

As Sejong nodded, Jeong Inji continued, “When we look at his actions so far, he has always done something to gain approval first, and then used that achievement to do bigger things. If it weren’t for this process, how likely would it be that the ministers and officers of the court would listen to him?”

“So, he anticipated this and set up a situation, using the Western barbarians as an excuse?”

“It’s the most likely possibility.”

“Hmm…”

While stroking his beard and contemplating the possibilities, Sejong turned to Hassan.

“You say you’re Hassan?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Are these writers, the Western barbarians, really ignorant as the prince said?”

“They indeed are!”

Hassan strongly affirmed the ignorance of the Western barbarians.

“Your Majesty, these writers, the Westerners, take great pride in being descendants of the great Roman Empire! They do not hesitate to kill those who believe in other gods under the pretense of their god’s will! They also have a strong desire for technology as much as they do for wealth!”

“Then, if we meet them without preparation, would it end up as the prince said?”

“Yes, it would!”

“Then…”

Following Hassan’s words, Sejong began to organize his thoughts.

“I command fellow officials.”

“We will heed Your Majesty’s command!”

Sejong issued an order in a careful tone.

“I believe that most of what the Crown Prince has made or announced so far has come from the prince’s own mind. However, to the outside world, make it known that these are the things of the Western barbarians, as the prince had said. This is a strategy with two advantages: making other countries believe this technology is the Western barbarian’s to protect the prince, and spending energy and time finding them, thus buying us some time. Do you understand what I mean?”

“We will keep this in mind!”

“And Hassan. You know you have to keep this secret, don’t you?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hassan bowed his head and answered. “I, Hassan Ahmed Mohammed Al-Otaibi, swear that my place to settle down and die is Joseon! I will keep the secret on my family’s honor!”

“Can you swear in the name of the god you believe in?”

“I swear to you in the name of Allah, the one true God! I will not reveal the secret to my family!”

“Do not forget that there will be a price to pay.”

And so, the secret that would be the biggest topic of debate among historians in the future and cause headaches was born in Jeong-cho’s house.

* * *

“Huh! That kid!”

Leaving Jeong-cho’s house and returning to the palace, Sejong suddenly let out a chuckle.

“What’s the matter, Your Majesty?”

“It’s nothing important.”

Sejong waved his hand lightly and grumbled to himself.

‘That kid! He probably already has some idea about the alphabet! But he’s still playing coy? I have a lot of affairs to deal with, should I just pass it all to him?’

Thinking about his cunning son who had been dropping hints about the alphabet and making him act, Sejong shook his head.

“No! I can’t be a worse father than my son!”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just saying that the ministers will be busy starting from tomorrow.”

“Yes~.”

‘My prince! I, your father, will do my best to pave the way for you so you can rise to the throne and freely express your will!’

That night, all the ministers were under pressure.

1. Sejong’s younger brother of same mother[↩]

2. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), there were nomadic troupes of entertainers called namsadang, who traveled across the nation and engaged in a wide array of performances, including singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, acrobatic feats, mask dances and puppet plays. They were very popular among commoners who seldom had an opportunity for entertainment or an outlet to relieve the weariness of their hardworking lives. Cr: Korean Cultural Heritage Admission.[↩]

Chapter 75
Let's Earn Money! Let's Do Business (1)

“Argh…”

Lee Euntak, a civil servant in the Ministry of Taxation, groaned in front of a book.

“This way won’t work, and that way…”

Lee Euntak, who was calculating by moving mountains of documents spread out on one side of the desk, scattered all the documents and shouted out.

“I can’t find the answer! There’s no room to cut the budget! Aargh!”

“Look at him!”

When Euntak lost his reason and went wild, his colleagues nearby grabbed him.

“Catch him! Catch him!”

“Endure it! Hold on!”

As the commotion subsided, Lee Euntak was dragged to Kim Jeom, the Minister of the Taxation.

“You seem to have some energy left, flipping over desks like that.”

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

“What exactly is the problem?”

“We’re out of budget, my lord.”

At Euntak’s reply, Kim Jeom’s face crumpled helplessly.

“Damn it…”

* * *

The biggest problem in the reform that Sejong was gradually implementing was the budget.

Since its founding, Joseon had greatly reduced the budget for use in the royal court.

This was because they were well aware that the people had barely survived due to excessive taxes at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty.

They minimized various miscellaneous taxes, and naturally, the expenditure decreased due to the reduced tax revenue for running the government.

As a result, Sejong set the period for the reform to be 10 years.

The goal of the reform was to gradually change the revenue part, reform the administration of the central and local governments, and ultimately strengthen Joseon’s capacity to expand externally.

Sejong also focused on the wholesale business because he was well aware of the importance of the budget needed in this process.

The wholesale of sugar, proposed by the Crown Prince at the right time, was a great boon that could greatly expand the budget.

However, the budget flexibility decreased as a significant amount of wealth was consumed as investment funds for facilities when wholesale stores were installed up to the military unit level.

In addition, the budget flexibility significantly diminished when it was decided to purchase the main components for the armored infantry rifles and cavalry rifles from private suppliers.

In fact, Sejong was well aware of this issue.

Hence, starting from the issue of purchasing the main components of the infantry rifles, he always operated with a clear understanding of the budgetary limits, even for the construction of a national steel mill.

However, Sejong was not pleased with slow handling of issues directly related to national defense due to budget constraints.

To solve this, Sejong resorted to a bold move.

Sejong’s method involved taking control of the finances of the Naesu Byeoljwa, an institution created to manage the inherited wealth from the Goryeo royal family and the private property of the Lee Seong-gye family in the Hamgyong Province. It also managed land and wealth distributed to the royal family, and it was precisely this aspect that Sejong took advantage of.

In a gathering of royal relatives, Sejong made the following request:

“For the prosperity of our Joseon, the sacrifices of our esteemed elders and siblings are necessary.”

Since there was no one who could refuse a request made by the king, all the royals agreed to Sejong’s request.

With the agreement of all the royal family members, Sejong distributed pledges to each of them.

The content of the pledges, which Sejong himself wrote and sealed with his own personal stamp, including the jade seal and the seal of the treasurer, was as follows:

– For the next 5 years, 70% of the previously received stipend will be paid. After the subsequent 5 years, the same amount as the initial stipend will be paid, and thereafter, an additional 20% will be added to the payment.

The terms were fairly reasonable, so the royals suppressed their dissatisfaction.

And this pledge came to be recognized as the first national bond of Joseon.

In this way, flexible funds were injected from the Naesu Byeoljwa, but overall, the financial situation was still tight. One major reason for this was the research institute in Hyang and the steel mill being built in Pyeongan Province.

“Father, a little more budget…”

“Get out, you child!”

Such conversations popped up a couple of times a month, indicating how much the research institute in Hyang consumed the budget – as if they were drinking cold water.

However, Hyang had a point.

“No! I’m not recklessly spending! The budget is just too limited, what can I do?”

As confirmed in the previous audit, Hyang never wasted the budget.

The real issue was that the absolute value of the central Joseon government’s budget was simply too small.

And the problem with the steel mill located in Pyeongan Province was its location.

Furthermore, the steel mill located in Pyeongan Province had a problematic location. Under the direction of Kim Deok-su, the forefather of the prominent Kim family of Anju, the steel mill was situated about 200 ri (approximately 80km) from the national border. Due to its location, a new unit had to be formed and stationed for defense, which was a significant reason for the budget constraints.

* * *

Even though the budget had dried up, it wasn’t as if the treasury was completely empty.

There was money prepared to operate the court, but the contingency funds that had been set aside for emergencies had been entirely used up.

Upon assessing the situation, Kim Jeom lost his appetite.

“Sigh, if we could just get past Chuseok, everything would be resolved.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, his subordinates frowned.

“The question is whether we can make it safely until then. If there’s a flood or an epidemic, it’s game over.”

Kim Jeom raised his voice in irritation at his subordinates’ remarks.

“The problem is that you all see things so pessimistically! Can’t you be a bit more optimistic?”

“My apologies.”

“If you’re sorry, then don’t cause issues to apologize for in the first place! Go and do your work! Don’t you see those piled-up scrolls over there?”

“Yes, sir!”

At Kim Jeom’s stern command, the subordinates hurriedly returned to their stations.

Left alone in his place, Kim Jeom let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~. It’s true that the lack of budgetary leeway is a problem… but it feels like there’s no solution.”

Faced with a daunting problem that seemed to have no solution, Kim Jeom sighed once more and muttered to himself.

“Sigh~. Maybe I should just submit a request to be sent off to a provincial post?”

* * *

“Get out, you brat!”

After being kicked out for requesting an additional budget, Hyang headed towards Eastern Palace while complaining.

“Even nowadays, he doesn’t call me the Crown Prince anymore… Damn it, what about the budget…”

As he lamented over a situation that seemed inscrutable even to him, Hyang caught sight of monks following a court official.

“What’s with these monks doing here?”

To Hyang’s question, the inner palace official following behind him immediately answered, “It seems they are going to Junggung Palace^1 to deliver a sermon.”

“How audacious they are to…”

Hyang, recalling the princes who were sensitive even at the mention of the character ‘Buddha’ of ‘Buddhism’, stopped in his tracks.

“Your Highness?”

“I’ve got it! Let’s attack Japan, no, let’s sell to Japan!”

“Huh?”

The court official’s head tilted in confusion, but Hyang retraced his steps and hastily walked towards Geunjeongjeon Palace.

“What’s this sudden matter? I’ll say it again; there’s no budget.”

Sejong was the first to draw a line at Hyang’s second approach. However, Hyang was undeterred.

“Your Majesty! How about selling books?”

“Selling books?”

“Selling Buddhist scriptures to the foreign nation!”

“What?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s eyes widened in surprise. Not just him, even the court ministers who hadn’t left yet looked on with astonishment.

* * *

At this time, the relationship between Joseon and Japan was not that bad.

In the early days of the founding of Joseon, the first solution used to prevent damage from the Japanese was diplomacy.

At that time, the Joseon court promised to cut off relations with Japan on the surface, while secretly strengthening its relations with Japan.

Not only the shogunate, but also diplomatic relations were established with local feudal lords such as the Kokujin-jōshu, Ōuchi clan^2, Otomo clan^3, and the lord of Tsushima Island.

When these policies began to take effect, an unexpected obstacle arose.

The deaths of Ōuchi Yoshihiro and Sō clan’s Kitashige.

And when Wada Saimon seized the real power of Kyushu and Tsushima Island and promoted the Japanese pirates to plunder Joseon, the efforts of Joseon lost their efficacy.

However, the ties of friendship between the Korean and Japanese feudal lords still remained.

Just before the Tsushima expedition in the first year of King Sejong’s reign, Korea informed the Japanese feudal lords about the expedition.

When Korea declared its intention to carry out the Tsushima expedition, Governer of Kyushu responded as follows:

“The pirates are enemies of Japan, so we ask Joseon to severely punish them with military power.” (Note 1)

* * *

“Isn’t it not just once or twice that Japan has demanded a Buddhist scripture from us?”

At Hyang’s question, both Sejong and the court officials nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Just recently, as well.”

In April of this year, the Japanese king – to be precise, the shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, which Korea acknowledged as the ruler of Japan – had requested a copy of the Tripitaka.

At that time, King Sejong had refused this request.

“There is only one copy of the Tripitaka, and it has been handed down from our ancestors, so we cannot simply give it away.”

The Japanese king’s demand was very persistent, sometimes even declaring war, and there were cases where the envoy was detained.

However, they couldn’t give the Tripitaka, and they couldn’t cut ties because the copper import line would be blocked, so King Sejong merely treated the envoy well and sent him off.

Eventually, discussions about creating Buddhist scriptures and woodblocks arose in the Ministry of Rites due to Japan’s requests.

However, producing Buddhist woodblocks in Joseon, where ‘Reverence for Confucianism, suppression of Buddhism’, was the national policy, it was simply an unthinkable act.

“So, we are going to print exactly 10 copies of the Tripitaka. Then, one copy goes to the Japanese king, another one to Governer of Kyushu, and another one to Ouchi clan as a gift. The Japanese king may not know, but Governer of Kyushu and Ouchi clan have been good to our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong nodded.

“I see. Then what about the remaining 7 copies?”

“We have to start a competition among other Japanese feudal lords. We will sell it to the one who offers the highest price.”

“Hmm!”

“Aha!”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and his ministers exclaimed in admiration.

Japan, lagging significantly in terms of cultural development, was eager to acquire cultural elements from Joseon or Ming. The Buddhist scriptures were particularly coveted due to their rarity, prompting the Japanese king to request these scriptures and their corresponding woodblocks.

“Shouldn’t we print about 50 copies instead of 10?”

“Tsk!”

Sejong clicked his tongue at Maeng Sa-seong’s question.

“Have you forgotten the fact that scarcity increases value? Why do you think the Crown Prince suggested 10 copies?”

“I apologize!”

“Don’t apologize when there’s no need to!”

After scolding Maeng Sa-seong, Sejong looked at Hyang with gentle eyes.

“So, you mean to sell those 10 copies?”

“Yes. With the name ‘Tripitaka’ alone and its limited quantity of just 10 copies, their value in Japan will skyrocket exponentially.”

“I see.”

“And, instruct the monks to make Buddhist scripture woodblocks and print or transcribe them into books. Those scriptures are to be sold in Japan. This way, we can see two benefits within Joseon and three benefits from them.”

“Two benefits, three benefits?”

The bodies of Sejong and the ministers gradually leaned toward Hyang’s words.

Hyang, who cleared his throat for a moment, explained what the benefits were.

“The two benefits that can be obtained within Joseon, one of them is that we can reclaim the lands still held by the temples.”

“Ah!”

The consistent policy pursued by the founding of Joseon was a policy of promoting Confucianism and suppressing Buddhism.

Taejong consolidated numerous Buddhist sects into seven orders, confiscated 80,000 slaves from the temples and turned them into public slaves, and took away 60,000 gyeol of land.

Following this, Sejong merged the seven orders into the Seon and Gyo sects, leaving only 36 main temples across the country. He also confiscated 3,000 gyeol of good land out of 11,000 gyeol, and nearly took away the remaining slaves.

“By giving a certain percentage of the proceeds from selling Buddhist scriptures to the monks, you can solve their livelihood problems. Even without land, they can live. This would stabilize the people’s sentiment, and so, it serves as another benefit.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded.

He had been consistently pursuing the policy of promoting Confucianism and suppressing Buddhism, but the presence of Buddhism was not fading, not only in the palace but also among the people.

“Gently easing it might also be helpful. Then, what are the three benefits we can gain from the foreign countries? The first thing that comes to mind is that the Governer of Kyushu and the Ouchi clan would be frienlier towards us.”

“That’s right. Powerful clan families, like Kyushu government or Ouchi clan, becoming closer to our Joseon is a big gain. Another benefit is that by selling Buddhist scriptures and importing rice or silver from their country, we can be relieved of our budget pressure. The last benefit is that we can spread Buddhist scriptures, clearly marked as made in our Joseon, to them, making their people admire our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong smiled and received the words.

“I like the last benefit the most, although the other benefits are also good. What do you ministers think?”

“It’s a really good idea!”

“Then we should put it into action. Send people to the major temples of the Seon and Gyo sects right now.”

“We accept your command!”

* * *

Three months later, the Ouchi clan of the 9th Province, was busy receiving envoys from Joseon.

“You’ve come a long way. You must be tired.”

Moriharu^4, who succeeded his deceased brother as the lord of Ouchi, graciously welcomed the envoy from Joseon.

“Thank you for your warm welcome. Fortunately, there were no typhoons, so we managed to cross over safely…”

The envoy from the Ministry of Rites politely returned the greeting to Moriharu’s gracious welcome.

While serving tea to envoys, Moriharu moved on to the main topic.

“So, what brings you from Joseon to this distant place? Have the thieves caused trouble again?”

“All is quiet for now. I came here on behalf of His Majesty the King. Here is a personal letter from His Majesty.”

The envoy untied the scroll he took out from his belongings. In front of Moriharu, who straightened up neatly, the envoy read out Sejong’s personal letter.

“Provincial lord of Japan, heed my words…”

After the reading of Sejong’s personal letter was over, Moriharu respectfully bowed.

“I’m truly grateful for your interest. I’m all more thankful as the roots of my family are from Baekje.”

“Here, this is a gift from His Majesty for you.”

At the envoy’s gesture, an official from the Ministry of Rites who had been standing behind came forward, carrying a large wooden box covered in silk.

“What is this?”

“Do you know about the Haeinsa Temple’s Tripitaka Scripture?”

“Yes, I am familiar.”

“This is a Buddhist scripture copied from that Tripitaka.”

“Oh!”

Moriharu, with trembling hands, untied the knot of the silk wrap.

When the knot was untied, a shiny wooden box lacquered with ocher revealed itself. On the lid of the box, there was a Buddha statue engraved in relief and gilded.

With trembling hands touching the Buddha statue, Moriharu declared to the envoy.

“Giving us such a precious gift… Our Ouchi clan will fully cooperate with Joseon in the future!”

A similar situation was experienced by an envoy who visited Governer of Kyushu.

Only Ashikaga Yoshimochi, who was called the shogun of the Muromachi government and the king of Japan, showed a slightly disappointing reaction.

After that, fierce competition took place over the remaining seven volumes of the Tripitaka. At the end of the competition, the seven volumes were sold for a hefty price of 500 kwan of silver (about 1.87 tons) per volume.

Not only the Tripitaka prints. The Buddhist scriptures printed or copied from other temples were also sold at a minimum price of 200 nyang of silver per volume.

“It’s a precious scripture, but isn’t it too expensive?”

“Do you think this is an ordinary scripture? Don’t you know there are only 36 temples recognized in our Joseon? It’s the scriptures written by the high monks of those places, one letter at a time with a brush, and carved out of woodblocks! Just by looking at it, your devout heart would thump! It’s not ordinary!”

It was a premium caused by the rarity of ‘only 36 places’.

—–

(Note 1) Military strategy of the Joseon era. Military History Compilation Research Institute, Ministry of National Defense.

1. Queen’s Palace[↩]

2. One of the most powerful important families during the reign of the Ashikaga shogunate[↩]

3. Helped in the establishment of Ashikaga shogunate[↩]

4. 11th Heaf of Ouchi clan[↩]

Chapter 76
Let's Earn Money! Let's Do Business (2)

In March of the 7th year of King Sejong’s reign (1425, in the year of the Rooster), Kim Ta of the Office of Inspector General submitted a petition amid the busy preparations for the upcoming imperial examinations.

“The six-year term for local governors is unjust! It must be returned to three years!” (Note 1)

This petition sparked a heated debate – or more precisely, pleadings from officials – between King Sejong and the ministers.

* * *

At the founding of Joseon, the term for local governors was three years – or more accurately, 30 months. As such, performance evaluations took place every year, determining promotions, demotions, and dismissals.

However, changes came about to these terms with the ascension of King Sejong.

This wasn’t a unilateral decision by Sejong.

The original proponent was Ha Ryun.

“Local governors are outsiders coming to lead the village, thus it takes time to understand the unique circumstances of the village. The Ming Dynasty faced a similar issue and solved it by setting the governor’s term to six years. Having observed this over time, it’s proven very effective, and I believe it should be implemented here.”

With Ha Ryun’s proposal and the strong support of the former Minister of Personnel, Minister of Taxation, and previous Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyun, Sejong extended the term for local governors to six years.

To be precise, the term wasn’t extended from three to six years, but rather from 30 to 60 months. Because evaluations of the local governor’s performance occurred every 10 months, including the evaluation period made the term three years, which was then extended to six years.

With the increase in their term, the local governors, the affected parties, expressed considerable dissatisfaction.

Their discontent stemmed from issues of promotion.

The lowest-ranking local governor, the county magistrate, was a sixth-rank post, and for a slightly larger area, the prefecture magistrate held a sixth-rank position.

However, rising to a higher rank in Joseon’s bureaucratic system required a considerable amount of time.

Taking the civil service examination as an example, the successful candidate was given a sixth-rank position and those who passed at a lower level received a ninth-rank post. To rise from the ninth to the sixth rank took several years at best, and more than a decade at worst.

So, working in the provinces for six years was equivalent to stagnation in their careers.

“This damned thing! Even if I hold a ninth-rank position, shouldn’t I have a shot in Hanyang!”

“They say it’s better to be a seventh-rank official in Hanyang than a sixth-rank in the countryside!”

Despite the grumbling of local officials, they faithfully carried out their duties.

A misstep in the performance evaluation held every 10 months could cost them their meager position.

As a result, local administration improved significantly after the implementation of the six-year system, and the livelihoods of the people stabilized.

Of course, there were some local officials whose work proceeded regardless of these issues.

They were the inspectors, who held the highest rank among local officials, a second-rank post, and their term was one year.

Under such circumstances, local officials lobbied influential ministers for a reduction in their terms.

Whether it was due to these gifts, ministers continued to argue that six years was too long and that it should be reduced to three.

“If local governers serve for six years, it poses problems for taking care of their parents in their hometown. This is unfilial, against the teachings of the sages, so I think it should be reduced to three years.”

“Occasionally there are local governers who narrowly avoid dismissal. The commoners in the provinces where these governers serve have expressed great difficulty in enduring six years.”

“Being away from home for six years poses significant issues for disciplining children and arranging marriages. After all, it is said that ‘the family is the basis for governing the nation.’ Six years is too long, please reduce it to three.”

Each time his ministers spoke in this way, King Sejong firmly expressed his refusal.

“Caring for parents is good, but governing the people is also an important task. Rather, bring your parents to your posting. The same goes for the discipline and marriage of children.”

“What can be accomplished in three years? Even the smallest village has hundreds of residents, just understanding their conditions would take at least a year. Also, frequent turnover of local officials leads to discrepancies in inventory audits. This will not be allowed!”

* * *

In such a situation, Kim Ta submitted another petition.

Upon reading the petition, King Sejong looked at the ministers.

“I seem to recall repeatedly saying that the term for local governors would be six years?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik stepped forward to speak.

“The situation has changed, Your Majesty.”

“Changed how? Explain.”

At Sejong’s command, Lee Jik explained the reasons.

“Last year, we started implementing the land and population survey, but the majority of local governers still do not fully understand the process. As time goes on, the survey will continue to grow in scale. If the local governers, who are the most grassroots level of the court and closest to the people, cannot do their jobs properly, it will become a significant obstacle. Therefore, if we return the term for local governers to three years and continuously rotate the officials between the center and the localities, we can proceed more smoothly with the land and population survey.”

“But if the governor is replaced so often, it results in the problem of discrepancies in asset inspections, including those from trading posts. How will this be resolved?”

At King Sejong’s question, Lee Jik pointed it out immediately without hesitation.

“Trading posts of the Bureau of Salt Tax have already been established down to the military unit level. Although their main business is the trading of salt and sugar, another part is to inspect and manage the lands and people of the army, and even surrounding counties, so there is no significant problem. Even if problems arise on the governor’s side, they can be blocked by the Bureau.”

“Isn’t personnel from the Bureau also replaced every year?”

“But those dispatched by the Bureau are those who have professionally learned economics, and there is no to little discrepancy as they take care of their tasks outside of standing and selling salt and candy.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to Lee Jik’s explanation, King Sejong stroked his beard, lost in thought.

Seeing King Sejong’s not-so-negative reaction, Lee Jik continued to persuade him.

“Please think about what happened last year at the Bureau. How much trouble did we get into because we failed to properly understand the family registry and land?”

Reminded of the famous incident known as ‘the Bureau’s self-congratulatory event’, King Sejong nodded.

‘We’re almost there!’

Having confirmed King Sejong’s reaction, Lee Jik began to reinforce his point.

“When the reform reaches its final phase, tax and military affairs will be handed over to the managers dispatched directly by the Bureaus of Salt Tax and Military. In this way, local governors do not need to be tied up for 6 years.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to Lee Jik’s explanation, King Sejong stroked his beard, lost in thought. The ministers gathered in the assembly swallowed nervously, watching King Sejong deep in thought.

After contemplating for a while, King Sejong nodded and opened his mouth.

“It seems that the Minister has a point. Let’s consider it.”

At King Sejong’s decision, Lee Jik immediately bowed in deep respect and replied, “Your Majesty’s benevolence is boundless! Long live the King!”

At Lee Jik’s shout, the other ministers also bowed deeply and shouted.

“Your Majesty’s benevolence is boundless! Long live the King! Long live, long live!”

Every detail of this spectacle was dutifully recorded by the scribe.

‘…Thus, the King decided to consider it, and all the ministers were moved by the grace and shouted “Long live the King”.’

The scribe then chuckled, internally, ‘The fellow ministers must have been tired.’

That day, the faces of the ministers leaving the assembly were unusually flushed.

After passing through Geunjeongmun Gate, the Chief State Councillor looked back at the officials.

“We can’t just let a day like today pass! I’ll pay for the drinks, let’s go!”

“You have worked hard, your Excellency! Therefore, it should be our treat! We will take care of it!”

* * *

Meanwhile, King Sejong, who was left alone in the assembly, chuckled and burst into laughter.

“Heh!”

“Your Majesty, what is it?”

At the question from the calm and modest royal secretary, King Sejong waved his hand.

“It’s nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Even though he concluded this way, King Sejong knew the ministers’ feelings.

‘We can’t be the only ones to die! If we’re going to die, let’s all die together!’

While chuckling and sorting out his thoughts, King Sejong muttered to himself quietly, “Anyway, the more people who are savvy, the better, so it should be fine.”

The next day, King Sejong made a decision at the meeting where all the ministers had gathered.

“I will accept the ministers’ opinions regarding the local governors. Determine an appropriate implementation date.”

“Your Majesty’s benevolence is boundless!”

“Your Majesty’s benevolence is boundless!”

* * *

As the past ended and the weather began to grow warmer.

Just like the previous year, Joseon, having prepared in advance, was able to pass through the season of Chun-gung (spring famine) without major chaos.

During the spring famine, throughout all of Joseon, ditches and reservoirs that still hadn’t been completely repaired were tended to, and rivers were dredged.

Residents in and around Hanyang were mobilized to dredge the Han River.

It was quite a strenuous task, but since the country was paying wages, the residents were even willing to volunteer for the dredging work.

Busy with such activities, the royal court continued to implement smallpox vaccination as they did last year.

Thanks to the nationwide vaccination carried out last year, the second round of smallpox vaccination ended faster and smoother than expected.

Meanwhile, Hyang was getting ready to release one by one, the things he and his researchers had developed.

“Your Highness. Are you checking the inventory?”

In the warehouse of Area 51, Hyang, who was looking at the goods piled up, nodded at the question from Lee Chun, who had followed him.

“Are you thinking of releasing them now?”

“Yes, it’s about time to release them. This should alleviate some of Father’s concerns.”

At Hyang’s words, Lee Chun nodded.

“That’s correct.”

With Lee Chun’s agreement, Hyang solidified his resolve.

“I should contact Minister of Taxation soon.”

However, Hyang had to temporarily halt his plan due to an incident that happened outside.

The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty had died.

The news of the death of the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty put the royal court on emergency.

“That time, the fortune teller and the physician were right.”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s words, Lee Jik immediately replied.

“Prepare a delegation for the mourning visit and get the mourning tribute ready.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And, do you have any information about their crown prince who will become the new emperor?”

Before King Sejong’s words even finished, Hwang Hui stepped forward to answer.

“There is a rumor that the previous emperor adored him greatly.”

“How so? What kind of personality does he have personally?”

“There are rumors that he is accomplished in both civil and military affairs. That’s why the previous emperor adored him so much.”

Hwang Hui who answered King Sejong’s questions did not hesitate.

Having been heavily embarrassed last year, it was a moment where his thorough preparation shone.

“Hmm… So, do you think the crown prince, who will be the new emperor, will lean heavily on foreign policy like the previous emperor?”

“He is said to be very prudent. And… this may be a difficult thing to say, but there is a rumor we’ve heard through our spies.”

“A rumor? What is it?”

At the words ‘difficult thing to say’, King Sejong showed interest.

“There’s a rumor that Grand Prince Han has great ambition.”

“Oh? Is the source reliable?”

Upon Sejong’s inquiry, Hwang Hui promptly responded, “It is said to be a rumor slowly spreading among the merchants in Beijing.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been stroking his beard and organizing his thoughts at Hwang Hui’s response, gave an order.

“Choose a suitable ambassador and send him to interact with the merchants and officials staying in Beijing. Have them gather all available information about the new Crown Prince and Grand Prince Han without any omission.”

“We will heed your command!”

“And send a messenger to the border to strengthen our defenses. If the Ming Empire falls into chaos, the Jurchens will also start causing trouble.”

Sejong, who had given orders to Hwang Hui, sighed.

“Sigh~ This is inevitable… When you try to get something done, issues arise.”

* * *

“Ah, it’s so frustrating! That damn Ming isn’t helping at all!”

“Your Highness!”

Surprised by Hyang’s grumbling, the following inner palace servant became startled.

“I didn’t say anything. Nothing at all! Understand?”

At Hyang’s warning, the servant made a gloomy face and nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“There is no privacy in this damn palace. No privacy…”

Hyang, who silenced the servant, grumbled and moved towards the research lab next to the Eastern Palace.

“Crown Prince, Your Highness…”

“Shh! Everyone’s busy, so stay quiet.”

“Yes.”

Hyang, who had silenced the about-to-chatter servant, quietly walked down the corridor.

Upon arriving in front of the room with a model train, Hyang made a face.

“Haah~. Haah~. Awesome! The best!”

Hearing the excited moans and comments from inside that could easily be misunderstood by anyone listening, Hyang asked the servant standing in front of him.

“Is that Yoo?”

“Yes, it’s Prince Yoo.”

At the servant’s response, Hyang sighed.

“He is severely addicted…”

Hyang swallowed the words that were about to follow.

‘Even I, from the 21st century, wasn’t that bad at his age!’

* * *

After the newly throned Emperor’s death, the Joseon court could not relax due to the information coming from the Ming Empire.

Upon hearing news of the emperor’s death, the Crown Prince who was staying in Nanjing immediately set off for Beijing.

Grand Prince Han, or Zhu Gaoxu^1, who had dreamed of usurping the throne, attempted an assassination midway, but Zhu Zhanji, who safely overcame the crisis, arrived in Beijing and ascended to the throne.

Afterwards, the newly crowned Emperor Zhu Zhanji, like his father, was bestowing many gifts in an attempt to win over Grand Prince Han.

However, according to the information obtained by officials and merchants staying in Beijing, Grand Prince Han was eagerly awaiting an opportunity.

Unable to relax due to the ongoing crisis, Sejong complained to the ministers.

“If he’s going to revolt, he should do it already. Why is he bothering to be cautious… It’s tiresome…”

“That’s exactly right.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers nodded their heads.

Their workload had tripled due to the external threat crisis during the ongoing situation, which was why the ministers were tense.

“Sigh~.”

Sejong, who had sighed deeply, looked at the ministers.

“Let’s get to work! Work! When your head hurts, work is the best! Let’s work!”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers screamed a silent scream.

‘Shouldn’t rest be best when your head hurts!’

—-

Note 1) In actual history, the imperial decree came in June.

1. Zhu Zhanji or Emperor Xuande’s uncle[↩]

Chapter 77
SimCity Hanyang, SimCity Joseon (1)

With the death of Emperor Hongxi, the political situation between Joseon and Ming became unclear, and the event to invite the tribal chiefs of the Yain Jurchens, scheduled for the fall of Eulsa Year, had to be postponed.

“How truly disappointing. Truly disappointing. Sigh!”

“That it is.”

Sejong couldn’t hide his disappointment, smacking his lips, and his ministers also nodded with the same sentiment.

“It seems we have no choice but to call the Jurchen tribes next year. Now, let’s deal with other matters.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How did the research on paddy farming techniques turn out?”

Over two years, nationwide flood control projects were carried out, greatly reducing concerns about flooding and drought.

Gaining confidence, Sejong ordered research on paddy farming techniques.

“It is said that the large rice yield in Ming is not only due to the climate but also the paddy farming techniques. Since our staple food in Joseon is rice, conduct research on these techniques.”

“We receive your command!”

Following Sejong’s orders, public rice farming using paddy techniques began in the Hasamdo region, where it had been conducted secretly.

Officials from the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Public Works were dispatched to the selected areas to investigate thoroughly.

In response to Sejong’s inquiry about the investigation results, Minister of Personnel Heo Jo answered immediately.

“In terms of output alone, the least increase was 15 percent compared to traditional farming, and the most was 25 percent. On average, there was an increase of about 19.8 percent in output.”

“Is that considered a lot?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui answered, “It’s not as much as the rumors would suggest.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Plenty of fertilizer and sturdy farming tools are needed, and more importantly, we need varieties that yield more.”

Stroking his beard at Hwang Hui’s answer, Sejong said,

“Does this mean we have to obtain seeds from Ming?”

“There is a problem with Ming’s rice as well.”

“What’s the problem?”

“It lacks stickiness compared to our Joseon rice. People often exchange Ming rice, given as rations or wages, for Joseon rice. The most common exchange rate is three bushels of Ming rice for two of Joseon’s.”

Sejong’s face grew troubled at Hwang Hui’s answer.

“I thought that improving flood control facilities alone would solve the problem of paddy farming, but that’s not the case.”

“However, if we secure the necessary facilities and solve the seed problem, it will be a highly effective method.”

“Is that so? In what way?”

“It can reduce the number of those who farm for a living.”

“Really?”

Sejong showed strong interest in Hwang Hui’s words.

Strengthening trade and industry was a major part of the reform.

Strengthening trade and industry and promoting urbanization based on this were significant.

For Sejong, urbanization was important in many ways.

As commerce developed, people would gather in centers of commerce, and when people gathered, cities would be created.

Once cities were created, the monetary economy, which had been the focus of previous kings, could be quickly established.

In addition, when people gathered in cities, the landowners would lose control and the royal authority would be strengthened.

Strengthening Joseon’s capacity while reinforcing royal authority.

This was the core of Sejong’s reform.

Of course, Hyang who analyzed Sejong’s reform policy pointed out problems directly to him.

“Urbanization may strengthen royal authority but could also become its greatest enemy.”

“I know my child. If the livelihood of those gathered in cities is threatened, royal authority will be endangered.”

“That’s correct.”

Hyang nodded, full of concern.

‘Even the French Revolution occurred in Paris! Communism was born from the poverty problem of workers!’

Watching Hyang’s worried face, Sejong smiled.

“How long will it take for urbanization to threaten their livelihood?”

“Uh? Ah……”

“How many of those who are just starting to gather in cities will abandon their fields and leave?”

“…Not many.”

“Then who will be the first to flock to these newly urbanized areas?”

“It would be the refugees.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong nodded.

“That’s right. In our Joseon, there are still many refugees without a permanent place to stay. We need urbanization to settle them.”

At Sejong’s explanation, Hyang nodded.

‘Tsk. Industrialization has a different purpose and process than what I’ve been taught—.’

The industrial revolution that Sejong was promoting through reform was different in cause and progress from what Hyang had learned from textbooks.

The Western industrial revolution grew out of a desire for more wealth as commercial capital grew, revolutionizing technology and systems.

But Sejong’s reform was similar to the economic development plan pursued by South Korea’s military dictatorship.

* * *

In such a situation, Sejong took an interest in Hwang Hui’s words.

“Can we reduce the number of people who make farming their business? How?”

“The biggest key to this method is rice planting. By planting the seedlings in water-filled paddies, the number of times you have to tie them up with straw will be greatly reduced.”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

At that time, most Joseon farmers used the direct seeding method, in which they scatter rice seeds into water-filled paddies to grow them.

This method required continuous management and tying up from the point the rice seeds sprouted, and it was a labor-intensive approach.

“We can reduce manpower…”

Sejong’s interest was piqued, and Hwang Hui gave an actual example.

“There’s an old couple in Gyeongsang province whose sons all died at the hands of the Japanese pirates. They were living with two grandchildren, but they were farming using this method, managing a paddy of 1 Gyul (結, ranging from 2750 to 11000 square yards) with just the two of them, except for the transplanting and harvesting times.”

“How did they manage the transplanting and harvesting?”

“They borrowed servants from a nearby landowner and paid wages for the transplanting and harvesting.”

“Ah? Old ginger is spicy indeed… Truly, the old saying isn’t wrong.”

“That’s right. If we utilize communal labor and cooperation, there won’t be a need for most of the commoners to be tied to farming as they are now.”

“That’s indeed true!”

Sejong clapped his knees in delight at Hwang Hui’s words.

However, as soon as Hwang Hui finished speaking, the Minister of Law Enforcement raised an objection.

“Your Majesty! Communal labor and cooperation might be a solution, but it can also become another problem!”

“Another problem?”

“Please consider why communal labor and cooperation were restricted.”

“Ah…”

Sejong’s face paled at the Minister of Law Enforcement’s words.

Communal labor and cooperation were means to bind rural communities.

The problem was that the local nobles and aristocrats had used the bonds created in this way to strengthen their power.

Even if that were not the case, most of the peasant revolts that broke out during the previous dynasty were instigated by farmers gathered through communal labor.

So, Joseon restricted officials from mobilizing the people but stopped the creation of community organizations like communal labor and cooperation.

Ironically, while the central government restricted these practices, local aristocrats advocated for the creation of ‘hyangyak’ (local organizations), incorporating Confucian beliefs.

These local aristocrats’ arguments subsided when a political incident involving Jo Gwang-jo occurred later, but when the scholars eventually took over the government, ‘local organizations’ was spread nationwide.

In the end, Sejong could only reach an ambiguous conclusion.

“The evidence that crop yields have definitively increased through this method is lacking, and the method to resolve the manpower issue is still a bit insufficient, so let’s do some more research.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s take a break.”

After declaring a recess, Sejong went outside and sighed heavily.

“Ah~ There’s no easy task indeed…”

“Your Majesty!”

Sejong, frowning at the unresolved problem, turned his head with a smile at the energetic voice of Hyang.

“What is it?”

Hyang shouted with a beaming smile in response to Sejong’s question.

“I’ve made a threshing machine!”

“A threshing machine?”

“Yes!”

Sejong’s curiosity was piqued by Hyang’s proud answer.

“Alright. Let’s take a look.”

“I’ve placed it in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon Hall!”

“Really? Chief Eunuch, summon the ministers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A little later, Sejong and the ministers gathered in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Is this the threshing machine the prince made?”

“Yes!”

While hearing Hyang’s reply, Sejong looked at the threshing machine placed before his eyes.

It was a wooden frame that looked as if it had two broken legs on one side, like an upright table, with thin iron rods densely nailed at narrow intervals.

Sejong spoke his admiration for the threshing machine.

“It looks like a comb with legs attached to it.”

“That’s what I thought when I made it!” Hyang answered with a voice full of pride.

Going back and forth between the palace and Area 51, Hyang had steadily observed the farmers of Hanyang cultivating crops.

“Wouldn’t it be a hit if I even made a tractor?”

Seeing the farming done purely with human and animal power, Hyang casually made a remark.

However, Hyang did not proceed further.

There were many other things to make.

Hyang came up with the idea for the threshing machine after watching the autumn harvest and threshing.

“This is the second time I’ve seen it… It’s really a symbol of inefficiency.”

For threshing, farmers laid flat stones in the yard and placed a mortar or pestle, then struck the grain stalks with all their might.

Hyang called it the epitome of inefficiency upon seeing the sight.

Both the beating with stones and wood, and collecting the grains that fell in all directions while swinging the straw, and the picking of the mixed soil and pebbles with the grains were all inefficient.

“It seems like there must be a way…”

To find a solution to the inefficient threshing process, Hyang thought hard.

But Hyang couldn’t find an answer easily.

Because the harvest scene Hyang saw in the 21st century ended with a combine harvester.

Hyang found the solution while combing his hair after washing it.

Seeing the comb held by the court lady, Hyang clapped.

“This is it!”

The object in front of Sejong was created through this process.

Hyang, who created the threshing machine, was filled with pride.

‘It might have been a remake until now, but this is my original!’

However, the threshing machine that Hyang made was a holtae (traditional threshing machine), used from the middle and late Joseon period.

Hyang was ignorant in this regard, despite being knowledgeable.

After testing Hyang’s threshing machine, it boasted much greater efficiency than before.

Encouraged by the result, Sejong issued a royal order to the ministers.

“Draw the details of this threshing machine and spread it nationwide!”

“We receive the royal order!”

Once again, horsemen raced across the nation.

Farmers who made the threshing machine according to Hyang’s plan and tested it all shouted in joy.

“It’s really convenient!”

“Destroy the mortar and pestle! We must use them as firewood!”

“But who made this?”

Farmers curious about who made such a useful device questioned.

“The crown prince made it.”

Hearing the answer, the farmers began to murmur.

“How did he think of this?”

“Indeed. He’s really exceptional.”

“No matter how different he is! Some sons create things like this! My son just breaks pots! You brat! You better die today!”

* * *

Sejong’s 8th year (1426, Year of Byeong-o), February.

Sejong hosted a martial arts tournament and hunting event in Hoengseong county, in Gangwon province.

Not only existing martial officers, but well-known martial artists from all over the country gathered in Gangwon province for the grand event. If they performed well, they could be specially recruited into the martial ranks.

As a butterfly effect, the mountain bandits who had settled in Gangwon province became pale.

– Those with merit in subduing bandits will be given extra points.

Due to Sejong’s announcement, the martial artists moving to participate in the tournament formed groups to attack the bandits’ hideouts along the way.

Thus, while the bandits, who had settled in the famous high mountains of Gangwon province, were suffering, the day for Sejong to depart approached.

“This weather isn’t good, maybe we shouldn’t go…”

“You must go, Your Majesty!”

“Many have already moved since the order was given! We can’t let those who left their homes with dreams of glory fall into disappointment!”

“Please make a decision!”

When Sejong hesitated, the ministers unanimously urged him to depart.

Following the ministers, Hyang also pleaded with Sejong.

“I believe you must proceed since the order has already been given.”

“Hmph…”

Groaning, Sejong finally had to move.

“Alright. Let’s go! Go!”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

At Sejong’s decision, the ministers all shouted, “Your benevolence is boundless!”

Seeing the ministers, Sejong warned.

“I will check your work when I return!”

Chapter 78
SimCity Hanyang, SimCity Joseon (2)

King Sejong was accompanied by Hyang on his trip to Gangwon Province.

“It’s been a while since we father and son are traveling together.”

Sejong had been reluctant until departure, but after leaving, he enjoyed the journey.

“Indeed, Father. But, undoubtedly, the roads are the problem.”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong nodded his head.

“Indeed, that’s true. Even for the success of the reform project, the roads need attention. Who knows when the completion of the railways will be?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately lowered his head.

“Your Majesty, I apologize. My abilities are lacking…”

“It’s not your ability that’s the problem, it’s Joseon’s capability. If there were other ways, that would be different.”

Hyang flinched at Sejong’s subtle glance.

He had prematurely revealed the concept of the railway as a shock therapy, but everyone knew they didn’t know when they could start.

However, in a situation where nobody was sure how the gradual progress of the reform project would turn out, the railway was a symbolic existence that could actually show it.

Of course, there were side effects.

From a certain point, the frequency with which Sejong subtly hinted and teased Hyang had increased.

The procession, led by Sejong, who was giving hints, and Hyang, who started to get fed up, with heavily armored cavalry escorting them, moved slowly along the narrow road.

* * *

Sejong, who had been reluctant to leave Hanyang, began to get lively as the shadow of the capital grew distant.

“It feels good to travel abroad after a long time!”

“You’ve been too absorbed in state affairs lately, Your Majesty.”

At the words of the accompanying Chief Eunuch, Sejong nodded his head.

“I did feel that way. Taking a break like this from time to time seems good.”

“That’s true, Your Majesty.”

Listening to Sejong and Chief Eunuch’s conversation from behind, Hyang clenched his fist lightly.

‘Even if I don’t like YOLO, work-life balance is essential! Yes!’

In the 21st century, Hyang, who was a self-proclaimed ‘incurable geek’, surprisingly hated the word ‘YOLO (You Only Live Once).’

‘YOLO is a waste of life!’

It was a somewhat contradictory claim, but Hyang did not particularly like YOLO or SNS.

“Why should a geek make it a livelihood or upload it to SNS if he just creates works?”

In response to the objections of his surrounding friends – not friends connected through geekery, but strictly in the dictionary sense – Hyang always answered the same way.

“There’s a difference in productivity! I’m productive and YOLO people are consumptive! What do they think of people!”

Hyang made an utterly unpersuasive argument.

* * *

As Sejong enjoyed his leisure while heading to Hoengseong, Gangwon Province, flames soared up somewhere in Hanyang.

February 15, Sejong Year 8.

It was the start of the ‘Hanyang Great Fire,’ an event that brought unparalleled damage, excluding wars, in actual Joseon history.

“It’s a fire!”

The fire started at the house of Jangryong, a male servant belonging to the Crown Prince’s office.

The flames that burned Jangryong’s house spread to the vicinity, riding on the northwest wind that happened to blow.

The thatched roofs of the commoners’ houses in Joseon were the optimal material for fire to catch.

The sparks, carried by the wind, quickly landed on the roofs of nearby thatched houses, and the number of burning houses began to increase exponentially.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! There’s a big fire! You must evacuate immediately!”

“What?”

At the urgent report of the fire, Queen Soheon rushed outside.

“Hurry and escape!”

“Quiet! Running away when there’s a fire in the capital? Summon the palace guards right away and put out the fire!”

At the time, Queen Soheon, with her swollen belly because she was pregnant with Grand Prince Geumsong^1, personally started to lead the response.

“Summon the ministers immediately! And find out how far the fire has spread!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Following the Queen’s command, the court ladies and palace servants began to work diligently.

When the court ladies and the palace servants were busily moving, the summoned ministers rushed to Queen Soheon.

“You ministers, immediately command the fire-fighting force to suppress the fire!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“And send a messenger to Hoengseong to notify the King!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

However, the fire, fueled by the wind, was not suppressed but spread further and further.

“The fire is spreading, Your Majesty!”

Receiving the situation report from Hwang Hui, Queen Soheon bit her lip and made a decision.

“Mobilize all manpower to protect Changdeok Palace^2 and Jongmyo shrine^3! You can abandon the offices and warehouses!”

“This will leave us short of manpower to suppress the fire!”

“If the fire reaches the commoners’ houses, evacuate the people before putting out the fire.”

It was a harsh command, but both Queen Soheon, who issued it, and the ministers who received it, understood its necessity.

If Jongmyo and the palace burned, the political responsibility was secondary, but an enormous amount of wealth would go into the restoration.

* * *

“Your Majesty! There’s an urgent report from the capital!”

“What is the urgent report?”

Taking a rest near the point he had almost reached in Hwaseong, King Sejong stood up from his chair at Chief Eunuch’s words.

“There has been a great fire in the capital!”

“What? Turn the horses around at once!”

A military official who had been awaiting Sejong’s command immediately stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, the sun is about to set. The road at night is dangerous…”

“Go! While heading back to the capital, send messengers to every government post along the way! Mobilize the soldiers to light the path!”

“I accept the command!”

At Sejong’s order, the military officials selected messengers to convey his orders.

“Move!”

Receiving the orders, the messengers spurred their horses and raced away, and Sejong gave further instructions to those waiting.

“We are returning to the capital at once! Prepare!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As Sejong urgently led his people and galloped on horseback, the sun completely set.

“This seems a bit dangerous…”

As Hyang worried about the darkening road, the path suddenly brightened.

Local officials, having received the orders sent ahead by Sejong through the messengers, had mobilized soldiers to light the way.

With soldiers holding torches on either side of the road, the horses carrying Sejong and his entourage thundered down the path.

And then Hyang realized something.

‘This gentleman, he’s good at riding?’

* * *

Thanks to the continuous riding, Sejong was able to return to the palace that night.

“Welcome back.”

“It’s fortunate that you are safe. You must have suffered greatly.”

At Sejong’s praise, Queen Soheon seemed finally to relax.

“Lead the Queen inside.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who had seen the pregnant Queen Soheon inside looking fatigued, entered the situation room without even changing his clothes.

“What’s the situation?”

“It seems the great fire is now under control.”

“How much damage has been done?”

“We’re still assessing. Fortunately, Jongmyo Shrine and Changgyeong Palace^4 were spared.”

“Phew~.”

Taking a long sigh, Sejong looked into the situation further.

“What about the victims?”

“We’re still counting.”

“Strengthen the security as thieves might take advantage of the chaos to steal.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“As the weather is cold, contact the military to set up tents.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After an urgent night, the report came that the great fire had been completely extinguished.

“It’s fortunate.”

As Sejong showed a sign of relief, cries of panic came from outside.

“Fire!”

“It’s a fire!”

As the cry of ‘Fire!’ rang out again, Sejong leapt to his feet.

“Where is it!”

“We’re checking right now…”

As Hwang Hui was about to give the order, an official rushed in from outside.

“Your Majesty! There’s a fire!”

“Where!”

“It’s near Jeonokseo^5!”

“Suppress the fire at once!”

“Yes!”

At Sejong’s command, the officials rushed out with anxious faces to carry out his orders.

Sejong, who had taken a moment to gather himself, looked more serious.

“It’s strange that the fire that was almost under control has flared up again! Someone has set this fire! Find the arsonist!”

“I accept the command!”

Thanks to the desperate efforts of the officials and citizens, the great fire in Hanyang was finally contained.

With the smell of burning in the air, Sejong reviewed the situation.

“Report the damage we have confirmed so far.”

“Yes, first of all, excluding infants and the elderly, there are 9 men and 23 women who have died. We are comparing the household registers to identify those who were burnt to death inside their homes.”

“Phew~. What about the houses?”

“Even without considering the counted in the vicinity of the Crown Prince’s Office’s residence and the previous palaces, it’s at least over 1800 houses.”

“This… they’ve lost their homes in this winter…”

When Sejong lamented, Hyang, who was beside him interjected, “Father. The loss of houses is a big problem, but loss of food is an even greater problem. People without food are more likely to commit crimes.”

“Indeed! I must contact the grain storage in Bupyeong immediately.”

Upon Sejong’s words, Hyang pointed out a problem. “Even if you contact the grain storage, it will take a long time to bring it and prepare it. The amount of dried ration in Area 51 is considerable, so use it first.”

“Can it be done when so many have lost their homes?”

“We can make time to prepare it from the grain storage.”

“Good! Do so!”

“I will obey your command!”

When Sejong gave his permission, Hyang immediately summoned an officer and relayed the orders to Area 51.

When public security became an issue, Sejong issued orders to his deputies.

“Order the military immediately to deploy troops. Maintain order with the deployed troops and personnel from Pocheong.”

“We will obey your command!”

“Also, set up tents in the places that escaped the flames or are left vacant, and make sure those who lost their homes can rest.”

“We will obey your command!”

“Lastly, post 5 guards at the central locations of each room and building and have the patrol officers and constables inspect each district.”

“We will obey your command!”

After issuing orders concerning public security, Sejong paused momentarily to gather his thoughts.

“I noticed something strange while experiencing this fire. We nearly put out the first big fire, so why did a second one occur? Although fires can spread with slight negligence, I do not understand. Someone must have committed arson; post the notice.”

Sejong decided on the content of the notice to catch the arsonist.

– If you catch and report the arsonist, commoners will be given an official position without distinction, and peasants will be exempted from taxes. Additionally, 200 bolts of cotton cloth will be given as a reward.

* * *

Although the great fire had reduced many parts of Hanyang to ashes, the recovery was surprisingly swift.

The first reason was the precise household information gathered through continuous inoculation campaigns.

The second reason was the great contribution of the dried ration provided by Hyang.

However, there was one side effect…

“Here, take your rice.”

“Sir…”

“What?”

“Can you give me the dried ration instead of rice?”

“Huh?”

“The side dishes were all burned.”

“…”

“All the pickled goods are overcooked and inedible? There’s no salt… Can you just give me the dried ration?”

The fatal side effect was that the taste preferences of the refugees had been unexpectedly upgraded.

Also, merchants alike all sought Hyang in Area 51.

“What’s the reason for seeking me?”

“We want to produce dried rations.”

“Huh?”

“It’s very useful as food on the road, can be stored for a long time, suitable as emergency food, and also good in taste and flavor, suitable as a special meal.”

Hearing the merchants’ explanation, the fragrance shook his head.

‘The instinct of a merchant!’

* * *

Meanwhile, many actively pursued the arsonists, following Sejong’s arrest order.

“We’ve caught the arsonists.”

“How many?”

“A total of 11.”

“They are vile wretches, aren’t they? What were they up to?”

“They are originally from Bukcheong, Gilju, Yeongheung, and most are water carriers.”

“Water carriers? Surely not!”

“It’s as you thought, Your Majesty.”

Upon hearing the answer from the Ministry of Law Enforcement, Sejong slammed his armrest.

“Have they ever seen such shameless people! Committing such acts for their gain! Execute them immediately, all male family members will be executed, and the wives and daughters will be made sl*ves!”

“We will obey your command!”

This judgment brought tragedy to many families, but few pitied them. Those who had lost wealth and family in an instant needed a target for their anger.

* * *

With the execution of the arsonists and the provision of relief grains and 300 market booths, the first phase of recovery ended.

“We need measures against fire, even if we build our houses again…”

Sejong, pausing his words, looked at Hyang.

“Crown Prince, will you give it a try? No, you’re still young; I must entrust this to someone else.”

“I will do it! Just entrust it to me!”

“Can you really do it?”

“I am confident!”

“I will trust you.”

“I will obey the command!”

With a confident reply, Hyang left the hall to prepare, and Sejong watched him go, smiling.

“Now, what will you show me this time?”

“How could I miss building a real-version of SimCity… huh?” Hyang, who had left energetically, suddenly stopped and tilted his head. “Why do I feel like I’ve been fooled?”

1. Hyang’s 8th sibling[↩]

2. Secondary Palace, aside from Gyeongbok Palace[↩]

3. Jongmyo is a shrine housing the spirit tablets of the former kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty.[↩]

4. Palace for the King’s concubines and consorts[↩]

5. Royal Prison[↩]

Chapter 79
SimCity Hanyang, SimCity Joseon (3)

Whether he was entrusted with the mission by Sejong or whether he was tricked into it was ambiguous, but Hyang gave it his best effort.

The first thing Hyang did was establish an institution called the “Hanyang Fire Damage Recovery Temporary Headquarters” in Area 51.

In Hyang’s Area 51, there were several craftsmen with architectural expertise, as continuous construction related to research had occurred.

Hyang conducted a meeting in the Area 51 conference hall, with senior officers like Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji in the front row, and middle-ranking officers in the back row.

“First, let’s confirm the exact extent of the damage.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, Lee Chun, with the title of “Deputy Director,” came forward.

Lee Chun’s soldiers hung a large map of Hanyang on the wall, and Lee Chun explained the situation with a long pointer.

“First, let’s check the damage to the buildings. First, 106 sections in the north of Eastern Palace Office were completely burned, along with 1630 civilian houses in the center, 150 in the east, 90 in the south, 8 sections of Jeonokseo (Royal Prison), and 200 houses around Jongno and nearby civilian areas. In total, 2,070 civilian houses have been destroyed. This number excludes the buildings in the palace and court that were destroyed.”

“What about casualties?”

“9 men and 23 women were rescued but died. Furthermore, 23 elderly, 15 children, 46 men, and 89 women were identified by comparing with the household register.”

“The damage is extensive.”

Jeong-cho shook his head gravely at Lee Chun’s report.

* * *

However, the actual historical damage was even greater.

[TL/N: Based on annals, the bandits were responsible for burning some 2000+ houses in the city, and some other 2170 houses near main administrative district. Ref: Ji-Hee et. al. (2013). Fires and fire prevention measures in Korea from 1392 to 1910.]]

Over 2,400 civilian houses were destroyed, and the record of the dead was as follows:

– Excluding the elderly and children, 9 men and 23 women died. Those who burned to death in their homes could not even be identified.

However, the efforts of administering vaccinations, the revision of the household register, and re-organization of the land registry helped in estimating the death toll more accurately.

Area 51 also contributed to reducing the damage.

Area 51, occupying most of the southern region of Hanyang (central Seoul in the 21st century), reduced the number of civilian houses in the vicinity due to its handling of various explosives and dangerous materials.

“A single mistake can lead to a major accident!”

Hyang, who was almost neurotic about it, rigorously conducted emergency response and disaster prevention drills.

It wasn’t just for the internal area of Area 51.

Training was also meticulous for situations where an internal accident spreads outside or an external anomaly spreads inside.

Thanks to this, the southern region suffered surprisingly little damage in this fire.

As the fire began to spread, those staying in Area 51 responded immediately.

“Extinguish all unnecessary flames now! Fire prevention teams, move to your positions immediately! Even resting soldiers, return to your positions! Watchtowers, keep an eye on the situation!”

“Yes!”

Under Lee Chun’s command, who was in charge of operating Area 51, they moved swiftly and efficiently.

The quick response ensured that the inside of Area 51 was safe.

“The fire is spreading!”

“Move according to plan 2!”

“Yes!”

The gates of Area 51 opened, and carts equipped with water barrels and pumps rushed out.

To stop the fire spreading from the south, those dispatched from Area 51 did their utmost.

The houses they were protecting from the flames were where their families lived.

Through such desperate efforts, they were able to reduce the number of houses destroyed in the southern region of Hanyang from 350 in the original history to just 90.

* * *

There was one place that Jeong-cho and others intentionally did not mention during the assessment of the damage, but Hyang pointed it out.

“In the west, I understand, but how come Bukchon^1 suffered almost no damage?”

“That is…”

When Lee Chun hesitated, Hyang added, “I already know. I just wanted you to say it.”

“I apologize.”

What Hyang pointed out was Bukchon’s wealthy area.

Bukchon, a luxury residential area where the major courtiers and influential nobles lived, was virtually unscathed in this fire.

Unlike the thatched roofs that would burn immediately, most were tiled roofs, and houses had high walls and spacious yards, reducing the chance of fire spreading.

Lastly, each house had many slaves, so even if a fire started, it could be extinguished immediately.

During the process of stopping this fire, the landlords of Bukchon gave these excuses and were reluctant to lend their slaves.

“We must prevent the fire from spreading!”

At this, Sejong was grinding his teeth.

“Watch and see!”

* * *

Having confirmed the damage, Hyang got up from his seat and went forward.

Hyang, who had taken the podium, opened his mouth looking at the people gathered in the conference room.

“As you can see from the signboard, we have been assigned the task of rebuilding the area damaged by this fire.”

“By rebuilding, do you mean restoring even the houses that burned down?”

Hyang shook his head at Jeong Inji’s question. “We lack the resources for that. Our goal is to change the structure of Hanyang to prevent such a fire from recurring. The starting point is the area lost in this fire, and the end point is all of Hanyang. The estimated duration is 5 years.”

The eyes of those gathered sparkled at Hyang’s words.

Nearly a generation had passed since Yi Seong-gye’s relocation to Hanyang. It was a time when various discomforts began to appear in slow-changing Joseon.

“Move the map to the table.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the soldiers removed the large map hanging on the wall and spread it on the large table in the center of the conference room.

Hyang opened his mouth, pointing at the map with a pointer.

“First of all, the beginning of all the work starts with the refurbishment of Cheonggyecheon^2…”

* * *

“…Therefore, we will connect Cheonggyecheon and the major streams flowing inside Hanyang with canals, collect the sewage in a waterway, and discharge it in a sewer. The benefits we get from this are easy sewage treatment in Hanyang, a clear partition between rooms and buildings, and quick response to not only fires like this one but also floods.”

The royal study room.

Hyang explained the ‘Hanyang Reconstruction Plan’ to Sejong and the ministers.

Sejong stroked his beard after hearing Hyang’s explanation.

“It’s bigger than expected.”

“I expect a period of 5 years. First, the focus is on rebuilding the area lost in this fire, and then gradually expanding the area.”

“Hmm, I see… But what is a paved road?”

“It literally means paving the road. If you look at the roads in Hanyang now, they turn into a muddy puddle when it rains, making it hard for both horses and people. This will pave it so that people and horses can travel without inconvenience even when it rains.”

“That’s good…”

As Sejong nodded his head, Hwang Hui asked a question.

“Does paving the road mean laying stone slabs? Wouldn’t that cost too much?”

The other ministers nodded at Hwang Hui’s point.

In the situation where the funds to support those who lost their homes and property in the fire were secured, the officials of the Ministry of Taxation even gave up going home.

Thanks to this, Sejong had given a special meal twice for the overworked officials of the Ministry of Taxation.

Hyang nodded at Hwang Hui’s point.

“That’s right. Laying stone slabs would cost a lot. So, we won’t use stone slabs. To be precise, we’ll make stone slabs.”

“Make stone slabs?”

Hyang’s answer made the eyes of Sejong and the ministers flash terrifyingly.

“How will you make them?”

“With lime.”

“Lime?”

In Joseon, lime was not a strange thing.

It was a common mineral, and it was used a lot in construction. There was a record in Sejong Sillok’s Geography:

-In Ganghwa Island’s mines, there is turquoise (a type of turkite) and rock, where turquoise is carved into steles, and the rock is cut and roasted for use.

Here, roasting means putting it in a lime kiln and burning it.

“Making roads with lime… Is that possible?”

“It’s possible!” Hyang confidently answered.

With Hyang’s confident answer, Sejong made up his mind.

“Good! Crown Prince, I trust you! Give it a try!”

“Your grace is boundless!”

Although he liked the Crown Prince’s grand plan and supported it, Sejong did not forget reality.

“The roads are important, but the urgent thing is to make shelter for those who lost their homes in this fire. How will you do that?”

Hyang answered without hesitation to Sejong’s question. “You are right. As I just mentioned, the road is important, but it is certain that the first thing to do is to rebuild the area that was lost in the fire. So…”

At Hyang’s gesture, the internal officer handed over a plan.

The next page of the plan showed the anticipated layout after rebuilding the area lost in the fire.

“This is the reconstruction plan for the area lost in the fire. As you can see, regulations have been set to dig one well for every five households to secure water for daily life and fire prevention.”

“Can so many wells be secured?”

Hwang Hui’s question was answered by the Minister of Public Works.

“It’s possible. Contrary to expectations, Hanyang is not a place that lacks water.”

Seoul – particularly the Hanyang region during the Joseon Dynasty – had abundant groundwater.

Among the experiences shared by the fathers and uncles of the 21st century, there was a story that they thought a sewer had burst by the side of the Jongno subway line as water flowed, but it was actually groundwater.

In fact, there was also an article that among the management issues of high-rise buildings located in the Seoul Jongno area, the largest part is groundwater management. (Note 2)

“But why do we need water carriers?”

Hwang Hui’s question was met with a simple answer from the 2nd Minister of Public Works.

“There is the issue of having to dig a bit deep.”

“Oh, goodness… tsk.”

Hwang Hui, who was about to click his tongue, hurriedly stopped. In this court, only two people could click their tongue without punishment.

One was Sejong, who had popularized this hot-tempered habit, and the other was his son, Hyang.

With the support of the 2nd Minister of Public Works, Hyang explained,

“Digging wells is a two-fold plan. It provides work for the refugees who lost their homes to the fire and an opportunity to gather funds to rebuild. That’s one part. The other is the securing of water for daily life and fire prevention.”

“That’s good… But is there a reason to pave the roads everywhere?”

“If you look at Hanyang’s alleys now, they are like a tangled maze. Consider the recent fire. The closely clustered thatched houses caught fire in an instant, and the people trapped in the maze-like alleys were engulfed in flames, resulting in death and injury. Therefore, we need to widen the roads and organize the blocks so that the people can easily escape in an emergency.”

Sejong and his ministers nodded at Hyang’s words.

“And it’s also good for public order. Now, in the maze-like alleys of Hanyang, if the city patrol and stars chase a criminal who hides in these alleys, they can’t easily find him. To solve this, many personnel must be deployed, which then creates a gap elsewhere. However, by organizing the blocks like this, efficiency is increased.”

“That’s good.”

As Sejong was nodding, Hwang Hui, who had been examining the map, pointed to a place.

“According to the map, there are public baths here and there; are they really baths?”

“Yes.”

Hyang’s answer led Hwang Hui to point out a problem.

“Baths will be good for fire prevention as they collect a lot of water. However, as seen in previous times, if men and women gather together and undress to bathe, it becomes a hotbed of corruption.”

“We are well aware. So the new public baths will separate men and women from the entrance, and even the buildings themselves will be separate, and a wall will be built between the two buildings.”

“Is there a need to build baths to that extent?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Hyang nodded vigorously.

“Of course! Regular bathing can prevent epidemics!”

“Huh?”

* * *

When Sejong and his ministers showed interest, Hyang ordered an aide to submit a medical report.

“This is a medical record for those working in Area 51 and their families.”

“Medical record?”

“Since the area is a place where they handle a lot of dangerous materials, there are many injuries. But setting that aside! If you look at the section on skin conditions and other diseases, you will see that the incidence of skin diseases has greatly reduced after regular bathing. If we sum up the opinions of the physicians who were in charge at that time, not only have skin diseases decreased, but maintaining cleanliness also reduced minor ailments.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang’s words made Sejong and his ministers contemplate between practical reality and Confucian propriety. Seeing their dilemma, Hyang sprinkled some MSG.

“Also, using these baths properly can help with corruption.”

“How?”

Sejong was greatly interested in Hyang’s words.

“Isn’t it a hassle to carry cotton cloth and rice every time you want to bathe^3?”

“Ah!”

Funnily enough, this very issue led Sejong and his ministers to support Hyang’s public baths.

—–

Note 1) Song Jong-taek. Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Dankook University. Ceramist. February 2009.

Note 2) Field Tracking 1234. June 10, 1999. KBS.

1. Original wealthy village. Read more on “Bukchon Hanok Village”.[↩]

2. A stream flowing from west to east of current Seoul[↩]

3. In those times, rice was often used as a form of payment or gift to the bathhouse attendants. However it may sometimes be used as a bribe. Also as for carrying cotton, what Hyang meant is since public nudity is considered frowned upon, the public will usually bring a separate garment for them to wear after bathing in streams or near wells, which were a hassle in reality.[↩]

Chapter 80
SimCity Hanyang, SimCity Joseon (4)

“Hmm… The recovery process is well underway, so let’s think about ways to prevent experiencing such a tragic event like this again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even as they replied, the officials’ heads automatically turned. Their expressions were uniformly uneasy, and at the end of their gaze, Hyang sat.

As expected, whenever Hyang’s mouth opened first, the officials could not help but let out a small sigh.

“We need to create an organization that can respond primarily to not only fires but also floods and other disasters.”

“Create an organization?”

Upon King Sejong’s interest, Hyang elaborated more.

“When I manage Area 51, I also operate a disaster prevention team. As you may know, Area 51 uses a lot of fire, but it also contains many dangerous substances like gunpowder.”

“I see.”

“This time, the disaster prevention team of Area 51 played a significant role in controlling the fire that spread to the southern area of the capital. Considering this, I think we should create an organization that can protect the entire capital.”

“Bring the fire report.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After reviewing the report on the fire damage, Sejong nodded.

“Indeed, it’s the result of training?”

“It is the result of training, but also the specialized equipment.”

“Specialized equipment? Let’s see it.”

The following officials murmured quietly.

“Beating the drum and playing the gong.”

“Sigh. What now…”

“Do they know and get along? Or do they get along without knowing?”

* * *

At Hyang’s request, carts carrying the disaster prevention team’s equipment from Area 51 headed to the palace.

“Hmm… The helmets are peculiar to begin with.”

The helmets worn by the disaster prevention team had a longer brim at the back rather than the front. They were made with thick leather on the outside, without metal plates, and thick padding inside to protect the head from shocks and heat.

The clothing was the same. Thick padding was used to protect the wearer from shock and heat.

However, what caught Sejong and the officials’ attention was the water-spouting vehicle.

“This cart puts out fires?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong carefully examined the cart.

At the back of the cart was a large water tank, and in front of it was a round bronze mechanism that seemed like a cylinder laid on its side. A thick bronze tube connected the water tank and the bronze mechanism.

“How does it operate?”

“Let me show you.”

At Hyang’s command, the disaster prevention team members connected a hose made of cloth to the bronze mechanism on the cart. Two of them held the bronze handle firmly at the end of the hose, and two more started turning the handle on the bronze mechanism.

Swoosh!

A thick jet of water burst out from the bronze spout at the end of the hose, and Sejong and the officials applauded.

“Oh, oh, oh!”

“It’s indeed perfect for extinguishing fires!”

“That’s correct!”

Hyang explained to Sejong and the officials.

“If we deploy a special force equipped with such equipment in certain areas, we can contain the fire early on, and even if it’s bigger than expected, we can prevent it from spreading widely.”

“That makes sense.”

Sejong and the other officials nodded, while some officials sighed in relief and glanced away, as if saying ‘not us!’.

There was someone there whose face was growing paler.

He was Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation.

“Your, Your Highness… How much are we designating for a specific area?”

Seeing the pale face of the Minister of Taxation, Hyang briefly calculated and answered.

“The fewer households in a district, the safer, but considering the budget, at least 2 places in 1 block. And there must be at least 3 water-spouting vehicles in the designated places.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Taxation quickly calculated.

‘52 blocks in 5 parts of Hanyang, so at least 104 places, each with at least 3… 312… the budget… but if something like this happens again… ’

As the calculation got complicated with various variables, the Minister of Taxation’s expression became complex, so Hyang added.

“It will take a lot of money to create and equip them, and maintaining them will cost a considerable amount. But having these prepared people means quick responses when something happens, right? Then we can reduce the damage, and the cost of reconstruction can be reduced as well.”

At Hyang’s words, the Minister of Taxation sighed deeply.

“Huu~. I understand that well. But the budget is the problem. The budget…”

At the Minister of Taxation’s grumbling, Hwang Hui stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, I think we should release some of the silver from selling Buddhist scriptures and the silver stored from mining.”

At Hwang Hui’s sincere advice, Sejong nodded.

“That seems necessary.”

Upon Sejong’s decision, the Minister of Taxation deeply bowed in that spot.

“Your grace is boundless!”

It was indeed a voice filled with emotion.

* * *

The responsibility for rebuilding the area that was destroyed by fire was entrusted to Hyang, but the royal court wasn’t just idling.

First, they announced the names of those who passed the regular civil service examination.

“…According to tradition, we would have hosted a celebration to congratulate those who passed, but given the current unfortunate situation, it is hence canceled, and I apologize. Continuing from last year…”

The Minister of Personnel, who recited Sejong’s words of apology and encouragement to the successful candidates, looked at them and smiled brightly.

“Now, the situation is urgent, so practical training will follow quickly! So, follow me! Anyone who falls behind from here will have their acceptance revoked and sent home at once!”

The shouts of joy for passing the exam had barely subsided for half a moment when the successful candidates began to scream in terror.

What followed next concerned the soldiers:

– If there are families that have committed crimes and been forced into military service after losing their homes in a fire, they will be investigated and reported.

– Among those residing in the affected areas, those wishing to quit their jobs will be immediately permitted, and those volunteering to continue working will be given a two-month leave to rebuild their homes.

A significant number of people chose to stay instead of retiring.

– Give those who work in departments that support the palace and various government offices, such as the Royal Attire Office, seven months of leave.

– Among those who have come up from the provinces to Hanyang for their duties this month, those who used to live in rented houses should be immediately sent back home.

– Even if someone has a house in the affected area but must come out to work in the palace or government offices as a craftsman, count his wife’s labor as well and pay the salary.

At the last command, Hyang whistled.

“This guy, he’s really spending when he opens his purse, huh?”

This was the same measure as in the original history, but thanks to funds that had been diligently saved and set aside over time, there were no objections.

The following reconstruction efforts led to the decision to change the landscape of Hanyang.

Hyang submitted the approval documents to Sejong.

“There were various reasons why the fire spread so severely this time, but one of the biggest reasons among them is that the houses are too close together. We’ve solved this to some extent through rezoning during reconstruction, but I need your royal approval to solve other problems.”

“What is it?”

“Except for the nobles’ houses, government buildings, and a few other structures, most have thatched roofs. We need to replace them with tiles.”

At the Hyang’s request, Sejong nodded his head.

“I see. Minister of Taxation, Minister of Public Works.”

“Yes! We await your command. Sire! Let’s discuss our thoughts.”

Thus, the three officials in charge of practical matters completed the plan within a day and submitted it to Sejong.

Upon reading the plan, Sejong immediately stamped his approval.

“Let it be done.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

Sejong’s decision was gratefully acknowledged by Hyang, Minister of Taxation, and Minister of Public Works, who bowed their heads.

Hyang himself was also surprised.

‘What’s this! They’re moving even faster than 21st-century bureaucrats!’

In the original history, Sejong had made the same decision. However, what had changed since the Minister’s intervention was that while the original history used traditional tiles, now they were using tiles made from hydraulic lime created by the Hyang.

“Gather the kiln masters, clay, new labor, and make kilns for the tiles. It will take a lot of time. Let’s use hydraulic lime.”

“But don’t you have to bake the hydraulic lime in the kiln too?”

“We have kilns and manpower in Area 51. All we need is limestone and coal for the kiln. You can use the sand that we’ve dredged and piled up on the banks of the Han River over the last two years.”

“A good idea!”

At Hyang’s exclamation, the Minister of Taxation was pleased.

‘I can reduce the budget! The budget!’

However, the Minister of Taxation’s joy did not last even a day.

It was because Hyang had submitted a housing fund support plan for the commoners to Sejong.

“The state should support the construction fund?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Where would those who have lost both houses and property in this fire find the money to rebuild their homes? Even if they gather mud and straw from nearby to build the walls, where would they find the materials for the rafters, crossbeams, and columns? And where will they find the money to buy the tiles for the roof? They will have to use high-interest loans. But if the government lends them the money at a low rate, they can avoid harsh actions like selling their children or siblings.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong stroked his beard, lost in thought.

The suffering of the people from usury was not something that had just started yesterday.

“What interest rate would you suggest then?”

“2% per year.”

“2% per year… Building a house is no trivial expense, so that’s not a low figure.”

“That’s true. That’s why I’ve thought about a ‘installments’.'”

“Installments?”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers were all ears.

After listening to Hyang’s explanation for a while, Sejong slapped his knee.

“A brilliant idea! Let’s proceed with it! Call the Minister of Taxation!”

The Minister of Taxation responded immediately to Sejong’s summons.

“I, I will prepare and submit the proposal immediately…”

“Truly great, Minister of Taxation! Your excellence reassures me!”

“Your praise is too generous!”

The Minister of Taxation bowed in humble response to Sejong’s praise, but inside, he was moved to tears.

‘I, Kim Jeom. I might be able to save my reputation at this rate!’

But Hyang’s remarks were not over yet.

“Your Majesty. While investigating property owners to rebuild the houses lost in the recent fire, I discovered something I never knew before.”

Simultaneously, Kim Jeom began to sweat cold beads down his spine.

Above his expression hung a cry, ‘Please stop!’

“What have you newly discovered?”

To Sejong’s inquiry, Hyang briefly replied, “There were many leaseholders in Hanyang.”

Hyang’s expression while answering was quite complex.

‘In the Joseon Dynasty, a landlord of a well? I could understand if you were a landowner, but a landlord of a well?’

Hanyang’s housing shortage was quite famous.

Officials and soldiers coming from the provinces to make a living, and those newly appointed to government positions, had no homes in Hanyang, and had to find rented houses or live in rented rooms.

Hence, reading Joseon history or the writings of famous people, there were more than a few stories about the sorrow of living in rented rooms.

So Hyang was astounded to learn the truth.

“Rented houses…”

As Sejong was mulling over the words, several officials nodded in agreement.

While many of those with a higher status had proper homes in Bukchon, there were many ministers still living in rented houses.

In particular, low-ranking officials were staring at Hyang’s mouth with shining eyes.

“Yes, living in someone else’s house brings much sorrow. I’ve heard the saying that a thatched roof of one’s own is far better than a tiled roof of a rented house.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty!”

Many officials responded loudly to Sejong’s words.

“Do any of you live in rented houses?”

“…”

“Oh my… So what should we do?”

“It is said that abolishing rented houses immediately is unreasonable, as renting them out is not a crime in itself.”

“That’s true.”

“So… How about building official residences after the reconstruction?”

“Official residences? Like those for provincial governors?”

“Similar, Your Majesty. We’ll submit a proposal later.”

“Understood. I look forward to it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The scribe recording Sejong and Hyang’s conversation wrote as follows:

– Therefore, His Majesty ordered the Crown Prince to submit a proposal.

The scribe wrote:

The sorrow of living in rented rooms knows no bounds of rank or wealth; how can it not be lamented?

In this situation, where only the wisdom of the crown prince can be relied upon, the senior officials and ministers must surely be held accountable.

Chapter 81
SimCity Hanyang, SimCity Joseon (5)

The meeting at the government office had come to an end and the Minister of Taxation returned to his personal office with a sigh.

“Sigh~ No matter how endlessly I work, it never seems to end. Should I just resign? No, I can’t. His Majesty surely wouldn’t just let me resign like that…”

As he was seriously contemplating whether to resign or not, an inner chamberlain came looking for him.

“Your Excellency, Minister of Taxation, are you there?”

“I am here. What is it?”

“His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince has sent this to you.”

“Huh?”

The chamberlain held out a cloth wrapped in silk to the Minister of Taxation.

“He said, ‘I look forward to your continued support,’ as he handed this to me.”

“Tell him I’m deeply humbled by this gracious gift.”

“Yes.”

After the chamberlain left, the Minister of Taxation stared at the wrapped cloth without a word for a long time.

“Somehow I feel that unwrapping this won’t bring anything good…”

Hesitatingly, the Minister of Taxation untied the knot of the cloth.

Inside, a small wooden box was placed.

“Sigh.”

He sighed as he opened the wooden box, then sighed again.

“Be it the King or the Crown Prince…”

In the box was a precious-looking wild ginseng.

* * *

Meanwhile, inside the Minister of Taxation’s main residence, the scent of tonic lingered in the air.

“What’s the point of all this…”

Madam Kwon, Minister of Taxation’s wife was fanning the brazier with the tonic pot on it, then grumbled.

The tonic currently being cooked in the pot was a precious tonic personally bestowed by King Sejong not long ago.

Although she could simply order a maidservant to do it, it was a precious gift from the King. If not handled properly, there might be gossip, so Madam Kwon was preparing it herself.

However, her dissatisfaction lay elsewhere.

“What’s the use of feeding him tonic? What’s the point!”

Her husband, whenever he came home, was like a busy nobleman.

It was hard to blame him since he wasn’t spending his time at pleasure houses but working for the nation until he was worn out.

Madam Kwon angrily fanned the fire, muttering.

“This tonic isn’t even worth the price!”

* * *

With the arrival of late February, the reconstruction work began in earnest.

A temporary construction office was set up near Jonglu, and Hyang meticulously directed the work.

“First, let’s simultaneously carry out the connection between Cheonggyecheon and nearby streams and the clearing and management of the fire-damaged areas.”

A government official who had joined the Public Works Department confirmed the situation once more.

“Shall we prioritize connecting Cheonggyecheon to Jongno and the fire-damaged areas?”

“That would be the most reasonable, right?”

“It’s the most suitable in terms of manpower allocation.”

“Then, let’s do that. That said…”

Hyang looked at the Public Works official before him with an expression of realization.

“You seem quite familiar with this kind of work?”

At Hyang’s question, the Public Works official smiled slightly and answered, “Coincidentally, my first job was the construction of the current Hanyang.”

“Really? Your rank?”

Hyang eyed the ‘living historical figure’ official’s uniform. It was old but neat, and its color was blue.

“I’m a 6th rank inspector.”

“You started from the bottom, it seems?”

“Yes, I did.”

Seeing the bittersweet expression on the Public Works official’s face, Hyang encouraged him.

“This too is fate; let’s create a masterpiece together.”

“I will do my very best!”

At Hyang’s words, the Public Works official bowed deeply in reply. He too understood what Hyang meant.

He had been working hard up until now, but with Hyang’s words, the Public Works official showed even more passion. Hyang softly murmured at his sight.

“People like him aren’t rare.”

In the 21st century, too, there were many who were talented and diligent but surprisingly unrecognized.

The sad back figure of those who became self-abandoned over time, only doing what was given to them, overlapped with the back figure of the Public Works official walking away.

Watching that back figure, Hyang made another decision.

“We need many capable people to overhaul this whole Joseon. The only answer is to select those with both skills and experience!”

That night, upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Hyang began drafting a new proposal.

It was a proposal with an incredibly long title, ‘On the Establishment of a Specialized Agency for National Development Management.’

It proposed the creation of an institution responsible for comprehensive management by selecting those with both abilities and experience, regardless of rank.

* * *

The first thing done in the reconstruction of the disaster-stricken area was the organization of the blocks.

“What would be a good standard for organizing the blocks?”

At the question from Hyang, the executives who were momentarily glancing at each other responded immediately.

“It’s the well.”

“Exactly. By digging a well and organizing the blocks according to it, we can properly align the roads and sewage system.”

“Then, let’s do that. Fortunately, the prototype of the drilling machine has been completed, so we can check its efficiency as well. Good.”

“A drilling machine?”

The executives tilted their heads at Hyang’s words. The next day, three drilling machines were dispatched from Area 51 and arrived.

“Is this it?”

“Yes.”

The craftsman who had been in charge of the development and test operation of the drilling machine explained its benefits to the executives.

“It takes less time than digging a well manually.”

“Really?”

“The best benefit of saving time is that we can quickly determine the usability of the well after digging it.”

“Really? Let’s get started then.”

“Yes.”

The drilling machines, divided into three large parts, immediately began work in the disaster-stricken area.

“Hmm… This seems like a good spot.”

After examining the rough sketch of the temporarily designated area and the terrain, the drilling team leader designated a likely spot for groundwater.

“We will dig here! Set it up!”

“Yes!”

At the drilling team leader’s command, the team members moved quickly. They set up a sturdy iron tripod and installed a driving unit for drilling on top.

Lastly, they connected a spiral-shaped drilling rod and an iron pillar to the driver.

Once the initial installation was complete, the team members connected an iron pillar about 1 jang (approximately 3.3m) in length to the driver and brought an ox to pull it.

“Go!”

“Moo~.”

A light tap on the ox’s hindquarters got it moving slowly.

As the ox slowly circled, the connected driver rotated, driving the drill into the ground.

“Hmm…”

As the drilling machine started to work, the people responsible for the area gathered to watch the process.

“It seems fine, doesn’t it?”

“It seems usable.”

The drilling team leader answered confidently to the favorable reactions of the managers.

“With this, we’ve dug wells so well in Area 51! When we were digging the ground for days and the water didn’t come out, how frustrating was it? But using this, that time is drastically reduced!”

“Hmm… that’s true…”

Swoosh!

“Water!”

After two days of drilling, water gushed up through the borehole. The onlookers all applauded.

“It’s water!”

“Wow! Look at the water spouting up!”

As the water sprang up, the drilling team leader dismantled the drilling machine. Then, the gathered managers and residents determined whether the well would be of sufficient quantity and quality.

“This seems fine, doesn’t it?”

“It seems like it will be a good well.”

With the conclusion reached, the drilling team leader gathered the equipment and people to move on to the next well. The remaining managers gathered the people.

“Now we have to build the well properly, so move quickly! There’s a mountain of work to do!”

“Yes, My Lord!”

The drilling machine performed exceptionally well at the reconstruction site. With the drilling machine doing a significant part, water source procurement was quickly accomplished, and the organization of the blocks rapidly accelerated.

The arrangement of houses and drainage channels was determined around the well, and based on the land and household registration books, housing areas were distributed to the disaster victims.

“It’s good, but…”

Although they had received the land, the faces of the displaced people did not easily brighten up. It was because of the financial problem of building a house.

“Ahem! Who’s the landowner of this land?”

The homeowner, who had been lost in worry, was startled and responded as the manager came looking for the landowner.

“It’s me, sir. What’s the matter?”

“You, do you have money to build a house?”

“Whew~. Everything’s gone up in flames; there’s no way I have it.”

“Hmm… Well, the country has decided to lend money this time. Do you have a moment?”

At the official’s words, the homeowner spread a straw mat that was on one side and extended his hand to the manager.

“Oh my! I have to make time even if I don’t have any! First, please sit here!”

After listening to the manager’s explanation for a while, the homeowner tilted his head slightly and asked a question.

“I understand what you’re saying, but what’s a grace period?”

“It’s when you only pay interest for the duration you want, and repay the principal afterward. So if it’s a 3-year grace period with 3-year repayment, you only pay interest for the first 3 years, and then you pay interest and principal in installments over the next 3 years.”

“Aha!”

“The interest rate is only 3% per year. You’ve probably tried using long-term loans, so you know that the cheapest interest is 5%, right? But only receiving that is called ‘Bosal’ (meaning a kind-hearted lender). Isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“So think it over.”

“But where should I go to borrow the money?”

“Come to the government office. That’s all.”

When the manager, who finished explaining, brushed off his seat and got up, the homeowner quickly stood up.

“No, please have a glass of cold water before you go.”

“I’m good. I have many more houses to visit. So, think it over.”

Having finished explaining, the manager hurried to the next house, walking briskly.

“Please take care!”

Having seen off the manager, the homeowner sat down in a corner of the yard and began calculating.

“So, to build a house, I need money… What I earn in a year is… If the interest rate is 3%…”

In one corner of the yard, the homeowner moved little stones around, calculating.

* * *

Three days later, having done his calculations, the homeowner decided and went to the government office.

“Excuse me… sir…”

Standing hesitantly at the entrance of the government office, the homeowner stopped an official passing by.

“What’s the matter?”

With a weary face from the day, the official who was leaving the government gate turned his head at the voice that grabbed him.

Seeing the look of the person who spoke to him, the official made a face that said he understood what it was about.

“Are you here for the loan?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go inside and head straight to the right, there’ll be a room there.”

“Yes? Yes. Thank you, sir.”

With the official’s explanation, the homeowner bowed his waist deeply in thanks and crossed the threshold of the government office.

He quickly found the place in question.

The homeowner, heading to where people with similar looks were gathered, waited for his turn.

Things went smoothly from then on.

“Park Soon-bok… family of five?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then you need at least three rooms, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then the cost is…”

Thus, Park Soon-bok received loan counseling and exited with a piece of paper.

“Go to the Supply Department?”

Holding the paper, Park Soon-bok moved his steps towards the Supply Department.

“Let’s see… Park Soon-bok… what year were you born?”

Holding a copy of the household register, an official verified the person and checked the contents written on the paper.

“3 rooms… necessary material amount is…”

The official read the amount of materials needed to build Park Soon-bok’s house and confirmed it.

“…that’s all, is there anything missing?”

“Yes. But do we have to use tile roofing? It’s expensive.”

“What if there’s another fire? You want to lose everything again in one go?”

“That can’t happen!”

“Since cheaper roof tiles came out this time, let’s try using them. If you don’t like them after trying, earn some money and replace them later.”

“…Yes.”

So having confirmed all the materials for construction, the supply official handed the papers to Park Soon-bok.

“Put your thumbprint there.”

“Excuse me? Yes.”

At the supply official’s command, Park Soon-bok diligently put his thumbprint with ink on his thumb.

“Now, take these papers and keep them safe. One is a receipt with the list of materials, and the other is a record of how much you’ve borrowed and when you’ll repay it.”

“Yes.”

“The materials will…” The official paused, leafed through a book stacked beside him, and continued, “They will arrive at your plot in four days. Hire the laborers yourself. You can take turns building with your neighbors, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then we’re done. You can leave now. Next!”

Having come out of the supply building, Park Soon-bok blinked and muttered, “What is this…”What is this… It’s not even a trick played by a goblin…”

* * *

As the reconstruction of the affected areas began in earnest, there was a shortage of workers. Even though day laborers flocked from other parts of Hanyang, it was still insufficient.

Many houses were being built simultaneously, and road construction was underway, which was the reason.

In the end, King Sejong issued an order to the army.

“Borrow available soldiers from the 12 divisions guarding the capital!”

“We obey the command!”

Thus, the borrowed soldiers sweated on the construction sites.

Meanwhile, some generals were observing the scene and sharing their opinions.

“Hmmm… The Crown Prince’s suggestion does not seem entirely wrong, does it?”

“Indeed.”

They were generals from the Joseon Army General Staff Headquarters.

During a massive reform in the Joseon Army, a proposal was made for the creation of a new troop division.

The proposed division was the engineers.

However, most of the generals had reacted negatively to the proposal.

-A soldier who can’t chop with an axe or hammer is rare, so creating a separate division is unnecessary.

This negative response from the generals changed direction to ‘necessary!’ during the recovery process of the Hanyang Great Fire.

Eventually, at the end of resumed discussions, the Engineer Corps was established.

‘Even if the spear and sword rust, the shovel blade shines!’

‘One shovel, one task!’

‘If given a shovel and a pickaxe, I shall move mountains and rivers!’

It was the birth of a division that created all kinds of rumors and legends.

Chapter 82
The Man in White (1)

As March approached, a strange rumor began to circulate in Hanyang.

Hearing the rumor, Hanyang’s magistrate, Kwon Jin, immediately reported to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, there is a false and slanderous rumor circulating within the capital.”

“A slanderous rumor, you say? What is it?”

“It is truly disgraceful to even mention…”

“That’s fine. Tell me.”

At Sejong’s command, Kwon Jin cautiously recounted the content of the rumor.

“‘Crows cry in the pine tree at the royal tomb, the sky plays tricks with the weather, and the black clouds that drift as rain falls signal the time for a change in dynasty.’ This is what it says…”

Before Kwon Jin finished speaking, Sejong slammed down his armrest and yelled, “How audacious!”

At Sejong’s outburst, the ministers sealed their lips and looked for cues.

“So, has the source of this disgraceful rumor been found?”

“We are investigating with all our efforts.”

“You must find the person spreading this falsehood!”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

After giving his command to Hanyang’s magistrate, Sejong gave an order to the Minister of Law and Punishment.

“Are there still those trying to commit arson?”

“Your Majesty, indeed, there are still those carrying out such reckless acts.”

“What insolence!”

Sejong slammed down his armrest once again, bursting with anger.

After the large fire in February, there had been attempts by some to start fires, hoping to use the opportunity to steal.

However, many of their attempts ended in merely burning houses.

Military forces guarding the capital were deployed throughout Hanyang for reconstruction of the affected areas and maintaining law and order.

Not only the military, but also the residents of the neighborhoods organized watch shifts, climbing onto rooftops to guard in all directions.

As the sun set, all passage was prohibited. After sunset, those found outside without special permission for night work were immediately arrested and imprisoned in the city jail.

Despite these tightened security measures, attempts at arson continued.

Over 50 houses had burned since the large fire, with casualties and refugees as a result.

However, those committing arson were quickly caught by the police and soldiers, and they were executed.

While an investigation to catch the person spreading the rumor of a changing dynasty was underway, another rumor started to circulate.

‘This fire was caused by the Minister of War, Jo Mal-saeng! The Minister of War, Jo Mal-saeng, ordered a fire to burn the weapons as soon as the king left the capital, and Yon Sa-jong of Goksan tried to hatch a plot when he did not follow the king. Also, Jo Mal-saeng’s son, Jo Seon, and his relative, Lee In of Gongnyeong, tried to attack the palace after setting the fire.’

Upon hearing this rumor, Jo Mal-saeng prostrated himself before Sejong, crying out his innocence.

“Your Majesty! I have not committed such a reckless act! Please believe in my loyalty!”

“That must be true. Since the time of the previous king, you have been faithfully serving.”

Consoling Jo Mal-saeng, Sejong issued a command.

“Find out who is spreading this groundless rumor quickly and punish them!”

After an extensive investigation across Hanyang, a suspect was apprehended.

“We’ve caught the suspect.”

“Who is it?”

“It is a man named Kim Yong-saeng, who once held an official post.”

Hearing Hanyang’s magistrate’s response, Sejong expressed doubt.

“An official post? That means at least a Grade 3 high-ranking official, right? Why would such a person spread this false rumor?”

“We are currently investigating the reason.”

“Hand him over to the Royal Secretariat for a swift verification of the facts.”

“Understood, Your Majesty!”

Days passed, and the Royal Secretary personally reported the investigation to Sejong.

“Kim Yong-saeng held a deep personal grudge against Minister of War Jo Mal-saeng and Yon Sa-jong of Goksan, which led him to commit this act.”

“Oh…”

Sejong sighed at the Royal Secretary’s explanation.

“What on earth could have caused such a grudge that led him to do this? Regardless of whether the accusation is true or false, one side will be utterly ruined, will they not?”

Sejong’s question was valid.

Accusations of treason were life-or-death gambles for both accuser and accused.

If the accusation was true, the accused’s entire family would be destroyed; if false, the opposite would happen.

“That’s…”

“Speak.”

At Sejong’s command, the Royal Secretary explained the situation.

“…So, due to this bribery issue, Kim Yong-saeng, who had held a grudge, spread the false rumor.”

“Oh…”

Sejong was flabbergasted and speechless. His eyes were fixed on Jo Mal-saeng, who was bowed to one side.

“Minister Jo Mal-Saeng.”

“Yes, yes! Your Majesty!”

“You must remember what the late king said to you. ‘I want to give you a promotion, but I’ll do it slowly, so don’t decline.’”

“Your Majesty…”

Sejong’s voice became increasingly cold.

“For the time being, be prudent. Auditor General, listen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Investigate the bribery issues related to the Minister Jo Mal-Saeng.”

“Your command is received!”

The voice of the responding Auditor General was excited.

And it wasn’t just the Auditor General who was excited. After a long time, the officers of the Censorate investigated zealously.

As a result, a bribery scandal, arguably the largest in the Joseon Dynasty during Sejong’s reign, was revealed.

It was a scandal recorded in the annals as the “Kim Do-yeon Bribery Case.”

“According to our investigation, a man named Kim Do-yeon bribed former and current officials, including the Minister Jo Mal-Saeng and the Commander of Goksan, manipulating lawsuits. He robbed the property and slaves of brothers Kim Song and Kim Jin, who live in Hongwon-hyeon of Hamheung-bu, and made hundreds of relatives slaves.”

“Heavens…”

Sejong’s face showed a loss for words at the Auditor General’s report.

According to the report, Kim Do-yeon’s case showed vividly what ‘inhumanity beneath a human face’ means.

The crime started with Kim Do-yeon’s greed for Kim Saeng’s property. Kim Saeng, who had migrated to Hamgyeong-do and after many twists and turns became a wealthy man with vast rice fields and over a thousand slaves, was originally a friend of Kim Do-yeon’s grandfather.

Kim Do-yeon, envious of this wealth, fabricated documents claiming that Kim Saeng was originally his family’s slave but had fled to Hamgyeong-do, and initiated a lawsuit.

To win this lawsuit, Kim Do-yeon bribed high-ranking officials enormously.

Thanks to those bribes, Kim Do-yeon won the lawsuit, and made Kim Saeng’s descendants, numbering 426, and over a thousand slaves, and fields, his own.

“…So, the list of those who took bribes from this Kim Do-yeon is as follows.”

Sejong, unrolling the scroll handed to him by the Auditor General, checked the names written on it.

“Minister Jo Mal-Saeng and the Commander of Goksan are at the top.”

At Sejong’s words, Jo Mal-saeng bowed deeply and cried out.

“Please grant mercy!”

Ignoring Jo Mal-saeng’s cry, Sejong gave an order to the Auditor General.

“The Censorate and the Inspectorate shall investigate immediately how much these people on the list have taken and report it.”

“Your command is received!”

The voices of the responding Auditor General and the Grand Inspector were filled with vigor.

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had heard the rumor while working at the research institute, hastily organized the documents.

“It’s frustrating to just watch this happening. This is an opportunity to uproot the practice of bribery!”

The Censorate and the Inspectorate were bustling like fish in water.

According to the report sent by the inspector dispatched to Hamgyeong-do (a monitoring position dispatched by the Censorate to each province), a total of 19 former and current high and low-ranking officials were bribed with 132 slaves.

And the one who received the most was Jo Mal-saeng, with 36.

The Auditor General Kwon Do who submitted the list to Sejong argued as follows:

“The bribes Jo Mal-saeng received, counting only the slaves, amount to 780 *gwan*. By law, we may overlook up to 40 *gwan*, but if it exceeds 80 *gwan*, it must be met with execution!”

“Is that so?”

“If we forgive such a person, who enjoyed the great trust of the late king, who will follow the law?”

“Ah~.”

As Sejong hesitated, the Auditor General and Grand Inspector simultaneously bowed and raised their voices.

“Please punish him severely!”

“He must be executed! Please punish him severely!”

As the Auditor General and Grand Inspector vehemently advocated for execution, Sejong looked at Minister Jo Mal-Saeng with resentful eyes.

As he looked at the trembling back of Jo Mal-saeng, who was bowed down, Sejong became lost in thought.

He had been a faithful servant, having earned a reputation since the reign of the late king.

He was also one of those who followed Sejong’s policy well and gave good advice, and that person was Jo Mal-saeng.

According to the law, execution would be the correct punishment, but the problem was that bribery was the daily practice of officials.

If they punished all the officials who took bribes according to the law, only those with little experience who only knew how to follow orders would remain in the court.

‘I wish I could execute them all like the Crown Prince said, but the situation… ’

“Your Majesty, may I express my thoughts?”

Reading Sejong’s expression, Hyang opened his mouth, to which Sejong seemed to have been waiting, answered, “Speak.”

“The punishment of those who have taken bribes is urgent, and it is also urgent to restore the identities of those who have been wronged by unjust lawsuits. How about handling this first?”

“Indeed! Send someone immediately to restore the identities and properties of the descendants of Kim Saeng, who have been wronged by false lawsuits!”

“I accept your command!”

“Furthermore, we must punish Kim Do-yeon, who committed such heinous crimes.

Kim Do-yeon’s crimes are not one or two.

First, he instigated false lawsuits for his own greed; that’s one crime.

Second, he manipulated documents to treat commoners as slaves and disrupted the country’s public affairs; that’s another crime.

Third, he spread bribes to achieve his own will; that’s another crime.

Fourth, he intentionally harmed his grandfather’s close friend out of his own greed. This disgrace to his grandfather’s name is an act of unfilial piety, which is another crime.

Fifth, by deceiving people into thinking commoners were slaves and blinding your Majesty, he committed the crime of deceiving the sovereign and disrespecting the superior; that’s another crime.

Even combining just the crimes of unfilial piety and deceiving the sovereign, according to the law, he can be sentenced to death for these major crimes.

Thus, the criminal Kim Do-yeon should be executed, all his family members turned into slaves, and his properties confiscated.

Among the confiscated properties, return the victims’ belongings to them, reimburse those who purchased the victims’ land at the time of purchase, and return the land to the victims. And if there is any remaining property, put it into the national treasury.”

At Hyang’s suggestion, Sejong slapped his knee in approval.

“The Crown Prince’s opinion is indeed correct! What do the ministers think?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers all answered in unison,

“We think it’s an excellent plan!”

As the ministers unanimously agreed, the chief state councilors and chief aides had a disagreement.

“The measures for the victims’ identities and the criminal’s punishment are indeed good, but the punishment for those who accepted bribes for Jo Mal-saeng is also urgent!”

“Please decide quickly!”

“I will consider that part a bit more.”

“Please decide quickly!”

“I said I will consider it! That’s enough for today!”

Although Sejong said he would consider it, the Office of the Inspector General and the Secretariat did not lose momentum.

From the next day, the officials of the Secretariat and the Inspector General’s Office spread mats in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon Hall and began a sit-in protest.

“Jo Mal-saeng and the corrupt bureaucrats must be executed!”

“Please decide quickly!”

“Please decide quickly!”

“Sigh~.”

Hearing the shouts from the front yard of Geunjeongjeon, Sejong, who let out a long sigh, stood up.

“Let’s take a break for now.”

After declaring a recess, Sejong headed for Eastern Palace.

“Is the Crown Prince here?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve stayed in the Eastern Palace.”

After confirming with Eastern Palace’s steward that Hyang was staying there, Sejong ordered the following officials,

“Wait here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It’s a private conversation between father and son. Do not cross the line.”

The officials retreated at Sejong’s command, which was so firm that it even seemed angry.

‘Somehow! Someday!’

They were officials burning with determination, recalling legends of their senior officials.

“Please come in.”

“Yes.”

Hyang, who had offered a seat, opened his mouth as soon as Sejong sat in his chair.

“You seem deeply troubled.”

Sejong nodded his head in response to Hyang’s question.

* * *

“I’ve seen it all. I want to destroy everything just as I thought. There’s no suitable successor, and if I handle this poorly, I could be criticized for committing an act of filial impiety by offending the subjects raised by the late king. Sigh~.”

Sejong heaved a long sigh, and Hyang nodded quietly.

As long as Joseon’s state system included Confucian scholars, the shadow of the late king was not easily dismissed in personnel matters.

Especially since many of the ministers involved in the current problem were intertwined with royal and familial relationships.

Seeing Sejong filled with concern, Hyang offered his opinion.

“Why not simply not kill them and not appoint them to new positions?”

“Huh? How?”

Hyang whispered to Sejong. After listening to Hyang for a while, Sejong slapped his knee.

“That’s an idea!”

* * *

‘The king has returned.’ Upon hearing this, the ministers returned to the hall and took their seats. Seated on his throne, Sejong opened his mouth and addressed the ministers.

“Upon deep consideration, the crimes of Jo Mal-saeng and others are far from light. According to the law, they should be executed, but…”

“Execute them! Execute immediately!”

“Execute immediately!”

The moment they heard the words ‘they should be executed, but… ’, the chief state councilor and chief eunuch advocated for severe punishment.

“How dare a subject interrupt the king! What country’s etiquette is this?”

Realizing their mistake at Sejong’s reprimand, the chief state councilor and chief eunuch knelt immediately.

“Please grant us death!”

“Please grant us death!”

“Should I really do so?”

Sejong, having silenced the two officials, continued.

“The execution is deserved, but since they were trusted by the late king, I will not kill them. However, their crime is not light, so they will be punished as follows;

– First, all the official positions, ranks, merits, lands, and wealth bestowed upon the criminals will be confiscated.

– Only the assets of the criminals themselves will be considered for confiscation, without touching those that were passed to their wives and children beyond the last five years.

– Furthermore, I order them to serve as document organizers. They will be assigned to the Six Ministries and serve in document management.”

“Gulp!”

Everyone was horrified at the word ‘document management,’ since it meant dealing with a considerable amount of records, some even connected to previous dynasties.

Sejong’s judgment left Jo Mal-saeng utterly collapsed.

Above his head, Sejong’s command continued.

“I also command other ministers. I will give you one month. Those who have received bribes above the legal standards must return them to the state immediately. If anyone is discovered after one month, not only will they face additional penalties, but they will also serve in document management!”

“We accept the command!”

* * *

As the ministers crowded out after the meeting, the officials who had been protesting swarmed the chief state councilor and chief eunuch.

“What happened?”

At the officials’ query, the chief state councilor and chief eunuch looked at Jo Mal-saeng.

With a face that seemed to have aged 10 years, Jo Mal-saeng, supported by those around him, was leaving the hall.

Seeing him, the chief state councilor opened his mouth.

“Death would have been better.”

Chapter 83
The Man in White (2)

The ‘Document Arrangement Punishment’ struck fear into all officials as soon as it was established.

In the 21st-century internet discussions about Joseon, the nobles of Joseon were so enthusiastic about recording things that they were jokingly referred to as ‘record-lovers.’

Since its establishment, the records of the country’s administration were only 30 years old, yet they were already vast.

The evaluation of the local officials was harsh.

“You fools who stake your lives on note-taking!”

Their judgment was that it was like the notes of a test-taker who only believed in the saying, “If you take good notes, you become an honor student,” and colorfully noted down everything with various pens.

“The problem is how to organize and digest it afterward…”

Among all the meticulously recorded documents, only the official histories had gone through the process of organization.

Therefore, the suggestion that Hyang made after securing his position through the crown prince’s appointment was to organize the documents by each department.

The issue was not that they had recorded so much due to ignorance, but that it wasn’t valueless.

However, this task was draining.

The volume of documents was tremendous, and the tasks that needed immediate attention continued to pile up.

The amount of daily petitions, accounts, and other reports that came to the royal court was already huge, and the number of replies to them was also considerable.

It was a repetitive situation where, “When one cartload of documents is organized, two cartloads of work piles up.”

The ‘Document Arrangement Punishment,’ which was created to punish the officials of the Ministry of Personnel who didn’t understand the situation and conducted the hazing ritual, was the perfect solution.

“If you don’t produce results within a set time, the remaining time and volume will determine the exile period.”

The officials who were punished with this worst punishment became ‘a slave to some archive,’ literally having to deal with the work.

“What if someone messes up the documentation process?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang answered with a nonchalant expression.

“We have to apply the ‘guilt-by-association’ system^1.”

“The ‘guilt-by-association’ system?”

“We should involve the prominent members of clans and households. If someone who is being punished for a crime is trying to mess things up, then the heads of the clan and family… we must summon them.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong slapped his knee.

“Aha!”

* * *

As all their property was confiscated, the couple Jo Mal-saeng had to rely on their eldest son, Jo Seon.

“Father, welcome.”

“Welcome.”

As Jo Seon and his wife, Princess Jeongjeong, welcomed them, Jo Mal-saeng and his wife had to first beg for forgiveness.

“Forgive us, Your Highness, for inconveniencing you.”

“Forgive us.”

“No, please come in.”

So, Jo Mal-saeng and his wife had to settle in Jo Seon’s annex.

The day Jo Mal-saeng and his wife were dependent on Jo Seon’s house, Sejong sent a letter to Jo Mal-saeng through a court messenger.

The content of the letter was simple.

‘Be diligent and remember who you inherited your blood from.’

A short but powerful warning.

* * *

Jo Mal-saeng, who had only heard about the Document Arrangement Punishment, was listening to the Ministry of Law Enforcement’s official reading a scroll cautiously.

“…So, the criminal must do his best in organizing the documents! This was the royal decree. Do you understand?”

At the cautious official’s words, Jo Mal-saeng nodded weakly.

“I understand. And since I’m a criminal, please speak casually.”

“Then… are you okay with that?”

“I am a criminal.”

“Then I will speak informally… Come. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

Jo Mal-saeng, following the still uncomfortable official of the Ministry of Law Enforcement, looked up at the sky.

“It’s a damn clear sky.”

The April sky was stunningly bright.

* * *

The place Jo Mal-saeng was directed to was the newly constructed buildings next to Gyeongbok Palace, behind the Six Ministries intersection.

In the vast open space where the private houses were entirely cleared away after purchasing the 21st-century Jungak-dong and Susong-dong areas from the royal court, huge buildings were erected.

A tall fence surrounded the area, and at the entrance of the gate hung a signboard written by Sejong himself:

‘Joseon National Archives’

It was a place where the terrible legend was engraved: “The red pillars of the Archives were stained with the tears, sweat, and nosebleeds of the officials and criminals who worked there.”

“Phew…”

Seeing the magnificent scale of the Archives, which he had only heard about, Jo Mal-saeng involuntarily opened his mouth.

The feeling of actually seeing it was different from just hearing about the scale and budget when he was an official.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s…”

Staring blankly at the buildings, Jo Mal-saeng had to quickly move his feet at the words of the official.

Hastily approaching, the Ministry of Law Enforcement’s official clicked his tongue at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Tsk… If you have such distracting thoughts… Nine times out of ten, you’ll end up in punitive labor.”

“Ah, understood!”

Jo Mal-saeng, whose face turned pale at the Ministry of Law Enforcement’s official’s words, shook his head.

* * *

“This is where the criminal will work.”

“Yes.”

Jo Mal-saeng had arrived at one of the many buildings within the record office. On the sign hanging from the building’s main pillar was written ‘Ministry of Military Affairs’.

Entering the building, Jo Mal-saeng unwittingly let out a sigh.

“Haah~.”

Inside the building, in a large room at the center, nine long desks were arranged in three rows, and officials with dark circles around their eyes were flipping through scrolls, transcribing them into books.

Seeing the officials, worn out from fatigue, Jo Mal-saeng felt awkward.

‘Am I going to end up like that too?’

“I will now explain the work process.”

“…Yes.”

Whether it was because he was told to speak informally, or because he realized that Jo Mal-saeng’s status was nothing more than that of a criminal, the Ministry of Law Enforcement’s official’s words had become more brusque than before.

“First, receive the work assignment from the supervisor in front. Since you were from the Ministry of Military Affairs before, you must be familiar?”

“…Yes.”

His words were polite, but there was a hidden thorn in the content.

The official, with a face mixed with sympathy and reproach, continued.

“Since it’s the Ministry of Military Affairs, it’s likely the account books from various provinces to begin with. Check the date they arrived and find the corresponding date in the Royal Secretariat Diary^2, record what happened, and if a response was given, find the date and search for the exact copy to finish recording.”

“So I have to go to the Royal Secretariat office for this… right?”

“Follow me.”

The official led Jo Mal-saeng to the entrance. A standing official pointed at two large buildings in the middle of the record office.

“From here, on the left is where the Royal Secretariat Diary is stored, and on the right is where the copies of responses are stored. They are sorted by year and month, so finding them should make the work easy.”

“Yes…”

Seeing the two large buildings, Jo Mal-saeng replied with a defeated voice.

The official’s explanation was nearing its end.

“…When the bell rings once, you get a break of one gak (15 minutes). During that time, go to the side room to rest and stretch. When the bell rings twice, go out to the left to the dining hall for a meal. Meals are provided once a day, at noon. Finally, when the bell rings three times, you will leave. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Then, begin your work.”

“…Yes.”

Feeling the eyes of the Ministry of Law Enforcement’s official behind him, Jo Mal-saeng approached the supervisor.

“Let’s start with these ten for the criminal.”

The supervisor pulled out ten scrolls from the shelf behind him and handed them to Jo Mal-saeng.

Receiving the scrolls, Jo Mal-saeng unwittingly read the date on the top one.

“Hongmu (洪武) 26th year (1393, Taejo 2nd year)… Gasp!”

Startled, Jo Mal-saeng looked at the supervisor with surprised eyes. The supervisor nodded, understanding his expression.

“A bit old, isn’t it? There are hardly any criminals in the Ministry of Military Affairs. Or they are completely ignorant… Our goal is to reach Taejong’s 6th year within this year.”

That was a total of 14 years of records.

Seeing Jo Mal-saeng’s stupefied expression, the supervisor urged him on.

“Hurry up and work! Don’t forget that delay or error will result in punitive labor! Especially for a criminal, committing an offense ‘deceiving the king,’3 is a grave crime. Even a single mistake will result in immediate punishment!”

“Yes, yes!”

Hurried by the supervisor, Jo Mal-saeng found an empty seat and unrolled a scroll.

“A brush with ink… Heh, heh…”

Looking for the ink, Jo Mal-saeng became despondent. On the long table’s center were several brushes in an inkwell, an inkstone filled with ink, and a stack of blank paper.

Literally, he was reduced to the status of a desk-bound clerk who had to write documents.

* * *

Meanwhile, at a house in Joseon, Jo Mal-Saeng’s wife, Madam Shin, was complaining to Princess Jeongjeong.

“Your Highness, can’t you help us in any way?”

Despite Madam Shin’s plea, the princess shook her head with a troubled expression.

“It’s beyond my ability. His Majesty these days is quite obstinate about this matter.”

“Sigh~. What are we to do then…”

At the princess’s reply, Madam Shin beat her chest in despair.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Jo Mal-Saeng, who was found to have been bribed, had to be exiled.4 Not long after the exile, he was pardoned, and after 2 years, he could return to central politics.

However, that was the end.

Jo Mal-Saeng never sat in the promised ministerial position until his death. His evaluation in the records at the time of his death was as follows:

– He had good character and was competent, but the ‘flaw in a gem’ (옥의 티) blocked his way.

He was a good talent for Sejong, who was ambitious for talents, but he was not on the same level as Hwang Hui.

Simply put, he was used because he was needed, but he was not a completely satisfactory talent; this was Jo Mal-Saeng.

However, with Hyang’s intervention, the range of changes grew, and with the emergence of a brilliant processing tool called ‘Document Sorting Type,’ Jo Mal-Saeng’s political comeback became an unknown variable.

* * *

Meanwhile, during the one month period set by Sejong, an enormous amount of wealth flooded into the national treasury.

“Land documents, slaves, gold, silver, horse meat^5 and horse harnesses^6. Coral, jade… All the wealth obtainable in Joseon is here.”

At Sejong’s words, the officials could only bow their heads. Staring at the bowed officials, Sejong continued.

“How they ate up… and without any losses… I must admire the cunning of the tax officials. Truly, an incredible skill.”

With Sejong’s thorny words, the officials all prostrated themselves, crying out,

“Please kill us!”

“I wish I could do as the tax officials say or throw them all into the Document Sorting Type, but I made a promise, so I will let it go this time. However, if this happens again, don’t hope for my mercy.”

“We will keep that in mind!”

“Then, let’s get to the main point.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Thus the bribery issue was sealed, and national affairs began to move on track again.

Outside the palace, people were busy rebuilding, and inside, they were busy conducting state affairs, but amidst the busyness, a subtle ripple occurred among the officials.

It was because of Sejong’s directive regarding the female servants in the office.

“When the central and local female servants give birth, they will be given 100 days off as a rule.”

“We accept the order.”

Sejong’s order had its validity because there were frequent cases where the discharged female servants got sick or their babies died as they had to work without properly taking care of themselves.

However, the reason this order caused a ripple was different.

“What! Female servants get maternity leave, and what about us?”

The officials, exhausted from their strenuous duties, began to complain.

Their complaints reached Sejong and Hyang’s ears through the inner officials. Hearing the complaints, Hyang chuckled.

“Hmph! If they feel wronged, tell them to write a resignation letter! What a complaint over such a small benefit! Do they think power is so easily gained?”

Sejong went a step further.

“I heard there are many complaints about giving maternity leave to the female servants?”

As soon as Sejong’s words fell, Hwang Hui began to defuse the situation.

“Isn’t it natural to have those who complain everywhere?”

“I wish I could catch them all and make them sort documents for 100 days or so.”

“Bestow your mercy, Your Majesty.”

“Tsk! Alright! But it’s really annoying. I’m not even denying them holidays!”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

In Joseon at that time, there were holidays. Lunar New Year, Daeboreum (the Great Full Moon), Dano (the Spring Festival), Chuseok (the Harvest Moon Festival), the 24 solar terms, the king’s birthday, and the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 23rd of every month were official holidays.

Besides these official holidays, there were days off according to the regulations of each institution, as Hyang had allowed one day off every 10 days.

Thus, if the solar terms, festivals, official holidays, and regulated days off overlapped, there were cases where they rested for 4 or 5 consecutive days, and every year, when the calendar was distributed from the Office of Astronomy, officials flocked to check their holidays.

Because of this, Sejong was furious when the officials complained. After sending the officials away, Sejong grumbled while looking at Chief Eunuch.

“How about rounding them all up and putting them in the Document Sorting Type for 100 days?”

Chief Eunuch closed his eyes tightly and sincerely answered Sejong’s question.

“Please spare them, Your Majesty!”

1. I guess you could call it collective punishment. But for accurate meaning, ”’Guilt by association”’ (연좌제/連(緣)坐制) means the implicative system that any person suffers unfavorable treatment or punishment on account of an act not of his own doing but committed by a relative. (credit: KR Wikipedia)[↩]

2. Seungjeongwon Diary or ‘Royal Secretariat Diary’ is an official document recording from royal edicts to reports on the nation’s subject’s petitions.[↩]

3. Gigungmangsa, a term derived from Chinese characters, It is derived from the Chinese characters 欺 (to deceive), 君 (king or ruler), 罔 (net), and 上 (above)[↩]

4. In Sejong Veritable Records, it is stated as such, (1) “…Minister of Military Affairs Jo Malsaeng received twenty-four (nobi: slaves).” and (2) “…Jo Malsaeng had [his] letter of appointment 職牒 revoked, and was sent to Hoein 懷仁 in Chungcheong Province 忠淸道.”[↩]

5. Horse meat is considered valuable since the amount of wealth needed to raise one horse is significant at the time[↩]

6. Saddles, bridles, belts, horse gags, and others are considered expensive as they are made of high quality materials[↩]

Chapter 84
Aftermath (1)

There had been plenty of unpleasant incidents, such as the fire disaster in Hanyang and its recovery, Kim Doryeon’s rigged lawsuit, and bribery case, but the daily affairs and good things continued without interruption.

Among these ongoing matters, Princess Jeonghye’s search for her husband, which had been suspended, resumed as well.

In the palace room where the queen resided, Sejong and Queen Soheon were conversing with tea cups between them.

“How is your body?”

“It’s still alright.”

“The childbirth is near, according to the doctor. I’ve told my doctors, and you must be cautious too, Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry.”

As the birth of the prince was approaching, Sejong had been focusing on Queen Soheon’s care, instructing his doctors to pay close attention.

The conversation about the child soon to be born naturally turned to Princess Jeonghye’s wedding.

“She won’t throw a tantrum again, will she?”

“She’s not a child anymore, is she? Rather, she seemed to be looking forward to it.”

“Indeed… I feel both relieved and disappointed…”

At Queen Soheon’s reply, Sejong spoke with an expression of mixed feelings.

Seeing this, Queen Soheon smiled and said, “Sending children off when the time comes is the natural course of things, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but… Sigh~.”

Sejong, letting out a small sigh, changed the subject.

“After sending Jeonghye off, we must prepare for the Crown Prince’s wedding too, right?”

“That’s true. It’s going to be busy.”

“Things just turned out this way.”

Sejong briefly replied and then prayed with a sincere expression.

“I hope that only good things continue to happen from now on.”

“If His Majesty wishes so earnestly, it will surely be so.”

* * *

Near the Amnok River^1.

A group of Joseon cavalry, dressed in new armor covered with green fabric, was moving quickly.

They were heading north, where black smoke had been rising for some time.

“Could it be the work of the Jurchens?”

“Isn’t it too late in the season to start a fire?”

To his subordinate’s question, Training First Officer Lim Gyeong-seok answered in a firm voice.

“I agree with you. Is this good luck or bad luck?”

“I feel the same.”

At the grumbling of his subordinate, Lim Gyeong-seok nodded.

With the supply of new weapons created in Area 51 and the reform of the military system, the Training Academy was expanded and reorganized.

Their task was to develop tactics to make the best use of newly developed weapons, and to train soldiers.

The talented ones, not only in strength but also in intelligence, were assigned to the Training Academy from both central and local armies.

Even ordinary soldiers and armorers were the same. Talented individuals from the army across the country, including the 12 divisions defending the capital, were selected and gathered in the Training Academy.

Their straightforward mission was simple but not easy, leading to significant rewards for those who completed it.

They all received nation-sponsored equipment and wages, and those above the rank of armorer were promised at least a one-grade promotion.

Thanks to these tangible incentives, the officers and soldiers assigned to the Training Academy were highly motivated in their training and education.

Some continued their previous duties at the academy, while others were dispatched to other units for training.

Now, the cavalry led by Lim Gyeong-seok were part of those dispatched for real-world evaluation.

That’s why they were saying that they weren’t sure whether they had encountered luck or misfortune.

If the ones who caused the smoke were the Jurchens, and their scale was moderate, it would be a good opportunity to earn honor.

Conversely, if the scale was large, they could either be killed in an attack or find themselves in a crisis where they had to run away with their tails between their legs.

* * *

“The Jurchens are here!”

“Damn it! What’s the scale?”

Upon hearing the report from the scout cavalry who had previously gone out for reconnaissance, Lim Gyeong-seok spat out a curse.

Lim Gyeong-seok immediately asked the scout soldier.

“It appears to be about 40 horsemen!”

“40 horsemen? How many civilian houses were attacked?”

“About 10 households!”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing the report from the scout soldier, Lim Gyeong-seok stroked his beard and pondered. Calculating this and that gain and loss, he asked a subordinate standing next to him.

“Should we engage?”

“It doesn’t seem like we’ll be at a disadvantage.”

“Is there anyone opposed?”

There were no cavalrymen who raised their hands in response to Lim Gyeong-seok’s words. Rather, the fighting spirit of the cavalrymen was growing stronger.

Seeing the demeanor of these cavalrymen, Lim Gyeong-seok chuckled.

“Typical of you guys…”

The cavalrymen before his eyes were those boasting of experienced veteran status, having gone through many battles.

Furthermore, they were in a situation where they had received weapons that were very much to their liking from the training center.

The men before Lim Gyeong-seok’s eyes were not the sort to back down in a situation like this.

“I was getting restless myself; let’s let off some steam!”

“Yes!”

At Lim Gyeong-seok’s command, the cavalrymen responded vigorously.

“Charge with spears first! Then follow up with horseback gun tactics and wipe out the enemies!”

“Will you not use the musket gun tactics?”

“Didn’t you say it’s only about 40 horsemen? If we use muskets, they’ll run away. Draw them in as much as possible and sweep them all away! Don’t let a single one escape!”

“Understood!”

Hearing the response of the cavalrymen, Lim Gyeong-seok began to prepare for battle in earnest.

“Don’t forget the protective goggles and face cloths!”

“Yes!”

At Lim Gyeong-seok’s command, the cavalrymen tightly tied the protective goggles they had loosely hung around their necks over their eyes, and then covered their mouth and nose with the towels they had also been loosely wearing around their necks.

The goggles and towels were also items that had come along with the newly distributed weapons.

The goggles were made to allow the charging cavalrymen to maintain a clear line of sight. Thinly cut crystal fitted into a thin metal frame, cushioned with leather, protected the eyes from harsh dust storms.

The face cloth made of cotton fabric served as a handy item to protect the respiratory system from the smoke created by burning gunpowder.

Quickly putting on the goggles and face cloth, and tightly tying the reins of his steed, Lim Gyeong-seok swung his arm wide.

“Let’s go!”

* * *

“Shit! It’s the Joseon army!”

The Jurchens tribe chieftain, who was surveying the battlefield, spat out a curse.

“So soon the Joseon army is here! Damn!2”

Cursing at the unexpectedly early appearance of the Joseon army, the chieftain was in a dire situation.

This raid had been an unavoidable choice for him.

The years of continuous famine had brought his tribe to the brink of survival.

Moreover, as the merchants who had been trading with Joseon and Ming began to disappear, the crisis for his tribe deepened.

And as the tribes from Manchu in the north expanded southward, his tribe was gradually cornered.

He asked for help from other related tribes, but even that had reached its limit.

With the disappearance of merchants, and even the grains for seeds consumed, the chieftain had no other choice.

“We cross the river!”

According to his decision, leaving behind only a minimum for tribe defense, he formed a squad and crossed the Amnok River.

After crossing the river, the chieftain immediately attacked a suitable village.

“Leave only the grains for seeds and children to be sold as slaves, and kill the rest!”

“Uwaaa!”

Not long after the battle began, the Joseon army appeared.

* * *

The Jurchens chieftain assessed the approaching Joseon cavalry, who were kicking up a cloud of dust from afar.

“The number of Joseon cavalry is about 20… Considering the Joseon army likes fivefold numbers, 25 must be the most accurate. Hmm… Were they patrolling nearby and rushed over after seeing the smoke? Then they must be all that there is?”

The chieftain who had summarized the situation called the warriors.

“Gather around! Kill the Joseon army!”

“We’re not retreating?”

“They must be cavalrymen patrolling nearby! Then it’s an easy kill! We’ll take them all down! The quality of the Joseon army’s weapons is good, so they’ll be useful to us!”

The most experienced warrior agreed with the chieftain’s words.

“That’s true.”

“Isn’t it?”

In response to the chieftain’s question, the warrior flashed a fierce smile.

“It seems we’re very lucky today.”

“It’s a lucky day. Everyone, move! The Joseon army is only half our number! Kill them all!”

“Uwaaa!”

“Shoot the arrows!”

At the chieftain’s command, the Jurchens warriors pulled bows from their saddles and drew the strings.

Whoosh!

“Arrows!”

As arrows began to fly, Lim Gyeong-seok shouted loudly, signaling.

Upon Lim Gyeong-seok’s signal, the Joseon cavalrymen, who were running in two horizontal lines, widened the gap.

Though arrows were flying towards them, the Joseon cavalry showed no fear.

They knew very well that the newly issued armor and helmets would easily deflect such arrows.

Unlike the old armor that only protected the torso, the new armor gave them confidence by covering their arms and even legs.

“Charge!”

At Lim Gyeong-seok’s signal, the cavalrymen extended their lances, which had been hanging from the saddle, on the saddles’ hooks.

The red tassel attached to the middle of the lance fluttered wildly in the wind, and the Joseon cavalry collided head-on with the oncoming Jurchens tribe.

“Lance charge? They’re taking us too lightly!”

The Jurchens warriors, seeing the Joseon cavalry charging with lances aimed forward, scoffed.

A straightforward lance charge, which can only attack the front, was considered a novice tactic among the Jurchens tribe.

A skilled Jurchens warrior could easily dodge that lance and attack the enemy’s flank.

“This much is… Urk!”

As he prepared to dodge the approaching tip of the Joseon army’s spear, a Jurchen warrior stared in disbelief at the spear that had pierced through his body.

The Joseon army’s spear that had pierced him was much longer than the one he knew.

The Joseon army’s cavalry spear was not just longer. All kinds of tricks devised by Hyang were incorporated into the cavalry’s saddle and spear.

The newly made Joseon army’s cavalry spear was 3 cheok (approx. 1 meter) longer than before.

It was not just longer, but the spearhead was made as thin and sharp as possible, and the tassel usually attached below the spearhead was hung down lower.

This was to confuse the enemy when they measured the distance from the front.

The saddle was no different.

The length of the spear holder, where the spear was placed while moving, was maximized downwards to prevent accurate assessment of the spear’s length. Moreover, a support stand was installed on the saddle to hold the spear during a charge, reducing the burden on the cavalry.

It was Hyang who had enhanced the power of the cavalry charge through these tricks.

In the first clash between the Joseon army and the Jurchen, over ten Jurchen warriors became skewered meat in an instant, rolling on the ground.

Without slowing down, the Joseon cavalry, who had penetrated the Jurchen formation in an instant, drew a circle and charged again at the Jurchen.

“Elya! Elya!”

“Ha! Ha!”

The Joseon cavalry, moving their horses with just their legs, had strange-shaped curved blades in their right hands and unfamiliar heavy metal objects in their left hands.

“It’s hand-to-hand combat! Let’s finish this!”

“Elya!”

When the Joseon army challenged them to hand-to-hand combat, the Jurchen warriors also swung their curved blades in response.

However, the situation betrayed them again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Joseon cavalryman, who blocked the Jurchen’s blade with the curved blade in his right hand, pulled the trigger of the musket in his left hand.

“Ugh!”

The bullet, aimed and fired at close range, unerringly pierced the vital parts of the Jurchen warriors.

In just two collisions, the Jurchen who had crossed the Amnok River and pillaged the villages were annihilated.

“The situation is resolved.”

“Any dead or injured?”

“There are no such fools.”

“Any enemies escaped?”

“It appears none.”

Receiving the report from his subordinate, Lim Gyeong-seok finally exhaled a long breath.

“Phew~. We’ll live now!”

With the tension finally released, Lim Gyeong-seok issued orders to his subordinates in a much softer voice.

“Clean up the battlefield and prepare to move the survivors.”

“Understood.”

Watching his subordinates clean up the battlefield, Lim Gyeong-seok let out a small sigh.

“I’m worried about writing the report. Writing the same content in three parts…”

It was according to a maxim he had heard at the training center.

-Always write a report in three parts. One part for submission to superiors, another for unexpected occurrences, and the last for your safety.

And this battle became the beginning of the infamy of the ‘Green Demons’ among the Jurchen.

1. Or Yalu River. Currently in North Korea’s territorial borders.[↩]

2. The incorrect grammar here is intentional by the author[↩]

Chapter 85
Aftermath (2)

After the battle was over, Lim Gyeong-seok and his men prepared to move to the rear with the few surviving villagers, livestock, and the corpses and spoils of the Jurchens tribe loaded onto wagons. One of his subordinates, with a pitiful expression, spoke to Lim Gyeong-seok as he watched the survivors board the wagons.

“All of them are just children.”

“That’s because the only things worth money are the children.”

The faces of Lim Gyeong-seok and the cavalrymen were somber as they exchanged words.

The Jurchens tribe’s raiding strategy was essentially hit-and-run.

In order to quickly escape after attacking and plundering frontier settlements and small villages near the border, adults were cumbersome.

Moreover, the Ming merchants who bought the captured Joseon people also preferred children.

Children were less likely to resist, easier to handle, and some Ming people preferred young girls or boys over adult women.

“The burial work is all done.”

“Is it?”

Lim Gyeong-seok looked at the two mounds that had risen prominently between the burnt-down houses. The mounds were where the Joseon people killed by the Jurchens tribe were buried, separated by gender.

Bowing his head briefly in silent prayer toward the mounds, Lim Gyeong-seok mounted his horse.

“Let’s return!”

“Let’s return!”

Including the horses taken from the Jurchens, the expanded troop of Lim Gyeong-seok began to move slowly toward their garrison.

* * *

“Your Majesty, a report has arrived from Pyeongan-do^1.”

“A report?”

“It says there has been a raid by the Jurchens tribe.”

Hastily, Sejong reached out for the report and untied the knot.

“Oh my… this.”

With trembling hands, Sejong read the contents of the report and handed it to the Chief State Councilor.

“Read it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After the Chief State Councilor, the other officials took turns reading the report.

Once all the officials had read the report, Sejong opened his mouth.

“The victims of this calamity were settlers who opened firefields without permission, but it is certain that they are our people of Joseon. The General deployed in the area requested a punitive expedition, and the Pyeongan-do Military Commander also requests permission. How do you all feel about this?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui asked Kim Ye-ji, the Minister of Military Affairs,

“Which tribe of Jurchens did this to the village?”

“Based on the decorations on the saddles of the dead and the way they tied their hair, it seems to be the Dong tribe^2.”

“The Dong tribe is quite large, isn’t it? Is it possible with the currently deployed troops?”

In response to Hwang Hui’s question, Kim Ye-ji briefly answered.

“It’s not about facing the entire Dong tribe, and considering the power difference shown in this battle, it is sufficient.”

“Hmm…”

“If we delay further, the rainy season will begin, making suppression difficult.”

The Minister of Military Affairs advocated immediate suppression. However, Sejong was hesitant to make a quick decision.

“People have said that when you get a good sword, you want to swing it. Isn’t it foolish to move hastily and alert the snake in the grass?”

At Sejong’s point, Kim Ye-ji immediately answered.

“The Jurchens are like old foxes, taking us lightly if we don’t respond properly and continually attacking, but bowing their heads and asking for trade if we go strong. Showing them their place is a good strategy for the future.”

After hearing the Minister of Military Affairs, Sejong, who had been stroking his chin beard in thought, made a decision.

“Very well. Tell the Pyeongan-do Military Commander he has permission. However, the current troop strength seems weak, so command the General Staff Headquarters to select appropriate forces that have received new guns and cannons from the training centers and various camps in Pyeongan-do to join them. Also, tell them they are not allowed to stay across the Amnok River for more than a month.”

At Sejong’s command, the Minister of Military Affairs bowed deeply and answered.

“I accept the order!”

After ordering the military, Sejong turned his gaze to the civil officials.

“Civil officials, listen.”

“We shall listen to Your Majesty’s words!”

“The act of crossing the border to hold the Jurchens accountable is true. Since the Ming may make a fuss about this, prepare an appropriate response and send an envoy to Ming.”

“I accept the order!”

So, Operation ‘Retribution’ was activated.

Many military officers at the training center volunteered and stepped forward when it was mentioned that troops would be organized to subjugate the Jurchens.

“Send me, sir!”

“No, send me, sir! I will risk my life to make the operation a success!”

Confidence filled the expressions of the officers who were requesting to be assigned.

They were confident for a reason; they trusted the performance of the new weapons they were familiar with.

And the report from the Amnok River only boosted their confidence further.

A mere single unit without artillery support and without even using the general gun had annihilated the Jurchens, twice their number, without any harm.

The young officer, Lim Gyeong-seok, who commanded the unit according to his major, was scheduled for promotion.

‘I cannot miss this opportunity!’

To seize this opportunity given by heaven, the officers of the training center clamored to be sent ahead.

* * *

“Curse this. We’ve been hit again.”

“Where?”

“On the side.”

“Damn it! How many times have we been hit now?”

“It’s the 12th time, Beiru (lord or prince).”

“Blast it!”

Crash!

At his subordinate’s report, the leader of the Saruta tribe overturned the table in front of him.

For the tribes belonging to the Dong region, the Joseon’s punishment was like a ‘red band in the dark night’. Six groups of Joseon forces, each consisting of about 400 cavalry and 100 gunners, carried out sudden attacks on the Dong tribes and neighboring tribes’ residential areas.

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack from Joseon, the chiefs of the Dong tribes busily prepared their defenses while trying to find out the reason.

And the reason they found was incredibly simple.

“It’s because of Dong tribe’s Beiru, or rather, those bastards, who plundered over 10 houses in Joseon, and this is retaliation for that?”

“…Yes.”

The tribal leader of the Saruta wore a dejected expression.

* * *

With almost a month having passed since the start of Joseon’s punishment, over 12th time, almost all the other tribes’ troops had been wiped out. These were not even comparable to the original tribe that had caused a commotion, they were 12 groups of a much smaller scale.

Almost one tribe disappeared every two days.

The desperate ones were those attacked by the Dong region. For those who had lived a half-farming and half-pastoral life, this was the time to stake everything on farming. If they missed this opportunity, they would face a terrible situation in the upcoming winter.

To resolve the situation, the tribal leaders of the Dong region, including the leader of the Saruta tribe, requested mediation from Ming.

However, the response from Ming was “impossible.”

-Joseon has already sent a national letter. This is a legitimate act in response to the damage suffered by Joseon, and there is no reason for us to intervene.

The leaders of the Dong region were forced to accept Ming’s response.

“What about forming the niru (alliance) now?”

“If all the men are gone, farming will be ruined.”

“If we pick only some…”

“Have you not seen the power of Joseon’s army? If we don’t use all our power, we will surely fail!”

Gathered to find solutions, the tribal leaders threw out various opinions, but they were unable to find a good solution and continued to struggle.

They struggled mainly for three reasons.

First, as already mentioned, it was the farming season. Even if women and slaves were mobilized, without the men, they could not properly farm. They could not afford to take away warriors for the already doomed tribes.

Second was Joseon’s military power. Joseon conducted operations aimed at killing the Jurchens as much as possible. As a result, there were almost no survivors in the areas swept by Joseon. Most of the few survivors found were in a state of severe mental disorder or were seriously injured and unable to speak properly.

Nevertheless, based on the scant information they gathered, the Joseon forces were actively using firearms.

Facing the Joseon forces, who had become much stronger than before, there were hardly any leaders willing to put their precious warriors at risk.

The last reason was deeply related to the second. It was the Uriankhai(s)3, with whom they were in a standoff nearby. The Dong region and Uriankhai had been consistently clashing.

If they lost their strength against Joseon, Uriankhai would not simply let it go.

* * *

“Beiru, Tung-han has regained consciousness.”

Unable to contain his anger, the leader of the Saruta tribe, who was gritting his teeth, quickly stepped outside.

The place the Saruta’s leader headed to was the house of a Ming Chinese doctor in the village.

He was almost forcibly brought over, almost akin to kidnapping, but over time he became known as ‘Master Wang’ and was respected.

“Master Wang, how is he?”

At the leader’s question, Master Wang, who was wiping his blood-stained hands with a towel, shook his head.

“It’s difficult. I’ve eased the pain with medicine, but it won’t last long. If you have something to say, now would be the best time to say it.”

At Master Wang’s words, the leader hurriedly walked to the bedside. Taking Tung-han’s hand as he breathed heavily, the leader softly called him.

“Brother, are you conscious?”

“Oh, brother… I’m glad to see you before I die.”

“I will surely avenge you.”

At the leader’s words, Tung-han’s face struggled to shake its head.

“Don’t do it. The Joseon… people…”

Struggling to continue speaking, Tung-han’s voice trailed off, and he stopped breathing.

Putting down Tung-han’s hand that he had been holding, the leader looked back at Master Wang.

“What on earth…”

“I heard that the Joseon army used cannons.”

“Is that so?”

“Not just cannons, it seems they even used guns.”

At Master Wang’s words, the leader examined Tung-han’s bloody body. Shaking his head at the bullet-riddled body, he said,

“Guns? I’ve seen them. They can’t even hit properly… Bad luck, I suppose.”

“Guns aren’t common, so it could have been unexpected, couldn’t it?”

“Haah~.”

At Master Wang’s response, the leader sighed.

“Beiru.”

Master Wang, who had stopped the leader from leaving, warned him in a quiet voice.

“I heard that the Joseon army is retreating. Do not act rashly. I don’t want to live as a slave to another tribe at this age.”

“…I understand.”

Exiting Master Wang’s house, the leader kicked a stone on the ground with all his might.

“Damn it! Such a dog-like situation!”

Meanwhile, after sending the leader away, Master Wang picked up a bowl and examined its contents.

Inside the bowl were small blood-soaked steel balls and fragments of iron.

“These bullets are too small for guns… And these iron fragments, what on earth…”

What puzzled Master Wang were fragments of a bomb.

Facing an inscrutable dilemma, Master Wang furrowed his brow. He was haunted by the words of Tung-han, who had died in confusion.

“What does it mean that Joseon has obtained the power of the dragon……”

* * *

After completing the operation and crossing the Amnok River, the Joseon army immediately sent a report to Hanyang.

Reading the report, King Sejong rejoiced.

“Ha ha ha! Our Joseon soldiers have achieved a great victory! A great victory! Has there ever been such a joyous occasion?”

As Sejong rejoiced, his officials bowed their heads and shouted in unison,

“Congratulations!”

“Thank you, thank you very much!”

Raising his hand in acknowledgment, Sejong summarized the situation.

“With this expedition, we have punished 12 tribes, including the insolent ones who crossed our borders and plundered. This should keep the area around the Amnok River quiet for a while, right?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Military Affairs replied with a bow,

“They won’t even dare to cross the Amnok River for a while.”

“That’s right. However, if we let our guard down, we could be hurt at any time, so give orders to strengthen surveillance at the border.”

“As you command.”

“And have preparations been made for rewards for those who distinguished themselves in this operation and compensation for those who were killed or injured?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Those who distinguished themselves will be promoted in rank considering their merits, and those who were killed or injured will receive monthly grain and wealth according to the newly established law. In addition, support is planned for those among the bereaved families who wish to take the literary or military examinations.”

Nodding at the reply of the Minister of Military Affairs, Sejong added, “Care for the casualties is a given, but also pay attention to their livelihoods. They have met such a fate fighting to protect this Joseon, so they must be treated adequately. That way, others will also be willing to risk their lives, won’t they?”

“I will keep it firmly in mind.”

Sejong, who never forgot to admonish until the end, moved on to the next subject.

“The Jurchen tribes around the Amnok River will be quiet for a while, but what about the eastern or western Jurchens?”

Hwang Hui stepped forward at Sejong’s question.

“As time passes, word will spread to them, so they will not act rashly.”

“I would like them to be frightened if possible… then they will listen well when called in the fall, won’t they?”

“That’s true, Your Majesty.”

Sejong firmly admonished his ministers.

“The matter with the Jurchen tribes is just the beginning. Proceed step by step with certainty so that our Joseon’s ‘eastward expansion’ is carried out without hindrance. Do not forget that this is a grand plan that our Joseon must accomplish.”

“I will keep it firmly in mind!”

1. Pyeongan Province, was one of the eight provinces during Joseon. Situated in the northwest of Korea before the split of the Korean peninsula[↩]

2. Also known as Yejeok people of Mohe or Malgal tribes (ancestors of the Jurchens). Originated from northeastern China.[↩]

3. Mongols of the north[↩]

Chapter 86
Tragedy of Concrete (1)

While the Joseon army announced a victory near the Amnok River, Hyang was still busily moving about.

“Has the connection of streams reached some level of completion?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Looking at the map spread across the large table, Hyang and his officials were exchanging opinions.

‘By connecting the Cheonggyecheon and major streams, we will solve the sewage problem throughout Hanyang.’

If this was Hyang’s final goal, then what had been carried out so far was a phase-one process that prioritized the small streams in areas where houses had been completely burned down in fires.

According to Hyang’s plan, the exposed streams were densely connected using sewage channels.

Most of the sewers were exposed channels above ground, but those crossing major roads were dug and buried underground.

Of course, for that task, sewer pipes were supplied in bulk, made using cement and steel in Area 51.

* * *

“Making sewer pipes with cement and steel? Fascinating.”

“It’s called reinforced concrete.”

“Reinforced concrete? This is the first time I’ve heard it.”

Not only King Sejong but also the ministers tilted their heads at a term they had never heard before.

“It’s a combination of Hanja and Western words. The Westerners call the mix of cement, sand, and gravel [concrete (written in English in the raws)]. I couldn’t think of an appropriate name, so I used it as it is. It’s due to my lack of skill, and I’m ashamed before Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”

“No, the prince has much to do, and time is limited, so it’s an inevitable situation that everyone knows. Let’s think about how to change that strange name later. What do you think, ministers?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the ministers all bowed their heads and answered in unison.

“It’s a wise decision, Your Majesty!”

However, there were those who were frantic about Sejong’s decision.

They were the officials recording the meeting and the main scribes of the Royal Secretariat.

‘How to write concrete?’

For a moment, they fell into a state of panic and froze on the spot.

“So, what’s the utility of combining this steel and concrete?”

To Sejong’s question about utility, the officials regained their composure and began to write diligently.

The space where the problematic ‘concrete’ would be placed was left blank using the punctuation mark (_), which had begun to be used widely centered around the Royal Library and the research institute.

Hyang explained its utility in response to Sejong’s question.

“Yes, mixing cement, sand, and gravel is like artificially making a stone. This stone endures compressive forces well but is vulnerable to tensile forces.”

“Is that so?”

To Sejong’s question, the chief secretary immediately answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty. That’s why, in the quarry, they insert a wedge into a crack and pull the stone out by attaching a rope to it.”

“I see, then?”

“Steel, on the other hand, endures tensile forces well but is weak to compressive forces. So by combining the two, they complement each other’s weaknesses and strengthen their advantages.”

“Ho, really?”

“Huh! Such a method……”

Gasps of admiration came from all around the room.

“Ha~, truly, this is like a symbol of harmony using the interdependence and opposition of the Five Elements! What a clever method indeed!”

Not only Sejong but also the ministers were sincerely admiring.

* * *

“You may leave. You must’ve been busy with disaster recovery.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Having finished the report, which began with sewer pipes and ended with reinforced concrete, Hyang bowed to Sejong.

Once Hyang had left, Sejong looked back at the ministers.

“Let’s take a short break.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

As soon as Sejong announced a recess, the officials and writers briskly left their seats and scurried out.

“Huh?”

Noticing the strange behavior of the officials and writers, Sejong quietly followed them.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

Discussing the construction progress with his officials, Hyang stopped when he heard someone calling him.

“What is it?”

“Heh, ha~, huff. Your Highness, that word……”

“Catch your breath first, then speak.”

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“And do some exercise. How far is it from the office to here? Tsk!”

As Hyang scolded, the red-faced officials caught their breath. During that time, Hyang continued to exchange opinions with his officials.

“It’s not that… how should we write the word ‘concrete’?”

While talking with the officials, Hyang extended his hand without looking back.

“Writing brush.”

“Here it is, Your Highness.”

As an official hastily handed over the writing tablet and brush, Hyang absentmindedly moved the brush.

“Conc… Ah!1”

“Your Highness!”

Suddenly, Hyang screamed, causing everyone around to be taken aback.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

Frantically waving his hands to calm the people down, Hyang made a thick blot of ink on the characters he had been writing diligently with a golden brush. Making sure the characters were erased completely, Hyang wrote anew.

[Concrete]

“It’s written like this in the foreign characters. If you can’t think of a proper Hanja, just use these characters as they are.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Then, since I’m busy with work…”

Once again confirming that he had erased it properly, Hyang moved swiftly away.

‘Phew! That was close!’

Though he maintained a calm expression on the outside, inside, he was forcibly calming his wildly beating heart as he passed the gates of Gwanghwamun.

‘Get a grip, Hyang! You almost made a major accident, on the level of a meteorite crash!’

He had been so engrossed in discussing national defense that he almost unconsciously wrote the Korean word ‘콘크리트’ (Concrete).

Fortunately, he realized his mistake midway through and erased it, but even now, Hyang’s back was soaked with cold sweat.

‘If something went wrong, I’d be finished! Fanaticism is welcome when done willingly, but when it’s forced, it’s a no-go!’

“How should I translate this…?”

The officer who learned the word from Hyang returned to the war room, pondering.

His fellow officers and scribes were also deep in thought, looking for the right word to translate.

“Should we use Fanqie (反切)?”

“That seems best… The problem is ‘크’ and ‘트’. For ‘콘’, we can combine ‘쾌’ and ‘온’…”

While discussing how to transliterate the word ‘콘크리트’ (Concrete), Sejong called them over.

“Officers and scribes, come here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“What did you ask my son?”

“Ah… We were asking how to write ‘concrete’.”

“Can I see it?”

Upon Sejong’s request, the officers briefly discussed and then respectfully handed over the wooden slab.

“It’s not a private letter… It is doable.”

Receiving the slab, Sejong read the word.

“Con… crete“

As Sejong read the word, the eyes of the officers and scribes widened.

“Your Majesty, can you read it?”

“I learned it while reading foreign books brought by the crown prince. But… What’s this ink blot?”

“He suddenly blotted it out.”

“Suddenly? What character was it?”

At Sejong’s question, a sharp-eyed officer replied.

“It was a character I’ve never seen before.”

“Never seen before? Not one of the foreign characters written here?”

“It was a completely different shape.”

“Really?”

After a brief reply, Sejong thought for a moment and then returned the slab to the officer.

“You’ve looked at it well.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Remember! If you remember what it looked like, write it down before you leave.”

“I saw it only briefly, so I don’t remember… Ah!”

With an exclamation, the officer wrote on the slab.

“He wrote two characters, but both started with the same shape.”

Sejong received the slab written by the officer and looked at it.

‘ㅋㅋ’2

“…”

King Sejong looked at the characters inscribed on the stone tablet and furrowed his brows, tilting his head. He handed the tablet back to the official.

The official who received the tablet back bowed politely and returned to his post.

After sending the officials and scribes away, King Sejong stood like a general, lost in thought with his hands behind his back.

‘The characters, no, the patterns written by the official are entirely unfamiliar. Could they be from Cheonchuk (India) or Hoehoegyo? No, to my knowledge, there are no similar characters. Moreover, there are western’s words and western’s characters, so why use the characters of Cheonchuk or Hoehoegyo? The same goes for Geum’s and Mongol’s characters… Could they have simplified the Hanja themselves? It’s not unlikely, but there’s no need to smudge them like that… ’

The simple curiosity began to grow in Sejong’s mind.

Sejong recalled a gathering he had attended at Jeong-cho’s house not long ago.

‘Everyone knows the crown prince is exceptional. But few know how exceptional. He tends not to show more than is necessary. Why is that?’

Sejong unknowingly muttered to himself.

“He schemed just to do what he wanted. A cunning fellow.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Just talking to myself.”

Sejong briefly answered to Chief Eunuch’s question and continued to organize his thoughts.

‘The crown prince has been subtly mentioning our own characters since he received his appointment. And most importantly, the phonology books… The brat has already read them all.’

The books on phonology that Sejong had requested were not sent to him immediately.

To avoid the prying eyes of the inquisitive ministers, they had to be hidden away for some time.

But when he went to borrow them, he often received this answer:

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but it’s already checked out…”

“Who checked it out?”

“The crown prince.”

“I see.”

As Sejong recalled, he realized something he had overlooked.

‘If you listen to the crown prince’s answers to the sly questions from me and the ministers… That brat has read them all! And not just read them!’

“Hmm…”

Sejong finally reached a conclusion after organizing his thoughts.

‘That brat has already produced some results! This clever fellow!’

Doubt turned into conviction.

Sejong smiled mischievously and muttered, “I was feeling a bit stuck lately, but this is good news. I’ll have to squeeze him for information when I find the time.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Just talking to myself. Let’s go!”

After stretching lightly, Sejong headed toward Geunjeongjeon Palace.

“Listen, Chief Eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, leisurely walking, spoke to Chief Eunuch following him.

“Don’t you think having a talented child is a blessing?”

At Sejong’s words, Chief Eunuch paused to recall his memories.

Having been with Sejong almost 24 hours a day, he knew well what Sejong was up to lately.

After a moment of reflection, Chief Eunuch replied,

“It is, Your Majesty, but… moderation is the best policy. He’s still young.”

Sejong smiled slyly at Chief Eunuch’s pointed response and answered, “With people… it’s not like he’s going to eat them up, right?”

At Sejong’s words, Chief Eunuch silently looked toward Geunjeongjeon.

The faces of the officials and ministers walking towards Geunjeongjeon were filled with fatigue.

“He won’t eat them, but he will push them to the brink of death…”

“Eh?”

“No, nothing.”

* * *

“Ugh!”

While directing the construction site vigorously, Hyang suddenly felt a chill throughout his body and began to shiver uncontrollably.

“What’s the matter, Your Highness?”

“A sudden chill…”

Seeing Hyang’s suddenly pale face, the supervisor quickly gestured to the inner chamberlain.

“Summon the medical officer!”

The medical officer, who had been on standby in case of an accident, received the call from the inner chamberlain and hurriedly ran to Hyang.

“Your Highness, I’ll check your pulse momentarily.”

“Please do so.”

Taking Hyang’s wrist and feeling his pulse, the medical officer examined his body temperature and complexion before diagnosing him.

“You’ve been accumulating a lot of fatigue. You need to rest.”

“There’s no time to rest for now.”

“Even so.”

“I’m sleeping at least 4 hours a day, so I should be fine, right?”

At Hyang’s firm response, the medical officer sighed softly and replied, “I’ll send over some herbal medicine.”

“Thank you.”

After the medical officer left, Hyang looked back at the supervisor.

“Let’s move on to the construction of the road to Hansung (capital).”

“Yes, Your Highness. All preparations are now complete.”

“Good. Let’s start with the road connecting Gyeongbokgung and Sungnyemun^3.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the supervisor who had received the order stepped outside the tent, Hyang still rubbed his trembling body.

“What on earth is this? A sudden, strong feeling…”

* * *

“We must finish the construction before the rainy season begins!”

To complete the road construction before the rainy season, Hyang mobilized laborers and soldiers on a large scale.

After digging about one ‘jang’ deep (a traditional Korean unit of length, approx. 3.3 meters), they excavated sand and gathered gravel to fill the holes.

Once the holes were filled, the laborers began to tamp down the gravel using tools that looked like large pestles.

After compacting the gravel, rebar produced in Area 51 was brought in and laid on top of the gravel. Then, the supervisor shouted to the workers and soldiers.

“Pour the plaster (plaster)4!”

At the site, the term ‘concrete’ had been replaced with ‘plaster’.

Upon the supervisor’s command, carts filled with well-mixed plaster came in a line, and they poured the plaster over the rebar.

[TL/N: Rebar is reinforced steel.

]

Once the plaster was poured, the laborers standing by stirred it vigorously with long wooden sticks to make sure it settled well between the rebar.

“Over there! Don’t step your foot into the rebar plaster! Do you want to get scolded?!”

“Sorry, sir!”

A laborer who accidentally stepped on the concrete retreated quickly after the supervisor’s scolding.

Without protective gear like rubber boots or waterproof safety shoes, the best that Hyang could do was to use long sticks to carry out the concrete laying.

“Going as far as South America is an unimaginable dream for now… Reality is always a mess.”

Hyang grumbled every time he saw such a sight. However, knowing that failing to seize the opportunity created by the great fire would cost several times more later on, he proceeded with the construction reluctantly.

1. Hyang’s written this in Hangul (Korean writing) which hadn’t existed yet since Sejong didn’t create them yet at this point.[↩]

2. Pronounced as Keu[↩]

3. Near Namdaemun Market, southward from the main palace of Gyeongbokgung[↩]

4. They are taking the term from Hanja here[↩]

Chapter 87
Tragedy of Concrete (2)

The first construction phase of the highway began at Gwanghwamun and ran through Sungnyemun, cutting through the north and south of central Hansung.

Since it was one of the most important roads in Hansung, along with Unjongga that crossed east to west, Hyang mobilized all available labor.

As he coordinated the schedule, Hyang discussed the plan for labor mobilization.

“If Hansung’s available workforce is insufficient, mobilize manpower from nearby provinces and counties.”

“The farming season has just begun.”

“Mobilize one person from every other household, but only for ten days. After that, mobilize one person from a different house.”

After momentarily calculating in his head, the official nodded at Hyang’s words.

“It seems reasonable.”

Thus, the method for labor mobilization was determined, and during a short rest, Hyang grumbled.

“Phew, it’s fortunate that we don’t have to bring people from the southern regions like in the days of Taejo or Taejong.”

Hyang heaved a long sigh of relief at the reality that it was fortunate to be able to mobilize manpower from near Hansung.

“Phew. If only we had a few forklifts and bulldozers… and ready-mix concrete…”

Starting the construction made Hyang long for the 21st-century construction machinery.

With most tasks done by human power, and for the more demanding tasks using oxen or donkeys, Hyang further resolved himself.

“I must create a steam engine, no matter what!”

“Huh? What’s this sudden chill…?”

“You too?”

Officials and craftsmen who had been researching steam engines and various devices at the research center and Area 51 suddenly felt chills throughout their bodies.

“We probably need to brew some medicinal herbs…”

“Is there a good physician around?”

* * *

Even in the 21st century, a project of this size would have been divided into sections. Hyang also had to divide the construction into sections.

However, compared to the 21st century, the scale of these sections was so small it was almost laughable.

Still, Hyang made every effort to maximize efficiency.

He not only mobilized manpower from the nearby areas of Hansung but also created tools to increase efficiency.

Among them, the most produced were concrete mixers and wheelbarrows.

Hyang made everything from small ones turned by hand to large ones powered by oxen or donkeys and explained their use to the managers and supervisors.

“For the main road connecting Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun, use the large mixers, and for the surrounding small roads, use the small ones.”

“This will be fine. The mixture called ‘plaster’ needs a proper mix of sand, gravel, and lime, and these mixers will be incredibly useful.”

The managers and supervisors were quite pleased with the mixers. As they reported to Hyang, the most crucial part of using plaster was to ensure that the main ingredients, lime, sand, and gravel, were well-mixed.

Traditional lime plaster was mixed with water, sand, and lime, but the plaster, being more fluid than lime plaster, was not easy to mix.

When lime was first produced in Area 51, the first thing that was pointed out was this problem.

Eventually, Hyang drew on his 21st-century knowledge and proposed the idea of mixers, and the craftsmen were able to produce the mixers after several trials and errors.

* * *

“Stop! Stop!”

The workers, who were pouring plaster over the gravel and rebar, stopped at the supervisor’s shouting.

“Who mixed this plaster here!”

The supervisor, pointing to a spot where a cart was standing and loaded with plaster, was infuriated.

“Who mixed this plaster!”

“Over there at that mixer…”

“Bring that damn thing here!”

The laborer who had pulled the cart, with a mournful face, followed the supervisor.

“Here?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing the laborer’s answer, the supervisor picked up the ledger that was attached and found the name of the person responsible.

“Team leader Jang! Team leader Jang Man-gok! Where are you?”

A scruffy-looking man ran up at the supervisor’s call.

“What’s the matter?”

“How can you send this kind of plaster mix! Huh? Is this plaster? It looks like gruel!”

“What?”

The foreman’s loud scolding made Deputy Foreman Jang examine the mortar in the cart, and his face turned into a look of failure.

The mortar in the cart looked exceedingly thin to him.

“Do you think this will solidify if you pour it like this? No, never mind solidifying for a moment, do you think it will even have the proper strength?”

“I apologize!”

“Knead it again and send it! If something like this comes again, know that your head will be the first to fly off!”

“I will send it properly!”

“Ugh! We’re already pressed for time, and you can’t even mix this mortar right!”

After giving Deputy Foreman Jang a thorough scolding, the supervisor left his seat with a click of his tongue.

Having been scolded by the supervisor, Deputy Foreman Jang glared at the laborers responsible for stirring with a visibly angry face.

“Who made this?”

“…”

When no one raised their hand in response to Deputy Foreman Jang’s question, he yelled out angrily.

“Which bastard made this mortar! If no one comes forward in the count of three, you all will be beaten under the scorching sun!”

At Deputy Foreman Jang’s cry, all the laborers’ eyes focused on one person.

“Was it you?”

“I, I apologize!”

“You idiot! I said to cook the mortar, not to cook something dead! I told you to keep the proper ratio, even if it’s hard, didn’t I tell you that?”

“I apologize!”

“That’s enough! Take this and cook it properly! If you mess it up again, know that you’ll be fired immediately!”

“Yes, yes!”

The laborer, warned, pulled the cart towards the mixer he was responsible for.

Such incidents occurred several times on the site and were even reported to the county magistrate.

“Can’t you even properly supervise the mixing of mortar?”

“We apologize!”

The supervisors all had to bow their heads at the county magistrate’s reprimand.

“It is certain that we have no time to spare for the construction period. I understand that it is not an easy job, but what should we do if these shoddy jobs keep happening?”

“This will never happen again!”

“Don’t forget that you are officials who have received rank. And don’t forget that these civil engineering works will continue.”

“‘If you mess up, there will be no promotion!’, a warning from the magistrate filled with meaning, was answered by the supervisors in loud voices.

“We will do our best!”

After this road construction, a new proverb was born among the people.

“He cooks death when asked to cook mortar.”

It was a proverb mocking those who couldn’t do a job properly even when entrusted with it.

* * *

At the road construction site, many devices suggested by the county magistrate and made by craftsmen were used.

Among those devices, there was one item that was well-received not only by those working on the site but also by ordinary people.

That was the handcart.

Carts were already common items in Joseon.

However, existing carts had a very high loading platform.

However, the magistrate, based on the rear car commonly used in the 21st century, created a new handcart.

Handcarts made with mass-produced iron from the first state-owned ironworks built in Anju under the direction of Kim Deok-su last year were even sturdier than carts before.

“This, this is a treasure!”

The laborers who used the handcart for the first time were unanimously praising it.

Seeing the reaction of the laborers, the supervisors immediately reported upwards.

“Carts, carts, more carts!”

Of course, the only regret was that the wheels had to be made of wood and metal plates due to the absence of rubber.

The common people instantly recognized the value of the handcart used on the construction site.

“That looks quite nice, doesn’t it?”

The merchants who observed the people’s reactions smelled money.

“It’s coming! It’s coming! I smell money!”

The merchants who traced the origin of the smell of money and found its source were dismayed.

“Again, Area 51?”

“Again, the Crown Prince?”

But, the real quick merchants hurried to find the authorities.

“Excuse me, sir. Which way should I go to reach the Intellectual Property Management Office?”

Upon receiving the merchant’s question, the official scrutinized the merchant from head to toe and opened his mouth.

“To register, or to use?”

“To use, please.”

At the merchant’s reply, the official raised his hand and pointed in a direction.

“Go through there and turn left at the building, then go to the door on the right.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Just make sure to pay your taxes. Let those government people die. Damn them… playing around with the budget…”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind, go on with your business.”

“Yes…”

With that, the official and the merchant went their separate ways.

* * *

The ‘Intellectual Property Management Office’ was an agency requested by Hyang to be formally established in central government by Sejong.

“Uh… I understand what ‘guaranteeing the property rights of the creator of a new piece of machinery’ means. But, you call it intellectual property, which seems to include knowledge as well, correct?”

Hyang nodded at Hwang Hui’s question.

“Yes. It includes both technology and knowledge.”

“Physical objects like machines are visible and easy to prove, but knowledge is intangible. Won’t it be hard to acknowledge?”

“Indeed. So, it has to be written in visible sentences and reviewed.”

“But isn’t the beauty of knowledge in sharing it with each other?”

When Hwang Hui and other scholars showed confused expressions, Hyang gave an example.

“Your excellency, do you know why the word ‘revision’ originated?”

“Yes.”

“Imagine that you spent years revising and creating beautiful sentences. But what if someone takes those sentences and becomes famous with them? Or, if someone passes the civil service exam using those sentences and people consider them as his? How would you feel?”

Eventually, the purview of the Intellectual Property Management Office extended to include intangible knowledge.

Many patents began to be registered in this newly established office. Most were from Hyang’s laboratory and Area 51, but there were others as well.

Interesting things began to happen as the office operated, such as inventors or those with unique technology or tools registering their works and suddenly finding themselves prosperous.

This led to an increase in craftsmen, merchants, and even impoverished aristocrats devoted to inventing or developing new technologies.

Slowly, the spark of the Industrial Revolution began to ignite in Joseon.

* * *

The handcart was establishing itself as a new hit product, and someone was carefully scrutinizing it.

“Astronomer Jang, do you have a grudge against the handcart? Why do you glare at it so fiercely?”

Caught by a colleague passing by, Jang Yeong-sil awkwardly smiled and stood up.

“Ah… I just wanted to take a closer look at its structure.”

“If you want to see the blueprint, you can go to storage Area 51, or the research lab’s storage room… With your close relationship with His Highness, you can even take it out from the royal treasury, can’t you?”

“Blueprints are important, but I must see it with my own eyes to feel satisfied…”

“Ha ha ha! Master Jang is quite eccentric!”

The rumor that ‘Jang Yeong-sil is interested in handcarts’ reached Hyang’s ears a beat late. Hyang had been swamped with the restoration of the fire disaster and road paving construction.

Upon hearing the rumor, Hyang immediately summoned Jang Yeong-sil.

‘Surely, it couldn’t be that?’

“Astronomer Jang, I hear you are interested in handcarts these days.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Actually, I want to create a new palanquin by taking inspiration from the handcart’s structure. This palanquin will be able to move on its own…”

“Do not ever try to make it alone! It’s an order! Form a development team and proceed immediately! Also, everything must be done with my approval!”

Hyang interrupted Jang Yeong-sil in shock. Surprised by Hyang’s completely different reaction, Jang Yeong-sil humbly bowed his head.

“Yes, yes! I will do as you say!”

Though he said he would comply, Hyang, not feeling entirely at ease, called for the inner courtier.

“Bring Grand Scholars Jeong-cho and Lee Chun right away!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After giving orders to the inner courtier, Hyang glared at Jang Yeong-sil.

‘You, sir! Your head might fly off if you make a mistake! Why that aggrieved expression?’

[TL/N: In actual history, Jang Yeon-sil’s palanquin incident was his last achievement before he was punished. In Sejong’s Annals, “…Jang Yeong-sil made a royal palanquin, but it was not sturdy. As the palanquin broke down and collapsed, he was sent to the State Tribunal for interrogation”. You can also watch the Korean movie, “Forbidden Dream, 2019” if you want to know more.]

After responding to Hyang’s summons, Jeong-cho and Lee Chun were instructed to organize a development team.

“Is it necessary to form a development team just to create a palanquin?”

“Astronomer Jang, explain.”

“Yes? Yes, Your Highness.”

Upon Hyang’s order, Jang Yeong-sil explained his plan for the self-moving palanquin.

After hearing his explanation, Jeongcho and Icheon looked a bit bewildered.

“A palanquin that moves by itself?”

“Is it possible for it to move by itself?”

Hyang interrupted Lee Chun’s response.

“If you question that, isn’t the locomotive the same?”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s point, Lee Chun made an ‘Ah!’ face, but Jeong-cho raised an objection.

“A locomotive is large, and it moves on a dedicated track. But a palanquin moves on already established paths, and its size is smaller than that of a locomotive.”

“That’s why we’re forming a development team. If successful, won’t it be useful in various ways? It could benefit the people’s livelihoods and even the military aspects.”

Hyang’s words plunged Jeong-cho and Lee Chun into deep thought.

After much consideration, they responded.

“It’s worth a try.”

“Even if it fails, there will be something to gain.”

“Good! Form a development team immediately!”

Thus, the ‘palanquin’ that had erased Jang Yeong-sil from history surprisingly took an unexpected turn.

Chapter 88
Autumn (1)

Under Hyang’s leadership, the road construction proceeded smoothly.

Standing on the gate tower of Gwanghwamun with Hyang, Sejong marveled at the road stretching out before him.

[TL/N: The gate tower would be something like this.]

“Hoo~, rebar and concrete… Ah, did you say it’s called ‘plaster’?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon Hyang’s reply, Sejong nodded.

Before his eyes was a bright gray road starting from Gwanghwamun and extending all the way to Namdaemun.

Designed to slightly curve to prevent direct flow of fire energy from Gwanaksan from extending directly, the road boasted a width of 50 kan (approximately 100 meters) and stretched north to south.

“How refreshing!”

While admiring the road stretching smoothly to the south, Sejong turned his head to look at Unjong-ga Street^1.

Overlapping with the main road leading to Namdaemun, another road that cut across Hansung (Seoul) from east to west also had a width of 30 kan (approximately 50 meters) and stretched refreshingly.

“Is it all completed?”

Hyang lowered his head at Sejong’s inquiry.

“We have finished about 60% of it.”

“Only 60%?”

“We still have finishing touches to apply, as well as drainage and sidewalk construction on both sides of the road.”

“Is that so?”

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong descended from the gate tower and left Gwanghwamun.

“Make way! Clear the path! His Majesty is proceeding!”

The workers scattered to the sides and prostrated themselves on the ground.

“Continue with your tasks.”

At Sejong’s command, the laborers rose and resumed their work.

“Um, Your Majesty”

“Yes?”

Hyang looked back at Sejong as a hesitating official approached him.

“Your Majesty, may I step aside for a moment to check on something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

After paying respects to Sejong, Hyang moved to the side, following the official.

Sejong watched Hyang as he conferred with other officials and supervisors over the map, his eyes filled with pride.

“Hasn’t he grown up a lot?”

The Chief State Councillor answered Sejong’s query promptly.

“He has always been mature, but now he certainly can be called a man.”

“Do you think so too?”

Sejong continued to watch Hyang with a satisfied smile.

Due to family circumstances, Hyang had grown up quickly. Now at the age of twelve, he was a head taller than his peers.

His growth wasn’t limited to his height. He had also become comfortable using respectful language when dealing with officials and craftsmen.

However, Hyang had his own frustrations.

“I’m getting at least 8 hours of sleep and eating well! I wish I could grow faster!”

Hyang was feeling anxious as his younger siblings were growing at an unprecedented rate.

Before the rainy season began, the road construction across Hansung was completed.

Thanks to a layer of graphite-mixed asphalt, the road turned a deep gray. With the edges filled with white lime, it was even visible at night.

People strolling on the newly-constructed road couldn’t help but exclaim their amazement.

“Isn’t this a marvel sight?”

“Right? Right?”

“Was it the crown prince who did this?”

“Yes, indeed!”

“Wow, how does such a young nobleman know all these amazing things?”

“Indeed, he’s of a different breed…”

The residents of Hansung marveled at the newly paved road.

Their awe transformed into praise for Sejong and the crown prince when the rainy season began.

No matter how much it rained, the new road never turned into a mud pool.

Water did pool in some areas, but most of the road remained clear, with the rainwater draining through the gutters on both sides.

The sidewalk next to the road was no different. A sidewalk built with sand and concrete blocks also only got wet in the rain, but it didn’t turn into a muddy puddle.

Thanks to this, the people of Hanyang could walk around without becoming mired in mud, even when it rained.

“Come see Hanyang’s newly made road path!”

“Let’s go!”

“‘I heard the newly paved road in Hanyang is something extraordinary!'”

People from various local cities and villages flooded into Hanyang, their interest piqued by the rumors spread by merchants and petty traders.

Of course, it wasn’t some average farmer; it was those with some means.

With the influx of people coming to see the new road, a new business was born in Hanyang.

It was an inn that doubled as a restaurant.

Of course, there were already guesthouses and taverns, but cheaper accommodation facilities were now established.

Hearing the report that was submitted to Sejong, Hyang had to hold back his laughter.

“‘Even in the 21st century, people flocked to see the 63 Building^2 built during my father’s young days, didn’t they?'”

Sejong, who had received the report, also smiled.

“It’s only natural to be amazed. When I first saw a paved road, I felt the same… However, where crowds gather, so do miscreants. Be thorough in security measures.”

“We receive your command!”

* * *

“The tourism for Hanyang’s new road peaked as the autumn harvest ended.”

The reason being, farmers who now had some free time joined the tourism brigade.

And those who toured and returned started to ruffle the feathers of their village leaders and nobles.

“Let’s have such a road in our place too!”

“Ah, it was darn good!”

Especially strong petitions came from various places, especially in the provinces of Jeonju, Gyeongju, Yeongheung, and Pyongyang.

“What’s wrong with our area? Lacking in history? Lacking in population?”

The nobles of these regions jointly filed petitions to Sejong.

Faced with petitions from across the country, Sejong summoned Hyang and his ministers.

“What should we do about this?”

Representing the ministers, Hwang Hui stepped forward.

“The intention is good, but there’s no viable method. Even looking at the construction of Hanyang’s new road, a third of the resources were spent waiting for iron from Anju. If we accept these petitions, we’ll run into supply issues.”

“That’s true…”

Acknowledging Hwang Hui’s point, Sejong looked at Hyang.

Hyang immediately responded, “What Right State Councilor Hwang Hui pointed out is accurate. Anju is already working on increasing its production. If we divert the iron needed for civilian use to road construction, the people will suffer. The same goes for asphalt. The supply from Area 51 is already insufficient. First, we need to build a factory specializing in production.”

“The budget is the problem, then… It’s fortunate that silver and gold mines have been developed.”

Sejong mumbled in frustration.

The most crucial part of the development plan was securing finances.

Explorers sent nationwide by Sejong’s orders brought back information on mines. Based on that, Sejong and his ministers selected mines to be developed first.

The most important criterion for selection was ‘places difficult for Ming to notice.’

For this reason, places like the Unsan gold mine, where large amounts of gold and silver were confirmed, were excluded for the time being if they overlapped with the routes taken by envoys from Ming.

[TL/N: Back in late 1890s, an American-based company was established near Unsan situated in south of Pyongyang, to mine for gold. From a geographical standpoint, it’s also a major route towards Ming’s capital.]]

“Let’s mine there when we become stronger.”

“Your order is received!”

Both Sejong, who gave the order, and the ministers who received it, didn’t look particularly pleased.

“It’s tough to accomplish even straightforward tasks when the nation is weak.”

Sejong complained, and the ministers all bowed in agreement.

“Please forgive our incompetence!”

“Please grant us death!”

* * *

In this process, mines in the Gangwon-do area were prioritized for mining.

The exception was the Gahak Mountain gold mine located in Geongmegol in Siheung-gun (now Gwangmyeong).

“In case we urgently need funds, there should be at least one mine nearby,” was King Sejong’s decision to prepare for emergencies.

Unbeknownst to many, Sejong was storing gold and silver while expanding trade with Japan.

“Find out what the Japanese people like other than the Buddhist scriptures!”

Upon Sejong’s command, the officials and traders in Dongnae discovered that ceramics were the next big thing after the scriptures. Sejong then transformed the public offices in Gwangju into a state-owned enterprise called the “Joseon Ceramics Corporation.”

Later, Minister of Taxation who was ordered by Sejong, then underwent discussions with the Dongnae merchants.

“We will give priority, but not monopoly.”

Although the Dongnae merchants wanted a monopoly, they had no choice but to accept Sejong’s firm decision.

* * *

Later, the Japanese posts in Sampo-Busanpo, Naeipo, Yeompo were consolidated into a single location in Busanpo. This was to prevent illegal trade due to the influx of Japanese.

Sejong, while cracking the whip, also dangled the carrot. He significantly increased the variety and quantity of goods that the Japanese merchants in Busanpo could trade.

The biggest beneficiaries of this situation were the Ouchi and Kujo regions. They were granted preferential trading licenses as they already had strong relationships with Joseon.

In addition, the positions of the Ouchi and Kujū regions were strengthened by allowing them to build large buildings in the Port of Busan.

As a result, Tsushima became desperate. So Sadamori, the lord of Tsushima, had to personally rush to Hanyang and bow deeply in front of King Sejong.

“After the last military expedition, you promised loyalty, but there’s no evidence that you have kept it! How long should we bear with your tribe?”

“Please forgive our disloyalty, Your Majesty!”

At the end of So Sadamori’s desperate plea, Tsushima was barely able to keep its trade vessels.

* * *

Thus, the trade area built in the Port of Busan thrived due to trade with Japan.

Although there was a trade port established by Ming in Shandong, the Japanese merchants preferred Busan.

Ming’s navy had a large presence in Shandong, but their main tasks were protecting the sea routes between Ming and Joseon and defending Ming’s southeastern coast.

Therefore, Japanese merchants preferred the less risky Busan over Shandong.

In Busan, Japanese merchants mainly imported Joseon’s Buddhist artifacts and ceramics, paying in silver.

And the silver that came in as tax was diligently stacked in the treasury of the King of Joseon.

Sejong was able to push forward with his reform plan based on these accumulated funds.

Although there were unexpected large expenditures to recover from the massive fire in Hanyang, no issues arose in implementing the reforms.

Despite this, the officials in the Ministry of Taxation had to give up their normal lives in this prosperous times.

* * *

Sejong warned his ministers.

“Despite the desperate wishes of the commoners, the fact that we can’t fulfill their needs means not only that there’s a problem with the government, but also that the ministers’ capabilities are still lacking. Keep this in mind and strive to do better.”

“We’ll heed your words!”

Although they replied energetically, the ministers felt as if they were facing death.

‘Just kill us! Kill us already!’

‘How much more effort is he expecting from us here?’

Sejong, having had his say to the ministers, turned his attention elsewhere.

“Crown Prince, why has the performance of the Anju National Steel Mill faltered?”

“The scale of operations has been expanded once again, and new facilities have been introduced. The process of implementing these changes is ongoing. Normal operations will be possible before the end of the year.”

“If that’s the case, it would indeed be good news. Lately, I have been increasingly aware of the importance of iron.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

The Anju National Steel Mill was shouldering all of Sejong’s expectations.

Kim Deoksu, employing not only his colleagues but also people from the surrounding areas, had established a steel mill. After overcoming various trials and errors, they soon began mass-producing soft iron and steel.

Minister of Taxation, who calculated the mill’s production, immediately reported it to Sejong.

“With just one national steel mill, our court can meet its annual need for soft iron and steel.”

“Is that so? However, starting with the military, the demand for iron continues to rise. Issue orders to the steel mill to devise a way to increase production.”

“I shall carry out your command!”

Upon receiving the royal command, Deoksu immediately rushed to the capital to explain the situation to Minister of Taxation.

“In order to increase production, we would need to expand the kilns or build new ones, but manpower is the issue!”

“Manpower?”

In summary, Deoksu explained that doubling the production would require at least four times more manpower.

“The part that requires the most manpower is the furnace workers. Continuously fueling the fire is not an easy task!”

Upon hearing Deoksu’s complaint, Hyang immediately responded.

“Is that so? I’ll find a solution as soon as possible.”

The solution that Hyang came up with was to significantly enlarge the centrifugal pump installed on the water barrier, turning it into a large centrifugal blower.

“Instead of manpower, we have horsepower. If used correctly, this could be a big help.”

The centrifugal pumps created by Hyang were quickly moved to Anju’s foundry.

Along with the arrived manpower and the blower, Deoksu constructed new, large kilns and proceeded to trial production.

Any defective iron produced through these trial and errors was all moved to Area 51.

“What a waste, right? Let’s find a way to use them.”

While looking for ways to recycle the defective iron, a fire broke out in Hansung, and all of those iron pieces were turned into rebar, consumed in road construction.

1. Today’s Jongno. An area connecting the east gate of Heunginmun with the west gate of Donuimum.[↩]

2. Famous skyscraper overlooking Han River built in the ‘80s[↩]

Chapter 89
Autumn (2)

After Chuseok had passed, Princess Jeonghye finally had her wedding ceremony.

The man who became her husband was the second son of someone who had held the position of Minister of Military Affairs of the third rank.

After the wedding ceremony ended, Hyang had a separate meeting with his new brother-in-law.

“Take good care of my sister.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

“My sister has always been loved by our dear royal Father and Mother. She may be a little clumsy, but she’s wise and will soon become a good wife.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

In the consistently gentle atmosphere, Hyang exchanged pleasantries, then quietly drew close to his new brother-in-law and whispered,

“If a tear comes to my sister’s eye, you’ll die at my hands.”

“Heek—gulp!”

Hyang’s warning turned the face of his new brother-in-law, who was two years older, pale white as he nodded.

* * *

While Princess Jeonghye’s wedding had concluded, preparations for another wedding were underway.

“Issue the Marriage Ban Edict^1,” commanded King Sejong.

Hwang Hui stepped forward, “What age range should I specify?”

King Sejong briefly considered, “The Crown Prince will soon be twelve, so how about up to fifteen years old?”

“Would up to fifteen be alright?”

“Fifteen then…”

After a moment’s consideration, King Sejong nodded, “Proceed that way.”

“As you command!”

Thus, a Marriage Ban Edict was issued across all of Joseon.

“We expected this, but it’s not really welcome,” grumbled the country’s noblemen families.

“Why did they have to make this damn selection system?”

The discontent was palpable among the older members of the noblemen families.

* * *

The selection system had been created by King Taejong.

Before that, there had been no such system; marriages for princes or princesses typically occurred through social connections.

However, Taejong created this system after comments made by a man named Yi Sok during the process of marrying off his daughter, Princess Jeongshin.

“Straw is best for making straw shoes,” he had said.

This was taken to mean that their social status was not a match, and it ended there. However, later on, the true meaning of Lee Seok’s words became clear and caused an uproar.

“My son can’t marry a servant’s child even if she is a princess!”

[TL/N: King Taejong sent a messenger to Lee Seok, his friend’s house to express his proposal for marriage offering the hands of his own daughter, Princess Jeongshin. The remark by Lee Seok was made in regards to the social status of Princess Jeongshin’s mother, who was previously a maidservant of Queen Wongyeong (Taejong’s official wife). As a retaliation for a rude remark towards his favorite concubine and daughter, a punishment was given to Lee Seok and his son.]

Due to this statement, Lee Seok received a hundred strokes and was demoted; his son was put under a lifetime marriage ban, and their relatives were also punished, showcasing Taejong’s ruthless retaliation.

Thus, Taejong established the selection system, ironically after his own three sons had already married.

* * *

Nevertheless, with the Marriage Ban Edict in effect, not only the noble families but also commoners faced marriage restrictions.

“Why are our humble lives affected by the crown prince’s marriage?”

Commoners, particularly those who were close to getting married, were openly complaining.

Local noblemen were also disgruntled.

“Good grief! Even if they are selected, they are cut from the same cloth anyway. Why bother obstructing a marriage!”

“You think they don’t have anything to worry about? Will they be able to see their household safe after making their daughter the Queen?”

Both generations of the noble families had similar reactions, having seen the disastrous in-law relationships that had occurred during Taejong and Sejong’s reigns.

* * *

Upon hearing that the Marriage Ban Edict had been issued to find him a wife, Hyang lost his appetite.

“Sigh, I prefer someone younger… Ah! Would it be a crime at my age to like someone younger? No, as long as the age difference is within a digit, it’s not a crime.”

Muttering to himself, Hyang then broke off with a complex expression.

“Marriage…”

Hyang, who had no romantic ties in the 21st century and was known as a “certified weirdo otaku,” found himself in contemplation.

“Hmm…”

With a mixed expression of anticipation and concern, he remembered the words of his old mentor, Teacher Samcheonpo.

-The biggest cause of Danjong’s tragedy was Munjong^2!

Danjong was born in 1441, when Munjong was 27!

Considering Sejong fathered Munjong at 17, that’s a wasted 10 years!

Even if Danjong had been born 5 years earlier, Grand Prince Suyang^3 wouldn’t have dared to make his move!

In Joseon, you are considered an adult at 15!

Remembering his teacher’s words, Hyang rose from his seat with determination.

“I must act for the future! Plus, there’s something I’ve been considering. It’s a good opportunity! It’s a two-for-one deal! Attendant!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Ask if I can see my royal father and royal mother right now!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

* * *

After a brief moment, Hyang received permission and entered Gangnyeongjeon Hall^4.

“Welcome.”

Sejong, who had just finished a meeting and was sharing tea with his ministers, warmly greeted Hyang.

“You’re here? What brings you to see your father at this time, not during the regular visiting hours?”

Upon Sejong’s words, Hyang got straight to the point.

“Please grant me discretionary funds^5.”

“Discretionary funds, not budget?”

When Sejong showed curiosity, Hyang promptly replied.

“The royal treasury office (Insoonbu) that was destroyed in the last fire has not yet been restored.”

Insoonbu, one of the key treasuries of the royal family and managed by the crown prince once he comes of age, was lost in the previous fire.

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded.

“I see. So, you put off restoring the Insoonbu because you prioritized other restorations. Why do you need the funds?”

“It’s due to a matter related to my marriage.”

“Marriage? Have you taken a fancy to a young woman while traveling between Area 51 and the palace or during the restoration work? If her family is very wealthy, you’ll need more than just funds.”

Sejong joked with a sly smile.

Although Joseon was newly founded, it was certain that Hyang would be recorded in the history of Joseon as the crown prince who had engaged in the most external activities.

That’s why Sejong made the assumption, half-jokingly but also half-serious, that Hyang must have found someone during his travels.

The real problem was that, whether in the 21st century or now, Hyang was wholly engrossed in ‘otaku’ culture.

“That’s not the case.”

“Then why do you need the funds?”

“I’m considering a visit to the Gisaeng house^6.”

“Pfft!”

“Cough! Cough!”

Snap!

At Hyang’s words, Sejong spat out his tea, and the ministers choked on their salivas.

The officials and clerks who were writing dropped their golden pens, puncturing holes in the paper and damaging the pens, looking quite upset.

“Cough! Cough! You this fool!”

After a few coughs, Sejong angrily shouted at Hyang. However, Hyang looked back at him calmly.

At Hyang’s composed face, Sejong reluctantly calmed himself.

“You’re only twelve years old. What’s your reason for wanting to go to a Gisaeng house? If it’s for romantic reasons, I won’t allow it.”

“It’s due to my marriage matter.”

“What does a marriage have to do with a Gisaeng house… if it’s about intimacy between a husband and a wife, you’ll naturally come to understand that.”

‘Is this why s*x education is so lacking in the 21st century?’

Muttering inwardly, Hyang explained in more detail.

“Though it may sound arrogant, since learning to read at a young age, I’ve devoted myself to academia.”

“I see.”

“Thus, I do not know what beauty is in women. When it comes to marriage, a man and a woman must live happily for a hundred years. To do this, neither should have any dissatisfaction with the other. Typically, the first thing a man evaluates in a woman is her appearance. Since I’ve only read books, I don’t know what the standard of beauty is for women. Although historical texts mention phrases like ‘Fish Sink and Wild Geese Drop’ (沈魚落雁) and ‘to Outshine the Moon and Put the Flowers to Shame’ (閉月羞花), I’ve never seen such beauty myself. Hence, I can’t even discern whether my standard of beauty is correct or not. However, the beauty of Gisaeng is what people talk about first, so I’m planning to visit a Gisaeng house to see for myself.”

[TL/N: Both idioms describe peerless beauty. These idioms comes from the legendary of the four beauties; Xishi, Wang Zhaojun, Diaochan, Yang Yuhuan. To further explain the idioms,

“Seeing the beauty of the four women, moon and flowers feel embarrassed, and fish and geese are so stunned that they forget why they are doing, so the fish sink in the water and the geese fall from the sky.”

“I see…”

In response to Hyang’s words, Sejong’s expression became complex. The very idea that a twelve-year-old would openly go to a courtesan parlor made him want to pick up a stick and smack the boy’s calves. However, something about Hyang’s argument was reasonable.

“Good heavens… oh dear.”

Even Sejong, who was famous for his intellect, found himself at a loss for words. At that moment, Hwang Hui stepped in.

“Crown Prince, since ancient times it has been said that internal beauty is more important than external beauty. Whether one is male or female, physical beauty is fleeting. What’s truly important is inner beauty. I can say this with certainty having lived to this age.”

“But isn’t inner beauty something you can’t recognize at first glance? I hear people say, ‘What use is a good-looking face? Are you going to eat it?’ Yet, there are also sayings like ‘Might as well wear a red skirt’ and ‘What looks good, tastes good too.’ Why then do these courtesans have such a bad reputation? And why do you engage in such moralizing?”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Caught off guard by Hyang’s counterargument, the ministers could only clear their throats awkwardly. Sejong looked around at the others.

The internal ministers were staring off into the distance, while the scholars and secretaries had their heads buried, fidgeting with their pens.

Hyang continued to speak.

“Once I marry, I have no intention of taking any woman other than my queen.”

“Crown Prince, expanding the royal family is one of your important duties.”

“Father, I already have seven half-brothers. Isn’t one queen sufficient if I follow your example? What I often see in Area 51 and the reconstruction sites are men getting caught cheating and getting beaten by their wives. Since olden times, it’s been said ‘Home is where harmony resides,’ and ‘Even Buddha loses patience if he sees a monk too often.’ If one can’t control one’s desires and brings mistresses into the home, how can one govern the nation and bring peace to the heavens?”

“…”

“…”

Both Sejong and the ministers were at a loss for words. After a moment, Sejong spoke.

“I understand your intentions. Knowing your temperament, you’d find a way even if I forbid it. Sigh…”

Letting out a long sigh, Sejong finally conceded.

“Fine, I’ll inform the Ministry of Personnel.”

“Your kindness is immeasurable!”

“However, staying overnight is not permitted!”

“I will obey!”

Having obtained permission from Sejong, Hyang cheerfully exited the palace.

After Hyang left, Sejong complained to the ministers.

“Smart kids can also be a problem.”

“…”

“I want to be alone for a while. I’ll see you later in the study.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, having received permission from Sejong, was overjoyed.

“This is the moment to verify what I’ve always suspected!”

While overseeing the palace maids, traveling to Area 51, and supervising reconstruction sites, he’d glimpsed many women who would be considered beauties even by 21st-century standards.

His middle-school art teacher in the 21st century had once said:

“Don’t confuse aesthetic perspectives with actual standards of beauty. Don’t trust judgments like ‘She’s an Eastern beauty or Western beauty.’ If you look at photographs of Korean courtesans taken by Westerners during the reign of King Gojong, many would still be considered beautiful today. The only issue being their short stature.”

That advice was later echoed by a famous Australian comedian.

“Tired of being asked about the differences between Eastern and Western beauties, he finally concluded, ‘Whether it’s Westerners or Koreans, men’s eyes are all the same!'”

* * *

A few days after Hyang received permission from Sejong, a curious rumor was circulating among the courtesans of Hanyang.

“There’s a young nobleman who leaves without drinking, just looking at the faces of the courtesans!”

As the rumor spread, the courtesans were curious about the identity of the main character.

“I found out!”

“Who is it? A countryside nobleman from some distant place?”

“If it’s close, it’s close; if it’s far, it’s far.”

“Enough with the riddles! Whose son is he? Does he come from a well-off family? A family we can comfortably milk without getting into trouble?”

The courtesan who gathered the information clicked her tongue.

“Tsstssts. Be careful. One wrong move and your heads might roll.”

“Whose child is he, for heaven’s sake!”

“He’s the eldest son of the owner of Gyeongbokgung Palace! The owner of Eastern Palace!”

“Goodness gracious!”

Upon learning that the protagonist was Hyang, the courtesans divided into two groups. One group was extremely cautious, while the other applied more elaborate makeup and dressed in lighter clothes.

“You fool, you’ll freeze to death like that!”

“What if? What if I catch the eye of someone for the royal harem?”

“Keep dreaming.”

Contrary to the courtesans’ hopes for a ‘life-changing opportunity’, Hyang, who had visited all the courtesan houses in Hanyang, disappeared from the alleys.

* * *

“So… did you take a good look around?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What a boring fellow.”

Sejong gave a brief comment on Hyang’s reply.

Though Sejong had granted permission, he was still uneasy and had instructed his guards and officials to report on Hyang’s every move.

After receiving reports from his guards and officials, Sejong put his hand on his forehead.

“What to do with this kid…”

Hyang did indeed call upon the courtesans, but he had done nothing more than ‘observe their appearances.’

He had conversed and even admired their artistic skills, but it ended there.

“Is this kid a eunuch?”

Sejong was worried about an absurd possibility.

When Hyang responded, Sejong threw a truly curious question.

“So, which courtesan seemed the most beautiful to you?”

“Each had their own unique charm.”

‘Based on 21st-century standards, they could be scouted by talent agencies. The problem would be their height, though… ’

“That’s true. So, what kind of woman would be the best match for you?”

After pondering Sejong’s question for a while, Hyang borrowed a phrase popularized by a female duo in the 21st-century Korean music scene.

“Your Majesty, either the most beautiful among the kind-hearted women, or the kindest among the beautiful women…”

“Get out, you!”

1. A decree prohibiting marriage of all unwed maidens of marriageable age ahead of the selection of crown princess. Usually lifted after the first selection.[↩]

2. Hyang himself. King Danjong is his son.[↩]

3. Hyang’s younger brother Yu. The train maniac in this series[↩]

4. King’s living and sleeping quarters[↩]

5. Funds that are spent for things that may not be necessary. Basically, pocket money.[↩]

6. Courtesan house[↩]

Chapter 90
The Strangers (1)

After being admonished by King Sejong, Hyang sighed softly.

“Phew~. The responsibility has left my hands… It might be a bit difficult, so Father and the ministers will have their work cut out for them. But what can I do? It’s something I can’t even personally take care of… No, it’s something that’s almost impossible even if I do. I’m not skilled in that area…”

“Your Highness, did you say something?”

“It’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”

Briefly answering his attendant who was following behind, Hyang sighed again.

“Phew~. Being a Crown Prince has its perks, but there’s no private life, no private life at all…”

Suddenly thinking of something, Hyang turned to look at his attendant.

“By the way, how many days are left until this month’s full moon?”

“Five days.”

“Five days? That’s exciting.”

Once again, muttering to himself, Hyang turned his gaze over the palace walls.

* * *

Hyang’s appearance itself was an unexpected event in the gisaeng house.

“No one who hasn’t performed the formal rites can enter here.”

A young child dressed in an expensive top-grade silk garment had come to the gisaeng house, causing the head gisaeng to personally come out and block Hyang.

To her words, Hyang tapped his hat with his finger and responded.

“Do you see this hat as mere decoration?”

“Eh? Still…”

The head gisaeng hesitated, prompting the commander of the accompanying guards to step forward.

“He is more than qualified.”

“In that case…”

Overwhelmed by the guards, the head gisaeng stepped aside, and Hyang and his party were able to enter the gisaeng house.

“Take them to the largest room.”

“Yes.”

After leading Hyang and his companions inside, the head gisaeng gave orders to another servant.

“Tell the others to prepare, just in case.”

“Yes.”

“Who exactly is that young master?”

Even after ushering gisaeng into the room where Hyang’s party had entered, the head gisaeng sat by the door and monitored the situation within. Her eyes were focused solely on Hyang.

‘He’s definitely not an ordinary young master!’

The head gisaeng concluded as she observed Hyang’s behavior.

Her conclusion had grounds.

Hyang was extremely natural at commanding those beneath him. And it wasn’t merely the air of someone used to bossing around slaves; he was comfortable even directing those who looked to be on an equal footing.

“I wonder if today will be a busy day…”

The head gisaeng anxiously chewed her nails.

Inside, meanwhile, they were having a relatively enjoyable time.

“The aroma of alcohol is wonderful!”

Hyang took a quick sniff and set it down, prompting the gisaeng beside him to smile and respond.

“It’s not alcohol; it’s tea aroma.”

“Tea aroma?”

“The king has issued a ban on alcohol. How could we brew alcohol freely? We simply steep tea in alcohol.”

“Ah? Hahaha!”

Hyang laughed genuinely at the gisaeng’s reply.

Ever since King Sejong ascended the throne, there hadn’t been a year without famine. Therefore, Sejong had to issue an alcohol ban every year. Some leniency had begun as national construction projects commenced, but the ban still continued.

Courtesan parlors, as a result, had their own workaround.

“We’re not selling grain alcohol; we’re selling alcohol-infused tea!”

It was a case of ‘closing one’s eyes to avoid seeing,’ but they got away with it because it was a gisaeng house.

* * *

Hyang, who had been observing the appearances of the courtesans in the brothel, changed the subject as the atmosphere started to get comfortable.

“I’m new to the brothel scene, but I’ve heard that there are people here who handle any disturbances. Is that true?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s question, the courtesan sitting next to him responded in a haughty manner.

“Yes, indeed. We have very strong gatekeepers here.”

“Can I see them?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, I’ve heard rumors. Even officials from the Saheonbu (Office of the Inspector General)1, known for their strictness, are intimidated by their mere gaze. I’m curious about these people.”

“Oh my~, that doesn’t apply to our brothel.”

“Still, I’d like to meet them. Could you call them?”

“Very well.”

The courtesan went out and relayed Hyang’s request. Shortly after, she returned with a somewhat troubled expression.

“The gatekeepers told me to convey that ‘they are not clowns of Sadang troupe’.'”

“How rude!”

The bodyguards sitting with them were enraged, loudly protesting and getting up from their seats.

“Sit down.”

“My lord!”

“Quickly!”

“Yes.”

The guards took their seats at Hyang’s order.

“Enjoy a cup of Gokcha (strong tea mixed with alcohol). But don’t get intoxicated by the fragrance.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

At Hyang’s command, the escorting guards emptied the cups of alcohol in front of them. Watching this, Hyang turned to look at the courtesan seated next to him.

“Drinking Gokcha is an interesting choice.”

“Yes, My Lord…”

The courtesan replied with a tense face, realizing she was in the company of very dangerous individuals.

‘What on earth is this kid?’

The courtesan was curious about the identity of the young lord seated next to her.

A moment later, words that escaped from Hyang’s lips turned the courtesan’s face pale.

“Go tell those gatekeepers, ‘Dogs that guard the gate and scavenge the leftovers from the table shouldn’t talk too much.'”

“My Lord!”

The courtesan rushed to stop him, but Hyang’s expression remained unchanged.

“Deliver the message as I said.”

* * *

Shortly after, a gatekeeper appeared to guard the brothel.

“Which noble…”

The gatekeeper, appearing ready to stir up trouble with his insults, paused and became visibly tense.

It was because of the stern faces of the people in the room.

Every man present, except Hyang sitting at the top seat, emitted an extraordinary aura as they glared at him.

‘If I mess this up, today next year could be my, Kang Samtae’s, memorial day.’

Samtae clenched the hilt of his Changpogeom (korean sword) tightly and opened his mouth.

[TL/N: Changpogeom Sword is a sword named after calamus plant (changpo in Korean).

“May I know who summoned me?”

“Are you the leader of the gatekeepers guarding this place?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s question, Samtae answered.

“Are you looking for Daehyung?”

“Bring him here.”

Frustrated by Hyang’s incredibly haughty words, Samtae gritted his teeth but answered due to the intimidating aura of the people sitting with him.

“I will bring him.”

Shortly after, an extraordinary-looking man followed Samtae into the room.

“I’ve heard you were looking for me.”

“Come in.”

At Hyang’s command, Daehyung strode into the room.

“I have a conversation to hold with this man. The rest of you may leave.”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s words, the courtesans filed out of the room one by one.

After the courtesans left, Hyang gave the same order to the bodyguards and attendants.

“You may also leave for a moment.”

“My lord! Absolutely not!”

“It’s fine, step out.”

“I will leave two behind.”

Firmly resisting the command, the commander of the bodyguards made his case. Hyang nodded.

“So be it.”

And so, only Hyang, the commander leading the bodyguards, his subordinate, Daehyung, and Samtae were left in the room.

“Why did you seek me out?” Daehyung asked.

Hyang smiled thinly and threw a question back. “Judging by your appearance, you seem like the child of a concubine. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Are you satisfied with your current life?”

“What can a dog that survives on scraps from the banquet table hope for? I guess I’m content as long as I’m not starving.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang let out a small sigh through his nose, observing Daehyung, who sat right in front of him.

‘It’s a cliché but seems useful, doesn’t it?’

“Stop staring, you’ll bore a hole in my face. You’re not into men, are you?”

“Unfortunately for you, I’m quite normal. Do you lot have contracts?”

“Why do you ask?”

“If you have a contract, tell your contract master. One dog’s life can be quite different from another’s. Come find me at midnight on the full moon this month.”

Daehyung looked astonished at Hyang’s words.

“Ha! Do you even know who I am?”

“If you can’t do even that, you’ll have to spend your life guarding the gates of the pleasure district.”

Hyang emptied the cup in front of him. “Whew! That’s strong!”

Setting down his cup, Hyang rose from his seat and walked out.

“Settle the bill.”

“Yes, my lord.”

As the inner servant was settling the bill, Hyang looked back at Samtae and Daehyung.

“Take a good look and remember. Don’t take my words lightly.”

After finishing his words, Hyang moved away briskly with his bodyguards and inner servants.

Watching Hyang fade into the distance, Daehyung ordered Samtae, “Follow him.”

“Yes, Daehyung.”

However, Samtae who returned after a while, had to shake his head.

“I lost him.”

“How?”

“His traces were lost in the Unjong neighborhood.”

“Unjong neighborhood?”

Upon hearing Samtae’s words, Daehyung briefly thought of the terrain of Hansung.

‘Vanished from Unjongga? Where to? That place is filled with officials… Wait, officials? If it’s officials, then it’s connected to the palace, and if it’s the palace… ’

Daehyung immediately realized one fact.

‘The Crown Prince in the rumors would be about the same age as the boy I saw earlier!’

“During the last fire in Hansung, wasn’t the Crown Prince in command? Has anyone here seen his face?”

“Aigoo, Daehyung! Our kids are all night owls who sleep during the day, aren’t they?”

“Damn it!”

Cursing, Daehyung scratched his head furiously and reached a conclusion.

“I’ll have to speak to the innkeeper.”

It had only been three days since Hyang started frequenting the pleasure house, and his true identity was already revealed.

On the third day, while walking, Hyang posed a question to the guard escorting him.

“Commander Kwon, did you say this place is called Hwayeollu? Is it famous?”

“Yes, it’s the best in Dadong [Tea Cave].”

“You know it well?”

“From my youth…”

“Your family must be proud.”

“Haha!”

As the conversation mixed with jest and earnest continued, they arrived at the pleasure house in question. Hyang chuckled.

“I’ve been caught. Well, it was only a matter of time…”

Standing in front of the wide-open gates of Hwayeollu were what appeared to be a high-ranking courtesan and Daehyung.

“It is an honor to serve you, My Lord.”

Upon seeing Hyang, the high-ranking courtesan quickly bowed deeply, and Daehyeong also followed suit.

“Ho?”

Hyang was impressed with the courtesy that Daehyung displayed, observing that it strictly followed etiquette. This suggested that Daehyung likely came from an extraordinary background.

In any case, Hyang moved forward for the purpose he had in mind.

“Thank you for welcoming me. I look forward to it.”

* * *

Around the promised full moon, as midnight drew near, Hyang issued orders to the guards guarding Eastern Palace.

“Open the gates and wait outside. A guest will be coming.”

“But, Your Highness…”

“It’s an order. Don’t question it, just obey.”

Faced with Hyang’s strong command, the guards had no choice but to retreat.

“Inner Palace Guards, step back too.”

“I will not comply.”

“Inner Palace Guards!”

Even as Hyang’s voice grew louder, the Inner Palace Guards refused to budge.

“Even when my subordinates reported it, Your Highness didn’t inform the King. This alone makes me an unforgivable sinner. I can’t leave you alone!”

“Do you think things will go well if you stand your ground, Inner Palace Guards?”

“Your Highness! Even then, it’s not allowed!”

“Inner Palace Guards! This is for the sake of Father and this Joseon! My life is a small price to pay for it! It’s an order!”

The standoff between Hyang and the Inner Palace Guards continued, but they couldn’t break Hyang’s stubbornness.

Eventually, the Inner Palace Guards proposed a compromise.

“Then, let’s leave only two behind. I can’t concede more than that! If you even refuse this, I will report to the King immediately!”

Sighing deeply at the Inner Palace Guards’ firm stance, Hyang agreed.

“Fine, let’s do it like that.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

After bowing to Hyang, the Inner Palace Guards left Officer Kwon and one other guard behind and exited the room.

“That stubborn nobleman…”

While Hyang was grumbling, Officer Kwon and the other one were muttering internally.

‘Is this really necessary, Your Highness?’

1. An agency responsible for monitoring government administrations and officials in both central and local governments for corruption, malfeasance, or inefficiency.[↩]

Chapter 91
The Strangers (2)

“It’s midnight~~”

As the bell tolled midnight from the bell tower, Officer Kwon informed Hyang that it was midnight.

“I heard it. Even the clock is pointing to midnight.”

“He probably won’t make it. To get to Donggungjeon, there are more than one or two walls to climb over. Plus, the guards stationed there are also more than a handful…”

As Officer Kwon reported that they would not be able to enter, a faint voice was heard from outside the door.

“Still, if the master of the Eastern Palace calls, I have to come.”

Upon hearing the unexpected voice, Officer Kwon and the guards drew their swords and stood on either side of Hyang.

“Then come in.”

“Yes.”

With a quiet reply, three men entered. Looking at the men, covered from head to toe in black, Hyang said a word.

“Take off your masks.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The leaders of the Sword Guild respectfully bowed to Hyang after removing their masks.

“We, the humble leaders of the Sword Guild, greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Sit comfortably on the chairs over there.”

“Your grace is immense.”

As the leaders of the Sword Guild sat down, Hyang went straight to the point.

“Which parts of Hansung are your guilds responsible for?”

In response to Hyang’s question, the leaders described the areas where they held influence.

“I lead a guild in Bukchon.”

“I am in Dadoong…”

“I am in Unjongga…”

“Hmm… East and west of central Hansung, and north too. Is there nothing in the south?”

‘If I were to put it simply, it’s like gangsters splitting up the goldmine of 21st-century Seoul Gangnam.’

The guild leaders explained the reason.

“There are no guilds settled in the south because there are no Guilds and there’s that Area 51. Ah! There are small fries who, calling themselves Gibu (妓夫), hustle in disreputable activities, targeting Area 51 and nearby soldiers. They are nobodies.”

“I see. The reason I called you all today is…”

Hyang went straight to the point again.

The area Hyang wanted to use them for was ‘surveillance of the officials’ and ‘early detection of unclean groups.’

“Don’t we already have the Office of Inspector General and Ministry of Law Enforcement for monitoring officials?”

“Yes, but what I’ve learned from multiple incidents is that by the time the Office of Inspector General or Ministry of Law Enforcement catches on, it’s often too late. But you guys could act faster, given the information you can pick up from brothels and other places, right?”

“That is true.”

When the Dadoong guild leader nodded, the Bukchon guild leader asked.

“I understand ‘early detection of unclean groups,’ but why entrust such a heavy responsibility to us?”

“The dark corners are your specialty, aren’t they?”

“…”

At Hyang’s words, the guild leaders closed their mouths. It wasn’t that it wasn’t true; they frequently heard various things at the pleasure houses and used them for extortion or to seize opportunities.

“If we take on the work…”

As the Dadoong guild leader began to speak, Hyang cut him off immediately.

“Official punishment and execution will not be imposed on you and your guild members for the time being. Actually, to be honest, it will be almost nonexistent even if I inherit the throne, and my father’s rule continues. Only a very few besides me and my father will know about your existence. However, if you die or get seriously injured during the work, it will be your full responsibility.”

The guild leaders turned serious upon hearing Hyang’s words.

‘Should we not have crossed the wall?’

All three regretted crossing the wall but had no choice. The Emperor and the crown prince had only been fueling their psychological hunger.

“Do we have to give an answer right now?”

“I think I’ve already given you enough time, haven’t I?”

“…”

At Hyang’s pointed remarks, the leaders fell silent again.

That was because what Hyang said was true. After learning Hyang’s identity, they had more than thirteen days before the full moon to think things through. Among the members of the guild, there were many intelligent people, and the conclusion they reached was quite similar to what Hyang had just proposed. A decision had already been made.

“We will follow your Highness’s suggestion.”

“Good!”

When they accepted, Hyang finally leaned back in his chair and relaxed.

A leader from Dadoong broke the newly softened atmosphere by throwing a jest at Hyang.

“Weren’t you being too careless? What would you have done if we harbored ill-will?”

“Well, I have guards beside me…”

Hyang moved aside the books on the table. Underneath them, two loaded guns in c*cked states were laid.

“At least two of you wouldn’t have made it out alive.”

No sooner had Hyang finished speaking than the Inner Guard’s leader said,

“Actually, none of them would have made it out alive.”

“Eh?”

Both Hyang and the leaders turned towards the source of the voice and froze.

Royal guards with loaded crossbows were aiming at them, and behind them stood Sejong.

With eyes brimming with a menacing aura, Sejong stared at Hyang.

“Crown Prince, you’ve really started something interesting, haven’t you?”

“Gulp!”

* * *

Before long, Hyang’s room was filled with people. While royal guards aimed their crossbows at the leaders of the guild, ready to fire at any moment, Sejong made his way to Hyang’s seat.

“Please, sit here.”

“You and I will have a lengthy conversation later.”

“…Yes.”

Sejong, who had placed Hyang next to him, sat down and looked at the three kneeling leaders in front of him.

“So, you are the leaders of the assassins that rule the nights of Hanyang, huh?”

“That, that is correct, Your Majesty.”

“It is an honor to witness Your Majesty’s presence in person. Long live the king! Long live the king! Long, long live the king!”

“As the king, I’m not pleased. Assassins… How should I judge you?”

“…”

Faced with Sejong’s question, the leaders remained silent.

They called themselves ‘Sword Guild’ among themselves, but among commoners, they were known as assassins, inducing fear.

Sejong opened his mouth after silently staring at them.

“If you follow the two commands that I issue now, I will guarantee your lives. No, although unofficially, I will even grant you honor.”

The leaders looked up at Sejong.

“The two commands you must follow are simple. One is to fully execute the commands just given by the Crown Prince. The other is to make the nights of Hanyang safe.”

“How should we go about making Hanyang’s nights safe?”

“Many people live in Hanyang; crime is inevitable. However, crimes that harm human life, especially crimes like the recent arson that harm innocent people’s lives and property, are unforgivable! Therefore, prevent such incidents from occurring! That is your second command.”

“Are you ordering us to prevent crimes in advance or to report after the fact?”

“That is your choice. If you have time, report in advance; otherwise, acting first and reporting later is also acceptable. However! If it is determined to be a false accusation, the punishment will not be light!”

The leaders closed their mouths and pondered Sejong’s commands.

“We accept your royal command.”

The first to make the decision was the leader of Dadoong.

“We accept your command!”

“We accept your command!”

After Dadoong’s leader made his decision, the other two leaders also accepted Sejong’s command.

“Good. Then from tomorrow, execute the command immediately. And… I will soon select someone to communicate with me and inform you.”

“We accept your command!”

“Then leave! And keep today’s matter a secret until you die!”

“We accept your command!”

Answering Sejong’s commands, the leaders bowed deeply and courteously stepped backward out of the room.

Watching them, Hyang felt something familiar.

‘Is this like a Joseon version of Las Vegas?’

* * *

Las Vegas had been heavily influenced by the mafia since its inception.

Interestingly, the method the mafia used to attract tourists to Las Vegas was to ‘enhance security.’

Swindlers, prostitutes operating in unauthorized areas, and drug dealers all disappeared without a trace into the desert sands, courtesy of the mafia.

* * *

“Follow them and figure out where they came in from.”

“Roger!”

Upon the order from the Royal Commander, the royal soldiers followed the intruders out of the room.

The faces of the royal soldiers following the intruders were stern.

After the pilgrimage to the Hyang’s last visit to the brothel, the Royal Commander had been paying extra attention to the palace’s night security. Yet, today, their defenses had been breached.

If the reason for today’s failure was due to a simple human error rather than an unknown weakness, the Commander was sure that there would be repercussions starting tomorrow.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Hyang’s room, only King Sejong, the Royal Commander, Officer Kwon, and another warrior were present.

“Do you have five spare lives? Did you pull this off relying solely on those two guns?”

To Sejong’s words, Hyang answered with a smile.

“Would that really be the case?”

“You find this situation funny!”

Realizing the mood was getting heavy, Hyang hurriedly removed the helmet he was wearing and offered it.

“I did make some preparations, Your Majesty.”

Taking the helmet, Sejong felt its unexpected weight and flipped it over to examine the inside. It was lined with metal plates.

“That might protect your head, but what about…”

Hyang quickly loosened the royal robe he was wearing. Inside his robe was a breastplate, and a slightly oversized copper button covered the neck area, serving as a neck guard.

“The spaciousness of this robe is indeed useful.”

“Hoo~”

Sejong sighed deeply after listening to Hyang’s explanation.

“Choose: 100 days of document sorting or getting caned right now.”

“Should I bring the stepping stones?”

“Sigh~.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong sighed and pointed to the desk.

* * *

“…This is your father’s first and last warning. I understand the importance of what you’re trying to do, and the need to keep it a secret. But hiding it even from your father is unforgivable. If you’re caught again, you’ll be sorting all the documents from the Ministry of Taxation and Ministry of Personal offices!”

“Yes! I will definitely report to Father and Mother!”

Forgetting the pain in his calf, Hyang immediately stood up to reply. He knew the notoriety of document sorting, as he was its creator.

“Then retire to your chamber.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

As they left the Eastern Palace, the inner Royal Guard Commander asked Sejong a question.

“May I dare to ask, Your Majesty, why you have accepted those assassin defectors?”

“Each has its own use, as they say. Even if they’re assassins, they must have their uses.”

“Are they capable?”

“Given that they broke through the Inner Royal Guards, they must have some skills, right?”

“I will further train the royal guards. Firmly!”

At Sejong’s words, the Royal Guard Commander grit his teeth. Today’s events were a disgrace to the royal guards.

“In that case, take your leave.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

“Make sure today’s events don’t leak.”

“I have entirely trustworthy subordinates.”

“Good.”

As Sejong was walking away, a thought occurred to him.

‘Hmm… I’ve just thought of a good way to test the assassins’ abilities.’

* * *

Five days later, Officer Kwon was promoted from 8th Rank Lower Officer for Bravery to 8th Rank Upper Officer for Valor at the administrative division where he was stationed.

He stepped in and said, “I’ve come to meet the leader.”

“To whom shall I announce your arrival?”

“Tell him I’ve come for the Unjongga.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, the guild leader, upon hearing someone was looking for him, appeared. He hesitated momentarily upon seeing Officer Kwon’s face but soon came forward to greet him.

“It’s been a long time since we last met.”

“Thank you for remembering me. Most likely, it will be me who will come. If not, someone with the name ‘Bukak’ has come.”

“Bukak, understood. May I ask what brings you today?”

“The first thing is to teach you this secret language, and second, the elder wishes to meet you.”

“The elder?”

Officer Kwon silently lifted his right index finger.

“Ah! When?”

“In three days, at midnight. Also, make sure to come through the north gate of the palace. Don’t try to climb over the wall like last time, otherwise, my guards will warmly welcome you. They had some venting to do because of the mess you guys made last time.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Would you like a drink before you go?”

“I’ll be frequenting the bar from now on, so I have to accumulate some goodwill with my wife first.”

Upon hearing Officer Kwon’s words, the guild leader laughed.

“Hahaha! Next time you come, I’ll prepare a tonic liquor that’ll help your vitality!”

“I’ll count on that!”

* * *

Three days later, at midnight.

The leaders who entered through the north gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace met Sejong at Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

“Did you summon us?”

“Yes, I have a task for you.”

“What task might it be?”

“It’s related to the Crown Prince. You’re aware of the recent royal marriage decree?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“That foolish Crown Prince has made a ridiculously challenging requirement for his future wife.”

“Yes?”

Sejong explained to the leaders what traits the Crown Prince’s wife should possess.

“…So, a marriage bureau has been set up to find suitable candidates, but it’s not easy. Therefore, you guys should try to find some.”

“…Yes.”

“This will also test your capabilities. The one who brings the best and fastest results will secure a higher position.”

The leaders responded with nervous expressions.

“We shall do our very best!”

Chapter 92
The Strangers (3)

After meeting with King Sejong, the guild leaders summoned their faction members with grave expressions.

“What’s going on?”

“An imperial decree has come down. We need to succeed faster than the other factions.”

Hearing their leader’s words, the faction members’ eyes lit up. After all, this was an opportunity to gain merit now that they had become part of the King’s secret operatives.

“What is His Majesty’s command?”

Facing the members’ questions, the guild leader spoke with an awkward expression.

“The command is to find ladies who meet the following criteria.”

“Yes?”

“Huh?”

Hearing the explanation, the faction members also looked perplexed.

“So you mean, among the ladies who are rumored to be kind-hearted, find one who is exceptionally beautiful, or among those rumored to be beautiful, find one who is exceptionally kind-hearted? And she must be between twelve and fifteen years old?”

“If she’s that beautiful, her figure will naturally be slender and voluptuous…”

Hearing his members, the leader nodded silently.

“Is he searching for his harem?”

“It’s not for the Gangnyeongjeon, but for the Eastern Palace. It’s a direct request from the Eastern Palace.”

Upon hearing this, all the faction members exclaimed.

“Ah! That gentleman certainly knows how to enjoy life!”

In any case, since the decree had come down, potential candidates soon emerged among the faction members.

“Another criterion is… a noble family that was once prominent but has declined, or a family just beginning to rise…”

“The second daughter of the Jo family in the West Village is pretty close…”

“The eldest daughter of the Lee family in Seongbuk-dong is also good…”

As suitable candidates started to be suggested, someone urgently spoke up.

“The second daughter of the Jo family is dangerous; rumor has it that ‘Zebi’ is targeting her!”

“The same goes for the Lee family! Leader!”

Hearing this, the guild leader’s face turned serious.

“Zebi? You mean those lowlife swindlers?”

“Yes!”

“Stop them immediately!”

“Yes!”

At the guild leader’s command, the faction members quickly left the room.

[TL/N: The so-called ‘Zebi’ were scoundrels targeting the daughters of middle-class merchants and farmers. The term originated from drummers and percussionists who played traditional Korean instruments to enhance performances. When these musicians messed up the rhythm, it would ruin the performance, particularly for female performers.

For this reason, men who manipulated women were derogatorily called “Zebi.” Zebi has evolved into ‘Zebijok,’ which roughly means “swindler,” especially in the context of the 21st century. It is the term most feared by households with daughters of marriageable age and some wealth.]

* * *

The targets of these Zebi were women who closely fit the aforementioned criteria.

These women usually belonged to families with a certain level of wealth and reputation, and were rumored to be good-looking, making them the prime prey for these swindlers.

The women who were most likely to be targeted were either those close to being engaged or those that influential men wanted to take as concubines.

If these Zebi seduced the women beyond a certain point, their accomplices would approach the woman’s parents with rumors.

“Bad rumors about your daughter are circulating, you see. I heard she’s about to get married…”

Then the parents would either have to part with a considerable amount of wealth to silence them or send their daughter as a concubine (yangcheob – a legitimate concubine from commoner background) to the influential man involved.

* * *

“It seems like it’s not too late yet!”

Upon hearing the reports from their subordinates, the guild leaders made a decision.

“Stop those Jeop-ie’s (commoners) activities! Make sure to stop them!”

“Make sure? Shall we kill them?”

“You idiots! Do you want to create chaos in the castle town?”

After a moment to gather his thoughts, the guild leader issued his command.

“Shatter all of the Jeop-ie’s legs! Make sure they can’t roam around until the decision of the Eastern Palace’s marriage is made!”

“Yes!”

Following the leaders’ decision, a large-scale Jeop-ie hunt was launched by the so-called Assasination guilds.

* * *

“*Pant, pant, pant!*”

In the eastern area of Hanseong, a man was running through the maze-like alleys, gasping for air. His hat was nowhere to be seen, probably fallen somewhere, and his Durumagi (traditional Korean overcoat) was stained with dirt.

The man sighed as he rounded a corner.

“Damn it!”

It was a dead-end.

Turning around, the man couldn’t take another step. Three men in black Durumagi were blocking the alleyway’s entrance.

“Where do you think you’re running?”

“Ah! Brothers! Why are you doing this?”

“No big deal. You guys have been causing some trouble while we have an important task at hand. We’re just making sure you stay put for a few months.”

“Ah! Shit! If that’s the case, just tell us to stay home! Why are you crippling people?”

“You think you’d stay home just because we say so? And don’t talk about crippling like it’s some evil thing. We’re just breaking a single leg. You’ll heal after lying down for a few months.”

“Shit! Help! Help!”

Shouts of ‘Help!’ caused heads to pop up over the nearby thatched roofs, but the menacing gazes of the Assassin guild members quickly drove them back inside.

“Alright… Just be quiet. It’ll be over soon.”

“If you keep resisting, we might have to break more than your leg. What will it be?”

“Damn it!”

Finally giving up, the man lay down on the ground.

“Ah, screw it! Do whatever you want, cook me or boil me!”

“Should’ve done that earlier. You’ve been causing us trouble.”

One of the Assassin guild members approached the resigned man and offered him a wooden stick.

“Bite down on this. If you don’t, you’ll bite your tongue.”

“Damn it! Shit! I knew something was off last night when my sleep was restless! Tsk!”

Spitting, the man bit down on the stick and clenched his eyes shut.

“Ah!”

A scream soon erupted in the alleyway, and two members of the Assassin guild came out, carrying the man between them.

“Take him home. And while you’re at it, call for a doctor.”

“Right, we wouldn’t have had this trouble if he’d just stayed home.”

“Ahhhh…”

“Let’s move. We still have others to deal with.”

The Assassin Guild’s “Jeop-ie hunting” was relentless. Countless people were caught after futile attempts to escape, their legs broken. Even those who were home or at the inn were not spared. Their legs were broken by intruding Assassin Guild members.

Thanks to this, the doctors had a lucrative income.

* * *

“Ah, crap! I’ll have to leave Hanseong for a while!”

In the end, the scammers who still had legs intact took all their belongings and crossed the Han River.

“We’ll have to hang in there in the south for a while!”

The moment scammers disappeared from Hanseong and its surrounding areas, an emergency was declared in both Left and Right Law Enforcement Agencies due to intelligence that ‘a series of mysterious assault incidents are occurring within the city!’

“Find out what’s happening and report!”

Upon the commander’s orders, the law enforcement officers led their subordinates and launched an investigation.

Officers investigating the victims reported back with puzzled expressions.

“Is it true that all the victims are scammers?”

“Yes, it seems someone angered by the scammers’ schemes has taken the law into their own hands.”

“Both the victims and the perpetrators are criminals…”

As the Left Law Enforcement Agency’s commander pondered, one officer suggested,

“Why not just let it slide? These are the same guys we couldn’t catch due to lack of evidence, right?”

“What’s the point of having laws and law enforcement agencies then? Think before you speak!”

“My apologies!”

The commander, having reprimanded the officer for his inappropriate remark, reached a decision.

“We need to consult the King… let’s also visit the Right Law Enforcement Agency…”

After reading the report submitted by both commanders, King Sejong immediately summoned them.

“I have read your report. However, there’s something I don’t understand. What is this ‘scammer’?”

Since the term was newly coined, King Sejong who didn’t know its meaning, asked.

“Hmm…”

Having learned the meaning of ‘scammer,’ King Sejong pondered while stroking his beard.

“Is this their response to the order I issued? Surprisingly fast and effective. I shouldn’t use it often but occasionally it’s useful… No, that would erode the rule of law. Laws must be upheld.”

Finally, Sejong reached a decision.

“If you catch these thugs in the act, arrest them on the spot. Otherwise, continue the investigation until substantial evidence is secured. Personal vendettas cannot supersede the law. Do you understand?”

“We obey your command!”

Upon receiving King Sejong’s guidance, both commanders looked at each other.

“Do you understand what the King meant?”

“Catch them in the act or let them go. Right?”

“To be honest… those crippled scammers deserve to die, don’t they?”

“Indeed.”

Meanwhile, the schemers, who had heard the King’s orders through their connections in the law enforcement agency, gathered.

“What does the King mean?”

“Should we just let the scammers go?”

“Wouldn’t that cause problems with the selection of the Crown Princess?”

Amid various discussions, the smarter ones spoke up.

“This seems like a warning from the King.”

“A warning?”

“He’s telling us not to make a fuss. The last scam hunt was too noisy, wasn’t it? We turned Hanseong upside down. He’s probably telling us to keep it down.”

“Ah! You’re really smart!”

“Ugh!”

Annoyed by the nickname he hated, one schemer glared before explaining to the chief.

“If we create a commotion like the last scam hunt, the law enforcement agencies will take action. It’s uncomfortable for both the palace and us. So if you’re going to do something, do it quietly. The King has given us a quiet warning along with a strategy.”

“Ah, I see.”

The guild leader nodded at the schemer’s explanation, while the surrounding members of the organization softly grumbled.

“Sheesh… What’s with all the roundabout talking?”

“This is why I dislike high-and-mighty people. Always acting so superior…”

“Quiet!”

Having silenced the members, the leader summarized the situation.

“Is the roundup of the ‘Jeop-ie’ finished?”

“Yes. Among those still in Hanyang, there’s no one with an able body.”

“I’ve heard that the cleanup of people in Bukchon and the Unjong-ga families is also complete.”

“Good. Then, according to His Highness’s criteria, select as many suitable members as possible! Only by selecting many can we properly sift through!”

“Understood!”

As time passed, Hyang, who received the report via the inner chamber, chuckled to himself.

“‘Zebis’? What they’re doing is like sparrows? Just because their legs are broken? All the able-bodied ones have crossed the river to the South?”

A hypothesis popped up in Hyang’s mind, who was chuckling.

“Could it be, the sparrow from the Heungbujeon tale is this ‘Zebi’?1”

* * *

Meanwhile, as Hanyang was in the midst of a ‘Zebi hunt,’ a trading ship arrived at Jemulpo.

Amidst a dock full of ships going back and forth between Shandong and Jemulpo, the laborers unloading cargo curiously looked at the unfamiliar ship.

“Where’s that ship from?”

“It doesn’t look like it’s from Ming.”

As the laborers showed curiosity, the soldiers in charge of inspections approached the ship that had just docked, along with military officials.

“Who are you and where are you from!”

Responding to the military official’s shout, a foreigner in official attire disembarked from the ship on a small boat.

“Greetings. I am Sayid Ahmed Mohammed Al-Otaibi, working on the Korean Peninsula from a research institute. I am on my way back from completing a mission under His Royal Majesty’s decree. Here…”

Sayid rummaged through his sleeve and pulled out a scroll.

“This document contains the decree.”

After untying the scroll and checking its contents, the military official looked at Sayid.

“It’s been nearly 2 years since you returned?”

“That’s correct.”

“You’ve had a hard journey. Permission to disembark granted. Ah, don’t forget to go through customs!”

“Understood. Take care.”

Following Sayid’s signal, people started to disembark through the small boat.

“Wait!”

The military official who had been scrutinizing those disembarking raised his hand to halt them and then searched for Said.

“Look here! What’s the deal with those prisoners!”

The military official pointed at two Westerners, hands and feet shackled.

Looking at the individuals pointed out by the military official, Sayid replied with an expression indicating it was not a big deal.

“They are slaves. Shackled in case they attempt to escape.”

“Where would they escape to, they’re on a ship?”

“We are now on land, are we not?”

“Well, yes, but they’re slaves…”

“To be precise, they are glass artisans.”

__

Note 1: Korean University Newspaper, 2003.09.25.

1. It’s from a folklore of Heungu and Nolbu.[↩]

Chapter 93
The Eastern Maritime Route (1)

Sayid, who arrived at Jemulpo port, sent a pre-written memorandum to Hanyang.

Upon reading the memorandum, King Sejong convened his ministers and summoned Hyang.

“Please read the memorandum,” Sejong ordered.

The ministers and officials read the memorandum and then looked at King Sejong.

“Crown Prince, explain again the necessity of glass artisans.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Although glass existed as far back as the Samhan period^1, there are no artisans who can craft it now. The main reason is that we already have pottery.

We have limited the utility of glass to merely making containers or ornaments. However, considering the properties of glass, we need to secure glass production technology.

Firstly, there’s the industrial need. For example, when making gunpowder or processing metals, we use various acids. These acids are usually stored in pottery containers, which are inconvenient for several reasons. The biggest inconvenience is the inability to check the contents. To do so, one has to open the lid and look inside, which could cause severe injuries if done incorrectly.

But if we use glass, we can check the contents without opening the lid. This is not limited to acids; it can also be applied to food, allowing us to check for spoilage without opening the container.”

“That seems useful.”

Sejong, who enjoyed gourmet food, immediately showed interest. Seeing this, Hyang breathed a small sigh of relief.

‘My Royal Father, when will you lose weight… Even if you’re a healthy pig… Talk to your liver and exercise more… ’

“Crown Prince?”

Caught daydreaming while observing the still portly King Sejong, Hyang quickly focused as Sejong called for him.

“Yes? Ah, Your Majesty. I was organizing my thoughts. The second reason involves the military. We can process glass to create lenses, which can be used to see distant places up close. Additionally, we can place glass devices on lanterns to project light further away.”

“Hmm… Sounds good. Ministers, listen. The reason the crown prince had to explain the necessity of glass artisans again is due to the route Sayid and his entourage took to search for one.”

The ministers nodded at King Sejong’s explanation, and Hyang grimaced.

‘Sayid has scored a windfall… ’

* * *

Following Hyang’s order to ‘Find and bring a glass artisan,’ Hassan and Sayid tried to gather information in the Islamic community in Ming, but they were unable to find any glass artisans.

“Brother, let me go back to my hometown.”

“Hometown? Distance is an issue, but can we find a glass artisan there? Sayid, you heard, right? This ‘plate glass’ is something those Italians are producing these days.”

“Still, we can’t return empty-handed. That would certainly mean losing this golden opportunity. Let’s give it a shot.”

Hassan nodded at Sayid’s words.

The nation had changed from Goryeo to Joseon, and the situation was increasingly dire. They had no choice but to either move everything to Ming or return to their hometown. And even if they did return, the chances of succeeding again were very low.

In such a circumstance, the crown prince’s offer was truly a ‘golden opportunity.’

Ultimately, Hassan had no choice but to agree with Sayid.

“Be careful on your journey, my brother.”

And so, Sayid hitched a ride on another merchant’s ship and headed for his hometown.

However, even upon arriving in his hometown, Sayid could not easily find a glass artisan.

There were glass artisans, but they were either working at the factories of their targets or were part of a powerful family’s workshop.

“I should go to Alexandria.”

Deciding thus, Sayid requested help from his own family.

‘A family member from Joseon is asking for help.’

Having heard the story through Sayid’s grandfather, the elders of the Otaibi family exchanged opinions.

“Do we need to find a glass artisan?”

“That’s what they say. An artisan capable of making plate glass, to be specific.”

“Is plate glass not something that only artisans from Murano Island in Venice, Italy can make^2?”

“I’ve heard that artisans in Florence have started making it as well.”

“Wouldn’t we need to go to the slave market in Alexandria for such an artisan?”

“That’s why he’s asking for help.”

“What kind of help does he want?”

“Transportation to and from Alexandria, financial support for buying a slave, and a ship back to Joseon.”

“Joseon?”

“The country that rose after destroying Goryeo.”

“Hmm…”

The elders deliberated and had heated debates. Despite the tension, they came to a conclusion.

“Let’s provide the support!”

The family’s eldest member made the decision, influenced by a letter from Joseon that Sayid had brought.

—If you help us find a glass artisan, I will support Otaibi’s trade with Joseon. I guarantee this as the crown prince of Joseon.

“Isn’t it good to help when the crown prince, who will inherit the throne, has made a guarantee?”

“He is just a crown prince.”

“Indeed, he’s only a crown prince. But in Joseon, such a letter cannot be written without the king’s permission.”

There were objections until the end, but support was decided when Sayid’s grandfather explained the letter’s importance.

With the full support of his family, Sayid headed to the sl@ve market in Alexandria.

Through divine intervention—or what was written as Allah’s help in Sayid’s ‘records’—not long after Sayid arrived, Barbary pirates put Italian plate glass artisans on the slave market.

These artisans were highly valuable, and a fierce competition ensued with Arab merchants and even Northern European merchants. Sayid was able to barely secure the artisans.

However, the money spent on securing these artisans was so large even for the Otaibi family that two of its elders accompanied Sayid back to Joseon. This was the main content of the ‘records.’

The reason King Sejong convened the ministers and scholars was due to the amount spent by the Otaibi family.

“As written in the ‘records,’ the Otaibi family spent 20,000 Ducat (about 7 kg of gold). It’s not a small amount. I want to confirm whether it’s justified to spend this much to obtain glass artisans.”

Sejong paused and looked at Hyang.

“If it were up to the Crown Prince, he would say go ahead. But since it’s a lot of money, I want to hear the opinions of the ministers.”

“Hmm…”

The ministers pondered. They knew that the Crown Prince did not spend money frivolously. At times, they questioned his purchases, but they always turned out to be necessary.

That’s why they couldn’t easily say, “That’s not acceptable!” Even Minister Kim; Minister of Taxation, who would foam at the mouth if spending exceeded 10 nyang of silver, was deep in thought.

While the ministers were pondering, the Crown Prince spoke up.

“Father. I have something to say.”

“Speak.”

“If we consider only the cost of the artisans, it’s a huge amount. However, if we think about the glass they make, it has more value.”

“Of course. But isn’t that why we are discussing this, because we’re not sure?”

“Father, earlier I mentioned that I could create a device using glass that would bring distant objects closer.”

“Indeed.”

“Consider its military value. If we can identify the Yeojin tribes or foreign invaders from a greater distance, think of the enormous benefit it would bring us. The advantage gained by our troops being able to prepare faster than the enemy is substantial. We may not recoup the initial investment in 1 or 2 years, but we can certainly do so in 10.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Sejong began to tip the scales in favor. However, he was still hesitant to make a decision right away.

“Can you guarantee it will be made?”

“I will take it upon myself to make it!”

Convinced by Hyang’s resolute answer, Sejong looked at his ministers.

In response to his unspoken question, one by one, the ministers opened their mouths.

“The military value alone makes it worthwhile.”

“I agree.”

When the ministers concurred, Sejong made his decision.

“Then, let’s settle the accounts with the glassmakers.”

* * *

Meanwhile, people from the Otaibi tribe, who had settled in an Islamic community near Hansung, were equally concerned.

“Will Joseon pay the right price?”

“They will.”

Despite Sayid’s answer, the elders of the Otaibi clan were full of worries.

Coming all the way to distant Joseon, if the prince doesn’t pay the right price, it would be a significant loss for the clan. The authorities they had dealt with had routinely failed to pay, either with petty excuses or larger sums.

“If they were glassmakers from Italy, we could have easily resold them for a huge profit…”

Seeing the worried expressions on the elders, Sayid and Hassan did their best to reassure them.

“Don’t worry. The prince of Joseon will certainly pay the right price.”

“I have been working closely with the prince of Joseon. From my experience, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“Is that so?”

Despite Sayid and Hassan’s words, the elders remained worried until the end.

“A royal decree!”

“A royal decree?”

At the shout coming from outside, Hassan and Sayid hurriedly rose from their seats and went out.

“Are you the Hassan and Sayid brothers?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Receive the royal decree!”

At the messenger’s shout, the brothers straightened their clothes, bowed towards the palace, knelt, and sat down.

“You are to bring the elders of your clan and the glassmakers to the Geunjeongjeon Hall by noon tomorrow.”

“We receive the decree!”

After bowing once more, the two brothers politely received the scroll.

As the messenger left, the elders who had been watching came out.

“What is that?”

“It’s an order containing the king’s command, and also an invitation.”

“I see. Finally, everything will be settled tomorrow.”

“How did the order come down so quickly?”

One of the elders with more experience asked. The authorities he knew would make them wait for at least three days just to see their faces. However, since arriving in Joseon, Sayid’s report had been filed, and a royal decree had been issued on the day they arrived at the community outside Hansung.

In response to the elder’s question, Hassan gave a slight smile and replied.

“The current king and crown prince of Joseon are quick to handle matters.”

* * *

The next day, at noon.

Hassan and Sayid, accompanied by the elders and glass artisans, headed to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Upon seeing Hassan and Sayid in traditional garments, the soldiers respectfully saluted and then spoke.

“Who are these people behind you?”

“They are accompanying me by royal command.”

Hassan fumbled through his sleeves and presented a scroll written with the royal order to the gatekeeper.

Upon confirming the contents of the scroll, the gatekeeper stepped aside and returned it.

“Pass!”

* * *

“Your Majesty, we have arrived!”

Reaching the front yard of Geunjeongjeon, the Hassan brothers knelt and bowed deeply.

The accompanying elders and even the slaves followed suit, kneeling and bowing. They seemed to understand that a misstep could put their lives in jeopardy, at least at this moment.

“You may rise.”

“Your graciousness is immense.”

At King Sejong’s words, the Hassan brothers stood up and spoke politely.

“Who are the people that have come with you?”

“They are the elders of our family.”

“Is that so? Tell them they’ve worked hard.”

Upon hearing Hassan’s translation, the elders bowed their waists politely as their response.

“Are those behind you the glass artisans?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

After inspecting the glass artisans, Sejong spoke to Hassan.

“We will accurately calculate and repay the expenses you incurred while rescuing them. Plus, for their nearly two years of hardship, an additional 10% will be given.”

“Your graciousness is immense!”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words, Hassan and Sayid bowed deeply. The elders, who heard through Sayid, also bowed even more respectfully than before.

“From now on, converse with the crown prince.”

As Sejong stood up from his chair, the Hassan brothers knelt again.

When Sejong left, the Crown Prince Hyang stepped in.

“First, let’s have a brief discussion with the glass artisans.”

“We shall do so. Sayid will interpret.”

“No need.”

Stopping Hassan from interpreting, Hyang directly spoke to the artisans.

“Exspectata ut Hao Coreanica regnum. (Welcome to the Korean Kingdom.)”

Upon hearing the somewhat clumsy but familiar Latin from an ‘Eastern pagan,’ the glass artisans looked at Hyang in astonishment.

“Hic autem non est servus. (You are not sl@ves here.)”

Upon saying this, Hyang ordered Hassan.

“Free them from their restraints.”

Following Hyang’s command, the elders ordered those behind them to unshackle the artisans.

Now free, the artisans bowed deeply to Hyang in genuine gratitude.

“Venite post verba autem ex illis. (We’ll speak with you later.)”

“Ita! (Yes!)”

As the artisans promptly responded, Hyang gestured to the soldiers.

“Take them to Area 51.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The soldiers escorted the glass artisans away.

Witnessing all of this, the elders couldn’t gather their wits.

When Hyang initially spoke in Latin, one elder quietly asked Hassan.

“Did you teach him Latin?”

“He already knew it.”

‘Just who is this Crown Prince of Joseon?’

They had heard the words ‘enormous talent’ from the Hassan and Sayid brothers, but seeing it firsthand made it all the more unbelievable.

Meanwhile, after sending the artisans away, Hyang looked at the elders and spoke.

“Now, let’s discuss how we’ll handle the payment.”

1. Samhan, or Three Han, is the collective name of the Byeonhan, Jinhan, and Mahan confederacies that emerged in the first century BC during the Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea.[↩]

2. Murano Island is famous for their glass craft making[↩]

Chapter 94
The Eastern Maritime Route (2)

“So, how would you like the payment to be processed?”

Through the translation of Hassan, the elders heard Hyang’s question. They responded to Hassan, who immediately conveyed their answer to Hyang.

“They say they do not quite understand your question.”

“Simply put, do you want to receive the payment in gold, or would you prefer to choose other goods in exchange?”

After a moment,

“We thank Your Highness. However, they ask if it would be possible to see the goods first before making a choice.”

“That’s a good idea. We can also verify the quality of the goods, can’t we, Minister of Taxation?”

At Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom nodded.

“Yes, certainly, certainly.”

Seeing Kim Jeom’s very affirmative response, Hyang faintly smiled.

‘You’ve finally got the hang of spending money… you’ve changed a lot.’

Just as Hyang said, the chief justices and administrative officials were slowly becoming addicted to the ‘pleasure of spending money.’

What they were spending on was not individual luxuries, but the strengthening of the nation’s capabilities.

The expansion of trade and subsequent increase in tax revenue, supplemented by a larger budget, was enhancing the central government’s control over the provinces.

Moreover, as evidenced in the recent subjugation of the Jurchens tribe, strengthening national defense also provided the momentum for their long-term strategy of ‘Eastern Expansion.’ Therefore, the administrators were gradually becoming addicted to ‘earning and spending money.’

“Let’s go see the samples.”

Hyang and the Minister of Taxation led the elders to a warehouse on one side of the palace. As they walked towards the warehouse, Hyang conversed with the Minister of Taxation.

“Right now, we’ve dedicated this warehouse, but if the glass craftsmen do their job well, we’ll have to build a better exhibition hall, won’t we?”

“Absolutely. I’ve been looking for a suitable location already.”

It had been a while since Hyang and the Minister of Taxation were in such perfect agreement.

The warehouse they entered was unlike any ordinary warehouse. In contrast to regular warehouses built with thick walls and heavy doors focused on securing goods, this one had large windows that let in ample light.

“Let’s go in.”

Upon entering, Hyang showed them the samples.

“These are different types of paper.”

“Oh~.”

The elders were quite impressed with the various paper samples.

Papermaking technology had traveled from China to the Islamic world mainly through warfare and had become fairly common.

However, the price remained relatively high. In Europe, although paper mills had been built, valuable documents were still written on parchment, and more commonly on papyrus. This state of affairs continued until the time of Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei.

Thus, the paper they were now looking at was of the highest quality, and the elders could not help but be interested.

That was the reason Hyang presented the paper first. Paper from Joseon was highly regarded even in Ming.

After Hyang initiated reforms to break the monopoly of the paper industry and instigate competition among civilian merchants, both the quality and variety of paper rapidly increased. Moreover, it became one of the lucrative export items in trade with Ming and foreign countries.

“The quality is good, but they say the price is a concern.”

“We have cheaper options too.”

At Hyang’s response, Hassan nodded knowingly.

“Are you referring to the yellow paper?”

At Hassan’s question, Hyang nodded. Hassan immediately explained to the elders, who showed interest.

“We can’t keep relying on these expensive papers! We must find an alternative!”

Yellow paper was a product Hyang painstakingly developed to meet the growing demand for paper in the research institute and Area 51.

While traditional Hanji paper^1 could be recycled by washing, the low rate of recycling at the research institute and Area 51 burdened the finances.

Eventually, Hyang came up with a new ‘hybrid.’

Instead of using traditional mulberry, he used common miscellaneous trees. After pulverizing the trees into small pieces with a mechanical shredder, he boiled them to make pulp. The traditional manual papermaking process was replaced by mechanical methods.

“Right now, we’re using mechanical power, but as soon as steam engines are completed, we’ll switch immediately!”

“While it’s not as high-quality as the paper made by craftsmen, it’s sufficiently usable. Especially, the production cost is very pleasing.”

Upon calculating the quality and production cost, Jeong Cho and Jeong Inji, along with Lee Cheon, made the passing evaluation, and Hyang immediately took action.

Hyang bought nearby land in Area 51 and built a large paper mill.

The characteristic of the paper Hyang made was that it was yellowish, as its name ‘Hwangji'2 suggests.

“Bleaching is possible, but what about environmental pollution? I don’t know about that part either.”

Even though he was knowledgeable, Hyang didn’t know everything, so he completely omitted the bleaching part. As a result, yellowish paper was produced.

When Hwangji was mass-produced, both the research institute and Area 51 were liberated from their paper problem. Also, upon receiving a report about Hwangji, King Sejong immediately summoned his ministers.

“What do you think about replacing papers for general office use with Hwangji?”

“It’s a truly wise decision!”

As soon as King Sejong spoke, Minister of Taxation, Kim Jeom, praised the idea enthusiastically.

Ultimately, due to Hojo’s fervent approval, Hwangji was used in the royal court, and later even in provincial administrative agencies.

Over time, among commoners, Hwangji began to be called ‘Akji’

Among the papers sent from government offices, good news—like being awarded—came written meticulously on high-quality paper, attached to a silk scroll. On the other hand, bad news—like paying taxes, appearing in court, joining the military, or engaging in labor services—came written on yellowish paper.

After checking the quality and price of the yellow paper, the elders immediately decided.

“The quality is good, and the price is reasonable; this is certainly profitable!”

“Even considering the shipping costs to our hometown, we will still make a profit!”

Although they were resolved, the elders did not make an immediate decision.

“Is there any other product?” they asked.

“Of course, there is.”

‘If we didn’t have other goods, we wouldn’t be merchants,’ they thought.

At Hyang’s gesture, an officer from the revenue service opened the lid of a box next to him.

“It’s called soap,” said Hyang, introducing the product.

* * *

Soap was a by-product obtained during the process of extracting glycerin for making nitroglycerin. Looking at the first-ever soap, Hyang chuckled.

“It’s ironic. Typically, you make soap to obtain glycerin, but I did the opposite.”

The first soap had an ugly, unappealing color. Initially named Sukgan, which means alkali, due to its rock-like appearance, it was soon renamed to Bijo (soap) since it removed skin issues and was made from fats.

This newly-born soap went up to Sejong, who was suffering from a skin disease at that time. The soap helped dramatically improve Sejong’s condition.

“It’s a wonderful product! Produce it in large quantities immediately; many commoners are suffering from skin diseases.”

“As you command!”

Hyang confidently replied to Sejong’s order, as he had just figured out how to efficiently extract soybean oil.

However, when actually using soybean oil, they discovered the yield was low.

“Why?”

While searching for a reason and solution, Hyang discovered that used cooking oil had a higher yield.

“So, that’s why they used waste cooking oil?”

Although he found a solution, it was an incomplete one.

“Traditional cooking doesn’t use much oil. We can’t just fry pancakes every day, nor can we waste good oil…”

While pondering a solution, Hyang saw some chicken porridge that came from the royal kitchen and snapped his fingers.

“This is it!”

He immediately chose one of the royal chefs to create ‘fried chicken’.

“It’s delicious,” said Sejong after tasting the dish, and it soon became one of his favorite foods.

“Since it’s oily, let’s also fry some garlic with it.”

“Understood.”

Fried chicken was not just popular with Sejong. Soldiers and officers in Area 51 loved it, too. Whenever chicken was on the menu for dinner at the district’s communal dining hall, some people would even skip lunch to save room.

Due to its immense popularity, the royal poultry farm on Nobeol Island began raising chickens on a large scale.

It wasn’t just limited to Nobeol Island.

Hearing rumors about fried chicken, some merchants sought out Hyang, knocking on the doors of Area 51.

“We’d like to obtain the recipe for fried chicken and the oil,” they said.

Upon hearing this, Hyang immediately summoned the revenue officer. Once seated, the officer went straight to the point.

“How much are you willing to pay?”

Thus, the consumption of soybean oil increased, enabling mass production of soap through the extra waste oil that was generated.

* * *

After listening to how to use soap and actually using it, the elders nodded.

“It’s a product that’s worth its value. But I want to know why one has a scent and the other doesn’t.”

“The scented one is for washing your face and bathing, and the unscented one is for laundry.”

Hearing Hyang’s answer, the elders nodded, when suddenly one elder urgently shouted, ‘Goryeo!’

After listening to the elder’s words for a while, Hassan interpreted for Hyang.

“He’s asking if you can sell spices.”

At Hassan’s words, Hyang smiled.

“Ah, you know well. Since the era of the Samhan, spices have been famous…”

Spices and aromatic oils were among the rare luxuries around the world. The Korean peninsula also heavily used them since the ancient Goguryeo era.

Being frequently used, they became one of the main trade goods even during the Goryeo era.

Massive profits were made by importing raw materials from China and exporting processed products. And these exported spices flowed into Islamic regions.

Hyang pointed to the ceramic jars and small boxes displayed on one side.

“The aromatic oils are in there, and what’s in the boxes is scented powder.”

Upon hearing the explanation, the elders took out the stopper from their jars to smell it, or picked up a little scented powder to confirm its scent, nodding their heads.

“They say the quality is very good.”

“Of course. These were made by recognized artisans.”

Listening to Hassan’s interpretation, the elders nodded. Their eyes were fixed on their jars as they returned them to their places.

For a while, the elders who were staring blankly at the jars started talking with Hassan.

At the end of the brief conversation, Hassan interpreted for Hyang.

“They’re asking if they can purchase just the jars.”

“We don’t sell them separately, but…”

Hyang signaled again to an official. At his gesture, the official moved. There were wooden boxes that looked precious at a glance, stacked up diagonally. The official carefully opened the lids of the boxes.

“Wow!”

Seeing the contents of the boxes, the elders exclaimed. Hyang said to Hassan,

“Ask them whether they prefer celadon or white porcelain.”

Upon Hassan’s interpretation, the elders unanimously answered. Hassan smiled at their response.

“They say both.”

“Hahaha!”

Hearing that, Hyang laughed heartily.

In the end, the elders not only received their purchase payment in goods instead of gold but also spent all the funds they had brought to purchase goods.

What they focused on buying were toiletries, spices, and pottery.

Checking the quantity, Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom said to Hassan,

“The requested quantity will be delivered within three days.”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Hassan’s interpretation, the elders expressed their gratitude. Hyang said to Hassan,

“Also explain that this time we’re sending it as a gesture of gratitude, but from next time there will be tariffs. Let them know beforehand to avoid confusion later. Also, tell them they can’t buy goods without a trade license.”

“Yes, will do.”

Hassan immediately interpreted, and a response came shortly after.

“They’re asking about the tariff rate and how to obtain a trade license.”

“When the goods are delivered, we’ll let them know.”

Shortly after, Hassan interpreted the elders’ answer.

“They’re asking for the benevolence of the king.”

“I’ll discuss it with the king.”

Three days later, the goods arrived at the Islamic community. As the elders and those who came with them checked the quantity and quality of the goods, Hassan took out a scroll and presented it.

“We’re giving it to you as a gesture of gratitude this time. When you come next, purchase a license and pay the taxes.”

“How much?”

“For one time, it’s 50 gold pieces, which is 500 ducats. For a two-year license, it’s 2000 ducats. The purchase tax rate is 1%, and the selling tax rate is 1.5%.”

Hearing Hassan’s answer, the elders huddled and exchanged opinions.

“It seems a bit expensive?”

“Considering the goods we’re taking, it seems reasonable.”

“It’s not reasonable! It’s really cheap! Didn’t he say that without a license, we can’t buy goods? That means our family alone can monopolize it!”

“Ah, right!”

Having reached a conclusion, the elders said to Hassan,

“Convey our gratitude for the benevolence to the king and prince of Joseon. Tell them we’ll return as soon as possible.”

“Understood.”

As soon as Hassan’s words ended, the person in charge of inspection responded.

“Everything’s fine!”

“Then let’s go back to the ship as quickly as possible!”

* * *

The ship carrying the elders sailed back at full speed. The sailors who had been promised rewards did their utmost to keep moving.

Due to supply issues, they reduced the number of ports they had to pass through by taking on as much supplies as possible each time they docked.

Whenever they encountered headwinds, they would break the routine of resting at nearby ports and instead move zigzag, never stopping.

As a result, the only ones who suffered a loss were the pirates who had ambushed them. They always managed to escape the pirates’ ambush by moving more swiftly than anticipated.

Thanks to their efforts, when they returned to their homeland, they made an enormous profit from the goods they had brought from Joseon.

“Excluding the initial capital, it’s 72,000 ducats! That’s three times the profit!”

“Prepare a ship to Joseon immediately!”

It was the birth of the ‘Great Eastern Trade Route,’ which not only stirred up the Islamic regions but also excited merchants across the Mediterranean.

1. Paper made from bark of mulberry trees. It’s expensive.[↩]

2. Paper made from a mixture of bamboo, straws, and paper mulberry barks.[↩]

Chapter 95
Coward Verification (1)

Not long after the Otaibi family rejoiced at earning a fortune of 48,000 ducats from a single voyage, they found themselves gritting their teeth in frustration.

Though the Otaibi family had a proud history and sizable influence, they were situated next to the Sindwa family, an even larger merchant family. The Sindwa family was one of the five major merchant families controlling Aden^1.

Even when the Otaibis brought over glass artisans from Alexandria as slaves, they had to give considerable gifts to the Sindwa family.

“We of the Otaibi family have not acquired slaves to establish a glass workshop. We bought them because they were requested from a place called Joseon. I swear to Allah that this is not intended to rival the Sindwa family.”

Due to the earnest explanations and gifts from the Otaibi family’s patriarch, the Sindwa family decided to overlook their purchase of glass artisan slaves.

They also had their own intelligence network and knew that next to China was a country called Goryeo, which had recently fallen and been replaced by a new country called Joseon.

When the Otaibi family started selling goods brought back from Joseon, an envoy from the Sindwa family arrived.

“Give us all your goods at a good price.”

“Excuse me?”

“Even if you sell to other merchants, the goods will eventually end up with our Sindwa family. So, just hand it over directly. Do you have the confidence to safely transport a ship’s worth of goods to Alexandria?”

“…Understood.”

And so, negotiations began between the envoy from the Sindwa family and the Otaibi family’s patriarch.

“200,000 ducats? Isn’t that too expensive?”

“Think about the round trip to Joseon. Pirates from Malaya^2 and Majapahit, let alone from Jipangu^3, are swarming those waters. Do you think it’s easy to travel through such dangerous waters?”

“Still, 200,000 ducats are too much. Let’s settle on 100,000.”

“This is outrageous, even for the Sindwa family! Are you saying you don’t want to trade?”

“Isn’t it just too expensive?”

“Fine, 180,000 ducats!”

“100,000!”

“175,000! That’s my final offer!”

“Do you think we’re not aware of how much you paid for those glass artisans? 20,000 ducats, right? Even if you had to bring extra funds, your family could’ve afforded at most 30,000 ducats. Who are you trying to fool? Since we’re both merchants in Aden, I’ll go up to 100,000!””

“We have promised rewards to the crew!”

“That’s why I said 100,000! Any more and it would be hard for you to do business in Aden!”

Confronted with the Sindwa merchant’s words, the patriarch of the Otaibi family realized he had no other options.

“…Fine. We’ll hand it over for 100,000.”

“It was a good deal.”

In the end, the Otaibi family handed over their goods from Joseon to the Sindwa family for 100,000 ducats. After transferring the goods, the patriarch ground his teeth in frustration.

“These people are worse than pirates!”

However, the family elders were actually pleased, claiming they had made triple the profit.

“Aren’t they basically pirates? Making three times the profit is a successful deal! We should prepare to go to Joseon again instead!”

“Exactly! Without a permit from Joseon, other merchants can’t procure goods! We should seize this opportunity for greater gains!”

“Hoo~. Let’s do just that.”

The patriarchr had no choice but to step back at the words of the elders. Left alone in the room, the leader thumped his chest.

“Damn it! Damn those Sindwa bastards!”

While waiting for a favorable wind to go to Joseon, the Otaibi clan began to procure what was requested from Joseon.

“They asked for horses from Joseon. They said they’d pay well for horses with good pedigree.”

“Horses?”

“Horses in Joseon are really… adorable.”

Arabian horses at the time were famous for being excellent. They were large and had both agility and endurance.

“Is that so? Then we should procure the best pedigree horses.”

As the Otaibi clan members were busy procuring horses, news of the Sindwa clan reached their ears.

They heard that the Otaibi clan had bought goods from Joseon for 100,000 ducats and sold them in Alexandria for 1,100,000 ducats. Especially silk and spices had caused bloodshed—literal bloodshed—among the European merchants crossing the Mediterranean.

“Damn it!”

“Damn it!”

Everyone in the Otaibi clan, even those who had been happy about doing three times the business, exploded in anger.

Considering the time and risk it took to go to Alexandria, doubling the profits was a big win, but they had missed out on the opportunity to make almost 40 times the profit.

While the people of the Otaibi clan were grinding their teeth, merchants from another clan approached them.

“People have come from the Azlam clan.”

“From the Azlam clan?”

“The clan leader of the Azlam clan has come as well!”

“Bring them in!”

The news that someone, even the clan leader, had come from the Azlam clan—one of the five major clans of Aden—made the Otaibi clan leader jump from his seat.

A moment later, the merchants entered, and the leader greeted them respectfully.

“Welcome. It is an honor to meet the greatest elder of the Azlam clan.”

“Thank you for welcoming us.”

“Please sit.”

As the Azlam clan merchants sat in the designated seats, tea was served.

Members of both the Otaibi and Azlam clans prepared to converse while sipping tea.

“Ho? This aroma is unique.”

“It’s tea from Joseon. A relative who works at the Joseon royal court gifted it to us. It has a different aroma from Chinese tea.”

“It’s indeed a rich aroma, fitting for the successor state to Goryeo, which was famous for its fragrances.”

Starting their conversation with talks about Joseon tea, they soon got to the main point.

“I heard that your recent venture was a great success.”

“By Allah’s grace.”

“But it must be a bit disappointing because of the Sindwa clan?”

“We still made a profit.”

The leader of the Otaibi clan chose his words carefully. The power of the Azlam clan was significant, but so was that of the Sindwa clan. And the Sindwa clan was right next to the Otaibi clan. A wrong move could result in their ships at the docks going up in flames or their warehouses being burned down.

“However, the profits gained by the Sindwa clan in Alexandria dwarf yours.”

“Isn’t it a matter of capability?”

An elder from the Otaibi clan interjected. The merchant from the Azlam clan nodded at the elder’s words.

“I agree with that. But unfair is unfair. Let me get to the point. How would you feel about partnering with our Azlam clan?”

“Are you saying that our clan should join the Azlam clan?”

As the atmosphere among the Otaibi clan members grew tense, the leader of the Azlam clan hurried to defuse the situation.

“Not at all. The Otaibi clan is a clan with a long history, how could we suggest that?”

“Do you promise in the name of Allah?”

“I promise in the name of Allah.”

At the firm assurance of the leader of the Azlam clan, the atmosphere among the Otaibi clan members cooled down.

“So when you say ‘let’s join together,’ do you mean to form a partnership?”

“Is it true? The Otaibi family is preparing to go back to Joseon?”

“Yes.”

“It looks like your family is mobilizing all three of its merchant ships. Our family will also contribute the same, three ships. Alexandria will support us as well. We’ll divide the profits 6:4, with us getting 6 and the Otaibi family 4.”

The leader of the Azlam family made the offer, and the leader of the Otaibi family’s face turned serious.

After pondering for a while, the leader of the Otaibi family asked the leader of the Azlam family, “It’s a very generous offer, almost too much. What’s your reason for making such an offer?”

“To not miss an opportunity. You’re going to Joseon because of that relative’s request, right? That means the Otaibi family has ties with the Joseon royal family, which is an opportunity we cannot miss as merchants.”

The leader of the Azlam family explained, locking eyes with the leader of the Otaibi family. Although he was smiling, his eyes weren’t.

“By Allah, I swear I have no hidden motives! So please make your decision! Oh, and let me advise you in advance; doing business with Sindwa is not a good idea.”

“Can your family protect ours from Sindwa?”

“On the name of our family and Allah, we will!”

The leader of the Otaibi family sighed deeply at the promise from the Azlam family leader.

“We have no choice. We accept the Azlam family’s offer.”

“A wise decision.”

Satisfied with the negotiation, the leader of the Azlam family stood up from his seat, a smile on his face.

“It was a delightful meeting. Starting today, we’ll send our people to the docks and the warehouse.”

“Thank you.”

The leader of the Otaibi family thanked him. After seeing off the Azlam family, an elder of the Otaibi family spoke, “I wonder if we’ve jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.”

“We’re weak right now, what can we do?”

The Otaibi family did have some strength, but compared to the five great families, they were lesser.

* * *

As soon as the rumor that ‘the Otaibi and Azlam families have joined hands’ spread, people from the Sindwa family stormed in.

“Why have you joined hands with Azlam! Have you forgotten about us, your neighbors, Sindwa!”

Though the emissary from the Sindwa family was furious, the leader of the Otaibi family responded calmly.

“Didn’t you enjoy your time in Alexandria?”

“Well…”

“Merchants move where the profit is, don’t they?”

“Profit is important, but so is faith!”

“Did the Sindwa family keep that faith?”

Hearing that the Otaibi family was resolute, the Sindwa emissary left with a warning.

“Don’t expect any favors from our family from now on!”

“We’re prepared for that.”

After the envoy from the Sindwa family left in a huff, the leader of the Otaibi family ordered the elders, “Even though the Azlam family has promised to help, just to be safe, increase security at the docks and warehouses.”

“Yes.”

“Pay close attention to the stables as well. Our most important goods are there.”

“We will.”

The leader of the Otaibi family looked up at the sky. If this voyage was successful, and they could replicate it just two or three more times, the Otaibi family could become the sixth major family of Aden. However, they had now turned the Sindwa family into enemies, and the Azlam family was a threat that could swallow them up at any moment.

Staring at the sky silently for a while, the leader of the Otaibi family muttered as he turned around, “Inshallah (God willing)…”

* * *

Upon securing the selected mares and stallions as requested by Joseon, the Otaibi family began preparing for departure.

“We also wish to accompany you!”

Small merchants from nearby pleaded to join, but the leader of the Otaibi family flatly refused.

“The journey is long and filled with pirates; I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“We don’t care! It’s well known that the sea route is dangerous! However, if there’s an opportunity, a merchant risks his life for it!”

As the merchants continued to pester him, the Otaibi family’s leader played his trump card.

“Joseon only allows trade with those who have this permit! Without it, you won’t even be able to disembark.”

“Ah…”

Certainly, Joseon was selling permits, but the leader of the Otaibi family had no reason to disclose this.

Thus, the Otaibi and Azlam family merchant ships set sail from Aden port. On board the largest of the Otaibi family’s ships was its leader. As he watched Aden harbor recede into the distance, he clenched his fist.

“There will not be a second failure!”

1. A major port/harbor in ancient Yemen.[↩]

2. Malacca strait which borders current Malaysia and Indonesia, was a major sea route.[↩]

3. Old name Japan[↩]

Chapter 96
Coward Verification (2)

The glass artisans brought by the Otaibi family were heading to Area 51 under the watchful eyes of the soldiers.

“Why the hell… Why am I with you…?”

Among the two artisans, the taller one looked at his colleague with an expression as if the world had wronged him.

However, the target of his complaints, the shorter artisan, replied with a laid-back expression.

“Well, it was a bit tough physically, but we’ve come to a foreign land we’ve never seen before, right? Maybe we can escape the humdrum life of an ordinary craftsman in cramped Murano?”

“You idiot! Is this a good thing? A good thing, you say? The chance of our lives getting messed up is higher!”

“Wow, the great Raphael is cursing? Wow! Just for that, coming all the way here was worth it!”

“This bastard of a friend… Dear God… how did I end up with someone like this…”

Tall Raphael looked up at the sky and grumbled. Then his colleague patted him on the shoulder and said,

“Don’t be like that. We’ve known each other since we were 8.”

“Damn it!”

* * *

Raphael and his colleague Pietro had become friends on Murano Island.

Both had entered the renowned Murano glass guild as apprentices and had become close friends in no time.

Having gone through their apprenticeships, they were now in their early 20s and were recognized as journeymen^1.

“Pietro is 23, and Raphael is 22, correct?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Becoming a journeyman at your age is no easy feat. It means you both have talent and have put in the effort. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Both bowed their heads in response to the guild master’s praise.

“You both can read and write, right?”

“Yes, Master.”

The guild master then handed them a letter sealed with wax.

“We’ve decided to revive the tradition of the journeyman’s travel. This is an introduction letter for the glass guild master in Florence. Go to Florence and gain experience.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you!”

While Raphael responded with a stoic face, Pietro thanked the guild master exuberantly.

The guild master then looked at Raphael.

“Raphael, the reason I am sending you both together is precisely because of that guy. Pietro has good skills but is too frivolous. I worry he might get into or suffer from an accident. You need to guide him well.”

Must it be me?”

“At least he listens to you.”

“…Understood.”

And so began their journeyman travel. While planning the route by looking at the map, Raphael simply chose to go by land, but Pietro insisted on taking the sea route.

“Why bother crossing mountains? Let’s take a ship from Genoa! It’s a bit of a detour, but it’s faster!”

“What if we get caught by pirates?”

“Is going by land safe? What about the bandits? Either way, the risk is 50-50. Let’s take a ship from Genoa and use the spare time for sightseeing! I heard there’s a lot to see in Genoa, Pisa, and Florence!”

“Should we?”

Pietro’s last words made even Raphael consider it. He, too, had felt stifled from working on Murano Island for over 15 years.

In the end, they took a ship from Genoa. Unfortunately, they were captured by pirates and sold as slaves in Alexandria.

* * *

“Pietro, you’re not worried, not being in Alexandria but instead here?”

“Why worry in advance?”

“Ah~”

Raphael sighed deeply at Pietro’s optimistic reply.

“Hey, even those ruthless pirates treated us well because we are glass artisans, right? They even unlocked our shackles as soon as we got there! They wouldn’t treat us as slaves!”

“True, but…”

“Cheer up! We’re in the ‘East’! The East!”

“Damn the ‘Record of the Eastern World’…”

Raphael cursed. One of the things that had gotten them through the hard days of apprenticeship was the ‘Record of the Eastern World’. Imagining the distant lands described in the book had helped them forget their fatigue.

“Is this really the East? Could this be Jipangu^2?”

Raphael looked around the surroundings of Hanseong, captivated.

* * *

Upon arriving at Area 51, the two waited for Hyang in a small room.

“I’m hungry…”

Pietro, feeling his stomach growl, opened the door, only to be met with a stern glare from the soldier guarding it.

“Excuse me! I’m hungry!”

Pietro gestured to his mouth and rubbed his stomach, trying to communicate his needs through body language.

Observing Pietro’s gestures, the soldier exchanged some words with a comrade and left his post.

Moments later, the soldier returned with a sizable tray covered with a cloth.

“Gratias.” (Thank you.)

Pietro gratefully received the tray and went back into the room.

“It smells good, doesn’t it?”

Sniffing the air, Pietro uncovered the cloth on the tray.

“Is it fried? Judging by its size and shape, is it fish?”

Upon smelling the food, Raphael commented, and Pietro looked dejected.

“Darn it… I don’t like fish… It reminds me of the hard times in Murano…”

Back in the day, they would go fishing near the coast when hungry and had eaten more than their fill of fish.

As Pietro hesitated, Raphael picked up a piece of the fried dish and took a bite.

“It’s chicken? It’s delicious!”

“Chicken?”

In no time, the two had devoured the chicken on the tray. In that moment, they completely forgot where they were and what their circumstances were. They were utterly engrossed in the chicken.

* * *

“What did you say?”

Returning to Area 51 after wrapping up trade with the Otaibi clan, Hyang was bewildered by the report he received.

“Is this true?”

“Yes, the two of them together ate eight chickens.”

“Did the Otaibi clan starve them before bringing them here?”

Hyang was incredulous.

Frankly, even the average Joseon person could eat one chicken alone. Those who ate well could have two, and sometimes even three. But four was unheard of.

Either way, Hyang called Raphael and Pietro into his office at Area 51 and asked Hassan to interpret.

“I understand Latin, but not fluently. Let Hassan interpret.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

Through Hassan, the two nodded in satisfaction.

“The food was excellent.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Let’s talk about your future arrangements.”

Listening to Hyang through Hassan, both of them looked intently at him, their faces tense.

“Firstly, neither of you is a slave. Let’s make that clear.”

“Thank you!”

At Hyang’s words, both men, especially Raphael, expressed their gratitude.

“Your job here in Joseon will be to teach and oversee glassmaking. The term is initially ten years. Afterwards, we can renegotiate. Any objections?”

“Is it initially ten years? And after that?”

“We can either extend the contract or send you back home.”

“Will you really let us go back home?”

At Raphael’s question, Hassan responded immediately.

“The Crown Prince always keeps his promises. If he didn’t intend to keep them, he wouldn’t have set you free.”

Taking a moment to consider, Raphael spoke first.

“Fine. At this point, we have no choice but to rely on the goodwill of the Prince of Joseon.”

“…I agree too.”

Raphael, always cautious, had already made up his mind, leaving Pietro no choice but to agree.

“We accept the contract.”

With Hassan’s translation, Hyang moved on to the next point.

“So, how much were you paid?”

Pietro answered immediately.

“Eight silver ducats!”

Raphael stared at Pietro in disbelief; they were actually paid two silver ducats a month.

‘You idiot!’

Raphael knew why Pietro had inflated the number. Seeing their situation and knowing how much the Joseon needed glass artisans, Pietro saw this as a golden opportunity.

‘What if they find out you lied? Why would you inflate the numbers in this situation? You fool!’

Raphael kept shooting him disapproving glances, but Pietro just grinned back, seeming confident.

“So how much is eight silver ducats in terms of skill level?”

At Hyang’s question, Hassan pondered for a moment before answering.

“It’s been a long time since I left my homeland, but according to my childhood memories, skilled artisans would earn about four silver ducats.”

“How long ago did you leave your homeland?”

“Twenty years ago.”

“Hmm…”

“Considering the rising cost of living… even at their age… is it a scam? It must be a scam.”

Hyang, now certain that it was a scam, silently looked at the two men. The tall man kept shifting his eyes, looking visibly uncomfortable, whereas the short man was grinning and looking at Hyang.

Hyang then made up his mind.

“Four silver coins.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s decision, Hassan immediately translated it to the two men.

“Four silver coins. That’s four ducats if you prefer.”

“Eight silver…”

As Pietro insisted on eight ducats, Raphael interrupted him.

“Four ducats! Fine! We will do it for four ducats!”

“We will proceed with four ducats.”

At Hassan’s words, Hyang nodded.

“Good. Let’s prepare the contract.”

Once the contract, written in both Hanja and Latin, was drawn up, Pietro and Raphael read it carefully.

“Is the content the same on both sides?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Hassan’s answer, Raphael hesitated for a moment and then extended his hand.

“Hand me a pen.”

As Hassan took out a gold pen, Hyang interjected.

“Ah, I have an additional condition. You will learn our Joseon language within three months. Until then, I will pay you two silver coins a month. If you fail to learn it within three months, you will receive only one silver coin per month.”

“Isn’t that too harsh?”

As Raphael complained, Hyang replied directly, without needing a translation.

“Do you expect me or Hassan to follow you around and translate for you?”

“…”

Hyang’s words silenced Raphael and prompted Pietro to speak up.

“What if we learn it faster than three months?”

Hyang chuckled at Pietro’s question.

“Confident, are we?”

“Isn’t that something we’d have to try to find out?”

“If you learn our Joseon language faster than three months, I will add one more silver coin per month.”

Before Hyang could finish, Pietro handed a piece of paper to Hassan.

“Include that condition as well!”

And so, with the modified contract signed and sealed, Pietro and Raphael returned to their designated rooms.

“Please keep an eye on them for the time being, Hassan.”

“I understand, Your Highness. However…”

“What concerns you?”

“Isn’t four silver coins per month too generous? With that amount, it exceeds the salary of our current officers of rank 9.”

Upon hearing Hassan’s concern, Hyang nonchalantly responded.

“If their skills are worth that much, then so be it. Besides, they better make it worth the cost, right?”

For a moment, Hassan felt sorry for the two Italians.

1. a trained worker who is employed by someone else[↩]

2. Old name for Japan[↩]

Chapter 97
Grand Plan of Advancing Eastward (1)

As autumn deepened, the nation began calculating the collected taxes, leading to a financial review of the Joseon Dynasty’s income and expenses.

“Hmm… We’ve narrowly avoided a crisis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon King Sejong’s evaluation, all the ministers nodded in agreement.

* * *

Ever since the tax reform had begun, the expenses of the Joseon government had been steadily increasing. The numbers of officials and professional soldiers had been growing—albeit gradually—and there were large expenditures for mines and steel mills.

The problem was that the rate of increase in tax revenue, the most critical source of income, was lagging behind the rate of increase in expenditures.

Of course, compared to the first year of the tax reform, the Gapjin year, the tax revenue had been continually increasing. However, the rate of expenditure increase had always been a step ahead.

To solve this problem, King Sejong had to implement a series of daring policies.

Firstly, lands granted to the government officials, starting with the meritocratic lands, were continually being reclaimed.

“From now on, ‘the right to collect rent’ from the lands given to the officials will be reclaimed. In return, the monthly salaries will be paid in kind and will be increased.”

According to Sejong’s decision, meritocratic lands and other agricultural lands that were given to the meritocrats and ministers began to be reclaimed in batches. The only people exempted from this action were the royal family.

As promised, Sejong increased the amount of stipends given to his subjects.

As mentioned before, Joseon had significantly reduced the stipends given to the royal family and officials when the country was founded.

For the royal family, it was reduced to 1/6, and for the officials, it was reduced to 1/4, reflecting the initial circumstances of Joseon.

Sejong increased the stipends based on the following criteria:

– Low-ranking officials would receive half compared to those during the Goryeo period, and high-ranking officials would receive a third.

– Instead of hereditary lands like “Sushinjeon” (Dower lands) and “Hyeollyangjeon” (patrimonial lands for minor descendants), they would receive a monthly stipend equivalent to what a minor rank-1 official would get. However, this would be limited to 10 years.

[TL/N: Sushinjeon, also known as dower lands, are meritocratic lands that were once owned by deceased government officials and are subsequently allocated to their widowed spouses, who can either cultivate these lands or collect rent from them. As for Hyeollyangjeon, in the case where both government officials and their spouses have died, these meritocratic lands are transferred to their heirs.]

Through these criteria, Sejong reclaimed the lands as royal property.

* * *

In later years, historians assessed this period as Sejong’s first crisis. If there had been opposition during the process of reclaiming the economic foundations of the meritocrats, Sejong could have been ousted from power.

However, this crisis was overcome by three variables.

The first was the purge of senior ministers, including Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

Though the immediate cause was the conflict between Sejong and senior ministers over smallpox vaccination, the deeper issue was a clash between Sejong, who sought royal authority, and senior ministers who wanted shared power with the king.

In later years, even historians thought that the immediate nationwide implementation of smallpox vaccination—which had not yet been proven effective—was risky. Therefore, the senior ministers’ revolt was inevitable.

However, when the effectiveness of smallpox vaccination was proven through an outbreak near Hanyang, the senior ministers were ousted from power.

Their ousting, following the purge of Queen Wongyeong’s Min family during Taejong’s reign and the Shim On faction when Sejong ascended the throne, significantly weakened the power of the senior ministers who had been influential since the founding of Joseon.

[TL/N: Read more on Queen Wongyeong’s Min family’s purge HERE. As for Shim On, he was Sejong’s father-in law and Queen Soheon’s father, and was also the Chief State Councillor before being framed of treason by his political rivals.]

As a result, there was no focal point for forces to gather to oust Sejong, allowing him to overcome the crisis. This was the first variable.

This was the third major purge since the founding of Joseon, significantly diminishing the influence of the senior ministers.

As a result, the focal point for any forces that could oust Sejong was lost, enabling him to overcome the crisis. This was the first key factor.

The second variable was the Crown Prince.

Sejong’s eldest son, Hyang, was made Crown Prince and developed various cultural artifacts and technologies, including metal types.

Because the Crown Prince also excelled in commercialization, this led to the expansion of Joseon’s trade and, consequently, an increase in tax revenue.

As a result, the officials in the government, convinced of their economic security, actively cooperated with Sejong’s policies.

The military was no different, and Sejong was able to secure considerable power.

The third variable was ‘punishment.’

A form of punishment called ‘document sorting punishment’ was the most non-violent yet cruel punishment.

However, there was an unexpected effect of this punishment.

Among the punishments commonly applied to the ruling class of Joseon, exile was the most frequent.

Being ousted from the power circle with the king appeared superficially harsh, but if the person had the will and maintained adequate security, they could maintain or even increase their power while in exile.

However, the document sorting punishment fundamentally blocked such opportunities. The convict had to move within the king’s sight, and the physical and mental fatigue accumulated from organizing the documents almost completely halted the convict’s external activities.

* * *

“Due to the Hanseong fire, we had unexpected large expenditures. However, fortunately, this year’s harvest has been good, and we’ve profited greatly from trade with Japan, so it seems we will have some flexibility in next year’s budget.”

Upon hearing the report from the Ministry of Taxation, King Sejong reviewed the documents once again and looked at the government officials.

“What do you think about inviting the tribal chiefs of Yain Jurchens this year?”

The officials pondered Sejong’s question briefly. After a moment, the Right State Councilor, Lee Jik, spoke up.

“Given that things are going well this year, it seems fitting to extend an invitation that we couldn’t last year.”

Following Lee Jik’s statement, Hwang Hui spoke.

“Agreed. There are unusual movements in Geonju, so I think we should expedite our eastward expansion.”

Hwang Hui’s words were followed by reinforcement from Maeng Sa-seong.

“Do you remember the previous event with the Odori tribe? They profit by going back and forth between us and Ming. We should solidify our boundaries on this occasion.”

With everyone in agreement, King Sejong made his decision.

“Very well. Select emissaries and send them to the Jurchens. What date should we choose?”

Hwang Hui responded as if he had been waiting for the question.

“Sanggang (the day the first frost falls, around October 24th in the solar calendar) would be suitable.”

“Sanggang, huh… Sounds good.”

Upon settling the date, King Sejong looked at the ministers.

“Advance eastward starting from this year’s Sanggang.”

“Understood!”

* * *

‘Advancing eastward’ was a significant part of the military strategy that King Sejong created for the growth of Joseon.

Due to Li Manzhu’s southern invasion, the influence of the Ming over the Jurchens increased, and conversely, the influence of Joseon weakened. To counter this situation, Sejong fell into deep contemplation.

[TL/N: Li Manzhu or known as Ni Manju in Korean, was a commander of Jianzhou Guards during Ming dynasty. I don’t know the specifics of his importance during this time but there are mentions of his name multiple times in Sejong’s Veritable Records.]

Witnessing this, Hyang suggested establishing a specialized agency to Sejong.

“Establish a specialized agency?”

“Yes, your Majesty. You don’t need to take responsibility for everything. Like sharing opinions with ministers on administrative matters, wouldn’t it be best to discuss military affairs with military commanders?”

“That makes sense, but the civil officials will oppose it.”

“Neither the military should look down on the civil sector, nor should the civil sector look down on the military.”

Convinced by Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded.

“It sounds reasonable. If there is the Hall of Worthies for scholars, there should be something similar for the military.”

Having made up his mind, Sejong acted swiftly.

“It’s too late to prepare after a war breaks out. Therefore, we need an organization that can research countermeasures in advance. This is in line with our policy to strengthen the nation and the military.”

With the proclamation to establish a new military organization, Sejong and Hyang joined the newly formed group.

The institution that was born out of these efforts was the ‘Joseon Army General Staff.’

In the General Staff, well-known military commanders including Choi Yoon-deok, and young talents like Lee Jing-ok, gathered.

The first task Sejong assigned to the General Staff, consisting of those highly regarded for their wisdom and strategy in the army and navy, was as follows:

‘Based on our ongoing policy of strengthening the country, establish the most basic strategies related to the Jurchen region, Japan, and Ming.’

“Whew~”

Upon confirming Sejong’s order, Choi Yoon-deok commanded his subordinates.

“Don’t plan on going home for a while.”

“First, we need information! Gather all the information you can get!”

Following Choi Yoon-deok’s orders, the commanders searched all available archives from palaces to Six Ministries. They scraped together every record that seemed even slightly relevant.

“If necessary, scrape together even the records from the previous dynasties!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following Choi’s orders, the officers of the General Staff gathered all necessary records, even from the Goryeo period.

And it was not only military-related material that the officers gathered.

“One should know oneself before fighting others. Go to the Ministry of Personnel and request all the data!”

“Yes, sir!”

The officers went to the Ministry of Personnel and obtained copies of all data, including household registers and economic indicators like tax revenue.

After obtaining the copies, the General Staff immediately began mass printing.

“It takes too long to circulate just one copy!”

Using the acquired data as a foundation, the General Staff immediately began formulating strategies.

“The part that His Majesty is most interested in is related to the Jurchens. Let’s start planning the strategy around this area.”

“Understood!”

* * *

Lee Jing-ok, who had been sitting at the far end, raised his hand to object to Choi Yoon-deok’s decision.

“Is that you, military officer Lee Jing-ok? Speak your mind.”

“Strategy is about the big picture. If we focus on just one area without grasping the overall framework, the picture will be a mess.”

“So, what are you suggesting?”

“Considering our current situation in Joseon, we’re troubled by the Japanese pirates in the south and the Jurchens in the north. th. While it’s not wrong to prioritize the Jurchens issue, I believe we should first have at least some basic countermeasures against the Japanese pirates, and then think about policies concerning the Jurchens based on that foundation.”

“Your point is valid. Any differing opinions?”

No one else raised objections to Choi Yoon-deok’s question.

“Then let’s start by considering the distribution of troops to counter the pirates.”

Thus began the study of what the minimal number of troops needed to defend against the Japanese pirates would be.

During the study, the need for force distribution to protect the fortress stood out, and the research restarted from scratch.

After many trials and errors, the staff at the General Headquarters, having finally decided on an appropriate troop distribution, began their research to establish a strategy concerning the Jurchens.

After more than three months of relentless research, the staff at the headquarters looked grave upon seeing the end product named ‘advancing eastward’.

“We’ve done our best, but we can only reach as far as the Tumen River…”

“Is this the extent of Joseon’s capabilities?”

General Choi Yoon-deok, who reviewed the result, also had a gloomy expression.

“This can’t be…”

He read the report several times, but the conclusion was the same.

With the current capabilities of Joseon, even at the end of their planning phase, crossing the Tumen River would actually be a disadvantage.

* * *

“Why only up to the Tumen River?” King Sejong asked, to which Choi Yoon-duk explained.

“The Jurchen’s main force is cavalry. To counter cavalry, we would also need optimal cavalry, but in Joseon, cultivating cavalry takes time and a lot of resources.”

While it was easy for the semi-nomadic Jurchen to supplement their cavalry, it was not the case for Joseon.

Although Joseon also had horse archery as a military skill, acquiring and training horses required economic support.

On the other hand, the Jurchen could easily supplement their forces because horses and archery were a part of their daily life.

“So that’s why we can only go up to the Tumen River?”

“Exactly. If we’re fighting only with bows and spears, using the natural barrier of the Tumen River to block the Jurchen would be the best course of action.”

“I see…”

Sejong couldn’t hide his disappointment. The lands where the Jurchen roamed used to be the territory of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of ancient Korea. Not being able to advance beyond the Tumen River, which was so close, was disappointing.

“General.”

Hyang, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, interrupted.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“If we only fight with bows and spears, the Tumen River would be our limit. What if we had a more powerful weapon, would a more aggressive strategy be possible?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Choi Yoon-deok pondered for a moment before answering.

“It would be possible.”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s answer, Hyang turned to look at King Sejong.

“There is ongoing research in Area 51. If it succeeds, a more aggressive strategy could become possible.”

“Let’s look forward to it.”

* * *

In the audit conducted in December, weapons developed by Area 51 were publicly unveiled.

As soon as King Sejong issued an order for their mass production based on the performance of the weapons Area 51 had created, the Joint Chiefs of Staff immediately started revising their strategy, named ‘Grand Strategy of Advancing Eastward.’

By the time the year changed and spring arrived, a new version of this so-called grand plan had been formulated.

Chapter 98
Grand Plan of Advancing Eastward (1)

The military finally completed the new “Advancing Eastward” plan and presented it before King Sejong and his ministers.

The person who stepped forward to announce the plan was Lee Jing-ok.

Dressed in a red iron helmet, Lee Jing-ok formally saluted and began speaking.

“I am military officerLee Jing-ok, honored to present this plan. I will now brief you on the grand strategy called ‘Advancing Eastward’ that has been devised by the General Staff of the Joseon Army.”

Although the audience was filled with the king, the crown prince, high-ranking officials, and ministers, Lee Jing-ok commenced his announcement with a composed voice.

“Firstly, the plan for advancing eastward is divided into two major phases. The first phase will begin with securing Baekdu Mountain and the Tumen River as starting points.”

According to Lee Jing-ok, the strategy would start with securing areas south of Baekdu Mountain and the Tumen River.

The objective was to assimilate or eliminate the residing Jurchens tribe in these regions, and to solidify control by relocating Joseon citizens there.

Next, they would annex the entirety of the Orangkhai tribes and advance further eastward.

“Why continue advancing eastward?” asked King Sejong.

Lee Jing-ok immediately replied, “First, the goal is to avoid provoking Ming. Second, according to records, if we advance a bit more eastward from the Tumen River, we would encounter the Great Forest region. We plan to secure essential resources like timber from this area. Also, the connected coasts and nearby islands are abundant in valuable animals like seals. These would be utilized for trade.”

“The Great Forest region, huh…”

As Sejong mulled over this, Hyang quickly interjected.

“Your Majesty, we may have trees standing tall in the forests of Joseon, but not in abundance.”

“True,” nodded Sejong. Wood was the most commonly used material in almost every aspect of life for the citizens.

“But the Great Forest region has ancient trees that have grown for hundreds of years. These are ideal for construction, naval ships for the military, and trade vessels, all requiring straight and dense timber.”

‘Of course, afforestation will also be essential,’ thought Sejong as he nodded.

“I see, I understand why we’re advancing eastward then. What’s next?”

“Once we assimilate the Orangkhai region and the Great Forest area east of the Tumen River into our territory, we will enter the second phase,” said Lee Jing-ok, pointing at the map.

“Using the Great Forest as a base, we’ll start encroaching upon the Udiha tribal lands from the east.”

Pausing briefly, Lee Jing-ok signaled to an aide who flipped the map. The newly revealed map showed some Jurchen areas and all of Joseon colored in green.

“Slowly but steadily, we aim to annex at least half, if not all, of the Udiha tribal lands into our territory. This concludes the brief overview.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong contemplated while stroking his beard and staring at the map.

During this time, Lee Jik asked, “The military should know that Orangkhai lives both to the east and west of the Tumen River and Baekdu Mountain. There’s also the Odoli tribe in between. How do you plan to deal with them? Will you only target eastern Orangkhai?”

“We will target both sides. This will exert pressure on the Odoli tribe, forcing them to make a choice: either pledge allegiance to Joseon or leave for either the sea or Jianzhou Jurchen areas. It’s one or the other.”

Lee Jing-ok’s answer left Lee Jik with a regretful expression.

“It’s a shame, the Odoli tribe was once loyal to us…”

* * *

The Odoli tribe, which controlled the upper regions of Baekdu Mountain and the Tumen River, was once a steadfast Jurchen tribe that had sworn allegiance to Lee Seong-gye (King Taejo, Founder of Joseon) and had acted as a strong defense for Joseon.

When Lee Seong-gye was alive, the Odoli tribe was a powerful ally that protected the northern border of Joseon.

However, the relationship between Joseon and the Odoli changed as the Emperor ascended to the throne of the Ming Empire, and Taejong (Sejong’s father) seized power in Joseon.

Ahachu, who was a high-ranking official in the Guanzhou Guard Command and also Emperor’s father-in-law, introduced Odoli’s chieftain, Dong Menngetemur^1, as his relative.

Consequently, Emperor sent emissaries to Dong Menngetemur, insisting he join the Ming court.

In response, Taejong attempted various measures to win over Dong Menngetemur, leading to disputes with the Emperor.

Caught between Ming and Joseon, Dong Menngetemur chose the Ming.

It was at this point that issues arose between Taejong and him.

* * *

“It has been over 20 years since we served King Taejo. We will continue to follow Joseon.”

Although he said this to Taejong, Menngetemur had joined Ming and taken an official position.

In addition, through the imperial decree of the Emperor, he had his relatives, who were hostages in Joseon, returned.

Upon this, Taejong mobilized his military forces and massacred tribes near Menngetemur’s tribe.

Feeling threatened by Taejong’s retaliatory measures, Menngetemur led his clan and moved their base from the Tumen River region to the Yalu River (Amnok River) region.

Afterwards, when Taejong died and the power of the Mongols rose again, Menngetemur led his people back to their original base.

Upon his return, Menngetemur suggested sending his son, Dong Guntu (Battalion Commander of Jianzhou Guard), as a hostage to Sejong’s court, but Sejong refused.

He was perceived as someone who might defect again by relying on the power of Ming.

* * *

While Lee Jik was complaining about Odori, Sejong quietly muttered, “There must be inevitable casualties among the neighboring tribes as we attack Orangkhai…”

Sejong was determined to eliminate the Odori tribe.

When planning to pioneer the land with four armies and six towns before returning to history, Sejong gave one more order to Choi Yoon-deok while ordering him to subjugate Dong Guntu, the grandson of Ahachu and the commander of Jianzhou Guard:

“Kill Menngetemur.”

In subsequent history, not only Menngetemur’s children but also Sejo, who seized power through a coup, pursued and killed Dong Guntu, the descendant of Ahachu.

In the Joseon royal family, Ahachu, Menngetemur, and their descendants were traitors and children of traitors who had betrayed Lee Seong-gye, and they must be eliminated.

* * *

Meanwhile, the Minister of Rites was concerned about Ming’s intervention.

“Invading the Orangkhai region may provoke Ming. We need a clear justification.”

Before Lee Jing-ok could respond, Sejong spoke, “We have a reason. A very clear reason. The region where Odori is settled and the Tumen River region are the origins of our royal family. How can we just leave them to their descendants?”

Hwang Hui added, “That’s right! How can we, as descendants, leave our ancestors’ land in others’ hands? We must reclaim it!”

“Good point. Ming won’t be able to say anything.”

At Sejong and Hwang Hui’s words, the Minister of Rites backed off. It was a valid reason, even in his opinion.

However, Minister of Rites pointed out another issue, “We can block Ming through diplomacy up to the invasion of the Orangkhai region. Advancing eastward from there is fine too. But wouldn’t it provoke Ming if we invade the Yain-Jurchens region from there?”

Lee Jing-ok promptly answered, “The areas secured through the two-stage plan are tribes that were under the shadow of King Taejo. If we emphasize this and promise not to covet Haixi Jurchens and Jianzhou Jurchens’ regions, Ming won’t be able to say anything. Their influence doesn’t extend all the way to the eastern end, does it?”

[TL/N: Haixi, Jianzhou and Yeren Jurchens are three major Jurchen tribes.]

Everyone nodded. Joseon and Ming were both suffering from the Jurchens’ raids.

Lee Jing-ok continued, “The military is fully aware that we must avoid a clash with Ming. As stated in various military manuals, and as King Taejo said, a small country waging war against a big country is something to be avoided. That’s why we’ve excluded Haixi and Jianzhou Jurchens. This is the best strategy of the military. The rest is the work of diplomacy.”

Maeng Sae-seong then spoke, “I understand that it is the job of diplomacy. But the most difficult part is when the other side is on high alert. How long does the military anticipate this strategy will take?”

To which Lee Jing-ok replied, “We anticipate a minimum of 10 years for the completion of the first phase and a total of 30 years when the second phase is included.”

“30 years in total…”

“That’s why we call it a grand strategy.”

At Lee Jing-ok’s answer, Sejong and the ministers showed a perplexed expression.

The number ’30 years’ was a generation-changing period. Both Sejong and the ministers who were evaluated as excellent talents could not easily imagine this number.

“Father, may I say a word?”

“Speak.”

“I believe the military’s judgment is appropriate. Although 30 years is long, as the saying goes, ’emptying a mountain is work of patience.’ Please consider the time it takes to expand the territory of our Joseon and to assimilate the new Jurchens as our citizens.”

“Hmm…”

“Also, it’s good to think long-term for the Ming Dynasty. If such a situation is created in just a few years, Ming will, just as the Left State Councilor just said, will refuse to talk to us with heightened tensions.”

“That’s true.”

Sejong nodded.

Hyang continued his statement. “Comparing the Ming Dynasty and our Joseon, it’s like an adult and a child. When an adult and a child start running together, the child can’t catch up with the adult. Even if we don’t provoke a war with Ming, an arms race would be fatal for us.”

“True.”

Sejong nodded his head at Hyang’s words. Not just Sejong, the ministers also nodded in agreement. The Minister of Taxation especially nodded quite strongly.

Hyang continued, “Looking at our Eastern history, and even the history of the Central Plains, and even further, the history of the West, they all have the same result. If an arms race occurs, the small country will reach its limit first. In such a situation, small countries easily make extreme choices. They trust in the strength they have accumulated, but if they wage war relying solely on hope, ignoring the absolute difference in capabilities, they’ll meet defeat in despair.”

“That’s true.”

“So, even though 30 years seems long, it is better than hastily proceeding.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing Hyang’s words, Sejong stroked his beard and became lost in thought.

’30 years, huh… Will I be able to see it before I die?’

Looking up at Hyang who was looking down at him, Sejong chuckled to himself.

‘Yes! I have a child who worries so much about my health! I’m going to live a long life! Even if I can’t live long, that child will make Joseon stronger than it is now!’

Firm in his resolve, Sejong looked at the ministers.

“I command my ministers.”

“We are all ears!”

“We will proceed with the grand strategy ‘Eastward Advancement’ for the growth of Joseon. However, do not act hastily and move cautiously.”

“We accept your command!”

* * *

Sejong’s determination led to the implementation of the grand strategy of Advancing Eastward, and the topic shifted to the finer details of the policy.

“What is most needed to succeed in this strategy?”

Choi Yoon-deok answered Sejong’s question.

“People and budget.”

“Ugh!”

As soon as the word ‘budget’ came out, Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation, reflexively gagged and received glares from the other ministers.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… The Minister of Taxation seems quite weak. I will inform the royal physician.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

Although Kim Jeom expressed gratitude, his expression was the opposite; he looked unhappy.

‘Tsk, tsk, tsk… To save on medicine, he’s putting in more energy at work.’

‘He has to be healthy… It’s dangerous if the Minister of Taxation’s position becomes vacant.’

‘We have to send some medicine to the Minister’s house.’

The ministers around him had the same thought.

* * *

While the reform was progressing, all the ministers worked hard. However, the ones suffering the most were the people working in the Ministry of Taxation.

Ironically, the strongest supporters of Sejong’s reform were the officials of the Ministry of Taxation. Their thoughts were simple.

‘If the reform goes as planned, the Ministry of Taxation will be divided into several departments! That means promotions are certain! Just wait and see! You’re all dead!’

If the officials endured thinking of the future, the higher-ups relied on ‘medicine’ to get by.

It’s not a metaphor; it was real.

The houses of the senior officials in the Ministry of Taxation were filled with medicines, not only from the king but also from other ministers.

“Dear, not only the King but also other ministers seem to care about you.”

At his wife’s words, Kim Jeom chuckled dryly.

‘The medicine from the King is to save on medicine costs, and the medicine from other ministers is saying, endure and don’t transfer the workload to us!’

* * *

[TL/N: Locations of Tumen River, Yalu River (Amnok River), and Baekdu Mountains]

1. Left Guard of Jianzhou Guard[↩]

Chapter 99
Grand Plan of Advancing Eastward (3)

In the military headquarters, King Sejong and the ministers continued their discussions on the increased budget and personnel reinforcements that had been requested.

“Budget and manpower… Increasing both immediately is beyond the capabilities of our current Joseon Dynasty,” said Minister of Taxation.

Choi Yoon-deok immediately responded, “We’re aware. While planning this strategy, the army’s foremost consideration was synchronizing its execution with the progress in our frontier territories. Therefore, the required budget was also determined accordingly.”

Upon saying this, Choi Yoon-deok signaled the officers standing behind him.

In response, the officers handed out thick booklets to the ministers and King Sejong. After receiving the booklet via the ministers, King Sejong glanced at the title.

– Required Budget for Gap-ho Plan.

“The Gap-ho Plan?”

“Gap-ho Plan is a code name used as a substitute for ‘advancing’,” explained Choi Yoon-deok.

“Hmm…”

As King Sejong flipped through the booklet, he softly muttered, “Hmm…”

The booklet detailed how the military was to be grown over a period of 30 years and included an organized summary of the increased budget needed.

‘This seems acceptable,’ King Sejong thought. Just then, a sigh resounded from somewhere.

“Phew~”

Startled by the unexpected sigh, King Sejong looked up.

“Who was that? Who just sighed?”

Crash!

Upon King Sejong’s question, a chair was noisily tipped over. The Minister of Taxation, the owner of the chair, immediately fell to his knees.

“Please forgive this humble servant’s sins!”

“I understand why you did that. It’s okay, take your seat.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

Relieved by King Sejong’s words, the Minister of Taxation gratefully took his seat, which had been set upright again by an internal officer.

‘Sighing is understandable,’ thought King Sejong. The budget the army needed for the execution of this grand strategy had been calculated on quite a reasonable basis. Taking into account the yearly growth of the population through vaccinations, the increase in tax revenue, and secretly stockpiled gold and silver, the budget wouldn’t pose a huge strain on national finances, if everything went as planned.

However, the sheer amount of the budget was astronomical.

Understandably, as the person responsible for the budget, the Minister of Taxation had no choice but to sigh.

“I find the proposal reasonable,” King Sejong said, “The hard work of the staff officers at the Army Headquarters is quite evident.”

“Your grace is boundless!” Choi Yoon-deok and the officers bent their waists in gratitude.

Choi Yoon-deok then added, “The Crown Prince has also made a significant contribution to the creation of this budget.”

“Is that so?” King Sejong and the ministers looked at the Crown Prince, as if to say, ‘You again?’

Noticing the focused gaze, the Crown Prince modestly bowed his head and replied, “I merely added a spoonful to what the staff officers at the Army Headquarters had already prepared.”

Hearing this, Lee Jing-ok, who was standing in the back, muttered under his breath, “Not a spoon, but a shovel…”

“Shush!”

“Hmph!” Startled by the soft warning from a colleague standing next to him, Lee Jing-ok quickly shut his mouth and looked around cautiously.

* * *

As soon as the General Staff Office began planning for the “Advance,” Hyang quickly intervened.

“I won’t interfere with the military’s operations. However, let’s discuss the budget related to military preparedness.”

‘Civilian politics is for diplomats!’

In the 21st century, leveraging his experience as a civil servant involved in financial matters, Hyang offered advice on the budget proposal drafted by the military officers at the General Staff Office.

And then, the officers found themselves in a “hell of numbers.”

In setting the budget, anyone who showed even a slight bit of greed was mercilessly reprimanded by Hyang, from General Choi Yoon-deok at the top down to the newly joined clerks at the General Staff Office.

“Is the General dreaming of reviving a military regime?”

“Do you know what it means to ‘lose sight of the original intention’?”

“Pay attention! ‘Budget is blood!'”

It didn’t end there.

“Is this what you call a calculation? Shouldn’t an officer be strong in numbers? I’ll pose a problem for you. We’ve discovered the enemy’s formation! The enemy’s lines are spread over four columns for one mile. Then, what is the total number of approaching enemies?”

Thanks to Hyang’s stringent scrutiny, the officers at the General Staff Office became as adept in calculation as researchers at Area 51 or top-level managers at Minister of Taxation, mastering arithmetic more skillfully than anyone else.

Afterwards, just like how Sungkyunkwan, originally an institution for fostering high-ranking civil officers, shifted its purpose to produce high-ranking military officers, the most crucial subject taught at “National Military Academy” became arithmetic.

It led to the maxim, “If you can’t do arithmetic, you can’t advance in rank even if you’re an exceptional soldier.”

* * *

“Unless a major variable arises, it seems best to go ahead with this plan. What do you ministers think?”

Although the question was directed towards the ministers, King Sejong’s eyes were fixed on Minister of Taxation.

“If the economic capabilities of our Joseon continue to grow as they are now, I believe it will be manageable,” the Minister of Taxation replied positively.

Satisfied with the response, King Sejong moved on. “So the budget is settled, what about the issue with people… is it talent?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Choi Yoon-deok answered.

Stroking his beard, King Sejong posed another question.

“Hmm… preparations for the establishment of the National Military Academy are underway, as is the establishment of the Hall of National Merits^1. Are there any other issues?”

“Both institutions are in the preparation stage, so there’s a problem with the immediate supply of necessary talent. Also, considering the current atmosphere of emphasizing literature over martial arts, it will be difficult to gather a lot of talents,” Choi Yoon-deok answered.

“That’s also an issue…”

* * *

The discrimination against military officers by scholars had been continuing since the Goryeo period. Of course, unable to withstand such discrimination, a military regime was established, but with the invasion of the Mongols and the end of Goryeo, scholars gained power, relegating military officers to inferior status.

According to national laws, both scholars and military officers should receive the same treatment. The lowest rank of local governors, the county magistrate, was also a military position. However, those who were actually appointed were almost always scholars.

Therefore, those who applied for military examinations were mostly those who lacked academic skills, which was a point of concern raised by Choi Yoon-deok.

* * *

Choi Yoon-deok explained further.

“When Your Majesty executed the military reforms, you broke the custom where positions that should have been occupied by the military were held by scholars.”

“Yes,” King Sejong nodded.

As was evident in the case of the county magistrates, positions that belonged to the military were often appointed to scholars.

Especially, those who entered the military path through the military examinations faced all sorts of hardships in the field, while high-ranking positions were often occupied by scholars.

At first, when preparing for military reforms, King Sejong took this matter lightly. However, Hyang insisted on a clear separation between the military and scholarly ranks.

A lengthy debate ensued, and the final winner was Hyang, who argued for separation citing examples from China’s Song Dynasty.

As the separation between the military and scholarly ranks progressed, many military officers were pushed out due to their ‘illiteracy’ and ‘lack of scholarly achievements.’

The pushed-out military officers began to study writing, but Classical Chinese was not easy.

“Damn it! Who created these Chinese characters!”

Could it have been because of this experience? Later, those who welcomed King Sejong’s creation of Hangul^2 the most were the military.

* * *

“…Therefore, I humbly request your Majesty to solve the issue of talent shortage. Please lift the ban on individuals from the Northwest and annul the ‘Concubine Lineage Exclusion Act’ (Seo-eolgeumgo Act).”

[TL/N: Concubine Lineage Exclusion Act is an act in which even the descendants of noblemen during the Joseon Dynasty could not advance to government positions if they were descended from a concubine.]

Upon hearing Choi Yoon-deok’s request, the high-ranking officials began to murmur.

“Lift the ban on the Northwest natives and annul the ‘Concubine Lineage Exclusion Act’? Hmmm… I thought those matters were already included in the reform?”

To King Sejong’s question, Choi Yoon-deok immediately responded.

“Indeed, they are, your Majesty. However, according to the reform’s timeline, the ban on Northwest natives would be lifted in the 8th year of the reform process, and the Concubine Lineage Exclusion Act annulment would be effective in the 10th year. I request that these timelines be expedited.”

“The ban on the Northwest region was an edict of King Taejo, and the Concubine Lineage Exclusion Act was enacted by King Taejong. That’s why we have delayed the lifting of the bans.”

“However, it is also true that we are missing out on a lot of talent because of these bans.”

“Hmmm…”

King Sejong began to stroke his beard in deep thought upon hearing Choi Yoon-deok’s words.

All the high-ranking officials were tight-lipped. Everyone knew that there was a talent shortage, especially as the reform progressed. They generally agreed that the Northwest discrimination and Concubine Lineage Exclusion Act should be lifted.

However, they remained silent for two main reasons.

Firstly, these two policies were enacted by Kings Taejo and Taejong. From the Confucian perspective, altering laws set by previous kings could be seen as an act of disloyalty and could become grounds for impeachment.

Secondly, there was the issue of competition. High-ranking positions were always scarce. Even with the reorganization due to the reform, the competition would only get tougher for those who were eyeing these positions.

In the end, it was King Sejong who made the decision, offering a compromise.

“I understand that we are short of talent in the army. However, we can’t simply change the priorities of the reform. A slight mistake could derail the entire process. Therefore, I propose a middle ground. Let’s reassess the situation in the 6th year of the reform and then decide to lift the bans on the Northwest region and the Concubine Lineage Exclusion Act. If the reform is progressing well, we should be able to absorb the shock. Keep this in mind and continue to make extreme efforts.”

“I accept your command!”

Choi Yoon-deok immediately responded to King Sejong’s decision. When he first spoke, he was prepared to risk it all. However, King Sejong’s decision to expedite the process by two years was the best answer he could have hoped for.

Thus, the reforms continued to progress steadily.

* * *

As the day of the royal audience drew near, a large number of people were moving from Hamgil Island to Hanseong.

Those dressed differently from the Joseon people were the chieftains of the Jurchen tribes, heading to Hanseong at the invitation of King Sejong.

However, the atmosphere among the chieftains en route to Hanseong was not one of enjoyment. No, the closer they got to Hanseong, the tenser they became.

“Did the king of Joseon call for us?”

The chieftains of the Orangkhai tribe were puzzled by the orders brought by the Joseon envoy.

Unable to find an answer even after deep thought, the chieftains sought the opinions of other chieftains they were on good terms with.

“What should we do, brother?”

“We should go, brother.”

“I am a little uneasy about the sudden summons.”

“Can we afford not to go? You’ve heard what happened to the warriors in the Guanzhou region, haven’t you?”

“That’s what worries me.”

Since the time of Myeongjong, who declared the Jurchen region under his rule, and after Lee Seong-gye’s death, the relationship between the Jurchen tribes and the Joseon royal family had been gradually distancing.

Of course, Joseon tried to maintain relations with the Jurchens by offering official positions and trading, but the intimacy from the era of Lee Seong-gye had largely disappeared.

Refusing Joseon’s invitation also meant worrying about the bloodshed that had befallen the Jurchens in the Guanzhou region.

In a situation where they could neither go one way nor the other, it was the older chieftains who first made up their minds.

“We have to go if the person who carries the blood of our great elder wants to see us!”

The elderly chieftains, who still had memories of Lee Seong-gye, stepped forward to persuade the younger chieftains in tribes that had gone through a generational shift.

“Be cautious. Even if he is a descendant of our great elder, it’s certain he has inherited even his temperament. Remember what happened to the warriors in Guanzhou.”

In the end, the chieftains of the Jurchen tribes in the Tumen River area and the Orangkhai region had to move toward Joseon.

1. Same like Hall of Worthies, but for military officers instead of scholars[↩]

2. Korean Alphabets[↩]

Chapter 100

As they headed towards Hanseong, the tension among the Jurchen tribal chiefs escalated.

The cause of their unease was the Joseon cavalry who claimed to be escorting them.

“Are those the so-called ‘Green Phantom Ghosts’ we’ve heard about?”

The tribal chiefs muttered softly, looking at the green-armored cavalry moving on either side of them.

Until recently, the Joseon cavalry they had been accustomed to seeing had armor that was not even uniformly colored.

While more standardized armor was increasingly being adopted, generally they were an eclectic mix of all kinds of armor. If it weren’t for their military discipline, they could have easily been mistaken for Jurchens.

However, as of late, entire units had been standardized to new green armor, and now most Joseon forces in the border areas had done the same.

When the Jurchens in the Tumen River area first saw the unified armor of the Joseon army, their initial reaction was lukewarm.

“Changed armor, huh? Has the current king started to loosen the purse strings?”

“Looks decent, should we try to loot them later?”

The reaction from the Jurchens, initially indifferent or seeing the soldiers as easy prey, shifted dramatically after hearing rumors of a massacre in the Geonju region.

“Green Phantom Ghosts?”

“Yes, that’s what the injured soldiers in Geonju were calling them.”

“Isn’t that just an exaggeration by Geonju’s wounded?”

When they first heard the rumor, the chiefs of the wild Jurchen tribes dismissed it as an exaggeration.

* * *

In order to gain control of the Jurchens, both Ming and Joseon exhibited similar moves.

On one hand, they worked diligently to absorb them, and on the other, they would use force to suppress any sort of rebellion.

However, what they focused on more was to divide the Jurchens to prevent them from uniting.

As a result, the Jurchen tribes disparaged those from other regions and bickered among themselves.

“The crippled soldiers of Geonju,” “The beggar bastards of the wilderness,” “The mongrels of the West.” They were all expressions of frustration, as neither could catch the other.

* * *

“As strong as Joseon might be… it’s just that the soldiers of Geonju are stupid.”

Initially, the reaction of the tribal chiefs of the Jurchens was similar.

However, as detailed information started to flow in from Geonju, their faces turned serious.

“12 warrior troops were annihilated? And those troops were each over 200 strong?”

“By just 500?”

At that time, the total military strength of the Joseon troops deployed to subdue the Geonju Jurchens was around 3,000.

The Joseon troops were divided into six groups, composed of 400 cavalry and 100 artillery each, sweeping away 12 warrior troops.

This was the point where the chiefs of the Jurchens became alert.

With more than 200 men, a warrior troop was a force that traditional Joseon cavalry numbering 500 would find difficult to handle. If it were truly a crisis, a warrior troop could summon between 600 to 700 cavalry.

Given the capabilities of Jurchen cavalry, a group of 500, or even 400 Joseon cavalry would have no choice but to retreat, suffering severe casualties—upwards of 50%. If it were the Ming, they would be virtually wiped out.

However, if the current rumors were true, the opposite had happened.

“Don’t just bring rumors, bring credible information!”

“Yes, Khan!”

“Also, tell those who went hunting not to touch any Joseon people or soldiers in the border areas for the time being!”

“Yes, Khan!”

* * *

The tribal leaders of the Jurchens realized that a real crisis had come, after spending much time and effort gathering information.

“12 warrior troops have been destroyed, and there are hardly any survivors? The Joseon army suffered almost no damage?”

“They’ve obtained the power of the ‘fire dragon’? What kind of nonsense is this?”

The tribal leaders of the Jurchens focused on the word ‘fire dragon.’

“The Joseon army used a large amount of firearms? So that’s why they call it fire dragon? Idiotic fools of the settled Jurchens! Have you lived next to the Ming and not even seen a firearm?”

Upon learning that ‘fire dragon’ referred to firearms, the tribal leaders of the Jurchens soon discovered the truth.

The Joseon army had begun to deploy and use firearms on a scale greater than even the Ming forces.

* * *

In the face of the growing military might of the Joseon army, the tribal leaders of the Jurchens had no choice but to increase their level of alertness.

In such a situation, King Sejong sent an ‘invitation.’

Eventually, as stated in the invitation, the tribal leaders of the Jurchens had to head towardsMount Gak with only a small escort.

* * *

As they headed towards Hanseong, the tribal leaders of the Jurchens grumbled.

“Is this really… an escort for us, or is it more like we’re being transported as prisoners?”

Their target of complaint was the Joseon cavalry that surrounded them on all sides under the guise of an ‘escort.’

The Joseon cavalry, all armed with green armor, exuded an overwhelming sense of intimidation just by their unified appearance.

The new type of armor that the tribal leaders saw upon arriving at Mount Gak looked incredibly sturdy, even to their eyes. Unlike the older armor, this new armor seemed to protect the entire body while maintaining mobility.

“How could they make such armor?”

“The armor is a problem, but the fact that they’ve mass-produced it is even more terrifying. The current King of Joseon is no ordinary man.”

Gathered at a temporarily assigned residence, the tribal leaders of the Jurchens exchanged opinions with serious faces.

The older among them looked even more grim.

“We haven’t seen the King of Joseon yet, so we can’t make a judgment, but the real big problem is that the morale of the Joseon troops has increased.”

“Indeed. Before, they were awkward opponents, but now they give off a feeling that we wouldn’t want to meet them in battle.”

The Joseon soldiers they met upon arriving at Mount Gak had a different atmosphere compared to before.

Before, only the cavalry gave off an uncomfortable feeling, but now even the soldiers guarding the forts and watchtowers displayed an aggressive vibe.

It wasn’t just an aggressive vibe; they even had an air of ‘let’s have a go at it!’

“After the death of the great elder, we haven’t felt this way in a long time… sigh.”

The tribal leaders sighed, feeling once again the strong presence that King Taejo had once possessed.

Their sense of burden grew as they moved towards Hanseong.

The Joseon cavalry escorting them maintained a distance of at least 10 jang (approx. 30 meters) from their procession at all times. While this was a distance that could be closed quickly with a swift charge, it was also enough for trained cavalry to prepare for battle.

And whenever a wide plain appeared, new cavalry forces would appear and set up another layer of defense.

When passing through valleys and hills where the road narrowed, the Joseon cavalry would change positions to the front and back of the procession.

The tribal leaders, wedged in the middle as they traveled, sighed as they glimpsed glimpses of green armor in the forests.

“Sigh… Seems like they just want us to go to Hanseong without any thoughts.”

“And to think, I’m envious of Chief Nangutai. He got lucky.”

Tribe leaders who had been sighing now sent envious glances toward another leader who was relaxed.

At the place where the Nagutai tribe was situated, there were large ‘wooden prison, wooden prison’ used to transport criminals.

Within those wooden prisons were disheveled men and women, wearing mixed attire of Joseon and barbarians.

These people filling the wooden prison were butchers and bandits who had been fleeing from the Joseon army.

* * *

While pushing for reforms, Sejong issued a decree about the butcher’s groups to regional leaders nationwide, and those leaders posted the written decree on the walls of provincial government offices.

“All butchers in the eight provinces of Joseon should appear before the government by the end of the year to register. Those who have completed the registration will be given resources after education, and become upright citizens of Joseon.

However, those who do not appear by the end of the year will be treated as traitors and will be strictly punished.”

Upon seeing the decree, people relayed the message to the related butchers, who had to make a decision.

A not insignificant number of butchers led their families down from the mountains and voluntarily registered. They were moved to Nobeol Island for herding training and prepared to be placed in the soon-to-be-established herding centers nationwide.

“I want to do something other than herding.”

Those who wished for other jobs were accommodated as much as possible, joining the increasingly short-staffed merchants and craftsmen.

And after some time, with the lifting of the ‘slaughter prohibition order’ and the trend of ‘poultry farming,’ people began to accumulate wealth in the butchering and catering industries.

Of course, this is a story of the future, and the number of butchers who voluntarily registered was not as many as expected.

To be precise, those who registered were mostly already adapted to living closely with the people of Joseon, while the majority of the unregistered butchers continued to be criminals.

In other words, they outright rejected Sejong’s command.

“Refusing the decree of a superior! No, not just refusing but terrorizing the citizens? Mobilize the military and exterminate them!”

“Your orders are accepted!”

With Sejong’s order, a nationwide crackdown on butchers began.

The butchers, who were descendants of the Khitan or other nomads, were skilled in horseback riding and had strong combat abilities, making them a headache. However, when Joseon began organized and meticulous suppression, they had to die.

Later, historians from both the East and West studying the era of Sejong and Munjong would fiercely debate whether this suppression was ‘genocide’.

In the end, the butchers who couldn’t withstand the relentless pursuit of the government forces had to flee northward. They moved in a northeastern direction.

During this escape, new individuals joined their groups.

They were the bandits.

The bandits were also pursued by the government for similar reasons.

The reason they were pursued was due to the Hansung fire incident. These individuals, who had enjoyed looting during the fire, continued to commit arson.

Eventually, angered by their criminal activities, Sejong issued a hunting order.

“If you can’t catch them alive, you may kill them on the spot!”

Ultimately, these bandits also had to flee to the northeast to escape the relentless pursuit of the government forces.

And most of these fleeing butchers and bandits were captured by tribes like the Nagutai, who were part of the Jurchen.

Their fate was not good after being captured. All their possessions were confiscated, and most were beheaded on the spot. Women and children were spared but became slaves of the Jurchen or were sold to Ming.

Even those now captured by the Nagutai tribe were not lucky.

As soon as they were transferred from Hansung, most of them faced decapitation.

* * *

In reaching a place 10 li away from Hanseong, the chieftains of the Jurchens tribe became increasingly tense.

On both sides of the road leading to Hanseong, soldiers in green armor stood tall, gripping large swords like canes, waiting for them at regular intervals.

And behind the soldiers, who stood like totem poles, crowds of commoners gathered to gawk at them.

“Heo-eo~. Has the great elder truly returned to life?”

The old chieftains sighed after observing the soldiers’ imposing manner.

The aura exuded by the soldiers standing by the road was as strong as that of the troops led by Lee Seong-gye during his prime.

As the Jurchens chieftains entered Honghwa Gate, the color of the soldiers’ armor changed from green to a deep navy. These were the elite troops guarding Hanseong.

However, what surprised the Jurchens chieftains greatly was something else.

“What kind of road is this…”

The gray avenue leading to the palace was something they had never seen before in their lives.

The smooth road, where not a single stone or dirt was visible, seemed to symbolize a transformed Joseon.

* * *

When the chieftains arrived at Gwanghwamun, they all had to dismount their horses and walk inside.

On either side of the road leading to Geunjeongjeon Palace were guards in black armor, also gripping large swords, standing. By then, the chieftains had completely let go of everything and relaxed.

Upon arriving in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon, the chieftains raised their heads to look at Geunjeongjeon.

There, sitting on his throne, was Sejong, looking at them.

The moment the chieftains saw Sejong, they immediately knelt.

“We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”

Chapter 101

Seated on his throne, King Sejong exuded an imposing aura.

Feeling the weight of this aura, the tribal leaders immediately knelt in deference upon seeing him.

Seeing the leaders bow before him, Sejong commanded in the Jurchen language,

“Stand up.”

The tribal leaders rose from their seats, their faces showing astonishment at Sejong’s fluent command of the Jurchen language.

‘The current King of Joseon was born and raised in Joseon! How could he be so proficient in Jurchen?’

Seemingly unaware or uncaring of what was going through their minds, Sejong continued to speak.

“It has been quite some time since I inherited the throne, and due to various circumstances, I have not had the chance to meet with you all. You were all loyal to my grandfather, King Taejo, so I owe this meeting to his virtue… Therefore, I have called you here.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“Accommodations have been made for you at Bukpyeong Hall. Rest there for tonight; we will meet again tomorrow.”

“We accept your command!”

The tribal leaders bowed once more. After Sejong retreated indoors, they were escorted out of Gwanghwamun gate by interpreters and the royal guards, heading toward Bukpyeong Hall.

Once they had settled in at Bukpyeong Hall, the leaders immediately convened in the banquet hall.

Food and drink were prepared for the tribal leaders, and geishas entertained them with dances, but the mood was unusually serious.

“Shall we ask the courtesans to leave?”

“We have matters to discuss among ourselves.”

At the leaders’ request, the courtesans exited the banquet hall. Now alone, the leaders let out a long sigh.

“Ah, that family…”

“I thought our ties with that household ended when the elder passed away…”

“But couldn’t this be a good opportunity for us? Have we ever been at peace as we were under the elder’s rule?”

Those who had experience with or memories of living under King Taejo (whose birth name was Lee Seong-gye) conversed with mixed feelings of worry and anticipation.

In contrast, the younger leaders, unfamiliar with Lee Seong-gye, discussed the situation with faces full of concern.

“Why do you think the King of Joseon has called us?”

“He probably wants us to submit voluntarily.”

“Even with Ming around?”

“Do you think the Ming fools will care about us, who live at this far eastern edge?”

“Plus, there’s another reason. Do you know the original state of the lands our tribes have settled in? It’s the region that old man Lee Seong-gye used to rule. Ming probably can’t say much about it either.”

“So is this a choice between surrendering to Joseon or leaving?”

Another tribal leader added,

“There’s another option. Being annihilated.”

The word ‘annihilation’ cast a dark shadow over the leaders’ faces.

“This is…”

“I don’t even want to think about that.”

* * *

The following day, a feast was held at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion.

In attendance were not only the invited tribal chiefs of the Jurchens, but also King Sejong, Hyang, and various ministers and officials.

“I am truly delighted to meet those who had ties with my deceased father! Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of our Joseon, we could not offer you proper hospitality; this is regretful and shameful on our part.”

Among the tribal chiefs, the oldest, Hatui, spoke as the representative.

“It is not so, Your Majesty! It’s quite an honor to be remembered and invited after such a long time has passed!”

“We are grateful!”

Upon hearing the chiefs’ words of gratitude, Sejong smiled.

“Is that so? Even though such a long time has passed, you do not consider us as strangers?”

At Sejong’s words, Hatui hastily waved his hands.

“It is by no means so!”

“Is that so?”

“That it is!”

“Hmm…”

Despite Hatui’s response, Sejong silently observed the chiefs.

The chiefs glanced around nervously. At the top seat sat Sejong, and next to him was a boy who appeared to be the crown prince. Around them, guards stood in stern formation.

“I will trust your words. I hope this goodwill can be maintained for a long time.”

“We shall make it so!”

The chiefs all responded in unison.

Having subdued the tension, Sejong gradually eased into conciliation.

“The reason we invited you this time is to apologize for our previous neglect. As compensation, although modest, we have prepared something for you to take on your way back.”

“What might it be?”

At Hatui’s question, Hwang Hui stepped forward to answer.

“It is salt. Depending on the size of your tribe, we will distribute it from ten carts to dozens.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“Your grace is boundless!”

At Hwang Hui’s words, the chiefs courteously bowed, expressing their gratitude.

For those who led a semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral lifestyle, salt was extremely essential. Ironically, they were near the sea but lacked artisans who could produce salt.

Softening the atmosphere with the gift of salt, Sejong immediately pivoted.

“It’s been already 30 years since the establishment of our Joseon. However, the land where our royal family originated and where King Taejo rode his horse is not yet under our control. What do you think about this?”

“Pardon?”

At Sejong’s words, Hatui couldn’t immediately think of a response.

“The land where you all reside is where King Taejo started his great undertaking. But now, it’s not within our Joseon territory. What should be done about this?”

‘Here it comes!’

‘Damn it!’

The tribal chiefs blinked at Sejong’s question. Though the question seemed to ask for an answer, the implication was the exact opposite.

‘Our Joseon will take that land! What will you guys do?’

“Why is there no answer?”

At Sejong’s question, Hatui stammered.

“That, that is something we never considered…”

“Does it mean that while staying on the land founded by King Taejo, you had no thoughts about the original owners of the land? Hmm, what am I supposed to make of this?”

“That, that is…”

Under Sejong’s pressure, Hatui was visibly sweating and stuttering. At this, Mutoi, who belonged to the younger generation, retorted.

“Your Majesty, it seems you have already made up your mind. What would you have us do?”

At Mutoi’s question, Sejong briefly replied.

“It’s simple. Either join us or leave. I will not stop you if you choose to leave. However, if you cannot be with us, you will regretfully realize the power of our Joseon army.”

“If we join forces, what benefit is there for us? Your Majesty has many subjects to rule over, and you take care to see them prosper. Our tribal chiefs are the same. Although our numbers may be fewer compared to Joseon, we have tribe members to look after, and we also have to ensure their well-being.”

At Mutoi’s words, King Sejong nodded.

“That’s a fair point. If you join our Joseon, you’ll receive the same treatment as our subjects. However, there’s a precondition. If you follow the laws and customs of Joseon, the ministers and the court will treat you without discrimination. Over time, your sons or grandsons could even become officials in Joseon.”

“Is that a promise?”

“A king’s words are not empty.”

At Sejong’s response, Mutoi closed his mouth. After contemplating for a moment, he answered.

“I need some time to think.”

“And the others?”

“We also need time.”

When the tribal chiefs asked for more time, Hyang opened his mouth.

“Father, may I offer some advice to them?”

“Granted.”

After permitting Hyang’s request, Sejong introduced him to the tribal chiefs.

“This is my eldest son. He is the one who will lead Joseon after me. Listen well to the advice he offers you.”

“Yes.”

With the attention of the tribal chiefs on him, Hyang stood up and spoke softly, with a small smile.

“I am the Crown Prince of Joseon. It is a pleasure to meet all of you.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Thank you. What I wish to discuss now is why it would be beneficial for your tribes to join Joseon. What troubles you the most now might be the problem of starvation, isn’t it?”

“That’s correct.”

Responding promptly to Hyang’s question, Mutoi listened as Hyang continued.

“If you join us in Joseon, the issue of starvation will be resolved. Currently, Joseon is expanding its trade with multiple nations and is growing economically. This growth means we need more workers in various sectors. Even slaves in Joseon are paid for their labor, as mandated by national law, so won’t the issue of starvation be solved?”

“However, we mainly know how to ride horses and herd sheep.”

“I’ve heard that you’re also skilled in sailing? I’m well aware of the infamy of the Jurchen pirates.”

“…”

At Hyang’s pointed comment, Mutoi closed his mouth. Hyang continued speaking.

“As Joseon grows, the demand for various goods also increases, including meat. Isn’t livestock farming your expertise? If you join us, you won’t have to worry about starvation. Consider this well.”

After finishing his speech, Hyang sat down, and Sejong looked at the tribal chiefs.

A long silence ensued before Mutoi reluctantly spoke.

“Please give us a little more time.”

“I hope to receive your answer before you leave.”

* * *

After the banquet, King Sejong returned to his quarters and gave orders to his ministers.

“Regardless of their family background, proceed with the operation starting this winter according to plan. We must cross the Tumen River when the waters are frozen.”

“Your command is received!”

“Also, has the selection of envoys to send to Ming been finalized?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Jik immediately answered.

“The Left State Councillor and Minister of Rites will go personally.”

“Both of them?”

Looking at Maeng Sa-seong, the Minister of Rites, Sejong nodded his head.

“That’s fine. And has the appointment of the Special Administrative Official, who will be in charge of the administration in the newly settled area, been finalized?”

“Your Majesty, not yet…”

At the Left State Councilor’s answer, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! Still not yet? Is there no one willing to go?”

“Your Majesty.”

“Finalize the appointments as soon as possible.”

“Your command is received!”

Lee Jik, who was scratching his head, had something he didn’t say to the end.

It wasn’t that no one was willing to go, but that there were too many.

* * *

While the Pyeongan Province Surveillance Commissioner was in charge of strategic planning and administrative organization in the western region of the Odori Tribe, but due to the special peculiarities of the area, a Special Administrative Official had been appointed for the Hamgyeong-do area^1.

“There will be those who surrender peacefully, but also no shortage of those who resist!”

“Considering the size and population of the new territory, it’s too much for the Hamgyeongdo Surveillance Commissioner to handle! We need a dedicated Administrative Official!”

Following the suggestions from the military and the royal court, Sejong ordered the Council of State to select the Administrative Officials who would work alongside the Special Administrative Official.

As soon as Sejong’s order came down, an enormous number of requests flooded the officials at the Council of State.

“Send me!”

“No, send me!”

“I’ll show you what devotion and hard work mean!”

“Me! Me!”

Officials from all six ministries, and even those from the Censorate and the Office of Special Advisors, submitted boastful self-introductions. The thoughts of all the applicants were the same.

“Once I go, I can hold out until the development roughly concludes!”

“It’s a chance to legally get away from the royal court!”

And it wasn’t just the self-introductions.

Massive gifts began pouring into the homes of the officials.

* * *

“My lord husband, is there some good news? Gifts are suddenly pouring in.”

The officials who returned home after work were shocked to see a mountain of gifts.

“Good heavens, what are these people thinking! Is there any reason to send us gifts like we’re in need of favors? Wife! Send all of these back immediately!”

“What? Even these precious items?”

“Do you not know what happened to Lord Jo? Do we want to make our house a subject of gossip?”

“My goodness! I’ll send them back right away!”

The officials who were sending the gifts back were also in a desperate situation.

‘The competition is too fierce! No matter whom we choose, there will definitely be someone who’s dissatisfied! We need to stop this right at the bud!’

Translator’s Notes

They just want to get away from overworking under Sejong and Hyang ????????????

1. Located northeast of Joseon[↩]

Chapter 102

“Hmm…”

Sitting idly with personnel records meant for special administration appointments, Hwang Hui is called upon by Lee Jik.

“Right State Councilor, what are you doing?”

“Ah! I was lost in thought for a moment… I apologize.”

Maeng Sae-seong, who was sitting beside him, chided him upon hearing Hwang Hui’s apology.

“We have a mountain of work to do… On top of that, His Majesty’s scrutiny is unfavorable. Do it properly, will you?”

“I’m sorry…”

‘Good grief, that nobleman has become quite irritable! Where did His Excellency Lord Maeng I used to know go?’

Complaining about Maeng Sae-seong, who had become irritable from receiving harsh criticisms from King Sejong and from his exhausting duties, Hwang Hui skimmed through the Personnel Records.

“These kinds of individuals are just perfect for receiving criticism from the King… I’d rather I…”

Suddenly stopping mid-sentence, Hwang Hui abruptly stood up.

“I will take my leave first!”

“Wait, Minister Hwang! Minister!”

Watching Hwang Hui hastily leave, Lee Jik and Maeng Sae-seong called after him anxiously, but Hwang Hui did not look back.

* * *

That night. At Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

King Sejong lit some incense and discussed various matters related to state affairs.

After some time had passed, he subtly hinted to the scribes and secretaries.

“How about the scribes and secretaries also slowly withdraw?”

At Sejong’s words, the scribes and secretaries uniformly expressed their refusal.

“How can we leave while Your Majesty is attending to official duties? We must perform our duties.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Tsk!”

‘These people need to leave so I can finally have some time for researching letters! I found a gap in time after so long because my studies have been stuck recently! If they stick around, my precious time will be reduced!’

Sejong, losing his taste upon seeing the scribes and secretaries who stubbornly stayed put to record his every move, finally began organizing the documents.

“Even the scholars now…”

“Your Majesty. The Right State Councilor has arrived.”

Upon hearing the courtier’s words, Sejong halted his document organizing and straightened his posture.

“Let him in.”

A moment later, Hwang Hui entered and politely greeted the room with a bow. King Sejong received the bow and asked Hwang Hui, “What brings you here at this late hour?”

“Would you please dismiss the scribes and the secretaries?”

Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s request, Sejong shook his head.

“If it’s something that the scribes and secretaries shouldn’t hear, then even I won’t listen.”

Frustrated by Sejong’s refusal, Hwang Hui gritted his teeth.

“Then I shall proceed.”

“Go ahead.”

During the conversation between the two, Hyang’s thoughts drifted elsewhere.

‘Are these two going to play Go-Stop or something?’

Finally, Hwang Hui got to the point.

“It’s regarding the appointment of the Special Administrative Officer for the development of the Tumen River.”

“Hmm… Couldn’t that matter wait until tomorrow’s court session? Although it’s been six days since I issued the decree.”

‘Only six days have passed! Do you think this is as easy as roasting beans on a bonfire?’

Internally, Hwang Hui screamed in frustration.

* * *

Despite the ministers working themselves to death, King Sejong was always dissatisfied.

“Is this the best you can do?”

“Does it really take this long to handle just this much work?”

Every time a report came in, eight out of ten times there would be criticism.

Of course, when Hwang Hui first became a government official, the criticisms were ten out of ten.

However, the ministers had little room for excuses.

It was because of the crown prince.

The volume of work that Sejong had to process to effectively govern was overwhelming. To improve efficiency, a significant amount of work was also assigned to Hyang.

Despite juggling responsibilities at the research institute and Area 51, Hyang showed impressive efficiency.

And the quality of his work left little room for criticism even from senior ministers.

“Compared to what I’ve heard, it’s extraordinary.”

“I’ll do my best!”

Hyang was able to handle tasks so effectively not just because of his skills derived from his 21st-century experience, but also for another reason.

The majority of the tasks that Hyang handled were related to financial matters, starting from the Ministry of Taxation.

“Even mental calculations have limits, and as for using counting rods… Maybe I should just use divination.”

Among the things Hyang had difficulty adapting to in Joseon was the ‘counting rod.’

To solve this problem, Hyang actively promoted the newly introduced abacus.

However, those who saw the abacus, whether nobles or merchants, all had lukewarm reactions.

“Why bother learning and using an abacus when counting on fingers is more than enough?”

No matter how many times Hyang tried, he could only give up in the face of the same reactions.

“These nobles spend all day looking at logographic characters; they even calculate with them…”

In the end, the abacus became a tool used by only a few, including Hyang.

Anyway, Hyang, who was obsessed with numbers, had no choice but to grumble while looking at his report.

“Ah… I miss the CASIO calculator that used to sit on my desk in the 21st century.”

Recalling the calculator that was always placed wherever calculations were needed, from small shops to government desks, Hyang suddenly snapped his fingers.

“If it’s a calculator you want, I have a high-performance one right here! Look!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Go and summon Official Lee Soon-ji!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Eventually, thanks to a glass artisan they were able to find, Hyang was able to use a ‘human supercomputer’ by using the ‘high-performance telescope’ as bait.

Of course, Hyang clenched his fist at Lee Soon-ji’s expressions, which gave off a vibe of ‘You don’t even know that?’

“I’ll definitely make that calculator! Even if it means working Jang Young-sil to the bone!”

* * *

King Sejong grumbled inwardly at the nagging, but there was something he had to acquire, so Hwang Hui gritted his teeth and spoke.

“I deeply regret that our abilities have failed to meet Your Majesty’s expectations. Therefore, I have taken special care regarding the appointment of this special administrative officer…”

“Which is?”

“I recommend myself!”

“Huh?”

“What?”

When Hwang Hui recommended himself as the administrative officer, both Sejong and Hyang’s eyes widened.

“Why do you choose to go, especially stepping down from a minister’s position? In Joseon, there’s no one who doesn’t wish for a minister’s position.”

Hwang Hui explained his reason.

“The special administrative officer to be appointed must operate a group composed of six subordinates.

To operate this group smoothly, someone who has experienced all six departments is needed.

I have the experience in all these six departments and can control them adequately.”

“That may be true, but it’s still insufficient.”

At Sejong’s first denial, Hwang Hui brought up another reason.

“During development, there is bound to be conflicts between military and administrative officials.

In such cases, if the rank of the administrative officer is low, of course promotions will happen, but adjustments will still be difficult.

If I am appointed, I can smoothly handle these adjustments based on my experience.”

“Hmm… That could be possible. But it’s still not enough.”

“Colonization almost involves creating something out of nothing. While working, sudden variables that need immediate treatment often occur.

In such cases, the decision between acting first and reporting later and reporting first and acting later can determine success or failure. If someone with low rank or less experience is sent, they might hesitate out of fear for consequences; therefore, someone with high rank and ample experience should go.”

“Is that so? So, will you go?”

Upon hearing Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui answered with a resolute voice.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It is a risky endeavor. Are you confident you can succeed?”

“It’s the nation’s long-term plan. We must succeed.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing Sejong’s hesitation, Hwang Hui reached into his sleeve and took out a scroll.

“Allow me to present this to Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who received the scroll via a tray, looked at Hwang Hui without even untying the knot.

“What is this?”

“It’s a list that records all of my assets. Should I fail in my mission, or fail to meet the standards Your Majesty has in mind, please add all my property to the national treasury. It’s a punishment for failing to complete the task properly, and I’ll accept it willingly.”

Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s words, the air filled with tension.

“Hwang Hui, all in! Is it a jackpot or a complete loss!”

“Hmm…”

Sejong gave a small snort and unrolled the scroll to take a look. Then he eyed Hwang Hui again.

“I’ve heard rumors circulating among the commoners that you intend to divide your wealth among your children. This list is from before the reform, isn’t it?”

‘How did you know!’

Taken aback by Sejong’s unexpected question, Hwang Hui hesitated for a moment before answering.

“It’s before the reform.”

“If we investigate through the Office of Records, it will all come out.”

“It is definitely before the reform.”

“I see…”

Sejong, looking uncertain, glanced at the list once more before looking back at Hwang Hui.

“Right State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you truly confident?”

“I’ll devote my entire being.”

“It’s a long-term plan for our Joseon. Even the smallest failing is unacceptable. Let me ask you again: Are you confident you can bear all the responsibility and bring this to completion?”

“If I fail, I’ll be buried there!”

“If you fail, the place where you’ll be buried will be the Office of Records.”

“I’ll bear that in mind!”

At Hwang Hui’s answer, Sejong rolled up the scroll and set it aside.

“I understand your resolve. However, it’s not something that can be decided here and now. Let’s discuss it further in tomorrow’s meeting.”

“I will heed Your Majesty’s command! Then, I shall take my leave. May you have a restful sleep.”

“Be careful on your way.”

Upon leaving, Hwang Hui looked up at the night sky. Although the moon often appeared gloomy, tonight it seemed oddly refreshing.

Hwang Hui clenched his fist tightly.

“I did it!”

After sending off Hwang Hui, King Sejong turned back with a face full of regret.

“There were many more things I wanted to discuss with you, but it looks like we’ll have to end it here for today. Let’s talk again next time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please rest well.”

“Very well.”

As he left Gangnyeongjeon, Hwang Hui looked back at the hall with a face full of unease.

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

The reason King Sejong had called for him today seemed unclear. Although it was supposedly for discussing state affairs, the matters they went over were not of great importance.

Staring at the lit Gangnyeongjeon, Hwang Hui muttered to himself.

“Isn’t it time for me to take action, rather than Chief State Councilor?”

* * *

The next morning.

As soon as the court meeting started, King Sejong brought up an agenda.

“Has the appointment for the Special Administrative Officer in charge of this development project been finalized?”

At King Sejong’s question, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik slightly nodded his head.

“If I may speak, Your Majesty, the ministers are not very sharp…”

“Hmm… We are short on time…”

“Your Majesty!”

“So, I’ve given it some thought. Right State Councilor, you will take charge as the Special Administrative Officer. With your experience, you should be able to resolve various issues.”

All eyes from the ministers focused on Hwang Hui at King Sejong’s decision. Receiving the gazes of the ministers, Hwang Hui bowed deeply and responded.

“This humble servant, Hwang Hui, will devote himself to fulfill the grand plans of Joseon!”

“I will trust you.”

“Absolutely! I will not betray the trust you have shown, Your Majesty!”

On the other hand, all the ministers who had been listening to the conversation had the same thought.

‘Something smells fishy here.’

* * *

That afternoon, a report came in that the chieftains of the Jurchen tribes who had been invited to Hanseong were leaving.

Assembled in the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon, the chieftains all bowed respectfully as King Sejong appeared.

King Sejong lightly returned their salute and got straight to the point.

“So, have you reached a conclusion?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hatui and Mutoi stepped forward.

“The lands of our tribes were originally the territories of King Taejo, so it’s only natural for Your Majesty to inherit them. Moreover, the oath of loyalty we gave to King Taejo is still valid! Therefore, we gratefully accept your favor and willingly obey your command!”

At Hatui’s response, King Sejong answered with a bright expression.

“I’m truly grateful! Now that you have joined Joseon, you will have no regrets!”

“Your kindness is immeasurable!”

Hatui and the chieftains expressed their gratitude.

Chapter 103

After seeing off the tribal chiefs who had received generous gifts in addition to the promised salt, King Sejong turned to his ministers.

“Now we can breathe a sigh of relief. Let’s pick up the pace! Right State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Since you have been appointed as the administrative officer, proceed with the final selection of personnel immediately. I expect the results within three days. Given your capabilities that I’ve heard from the Crown Prince, this should be feasible, right?”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui’s face paled.

That malicious king was already plotting to send him to the Office of Records!

“Why? Doubtful? Then, let’s go with someone else…”

“I will definitely finish it within three days!”

“Good, I look forward to it.”

Hwang Hui returned alone to the Council of Ministers’ building and began sifting through the list of personnel records.

While going through the list, Hwang Hui ground his teeth.

“I am Hwang Hui! It’s me, Hwang Hui! Even King Taejong valued me!”

Although he had been exiled for some time due to the Crown Prince Yangnyeong affair, as soon as Sejong ascended the throne, the king had immediately lifted his exile and summoned him to the court. He was that trusted.

“I’ll make them all understand why King Taejong acknowledged me! Why I am Hwang Hui!”

Grinding his teeth, Hwang Hui sifted through the personnel names one by one.

“Eliminate those who put themselves in! We must select from other departments! We need to find people who work well but are reluctant to move!”

After going through the list of hundreds of personnels, Hwang Hui first picked one from the Ministry of Personnel.

“This guy will do! Kim Jong-seo from the Ministry of Personnel!”

As for the colleagues’ and supervisors’ evaluations of Kim Jong-seo:

“He’s a cow who doesn’t want to leave the barn.”

“He thinks anywhere outside the capital is hell.”

“He does his job well but loves the capital too much.”

Kim Jong-seo adored the capital, Hanseong.

In Taejong’s fifth year (1405), he had passed the civil service exam at the youngest age (13th rank) and had been walking the path of an orthodox scholar-official. His rank had increased while handling various duties both within and outside the palace, yet he had never received a bad evaluation.

Everyone who knew Kim Jong-seo therefore added this after their evaluations:

“Although he loves Hanseong too much, he’ll likely be in a high-ranking official’s position no less than ten years from now.”

However, as evident from the nicknames, Kim Jong-seo loved Hanseong too much.

Originally from Suncheon in Jeolla Province, and having spent his childhood in Chungju and Suncheon, Kim Jong-seo was enamored by the grandeur of the large city of Hanseong.

Some said that when he was assigned tasks in the provincial areas, he worked diligently and meticulously solely to return to Hanseong quickly and to avoid being sent out again.

Even in a history unaltered by scents, when a situation known as the “Change of the Earth” occurred causing chaos in the Northeastern region, he had sent petitions filled with content expressing his wish to return to Hanseong as soon as possible after being dispatched as an inspector to Pyeong-an Province.

“If it’s him, he’ll work himself to death just to return to Hanseong that he loves so much! He’s perfect for middle management!”

Hwang Hui, who had taken a liking to Kim Jong-seo, chose administrators with similar tendencies.

Thinking they were the best choices, Hwang Hui summoned his adjutants and gathered the people he had selected.

“…So you all will go north with me. If you do well, a new path will open up before your eyes. First off, most of you, like Kim Jong-seo, hold the rank of lower-5th-rank. However, the moment you become part of the frontier administration, you will be promoted by one rank. Then you’ll at least reach a higher-5th-rank, right?”

“Yes!”

“If you work hard in the North for about five years and come back, His Royal Majesty will grant you at least the rank of lower-4th-rank, if not higher. That means you would have advanced at least two ranks. Do you think that’s possible if you just work here in Hanseong for 5 years?”

“…”

“Probably difficult, right?”

At Hwang Hui’s question, everyone nodded without even realizing it. Except for one person.

“I think it’s possible?”

It was Kim Jong-seo.

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwang Hui angrily retorted.

“You brat! You have to go with me, no matter what! Don’t even think about slipping away!”

“…”

Unhappy with Hwang Hui’s scolding, Kim Jong-seo closed his mouth.

Hwang Hui, who had glared at Kim Jong-seo, continued to explain to the others.

“And there’s another important point. According to the current plan, the area we will acquire is about one and a half times the size of Hamgyeong Province.”

“That’s vast…”

“Ha…”

Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s words, the gathered administrators all sighed.

“Do you have any idea how many Jurchen tribes will be there?”

“Huh?”

Just as everyone’s ears perked up at Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jong-seo interjected.

“But won’t there be a policy of moving people anyway? Wouldn’t the workload be not small? Why not just stay in Hanseong…”

“You’re going with me, no matter what!”

“I’m…”

“Thinking of resigning? Just try it! I’ll report you to His Royal Majesty and have you recorded at the royal archives!”

“…”

At Hwang Hui’s warning, Kim Jong-seo’s mouth closed again.

Having silenced Kim Jong-seo, Hwang Hui continued.

“As that guy mentioned, there will definitely be a relocation policy, so the work won’t be easy. But think about it. Even if the frontier is vast, is it as big as the entire Korean peninsula? Would you rather be swamped with work coming from all over the peninsula here in Hanseong, or handle the work of just one province?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, everyone except Kim Jong-seo responded in unison.

“We will go north!”

“I…”

“You’re going north with me, no matter what!”

Hwang Hui’s stern words left Kim Jong-seo disheartened.

Having received unanimous agreement from the first round of selected personnel, Hwang Hui moved on to the next point.

“Alright, you can’t handle everything from start to finish, right? So, you’ll need to select people to work under you. How many would be good? Of course, the more the merrier, but having too many could make it unmanageable, so choose a reasonable number.”

At Hwang Hui’s command, the administrators began calculating in their heads what a reasonable number would be.

Just then, Kim Jong-seo spoke up.

“For personnel, we’ll need about 5 6th-rank local magistrates or police chiefs to manage the villages in the frontier. And their aides would number around 10, plus another 5 to analyze administrative issues arising from the frontier. That makes a total of 20 people. Ah! We’ll also need about 20 physicians, especially to prevent diseases like smallpox. And within that, we should have about five nurses. In the case of the military affairs, most tasks will be handled by the military force expanding into the frontier, so about 6 people should suffice. For the public works, around 8 people. The Law and Enforcement office will also mostly rely on the military for public safety, so 6 people should be enough,” Kim Jong-seo began to pour out.

Hwang Hui looked at him with disbelief.

Kim Jong-seo continued his explanation, seemingly unaware of Hwang Hui’s gaze.

“As for officials handling rites, we should prepare for any possible encounter with Ming China, so including the deputy officials, 4 people should suffice. The biggest problem is with officials from the Ministry of Taxation. We must organize the household registries of the newly appointed civilians, as well as resolve land disputes among the Jurchens and migrants, and also create new land ledgers. We will likely continue to provide tax exemptions to promote civilian settlement, but we also have to resolve financial expenditure issues such as construction, so ideally we should have 48 people. However, given the current situation, that’s not feasible. So, 30 people would be optimal and 24 would be the minimum to last for about 5 years.”

Everyone blinked at Kim Jong-seo’s rapid-fire response, including Hwang Hui.

Hwang Hui was the first to snap out of it.

‘Just as I thought! When it’s urgent, things go smoothly! I picked the right man!’

The other officials who came to their senses then began to review Kim Jong-seo’s suggestions.

They all nodded their heads, recognizing the merits of each other’s expertise.

“Kim Jong-seo’s suggestion seems the best.”

“Alright, then. Start by selecting one and a half times the number of candidates and bring them to hort-term meeting. You all better pick wisely if you want to make your lives easier. You have one day. Get moving!”

“Yes!”

Upon Hwang Hui’s command, the officials scattered quickly. Watching them disappear into the six ministries, Hwang Hui muttered to himself, “If it takes one day to select the candidates and another day for screening to finalize the team, it’ll be done in two days. Then, His Majesty shouldn’t have anything more to say.”

Just as Hwang Hui was nodding in satisfaction, the door burst open and Maeng Sae-seong rushed in.

“Your Excellency, how could this happen!”

“What are you talking about?”

Maeng Sae-seong shouted in response to Hwang Hui’s question.

“You bribed His Majesty! Is this even possible!”

“It’s not a bribe! I was just showing my resolve! Besides, how did you find out?”

“I found out from a scribe who recorded the private meeting last night… No, that’s not the point right now! What am I to do if you also escape? Before long, Younguijeong will send for me as an envoy! Then, I’ll be the only remaining government official!”

“Don’t worry. The Left Right Councilor will return soon and my position will be promptly filled. What’s there to worry about?”

“You, seriously!”

Maeng Sae-seong was about to grab him by the collar but restrained himself.

“I apologize. I’m also desperate! Ever since the days of King Taejong, I’ve been recognized for my abilities, but do you know what I hear most often from His Majesty nowadays? This is my chance to get the recognition I deserve! Otherwise, it negates my entire life!”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s words, Maeng Sae-seong sat down on the chair with a disappointed expression. This was because he somewhat understood Hwang Hui’s feelings.

Eventually, as time passed, Maeng Sae-seong had to face reality.

“Please take care.”

“Thank you.”

Two days later, Hwang Hui prepared a list of officials who would accompany him and submitted it to King Sejong.

“Very well. Proceed.”

“Yes.”

“Also, take care. If you lose your life, it would be a great loss.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui deeply bowed.

“I am infinitely grateful to Your Majesty!”

“Ah! I almost forgot. The administrative staff going north this time should learn horseback musketry at the training center before departure.”

“Musketry, you say?”

Answering Hwang Hui’s question, Sejong explained the reason.

“The cunning of the Jurchen tribes is well-known, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we at least prepare a minimum level of self-defense? It’s all for the safety of the expedition members.”

‘Good heavens, if even the civil officials have to carry muskets, aren’t we done for?’

Suppressing the urge to argue as such, Hwang Hui bowed again.

“Your Majesty’s concern for the gods is truly immense!”

Thus, Hwang Hui and the officials had to learn horseback musketry, shooting techniques, and management at the training center until two days before departure.

* * *

Soldiers who were to pioneer the Jurchen territories gathered in Hanyang and conducted a departure ceremony.

At the ceremony, King Sejong alerted the soldiers to the gravity of their task.

“Everyone knows that moving in winter is no small feat! However, this is the grand plan of our Joseon! Do not forget that the future of Joseon rests on your shoulders! Go forth with valor!”

At King Sejong’s exhortation, the soldiers raised their arms and shouted, “Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty!”

After completing the departure ceremony, the soldiers passed through Heunginjimun Gate and headed north.

* * *

The development of the Tumen River area went fairly smoothly. Most Jurchen tribe chiefs kept their earlier promises and willingly submitted to Joseon rule.

Occasionally, some tribes broke their promises and resisted with force, but they were annihilated by the overwhelming firepower of the Joseon army.

While the Joseon troops were gradually expanding their territory at the front, administrative officials led by Hwang Hui were swiftly adjusting administrative districts at the rear.

Farmland was allocated to the submitted Jurchen tribes and peasants who had moved up, and local officials were appointed.

“Appointing our people to key points and tribal chiefs as leaders in other areas seems to be the best course of action,” suggested Kim Jong-seo.

“That would be the best,” agreed Hwang Hui.

And so, Hwang Hui kept nodding in agreement as Kim Jong-seo reported on suitable local officials and the areas they would govern, appearing pleased.

‘I chose well! He’s trying to get this done as quickly as possible to return to Hanyang!’

Just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, a major accident erupted in Hanyang.

Chapter 104

In the 9th year of King Sejong’s reign (1427, the year of Jeongmi), in the month of May, an incident occurred. Seo Dal, the son of Seo Seon from the Ministry of Law and Punishments, severely injured Pietro, a glass craftsman.

The origin of the incident was truly absurd.

The reason was that as Seo Dal was walking down the street, both Raphael and Pietro passed by him without any courtesy.

“Have you ever seen such insolence? Do they know who I am? Bring them to me immediately!”

The humble servant who had been following Seo Dal’s orders stepped forward to restrain him.

“Young Master, they are foreigners. Haven’t you heard? They are people that the Crown Prince values highly!”

“I don’t want to hear it! Regardless of the Crown Prince’s favor, one can’t simply overlook such rudeness! Bring them to me at once!”

“Young Master—”

“Do it now!”

At Seo Dal’s command, the humble servant sighed softly and signaled to the other servants.

Upon the his gesture, the servants picked up their clubs and began to chase after Pietro and Raphael.

“Run!”

Without a second thought, Pietro and Raphael, who had been heading toward Area 51, began to sprint away at the sight of the men with clubs coming after them.

“Damn it all! Did you woo another woman from some household again?” Raphael shouted at Pietro while running.

Getting used to the Korean language, Pietro had found the interior of Area 51 stifling and had rented a place outside. Living outside with Raphael, Pietro’s flirtatious Italian nature had been fully exposed.

Because of this, he had been beaten up or chased several times. Hence, the reason they ran as soon as they saw men with clubs was obvious, and that’s what Raphael was getting at.

In response to Raphael’s words, Pietro replied with a look of indignation.

“Not this time! Probably not!”

“Probably? What the hell are you talking about!”

* * *

“Caught him!”

“I didn’t start it, I swea—”

“What nonsense!”

At the end of the chase, Seo Dal’s servants caught Pietro and began to beat him mercilessly with their clubs.

At that very moment, soldiers from Area 51, who had initially escaped with Raphael, rushed over.

“You fools! How dare you assault an official dressed in official attire! Arrest them all!”

Upon hearing the report that Pietro had been severely injured, Hwang sighed deeply.

“Phew~. Did he woo another woman from some household again?”

“No, Your Highness. He was beaten unilaterally for not showing respect.”

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

After receiving a report from the captain of the security forces in Area 51, Hyang delved into the details of the incident. Learning the origin and development of the issue, Hyang slammed his desk.

“Who does this damn scoundrel think he is? Where is he abusing his power now? We must counter such abuse with more abuse!”

Hyang immediately rushed to Sejong.

“Your Majesty, have you heard?”

“I have. It is indeed a vile incident.”

“The criminal Seo Dal must be severely punished. It’s a serious crime to beat a government official dressed in official attire! Also, there have been continuous allegations that the criminal had been carrying out all sorts of evil deeds, relying on the influence of his own father. This is also a grave crime!

‘We must eliminate this from its roots before the social norm of ‘innocent if you have authority, guilty if you have none; innocent if you have money, guilty if you have none’ takes hold!”

“Hmm…”

As Sejong pondered over Hyang’s words, Seo Seon, looking devastated, approached Sejong with a scroll.

“What is it?”

“It is my letter of resignation. I take full responsibility for not disciplining my son properly, leading to this incident. I intend to resign and take on his punishment.”

“Your Majesty, I wish to refute the words of the Minister of Law and Punishments. Please allow me to do so.”

“Granted.”

With Sejong’s permission, Hyang criticized Seo Seon.

“Do you really think that resigning will make all sins disappear? Even if you resign and return to your hometown, you will still live a prosperous life, leveraging your wealth and influence. Is that a punishment? Your Highness! I beseech you! Sentence the criminal as dictated by law!”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Seo Seon immediately fell to his knees and pleaded earnestly.

“Your Majesty, the criminal is my only son! Please bestow your mercy!”

In the end, Seo Seon was dismissed and his noble titles were revoked. Seo Dal, who caused the incident, received 100 lashes and was demoted, banned from the palace for three generations. His servants and slaves who had participated in assaulting the government official were all sentenced to death.

“We are innocent!”

“Shut up! You assaulted a person in official attire, which means you knew he was a government official. What is unjust about this? It’s come to light that you committed numerous crimes using Seo Dal as an excuse. Execute the sentence immediately!”

On the day Seo Dal was to be flogged, Hyang gave an order to the soldiers.

“Strike with all your might!”

“Yes!”

That day, Seo Dal was left crippled after receiving 100 lashes exerted with full force.

Having taken in his now-crippled son, Seo Seon returned home, shedding tears of blood.

“My son may have committed a crime, but this is too much! Your Highness! I will never forget this!”

* * *

Back in the capital, Hwang Hui sighed deeply upon hearing this news through a messenger.

“So, what did my wife say?”

“If I think about all the grudges she’s held…”

“I understand.”

Could it have been the influence of destiny? The course of history was subtly altered.

The daughter of Hwang Hui who had married Seo Dal could not bear an heir.

If Hwang Hui had not been her father, she would have been in a situation where there would be no question of her being sent away. However, because of Hwang Hui, she was able to hold her position. Yet, after the birth of a son by Seo Dal’s concubine, she faced the sorrows of a difficult married life.

Eventually, Hwang Hui had to send a formal petition to King Sejong, requesting permission for his daughter’s divorce.

Handing over the petition, Hwang Hui let out a long sigh.

“Heo-eo~, why do I still feel uneasy when the issue has been settled?”

Unfortunately for Hwang Hui, an even larger issue awaited him.

It was an incident involving both of his sons.

That summer when the Seo Dal incident occurred, a heavy rain poured down during the monsoon season. Polluted water leaked from the Gahaksan gold mine into the nearby fields.

“Old Jang! Old Jang! Quickly go check the fields! There’s a disaster!”

“Eh?”

Running to his fields upon hearing his neighbor’s cries, Farmer Jang Dol was frozen in shock.

The field was filled with foul-smelling muddy water, and the rice plants that were growing well were turning yellow.

“What on Earth is going on…?”

“Immediately dispatch investigators to find out the cause!”

Upon receiving the report, King Sejong dispatched investigators right away.

For Sejong and his court, the mine in Gahaksan was a valuable asset.

Joseon kept the development of gold and silver mines a secret to avoid Ming interference.

Most of the mines were located in remote areas like Gangwon-do.

As a result, while the secret was maintained, transporting and storing the mined gold and silver became problematic.

King Sejong issued an order to the prospectors.

“Focus the investigation on areas close to Hanyang.”

Thus, the discovered locations were Bupyeong’s silver mine and Gahaksan’s mine.

In terms of scale, Bupyeong’s silver mine was larger, but precisely for that reason, Sejong decided to forgo Bupyeong for the time being.

“If Ming finds out that a lot of silver is produced in our Joseon, they will attack. Keep it hidden for now.”

“An excellent decision, Your Majesty!”

So, the chosen location was the mine in Gahaksan. Although the amount was small, it was the perfect mine for Sejong as it could produce gold, silver, and copper, giving him a suitable excuse to tell the Ming.

“We’ve found the mine, but as you can see, the mining yield is too small! Ming should not concern themselves!”

* * *

Upon hearing news of the accident near Gahaksan, Hyang immediately knew the cause.

“It must’ve been the waste from the mine.”

During the refining process of gold, silver, and copper, a high concentration of acids were used. As a result, wastewater containing heavy metals was generated in large quantities.

Additionally, the water leaking out of the tunnels was also heavily mixed with heavy metals.

In such circumstances, the fields nearby were inundated due to the heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, mixing with the wastewater and tunnel leakage.

After personally inspecting the site, Hyang, along with the investigators, reported the situation to Sejong and suggested a solution.

“We need to purchase all the damaged fields.”

“I’ve heard the soil is poisoned. Buy it… Why not remediate it instead?”

“Remediation isn’t cheap either. It’s better to buy the land and then create a large-scale purification facility. Who’s to say something like this won’t happen again?”

Ultimately, Sejong issued an order to the Ministry of Taxation to buy the contaminated fields.

* * *

During the process of compensating the farmers and purchasing the contaminated fields, Hwang Hui’s sons conspired to scheme.

“Brother! Brother! Have you heard the rumors?”

Hwang Bosin, who found his older brother Hwang Chisin, caught his attention with the rumor.

“What rumor?”

“The country is buying the fields around Gahaksan!”

“It’s not a rumor; it’s a fact.”

At Hwang Chisin’s reply, Hwang Bosin looked around cautiously and quietly got to the point.

“Brother, let’s have some fun.”

“Fun? What fun?”

“Let’s smell the money.”

At Hwang Bosin’s words, Hwang Chisin looked intrigued.

“Money? Good, but how?”

“You know the lands being compensated? The Ministry of Taxation is in charge, right?”

“Yes.”

“You should take care of it. The Ministry of Taxation has been swamped lately, and people are complaining. Wouldn’t they be happy if you stepped in?”

“You mean… tampering with the land register?”

“You got it! Change low-grade land to high-grade, and we can increase the value by at least double. How much will the compensation be then?”

Hwang Chisin nodded at Hwang Bosin’s suggestion.

In Joseon, land tax was collected based on ‘gyeol’, a unit of area that could produce 300 catty of grain. Therefore, the area of a ‘gyeol’ differed depending on the quality of the soil. Roughly, the area of one high-grade ‘gyeol’ was 4/9 that of one low-grade ‘gyeol’.

This was exactly what Hwang Bosin was targeting.

“We lost our public offices, can’t even accept bribes… It’s been so long since we’ve smelled money, right? Even now, the concubine is asking for a gold ring; you need wealth to either give it or not!”

After pondering for a moment, Hwang Chisin nodded in agreement.

“Alright, let’s do it!”

In the end, Hwang Hui’s two sons collaborated to forge the land registry documents, upgrading low-grade fields to high-grade, and then embezzled the difference in compensation money they received as a result.

The eldest son of Hwang Hui, who worked in the Ministry of Taxation, specifically in land management, manipulated the documents, while the younger son deceived the landowner to produce a receipt confirming they had received the proper amount.

* * *

The secret was eventually discovered due to Hyang.

“Seems like you’ve taken on work again today… At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up at the Royal Audit Office.”

While grumbling, Hyang, who was checking the records that had come up from the Ministry of Taxation, raised an eyebrow.

“Why do the costs for purchasing contaminated land in Gahaksan look like this?”

Gahaksan was a neighboring town where Hyang lived in the 21st century. Because of such a connection and its importance as a source of revenue, Hyang knew quite a bit about Gahaksan.

“This is weird… Eunuch!”

Calling his aide, Hyang immediately gave an order.

“Go to the Ministry of Taxation and bring the land registry for the Gahaksan area. Also, bring the copy stored in the record room.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After cross-checking the land registry stored in the Ministry of Taxation and the copy stored in the record room, along with the land records that had come up during the recent compensation process, Hyang confirmed that the documents had been manipulated.

“These wretched scoundrels! I must inform Father!”

Upon hearing from Hyang that official documents had been manipulated, King Sejong became furious.

“What unforgivable deeds! Summon the Royal Inspector immediately!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

After summoning the Royal Inspector, Sejong immediately issued an order.

“Even if it requires a thorough investigation of all the officials in the Ministry of Taxation, find the culprit!”

“I accept the command!”

Following King Sejong’s orders, the Inspectorate General scrutinized every single official in the Ministry of Taxation.

As a result, they discovered Hwang Hui’s children.

With both sons imprisoned, Hwang Hui’s wife, now in a grim mood, sent another servant to Hwang Hui.

Upon hearing the news from the servant, Hwang Hui felt as if the sky was falling. Staring blankly at the sky, Hwang Hui began to write his letter of resignation.

“It’s not the end with this…”

Even in the history before Hyang’s involvement, Hwang Hui’s sons had caused a major incident by forging official documents. And this time too, they had caused a big problem.

* * *

Author’s Note.

Seo Dal’s case is based on the real-life murder case at Sinchang Estate, which I adapted for the story.

Hwang Hui’s son’s case is adapted from incidents involving his real-life sons, Hwang Jungsang and Hwang Bosin, who were involved in crimes like theft in the royal palace and were dismissed from their positions.

The incident where the fields were destroyed due to contaminated water leakage from the Gahaksan gold mine is based on a real event that occurred during the great flood in 1972.

Chapter 105

Holding his letter of resignation, Hwang Hui returned to Hanseong.

On his way back, he overheard the punishment meted out to his children.

“Many argue that since these criminals are skilled enough in document manipulation to falsify records, they should be assigned to clerical work! However, they can’t be trusted with that! Send the criminals to the coal mines in Pyeongan province and make them labor for 20 years! Let them endlessly regret their actions while digging for coal! Also, confiscate all their assets!”

Upon hearing King Sejong’s decision, Hwang Hui tightly closed his eyes.

“Foolish ones… if you’re going to deceive, at least don’t get caught…”

Hwang Hui, who had returned to Hanseong, immediately headed to the palace.

“Hwang Hui, the Administrative Officer, is seeking an audience.”

“Let him in.”

Upon entering the hall, Hwang Hui respectfully bowed.

“What business brings you here from afar?”

“I wish to submit my resignation.”

“Resignation?”

“As the sins of the children are the sins of the parents, I request to resign.”

“Do you understand that deceiving the king, is a high treason?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

At Hwang Hui’s answer, Sejong hesitated for a moment, then pointed at the stacks of scrolls beside him.

“These are petitions demanding your execution. This stack only includes today’s submissions; if we include the previous ones, it would easily fill a cart. What should I do?”

To King Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui replied while kneeling.

“I will follow whatever judgment Your Majesty deems fit.”

Hearing this, King Sejong quietly looked down at Hwang Hui.

‘What should I do?’

As he looked down at the kneeling Hwang Hui, Sejong turned his eyes toward Maeng Sa-seong, who was standing on one side with a solemn face.

To be honest, compared to his father King Taejong’s praises, Hwang Hui had not been impressive. Especially when compared to the Crown Prince, the difference was clear.

However, when compared to the ministers currently in the royal court, Hwang Hui’s competence was exceptional, along with Maeng Sa-seong.

Getting rid of him now would surely mean a difficult time ahead.

“Sigh~”

King Sejong, after a long sigh, came to a conclusion.

“You have two paths. One, excluding the house you currently live in, return all your property, including your pension, to the national treasury and continue to work for the royal court for the rest of your life. Ah! Your salary will be forfeited.”

“…”

In response to Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui had nothing to say. Observing Hwang Hui’s silence, Sejong proposed a second option.

“The second is to handle document organization until the day you die, owning only half of your house and property.”

Upon hearing the phrase ‘until the day you die’ for document organization,’ Hwang Hui’s face turned pale. Still, he could not open his mouth.

“The first option requires living solely on your official stipend, but you can survive with your influence in the royal court. The second option allows you to at least leave some assets for your children. What will you do?”

After a long pause, Hwang Hui made his decision.

“I choose the first option.”

“Understood, then proceed as such. Minister, return to your post immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chief State Councillor and the Chief Justice, who had intended to impose capital punishment on Hwang Hui immediately, closed their mouths.

Their eyes, once filled with ferocity, were now brimming with compassion.

“‘Until the day you die!’ Although it’s called influence, isn’t it essentially the life of a servant working in the royal archives? Especially when under the king’s constant surveillance, what use is power?”

The scribes who recorded all of this concluded as follows:

– Thus, the punishment for Hwang Hui was decided. Among the servants in the royal archives, there was no one who opposed or advocated capital punishment.

Then the scribes argued,

“Considering the two recent incidents, only one conclusion was reached: educate your children well.”

* * *

After opening the door to a career in public service with no retirement, Hwang Hui acted with a concealed bitter heart to wrap up the work at the Gahaksan mine.

“People of this era may not know the risks of this issue, but I knew, didn’t I? This is my mistake.”

Hyang felt a great sense of responsibility for the recent mining accident.

To be honest, although Hyang had some expertise in mining, his knowledge about things like wastewater treatment was limited to basic skills learned in high school and setting up a workshop.

So when the mining began, he took the issues of polluted and leached water lightly.

“‘This land has been mined for ages, and nothing happened before, right?'”

And the result was a large-scale pollution incident affecting farmland near the Gahaksan mine. Heading to the mine, Hyang firmly resolved,

“We must move to minimize the damage, even if we only know the basics!”

With that resolution, Hyang started constructing a large wastewater treatment facility in the mine. Although it was a primitive facility that heavily used sand, gravel, charcoal, and limestone, Hyang had a resigned expression.

“Right now, this is the best we can do.”

Due to the limitations of knowledge, the large-scale wastewater treatment facility was the solution they had come up with, and all that was left was to hope for a slight improvement.

After returning to the palace, Hyang resolutely vowed, “We’ll have to conduct research using the experts from the lab and Area 51. We can’t afford any more delays.”

* * *

Hyang, having wrapped up matters concerning the mine, moved towards the residential area near Area 51.

“We have a long way to go, and yet you’re dilly-dallying.”

Hyang grumbled as he quickened his pace.

He was currently on his way to see Pietro and Raphael.

After the incident was temporarily concluded with Seo Dal becoming a cripple, Hyang had been busy resolving the mining accident and had not visited them.

Now that the mining issue was finally resolved, Hyang was visiting them for the first time.

Pietro, whose right arm had been broken from being beaten by Seo Dal’s minions, was receiving treatment at his own home.

“We need to fix this quickly. I’m not getting this treatment for free, you know.”

Just as Hyang, who had personally intervened for Pietro’s speedy recovery, arrived in front of his house, a sharp voice reached his ears.

“You wench! What are you doing here, you hussy?”

“What did you say? Who are you calling a hussy?”

“Ahh~ I can more or less guess what’s going on.”

Tired of the women’s sharp and piercing voices, Hyang signaled to his servant.

“Open the gate.”

“Yes.”

As the door opened, the scene that Hyang had expected unfolded.

Two women were grabbing each other by the hair, wrestling.

Sighing at the sight of the two women, who looked like lunatics, fighting fiercely, Hyang gestured to the escort officers.

“Ugh, stop them.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s command, the escort officer yelled sternly.

“You wretches! What kind of appalling act is this in broad daylight? The Crown Prince is present! Stop immediately! Do you really want to taste punishment?”

The women, who had been fighting, instantly dropped to the ground, kneeling.

“Your Highness, please spare our lives!”

“Spare us!”

“Hoo~.”

Hyang let out a long sigh and pointed outside the main gate.

“Get out, now.”

“Yes, yes!”

Obeying Hyang’s command, the two women scampered away.

Watching their departure, Hyang turned to Raphael and Pietro, who were kneeling and showing respect, and asked,

“Doesn’t the God you believe in teach not to commit adultery?”

At Hyang’s question, Raphael replied in his still awkward Korean, pointing at Pietro,

“Pietro is a damn, good-for-nothing adulterer.”

“Huh…”

Hyang then entered the room conducted a check on Pietro’s condition.

“How is it?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s question, the physician who had examined Pietro’s broken arm immediately answered.

“It has set well.”

“Really? Then he can return to work starting tomorrow.”

At Hyang’s words, Pietro rubbed his arm and winced in mock pain.

“My arm still hurts a bit… Can I rest a little more…,”

“Really? Raphael is already working hard, doing your share too. The glass workshop is also ready to resume. That means we can get by just with Raphael, so…”

Hyang paused, then glared at Pietro.

“Then why should I keep both of you on a high salary? I might as well employ only diligent Raphael and have you resold or put to labor in the mines…”

Before Hyang could finish speaking, Pietro quickly responded.

“I will start work on time tomorrow!”

“Don’t forget to come in on time. You have a lot to do.”

After Hyang left, Pietro couldn’t hide his regret and clicked his tongue.

“Good times are over.”

“That’s why you should have stopped bragging. You still don’t know what kind of person that prince is?”

“Tch!”

Pietro still couldn’t hide his regret and clicked his tongue again.

* * *

With Pietro back to regular work, the glass workshop began to operate normally.

“Are the materials ready? The ash is the most important, how is it?”

In response to Pietro’s question, Raphael showed a barrel full of gray ash.

“Ah, we’ve made some good ash this time.”

After tasting the ash with his finger, Pietro nodded.

“It’s good. It feels rewarding for all the hard work we’ve put in.”

Upon hearing Pietro’s words, Raphael also nodded and accepted the compliment.

“Right? It’s rewarding.”

Thinking of the trials and tribulations they went through to make this ash, they were filled with mixed emotions.

Melting silicon, the main component of glass, requires an extreme temperature of 1500 degrees Celsius.

Since reaching such high temperatures was difficult, European craftsmen found a way to make glass at lower temperatures.

What they discovered after numerous trials and errors was ash made from burning seaweed.

“Seaweed? What type?”

Upon Pietro and Raphael’s request, Hyang procured all sorts of seaweeds like seaweed and kelp from the market.

“It’s a bit lacking…”

“Let’s find it ourselves then!”

After confirming the ash made from the seaweeds that Hyang had procured, both Pietro and Raphael shook their heads and headed towards the west coast with their escorts.

Eventually, they found coral weed along the shores of the west coast.

“So it exists in this country too!”

“Let’s try it!”

They immediately set the coral weeds on fire and checked the ash. Upon tasting it, both men looked at each other and smiled brightly.

“Yes, this is it!”

Finally, after numerous trials and errors—from preprocessing the seaweed, deciding how much to dry it, to achieving the proper flame temperature—they produced the ash they have now.

Pietro, who was checking the barrel of ash, stretched his right arm and looked back at Raphael.

“Shall we start now?”

“Sure.”

After checking the ingredients, Pietro yelled at the waiting Joseon craftsmen.

The ever-smiling face of Pietro suddenly turned stern as he yelled at the Joseon artisans.

“Light the furnace! Hot! Make it really hot!”

“Understood!”

Responding to Pietro’s shout, the Joseon craftsmen began to shovel coal into the furnace and started to turn the handle of the centrifugal fan with all their might.

Hoo-woong~.

Alongside the loud noise of air being sucked in, the coal in the furnace began to burn blue.

“Put in more coal!”

“More wind!”

While giving orders to the Korean craftsmen, Raphael and Pietro inserted a crucible containing the mixed ingredients into the furnace.

After some time had passed and confirming that the materials had properly melted, Pietro and Raphael took out the crucible and poured it into the mold, then connected it to the fulling mill. As the pipe was inserted properly, the two began fulling.

It was the cylinder method, developed in Germany and refined in Venice. (Note 1)

The Joseon craftsmen observed this entire process standing beside Pietro and Raphael. It wasn’t just the craftsmen.

Clerks dispatched from the research institute recorded every move made by Raphael and Pietro.

What they recorded would be made into a book and become a valuable textbook.

* * *

Finally, the test-produced sheet glass cooled down. Pietro and Raphael carefully lifted the sheet glass to check the result.

Both burst into smiles upon inspection.

“We did it! It’s a success!”

It was the moment the first sheet glass was made in Korea.

When the sheet glass was completed, a local official came in to check the final product.

“Very well done! Good work!”

“Thank you!”

“I’ll grant a bonus of 20 silver coins!”

Upon hearing about the bonus, Pietro bowed deeply and responded.

“The Kingdom is in decline!”

At Pietro’s words, the internal official beside him blurted out.

“It’s not decline, it’s ‘manggeuk’ (greatly)!”

“My apologies.”

“Ah!”

“Never mind.”

The official who was about to say something was interrupted by the local official as he looked at Pietro and Raphael.

“You’ve successfully made sheet glass. You can make vessels and bottles as well, right?”

“Yes.”

“You know how to add color too?”

“Yes.”

“And mirrors?”

At the question from the local official, Pietro looked at Raphael. Raphael, unlike his usual self, confidently answered.

“We can make it.”

Hearing Raphael’s response, the local official grinned.

“Is that so? Then let’s make everything.”

‘It’s finally time to reap the benefits!’

Note 1) “The Roots of Glass. Kim Cheol-young. Ceramist. Vol. 11, No. 2. April 2008.”

Chapter 106

Ever since, Raphael and Pietro had been extremely busy.

The first task they undertook was training Joseon artisans for the mass production of sheet glass.

“Looking for artisans who can craft a new material called ‘glass’! Seeking applicants from among those who craft pottery, jars, tiles, and bricks!”

Craftsmen and artisans working in government kilns and private kilns, along with those who had been working with pottery, jars, and tiles, began to apply one by one in response to the announcement from the court.

“Hey! We’ve finally got a livelihood, why are you quitting now?”

Their colleagues tried to dissuade those who had decided to change jobs.

Their jobs had become stable as Sejong and Hyang started to value the artisans, lifting them from a previously despised status.

However, those who left had their reasons.

“There are plenty of artisans doing the same work! To survive, we must learn new skills in a new place! It’s worth the challenge!”

They were individuals looking for new opportunities and willing to take risks.

As these men came with a spirit of challenge, they spared no effort to learn, and naturally, Joseon artisans quickly acquired the new skills.

As the artisans’ skills improved, mass production of sheet glass became possible.

“If mass production is possible, then execute it immediately!”

“About the budget…”

“Ah, damn it! Just use the reserve funds! What’s there in life to lose? If worst comes to worst, we’ll just get scolded by the king later. So what?”

Upon Hyang’s decision, the mass production of sheet glass commenced.

As sufficient funds were invested, sheet glass began to be produced in large quantities. Immediately, Hyang replaced the paper-covered doors at Donggungjeon with glass doors.

“The Crown Prince is replacing the doors at Donggungjeon!”

Upon hearing the rumors, Sejong promptly visited the work site with his ministers.

“So this is the glass?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It’s so clear. It’s amazing that such a material can be made from sand and limestone.”

Sejong, marveling at the transparent glass, toured the doors that had already been installed. Just then, he noticed the glass sparkling in the sunlight and immediately gave an order.

“Replace the external doors of Geunjeongjeon and Gangnyeongjeon with glass doors as well.”

Upon Sejong’s decision, Hyang immediately bowed his head.

“We will prepare and execute immediately, Your Majesty!”

‘Gotcha!’

The Geunjeongjeon and Gangnyeongjeon Halls were adorned with glass doors, and upon seeing this, Queen Consort Soheon and the royal concubines requested that their own residences also be installed with glass doors.

Their requests were promptly approved, and before long, the palaces in Hanyang started to be surrounded by glass doors.

As glass began to be used extensively in the palaces, rumors started to circulate around Hanyang.

* * *

Near Seosomun, at a poultry shop.

Men who were standing to buy chickens were engaged in conversation.

“Hey, have you heard the rumor?”

“Rumor? What rumor?”

“They say that the King has replaced the paper doors and windows of the palace with crystal.”

“Crystal? That must have cost a fortune! Is this why our taxes are going up? Life’s already hard enough…”

Picking up on the other man’s concern about taxes, another man spoke.

“It’s not actually crystal. Someone I know works at the workshop started by the Crown Prince, and they say it’s made by melting sand.”

“Sand? You mean the sand that’s lying all over by the Han River?”

“Yes.”

“Huh~.”

“Wow, really? They make crystal out of sand?”

People around who heard the explanation couldn’t hide their astonishment.

“It’s fascinating, but for people like us, isn’t it just ‘pie in the sky’? Those things won’t be cheap, right? Only those high up in Bukchon will probably use it.”

As one person among those listening showed a skeptical reaction, the man explaining added,

“Ah, you sir! Have you ever heard of products made famous by the Crown Prince being exclusively for the nobility? Has there ever been a product that only the nobility could use?”

At the man’s words, everyone around looked surprised and nodded their heads.

“Huh? That’s really true?”

“Really!”

“I asked the gentleman next door, and he said even though it’s a bit expensive, if we save up, we could even install those windows.”

“Really?”

“Should we start saving too?”

While people were mumbling among themselves, the owner of the poultry shop yelled out angrily.

“Hey! Are you going to buy chickens or not? Stop blocking the entrance to someone else’s shop with your nonsense!”

“Ah! Give me one chicken!”

“I’ll take two!”

As the common people had pointed out, there were no restrictions, like user limits, on Hyang’s first invention, Golden Pen. As a result, anyone—whether a noble or a commoner, and even the low-born commoners—could buy what they wanted as long as they had the money for it.

This led to an unexpected consequence that Hyang had not anticipated: the instinctive sense of obedience that the common people had towards the Yangban was gradually waning.

* * *

With the mass production of sheet glass being handed over to the artisans of Joseon, Hyang gave Pietro and Raphael another task.

“Can we make bottles out of glass?”

“Yes.”

“And we can also color the glass?”

“Yes. But why?”

After confirming once again, Hyang gave an order to Pietro and Raphael.

“Make brown glass bottles. Let’s have four sizes, with the largest holding roughly 1 ‘mal’ (Korean volume unit). Can you do that?”

“Why brown?” Raphael inquired.

“For storing acids. We use a lot of acids in the research facilities, Area 51, and various other places.”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, both Raphael and Pietro nodded in understanding.

While working with glass art, they often had to do etching work that required the use of acids. Therefore, they quickly understood the need.

Brown glass bottles, manufactured as per Hyang’s orders, were soon warmly welcomed by those who used acids.

Having seen the positive reaction, Hyang reallocated the Joseon artisans to ramp up the mass production of these brown bottles.

* * *

Hyang’s ‘exploitation’ continued.

The increasingly frequent visits by Hyang were making Pietro and Raphael visibly uneasy.

“Can you make white glass this time?”

“White glass?”

In response to Pietro and Raphael’s question, Hyang rummaged through his sleeve and pulled out a piece of paper.

“I’m thinking of a lamp. The white glass will be used for the lampshade.”

“Hmm…”

Upon examining the design of the lamp, Pietro’s eyes lit up.

Though both Raphael and Pietro had obtained the qualifications of a guild master, they had different strengths. Raphael, true to his diligent nature, excelled at straightforward, mass-produced items like sheet glass and glass plates. Pietro, on the other hand, had a flair for the flamboyant and creative aspects.

Aware of these characteristics, Hyang gleefully whistled to himself.

‘Isn’t this almost like a cheat code?’

As a result, Pietro was assigned the task of making the lamp. Teaming up with Go Yajang, Pietro demonstrated his craftsmanship.

* * *

Upon receiving the finished product, Hyang highly praised Pietro and Yajang before presenting the first approved piece to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty loves reading and often works on state affairs late into the night, straining your eyes. That’s why I created this lamp,” said Hyang.

“Thank you.”

King Sejong was deeply pleased as he turned on the lamp, thinking of Hyang’s thoughtful gesture.

“It’s truly bright!”

Because of the rarity of the material beeswax, candles were valuable commodities not only in Joseon but around the world. Therefore, in Joseon, oil lamps were mainly used by everyone from the royal family to commoners.

Lamps were adorned with bronze plates to serve as a reflector, but these bronze plates were relatively inefficient.

However, the lampshade made by Hyang was far more efficient than the bronze plates on the candleholders. Satisfied, King Sejong immediately ordered mass production for use in all government offices.

Of course, there were side effects.

Upon hearing this news, the spirits of the officials collapsed.

“Damn it! Now we have to work at night too?”

Hyang then recruited new craftsmen to work in the glass workshop.

“As we look forward, we’ll need more and more craftsmen! The current situation isn’t sustainable!”

Thus, the glass workshop expanded, and Hyang purchased land next to Area 51 to build a large glass workshop.

* * *

Meanwhile, Pietro collaborated with Go Yajang and caused a stir.

“Eh? What’s that you have on your eyes?”

“Ah, Your Majesty.”

“It’s Crown Prince!”

Corrected by chief eunuch’s stern expression, Pietro clarified in halting Korean.

“Crown Prince, this is to protect my eyes.”

“To protect your eyes?”

“My main job involves looking at flames in the furnace, which strains my eyes. So, I made these.”

“Hmm… Let me see.”

Upon examining Pietro’s creation, Hyang looked at Go Yajang.

“Do you also frequently work with fire?”

“Yes, Your Highness. That’s why blacksmiths like me suffer from poor vision as we age.”

“Hmm…”

As Hyang pondered, holding the object, Pietro’s face grew increasingly pale.

‘If he keeps this up, he’ll certainly order mass production… ’

Moments later, Hyang gave it back and commanded,

“Start mass production. Don’t mind the grumbling.”

Confused, Go Yajang looked at Hyang.

“Excuse me?”

“Why are people so mean? Aren’t you guys also suffering from the glare of the furnace?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Go Yajang bowed his head.

“It is truly gracious of you to care for lowly craftsmen like us!”

Touched to the point of tears, Go Yajang received a smiling reply from Hyang.

“That’s an overstatement… Ah! Also, make two extra for yourself.”

“Yes! I’ll make them to the best of my ability!”

Thus, the world’s first sunglasses were born.

It was an interesting coincidence that the invention of sunglasses in Hyang’s past was similar to Hollywood actors using them to protect their eyes from strong stage lights.

King Sejong, who received the sunglasses, was satisfied once again.

Though he was only just 30, his eyes had been strained for a long time and would ache even in moderate light.

However, when he wore the ‘sun-blocking glasses’’, which Hyang presented, even a daytime walk was comfortable for his eyes.

Highly satisfied, King Sejong gave another command to Hyang.

“Make a few more. I’ll use some, and they’d make great gifts.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Thus, with the king and crown prince adopting them, along with Sejong’s favored ministers starting to receive them as gifts, sunglasses became a leading fashion item.

Not only in the capital, Hanyang, but all across Joseon, affluent and trendy people, regardless of gender, considered it a staple to wear these sunglasses. This trend soon spread to Ming China and Japan as well.

* * *

Artisans in Joseon who had learned how to make flat glass diligently produced it.

Among these hard-working artisans, one named Han Seok-gu was quite dissatisfied with the flat glass he had produced.

“Can’t I make it flatter and larger?”

The cylinder method taught by Pietro and Raffaello was more efficient than other flat glass-making techniques.

However, there were limitations in size, and the issue of inconsistent thickness. To solve this problem, they used hot, molten steel, but it required much labor and carried the risk of burns.

Eventually, while struggling to find a suitable solution, Han Seok-gu found a new method of making flat glass, inspired by the fact that water and oil don’t mix.

“Water always remains level and smooth, no matter what’s underneath it. The oil floating on top behaves in the same way.”

Han Seok-gu continued his line of thought.

“Glass, when melted, is like water. No, we need something like oil to float the molten glass on.”

After arriving at a conclusion, Han Seok-gu found the optimal material.

“Mercury won’t work. Iron… makes the glass bubble… Copper is the same… What would be good?”

After trial and error, what Han Seok-gu found was tin.

By gently pulling molten glass poured over a large frame containing molten tin with an iron rake, they could easily make larger sheets of flat glass.

“It’s truly splendid!”

Having received the report, Hyang greatly praised Han Seok-gu and hurried to make a request to King Sejong.

“About the patent, I get it. But how about giving him some equity?”

“Yes, doing so will make the artisans more invested in their work and encourage new technological development.”

“So, how much equity are you thinking?”

“One percent.”

“Reasonable, but will you grant equity for every new technology?”

“No, we will only permit equity for technologies that can generate profits.”

After briefly contemplating Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong immediately granted permission.

Thus, Han Seok-gu became the first Joseon person to acquire equity through his technology.

Chapter 107

Partnership (1)

It wasn’t just sunglasses. The bowls and dishes made using clear and colored glass were given as trial pieces to King Sejong and Queen Soheon—and the royal consorts were presented with them through Queen Soheon.

Having received these new items, King Sejong and Queen Soheon were greatly satisfied, and dishes made of glass began to be used extensively in the palace.

As they started to be used en masse in the palace, the news quickly spread to the marketplace.

This meant that a substantial demand had emerged.

“Immediately produce them in large quantities.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Upon issuing the command for mass production, Hyang smirked and muttered to himself, ‘This is what they call VIP marketing.’

* * *

Glass began to flood the markets of Joseon and soon started to attract considerable attention in Ming and other foreign countries.

An envoy from Ming, after seeing the palace in Joseon, reported to the Emperor, resulting in an order arriving from Ming to supply them with pane glass for the Forbidden City.

Hyang personally took it upon himself to deal with the envoy from Ming.

“Pane glass for the Forbidden City… for the entire Forbidden City?”

“The entire thing, yes.”

“We’ll supply it. But can Ming’s finances handle it?”

“What do you mean, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

Upon the envoy’s question, Hyang elaborated, “If we look at past conventions, whenever Joseon supplied something, His Majesty the Emperor would return gifts many times over.”

“That’s correct.”

“But this pane glass is a precious item that takes 8 silver coins to make just one piece. If you plan to use glass for all the buildings in the Forbidden City, can you imagine the quantity required? Then, wouldn’t you need a corresponding amount of wealth for the return gifts?”

“Ah…”

After doing some quick calculations based on Hyang’s words, the envoy started to sweat profusely. He was reminded of internal debates within the Forbidden City.

Due to excessive expeditions initiated by the Ming Emperor, Ming’s finances were in serious trouble. The current Emperor was desperately trying to patch up the hole.

Therefore, when the suggestion to import glass from Joseon arose, there was a significant amount of opposition. The rationale behind the opposition was similar to what the Crown Prince of Joseon had just stated.

“Maybe we should request Joseon to send artisans instead…”

“Are you suggesting that we declare war on Joseon right now? Have you forgotten what happened to the Jurchens tribes in Liaodong not long ago? Have you forgotten why our past emperors have always warned us to be cautious with Joseon?”

Even though Joseon was a tributary state, Ming was always on alert.

In a situation where caution was exercised against Joseon, the recently ascended Emperor Zhu Zhanji was looking to avoid unnecessary conflicts in order to restore the country’s finances.

Ultimately, the conclusion reached after a fierce debate was as follows:

“Even if Joseon, a tributary state, is using glass for palace decorations, we, the superior state, cannot stand idly by. However, His Majesty is frugal, so we should negotiate to only request the materials to decorate the Taihedian Hall in the Forbidden City, while keeping reciprocation to a minimum.”

However, the envoy assigned with the task had, due to his sense of justice, asked for enough material to cover the entire Forbidden City, and was now being counterattacked by Hyang.

Sweating profusely, the envoy listened as Hyang spoke:

“And considering our production capabilities in Joseon, it would take at least five years to provide enough material to cover the entire Forbidden City. Of course, if we encounter storms or attacks from the Jurchens tribes, it will take even longer. What do you suggest?”

To Hyang’s question, the envoy immediately offered a compromise.

“We can start with just the material for the Taihedian!”

“Wouldn’t that put you at a disadvantage?”

“If it’s for the friendship between the two nations, what does my personal safety matter? However, we will minimize the reciprocation.”

“Hmm…”

Pretending to ponder over the envoy’s words, Hyang threw him a bone.

“For the sake of friendship between the two countries, we in Joseon should also make a concession. We’ll provide glass for the Taihedian, the Zhonghedian, and the Wenhedian. In return, we’ll only ask for the cost of the glass for these three halls. How does that sound?”

“Really? I am truly grateful!”

Hearing Hyang’s words, the Ming envoy bowed deeply to express his gratitude. At that, Hyang threw in a curveball.

“However, there is one condition. From now on, we won’t be sending any palace women or eunuchs.”

“Ah…”

The envoy’s face turned awkward at Hyang’s proposition. After quickly weighing the pros and cons, he responded.

“The issue of sending palace women is beyond my authority and will require consultation. I’ll return immediately to seek His Majesty’s advice. I assure you, we’ll find a mutually beneficial solution, so please uphold your current offer!”

“Very well.”

After reaching a tentative agreement with the envoy, Hyang immediately went to inform King Sejong about the outcome.

“…So, we will be providing glass to cover the exteriors of the three halls in the Forbidden City, receiving a reciprocation calculated at 8 liang of silver per hall, and we have proposed to stop sending palace women and eunuchs.”

Hearing Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong and his ministers nodded their heads in approval.

“Good job.”

Following Sejong’s praise, the ministers also complimented Hyang.

“You’ve done well.”

“Indeed, you have worked hard.”

Among them, Left State Councilor Lee Jik pointed out an issue.

“But, as far as I know, 1 ‘nyang’ of silver is enough to make a single sheet of flat glass, isn’t it?”

At Lee Jik’s question, Hyang chuckled.

The hearts of Sejong and his ministers sank upon seeing Hyang’s expression. Every time Sejong made such an expression, things that exceeded their imagination—what Sejong would call “a sucker punch in broad daylight”—often occurred.

The most recent instance was a major incident where half of Insoonbu’s storehouse was emptied while mass-producing flat glass.

Fearing that those ignorant of the utility and value of flat glass would interfere with budget execution, Sejong had even considered imprisoning Hyang in the record office.

“Initially, that was the case. But now, 4 ‘jeon’ of silver will suffice.”

“How so?”

“Do you remember the work of Han Seok-gu?”

“Did his innovation reduce the cost that much?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang nodded.

“Yes, that’s why we gave him equity.”

* * *

Han Seok-gu getting equity became a hot topic among the artisans.

While working on-site, the artisans could anticipate that glass would rake in a lot of money.

Hence, Han Seok-gu became the object of the artisans’ envy.

“If you’re envious, then think up something yourself!”

“Yes!”

The artisans were fired up by Hyang’s words.

Not just the glass workshop, but everyone in the Area 51 and the research institute was inflamed with a sense of challenge.

* * *

Hyang was immediately questioned by the Left State Councilor.

“So, if the outer walls of halls are covered in glass, a substantial amount of money will be saved, right?”

“Yes.”

As soon as Hyang answered, Sejong interjected.

“But the even better point is, we wouldn’t have to send palace maids and eunuchs. Of course, it’s still a possibility.”

At Sejong’s point, Hyang answered firmly.

“We must make it a reality.”

Sending palace maids and eunuchs to Ming Dynasty was an act that turned numerous families into seas of tears.

If they succeeded in this endeavor, public support would rise even more, and Sejong’s political standing would strengthen.

Hyang suggested to Sejong.

“Therefore, when the envoy leaves, we should also send one to secure a solid commitment.”

“Of course, we should secure the commitment.”

As Sejong nodded, Hyang relaxed and smiled.

“In that case, I shall go.”

“This child!”

* * *

Sejong raised his voice in anger, but Hyang calmly explained the reason.

“If the envoy is to go, negotiations with the Emperor must be conducted. Therefore, a certain level of status is required.”

“Negotiate with the Emperor?”

“Think about it. We haven’t yet received a definitive answer regarding the last military expedition in the Tumen River area. Even though the Chief State Councilor himself went as the envoy.”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing Hyang’s point, Sejong groaned.

Just as Hyang mentioned, even though the Chief State Councilor went as the envoy, they returned empty-handed.

As a result, the ongoing Tumen River development was unilaterally carried out by Joseon.

Poking at Sejong’s sore spot, Hyang continued to elaborate on the reason why he had to go.

“Furthermore, this time there are significant expenses linked to the glass issue, as well as the issue of the tribute women. Even if it’s the Emperor of Ming, I will attempt to negotiate, and I will put forward the envoy’s status to gain an upper hand in those negotiations. Therefore, I must go. Please allow me! Allow me to go!”

“The reasoning makes sense, but it isn’t absolutely necessary for the Crown Prince to go.”

Sejong refused, but Hyang brought up yet another reason why he had to go.

“Currently, our Joseon is trading significantly with both Ming and Japan. To continue this trade freely and securely in the future, we need to get the Emperor on our side.”

“Get the Emperor on our side? No, before that, are you suggesting that there will be issues in the trade?”

“Indeed.”

“And the reason?”

“Nobody likes it when their own assets are taken by others.”

“Ah…”

Sejong involuntarily nodded at Hyang’s words.

* * *

Trade with Ming was rapidly increasing. However, the majority of this trade was incredibly favorable to Joseon.

Certainly, they were buying large quantities of grain for emergency supplies, and bulk amounts of sugar for resale.

But when looking at the absolute numbers, the expenditures were miniscule compared to the income.

Therefore, information had started to come in through the merchants that there had been some unfavorable talk in Ming recently.

* * *

“So you want to win the Emperor over to our side? How?”

“I propose a joint venture.”

“A joint venture?”

“Yes.”

Hyang elaborated more to Sejong.

– The Joseon court and the Emperor of Ming will form a joint trading company.

– Products manufactured in the royal workshops of Joseon will be purchased by this joint company and sold to merchants in Ming.

– The revenue acquired from these sales will be distributed at a certain ratio between Joseon and the Emperor of Ming.

“…The reason it’s limited to royal workshops is that most of the products reaping the most benefits in our current trade are made there.”

“That’s true.”

“Indeed.”

In response to Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers nodded their heads. Gauging their reactions, Hyang continued.

“Not long from now, our glass products will enter the market. Given the current circumstances between our Joseon, Ming, the Jurchens, and Japan, the glass products produced by the royal workshop will have a perfect monopoly. Anyone can foresee that conflicts will arise.”

“I see.”

“So, although it may seem like a loss at the moment, preventing conflict could actually be more beneficial.”

“I understand that. But for the Crown Prince to go in person…”

“To negotiate with the Emperor of Ming, it is necessary to meet as equals.”

“Why only the Emperor of Ming… Ah!”

Suddenly letting out an exclamation, Sejong glared at Hyang.

“You’re a frightening individual.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang offered a polite smile.

‘As expected from King Sejong! He caught on immediately!’

The atmosphere was gradually tilting in Hyang’s favor.

“However, I must say, establishing a joint venture solely for the purpose of securing safe trade and avoiding Ming’s pressure seems a bit underwhelming. Isn’t there a way to further secure our benefits?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“One important thing was omitted from the explanation; it’s about preserving the value of the royal emblem.”

“Ah, that’s it!”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong slapped his knee in agreement.

The slight sense of something lacking just moments ago now felt complete with Hyang’s statement.

“The merchants of Ming are notorious for making counterfeit goods! Right now, we’re the only ones making glass products, but once they learn it’s profitable, Ming merchants will likely hire glass artisans from the West to produce similar items. And then, to easily reap profits, they’ll probably manufacture counterfeits with fake royal emblems!”

Realizing the value of the pear flower pattern, which is stamped on quality-approved products, Sejong made a decision.

[TL/N: The emblem or I guess product brands stamped on Joseon goods is probably like this ]

“Very well! Let the Crown Prince go and return!”

Chapter 108:; Partnership (2)

The next day, when Sejong announced at the royal council meeting that Hyang would be sent to Ming, all the ministers, excluding the senior officials, vehemently opposed the idea.

“Crown Prince, explain yourself.”

“Yes, Father.”

At Sejong’s command, Hyang repeated the explanation he had given to Sejong and the senior officials the day before.

“…Therefore, it is necessary for me, the Crown Prince, to go to Ming.”

“Even so, to send the foundational pillar of our nation recklessly to another country is…”

The newly appointed Minister of Law and Punishments showed his displeasure, prompting Sejong to glare at him.

“Then who should confront the Emperor? Would you, Your Excellency, go?”

“…”

Faced with Sejong’s question, the Minister of Law and Punishments closed his mouth.

How could a mere minister from a tributary state face off against the supreme ruler of a sovereign nation?

The overwhelming difference in status was evident. Moreover, if anything went wrong, the Minister would surely have to bear all the responsibilities.

In the end, the Minister of Law and Punishments had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. Seeing this, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! You might as well have said something.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Tsk!”

Sejong clicked his tongue again, causing the Minister of Law and Punishments to tightly shut his eyes.

‘So this is why the other high-ranking officials hate the sound of a tongue click. I get it now!’

Sejong’s constant reproach made the Secretaries and ministers detest the sound of tongue-clicking intensely. However, it had also become routine for them to click their tongues when pointing out the faults of their subordinates.

“Alright, since there seems to be no opposition to appointing the Crown Prince as the emissary for this mission, let us proceed.”

“We heed Your Majesty’s command.”

“Crown Prince, go back and attend to your duties.”

“We heed Your Majesty’s command.”

As the Crown Prince left the chamber, Sejong looked around at the ministers with a proud face.

“Having such a talented child is indeed a great blessing, don’t you think?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

“The Crown Prince is so exceptional; this is truly a fortune for Joseon.”

“Absolutely! It is indeed the fortune of Joseon!”

The ministers eagerly echoed Sejong’s words.

The official who recorded all of this added the following note:

–… All the ministers at the royal court praised the Crown Prince’s excellence.

The official opines:

Recently, it is said that in the homes of officials ranking higher than Councilors, the cries of children are incessant.

Moreover, the number of people entering officialdom through merit-based exams is also decreasing.

No further words will be said.

* * *

As the officer said, the nobleman’s house was filled with incessant scolding from adults and the cries of children.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has already accumulated such achievements, what are you doing?!”

“I-I apologize! I will strive harder…”

“Quiet! Kneel!”

Children of the same age as Hyang, or even younger, were constantly compared in terms of academic achievements and scolded every day.

The situation was no better for their adult offspring.

“You fool! Why does the evaluation written in the Royal Service Corps look like this! You are disgracing your father’s face!”

“I apologize!”

“If you’re comfortable in your official robe because of nepotism, you should be working even harder! What were you doing to get such an evaluation?”

“I apologize!”

“Starting tomorrow, report to work earlier and leave later than anyone else! If I catch you frequenting brothels? I’ll report you and have you jailed in the Records Office!”

“Father, please, not that!”

Those who obtained their posts easily through nepotism, carrying the reputation of their father and lineage on their backs, were going through hard times.

Those who had passed the state exams in the past and climbed the ladder by following the proper protocol looked down on those who entered through nepotism.

The increasingly harsh work environment made life even more difficult for those who had parachuted into their jobs.

The most critical issue was the recent incident involving the sons of Hwang Hui.

After receiving reports that Hwang Hui’s sons had easily climbed to key positions through nepotism, King Sejong issued an order:

“Reevaluate the job performance of those who have been appointed through nepotism!”

Not many received good evaluations in the new assessment process, which involved both the Censorate and the Office of Special Advisors.

Because these evaluations would also adversely affect their fathers and lineages, chaos ensued.

Ultimately, as the new system stabilized, even the children of power-holders started entering official positions through the formal route of passing the state examinations rather than nepotism.

It was considered safer to climb the ladder step-by-step from the bottom rather than enter a middle-management position through nepotism and receive a below-average evaluation.

* * *

After finalizing the personnel in the mission, Hyang boarded a ship with diplomats from Ming and departed from Jemulpo.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Hyang talked to the Ming diplomat.

“Is the public order in Liaodong really that bad?”

The Ming diplomat nodded at Hyang’s question.

“Yes, the Jurchens in the areas near Geonju and Haeseo have been growing increasingly ferocious recently.”

Some tribes from Haeseo and Geonju, who had long been under Ming influence and had shifted from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle, were living fairly well. However, other tribes were increasingly facing hardship.

The biggest reason for this change was Joseon’s intervention in Shandong.

Once an official office was established in Shandong and merchants began to travel through maritime routes, the wheat trade that had been ongoing in the Liaodong area disappeared.

This was a matter of survival for the Jurchen tribes in the area.

It was because the money earned by either raiding the wheat trade convoys or escorting them was significant.

Moreover, the economic hardship worsened as traders from the Ming moved to the horse markets established to avoid conflicts with the Northern Yuan.

Ultimately, the Jurchen tribes, pushed to the edge, attacked other tribes or raided Ming villages. Some even crossed the Yalu River to raid border villages in Joseon.

However, the Jurchen tribes that attacked either Ming or Joseon faced greater losses.

Both Ming and Joseon mobilized their armies and set out to suppress them.

In particular, Joseon conducted retaliatory operations that wiped out not only the responsible tribe but also nearby tribes.

As a result, the sight of Jurchen tribes crossing the Yalu River was no longer seen.

What remained for the Jurchen tribes was infighting amongst themselves.

Thus, the atmosphere in the Liaodong area became extremely tense.

* * *

“What are your plans for resolving the situation in Liaodong?” Hyang asked.

With a slight smile, the diplomat lowered his head.

“What could a minor official like me know? The Emperor’s continued attention will surely provide a good solution soon. What does the Crown Prince think?”

In response to the diplomat’s question, Hyang wore a similar expression and answered, “How could I, who am just learning statecraft, make a judgment? I simply hope that great calamity does not befall Joseon.”

“But seeing that you are on this diplomatic mission, aren’t you trusted?”

Upon the diplomat’s casual probe, Hyang laughed and answered, “Hahaha! I’m just a frog that has just escaped the well, eager to grasp the breadth of rivers and oceans!”

“The rumors suggest otherwise.”

“Rumors are just rumors.”

* * *

The envoy that had offered incense and made offerings to the gods briefly stopped in Shandong to rest and resupply before sending a messenger to Beijing.

After resting for three days in Shandong, the envoy set sail for Tianjin.

When the envoy arrived in Tianjin, a group of officials were waiting to greet them.

“Welcome, on behalf of the Crown Prince of Joseon!”

Receiving formal courtesy from the waiting officials, Hyang respectfully returned the gesture.

“Thank you for such a warm welcome.”

Accompanied by the officials and military escort, Hyang headed for Beijing.

* * *

Upon entering the Forbidden City in Beijing, Hyang was immediately greeted by Emperor Zhu Zhanji.

“Welcome, the Crown Prince of Joseon.”

“It’s truly an honor to meet Your Majesty, the Emperor. Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live, long, long live!”

“Ha ha ha. Receiving cheers of ‘long live’ from the Crown Prince of Joseon truly lifts my spirits. Let’s have a drink first and then talk.”

“Your Majesty’s consideration is much appreciated.”

Three days later, Hyang formally entered the official event.

“So, I have heard from the envoy who went to Joseon. You’ll cover the outer three places with glass?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And you’ll only charge for the cost of the glass in return?”

“That’s correct.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s response, Emperor Zhu Zhanji burst into hearty laughter, pounding his armrest.

“Ha ha ha! Excellent! I’ve heard that glass is a truly beautiful material. But I was wary of wasting state funds on its beauty, and here you are, Joseon, with such a generous offer!”

Seeing Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s positive reaction, Hyang cautiously advanced the matter.

“Maintaining good neighborly relations with Your Majesty’s nation is the desire of our Joseon. Bring in what we’ve prepared.”

At Hyang’s command, Joseon officials who had been waiting brought in large and small boxes covered with silk cloth.

“What is this?”

“Merely some trivial things made of glass.”

As Hyang spoke, he lifted the silk cover.

“Ooh!”

“Oooh!”

Seeing the exposed objects, not only Emperor Zhu Zhanji but also the surrounding bureaucrats and eunuchs couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

It was a beautiful table held up by four glass dragons.

“Truly beautiful.”

Unconsciously, Emperor Zhu Zhanji murmured. Although he usually emphasized frugality, he could only admire the beauty that the glass possessed.

Next, Hyang opened the other boxes. Upon seeing the glass objects wrapped in sawdust, Emperor Zhu Zhanji praised Hyang.

“Since ancient times, Haedong (Korean Peninsula) has been famous for creating beautiful objects. Seeing these glass items, I realize that the reputation is not unfounded.”

“Your praise is too generous.”

“It’s not excessive.”

As the attendants cleared away the tribute items, Emperor Zhu Zhanji moved on to the main point.

“Once again, according to what the envoy said, you will replace all the outer gates at the three outposts with glass and accept only the price of glass as compensation. Is this correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“In return, you said you would cease sending palace maidens and eunuchs. Is that correct too?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Sending palace maidens and eunuchs causes many parents in Joseon to shed tears and lament. Is this not a tragic matter?”

“Indeed.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Emperor Zhu Zhanji nodded his head.

The custom of sending palace maidens was initiated by the Yuan Dynasty. His previous predecessors were the one who continued this practice.

‘There’s no reason for our illustrious nation to continue a custom performed by barbarians like the Yuan. However… ’

Calculating back and forth, Emperor Zhu Zhanji began to negotiate.

“If you also cover my inner palace with glass, I will accept your proposal. However, the cost will be 6 silver tael per yard for both external and internal projects.”

“Your Majesty! It takes 8 silver tael per yard just to produce the glass! Taking into account potential damages during transportation, 6 tael would be unreasonable!”

Hyang vehemently refused, but Emperor Zhu Zhanji was not willing to relent.

“Is the king of Joseon reluctant to spend money to stop his people’s tears?”

“…”

Faced with Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s question, Hyang bit his lips. At this, Emperor Zhu Zhanji gave a small smile.

‘Well, what will you do? Your father’s honor is at stake!’

After much deliberation, Hyang looked at Emperor Zhu Zhanji.

“I propose 7 silver tael per yard, and I would like to make an additional suggestion to Your Majesty.”

“A suggestion? Speak.”

“As you’ve just seen, our Joseon makes various artifacts with glass. We are planning to sell these glass artifacts to the Ming Dynasty soon.”

“Is that so? Joseon will make a lot of wealth. Is there a problem with that?”

“Therefore, I would like to propose a partnership to Your Majesty.”

“A partnership? With me? Why?”

Upon hearing Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s questions, Hyang began to explain the joint venture.

“Hmm… I’ve heard your explanation well. But why me?”

“The owner of the royal glass workshop that produces this glass is my father. Although we are a vassal state, you are the ruler of a country, so the most suitable business partner would be none other than you, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Emperor Zhu Zhanji began tapping the armrest of his chair with his fingers, pondering.

Chapter 109
Partnership (3)

Due to frequent expeditions led by his grandfather, Emperor Yongle, the finances of the Ming Dynasty were in tatters. For this reason, Emperor Zhu Zhanji constantly preached frugality. It wasn’t just lip service; he genuinely led a very austere lifestyle.

However, Zhu Zhanji was only human.

‘I am the Emperor, after all!’

Sometimes, he would grow weary of frugality and lament in solitude. Of course, as the emperor, he could indulge in luxuries that no one else could afford, but that would come at the cost of facing the scrutiny of his advisors.

“Your Majesty! The financial situation is dire! Please abstain from luxuries!”

“I understand. It’s my mistake.”

It was inevitable that such a confrontation would occur, and losing his temper to execute someone would only create more headaches later.

In such a situation, was there money coming in just for the emperor? Zhu Zhanji’s mouth watered.

‘Those glassware products will definitely sell well. That means huge profits. And those profits are mine to keep? That sounds fine. Joseon will handle the manufacturing, and I’ll manage the trading… Wait a minute?’

Zhu Zhanji, who was calculating the benefits, asked Hyang a question.

“What’s the profit-sharing ratio?”

‘He’s taken the bait. But considering what just happened, I shouldn’t be greedy! Play it cool!’

Hyang, assessing the situation, started with a reasonable ratio.

“It’s 7 to 3. Joseon takes 7, Your Majesty takes 3.”

No sooner had the words left Hyang’s mouth than Zhu Zhanji proposed a counteroffer.

“8 to 2. I take 8.”

‘This guy doesn’t know the first thing about negotiation!’

Hyang presented a logical reason for not accepting the emperor’s terms.

“Considering production and shipping costs, that would be too difficult. 65% for Joseon, 35% for you.”

Zhu Zhanji quickly ran the numbers in his head.

‘If it’s about shipping, we’re not to be trifled with either!’

“As for shipping… You’re aware of how vast the territory of Ming is, aren’t you? But I understand the situation in Joseon as well, so 7 to 3. I take 7.”

‘What? Will you deliver it yourself? Are you a fool?’

Hyang pointed out an aspect Zhu Zhanji had not considered.

“Does the joint venture need to handle shipping? The purchasing parties can come to Shandong themselves. Therefore, this ratio is optimal.”

At Hyang’s words, Zhu Zhanji closed his mouth.

‘He’s not wrong… I’ve been outmaneuvered. What can I use to negotiate further? Ah!’

“Offer the glass for the three external palaces and the three inner courts at a price of 7 silver coins. Also, guarantee that we won’t take eunuchs and palace maidens. And since Joseon’s interests also need to be protected, let’s make it 6 to 4. I take 6.”

No sooner had Zhu Zhanji finished speaking than Hyang launched his counterattack.

“Even if it’s seven hundred thousand taels of silver, a deficit is still a deficit. Plus, adding three outside provinces and three rear palaces won’t bring any more benefits to our treasury. Therefore, if you officially confirm the issue with the princess and the empress dowager in a document, I’ll agree to a 6 to 4 split. 6 for Joseon.”

Emperor Zhu Zhanji subtly exerted pressure on Hyang, who seemed to retreat but was actually looking out for his own interests.

“Have you forgotten that I am the Sovereign Emperor? How dare a vassal state make such a brazen proposal?”

‘Huh?’

Hyang, however, firmly pushed back.

“Trade is based on mutual benefit. Especially, you are the emperor of the Grand Empire. As you said, our Joseon is a loyal vassal. However, we are not mere subjects. Making an unfair proposal is not mutual benefit.”

“Ugh…”

Emperor Zhu Zhanji felt a headache coming on at Hyang’s words.

‘Damn it! I’m losing on moral grounds.’

At that moment, a courtier who had been listening to the conversation between the emperor and Hyang interjected.

“Your Majesty! It’s inappropriate for you to personally discuss this matter. Let the ministers handle it…”

“Enough! How dare you interrupt when the Crown Prince of Joseon and I are in discussion! Do you think you’re worthy?”

Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s rebuke made the courtier immediately kneel and bow his head.

“Discussing matters of financial interests in court demeans Your Majesty! I implore you to reconsider!”

“Ha! You’re concerned about my dignity and you think you can handle things? Why don’t you show that concern by actually completing the tasks that are still sitting on your desks! Take that insolent man and lock him in prison!”

“By Your command!”

The imperial guards dragged the audacious courtier out of the hall.

“Your Majesty! I beg for your mercy! Your Majesty!”

The hall fell into a cold silence after the uproar.

Courtiers, who had never seen Emperor Zhu Zhanji behave like this, stood paralyzed, their faces turning pale.

‘I just touched the dragon’s scales.’

‘I should keep my mouth shut no matter what happens.’

Emperor Zhu Zhanji, who had effectively silenced the courtiers, turned to Hyang.

“Fine! I’ll give in to one more of Joseon’s requests. But the ratio will be 55 to 45. I get 55.”

At Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s final offer, Hyang began to bring up something he had long considered.

“We have served as your vassals and offered tributes according to propriety. However, the record of our royal lineage has been erroneously documented and has not been corrected. Please rectify this!”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhu Zhanji showed a slightly awkward expression, as if such a matter had never occurred to him before.

* * *

Glasses were exchanged, pushed, and pulled, but it was inevitable to feel sorry for Joseon’s Crown Prince who would possess great wealth in the future.

“Another thing, our Joseon has unified the Tumen River region. This is a restoration of the place of origin by our founding father. If you can confirm these two things in writing, we will accept the command bestowed by Your Majesty!”

At Hyang’s words, Zhu Zhanji called the internal secretary and asked for the facts.

‘Rectification by Emperor Yongle has been promised, but not yet carried out.’, ‘Previously, an envoy from Joseon had advised, but His Majesty has not given a clear answer yet.’, reports like these were received, and Zhu Zhanji nodded his head.

“Heh, if the genealogy of our ancestors is incorrect, it’s our duty as descendants to correct it. Fine, I will correct the family lineage. I will also confirm it in writing. Same goes for the Tumen River basin. Is that okay?”

At Zhu Zhanji’s question, Hyang immediately bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty is infinitely wise!”

* * *

Thus, the diplomatic mission was successfully concluded. While setting the terms, Hyang requested strict control over those who fake ‘Pear Blossom trademark’ as an additional condition, and Zhu Zhanji readily accepted.

It was something Hyang also had to protect for his own benefit.

On the ship returning to Joseon, an accompanying officer asked Hyang with a worried voice,

“Anyway… didn’t you give too much advantage to the Ming Emperor? It could become an issue in the court.”

At the officer’s concern, Hyang chuckled and replied.

“Do you really think so?”

“Huh?”

Hyang looked at the water without further explanation.

‘I’ve given the emperor a poison now. If the current or future emperor is benevolent, it will be spent for the good of the country. But if it’s a tyrant, it would immediately become a lethal poison. The pleasure derived from spending money is as intense as drugs.’

Staring blankly at the water, Hyang suddenly sighed.

“Speaking of which, a marriage proposal…”

* * *

Having received the official document containing the solution to the problem of family lineage and the princess, they finally concluded a contract regarding the terms.

A slight rupture had occurred during the contract writing process; it was regarding the distribution of profits.

-The currently agreed upon distribution rate will be maintained, and if a request for modification arises, the contract will be nullified immediately.

“This is a bit tricky,” pointed out Zhu Zhanji.

Hyang immediately replied,

“A contract is about trust. How can we continue the contract if one party cannot curb their greed and breaches that trust?”

“Do you not trust me, the Crown Prince of Joseon?”

Zhu Zhanji’s expression turned fierce, but Hyang calmly responded.

“Would Your Majesty think that I harbor such irreverent thoughts? This is merely a warning for future generations.”

“A warning for future generations…”

Chewing over Hyang’s words, Zhu Zhanji nodded.

“That’s fine.”

‘Whoever takes my place would find this useful for testing.’

Having made his decision, Emperor Zhu Zhanji smiled at Hyang.

“But since it’s a double-edged sword, aren’t you worried that it might be used against Joseon?”

“We’ll have to educate them properly.”

Smiling in reply, Hyang muttered under her breath.

‘Looking at history, the odds are much higher on their end, aren’t they?’

Thus, the contract was drawn up, and both parties – except for Ok-sae, who was absent – took photos and exchanged contracts.

Once everything was concluded, Emperor Zhu Zhanji turned to Hyang and asked a question.

“By the way, have you married?”

“Not yet, but I’m planning to marry soon.”

“I have some eligible ladies in mind…”

Hearing Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s words, Hyang broke out in a cold sweat.

“As soon as I resolve the issues at hand, I’ll arrange the ceremony. But divorcing now would damage the royal family’s reputation. Although I don’t know how to repay your grace, I believe in keeping my promises.”

“That’s true.”

Emperor Zhu Zhanji immediately agreed and withdrew, since the question was a spur-of-the-moment one.

* * *

Thinking back to the crisis, Hyang lost his appetite.

“If it was a Taiwanese member from a 21st-century girl group, I might have considered it…”

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the beauty of the palace ladies he had seen while staying in the capital did not appeal to him.

“Do I have to ask Father to lower the standards?”

Hyang seriously pondered changing the criteria he had set.

* * *

Upon returning to Joseon, Hyang immediately went to a war council and reported on the negotiations.

Especially upon hearing that the diplomatic issues Joseon had long wished to resolve were settled, not just King Sejong, but even the ministers couldn’t hide their joy.

“Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous! The Crown Prince has solved our royal family’s long-standing issues! Truly a happy occasion!”

“Let us extend our deepest congratulations!”

“Let us extend our deepest congratulations!”

Unable to contain his joy, King Sejong commanded his Minister of Law and Punishments:

“Immediately pardon those among the prisoners throughout the country whose crimes are minor!”

“Your order shall be obeyed!”

The atmosphere inside the war room was more than just harmonious; not only had the royal family’s long-standing wish been granted, but even the political obstacles to the development of the Dumangang region had been simultaneously removed.

However, the harmonious atmosphere ended there. What awaited next was a heated debate.

The spark that ignited the debate occurred when the crown prince was speaking with Sundeok and used the term ‘vassal state’ at one point.

The first to attack was the Chief State Councilor.

“While the results Your Highness has achieved are indeed significant, there is a problem. Why did you refer to us as a ‘vassal state’? Although Joseon pays tribute, we are not a vassal state.”

The Minister of Rites retorted:

“Isn’t paying tribute and being a vassal state the same thing? We’re both calling ourselves subjectsand offering tribute!”

“They are distinctly different terms!”

The Chief State Councilor, loudly objecting, turned to King Sejong.

“If Your Highness had instead said we were a ‘suzerain state,’ it would not have been a big issue!”

Before he could finish, Hwang Hui rebutted:

“Suzerain state? Are you saying that Joseon is a piece of the Central Plains?”

“What kind of sophistry is this!”

“Why was the term ‘suzerain’ even created in the first place? It was created after King Wu of Zhou destroyed the Shang dynasty and divided up its territory! If we’re discussing it that way, then what does it mean for Joseon to be a ‘suzerain state’? Are you saying that Joseon’s borders should be part of Ming territory?”

For a good while afterward, the ministers continued to argue intensely, citing various historical instances.

“Enough! Stop!”

King Sejong’s shout brought the ministers’ heated debate to a halt.

Sejong looked at the crown prince and posed a question.

“Tell me, did you ever actually say we were a ‘vassal state’?”

“Father. How could I not understand the gravity of the term ‘vassal state’? However, smooth words must be accompanied by a good demeanor. Just as Han Xin crawled between the legs of thugs, what can’t be done for the sake of fulfilling our grand plan? I mentioned the principle of ‘serving the strong while biding one’s time.’ In the future, we will definitely repay this.”

“So, was the grand plan successful?”

“Yes.”

Hyang briefly replied and handed the contract to Sejong through a courier.

Sejong picked up the contract and carefully checked its contents.

“Hmm… The profit sharing is 45% to 55%, huh? We get 45%… so the other party is an emperor?”

“Yes, it’s the emperor.”

“Well done. You did it right.”

“Please also look at the terms regarding contract termination.”

“Termination, you say…”

Reading the relevant clauses in the contract by running his fingers through the lines, Sejong smiled.

“You really did it right! Excellent! Marvelous!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. All thanks to the trust bestowed upon me by Father.”

The ministers who were listening to the conversation between the father and son wore expressions of incomprehension.

‘What does he mean by well done? We’re a vassal state, scraping and toiling just to survive. And now we’re going into business with them, and they get to take more of the profit?’

Seeing the ministers’ expressions, Sejong extended the contract to Chief Eunuch.

“Let the ministers read it as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Having received the contract from Sejong, the Chief Eunuch handed it over to the Chief State Councillor.

Chapter 110

After reading the contract in its entirety, the ministers looked even more puzzled.

‘Tightening the control over the Pear Blossom trademark is a good move, but this alone… ’

Sejong carefully examined the facial expressions of the ministers.

Left State Councilor and Right State Councilor Maeng Saseong, as well as Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom, looked like they almost grasped something but couldn’t quite make sense of it. The other ministers still had puzzled expressions on their faces.

In that situation, only one person—Hwang Hui, who had returned to Hanyang for the quarterly report—had an expression that indicated understanding.

“Do you understand, Ministers?”

“I understand.”

“Then, what is your assessment?”

“At first glance, it appears to be a loss, but the more you look into it, the less damage there is to our Joseon.”

“Exactly right.”

Sejong briefly replied and glared at the ministers.

“I am deeply disappointed in you all today. Can I really entrust the fate of Joseon to you?”

“Please take our lives!”

At Sejong’s reprimand, all the ministers bowed their heads and shouted.

“From now on, do not only examine the surface of all matters, but also scrutinize the inner part meticulously.”

“We will keep it in mind!”

“And listen, Minister Hwang Hui. As you can see, there is no one in the court who understands matters as you do. Keep your eyes on the affairs at Tumen River until they are resolved. I look forward to your return.”

At Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui deeply bowed and responded.

“Your Grace is boundless!”

* * *

As soon as the meeting was over, Hwang Hui was immediately taken to the Office of the Royal Secretariat.

“What exactly do you mean by saying that His Majesty and the Crown Prince are on the right track?”

Hwang Hui retorted to Lee Jik’s question.

“Do you really not know? Your Excellency?”

“It seems related to the Ming royal family, but I can’t really…”

“That’s…”

As Hwang Hui was baffled, the other Six Ministries’ officials exclaimed in unison.

“Then explain it!”

Pressured by the Six Ministries’ officials, Hwang Hui explained what Sejong and Hyang aimed for:

– Even though Ming’s financial scale is large, the amount they expend is also significant. Hence, the amount that the Ming Emperor will directly receive from this partnership is not insignificant for him.

To protect this gain, the Ming Emperor will take various measures, which will benefit Joseon immensely.

– First and foremost, by cracking down on counterfeit items marked with the Pear Blossom trademark, people in Ming will naturally come to perceive products with the Pear Blossom trademark as expensive and precious.

As a result, products with the Pear Blossom trademark will be treated as superior in quality, compared to those from other countries.

“I understand that much, but I still can’t comprehend why His Majesty and the Crown Prince are pleased. It feels like there’s something more that I can’t quite grasp.”

“Hoo~.”

Upon hearing Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Hwang Hui let out a soft sigh and briefly responded.

“It may not be in the short term, but in the long run, the Crown Prince has effectively poisoned Ming.”

“Poisoned? Poison?”

Startled by Hwang Hui’s words, Maeng Sa-seong was shocked.

“My God! Who could think of such a thing… the Crown Prince! To harbor such malice at that age!”

“What on earth are you talking about!”

“Don’t just make cryptic statements. Explain!”

Under pressure from the other ministers, Maeng Sa-seong opened his mouth after looking at Hwang Hui.

“See if my thoughts align with yours.”

“Go ahead.”

“So…”

Maeng Sa-seong began to elaborate on what he was thinking.

– The wealth that comes in through tributes is passive income for the Emperor.

– If the Emperor is wise, he’ll use a reasonable amount for enjoying luxuries, but if not, he’ll become addicted to lavishness and seek even more of it.

– If one tries to adjust the profit-sharing ratio in this situation, the partnership will be broken according to the contract, and the Emperor, who’s already addicted to luxuries, will tamper with the finances to maintain his lifestyle.

– Ultimately, due to such extravagant tendencies, Ming’s finances will falter and internal distress will occur.

“That’s why I said it’s poison.”

Hwang Hui nodded at Maeng Sa-seong’s explanation.

“I had the same thoughts.”

The Minister of Rites, who was listening to Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong, raised an objection.

“Isn’t that too optimistic? Let’s say the partnership breaks because of this. Do you think Ming’s Emperor will just watch as our Joseon trades independently?”

“That’s why I’m saying, look at it in the long term.”

“Eh?”

The ministers showed faces of confusion at Hwang Hui’s words. Just when Hwang Hui was about to speak, Minister of Taxation interjected.

“We don’t necessarily have to go to China to sell goods. Consider when the current construction is finished. If things go as planned, we can build a trade port in our Joseon. Then, merchant ships from all over the world, including those from Ming, will gather there. In that case, there’s no need for us to go all the way to Ming.”

“Aha!”

“I see!”

“And in such a scenario, goods from our Joseon will become even more valuable in Ming.”

The ministers nodded at the Minister of Taxation’s words.

At that moment, Maeng Sa-seong looked at Hwang Hui and said, “Of course, this will bring about more issues in the North.”

“Ugh.”

Hwang Hui felt overwhelmed by the thought of increasing responsibilities.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Sejong and Hyang were having a discussion over tea.

“Indeed, you’ve done well. You’ve endured hardship and successfully carried out the plan. I don’t need to see it to know your efforts.”

“I don’t know how to respond to such excessive praise.”

“You modest fellow.”

Sejong gave a slight smile at Hyang’s humility. However, that smile quickly faded, and his face was filled with concern.

“But what concerns me is the constant mention of being a tributary and a vassal state.”

Hyang replied indifferently,

“It’s a fight for justification. We’ve requested and the Ming Emperor has acknowledged that this trade is between states. We’ve thrown them a bone in terms of justification to get real benefits.”

“True.”

Thanks to that, the long-standing issues related to tribute and diplomacy were solved in one go. Issues related to royal princesses and hostages were also resolved.

Then Hyang spoke again,

“There is a saying among the scholars, ‘If you want to appease someone, suck on even their toes.’ Why can’t we deceive them to achieve our plans?”

Hyang hesitated to directly say the cruder version of the saying, ‘Suck on their assholes until they cave in.’

However, Sejong still had a worried look on his face.

“But it does hurt my pride. Especially when their envoys come and subtly mention being a tributary or a vassal state, it infuriates me.”

“Once the tribute ceremony is over, and the eastward campaign is complete, they won’t be able to say that anymore. Unless they have spare lives, there won’t be anyone bold enough to come here and make such claims.”

“True, but won’t they talk like that among themselves?”

Sejong questioned, to which Hyang replied with a look of indifference.

“So what if they do? There’s also a saying among scholars, ‘Even a king is cursed behind his back.’ What’s the point of worrying about what they’re mumbling among themselves? It’s rather laughable.”

“I may overlook the Ming talking like that, but I’m sure there will be people within Joseon who will speak similarly, and that concerns me.”

At Sejong’s statement, Hyang coldly smiled.

“Isn’t that a good thing? Those are the people we should weed out early on. It might actually be a good opportunity.”

“That could be.”

The scribes who were recording the conversation between the father and son were nervously taking notes.

-The scribe muses,

“‘One must have strong resolve to be a general.’ But the Crown Prince’s strong resolve could be considered a deadly poison.”

A moment later, Hyang gave an order to the scribes and the main officials.

“Scribes and main officials, step out for a moment.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, the scribes unanimously expressed their refusal.

“Our duty is to record all matters of state to pass onto future generations.”

At their words, Hyang scoffed,

“Heh! How would you know if what you’ve written will be seen or properly recorded for future generations that can’t even see it? Step out.”

“That’s unacceptable!”

Hyang warned against the refusal of the officers and royal scribes.

“‘What I am about to say is top-secret. If word gets out, there will be serious consequences. In that case, your heads will be the first to roll. No, to prevent that, I should take your heads right here and now. Will you still stand your ground?”

“It’s the will of the gods!”

As the officers and scribes firmly resisted, Sejong spoke.

“This is my order. Leave.”

“It’s against the law! We can’t leave!”

“What? You wretches?”

As anger began to cloud Sejong’s face, an idea suddenly came to Hyang.

‘Wait! It’s already a foregone conclusion that the Chinese will make noise about this later. Then, why not create an official record that can serve as evidence?’

Hyang, having made his decision, calmed Sejong.

“Your Majesty. How about letting them stay?”

“Let them stay?”

“Yes. In the future, it could serve as evidence to silence those who make rash judgments and clamor.”

Hearing Hyang’s words, Sejong contemplated deeply, finally understanding Hyang’s point and letting out a chuckle.

“A man who catches fish even when he falls into the water, you’re not one to simply let things slide.”

“Your words honor me.”

With a small smile, Sejong glared at the officers and scribes.

“Fine. Sit down and record everything, without leaving a single word out.”

“Your generosity overwhelms us!”

“However, if even a single word from our discussion here leaks out, I will have your heads!”

Faced with Sejong’s stern order, the officers and scribes broke into a cold sweat.

“We accept your command!”

As they nodded in agreement, the scribe’s pen didn’t pause.

-Thus, the dialogue between the Emperor and the Crown Prince was recorded.

The scribe reflects.

Recording everything accurately is the basic attitude of a scribe, but being forced to do so leaves a bad taste.

Amidst the presence of the officers and royal scribes, Hyang continued his conversation with Sejong.

“Have you heard the rumors about Daewol nation?”

“The rumors about Daewol nation?”

[Daewol nation here refers to Đại Việt, a Vietnamese kingdom.]

“It’s about ‘Emperor at Home, King Abroad’,” said Hyang.

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words.

“I’ve heard. The Tang Emperor recently bestowed a title to the King of Annam, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“So, are you suggesting that our Joseon should also adopt the policy of ‘Emperor at Home, King Abroad’?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“No. My wish is not for such superficiality, but for us to genuinely become an empire and don the imperial robe of emperor on Your Majesty.”

At that moment, all the officers and scribes froze. They all had the same thought:

‘Damn it! Why did we stubbornly stick around for this!’

A subtle emotion flickered across Sejong’s face.

“Imperial robe, you say…”

“Why do you think Taejo sent a letter calling himself the Great King of Goryeo state after he returned from his military campaign? It’s about power. Frankly, even Ming had to bow down to a Barbarian King who declared himself an Emperor. Ultimately, power determines everything.”

The statements grew more audacious, making the officers and scribes either frown or murmur. Nonetheless, Hyang continued.

“If Joseon becomes prosperous and its sphere of influence expands, no one will oppose His Majesty ascending to the throne. Of course, the issue of population is a concern, but that will also increase rapidly as Joseon grows stronger. Then, even if we declare ourselves an empire, it will only be seen as a delusion by the Ming. A so-called ‘mental victory’ seen by them.”

‘Mental victory? Just say it!’

“Mental victory?”

At the unfamiliar term, Sejong expressed curiosity, and Hyang explained its meaning.

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded.

“That’s an interesting term indeed. Yes, it will be amusing if the Ming think of it as a ‘mental victory.’ But listen, my Prince. If what we are doing now fails, then the ‘mental victory’ will inevitably be ours. Never forget that.”

To Sejong’s admonishment, Hyang responded strongly.

“I’ll bear it in mind! Rest assured, we will achieve genuine victory and reassert our status as a hegemon in competition for world supremacy, a status not seen for a thousand years.”

‘If we’re going to change history, go big or go home!’

A similar emotion was lurking at the corners of both Hyang’s and Sejong’s mouths.

The officers were also frowning, but they couldn’t erase the feeling of ambition welling up from a corner of their hearts.

Chapter 111

While Sejong and Hyang were having a conversation, the ministers were also continuing their discussions.

“What do you think His Majesty and the Crown Prince genuinely desire?” asked the Minister of Rites.

“I believe they desire to proclaim themselves as ‘Emperor’,” calmly replied Maeng Sa-seong.

“Emperor?”

“Emperor, yes.”

“I see.”

“I am a bit concerned, though…”

Upon hearing Maeng Sa-seong’s words, the ministers nodded their heads in agreement.

For the ministers of Sejong’s era, the title ‘Emperor’ was not unfamiliar. The prior dynasty, Goryeo, had adopted the title of ‘Emperor’ under the tributary system with foreign empires. Even though that system was abolished during the Yuan Dynasty’s influence and failed to be revived in the subsequent era of King Gongmin^1 due to Ming pressure, internally, they continued to use titles and etiquette reserved for emperors.

Therefore, for those who had experienced the transitional period between Goryeo and Joseon, the word ‘Emperor’ was not hard to utter.

“You all seem to take this lightly,” Hwang Hui suddenly interjected, drawing everyone’s focus towards him.

“What do you mean?”

“Have you not heard the news from Annam (Dai Viet)? They’ve already proclaimed themselves as an independent empire. That Annam.”

At that time, Annam was perceived as a backward country by Joseon’s upper class. Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s words, Maeng Sa-seong’s expression became serious.

“Could it be! Is His Majesty really intending to become an Emperor?”

Picking up on Maeng Sa-seong’s question, Hwang Hui responded, “I’m not sure about His Majesty’s intentions, but the Crown Prince certainly has such aspirations.”

“Do you have any evidence?”

“Astronomy. And this recent agreement.”

Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s brief answer, exclamations erupted among the ministers.

“Ah!”

“Come to think of it!”

Observing the celestial bodies was something only possible in an empire. However, Hyang had been actively observing them under the pretext of correcting the lunar calendar. The recent cooperation agreement was also a similar case.

As everyone was still in shock, Hwang Sang, the newly appointed Minister of Law Enforcement, spoke up.

“Indeed, it might seem excessive to avoid Ming interference while expanding Joseon’s influence by appeasing the Ming. But from a military strategy perspective, it’s an ingenious plan.”

“Military strategy?”

As the civil officials looked puzzled, Hwang Sang elaborated, “There is a common saying in all military strategies. When the enemy is stronger than us, there are two standard options: one is to diligently increase our capabilities; the other is to weaken the enemy. The Crown Prince is currently employing both strategies.”

“Hmm…”

The ministers fell silent, each deep in thought.

After a moment of silence, Hwang Hui spoke up again.

“If you look at the history of the Central Plains, the dynasties that conquered and ruled all eventually fell due to internal strife, not external invasions. Only Yuan is an exception.”

“So what about this recent cooperation agreement?”

“Why do you think the story of ‘Ivory Chopsticks and Jade Wine Cups’ came up?”

[TL/N: The term ‘Ivory Chopsticks and Jade Wine Cups’ comes from when King Zhou considered making chopsticks from ivory. Ji-zi, King Zhou’s uncle, concerned about the fate of the nation, believed that the adoption of ivory chopsticks would gradually lead to larger-scale extravagances, eventually ruining the country’s finances and causing its downfall. Ji-zi’s predictions came true as King Zhou’s extravagant ways led to the downfall of the Shang Dynasty. So, I guess in this case, the ministers finally understand why Hyang made a deal personally with Emperor Zhu Zhanji, hoping that the latter would fall into extreme indulgences and lead his own nation to ruin in the future.]

“Ah!”

Upon hearing Hwang Hui’s words, the faces of the ministers indicated their realization.

Maeng Sa-seong muttered to himself, looking as if he had been hit on the back of his head multiple times.

“The Crown Prince merely said, ‘make a contract with the Emperor,’ and His Majesty who understood that… Are they even human?”

“Even if His Majesty is one thing, what about the Crown Prince? To be so filled with malice in such a short period…”

The Minister of Military Affairs interrupted the ministers’ assessment.

“According to the military strategy books, what a commander must possess is malice. The Crown Prince has already mastered the ancient military strategy, so such malice is entirely possible.”

“Heh…”

While the ministers were at a loss for words about the malicious intent, Hwang Hui stood up, shaking off his seat.

“Then, everyone, take care. You all have much to do, so take care of yourselves.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“We’re turning Joseon into an empire. Will that not be a busy task?”

Hwang Hui asked the ministers, smiling as he looked at Maeng Sae-seong.

“Lord Maeng, you were worried about more issues arising in the North earlier, weren’t you? Surely you’re not expecting it to be as busy as Hanyang?”

“Oh, you…”

“Ha ha ha! Take care, everyone!”

As Hwang Hui left the room with a hearty laugh, Maeng Sae-seong muttered softly,

“I should have gone…”

Watching Hwang Hui’s departing figure, the other ministers thought similarly to Maeng Sae-seong.

‘I should have gone… ’

‘If I had known Hwang’s thoughts, I should have acted sooner… ’

‘That position should have been mine!’

While everyone was thinking this way, the Minister of Rites, Kim Jeom, stood up.

“I should prepare a tonic for lord Hwang.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why would lord Hwang be special?”

Answering the ministers’ questions, Kim Jeom chuckled.

“Have you forgotten? Lord Hwang must oversee government affairs until the day he dies.”

“Ah!”

All the ministers burst out in exclamations, each wearing a draining smile.

“Right, then lord Hwang must live a long, long life.”

“He has to finish the reforms, strategies, and great tasks. He must live a long, very long life!”

“I must prepare a tonic with excellent efficacy!”

“I have some saved ginseng; I should send it! For lord Hwang, who has to work for the nation until the day he dies!”

The ministers were united in enthusiasm. Among them were also the Chief State Councilor and the Left State Councilor.

* * *

Meanwhile, once the conversation concluded with Sejong’s permission, Hyang brought up the next topic.

“Father, may I ask how my marriage is proceeding?”

“Your marriage? We’re currently scrutinizing suitable candidates for the Crown Princess. Why?”

“It’s been quite some time, and no conclusion has been reached yet.”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong cleared his throat lightly.

“Ahem! AHEM! It’s the Crown Princess, so we’re putting effort into the selection. It takes time. But why?” Sejong, asking the reason, wore a mischievous smile. “Why? You’ve been pretending not to care all this time, now suddenly you want to get married quickly?”

“It’s not that. The Emperor asked what I thought about making his daughter the Crown Princess.”

“Kuheuk!”

Startled by Hyang’s shocking statement, King Sejong choked on his tea and coughed.

“Cough! Cough! So, what did you say?”

As King Sejong asked while continuously coughing, Hyang calmly replied, “The selection has already ended, and all that’s left is to set a date.”

“What did the Emperor say to that?”

“He simply expressed regret and moved on. Although it may have been a passing remark, it could become a problem if my marriage is delayed.”

King Sejong analyzed the situation with a grave expression on his face.

“So, you’re saying a casual comment could turn into a serious matter?”

“Exactly.”

“Hmm…”

“By the way, why is the selection taking so long?”

“Well, it just happened that way…”

Hyang’s inquiry left King Sejong hesitating for words.

* * *

Thanks to Hyang’s diligence, candidates meeting Hyang’s criteria had come forward.

“Heo-eo~. They are all so beautiful!”

King Sejong was amazed at the beauty of the candidates who passed the screening.

The assassin guild had put in so much effort that their education and character were also up to the mark to be Crown Princess.

[TL/N: In previous chapters, the assassins were tasked searching for suitable candidate for Hyang secretly]

However, a problem arose at that point.

“Is this kid going to mess things up by being enthralled by their beauty?”

King Sejong had his suspicions, and concurrently, the court ladies who were judging had all given negative opinions.

“All the candidates have a lovely appearance and sufficient character and education, but their allure could potentially distract the king from his duties.”

“All of them have beautiful figures, but that beauty poses a problem. One of the main responsibilities of a queen is fertility, and with those body types, it would be difficult for them to withstand the strains of pregnancy and childbirth.”

Since all the court ladies had given negative opinions, King Sejong selected additional candidates, who met traditional criteria.

However, upon seeing these newly selected candidates, King Sejong was puzzled.

‘This is not it.’

The new candidates were also educated and had good character. But their appearance was the issue.

They were healthy and plump but that was it.

‘Given his personality, he’ll surely stay confined to Area 51 and never come out!’

* * *

Hyang had set strict standards for himself as soon as marriage talks came up.

“Huwoo~. This is a dilemma.”

King Sejong sighed at the difficult problem he was facing.

“Come to think of it, I was lucky. And is that why my older brother Yangnyeong spent so much time outside?”

The first wife of Yangnyeong, Taejong’s eldest son, had the traditional look of a first daughter-in-law. Like the second batch of candidates, she was good in every way but lacked beauty.

“If my sister-in-law had been as assertive as him, there would have been so much trouble several times.”

The legal wife of Taejong, Queen Wongyeong, was as strong-willed as Taejong himself. Thanks to her, they often clashed due to Taejong’s affairs.

King Sejong, recalling the past, sighed lightly.

“Was I just lucky?”

Being the third son and not the eldest, Sejong had the privilege of marrying Soheon, a woman who met his preferences.

“The problem of fertility is valid, as pointed out by Hyang…”

As Hyang had pointed out, eight children had been born so far to Sejong and Queen Soheon. Considering the age difference among the children, Queen Soheon had been almost continuously pregnant or nursing.

If the scope included the concubines brought in after Sejong became king, at least one among them, including Queen Soheon, had been pregnant every year.

While King Sejong was grappling with the dilemma in selecting the Crown Princess, the casually dropped remark by the Ming Emperor had turned into a ticking time bomb.

* * *

When Sejong hesitated, Hyang pointed out the urgency of the situation.

“Your Majesty. A quick decision is needed. Neither you nor I can afford to keep living with the issue of the Crown Princess, can we?”

“That’s true. We can’t continue like this.”

“I know my standards may have been a bit high, but considering the time we’ve spent so far…”

“I’m considering it! I’m still considering it!”

Interrupting Hyang’s words, Sejong quickly summed up the situation.

“Let’s stop here for today. A decision will be made on this matter soon!”

“Ye… yes.”

After sending Hyang away, Sejong went straight to Queen Soheon.

“Ho ho ho!”

Queen Soheon, who had been looking after the recently born Prince Pyeongwon, covered her mouth and burst into laughter at Sejong’s complaint.

“This is no laughing matter. Considering that child’s personality, it’s a real conundrum.”

At Sejong’s words, Queen Soheon nodded with a smile.

“True. Given Hyang’s personality, he’s more than capable.”

“What should we do then?”

At Sejong’s question, Queen Soheon answered immediately.

“Do as Hyang wishes. Given his personality, he won’t neglect his duties over some distraction, right?”

“He’s more likely to immerse himself in his work and neglect his family.”

Sejong’s long-standing observations of Hyang had proven accurate.

“Therefore, there’s no need to worry. The matters of the household can be handled by our attendants.”

“Hmm…”

After mulling over Queen Soheon’s words, Sejong came to a conclusion.

“It’s best to follow the Queen’s advice. I’m indeed fortunate to have you by my side.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Though she answered with a smile, a tinge of sadness was hidden in Queen Soheon’s eyes

1. 31st King of Goryeo[↩]

Chapter 112

Similar timeline, the Forbidden City.

“That guy… he really is something, isn’t he?”

After finishing his political duties, Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered under his breath as he returned to his chamber.

The person he was talking about was Hyang.

“From what I’ve heard, he’s definitely not your average guy.”

* * *

The phrase ‘The Crown Prince of Joseon is not ordinary’ was universally echoed by envoys who had visited Joseon.

“Not ordinary?”

To Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s question, the envoys uniformly responded.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. His scholarly aptitude is exceptional, despite his young age.”

“He humbly says he’s inadequate, but as you converse with him, it’s impossible to measure the depth of his knowledge!”

“Oh? What about his appearance?”

When asked about Hyang’s appearance, the envoys responded immediately.

“He’s incredibly handsome!”

“He may be young, but he can’t hide his handsomeness!”

“If the legendary Song Yu and Pan Yue were reincarnated, it would be this Crown Prince of Joseon. If he were to walk the streets of Beijing, we would witness ‘fruits filling the cart‘!”

[TL/N: Fruits filling the cart simply means gifts, favors, praises are given in great abundance.]

[TL/N: In Chinese history, 宋玉 (Sòng Yù) and 潘岳 (Pān Yuè) are celebrated both for their literary talents and exceptional good looks. Sòng Yù, a poet from the Warring States period, was not only a master of words but also known for his physical beauty. Similarly, Pān Yuè, who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was famous for his allure and poetic prowess. Their reputations as handsome men are well-documented in historical texts and have been immortalized in art and literature.]

“Oh? Is that so?”

When the term ‘fruits filling the cart’ was mentioned, Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s eyes sparkled.

‘Fruits filling the cart’ refers to a tale about Pan Yue, who would fill his cart with fruits thrown by admiring women—and even grandmothers—as he passed by, following an old custom of women offering fruits to men they fancied.

The envoys’ uniform praise piqued Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s curiosity.

“Should I invite him over?”

As Emperor Zhu Zhanji pondered, coincidentally, Hyang arrived in Beijing, leading his delegation.

“Ah, as expected!”

Internally impressed by Hyang’s courteous bow, Emperor Zhu Zhanji was filled with admiration.

“Despite being so young and yet to have his coming-of-age ceremony, he’s so respectful!”

Although he still looked like a young boy, his towering height and clean-cut face made it obvious that he was a very handsome man.

In the following banquet and literary discussion focused on calligraphy and painting, Emperor Zhu Zhanji grew increasingly fond of Hyang.

“Humble but not servile, polite but not excessive! Truly a talent!”

It wasn’t just Emperor Zhu Zhanji who was impressed.

“The Crown Prince from Joseon is a strikingly handsome!”

Through palace maids and eunuchs who attended to him, the rumor spread, reaching every corner of the Forbidden City and even the whole of Beijing.

When Hyang eventually left the Forbidden City to return to Joseon, the spectacle unfolded where residents of Beijing flocked to witness the Joseon delegation’s procession.

* * *

“Seems like he’s destined for greatness…”

If Hyang were to hear it, he might respond internally with ‘Look here! I’m the Crown Prince! Of course, I’m destined for greatness!’ Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered, deep in thought.

“Marriage is the ultimate form of alliance, but…”

He had jokingly told Hyang, ‘We have suitable women here,’ startling him. But even if Hyang had accepted, there were complications.

His daughters, with the eldest now being 7 years old, were too young.

On the contrary, his sisters were too old to be sent.

“It’s a pity. In that case… Take a look!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Summon the Chief Secretary immediately!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Zhu Zhanji, having given the order to Hwanguan, hardened his resolve.

“If all else fails, adopting a daughter is an option. The priority is to first confirm whether what the Joseon crown prince has said is true or an excuse.”

Time passed, and the Chief Secretary who had hastily returned received another order from Emperor Zhu Zhanji.

“Send someone to Shandong and gather detailed information on the Joseon Crown Prince! Especially focus on his marital status!”

“Marital status, you say?”

“Haven’t you, the Chief Secretary, seen? The Joseon Crown Prince is no ordinary person. He needs to be restrained!”

“I will send someone right away!”

‘Finding a way to control the Joseon Crown Prince’ was exactly what the Chief Secretary had wanted to say. When Emperor Zhu Zhanji said the same thing, the Chief Secretary promptly sent someone to Shandong.

* * *

‘To counter whatever schemes Ming has, I need to act quickly! This is a race against time!’

As the situation grew urgent, King Sejong began to act decisively.

First, he sent the second-tier candidates back home, and from the first-tier candidates, began selecting the final ones for Hyang’s harem.

Those who were rejected from the selection received various gifts like silk and went back home. Surprisingly, these candidates found a spouse quickly because they had been selected for the harem in the first place.

“Who could be a better daughter-in-law than someone who was a candidate to be Crown Princess!”

Moreover, these rejected candidates started a trend when they returned home; to be precise, they accelerated certain trends.

The first was the flush toilet. Although it was already commonly used in the palace, it had not yet spread to the common households. This was because renovating the bathroom would be a significant task. However, the candidates who had returned home shared their experiences and soon households began buying and installing flush toilets.

Next were glass products made in glass factories.

These glass products became explosively popular.

And among them, the most recent product, the compact mirror, became a must-have for women at that time.

From decorative mother-of-pearl mirrors to full-body mirrors, to small hand-sized mirrors, women started buying these according to their circumstances.

No, even stylish men, whether they were nobles or commoners, considered these mirrors a must-have.

And among those who admired themselves in the mirror, there was Hyang.

“Hmm… If I do say so myself, I have quite a handsome face.”

Standing in front of the full-body mirror installed in his room in the Eastern Palace, Hyang admired himself in various poses.

With a face that combined the best features of both King Sejong and Queen Soheon, and having entered a proper growth period with a balanced diet, at least 8 hours of sleep, and training in horseback riding and martial arts, Hyang had grown tall and broad-shouldered. Objectively speaking, not just by the standards of the Joseon era but also by those of the 21st century, Hyang was handsome.

“It’s funny how this Hanbok, especially the Dragon Robe, only looks good on those who are tall and have broad shoulders.”

Just as Hyang said, traditional Hanbok was the type of clothing that looked dignified on those with broad shoulders.

“Alright, enough self-admiration. Time to go work.”

Adjusting his clothes in the mirror, Hyang opened the door to his room.

“Let’s first stop by the research lab.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As always, Hyang headed to the research lab accompanied by his stewards, where he ran into Yu.

“Isn’t that Yu?”

At Hyang’s call, Yu rushed over and bowed.

“Brother, no, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Are you well?”

“Ah, yes. You’ve learned to bow properly. You’ve been diligent, haven’t you?”

“Hehehe.”

Pleased by Hyang’s compliment, Yu smiled brightly.

“So, are you on your way to see the trains again today?”

“No, I am going to learn mathematics today.”

Hearing Yu’s answer, Hyang was taken aback.

“Already learning mathematics? If it’s at the research lab, then that’s an advanced course, isn’t it?”

Hyang looked back at the prince’s tutor following Yu.

“Is Yu properly mastering the classics?”

“Yes, Your Highness. He is working hard.”

“Hmm.”

Hyang patted Yu lightly on the shoulder.

“Keep up the good work. You haven’t given up your dream about trains, have you?”

“No! My dream is to lay railroads throughout Joseon!”

Upon hearing Yu’s answer, Hyang smiled and patted his shoulder again.

“Work hard.”

“Yes!”

Upon entering the research lab, Yu respectfully bowed to Hyang.

“Your Highness, I will now go to attend my class.”

“Work hard.”

After seeing off Yu, Hyang spoke to his steward standing behind him.

“Hasn’t Yu grown a lot?”

“He will soon be 11 years old. He will also soon be appointed as a Grand Prince.”

“I see…”

Although he said so, Hyang was grumbling internally.

‘Why is an 11-year-old this tall! I’ve worked so hard to grow taller! He grows like a sprout with just water!’

Recalling Yu’s robust shoulders, which seemed uncharacteristic for an 11-year-old, Hyang corrected his words.

‘Revised! He grows like a bad sprout with fertilizer-infused water!’

A lot had changed since Hyang created the butterfly effect that led to Princess Jeongso surviving, including the titles given to Hyang’s younger siblings. The year Yu was supposed to be appointed as Grand Prince Jinpyeong was this year, Sejong 10th year (1428), but he had not yet been appointed.

The main reason was that due to Princess Jeongso’s survival, the sequence of titles starting from Hyang had all been pushed back.

* * *

Back in his daily life and busy with work, Hyang suddenly received a summons from Sejong.

“What could it be?”

Sejong, who rushed to meet Hyang, who had arrived in haste due to his lack of understanding of the whole situation, soon headed for the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion with Sejong in the lead.

“The candidates for the crown princess have been decided.”

“Is that so?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang visibly tensed up.

It was because news had recently arrived from Shandong.

– Several officials are inquiring about the crown prince. They are particularly investigating whether he is already married.

Because the contents of the urgent report were grave, Hyang had been quite anxious.

“We can’t rush, can we Father? If we make a mistake, my married life could turn into a nightmare…”

Sejong, whether he understood Hyang’s concerns or not, continued walking and elaborated.

“Right now, the queen is sharing refreshments with the candidates at Gyeonghoeru. Let’s discuss who catches your eye.”

“Wouldn’t that be improper?”

‘If we make a mistake, we could ruin the lives of these poor young ladies! This isn’t some 21st-century matchmaking event!’

To Hyang’s question, Sejong fumbled in his sleeve and pulled out an object.

“You recently created a decent device, didn’t you?”

What Sejong produced was a telescope.

Standing some distance away from the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, Sejong and Hyang observed the site through the telescope.

“Wow…”

Upon seeing the ladies sitting at the tables in Gyeonghoeru, Hyang unconsciously let out a small exclamation of admiration.

‘My God! If this is the standard, they would qualify as members of a girl group in the 21st century! And from a major talent agency at that!’

“Which candidate do you like?”

“I need a little more time to observe.”

After examining them further with the telescope, Hyang sighed and lowered the telescope.

“So, have you decided?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang replied with a troubled look.

“Please let my royal mother decide. I find it difficult to make a decision.”

‘The difficulty level of the multiple-choice is too high!’

That night, Sejong was lost in thought.

“This child… has really thrown me a nasty curveball.”

From Sejong’s perspective, the three candidates were neck-and-neck, creating a deadlock.

“Hold on! Do I really have to choose just one?”

After pondering for a while, Sejong looked at it from another angle.

“One of the duties of a king is to produce many heirs to ensure the stable continuation of the royal family. And it’s not enough just to have many heirs; they have to be intelligent. The crown prince is already academically gifted, and these candidates are also well-educated. So then…”

Sejong paused momentarily to gather his thoughts, and his expression darkened again.

“Oh no… there’s this issue as well.”

Another problem suddenly came to Sejong’s mind.

Chapter 113

After much deliberation, King Sejong finally came to a decision.

“There’s no other way. All three must be decided.”

Following Sejong’s decision, the three chosen women were all set to become royal consorts. Firm in his resolve, Sejong summoned Byeon Gyeryang and Yu Soondo.

“Examine the destinies of these women to see who is most suitable to be the Crown Princess. The other two will become royal consorts.”

Thus, Byeon Gyeryang and Yu Soondo selected the most suitable woman to be the Crown Princess.

“This is the one.”

* * *

After the royal consorts were selected, King Sejong once again called for the Crown Prince.

“The Crown Princess has been decided.”

“Who is it?”

“She is the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.”

“Is that so?”

“And the other two will become royal consorts.”

“What? Father, I thought I was only to have one consort…”

Sejong promptly cut off the Crown Prince’s words.

“Having many children is also a duty of a king. I will not entertain any arguments.”

“But Father…”

When the Crown Prince continued to protest, Sejong revealed his true intentions.

“Do you wish to accept a princess or ruler from the Ming as a consort? We cannot give them an excuse!”

“Ah…”

The Crown Prince immediately understood Sejong’s point.

If the Crown Prince had only one consort, then Ming could find various pretexts to push in another as a royal consort.

Then a problem arises. Even if a woman pushed in by the Ming becomes a consort, she essentially wouldn’t be a mere consort.

However, if there are official consorts already in place, then the Ming, out of their pride, will not send another, and even if they do, she will just be one among many.

Convinced by Sejong’s firm words, the Crown Prince bowed his head.

“My personal beliefs may differ, but I will obey your royal command.”

Sejong, observing the Crown Prince’s expression, spoke.

“You child! Wipe that smile off your face! You’re grinning so much, it looks like your mouth will tear!”

This spectacle was diligently recorded by the official.

– And so, the royal consorts for the Crown Prince were decided.

The official comments.

Whatever the reason, the Crown Prince was a man with no other options.

* * *

After such a minor commotion, the wedding of the Crown Prince was set.

The rumor, ‘The Crown Prince is getting married!’ soon spread throughout Hanyang, and people couldn’t help but discuss it whenever they gathered.

“Not only a Crown Princess, but with additional royal concubines?”

“That’s what they say.”

“Heh~. The crown prince will have his hands full now.”

“Why?”

“Look at the houses those ladies come from. Have you ever seen concubines getting along?”

“Aha~!”

“It might be good now, but just wait a few years.”

“But honestly, I’m envious. Three at once…”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

The unique marriage of taking three royal consorts at once had been the talk of the town every day.

In the history before Hyang got involved, Danjong was the first. But after Hyang’s involvement, the title of ‘first’ was now his.

Most people who heard the rumors discussed the peculiar marriage where ‘one groom, three brides,’ but some were talking about other subjects.

“Do you think another royal pardon will be issued?”

“Well… Hasn’t it been a short time since the last royal pardon? Might be difficult.”

“I wish one would be granted… It’s heartbreaking to see my enemy-like son imprisoned.”

After solving the long-standing problems of Joseon and the royal family, King Sejong issued a nationwide royal pardon. However, crimes are unavoidable where people live, so those who committed crimes and were imprisoned still remained.

Amidst the expectations for another royal pardon, some officials submitted a petition to King Sejong.

The topic was about the pardon of Shim On, Sejong’s father-in-law.

This happened one year earlier than it did in the history before Hyang got involved.

The reason they brought up Shim On’s pardon was also related to Hyang’s marriage.

Both the groom and the bride’s lineage had to be recorded, and a problem arose from the crown prince’s mother, Queen Soheon.

“The daughter of a major criminal as the crown prince’s mother… it’s unacceptable.”

“Indeed.”

Given the sensitive nature of the matter, ministers and senior secretaries gathered at the Royal Secretariat to hold an intense debate.

As a result of the debate, the officials reached the following inference and conclusion:

-King Taejong executed the related persons, including Kang Sang-in, before Shim On returned. It must have been to exile Shim On.

-Therefore, Shim On dying without even being properly interrogated was unjust.

The ministers submitted their petition based on these conclusions.

However, King Sejong’s response was ambiguous.

“I will consider it.”

With that, King Sejong did not mention it again.

* * *

While rumors about ‘Shim On’s Pardon’ were circulating in the palace and government offices, Hyang called for Jeong.

“Lord Jeong.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What’s been troubling you these days? You don’t look well.”

“It’s nothing.”

Jeong-cho denied it, but seeing his unhappy expression, Hyang quietly asked.

“Is this related to issues with my maternal side?”

“No, it’s not!”

Although Jeong-cho waved it off, Hyang’s expression hardened even more.

“Lord Jeong, I’ll soon be getting married. The age of blissful ignorance is past. Even though I was just 4 years old at the time, I remember clearly how people shed tears of blood. Lord Jeong, if you know something, speak.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong-cho let out a sigh.

“Hoo~.”

‘I forgot that the crown prince has an extraordinary memory.’

“Lord Jeong!”

Still keeping his mouth shut, Jeong-cho finally spoke as Hyang’s voice grew louder.

“At that time, I participated in Lord Shim’s interrogation as a member of the the Judicial Office. Despite the torture, Lord Shim tried to make excuses. That’s when Lord Ryu Jeong-hyeon told Lord Shim, ‘Judging by the circumstances, confession is the only option.’ Hearing this, Lord Shim gave up any further arguments and accepted his punishment.”

Upon hearing Jeong-cho’s words, Hyang’s expression became even more rigid.

Hyang, with an equally rigid voice, asked Jeong-cho.

“What does ‘circumstances’ mean?”

To Hyang’s question, Jeong-cho briefly answered.

“It would mean the royal will.”

[TL/N: Royal will here means the king’s intentions. So in this context, Shim On thought that it was King Taejong’s intentions to kill him, but unbeknownst to him, he was actually deceived by Ryu Jeong-hyeon at the time.]

“Hmm…”

With a grunt, Hyang, who was tapping his desk with his finger, stood up from his seat.

“Lord! Let’s go!”

“Eh? Where to?”

“To Gangnyeongjeon!”

* * *

Having arrived at Gangnyeongjeon with Jeong-cho, Hyang reported Jeong-cho’s words to Sejong.

“Lord Jeong, please explain once more.”

At Hyang’s request, Jeong-cho repeated what he had said earlier to Sejong.

“Hoo…”

Upon hearing Jeong-cho’s explanation, Sejong let out a long sigh.

With a complex expression full of mixed emotions, Sejong finally spoke.

“If we go by what Jeong-cho said, Shim On’s confession must be considered coerced. But how would King Taejong have known this?”

Sejong was desperately trying to exonerate Taejong.

If it came out that Taejong killed Shim On out of personal malice or a misjudgment, it would be a significant issue.

“Lord Jeong, would you please step aside?”

“Eh? Yes. Your Majesty, may I, Shin Jeong-cho, be excused?”

“Go ahead.”

“Much obliged.”

After Hyang’s request and Sejong’s permission, Jeong-cho respectfully bowed and exited Gangnyeongjeon.

“Advisors and scribes, leave as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I won’t repeat myself.”

At Hyang’s firm command, the officers and secretaries looked toward Sejong.

“It’s my order. Leave.”

“Yes.”

As Sejong gave the same command, the officers and scribes silently stood up and left the room.

They could have stayed put if they’d wanted to, but they left promptly due to the previous incident with the “Hwangryongpo”.

To be precise, as soon as they left the room, they sat right next to the door and pulled out their pens.

In any case, once the officers and scribes disappeared from view, Hyang got straight to the point.

“Your Majesty, it seems bestowing favor upon my maternal grandfather has its limits. Haven’t all but him already been forgiven? It’s already been 10 years”

“It’s only been 10 years. The palace is still full of those who served not only the late king but also under the reign of Taejong. If we’re not careful, there will be those who will take this opportunity to undermine royal authority.”

What Sejong was worried about was precisely this point. If he acknowledged the errors of his father, Taejong, it would give those who wished to undermine royal power a reason to do so.

Hyang responded firmly after hearing Sejong’s concerns.

“Father. We must confront this head-on.”

“Confront it head-on?”

“Admitting the possibility that it may have been a mistake on Grandfather’s part.”

“You impudent child!”

“Instead, please employ Ryu Jeong-hyeon and me.”

“You and Ryu Jeong-hyeon?”

“Yes.”

Hyang explained a plan to Sejong that involved using himself and Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

-First, according to what Jeong-cho said, Shim-on gave up his protest after hearing Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s words. The question is whether Ryu Jeong-hyeon was truly speaking about Taejong’s concerns.

Taejong only had suspicions, but there is a strong possibility that Ryu Jeong-hyeon eliminated Shim-on, who could have been Sejong’s loyal force, as part of a plot.

The reason this can be said is because of Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s actions. Before being purged, Ryu Jeong-hyeon had carried out various schemes to strengthen his power.

Therefore, it is likely that Ryu Jeong-hyeon used the “hint of Taejong’s concern” to make Shim-on step down.

“In that case, Father had no choice but to punish my maternal grandfather since he surrendered himself. Rather, you acted strictly according to the law, despite him being the grandfather of his grandson.”

“I see!”

According to Hyang’s solution, the downfall of Shim-on wasn’t what Taejong wanted. However, Shim-on surrendered himself, and Taejong had no choice but to punish him.

In this process, Taejong acted impartially and strictly followed the law.

“Then, what does sending you mean?”

Sejong asked, and Hyang immediately replied.

“Father, I am soon to be wed. Isn’t it thanks to you and Mother that I have lived trouble-free until the age for marriage? Therefore, I implore you, Father, to pardon my maternal grandfather. Mother is deeply upset. How can I, as her child, ignore the fact that she suffers because of her grief? I humbly beg you to acknowledge the minor merits I have accomplished and grant my request!”

“Hmm…”

Pondering Hyang’s words, Sejong thought deeply.

“The use of Ryu Jeong-hyeon” was indeed a possibility that couldn’t be dismissed.

The fact that Ryu Jeong-hyeon had spoken such words to his father-in-law was known to those who were in the royal council at the time, excluding Jeong-cho.

However, there was no concrete evidence to establish that Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s words represented the true intent of King Taejong.

Considering the acts Ryu Jeong-hyeon had committed to strengthen the new authority after Taejong’s death, it wasn’t unlikely that he had been maneuvering things from behind the scenes.

Moreover, “Hyang’s filial piety” was an excellent element to capitalize on.

In Joseon, a state where Confucianism was the national ideology, few things were as highly praised as filial piety.

Lastly, the biggest concern—royal authority—seemed almost irrelevant in the current situation.

Sejong’s own power was solid, and the presence of the crown prince, Hyang, was undeniable.

Particularly, looking at the military, the support was so strong that Sejong sometimes wondered, “Is the army of our Joseon mine or the crown prince’s?”

After weighing the pros and cons, Sejong finally came to a conclusion.

“Alright, let’s proceed that way.”

* * *

The next morning.

As the royal council meeting began and all the ministers took their seats, Sejong ordered Chief Eunuch.

“Go and summon Jeong-cho.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Thus summoned, Jeong-cho repeated the words he had spoken the previous night in front of Sejong.

Once Jeong-cho finished speaking, Sejong addressed the ministers.

“How do you think? Was the ‘situation’ Ryu Jeong-hyeon spoke of really King Taejong’s intent? On the contrary, considering Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s past behavior, it is likely that he was acting for his own benefit. Therefore, I think that the disfavor shown to Sim On was a misjudgment caused by Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s scheming. Hence, I will restore Sim On to his position. What do you think, ministers?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the ministers spoke in unison.

“As Your Majesty wishes!”

Chapter 114

The news that ‘Shim On’s fate has been decided!’ spread instantly in all directions.

Upon learning that the Crown Prince was the driving force behind this event, Queen Soheon offered a prayer of gratitude.

“Your Highness! Thank you so much! I am truly grateful!”

Responding to Queen Soheon, who was holding his hands and sobbing, the Crown Prince spoke politely.

“It was my duty as your son. Now, please calm your heart and live long and prosper! You must live to see not only your grandchildren but also your great-grandchildren.”

“Of course! Yes! I must, indeed!”

That night, King Sejong, who visited Queen Soheon’s chamber, held her hands and spoke.

“I’m sorry for being so indifferent all this time. Please forgive your unworthy husband.”

“No, Your Majesty! No, Your Majesty! There are no more obstacles now!”

Queen Soheon, once again, became a whirlwind of tears.

* * *

After all these events, the day of the Crown Prince’s wedding finally arrived.

He followed four of the six traditional rites (Napchae, Napjing, Gogi, Chaekbin) and was about to perform “Chinyeong” before the “Imheonchogye”1.

[TL/N: The 6 Traditional Rites of Royal Wedding are as follows;

1. Napchae (납채, 納采) – sending formal proposal letter and the royal groom’s four pillars to Detached Palace

2. Napjing (납징, 納徵) – sending wedding gifts to the Detached Palace

3. Gogi (고기, 告期) – choosing date and alerting the Detached Palace of the chosen date for the wedding

4. Chaekbi (책비, 冊嬪)/Chaekbin (책빈, 冊嬪) – coronation ceremony for the Queen or investiture ceremony for the Crown Princess

5. Chinyeong (친영, 親迎) – the royal groom’s procession to the Detached Palace to greet the royal bride

6. Dongroe (동뢰, 同牢) – the royal bride would enter the palace on that day and exchange bows, drinks, and food with the royal groom before completing the first night ritual.

Credit: https://thetalkingcupboard.com/2021/02/09/wedding-and-marriage-in-joseon-part-3-royal-style/ ]

“Crown Prince, I’ve seen your conduct, and I have no particular worries, but still, one can never be certain about human affairs. You are now the head of a family. Be cautious in all matters.”

“I will heed your words carefully.”

Having completed the “Imheonchogye,” the Crown Prince mounted his horse to go to the Detached Palace.

As he rode toward the Detached Palace, the Crown Prince murmured to himself.

“Do I have to do this two more times?”

Due to the different fortunes of the princess consort and the women in the inner palace, the Crown Prince had to perform the wedding ceremony three times in total.

While riding his horse, which was restrained at a walking pace, he let his thoughts wander.

“The first night, huh… Come to think of it, both in the 21st century and now, it’s my first ‘first night.’ Hmm…”

As soon as the word ‘first night’ came to his mind, a variety of sensual scenes unfolded in his imagination.

His eunuchs, who had been following him, started to whisper.

“Isn’t this the first time we’ve seen the Crown Prince like this?”

“He looks like the young prince who used to gaze at toy train models.”

“It must be great… I also want to get married…”

One of the eunuchs grumbled, and a colleague next to him looked at him with a strange expression.

“…”

“Why?”

In response to the question, the colleague still looked at him strangely.

“You’ve been going out a lot lately at night…”

Caught off guard by the question, the eunuch looked around cautiously before whispering to his colleague.

“Shh! Do you want to see someone’s head roll?”

There was a reason for the eunuch’s alarm.

While Ming Dynasty eunuchs underwent full castration, in Joseon, only the testicles were removed.

However, in Joseon, erections were still possible, making it likely for scandals to occur with the palace women who lived in the same environment.

For that reason, a colleague’s mere slip of the tongue could become a life-threatening major accident.

“That eunuch seems like he wants to get married. I’ve noticed he’s been going out a lot these nights.” would turn into, “That eunuch said he wants to get married, but he seems close with the palace maid so and so. Could they have some sort of relationship?” and eventually transform into, “That eunuch and that palace maid are having an affair!”

And when such rumors reached the ears of the merchants or the palace maids, a storm of blood would inevitably ensue.

The internal regulations for the eunuchs and the palace maids were far more strict and brutal than one could imagine; a tiny misstep and the individuals involved in the rumors would disappear without a trace.

Another eunuch official gave a reproachful look to his colleague, who was sweating bullets just for saying, “I want to get married.”

“Why are you so surprised? If you want to get married, then get married.”

In the Joseon Dynasty, unlike in China, eunuchs could marry, hence the statement.

However, the reprimanded eunuch answered with a glum voice,

“I don’t have money…”

“That’s why I told you to cut down on the drinking.”

While the internal eunuchs were scolding, Hyang was still entrusting himself to the flow of consciousness.

‘I knew it. Ah! I didn’t delete the “Hidden” folder on the computer in my room at the repair shop!’

* * *

At the palace, during the selection ceremony, Hyang was able to see the Crown Princess’s face for the first time.

‘Wow! She’s the center!’

[TL/N: Center here usually means the visual in an idol group.]

Hyang shouted cheers in his heart upon seeing the Crown Princess’s face.

When he had secretly observed the ‘Gyeonghoeru Tea Party’ hosted by Queen Dowager Jeong, Hyang had judged them as a “girl group.”

‘If it’s a girl group, of course there’s a center!’

Thinking so, Hyang busily moved his telescope.

‘Goodness! Whoever I choose… I made a great choice!’

The beauty of the remaining three finalists was a tough choice to make.

He had worked hard and ultimately chosen the ‘center,’ but the other two were neck and neck, so Hyang, who had ‘choice paralysis,’ handed the ball over to Sejong.

‘If I’ll regret it no matter what, I might as well find an excuse!’

However, due to internal and external circumstances, he ended up taking all three finalists, and from that point on, Hyang fell into another dilemma.

‘So, who is the Crown Princess?’

And at the highly anticipated selection ceremony, Hyang, who saw the Crown Princess for the first time, couldn’t help but smile.

* * *

As anticipated, Hyang’s choice for Crown Princess was revolutionary compared to the past conventions.

Not just in terms of beauty, but the biggest difference was that all the candidates were tall.

Not as elongated as 21st-century fashion models, but they were relatively taller than the average of that era.

This was influenced by the Office of Royal Wedding officials, who were in charge of selecting the candidates.

Having received King Sejong’s orders, the members of Office of Royal Wedding were discussing what kind of candidates would be suitable.

“Why don’t we set more specific criteria, apart from them being beautiful and kind-hearted?”

“More specific? Isn’t being roughly beautiful and kind-hearted enough?”

“You fool! We’re not just picking a daughter-in-law for a wealthy family; this is the Crown Princess we’re talking about! Don’t be ignorant!”

“So you say!”

“Idiot! At least I’ve read the Analects! You ignorant fool!”

Seeing his subordinates bickering, the director spoke up.

“Seeing you guys argue like this… let’s add scholarly knowledge to the criteria for selecting consorts.”

Upon hearing their director’s command, the bickering subordinates stopped and asked a question.

“Scholarly knowledge, you say?”

“Yes. As you all know, should the Crown Prince be smart or not? Do you want to invite ridicule by choosing a beautiful but dumb consort?”

“Ah…”

After ‘scholarly knowledge’ was added to the criteria for selecting consorts, ‘height’ was the next addition.

“Height? Why height?”

“Think about it. Not just our current ruler, but even starting from the founding emperor, have there ever been short aristocrats?”

When one of the subordinates mentioned height, citing historical examples including King Sejong, the others expressed admiration.

“Ah!”

“To wield a sword effectively, you need to be large in stature, you see.”

“Does His Highness ever wield a sword?”

“It’s better than being weak, isn’t it?”

Among the hesitant subordinates, one cautiously presented another opinion.

“Then how about choosing a robust consort…”

“What if that consort later conflicts with the Crown Prince?”

“Then let’s compromise with height for now…”

And so, ‘height’ was included in the criteria for selecting a consort, to everyone’s satisfaction.

* * *

After the ceremony, Hyang returned to the Eastern Palace and proceeded with the Dongroe (a ritual where the Crown Prince and the consort share a meal and drink).

After Dongroe was over, changing from heavy ceremonial attire to lighter clothing – though still in a dragon robe and dangui^2 – Hyang and the Crown Princess Consort sat face to face.

‘This atmosphere is really tense… ’

Hyang grumbled toward the screen door with a face full of discontent.

“Do we really have to have people standing right outside the door like this?”

Seeing the inner palace attendants and maids gathered tightly outside, the Senior Palace Lady, who was sent by the Queen, responded with a smile.

“It’s the law.”

At the sound of the Senior Palace Lady’s reply from outside the door, Hyang clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! There’s no privacy, no privacy… Fine! But never open that door!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

* * *

[TL/N: It was a custom back then, for certain servants to wait outside on the first night of marriage of royals.]

Sitting outside, the Senior Palace Lady listened carefully to the movements inside the room.

‘Will tonight go well?’

Unlike Sejong, who even had a child before coming to the palace, Hyang was experiencing his first night in the palace.

Moreover, Hyang had no prior sexual experience.

That’s why the Senior Palace Lady had to pay extra attention to the movements inside the room.

Because if needed, she had the authority to enter the room, even if the Crown Prince objected.

Listening closely, the Senior Palace Lady was baffled.

Inside the room, Hyang and the Crown Princess Consort were just having an unexpected conversation.

“So, what are your hobbies, Crown Princess Consort?”

“I enjoy reading books and sewing, but my favorite activities are horseback riding and archery.”

“Archery? Wow. How skilled are you?”

“I’ve rarely lost when wagering among the palace ladies.”

“Amazing!”

“Do you also enjoy archery, Your Highness?”

“I enjoy archery, but these days I prefer shooting something else. Wait here for a moment.”

After a brief rustling sound, Hyang continued speaking.

“I’ve been using this matchlock gun that the Joseon cavalry uses these days. It’s really fun to shoot with it.”

“Is that so?”

“Let’s do it together sometime.”

“Yes.”

Listening to the conversation in the room, the Senior Palace Lady hit her chest.

‘Oh my! Is this really the time to be chit-chatting about guns when there’s so much to do?’

Although the Senior Palace Lady was feeling frustrated outside, Hyang was just as restless.

Even in the 21st century, Hyang had always been distant from romantic relationships.

He was a well-known geek throughout middle and high school, and after going to college, he had even traveled to the U.S. to indulge in his fandom. As a result, he was labeled a ‘Global Geek,’ and no women approached him.

‘I need to create some kind of atmosphere… I can’t just simply say let’s lie down! Strip! Hug! I can’t do that! The movies and dramas I’ve watched are all unrelated to romance! This is driving me crazy!’

Making a ‘romantic atmosphere’ was an entirely unknown territory to him. What made Hyang hesitate further was the age of the Crown Princess (Seja-bin).

The Crown Princess was 15 years old. Hyang was 14, but he was more concerned about the Crown Princess’s age than his own.

Despite trying to forget, he was continually held back by psychological barriers.

Ding~.

The atmosphere was broken by the sound of a bell from the bell tower.

Hearing the bell, Hyang checked the time.

“It’s already midnight. Let’s sleep.”

“Yes.”

The Crown Princess, who humbly bowed her head in response, was flushed red from embarrassment and tension.

The Senior Palace Lady, who had been listening outside, clenched her fist lightly.

‘Finally!’

As the lights in the royal chamber went out, a few court ladies who had followed Senior Palace Lady tried to drill a hole in the door to peek.

However, behind the papered windows were glass panes, and beyond those, another layer of paper obscured their view.

“Give it up. This Eastern Palace (a palace within the royal grounds) is the first place where glass doors were installed. Did you think His Majesty would just let it pass?”

Upon hearing this from the court ladies working at Eastern Palace, the faces of the court ladies who had come with the Senior Palace Lady filled with regret.

“Hmm…”

Once the Crown Prince and Crown Princess finished their first night, the Senior Palace Lady had a peculiar expression.

‘It seems average but also a bit short… ’

Since the duration and frequency of the first night were related to the aftercare, the Senior Palace Lady began a serious analysis.

Just then, Hyang’s voice was heard.

“Now that I roughly know, let’s do it properly.”

“Excuse me? Your Highness? What do you mean by that?”

“Today is my first time dealing with marital affairs; I’ve only learned from books until now. Now that I’ve grasped how to do it, let’s do it properly!”

“Yes, Your Highness? From books…?”

Suddenly, the Crown Princess’s words stopped, and shortly after, a strange moan began to leak out.

“Ah-hm!”

Following that, the atmosphere inside the room grew hot.

“Now, let’s try it like this…”

“Again?”

“Yes, and also this…”

Listening to the sounds coming from the inside, the Senior Palace Lady looked outside.

The dawn was breaking.

“What in the world is this…”

The Senior Palace Lady’s eyes began to darken as the sounds kept coming.

* * *

Footnote 1) It is said that the eunuchs in Joseon, unlike those in China, were capable of sexual activities.

[Link to Korean Wikipedia Article on Eunuchs](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/내시)

1. 臨軒醮戒, the king instructing the Crown Prince on moral boundaries[↩]

2. Korean traditional clothing[↩]

Chapter 115

As morning broke, the Senior Palace Lady reported the events of the first night to the Queen.

“Is it true that the Crown Prince safely made it through his first night?”

“Yes. His Highness passed his first night without any issues.”

“Then why does your voice sound like that? Your voice is very nasal, why is that?”

“I had a nosebleed…”

Slightly lifting her head, both of Senior Palace Lady’s nostrils were packed with blood-stained cotton.

“Oh my! You must have been tired lately. Anyway, are there any concerns regarding the concubines?”

The Senior Palace Lady answered the Queen’s question resolutely.

“There’s absolutely no need to worry about the issue of the concubines!”

After that day, rumors began to circulate that ‘The Crown Prince is a genius in that aspect as well.’

Meanwhile, families with sons or grandsons around the same age as the Crown Prince began to move discreetly.

“Find that book the Crown Prince has read!”

* * *

Perhaps he had gotten sufficiently acquainted through the Crown Princess, the Prince had an even more heated first night with his two concubines.

As a result, King Sejong asked the Prince the following.

“There was talk of a book… Ahem. Where and what kind of book did you obtain?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Prince answered with a complicated expression.

“Among the books I’ve collected through scholars, there were a few related to the relations between men and women.”

‘I can’t possibly say I learned it from the Internet!’

At the Prince’s response, King Sejong made a subtle request.

“Really? There was such a book? How embarrassing. I must confirm this for myself. Bring it to me.”

“I found the contents too embarrassing, so I’ve already burned it.”

“What, you brat!”

In that moment, King Sejong burst into a shout. The startled Prince looked at Sejong and replied,

“Wh-what did I do wrong…”

To which Sejong retorted, “Do you think it’s acceptable to treat books so lightly? Burning it!”

“I-it was too embarrassing…”

“Even so!”

The Prince quickly responded to Sejong’s exaggerated reaction,

“Considering the number of my blood brothers and half-brothers, there’s really no need for you to consult such books…”

“Learning should never come to a halt.”

At Sejong’s answer, the Prince simply lowered his head and mumbled.

* * *

“Rumors that the Crown Prince is extraordinary even at night have spread like wildfire within the palace!”

Thanks to this, even the ‘water maids’ busy with odd jobs around the palace began to engage in chatter about the rumor.

The water maids were not palace maids. They were strong and competent women from the general populace, selected by the chief court ladies to work in the palace.

Hence, there were both single and married women among them. Once selected as a water maid, they received a special pass that allowed them to commute to and from the palace.

True to their name, the water maids’ main job was drawing water for the palace, but they also managed a variety of chores, such as tending the furnace.

Since the work was strenuous and most water maids were experienced married women with robust personalities, all sorts of candid conversations unfolded when they gathered.

“Girl, have you heard the rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“It’s about the Eastern Palace!”

As they waited their turn by the well, where buckets were lined up, the water maids started talking about ‘Eastern Palace’.

However, mentioning the name of the Crown Prince directly could lead to punishment, so they simply referred to him as ‘Eastern Palace’.

“Eastern Palace? Ah, is he that extraordinary?”

“I heard the Senior Palace Lady had her nose bleed three times!”

“Oh my goodness! The Senior Palace Lady is a person with considerable reputation, isn’t she? She nosebleed three times? Wow, he must be ”Two fives, Twenty-fives.”

As her fellow water maid exclaimed, the one who initially opened her mouth sighed.

“Phew~. Some make the Senior Palace Lady nosebleed, while my useless husband can only snore… No joy in life, no joy in life. I don’t wish for ‘two-fives and twenty-five,’ but I’d be content if he were just good in bed.'”

“Goodness? If he’s even just ‘good in bed,’ I would cook meat soup every morning!”

“Hohohoho!”

“Hohohoho!”

The water maids laughed uproariously as they continued their conversation.

Watching this, a young water maid asked an older water maid next to her,

“What does ‘two-fives and twenty-five’ mean?”

“You don’t need to know yet.”

“Come on~. What does it mean? Huh? What does it mean?”

Persistently pestered by the young water maid, the older one began to tell a story.

* * *

“In a certain rural village, there lived a couple with a very good marital relationship.

One day, just before dawn, both woke up at the same time and began to get busy.

In the midst of their fervor, the kitchen maid called for the lady of the house.

‘Madam, madam~. How many servings of rice shall I cook for breakfast? Madam? Madam~.’

Annoyed by the foolish maid’s incessant calling, the madam answered from the room.

‘Just, More! Just! More, Yes, more!’ (Two-Fives, Two-Fives, Twenty-five)

‘Okay, got it.’

When dawn fully broke and the madam came into the kitchen, she was shocked to see the large pots full of cooked rice and grabbed the maid.

‘You wench! Are you out of your mind? Why did you cook so much rice?’

‘But madam, you told me to!’

‘When did I!'”

+++

Explanation: ‘two-fives and twenty-five’

The term itself comes from a story about the misunderstanding between a maid and her mistress revolving around the mistress’s ambiguous phrase ‘닷되 닷되 다닷되,’ during an intimate course. In this phrase, ‘닷 되’ is a traditional Korean unit of measure for rice, and ‘다닷 되’ implies ‘twenty-five units.’

The maid misinterprets the phrase by taking each ‘닷 되’ (five units) separately and then adding it to ‘다닷 되’ (twenty-five units). In other words, she calculates it as 5 + 5 + 25, arriving at a total of ‘서 말 닷 되’ or ‘thirty-five units’ of rice. In the end, the servant then cooked that much rice, which led to the lady of the house later chastising her for making too much.

* * *

“The Mistress said, ‘Da, Dat! Dahat! Dahat! Do!’ If it’s ‘Dat Do,’ it’s one word, and ‘Da Dat’ means two words. Combined, it becomes ‘Three words, Dat Do,’ right!”

“So that’s how the phrase ‘Three words, Dat Do’ came about. Alright, let’s line up! Let’s get some water!”

Having finished the story, the elder water carrier headed toward the well with big strides, followed by a young water carrier whose face had turned red.

* * *

Meanwhile, families that had become in-laws through the marriage were also busy.

“Is everything packed?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Hoo~.”

Parents sighed deeply at the sight of their sons preparing to leave.

The sons had to leave for the distant and dangerous north for the sake of the family’s well-being and their own safety.

* * *

After the marital arrangements were made, King Sejong invited everyone who was to become a family member.

Sitting at the main seat in the hall of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, King Sejong conducted the gathering.

“Upon the occasion of the Crown Prince’s betrothal, we’ve invited you who will become royal in-laws.”

“We are deeply honored.”

Everyone who had been invited to Gyeonghoeru Pavilion bowed their heads at King Sejong’s words.

The gathering had begun, but the in-laws-to-be were intently focused on King Sejong.

‘One mistake and it’s the end of our family lineage!’

After some time had passed, King Sejong finally got to the point.

“The reason I’ve invited you here today is that there’s something I wish to say.”

“We will listen carefully.”

‘Is this the moment?’

The in-laws-to-be swallowed dryly and looked at King Sejong.

King Sejong slowly opened his mouth.

“Once the Crown Prince’s marriage is over, many visitors will come to your homes, will they not?”

“We’ll close the front gate immediately!”

All the prospective fathers-in-law answered in unison.

Indeed, as soon as the words ‘The Crown Prince’s candidates—also future consorts—has been chosen’ spread, not only gift packages but relatives and acquaintances who hadn’t visited for a long time began to swarm in.

“Hehe~ Closing the gate indiscriminately is also rude. Do entertain them, but avoid causing trouble for the royal family.”

“We will keep that firmly in mind!”

The prospective in-laws all bowed their heads and answered.

“And… your sons are indeed loyal.”

“It’s too much praise. They are fortunate if they can at least earn their keep.”

“Is that so? ‘Seeing one lets you know ten,’ as they say. So… have they taken the civil service examination?”

At King Sejong’s question, the brothers of the Crown Prince’s wife and future consorts answered one by one with trembling voices.

“I am currently working at the Office of Taxation.”

“The Office of Taxation? Truly, it must be hard work. Work a little more, since there isn’t much time left for the rank promotion. If you give your best, good results will follow.”

“I will do my utmost!”

Soon after, a strapping young son spoke up.

“I have recently passed the military service exam.”

“The military service exam, you say? You should strive even harder to become a shield that protects our nation.”

“I will redouble my efforts!”

Among the nine sons of the three families attending the banquet, one worked in the Office of Taxation another had passed the military service exam, and the remaining seven were preparing for the civil service exams. It was just as reported.

Sejong, having confirmed the situation, lightly stroked his beard and opened his mouth.

“Would it be acceptable to give an opportunity to the sons other than the one working at the Office of Taxation?”

At Sejong’s question, the fathers bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

Not just the fathers, but the sons themselves also bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

However, what followed from Sejong was not good news at all.

“I have prepared places in the northern frontier. Go there and build your achievements and merits. When the time is right, you will be used even more valuably.”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words, the previously delighted sons froze. However, the one who had recently passed the military service exam responded loudly.

“I shall heed your words! For granting such an excellent opportunity, Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

The other sons, although reluctant, replied in the same manner.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

“I have expectations.”

Having thus concluded one matter, Sejong then glared at his in-laws.

“Titles of nobility and lands will soon be granted to do to your position as in-laws. Therefore, I have something to ask of you.”

“Please, instruct us.”

“Simple. Never forget whose blood you carry. If necessary, you too could commit the same actions.”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words, the atmosphere inside the venue literally froze. Everyone except Sejong bowed their heads with pale faces.

Eventually, the three fathers answered with trembling voices.

“We shall remember and heed your words!”

* * *

So, the sons of the three families, excluding the one working at the Office of Taxation, all prepared to leave for the north.

“Father, I shall now depart.”

“Yes, yes… *sobs*”

The mothers wiped their tears with their sleeves, looking distressed as their sons bowed deeply while taking their leave. Fathers sitting beside tried to maintain a composed face, encouraging their sons.

“Think of this situation as an opportunity and do your best.”

“Yes. Father, mother, please stay in good health.”

After bowing, the sons thus left their families and headed north.

“Except for the hurriedly arranged wedding of the Crown Prince, which seemed like ‘roasting beans in a wildfire,’ the latter half of the tenth year of King Sejong’s reign appeared to pass peacefully.

However, on October 16th, an impeachment motion was raised in the Office of the Censors.

The subject of the impeachment was Hwang Sang, the Minister of Law and Enforcement.

– Chief Prosecutor Lee Soon-mong was caught having an affair with Hwang Sang’s concubine Wol-hwa-bong, and both of their heads were shaved off by Hwang Sang. Consequently, Lee Soon-mong falsely accused Hwang Sang of neglecting his duties. Hwang Sang had illegally taken the concubine, and Lee Soon-mong had falsely taken sick leave to avoid work. Both should be severely punished.

Upon receiving the motion, King Sejong immediately issued an order.

“Detain the parties involved and interrogate them at the Royal Investigative Department.”

“I will carry out your command!”

Meanwhile, Hyang, who heard the story, lightly shook his head.

“What? In this era, there are still things like extramarital affairs and false accusations? Those old gentlemen seem too energetic…”

In the end, when everything was proven true, Sejong issued another order.

“Reclaim all the previous titles and merits given to Lee Soon-mong and Hwang Sang. Confiscate half of all their property. Also, subject both to indefinite document-sorting.”

“I will carry out your command!”

On the other hand, the court official added a note while documenting all these events.

– When His Majesty decreed the document-sorting punishment for the criminals, all ministers unanimously agreed.

The official then reflected.

– Nowadays, there are hardly any exile punishments.

– It’s lamentable that there are hardly any respectable elders left.

* * *

With Hwang Sang receiving the document-sorting punishment, the position of the Minister of Law and Enforcement became vacant.

“Who would be suitable…?”

Although he had asked his ministers for recommendations, King Sejong himself was also pondering suitable candidates.

As King Sejong was thinking about candidates, Chief Eunuch entered the room carrying a scroll.

“What is it?”

“It’s the document-sorting records completed this month.”

“Leave it and go.”

“Yes.”

King Sejong unfurled the scroll left by Chief Eunuch, and his eyes fixated on one spot.

“Does the Ministry of Law and Enforcement department achieve these much results? How?”

While examining the excellent performance of the Ministry of Law and Enforcement that surpassed other departments, King Sejong’s eyes landed on one name.

‘Jo Mal-saeng,’

The man who had displayed remarkable ability in swiftly organizing the documents of the Ministry of Law and Enforcement after receiving the document-sorting punishment.

Upon confirming the name, a smile crossed King Sejong’s lips as he muttered,

“It looks like there is someone useful after all.”

Chapter 116
He’s Back!

Correction Note:

I’ve made a mistake regarding Hwang San’s position in previous chapters. His actual position is Minister of Military Affairs not Minister of Law and Enforcement. This position was assumed by Jo Mal-saeng before he got punished with documentation sorting.

The next day, as soon as the morning court meeting began, King Sejong summoned the Chief Royal Secretary to check the situation.

“So, have you found suitable candidates?”

“Yes, we are currently in the process of selecting them.”

“Still?”

As King Sejong’s voice turned stern, the Chief Royal Secretary immediately explained the reason.

“Many of the suitable candidates are currently involved in the northern frontier development.”

“Ah, I see.”

Hearing the Chief Royal Secretary’s answer, King Sejong nodded.

The northern frontier development, which King Sejong and his court were ambitiously pushing forward, was going relatively smoothly.

According to the reports arriving every ten days, the northern territories of Joseon, especially in the northeast, were steadily expanding.

Furthermore, these expanding territories were drawing in more and more people.

One of the last reasons for this influx was military conflict.

Joseon’s army had demonstrated its power so effectively that there were hardly any Jurchen tribes daring to provoke through force.

However, the reason so many people were needed was not only because of the smooth subjugation of the Jurchen tribes, but also because the policy of civilizing them was going smoothly.

* * *

“If you go to the north, the country will give you land! And you don’t have to pay taxes for five years!”

When the rumor first started, the peasants showed little enthusiasm.

Consequently, local officials in the southern regions, whose evaluations depended on this matter, began to think about how to increase the number of peasants willing to join the frontier development.

One of these local officials submitted a proposal to King Sejong.

– Currently, there are no peasants willing to participate. Give us an appropriate incentive to attract them.

“What else could be more appropriate than a tax exemption?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Minister Hyang immediately answered.

“In order to increase the production of our new formula gunpowder, the production of potassium nitrate needs to increase. Promise that the court will buy all the soybeans if they cultivate them.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, all the civil ministers and aides responded.

“Truly a brilliant idea! Please proceed with it!”

“I also agree.”

Thus, an official answer was dispatched to the local officials in the southern regions.

Upon receiving the official answer, the local officials immediately spread the word.

– If you cultivate soybeans, the court will buy all of them!

Upon hearing the rumor, the peasants started to show a slight interest, but no significant movement had occurred yet.

“It’s good that the country will buy our soybeans, but will they really buy that much? And for what purpose do they need so many soybeans? It’s not like the king is eating soy sauce instead of rice.”

“Well… Ah!”

Among those who had expressed doubts, the quick-witted ones immediately left their seats to join the commoners.

“This lord must be drunk! Why suddenly go north out of nowhere! How am I supposed to live!”

Naturally, those who unilaterally made decisions got an earful from their wives, and the husbands explained their reasons.

“Think about it, darling. What food can that foolish boy not live without? Hey Foolish Boy! What’s your favorite food these days!”

“Chicken! Chicken!”

At the young foolish boy’s reply, his father continued speaking.

“You hear that? These days, every household eats chicken at least once or twice a month, right?”

“But, why?”

“Do you know what’s the most important thing in chicken besides the meat? It’s oil, oil! And it’s soybean oil!”

“Ah!”

The foolish boy’s mother instantly understood and started bustling about.

“When are we heading north? I have some things laid out here and there that I need to collect!”

* * *

To produce glycerin needed for manufacturing gunpowder, the Joseon dynasty distributed a large amount of meat, especially pork, and soybean oil.

However, unlike in 20th and 21st-century Korea, where chemical extraction methods were used, traditional pressing methods couldn’t yield a large amount. So, a large sum of money was invested in purchasing soybeans, and the government was operating at a loss.

In this context, Kim Jeom, a royal advisor, made a request to King Sejong.

“I think it would be wise to postpone the production of the new type of gunpowder, considering the circumstances.”

“That can’t be! Please reconsider! Absolutely not!”

As soon as Kim Jeom’s words ended, vehement opposition erupted from the military sector.

Since the late Goryeo period, the military’s core strength had been artillery, especially for the navy. As soon as gunpowder was improved by Hyang, the navy immediately adopted it. Then, when blueprints for a new type of ship were released, they tested its performance and immediately requested large-scale production from Sejong.

“Mass produce?”

“Yes! The hull is large so it can withstand large waves, and most importantly, it can carry far more artillery than existing warships!”

Hyang nodded, fully understanding the navy’s enthusiasm.

‘In the end, Admiral Yi Sun-sin didn’t come from nowhere!’

For the navy, the new type of gunpowder was invaluable. If it had the same power with only half the amount, then each ship only needed half the gunpowder, allowing them to carry more supplies.

Thus, both the army and the navy strongly opposed Kim Jeom, insisting that they would rather “sink the ships” than stop the production.

Eventually, King Sejong sided with the military.

“Even if it’s at a loss, this is a necessary sacrifice. Therefore, I will not accept the royal advisor’s proposal.”

“…I obey your command.”

Kim Jeom had to accept King Sejong’s decision.

Later, it was said that Kim Jeom almost came to blows with the Minister of Military Affairs.

“Damn it! Let His Majesty take a look at the financial statements! I insist!”

Anyway, as the problem of permanent land was resolved, the number of farmers willing to migrate to the North increased enormously.

More quickly than expected, and with a large number wanting to migrate, more military forces were required in the North.

Another unexpected event occurred in the North, just as the number of migrating farmers had surged beyond expectations.

The other unforeseen event in the North was the mass return of the Jurchen people.

When initially planning the northern expansion strategy, the military had estimated that the return rate of the Jurchen would be at most 60%.

“Even 60% is generous. Looking at the nature of those Jurchen, the majority would either resist or leave. Look at the Odori tribes.”

The maximum figure the military had based their plans on, citing the example of the Odori tribes who left due to the persuasion of Ahachu and Ming Emperor, was 60%.

However, as the northern expansion actually proceeded, the return rate of the Jurchen people started from 70% and was continuously rising.

“Why?”

“Isn’t it all thanks to Your Majesty?”

Upon hearing the Left Chief Councilor’s words, King Sejong gave a slight smile in response.

“That would be an excellent merit, but find out the reason immediately. Don’t just gloss over it, thinking it’s good; we might run into big trouble later!”

“Understood!”

Thus, the government officials quickly found the cause.

“A monopoly store?”

* * *

As farmers migrated to the North, the Ministry of Taxation monopoly store was also established in the newly formed village.

Upon the establishment of the monopoly store, it caught the attention of the neighboring Jurchen people.

“What is that place?”

Answering the fluent Korean-speaking Jurchen’s question, the farmer responded nonchalantly.

“That? It’s a monopoly store.”

“What’s a monopoly store?”

“You can buy salt or candy there.”

Upon hearing the farmer, the eyes of the Jurchen who had asked the question widened.

“You can buy salt?”

“Yes.”

“Can I also buy it?”

“Go and ask.”

At the farmer’s words, the Jurchen got on a horse and headed toward the monopoly store.

“What’s going on?”

As the Jurchen entered the monopoly store, not only the dispatched Ministry of Taxation officials but also the soldiers on guard all looked at the Jurchen with tense faces.

“I heard you can buy salt here.”

At the Jurchens question, the expression of the Ministry of Taxation official relaxed.

“Salt? Ah, if you are a returning Jurchen, you can buy it. Do you have a return certificate?”

“Here it is.”

The Jurchen searched through his belongings and handed over the certificate.

After confirming the document stamped by the officials, the Ministry of Taxation official checked the residence of the Jurchen on the hanging map and nodded.

“You are within our jurisdiction. Then you can buy it. Will you buy it now?”

“Can I really buy it?”

Faced with the Jurchens’s question filled with distrust, the Ministry of Taxation official replied, “Do you think I’d lie to you, all the way up here in the North? So, will you trade or not? We’re already in a busy situation; make it quick.”

At the Ministry of Taxation official’s urging, the Jurchens came to his senses and responded, “Ah! I haven’t brought anything worth selling now. What should I bring?”

“Anything of value will do. Cattle, horses, sheep, grain, and even furs, gold, and silver are all acceptable.”

“Understood! I’ll be back soon!”

As the Jurchens hastily started to leave, a Ministry of Taxation official quickly called him back, “Wait! Take this certificate! Without it, you’re just a bluff!”

“Eh? Yes! Thank you!”

Having secured the certificate for tributary submission, the Jurchens carefully stored the crucial document and hurriedly left.

Cases similar to that of the Jurchens occurred all over the northern frontier.

Being able to secure a stable supply of salt, an essential item for survival, was like manna from heaven for the Jurchens tribe.

Eventually, the Jurchens people who had already submitted tribute began to offer livestock and grain in exchange not only for salt but even for sugar, prompting other Jurchens people to eagerly follow suit.

As a result, there was a significant increase in labor requirements in the North.

The existing troops had to be redeployed to secure the rapidly expanding border, leaving a shortfall for maintaining internal order.

* * *

“The rapid northern expansion was good, but it has had some unintended consequences. We need to fill the position in the Ministry of War quickly…”

Upon hearing the response from Chief State Councilor, King Sejong spoke with a regretful expression, at which point Ministry of Law and Enforcement interjected,

“Although the previous Minister of Military Affairs, Hwang Sang, committed a grave error, Lee Soon-mong should be considered important again…”

“Enough! Speak sensibly!”

A high-ranking censor official cut him off before he could finish, “What was Lee Soon-mong’s duty? He was a royal guard, responsible for accompanying the king’s carriage. Not only did he rebel, but he also falsely claimed to be ill! How can we re-employ such a reckless man?”

“Chief Censor is correct.”

Siding with the Chief Censor, King Sejong issued an order to Chief Eunuch, “Go and call Jo Mal-saeng.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As King Sejong ordered for Jo Mal-saeng to be called again, Chief State Councilor immediately inquired,

“Your Majesty, do you intend to reemploy Jo Mal-saeng?”

“Yes.”

In response to King Sejong’s words, Chief Censor immediately objected.

“Your Majesty! This should absolutely not be done! Criminal Jo Mal-saeng has not even served two years of his sentence. To employ such a criminal again is absolutely unacceptable! I implore you to reconsider!”

“Chief Censor, your point is valid. However, Jo Mal-saeng is diligently serving his punishment, and he has proven that. Chief Eunuch, hand this to the Chief Censor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Chief Eunuch took the report that came up from the Record Office and handed it to Chief Censor.

“Heoh~.”

Upon reading the report, Chief Censor let out a sigh.

The report was neatly organized with graphs and tables—undoubtedly similar to the work of Crown Prince Hyang—showing Jo Mal-saeng’s exemplary performance in military service.

“Haah~.”

Chief Censor let out another long sigh and waved a white flag.

‘There are results, and a rationale has been established. It’s hard to break it with just reason alone!’

“Proceed as you wish, Your Majesty.”

Chapter 117

The Chief Censor soon waved a white flag, and not long after, Jo Mal-saeng entered the hall.

Seeing Jo Mal-saeng walk in, clad in white robes and wearing a traditional hat, Hyang thought he heard the theme music from a famous western movie composed by Ennio Morricone^1.

‘All he needs is a cigarette in his mouth!’

Jo Mal-saeng, emitting an air of perilousness, strolled up to the platform where King Sejong sat and deeply bowed.

“Sinner Jo Mal-saeng has arrived, heeding His Majesty’s command!”

“So, how’s life at the Records Bureau? I hear it’s terribly strenuous for everyone?”

In response to Sejong’s query, Jo Mal-saeng forcefully answered.

“How could I complain when not only have you spared this deserving sinner’s life but also granted me a chance to atone for my past sins?”

“Heh heh heh…”

Upon hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s reply, King Sejong chuckled, making the ministers uneasy.

‘Did he go to the Records Bureau to learn documentation or just to practice fawning?’

As much as the ministers felt disgusted, Sejong, who had been chuckling, suddenly became serious and looked at Jo Mal-saeng sternly.

“This King intends to give sinner Jo Mal-saeng an opportunity. The post of the Minister of Military Affairs is vacant. Can you handle the responsibilities of this position?”

Faced with Sejong’s query, Jo Mal-saeng prostrated himself on the ground and responded loudly,

“Sinner Jo Mal-saeng! If you entrust me with this task, I will do my utmost, pouring in every ounce of my energy!”

Sejong made his decision.

“Start your duties from tomorrow. If you fail to do well, you will be immediately dismissed and returned to the Records Bureau.”

Jo Mal-saeng firmly planted his forehead on the ground and shouted,

“I will bear it in mind, and remember it again!”

“Let’s see how you do over the next three months. If you manage your duties well, I will grant you a piece of suitable land in Bukchon and build you a new house. Otherwise, who knows what will happen?”

Jo Mal-saeng promptly answered,

“I understand! Even if I die, I will die at the desk of the Minister of Military Affairs!”

“Then go and rest. Minister of Military Affairs.”

“Your Grace is boundless! May Your Majesty live a thousand years! A thousand years! A thousand years!”

After shouting “A thousand years” three times, Jo Mal-saeng cautiously backpedaled out of the hall. King Sejong looked around at his ministers.

“Well, now that we’ve filled the position, let’s get back to work. We don’t have much time left before the end of the royal examination.”

“We heed your words!”

Meanwhile, the scribe who had documented all these proceedings added a note.

-… Thus, the ministers did not oppose the reappointment of Jo Mal-saeng.

The scribe mused,

His Majesty is fearsome.

* * *

The next day, Jo Mal-saeng, dressed in proper official attire, immediately started working on improving the military’s issues.

“…As the northern stronghold expands, there are communication problems arising. A comprehensive overhaul of the relay stations is needed as a solution,” he suggested.

“A revamp of the relay stations, you say…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s suggestion, King Sejong stroked his chin beard, lost in thought.

Starting in China and being introduced into Korea since the Three Kingdoms period, the relay stations or beacon system had been one of the most critical elements in the administrative network.

“Does the Minister of Military Affairs have any thoughts?”

“First, we need to identify the problems that have arisen from the existing system. Until now, we’ve granted land to residents living around the relay stations and entrusted them with its management. Horses required for the stations were secured by levying the Stand-horse Labor Tax on local residents, servants at the stations, and government soldiers.

However, this has caused significant drawbacks.

“According to the records that I reviewed at the archives, the number of diplomatic missions between Joseon and Ming has increased, raising the demand and cost of horses. It’s even leading to people selling all their assets to afford this Stand-horse Labor. Consequently, the number of people running away from the relay stations or becoming vagrants is increasing.” (Note 1)

At Jo Mal-saeng’s report, King Sejong’s expression became serious.

“That is indeed a problem… What’s the solution then?”

“The easiest method is to recruit residents living near the stations as Auxiliary Labor Households and levy the Stand-horse Labor on them. The next option would be to supply government horses from pastures stationed in each region. I believe the latter is the best choice.”

“The latter, you say?”

Jo Mal-saeng continued to advocate for its necessity.

“Recruiting Auxiliary Labor Households may be convenient for now, but people will eventually run away or become vagrants again. The current taxation reform aims to simplify the tax obligations of the people, so the first option doesn’t align with this goal.”

“That’s true.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, both King Sejong and the ministers nodded in agreement. Seeing the positive reactions, Jo Mal-saeng continued.

“Thus, distributing government horses bred in regional pastures would be the best solution.”

Kim Jeom raised an objection.

“Although His Excellency’s opinion is valid, the supply of horses is the issue.”

“Why is the supply a problem? Have you forgotten the petition that came up from Jeju Island in January?”

Kim Jeom hastily rummaged through his memory at Jo Mal-saeng’s reminder. Seeing this, Jo Mal-saeng clicked his tongue.

“You’ve forgotten, despite nothing changing… How could a Minister of Taxation be so careless?”

“Uh…”

Stunned by Jo Mal-saeng’s sharp criticism, Kim Jeom could only mutter.

Jo Mal-saeng turned to King Sejong.

“In January, there was a petition transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs from Jeju Island. It was a petition sent by Jeju’s local military commander, related to the horses in Jeju Island.”

King Sejong, after a moment of recollection, responded.

“I remember. It was about regularly releasing the horses from Jeju Island, right?”

“Exactly.”

* * *

Author’s Notes

Note 1: ‘流離 (Yoo-ri)’ refers to the act of wandering aimlessly, often due to extreme circumstances like war or famine. It indicates people who have become displaced and are drifting from place to place.

* * *

In January, a horse breeder from Jeju submitted a petition.(Note 2)

– The residents of Jeju rely solely on horses for their livelihood, so they are eager to sell them to the mainland.

However, the government has prohibited the sale of female horses, causing problems. Male horses are often sold for a low price when they are not even two years old, leading to a skewed sex ratio and decreased fertility rates.

Therefore, they requested that female horses also be allowed to be sold to the mainland every two to three years.

The issue in Jeju was connected to Joseon’s tribute system.

As Jeju rose as a critical horse breeding ground, regional officials focused on increasing the number of breeding horses.

As a result, only the female horses that could bear foals were left, while the male horses were sold off.

This led to hardship for the residents of Jeju.

Although most of Jeju’s land was pasture, there were some who farmed. However, horses from the ranches trampled or ate the crops, causing significant damage.

Eventually, people in Jeju increasingly gave up farming and relied more on livestock.

As a result, the lack of grains became an everyday issue, and the horses they were raising began to starve and die.

What made things worse was that the horses that couldn’t get proper nutrition grew poorly. Also, the loss of prime male horses and repeated inbreeding led to the overall degradation of Jeju horses.

“The foals born in Jeju become smaller in size no matter how good the breed is,” became almost a common saying.

This was a disaster caused by short-sighted decisions of regional officials and residents.

* * *

When King Sejong recalled, Jo Mal-saeng explained more about horse management.

“Currently, due to excessive livestock farming in Jeju, the condition of the horses is not good. We should reduce the number of horses raised in Jeju to a reasonable level, raise them well in the inland ranches, and supply them to the offices, post stations, and the army.”

Upon hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s counsel, King Sejong looked at the other ministers.

“Is there enough pastureland in the inland areas?”

Kim Jeom immediately responded.

“Early in your reign, Your Majesty, we have been expanding ranches nationwide. However, there is a shortage of pastureland at present.”

“If what I have verified while organizing records is correct, we will have increasingly more pastureland in the future.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s counterargument, King Sejong looked at Kim Jeom. Kim Jeom looked at a distant mountain.

Jo Mal-saeng continued to propose policies.

“If a lack of pastureland in the inland is a problem, employing the wealthy Jurchens tribe can be another solution. They are well-known for raising good horses. We can acquire good horses, and the Jurchens can quickly assimilate as they are guaranteed a stable livelihood.”

“Can we trust the Jurchens?”

“If we keep being suspicious, the Jurchens will never become our people!”

“But, even though we are expanding ranches following the new policy, there is a limit! A limit!”

“Have you forgotten about the Eastward Expansion movement? According to Eastward Expansion’s plan, we’ll advance to the Greater Khingan ranges once the battlefronts in the Tumen River basin are over. Isn’t the land we acquire in the process not land but waste?”

The ministers continued to counter, but they kept losing to Jo Mal-saeng, who had data on his side.

Eventually, King Sejong made a decision.

“It seems that the Minister of Military Affairs’s opinion is correct. Decide on the policy with his opinion at its core.”

“I accept the order.”

At King Sejong’s decision, Jo Mal-saeng loudly expressed his thanks.

“Your grace is immense!”

The scribe who recorded all this added.

– And so, a decision from above was made.

The scribe pondered.

What had the Minister of Military Affairs experienced in the Records Office?

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had been watching the debate between Jo Mal-saeng and the ministers, suddenly remembered something.

‘Come to think of it… Otaibi, what are these noblemen doing taking so long? Are they planning to start from pairing the horses and then bring them?’

* * *

The situation was dire for the Otaibi family as Hyang found himself lost in thought about them after a long time.

“Just a little more and we’ll be in Joseon! Put in a little more effort!”

“Yes!”

Responding to the leader’s orders, the ship’s captain shouted commands to the crew.

“Shoot the arrows! Shoot!”

Following the captain’s orders, the crew fired flaming arrows at the pursuing pirate ships.

But it wasn’t just the Otaibi family’s merchant ships that were firing arrows at the incoming pirates. The merchant ships of the accompanying Azram family were also desperately fending off the pirate attacks.

The pirates were equally desperate.

“Catch them quickly!”

“Boss! We’re almost in the patrol zone of the Joseon Navy! It’s dangerous!”

Upon hearing his subordinate’s report, the leader of the pirate fleet, Wang Gahak, gritted his teeth and replied.

“I know! But if we catch those ships properly, we won’t have to imitate these foreigners for another 2-3 years!”

These men were dressed as foreigners, but they were actually fake Japanese, who were Chinese.

Shishi-shik!

“Flaming arrows!”

“Put out the fire!”

“Shoot our flaming arrows!”

As the Otaibi and Azram families’ merchant ships and pirate fleets engaged in a frantic chase, smoke rose in the distant northern sky.

Puff-puff-bang!

Multicolored smoke clouds burst in the air, and the subordinates shouted towards Wang Gahak.

“Boss! It’s the Joseon Navy!”

“Damn it! Turn the ship around!”

“The pirate ships are turning!”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure!”

Upon hearing the captain’s report, Otaibi rushed to the bow of the ship and looked at the pirate ships.

The pirate ships that had been chasing them with intent to kill were now changing their direction dramatically.

“It’s fortunate, but why?”

Surviving by the skin of his teeth, Otaibi was more curious than relieved.

“It seems to be related to the smoke that burst in the sky earlier.”

“That smoke?”

Otaibi immediately recalled the multicolored smoke cloud that had burst in the sky earlier.

“What on earth is that?”

As Otaibi couldn’t hide his confusion, a crew member who had been looking through the lookout at the top of the mast shouted.

“Ships are coming from the north!”

Upon hearing the sailor’s words, the leader and the captain rushed to the bow.

As the sailor said, ships with yellow sails were approaching them from a distance.

“It’s not any kind of ship.”

“Indeed.”

On these square-shaped vessels, multicolored flags depicting various animals were fluttering.

Note 1) Korean Cultural Encyclopedia https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0036639#self

Note 2) January 6th, in the 10th year of Sejong.

1. Probably referring to the movie called, ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.[↩]

Chapter 118
Made in Joseon (1)

Tension soared among the crew, the captain, and the head of the Otaibi family as a mysterious fleet approached.

“Enormous…”

As the unknown ship drew near, the crew of the merchant ship became increasingly disheartened.

Though the Dhow they were on was a large ship also known as a Baghlah (a type of dhow), the approaching ship was even more massive in size.

[TL/N: A type of ship usually used by Arabs a long time ago.

]

To be precise, their own ship was longer, but the approaching ship was noticeably taller.

“This is definitely not a ship from Ming. The design is entirely different.”

“Then is it from the Western Barbarians?”

“The Western Barbarians don’t have ships that big.”

“Then whose ship is it?”

The increasingly restless leader vented his frustration, but even the captain had no answers.

“I don’t know.”

Shortly after, a small boat detached from the mysterious fleet and came their way.

When it got close enough to distinguish the uniforms of the people onboard, an elder among them shouted excitedly.

“It’s the Joseon army! Leader! It’s from Joseon!”

“Joseon, you say?”

At the leader’s question, the elder nodded vigorously.

“Yes! I am certain; it’s the uniform of the Joseon army that I saw when I visited Joseon last time!”

“Then why didn’t we recognize the ship?”

Faced with the leader’s question, the elder replied with an awkward expression.

“I didn’t see such large ships back then.”

Upon hearing the elder’s answer, the leader looked at the ships presumed to be from Joseon with surprised eyes.

“Have they constructed such ships in just a little over a year? Enough to form a fleet?”

Adding to the leader’s monologue, the captain spoke.

“As soon as those pirates saw that ship, they fled. By the looks of it, those ships must have dominated these seas for a while now.”

At the captain’s words, the leader nodded.

“That seems to be a fair assessment.”

While the leader and the captain were talking, a Joseon soldier on the boat that had drawn near shouted through a peculiar device.

“Identify yourselves!”

Responding to the soldier’s question, the interpreter onboard replied in Ming language.

“We are merchants from Aden! We have come with goods requested by the Prince of Joseon!”

After hearing the interpreter’s shout, the Joseon soldiers onboard the small boat discussed something among themselves and then shouted again.

“Stand by for a moment!”

“Understood!”

After that, the small boat went back and forth a few times for a short verification process, and the decision of the Joseon naval forces was made.

“Follow us! We will protect you!”

“Understood! Thank you!”

As the small boat turned back, everyone from the commanders to the captains and the crew members let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew~. We’re safe now.”

“That’s right.”

In this way, the merchant ships of the Otaibi and Azram families—fortunately without a single loss—began to head back to Joseon, escorted by three Joseon naval ships.

Of course, during this process, all the Arab crew members were dumbfounded when they saw the Joseon ships making a turn on the spot.

“Is that even possible?”

“I’m seeing it for the first time as well…”

The captain answered with a stunned expression, to which the commander mumbled to himself again,

“What kind of country is Joseon?”

* * *

Meanwhile, as safety was assured, the more relaxed crew members were observing the Joseon fleet that moved parallel to them at a distance.

“The ships are quite unique.”

“They’re shorter in length than our ships, but much taller.”

As the crew members said, the “panokseon” (a type of ship) operated by the Korean navy were indeed quite tall.

Judging by the position of the Joseon naval forces behind the walls attached to the sides of their ships, the top of the cabin at the stern of the large “Dhow” merchant ship that the Arab merchants were on was almost at the same height as the first deck of the Joseon warship.

Among the crew observing the Joseon fleet, the older and more experienced ones nodded their heads.

“It would be difficult to give up their ships without a fight.”

“Captain, aren’t those protruding things on the side of their ships large arrows?”

“Arrows?”

Upon the younger crew member’s point, the one referred to as ‘Captain’ narrowed his eyes and observed the Korean fleet.

“Indeed… those are arrows… but why would they have something used in sieges?”

Observing the loaded large arrows, the captain showed an expression of further incomprehension.

“What kind of crossbow could use arrows spaced so closely?”

* * *

Not only the crew but also the leaders and captains of the Otaibi and Azram families were observing the Joseon fleet and discussing the objects that looked like crossbows.

“It’s not a crossbow.”

The captain, who had been observing as closely as possible, concluded.

“The spacing is too close for it to be a crossbow, and the position of the arrows is too low.”

“Then what is the most likely?”

Upon the leader’s question, the captain thought for a moment and then answered briefly.

“A cannon.”

“A cannon?”

The leader briefly responded to the captain’s words and bowed his head.

“From what I can see right now, there are at least 10 arrows visible, which means that there must be at least 20 cannons on that ship. Even those Catholic heretics don’t carry that many.”

At this, the captain retorted.

“Aren’t they not Catholic heretics?”

“Heh…”

The leader muttered, taken aback.

“Are there any people crazy enough to carry more than 20 cannons on each ship? Is there an excess of gunpowder or something?”

* * *

Meanwhile, a similar discussion was unfolding on the Joseon front.

“Do you think those people are really merchants authorized by the court?”

Mokpo’s naval chief, who led the fleet, posed the question, to which the officer in charge of civil affairs replied.

“The trading license has been verified.”

“The problem is that we have never seen merchants with such licenses in our jurisdiction in Jeolla Naval District, isn’t it?”

At the naval chief’s point, his subordinate officer answered.

“That’s true, but licenses with the same names have already been issued to traders traveling to and from the Shandong region, and the official seal on the documents was indeed that of the court.”

Hearing this, Mokpo’s naval chief sighed softly and concluded.

“Let’s send an investigator after we return. Besides…”

Mokpo’s naval chief changed the topic.

“It’s a pity that we missed those damn pirates. They are becoming increasingly difficult to catch lately.”

“As soon as we fire the ‘small-signaling cannons,’ they run away.”

“Small-signaling Cannons are quite useful, but they have this side effect.”

“Exactly.”

To Mokpo’s naval chief’s complaint, the subordinate officer nodded and added,

“There’s also the issue with this ‘Panokseon’ ship.”

* * *

In a world influenced by “Hyang”, not only were there rapid advancements in weaponry.

“We should make and use useful things!”

According to Hyang’s decision, weapons that originally existed in history were also made.

Of course, they were not replicas.

A prime example was the “Small signaling cannons.”

* * *

Hyang developed the “Small-signaling Cannons” for two purposes within this new weapon system.

One was a long-range suppression weapon that used gunpowder as a propellant, and the other was for signaling.

By loading the front compartment of the paper cylinder attached below the arrow with gunpowder, various minerals, and dyes, it could emit various colors of smoke during the day and various colors of flames at night.

They created it so that various situations could be quickly understood based on the type and order of the colors exploding.

The newly born signaling cannons were highly favored by the military. Moreover, the combination of the telescope made by Hyang by grinding Pietro and Raphael’s work and the signaling cannons greatly expanded the operational range of the Joseon Army.

It was particularly useful for cavalry engaged in skirmishes with the Jurchens tribes.

However, where the signaling cannon was most usefully deployed was in the navy.

It wasn’t just the small-signaling cannons that were useful.

Excluding the fact that its body was made of paper instead of iron, the warheads were made to be identical to non-traditional torpedoes, which were masterpieces.

Though its power was half that of the non-traditional torpedoes, its range was 250 paces (approximately 300m) longer, becoming a monster with a frightening range of 800 paces (approximately 960m).

* * *

The subordinate officer mentioned the “Panokseon” they were aboard, and Mokpo’s naval chief nodded.

“Exactly. I like everything about this Panokseon, except for one thing – its slow speed. Thanks to that, pirates now run away as soon as they see either the signals from the cannons or the Panokseon itself…”

The Panokseon that Hyang had advanced was satisfying to the navy.

Initially built for mass artillery deployment, its tall and large hull made it difficult for the ships of Westerners or pirates to approach and board. Moreover, its high altitude made it possible to destroy enemy ships from a farther distance using arrows and cannons.

Also, the hull had been reinforced as much as it had grown in size, making it possible to even destroy the ships of Westerners or pirates through collision.

However, the Panokseon had the fatal flaw of being slow.

The rectangular-shaped hull was useful in coastal waters but problematic when taken to the open sea due to the speed issue.

Because of this, Westerners and pirates who initially underestimated it ended up fleeing as soon as they saw a Panokseon.

Of course, there were those among the Westerners and pirates who believed in their own speed and attacked anyway, but after seeing their ships destroyed by cannonballs flying in from a distance farther than that of arrows, none dared to do so.

Mokpo’s naval chief turned his head, muttering.

“We need a ship that is faster and sturdier more than we need good artillery.”

“The Crown Prince and the elites are in Area 51; we’ll have good results soon,” said the subordinate officer.

Mokpo’s naval chief lowered his head, saying, “Area 51? There are many obsessed with artillery there, but none obsessed with ships. That’s the problem.”

However, this was a misunderstanding on the part of Mokpo’s naval chief.

If Hyang had heard this, he would have replied, “Why don’t you try and get a budget allocation from His Majesty! I’m getting cursed out once a day saying ‘You brat!’ these days!”

* * *

The ships of the Otaibi and Azram families, after a five-day voyage, dropped anchor in Jeolla’s port.

“A message has been sent to Hanyang. They said to wait a few days.”

“Very well.”

“Ah! They asked if we need anything.”

At the interpreter’s question, the chief looked at the captain. In response to the unspoken inquiry, the captain immediately replied.

“Ask for provisions first.”

“Understood.”

While waiting for a reply from Hanyang, the chief of the Otaibi family and the captains of the merchant ships took the opportunity to explore the area around Jeolla’s port.

“Do not wander around the military base carelessly.”

“Understood. May we go and explore the market outside?”

“Hmm… today happens to be the market day, so go ahead.”

With permission from the Commander of the Left Navy, the chief of the Otaibi family led people out to the market.

A look of disappointment filled the chief’s face after seeing the marketplace.

“Is this all… It’s nothing. It can hardly be called a market compared to the one I’ve seen in Ming before.”

The chief, who was grumbling while browsing the market, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“What’s that!”

The chief’s eyes landed on a small guesthouse. On the dining tables vacated by diners, white porcelain and glass cups were sparkling.

“How could such extraordinary items be found in such an underdeveloped place?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected incongruity, the chief was thrown into confusion.

“What on earth is this country of Joseon?”

Chapter 119

After surveying the marketplace, the level of confusion among the leaders had intensified upon the captains’ reports.

“We didn’t get a chance to see inside the Joseon naval base, but we scrutinized the warships setting sail. The ships that escorted us, as well as slightly smaller ones, were all equipped with cannons.”

“All of them?”

The leader’s question was filled with disbelief, to which the captains replied succinctly.

“Every single one.”

“Goodness…”

The leader let out a long sigh upon hearing the captains’ responses. To this, the most experienced captain—formerly of the Otaibi family’s ship—Suleiman, added more information.

“Of course, the ships armed with nearly 20 cannons were of the same class as those that escorted us. The smaller ships had about 2 to 4 cannons each. The even smaller ones didn’t have any cannons at all.”

The leader shook his head disapprovingly at the captain’s report.

“It’s impossible to pin down the identity of this nation. Looking at the marketplace during the day, it seems as backward as a remote village market far from Aden, but the alleyway restaurants have expensive porcelain and glassware on the tables, and the navy’s warships are loaded with those costly cannons… What kind of country is this Joseon, exactly?”

To the leader’s musings, Suleiman responded tersely.

“I really don’t know.”

“I, too, simply cannot comprehend this country.”

The elder, who had previously visited Joseon, stepped forward as the leader was immersed in confusion.

“Hassan and Sayid, who work as officials here in Joseon, told me that since the current king ascended the throne and the crown prince was designated, the country has been developing rapidly.”

“That’s right.”

The leader nodded lightly in agreement and let out a small sigh.

“Hmm. I need to reflect. I was disappointed by just the sight of the market outside the base. Had I not seen those ceramics and glassware…”

The leader critically reflected on himself.

* * *

Having learned of the great value of the products from Joseon brought by the elder, the leader embarked on the ship with high hopes.

“We’re a bit behind schedule, but let’s work hard. There’s a lot of money at stake!”

It had taken some time to acquire the fine breed of horses requested by the prince of Joseon, but the leader wasn’t particularly worried.

The merchant fleet that set sail from Aden endured a grueling journey, navigating through the pirate-infested waters of the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.

It was after surviving such dire straits that the leader arrived at the marketplace of Joseon, only to fall into disappointment.

Having lived in the grand city of Hangzhou during the Yuan dynasty in his youth, the leader couldn’t help but feel let down by the modest marketplace of Joseon, especially when compared to the splendid culture he had experienced in Hangzhou.

“Can there really be anything worth money in such a country? Was that incident last time just a stroke of luck? I would’ve never thought a country right next to Ming could look so shabby.”

However, the moment he saw the small items hidden in that shabbiness, the leader had to eat his words.

‘A guy who has the goal to greatly expand his family! A guy who aims to become a great merchant! While I’ve repeatedly told others not to be deceived by appearances, I actually forgot about it myself!’

The leader deeply reflected on his mistake.

Five days later, a messenger who had returned from Hanyang delivered a royal command through an interpreter.

“His Majesty orders you to depart at dawn tomorrow and come to Hanyang. Our navy’s ships will escort and guide you.”

At the messenger’s words, the leader was overjoyed.

“Thank you very much!”

With the departure date set, the crew of the fleet prepared to set sail throughout the night.

The next morning, at the prow of the ship heading north, the leader made a firm resolution.

“There will not be a second mistake!”

* * *

After several days of sailing, the merchant ships arrived at Jemulpo and began to unload their cargo.

The cargo from the six large dhows was substantial, so the leader of the Otaibi family requested carts from the Joseon resident relatives waiting at the dock.

“We’ll prepare them right away.”

“I’d be grateful.”

While the carts were being arranged, the cargo was meticulously checked by the Ministry of Taxation.

A Ministry of Taxation official, after recording the list of goods, their quantity, and their prices, busily clicked his abacus and then spoke to a customs officer. The customs officer conveyed the message to the company’s interpreter in Chinese, and the interpreter relayed it to the leader.

“You are to pay 40 nyang in customs duty.”

“40 nyang of gold? Even for the goods brought at the request of the Joseon prince?”

To be precise, what had been requested by the prince was only the fine horses, but the leader, reluctant to pay the tax, emphasized “at the prince’s request.”

However, despite the emphasis, the official was unmoved.

Eventually, a dispute arose between the Ministry of Taxation, the customs officer, and the company’s interpreter.

The quarrel was somewhat calmed when a relative who had gone to arrange the carts returned.

“If you look here at the permit, there is a clause that requires you to pay the set tariff rate.”

“Even for the items and horses brought at the request of the Joseon prince?”

“Yes.”

“Ah…”

The merchant-like instinct of the leader was triggered, and he wore a look of emptiness. Comforting him, the elder said,

“Think of it as an investment. Investment.”

At the elder’s words, the leader groaned.

“Ugh… That’s how I have to think of it, yes. But what’s with the administrators being so inflexible?”

“Well… They may lack flexibility, but they’re not corrupt, are they?”

“Ugh……”

The interpreter, sharing the leader’s sentiments, faithfully relayed their conversation to the overseer. The overseer chuckled in response.

“Have you heard of a recorder?”

“A recorder?”

After a brief exchange, the leader of the Otaibi clan, having paid a tremendous sum of 40 gold taels, or the equivalent of 400 ducats, set out for Hanyang with a heavy heart.

* * *

The leader of the Otaibi clan led his people to a community residence south of Hanyang.

While the leader of the Otaibi family was unwinding from the journey, the elegant Hassan and Sayid sought him out.

“Brothers Hassan and Sayid are here to see the leader.”

With a polite yet warm greeting, Hassan and Sayid’s approach was reciprocated by the leader.

“I’m truly delighted to see how well Hamed’s children have grown! Especially Sayid, you look even better than the last time you were in Aden… Or not? Are you ill?”

Noticing the dark circles under the brothers’ eyes, the leader asked with concern.

“It’s nothing. We’ve just been a bit busy lately…”

“Oh! You must stay healthy for our clan to be strong. Shall I give you some medicine?”

As soon as the leader mentioned ‘medicine’, the Hassan brothers panicked and waved their hands in refusal.

“No, no! We don’t need any medicine! Thank you for your concern, but we absolutely don’t need any!”

“Hmm?”

Perplexed by their reaction, their father, Hamed, explained the reason.

“Among the officials of this Joseon, ‘medicine’ or ‘tonic’ is taboo.”

“Hmm?”

The leader could not hide his confusion at Hamed’s explanation.

Recently, among the court officials, the act of ‘giving medicine or a tonic’ had the same implication as saying ‘go drop dead!’ When a superior offers medicine to a subordinate, it means ‘I’ll work you to death!’, and when colleagues give medicine to each other, it signifies ‘I’ll soon give you a hard time!’.

After the brief disturbance subsided, the Hassan brothers delivered the document to the leader.

“His Majesty commands you to enter the palace tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Understood. Hmm… Can I enter the royal palace every time I come to Joseon in the future?”

Hassan gave a negative answer to the leader’s question, which was full of anticipation for an unforeseen opportunity.

“No. This time, you were summoned as a courtesy because you brought the items requested by the Crown Prince, and you came in person. From next time on, you will probably need to discuss matters with an official from the office called Ministry of Taxation.”

“Is that so? That’s disappointing. Tsk.”

The leader smacked his lips in regret at Hassan’s answer.

* * *

The next day, the leader, properly dressed, headed to the palace with the Hassan brothers and the elders.

“Here are the people who have come at His Majesty’s command.”

The gatekeeper, upon receiving and checking the document handed by Hassan, gestured, and Gwanghwamun Gate opened, allowing the merchants to step inside.

The gatekeeper and his men, who had been looking on with curiosity, soon widened their eyes in surprise.

“What’s that?”

* * *

“May His Majesty receive our greeting~!”

At the merchant’s loud call, the traders respectfully paid their homage.

“You have worked hard coming from afar. Please be at ease.”

Through Hassan, the merchants heard King Sejong’s command and carefully rose to their feet.

‘Young man! Is that why he is so active?’

The leader, after sneakily checking King Sejong’s face, introduced himself politely.

“It is an honor to meet the esteemed King of Joseon. I am Mansur Mohammed Kamal Al Otaibi, the leader of the Otaibi family!”

King Sejong, having received Mansur’s greeting through Hassan, replied with a smile.

“I am also pleased to meet you. Leader Mansur, please stand at ease.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After a brief exchange of greetings, King Sejong went straight to the main point.

“I hear you have brought the horses the Crown Prince asked for. Have they arrived safely?”

To King Sejong’s question, Mansur immediately replied.

“Yes, they are a bit worn and thin from the long voyage, but all have arrived safely.”

“May I see them now?”

“The horses have been placed outside the gate, so you can see them right away.”

At Mansur’s response, anticipation began to flicker on the faces of Sejong and the ministers who had followed him out. Notably, it seemed Jo Mal-saeng was the most expectant of them all.

“Bring them over.”

As Sejong’s command was given, the Geunjeongmun Gate opened, and the horses came in.

“What is that!”

“Is that supposed to be a horse!”

The ministers, looking through the open gate at the incoming horses, had their gaze fixed on the horses at the very back.

It was just as surprising for Hyang too.

‘What is this! A horse that seems fit for an end-of-century monarch to ride!’

The horses leading the way were also about 1 cheok (approximately 34 cm) taller than the Jeju horses or those of the Jurchen tribes. But the four horses that entered last were another cheok taller than those.

As the horses came in, Sejong stepped down from his dais to take a closer look at the horses.

“Though they are big, they are remarkably agile in their build.”

Pleased with Sejong’s generous appraisal, Mansur responded with a face full of pride.

“In terms of running speed and stamina, there’s hardly any breed that can compete with them.”

“Is that so, what does the Minister of War think?”

To Sejong’s inquiry, the Minister of War, Jo Mal-saeng, bowed his head and replied.

“Though they appear lean, if we judge by their muscles and bones, it seems difficult to match them with Jeju horses.”

“How about compared to the Jurchen’s horses?”

“They seem superior to those of the Jurchen tribe as well. Of course, we’ll need to confirm this properly later…”

“I see. And…”

Sejong then moved towards the large horse that he was most curious about.

“I’ve never seen such a giant horse in my life.”

At Sejong’s assessment, Mansur immediately replied.

“This humble one has also never seen such before. We acquired the horse through Catholic merchants in the process. They said it’s a horse that came from a Western country called France.”

Sejong expressed his doubt at Mansur’s answer.

“Huh? I heard that you have bad relations with the Westerners who believe in a religion called Catholicism?”

“Just because relations are bad, it doesn’t mean we can’t do business, right? There are merchants with the same faith whom we don’t get along with, and there are those with different beliefs whom we have good relations with.”

At Mansur’s reply, Sejong burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha! What a foolish question (from me) and a wise answer (from you)!”

Chapter 120

After the evaluation of the horse was finished, Sejong turned his attention to the other goods. However, the more he looked at the products Mansur had brought, the more his expression clouded.

“There are many luxury items…”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words through Hassan, Mansur asked with a serious face.

“Does the king of Joseon not favor luxury?”

“The ministers of this country dislike it when the king indulges in excessive luxury. Of course…”

‘They themselves have indulged in luxury and suffered for it.’

Mansur fell into deep thought at Hassan’s answer, which he held back from finishing. Most of the products he had brought were spices like pepper and turmeric.

‘Who dislikes spices, almost no one, especially the nobles who would buy them regardless of the cost… ’

Mansur continued his various calculations and then asked Hassan.

“Do people in this kingdom not eat spices like pepper and turmeric?”

“They eat native spices that have similar effects. Imported spices like pepper are very expensive.”

“They don’t dislike pepper, do they?”

“They can’t afford it because it’s expensive.”

“What’s the usual price?”

“How much does the storage manager purchase it for?”

Upon Hassan’s question, Mansur shared the price at which he had bought the pepper in Aden. After hearing Mansur’s response, Hassan answered briefly.

“Multiply that by twenty. That’s the lowest price here.”

“Goodness!”

Startled, Mansur suddenly had a brilliant idea.

‘If I buy pepper in bulk from Aden, I can get it for less than the market price! And the Joseon people don’t dislike pepper. If I don’t pass it through middlemen and accept a slightly lower profit, I could monopolize the market! The reduced profit can be compensated for by increasing the sales volume! No, I can reap even greater profits!’

While he concluded that ‘small profit, quick return’ was the best strategy, Mansur could not come to an easy decision.

He had the obstacle of ‘the merchants of the Azram family’ to consider.

“There’s no helping it. Hassan, can you get permission from the king of Joseon for some time?”

“Why is that?”

Mansur said, looking back at the merchant of the Azlam family behind him.

“There’s another party I must successfully negotiate with first…”

Upon Mansur’s words, Hassan replied with a grave face.

“I’ll try, but be careful, as it could make you a criminal.”

“A criminal?”

“Would it be proper for a mere merchant to suggest to a king of a country to postpone negotiations? Joseon is a nation that values courtesy. A mistake could imprison not only myself but even our leader.”

“Oh dear…”

Mansur found himself in an awkward situation, unable to move forward or backward.

‘It’s a mistake! I rushed into this blinded by the prospect of making money, without proper investigation! This is a major blunder on my part!’

Indeed, as Mansur berated himself, this incident was a result of his own oversight. He had brought a cargo focused on spices without question, thinking only of European and Chinese merchants who would open their purses without hesitation at the mention of spices, and this had led him into a crisis.

Meanwhile, having observed the situation, Hyang suggested to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, may I handle this negotiation?”

“The Crown Prince? Hmm…”

King Sejong pondered for a moment at Hyang’s request, his face filled with worry.

“There was much talk last time you dealt with those merchants. They said that it is unseemly for the Crown Prince of a nation to be involved in trade negotiations.”

“It’s a matter concerning the national interest. I would like to take charge of this matter along with the Minister of the Taxation.”

Kim Jeom, overhearing the conversation between Sejong and Hyang, inwardly exclaimed.

‘Why me! I already have piles of documents to deal with!’

Sejong, whether he knew Kim Jeom’s feelings or not, turned to look at him with a smile full of kindness.

“Minister, could you assist the Crown Prince?”

Although there was a smile, the request was an implicit command, and Kim Jeom had to suppress the ‘No! I can’t do it!’ that nearly escaped his lips.

“Ah, I will do my best!”

“I trust you will, Minister.”

“I will do my best!”

With Kim Jeom and Hyang entrusted with the negotiations, Sejong conveyed through Hassan to Mansur.

“This trade involves the court, and I too have taken part in it. However, as I am occupied with state affairs, I have delegated the matter to the Crown Prince and the Minister of the Taxation, hoping for a successful deal.”

“Thank you so much!”

Mansur felt a breath of relief hearing Hassan’s words and expressed his gratitude sincerely.

* * *

As Sejong and the ministers left, Mansur let out a long breath.

“Phew~.”

Releasing a long breath and easing the tightness in his chest, Mansur asked Hassan.

“Is that prince the prince?”

“Yes, he is. And the one beside him is the Minister of Taxation of this country.”

“I see. The Minister of Taxation seems stringent, but since the prince looks quite young, he must have been appointed to watch over him. I just need to be cautious of the Minister of Taxation.”

Mansur made this assessment based on the young Hyang’s appearance, to which Hassan warned.

“You will suffer a great loss if you think so lightly of them.”

“Huh?”

“I, too, will not elaborate further because of this country’s bureaucracy, but if you let your guard down even a little, you will face a great disappointment.”

Upon Hassan’s warning, Mansur glanced at Hyang’s face once more.

Seeing Hyang, who still had traces of youth, Mansur looked back at Hassan. However, noticing Hassan’s expression, which was even more tense than when the king was present, Mansur muttered to himself unknowingly.

“Good grief…”

* * *

“Minister of Taxation. Do you have a list of the items they brought?”

“Yes.”

With a short answer, the Minister of Taxation gestured, and an official from the Ministry of Taxation swiftly presented a scroll listing the items.

Taking the scroll from the Minister of Taxation, Hyang perused the list.

“Let’s see here… Black pepper, turmeric… Turmeric?”

Hyang’s fingertips paused at ‘turmeric’ on the list, and his mind began to race.

‘Turmeric, as in curry? Curry rice is great! Wait… there are no potatoes, no onions either… Hold on, I’m aware that the history of onions is quite long. Didn’t Teacher Samcheonpo mention that? If the vegetable isn’t from the New World, then most common vegetables have been in China since the Tang Dynasty. Hmm… I’ll need to check that later.’

After organizing his thoughts about turmeric, Hyang continued to check the list.

‘Most of these, no, excluding the horses, are spices? Why is that?’

Hyang pondered in his head.

‘Hmm… According to the report, the ship they came on wasn’t that big, right? If so, it’s certain that the space would have been mostly taken by horses and the hay for them to eat. Therefore, it indeed makes sense to carry goods that are small in volume but high in value, hence the spices. Spices are expensive regardless of East or West.’

Hyang nodded as he perused the list and then stopped at the last item.

“Black bean tea? What is this? I haven’t heard of it before… Ah, Hassan!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“What is this black bean tea?”

“Black bean tea? I am hearing of it for the first time as well.”

Hassan paused for a moment and then asked Mansur. After hearing Mansur’s response, Hassan replied to Hyang.

“It’s an ingredient used to make a beverage called Qahwa.”

“Qahwa?”

“It’s also called ‘ka-pa-ra.’”

“Ka-pa-ra? Kapa-ra…”

As Hassan explained, Hyang, who had been pondering deeply, suddenly exclaimed.

“Coffee!”

Joy was evident on Hyang’s face.

‘Coffee! It’s coffee! I thought it would be impossible to taste it at least until the Western Fleet was established!’

Like most Koreans living in the 21st century, Hyang too was a caffeine addict.

Moreover, it had beneficial effects.

‘It will make a great gift for the ministers fighting off sleep.’

Of course, if one only thought about caffeine, green tea could be an alternative, but the rich taste of caffeine and the unique aroma of coffee were irreplaceable.

Seeing the joy-filled expression on Hyang’s face, Hassan asked with a face full of curiosity.

“Your Highness, do you know of Qahwa?”

‘Oops!’

Caught off guard by Hassan’s question, Hyang hurriedly composed himself and answered.

“I came to know about it through books. It is said to be a tea with various benefits, so how could I not be pleased to see the real thing?”

“Is that so?”

Although Hassan still had his curiosity, he stopped asking further questions.

‘There will be a day to solve this mystery… ’

Hassan made a note to himself to write about this in the book he was secretly keeping and devoted himself to interpreting the conversation between Hyang and Mansur.

* * *

Although it is a story of the far future, the book Hassan wrote titled ‘Various Doubts Concerning Crown Prince Hyang’ became the cause of all sorts of controversies and conspiracy theories among historians of the East and West as soon as it was discovered.

* * *

Meanwhile, Mansur persuaded the merchants of the Azram family.

“…Therefore, the situation is not favorable. Thus, I wish to reduce the profit margin on these spices and sell them.”

“Cutting down the profit margin…”

Rajab, who accompanied as a representative of the Azram family, became visibly troubled. Mansur continued to persuade him, seeing his expression.

“Wouldn’t we benefit more if the reduction in margin attracts more buyers?”

“So, how much do you intend to reduce it?”

“When we earned the most, it was tenfold, but I would like to reduce it to about sixfold.”

“Hmm… Very well! Let’s do that! But I will participate in the negotiations.”

Rajab’s response made Mansur contemplate briefly before accepting his suggestion.

“Let’s proceed with that.”

“Leader! They say they want to negotiate the price.”

“Understood. Let’s go.”

Upon Hassan’s words, Mansur walked towards Hyang with Rajab.

* * *

“Eh? There are more people? Who is that person?”

Hyang asked, and Mansur relayed the question to Hassan.

“We lacked enough ships, so we borrowed some from the Azram family.”

Hassan slightly altered Mansur’s response when reporting to Hyang.

“He says we’ve borrowed ships from other merchants due to a shortage.”

Hyang’s gaze sharpened upon Hassan’s answer.

“It seems like it’s not just the ships that have been borrowed? The trading license is exclusively granted to your Otaibi family, isn’t it? This is our first official transaction; are you planning to deceive us from the start?”

“Oh, no, that is not the case!”

Hassan replied in an urgent voice, but Hyang continued with a cold voice.

“Tell the head of your family very clearly. What are you thinking trying to trick us from the first deal?”

Mansur, having heard Hyang’s words through Hassan, hurriedly made excuses, and Hassan also desperately defended himself.

“He says that it was truly because the ship was insufficient, and that he only borrowed the ships of other merchants!”

“Just borrowing ships, then why is another merchant intervening in this matter? If that person is involved here, it means it’s not just about borrowing ships! Are you taking me for a fool? Does the head of your family think I am a joke, and that this country of Joseon is a laughing matter?”

As Hyang pressed on, Mansur immediately knelt down on the floor and answered.

“I assure you, it is not so! It’s just that, seeing this trade venture as a great opportunity, we overreached, and the other merchants, worried, decided to follow!”

Hyang, having heard Mansur’s response through Hassan, glared at Mansur with a fierce face while crossing his arms.

At that sight, Hassan too knelt down next to him and made excuses.

“Your Highness! The head of the family had no intention to deceive you! It was just greed for a greater profit!”

Hyang, who had been silently glaring at Hassan and Mansur, gestured with his hand.

“Fine! I will choose to believe those words for now. Stand up.”

“Your mercy is immense!”

After Mansur and Hassan stood up, Hyang turned around.

“Now, let’s talk about the deal, Your Excellency, is there a suitable room in the Minister of Taxation?”

“There is.”

Hearing the response of the minister, Hyang ordered Hassan.

“Tell him to follow.”

“Yes.”

Mansur, upon receiving Hyang’s command through Hassan, sighed and looked back at Rajab.

“This won’t be easy.”

Chapter 121

As Mansur had anticipated, the bargaining was not easy.

“Let’s start with pepper, which is familiar to us in Joseon,” he suggested.

“Yes, Your Highness,” came the response.

With the first item for negotiation decided, the serious bargaining began.

“So, how much do you want to charge? Tell me in the currency unit of Ming, not your traditional unit,” Hyang ordered.

Mansur did some quick calculations and relayed an approximate price to Hyang.

“Is that cheap?” Hyang inquired.

Kim Jeom immediately replied, “It’s about half the price of what it goes for in Ming.”

“Half, you say… Chief Mansur. How much do you sell to the merchants of Ming?”

“As far as I know, Ming obtains it directly from India.”

“Hmm……”

Listening to Kim Jeom’s reply, Hyang began to click away on his abacus with fervor.

‘I remember hearing that pepper was once more expensive than gold of the same weight. Though the teacher at Samcheonpo expressed his doubts, saying, “Was it really so?” In Joseon, where they could still obtain pepper through smuggling, it was certainly possible. Despite opening a trade office in Shandong, pepper remains a luxury item, doesn’t it?’

Before the trade office was established in Shandong, the price of what the Joseon people called pepper was exorbitant.

How expensive it was could be understood by the fact that not only the wealthy noble families but also the royal family had to be determined to obtain pepper.

Even after the establishment of a trade office in Shandong, the price of pepper did not fall significantly. This was due to the profiteering by both Ming and Joseon merchants.

‘As the economy grows and people’s pockets become fuller, they immediately try to change their food, clothing, and shelter.’

Hyang was confident that the Joseon people would increasingly seek out pepper.

‘Even now, thanks to the flood control projects, droughts and floods have decreased, and crop yields have improved. And with the newfound surplus, rice is selling like hotcakes.’

Thinking of the economic situation of the Joseon people through the information coming from the grain monopoly offices spread throughout the country, Hyang made a strong resolution.

‘I might not know about other spices, but pepper must be included as a monopoly item. If not, speculation will ensue, and prices will become chaotic. Then… go for it!’

Hyang initiated the negotiation with a firm proposition.

“Thirty percent of the original price.”

“Thirty percent? That’s ridiculous! Are you suggesting we shouldn’t make a deal?”

Mansur appeared ready to storm out of his seat with indignation, questioning Hyang’s stance. But Hyang did not back down.

Indeed, it wasn’t just a lack of retreat; he pressed the issue further.

“How much profit did you make with the goods you took from our Joseon last time?”

“…Twice the profit.”

“Heo…”

With an expression of disbelief, Hyang looked over at Hassan.

“Didn’t you say your family is a deeply rooted merchant lineage?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you’re telling me you only made twice the profit? Indeed, should I continue trading with your family?”

Challenged by Hyang’s words, Hassan immediately fell to his knees and exclaimed.

“I am deeply humbled! Please, do not cast aside my family’s trading house! I beg for your reconsideration!”

“Hassan, what in the world is going on?”

Startled by Hassan’s sudden plea, Mansur inquired urgently.

To Mansur’s question, Hassan answered hastily.

“His Highness is considering severing trade with our family! He’s upset that we only made twice the profit from the last goods we took from Joseon!”

“Why would that be!”

“If it were the new merchants from Joseon, even they would make more than double the profit with such goods! Even the newcomers!”

“Ah!”

Mansur sighed upon hearing Hassan’s words. The deal they had settled for under the pressure of the Sindwa family had now become a shackle.

“Hassan, take your seat.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After seating Hassan back down, Hyang pressed Mansur further.

Pulling out a golden brush from his sleeve, he pointed at the pear blossom pattern and continued.

“You might not have been told by Hassan, but our Joseon goods, especially items with this pear blossom pattern, are quality assured by the state.”

Mansur was pressed by Hyang who explained the value of the gold-finished pear blossom pattern.

“Even the newest merchants make at least four times the profit in Ming and Japan with such products. But you only made twice the profit? How should I consider this?”

Hassan relayed Hyang’s words exactly to Mansur.

“Really, they make that much profit?”

Mansur asked Hassan with an incredulous look. To Mansur’s question, Hassan immediately replied.

“It’s true. Especially, the products from the royal workshop are extremely valuable. There are rumors that in Japan, people are willing to engage in sword fights just to have a chance to buy items from the royal workshop.”

“Ah…”

Mansur sighed deeply and knelt before Hyang, rising from his chair.

“I beg for your forgiveness, Prince. Please forgive my incompetence.”

After hearing Mansur’s words through Hassan, Hyang spoke.

“Mansur of the Otaibi family, rise and take your seat.”

“Yes.”

‘I’ve taken the initiative! I’ve crossed the 8th part of the ridge!’

Hyang, having seized the initiative from Mansur, began to solidify his position.

“Although it’s only 30%, it will still be much more than the cost. If you take this from our Joseon and sell it properly, you can reap several times the profit. What do you think?”

“But, 30% is too little!”

“Do you really think so? What do you think will happen if the price is that low?”

At Hyang’s question, Mansur began to sweat. The idea he had praised himself for being ingenious was already beneath the young prince in this conversation.

‘How frightening! Was this what they meant by not to underestimate youth?’

However, Mansur could not readily accept the proposal.

Just like in the incident with the Sindwa family, if he started to be led around, it would inevitably end in loss.

Trade was ultimately a fight for control.

“Please consider 50%. Given the risk involved, it needs to be at least 50%.”

“Risk? Experienced merchants like you should be able to anticipate natural disasters to some extent, shouldn’t you?”

“Natural disasters can be anticipated unless it’s in the middle of the vast ocean. However, the problem is pirates.”

“Pirates…”

Hyang trailed off as Mansur mentioned pirates.

‘Were these the pirates of the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, older even than the pirates of the Caribbean?’

“Let’s consider up to 40%.”

“Kuk!”

Mansur gritted his teeth at the proposal.

“40 percent is fine, but the problem is pirates! It’s unlikely that our luck will always be this good! What to do… Ah!”

Suddenly, an idea struck Mansur’s mind like lightning.

Mansur hurriedly made a new proposal to Hyang.

“Please provide me with the cannons used by the Joseon navy! Then I will agree to the 40 percent.”

“Leader!”

At Mansur’s words, Hassan exclaimed in shock, calling out to Mansur.

“Official Hassan, what did he say to make you so surprised?”

“Oh, it’s that…”

As Hassan trailed off, Kim Jeom pressed him for an answer.

“Do not hide it, speak plainly!”

Cornered by Hyang’s questioning and pushed by Kim Jeom, Hassan closed his eyes tightly and replied.

“He said if you provide the cannons used by the naval forces, he would agree to the 40 percent!”

“Cannons?”

“Cannons! Such audacity!”

The word ‘cannons’ immediately made Kim Jeom yell out loud. However, Hyang was tapping an abacus with a thoughtful expression.

‘Cannons… After all, newer models with better performance have been created. The problem is the butterfly effect… The history is already in chaos, should I even worry about this? Or is that too irresponsible?’

Amidst various thoughts, Hyang asked Mansur.

“Why do you need cannons?”

“The sea route between Joseon and Aden is infested with pirates. On our way here, I noticed that the pirates were avoiding the Joseon navy. I believe that it is because of Joseon navy’s cannons. Hence, if you give us cannons, I will accept the 40 percent.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang pondered while drumming his fingers on the desk upon hearing Mansur’s response.

‘After all, it’s not like they don’t know about cannons on the other side. Those who can use them are already doing so… ’

However, Kim Jeom was increasingly becoming uneasy.

“Your… Your Highness.”

“Wait a moment.”

Hyang, holding Kim Jeom back, continued to think.

‘It’s too dangerous to give away the general cannons, especially since the new model cannons are scheduled to replace them soon.’

As Hyang’s memory wandered, he thought of an appropriate type of cannon.

‘Hmm… Perhaps a Matchlock Cannon would be suitable?’

The Matchlock Cannon, measuring about 2 cheok 4 chon (approximately 74.2cm) in length and 2 chon 1 bun 5 ri (approximately 6.7cm) in caliber, was two-thirds the size of the general cannons mounted on Panokseon warships. Yet, the Matchlock Cannon had a firing range several times greater than arrows and could certainly make a definitive hole in any ordinary ship if aimed correctly.

At that moment, as Hyang’s deliberation prolonged, Kim Jeom, with a pale face, tried to persuade him.

“Crown Prince! We cannot give away cannons! Cannons are…”

“Minister, cannons are not unique to our Joseon. The Ming Dynasty has them too. Perhaps even the pirates might have them.”

“That may be so, however…”

Upon Hyang’s pointed observation, Kim Jeom’s words faltered. As Hyang had said, cannonry was not unique to Joseon. Ming China had them, and even the Northern Yuan possessed a few.

Among the neighboring countries of Joseon, it was only Waeguk, Japan, that lacked cannons.

No, recalling the behavior of the Japanese pirates that had troubled Ming China, perhaps even Waeguk might have them.

Hyang continued to organize his thoughts.

‘For our Joseon’s future foreign activities to proceed smoothly, more nations must become familiar with our country. For that to happen, from now on, our Joseon’s goods must spread far and wide. Ming and Japan alone are insufficient. We must reach at least as far as the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean region.’

“Hmm…”

Lost in thought, Hyang looked at Mansur and began to speak.

“There’s something we must verify first. Did you say the Otaibi family resides in Aden?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Would the ruler governing the Aden region not be angered if the Otaibi family freely possessed cannons?”

Mansur responded promptly to Hyang’s query.

“There is currently no ruling monarch in Aden. It was once governed by the Abbasid Caliphate, but that was over 200 years ago; now, it is a free city of merchants.”

“Ah…”

Enlightened by Mansur’s answer, Hyang’s eyes sparkled.

Since the Abbasid Caliphate’s fall at the hands of the Mongols in 1258, the region of Aden had become a free city, ownerless territory.

Of course, there was the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt, but their power did not extend to where Aden was located. And the famous Ottoman Turks were yet to expand beyond the Anatolian Peninsula.

With Mansur’s response prompting further thought, Hyang made another proposal.

“30 percent. I’ll also guarantee exclusive trade rights for five years. Then I’ll speak well of you to my father regarding the cannons.”

“Grant us exclusive trade rights for ten years,” Mansur countered.

Hyang flatly refused.

“Ten years won’t do. Five years is the basic guarantee, and thereafter we’ll negotiate annually. This is my final offer. Will you accept, or reject?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Mansur did some mental calculations of profits and losses. After much deliberation, Mansur reached a conclusion.

“I will accept the prince’s proposal.”

As Mansur accepted the proposal, Hyang rose from his seat.

“Then, I shall speak to my father. Let’s pray that it goes well. If Father does not accept it, we will have to endure another tedious quarrel.”

“Yes.”

“Well then.”

Hyang left the room with Hassan and Kim Jeom. Mansur, the elder, and Rajab, who remained in the room, discussed the results of the negotiation.

“Isn’t 30 percent too excessive? If it’s 30 percent of the original price, that’s only three times the amount.”

“As I said before, though the profit per item might significantly decrease, consider the volume. It could actually be more profitable.”

“But wasn’t the conclusion six times the amount?”

As Rajab persisted, Mansur pointed out something he had forgotten.

“Have you forgotten? With the goods from Joseon that we’re taking, we can reap several tens of times the profit.”

“That may be true, but the greater the profit from spices, the more we can buy from Joseon!”

To Rajab’s words, Mansur smiled.

“If that’s the case, Joseon’s goods will become cheap. Let’s look further ahead. A monopoly for at least five years. Monopoly means we can adjust the prices and extract the maximum profit.”

“Still…”

Although Rajab couldn’t hide his reluctance, Mansur’s expression brightened.

“With Allah’s blessing, if we even get cannons, we won’t have to worry about pirates. If that happens, being careful of storms will be enough to ensure a profit threefold.”

With the prospect of free navigation becoming possible, trade could become even more active than now, and the credibility of the merchant group would also increase, making this an opportunity not to be missed.

Chapter 122

“They’ve asked for cannons? And Crown Prince, you are considering it positively?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Hyang’s response, King Sejong looked at him with a face full of worry.

“You do know what a cannon is, don’t you?”

“How could I not?”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer. After all, the person who had been most deeply involved in the research and development of various types of cannons, including the new models that were about to be deployed, was none other than the troublemaker standing before him.

“So… Which cannon do you wish to provide them?”

“The ‘Matchlock Cannons’, Your Majesty.”

“‘Matchlock Cannons’…”

At Hyang’s answer, not only King Sejong but also the ministers seemed relieved. However, because of the responsibilities they bore, they continued to question Hyang.

“Why the ‘Matchlock Cannons’?”

“According to the reports, the merchant ships that have come this time are large but do not seem to be very sturdy. In the case of the ‘General Cannons’, even cargo ships cannot withstand the recoil, hence they cannot be equipped with many of them. Therefore, even if we gave them ‘General Cannons’, they wouldn’t be able to use them effectively.”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers who had experienced battles from the conquest of Tsushima to the early Joseon period all nodded in agreement. They had received similar reports several times before.

Seeing the ministers’ reaction, Hyang continued.

“The firepower of cannons lower than ‘Matchlock Cannons’ is comparable to or slightly superior to bows and arrows in terms of range and lethality. Their rate of fire is even worse than that of bows and arrows. Thus, hasn’t the military unified the use of ‘Reinforced Cannons’ and ‘Small Reinforced Cannons’ for both the navy and the land forces, and melted down the ones lower than ‘Matchlock Cannons’?”

With Hyang’s point, the ministers were once again faced with the reality.

“That’s true. That was the case.”

“It wouldn’t be feasible to make new cannons just for these merchants, so the ‘Matchlock Cannons’ seems most appropriate.”

As the ministers’ attitudes shifted to favor, the Chief State Councillor voiced his concerns.

“I understand what the Crown Prince is saying, but what if, just if, these Westerners copy our cannons? What if they mass-produce them and turn them against us?”

Hyang replied with a smile to the Chief State Councillor’s words.

“You are worrying too much. Our Joseon is already armed with cannons far superior to the ‘Matchlock Cannons’.”

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s point, murmuring among themselves.

“That’s true.”

The Chief State Councillor’s face flushed at the ministers’ murmurs, and Hyang added an explanation.

“Besides, copying it is a matter of technology. Just looking at the shape of a cannon and replicating it? If they had such technology, they wouldn’t need to ask us for cannons. Cannons have been around since the Yuan Dynasty and have spread to many countries.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s words, the Chief State Councillor closed his mouth.

With the closing remarks of the Chief State Councilor, none of the ministers opposed the proposal. Observing the reactions of the ministers, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“The ministers have no particular objections, and I also think that offering the Matchlock Cannons would be appropriate. So, how much will you offer them, Crown Prince?”

“First, it would be right to judge after inspecting the condition of the ship they arrived on.”

King Sejong nodded at the reply.

“That seems appropriate. Then, what about the payment?”

“I am thinking of substituting half of it with the coffee they have brought.”

“Coffee?”

King Sejong perused the list of items.

“Coffee… Coffee… There is no such item on the list?”

“It is written here as ‘black bean tea’.”

With the explanation, King Sejong searched the list again.

“Black bean tea… Ah, here it is. And there is ‘green bean tea’ as well?”

“Black bean refers to coffee beans that have been roasted for drinking, while green bean refers to the raw, unroasted coffee beans.”

“Is that so? What are the benefits of this tea?”

Upon King Sejong’s inquiry, the minister explained the effects of coffee.

“When one is tired, drinking it can quickly restore vitality, it helps those who have difficulty urinating to do so properly, and it has various other benefits. However, the most important thing is its distinctive flavor.”

King Sejong stroked his chin as the answers flowed smoothly.

“How do you know so much?”

The minister, who was excited at the prospect of being able to drink coffee, suddenly looked embarrassed at King Sejong’s question and made an excuse.

“I read it in a book.”

At the mention of a book, King Sejong’s eyes lit up.

“A book? I would like to see it myself.”

“It was mistakenly mixed with the books that were burned last time… Please forgive my carelessness!”

“Oh no! Treat books with more care.”

King Sejong lightly admonished him and moved on. However, the ministers did not let it pass so easily.

“Your Highness, you burned books? Books are precious. They contain the knowledge of our ancestors.”

The minister, steeped in Confucianism to the bone, replied with an embarrassed look.

“It was a collection of frivolous texts…”

“Alas, it was you who once said there is something to learn even from frivolous books! Don’t you think this sounds like an excuse?”

When faced with the Chief State Councilor’s criticism, Hyang quickly racked his brain for a solution.

‘To get through this predicament… That’s it! If I say it was a book that this gentleman would despise, that’ll be the end of it!’

Finding his escape, Hyang answered with a troubled expression.

“The book in question was about the relations between men and women… It seemed detrimental to public morals, so I promptly burned it.”

“Oh dear… Well done!”

As Hyang anticipated, the Chief State Councilor immediately changed his stance and praised him.

However, the expressions of King Sejong and the other ministers darkened.

The book that had influenced Hyang’s notorious nightlife was precisely the book that had been burned – or more accurately, the book he claimed to have burned.

“Hmm! Ahem!”

“Cough!”

Since the subject was not one to be openly discussed, King Sejong and his ministers all coughed uncomfortably.

Noticing their demeanor, the Chief State Councilor muttered in confusion.

“Why, what is it?”

Startled by the unwelcoming gazes directed at him, King Sejong hurriedly changed the topic.

“What about the other half then? What do you plan to do?”

As King Sejong continued his inquiry, Hyang calmly proceeded to explain. Slowly, the corners of the mouths of the King and his ministers began to rise.

“Enough! Crown Prince, listen! I entrust this trade matter to you, and you are to take care of the firearms issue as well. Do your utmost with the nation’s interest in mind!”

Upon King Sejong’s decision, Hyang bowed her head and replied.

“I will bear your command in mind and act accordingly!”

* * *

After leaving the council hall, Hyang smacked his own mouth.

“This cursed tongue! Can’t you discern time and place? Let’s stay focused.”

Warning himself, Hyang mumbled as he walked toward the Eastern Palace.

“Now that I think about it… Why were the Islamic folks late in arming themselves with firearms? Wasn’t it them who introduced gunpowder to the West? Why then?”

While pondering this sudden question, the bell of the watchtower rang, indicating the time.

Dong~

Hearing the distant bell, Hyang recalled a passage from a book he had read before.

“Was it all thanks to the bell, after all?”

When the first cannons were made in Western Europe, their creators welded iron plates to construct them. However, these cannons, aside from their performance issues, were incredibly prone to exploding.

Nevertheless, cannons were a useful weapon, so countries across Europe conducted extensive research to create safe and convenient cannons.

This led to the birth of the bronze cast cannons. These quickly became the standard.

The widespread adoption of bronze cast cannons was facilitated by the numerous church bells across Europe. Bell makers, skilled in the art of casting large objects from bronze, easily transitioned to producing bronze cast cannons. (Note 1)

* * *

Bell casters were involved in the casting of cannons, and this was true during the Goryeo period as well. It was thanks to the presence of skilled bell casters that it was possible to produce cannons suitable for battle not long after the introduction of gunpowder.

After Buddhism was introduced to the Korean peninsula, metal casting technology rapidly advanced. The Bell of King Seongdeok is an object that proves the casting technology of the Unified Silla period.

It was during the Goryeo period that this casting technology further developed.

As Buddhism reached its zenith and many temples were built, skilled metal casters emerged through the process of supplying bells needed for these temples.

Upon this conclusion, Hyang uttered a bitter smile and murmured,

“For a religion that preaches peace, the finely honed technology to be used for slaughter… It is indeed one of the common ironies of history.”

* * *

Hyang, who had been entrusted with all the processes by Sejong, diligently proceeded with the work.

“Contact the Ministry of War and relay a message to find out how many cannons without firing mechanisms are available for use.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Not long after, upon hearing the message delivered by the eunuch, Jo Mal-saeng came to Hyang and asked,

“Did you mention cannons without firing mechanisms?”

“That’s right.”

“Wouldn’t cannons with firing mechanisms be more useful?”

To Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Hyang pointed out a problem.

“It’s because of the gunpowder. We’re already stretched to supply our own needs, how can we afford to supply them as well?”

Realizing the oversight, Jo Mal-saeng’s face showed a sudden realization.

“Ah! Of course! I’ve made an error!”

“No, it’s not your fault. Thanks to you, we’ve identified an additional item to be procured.”

“What might that be?”

Upon Hyang’s newfound item to add based on his own remarks, Jo Mal-saeng showed interest.

‘It must surely be something related to the military because of me!’

To Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Hyang briefly replied.

“Mercury.”

“Ah! Of course! If we can procure mercury properly, we can increase the production of gunpowder!”

Jo Mal-saeng’s face brightened at Hyang’s response.

In Joseon, to obtain mercury, cinnabar had to be imported from Ming and processed, but this process resulted in a number of people being harmed, making mercury a difficult product to mass-produce. Therefore, Joseon had to opt for the alternative of purchasing mercury from Japan.

“But, will they be able to procure a lot of mercury?”

To Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Hyang leaned back in his chair and answered, “That I do not know for certain. However, the Westerners have been using a lot of mercury in their study of alchemy, so I presume it should be easier for them to procure.”

* * *

Thanks to Sejong’s permission, the contract proceeded swiftly.

“Before we finalize the contract, we must inspect the ships you’ve arrived on.”

“Yes, why is that?”

Mansur and the captains’ faces grew serious at Hyang’s words about inspecting the ships.

A ship was a captain’s territory. It was unthinkable to casually allow outsiders onto one’s territory, which is why the captains’ expressions had turned so stern.

Hyang explained to them the reason for needing to inspect the ships.

“Due to the significant recoil of the cannons, if the ship is weak, it cannot bear their weight.”

“Ah… I understand.”

Two days later, naval officers and artisans responsible for Joseon went down to Jemulpo to inspect the condition of the merchant ships Mansur’s group had arrived on and submitted a report.

—Considering the size and strength of the hull, it is absolutely impossible to mount heavy cannons, and at most, only three light cannons can be mounted per ship.

After reviewing the report, Hyang negotiated with Mansur based on these findings.

“Alright. Then let’s purchase a total of nine cannons at three per ship.”

“For the nine cannons, the gunpowder, gun carriages, and sighting rings, what will you pay with?”

Faced with Hyang’s question, Mansur replied with an awkward expression.

“It’s quite a strain to buy goods from Joseon right now, so maybe on credit…”

“No credit for the full amount. Let’s do this instead. Pay half the purchase price in cash, and for the remainder on credit, but we will send some of our naval personnel with you.”

“Cash?”

At Hyang’s proposal, Mansur discussed with the elder, Rajab.

“Ah! We will calculate the cash part without any interest, based on the price you paid.”

The additional demand from Hyang made Mansur’s party look displeased. However, after Hasan subtly signaled with his eyes, they accepted Hyang’s terms.

“Fine. But why must you embark Joseon’s navy on board?”

“Do you think you can aim and fire the cannons properly just by learning?”

“Ah…”

“It’s a task that requires long practice. Besides, even though our relationship began with trade, shouldn’t we continue it for a long time?”

Hyang spoke gently, with a rather kind expression.

Mansur replied with a bewildered expression, taken aback by Hyang’s sudden change in demeanor.

“Ah, I see what you mean…”

“As they proceeded, it would serve as sufficient training. Moreover, it would be even better if you could bring someone capable of determining the value of the items you acquire.”

At Hyang’s words, Mansur’s party once again put their heads together to discuss.

“There’s merit in what you say.”

* * *

“Could it be a ruse to figure out the sea routes?”

To Rajab’s comment, Mansur made a face that suggested it wasn’t a big deal.

“Of course, that’s possible. But what’s the problem? It’s a sea route well-known to the merchants of Ming.”

After a long discussion, Mansur accepted Hyang’s suggestion.

“We will follow the prince’s proposal.”

“Good. Then take the coffee with you today without fail.”

* * *

That evening, Mansur had to deeply regret his decision.

“They said it was the entire lot, but they really swept it all away!”

The Joseon officials took all the coffee that Mansur’s party had left over to drink.

* * *

(Note 1) ‘Cannon, Sailing Ship, Empire’ by Carlo Cipolla, published by Unknown Books

Chapter 123

Meanwhile, a storm was brewing in the Ministry of Military Affairs.

“From the Junior Assistant Minister to the Minister, everyone gather here!”

Upon Jo Mal-saeng’s call to “everyone below me and above you”, the officials hurriedly gathered in front of his desk.

“Has everyone gathered?”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

At the confirmation that everyone had assembled, Jo Mal-saeng threw a report on the desk and shouted.

“If you’re going to do things this way, resign immediately!”

“What? Suddenly…”

“The report about the Huihui’s (Muslim traders) ships submitted to His Majesty! Really, is this the best you can do? Where is the detailed report on the structure and strengths and weaknesses of the Huihui’s ships?”

“That, we have yet to instruct the craftsmen to write it…”

“That’s the problem! If you’re only going to do as you’re told, why sit in a high-ranking position? Wouldn’t it be better to prepare in advance before His Majesty commands? If you think a little, there’s no need to do things twice!”

“We apologize!”

“If you’re sorry, then don’t create situations to be sorry for! Do you know how embarrassed I was at the royal audience!”

* * *

The incident began with a statement made during the royal audience.

“By the way, may I see the report on the structure of the ships the Huihui arrived in?”

At Hyang’s question, Jo Mal-saeng stuttered in response.

“The re-report on the structure of the Huihui’s ships? That’s still…”

“As you know, we are researching ships for ocean voyages, aren’t we? We even bought ships from Ming and Japan to inspect them.”

“I am aware of that.”

“But how can we be so slow when we have an opportunity that money can’t buy? We need the report to analyze it, and later, to make up for the shortcomings when mounting cannons on the ships.”

“Hmm.”

* * *

With the active exchange between Ming, Japan, and particularly the Ouchi clan, Hyang persuaded King Sejong to purchase large ships from Ming and Japan.

“If only we had enough budget, we could have even bought and inspected Yu’s (Ming) ships… It’s all about the budget.”

Hyang grumbled, remembering the scolding he received when he asked for additional funds to purchase ships.

“Are ships something you can just buy in a marketplace! Do you think budget comes out of nowhere? Get out!”

Thinking of the scolding, Hyang and the craftsmen thoroughly dismantled and inspected every corner of the purchased ships.

Unbeknownst to Hyang, this was something that Shin Suk-ju^1 did during the reign of King Sejo.

* * *

As Jo Mal-saeng groaned, Hyang continued.

“Let me repeat, the Huihui brought new ships, and we had the opportunity to scrutinize them thoroughly due to the issue of mounting firearms. Isn’t this an opportunity given by heaven?”

“That’s true…”

Seeing Jo Mal-saeng stutter, Hyang’s face turned stern.

“Don’t tell me there’s no report?”

“That’s not it…”

As Jo Mal-saeng fumbled, King Sejong interjected.

“Is there no report?”

With King Sejong stepping in, Jo Mal-saeng hastily replied.

“No, that’s not it! It’s currently being organized. We prioritized the report on mounting firearms, thinking it urgent!”

“Is that so?”

King Sejong nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s response and added, “I thought you had forgotten your diligence from your days as a recorder.”

“Forget? Never!”

Jo Mal-saeng vehemently denied, sweating profusely at King Sejong’s words.

“So, when can I expect to receive it?”

“Within five days.”

“You said it just needs to be organized, right? I want it in three days.”

“I will do so!”

And so, a storm descended upon the Ministry of Military Affairs.

* * *

“Why! Why! Why make us do twice the work for something that could be finished in one go! Why!”

“We apologize.”

“If you’re sorry, then don’t make mistakes to be sorry for! Do you even realize how much paperwork piles up every time you handle things foolishly? Do you know? Haven’t I repeatedly said not to increase unnecessary paperwork!”

With Jo Mal-saeng’s return as the Minister of Military Affairs, several new rules were established in the ministry:

– Do not create unnecessary documents.

– Actively use tables.

– Keep sentences concise and clear.

As a result, the documents produced by the Ministry were remarkably clear and concise.

King Sejong even praised them, saying, “The documents coming from the Ministry these days are a pleasure to look at and read. They are simple and clear, getting straight to the point. Other departments should follow this example.”

“We will heed your command!”

After scolding his subordinates for a long time, Jo Mal-saeng shouted one last time.

“What are you waiting for! Start writing the report and bring it to me! If it’s not on my desk within two days, we all die! I won’t die alone!”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

The military officers and craftsmen who had prepared the report were astounded at being told to write it again.

“Write the report again?”

Unable to hide their astonishment, the craftsmen repeated the question, and the official nodded.

“Yes. The last report was about whether the Huihui’s ships could use firearms. This time, report on their structural strengths and weaknesses.”

“Structural strengths and weaknesses?”

“Yes. Remember the reports we made recently on the Ming and Japanese ships? Make it like those.”

The head craftsman scratched his head and responded,

“Understood. By when should we complete it?”

“Within two days.”

“Got it.”

“Well, I’m off. Don’t forget.Two days!”

“Yes, we understand! Safe travels!”

After the official left with a quick stride, the head craftsman, once alone, cursed under his breath.

“Damn it! We wouldn’t have to do this twice if they handled it properly the first time! These officials! Always complaining about being busy!”

The head craftsman, cursing the unnecessary extra work caused by a lack of foresight, gathered his subordinate craftsmen.

“Gather around! Gap-sik, get ready to take notes!”

* * *

While the storm was raging in the Ministry of Military Affairs, Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation, was reporting to King Sejong.

“…and so, the merchant Mansur has selected his merchandise.”

“Hmm…”

King Sejong pondered as he reviewed the list of items chosen by Mansur.

“As expected, porcelain and spices are popular.”

King Sejong was pleased to see large purchases of porcelain, a cutting-edge high-value product of the 15th century, and traditional luxury items like spices.

While spices were common, porcelain was exclusively produced in the royal workshop, significantly enriching the national treasury.

Kim Jeom added more details in response to Sejong’s comment.

“The variety in porcelain shapes has boosted sales. The Crown Prince’s idea was spot on.”

“Is that so?”

King Sejong nodded in satisfaction at Kim Jeom’s words.

* * *

“Traditional porcelain is bland! It lacks competitive edge! It won’t last long like this!”

Upon seeing familiar pottery designs, Hyang immediately sketched modern designs and handed them to the porcelain craftsmen.

“These shapes are quite unusual, Your Highness.”

“That’s intentional. Aren’t these shapes also made in Ming?”

“But don’t the Ming and Japanese eagerly buy them as is?”

Hyang nodded at the chief potter’s words and explained.

“That may be true. However, the Ming might soon replicate them. We need to stay ahead.”

“I see.”

The chief potter’s expression was a mix of understanding and confusion, prompting further explanation from Hyang.

“Moreover, the Westerners love porcelain too. Their dining habits are different from ours, so wouldn’t catering to their preferences boost sales?”

“Ah! I understand now!”

The chief potter nodded in realization at Hyang’s explanation.

* * *

“Oh?”

King Sejong’s pleasant perusal of the list halted at one particular item.

“They bought so much glassware? Wasn’t glass originally from their region?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately responded.

“Though its origin is from them, the beauty and utility of our Joseon glassware surpass theirs.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed, the Crown Prince…”

As Kim Jeom subtly mentioned Hyang, King Sejong burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! The Crown Prince has indeed done much!”

The huge success of the glass products owed much to the craftsmen, but Hyang also played a significant role.

For the artisans who traditionally worked with ceramics and earthenware, glass was a ‘gift from heaven’. Unlike pottery, where the outcome remains uncertain until it’s fired after shaping, drying, and glazing, glass revealed its final form as soon as it cooled.

If they didn’t like the result, they could simply melt it in the kiln and start over, a convenience that greatly ignited their creative passion.

Hyang subtly fueled this fire.

“Can you make this shape?”

“Is this design also possible?”

“What if we mix colored glass liquid into the clear one?”

Every time Hyang suggested designs based on 21st-century glass products he had seen, the artisans’ creativity flared even more intensely.

Thanks to the properties of glass and Hyang’s interventions, their products were superior in design to contemporary European and Arab counterparts.

“I have hundreds of years of evolved designs at my disposal…”

Stimulated by Hyang’s ideas, not only Pietro and Raphael but also the Joseon artisans energetically blew into their blowpipes.

* * *

King Sejong, unable to hide his delight at Hyang’s achievements, suddenly looked around.

“Now that I think about it, where is the Crown Prince? What is he up to?”

Sejong, accustomed to the Crown Prince’s frequent requests for more budget, felt a sense of emptiness in his absence.

Responding to Sejong’s inquiry, an official replied,

“The Crown Prince is currently experimenting with making tea using Qahwa.”

“Qahwa? Ah, black bean tea. Hmm…”

After a moment’s pause, King Sejong stood up.

“I think I need a break.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Declaring a recess, King Sejong left the hall and headed towards the Eastern Palace.

* * *

“Hmm, hmm, hmmm… Ah! Perfect aroma!”

Having finished roasting the green coffee beans acquired from Mansur, Hyang smelled the aroma and was visibly pleased.

Dissatisfied with the roasted beans Mansur and the Muslim traders used, Hyang decided to roast them himself.

“All those hours being scolded for my diverse interests, and now they’re paying off.”

When Hyang watched dramas set in 21st-century coffee shops, he was more fascinated by the coffee than the protagonists’ love stories.

Consequently, Hyang developed a considerable expertise in coffee, to the point where he was advised to open a coffee shop instead of a smithy.

Using a brazier and a panjeol (traditional Korean pan), Hyang finished roasting the coffee. He then ground the beans in a small mortar and brewed his coffee.

“Hmm~. This is the aroma. Reminds me, I should make some professional tools for this.”

As Hyang was about to pour the freshly brewed coffee, feeling pleased at the thought of enjoying it, an eunuch announced the arrival of King Sejong.

“His Majesty the King has arrived!”

“Ah!”

Hyang quickly adjusted his official attire and respectfully greeted King Sejong as he entered.

“I am honored to see you, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, is that the Qahwa?”

At Sejong’s inquiry, Hyang nodded affirmatively.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The tea the Westerners drink? Serve me a cup as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Sejong’s request, Hyang poured the freshly brewed coffee into a coffee cup—a prototype made for Europeans—and presented it to Sejong, along with a dish of sugar and a jar of milk brought in from Neobeolseom that morning.

“Please try it as is at first, Your Majesty. Then, you can adjust the flavor to your liking with the sugar and milk here.”

“Is that so?”

Sejong took a sip and frowned slightly.

“It’s quite bitter, but the flavor is rich. Let’s see…”

After mixing in some sugar and milk, Sejong tasted it again and nodded in approval.

“Not bad.”

After slowly savoring the coffee, Sejong looked at Hyang.

“Indeed… It seems to invigorate one quickly.”

“It’s a very effective tea, Your Majesty.”

“I believe the ministers would enjoy it.”

At Sejong’s comment, Hyang wore a troubled expression.

‘I just hope they don’t end up complaining about it.’

1. a Chief State Councillor during Sejo’s reign[↩]

Chapter 124

After tasting the coffee, King Sejong introduced it to his ministers.

“This is the ‘Qahwah’ brought by the Arabians, let’s drink it as tea.”

“Is that so?”

The ministers, seated in the conference room next to the main hall of Geunjeongjeon, looked at the tea cups in front of them as they listened to Sejong’s words.

“The color is quite unique.”

Lee Jik commented on the black color of the coffee, carefully phrasing his words that were initially inclined to say ‘the black color is not very appealing’.

Sejong smiled and agreed with Lee Jik’s remark.

“Right. The color is indeed unique. At first, I thought it was a medicine.”

“The scent is also unique.” Maeng Sa-seong, after smelling the bitter aroma of the roasted coffee, made his observation, to which Sejong nodded in agreement.

“I felt the same. Let’s drink! First, take a light sip, and then you can add sugar to adjust the flavor. Adding sugar makes the flavor smoother, though it’s hard to obtain, but it’s still good without sugar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty…”

As Sejong encouraged them to drink, the ministers nodded continuously, but hesitation was evident on their faces.

‘Just looking at the color, it seems like a herbal tonic… But is this ‘Qahwah’ a medicinal or a poisonous brew?’

“Eh? Why aren’t you drinking?”

“We are, we will drink now!”

Prompted by Sejong, the ministers tightly closed their eyes and lifted their tea cups.

‘Bitter, so bitter!’

After taking the first sip, the ministers quickly sought out sugar to dissolve in their cups.

As the sweetness was added, the coffee became easier to drink, and the ministers began to enjoy the coffee with a more relaxed expression.

“How is it?”

Responding to Sejong’s question, the ministers began to share their thoughts one by one.

“At first, it was just bitter, but then a hint of nuttiness and sourness is felt, truly mysterious.”

“The scent is also unique. It’s hard to define it in a single word, but it has its own charm.”

“Right? I think so too.”

In a much more relaxed atmosphere, Sejong and his ministers enjoyed their coffee while engaging in various conversations.

After finishing their coffee and returning to the main hall, Sejong asked the ministers.

“How do you feel?”

The ministers, with surprised expressions, responded.

“It’s truly amazing! Before drinking that tea, I felt physically and mentally tired, but now I feel revitalized!”

“Indeed! It’s a miraculous tea!”

Looking at the rejuvenated faces of his ministers, Sejong was pleased.

“The Crown Prince has indeed discovered something wonderful.”

“Indeed!”

“Well then, now that we have regained our energy, let’s get back to work. To work!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Ahh, and distribute this ‘Qahwah’ powder adequately to each office, so everyone can have a cup when they feel tired.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

Later, Hyang, having heard this news through the eunuchs, chuckled to himself.

“Those noblemen who always drank green tea are now drinking coffee… It’s like moving from regular coffee to a high-caffeine energy drink in the 21st century. The effect must be astonishing. If King Sejong did this knowingly, he’s quite a cunning man.”

Hyang shook his head at Sejong’s cleverness while bringing his coffee cup to his lips.

* * *

Not long after, the ministers were astounded by Sejong’s trick.

“I can’t sleep!”

The officials, who had leisurely enjoyed their coffee after dinner, were surprised to find themselves free from the drowsiness that usually plagued them.

“What’s the cause?”

The officials, freed from their sleepiness, sought the reason.

“The only difference from usual is this ‘Qahwah’. Could it be that it not only energizes but also wards off sleep!”

Realizing the reason, the officials looked towards the king’s quarters and the crown prince’s palace.

“Are we now expected to work without sleep?!”

* * *

Despite their words, everyone from Sejong to the high and low-ranking officials quickly became addicted to coffee.

At dawn, officials arriving at the court with sleepy eyes would drink a cup of coffee and feel their focus and energy return, thanks to the powerful effects of the high-concentration caffeine, an addiction they couldn’t escape.

“So it was a kind of poison after all!”

“But why can’t I stop drinking it?”

Filling their empty cups with coffee, the officials shed tears.

Initially, when they first experienced the effects of caffeine, they grumbled, ‘Are we not supposed to sleep anymore?’ But their reaction changed to:

“I need this to keep going!”

As the officials increasingly sought coffee, the workload for lower-ranking officials and servants increased.

They prepared by setting pots of water on the stove and clean cloths for brewing coffee before the high officials arrived. They also prepared jars filled with roasted coffee powder and jars of sugar as part of their morning routine.

Whenever possible, they cleaned the used cups, replenished the washed and dried cloths, and roasted and ground fresh coffee beans to refill the used coffee powder.

However, after several trials and errors in understanding the importance of roasting, a new position of ‘Black Bean Tea Officer’, a ninth-rank official, was established at Sejong’s request, becoming the world’s first official barista.

All these developments occurred within a month of Hyang introducing the taste of coffee to Sejong.

* * *

However, an unexpected side effect of coffee occurred in a certain place.

In the queen’s chamber. Sejong, who had briefly fallen asleep after conducting state affairs and lying beside Queen Soheon, woke up to her constant movement and asked in a sleepy voice.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, Your Majesty, I just can’t seem to sleep…”

Upon hearing Queen Soheon’s words, Sejong sat up.

“Is there something troubling you?”

“No, Your Majesty. It’s just that I cannot sleep.”

“Shall I call the physician?”

“It’s not that serious. Ah…”

Queen Soheon trailed off, murmuring to herself.

“Could it be because of that tea?”

“Tea? What tea?”

“Recently feeling a bit down, I had some of that black bean tea.”

“Ah… Drinking that tea does make it hard to sleep.”

King Sejong nodded in understanding at Queen Soheon’s words. He gently patted her shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much about not being able to sleep. Just relax, and soon you’ll fall asleep. Let’s rest.”

“Aye~.”

At Sejong’s words, Queen Soheon playfully snorted and snuggled closer to him, eliciting a cough from Sejong.

“Cough! Ahem… It’s late at night……”

“Aye~.”

“Oh dear……”

After all, Sejong, who had just entered his thirties, was in the prime of his life. Charmed by his wife’s playfulness, he responded in kind.

The next day, for the first time in a while, Sejong overslept.

When such occurrences became frequent not only with Queen Soheon but also with other concubines, Sejong eventually issued an edict:

– Concubines are prohibited from drinking more than two cups of black bean tea per day!

– Drinking black bean tea after evening is forbidden!

* * *

Meanwhile, merchants who had heard about the black bean tea sought out the Ministry of Taxation.

“We wish to purchase black bean tea.”

“Black bean tea?”

Upon hearing the merchants’ request, the official from the Ministry of Taxation checked the records and appeared troubled.

The quantity of beans Mansur’s group had brought was not large, and in just over a month, the palace and government offices had consumed a significant amount.

“If we’re going back, it will be at least a year before the next shipment… so, subtracting the amount we need to keep…”

While calculating the quantity on an abacus, the official responded.

“There’s not much left from this shipment. If we sell, it would only be about 1 kan (approximately 3.75kg).”

“Is it 1 kan per merchant?”

“No, 1 kan in total for all.”

“I’ll buy it!”

“No, I will purchase it!”

As the merchants clamored, the official sipped his coffee leisurely and asked.

“So, how much are you willing to pay?”

After a fierce price competition, a merchant was selected, and as the official handed over the sack containing 1 kan of coffee beans, he inquired.

“But how did news about this tea spread so quickly?”

“Ah, don’t even mention it! Those preparing for the civil service exams are fervently seeking it!”

A few officials working in the government offices had taken small amounts of coffee home, and from there, the word about coffee had spread rapidly among the public.

The rumor that “just one cup can keep you awake all night!” spread, and coffee even earned the nickname ‘Studious Tea’.

At the merchant’s response, the Ministry of Taxation official sipping his coffee chuckled and muttered.

“Even if they pass the exams, a life of hardship awaits them…”

To which the merchant inwardly grumbled:

“Well, of course you can say that since you’ve already made it!”

In the 21st century as in 15th century Joseon, a ‘government official’ symbolized ‘stability’. Especially since King Sejong’s implementation of reforms led to increased recruitment of officials and a salary sufficient for actual living expenses, more people pursued civil service examinations.

Furthermore, rumors that the ban on people of northwest origin and ‘serfs’ entering civil service would soon be lifted, prompted these groups to join the competition as well.

* * *

Amidst these changes in Joseon, Mansur’s group’s departure was approaching.

“Is the investigation into the ship the Arabians came on complete?”

“Yes.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Sejong continued his inquiries.

“Did you find anything new?”

“The strength of the ship’s hull can’t compare to our Panokseon, but the material used for waterproofing was quite unique.”

“What did they use?”

“They used bitumen. It’s different from the resin we know; it’s a black, sticky oil extracted from the ground.”

“Is that so? Huh~.”

Sejong was impressed.

“There’s so much in this world we don’t know.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Father, I have a question for General Jo.”

“Proceed.”

“Thank you.”

Hyang, expressing his gratitude to Sejong, asked Jo Mal-saeng.

“Do you know the cost of the bitumen they use?”

“Yes. Upon investigation, it’s a tenth of the price of the resin-based bitumen we use.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s response, Hyang suggested to Sejong.

“Father. Waterproofing is crucial in shipbuilding and maintenance. If we purchase their bitumen, we could do it more cheaply. How about adding bitumen to the list of items to request from them?”

“A fine idea. Let’s do that.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

With the decision to import bitumen made, Sejong moved to the next topic.

“Has the selection of naval officers and interpreters for the upcoming voyage been completed?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Rites and Jo Mal-saeng promptly replied.

“Preparations are complete. We selected six young interpreters fluent in Ming Dynasty language.”

“We also chose six naval officers skilled in both cannonry and navigation.”

“Well done. You’ve made sure they understand the importance of their mission, right?”

“They are fully briefed and eager to serve.”

“Good.”

After pondering for a moment, Sejong spoke.

“Prepare a banquet to honor the naval officers and interpreters setting off. I will personally encourage them.”

At Sejong’s decision, the ministers bowed in unison.

“Your personal encouragement will surely inspire them to give their best. We are deeply grateful, Your Majesty!”

Two days later, a banquet was held at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. At this gathering for those about to venture beyond Northeast Asia for the first time, Sejong personally filled their cups, offering words of encouragement.

“As Joseon steps out of its confines and ventures into distant foreign lands, the work you do will shine brightly. Thus, give your all in this voyage and fulfill your assigned duties.”

“We will bear this in mind and dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly!”

Five days later, Mansur’s fleet set sail from Jemulpo, marking the departure of the first Joseon people venturing into the open seas.

Chapter 125

Sejong Year 11 (1429, the year of Giyu)

As the latter half of the reform era approached, King Sejong and his court officials, including the government ministers, all fell into a peculiar tension.

The reason for this tension was that the time had come for a major overhaul of the administrative system.

For a smooth progression, the Six Ministries and the scholars of Hall of Worthies were working tirelessly, staying up nights to review and modify plans.

“The ultimate goal of the economic reform is to ensure that as many citizens as possible have a stable source of income, freeing them from poverty,” said Sejong, nodding in agreement to the explanation by Hall of Worthies’s Head Scholar, Byeon Gye-ryang. Sejong looked at Byeon with eyes full of concern.

‘Byeon seems to have grown quite frail… ’

* * *

Appointed as the Head Scholar of Hall of Worthies in the second year of Sejong’s reign, Byeon Gye-ryang solidified his position during the economic reform.

Byeon’s continuous tenure ensured consistency in the work of Hall of Worthies.

Although his personal life was riddled with scandals and controversies, his academic brilliance enabled him to maintain his position.

As Sejong’s reforms progressed, other ministers and officials of the Six Ministries envied Byeon, especially since he managed to avoid the harsh crackdowns on corruption and bribery.

Though he had to relinquish lands granted by former kings, his position as Head Scholar, considered somewhat marginal, meant he received fewer gifts and hence faced less scrutiny.

“If not for his unsavory personality, he could have been a prime minister candidate,” remarked some, acknowledging his role at Hall of Worthies despite his notorious character.

Despite his controversial nature, Byeon dedicated himself to his role, his meticulousness aiding policy research. This attention to detail, though sometimes limiting his perspective, was balanced by his quickness to address any pointed-out flaws.

However, this intensity of work often resulted in harsh treatment of the scholars under him.

The pressure of researching and improving policies for the economic reform took a significant toll on Byeon, aging him more rapidly compared to his contemporaries.

* * *

‘It’s time to prepare a successor for Byeon,’ Sejong thought, noticing his frailty.

“What is our ultimate goal, there are still many issues to resolve beforehand,” Sejong inquired.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. The Hall of Worthies, along with the Ministries of Personnel and Taxation, believe it’s crucial to decide the priority between two major issues,” replied Byeon.

“And what are these two issues?” Sejong asked, turning to the ministers of Personnel and Taxation for an answer.

“Currency and administrative reform, Your Majesty. The question is which should be implemented first for efficiency,” answered Kim Jeom.

Sejong, stroking his beard, asked, “Hadn’t we decided to start with the restructuring of administrative regions?”

“That was the original plan, but the situation has changed,” Kim Jeom responded.

“Changed, how so?”

“Initially, the plan was to reform administrative regions before enforcing the circulation of the new currency, especially considering the previous resistance to using currency,” Sejong recalled.

“Exactly, Your Majesty,” confirmed Kim Jeom.

“But now the circumstances have shifted?” Sejong queried further.

“Yes, indeed,” Kim Jeom responded to Sejong’s query about the change in circumstances.

“Why so? Or rather, how? Wait… did the encouragement of commerce and industry change the situation?”

Sejong’s question was met with a slightly perplexed look from Kim Jeom.

“While there are significant reasons for this change, it’s somewhat surprising what actually prompted the people to demand currency.”

“What are those reasons?”

“Public bathhouses and fried chicken.”

“Huh…”

Sejong was visibly astonished by Kim Jeom’s response.

“Bathhouses and fried chicken leading to currency use… Wait, the bathhouse idea came from the Crown Prince, right?”

Sejong recalled a previous conversation, and Kim Jeom immediately confirmed it.

“Yes, Your Majesty. During the reconstruction following the great fire of Hanyang, it was suggested that building public bathhouses would necessitate the use of currency.”

“Right, I remember now. I thought it had potential, but I didn’t expect to see results so soon.”

Byeon Gye-ryang then joined the conversation, highlighting the public’s positive response to the concept of ‘public hygiene.’

“Public hygiene?”

“More precisely, soap.”

Sejong was increasingly puzzled by these unexpected developments.

* * *

During the reconstruction of the areas devastated by the great fire, the Crown Prince had installed public bathhouses and organized seminars on the importance of public hygiene, not just once, but repeatedly before and after the monsoon season.

The medical staff from the Royal Clinic and the military doctors, already familiar with the Prince’s endeavors and having read translated medical texts he had brought from the West, readily embraced his ideas.

As a result, improved hygiene in the palace and the military led to a noticeable decrease in contagious diseases, especially skin diseases.

Observing these tangible benefits, civilian doctors began emphasizing the importance of public hygiene, and cleanliness became a focus for the general populace.

Coinciding with this shift, the introduction of soap in the markets spurred people to pay more attention to cleanliness.

“People may find it a bit bothersome, but if simply washing hands can prevent diseases, why not?”

The popularity of bathhouses increased as people became more conscious of cleanliness. In early Joseon, still bearing strong traces of the Goryeo era, there was less resistance to the concept of public bathing.

The redevelopment areas saw a trend in bathhouse construction, which soon spread to other parts of Hanyang. Bathhouses not only charged for bathing but also sold soap. It became common for people to buy soap and take a bath in the same trip.

Initially skeptical about soap’s utility, the people soon celebrated its versatility. It proved useful not just for personal hygiene but also for cleaning dishes when lathered on a sponge. Many women treasured soap, treating it almost like a precious item.

This widespread use of soap led to various issues, eventually prompting the demand for currency.

One of the first problems identified was the lifespan of soap, primarily due to moisture. Despite efforts to minimize moisture content during production, soap’s proximity to water in use led to high consumption rates.

Without modern moisture-proof packaging, soap often dissolved prematurely, especially during the monsoon season.

Consequently, urban residents started buying small quantities of soap from stores or bathhouses, given its affordability. But the inconvenience of bartering with cloth or grains, which were the common modes of payment, became apparent.

Similarly, paying bathhouse fees in kind was cumbersome for commoners who frequented them weekly.

Eventually, residents of neighborhoods with bathhouses resorted to keeping tabs, leading to frequent disputes over unpaid dues during regular settlements.

Exasperated by these complications, the people reached a consensus.

“Damn it! Let’s just use those copper coins or whatever currency they have!”

“That sounds better!”

* * *

“It’s surprising that the need for currency emerged from such unexpected places,” Sejong remarked with a look of disbelief, following Kim Jeom’s report.

At Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom and the other ministers nodded in agreement.

“Is the case with fried chicken the same then?” Sejong inquired.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The fried chicken, being reasonably priced, also saw high demand, leading to similar inconveniences among the people,” Kim Jeom replied, bowing his head.

Sejong, deep in thought, hummed thoughtfully.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Sejong addressed his ministers. “From what I hear, it seems you all wish to prioritize the circulation of currency, though you speak of deciding its order. Is that correct?”

The Chief State Councilor stepped forward to answer. “Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“And the reason?”

“The people are voicing their discomfort, Your Majesty. Discomfort leads to dissatisfaction, and accumulated dissatisfaction can easily turn into dissent.”

Sejong, tapping his fingers on the armrest, fell deep in thought again. After a while, he posed another question.

“I have a question for the ministers.”

“Please ask, Your Majesty.”

“It appears that those demanding the use of currency mainly reside in urban areas. Is that not so?”

“It’s true that the majority are urban residents, Your Majesty.”

“How widespread are bathhouses and fried chicken shops?”

“They are almost ubiquitous in cities with a population of over 5,000, Your Majesty.”

“In cities of over 5,000… So, they have spread to the county level?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But aren’t there overwhelmingly more people living in smaller villages than in such towns? Are those residing in smaller places also in favor of using currency? Are we not hastily deciding based on only the views of urban dwellers?”

Sejong continued to question with concern.

He himself deeply felt the need for currency and ardently wished for it. However, he was well aware that previous attempts to promote currency use had failed because the people did not embrace it.

Therefore, Sejong could not hastily accept the ministers’ opinions.

As Sejong hesitated, Kim Jeom stepped forward to report.

“According to reports from the government trading posts, there is an increasing demand for currency even in smaller villages below the county level. It’s not yet the majority view, but it’s growing…”

Sejong’s expression brightened slightly at Kim Jeom’s report, but he remained meticulous in his questioning.

“It’s encouraging to hear that even smaller villages below the county level are increasingly demanding currency. However, it could be risky if we don’t fully understand why this demand is increasing. Have you received reports on this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Kim Jeom’s gesture, an official from the Ministry of Taxation stepped forward with a tray holding a document.

Sejong received the document and Kim Jeom continued, “As you will see in this report, peddlers who travel through small village markets are strongly advocating for the use of currency. They find the bartering of cloth and grains burdensome.”

“But peddlers alone are not enough.”

“The farmers are also in favor, Your Majesty. They find it challenging to store and preserve grains.”

“Hmm…”

Reading the report carefully, Sejong absorbed the details. After thoroughly reviewing the report submitted by Kim Jeom, he came to a conclusion.

“I understand the opinions of the ministers. However, I cannot make an immediate decision. One reason we focus on small localities in the economic reform is to break the pattern of people taking the king and the court lightly, often showing more allegiance to local landlords and the gentry. Breaking this pattern is essential to pursue the public good and ensure the majority of the people can lead peaceful lives. Therefore…”

Sejong paused momentarily, gathering his thoughts as the ministers focused their attention on him.

“A hasty decision might be worse than no decision at all. Let us contemplate this further.”

At Sejong’s decision, the ministers bowed.

“We shall follow Your Majesty’s command.”

“Let’s take a short break now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the ministers left, Sejong remained alone in the main hall, deep in thought. He then called for his attendant.

“Attendant.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Summon the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the attendant went to convey Sejong’s command, Sejong muttered to himself.

“This isn’t the time for him to govern on my behalf, but it’s time to give him some tasks. The days of him only doing what he wishes are over…”

Chapter 126

“Father, have you been looking for me?”

“Yes. I called you because I have a task to entrust to you.”

“For me, Father?”

Upon hearing Sejong’s words, Hyang became extremely tense. Although he had dealt with many of Sejong’s tasks, Sejong had never passed on a task like this before.

“There are many matters that need attention. Could you start by organizing them?”

This was how Sejong usually delegated tasks to Hyang.

‘But he mentioned a task without any direct orders?’

Hyang’s tension reached its peak at Sejong’s unusual words.

‘This is going to be a challenging task!’

“Please command me, Father. I will do my utmost best.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s response, Sejong slowly began his explanation.

“When I first started the reforms, I anticipated it would take 10 years. And now, we are entering the second half of that period.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Many things have happened in the past five years. Thanks to the support of the court officials and the people, the reforms have been progressing smoothly.”

“It’s all thanks to your wisdom, Father.”

“Thank you for saying so. But, Crown Prince, your contributions are not small either.”

“I am deeply honored by your words, Father.”

In the midst of their warm conversation, Sejong slowly steered towards the main topic.

“However, we are now entering the second phase of the reforms. But there are problems arising.”

Sejong explained to Hyang the dilemma they faced: whether to prioritize administrative structure reform or the circulation of currency.

“…thus, the officials prefer to prioritize currency circulation. However, many regions still have more power in the hands of local landlords and influential figures than in the government’s.”

Hyang nodded in agreement with Sejong’s observation.

“That is true.”

In the 21st century, incidents like the ‘Island Slave Scandal’ showed that even the most basic human rights were being violated continuously.

Crimes often centered around exploiting people with intellectual disabilities or undocumented immigrants, with local influential figures and colluding authorities at the core.

“My aim in initiating these reforms was to ensure as many people of Joseon could live peacefully. Therefore, Crown Prince, I am entrusting you with this task. If we reform the administrative structure without ensuring proper currency circulation, it will lead to excessive use of resources. And if we implement currency circulation first without administrative reforms, it will only create opportunities for local landlords to exploit the situation.”

Hyang vigorously nodded in agreement, understanding Sejong’s concerns were not just worries but real potential issues.

“That is true. What would you have me do, Father?”

“Find a way to weaken the power of the local landlords. Whether it’s through goods or a system.”

Sejong’s command made Hyang pause for a moment. After some thought, Hyang asked Sejong a question.

“Do you seek coexistence with the local landlord powers, Father, or their elimination?”

“They are also the people of Joseon, so coexistence should be the priority. However, if they wish to play kings, they must be dealt with decisively.”

Understanding Sejong’s intent, Hyang nodded.

“I will keep your intentions in mind, Father, and develop the best strategy possible.”

“I trust in you.”

“By when should I complete this task?”

“If it’s difficult by the start of spring, then I would like to see it by the spring equinox at the latest.”

“I will remember that, Father.”

“I have great expectations for your wisdom and talent.”

Sejong’s final words were met with a deep bow from Hyang.

“I will devote myself completely.”

The historian recording this father-son conversation added:

– Thus, Sejong instructed the Crown Prince to devise a strategy concerning the landlords.

The historian then reflects:

The history of landlords goes back to the Three Kingdoms era. Over time, many families have risen and fallen, some even being completely eradicated. However, a significant number of these families still hold their positions, indicating the depth of their power and influence.

While some landlords are indeed exemplary, many are not, posing a challenge to the reforms that Sejong is implementing.

As the interests of the landlords and the reforms clash, a solution is urgently needed.

* * *

“Really, this is the utmost difficulty. Haah~.”

After receiving Sejong’s command, Hyang stepped outside and let out a long sigh.

“This is really something…”

Overwhelmed by the sudden difficult task, Hyang took off his official hat, Ikseongwan, and scratched his head before putting it back on and clenching his fist.

‘After all, history has changed. Better to handle it myself than leave it in someone else’s hands… I’ll finish it on my own terms!’

With a firm resolve, Hyang turned and walked away.

“Your Highness, where are you going?”

“To the Archive!”

* * *

Upon arriving at the Archive, Hyang began to thoroughly search through the records of the Ministries of Taxation and, Law and Enforcement…

“Your Highness, what are you looking for?”

Asked by the official in charge of the archives, Hyang stated his purpose.

“I’m looking for records on ‘long-term interest’, ‘self-sale’, and ‘land tax’.”

Hearing Hyang’s request, the official let out an involuntary groan.

“Oh dear…”

“Why? Are there no records?”

“It’s not that…”

The official, hesitating at first, then decided to speak up.

“Your Highness, please follow me.”

The official led Hyang to a section of the Archive.

“These shelves contain records of lawsuits related to ‘long-term interest’ issues, petitions complaining about excessive interest on ‘long-term interest’, and responses to those lawsuits and petitions.”

Looking at the shelves, which seemed to be twice as large as those in Hyang’s research institute and filled with documents, Hyang’s face turned pale.

“So many?”

“These are records from the reign of King Taejo onwards. And…”

The official guided Hyang to the shelves where the records he sought were kept.

As Hyang saw the massive shelves packed with documents for each category, he was speechless. Staring blankly at the shelves, he soon regained his composure and turned to the official.

“You’ve done well. Go back to your duties.”

“Do you not need my assistance?”

“No, thank you.”

“Very well. Call me if you need anything.”

After sending the official back, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Phew~, no wonder I felt it was too quiet lately…”

After checking the shelves again, Hyang rummaged in his sleeve and took out a small writing case.

“Anyway, it’s a task I’ve been given, and one that must be done. I’ll have to do it thoroughly.”

From that moment on, Hyang became one with the Archive.

* * *

“Hmm… as expected, the biggest source of income for the local landlords is not land rent, but rather long-term interest…”

At one side of the Archive, Hyang was deep in thought, surrounded by a plethora of books and papers sprawled across a massive desk, arriving at a preliminary conclusion.

“The real issue was the repayment of grain loans…”

After reviewing numerous documents related to grain repayment, Hyang sighed deeply.

“Only 30 years in, and we’re already facing a crisis…”

* * *

The origin of the grain repayment system traced back to the Land Tax Law, established during the reign of King Gogukcheon of Goguryeo. This law evolved into the ‘righteous granary’ system in Goryeo and continued to be used in Joseon.

The grain loan system of Goryeo, over time, became corrupted as the powerful gentry merged lands, leading to the collapse of independent farming communities.

Joseon, which replaced Goryeo, put considerable effort into realigning the grain loan system. They focused on securing and increasing Military Grain Reserves to stabilize public sentiment and prepare for threats from border areas.

Following the downfall of the Goryeo nobility and through consistent land reforms, by the 13th year of King Taejong’s reign (1413), the national granaries, including military ones, had amassed up to 3.57 million seom (a unit of volume).

However, the stockpiled grain and the system soon started to falter.

From the late reign of Taejong to two years into Sejong’s reforms, almost every year was marked by droughts and floods, leading to continuous poor harvests.

The continuous bad harvests emptied the national granaries and marked the beginning of a tragedy for small independent farmers.

Local landlords, who had passed the civil service examination, began to re-merge lands using their tax exemptions and other privileges. Those who lost their lands to the landlords and became tenant farmers lost their eligibility for grain loans and had to rely on high-interest loans instead.

As the number of independent farmers decreased, the recovery of grain loans became increasingly difficult.

This vicious cycle, where one problem fed into another, led to the decline of independent farming communities, culminating in the current situation.

After reviewing the gathered information, Hyang reached a conclusion.

“If things continue as they are, independent farmers will face ruin. The stagnation in agricultural production and economic growth until the Imjin War after Sejong’s reign was probably because of this.”

Having understood the situation, Hyang, with arms crossed, stared at a blank piece of paper on the desk.

After a long moment of contemplation, Hyang finally spoke.

“The solution is a bank. Only through a bank can we break the link between tenant farmers and landlords, and thus weaken the landlords’ power.”

Hyang wrote the word ‘bank’ on the paper, then crossed it out and wrote a new term.

“For the current era, a ‘national bank’ would be more appropriate…”

* * *

Having organized his thoughts, Hyang prepared a policy to accompany the establishment of the national bank and sought an audience with Sejong.

“You’ve returned in just 20 days.”

“I apologize for taking so long. My limited wisdom is to blame for the delay.”

“I’m not chiding you. It’s impressive that you found a solution in just 20 days.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

Acknowledging Sejong’s praise with a bow, Hyang looked at him.

“May I present my findings?”

With Sejong’s nod of approval, Hyang moved to the center of the Geunjeongjeon Hall. Standing before the gathered officials with King Sejong at his back, Hyang lightly bowed and began to speak.

“For the past few days, I have been conducting research under Father’s command. The topic of the research was ‘Strategies to counter local landlords obstructing the progress of currency circulation and administrative reforms.'”

The ministers swallowed hard upon hearing the topic, well aware that landlords were the primary obstacles to the reforms.

After a brief pause, Hyang ordered the attendant.

“Unroll the diagram.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the attendants set up the scroll, Hyang began to explain, turning the pages of the diagram.

“The current issue with local landlords in the provinces is that, unlike the noble families of the previous dynasty, they are mostly scholars. Of course, many of the former noble families have rebranded themselves as scholars, but the majority are those who studied Confucianism and passed the civil service exams, then used various privileges as means of amassing wealth.”

The ministers nodded in agreement with Hyang’s explanation.

Hyang continued his analysis.

“The problem with these scholarly landlords is, firstly, they are causing the decline of independent farmers by merging lands. As you all know, through the reforms, the number of people relying on commerce and industry as their main livelihood is increasing. However, most people still depend on agriculture.”

Sejong and the ministers all nodded in acknowledgment of this reality.

“But, as previously mentioned, the current situation in Joseon is such that the number of tenant farmers is increasing as independent farmers decline. Looking at the current land tax rate in our Joseon, it’s set at 5 pun (a unit of currency) per gyeol (a unit of land area) according to public law.”

As Hyang mentioned the tax, Kim Jeom, the head of the Ministry of Taxation, began to listen more intently.

“Independent farmers, as long as they don’t slack off, can pay their taxes, support their families, and even accumulate some wealth. However, tenant farmers can’t do the same. Why? Because half of what they earn goes straight to land rent. And then, for various reasons, they have to keep paying the landlords.”

Hyang continued, making eye contact with the ministers, and then took a brief pause before raising his index and middle finger.

“Here arises the second problem. These tenant farmers, having fallen into such a state, are unable to utilize grain loans properly and must resort to high-interest loans from landlords, further entangling them with the landlords.”

After outlining the problems resulting from the landlords’ land consolidation and the ensuing issues for independent farmers, Hyang moved towards a conclusion.

“If these problems accumulate, eventually, the power of the landlords will surpass that of the monarchy, just like the noble families of the previous dynasty.”

“And the solution?”

Prompted by Sejong’s question, Hyang turned to the last page of the diagram.

“The establishment of a ‘national bank’. We would use the gold and silver we’ve accumulated, as well as the grain from military granaries and righteous granaries, to break the financial chains binding tenant farmers to the landlords.”

Chapter 127

“Breaking the link between tenant farmers and landowners.”

Hyang’s shocking statement caused a small stir in the Geunjeongjeon Hall. However, the murmuring soon subsided.

“The Crown Prince has made another bold statement.”

The ministers were already accustomed to Hyang’s announcements always leading to unimaginable developments.

Since this had become routine, the ministers quickly regained their composure and pointed out potential issues.

“You said you would establish a bank to break the ties that bind the tenant farmers. Does this mean using the bank’s funds to pay off all their debts?”

Heo Jo, the Minister of Personnel, led the questioning with a sharp look at Hyang.

“If that’s the case, I oppose the establishment of the bank. While I sympathize with the tenant farmers, mere debt forgiveness is not enough to break their shackles.”

Hyang nodded in agreement at Heo Jo’s point.

“Indeed, it’s naive to think that just forgiving debts can break the cycle of bad practices. My plan is to have the bank, essentially the government, take over the debts owed by tenant farmers to the landowners.”

“The bank becomes the creditor?”

“Yes. The bank will pay off the debts owed by the tenant farmers, who will then owe the bank. This applies to both tenant farmers and ordinary citizens needing urgent funds.”

“Will the farmers and citizens use the bank?”

Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation, answered Heo Jo’s question.

“We can make them use it. The simplest way is to set low interest rates.”

“Lower interest rates…”

“The current situation is so bad that people say, ‘If you only have to pay the principal as interest in a year, you might as well call them a Bodhisattva.’ If our bank charges half that rate, its doors will wear out from overuse.”

“Hmm…”

The ministers pondered Kim Jeom’s words. Hyang then spoke up.

“I’m considering a maximum annual interest rate of 30%.”

At Hyang’s mention of ‘30%’, the ministers were shocked.

“30%!”

“Isn’t that too low?”

When the ministers reacted negatively to the 30% interest rate, Hyang pointed out something they were overlooking.

“Don’t forget that the ones in urgent need of loans are the tenant farmers.”

“We know, but?”

Hyang reminded them of a crucial fact they had forgotten.

“Have you forgotten that they lose at least half of their harvest as land rent?”

“Ah…”

“Living on salaries has made us forget…”

The ministers looked incredulous, recalling their past reliance on tenant fees.

‘These nobles, who lived off tenant fees until just the other day!’

The land redistribution and salary system changes made by King Sejong meant that the ministers, who used to live off tenant fees, now had to return their lands and live on salaries. There could have been opposition, but the situation then wasn’t conducive to dissent, especially after the recent purge of senior ministers like Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

Ultimately, the ministers had to relinquish all their lands.

“It’s human nature to forget when you get used to something, but have you already forgotten so much?”

Hyang continued with a bitter tone.

“Therefore, a 50% interest rate is an exorbitant burden.”

Hyang’s statement sparked a counterargument from Heo Jo.

“But 30% is too low an interest rate. If we start lending at such low rates, the tenant farmers and citizens might be happy, but they might also forget the dangers of debt and indulge in irresponsible borrowing.”

“That’s why it’s set at 30%. 50% is too high. Plus, it could lead to competition.”

“Competition?”

“From the landowners’ perspective, a 50% interest rate, though lower than what they’re used to, is still lucrative. This might make them want to compete with the government-established bank.”

“That’s outrageous!”

Heo Jo was outraged, but Hyang countered with a question.

“There’s no law preventing private entities from setting up banks. We could prohibit it, but that might drive illegal financial activities underground. What do you think about this?”

‘That means underground funding could skyrocket!’

“Ugh…”

Heo Jo groaned at Hyang’s point.

Hyang continued with more details.

“Like the Ministry of Taxation’s monopoly stores, setting up banks down to the county level could be beneficial in many ways.”

Hyang then explained the bank’s functions:

1. Loan money to independent and tenant farmers in need.

2. Exchange the grain and cotton brought by the people for currency.

“Working together with the Ministry’s monopoly stores on this second point could double the effectiveness.”

At the mention of ‘collaboration’, Kim Jeom tensed up and asked.

“What do you mean by collaboration?”

“The goods sold at the monopoly stores, especially salt, are essential for the people. If we make it mandatory to buy these monopoly items with currency, the use of currency will definitely become established.”

“That makes sense.”

Kim Jeom nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“There must be other benefits as well.”

King Sejong interjected during Hyang’s explanation.

“I will listen attentively.”

The ministers focused their attention on Sejong.

As they listened, Sejong shared his thoughts.

“Regarding the newly established tax offices in the reform of the Six Ministries. Make it mandatory to pay taxes in currency at these tax offices. This will accelerate the use of currency.”

“That will indeed be the case.”

“Also, the Crown Prince’s idea of having the bank handle the exchange of grain and currency is excellent. This way, the government can collect the grain lying idle in the people’s granaries, which can be used for military provisions and relief food.”

“That’s absolutely true!”

“We are in awe of Your Majesty’s wisdom!”

“Haha! You flatter me!”

Sejong responded with a pleased laugh to the ministers’ praise.

Meanwhile, Hyang, holding a manuscript for the announcement, flipped through the pages and grumbled to himself.

‘That was supposed to be my line! Ah, well! Rock-paper-scissors!’

Anyway, the bank that Hyang proposed was a very good idea. Since King Sejong also showed a favorable response, the ministers agreed to establish the bank.

“Establishing the bank is important, but there are issues that need to be addressed first.”

“Issues to address first?”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers refocused their attention on him.

“First, we must deal with the problem of usury. Even though establishing the bank is a solution, it will take time to build the building, assign officials, and prepare the funds. However, many people are currently suffering from usury, so we need to implement a solution for them immediately.”

Heo Jo agreed with Hyang’s statement.

“That’s right. Recently, not only in Hanyang but also in various cities, there have been petitions against high-interest debts.”

“Do people in the cities incur debts at high interest rates? How high is the interest?”

“The interest can be ten times the principal.”

“Ten times! And people still borrow at such rates?”

King Sejong asked in surprise, to which Kim Jeom responded.

“Recently, as the number of people engaged in commerce and industry has increased, so has the number borrowing seed money. The amounts borrowed are significant, and many who start businesses fail, so the high interest rates are justified as covering the risk.”

At Kim Jeom’s response, King Sejong murmured with a bitter face.

“As more people engage in commerce and industry, such problems arise.”

‘This is dangerous! The probability might be low due to the current favorable economic conditions, but if mishandled, it could lead back to suppressing commerce and industry as inferior pursuits!’

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang quickly spoke up.

“Your Majesty! As people try new ventures, many will fail! The problem lies with those who rush into commerce and industry without proper preparation!”

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s point.

“The Crown Prince is right. No matter how small or trivial, proper preparation is essential to avoid failure. So, what should we do?”

“In the banks established in cities, we should set up a business evaluation department to assess those who want to start businesses and decide whether to loan them money.”

“A business evaluation department?”

King Sejong showed interest, and Hyang explained further.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The officials of the Ministry of Taxation, who deal with commerce and industry, should have a good understanding of which industries are thriving and which are highly competitive.

Therefore, selecting officials with this knowledge to work in the business evaluation department is advisable.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong was impressed.

“Indeed! They would know what is thriving in those cities and be able to advise those who want to start businesses in competitive industries! What does the Minister of Taxation think?”

Kim Jeom responded hesitantly.

“Well, that would be appropriate.”

“Then…”

As King Sejong was about to add this task to the Ministry of Taxation, Kim Jeom quickly interjected.

“While the Ministry of Taxation indeed deals with the tax affairs of merchants and artisans, the Ministry of Personnel is responsible for matters related to starting and closing businesses! Avoiding excessive competition is crucial for business success, so the Ministry of Personnel is better suited to provide such advice!”

‘I refuse to take on more responsibilities or be easily exploited like a dried persimmon!’

Thanks to his quick thinking, Kim Jeom skillfully passed the ‘hot potato’ of responsibility to the Ministry of Personnel.

King Sejong considered Kim Jeom’s suggestion and nodded.

“Is that so? Well then. Minister of Personnel, what do you think?”

Caught off guard with the sudden responsibility, Heo Jo stuttered in his response.

“Indeed, the matters of starting and closing businesses fall under the Ministry of Personnel.”

“Then, let’s have the Ministry of Personnel primarily appoint the officials for the business evaluation department. However, since starting a business is about gaining wealth, the Ministry of Taxation should also appropriately assign their officials.”

With King Sejong’s decision, Heo Jo and Kim Jeom bowed in agreement.

“We obey Your Majesty’s command!”

* * *

Thus, the proposal for establishing the bank initiated by Hyang was approved.

“Let’s end today’s session here. Go and attend to your duties.”

With King Sejong’s dismissal, the ministers bowed and gradually left the Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Cough!”

“Cough!”

As they left the hall, Kim Jeom and Heo Jo glanced at each other with a forced cough. Kim Jeom had managed to pass the responsibility to Heo Jo, who was now directly affected. Although Kim Jeom was not entirely off the hook, he was not as directly hit as Heo Jo.

“Ah, Your Excellency, as if we don’t already have enough on our plates…”

As Heo Jo grumbled, Kim Jeom retorted.

“Who are you complaining about manpower shortage to? Just when things are running smoothly, you swoop in and snatch our officials like eating dried persimmons!”

To this, Heo Jo groaned and responded.

“Ugh… I’ve got some fine ginseng at home, I’ll send some your way soon. You’re working so hard, you could use some tonic, couldn’t you?”

Kim Jeom quickly replied.

“Now that you mention it, I’ve recently received about ten softshell turtles. I’ll send them over to your residence. They’re great for strengthening the body – boil them well and enjoy.”

“Cough! Cough!”

“Cough! Cough!”

The two ministers coughed loudly, turning away from each other as they strode down the Six Ministries street.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like they were showing concern for each other, but those familiar with the politics of the Six Ministries would recognize this as a declaration of a subtle but intense rivalry.

Ginseng is known as a powerful medicine, said to revive even the dying, so saying “Eat ginseng” was akin to saying “Work yourself to death.”

Softshell turtle is known for its health benefits, particularly for rejuvenation. However, it’s also famous for its tenacity, symbolizing the saying, “Even if its head is cut off, it won’t let go.” So, Kim Jeom’s offer of sending softshell turtles was essentially a veiled threat of “I won’t go down alone, even in death.”

Chapter 128

Five days after the decision to establish the bank, a report came to King Sejong.

“Is the Crown Prince residing in the Record Bureau?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why?”

At the question posed by King Sejong, the ministers tensed up.

‘What is he planning this time?’

‘What kind of trouble is he going to cause now?’

‘Please, don’t bring any more trouble! Really!’

While the ministers internally cursed, prayed, and hoped, the chief secretary answered.

“According to reports from the attendants serving him, the Crown Prince is there to supplement the response to the command you gave, Your Majesty, as it was slightly inadequate.”

“Ha! Truly befitting of the Crown Prince!”

King Sejong burst into laughter, filled with pride and admiration, upon hearing the report, while the ministers clenched their eyes shut and cursed inwardly.

‘Damn it!’

At the same time, Hyang, organizing documents in the Record Bureau, was cursing as well.

“Damn it! The conclusion is, after all, civil engineering!”

* * *

Five days after the chief secretary’s report, and ten days in total, Hyang appeared before King Sejong.

“Father, I have brought the second proposal regarding the command you issued.”

King Sejong’s face lit up with joy.

“I have been waiting. Present it quickly.”

“Yes, Father.”

As Hyang walked to the center of the main hall, the ministers focused their attention on him.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen all of you.”

After greeting the ministers lightly, Hyang cleared his throat and began to speak.

“The first thing I thought of in carrying out the command you gave, Father, was the bank. There is no change in my belief that the bank is the optimal solution to break the economic shackles between the landlords and tenant farmers.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s statement, King Sejong and the ministers all harbored the same question.

‘But what is the problem?’

Sensing their confusion, Hyang continued to speak.

“But, if only a bank is constructed, unexpected problems may arise.”

“What kind of unexpected problems?”

At King Sejong’s inquiry, Hyang immediately responded.

“It is the problem of transportation.”

“Transportation?”

As Hyang brought up the issue of transportation, King Sejong and the ministers began to ponder why it would be a problem.

King Sejong was the first to understand.

“Indeed, that’s true. The people need hundreds, if not thousands, of different goods, but these goods are not produced everywhere. If the landlords monopolize these goods, it could become another form of shackles.”

At King Sejong’s response, Hyang blinked in surprise, unable to close his mouth.

‘I hadn’t thought of that?’

“Prince?”

Frozen by an answer he hadn’t considered, Hyang was jolted back to reality by King Sejong’s call and bowed his head.

“I am overwhelmed, Your Majesty. I was momentarily bewildered when you pointed out something I hadn’t considered! I am deeply impressed by Your Majesty’s wisdom!”

At Hyang’s flattering remarks, King Sejong smiled and replied.

“It was merely good fortune. But as a father who has lived longer than you, it’s only natural that I have seen things you haven’t.”

The ministers looked frustrated at King Sejong’s reply.

‘So what are we?’

‘Damn it! If we’re talking about age, I’m as old as his grandchild!’

‘Are you saying we should just die?’

“Eh? Why do you all look like that?”

At King Sejong’s question, the ministers quickly composed themselves and bowed their heads.

“We were simply in awe of Your Majesty’s wisdom!”

“Your Majesty’s intelligence is a blessing to Joseon!”

The ministers, represented by the chief ministers, showered King Sejong with praise, to which he replied with a slightly embarrassed face.

“Ha! As I said to the prince, it was just a bit of luck. How can I compare with your insights and wisdom? The difference in our ages speaks for itself.”

“Your words are too generous!”

“We are deeply grateful!”

Despite bowing their heads in unison at King Sejong’s words, the ministers had mixed feelings.

‘Is this really a compliment?’

‘It doesn’t feel like one… ’

‘It sounds like he’s saying we’re not living up to our age… ’

Regardless of what the ministers thought, King Sejong’s attention was focused on the Crown Prince.

“So… Prince, what was your solution to the problem?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang discussed the issue he had considered.

“As Your Majesty instructed, not all goods are produced in one place. Therefore, goods needed from other places must be transported. However, with limited transportation, the volume of goods is restricted, and those far from the production sites must pay higher prices. Consequently, tenant farmers with low income will inevitably have to borrow money from landlords again.”

At Hyang’s words, the Minister of Punishments posed a question.

“Why would they borrow money from landlords if there’s a bank?”

The Minister of Personnel, Heo Jo, immediately responded.

“Unless the bank’s storage continuously produces unlimited wealth, and considering there’s a limit to the property that can be used as collateral, infinite lending is impossible.”

“Isn’t that the same for landlords?”

Still puzzled, the Minister of Law and Punishments asked another question.

At this, Kim Jeom raised his voice.

“Look here, Your Excellency! Unlike the bank, landlords charge interest on the loans they provide! Do you not see the difference?”

“Ahhh…”

Chastened by Kim Jeom, the Minister of Law and Punishments closed his mouth with an embarrassed expression.

As he fell silent, Hyang continued.

“This is the first problem arising from limited transportation, and the next issue is communication. Due to delays in reporting urgent matters like droughts, floods, or epidemics, there’s insufficient time for response. This delay in the bank’s response means the people will again be bound to the landlords.”

“I see.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded in understanding.

Believing that King Sejong and the ministers grasped the issue, Hyang presented his proposed solution.

“Therefore, the solution I propose is to expand the road network throughout Joseon.”

Immediately, the Minister of Public Works objected.

“Road construction is already being carried out continuously.”

“Indeed, but the issue is with the duration and nature of the road construction. Let’s consider the current situation. Construction begins after the harvest and enters into winter, lasting for about five months until the end of the hungry season. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“During the harsh winter, construction requires significant labor and progresses slowly, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The Minister of Public Works nodded in agreement with Hyang’s points, acknowledging their validity.

Digging through the frozen ground in winter was an extremely difficult task, especially in 15th-century Joseon without modern heavy machinery. Most of the work had to rely on manual labor and animal power.

As the Minister of Public Works kept nodding, Hyang pointed out the resulting problems.

“Just like the construction of canals and reservoirs, road construction started as a form of relief work. However, if the bank becomes established, this kind of relief-oriented road work must stop.”

Kim Jeom then intervened.

“I understand what the Crown Prince is saying. However, the reason for construction in that period was not only for relief purposes but also due to the availability of labor. During the farming season, it is not possible to take people away.”

“It’s easier to take people out during the farming season.”

“What?”

“Eh?”

Hyang’s response, which contradicted conventional wisdom, made everyone from King Sejong to the scribes recording the session doubt their ears.

“Prince, the farming season is called so because it’s a busy time for agricultural work. How can it be easier to take people away then?”

King Sejong questioned, to which Hyang explained.

“It’s because of the transplanting method, Your Majesty.”

“The transplanting method? Hmm… Wasn’t that used to increase yield?”

King Sejong remarked, and Kim Jeom added.

“Yes, although the increase in yield was less than expected.”

Kim Jeom’s comment led Hyang to continue.

“Yes, the increase in yield was less than expected, so even now, researchers and farmers are working hard to find varieties that can increase yield. But the number of farms using the transplanting method is increasing, isn’t it?”

Kim Jeom replied with a slightly embarrassed face.

“That’s true. Even if the increase is less than expected, the poorest soils show at least a 10% increase.”

As Kim Jeom mentioned, the number of farms adopting the transplanting method was growing, as it allowed for at least a 10% increase in yield compared to the direct seeding method.

“In the best fields, where ‘even spitting brings a great harvest,’ the yield increase was at least 80%.”

Hyang then explained another effect brought about by the transplanting method.

“The ministers have focused only on the yield increase brought by the transplanting method, missing its other effects.”

This caught the strong interest of Kim Jeom, who was in charge of financial matters. For him, it was something he couldn’t overlook.

“What other effects are you referring to?”

“Sowing and transplanting seasons only require intense labor for a short period. Once these are over, there’s a surplus of labor until the harvest season.”

“Really?”

Hyang then explained the changes brought by the transplanting method.

– The transplanting method, where seedlings grown to a certain extent are transplanted, allows rice to grow stronger compared to direct seeding, as long as the seedlings can withstand the initial shock.

– Due to the characteristics of flooded rice fields, the variety of weeds that can grow is limited. This significantly reduces the frequency and manpower needed for weeding.

– Thus, apart from the initial seeding and growing of seedlings and the harvesting period, a significant amount of labor is available.

“…Let me give an example. Two years ago, there was a petition from Muan County in Jeolla Province. The county magistrate reported that after the transplanting was completed and there was spare labor, they were able to finish road maintenance before the rainy season.”

King Sejong nodded as he recalled the incident.

“That’s right. At that time, I praised the magistrate for his wise handling and gave a favorable assessment. Indeed, indeed…”

As King Sejong continued nodding, the discussion between Kim Jeom and Hyang progressed.

“So, Prince, you suggest using the surplus labor from the farming season for road construction?”

“Not exactly drawing labor. That would not sever the link between landlords and farmers. I’m thinking of establishing a guild specialized solely in road construction.”

“That would lead to unnecessary expenditure! It’s not feasible!”

Kim Jeom strongly opposed the idea, raising his voice, and Hyang responded just as emphatically.

“My intention in forming a guild is not for relief work. It is to create a professional group focused on civil engineering as a regular industry!”

“Really?”

Taken aback by this unexpected proposal, Kim Jeom hesitated, and then Heo Jo interjected.

“Are you suggesting moving the surplus labor from rural areas to urban settings?”

“Exactly that!”

At Hyang’s firm affirmation, Heo Jo looked troubled.

“But whether there will be enough workforce to draw from the rural areas is questionable…”

As Heo Jo expressed his doubts, Hyang turned to Kim Jeom.

“Minister of Taxation! How much has the rural population increased? Or rather, how much has it decreased?”

Kim Jeom promptly answered Hyang’s question.

“Since the new land survey, the annual average death rate has decreased to about 60% compared to before the survey.”

“Ah! I see!”

At Kim Jeom’s response, King Sejong exclaimed in realization.

“I had forgotten! Since we started vaccinations against smallpox and distributed medicinal herbs, the mortality rate has significantly dropped! It’s an oversight on my part! I cannot express enough apologies to the ministers!”

When King Sejong acknowledged his oversight, the ministers unanimously disagreed.

“Not at all, Your Majesty!”

“It’s our fault for failing to assist Your Majesty properly! Please punish us!”

“Punish us!”

After the comical scene of everyone insisting on their own apologies ended, King Sejong turned back to Hyang.

“I will consider deeply the policy you’ve proposed.”

“Your graciousness is overwhelming!”

At King Sejong’s decision, Hyang bowed deeply.

Chapter 129

Although King Sejong had said he would ‘consider deeply’ Hyang’s proposal, his mind was already leaning towards accepting it.

The next day, King Sejong summoned Hyang.

“Explain your plan in more detail to me and the ministers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following King Sejong’s command, Hyang began a more detailed explanation to King Sejong and the ministers.

– First, suitable regions in each of the eight provinces of Joseon will be selected to initiate pilot projects.

King Sejong, who had initially shown a moment of confusion, quickly nodded in understanding.

“Pilot projects? Ah… I see. I have also been selecting counties for trial implementation before reorganizing the local administrative offices. It’s a similar approach, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Depending on the terrain, like whether it’s flatland or mountainous, and the availability of gravel and sand, the cost of construction varies. By assessing these factors, we can prevent the guilds from making exorbitant profits.”

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation. Kim Jeom then asked a question.

“As this construction is not meant as relief work, workers must be paid. Should we leave the determination of wage standards to the guilds?”

Hyang paused briefly before responding.

“I intended to explain that later, but since you’ve asked, I will share my thoughts. In my opinion, the minimum standard should be that workers earn enough for a meal after half an hour of work, and enough for a family of four to live for a day after a full day’s work (12 hours).”

Kim Jeom nodded after doing some calculations in his head.

“That seems reasonable.”

“Let’s add one more condition to that.”

As King Sejong interjected, the ministers and Hyang turned their attention to him.

“We are listening attentively, Your Majesty.”

“It’s not a grand condition, but I think it’s good to add that the guild responsible for the work must provide lunch and tea free of charge.”

“The guilds will strongly oppose this, claiming their profits will decrease.”

At Kim Jeom’s remark, King Sejong’s expression sharpened.

“So, it’s alright for guilds to pursue profit, but those working at the very bottom aren’t allowed to seek it?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“If they’re only supposed to be content with just enough to fill their stomachs each day, why would they leave their villages? Even now, if you go to the marketplaces, you’ll see many people working day-to-day as laborers. The purpose of revising the land system is to allow them to accumulate wealth and seek a better life! If we only enrich the guilds, how is that different from empowering landlords?”

At King Sejong’s rebuke, Kim Jeom prostrated himself.

“Please forgive my thoughtlessness!”

“Stand up. And think before you speak in the future.”

“I will bear your words in mind.”

With his head bowed, Kim Jeom sighed inwardly.

‘That was a close call.’

Over time, the ministers had learned to interpret King Sejong’s tone to gauge the severity of a situation.

1. He uses formal speech for regular matters.

2. He uses respectful language when ministers or the Crown Prince achieve significant accomplishments.

3. If someone fails to understand his intentions or opposes him, he switches to a more direct and less formal tone.

4. In more serious situations, he shows visible annoyance and uses blunt, forceful language.

5. In extreme cases, the Royal Secretariat intervenes.

According to these criteria, Kim Jeom had narrowly avoided a major crisis.

‘This job is really tough!’

Grumbling internally, Kim Jeom focused on Hyang’s continued explanation.

Amidst the now tense atmosphere, Hyang proceeded with his explanation.

“I believe Your Majesty’s thoughts on the wages for those working at the bottom are most appropriate.

Next, we must find guilds to undertake construction in every province of Joseon, ensuring that at least three different guilds are contracted in each province.”

“Three or more, does that mean at least three?” asked Kim Jeom.

Hyang nodded in affirmation. Then, Jo Mal-saeng, another minister, chimed in.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to manage if there are fewer guilds in charge?”

Just as Hyang was about to respond, the Chief State Councillor interjected.

“It’s to avoid the problem of monopoly. While simplicity in military command improves efficiency, in civilian construction, monopolies lead to more people suffering losses. This is why the sages have always cautioned against monopolies in trade.”

“The Chief State Councillor’s observation is accurate. If only one guild is chosen per province, eventually they will control everything. The funds for these constructions are the people’s taxes; we cannot waste them recklessly.”

“If that’s the case, bringing in guilds from other provinces… ah, but then there would be efficiency issues.”

Hyang’s words caused Heo Jo to pause mid-sentence as he realized the implications, then he closed his mouth.

Hyang continued his explanation.

“The government’s role is to prevent monopolization and collusion among these guilds while fostering competition. Once they gain experience and skill, we can select the most competent companies to develop the northeastern frontier. By then, they should have sufficient experience and skill to minimize trial and error.”

“That makes sense.”

As time passed and Hyang finished his detailed explanation, he began to summarize.

“Let’s summarize the proposals related to earth construction and the previous one about the battlefield.”

– The smallpox vaccination and the distribution of medicinal herbs have reduced deaths from diseases.

– Counteracting the provision of relief rice with irrigation projects and expanding flood control facilities has increased agricultural productivity and reduced famine deaths.

– With fewer deaths from disease and famine, the population is continuously increasing.

– Even with direct seeding methods, the workforce was in excess. The spread of the transplanting method has exacerbated this surplus of labor.

– Although the transplanting method slightly increased yields, the growing population meant both self-sufficient and tenant farmers inevitably fell into debt.

– To address this, we establish battlefields to break the connection between landlords and tenant farmers.

– Start with road expansion and launch large-scale earth construction projects to draw excess rural labor outwards.

“…That’s all.”

After completing his statements, Hyang bowed respectfully.

The ministers, who had been attentively listening to Hyang’s words, fell into deep contemplation.

King Sejong was similarly thoughtful. After a prolonged silence, he finally spoke.

“I have a question for the ministers.”

“We are all ears, Your Majesty.”

“Do you remember the ‘National Development Plan’ proposed by the Crown Prince previously?”

“We remember it well.”

The ministers unanimously answered. The current land revision was largely guided by that plan.

“Combining the current proposals of the Crown Prince with that plan, what do you think?”

Chief State Councillor Lee Jik stepped forward to answer.

“The ultimate goal of the National Comprehensive Development Plan aligns with these proposals, so I believe it is appropriate to adopt them.”

“Are there any objections?”

“……”

The ministers’ silence served as their response, leading King Sejong to make a decision.

“Then, we will actively adopt the proposals put forth by the Crown Prince and develop an implementation plan. Submit this plan to me.”

“We shall comply with Your Majesty’s command!”

The ministers responded in unison.

“Every word in the plan you ministers will draft affects the fate of Joseon. Please put your utmost effort into it.”

At King Sejong’s earnest request, the ministers prostrated themselves in unison, responding with deep sincerity.

“We will remember your words and redouble our efforts!”

This was indeed the ministers’ true sentiment.

Despite the constant fatigue from daily overwork, the occasional threats of resignation, and their disorientation over policies that seemed to contradict their Neo-Confucian beliefs, the ministers held their positions for one primary reason.

‘If this endeavor succeeds, it will birth a Joseon unlike any we have known, thought of, or pursued—a far better Joseon. I want to be recorded in history as having been part of this process!’

* * *

Five days after King Sejong and the ministers unanimously decided to implement the battlefield and earth construction projects,

“Your Highness, His Majesty summons you.”

Late in the evening, as Hyang was organizing documents and preparing to spend a pleasant time with his second consort – he had even devised a schedule to regularly spend nights with three consorts – he was puzzled by the eunuch’s message.

“At this hour?”

“Yes.”

“Very well, lead the way.”

Guided by the eunuch, Hyang arrived at Gangnyeongjeon, located behind Geunjeongjeon.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

“Yes, please enter.”

Entering Gangnyeongjeon, which served as King Sejong’s personal office and bedroom, Hyang noticed Heo Jo was also present.

“Your Majesty, did you summon me?”

“Yes, sit down.”

“Yes.”

Once Hyang was seated, King Sejong began speaking.

“I summoned the Crown Prince to discuss the issue of slavery.”

Mention of ‘slavery’ caused Hyang’s expression to harden.

‘The inevitable has arrived.’

Noticing Hyang’s expression, King Sejong continued.

“Since before my time, only marriages between slaves were allowed, and marriages between commoners and slaves were forbidden. However, as societal customs evolved, such intermarriages increased, leading to the implementation of the ‘Follow the Mother Law’ for children born from these unions.”

“Yes, I am aware of this from the records.”

After Hyang acknowledged his knowledge, King Sejong paused to clear his throat before continuing.

“In cases of intermarriage, it is overwhelmingly common for a commoner man to marry a slave woman. Therefore, my predecessor established the Patrilineal Law, determining the status of children based on their father.”

“Yes, I am also aware of that.”

“However, there are many complaints arising from the current implementation of the Patrilineal Law.”

At King Sejong’s statement, Hyang responded.

“King Taejong established the Patrilineal Law to increase the number of commoners as the slave population was growing and the commoner population decreasing, causing issues in national finance and defense. Are those opposing this law suggesting their minor benefits are more important than the country’s welfare? If so, they should be severely punished.”

Hyang’s stern remark prompted Heo Jo to respond.

“The issue is more complex than it seems.”

“Complex? How so?”

“Yes.”

Heo Jo began to explain the complexities that had arisen from the implementation of the Patrilineal Law.

– The Patrilineal Law determines the status of children born between commoners and slaves based on the father’s status. Its primary goal was to increase the number of commoners.

– This led to a significant increase in the number of commoners but a relative decrease in slaves, causing discontent among slave owners.

“Wasn’t the purpose of the Patrilineal Law to reduce the number of slaves? If that’s the case, isn’t it working as intended? What’s the problem?”

Confused, Hyang asked, prompting Heo Jo to explain further.

“In principle, yes. And if the decrease in slaves was natural, it wouldn’t be an issue. However, the problem lies in the absolute decrease and its impact on rural customs.”

“Why? How so?”

“Due to another custom related to the Patrilineal Law. Specifically, the custom of manumission.”

“Manumission?”

[TL/N: Manumission means ‘release from slavery’]

Unable to understand, Hyang listened as King Sejong interjected.

“Typically, when a female slave bears a child of a commoner, she is granted manumission. That’s where the problem arises.”

“Aha!”

Hyang suddenly grasped the issue.

A female slave could bear children until menopause. From a slave owner’s perspective, granting manumission to such a female slave meant losing potential future slaves—potentially at least ten more.

“I understand. But what about the issue with customs?”

Heo Jo immediately answered Hyang’s question.

“There are frequent cases where, despite having a slave husband of the same status, a woman claims her child is of a commoner. Or cases where the paternity of a child is uncertain. In such instances, the mother invariably claims the father is a commoner, due to the prospect of manumission.”

“Ah…”

As Hyang sighed, King Sejong continued.

“Do you remember what you said before you were married? ‘Even a Buddha turns away in the face of temptation.’ That’s the situation we’re facing.”

“Yes.”

The logic is the same. There are numerous cases where women, manumitted along with their children for being recognized as offspring of a commoner, become homeless due to mistreatment by the legitimate wife. It’s a tragic situation.”

Prompted by King Sejong’s words, Hyang asked with a firm expression.

“Your Majesty, do you intend to abolish the Patrilineal Law?”

King Sejong shook his head in response.

“No, I have no intention of abolishing it. That’s why I called you here. There’s something you need to do.”

“Please, give me your instructions.”

“Find a way for manumitted female slaves and their children to make a living!”

At King Sejong’s command, Hyang bowed and responded.

“I will heed Your Majesty’s command!”

Though he responded energetically, inwardly, Hyang was struggling.

‘Dammit! Another incredibly difficult task!’

* * *

Note: “King Sejong the Great: A Single-Volume Compilation” by Park Young-gyu, published by Woongjin Knowledge House.

Chapter 130

‘I’ve accepted the command, but the easiest route is often the best. First, I need to check some prerequisites!’

Hyang, who was just about to enjoy his ‘happy time’ before being summoned, began by verifying some initial conditions.

“One idea comes to mind. When a private female slave) marries a commoner, she should be required to inform her master and obtain a document of permission. For government-owned female slaves, a similar document would be required from the relevant government office.”

Heo Jo quickly responded to Hyang’s suggestion.

“For private slaves, the master will likely grant permission or refuse it. Most private female slaves probably won’t ever get married.”

Hyang nodded thoughtfully at Heo Jo’s response.

“That makes sense.”

“And in the case of government-owned slaves, they usually don’t seek marriage.”

“Why is that?”

“A significant number of government-owned female slaves are from noble families.”

“Aha…”

Hyang slowly nodded, processing Heo Jo’s explanation.

* * *

When officials or scholars of the nobility committed serious crimes—often treason—their entire families were implicated and disgraced.

Adult males were typically executed, while young boys and women became government slaves.

Many of these women from noble families, now government slaves, chose to remain chaste—at least outwardly.

This also applied to women who became private slaves, either given to meritorious subjects or for various other reasons.

The decision of these women, reduced to a lower status, to remain chaste often stemmed from a faint hope of restoration.

The family of King Sejong’s father-in-law, Sim On, had its honor restored early in Sejong’s reign, excluding Sim On himself. Inspired by such rare instances, these women clung to that slim hope and maintained their chastity.

* * *

After hearing Heo Jo’s explanation, Hyang paused to gather his thoughts and then asked another question.

“Your Majesty has issued a decree, but considering the backlash from the slave owners, it won’t be easy. As a secondary option, what if all children born between commoners and female slaves become government slaves?”

Heo Jo immediately responded.

“Private slaves would all wish to become government slaves. Many are already eagerly seeking this status. So, naturally, they would be desperate to find commoner husbands.”

Hyang’s expression fell into disappointment.

“Indeed…”

After a moment of silence, Hyang composed himself and replied to King Sejong.

“I have received Your Majesty’s command, and as your servant, I will do my utmost to find a solution.”

“I trust the Crown Prince.”

“I will give my all.”

With a promise to himself, Hyang bowed to King Sejong and left Gangnyeongjeon.

Watching Hyang leave, King Sejong, once Hyang was out of sight, turned to Heo Jo.

“What if we hadn’t carried out the land reform, and the Crown Prince hadn’t shown such prominence?”

After a moment of silence, Heo Jo replied.

“Forgive my boldness, but if that were the case, I, or rather, all ministers, would have advocated for the Follow the Mother Law. Without it, Joseon might have plunged into civil unrest.”

“Civil unrest…” King Sejong murmured with a bitter expression.

‘It’s plausible in that scenario.’

Heo Jo was known for his principled stance. His foremost principle was ‘the peace of Joseon’. He believed in enforcing even unfair laws if they were for the sake of peace, as he had strongly advocated for the law prohibiting complaints from the common people.

Following this principle, he initially supported Ryu Jung-hyeon, but later shifted his support to King Sejong.

As King Sejong trailed off, Heo Jo’s expression grew more serious.

“Your Majesty, it’s not too late. We must deal with Prince Yangnyeong.”

“Even so, he is my brother, and currently, the land reform is proceeding well, public sentiment is on my side, and the Crown Prince is demonstrating exceptional ability, so let’s overlook it.”

“…As you command.”

With King Sejong deciding to put aside the issue with Prince Yangnyeong, Heo Jo had no choice but to accept it.

It was the king’s command, after all.

‘A subject can advise, but should not unduly pressure the sovereign.’

This was Heo Jo’s second principle.

* * *

“Slaves…”

Back in his room at the Eastern Palace, Hyang muttered softly.

“Do you wish to take your meal now?”

At the eunuch’s inquiry, Hyang replied briefly.

“I have work to do. For the time being, I will be alone. Inform them accordingly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After giving his orders, Hyang’s lips twitched in frustration.

“If they dare complain about my delayed succession again, I’ll turn everything upside down.”

After sending the eunuch away and left alone, Hyang sat at his desk and mumbled to himself.

“Slaves… This really isn’t easy. From the perspective of local lords, nobles, or scholars, slaves are their economic and military backbone…”

As Hyang grumbled while reviewing the current situation, he recalled the words of his teacher, Samcheonpo.

“Joseon has a wealth of historical records and documents, which allows for extensive research. That’s why there are so many controversies and debates about the figures from the Joseon era.”

Should I start from more recent times and work backward?

There are Yi Myeong-bok and Min Ja-young. Were they patriots who strived to protect the nation during the imperialist era, or were they delusional dreamers longing for the revival of absolute monarchy and external family regimes?

Above them is King Jeongjo, embroiled in controversy as either a reformist monarch or a cunning player in a high-stakes game of power.

Then there’s King Yeongjo, either a suspect in his brother’s death and a power-hungry ruler who killed his own son, or a savvy politician who maintained a delicate balance of power.

King Gwanghae is debated as either a madman or a master of balancing diplomacy during the Ming-Qing transition.

The most famous figures include Admiral Yi Sun-sin, hailed as either a national hero or overrated due to military regime propaganda, and Won Gyun, who some say has been excessively vilified.

And now, the criticism has begun to emerge against ‘Sejong the Great.’ Critics mainly point to his policies like the ban on commoner complaints, the Follow the Mother Law, and forced social stratification. They label King Sejong as ‘an absolute monarch and a king for the privileged.’

But then, why did he create Hangul? If he wanted to favor the privileged, keeping the lower classes ignorant would have been ideal. Why create a script for the common people?

Was it out of intellectual vanity, to show off his intelligence? Does that make sense? Doesn’t something feel off?

* * *

“Is it all just a compromise for the sake of maintaining political stability?”

Reflecting on Samcheonpo’s words, Hyang spoke seriously to himself.

According to Samcheonpo’s ‘Acknowledged Random Talks,’ the laws like the ban on commoner complaints and the Follow the Mother Law were a result of a compromise between the Joseon royal family, originating from northern military factions, and the southern regional power-holders.

King Taejong, seeking to strengthen his power and extend central authority to the provinces, initiated the ban on commoner complaints.

The local lords of the granary regions, who had lost their military bases due to the private army abolishment and Daimyo (Japanese lords) expeditions, had to accept this law.

On the other hand, the local lords, who regained economic power in their regions by accelerating land consolidation during the recurring famines around King Sejong’s accession – Samcheonpo compared them to those who aggressively accumulated wealth during the IMF crisis – pushed for the Follow the Mother Law, which King Sejong had no choice but to accept.

Samcheonpo concluded his talk with the following:

-Why did King Sejong, who inherited King Taejong’s strong monarchy, get pushed back just over a decade into his reign? Firstly, the Jurchen issue in the north, and secondly, the primitive inland transportation issues of Joseon. If a rebel movement in the south, even with armed forces, erupted, it would be hard to freely move the military concentrated in the north, and even if they tried to mobilize scattered forces in the south, the terrible road conditions would make timely response difficult. Both sides would suffer more losses. So, they reached a kind of agreement with the Follow the Mother Law. ‘We’ll guarantee your interests to some extent, so listen to the central government.’

Reflecting on Samcheonpo’s words, Hyang smirked.

“Now that I think about it, we used to joke that he was an alien because his theories were so plausible…”

Recalling Samcheonpo, Hyang chuckled and continued.

“Looking at the current situation, maybe he really was an alien.”

* * *

The next day, Hyang, upon arriving at Area 51, sought out Jang Yeong-sil.

While waiting for Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang muttered softly.

“Cliché as it may be, there are things that must be done.”

Soon after, Jang Yeong-sil, summoned, respectfully greeted Hyang.

“Your Highness, did you call for me?”

“It’s been a while, Astronomer Jang. How is the Annular Gear project progressing?”

At Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil’s face paled, and he knelt down immediately.

“I am sorry! We haven’t yet produced useful results.”

Seeing Jang Yeong-sil kneeling and confessing, Hyang gestured dismissively.

“Stand up. Sit down on the chair; we have much to discuss.”

“Yes.”

Having seated Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang inquired about the progress of the project.

“How long has it been since the Annular Gear project began?”

“It’s entering its second year.”

“What seems to be the problem?”

“For self-operation, a mechanism to supply power is needed. Since we don’t have a steam engine yet, we are researching the use of springs.”

“Wow…”

Hyang remembered the disaster of using a spring mechanism in the past.

“Isn’t that heavy for the Annular Gear’s structure?”

“That’s why we’re considering using iron for the framework.”

“But then, the weight would be…”

Hyang abruptly stopped mid-discussion about the Annular Gear.

“No, that’s not the urgent matter. I summoned you here for an order from His Majesty.”

At the mention of King Sejong, Jang Yeong-sil straightened up, looking tense.

“Please give your command.”

“We need to create a loom.”

“A loom?”

“Yes. Current looms require a lot of manual labor and handiwork. We need to modify them to use water or animal power for weaving and threading.”

Jang Yeong-sil tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought.

“Do you foresee any difficulties?”

Hyang wondered if he should intervene, considering his workload.

Jang Yeong-sil shook his head.

“No, I need to study an actual loom first, but it seems feasible.”

“Good. I’ll arrange for a loom to be delivered soon. You have one year for development.”

Jang Yeong-sil responded with a worried look.

“If I could have a little more time…”

“It’s a royal command.”

“…Yes.”

“Then start preparing. I’ll have a loom sent to you shortly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After sending Jang Yeong-sil off, Hyang looked towards Gyeongbokgung Palace and muttered to himself.

“Now, how will I secure the budget for this…”

* * *

After offloading the task to Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang immersed himself in the records at the Record Bureau.

“Merely focusing on the textile industry won’t yield quick results…”

While rifling through a vast amount of documents and rubbing his tired eyes, Hyang spread out a blank sheet of paper and muttered to himself.

“If they insist on treating slaves as property, then we must treat them as such.”

* * *

Four days after receiving the command from King Sejong and delegating the task to Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang, carrying a bundle of papers, went to see King Sejong.

“I believe I have found a solution to the command Your Majesty issued.”

“Speak.”

King Sejong and the ministers focused their attention on Hyang, waiting for the solution he would present.

Standing in the center of Gangnyeongjeon, Hyang took a deep breath and began.

“Your Majesty commanded me to find a solution to the slave issue. I believe we need to combine several policies and tools.”

“Using a combination of various approaches…”

As King Sejong pondered Hyang’s words, Hyang continued.

“Yes. But first, we need to secure a livelihood for those who have been manumitted and change the perception of slave owners, making them realize that owning more slaves is disadvantageous.”

Hyang took a brief pause, then addressed the ministers.

“The tools for the livelihood are currently being researched in Area 51. And to change the perception of slave owners, I believe we need to modify the tax system.”

“Change the tax system?”

At the ministers’ question, Hyang nodded.

“Yes, if slaves are considered property, then they should be treated as such.”

* * *

(Note 1) 14th year of King Sejong’s reign (1432, Year of Imja)

Chapter 131
Change (1)

The ministers pondered what Hyang’s words meant and soon began to voice their thoughts one by one.

“A tax on property… you mean to levy taxes based on the ownership of slaves?”

“Imposing taxes… There will be considerable resistance, but if implemented, it could be a good strategy.”

“The problem is the resistance.”

“I too find the Crown Prince’s proposal innovative, but I believe resistance will be an issue.”

The ministers’ reactions were largely similar.

‘The idea seems good, but the worry is the resistance to taxation.’

Hyang’s response to the ministers’ answers was straightforward.

“If they resist, we simply crush them.”

“What?”

The ministers were stunned by Hyang’s extreme hardline approach, asking briefly with bewildered expressions. In response to their expressions, Hyang asked:

“Originally, to whom does the land of Joseon fundamentally belong? Fundamentally speaking.”

After a moment of thought, Maeng Sae-seong replied.

“Fundamentally, it belongs to His Majesty the King. Fundamentally speaking.”

“Correct. Therefore, we’re essentially paying rent for using His Majesty’s land. Wouldn’t you agree?”

‘The concept of public land isn’t so different!’

Maeng Sae-seong nodded at Hyang’s point.

“Fundamentally, that is one way to see it. You are advocating the idea of royal land ownership, Your Highness. However…”

Hyang cut off Maeng Sae-seong.

“But! That’s exactly the problem! It’s His Majesty’s land, but we recognize it as owned through generations. If someone passes the civil service exam, it’s natural for them to start a government position. But! If they choose to further their studies and then enter public service, they are granted tax exemptions.”

Hyang paused to catch his breath before continuing.

“Through numerous ‘buts,’ they have amassed wealth. This is shameless! And now, they resist? Where are such shameless people!”

At Hyang’s outburst, Lee Jik and Maeng Sae-seong quietly conversed.

“The Crown Prince is on a rampage again.”

“But fundamentally, he’s correct. Fundamentally…”

“That’s the problem.”

While Lee Jik and Maeng Sae-seong conversed quietly, Hyang continued.

“That’s why I implore His Majesty. If these landowners consider slaves as property, then tax them accordingly!”

Hyang then explained the tax system he had in mind.

– The people of Joseon pay a basic tax once a year. This tax will be named ‘Property Income Tax.’

– This Property Income Tax is calculated based on the income earned and the assets owned over the year.

– Assets include owned land, houses, slaves, livestock, etc.

– A progressive tax rate will be applied.

– A particularly high progressive rate will be set for slaves.

“By doing this, the landowners will have no choice but to reduce their number of slaves. As the number of slaves decreases, they will have to either give their agricultural land for sharecropping or employ wage laborers.”

“Hmm…”

The ministers nodded thoughtfully at Hyang’s explanation.

The income from sharecropping was significant for the regional landlords, but their primary source of revenue came from the fields directly cultivated by their slaves. Most of the land being sharecropped had originally belonged to small-scale farmers who had been forced into tenancy.

If Hyang’s proposal to impose a high progressive tax rate on owned slaves was implemented, the regional landlords would have no choice but to reduce their number of slaves.

“The problem is the resistance from these landlords. Most of them are registered in the local registers.”

Hyang responded firmly to Maeng Sae-seong’s point.

“If the local registers are the problem, then we simply abolish them.”

“What!”

The ministers were shocked by Hyang’s decisive response, but Hyang looked at them with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t King Taejong already abolish the Yuhyangso?”

[TL/N: Yuhyangso or ‘Local Government Advisory Committee’, is an organization made up of retired high-class officials in charge of watching out for immoral politico-cultural behaviour and conduct of the local authorities.]

“Well, that’s true, but…”

The ministers replied with hesitant expressions at Hyang’s point.

* * *

Retired high-ranking officials sought to distinguish themselves from the local villagers in their hometowns. To assert their dominance in rural society, they needed an organization centered around themselves.

This led to the creation of the Yuhyangso.

However, the Yuhyangso constantly clashed with the local officials. The main reason was that the members of Yuhyangso often belittled the local officials due to their higher social status.

While going through the records, Hyang chuckled upon reading this.

“Even in the Joseon era, the problem was ‘back in my day… '”

As these conflicts intensified, the Yuhyangso was eventually abolished.

* * *

“If the Yuhyangso could be abolished, what’s the problem with the local registers?”

“Well… that’s true.”

When Hyang mentioned the Yuhyangso, the ministers backed down.

As the ministers stepped back, Hyang pressed forward.

“The local registers are also a problem. What are they? They’re just records of the noble families in the regions, right?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that a problem? As I’ve said before, and repeatedly, those who pass the civil service exams should serve the country. Is it right for them to hole up in their hometowns, reaping benefits without contributing? Is that the way of the wise?”

“That’s not right…”

Unable to refute Hyang’s points, the ministers had no choice but to retreat further. As they stepped back, Hyang continued to press them.

“When the initial 30-year tax exemption was granted, those with integrity should have devoted themselves to their studies and then served the state. However, those who prolong their stay in their hometowns under the excuse of ‘inadequate learning’ fall into two categories. One, the genuinely dull who lack scholarly talent, and two, the cunning opportunists who use this as an excuse to enrich themselves. Neither type is needed in Joseon.”

Maeng Sae-seong responded almost to himself.

“Well, that is true, but…”

“Therefore, it’s only right to redirect the benefits not only from the slaves but also to those who truly need them.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Heo Jo spoke up.

“And who are those who truly need them?”

“They are the families of those who died or became disabled before reaching retirement age while serving the country. Their children should be taken care of by the nation at least until they reach adulthood and can fend for themselves.”

“I see…”

Heo Jo nodded in agreement with Hyang’s words.

With Heo Jo’s agreement helping to clarify the situation, Hyang summarized the discussion.

“In summary, reducing the number of slaves is not just about decreasing their numbers; it’s about diminishing the power held by the regional landlords.”

The ministers nodded in agreement with Hyang’s final words. The ministers present were high-ranking officials, and reflecting on their own hardships to reach their positions, they had little sympathy for those who lived comfortably in the regions without much effort.

“Regarding the related policy…”

“Wait…”

As Hyang was about to explain the related policy, King Sejong raised his hand to interrupt him.

“Listen, Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Your opinion is good, but it requires further discussion. Let’s end it here for today.”

“I obey Your Majesty’s command.”

“And…”

King Sejong paused for a moment, looking at Hyang with a slightly worried expression.

“I understand somewhat what you’ve learned from examining the records in the Royal Archives, but do not forget that the regional landlords are also subjects of our Joseon.”

“I will bear it in mind.”

“Good. You’ve worked hard today. Go and rest.”

“Yes.”

Following King Sejong’s command, Hyang bowed respectfully and then left the Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

After Hyang left, King Sejong sighed.

“Hmm… What do you think of the Crown Prince’s opinions?”

Responding to King Sejong’s question, Lee Jik answered.

“Though extreme, his words are not incorrect.”

“Is that so? What do the Left State Councilor and the Minister of Personnel think?”

Addressing the question to Maeng Sae-seong and Heo Jo, known moderates in the court, they took a moment to organize their thoughts before replying.

“In the past few years, the increase in slaves due to frequent famines is a fact. However, it is also true that the number of new slaves being born has sharply decreased due to the Slave and Concubine Law reducing the number of female slaves. But overall, the increase in the number of slaves is undeniable, so some adjustment is necessary.”

Following Maeng Sae-seong’s response, Heo Jo continued.

“It’s true that the regional landlords have expanded their influence by exploiting frequent famines. Their growing power challenging the authority of His Majesty and the court is also a fact, necessitating a response,” Maeng Sae-seong acknowledged.

With Maeng Sae-seong and Heo Jo showing support for Hyang’s proposal, King Sejong stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“I too find merit in the Crown Prince’s opinion. However, the problem lies in the backlash from the regional landlords.”

The ministers hesitated to respond immediately, wary of making a slip of the tongue that could lead to repercussions or leave a significant blemish on their record.

While the ministers were carefully formulating their thoughts, Kim Jeom spoke first.

“Regarding the budget, it’s true that the landlords are exploiting tax exemptions, causing issues in revenue. This is indeed shameless and disloyal.”

“Is the Ministry of Taxation suggesting that we actively adopt the Crown Prince’s proposal?”

“That is our position.”

“What if the regional landlords respond with armed resistance?”

At King Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward.

“Thanks to the smooth progress of the northern frontier development, there is flexibility in troop deployment.”

King Sejong seemed pleased with Jo Mal-saeng’s response but cautiously confirmed the reality.

“Does this mean that we can suppress any armed resistance that may arise?”

“The majority of the troops stationed in the northern region are cavalry. I believe suppression is feasible.”

“Hmm…”

As King Sejong pondered Jo Mal-saeng’s response, Kim Jeom intervened again.

“Your Majesty, as you have been reforming the administration both centrally and regionally by setting examples and conducting experiments, I suggest using the same approach for tax reform. This way, if any rogue elements resort to armed resistance in the experimental areas, they can be effectively subdued, serving as a strong example to other regions.”

“A strong example… An example…”

Mulling over the idea of setting an ‘example,’ King Sejong looked around at his ministers.

“Make an example of them… The Ministry of Taxation’s view is correct. Ministers, based on the Crown Prince’s and the Ministry of Taxation’s opinions, deliberate and devise a policy.”

“We obey Your Majesty!”

Thus, in this session led by King Sejong, a decision was made to implement one of the most drastic policies.

The historian recording these events added a note:

– Accordingly, the ministers began to deliberate policies concerning slaves and landlords.

The historian comments:

It’s true that the regional landlords abused their privileges. However, the court’s decision is extremely harsh, and the landlords’ backlash is foreseeable.

It seems a storm is brewing.

* * *

The next day, King Sejong summoned Hyang.

“Crown Prince, announce your proposal related to the policy discussed yesterday.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following King Sejong’s command, Hyang first outlined some precautions before discussing his proposal.

– All these policies are interconnected with strategies regarding war, construction, and slaves.

– Thus, each policy requires careful consideration, but overall coordination and adjustment are also essential.

“I understand the precautions. Now, tell me about the policies you’ve thought of.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang cleared his throat and began to explain.

– First, we need to impose restrictions on the interest rates charged by landlords on their tenant farmers.

“I’ve thought about this aspect too. I plan to prohibit charging interest exceeding the principal amount.”

“That seems appropriate.”

Responding to King Sejong, Hyang continued:

– Limit the proportion of rent paid by tenant farmers, and prohibit additional charges for seeds and fertilizers.

– Develop large-scale horse breeding, especially large breeds, using horses brought in by traders, to enhance terrestrial transportation.

– Utilize this improved land transportation to enhance the movement of goods and facilitate the relocation of people.

“In simple terms, we use post stations to operate horse-drawn carriages.”

“Horse-drawn carriages?”

– Distribute a standardized identity document, made by the state, to all adult citizens.

– Make it mandatory for citizens to register their departure and arrival when relocating, enabling accurate tracking of their movements and efficient management of household registration.

– Strengthen the management of household registries to enhance the mobilization capabilities of the military.

As Hyang’s speech grew longer, the faces of Heo Jo and Kim Jeom gradually turned pale.

Hyang’s proposals continued for a considerable duration.

“…That is all.”

“Whew…”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, King Sejong and the ministers let out a collective sigh of relief, while the historians and clerks massaged their sore wrists.

King Sejong, after reflecting briefly on Hyang’s words, instructed the historians.

“Historians, listen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Crown Prince’s remarks are quite extensive, and there might be parts that the ministers missed. Therefore, summarize those parts and distribute them to the ministers.”

“We obey Your Majesty’s command.”

At King Sejong’s command, the historians and clerks answered with gloomy faces.

Chapter 132
Change (2)

“If the ministers have any questions, feel free to ask,” King Sejong encouraged.

Prompted by Sejong’s invitation, the ministers began to raise their questions.

“You mentioned operating horse-drawn carriages using post stations. Could you elaborate on this?”

Jo Mal-saeng, whose concerns were primarily military-related, was the first to ask about the ‘post stations.’

Responding to Jo Mal-saeng’s query, Hyang explained:

“Currently, when the people of Joseon travel, they have to walk endlessly to their destinations. This is not only time-consuming but also dangerous. Although most bandits have been dealt with, some still remain, along with wild beasts.”

The ministers nodded in agreement with Hyang’s point. Even putting bandits aside, the greatest danger to traveling civilians were wild animals. For this reason, peddlers never traveled alone.

Seeing that the ministers understood, Hyang continued:

“However, these large horses from the West are not only big but also strong, capable of pulling large carriages. Regular operation of these carriages would make travel not only more convenient and safer for the people but also significantly quicker.”

“Indeed…”

The ministers nodded, recalling the impressive large horses they had seen, which seemed capable of effortlessly pulling heavily loaded carriages.

“Moreover, operating horse-drawn carriages centered around post stations will lead to the development of new industries.”

“New industries, you say?”

As Jo Mal-saeng asked, King Sejong answered on behalf of Hyang.

“There will be shops selling food and establishments providing lodging. It will also increase the demand for currency.”

“Exactly!” Hyang enthusiastically agreed with King Sejong.

Following Jo Mal-saeng, Kim Jeom chimed in:

“You mentioned distributing the same kind of identity documents to all adult citizens of Joseon. Considering the budget and personnel required, wouldn’t it be better to have them made by the citizens themselves?”

“At first glance, that seems reasonable. However, if everyone makes their own identification tags, the standards and materials will vary greatly. How easy would it be to recognize them?”

Kim Jeom responded with a hesitant face to Hyang’s counter-question:

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“And the wealthy will make their identification tags from expensive materials. If something happens and soldiers have to check these tags, can they perform their duties impartially?”

“Well…”

Kim Jeom fell silent, unable to respond. Would the soldiers be able to act impartially toward those possessing such extravagant identification tags?

‘If they’re lucky, they won’t get slapped in the face.’

This thought wasn’t just Kim Jeom’s but was shared by other ministers and even King Sejong.

As Kim Jeom struggled to respond and others showed similar reactions, Hyang continued:

“Distributing the same standard identification tags to all citizens is a symbol.”

At the unexpected use of the word ‘symbol,’ King Sejong showed interest.

“A symbol, you say?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, a symbol indeed. ‘Though there are distinctions among Joseon’s people, in the eyes of the law, everyone is an equal citizen.’ That’s the symbol.”

“Ah! What a splendid symbol indeed!” King Sejong exclaimed in admiration, slapping his knee. The ministers also shared a similar expression of admiration.

Observing King Sejong and the ministers’ reactions, Hyang barely concealed a smile.

‘Remembering my college days and the benefits of a liberal arts education.’

* * *

During Hyang’s early college years in the 21st century, he had chosen ‘Law and Democracy’ as an elective. The professor, a dignified elderly gentleman, conducted the lectures engagingly.

During one lecture, he pulled out his ID card and said:

“You might have heard this in TV dramas or movies: ‘All are equal before the law.’ It’s a phrase that must be adhered to, but rarely seen in practice. However, this ID card is the most concise symbol of that phrase. Whether it’s someone living day-to-day or the chairman of S Group(Samsung ????), their legal identity is proven by this little piece of plastic.”

* * *

With the explanation of the identity tags concluded, Hyang finished his supplementary explanations.

After Hyang had finished, Kim Jeom let out a long sigh.

“Whew… To implement all these initiatives simultaneously would be a concern in terms of both manpower and budget.”

Confused by Kim Jeom’s words, Hyang asked:

“What? What do you mean ‘simultaneously’?”

Kim Jeom looked equally puzzled by Hyang’s question.

“Didn’t you say these were interconnected policies? I assumed that meant they were to be implemented simultaneously.”

Hyang sighed deeply in response to Kim Jeom’s answer.

“Whew… The command I received from His Majesty was to devise strategies concerning the slave issue, specifically regarding the Slave and Concubine Law.”

“That’s right.”

King Sejong nodded in agreement with Hyang’s statement. Seeing the ministers also nodding, Hyang continued:

“So, in contemplating strategies, I thought that weakening the power of the landlords was the best solution to address the slave issue and benefit Joseon. Therefore…”

Hyang paused, swallowed, and moistened his throat before continuing.

“Therefore, as part of the related strategies, I considered fixing the interest rates for tenancy, establishing military facilities, promoting the use of currency, transforming the tax system, and improving roads for environmental change. However, I never said all these policies must be implemented simultaneously. I mentioned they should be interconnected, but that’s all.”

“Ah…”

The ministers looked as if they had been taken aback by Hyang’s words. They had only remembered Hyang’s track record – initiating multiple tasks simultaneously and expanding the scope of his projects rapidly – and had prematurely assumed this situation would be the same.

Noting the ministers’ expressions, Hyang looked incredulously at them.

“Did you gentlemen actually think all these initiatives were to be implemented simultaneously?”

“…”

“Does our Joseon’s budget even allow for that level of expenditure?”

“…”

“Or did you think you could handle all these tasks by yourselves? If I were a lower-level official, the moment these policies were to be executed simultaneously, I’d tender my resignation, take my pension, and either retire or look for another job.”

“…”

The ministers were left speechless by Hyang’s successive points.

Meanwhile, the historians and clerks were frantically checking their records while writing down the facts.

‘The Crown Prince is right! He never said to implement them all at once!’

Hyang elaborated further for the ministers.

“Based on this year’s civil service examination being open to people from the northwest region and serfs, I considered these policies. They are predicated on a large influx of new officials and their acclimation to public service, with the assumption of executing well-coordinated, large-scale policies in a sequential manner.”

Hearing Hyang’s explanation, Lee Jik candidly responded.

“We assumed so because, until now, whenever the Crown Prince was in charge, proposals were made to execute multiple tasks simultaneously.”

At Lee Jik’s frank admission, Hyang awkwardly replied.

“If that’s what you want, I could revise the plans to make them executable simultaneously…”

Before Hyang could finish, the ministers unanimously responded.

“No! The current plan is the best! We will determine the sequence and execute accordingly!”

Following the ministers, King Sejong also chimed in.

“I also think it would be best to coordinate the sequence. Ministers, ensure you well-coordinate and execute these policies.”

“We obey Your Majesty!”

“We shall diligently follow Your Majesty’s command!”

At the reaction of King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang looked puzzled.

‘Why is everyone so in sync today?’

Seeing Hyang’s perplexed expression, King Sejong turned to the ministers.

“I would like to have a moment alone with the Crown Prince. Everyone, please leave the room for a while.”

“Yes? Yes…”

At King Sejong’s command, the ministers hesitantly bowed and quietly left the Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

“Historians and clerks, please step outside as well.”

“But Your Majesty…”

“I won’t repeat myself. Leave.”

At King Sejong’s stern warning, the historians and clerks also quietly gathered their ink brushes and papers and vacated their seats.

“Leave the writing materials behind.”

Following King Sejong’s command, the historians and clerks left the Gangnyeongjeon Hall empty-handed. However, as soon as the door closed, they quickly took out their writing tools from their sleeves, crouched down, and pressed their ears against the door.

Seeing this from the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon, the ministers wanted to say something but soon closed their mouths. It was just the nature of the historians’ work.

* * *

Meanwhile, inside Geunjeongjeon, only Sejong and Hyang remained.

“Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“There’s more, isn’t there? Go ahead, recite them.”

Confronted with Sejong’s direct question, Hyang promptly responded.

“There are several more. Expanding education, establishing a press organization, creating labor standards laws, and so on…”

“That’s quite a lot?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang responded with an awkward smile.

“What Your Majesty is laying down are the foundations, and the policies I explained to the ministers and the ones I just mentioned are like pillars built on those foundations.”

“Hmm…”

As Hyang spoke, Sejong stroked his beard in thought, then stepped down from his seat to stand in front of Hyang.

“You’ve grown up a lot. I always thought of you as a child.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

“But, you know, listening to what you just said, it seems like by the time all these policies are implemented and settled, it might be about time for you to take over the regency or ascend the throne, right?”

“How could that be? My only wish is for Your Majesty to live a long and healthy life.”

“Even so, I’ll be the one facing all the troubles implementing these policies, and you’ll just have to make minor improvements. You’ve thought that far ahead, haven’t you?”

“Never! How could your son harbor such unfilial thoughts?”

Despite Hyang’s strong denial, Sejong looked at him suspiciously.

“Why are your eyes looking elsewhere, then?”

“…Absolutely not.”

As Hyang’s gaze still drifted away, Sejong suddenly raised his voice.

“Hey, you! Get out!”

* * *

While these events unfolded inside Geunjeongjeon, the ministers outside were engaged in a heated discussion.

“Even if we plan the sequence for implementing these policies, it won’t be easy,” remarked the Minister of Public Works.

Kim Jeom nodded in agreement.

“That’s true. Just when we thought a large influx of personnel would give us some breathing room… Sigh.”

As Kim Jeom sighed, Jo Mal-saeng spoke up.

“The Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Taxation will have a tough time. You guys will have to work hard.”

“Eh? Why do you think it’s just us who will suffer?”

Heo Jo retorted, bristling at Jo Mal-saeng’s comment.

“Well… isn’t it the Ministry of Personnel’s job to organize the system, and the Ministry of Taxation’s job to handle the budget and economic affairs?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s reply, Kim Jeom scoffed.

“Hmph! You think things are that simple? Immediately, expanding and repairing roads is the job of the Ministry of Public Works.”

“Oh no…”

Chapter 133

As the Joseon court was experimenting and revising various aspects for the transformation of Joseon, changes were gradually taking place in the country.

These changes were slowly happening among the people of Joseon as well. Although the changes seemed minor, their effects were spreading wider and wider.

* * *

In Yeongdeung-po, near Hanyang.

In a blacksmith’s shop located on one side of a village, the loud sound of hammering echoed.

Bang! Clang! Bang!

The hammering ceased, and the blacksmith wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at his creation.

“Hmm… this turned out well?”

With a satisfied smile, the blacksmith gazed at a large square frame with criss crossed iron wires – a wire mesh.

* * *

Song Il-chul, known as ‘Blacksmith Song’ – his parents and acquaintances called him Han-soi – had made the wire mesh as a side job.

The reason Il-chul had to take up a side job was due to Hyang’s development of weapons in Area 51.

At that time, Hyang had evaluated blacksmiths in Hanyang and nearby areas to check the feasibility of rapid supply.

In the evaluation, Il-chul was eliminated in the final stage. His quality was excellent, but he failed in standardizing his products.

“It’s okay! It’s better not to deal with the hassle of government conscription!”

Though Il-chul had boasted loudly when he received the results, his pride was hurt.

‘Shit! How am I inferior to those guys!’

As time passed, the number of customers at Il-chul’s blacksmith shop began to decrease. This was due to the changed perception of the people in Hanyang and nearby areas.

‘Those who supply to Area 51 are skilled, those who don’t are not.’

As the people’s perception changed, Il-chul’s shop began to lose customers. Of course, neighbors who knew Il-chul well still frequented his shop, but customers from afar dwindled.

The decrease in distant customers was a significant loss for Il-chul. Ironware had a long lifespan, so relying on neighbors was not profitable.

* * *

Eventually, Il-chul’s wife stepped forward.

“We should start a side business.”

“A side business?”

Il-chul, who would have scoffed at such a suggestion in the past, now listened seriously to his wife.

Seeing her husband attentive, Il-chul’s wife raised her voice.

“You know about fried chicken, right?”

“Of course. Jang-soi and Dol-soi would wake up from sleep to eat fried chicken. Why, thinking of opening a fried chicken restaurant?”

“Yes.”

“Selling fried chicken is not an easy business…”

As Il-chul hesitated, his wife made a sullen face.

“Am I not famous for my pancake skills? Have you forgotten how often Lady Oh’s family calls me for feasts and rituals?”

“Hmm… As far as I know, the flour used for the coating has to be bought from the market, and it’s quite expensive.”

“I’ve tasted it and think I know what goes into it. That’s why I want to try making it myself.”

“Hmm…”

Contemplating his wife’s words, Il-chul did some calculations.

The most important ingredients for fried chicken were chicken, flour for coating, oil, and finally fuel.

‘There’s a soybean oil mill nearby for the oil, and fuel… No worries about coal supply due to the blacksmith shop… ’

A soybean oil manufacturing facility was nearby, thanks to the beans grown in Neobeolseom, and the blacksmith shop ensured they had no concerns about fryers or coal.

“The problem lies in sourcing the chickens and the taste…”

Il-chul shared his concerns with his wife.

“Where will we get the chickens?”

At Il-chul’s question, his wife replied nonchalantly.

“There are more places selling chickens these days, and if things get a bit tough, we can raise them ourselves. We just need to think a bit about the taste.”

“Hmm…”

Despite his wife’s confidence, Il-chul couldn’t make a decision right away.

“Let’s think about this a little more.”

“Honey!”

“Just give me a few more days to think!”

Eventually, after being pestered by his wife for over two weeks, Il-chul had no choice but to wave the white flag.

* * *

A month later,

“Mom, fried chicken again today?”

“Mom, now whenever I open my mouth, I smell like chicken poop.”

“Wife, let’s give up on this.”

Il-chul and his children were pleading with his wife.

A month after the decision to open a fried chicken restaurant, Il-chul’s family had to endure a not-so-pleasant ordeal.

“I’m creating my own unique blend!”

Il-chul’s wife had decided to make her own frying powder for fried chicken instead of buying it from the market.

“It’s not just about money, but we won’t profit much if it tastes the same as other places.”

After making the decision, Il-chul’s wife spent a month frying chickens in search of the ‘perfect blend,’ and Il-chul and his children were forced to eat chicken to the point of exhaustion.

“Ah! I’m confident this time!”

Despite the protests of Il-chul and his children, his wife confidently placed a plate of fried chicken on the table.

“We’ve heard that for a month now…”

“Just shut up and try it!”

At his wife’s fierce command, Il-chul and his children reluctantly picked up pieces of fried chicken.

“Huh? The pieces are smaller this time?”

“Sniff sniff! It has a unique smell?”

“It smells good.”

This time, noticing a pleasantly different aroma, Il-chul and his children bit into the fried chicken with a glimmer of hope.

A moment later,

“Mom! This one’s delicious!”

“Really tasty!”

“Not bad!”

Il-chul and his children gave their highest praise to Il-chul’s wife. Her face, which had been tense for so long, finally relaxed at her family’s approval.

* * *

Three days later, Il-chul and his wife, carrying their fried chicken, visited Mr. Oh, a respected scholar.

“Do we really have to do this? It’s just fried chicken.”

Filled with apprehension, his wife asked, to which Il-chul replied,

“This is how business thrives.”

Hearing that ‘Blacksmith Il-chul and his wife had come to visit,’ Mr. Oh leisurely appeared on the front porch.

Seeing Mr. Oh’s face, Il-chul and his wife bowed deeply.

“Scholar sir, how have you been?”

“Well, I’ve been fine. What brings you here today?”

At Mr. Oh’s question, Il-chul respectfully replied,

“Yes, sir. This one’s wife decided to open a fried chicken shop. We’ve come to ask you to taste it.”

“Fried chicken?”

“Yes, sir.”

At Il-chul’s gesture, his wife carefully climbed up the stone steps and respectfully extended the basket.

Hearing their voices, Mr. Oh’s wife came out of the inner room, received the basket, and sniffed it slightly.

“Ho! The fragrance is unique.”

“Yes, madam. Since the fried chicken tastes are similar, my wife has tried her hand at them.”

“Your cooking skills promise good taste. Sir, why don’t you try some?”

“Ho!”

Tasting the fried chicken brought by Il-chul’s family, Mr. Oh exclaimed in admiration.

“Even though it’s a bit cold, it tastes good! The seasoning is spot on, especially the aroma is exceptional! People will flock to this!”

“Your cooking skills indeed need to be recognized.”

“We are humbled!”

As Mr. Oh and his wife praised them, Il-chul’s family beamed with smiles, bowing repeatedly. Il-chul secretly rejoiced.

‘It’s done! If Mr. Oh approves, it’s a success!’

Mr. Oh was known as the wealthiest and a gourmet in the area. His approval meant guaranteed success.

“So… Have you named the shop?”

“Not yet.”

“Shall I name it for you?”

“That would be an unparalleled honor!”

Elated, Il-chul watched as Mr. Oh moved his writing desk closer.

“Indeed, such things are better with a brush than a gold pen.”

Dipping a top-quality brush made of marten fur into the ink, Mr. Oh swiftly wrote a name on the paper.

‘Unique Flavored Fried Chicken’

“I can’t guarantee it’s the best in the world, but it could be the best in Hanyang.”

“Thank you! Sir, we’re truly grateful!”

“May it prosper. I want to eat it often myself.”

“Yes!”

* * *

Thus, ‘Unique Flavor Fried Chicken’ emerged in Yeongdeungpo, gradually attracting more visitors through word of mouth.

Eventually, even people from inside the city walls crossed the river to buy it after hearing the rumors.

“Is this the famous Unique Flavor Fried Chicken?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang picked up a piece of the fried chicken brought by the eunuch and tasted it.

“This flavor and scent… are they pepper and turmeric?”

‘It’s like curry chicken! Not bad.’

“Hmm… Good. Invite the maker of this fried chicken to the palace sometime. His Majesty might enjoy it too.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After eating a couple more pieces, Hyang pushed the plate away and commanded.

“Tell the palace, and you all share it too.”

“We are deeply honored!”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuch bowed deeply and joyfully took the plate away.

Watching him, Hyang murmured to himself.

“I need to revise the royal tribute system… I’ve become too accustomed to it and forgot. Time for some reflection.”

* * *

A few days later, Il-chul and his wife were summoned to the palace.

Seeing the couple trembling with nervousness, an official smiled reassuringly at them.

“Your fried chicken is renowned as the best in Hanyang, and His Majesty has requested to taste it. Show us your culinary skills. If you do well, there could be a great reward.”

“Yes, yes!”

At the mention of a ‘great reward,’ Il-chul’s wife was instantly energized.

After tasting Il-chul’s family’s fried chicken, King Sejong was so pleased that he awarded them ten rolls of the finest silk.

With the rumor spreading that ‘even the King praised its flavor,’ Il-chul’s fried chicken shop thrived.

* * *

However, as the saying goes, “good fortune and calamity lie side by side.”

Just when it seemed that Il-chul and his wife’s fried chicken shop was doing well, they encountered a stumbling block: The ‘chickens.’

“From today, the price of chickens has gone up.”

“What do you mean, raising the price all of a sudden?”

As Il-chul protested, the poultry shop owner shrugged.

“It can’t be helped. fried chicken shops are increasing, but the supply of chickens is limited.”

“This is frustrating…”

Il-chul was vexed by the poultry shop owner’s words.

Unlike pigs or cows, chickens were a common source of protein. Almost every household raised at least a few chickens.

As fried chicken’s popularity increased, the demand for chicken meat rose, and the supply from household-raised chickens was not enough.

Consequently, professional poultry farmers appeared, but the demand still outpaced the supply.

“What’s the price increase then?”

At Il-chul’s question, the poultry shop owner answered briefly.

“It’s increased by 10%.”

At the owner’s words, Il-chul shouted in anger.

“10%? You thieves!”

Despite Il-chul’s anger, the poultry shop owner remained calm, cleaning his ears as he replied.

“Then don’t buy it…”

“Ugh…”

In the end, Il-chul had no choice but to buy the chicken at the increased price. And not even a fortnight later, the price went up by another 5%.

But soon, Il-chul was deeply frustrated to discover that only his shop was being charged the increased prices.

“I’ll report you to the authorities!”

The infuriated Il-chul threatened, to which the poultry shop owner responded with the same calm demeanor.

“Go ahead. Have I sold spoiled meat? Have I lied about the quantity? I’ve just sold it at a higher price. Isn’t the selling price up to the seller?”

“Listen here!”

“Really! Why are people like this? If you’re making money, you should share it with us too, right?”

“Grrr!”

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Il-chul visited other poultry shops. However, as soon as he mentioned the name ‘Unique Flavored Fried Chicken,’ they all tried to charge him more.

Eventually, Il-chul, unable to contain his anger any longer, picked up a hammer.

“Dammit! I’ll raise chickens myself! I just need to build a coop!”

* * *

Deciding to raise chickens himself was one thing, but actually doing it was another challenge.

The first problem was the chicken coop. When raising just a few chickens, a corner of a barn or shed would suffice. But for large-scale rearing, a dedicated facility was needed.

To solve this problem, Il-chul secretly observed nearby poultry farms.

“They all look similar…”

The chicken coops at each farm had a similar design.

They constructed pillars and roofs out of wood, and the lower half of the walls was covered with boards or clay. The upper half had wooden shutters, left open during the day and closed during rain or at night.

Therefore, the biggest challenge for those raising chickens was keeping them confined.

If they looked away for even a moment, the chickens would escape through the open shutters, jumping over the fence or invading neighboring yards to peck at crops.

However, closing the shutters risked suffocating the chickens or causing them to die from heat.

After identifying these issues in poultry farming, Il-chul was deep in thought.

“The coop needs to allow air flow but also prevent the chickens from escaping…”

As he pondered a solution, Il-chul absent-mindedly fiddled with some wire.

“Hmm…”

While contemplating, Il-chul suddenly looked at the wire in his hand. His eyes sparkled as he looked at it.

“This is it!”

Chapter 134

Looking at the wire in his hand, Il-chul felt confident.

“I might not know much else, but I’m confident with wire!”

Il-chul’s blacksmith shop was not only known for its metalwork but also for skillfully crafting items from iron and copper wires.

The grills Il-chul made were sought after not only by wealthy households nearby but also by restaurants in Hanyang.

Moreover, the chainmail he created by intricately weaving the wire was so smooth it felt like wearing cloth, earning a reputation that drew customers from afar, even after the introduction of full plate mail armor in Area 51 by Hyang.

Confident in his skills with wire, Il-chul had a self-assured plan.

“Let’s see…”

Il-chul roughly sketched a blueprint on the ground using a nearby branch.

“The size of the chicken coop should be…”

He estimated the area of his backyard and nodded.

“About two kan (approx. 4m or 12-16ft) should do.”

Having decided on the size, Il-chul sought out his wife.

“Honey! Wife!”

“What is it?”

“We’re going to raise chickens!”

“Really?”

“So…”

After hearing Il-chul’s explanation, his wife immediately agreed.

“Why not! Let’s do it! I was getting sick of those poultry shop owners’ tricks anyway!”

With his wife’s agreement, things moved quickly. Il-chul placed an order with a carpenter living nearby.

“You want me to build a chicken coop? That’s not too difficult, I can do it quickly.”

“Please do. I’ll pay you properly, just make sure it’s sturdy.”

And so, in just three days, a two-kan chicken coop was built.

With the coop ready, Il-chul crafted square frames out of wire mesh. The sturdy-looking wire mesh, interwoven like warp and weft threads on a thick iron frame, seemed very reliable.

Looking proudly at the chicken coop he had fitted with iron mesh, Il-chul called out to his wife and children.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and put the chickens in!”

“Yes! Kids!”

Il-chul’s family quickly herded the hens and roosters into the coop.

The wire mesh windows proved effective. No chickens escaped, and with good airflow, they didn’t suffer from the heat.

Thanks to the meticulously sealed bottom with stones and plaster, the coop was safe from weasels and snakes, and the chickens leisurely roamed around.

As the word spread about ‘Il-chul’s remarkable coop,’ people from nearby poultry farms began to show interest. Seeing this, Il-chul stroked his chin.

“Let’s see… I bet someone will try to copy this.”

Pondering various thoughts, Il-chul got up.

“Who knows how to write around here?”

After searching for someone literate, Il-chul eventually persuaded a low-ranking clerk from the oil mill to write for him, in exchange for two fried chickens.

“Whether others follow suit is a problem for later. I can’t stand the thought of people copying without saying anything or doing as they please.”

“Ah! That would be terrible!”

Nodding at Il-chul’s explanation, the clerk swiftly wrote up the documents.

“Thank you!”

“Don’t mention it… Anyway, I’ll enjoy the fried chickens!”

With the paperwork completed, Il-chul promptly registered his wire mesh at the Intellectual Property Management Office. Reviewing the documents through an office employee, Hyang smiled.

“Finally, people are starting to take initiative on their own.”

* * *

After the wire mesh window was patented, the poultry farms that heard about it ordered from Il-chul’s blacksmith shop.

Many blacksmiths from the countryside, seeing the demand, also came to Il-chul’s shop to make use agreements.

With each contract, Il-chul proudly exclaimed to his wife,

“I’m not done yet!”

His pride as a blacksmith, which had dimmed for a while, was revived.

* * *

With a steady supply of chickens, ‘Ilmi Gyechak’ began to attract more customers again, and the number of poultry farms increased to three.

As the poultry farms expanded, Il-chul encountered a new problem: Feed.

Il-chul’s children spent all day catching worms, frogs, and grubs for the chickens to eat. But it was clear that this was not sustainable.

“Hmm…”

Pondering a solution, Il-chul headed to the oil mill.

“Hey, isn’t that Song the wealthy!”

“Oh, come now, I’m no wealthy man!”

Waving off the clerk’s jest, Il-chul noticed a group of workers carrying sacks and piling them up.

“What’s that?”

“That? It’s the leftover soybean pulp after oil extraction.”

“That’s a lot. Must be a hassle to dispose of.”

“It’s good feed for pigs and cows.”

At the clerk’s response, Il-chul’s head snapped around.

“Cows and pigs eat it?”

“Even horses. Why?”

“Could you sell some to me?”

“It’s two pecks of beans per sack.”

“Just wait a moment!”

Rushing back home, Il-chul left the clerk flipping through his ledger.

“Let’s see… Does this mean all the nearby poultry farms will be supplied?”

* * *

Thus, many citizens began to break out of their traditional molds in pursuit of a better life.

These small movements under the surface, though seemingly minor, created ripples that reached Hyang.

On a day in March, after the late spring cold snap,

Hyang, as usual, mounted his horse and headed towards Area 51.

“Ho there! Make way! His Highness the Crown Prince is passing!”

As the leading eunuch shouted, the people on the main road split to either side and bowed down.

“This is really… It’s inconvenient to do this every day. Maybe I should change the law…”

Riding through the parted crowd, Hyang muttered to himself with a troubled expression.

* * *

Unlike Sejong or other kings mentioned in history, who spent most of the year in the palace and only occasionally ventured outside, it wasn’t a big issue. However, the problem with Hyang was that he spent most of the year traveling between the palace and Area 51.

Even though he reduced the number of accompanying guards and eunuchs to a minimum, he could only cut down by a third due to safety concerns. Consequently, whenever Hyang left the palace, at least 30 people had to move together.

“It’s too much! We can reduce more!”

Hyang advocated for reducing the number of personnel, but Sejong was unyielding.

“Do not forget that you are the Crown Prince.”

As policies related to the landowners were being prepared, Sejong issued another command.

“Strengthen the Crown Prince’s security! Unpredictable actions by unruly individuals cannot be ruled out!”

As a result, this scene unfolded every morning and evening when Hyang traveled to and from Area 51.

“If I can’t avoid it, I need to reduce the time!”

Eventually, Hyang continued horseback riding, initially started for health and growth, as a means for quicker commuting.

Ironically, Hyang’s commutes, which he worried and felt sorry about, became a spectacle for the residents of Hanyang. Especially Hyang’s appearance, which even the Emperor admired, was a matter of pride for them.

“Hey, you country folks! Have you ever seen the Crown Prince’s face? We see him every day! You don’t know how handsome he is!”

Thanks to various reform policies implemented by Hyang and Sejong, the people’s support was enthusiastic.

On days when Hyang couldn’t come out of the palace due to affairs, the people on the streets looked towards Gyeongbok Palace with worried eyes.

“I hope he’s not unwell…”

* * *

“Ho there! Make way!”

Whether the eunuch knew of Hyang’s concerns or not, his shouting continued.

As the main gate of Area 51 came into view, suddenly, the loud sound of a gong was heard.

Gwang-gwang-gwang-gwang!

“Your Highness! Please grant my wish!”

“Stop!”

“Stop!”

“Protect His Highness!”

When a man, unexpectedly banging a gong, ran into the middle of the road, the procession was thrown into emergency mode.

As the guards quickly surrounded Hyang, the vanguard riders encircled the man.

“What are you doing, you fool!”

“Your Highness! Please grant my wish!”

“What are you doing, I said!”

Ignoring the questions and only seeking the Crown Prince, the guards, mistaking the man for a boy due to his young appearance, drew their swords.

Under the threat of the guard’s sword, the young man hurriedly replied.

“I, I am Malbok! Please spare my life!”

As Malbok prostrated himself, begging for his life, he internally screamed,

‘I must have been crazy to die! Curse that liquor! It’s my enemy!’

Blocking the Crown Prince’s procession was not something Malbok could have done sober, so he had emptied a jar of crude liquor.

The bravery created by the alcohol vanished instantly when confronted by the guard’s drawn sword.

As Malbok lay trembling on the ground, he overheard the conversation between Hyang and the guard.

“Bring that man here.”

“But, Your Highness! He might have approached with malicious intent!”

“Then just conduct a simple body search and bring him here. If he stopped the procession to fulfill a wish, we should at least know what it’s about, right?”

“…But…”

“He knew the grave consequences of obstructing the Crown Prince’s path and still rushed in. Doesn’t that show his desperation? Bring him here.”

“…As you command.”

Following Hyang’s order, the guards searched Malbok and then brought him before Hyang.

Hyang dismounted his horse to face Malbok, who had been brought before him.

“How old are you?”

“I, I am fourteen, Your Highness.”

“The same age as me. So, what pressing matter made you block the road?”

Malbok, glancing nervously at the surrounding guards, stammered in response.

“Not, not a grievance, but something I just can’t solve…”

“Something you can’t solve?”

“Yes. No one in my village could give me an answer, so I thought… since you’re the second smartest person after His Majesty, you might have an answer…”

“And what is it that you want to know?”

“What can I do? What job is suitable for me!”

“Ah…”

‘Out of the blue, career counseling?’

Taken aback by the unexpected response, Hyang smelled the scent of liquor on Malbok.

“Sniff, sniff. That’s the smell of alcohol. Have you been drinking?”

“Yes, I couldn’t muster the courage to do this sober…”

“Ha ha ha!”

Hyang burst into laughter at Malbok’s response. After a long laugh, he looked at Malbok.

“Before we talk in detail, go to the police office, take a whipping, and then come back.”

“What?”

“If you’re willing to cause such a scene, you must have a serious issue. But, there is a thing called national law. You’ve broken that law, so it’s only right that you receive punishment. Go and get punished first, then return.”

“Yes.”

Dejected, Malbok answered. Seeing his reaction, Hyang instructed the guards.

“You and you, take this… wait, what’s your name?”

“I am called Malbok, Your Highness.”

“Right, take this Malbok to the police office and ensure the punishment is carried out.”

“Yes!”

The guards responded energetically to Hyang’s command. Hyang then gestured for the guards to come closer.

“Listen…”

Hyang whispered to the guards who came close.

“Bring him back in one piece as much as possible. If, perchance, he looks too beaten for my liking, I’ll hold you responsible. Convey the same to the commander of the guard.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The guards replied, sweating nervously.

Hyang then addressed Malbok.

“I’ll say it again, the national law is strict. Go, receive your punishment, and return. We will discuss your wish afterward.”

“Yes.”

Thus, the practice of the oral petition system was officially recorded earlier than in actual history.

Meanwhile, the residents of Hanyang who witnessed the commotion relayed the situation to their neighbors, saying,

“Have you ever seen such a just yet stern nobleman? Have you ever seen one?”

Chapter 135

It was afternoon by the time the guards and Malbok returned from the police office.

“How was the punishment?”

“I received five strokes of the cane.”

“I see.”

Upon seeing Malbok follow the guards, Hyang pointed to a chair in the corner of the office.

“Come and sit here.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As Malbok hesitantly sat down, Hyang shook his head.

“Sit comfortably. Are you in too much pain to sit?”

“No, not at all! It’s just that I’m not used to being in such a place…”

Malbok responded, to which Hyang let out a chuckle.

“And yet you dared to block the Crown Prince’s way on your first time?”

At Hyang’s words, Malbok immediately knelt on the floor and bowed his head.

“I have committed a grave sin!”

“It’s alright, sit back on the chair.”

“Yes…”

Once Malbok was seated again, Hyang got to the heart of the matter.

“You wanted to know what kind of work you can do?”

“Yes, yes!”

Observing Malbok’s appearance, Hyang commented.

“Let me think… For someone asking for a job, you’re dressed neatly and look sturdy. You don’t seem like someone who’s been struggling without work.”

“Well, about that…”

Malbok shared his life story with Hyang.

When Malbok was five, his parents died of an infectious disease. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by his grandmother, who did all sorts of menial jobs to support him.

Seeing his grandmother struggle, Malbok, at the age of eight, started working as a errand boy for a shop.

“Was there work for an eight-year-old child?”

“Well, I did chores inside the shop and ran errands nearby. The shop owner was kind and hired many kids like me.”

“Is that so? He sounds like a good person. Then why don’t you continue working there? Why are you looking for work?”

At Hyang’s question, Malbok scratched his head and replied.

“Most of my peers who started with me learned reading and arithmetic and are now managing the shop’s business. I’m not bright, I know only about 300 characters, and I’m not good at arithmetic. Last year, I started lifting heavy stones and finally earned a decent wage, but the shop has enough laborers for that kind of work. I felt out of place…”

“So, you’re looking for a job because of that?”

At Hyang’s question, Malbok nodded vigorously.

“That’s right! I considered working as a porter at Mapo Wharf, Noryangjin, or even in Jeoja, but there were already too many people there, so it wasn’t profitable. I thought about becoming a soldier or a peddler, but then I worried about leaving my grandmother alone.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing Malbok’s words, Hyang put down his pen and fell into thought. Tapping his fingers on the desk, he asked Malbok a question.

“So you’re not completely illiterate, but only know about 300 characters, and though you know arithmetic, you’re not proficient at it…”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“That’s quite a dilemma… Ahh…”

Hyang let out a long sigh.

‘In the 21st century, the most troublesome category was kids like this!’

Even back then, such kids were a real headache.

At least Hyang was a nerd but with good grades, so things turned out well for him.

The kids who played around at the back found their niche quickly and settled into their roles.

But solving the career path issues for kids who were mediocre like this had caused many teachers to suffer from hair loss.

Of course, there were also teachers who just left them alone, thinking, ‘They’ll manage somehow.’

As Hyang pondered while looking at Malbok, he continued his questioning while holding the pen.

“Apart from letters and arithmetic, Malbok, what are you good at? What do you enjoy?”

“I like to move around! That’s why I always volunteered first for deliveries when I worked at the shop!”

“So you wanted to be a peddler because of that?”

“Yes!”

“Anything else you’re good at or proud of?”

At Hyang’s question, Malbok eagerly replied.

“I have memorized the entire geography of Hanyang! I know the geography of all four main gates of Hanyang, north, south, east, and west! I even memorized the geography of the villages that were rebuilt after the last fire. If I go somewhere once, I memorize the way immediately!”

Hyang genuinely admired Malbok’s boasting. Although it wasn’t comparable to 21st-century Seoul, current-day Hanyang was also a complex and bustling city.

“That’s impressive!”

“Hehe! It’s just a small talent!”

Flattered by Hyang’s compliment, Malbok awkwardly scratched his head.

Hyang smiled at this but quickly became troubled again.

‘This is really tricky… ’

However, he couldn’t disappoint Malbok, who had trusted him and risked his life.

‘But I can’t lie either.’

Hyang honestly explained the situation to Malbok.

“I wish I could give you an immediate answer, but it’s not easy.”

“Yes…”

At Hyang’s response, Malbok’s face fell.

“Come back in fifteen days. I’ll have an answer by then. Wait for me at the main gate of Area 51 in fifteen days. Until then, continue to work hard at your current job.”

“Yes? Yes! Yes!”

The dejected Malbok perked up at Hyang’s words, nodding continuously with a brightened face.

“Then you may go back now. Your grandmother must be worried.”

“Yes! Yes! Thank you so much! Thank you!”

Malbok stood up and repeatedly bowed deeply as he left the room, his head almost touching the ground with each bow.

After sending Malbok away, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“I’ve made a promise, but it’s perplexing.”

* * *

That evening, Hyang, who had returned to the palace, was sought out by Sejong.

“Did you call for me?”

“Yes. I heard a commoner presented you with a difficult problem?”

At Sejong’s query, Hyang sheepishly smiled and replied.

“Yes, it’s not easy.”

“I trust you. I believe you will produce a good outcome.”

“I’ll do my best.”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong smiled and nodded. The ministers who remained in the room also looked at Hyang with warm smiles.

“Having the people trust and rely on us is the greatest blessing and gift for a ruler. It’s truly a good thing.”

The Chief State Councilor, Lee Jik, commented, and Sejong responded in agreement.

“Yes, it is good.”

Hyang, however, threw a dampener on the warm atmosphere.

“But, Your Majesty, shouldn’t new laws be established?”

“Laws? What kind of laws?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang pointed out the reality.

“There are more than just one or two people who saw what happened today. Will they just stay quiet in the future?”

At Hyang’s remark, not only Sejong but also the ministers let out curses in unison.

“Damn it! Ugh!”

Realizing they had cursed unwittingly, Sejong and the ministers looked at each other with embarrassed faces.

“Cough! Cough!”

After clearing his throat, Sejong instructed the ministers.

“It seems likely that similar incidents will occur frequently. Although there is the Shinmungo (royal suggestion box), the number of people who will speak up is not small. Let’s think about it.”

“Yes.”

Seizing the moment, Hyang quickly excused himself.

“I shall return and ponder over Malbok’s situation.”

“…Do so.”

As Hyang swiftly left the hall, Sejong watched him go with a glare, then gestured for him to leave. Hyang quickly bowed and left the Geunjeongjeon Hall.

The historian who recorded all these events concluded with the following statement:

“…Therefore, the King and ministers discussed laws to prepare for cases similar to what happened today.”

The historian notes:

It seems the area around Gwanghwamun will be noisy for a while.

* * *

“This is not easy…”

Although Hyang had promised Malbok a solution, he muttered in frustration, unable to find a clear answer even after five days.

“I thought I could find an answer quickly after hearing about Malbok’s specialties… Sigh…”

Struggling with the difficult problem, Hyang was lost in thought.

Initially, Hyang thought of ‘delivery services’.

“Since he knows the geography of Hanyang well…”

He thought of just handing over a handcart, but soon realized the issue.

“There are too many alternatives to a delivery service!”

At ports or in front of commercial buildings, there were not only delivery workers from shops but also laborers with carrying poles looking for work. Moreover, households that could afford to have goods delivered already had servants.

“So, the conclusion is that a delivery service is out of the question…”

Overwhelmed by the situation, Hyang opened the office window.

“Damn it! The weather is so horribly nice!”

As he cursed at the spring scenery, Hyang heard the laughter of soldiers.

“Run, run!”

“What?”

Hyang heard the soldiers encouraging each other as two handcart-racing soldiers approached. It seemed they were returning from construction work, carrying pickaxes and shovels in the carts.

Watching this scene, Hyang chuckled to himself.

“Yes, such simple pleasures are needed…”

Suddenly stopping mid-sentence, Hyang had an epiphany.

“That’s it! Inner Guard!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Bring High Official Ko!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

* * *

On the day of the promised fortnight, Malbok was pacing nervously in front of the main gate of the 51st District.

The gatekeeper remarked upon seeing him.

“His Highness won’t be here for a while. Why come so early?”

“How can I, a mere commoner, be late when waiting for His Highness?”

At Malbok’s reply, the gatekeeper nodded unknowingly.

“Well, that’s true…”

A commoner couldn’t be kept waiting for a prince.

About two hours later, a cavalry troop approached the 51st District from a distance.

“His Highness is coming!”

At the gatekeeper’s call, the soldiers guarding the gate straightened up, and nearby, curious civilians began to gather.

“Why are these civilians here?”

A tense gatekeeper asked, to which a subordinate replied.

“They heard about Malbok’s story. They are just curious.”

“Typical of our people to be so curious…”

The gatekeeper muttered under his breath about the characteristic curiosity of Koreans and instructed the soldiers.

“Have the people step back, just in case!”

“Yes!”

Following the soldiers’ control, the civilians slowly stepped back.

Shortly after,

“Make way for the Crown Prince! Clear the path!”

At the Inner Guard’s command, Malbok and the surrounding people promptly prostrated on the ground, and the gatekeeper and soldiers saluted.

“Attention!”

“Thank you for your hard work. Here’s the pass.”

After receiving and checking the pass from the Inner Guard, the gatekeeper stepped back.

“Pass confirmed. Proceed! Open the gates!”

“Open the gates!”

While waiting for the gate to open, Hyang, who was surveying the surroundings, noticed Malbok prostrated on the ground and was delighted.

“Hey! Malbok! Follow me inside! I think I’ve found a suitable answer!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s response, Malbok energetically answered and got up from his place.

* * *

Inside Area 51, Hyang led Malbok to a certain location.

“Here is the answer to the problem you posed.”

“What is this?”

Looking at the object in front of him, Malbok asked, and Hyang responded with a smile.

“This is a rickshaw.”

“A rickshaw?”

Hyang explained in detail as he and Malbok circled the rickshaw.

“…so you carry passengers in this seat behind and transport them to their destination. You’ll receive payment for this service. How about it? You like to wander around, right?”

“Thank you so much! I’m extremely grateful!”

At Hyang’s words, Malbok prostrated on the ground to express his gratitude. Seeing this, Hyang laughed and spoke.

“Ha-ha! I’m glad you’re satisfied! But how will we settle the payment?”

“Settlement?”

Malbok looked puzzled, and Hyang, feigning a stern expression, asked.

“Were you planning to take advantage of the Crown Prince of Joseon for free?”

“No, not at all! That would be utterly unreasonable!”

“Do you have anything to settle the account with?”

“…I will earn and pay back. If I cannot, you may take me as a servant.”

“That’s settled then! Here’s what we’ll do! Come here every fortnight for six months and report your experiences with the rickshaw. What issues did you encounter, or any problematic streets in Hanyang, for example. Report every fortnight for six months, and if you do well, the rickshaw is yours.”

“Report?”

“Yes. Just let me know things like, ‘This part was troublesome when I was pulling it, or this street in Hanyang has issues.’ If you report properly every fortnight for six months, the rickshaw will be yours.”

“I will definitely do so!”

“Don’t forget. It’s a promise with me.”

“I will never forget!”

“Then…”

Hyang climbed onto the seat of a rickshaw and looked at Malbok.

“Let’s give it a go to Gwanghwamun!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Malbok’s rickshaw, as it left the 51st district, immediately caught the attention of the residents of Hanseong.

Upon arrival at Gwanghwamun, Sejong, having heard the story, personally came out to inspect the rickshaw.

“Did you say his name was Malbok?”

“Yes, yes! Your Majesty!”

“Work hard and take good care of your grandmother.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

And thus, Malbok became the world’s first rickshaw driver.

Chapter 136

After burning incense and making rounds between Gyeongbok Palace and Area 51, Malbok, pulling a rickshaw, headed to the trading company where he used to work.

Ding-a-ling~.

“Look at that! Look at that!”

Children, their eyes filled with curiosity, chased after the rickshaw ringing its small bell cheerfully, an alternative to a horn.

“Elder, it’s me, Malbok!”

Arriving at the trading company, Malbok sought out the manager. The manager, coming outside, saw the rickshaw and asked Malbok,

“Is that the one made by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

To the manager’s question, Malbok nodded vigorously.

“Yes, elder!”

“I see…”

Listening to Malbok’s response and examining the rickshaw, the manager turned to Malbok.

“Is this for carrying people?”

“Yes!”

“Hmm…”

The manager, continuing to inspect the rickshaw, questioned Malbok,

“The back seat seems to sway, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. The Crown Prince intentionally made it that way.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing Malbok’s answer, the manager bent down to examine the part with wheels.

Two iron plates, each about a quarter inch (approximately 0.8 cm) thick and the width of two fingers, were placed above the axle of the wheel, connected to the seat.

“Why was it made this way?”

Containing his curiosity while inspecting the rickshaw, the manager discovered a cover wrapped around the back of the chair.

“Is this for use during rain?”

“Yes!”

Excited, Malbok unfolded the cover attached to the rickshaw.

“By spreading this cover and lowering the cloth curtain, customers won’t get wet even in rain or snow,” he explained.

“I see, really I see!”

Impressed by Malbok’s explanation, the manager genuinely exclaimed in admiration.

“How did you come up with such an idea?”

The manager continued to express his admiration at the simple yet clear explanation, which didn’t contain any useless parts.

After observing the rickshaw for a while, the manager turned to Malbok.

“Did you perform the first ride ritual?”

In response to the manager’s question, Malbok searched his sleeve hem and pulled out a small lump of silver.

“The Crown Prince was the first to ride it!”

“Is that so? Although I’m sorry I couldn’t do the first ride ritual, let me take a ride.”

“Yes!”

Responding energetically, Malbok took out the step that had been placed behind the rickshaw and set it down.

“Please get on, elder.”

“Alright.”

* * *

“Truly wonderful!”

The manager, having taken a ride around the neighborhood in the rickshaw pulled by Malbok, exclaimed in admiration once again.

“It doesn’t require learning how to ride like a horse or donkey, and it doesn’t shake as much as a palanquin. It’s a truly ingenious mode of transport! The Crown Prince indeed knows a lot and creates many miraculous things – it’s really true!”

“Hehehe!”

Malbok beamed with joy at the manager’s praise, as if he himself had been complimented.

The manager, looking at Malbok and the rickshaw, asked the most important question.

“So, how much have you decided to charge?”

“Ah, about that! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince told me to ask you! He said that you would know the answer! Oh! He also told me to convey this message: ‘Considering your conduct that I have heard about through Malbok, you will surely give a good answer.'”

At Malbok’s words, the manager let out a wry smile.

“His Highness has given me a challenging task. Well, since he’s assigned it, I must come up with an answer… Let’s see… Hmm…”

The manager, with his arms crossed, pondered and then spoke to Malbok.

“In my opinion, traveling within the inner half of Hanyang centered around Gyeongbok Palace should cost two hop of white rice or one doe of beans, and going up to the vicinity of the Four Great Gates should be about four hop of white rice or two doe of beans.”

Upon hearing the manager’s answer, Malbok immediately bowed his head.

“Thank you very much! I will charge accordingly!”

“And, to add one more thing, once you start working in earnest, go to Bukchon before dawn.”

Malbok tilted his head at the manager’s words.

“Bukchon, you say?”

“Yes. Ordinary people will find it hard to ride this, but it will be quite useful for those living in Bukchon who go to the palace to attend court and their families.”

After pondering the manager’s explanation, Malbok bowed deeply once again.

“Thank you very much! Elder manager! I will also convey this to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Why to His Highness?”

Malbok explained the condition set by His Highness to the manager. After hearing Malbok’s story, the manager was impressed once again.

“He is truly a person of deep thought! It’s a blessing for Joseon to have such a person as the Crown Prince!”

“That’s right!”

Their conversation was nearly at its end. The manager patted Malbok on the shoulder, encouraging him.

“Live diligently. You must provide a comfortable life for your grandmother who has suffered because of you.”

“Yes, Manager!”

“Then, I shall go inside.”

“Please do!”

After finishing the conversation with Malbok and turning around, the manager saw a crowd of people gathered around the store and the rickshaw.

Seeing the envy in the eyes of men about Malbok’s age or a bit older, the manager stroked his beard.

“Hmm…”

After pausing and pondering for a moment, the manager soon called out to Malbok.

“Malbok!”

“Yes, elder!”

“Come here early tomorrow morning… No, wait! Come with me somewhere right now!”

“Where to?”

“Just wait a moment!”

The manager went inside the store, quickly put on his hat, and came out to board the rickshaw.

“Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

As Malbok started the rickshaw, he asked the manager.

“Where shall I take you?”

“To Area 51!”

“Yes?”

“Hurry, we have no time!”

“Yes!”

Urged by the manager, Malbok set off quickly while the manager muttered to himself,

“I can’t be the only one who thought of this…”

* * *

“Let’s call it a day for now.”

Ending the meeting about the activities in Area 51, Hyang added,

“We’re close to bringing good news to His Majesty the King. Let’s put in a little more effort.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After concluding the meeting and finishing up with the paperwork, Hyang was preparing to return to Gyeongbok Palace when a court official entered and reported,

“Your Highness. Malbok and the manager Lim Ga who was accompanying him are requesting an audience with you.”

“Manager Lim Ga?”

Hearing the court official’s report, Hyang stroked his chin.

‘Have they already made a move? That was fast.’

After a moment of thought, Hyang instructed the official,

“Let them in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Even after the official left, Hyang, still stroking his chin unconsciously, muttered,

“Is my beard growing already? Should I make a razor? And while I’m at it, some skin… Ah! I’ve digressed again. Damn it!”

Hyang chided himself for letting his thoughts wander too far when he wasn’t careful.

Shortly after, the official announced,

“Your Highness, Manager Lim Ga and Malbok are here for the audience.”

“Let them enter.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, entering Hyang’s office, the manager bowed deeply to Hyang.

“The humble merchant Lim greets Your Highness.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Seeing Malbok again so soon?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Please, take a seat over there.”

“Your Highness, I am deeply grateful.”

As the manager took the seat offered by Hyang, Hyang examined the manager’s appearance.

“Are you from a Ban-ga (scholar-official family)?”

“Yes.”

“Have you passed the civil service exams?”

“Yes, I passed the preliminary exam.”

Hearing the words ‘passed the preliminary exam’, a curiosity sparked in Hyang’s eyes.

“Having passed the preliminary exam, why did you choose to go into business?”

Responding to Hyang’s question, the manager cautiously answered,

“My family is from Uiju…”

“Ah…”

Realizing the manager’s answer, Hyang unwittingly trailed off. The person before him was a victim of discrimination against people from the northwest.

“Nevertheless, starting this year, people from the northwest will not be barred from official service, so if anyone among your relatives has the ambition, tell them to try.”

“Your Highness, I am immensely grateful!”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, the manager bowed his head in gratitude.

“So, what brings you to see me?”

“Please sell us rickshaws!”

“Rickshaws? Why?”

Hyang asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.

‘I can understand what kind of person he is!’

Whether or not he understood Hyang’s thoughts, the manager calmly explained his reasoning.

“Your Highness, the rickshaw you created is truly a useful device. However, with just one, it is merely a novel sight to behold. If we can operate at least twenty, it can become a new, steady source of income for the people.”

“Passed!”

“Excuse me?”

Startled by Hyang’s sudden exclamation, the manager looked bewildered, prompting Hyang to quickly clarify.

“Oh, nothing. I just think your suggestion is good. However, it’s not something I can permit on my own.”

“In that case…”

Disappointment flickered across the manager’s face at Hyang’s words, but Hyang continued,

“To implement what you’ve proposed, we need His Majesty the King’s approval. But with just our conversation, getting approval will be difficult. Can you prepare a proper proposal by this time tomorrow?”

“I can do it!”

Pleased with the manager’s response, Hyang made a decision.

“Prepare the proposal and come to Gyeongbok Palace by this time tomorrow. But!”

Hyang cautioned the manager.

“If you’re late, no matter how good the plan is, I won’t consider it on my part. You know why, right?”

“Of course! In business, trust is everything!”

“Then, we shall see tomorrow. You may go now.”

“Yes! I will definitely come to Gyeongbok Palace tomorrow!”

After seeing off Malbok and the manager, Hyang let out a chuckle.

“Heh! Will taxis appear before buses?”

* * *

Having returned to Gyeongbok Palace, Hyang immediately sought out King Sejong to report about the manager’s proposal.

“Hmm… Do you think there’s a high chance of success for the manager’s plan?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, stroking his beard and weighing various factors, turned to his officials.

“Increasing a stable source of livelihood so that our people can live more abundantly is a good thing, don’t you think?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately responded.

“It is a welcome development! Providing more types of jobs for the people is a good deed that can help alleviate their hunger!”

Starting with Kim Jeom, the officials expressed their support.

Seeing the ministers’ support, Sejong turned back to Hyang.

“You told him to come to Gyeongbok Palace tomorrow?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What did you think of him?”

“He seemed to be of great use.”

At Hyang’s answer, the eyes of the ministers began to sparkle.

The ministers had been serving under Sejong and Hyang for several years now. Thanks to this, they had become adept at catching the underlying meanings in such seemingly lofty conversations.

Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, Sejong, with a face full of curiosity, concluded,

“Is that so? Then I must see for myself tomorrow.”

* * *

“I am Merchant Lim, here on the command of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Please wait.”

The next day, having arrived at Gyeongbok Palace, the manager informed the gatekeeper. Soon after, he was led by a court official who rushed out and taken into Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Are you Merchant Lim?”

“Yes. The humble merchant Lim greets Your Majesty!”

Facing King Sejong directly, the manager, sweating profusely, answered while lying flat on the ground.

“What is your name?”

“My name is Soonwook!”

“Lim Soonwook, that’s a good name. Have you completed what the Crown Prince commanded?”

“Yes!”

With a spirited response, Soonwook searched his sleeve and pulled out a scroll.

Receiving the scroll through an attendant, Sejong began to read the contents written on it carefully.

“Hmm… Oh?… What?”

As Sejong read the document, showing various reactions, he asked Soonwook,

“A means of transportation for residents who are not affluent? What is this?”

“Yes. I have heard that among the horses recently brought in from the West, there are some with incomparable size and strength. The idea is to make large carriages pulled by these horses, moving along fixed routes for the people to use.”

“There has been a similar discussion in the court. Using post horses for long distances.”

“That is for moving long distances, while what I have proposed is for movement within Hanyang or the urban areas.”

“Only moving within Hanyang? Is there a need for that?”

At Sejong’s question, Soonwook explained the reason for it.

“People walk on two legs, which is slow. Therefore, many citizens choose to live near their workplaces. But in most cases, they end up renting, which becomes a heavy burden. However, if there is a means to reduce that travel time, even if it’s a bit farther, the burden of rent for the people can be lessened.”

“I see… That’s a good point. Let the ministers see this scroll.”

Nodding his head, Sejong handed the scroll to an attendant.

As the ministers received and began reading the scroll through the attendant, Sejong questioned Soonwook,

“You passed the civil service exams in the past?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“When did you take them?”

“It was 20 years ago.”

“Really? What was your rank?”

“In the supplementary examination, I ranked Eul-gwa (4th to 10th place).”

At Soonwook’s answer, the ministers stopped reading the scroll and focused their attention on him. Greed filled their eyes.

“Oh? So you were a talent. Ministers, listen. I think the plan submitted by Lim Soonwook is worth implementing.”

“It is indeed!”

“Crown Prince, listen.”

“Yes.”

“Coordinate with the Minister of Taxation to adjust Soonwook’s plan.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

As Hyang bowed his head, Kim Jeom loudly exclaimed,

“Your Majesty’s grace is immense!”

Chapter 137

Once Sejong’s command was issued, Kim Jeom took Lim Soonwook and began to move.

“Alright, let’s have a discussion. His Highness should also come.”

As Kim Jeom left the scene, a sense of urgency began to emanate from the other ministers.

“What is it? Do you have something to say?”

At Sejong’s inquiry, the Heo Jo stepped forward to answer.

“Your Majesty! Having read the plan submitted by Lim Soonwook, it seems that it’s not just a matter for the Ministry of Taxation! It requires coordination among various ministries!”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

At Heo Jo’s’s words, Sejong, stroking his beard, asked. Heo Jo replied urgently,

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Hmm… There’s merit in that. Chief Secretary, go and bring back the Crown Prince, the Minister of Taxation, and Lim Soonwook.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, Hyang, Kim Jeom, and Lim Soonwook returned to Geunjeongjeon Hall with the Chief Secretary.

Sejong, seeing the expressions of Hyang, who wore a subtle smile as if understanding the situation, Kim Jeom, who looked as if he had lost everything, and a bewildered Lim Soonwook, smiled faintly and commanded the Chief Secretary.

“It seems like a long discussion, so bring chairs. Ah! And a desk too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Thus, chairs and a large desk were placed in the middle of Geunjeongjeon, and the ministers and Hyang sat around it. The chief seat was left vacant to not obstruct Sejong’s view from the throne, and Lim Soonwook sat directly facing Sejong.

“The Crown Prince will lead the proceedings.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Hyang took charge according to Sejong’s command, Heo Jo was the first to speak.

“Firstly, as he is a graduate of the civil service examination, can we address him as ‘Scholar Lim, the Scholar’, instead?”

“Yes.”

Once the matter of addressing Soonwook was settled, Heo Jo dove into his question.

“Do you think rickshaws and carriages have enough potential?”

“Looking at Hanyang alone, they definitely have potential.”

“Why is that?”

“After the recent fire, the main roads connecting the east, west, south, and north of Hanyang have been paved with gravel. This means that even in rain or snow, the roads won’t turn into muddy paths, allowing for the effective use of wheeled vehicles.”

“I see…”

As Soonwook answered, Heo Jo nodded, and the Minister of Public Works also chimed in.

“But aren’t many of Hanyang’s roads still dirt paths?”

“That part also needs to be paved soon. The citizens of Hanyang are already experiencing the convenience of gravel roads.”

“But…”

Before the minister could finish, Soonwook continued.

“Of course, paving roads requires a significant investment. However, even looking at Hanyang, the lack of stable jobs means more people are resorting to day labor. Paving roads would provide these people with a stable source of income.”

As Soonwook mentioned the issue of stable jobs, the ministers nodded in agreement. After clearing his throat, Soonwook continued,

“Moreover, as people gain experience through this project, we can eventually expand road paving nationwide. This growth in construction and related industries can help move people from solely focusing on agriculture to other sectors.”

At Soonwook’s words, Sejong and the ministers all turned their gaze to Hyang.

Hyang shook his head, indicating that he hadn’t given Soonwook any prior information.

Sejong and the ministers’ eyes began to sparkle even more upon confirming this silent answer.

‘A talent indeed!’

‘A capable talent, ready to be employed immediately!’

‘We must recruit him, no matter what, for my ministry!’

While harboring their desires, the ministers proceeded with their cautious verification.

“Scholar Lim, you argued for the immediate sale of 20 rickshaws. What’s the basis for that?”

At Kim Jeom’s question, Soonwook answered with a slightly embarrassed face,

“That’s due to the limit of my resources.”

“And if there were no financial constraints?”

“Then I would start with 100. I would set up stations around Jongno, Bukchon, Namdaemun, and Seodaemun, with 25 rickshaws each. Of these, 20 would operate daily, and 5 would rest.”

“Hmm…”

“That makes sense.”

Lim Soonwook’s explanation led Sejong and the ministers to nod in understanding. Bukchon was mainly inhabited by high-ranking officials. Namdaemun and Seodaemun areas were populated by lower-ranking officials, but also served as gateways for nobles coming from the provinces. The Jongno area was a gathering place for those working in government offices and nearby large trading companies.

Unlike the ministers who nodded, Hyang tilted his head in thought.

“Setting up stations means having rickshaws wait there, but wouldn’t roaming the streets of Hanyang attract more passengers?”

Recalling ’21st-century taxis,’ Hyang posed this question, to which Lim Soonwook explained why that wouldn’t work.

“Roaming around increases the risk of becoming victims of crime. Not stationing at a designated place means constantly carrying fares, which poses a safety risk.”

“I see, I had forgotten that.”

Hyang nodded at Lim Soonwook’s explanation.

‘Not some GTA Hanyang… ’

Despite efforts to strengthen law enforcement, Hyang grumbled inwardly about the still precarious security in Hanyang, or rather Joseon.

Lim Soonwook continued his explanation:

“The stations where the rickshaws will be positioned will serve several functions:

First, they will collect fares in advance from passengers to minimize disputes and ensure the safety of the rickshaw pullers.

Second, they will manage the shifts of the rickshaw pullers.

Third, they will maintain and repair the rickshaws.”

Concluding his presentation with the standards for the fares, Lim Soonwook ended his proposal.

“With this, I conclude my suggestions regarding the operation of rickshaws.”

“Well done.”

“Good work. Now, let’s talk about the carriages.”

“Excuse me?”

Exhausted from explaining the operation of rickshaws, Lim Soonwook was taken aback by Kim Jeom’s suggestion to discuss carriages.

“May I take a brief rest before we proceed?”

Seeing Lim Soonwook’s panicked reaction, Kim Jeom chuckled and explained,

“We have many more issues to address besides your proposal.”

“Yes…”

As Lim Soonwook weakly responded, Hyang interjected,

“Still, through the rickshaws, we have understood the necessity and benefits of such operations. The carriage part should be somewhat easier now, right? What do you think?”

“That sounds reasonable.”

“Phew~”

Realizing that his explanation would be significantly shorter, Lim Soonwook let out a sigh of relief.

Observing Lim Soonwook, Hyang smiled and offered some advice,

“Relax. Being too tense will only tire you out faster. There’s much more to do ahead.”

“Thank you immensely.”

Lim Soonwook bowed his head in gratitude at Hyang’s advice.

‘But why do I feel so uneasy?’

Suppressing a rising sense of foreboding, Lim Soonwook sat down to prepare for the next agenda.

* * *

The discussion about the carriages proceeded more smoothly than expected, just as Hyang had anticipated.

“Considering the size of Hanyang, the length of the city walls is over 40 li (approximately 16 km). Internally, from Heunginjimun to Donuimun is slightly over 10 li (about 4 km), and from Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun is just under 5 li (about 2 km).”

Explaining the area of Hanyang, Lim Soonwook added,

“It’s a vast city. Of course, it’s modest compared to a metropolis like Beijing, but I believe we can pride ourselves on its cleanliness.”

At Lim Soonwook’s words, the ministers turned their gaze to Hyang.

The size of Hanyang had already been determined during the relocation of the capital, but the issue of cleanliness was largely addressed by Hyang. Receiving the ministers’ gaze, Hyang replied with an embarrassed smile,

“As the saying goes, ‘a blessing in disguise.’ We benefited somewhat from that fire.”

* * *

During the reconstruction following the great fire that turned more than half of Hanyang into ashes, Hyang focused most on road paving and sewage management.

“It’s an opportunity! Like SimCity!”

In the reconstruction process, Hyang implemented sewage facilities by recalling books from the Roman Empire and his memories from the 21st century.

U-shaped concrete conduits were constructed not only under roads but also linked to newly developed residential areas to facilitate sewage discharge. The system was designed to handle not only domestic wastewater but, if possible, even human waste from toilets.

“Do we really have to do it this way?”

Despite complaints from officials and citizens, who found Hyang’s meticulous supervision almost oppressive, Hyang silenced them with a single retort.

“Do you all want to eat rice cooked with sewage?”

Silence followed. In Joseon, it was already common sense to build wells and toilets far apart, so no one could argue against Hyang’s point.

Watching the officials and people grumble, Hyang continued,

“It may be bothersome and hard now, but think of the future. People are already flocking to Hanyang. If we don’t handle this properly from now, in less than ten years, everyone in Hanyang will be living with diseases.”

With the completion of the reconstruction nearing, Hyang petitioned Sejong to enact ‘Laws on Road Usage.’

The laws included regulations on segregating pedestrian walkways and roads for horse-drawn carriages, directions for carriage traffic, and prohibitions against urinating or defecating on streets. Although residents of Hanyang and people from other cities complained about these new laws, Sejong strongly pushed them through.

Initially called a ‘harsh law,’ the people soon couldn’t deny its benefits as they saw cleaner streets and enjoyed a more comfortable living environment.

* * *

Lim Soonwook continued explaining about the operation of carriages.

“Since carriages can carry more people at once, they can operate effectively even with lower fares compared to rickshaws.”

“That makes sense.”

The ministers nodded at Lim Soonwook’s observation.

Before long, a large map of Hanyang was spread out, and Lim Soonwook pointed to the east, west, south, and north on the map as he continued.

“10 li east to west, 5 li north to south. It might seem short, but it’s actually a considerable distance when you decide to traverse it.”

At Lim Soonwook’s words, the Minister of Law and Punishments nodded in agreement.

“It would be challenging in summer or winter.”

“Not just the seasons, but also the time wasted by those who need to come to the central areas for work is an issue. But with carriages, we can reduce this waste of time.”

“Hmm…”

The ministers nodded at Lim Soonwook’s words, and Hyang’s eyes sparkled.

‘Hmm… maybe… it’s a good test!’

Deciding on this, Hyang asked Lim Soonwook,

“Scholar Lim, as more people are coming to Hanyang, what do you think could be a solution to this issue?”

Lim Soonwook pondered for a moment before responding to Hyang’s question.

“The most basic solution is to eliminate the need for people to come to Hanyang. People are flocking to Hanyang because they cannot sustain their lives in their villages or other cities.”

“That’s true…”

Everyone, starting with Sejong, nodded in agreement at Lim Soonwook’s answer. Clearing his throat, Lim Soonwook continued,

“Therefore, if the entire territory of Joseon is properly developed, people won’t need to flock to Hanyang. Of course, this might sound like an armchair theory, but I still believe we need to strive to make it a reality as much as possible.”

“You said the most basic solution and an armchair theory, then what would be a more practical approach?”

Following Hyang’s question, Lim Soonwook immediately responded.

“We need to develop the areas within ten li (approximately 4 km) of Hanyang’s walls. First, extend the paved roads beyond the four main gates, and extend the carriage operations to those areas. Only then can we prevent excessive population concentration in Hanyang. Preventing population concentration is key to addressing housing, sustainable livelihoods, and health issues.”

At Lim Soonwook’s answer, Hyang clenched his fist and nodded vigorously towards Sejong.

Sejong, noting Hyang’s reaction, asked Lim Soonwook,

“What is your eldest son doing now?”

“Excuse me? He is currently learning the trade at a trading company.”

“Is that so? How long has he been learning?”

“It’s been five years.”

“Then, you could hand over the business to him?”

“Excuse me?”

Lim Soonwook, baffled and unable to comprehend Sejong’s words, stared blankly. Sejong then spoke,

“Wrap up your business and come to the court. Five days should be enough, right?”

“Excuse me? Yes? Yes? Yessss!”

Lim Soonwook was taken aback by Sejong’s bombshell announcement.

Chapter 138

Faced with the unexpected command to enter official service, Lim Soonwook desperately tried to excuse himself.

“Although it’s an honor to be commanded to enter service, am I truly qualified?”

To this, Heo Jo stepped forward.

“Isn’t it true that you passed the civil service examination?”

“But…”

As Lim Soonwook hesitated, Kim Jeom gently persuaded him.

“Sholar Lim, why did you take the civil service exam in the first place? Wasn’t it to fulfill your aspiration of becoming a distinguished scholar of this country? Circumstances might have forced you to give up on that dream, but now you have another opportunity to realize it.”

“However…”

Still unable to decide, the Inspector General intervened.

“Scholar Lim! Taking the civil service exam and entering official service is a duty of Joseon’s scholars! Why hesitate? Such hesitation is unfaithful!”

“Ah…”

At the mention of ‘unfaithfulness,’ Lim Soonwook’s face fell, and he inadvertently let out a sigh.

At this, Kim Jeom explained the situation in the court.

“It might sound like a bolt from the blue to you, Scholar Lim, but the court is in a difficult situation right now. We are short of people.”

“But haven’t the civil service exams been wide open for a few years now?”

Lim Soonwook’s objection was met with a sigh from Kim Jeom.

“Hoo~. That’s true. But many of those who have entered since then are still in minor positions. Additionally, the ongoing reforms have caused new problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“There’s a lack of proactive individuals. It’s something we too must reflect upon. But currently, the officials are too busy keeping up with the reforms initiated by His Majesty.”

Kim Jeom elaborated on the situation in the court.

With Sejong’s reforms, the number of officials began to rapidly increase.

There were two ways this increase was being accomplished. In the central government, people were recruited through the civil service exams, and in the provinces, local subordinates were promoted to formal official positions.

Promoting local subordinates to official positions was a double-edged sword. It provided them with a salary and opportunities for promotion but also subjected them to the strict application of the avoidance law, which prevented officials from serving in their hometowns.

As a result, the subordinates either had to leave their positions or move to a different region.

Despite this large-scale recruitment of officials both centrally and provincially, problems continued to arise.

The first issue was that both the new officials and the former subordinates struggled to adapt to the reforms. Both groups were having difficulty learning arithmetic, which had become a basic requirement for officials.

While this process allowed for the identification of promising individuals, their numbers were limited, which was a concern.

Continuing his explanation, Kim Jeom added,

“Of course, from this year, we are giving more opportunities to people from the northwest and the ‘serfs,’ which should help us recruit more talent.”

“Forgive me for saying so, but it seems like a mistake on the part of the court.”

Lim Soonwook’s assertion that ‘the court had made a mistake’ drew the focused attention of the ministers, as well as Sejong and Hyang.

Whether he was aware of their focus or not, Lim Soonwook explained what the problem was.

“Those who take the civil service exams are still primarily preparing by studying the classics and poetry. Of course, some may prepare for arithmetic if they have relatives who are current officials, but how many can that be? It needs to be clearly stated what will be assessed in the exams – whether it’s the classics, poetry, or arithmetic. Only then can people avoid double efforts.”

Continuing, Lim Soonwook pointed out what the court had missed.

“Similarly, it’s necessary to inform those who fail the exams exactly why they failed. I’ve witnessed several exams in Hanyang, and they only announced who passed or failed. A little effort to explain the reasons for failure would help those aspiring to enter service to prepare properly and would more clearly distinguish the outstanding candidates.”

“Ah…”

At Lim Soonwook’s observation, Sejong and the ministers all nodded in agreement.

However, the one who was most shocked was Hyang.

‘I forgot about this! Reflect! Reflect!’

Sejong looked at Lim Soonwook with a pleased expression.

“Indeed, a talent! Definitely needed in the court!”

“Your Majesty, but I am…”

As Lim Soonwook tried to excuse himself, Kim Jeom interjected again.

“The issue of junior officials can be addressed as such, but the problem lies with the middle and senior officials.”

“Excuse me?”

“The provinces haven’t seen much change yet, but the central government in Hanyang is undergoing significant changes. The most noticeable change, as just mentioned, is the significant increase in the number of officials. As the number of junior officials rises, it’s natural that the number of middle-ranking officials who manage them should also increase, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

Lim Soonwook was unwittingly drawn into the conversation by Kim Jeom’s articulate speech.

“As the number of middle-ranking officials quickly increased, problems arose. Whether it’s due to lack of experience or issues with work distribution and management, the challenges are there.”

“The only answer to that problem is time, unless the top-ranking officials take decisive action…”

Lim Soonwook abruptly stopped talking. He realized he was indirectly criticizing the ministers present, and even the king seated above.

‘I’m doomed!’

Realizing his blunder, Lim Soonwook’s face turned pale, and he began to sweat profusely.

However, neither Sejong nor the ministers reprimanded him. Instead, Kim Jeom nodded in agreement.

“Your observation is correct! That is the problem! Frankly, His Majesty and the Crown Prince are leading the reforms, and we are barely keeping up. That’s why we need people like you!”

“I fear you may overestimate me…”

“Honestly, we don’t know the extent of your capabilities. Perhaps we are seeing too much in you. But it’s clear that you possess what we lack.”

Lim Soonwook became curious at Kim Jeom’s words.

‘What do they see in me?’

Finally, Lim Soonwook asked Kim Jeom,

“What do you see in me?”

“Your perspective. The ability to see what we have missed.”

Kim Jeom explained frankly to Lim Soonwook.

-We keep saying this, but with the current capacity of the ministers and senior officials, we’re overwhelmed just implementing the policies set forth by His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

This is not just a matter of capability, but also the workload is excessive.

“Cough! Cough!”

Sejong coughed slightly uncomfortably at Kim Jeom’s statement, but Kim Jeom continued undeterred.

‘If they don’t like it, let them dismiss me!’

-The overall atmosphere in the court is becoming passive. From the ministers down to the lowest-ranking officials, everyone is just executing orders.

-While this may not seem problematic now, it will become a major issue in the future. There are too few who can ensure we’re headed in the right direction.

“There are a few suitable people. Huang Mo and his group… But the problem is they are all busy up north right now.”

Seizing the opportunity to criticize Hwang Hui, Kim Jeom concluded his point to Lim Soonwook.

“Therefore, we need people in the court who can ensure that we are headed in the right direction.”

“Isn’t His Majesty and the Crown Prince already doing that? I am uncertain of my ability to contribute.”

Lim Soonwook continued to argue, but his initial defiance had significantly weakened. Sejong interjected, addressing Lim Soonwook’s self-doubt.

“You have sufficient capability, which is why the ministers have stepped forward. Thus, Scholar Lim, I would like you to enter service and assist me.”

When Sejong humbly requested using the term ‘I’ (referring to himself as ‘Gwain’), Lim Soonwook fell into deep thought.

‘I’ve not been without dreams of grandeur myself… ’

For 20 years, he had considered such lofty aspirations beyond his reach, but now they resurfaced, compelling him to ponder.

Meanwhile, the ministers whispered among themselves with mixed emotions.

“Heh… It’s been a while since His Majesty referred to himself as ‘Gwain’…”

“That’s right…”

Before the purge of senior ministers symbolized by Ryu Jeong-hyun, Sejong frequently used the term ‘Gwain.’ However, after the purge of the senior ministers who had been pressuring the royal authority, Sejong rarely used that term.

After much contemplation, Lim Soonwook finally spoke.

“As a subject, it’s my duty to follow the command of His Majesty. However, I run a trading company. You say I could hand it over to my child, but if something goes wrong, it could tarnish His Majesty’s reputation.”

Kim Jeom interrupted Lim Soonwook’s hesitance.

“Does your trading company sell exclusive goods for the Ministry of Taxation?”

“No, it does not.”

“Or are you involved in construction?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“However… a mere merchant becoming a court official could create unfavorable rumors.”

At Lim Soonwook’s hesitance, Sejong asked,

“Do you doubt your ability to avoid the concerns you’re worrying about?”

“No, I do not!”

“Then there’s no problem. Why do we have the Inspector General and the Minister of Law and Punsihments in the court?”

Speechless at Sejong’s words, Lim Soonwook fell silent again.

After more contemplation, Lim Soonwook stood up and bowed deeply to Sejong.

“I, Lim Soonwook, accept Your Majesty’s command! I am profoundly grateful for this immense opportunity given to such an unworthy person like me!”

As Lim Soonwook accepted Sejong’s offer, Sejong made a remarkable move. He stepped down from the throne and approached Lim Soonwook.

“Scholar Lim, stand up.”

As Lim Soonwook stood up, Sejong lightly patted his shoulder.

“I am counting on you in the future.”

“I will devote myself fully, Your Majesty!”

Lim Soonwook was moved to tears, feeling honored by Sejong’s personal encouragement.

Thus, a person who was not visible in the history before Hyang’s intervention now rose to prominence.

* * *

“Then start attending the court after five days. In the meantime, I and the ministers will decide where you will work.”

“Your Majesty, I am truly grateful for this honor, but may I request a fortnight?”

“A fortnight? Why?”

When Sejong asked for the reason, Lim Soonwook calmly explained.

“As per Your Majesty’s word, it will take about five days to sort out my trading company. However, I am not well-versed in the reforms implemented by the court. Although I have observed a lot from the outside, I am unaware of the details, and I need time to understand them.”

“I see. That makes sense!”

Sejong was even more impressed by Lim Soonwook’s explanation.

“Then, as you wish, I will give you a fortnight. However, the key records of the reforms are confidential, and they cannot be circulated outside. Minister of Law and Punishments, listen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong commanded the Minister of Law and Punishments.

“Grant Scholar Lim access to the archives where he can study these records.”

“I shall comply with Your Majesty’s command.”

Lim Soonwook bowed deeply again, expressing his gratitude.

“I am immensely grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness!”

* * *

Sejong, particularly pleased with Lim Soonwook, accompanied him to the entrance of Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Lim Soonwook, overwhelmed with emotion, burst into tears, creating a bit of a spectacle.

After seeing off Lim Soonwook, Sejong returned to the throne.

“Now, with whom shall Scholar Lim work?”

Having successfully recruited Lim Soonwook, Sejong asked with a light tone, rubbing his hands together.

Flap! Flap!

Immediately after Sejong’s words, the sleeves of the officials’ robes fluttered as the Chief State Councillor and the ministers raised their hands.

“Huh? Let’s hear from the Chief State Councillor first.”

Surprised by the unexpected turn of events, Sejong commanded the Chief State Councillor, Lee Jik, to speak.

“Scholar Lim’s greatest strength is his discerning eye, making him most suitable for the State Council. The State Council’s work involves coordinating issues raised by various departments, and Scholar Lim Soonwook’s insight will shine brightest there.”

“That sounds plausible.”

As Sejong nodded, Heo Jo urgently cried out,

“Your Majesty! Scholar Lim’s capabilities are perfectly suited for the Ministry of Personnel. The work of this ministry involves managing administration across Joseon. Given Scholar Lim’s insight and experience running a trading company, he is fully capable of handling these responsibilities!”

“Your Majesty! Considering his experience in running a trading company, Scholar Lim is urgently needed in the Ministry of Taxation! Balancing the national finances is a task of utmost importance!”

Starting with Heo Jo and Kim Jeom, the ministers from each department clamored, each claiming that Scholar Lim was necessary for their respective ministries.

Chapter 139

Starting with the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Taxation, ministers of all six ministries insisted that Lim Soonwook was essential for their respective departments. Even Jo Malsaeng of the Ministry of War joined in, emphasizing Lim’s necessity.

“Your Majesty! A person with the insight and ability of Scholar Lim is most needed in the Ministry of War! While many in the military and the Ministry of War are skilled in martial arts and military tactics, few possess such discerning insight!”

Ultimately, those arguing for their need for Lim Soonwook began to quarrel with their competitors. The heated exchanges quickly escalated, reaching a point where they even inquired about each other’s parents, prompting Sejong to intervene.

“Silence! What disgraceful behavior!”

“We are deeply sorry, Your Majesty!”

Chastised by Sejong, the ministers and state councilors all bowed their heads.

Watching this, Sejong grumbled,

“Being envious of Scholar Lim’s qualities is understandable, and I can even comprehend the arguments that ensued. But enough with inquiring about each other’s parents!”

“We obey, Your Majesty.”

The historian who recorded all these events concluded as follows:

-… thus, His Majesty commanded the ministers not to engage in disrespectful criticism.

The historian notes:

It is indeed regrettable that those educated in proper conduct resorted to such disrespectful language in their arguments. Naturally, obeying His Majesty’s command is appropriate.

The problem is, the historians themselves are short-staffed, but no one seems to care about that. I too wish to return home on time.

The historian’s grumbling had its reasons. As all matters of the court were being documented, this task fell upon the historians and clerks.

Originally, the historians and clerks were responsible for recording decrees and orders and then distributing them to the six ministries and the censors.

However, with the ongoing reforms, the volume of work had increased exponentially.

Despite continuous proposals to increase the number of historians from eight due to the burgeoning workload, other departments’ staffing needs were prioritized, and even now, in the latter stages of the reforms, the eight historians had to work day and night without rest.

* * *

It was Hyang who resolved the fierce competition among the ministers to secure Lim Soonwook.

“Father, may I speak?”

At Hyang’s request, Sejong was delighted, and the ministers were ignited with resolve.

‘This time, we won’t lose him to Area 51!’

‘Whatever it takes, we’ll stop it!’

‘We need a strong argument!’

While the ministers were firmly resolved and prepared, Hyang spoke,

“Isn’t there a plan to pick some from the departments for a trial run before reshuffling them?”

“Yes… Ah!”

Responding thoughtlessly to Hyang’s question, Sejong suddenly exclaimed in realization.

“We can assign him to coordinate that mock trial!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Considering the considerable workload already assigned to the ministers and state councilors, there is no need to add more burden. Moreover, as an outsider, he may find and solve issues that the court has overlooked.”

“That makes sense. So…”

Nodding repeatedly, Sejong looked around at the ministers.

“For now, I would like Scholar Lim to handle the mock trial. What are your thoughts?”

The ministers and state councilors began to weigh the pros and cons, glancing at each other.

‘It’s a bit disappointing not to have him directly under me, but it’s the same for the other departments too… ’

‘When the mock trial starts, evaluating and coordinating it will also be a significant task… ’

‘There’s already so much work; any more would be nightmarish!’

After much deliberation and cost-benefit analysis, the ministers reached a consensus.

“We believe the plan proposed by Your Majesty is the most suitable.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty! Though it’s named a mock trial, its significance is incomparable!”

“We believe Scholar Lim’s insight is sufficient for the task!”

Starting with Chief State Councillor Lee Jik, the ministers voiced their agreement one after another.

With the ministers’ unanimous support, Sejong made his decision.

“Very well. Then, Scholar Lim Soonwook will oversee the mock trial. What rank should he be given?”

Sejong’s question sparked another debate among the ministers. The topic of the debate was whether to recognize Lim Soonwook’s 20 years of experience outside officialdom as a valid career experience.

“Given Scholar Lim’s insight, it’s only fair to recognize that time! Considering those 20 years and his insight, a rank and position of Third Rank Senior Secretary would be appropriate!”

“While I acknowledge Scholar Lim’s capabilities, recognizing all 20 years he spent as a commoner is unreasonable! How many of those who entered service around the same time have reached the Third Rank? A rank of Junior Third Rank Chief Secretary is more fitting!”

“Arguing to give him the Junior Third Rank just because few have reached the Third Rank is absurd! Why should we consider those who failed to get promoted due to their lack of ability?”

“It’s not right to ignore the efforts of those who have served dutifully in government positions for decades! How will you address the demotivation of these officials?”

As the ministers argued, Hyang stepped in.

“Father, may I say something?”

“Speak your mind,” Sejong said, already exasperated by his officials’ quarreling.

As Hyang joined the conversation, the ministers ceased their debate and turned their attention to him.

After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Hyang spoke.

“The arguments of the ministers all have merit. Scholar Lim’s 20 years of experience and insight living as a commoner certainly qualify him for a high rank. Similarly, the efforts of those who have been in official service during the same period must also be acknowledged. However, the reason we are appointing Scholar Lim Soonwook now is due to a shortage of internal staff, right? Moreover, for the mock trial, we need someone of a sufficient rank to direct the officials.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s statement.

“Right. Who would listen to someone of the same rank who just came in from outside?”

Encouraged by Sejong’s receptive response, Hyang continued.

“Furthermore, opportunities for those who have been loyally serving in the government should also be increased. The solution, as Father has already established using Sungkyunkwan, should be expanded.”

With the ongoing reforms, Sejong had also revised the civil service examination system. The preliminary and main exams were streamlined to facilitate the recruitment of lower-ranking officials. Sungkyunkwan, traditionally a Confucian academy, had been transformed into a place for preparing outstanding officials for high-ranking positions based on their career and performance evaluations.

Hyang was suggesting increasing the enrollment at Sungkyunkwan.

“I think the Crown Prince’s proposal is good. What do the ministers think?”

Sejong’s question put the ministers on high alert.

‘He used ‘Gwain’ and even spoke in a casual tone. This is a warning!’

‘There’s nothing to lose by agreeing! It’s time to yield!’

Recognizing the warning embedded in Sejong’s words, the ministers all bowed in agreement.

“We agree with Your Majesty’s decision!”

With unanimous support from the ministers, Sejong made his decision.

“Then, I will appoint Scholar Lim Soonwook to the rank of Third Rank Senior Secretary. Once Scholar Lim officially begins attending court, he will be tasked with preparing and executing the mock trial.”

“We shall comply with Your Majesty’s command!”

And so, Lim Soonwook’s role was decided.

* * *

After the meeting concluded, Hyang returned to the Eastern Palace and muttered bitterly with a wry smile.

“The passive behavior of these officials… It really is a proud tradition in its own right.”

In the 21st century, Hyang’s first encounter with public service as a Grade 5 official was the passive approach of ‘just do what you’re told’ and the prevalent ‘old-school mentality.’

“Hey! You don’t have to work so hard! Working like that won’t increase your salary!”

“Try as you might, when the administration changes, everything goes back to square one.”

Despite being populated by highly capable individuals from renowned universities, the work attitude of most government employees in central government administrative positions was just like that.

Worse still was the prevalence of ‘old-timers’ who adhered to the “back in my day” mentality.

“That’s nothing compared to what we had to deal with!”

Such statements were the least of concerns and could even be considered endearing.

“What do you know about struggling?”

“There’s no precedent for this! Precedent!”

“If you want to do things your way, start by building a track record!”

Hyang and peers, who had managed to secure a reasonably high position as Grade 5 officials, gradually lost their motivation upon hearing such remarks from their superiors.

Even more frustrating was the fact that many of these superiors were individuals who had previously left their positions due to frustrations with such ‘old-timers,’ only to return and become even worse.

Many who re-entered the administration ended up becoming more rigid and conservative than the very ‘old-timers’ they had once criticized.

Frustrated with the situation, which was a poor fit for his temperament, and sickened by the old-fashioned attitudes of his superiors, Hyang eventually developed depression and had to resign.

Recalling these painful memories from the 21st century, Hyang clenched his teeth.

“Things must change!”

* * *

Meanwhile, Lim Soonwook’s appointment caused a huge stir throughout Joseon.

“A man who passed the civil service exam 20 years ago, a native of the Northwest, has been appointed as a high-ranking official!”

The news prompted various reactions depending on people’s circumstances.

In the Northwest region, people were inspired.

“We can do it too!”

“We can’t miss this heaven-sent opportunity!”

“We must seize this chance before the king’s favor changes again!”

While the Northwest was ablaze with enthusiasm, the reaction in the southern regions was largely the opposite.

“Have you heard? A mere merchant who passed the exam ages ago has become a high-ranking official?”

“Ha! Is that fellow some kind of Lu Buwei? It’s the end of times!”

[TL/N: Lu Buwei was a wealthy merchant who later become a chancellor during Qin dynasty]

While many criticized, in the shadows, others, particularly small landowners and younger members of less prosperous families, were motivated.

“This father was content just toiling in the fields, but you must rise in the world.”

“Yes, father.”

“The current king is earnestly seeking talented individuals, so work even harder.”

“Yes, father.”

“Don’t forget this is an opportunity to uplift our family.”

“Yes, father.”

As these various reactions unfolded, Lim Soonwook, having settled his trading company, took up residence in the archives to analyze the records of the reforms and the ‘Eastern Advancement Plan.’

Sighing deeply as he reviewed the records, Lim Soonwook said to himself,

“If things proceed like this, our Joseon could claim the title of Empire without any shortcomings. The problem is that the path is not an easy one.”

Assessing the situation, Lim Soonwook smiled wryly.

“Maybe I should have just stuck to my business? But…”

Though he said this, a deep ambition was taking root in Lim Soonwook’s heart.

‘If done right, Joseon can certainly be called an empire without any shortcomings! It would be like a second founding of the nation! To have my name recorded in such a glorious moment… ’

Thinking of the distant future and various possibilities, Lim Soonwook came to a decision.

“Yes! To have a cause worth dedicating my life to is a blessing for a man!”

With his decision made, Lim Soonwook quickly moved on to the next step.

“The biggest problem is the lack of talent!”

Identifying the issue, Lim Soonwook sought out the archive manager.

“Could I get some writing brushes?”

“Just a moment, please.”

The manager, having heard of Lim Soonwook, responded politely and quickly brought him the writing brushes.

Receiving the brushes, Lim Soonwook returned to his seat, spread out some paper, and fell into deep thought. Soon, he began to write a memorial.

This was the beginning of the famous ‘Lim Soonwook’s Strategy for the Times.’

Three days later, the Minister of Justice presented the memorial to Sejong.

“Your Majesty, here is a memorial from Scholar Lim Soonwook.”

“A memorial?”

Sejong, curious to hear that Lim Soonwook had submitted a memorial, unrolled the scroll.

After reading its contents, Sejong spoke to his secretary.

“Where is the Crown Prince now?”

“He is in Area 51, Your Majesty.”

“Send someone to tell him. We’ve found a good man.”

Chapter 140

“Let the Chief State Councilor read this petition aloud for all ministers to hear.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Receiving the petition from Sejong, the Chief State Councilor cleared his throat and soon read it aloud.

“Scholar Lim Soonwook, performs a deep bow with his head touching the ground twice, and now picks up the brush…”

The petition read by Lim Soonwook was divided into two major parts.

One was a proposal on methods of recruiting talented individuals.

The other was pointing out overlooked aspects in the recent reforms and suggesting alternatives.

Firstly, regarding the recruitment of talents, Lim Soonwook criticized the current implementation of the civil service examination system.

– The timing of the civil service examinations should be changed. Currently, they are usually held from January to May.

However, holding them between March and April is problematic, as this period limits the examinations to a specific group of people.

This is because March to April coincides with the spring hunger period and the planting season. Many people lose their strength after the spring hunger period and must devote themselves to farming during the planting season.

Therefore, holding examinations during this time does not align with the goal of finding proper talents. Only those who have the leisure, mainly the children of the local gentry, can afford to take the exams during this period.

Holding exams from January to February is equally unsuitable. This period is in the midst of a harsh winter, not suitable for traveling long distances.

Thus, it is appropriate to conduct examinations between May and June, or between September and November, after the harvest and before the onset of winter.

After addressing the timing of the examinations, Lim Soonwook pointed out the next issue.

– The nature of the examination itself for those who sit for the civil service exams is problematic.

Looking at the records from the year 1428 (10th year of Sejong’s reign), decisions were made based on literary composition.

However, the debate between focusing on scripture recitation and interpretation versus literary ability has been ongoing.

The issue with choosing scripture recitation is that the exam period can take almost a month, and there is a risk of corruption if the examiners and candidates know each other.

Choosing literary composition, on the other hand, risks undervaluing Neo-Confucianism and encouraging a focus solely on literary flair.

(Note 1)

To resolve this issue, it is suggested to set ‘essay writing’ as a subject.

If the exam involves discussing current or planned state policies, it can filter out those who rely solely on their writing skills.

– Additionally, as arithmetic becomes increasingly important, an arithmetic exam should also be formally included in the subjects, and this should be widely publicized so that candidates can prepare adequately.

The method of announcing examination results should also be improved. Instead of merely publishing a list of successful candidates, it should also include why the unsuccessful candidates failed. This will allow them to understand their shortcomings and decide whether to try again or pursue other careers.

Next, Lim Soonwook proposed a method of recruiting talents without the civil service exams.

– It should be widely publicized that the great benevolence of His Majesty has allowed me to enter the royal court.

– As the saying goes, ‘Start with following Kui,’ this will let people know that His Majesty and the court highly value talents, thereby attracting them.

– First, widely publicize my story, and then issue the following decree nationwide:

‘Discuss improvement strategies for the current affairs of the court. Those who provide good answers will be valued highly.’

Seeing my example, those with aspirations will surely present good strategies, and by selecting the excellent among them to fill the roles of the court’s leadership and support, the nation can thrive for a thousand years.

– This applies to those already in government service as well. Not only those studying at Sungkyunkwan to advance to higher ranks above Junior 5th Rank, but all officials from the rank of Chamhagwan (Junior 7th Rank to Junior 9th Rank) must submit at least one proposal related to state governance every two years.

This is to select those who actively engage in governance, not just those who are passive.

Upon hearing Lim Soonwook’s suggestion that ‘one must submit at least one paper every two years,’ the ministers nodded.

“That’s a good idea. We’ll be able to find those who work independently.”

“The problem is that we’re already hearing groans.”

Hearing the ministers’ whispers, Kim Jeom shook his head in disapproval.

“Don’t you realize that we are also included in this?”

“Oops!”

As the ministers’ faces turned pale, the Chief State Councilor continued reading Lim Soonwook’s petition.

– The biggest problem in the current reforms is the increasing number of items under state monopoly, starting initially with salt and sugar, and now expanding to glass products, iron materials, spices, etc.

While it’s acknowledged that the monopoly benefits the state budget and the households, like the case of paper, excessive monopolization can demotivate artisans and increase illicit production. Thus, it’s crucial to decide on items to be released from monopoly as the reforms progress.

(Abbreviated)

* * *

After the Chief State Councilor finished reading, Sejong looked around at the ministers with a pleased expression.

“It seems we have found a truly valuable talent, haven’t we?”

In response to Sejong’s remark, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik replied.

“That is true, Your Majesty. Of course, there are areas where his enthusiasm might be too much, but I believe those will be resolved with experience.”

Sejong nodded at Lee Jik’s words.

“That’s true. We should leave those matters to the wisdom of the experienced officials.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers’ faces fell.

‘Does this mean more work for us?’

‘I’m writing a resignation letter! I will do it!’

Whether Sejong knew the ministers’ inner thoughts or not, he looked towards the Eastern Palace and continued.

“Our Crown Prince seems to have great fortune in attracting talents. How does he manage to find such capable people?”

Hearing this, the ministers inwardly groaned.

‘It’s not a fortune in people but a fortune in work!’

Whether he knew the ministers’ feelings or not, Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Let’s proceed to announce the laws regarding market regulation and land taxes as planned.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And regarding the civil service exam issue, since Scholar Lim’s points are valid, let’s give some thought to it. Also, devise ways to uncover talents hidden in remote rural areas.”

“…We accept your command.”

The ministers replied with mixed emotions, prompting Sejong to add:

“Do not forget that having more talented individuals will alleviate the burdens of the officials.”

“We will bear it in mind!”

The ministers responded loudly to Sejong’s words.

“Let’s take a break for now.”

Upon Sejong’s declaration of adjournment, the ministers hurried out of Geunjeongjeon and headed towards the State’s Council.

* * *

Upon arriving at the State Council’s meeting room, the Minister of Rites was the first to speak.

“Which topic should we discuss first? The civil service exam or the strategy to recruit talents outside the traditional system?”

Hearing this, the ministers all answered simultaneously.

“The strategy for talent recruitment, of course!”

“The talent recruitment strategy seems more pressing, doesn’t it?”

“What else is there to discuss besides the talent recruitment strategy?”

With the ministers’ unanimous reaction, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik concluded.

“Since everyone agrees, let’s start with the talent recruitment strategy.”

“That sounds good.”

“Indeed.”

As the ministers agreed, Maeng Sa-seong continued the conversation.

“This will be an extremely challenging task, so take care of your health in advance. Turtle soup is excellent for strengthening vitality, isn’t it?”

Following Maeng Sa-seong’s comment, the Right State Councilor added:

“Speaking of turtle soup reminds me. We should send some turtles to Governor Hwang in the northeast. He seems to have weakened from working in the distant lands, and it’s difficult to see him except during regular reports. The development in the northeast also seems slower. If we help restore his vitality, he might be able to handle the affairs in the northeast more swiftly and return.”

“That’s a good idea!”

“I’ll ask the physicians at the royal medical office to find herbs that complement turtle soup.”

The ministers responded cheerfully to the Right State Councilor’s words.

In the following days, every turtle that entered the medicinal shops of Hanyang mysteriously disappeared.

While these events were unfolding in Hanyang, Hwang Hui, overseeing the administrative work in the pioneer lands of the northeastern region, furiously rubbed his little finger in his ear.

“Why is my ear so itchy? Did a bug get inside?”

Hearing Hwang Hui’s mumbling, Kim Jong-seo, who was processing documents next to him, spoke up.

“Maybe someone is speaking ill of you, Governor.”

“Ill words? Who would?”

“Well…”

Kim Jong-seo stuttered, then buried his eyes in the documents.

“Hmm…”

Squinting at Kim Jong-seo, Hwang Hui muttered to himself.

‘Too many suspects!’

From Kim Jong-seo working closely beside him to his sons and children mining coal in the distant mines, his wife worried sick about them, and lastly, his colleagues struggling in Hanyang.

As Hwang Hui chuckled at the thought of all those who might be bad-mouthing him, he laughed softly.

‘Pfft! Is that really the issue now? I have bigger problems to deal with. Let them talk if they wish.’

The reality of having a lot to do with few hands in the northeastern pioneer lands was a more urgent matter.

‘I refuse to be tied down to the clerk’s desk until death!’

Reinvigorated, Hwang Hui called out to Kim Jong-seo while reviewing the documents.

“Hey, Jong-seo!”

“Please call me Deputy Administrator!”

“Right, Deputy Administrator! This document is wrong! Aren’t you going to work properly? Do you want to go back to Hanyang working like this? Planning to celebrate your 60th birthday here in the northeastern region and then return? Huh? Is that it?”

“Understood!”

Receiving Hwang Hui’s reprimand, Kim Jong-seo took the problematic document to fix it.

Grinding his teeth while reviewing the document, Kim Jong-seo was frustrated.

“These fools! I told them to refer to ‘Yuseopilji’ for guidance! Using vernacular script in official documents!”

Yuseopilji, literally meaning “What Confucian Scholars and Clerks Must Know,” contained various official document formats and writing guidelines, and was a constant on the officials’ desks.

After identifying who prepared the problematic document, Kim Jong-seo immediately rushed to their location.

“Are you really going to work like this? Do you want to return to Hanyang after this? Remember! If I can’t go back, neither can you! Not even in death!”

Kim Jong-seo was increasingly resembling Hwang Hui.

* * *

Amidst this busy routine, Sejong was troubled by a request from Hyang.

“You want to build a new building?”

“Yes.”

“The budget?”

“We plan to use the budget from the Crown Prince Management Bureau.”

“That aside, why do we need a new building? The censors might rise in protest, accusing us of extravagance.”

“It’s not about luxury. It’s a necessary need.”

“A necessary need? What kind of building is it?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang replied briefly.

“A dining hall.”

“A dining hall?”

“Yes.”

According to Hyang’s explanation, the purpose of building a dining hall was to cater to the staff of the research institute, the eunuchs and court ladies working in the Eastern Palace, and the royal guards.

Firstly, for the research institute staff, who exhaust their minds daily with intense work, there was an issue of significant energy depletion.

“That’s why we aim to provide proper meals for lunch and dinner to replenish their energy.”

“That seems reasonable.”

Sejong nodded in agreement with Hyang’s explanation.

“The reason for including court ladies, eunuchs, and the royal guards is due to ‘sangmullim’ (leftover food from superiors).”

“Sangmullim? Why?”

In Joseon’s custom, it was common for lower-ranking people to eat the leftovers of their superiors. Therefore, it was considered polite for the higher-ups to eat neatly using the front plate.

In the palace, it was a routine for court ladies and eunuchs to share the leftovers from the king and royal family, with additional side dishes – in Sejong’s case, usually meat.

“This also addresses hygiene issues, hence the shift to communal dining. Lastly, I too will dine in the cafeteria.”

“Why? That goes against the protocol.”

To Sejong’s concern, Hyang emphasized a different aspect.

“It’s a matter of security. Surely, no one would risk poisoning me while endangering hundreds of others?”

“Ah…”

“Moreover, showing that high-ranking individuals eat the same food can boost loyalty.”

After pondering Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded.

“It seems like a good idea. Go ahead with it.”

“Your benevolence is immense!”

After Hyang left, Sejong, deep in thought, turned to the Chief State Councilor.

“Quite a good idea, isn’t it?”

“…”

* * *

Note 1) In April of the 10th year of King Sejong’s reign, following a petition from Byeon Gye-ryang, Sejong, after discussions with the ministers, decided to center the civil service examination on literary composition. From the book ‘King Sejong the Great: A Single-Volume Chronicle’ by Park Young-kyu, Woongjin Knowledge House.

Chapter 141

As soon as the word got out that Hyang intended to dine with the staff of the research institute, court ladies, eunuchs, and royal guards in the newly established cafeteria, the censors immediately objected.

“This goes against etiquette! How can the Crown Prince of a nation dine with those of lower status?”

Hyang responded with the same points he had mentioned to Sejong:

– First, there’s a hygiene issue. Even with the use of separate plates, there are still potential hygiene risks.

– Second, although they would dine in the same space, it wouldn’t be a joint meal per se. The dining times for himself, the research institute staff, court ladies, eunuchs, and royal guards would be distinct.

– Lastly, and this is a personal opinion, but those working in the palace are also of a certain rank. Why should they be treated like beggars?

As the censors turned to Sejong for his opinion, he defended Hyang’s plan.

“I too find the Crown Prince’s opinion to have merit. Reflecting on it, when superiors skip meals, those below them tend to do the same. The issue of prolonged meal times due to ‘sangmullim’ (leftovers) is regrettable. I won’t elaborate on hygiene issues, as they have been pointed out by various medical texts and physicians.”

With Sejong defending Hyang’s idea, the voices of the censors weakened. However, they continued to cling to the issue of etiquette.

“But, according to traditional etiquette…”

As the censors persisted with their etiquette argument, Sejong added,

“What is the origin of ‘toisun’ (retiring the meal), or the start of ‘sangmullim’? It’s the king sharing his precious food with his subordinates. This signifies the king’s affection and trust for his subjects through his actions. Isn’t the cafeteria initiated by the Crown Prince a meaningful form of ‘toisun’, beyond just sharing a meal?”

Faced with Sejong’s logic, the censors had no choice but to remain silent, as they were out-argued.

On the opening day of the Eastern Palace’s Grand Cafeteria, established by Hyang, began its operation, Sejong left Geunjeongjeon and headed to Eastern Palace.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

Awaiting Sejong, Hyang bowed deeply to greet him. Accompanied by the Crown Princess, Yangje, Yangwon – titles for the Crown Prince’s concubines – along with the staff of the research institute, including Jeong-cho, as well as the eunuchs and court ladies, all bowed in unison. The royal guards guarding the vicinity of the Eastern Palace saluted respectfully.

“Long live the King!”

“Chung!”

“You all have worked hard.”

After Sejong’s acknowledgment, those who had bowed straightened up.

Sejong, having encouraged those working at the research institute in the Eastern Palace, turned to Hyang.

“Let’s take a look at this cafeteria.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Led by Hyang, Sejong toured the cafeteria.

Exploring the communal dining area, which was an extension of Eastern Palace’s small kitchen, Sejong asked Hyang questions.

“Have you divided the cafeteria into several sections?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Even though we eat together, it’s burdensome for lower-ranking individuals to dine with their superiors.”

“Is that so?”

At Sejong’s inquiry, Hyang firmly responded, “Yes.”

The lower-ranking officials following them nodded in agreement.

‘Eat with superiors? I’d rather take poison!’

‘Not enough to get scolded during work hours, now they want us to swallow insults with our meals?’

“But wouldn’t dining together foster camaraderie and facilitate discussions about work?”

“Meal times are for rest. A proper break enhances efficiency.”

“That makes sense.”

Agreeing with Hyang’s response, Sejong nodded. With no further comments from Sejong, the lower-ranking officials sighed in relief.

“Phew~.”

Meanwhile, Hyang explained the different sections to Sejong.

“This area is for dining with officials of rank, including myself and Chief Scholar Jeong-cho.”

“Very neat.”

Touching the polished tables and chairs, Sejong nodded and followed Hyang to the next area.

Sejong continued asking questions as they inspected the dining areas for middle and lower-ranking officials, and a separate area for eunuchs and court ladies.

“You’ve separated the court ladies’ area?”

“Yes, according to protocol…”

“Well done, but isn’t the space too cramped?”

“We’ve arranged shifts for dining.”

“Hmm… What about the meal times?”

“From 11 AM to 1 PM.”

“Good. It’s almost time for lunch, isn’t it?”

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Sejong looked at Hyang.

“I should have lunch before leaving.”

“Please do.”

Hyang quickly agreed. At this, the faces of Jeong-cho and Jeong In-ji behind them turned pale.

‘Dammit!’

After washing his hands at a nearby sink, Sejong followed Hyang, carrying a tray along the serving line and filling it with rice and side dishes.

As the kitchen staff and court ladies bowed deeply to Sejong at the counter, he said with a smile,

“No need for formalities during mealtime. I came to eat, not to receive bows.”

“Your grace is immense!”

Sejong enjoyed the experience as he received his meal.

“This is interesting. One can take as much or as little as they want. Done right, this could reduce waste.”

“That’s right. But, Your Majesty, perhaps take some more lettuce.”

“My son…”

“For your health, Your Majesty. You should eat more greens to avoid…”

“More! Pack it in!”

Interrupting Hyang, Sejong ordered the kitchen staff in an irritated tone to add more lettuce to his plate. Observing the heap of lettuce, Sejong glared at Hyang.

“They say even dogs are left alone while eating.”

“But dogs don’t eat lettuce, do they? As I mentioned before…”

“Anyway, if only I could eat in peace…”

Sejong, grumbling about Hyang’s interference, brightened up upon seeing a griddle at the end of the serving line.

Grilled pork belly was sizzling tantalizingly on the griddle.

“Oh, pork belly?”

“Yes.”

“Pork belly has its own unique flavor. Fill it up, please.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With a tray full of rice, vegetables, and grilled pork belly, Sejong settled at a table with Hyang.

“The alternating layers of fat and meat are quite unique. What do you call this?”

“It’s called ‘Samcheong Jeyuk’.”

Hyang showed Sejong how to wrap the pork belly in lettuce.

Intrigued, Sejong followed Hyang’s instructions.

“Is it already the season for lettuce?”

“We grew it experimentally in a glasshouse. The yield is good.”

“I see. They say ‘Fall lettuce should be eaten behind closed doors,’ indicating its delicacy. I’m curious about this early lettuce.”

Sejong assembled a large wrap with several lettuce leaves, added a piece of thinly sliced garlic, a dab of ssamjang (Korean dipping sauce) with his chopsticks, and then rolled it up to eat.

Hyang’s eyes widened at the enormous wrap Sejong prepared.

‘No way! Is he performing a penalty like those comedians on eating shows? Is that really just one bite?’

Sejong, who swallowed the huge wrap in just a few bites, was impressed.

“This is really delicious!”

* * *

After enjoying a pleasant lunch in the cafeteria and coffee in Hyang’s room at Eastern Palace, Sejong leisurely returned to Geunjeongjeon.

“Your Majesty has returned~.”

Hearing the Chief State Councilor’s announcement, the waiting ministers in Geunjeongjeon straightened their postures and bowed deeply.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

As Sejong ascended the throne, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik shook his head.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. How was your lunch at Eastern Palace?”

“It was truly flavorful. You ministers should also try it when you have time…”

Sejong, who was happily sharing his experience, suddenly stopped mid-sentence and fell into thought.

“Your Majesty?”

Worried by Sejong’s abrupt silence, Lee Jik cautiously called out to him. Sejong, raising his hand, said,

“Wait a moment, please.”

The ministers looked at Sejong with anxious faces.

‘What is he planning now!’

‘This happens every time His Majesty and the Crown Prince are together!’

The ministers were silently screaming in terror, their faces filled with dread.

Seemingly unaware of their panic, Sejong, deep in thought, finally spoke.

“We should establish cafeterias in Geunjeongjeon and the Six Ministries similar to the one in Eastern Palace.”

“What?”

“The work of the court consumes a tremendous amount of mental energy, does it not? While I have meals according to protocol, the ministers and officials of the Six Ministries do not, which is a significant problem. Overexertion leads to rapid depletion of energy. If we establish cafeterias like the one in Eastern Palace for them to have meals, wouldn’t it help replenish their energy?”

The ministers pondered Sejong’s words. Even now, many officials sneak out at noon to buy food nearby or have their meals brought from home.

‘This won’t be a loss.’

Convinced there was no downside, the ministers agreed with Sejong’s proposal.

“Please proceed as you wish, Your Majesty!”

Consequently, cafeterias were established in Geunjeongjeon and the Six Ministries.

The response from the officials was mostly positive, but a few had reservations.

“What’s the matter? You look like you’re counting rice grains.”

A colleague’s inquiry prompted a hesitant response from one official.

“It feels like we’re being fed like cattle before plowing the fields.”

“Even so…”

* * *

On a deep night transitioning from March to April.

“I can’t sleep. Chief Eunuch, let’s take a walk.”

“Yes.”

After finishing his work and before retiring to bed, Sejong quietly left Gangnyeongjeon and started walking.

Wandering around Gyeongbokgung, Sejong’s steps eventually led him to Gwanghwamun’s watchtower. Climbing up, he looked over the night view of Hanyang, his gaze settling towards the area where the Six Ministries were located.

“Lights are still on at this hour.”

“Recently, many officials have been working late,” the Chief Eunuch informed him.

“Is that so?”

Hearing the Chief Eunuch’s response, Sejong continued his walk.

The next morning, as soon as the court meeting began, Sejong, recalling the scene he had witnessed the previous night, asked the Chief State Councilor.

“Are there many officials working late into the night?”

“Quite a few, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, then they must be tired. Do the officials have a place to rest?”

“There are duty rooms in each office, but they are not sufficient in number.”

“Hmm… That’s problematic. Working so hard without proper rest…”

Sejong’s concerned expression prompted the ministers to silently plead.

‘Please, reduce our workload!’

‘If only the workload could be lessened!’

“What to do…”

After pondering for a while, Sejong reached a decision.

“Construct buildings for duty rooms in each office. Install double-decker beds in these rooms so that as many officials as possible can rest comfortably. Also, include washrooms for basic hygiene.”

“…As you command, Your Majesty.”

The ministers replied, their voices trembling.

The officials, upon hearing Sejong’s decree, reacted similarly.

“First they make us eat at the office, now they don’t want us to go home!”

“Our children won’t even recognize their fathers!”

“I might as well submit my resignation now…”

Although they talked of resigning, the officials couldn’t actually submit their resignation letters. Leaving their posts would mean losing their pensions and many other benefits.

Chapter 142

With the arrival of April, the planned laws were promulgated.

The first to be announced was about long-term interest:

– Prohibiting interest on borrowed goods from exceeding the principal amount.

– Capping monthly interest at no more than three percent of the principal.

The announcement of this interest rate limitation law was met with significant backlash. However, the court pushed back, stating:

– Even in the ‘Great Ming Law’, it is stated that monthly interest should not exceed three percent, and no matter how long the term, the total interest should not surpass the principal.

Those opposed continued their resistance:

“Joseon is Joseon, and Ming is Ming! That’s always been the court’s stance!”

The court rebutted:

“So you argue to follow the ‘The Great Ming Law’ when convenient, but now claim Joseon is different from Ming? Your argument holds no merit!”

Having countered the opposition, the court began revising the ‘Six Codes of Governance’.

[TL/N: Six Codes of Governance comprises all the laws, customs and decrees released since late Goryeo Dynasty to early Joseon dynasty.]

* * *

Not long after the promulgation of the ‘Interest Rate Limitation Law’, the court announced another new decree:

– From this year, the civil service exams (literary exams) will be held annually, limited to the initial test and retest.

– The initial test will be conducted on the first five days of May each year, and the retest a month and a half later, on June 20.

– The exams will comprise of essay writing and arithmetic. Failing in either subject results in disqualification.

– The military exams will be held annually on October 1.

– In addition to the existing military skills test, Confucian classics and military studies will be added.

– The military exam will continue for the next five years, after which it will be replaced by entrance exams for the Military Academy.

“What is this Military Academy?”

The term, unfamiliar to many, piqued the interest of those preparing for the military exam.

– The Military Academy is an institution for training officers to lead Joseon’s land and naval forces.

– Eligibility for application ranges from ages 15 to 20.

The age restriction for the Military Academy, akin to a military college in the 21st century, made those over the age limit anxious.

“We only have five years left! We must work tirelessly!”

The struggle for entrance was as intense for military aspirants as it was for those preparing for the literary exams.

* * *

The ‘Interest Rate Limitation Law’ and the revision of the civil service exam system caused a stir among the local gentry.

“It’s finally begun.”

Those who had been closely observing the court’s reforms thought, ‘The time we anticipated has come.’

“The good days are over.”

“That’s right. Perhaps next, the court will focus on us, the local gentry.”

“Starting with the loss of our tax exemptions.”

“Indeed.”

Anticipating the court’s next move, the local gentry agonized over countermeasures but struggled to find a clear solution.

“There’s no counter-argument against the court’s justifications.”

While the local gentry were pondering their response, the court issued a new decree, which accelerated their division.

* * *

In mid-May, after the initial exams, the court disseminated King Sejong’s decree throughout Joseon.

– It has been 11 years since I ascended the throne, and I have strived for the well-being of Joseon. However, I have keenly felt the shortage of talents.

The ministers of the court, with their intelligence and experience, assist me well, but their number is too few.

Since we have broadened the path to officialdom, it will take time for these newly recruited talents to gain experience.

Thus, I intend to follow the saying ‘Start with following Kui’. Just as King Xiao of the State of Zhao was able to gather talents from all over by valuing his minister Kwak Wai, I plan to do the same.

Many are already aware that Lim Soonwook, a scholar from Uiju, has received the rank of Chanwi and started his official career.

(Abbreviated)

King Sejong’s edict stirred the local gentry.

“This is an opportunity! His Majesty is heading towards dictatorship! This is our chance to stop him!”

“No, this is His Majesty’s trap! We must unite more than ever and resist His Majesty’s tyranny!”

The local gentry were divided into two camps, each fiercely debating. However, more and more were inclined to follow Sejong’s edict, fueled by their own aspirations for advancement.

Thus, from the bustling city of Hanyang to the remote villages in the Jirisan and Taebaeksan mountains, everyone from wealthy landlords draped in silk to impoverished scholars who studied day and night picked up their brushes.

* * *

Although Sejong had generously set a 100-day deadline, countless proposals flooded into the court in less than half that time.

Seeing the proposals arriving by the cartload, the Chief Justice and Senior Secretaries appealed to Sejong about the overwhelming volume.

“Hmm… I see. But reviewing these proposals is absolutely necessary…”

The ministers interjected.

“Your Majesty, with the ongoing education of the successful candidates of the retest, we are already short-handed. Perhaps it’s best to postpone this task and focus on other urgent matters…”

Sejong pointed out a practical issue in response to the ministers’ suggestion.

“If it’s overwhelming now, postponing it will only make it more difficult, won’t it?”

“Yes, but…”

The ministers trailed off, aware that the volume of incoming proposals was increasing. Reports from those handling the submissions indicated that some individuals had submitted multiple proposals. With the 100-day deadline – plus an additional two weeks considering Joseon’s poor transportation infrastructure – the final volume of submissions was expected to be astronomical.

“The conclusion is we need to filter them as soon as they come in to make the task manageable…”

As they sought a clear solution, Maeng Sa-seong offered a suggestion.

“How about enlisting the staff from Hall of Worthies and the research institute?”

“Hall of Worthies and the research institute?”

Sejong stroked his beard, pondering Maeng Sa-seong’s proposal.

During the ongoing reform, Hall of Worthies had established itself as a policy research institution directly under the king. Its scholars, like the officials of Hyang’s research institute, did not hold concurrent posts.

As a result, the ‘Bestowed with Leisure to Read’, a practice of granting reading leave, which had emerged in the pre-Hyang history, did not occur.

“Hmm… Hall of Worthies and the research institute…”

Muttering to himself and contemplating, Sejong finally made a decision.

“Good! Let’s do that! Chief State Councilor! Go and bring the Grand Scholar and the Crown Prince!”

“Yes, Your Majesty…”

* * *

“…So, we are tasked with the initial review of these proposals.”

“I see…”

Hearing Hyang’s explanation, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji nodded with faces as if chewing on bitter pills.

‘We’re already so busy to the point of exhaustion!’

‘The ministers think we’re just idling around!’

As Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji suppressed their internal complaints, Hyang continued speaking.

“We all have a lot to do, but this task is essential for the future of the country. What are some of the tasks that we can postpone for now?”

At Hyang’s question, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji sifted through the records to identify tasks that could be delayed without major consequences. They quickly identified a few and called in the responsible parties to explain the situation.

“Alright! It’s going to be a headache, but let’s get it done quickly! I’ll join in as well.”

“We’ll help too.”

With the Crown Prince, Hyang himself, stepping in, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji had no choice but to participate, albeit reluctantly.

Watching the carts full of proposals roll in, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji looked crestfallen.

‘I knew it! I had an uneasy feeling in my dream last night!’

‘I had a feeling! I wish I could go to Area 51! Envying Mr. Lee Cheon, who’s there!’

* * *

Evaluating the proposals from all over Joseon was an immensely draining task.

“Phew~. The task itself is simple, but it’s very mentally exhausting.”

Hyang sighed deeply, which Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, and the officials of the research institute echoed with weary eyes.

The process was straightforward:

– First, record who the sender is.

– Open the sealed envelope to check the contents.

– Evaluate the content and categorize them as pass or fail.

– Send the categorized proposals to the State Council.

– The State Council prepares the passed proposals for King Sejong to review.

The evaluation process, though simple, required significant mental effort.

“So many heads, but so few brains… Many dreamers, but few thinkers… Does Joseon really lack such talent?”

Hyang’s grumbling was met with nods from Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji, reflecting the abundance of impractical proposals.

“Phew~.”

Hyang sighed deeply again and picked up the next envelope. He mechanically recorded the sender’s name, opened the seal, and reviewed the contents.

“The problems in governing the nation arise from class discrimination and wealth disparity. To solve this, the state must nationalize all production facilities such as land, workshops, and merchant associations. Then, distribute food and materials differentially based on the number of family members?”

‘Isn’t this a radical idea ahead of its time?’

While Hyang was shocked, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji showed interest.

“Ho? An interesting concept, isn’t it?”

“Indeed?”

Hyang pointed out the flaw in their response.

“It might seem so at first glance… But if distribution is based only on family size, wouldn’t it lead to a situation where people neglect work and just focus on having more children?”

“Ah… right.”

Realizing the problem, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji nodded in agreement. Hyang then set aside the problematic proposal.

“Fail!”

Following that, a series of proposals advocating ‘collective production and equal distribution’ continued to surface.

“Really… the concept of ‘collective production and equal distribution’ sounds good, but who will determine the varying amounts of labor?”

“Right.”

“The criteria are too vague.”

Having already dealt with numerous similar documents, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji nodded in agreement with Hyang’s frustration.

Eventually, Hyang set a new standard.

“From now on, let’s initially reject proposals that mention ‘collective production and equal distribution.'”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

“Pfft! Ha!”

While Hyang, Jeong-cho, and Jeong Inji were seriously discussing, laughter suddenly erupted from one side.

“Eh?”

Surprised by the unexpected laughter, the trio’s gaze turned to where Lee Soon-ji was chuckling while reviewing the proposals.

“Pfft! Fail!”

Seeing this, Jeong Inji called out to Lee Soon-ji with a stern face.

“Scholar Lee Soon-ji, what’s so funny?”

At Jeong Inji’s question, Lee Soon-ji scratched his head and replied.

“These proposals are just too absurd…”

Jeong Inji criticized his reaction.

“Those who wrote these proposals poured their lifelong beliefs into them. Aren’t you taking it too lightly?”

Lee Soon-ji responded with a more serious expression.

“While that may be true, there are just too many proposals filled with empty rhetoric, hoping for some improbable luck. I think it’s a waste of my time to take them all seriously.”

Hearing Lee Soon-ji’s response, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji glanced at the documents in their hands.

“Indeed…”

Much like Hyang’s assessment that they were mostly dreamers, there were too many proposals filled with appealing words but lacking substance, written in hopes of unlikely fortune.

As Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji’s resolve waned, Lee Soon-ji added.

“To minimize mental exhaustion, we shouldn’t take everything too seriously from the start.”

Hyang agreed with this approach.

“That’s a good idea. Let’s do that. We have a lot more to review, after all.”

“Understood. That approach seems better.”

With Hyang’s support, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji stepped back.

Following Hyang’s decision, everyone adjusted their evaluation approach.

* * *

“Huh? Why is this so heavy?”

Hyang, picking up a thick envelope, expressed surprise at its unexpected weight.

After mechanically recording the sender’s name, he opened the envelope to check its contents.

Thunk!

As he tilted the envelope to retrieve the paper inside, something fell out.

“What’s this? A knife?”

A small dagger had dropped from the envelope.

Carefully holding the dagger by its handle, Hyang drew it out. Seeing the freshly sharpened blade, he murmured in disbelief.

“What in the world…”

After examining the dagger, Hyang took out the paper from the envelope and unfolded it.

“Deep in trouble, now a blood letter?”

The sudden appearance of the dagger drew Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, and Lee Soon-ji closer. Together, they read the contents of the blood letter.

“The prosperity of the nation relies on its strong defense. The only way to ensure robust defense is through iron and blood?”

‘What is this, Bismarck?’

After reviewing the disturbing content, Hyang, Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, and Lee Soon-ji exchanged glances. After a prolonged silence, Jeong-cho made a decision.

“If it were up to me, I would pass it. It’s brief and to the point, but it shows a clear conviction about national defense.”

“I agree…”

“Me too…”

With Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, and Lee Soon-ji also agreeing to pass it, Hyang silently added the blood letter to the pile of approved proposals.

Chapter 143

Following the separation of proposals into pass and fail by Hyang’s research institute and Hall of Worthies, they were sent to the State Council for a second phase of processing.

“Is this interesting?”

“What’s interesting?”

The Senior Secretaries presented the Chief Justice with the results of the categorization from Hall of Worthies and the research institute.

“The evaluations on the proposals about ‘collective production and equal distribution’ are contradictory. Hall of Worthies has passed many, but the research institute has mostly failed them.”

Hearing this, the Chief Justice stroked his beard, looking troubled.

“This could be a problem. If we leave it as is, issues might arise.”

Sensing a crisis, the Chief Justice immediately reported to King Sejong. Upon receiving the report, King Sejong also looked perplexed.

“Different standards of evaluation… This is an oversight on my part. Chief State Councilor! Immediately summon the Crown Prince and the Grand Scholar!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

* * *

Thus, in front of King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang and the new Grand Scholar – Hayeon, who had replaced Byeon Gye-ryang due to illness – engaged in a fierce debate.

“If the people can earn income equally without discrimination, then the distinctions between rich and poor, and among the four classes, will disappear!”

Hyang countered the Grand Scholar’s argument.

“That’s just an ideal.”

“Even if it’s an ideal, striving towards it could create a better world, couldn’t it?”

“Grand Scholar, ‘collective production and equal distribution’ sounds good in theory. However, collective production means joint labor, and there are various types of labor. There’s agriculture, fishing, even the scribes sitting there are performing labor. How would you equate the value of such diverse labor equally?”

“Well…”

“And equal distribution has its own issues. No matter how equally you divide, someone will always feel they deserve more.”

After the continued debate, King Sejong and the ministers sided with Hyang.

“The theory of ‘Common Production and Equal Distribution’ is idealistic but not realistic. Therefore, Grand Scholar, reevaluate the results.”

At King Sejong’s command, the Grand Scholar bowed his head with a resigned look.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

Hyang quietly murmured to himself.

‘I’ve seen how theories attached with the term ‘communism’ end up… ’

* * *

Thus, over 100 days – precisely 110 days – the evaluated proposals led to 15 individuals being selected to enter government service.

The ministers fiercely competed over these 15 selections.

Actually, the competition was over 14 of them.

The remaining individual was strongly advocated for by Jo Malsaeng and was the proponent of the ‘Iron and Blood’ theory.

“This individual is absolutely essential for the Ministry of Military Affairs!”

Jo Mal-saeng’s insistence left King Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers in a difficult position.

“Iron and blood… Isn’t that too radical?”

While King Sejong and the ministers were concerned about the radical nature of the proposal, Hyang was worried about a different aspect.

‘This could easily slip into militarism or a military-first policy… ’

However, outright opposition was difficult since strengthening national defense was essential for Joseon at the time. This left Hyang in a difficult position.

‘This is really tricky… ’

Finally, influenced by Jo Mal-saeng’s strong advocacy, Sejong issued a command.

“Bring the person who made this proposal immediately! I will question them directly and decide their fate!”

* * *

Thus, the person who proposed the controversial idea was summoned to the court.

“I greet Your Majesty!”

The burly, bearded figure in traditional attire bowed deeply to Sejong upon seeing him, shouting out robustly.

At this, Sejong smiled slightly.

“Pleased to meet you. With such a voice, you sound like a general.”

“I am greatly honored, Your Majesty!”

The owner of the booming voice was Jang Hang-seon, a junior scholar from Cheolsan County, Pyeongan Province.

Like Lim Soonwook, despite passing the exam, Jang Hang-seon was confined to rural life due to the ban on northwest natives taking office. Unlike Lim Soonwook, living close to the border meant frequent clashes with the Jurchen tribes.

“So, you advocate the Iron and Blood theory?”

At Sejong’s question, Jang Hang-seon responded immediately.

“Yes, Your Majesty! The Jurchen don’t dare to attack if we are strong! Hence, our national defense must be strong!”

Hyang intervened in the conversation.

“Your Majesty, if I may…”

“Go ahead.”

‘Now he’s giving permission before I even finish speaking. Automatic, isn’t it?’

Muttering under his breath, Hyang posed a question to Jang Hang-seon.

“How strong do you think our defense should be?”

Jang Hang-seon’s reply was immediate.

“The stronger, the better! But there must be a limit!”

Sejong and the ministers’ eyes lit up at this statement.

“A limit?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! National defense is to protect the people, not oppress them!”

Hearing Jang Hang-seon’s response, Hyang turned to look at Sejong, who involuntarily clenched his fist and exclaimed.

“Pass!”

And so, Jang Hang-seon was taken into the Ministry of Military Affairs.

Later on, an overworked Jang Hang-seon would come to regret his enthusiasm.

“I should have kept quiet…”

* * *

During the hustle and bustle at the court, an important task was completed in Area 51.

“Do you remember the task you assigned me earlier, Father?”

“A task I assigned to you? Let me think…”

After pondering for a moment, Sejong looked at Hyang.

“There are only a few orders of mine that are yet unanswered. But looking at your face… Is it about the issue with the maidservants of Hangsan?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang replied with a slight smile.

Previously, Sejong had ordered Hyang to find a solution for the living conditions of female servants who, despite bearing children of free men, were isolated due to accusations of infidelity.

Sejong’s face lit up upon hearing Hyang’s response.

“Really? Have you found a solution?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a loom, Your Majesty.”

Sejong initially seemed disappointed at the answer but then changed his expression, knowing Hyang’s tendency to think innovatively.

“Given your past actions, I assume it’s not just any ordinary loom. What is it?”

“It’s an automated loom.”

“An automated loom?”

* * *

Unable to contain his curiosity, Sejong led the ministers to Area 51.

As Sejong’s procession left the palace, the people on the streets bowed deeply and shouted:

“Long live the King!”

“Long live Your Majesty!”

“May you live ten thousand years!”

While the cries of “May you live ten thousand years” echoed around, Sejong, seated in his royal carriage, looked pleased as he surveyed the people.

Observing their faces, Sejong spoke to Hyang and the accompanying ministers.

“The people seem to be in good spirits.”

“It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

The Chief State Councilor replied, to which Sejong responded with a modest smile.

“Let’s not credit me alone. It’s also thanks to your assistance.”

While exchanging pleasantries, Sejong’s entourage arrived at Area 51.

The personnel of Area 51, waiting in anticipation, bowed deeply as soon as they saw Sejong.

“Long live the King!”

“Chung!”

“You all have done well. Stand up.”

Sejong responded with a gentle voice and turned to Hyang.

“Let’s see that loom then.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This way, please.”

Led by Hyang, Sejong moved towards where the looms were set up.

“Is that the loom?”

“Yes. We have connected three for demonstration purposes.”

“I see.”

Sejong’s gaze fell on three looms lined up in a row.

“The shape is quite unusual for a loom.”

“Yes, the overall design changed because we installed mechanisms to transmit power.”

“Hmm…”

While Sejong meticulously examined the structure of the looms, he noticed a large beam overhead, with sizable discs attached at intervals. Leather belts connected these discs to the looms. At one end of the beam was a large gear, which interacted with a similarly sized horizontal gear. Attached to the horizontal gear’s shaft was a cow.

“Hmm…”

After observing the loom’s structure for a while, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“So, this cow powers the loom?”

“Fundamentally, yes. Currently, it’s an animal-driven system, using cows, horses, or donkeys, but it can be replaced with steam engines once they are developed.”

“Why not use waterwheels or windmills?”

Sejong quickly grasped the operating principle and sounded slightly disappointed.

“Indeed, but many areas lack sufficient water supply, reducing the feasibility of such methods.”

“Regrettable. That steam engine is a distant concept for now.”

“I’ll consider installing them in areas with abundant water supply.”

“Alright. Anyway, I’d like to see it in operation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Sejong’s command, Hyang signaled, and several men and women stepped forward to bow to Sejong.

“Go ahead, do your best.”

Upon Sejong’s command, the men headed to the area with the cow and beam, while the women took their places at the looms. Sitting on stools in front of the looms, the women signaled, and a man shook the cow’s reins.

“Move!”

Moo~.

As the cow started moving, the wooden beam began to rotate, and the loom came to life.

Clink-clank!

With unfamiliar noises, the loom’s body moved up and down, starting to weave cloth.

“Remarkable…”

As Sejong watched the cloth being woven, Hyang provided further explanation.

“Traditional looms required manual operation, limiting productivity and being laborious for women. This automated loom, however, uses animal or steam power for the most strenuous part, enhancing efficiency.”

“I see.”

After demonstrating both the automated textile loom and a yarn-spinning machine that also used animal power, Hyang moved to the office to continue explaining to Sejong and the ministers.

“One major advantage of this machine over traditional looms is that it can produce much wider fabrics like cotton or silk.”

At Hyang’s gesture, staff brought in machine-woven cotton and silk, along with those woven traditionally.

Overlaying the hand-woven fabric onto the machine-woven fabric, Sejong marveled.

“It’s at least three times wider!”

“Indeed. This increases its utility significantly.”

Traditional looms struggled to weave fabrics wider than one ‘ja’ (尺, about 33cm) due to the physical limitations of the weavers. However, with machine weaving, this limitation was significantly expanded.

Hyang continued to highlight the benefits of the machine-woven fabric.

“Using this automatic loom, we can produce wider cotton and silk fabrics with finer quality.”

“Finer quality?”

“With the same width, we could weave up to 20 threads.”

“Oh?”

At this time, the standard for tax-cotton was 5-thread fabric. Fabric with 80 threads per bundle, totaling 400 threads, was considered standard and used as currency.

However, the value of cotton or silk skyrocketed with more threads. More threads meant finer yarn, and consequently, softer fabric.

Thus, royals and nobles often pre-ordered or imported 12-thread or 15-thread fabrics from Ming for their clothing.

* * *

After explaining the advantages of the automated loom, Hyang discussed its value in terms of empowering women, especially those ostracized for bearing illegitimate children.

“Although it’s a machine-operated automatic system, the overall method is similar to traditional looms. This is the first reason why it becomes a useful tool for women who have been marginalized despite bearing children.”

“I see.”

“Secondly, the intricate weaving process makes it difficult for men with larger, coarser hands to handle delicate tasks. Women, with their smaller and nimble hands, are actually at an advantage here.”

At the end of Hyang’s explanation, Sejong appeared satisfied.

“Well done. It seems the next step is for the nation to set up factories to lead by example.”

At Sejong’s decision, Hyang suggested an alternative.

“Father, how about entrusting this project to private guilds this time?”

“Entrust it to private guilds? Why?”

At Sejong’s query, Hyang explained his reasoning.

“So far, the state has always led by example, and the private sector followed. However, this approach limits the ability of the guilds to develop discernment.”

‘How long will we spoon-feed them?’

Hyang emphasized the need for the guilds to strengthen their ‘self-reliance.’

“They need to develop the ability to discern value and lead successful ventures for commerce to progress.”

“Hmm…”

As Sejong pondered, Kim Jeom, who had been anxiously shuffling his feet behind, quickly chimed in.

“Your Majesty! The Crown Prince’s proposal is indeed the best way to grow Joseon’s commerce!”

He realized that if this became a state project, their workload would increase.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Persuaded by Kim Jeom’s fervent argument, which was more about avoiding extra work, Sejong came to a conclusion.

“Let’s think about this a bit more. Crown Prince, you have done an excellent job. Well done.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

* * *

After three days of intense debate, it was decided to experimentally entrust the textile industry to the private sector.

As the royal decree was announced nationwide, guilds across the country sprang into action.

“This is an opportunity to rake in profits!”

Thus began a bidding war that would go down in history.

Chapter 144

During the three-day debate leading to the decision to entrust the establishment of textile factories using automated looms to private guilds, the primary argument of the opposition was straightforward:

“Automated looms aren’t free. If the cost of a loom is higher than expected, will any merchants step forward?”

Acknowledging this valid point, Sejong asked Hyang about the cost.

“How much does it cost to make one loom?”

“Thirty silver taels,” Hyang responded.

Hearing this, Sejong couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“Thirty taels of silver is equivalent to ten bushels of white rice; that’s expensive. Perhaps the state should take the lead…”

As Sejong considered nationalizing the initiative due to the cost, Hyang stepped in.

“Yes, it’s quite expensive. And for commercial profit, one would need at least ten looms. But buying in bulk could reduce the cost per unit.”

Encouraged by Hyang’s point about reducing costs, Sejong pointed out a problem.

“Even if the cost is halved, it’s still high. Besides the looms, there are expenses for building structures, hiring staff, acquiring animals or waterwheels for power. Would anyone be willing to invest that much without proven results?”

Responding to Sejong’s doubts, Hyang confidently said, “There are merchants who will!”

“There are?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Many guilds have survived from previous generations. They are fully capable!”

Sejong turned to Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom, seeking confirmation. Kim Jeom immediately bowed his head in agreement.

“The Crown Prince is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Is there evidence?”

Kim Jeom replied promptly.

“A third of the goods traded with Ming through Shandong are glassware and ceramics from the royal workshops. The rest are from private guilds. This ratio has been maintained since the introduction of glassware.”

“Maintained? So the sales of private guilds are increasing?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Trade with Japan through Wae-Gwan has also surged.”

“I’m aware. That’s why I considered building markets on Daenae-shi’s lands.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Remembering his previous reports, Sejong asked Kim Jeom.

“From what I know, the Japanese pay in silver. So, guilds trading with Japan must have substantial silver reserves?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Not just those trading with Japan, but also those trading with Ming have significant silver reserves. That’s why I fully support the Crown Prince’s proposal. We need to absorb as much silver from the guilds as possible.”

Sejong raised a question.

“Why is that?”

“In Joseon, Ming, and Japan, silver is used as a trade medium. Therefore, we need to maintain its value at an appropriate level.”

“Is that so?”

As Sejong seemed unconvinced, Kim Jeom emphatically assured him.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Listening to Sejong and Kim Jeom’s conversation, Hyang internally celebrated.

‘Yes! Old man Kim Jeom, nice! All those talks about price stabilization paid off!’

* * *

While Hyang’s consistent education on market trends played a role, Kim Jeom and the officials of the Ministry of Taxation were increasingly uneasy due to the growing inflation and fluctuating prices in the market. This unease stemmed from the trends reported by the monopolies and customs, as well as the size of taxes collected annually.

The Ministry of Taxation officials, trained by Hyang, diligently scrutinized the guilds for tax evasion. Through taxes, they closely estimated the actual scale of the guilds’ transactions.

“The scale of the guilds’ transactions is growing.”

“Not only the scale, but their profits are also increasing.”

While reporting on the guilds, the officials noted a peculiar fact:

“It seems the guilds possess a significant amount of silver. Previously, they would have paid in kind with copper or sulfur, but now they’re mostly paying in silver.”

“In silver?”

Piqued by this, Kim Jeom had the officials bring out the records.

“The list of customs and taxes paid by the guilds. As you can see, during the initial establishment of the trade post in Shandong, many paid in kind, but now most are paying in silver.”

“Hmm…”

Kim Jeom examined the records thoughtfully.

Initially, most of the goods imported from Ming through Shandong were luxury items, and the early Joseon guilds paid a substantial part of the customs in kind. But now, most guilds were paying in silver.

“Hmm…”

As Kim Jeom pondered over the reports, other officials brought in more documents.

“What’s this?”

“These are the accounts from the monopolies.”

“And?”

“The amount of silver received as payment has been steadily increasing.”

“Increasing silver means…”

Kim Jeom, pausing, then ordered another official.

“Bring me the records of the silver paid out by the government.”

“Yes, sir.”

After comparing the government’s expenses in silver to the amount circulating in the market, Kim Jeom realized there was significantly more silver in circulation than what the government had distributed.

Realizing the increase in silver circulation, Kim Jeom issued another order.

“Bring me the records of the market price of a bushel of white rice!”

“Yes, sir!”

Reviewing the price trends of rice, a staple food in Joseon, Kim Jeom’s expression turned graver.

“Definitely…”

When the economic reforms began, a bushel of rice was traded for one tael of silver or less. Though prices were higher during the lean season, they remained below one tael during the harvest season.

However, rice prices had been gradually increasing since last year. The rise wasn’t drastic, but a month-by-month comparison revealed a steady increase.

“Something’s not right…”

Feeling the crisis, Kim Jeom sought out Lim Soonwook.

“Recently, the asking prices for goods have been slowly rising.”

Rushing in from coordinating the new administration, Lim Soonwook nodded in agreement.

“This could be problematic. Mishandled, it might lead to enormous profits for those holding physical assets like grain or land.”

“What’s your solution?”

“Give me a few days, please.”

Kim Jeom, after seeking more time to ponder, revisited Lim Soonwook three days later. Lim Soonwook’s conclusion was consistent: the court must absorb as much silver circulating in the market as possible and distribute currency widely. Additionally, he suggested that the newly planned mint should not only issue loans but also accumulate wealth.

Kim Jeom, deeply contemplative upon hearing this, eventually decided to draft a memorial to the king. The task was complex, requiring accurate depiction of cause and effect, so Kim Jeom spent days drafting the initial version of the memorial.

Just as he completed the draft, news of Hyang’s completion of the automated loom arrived. Witnessing Hyang advocating for the textile factories’ establishment by private guilds at the demonstration of the loom, Kim Jeom felt a thrilling opportunity.

‘This is it! It’s a chance to absorb the silver in private hands and also reduce my workload! Brilliant!’

* * *

Hearing Kim Jeom’s explanation, King Sejong asked with a serious expression, “Is it really that serious?”

Kim Jeom replied, “It’s not apparent yet, but it will soon become evident to everyone. By then, we’ll need to exert multiple times the effort to address it.”

King Sejong sighed deeply, expressing regret about the influx of wealth into Joseon, which he initially thought was beneficial.

Kim Jeom assured Sejong that the influx was not a mistake, as it indeed improved the people’s livelihood. However, when Jo Mal-Saeng, listening to the conversation, expressed confusion about why abundance could be harmful, Hyang stepped in to explain.

He likened the situation to feeding an amount of food meant for adults to a child or presenting a feast to a starving person – essentially, Joseon was not ready to handle such a wealth influx.

Understanding the analogy, Jo Mal-Saeng nodded, and King Sejong sighed again, lamenting the unexpected rapid growth. Hyang reassured him that facing such issues was inevitable.

King Sejong, realizing the gravity of the situation, decided to accept the proposal by Hyang and Kim Jeom. He ordered the summoning of guilds for a bidding process, taking full responsibility for the decision as a royal decree.

Upon King Sejong’s firm declaration that he would not entertain any opposition, all the ministers bowed in acknowledgement, accepting the command.

The historian, recording all these events, added, “All these actions are undertaken under my authority, and I shall bear all the responsibility.”

With such a decisive statement from the king, all the senior and junior officials bowed in agreement, not daring to object.

The historian reflected on how, just a few years ago, the nation worried about a lack of funds, but now, the concern had shifted to the excess of wealth circulating in the market. Yet, the historian himself had never seen such wealth.

Following King Sejong’s decision, the ministers immediately began preparations.

* * *

Returning to his room in the Eastern Palace after King Sejong’s decision, Hyang looked at the piled-up reports on his desk and muttered to himself, “It’s fortunate that we still have some capacity to handle this situation.”

Since the Three Kingdoms period, merchants on the Korean Peninsula had been actively engaged in commerce. The term “Shilla Merchants” emerged, indicating how these merchants traveled back and forth to China for trade. This commercial activity continued robustly during the Goryeo period.

However, the invasion by the Yuan Empire, the rise of powerful aristocratic families causing economic turmoil, and the worsening economy due to Japanese pirate raids had gradually weakened the merchants on the peninsula.

Hyang considered it fortunate that this was the early Joseon period. At this time, not just a few, but many large and small guilds still existed.

After reflecting on the situation, Hyang sighed, pondering, “Ho~ If this were the middle of the Joseon period, it would be dreadful to even think about. Would it have been better if it were the later Joseon period?”

Chapter 145

‘A royal edict of significant importance has been issued, summoning the leaders of all merchant associations throughout Joseon. It is imperative that each leader attends.’

Such was the content of the edict that soon spread to every major and minor merchant association across Joseon.

“…therefore, this edict has been issued, so do not forget and ensure your attendance.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The leader of a merchant association, bowing respectfully, received the edict from the Minister of Taxation official and cautiously asked a question.

“May I inquire what this ‘important issue’ might be?”

To the leader’s query, the Minister of Taxation official replied with an awkward expression.

“How would a low-ranking official like myself know? If there’s anything I’ve heard, it’s that His Majesty is conducting some kind of test involving the merchant associations.”

“A test… you say?”

“It’s not certain. Just make sure to come to the palace on the appointed day without delay.”

“Take care on your journey!”

After seeing off the Minister of Taxation official, the leader of the merchant association gathered the subordinate leaders and managers.

“…so, we must travel to Hanyang by the appointed date.”

The subordinate leaders and managers, passing around the royal edict stamped with King Sejong’s official seal, looked at each other with serious expressions.

“Do any of you know why the king has summoned us and the details of the matter?”

“That’s the problem. We only know it’s ‘His Majesty’s test.'”

“A test, you say?”

“A test… Look here, manager, have you heard anything from Area 51?”

A middle-aged manager, scratching his head upon being questioned, responded.

“Indeed, I have. A contact placed near Area 51 informed me that a few days ago, the king visited Area 51 along with some ministers.”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing this report from manager, not only the Merchant Leader but also the subordinate leaders and managers grew more solemn.

It was a well-known fact among the people of Joseon that whenever King Sejong visited Area 51, something world-shaking would soon emerge.

Consequently, every prominent merchant in Joseon had placed informants around Area 51. Many had expanded their businesses several times over by being the first to hear and act on such news.

Some had obtained the recipe for the rations consumed by soldiers for long journeys or emergency food during disasters, while others manufactured and sold Gami-bun (added flavor powder) used in cooking emergency food ration.

Of course, they had to pay a significant amount to the government under the newly created ‘Intellectual Property Management Law’, but the profit they gained was much larger.

Despite much contemplation, those who couldn’t discern the reason for King Sejong’s summon eventually had to opt for a temporary solution.

“If it’s a test conducted by His Majesty for merchants, wouldn’t it likely involve wealth? Let’s first check how much resources our merchant association can immediately mobilize before we set off.”

“Yes, Merchant Leader.”

The Merchant Leader, having issued the order, seemed somewhat relieved.

“It’s fortunate that our association is located in Gyeonggi-do, close to Hanyang.”

“Indeed.”

* * *

While the merchant associations of Joseon were preparing in response to King Sejong’s command, the court promulgated a new law that shook the rural villages of Joseon – the Sharecropping Law.

– The rent collected by landlords (Jeonju) from sharecroppers must not exceed half of the harvest.

– Landlords are not allowed to collect seed and fertilizer costs (Sibi-dae).

“This is absurd! Why should we even sharecrop then!”

Many landlords were outraged by these provisions, as it was common for them to charge extra for seeds and fertilizers, practices now explicitly prohibited by the court.

– Sharecroppers must bring all the grains harvested from their fields and paddies to the government-controlled marketplaces.

– At the marketplace, Hojo officials will verify the exact amount of the harvest. Afterward, taxes levied by the state are to be paid, followed by the payment of rent to the landlords.

– All these processes are to be supervised by Hojo officials.

– Secretly extorting additional rent before or after this collection process will be considered as deceiving the king and punishable accordingly.

Despite many landlords submitting petitions and rebelling against the Sharecropping Law, the court remained unmoved.

– It is written in the “Book of Songs” that ‘Under the heavens, there is no land that is not the king’s; to the ends of the earth, there is no one who is not the king’s subject.’

– All land in Joseon belongs to the king, but concessions have been made to allow those studying Confucianism to do so without the worry of land management.

– Just as landlords are subjects of the king, so are the sharecroppers.

– Therefore, it is the king’s duty to ensure that sharecroppers live without the fear of starvation.

The court’s justification based on the ‘King’s Land Theory’ left the landlords’ rebellion with dwindling momentum.

“Damn it all…”

“What choice do we have…”

This was due in part to the court’s invocation of the ‘deceiving the king’ principle.

“If the heavens are not on our side, then we must change the heavens!”

“Quiet! Keep it down!”

While some extremists suggested rebellion, those nearby quickly silenced and buried their claims deep.

Their power, built during the prolonged famine at the end of Taejong’s reign and early in Sejong’s reign, had no chance against the Joseon military, which remained fiercely loyal to King Sejong.

* * *

The greatest beneficiaries of Sejong’s military reform were the military itself.

Although there was a civilian-led administrative body, the Byungjo, the actual positions (Siljik) in the military were all assigned to military officers.

This meant double trouble for the military officers, who now had to be skilled both in martial arts and scholarly pursuits.

But the officers preferred it this way. Before the military reforms, high-ranking posts in the military were exclusively occupied by civilian officials.

A clear example of this civilian dominance was the position of Hyunryeong, which, by structure, was a military post. However, most Hyunryeongs were held by civilian officials.

According to rumors, with the upcoming reorganization of the local administrative bodies, the position of Hyunryeong was expected to return to the military.

Moreover, the soldiers, including the Gapsa, were now receiving proper salaries and supplies from the court, resolving their living concerns.

As a result, the entire military showed absolute loyalty to King Sejong from top to bottom.

King Sejong and his ministers didn’t just rely on this loyalty. Opening official positions to people from the northwest and Serfs was a strategy to counterbalance the power of landlords from the southern regions, serving dual purposes of talent recruitment and power check.

Lastly, there was an entity known only to King Sejong, Hyang, and a very few others – the secret organization.

At least in Hanyang and its surrounding areas, the movements of the powerful families were being reported directly to King Sejong through the secret organization.

And Hyang was not idle either.

Sitting in the Eastern Palace, Hyang opened a long wooden box and examined its contents.

“I hope there will be no need for these, but if there is, I’ll make sure the other side experiences a nightmare. Just try crossing Gwanghwamun.”

Inside the wooden box were five long rifles, reminiscent of those seen in Western movies.

* * *

While the “Sharecropping Law” was causing a stir across the nation, leaders of merchant associations from all over Joseon flocked to Hanyang.

“Long live Your Majesty!”

In the front courtyard of Geunjeongjeon, the merchants prostrated themselves on the ground in unison, shouting out their greetings.

“We, the humble merchants, greet His Majesty, the Supreme Sovereign of Joseon!”

“You have all worked hard to come here. Stand up straight.”

As the merchants straightened up, King Sejong continued.

“Recently, the officials from Area 51 have developed a new device. While this device could be used to establish a royal workshop, I believe it would be more beneficial for our nation’s interests to entrust it to you.”

Upon hearing this, the merchants perked up their ears.

Seeing the merchants’ keen interest, King Sejong gave an order to the Chief Eunuch.

“Bring the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, Hyang appeared in Geunjeongjeon, prompting the merchants to pay their respects once again.

“Stand up.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After the merchants rose, Hyang paid respects to King Sejong.

“Then, Father, I will take them and return.”

“Do so. I look forward to good results.”

“I will do my best.”

After bowing to King Sejong again, Hyang descended the stairs of Geunjeongjeon and stepped onto the courtyard, gesturing to the merchants.

“Follow me.”

Awaiting the merchants who followed Hyang out of Gwanghwamun were large horse-drawn carriages, each pulled by two massive horses.

“The carriages are huge, Your Highness.”

“I’ve never seen such large horses before, Your Highness.”

Merchants, particularly those from the provinces, were amazed, and Hyang explained with a smile.

“These will soon be running on Hanyang’s main roads. Please, get on.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After ensuring that the merchants were seated in three large carriages, Hyang mounted a horse.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

* * *

“Wow…”

“This is truly another world!”

The merchants in the horse-drawn carriages continuously expressed their amazement.

The paved roads were not unfamiliar to them, as some of the larger provincial towns had started to have paved roads.

What amazed the merchants was the scale. The roads in Hanyang were so wide that eight of the large carriages they were in could move side by side without any issues. These broad and straight roads stretched from east to west across Hanyang and extended southward. Rickshaws, the subject of much rumor, were running on these roads, carrying not only the nobility but also daughters of common households and courtesans.

One merchant, observing the courtesans riding in rickshaws with a coquettish air, muttered,

“I heard that flower-patterned parasols (Hwamunsan) are the trend in Hanyang these days… Now I see why.”

Both the courtesans and daughters of common households in the rickshaws were using colorfully flower-patterned parasols to shield themselves from the sun.

* * *

Hyang, guiding the merchants to Area 51, introduced them to the ‘Automatic Loom’.

“This is the device I wanted to show you.”

As the merchants examined the loom powered by an ox, they bombarded Hyang with questions.

“How many looms can one ox operate at maximum?”

“Up to six looms. If more than two oxen are employed and the pulleys are connected properly, it’s possible to operate up to twenty simultaneously.”

“Does it have to be an ox?”

“Horses or donkeys can be used too, and in areas with ample water, water wheels are also feasible.”

“What is the highest thread count it can weave?”

Responding to the merchant’s question, Hyang gestured to someone waiting behind. Following Hyang’s gesture, that person brought a rolled-up cotton cloth.

“Take a look.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The merchants, inspecting the cotton cloth offered by Hyang, then re-examined the cloth woven by the automatic loom with surprised eyes.

“Your Highness! This appears to be at least a 10-thread count?”

“Exactly, it’s 15-thread count. With a bit more attention, even 20-thread count is possible.”

The merchants’ faces grew serious as they scrutinized the cotton cloth after Hyang’s explanation.

“Your Highness, what about regular cloth (Jeongpo)? If this cotton cloth becomes widespread, the value of Jeongpo will…”

“Could it be! Is currency finally going to be reintroduced?”

To the merchants’ inquiries, Hyang nodded.

“Currency will be operational within this year.”

After the explanation about the automatic loom, Hyang broached the main topic.

“I’d like to sell these looms to you. The cost per loom is 35 nyang of silver.”

“It’s a bit expensive…”

“If you order more than 20, I’ll reduce the price to 30 nyang each.”

The merchants fell silent, starting to do their cost-benefit calculations.

‘To truly add value to the product, at least 20 looms need to be operated simultaneously.’

‘The Crown Prince mentioned 20 looms probably for that reason. Moreover, even though it’s automatic, human intervention is necessary. That means we need to hire skilled weavers and pay them… ’

While the merchants were pondering over various issues, Hyang added,

“The contract will be limited to the three merchant associations ordering the most looms. Area 51’s production capacity has limits, and there are many projects underway. In return, I’ll grant an exclusive right for five years.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, the merchants made up their minds.

‘Let’s go for it! This is an opportunity! Exclusive rights mean a chance to lead the market!’

‘This time it’s too risky! I’ll gather capital for five years and grow bigger! It’s a time for strategic patience!’

The merchants, having decided their course of action, quickly wrote down their association names and the number of looms they desired on paper and submitted them to Hyang.

Thus, the three merchant associations were selected.

Chapter 146
That Autumn. (1)

In the 11th year of King Sejong’s reign (1429, a Gyu year according to the Chinese zodiac), events unfolded that later historians would describe as a period of shock and terror for the Joseon aristocracy, especially the local influential families.

As spring arrived, the state examination was postponed to June. Unlike the delayed examination, the court openly recruited talented individuals from the laypeople (Ja-ya), placing them in middle and upper echelons of the government, allowing greater control over lower-level officials.

However, what truly shocked and terrified the local aristocrats were the laws announced subsequently.

Starting with the Interest Limitation Law and followed by the Sharecropping Law, these legislations devastated the economic foundations of the aristocrats.

“We cannot just let this pass!”

“Exactly!”

“Since scholar Ahn is good at writing, let him draft the petition! We will all sign it together!”

“Agreed!”

Influential figures known for their literary skills among the local aristocrats took the lead in drafting petitions and presented them to the local officials.

* * *

“I think this is a mistake…”

Goyang County Magistrate Han Min-cheol cautiously advised as he received the petitions from the aristocrats, but their response was harsh.

“Hmph! The mistake is being made by His Majesty!”

“Indeed! There’s a limit to underestimating people!”

“The magistrate just needs to accept our petition, that’s all!”

Faced with the aggressive and arrogant responses of the aristocrats, Han Min-cheol, suppressing his anger, accepted the petitions.

“Very well. But you are responsible for the consequences.”

“Hmph! Don’t worry about it!”

Leaving the magistrate’s office, the aristocrats gathered at the house of the eldest, scholar Nam, raising their voices in discontent.

“The magistrate is too presumptuous! ‘Handle the consequences yourselves’? Is this some kind of threat?”

“We must demand the repeal of the ‘No Petition by Commoners Law’! It’s because they can’t be sued that they dare to be so insolent!”

While most of those gathered loudly criticized the magistrate, there were some who worried about the future.

“But what we are doing now is surely going against His Majesty’s wishes.”

A young scholar expressed his concerns, only to be scoffed at by a middle-aged scholar.

“So, should we go back and retrieve the petitions? Claiming it wasn’t us but our pet dogs who wrote them?”

The young scholar’s face reddened at the middle-aged scholar’s sarcastic comment, who implied that he was behaving like a dog. The young scholar retorted, his face flushed.

“That’s not what I meant, but…”

His objection was cut off by scholar Nam, the most senior among them.

“We are not the only ones writing petitions, so don’t worry. Such concerns are unfounded.”

“…I apologize.”

After silencing the young scholar, scholar Nam looked around the room and continued.

“It’s not just us writing petitions. Aristocrats from Honam and even Yeongnam are doing the same. Some are writing individually, and others collectively.”

“Oh!”

“Exactly!”

Upon hearing scholar Nam’s explanation, the gathered aristocrats cheered. As the noise subsided, scholar Nam advised the scholars.

“Now is the time to act boldly. Worrying about the future is just a needless concern (Ki-woo), and a behavior of cowards. Cough!”

The last remark was directed at the scholar who had spoken about the king’s displeasure. The young scholar, feeling humiliated, bowed his head in shame.

* * *

“Sigh… Such foolish people…”

Han Min-cheol sighed as he looked at the pile of petitions in front of him.

“Writing so many of these, I wonder if His Majesty will even blink an eye. It would be fortunate if these don’t end up as fuel in Gyeongbokgung Palace’s furnace. Tsk!”

Shaking his head at the scholars’ behavior, Han Min-cheol called out to someone outside.

“Is anyone out there?”

“Yes, my lord!”

When a subordinate entered, Han Min-cheol pointed at the mountain of petitions.

“Record the names of the petitioners and send this to Hanyang.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Following Han Min-cheol’s order, the subordinate gathered the petitions and left.

As Han Min-cheol picked up his writing brush to draft a report, he suddenly burst into a sly laugh.

“It would be interesting if His Majesty doesn’t retaliate but instead responds. Maybe we’ll see some of them suffer a stroke from rage?”

Han Min-cheol was previously an official in the Ministry of Personnel in Hanyang.

A few years ago, after a collective protest by the ministers and senior secretaries, the tenure of local officials was shortened, and a rotation system between central and local officials was established.

Han Min-cheol, who was part of the first group selected in this rotation, came down to serve as the Goyang County Magistrate.

Having worked in the Ministry of Personnel as a fourth-rank official, Han Min-cheol had witnessed many debates where King Sejong or Hyang utterly defeated the ministers with sharp rhetoric.

“These nobles don’t understand how logically and gently scraping at someone’s insides is more lethal than blunt force. They’re practically begging for their demise.”

Remembering the ministers who, after being harshly rebuked by King Sejong, actively supported reducing the frequency and duration of the debates, Han Min-cheol quickly shook his head.

“Yikes! Forget it, forget it! I might have nightmares tonight if I keep thinking about it!”

As the magistrate of Goyang, Han Min-cheol certainly did not want to lose his peaceful sleep.

* * *

“Haha… this is really something…”

Just as Han Min-cheol predicted, King Sejong burst into laughter upon seeing the pile of petitions.

“I expected this, but how can they be so blind to the reality…”

Chief State Councilor Lee Jik responded to King Sejong’s remarks.

“It’s because they have so much vested interest at stake.”

“It’s the duty of the educated to know when to let go… Tsk!”

After clicking his tongue, King Sejong began reading through the scrolls.

Reading a few petitions, King Sejong irritably tossed one aside.

“Damn it! They’re almost all the same except for the handwriting! No creativity! No creativity at all!”

Each petition started with “So-and-so from such place cultivates money trees” and continued with “The policies implemented by His Majesty are against tradition and violate the Way of the King…” The quotations used were also mostly similar, prompting Sejong’s critique of their lack of creativity.

“Read them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The ministers, receiving the petitions through the royal messenger, also scoffed cynically. Kim Jeom reported to Sejong after examining the petitions.

“Seeing these writings, it becomes evident how outstanding the recently specially recruited talents are.”

“Indeed.”

As the ministers agreed with Kim Jeom’s remark, King Sejong sighed.

“Sigh… Even those who barely pass the lower-level examinations and express desire to study more, I granted them tax exemptions for 30 years, and this is all they can produce…”

‘Danger! If we’re not careful, we might end up receiving another sermon!’

Sensing Sejong’s displeasure as a warning sign, Maeng Sa-seong quickly interjected.

“That’s why the legislation we prepared should be announced as soon as possible.”

“Exactly!”

“Please announce it quickly, Your Majesty!”

Sensing the same danger, the ministers promptly echoed Maeng Sa-seong’s suggestion in unison.

After finishing state affairs with the ministers in the royal study, King Sejong sighed again, looking at the petitions.

“Sigh…”

Sejong, feeling stifled just by looking at the pile of petitions, commanded the royal messenger.

“Go and summon the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

“Did you summon me, Father?”

“Yes. I need the Crown Prince’s assistance.”

“What is the matter?”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong pointed to the pile of petitions. Hyang, seeing the stack, looked at Sejong.

“What are these petitions about?”

“They are from those dissatisfied with the Interest Limitation Law and the Sharecropping Law.”

“What would you have me do?”

To this, Sejong simply replied.

“Write responses to these petitions.”

“Excuse me?”

Hyang’s eyes widened in surprise, something that hadn’t happened in a long time.

Sejong explained more clearly.

“There are many petitions, but none worth reading. However, we are obliged to respond to the petitions that have been submitted.”

“Wouldn’t the Office of Censors and the Office of Inspector-General have something to say about entrusting such an important task to me?”

“As long as you and I know, it’s fine. No, if you handle it, neither the Office of Censors nor the Office of Inspector-General will say, or rather, can say anything.”

“Really? The tenacity of the inspectors is…”

As Hyang continued to bring up the inspectors, Sejong responded with a dismissive expression.

“Choose. Either debate with me every morning and evening for a month, or stay silent. Those inspectors would choose to stay silent. Haven’t they already been bested by you several times?”

“Still…”

As Hyang attempted to evade the task, Sejong’s expression turned stern.

“Make a choice.”

“Excuse me?”

“Decide whether you will govern in my place until I write responses to all these petitions, or if you will organize records in the archives.”

Immediately after Sejong finished speaking, Hyang quickly approached and asked.

“Which would you prefer I do?”

Sejong, bemused by Hyang’s quick change of attitude, silently pointed to a pile of petitions.

“Oh dear…”

As Hyang read through the petitions, an expression of disbelief crossed his face.

‘I see why Father called me.’

Just as Sejong had observed earlier in the day, the handwriting and structure of the sentences varied, but the content was essentially the same.

‘It’s not like Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V. The only difference is the rhyme at the end? No creativity! No creativity!’

Although Hyang and Sejong criticized the lack of creativity, this was inevitable.

Creating sentences in Chinese characters required strict adherence to rules, with rhyme (Yun) being the most basic and important. Whether in poetry or prose, maintaining this rhyme was essential for a work to be considered distinguished.

To maintain rhyme while composing sentences, a rhyme dictionary (Yunmu) – a list of characters allowed for rhyming – was essential for Chinese and Korean scholars.

The problem was not just with the rhyme, but also the quotations used were mostly similar.

‘This is really something… Writing responses to each one would be tedious. If it were the 21st century, there’d be an auto-complete feature… ’

“Ah!”

Struck by a sudden idea, Hyang began categorizing the petitions he had read into several groups.

“What are you doing, Crown Prince?”

Watching Hyang’s actions, Sejong’s curiosity got the better of him, and he asked.

To Sejong’s question, Hyang continued sorting the petitions and replied.

“I noticed that many petitions are about similar topics, so I’m grouping them together.”

“And what will you do after that?”

“After sorting them by type, I’ll draft responses and then print them.”

“Huh?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s response, Sejong moved to sit beside him. Sitting next to Hyang, Sejong closely examined the categorized petitions.

After thoroughly reviewing the sorted petitions, Sejong nodded in agreement.

“Indeed. Though there are many petitions, the intent behind them is singular, so there’s no need to respond to each individually.”

Nodding his head and giving a favorable evaluation, Sejong then let out a small sigh.

“Sigh… The issue then becomes one of sincerity. It would be said that we responded insincerely to the petitions raised by the people.”

“If we’re to discuss sincerity, have they ever shown any to Your Majesty? After passing the examinations, they are supposed to serve in government. However, they’ve been exploiting their studies as an excuse, just enjoying the benefits without contributing. That is hardly sincere, is it?”

“That’s true.”

Eventually, most of those who submitted petitions ended up receiving printed responses.

“What impertinence!”

“Even if he is the king, such disregard for us is not right!”

Many were outraged, but those who examined the content of the responses became solemn.

‘Although printed, the content is clear and compelling!’

‘We have been outargued on the grounds of principle!’

Meanwhile, a very small number of scholars who received handwritten responses from Sejong himself were also there. Not long after, these few scholars received a royal command to come to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Chapter 147

In response to the heartfelt petition returned as a mere formality by the authorities, the local gentry immediately implemented their next strategy.

“Who among us has a relative serving in the court?”

The second method chosen by the local gentry was to leverage their ‘connections’.

In a tiled house in Hanyang’s Bukchon area, among many of similar stature, two scholars were engaged in conversation within a moderately sized dwelling.

“Look here, nephew! So, you’re saying you want to speak directly to the king on our behalf, right?”

The elderly scholar’s words were met with a troubled response from the homeowner, Kang Cheong-soo.

“Uncle, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Although I am a junior official attending the court, I am at the very lowest rank!”

“And you would just stand by during our family’s crisis? Are you not a part of our family?”

At the mention of ‘family crisis’, Kang Cheong-soo’s expression hardened.

It wasn’t just his expression; even his voice and the honorifics he used became rigid.

“Family crisis… Uncle, may I ask something? Apart from my late father and us brothers, how many in our family have taken up official posts?”

“Uh, well, you see…”

Confounded by Kang Cheong-soo’s question, the uncle faltered. Kang Cheong-soo pressed on relentlessly.

“How many passed the civil service exams in my generation or above, and how many in the student exams? I know of more than twenty! But how many have taken up official posts, excluding my father and us brothers? None! Absolutely none!”

“That’s because…”

Kang Cheong-soo’s pointed remarks left the uncle struggling for words. Kang Cheong-soo continued his relentless interrogation.

“Becoming a scholar-official and passing the exams should naturally lead to serving the government. What have they all been doing? Just sitting back in our hometown? And doing what? Only expanding their land holdings without any regard for the broader world?”

“That was for the family’s prosperity…”

“There are limits to what is acceptable in the name of prosperity! I’ve heard rumors that within a hundred miles of our family’s land, one can’t take a single step without treading on our property. Is that something to be proud of?”

“Well, you see…”

“Even those who passed the exams yet lacked scholarly depth were granted the privilege by His Majesty to study further before taking office. And now you speak of a family crisis?”

“That’s a bit harsh…”

Kang Cheong-soo exploded at his uncle’s claim of harshness.

“Harsh? How so? Thanks to this, do you know how much the court is struggling to balance income and expenditure? Those who caused the crisis should be the ones to resolve it! Don’t bother me with such nonsense!”

“Look here, nephew! Aren’t you also a member of our Kang family?”

“Only coming to me when there’s trouble and then talking about family ties!”

Kang Cheong-soo’s words made the uncle’s face turn beet red as he shouted back.

“How dare you! Disrespecting your own roots and yet serving as an official to His Majesty! I will not let this go! I will report you to the Office of Censorship!”

To this, Kang Cheong-soo retorted loudly.

“Go ahead, try it! Do you think I have nothing to say? Let’s see if exploiting the benefits granted by His Majesty for personal gain after passing the exams is justifiable!”

“Ey, tsk!”

The uncle spat on the ground, stood up, and turned away in response to Kang Cheong-soo’s words.

“I will never speak to you again! In fact, I will see to it that you are expelled from the family!”

Undeterred, Kang Cheong-soo replied.

“Please do! I have no desire to be associated with such unscrupulous people!”

With that, as the uncle left amidst the shouting, Kang Cheong-soo called for his servant.

“Maksoi! Go to the barn and bring some salt. Sprinkle it in front of the gate!”

“Yes? Yes!”

The argument between Kang Cheong-soo and his uncle symbolized the division between the gentry residing in Hanyang, that is, the bureaucratic gentry, and the local gentry.

* * *

At the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, the newly emerged scholar-officials, the Sinjin Sadaebu, became sharply divided with the founding of Joseon. One group remained loyal to Goryeo – not so much loyal, but rather keen on repairing and maintaining the Goryeo system. The other supported the coup led by Yi Seong-gye and Jeong Do-jeon.

With the success of the coup, the Sinjin Sadaebu who supported Goryeo went into seclusion in the provinces. Meanwhile, those who aided Yi Seong-gye and Jeong Do-jeon in the coup established a new power group centered around Hanyang.

This was the first major split among the Sinjin Sadaebu.

[TL/N: Sinjin Sadaebu is the elite Neo-Confucionist gentries]

As time passed and the Joseon government structure was established, another rift began to form. The cause of this new split was the excessively small scale of the Joseon government, which had been founded on the principles of ‘kingly way’ politics.

“This is the problem of ‘good intentions but a disastrous reality,'” Hyang pointed out while preparing for the declaration of policies at the start of economic reforms.

From the perspective of Neo-Confucianism, or rather the essence of Confucianism, ‘kingly way’ politics based on ‘benevolence’ and ‘virtue’ did not require a large government. A large government could easily hinder the governance of the people through benevolence and virtue.

Therefore, the early reformers of Joseon made its government exceedingly small.

They also implemented the civil service examination system to widely recruit and appoint talented individuals.

Up to this point, everything was well.

However, the issue arose from the limited positions in the court and the continuous production of successful exam candidates through the annual and special civil service exams.

The tax exemption system was created by the court to ensure the livelihood of those who couldn’t enter the court and to encourage a steady flow of individuals aspiring for public service.

‘To study without the pressure of livelihood and thus introduce more exceptional talents into the court.’

This was the original intention, but it soon became a means of personal enrichment.

Consequently, some pursued the exams not for public service but for personal gain, aiming for the tax benefits symbolized by the white and red tablets awarded for passing the student and scholarly exams.

As these individuals’ tax exemptions neared their end, their sons would pass the exams to continue the benefits, and the inherited lands through family division became capital for acquiring more land.

The central bureaucrats were not blameless either. They too enriched themselves through various meritorious service records and bribes and perpetuated their power through the unofficial appointment system.

Thus, central scholar-officials started taking the exams to monopolize power, while local scholar-officials did so for wealth.

The divide between central and local was not just about power and economics.

Another reason was the ostracism faced by bureaucrats who returned to their hometowns after serving in the central government.

This was a mutual fault.

Those who returned to their hometowns often dismissed the local scholar-officials – even their own relatives – as ‘country bumpkins.’ Conversely, the local scholar-officials scorned the returnees as ‘arrogant opportunists.’

This accumulation of attitudes eventually created a divide between the scholar-officials centered around Hanyang and those in the provinces.

“All this happened in just over 30 years.”

As Hyang prepared for the policy presentation, he couldn’t help but mutter bitterly with a sardonic smile.

“Didn’t Teacher Sampeoncho say so? The reason Joseon became a mess with factional politics in its later years was due to its power structure being a terribly small pyramid.”

– Regardless of the era or history, the power structure is always a pyramid. And the very top of that pyramid is always occupied by those who share the highest authority’s interests.

The problem with factional politics was not just that the factions and their hangers-on occupied the top of the pyramid; they consumed the entire structure. The power mechanism of Joseon’s court was too small, and that led to its downfall.

To solve this problem, Hyang included in his policy proposal, which Sejong adopted and actively implemented, the quantitative expansion of the central government symbolized by the court. Moreover, opening the gates to people from the northwestern regions and the serf class was a strategy to block the monopoly of power by certain groups.

* * *

While central and local areas, particularly in the south of Hanyang, were abuzz with clashes, the north—specifically the northeastern regions—was equally tumultuous.

The noise here stemmed from the various trials and errors encountered in the process of settling Joseon people who had risen through the Sa-min policy and the noble Jurchen.

[TL/N: Sa-min policy is the policy that induced Joseon citizens to migrate to Hwang-hae and Pyeong-an province in the north.]

Crash! Bang!

“These fools! I’ll kill them all!”

With a loud crashing noise, as a table was overturned, the door of the administrative deputy’s office burst open.

The one who kicked the door open was Kim Jong-seo.

Swiftly descending to the yard, Kim Jong-seo reached the horses in just a few strides and mounted one.

“Block him! Block him!”

“Catch him! Catch him!”

As Kim Jong-seo mounted his horse, those nearby hurriedly surrounded him.

“Make way!”

“Ah! Deputy Chief! What’s happened now?”

“These fools messed up the documents again! I already gave up on Woon-mok, and now I’ve given up on writing my will too! But if they even get the numbers wrong, what’s the point! I’ll kill them all!”

Kim Jong-seo’s sides were adorned with two viciously glittering horseback archery bows.

Seeing Kim Jong-seo armed and determined, not just the civil officials but even the surrounding soldiers rushed to stop him.

“Hey! Calm down! Calm down!”

“Please, restrain yourself!”

“Even if you go, leave the bows behind! Leave the bows and go! I’ll assign some guards to you!”

The ensuing chaos was abruptly halted by an unexpected gunshot.

Bang!

Startled by the sudden gunshot, Kim Jong-seo and those trying to restrain him froze and looked towards the source of the sound.

There stood Hwang Hui, who had just exited the administrative office, with a stern face.

“Where is it?”

“Noktundo Island.”

“I’ll send a dispatch. You come inside with me.”

“But…”

“Shh! Come into my room right now!”

“Yes…”

At Hwang Hui’s stern command, Kim Jong-seo, who had been brought to heel, dismounted his horse and entered Hwang Hui’s administrative office.

A soldier, observing this, spoke to a colleague standing beside him.

“Even the ‘Tiger’ Kim Jong-seo is tame in front of Magistrate Hwang, huh?”

“The hawk catches the pheasant. By the way, today’s dispatch duty falls on Dong-su, you and me, right?”

At his colleague’s words, Dong-su cursed.

“Damn it! Going all the way to Noktundo Island will burn our butts!”

* * *

As the ‘Northeastern Frontier Development’ progressed, a rumor started circulating among the newly relocated Koreans and the nobly surrendered Jurchen people, especially among the Jurchen.

A pack of tigers had come from faraway Hanyang.

Among these tigers, the most fearsome were two: Kim Jong-seo and Lee Jing-ok.

The group the Jurchen referred to as ‘a pack of tigers’ included not just the Joseon military but also civil officials.

The initial appearance of the civil officials who came to the northeastern frontier with Hwang Hui was that of typical bureaucrats. However, as time passed, these officials became much rougher in their demeanor.

More precisely, they had transformed into ‘Jurchen dressed in official robes.’

As they carried out administrative work in the frontier development zone, the horsemanship skills of the officials affiliated with the development team improved dramatically.

Initially, the officials stayed quietly in the development team headquarters and the new administrative offices, attending to their duties. But as the development areas expanded and the number of Joseon people and Jurchen within them grew, this became problematic.

Eventually, the officials had to ride horses to various locations to carry out their duties, hence their remarkable improvement in horsemanship.

But it wasn’t just their horsemanship skills that made them akin to the Jurchen.

Many Jurchen had surrendered, but there were also those who refused and resisted, as well as those outside the development areas who preyed on the settlers.

Consequently, the officials often had to participate in combat.

When they were told in Hanyang to train with bows, the officials had said:

“If a civil official needs to use a bow, isn’t that the end of it?”

However, such situations frequently occurred in the Northeastern Frontier, and the civil officials adapted. They became adept at using both the carbine and horseback bows, and when they ran out of bullets, they resorted to bows and arrows they had carried just in case, effectively taking down the Jurchen.

“Good heavens…”

A Jurchen from the Orangkhai tribe, who had surrendered and was assigned to guard the Joseon civil officials along with Joseon soldiers, asked a Joseon soldier nearby.

“Are those noblemen really civil officials? How can they shoot arrows so well?”

The Joseon soldier replied nonchalantly.

“In Joseon, even women can shoot that well.”

Archery was one of the basic skills of scholars, and among women from affluent families, archery was a popular hobby.

“Good heavens…”

The Jurchen, hearing this response, couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

“Truly, it’s the land of the great elders!”

Experiencing such events, the civil officials had essentially become Jurchenized, and among them, the most fearsome had become Kim Jong-seo.

Meanwhile, Hyang, reviewing the reports sent from the Northeastern Frontier, clicked his tongue softly.

“Is this the Wild Wild West or what…”

Chapter 148

Kim Jong-seo earned the nickname ‘Fierce Tiger’ through his struggles with the Jurchen people. The battle in January particularly solidified this nickname.

January, the 11th year of King Sejong’s reign.

“My lord! There’s trouble!”

As a worker attending to chores at the development headquarters rushed in shouting, Hwang Hui, who was reviewing documents, asked with an annoyed voice.

“What’s the matter?”

“We’ve been attacked!”

At the word ‘attacked,’ Hwang Hui sprang up from his seat.

“An attack! Tell me more!”

“Yes!”

According to the report, the attack occurred while the carriages, which had set off from Musan, were en route to Gilju, where the development team’s headquarters were located.

As soon as the word ‘trouble’ was mentioned, Kim Jong-seo, who had just entered Hwang Hui’s office, took over the questioning.

“Where exactly did it happen?”

“According to the messenger’s report, near Sincham.”

While listening, Hwang Hui traced his finger across the map.

“Sincham… Sincham… Sin… here it is!”

Having located Sincham on the map, Hwang Hui shouted angrily.

“Damn it, they’ve come this far!”

Sincham was midway between Musan and Cheongjin.

At the time of the incident, Joseon’s northeastern region had expanded up to Hoeryeong and Najin.

Musan, bordering the Tumen River, was a frontier area heavily guarded by the Joseon military. The incident in Sincham, located in the middle of the Hamgyong Mountains, occurred in an area believed to be already secured.

“This is maddening. It gets breached as soon as we let our guard down a bit…”

To Hwang Hui’s comment, Kim Jong-seo pointed out the reason.

“We’re short on troops.”

“Reinforcements are supposed to be coming soon. We’ll have to trust that. Meanwhile, what’s the damage?”

“The furs and wool collected by the Jurchen in Musan and nearby areas, along with the family registry and land registry…”

“Magistrate!”

Upon hearing that the family and land registries were compromised, Kim Jong-seo was enraged.

Hwang Hui, without further ado, gave his permission.

“Take half of the men with you.”

“Yes!”

With his response, Kim Jong-seo burst out of the office, shouting.

“Everyone out!”

At Kim Jong-seo’s command, officials who had been working in various parts of the headquarters building rushed out.

Kim Jong-seo explained the situation to the officials.

“Some damn thieves have stolen the carriages carrying the family and land registries!”

“What a damned situation!”

“Those who deserve to have stones tied around their necks and thrown into the Tumen River!”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the officials, without exception, spat out curses and became furious.

“It’ll take forever to rewrite all that!”

This was the reason for the officials’ anger.

The prospect of having to redo their work.

Seeing the officials’ fury reaching the sky, Kim Jong-seo gave an order.

“Form two columns!”

Snap!

As soon as Kim Jong-seo finished speaking, the officials quickly lined up in two columns.

“This column! Get ready immediately! We must reach Sincham before sunset!”

“Yes!”

Upon Kim Jong-seo’s command, the designated officials hurried back to their rooms to don armor and grab their bows.

Their movements were as quick and efficient as well-trained soldiers.

In less than a quarter hour, about twenty fully armed officials rode out of the development team headquarters with Kim Jong-seo.

Thud, thud, thud!

Leaving behind a loud clatter of hooves and a cloud of dust, the cavalry-like officials vanished.

A merchant running a shop near the development team headquarters waved his hand to clear the dust and grumbled.

“What stupid Jurchen fools have caused trouble this time?”

By the time Kim Jong-seo and the officials arrived in Sincham, Lee Jing-ok’s troop, which had rushed from Geumpae, was also arriving.

“Hey! Chief Lee! Long time no see!”

“Deputy Kim, it’s been a while!”

After exchanging greetings, the two men rode side by side, sharing information.

“Do you know which tribe it was?”

To Kim Jong-seo’s question, Lee Jing-ok replied with a voice full of sarcasm.

“Do you think they’ll speak the truth?”

The ‘they’ Lee Jing-ok referred to were the surrendered Jurchen people.

Every time such an incident occurred, the Joseon army would question the affected tribes and those nearby to gather information.

However, the Jurchen would typically accuse tribes with whom they had deep grudges when responding to the Joseon army’s inquiries.

It was a strategy of borrowing another’s knife to kill – using the power of the Joseon army to eliminate rival tribes.

At Lee Jing-ok’s cynical response, Kim Jong-seo nodded in agreement.

“Well, that’s true.”

When Kim Jong-seo agreed, Lee Jing-ok added,

“As I always say, subjugation is more efficient than taming. How can we trust those Jurchen!”

At Lee Jing-ok’s words, Kim Jong-seo smirked and slightly shook his head.

Lee Jing-ok, among those who were in charge of King Sejong’s northeastern frontier development plan, was a notorious hardliner.

He had entered the military as a foot soldier and then passed the military examination. He had been at odds with the Jurchen before joining the Joseon army’s general staff. If history had proceeded as before Hyang’s intervention, after passing the military examination, Lee Jing-ok should have continued to oversee military affairs in Pyeongan-do and Hamgyong-do as a fourth-rank Jolje commander. However, his life took a slightly different turn after Hyang’s intervention.

Having begun his military life in the north wrestling with the Jurchen, Lee Jing-ok always advocated a hardline stance on Jurchen policy.

“We mustn’t approach them amicably just because they’ve expressed loyalty! We need to be strong from the start!”

“Punishing one as a warning to a hundred? The Jurchen laugh at that! We need to execute a hundred to warn a hundred! Only then will we be safe!”

Lee Jing-ok’s argument could be summarized as “The only good Jurchen is a dead Jurchen.”

Whenever Lee Jing-ok advocated for tough measures against the Jurchen, Choi Yun-deok and Hwang Hee had to force a bitter smile.

“Perhaps it’s because he’s still young.”

“With such vigor, we must let him release it.”

Thus, Lee Jing-ok came to lead a force consisting of 500 cavalry and 200 artillery.

Lee Jing-ok’s unit’s mission was a combination of long-range patrols and rapid strike forces.

* * *

The moment Kim Jong-seo’s group and Lee Jing-ok’s unit arrived at Sincham was just as the sun began to set in the west.

“Quickly set up the camp!”

At Lee Jing-ok’s command, the soldiers started taking down tents from the supply wagons and began lighting fires.

While the soldiers were busy setting up the camp, Lee Jing-ok, Kim Jong-seo, the military officers, and the officials surveyed the scene of the incident.

Lee Jing-ok and his officers looked for any evidence that could indicate who was responsible at the site, where bodies had been moved aside by the Jurchen who first reported the incident. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-seo and the officials searched for any remnants of the documents.

“Here it is!”

“It looks like the bastards burned it.”

The officials, grinding their teeth, reported upon inspecting the few small pieces of burnt paper left behind. At the officials’ report, Kim Jong-seo couldn’t help but curse out loud.

“F*ck!”

As the officials discovered the ashes of the documents, Kim Jong-seo approached them, grinding his teeth.

“Those damn bastards… First, try to recover anything that’s salvageable.”

“Yes, Deputy Administrator.”

After giving instructions to the officials, Kim Jong-seo walked over to Lee Jing-ok.

“Did you find any traces of the bastards who did this?”

Pointing to the Jurchen who were earnestly explaining something to an interpreter, Lee Jing-ok replied,

“We’ve tagged their tail. We’ll start the pursuit as soon as dawn breaks.”

“What about crossing the border?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s question, Lee Jing-ok stared at him intently. Understanding the unspoken answer, Kim Jong-seo sighed deeply.

“Phew… Damn it… Looks like we’ll have to write those documents again.”

* * *

Just before dawn the next day, the soldiers and officials were up early, tidying their camp and boiling water for their rations.

After finishing their meal, the soldiers and officials were ready to depart.

Kim Jong-seo gathered the officials and gave them orders.

“You lot head to Musan and start rewriting the family and land registries.”

“Aren’t you coming with us, Deputy?”

At the officials’ query, Kim Jong-seo, touching the bows at his side, replied,

“I need to give these damned culprits a piece of my mind.”

“Please be careful.”

“You too, be careful. You’ll have escorts, but one never knows what might happen.”

“Yes, Deputy.”

After bidding farewell to the officials, Kim Jong-seo mounted his horse and headed towards Lee Jing-ok.

Watching him, the officials whispered among themselves.

“Is he really going to give them a piece of his mind, or is it more like taking a breather?”

“Probably a bit of both.”

“We should move too. Hopefully, our colleagues in Musan followed the ‘Rule of Three.'”

“They must have. Otherwise, they’d be the ones suffering.”

With these murmured conversations, the officials mounted their horses.

The ‘Rule of Three’ mentioned by the officials was a maxim that originated in the military and spread to all departments of the government.

“Always make three copies of a report. One for submission to the superiors, another as a contingency, and the last for your own safety.”

* * *

Following the trail left by the pursuers, Lee Jing-ok and Kim Jong-seo crossed the Tumen River.

“Actually crossing it.”

“Been doing it so often, it’s become routine.”

Although the two had been joking lightly before crossing the Tumen River, they maintained a constant tension afterward.

About 20 li after crossing the river, the Jurchen trackers they were following rode up to them.

After receiving the Jurchen’s report, Lee Jing-ok turned to Kim Jong-seo.

“20 li north from here is the tribe that attacked the carriage.”

“Then let’s go.”

Stopping their unit behind a hill, a short distance from the suspected tribe, Lee Jing-ok dismounted and moved cautiously.

Climbing the hill, Lee Jing-ok lay on the ground and quietly took out a monocular to observe the tribe.

“Is it them?”

Kim Jong-seo, who had approached silently, asked. Lee Jing-ok handed him the monocular.

“Look at the carriage in the house on the far left.”

Focusing the monocular on the spot indicated by Lee Jing-ok, Kim Jong-seo ground his teeth.

“That’s our carriage.”

* * *

“Attack!”

Having found the evidence, Lee Jing-ok ordered his men to attack.

On Lee Jing-ok’s command, the soldiers donned windshields made of glass instead of crystal and pulled up the cotton masks they wore around their necks to cover their noses and mouths.

The windshields were meant to protect their eyes from the wind while riding, and the cotton masks were to shield them from the smoke when firing their muskets.

The cotton masks worn by the soldiers were adorned with the mouth of a goblin. With their faces covered by windshields and masks, the soldiers looked like demons.

Once his men were ready, Lee Jing-ok swung his arm and then extended it forward.

“Charge!”

“Attack!”

“Here we go!”

“Ahhh!”

With the loud noise of soldiers and horses, the Joseon army and the surrendered Jurchen charged towards the Jurchen tribe in sight.

The ensuing battle was a complete victory for the Joseon army.

The Jurchen warriors who had rushed out to stop the Joseon army’s charge were quickly overwhelmed. After dealing with the most troublesome Jurchen cavalry, the Joseon army began to lay waste to the village. Flames rose in all directions, and many Jurchen men lost their lives in the onslaught of the Joseon army.

“Damn it!”

Kim Jong-seo cursed as he faced an unexpected crisis. As he pursued the fleeing Jurchen and rounded a corner, a Jurchen hidden in ambush stabbed his horse with a spear.

As his horse fell, Kim Jong-seo quickly leaped off and drew two horseback bows from his side, pulling the triggers.

Bang! Bang!

Soon, the bodies of Jurchen, who had lost their lives, lay scattered around Kim Jong-seo.

Click! Click!

After firing 12 shots, Kim Jong-seo urgently scanned the surroundings. Seeing the pouch with extra bullets pinned under his dead horse, he cursed again.

“Damn it!”

Seeing more Jurchen charging to kill him, Kim Jong-seo cursed and gripped the horseback bows upside down.

“Damn it all!”

* * *

After completing the punitive expedition, Kim Jong-seo returned to Gilju with Lee Jing-ok’s unit and headed to the Joseon army camp next to the development team headquarters.

Entering the camp, Kim Jong-seo went straight to the place responsible for the repair and exchange of muskets.

“My muskets are broken. Please replace them.”

“Excuse me?”

The Jinmu (military administrator) in charge of musket repair and exchange looked perplexed at Kim Jong-seo’s request.

Noticing Jinmu’s expression, Kim Jong-seo took two badly damaged horseback bows out of his bag and placed them on the desk.

Seeing the horseback bows covered in crusted blood, Jinmu thoroughly examined Kim Jong-seo.

“Are you injured…?”

“It’s not my blood.”

“Ah, yes…”

While inspecting the muskets, Jinmu muttered to himself, bewildered.

“How on earth could the muskets be like this… Even if trampled by horses or cows, they should be intact…”

* * *

After exchanging Kim Jong-seo’s muskets, Jinmu inquired among the soldiers who had participated in the punitive expedition.

“What are you looking for?”

“I just wanted to ask something. How did the Deputy Administrator use his muskets?”

“I didn’t see it, so I can’t say…”

Finally, after continuous inquiries, Jinmu found a soldier who had witnessed Kim Jong-seo’s fierce battle.

The soldier shook his head at Jinmu’s question.

“I think he ran out of bullets… He grabbed the horseback muskets upside down, you know. When he was hitting the Jurchen heads… it was like a potter smashing defective pottery. He was breaking Jurchen skulls like that.”

Chapter 149

“I’m back.”

Returning to the development team headquarters, Kim Jong-seo entered Hwang Hui’s office to report his return.

Buried in a mountain of documents, Hwang Hui looked up at Kim Jong-seo and spoke.

“Good job. Did you go out there to swing a sword instead of a brush?”

“I apologize.”

“Never mind. Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Then go wash up, change, and get back to work.”

“May I… rest just for today?”

When Kim Jong-seo requested a break, Hwang Hui leaned back in his chair and glared at him.

“Did I order you to go around swinging your sword?”

“No, but…”

“You’ve been singing about returning to Hanyang within five years, haven’t you?”

“…I’ll get to work right away.”

Kim Jong-seo quickly backed down at Hwang Hui’s words.

“Oh, what about those who went to Musan?”

“They returned the day before yesterday. The family and land registries have been verified and approved.”

“Yes…”

Trying to use ‘Musan’ as an excuse to rest, Kim Jong-seo couldn’t hide his disappointment, and Hwang Hui added briefly,

“I’ve put things that need immediate attention on your desk, so get to them right away.”

“…Yes.”

“Five years…”

“I’m going, going!”

* * *

With Hwang Hui forming the development team, Kim Jong-seo naturally became the second-in-command.

It wasn’t that Kim Jong-seo was initially positioned as the second-in-command. When Hwang Hui first selected his team, there were several others with similar experience and ranks as Kim Jong-seo.

Kim Jong-seo distinguished himself among them by being the first to provide good answers to the problems Hwang Hui presented.

Thus, by the time the development team in the northeastern region began its substantial work, Kim Jong-seo was firmly established as the indisputable second-in-command.

As the Northeast Development Team began to operate in earnest, the initial team members organized by Hwang Hui formed the basic administrative structure. Once the administrative districts were established, local officials were sent from Hanyang or surrendered Jurchen tribe leaders were appointed as local officials to stabilize the administration.

During the Northeast Development, Kim Jong-seo drove the team’s officials.

“I see it this way. The primary goal of fully integrating the Tumen River region will be completed in five years. In five years, I’m leaving this damned place to return to Hanyang!

If we’re delayed even a day in those five years? I’m dead, and so are you! So, tighten up!

Mess up the data collection and have to start over? You’re dead.

Make a mistake in document preparation and delay the approval time? You’re finished.

Lose or damage documents that took so much effort to create and have to redo them? I’ll cut off your air supply! Understand?”

“Yes!”

The officials immediately responded to Kim Jong-seo’s threats, not hiding his extreme ‘love for Hanyang’.

For the officials, returning to Hanyang early was a desired outcome. They were all drafted from the court in Hanyang. Their families and acquaintances were all in Hanyang.

* * *

As things progressed, the officials of the development team came to regard Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo as ‘mother-in-law and sister-in-law,’ respectively.

Consequently, whenever Kim Jong-seo was scolded by Hwang Hui, the officials found it amusing and felt relieved.

“Why do you only scold me?”

After being repeatedly scolded, Kim Jong-seo confronted Hwang Hui, who simply replied,

“Because you’re the Deputy Administrator.”

“Excuse me?”

“Should I go around scolding everyone for every problem in the paperwork? It’s your job to first check for problems to reduce my workload. Conversely, finding the right person for the tasks I assign is also your responsibility.”

Silenced by Hwang Hui’s logic, Kim Jong-seo had no retort.

“But why me?”

“Because you’re good at your job.”

“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

“Right. But it’s all good experience for you. Who knows? Maybe you’ll take my place after I’m gone.”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jong-seo inadvertently revealed his inner thoughts.

“I feel like I’ll die first.”

“Quiet! Get out and work!”

Chased out by Hwang Hui, Kim Jong-seo grumbled to himself,

“What old man comes here and gets healthier?”

As Kim Jong-seo complained, Hwang Hui indeed seemed to have more color in his face since leaving Hanyang.

Returning to his room, Kim Jong-seo saw Hwang Hui’s servant brewing medicinal herbs and grumbled again.

“Damn this tonic.”

* * *

Recently, the ministers in Hanyang had been consistently sending tonics to Hwang Hui.

“The friendship among you ministers is truly admirable.”

As Kim Jong-seo admired the tonics wrapped in silk cloth, Hwang Hui grumbled,

“Friendship, my foot… They just want me to keep working till I drop dead. This isn’t a gift; it’s poison, poison!”

“How about I take that poison off your hands…”

“Shut it! Go work!”

Whether it was an expression of friendship or malice, Hwang Hui diligently consumed the tonics whenever they arrived.

The effectiveness of the tonics seemed evident, as Hwang Hui’s complexion was rosy, and he was more energetic than ever.

So much so that rumors spread among the officials in Gilju and the entire Hamgyeong Province.

“Hwang Magistrate is aging in reverse!”

* * *

After washing off the dust and fatigue with a bath and changing into his official robe, Kim Jong-seo returned to his office.

“Sigh.”

Seeing the pile of documents on his desk, Kim Jong-seo let out a sigh. Sitting in his chair and staring blankly at the documents, he muttered softly,

“The position of Magistrate…”

He couldn’t deny being intrigued by Hwang Hui’s words. For any official who had entered civil service, ascending to the rank of Minister or Secretary and being addressed as ‘Magistrate’ was a dream.

“So that’s why he’s been dragging me along.”

Working in the Northeast Development Area was incredibly demanding and stressful. Therefore, Hwang Hui had set a system where officials took turns receiving ten-day leaves with each monthly report, allowing them a brief respite from the harsh conditions of the frontier.

Considering the travel time from the development area to Hanyang, the actual days spent at home during these ten-day leaves were only about two or three days at most. Consequently, the officials would race back to Hanyang on horseback, sometimes even outrunning the cavalrymen carrying the reports.

The advantage for the officials in the development team was the ability to acquire high-quality horses at a low price. In the Northeast, where “excess meant skilled fighters and horses, and scarcity everything else,” strong and fast horses bred by the Jurchen were plentiful. Thanks to this, the officials could return to Hanyang quickly without relying on relay stations.

* * *

Of course, Kim Jong-seo never received such leaves.

“Magistrate! Why not me?”

“Damn it! You’re stuck with me until death!”

Kim Jong-seo only went to Hanyang with Hwang Hui for the quarterly reports directly submitted to King Sejong.

Even in Hanyang, Kim Jong-seo couldn’t enjoy ‘life in Hanyang.’ He had to present reports in front of King Sejong with Hwang Hui, and after leaving the court, he didn’t go home but accompanied Hwang Hui to a gathering place.

At the gathering place, other ministers, secretaries, and officials of similar rank to Kim Jong-seo congregated.

The ministers and secretaries formed their own group, while Kim Jong-seo joined those in similar situations.

“What’s the point of all this?”

To Kim Jong-seo’s grumble, a man sitting opposite him responded with a similar expression.

“Are you also dragged here, Deputy Administrator Kim Jong-seo?”

“Yes. And your name is…”

Kim Jong-seo cautiously started speaking, and the man across from him responded with a smile.

“What an oversight! Sorry! My name is Hwangbo In. Currently, I’m being dragged around by Minister Hyungpan over there.”

At Hwangbo In’s words, Kim Jong-seo also smiled and replied,

“As you know, I’m Kim Jong-seo, currently on a leash, dragged around by Magistrate Hwang Hui over there.”

Initiated by the conversation between Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In, the group started introducing themselves to each other. The ages varied from their 20s to 40s, but their ranks were quite similar.

However, they all shared one significant commonality: each of them was being harassed by the older ministers laughing and chatting away nearby.

Gradually, this gathered group started to bond and laugh together. Even though courtesans were present, the sense of camaraderie from shared hardships quickly led to a warm and informal atmosphere among them.

“It’s truly a good sight.”

“Indeed.”

The ministers and secretaries at the main seats observed them with smiles. Sipping from the cup filled by a courtesan, Minister Kim Jeom commented,

“In 10 years, maybe 20, those young officials will be the ones filling the royal court, enduring the monarch’s whims.”

“That’s likely.”

Other ministers nodded in agreement with Kim Jeom’s words, emptying their cups. Their faces were filled with a mix of emotions as they did so.

“We’ve indeed aged quite a bit.”

“Yes, we have.”

“It’s been a tumultuous life.”

As Maeng Sa-seong mentioned, their lives had indeed been eventful.

They had navigated through numerous significant events, including the transition from Goryeo to Joseon and the Prince’s Rebellion, surviving these crises with their resilience.

“While we bear traces of Goryeo, those young ones will not.”

“They will become the true officials of a proper Joseon.”

Amidst the conversation tinged with a sense of resigned wisdom, Heo Jo jokingly addressed Hwang Hui.

“Of course, Magistrate Hwang is suffering along with them.”

At Heo Jo’s comment, the other ministers burst into laughter.

“You have a hard time too, Magistrate Hwang.”

“I’m making sure to take my tonic regularly.”

Responding to their teasing with a slight smile, Hwang Hui joked back,

“Do you know what’s abundant in the northeastern region? Ginseng, deer antler, and musk from beyond the Tumen River. I’ll send some to match your numbers. Since we’re all aging together, it’s better to go down the same path, isn’t it?”

With that single retort, Hwang Hui effectively silenced the other ministers.

* * *

“Hmm… the position of Magistrate…”

Muttering the word ‘Magistrate’ repeatedly, Kim Jong-seo recalled the radiant faces of Hwang Hui and the other ministers and shook his head in disbelief.

“They all seem to be aging backward… What tonic are they taking? I wonder if the royal court will be swarmed with old monsters in the future…”

Contemplating the rejuvenated appearance of the ministers, seemingly revitalized by the tonics they exchanged, Kim Jong-seo thought about Hwangbo In, whom he had met at the gathering.

“I wonder how Hwangbo In is doing?”

“Sir! The Magistrate insists that you process and send the documents quickly!”

“Understood!”

Roused by the servant’s urging from outside, Kim Jong-seo hurriedly unfolded the documents.

* * *

The report about ‘the ministers and the poor souls dragged around by them’ was sent directly to King Sejong through the royal inspection system.

“Look at this?”

After dismissing the historians for the reason of rest, King Sejong, who received the report, sparkled with interest.

‘The discernment of the ministers and secretaries is notoriously strict. Yet they’re dragging these men to pleasure houses, not even related by blood? Hmm… ’

“Should I summon them?”

Muttering to himself, Sejong soon shook his head.

“No, that’s not right. It could expose the inspection system.”

Deciding that the risks outweighed the benefits, Sejong soon shelved the idea.

After placing the report in a secret compartment, Sejong took out some books on phonology.

“Let’s see… what I’ve theorized so far…”

Chapter 150
Fanaticism (1)

Not long after the release and bidding of the ‘Automatic Loom’ ended, good news came from Area 51.

The research institute and Area 51 had started research simultaneously with their establishment, but it was only after almost six years and a lot of budget that a product – commercially viable – was created.

“It’s a success!”

“Success, indeed!”

“Wow!”

Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji, along with the researchers and artisans of the institute, hugged each other without discrimination, shedding tears of joy.

“Your Highness! It’s a joyous occasion!”

“Indeed, Your Highness!”

“To complete it in six years! Sob!”

Hyang responded with a smile to the people who were crying with joy.

“You all have truly worked hard.”

While organizing a report to report to Sejong, Hyang grumbled softly.

“It’s not just ‘only’ six years; it took as long as ‘six years’…”

Hyang, in the 21st century, had made a model of a steam engine and a steam locomotive that actually boiled water and moved.

Initially, when Hyang explained the concept of a steam engine with the model of ‘Heron’s steam device’, the researchers and artisans were clueless, not even able to shovel, so to speak.

In the end, Hyang had to use himself as a cheat key.

“I’ve been thinking…”

Hyang started teaching the researchers and artisans with the blueprint of the early steam engine made by Savery and Newcomen.

Even with Hyang’s intervention, it took a year and a half for the researchers and artisans to create a model of the steam engine made by James Watt.

The real shoveling began only after making the model and confirming its proper movement. To make a proper, or rather, commercially valuable steam engine, there was an uncountable number of experiments and creations the researchers and artisans had to undertake.

The first thing they made was measuring equipment.

Measuring equipment to gauge the force generated by the steam engine, equipment to measure the steam pressure created in the boiler of the steam engine, and devices to measure quantities and temperatures – the researchers and artisans had to ‘headbutt the bare ground’, so to speak, tirelessly.

In this process, an unexpected by-product was created.

* * *

The first was a pencil and a pencil sharpener.

“Writing and calculating with a golden pen dipped in ink every time is annoying!”

“We must find a solution!”

The eyes of those seeking an alternative landed on graphite.

A craftsman, examining graphite powder that had started to be used as a lubricant for machines that pressed armor, after being used for coating various gunpowders, created something of his own.

The craftsman, who mixed graphite with clay and kneaded it with water before drying and wrapping it in paper for writing, tilted his head in thought.

“It writes, but it’s too soft, isn’t it? It breaks easily too…”

The craftsman, who tried various experiments in his spare time, eventually sought Hyang when he couldn’t find the answer.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

At that time, Hyang was about 10 years old. Seeing Hyang’s face still full of youthful innocence, the artisan waved his hands and stepped back. Hyang, intrigued by the artisan’s suspicious behavior, asked,

“If you came looking for me, there must be a problem, right? Speak up.”

Though young, the artisan, overawed by the powerful background of ‘the Crown Prince’, soon shared his concerns.

Listening to the artisan’s worries, Hyang’s eyes sparkled menacingly.

‘It’s a pencil! I always said I’d make one, and here it is!’

“That’s interesting. If done well, it could turn out to be a good product. Let’s research it together.”

Hyang then joined the artisan in research. Or rather, he pretended to participate while giving advice.

“Instead of just drying it, let’s try baking it.”

“Bake it, you say?”

The artisan, pondering Hyang’s suggestion, nodded.

“Right. While simply dried clay breaks easily, properly baked ceramics are more durable.”

Thus, the experiment began. They mixed quality clay and graphite evenly, shaped it into thin rods, and then baked them in a smelting furnace.

Hyang, after wrapping the baked graphite rod in paper, tried writing on a blank sheet.

After examining the result, Hyang turned to the artisan.

“It’s decent, but let’s experiment a bit more.”

Through experiments with different ratios of clay to graphite and varying furnace temperatures, they created graphite rods with useful strengths.

“These three types of strength seem to be quite versatile.”

“Yes, they do.”

With the graphite rods completed, Hyang began to really play his tricks.

And so, the world’s first pencil was created.

They put a mixture of clay and graphite into a noodle maker, pulled it out like noodles, and then baked it in a furnace. The resulting lead was placed between two grooved wooden planks, which were then glued together with adhesive.

Even after further post-processing steps, the pencils soon became favorites among the researchers and artisans of the institute.

Seeing this, Hyang, along with the artisan who initially suggested the idea, registered a patent and immediately prepared for commercial sale.

Seeing Hyang’s elated demeanor, Jeong-cho commented with a slightly troubled face.

“This might not sell well…”

“Huh? Why?”

“Firstly, the inconvenience of having to sharpen it.”

“That’s also true for ink…”

“Ink can be ground thoughtlessly, but with a pencil, you might end up bleeding if you’re not careful.”

“I see…”

Jeong-cho then pointed out the next problem.

“Secondly, it has a significantly shorter lifespan compared to a gold pen or a brush. People might say it’s not worth the money.”

“That problem can be solved with mass production…”

“But how many people in this Joseon land write enough to use pencils in bulk, other than those at the research institute and Area 51?”

“Why not sell them to Ming?”

At Hyang’s counter-question, Jeong-cho promptly responded.

“That brings us to the third problem. Sharpening pencils produces a lot of wood shavings and graphite dust. Disposing of that is a task in itself. It can mess up the prepared paper. Scholars who value neatness before calligraphy will dislike it as it lacks elegance.”

Thinking Jeong-cho’s point made sense, Hyang murmured with a face full of disappointment.

“I see.”

Seeing Hyang’s disappointed face, Jeong Inji hurriedly interjected.

“Certainly, there are such problems, but if we solve the first and third issues, there could be some marketability!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes!”

Hyang, reminded of his 21st-century memories, thought.

‘I’ll have to make a pencil sharpener too!’

Determined, Hyang looked back at Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji.

“For now, let’s just use the pencils ourselves. We find them more convenient than gold pens.”

“Yes.”

Thus, the ‘commercialization of pencils’ was submerged below the surface.

However, it took a long time for pencils to resurface.

It was because of the pencil sharpener.

Being a blade, it required high-quality steel, and that too in large quantities.

The next issue was the size.

When the overseers saw the prototype of the pencil sharpener, resembling a miniaturized plane, they all sighed in unison.

“If we have to individually refine those tiny blades…”

Hyang knew what the unspoken words meant.

“It would be more trouble than it’s worth.”

Back in his office, Hyang summarized the problems and muttered.

“To make it cost-effective, the blades must be mass-produced. But manually there are issues. To produce them with machines… a steam engine is needed… Again with the steam engine? This isn’t like 21st-century politicians blaming others for everything…”

Grumbling, Hyang earnestly searched for solutions. However, it took longer than expected for pencils to become a commercial product.

* * *

Although it was concluded that pencils would only be used internally, there were various issues with creating measuring equipment and a practically sized steam engine.

Eventually, Jeong-cho gathered Hyang and other key officials to explain what the problems were.

“The first issue is the standardization of measurements. There are several units for simply measuring length, starting with Hwangjong Cheok (黃鍾尺), followed by Jucheok (周尺), Yeongjo Cheok (營造尺), and Jorye Gi Cheok (造禮器尺). We need unification in this area.”

[TL/N: They’re all standards of measurements]

Upon hearing Jeong-cho’s statement, Choi Hae-San and Lee Cheon immediately agreed.

“Even when making various new weapons, including the matchlock cannons, we faced the same issue. As we unified to Hwangjong Cheok at that time, it seems appropriate to standardize to Hwangjong Cheok this time as well.”

Hearing the opinions, Hyang nodded.

“That makes sense. Let’s standardize to Hwangjong Cheok.”

Once the issue of measurement standards was settled, Jeong-cho brought up the next problem.

“The next issue is with the measuring equipment. The institute’s researchers have completed calculations, design, and measurement units, but practical verification is not proceeding properly.”

At this, Hyang clicked his tongue softly.

‘Tsk! I don’t have much to say about this part… I used to buy and install ready-made products for this… ’

Having nothing to say on this matter, Hyang could only give a general answer.

“I think we have no choice but to learn through actual experimentation.”

Jeong-cho showed a slight expression of disappointment at Hyang’s response.

‘Does even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince not have an answer for this? I was expecting some clear solution.’

Expecting a solution from Hyang and ending up disappointed, Jeong-cho soon composed himself.

‘I should reflect! His Royal Highness is just entering 11 years old! Even if he is extraordinary, would it be humanly possible to know all this at the age of 11?’

Recomposed, Jeong-cho nodded.

“I also believe that only experiential learning is the answer in this case.”

Thus, it was decided that the researchers would embark on grueling repeated experiments.

* * *

Amidst these exhausting repetitive experiments, Jeong-cho, having discovered a problem, approached Hyang again.

“This is what I consider the last problem. It may be the last, but I evaluate it as the most important issue. The final problem is the issue of materials.”

Hyang immediately grasped the meaning of Jeong-cho’s words.

“Materials? Are you talking about iron? For now, let’s try making it with brass.”

Jeong-cho shook his head at Hyang’s suggestion.

“We thought the same and experimented with brass. However, we encountered issues with accuracy.”

At this response, Hyang’s face grew serious.

“Why is that?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Jeong-cho explained the cause.

“The problem with brass is that the ratio of copper to other elements varies depending on the artisan.”

“So then…”

“Yes, we are experimenting to find the optimal alloy ratio. However, the biggest issue is that it again consumes time. Budget is also a concern.”

Hearing Jeong-cho’s words, Hyang unconsciously placed a hand on his forehead. But after a moment, Hyang responded with a resolute face.

“I will do my best to work on the budget. Please, Your Excellency Jeong, research ways to reduce the time required.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After finishing the conversation with Jeong-cho, Hyang went to see Sejong.

However, before Hyang could finish speaking, Sejong scolded him.

“No budget! You, get out!”

But Hyang persisted and did not back down, eventually securing the necessary budget.

Watching Hyang leave, delighted after obtaining the budget, Sejong grumbled.

“That child… can’t even confine him to the records office…”

Chapter 151
Fanaticism (2)

The problem with materials was not an easy one to resolve.

Finding the optimal ratio for copper alloy to make parts for measuring instruments consumed time and funds, and the same was true for finding the right material for the steam engine’s body.

Hyang, along with the researchers and the overseers, created a scaled-down model of the early steam engine made by James Watt using brass. Following the successful completion of this experiment, Hyang gathered all the researchers and overseers for a meeting.

“Would it be too much to make the engine parts out of brass?”

When the researchers proposed making the engine parts from brass, the overseers shook their heads.

“There would be problems with the supply of copper.”

“Then, is iron the most suitable material?”

At Hyang’s question, all the overseers nodded.

“It has to be iron.”

“Would pig iron (raw iron) be unsuitable?”

To Hyang’s question, the overseers unanimously nodded.

“Of course not.”

“It’s not suitable due to lack of elasticity.”

After a continued discussion, it was decided that the material for making the engine parts would be soft iron (mild steel).

Returning to his office after concluding the meeting, Hyang couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“It’s a bit regrettable that mass production of steel is difficult with our current technological level.”

Although the ironworks in Anju produced iron in large quantities, most of what was produced was soft iron.

Of course, a lot of steel (hardened iron) was also being produced, but the quantity was barely sufficient for manufacturing various weapons and tools.

“I wonder if things will improve once the expansion of the Anju ironworks, as planned, proceeds…”

The court ministers, having seen the performance of the Anju ironworks, had all agreed to its expansion.

Despite his disappointment, Hyang soon found a positive aspect and encouraged himself.

‘Soft iron is good too! The iron rails and locomotives that were prominent during the Industrial Revolution were made of soft iron, and even the Eiffel Tower was made of it! Instead of just waiting idly for steel to be abundantly available, let’s start making and using what we have! Once people get used to convenience, they naturally seek better things!’

With that, the production of steam engines using soft iron began in earnest.

However, the manufacturing of the steam engine was sluggish.

“What’s the reason?”

At Hyang’s question, Jeong-cho immediately responded.

“The quality variation of the iron we receive is too great.”

“Really?”

Upon receiving Jeong-cho’s report, Hyang summoned Jang Yeong-sil and the senior overseer to investigate the cause.

Following Hyang’s order, Jang Yeong-sil and the senior overseer went to Anju to conduct the investigation. After gathering data, they exchanged opinions.

“The iron ore always comes from the same mines, and the coal is also always the same…”

Eliminating suspects one by one, Jang Yeong-sil and the senior overseer identified the most likely culprit.

“Could it be the wind?”

“It has to be the wind.”

Having identified the problem, Jang Yeong-sil and the senior overseer immediately reported back to Hyang.

“The issue isn’t with the raw materials, the iron ore and coal. The problem lies with the wind.”

“The wind?”

According to Jang Yeong-sil and the senior overseer, the problem arose during the process of melting iron in furnaces. The furnaces were supplied with air by bellows operators, but manually operating the bellows resulted in inconsistencies due to various factors like physical strength and experience.

“But hasn’t this issue been overlooked until now?”

Jang Yeong-sil quickly responded to Hyang’s point.

“Because we haven’t made devices like steam engines before.”

“Ah…”

To solve this problem, Hyang recalled his memories.

“It has to be that…”

Thinking of the centrifugal blowers used in 21st-century forges to supply air to furnaces, Hyang immediately started designing.

With a working prototype created by Jang Yeong-sil and the senior overseer, Hyang proceeded to manufacture a large centrifugal blower using animal power.

The completed blower was dismantled into parts and sent to Anju. It replaced the bellows operators, supplying a large amount of air consistently, thereby maintaining a uniform quality in the produced iron.

This process of overcoming trial and error brought significant changes to Joseon’s metallurgical technology.

Immediately, the classification and quality of copper alloys and iron improved, enhancing the quality of tools, weapons, and metal products made from these materials.

With the stable supply of high-quality iron and copper alloys, new artillery for the Joseon army was developed and deployed.

Furthermore, these metal materials were used to improve the quality of printing types, leading to advancements in printing technology. The development in printing technology, in turn, spurred the growth of the paper industry.

Not only traditional papers but also mass-produced yellow paper developed in Area 51 using pulp started to be widely used.

After the Hanseong Great Fire, centrifugal pumps, derived from the blower technology, were manufactured. These pumps were used in water wagons by the Goldhwagun (禁火軍) – the official name for the fire brigade – and for channeling water from rivers and reservoirs into canals.

However, the greatest benefit came from the vast amount of data obtained in the process of resolving these trials and errors. The researchers at Area 51 and the institute compiled this data into books, enabling Joseon to move beyond relying solely on artisans’ experience.

Unintentionally, through this classification process, the field of statistics began to develop.

“Statistics, of course, means charts and graphs!”

Thanks to Hyang’s input, the people at the institute and Area 51 began to skillfully use tables and graphs.

The spread of these charts and graphs from the Treasury Department to the rest of the government was only a matter of time.

* * *

Hyang grumbled about the nearly six years it took, but this was a misjudgment on his part. Despite various trials and errors, successfully creating a commercially viable steam engine in about six years was indeed a remarkable achievement, especially considering the level of Joseon’s metallurgical technology.

Eventually, while reviewing the related records, Hyang had to critically assess himself.

“This idiot. This isn’t the 21st century!”

* * *

‘A commercially usable steam engine has been created!’

As soon as this report was submitted, Sejong, along with his ministers, headed to Area 51.

Chug-chug, puff-puff!

Watching the steam engine operate amidst loud noises, Sejong exclaimed in admiration.

“Ho! Truly marvelous! Well done, everyone! You have all worked hard!”

“Your Majesty is too generous!”

At Sejong’s praise, Hyang, the researchers, and the overseers all bowed deeply in gratitude.

Sejong, looking at the steam engine with curious eyes, asked Hyang.

“Crown Prince, according to your report, this steam engine can be used for many purposes. Where will it be used first?”

“At the Anju ironworks, glass workshops, and mines, Your Majesty.”

“Ironworks, glass workshops, and mines?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You may be aware that we sent a blower to the ironworks due to the issue with bellows operators.”

“I know. It was quite expensive.”

Sejong, who was immediately concerned about the price, was vigorously nodded to by Kim Jeom behind him. At that time, the budget was tighter than now. The Treasury Department had struggled to allocate funds for the blower’s manufacturing costs.

“Yes, it was expensive. But to properly use that expensive device, this steam engine is necessary.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong looked over the steam engine again carefully. While observing the moving parts of the steam engine, he nodded.

“I see. As long as the steam engine is supplied with water and fuel, it can operate continuously without resting, making it far more advantageous than manpower or animal power. The same applies to the furnaces in the glass workshops.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“And I understand the ironworks and glass workshops, but in the mines…”

Sejong was about to ask about the mines when he suddenly stopped, then nodded.

“Ah, I see. I’ve heard that draining water from the mine shafts is a major task. If we connect the water pump from the water wagons to the steam engine, that should work.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang nodded vigorously.

“That is indeed the case!”

‘Sejong the Great, indeed!’

“Hmm… Can we also connect these engines to the automatic looms?”

‘Now he’s thinking about applications!’

Hyang couldn’t hide his admiration and continued to enthusiastically agree with Sejong.

“Absolutely!”

“Well then. Apart from the bidding price, we’ll need to collect additional funds, won’t we?”

“No, Your Majesty. It won’t go to auction this time.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

When Sejong expressed his confusion, Hyang immediately went into explanation.

“It’s because of the limited production capacity of Area 51.”

“Ah… I see.”

Nodding at Hyang’s explanation, Sejong made a remark.

“With all the tasks you’ve taken on, it’s not just one or two…”

“It’s only a matter of insufficient personnel. If you give us more time and budget…”

“Shush!”

Hyang, who tried to seize the opportunity to request additional budget, promptly shut up when he saw Sejong’s fierce look.

“Anyway, you always ask for more budget whenever there’s an opportunity… How long will it take to distribute steam engines to the public?”

“I am thinking about 5 years. By then, we will have developed even better models.”

“And the trade guilds will compete more fiercely, won’t they?”

To Sejong’s comment, Hyang responded with a smile.

At this, Sejong shook his head slightly.

“Ruthless child… Terrifying… Who did you learn it from…”

The ministers standing behind simultaneously thought the same thing.

‘Whose child is he!’

Whether Sejong knew the ministers’ thoughts or not, he made his decision.

“While we need to deliberate on the budget with the ministers, let’s proceed with your plan for now.”

“I accept the command!”

* * *

A few days later, while Hyang was doing paperwork at the institute, a visitor came to see him.

“Your Highness, Prince Jinpyeong – the future Su Yang – requests to see you.”

Upon hearing the report from the eunuch, Hyang stopped his work and looked up.

“Is it? Let him in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Shortly after, Yu entered Hyang’s office.

“Your Highness, it’s been a long time.”

“Yes, it has. Despite receiving an official title, I heard you have been diligently working at the institute. Commendable.”

“Thank you.”

Jinpyeong, who had always found Hyang intimidating along with his older sister Princess Jeongso, smiled as Hyang praised him.

“So, what brings you to me today?”

At Hyang’s question, Prince Jinpyeong quickly composed himself and spoke.

“It’s nothing else, Your Highness, but I heard that the steam engine has been completed.”

As soon as Jinpyeong mentioned the steam engine, Hyang immediately realized the purpose of his visit.

‘This guy is a metal fanatic!’

“Yes, it’s completed. But it will be a while before we can make a locomotive.”

“Why is that?”

“While a usable steam engine has been made, it’s not quite perfect yet. It needs more time.”

“Couldn’t we develop it concurrently with the locomotive?”

“The locomotive requires more advanced technology. We need to develop and refine these technologies first.”

“Still…”

“The people at the institute and Area 51 have many tasks other than the steam engine. Therefore, we lack the personnel, and the budget is tight as well.”

“What could be more important than the railway! We should allocate all our budget and manpower to it…”

Before Jinpyeong could finish, Hyang shouted.

“You! Out!”

* * *

After being scolded by Hyang and chased away, Jinpyeong immediately ran to Sejong.

“…Therefore, we urgently need more people and budget…”

“You! Get out!”

Chased away by Sejong as well, Jinpyeong walked towards Gwanghwamun, grumbling to himself.

“How important the railway is! Especially since Hyang created it and even His Majesty…”

Muttering complaints about Sejong and Hyang, Jinpyeong made a resolution as he crossed Gwanghwamun.

“I’ll do it myself!”

However, Jinpyeong was not Hyang.

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s difficult to do this alone. But gathering people is another challenge…”

Remembering that everyone he knew who was capable was already at the court, the institute, or Area 51, Jinpyeong struggled to find a solution.

After much contemplation, he finally reached a conclusion.

“If there are no people, then I’ll just have to raise them!”

A few days later, Hyang received an unusual report from an eunuch.

“Jinpyeong is taking around Gu – the future Prince Imyeong?”

“Yes, Your Highness. They came together again today.”

“Where are they now?”

“At the location with the railway model…”

“Let’s go and see.”

Upon arriving at the room with the railway model, Hyang paused at the voices coming from inside.

“This is a railway and a locomotive. Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Yes, big brother!”

“It will be amazing once it’s actually built, right?”

“Yes, big brother!”

“Would you like to join me in this?”

“Yes, big brother!”

Hearing Jinpyeong persuading Gu to join his work, Hyang muttered to himself without realizing.

“Is this a pyramid scheme…?”

Chapter 152
Elements of Uncertainty (1)

With the invention of the ‘automatic loom’ and the winners of the bidding competition determined, the commercial world of Joseon began to prepare for its expansion.

“If things continue this way, Joseon’s commerce will revive! No, it will grow even larger!”

Many merchants started to actively seek opportunities, dreaming of a hopeful future.

“What could be profitable?”

“Hmm… shall I try trading with this item?”

Merchants searched all over the eight provinces of Joseon for items that would bring profit, as the scope of their trade expanded.

In fact, their search was not limited to Joseon. More proactive merchants explored Ming China and Japan as well.

“Why go to Japan? What’s there to gain?”

“Who knows?”

“It’s a place where you could lose your head unexpectedly in a tavern, right?”

“That’s why I’m only planning to travel around Daehae and Guju!”

Many merchants sought new opportunities throughout Joseon, Ming, and Japan.

However, not all merchants were equally proactive.

“As merchants who chase profits, we shouldn’t recklessly embark on such ventures.”

“Right. For commerce to truly expand, we need currency, which Joseon lacks. We shouldn’t risk it. We must face reality.”

Despite their varying values and choices, the overall scale of Joseon’s commerce continued to grow.

It wasn’t just commerce that was growing. Craftsmen with their own skills began to actively utilize them.

They had exemplary models to follow.

For instance, the couple Song Il-chul, who was gathering wealth in Hanyang through metalworks, and his wife, who was collecting wealth through financial investments, were the most notable examples.

Not just the Song Il-chul couple, but the presence of craftsmen in Area 51, who had come to be called ‘local lords’, also motivated other craftsmen in Joseon to take risks.

Among the craftsmen who took up the challenge, those who specialized in mother-of-pearl inlay work saw the greatest increase in earnings.

With the introduction of glass mirrors made by Italian craftsmen to the market, these artisans started producing various lacquerware furniture and accessories with attached mirrors.

These furniture and accessories became a ‘Must have’ not only in Joseon but also among women in Ming and Japan.

“Jihwaja! When the water comes in, row the boat!”

Hyang, upon reviewing the report from the Ministry of Taxation, immediately requested King Sejong to organize a competition.

It was the ‘1st Joseon Furniture Competition’.

The first prize was ’10 nyang of silver’, a modest amount. However, renowned craftsmen from all over the country gathered in Hanyang.

It was because of the competition’s supplementary prizes:

– From first to fifth place, the palace would purchase all products made.

– The names of the winners from first to fifth place would be promoted in government offices nationwide, in Shandong’s commercial offices, and in Japanese offices.

The key aspect was that the products would have a varying number of pear blossom designs according to their rank, from five for first place to one for fifth place.

“Will it really be successful?”

Upon hearing Hyang’s proposal, Sejong was not fully convinced, but Hyang was confident.

As it was already known through gold and silver articles, the pear blossom pattern symbolized the highest quality.

Moreover, the situation involved ranking them. He anticipated a fierce competition for ranking in the future.

“It will definitely be a hit!”

And the result was just as Hyang had predicted.

The judges that were appointed, Queen Soheon and the other concubines, the crown princess, Yangje, and Yangwon, examined the submitted works with sparkling eyes.

Seeing their reactions, Hyang muttered to himself,

‘I recognize that look! It’s the same one my mother and aunts had when they saw a luxury bag!’

Thus, the rankings from first to fifth place were determined.

As a result, both Sejong and Hyang’s wallets were emptied.

Though the submitted works were sent to Queen Soheon as a form of tribute, they had to spend money for the other participants.

Despite the financial setback for Sejong and Hyang, what followed was as Hyang had predicted.

The products made by the craftsmen who won awards in the competition hosted by the King of Joseon were eagerly awaited by merchants from Ming and Japan, forming long lines.

* * *

Not everything went as smoothly as Hyang had expected.

Already discontented with Sejong’s actions, the local officials began to fill carts with their written complaints once again.

Upon reading these complaints, Sejong called for Hyang again. This time, Hyang was prepared, having heard rumors of the influx of complaints from the provinces.

“Do you know what to do?”

“Yes, Father. Shall I start with these?”

Quickly pulling a pile of complaints toward him, Hyang untied the scrolls and began reading them.

“How is it? Any worthwhile writings there?”

As Hyang diligently read and sorted the complaints, he sighed in response to Sejong’s question.

“Phew… What a waste of paper.”

“Is that so… I had hoped for some decent ones this time…”

Sejong couldn’t hide his disappointment at Hyang’s response. He still couldn’t suppress his desire for talented individuals.

“Well… Given the ongoing shortage of talent…”

Hyang understood Sejong’s feelings. Despite being filled time and again, there was still a shortage of talent in the current Joseon government and administrative structure.

“Phew… Whether this guy or that, they all go on about ‘luxury being the fast track to the ruin of a nation, etc., etc.’…They should stop wearing silk robes themselves.”

While grumbling and irritably untying the knots of the complaints, which mostly argued that luxury would lead to the nation’s downfall and that commerce should be strictly controlled, Hyang’s expression suddenly changed as he straightened up and his eyes sparkled.

“Will you look at this.”

Hyang, meticulously reading the complaints, approached Sejong with one in hand.

“Father, I think I’ve found something.”

“Oh? Let me see it.”

Sejong’s face lit up as he received the complaint from Hyang.

As he read through it, Sejong slapped his knee in approval.

“Excellent! It’s been a while since I’ve found someone with such deep thoughts!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

The complaint Hyang found foresaw a trade dispute.

– No one would simply watch as others take the wealth stored in their own granary.

– Looking at Joseon’s current situation, we are garnering substantial profits from Ming and Japan. Fortunately, the products currently sold to Ming and Japan are mainly luxury goods, posing little risk of major issues.

– However, merchants will increasingly desire more profit, eventually even selling low-priced, high-volume goods.

– If we start selling everything from luxury items to cheap goods, we risk arousing hostility from Ming and Japan.

– If it gets severe, Ming, as a major trading nation, might exert pressure, and Japan could see a resurgence of pirate activity.

– To solve this, we need to carefully select items that won’t harm Joseon, produced and sold in Ming and Japan. This way, the wealth obtained from these countries circulates within their borders, and Joseon can maintain a steady trade by only taking a reasonable amount of wealth, thus preserving good relations.

“This is good.”

After reading the complaint, Sejong nodded approvingly and sorted it into a separate pile.

Now, even complaints were being used as opportunities to discover talent.

This practice eventually became a trend, giving rise to a phenomenon called ‘Trial of Expression’, where people used complaints as a means to achieve rapid career advancement.

* * *

Ultimately, the local officials exploded in frustration when their arguments were once again disregarded.

“This is tyranny from the monarch!”

“Can we even say that free speech exists in this situation?”

“If this continues, Joseon will fall!”

In the eyes of the local officials, Sejong was ‘turning a deaf ear and a blind eye’, ruling tyrannically.

“What measures should we take?”

“Indeed.”

Among the local officials, a tense and uneasy atmosphere was increasingly palpable.

As the harvest season of Sejong’s 11th year approached, Sejong threw several bombshells at the local officials.

The first was the ‘Slave Law’.

– A child born to a female slave will inherit the status of the father.

– If the father of the child born to a slave is a commoner, the child will have the status of a commoner.

– If the child born to a slave is of commoner status, the mother slave will be granted freedom.

– If the father of the child born to a slave is married, the above clauses will not apply.

This specific part sparked some debate among Hyang, Sejong, and the ministers.

“Isn’t this too heartless?”

To Hyang’s objection, Sejong and the ministers all shook their heads.

“No, it’s not. A minimum level of morality must be maintained.”

“Exactly. Without this clause, there would be daily disputes in the villages.”

Faced with the firm stance of Sejong and the ministers, Hyang had no choice but to step back.

‘Well, given the times… ’

“Hmm… A bit disappointing, but it seems fair enough.”

This was the general reaction of most local officials.

However, what caught their attention the most was the latter part of the law.

“A clause about ‘granting freedom’?”

“Why suddenly bring up freedom?”

The latter part of the ‘Slave Law’ dealt with the emancipation of slaves.

– Emancipation of slaves cannot be done during the spring hunger period.

– When emancipating a slave, one must provide enough wealth for them to live for three months.

– If a slave has a family, they must be emancipated as a unit. However, unmarried adult slaves, both male and female, are excluded.

At this point, Hyang clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. If they had included adults, it would have caused an uproar… But still…”

Pausing for a moment, Hyang let out a wry laugh.

“This is the poison pill of the law. It seems that even Father has a strong knack for cunning strategies.”

The most surprising element in the continued regulations on emancipation was the last clause.

– Slaves over the age of 60 cannot be emancipated.

Ironically, this was a point strongly advocated by Hyang.

“Crown Prince, according to your usual arguments, this part seems illogical, doesn’t it?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang replied immediately.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. It is consistent with my usual stance.”

“How so?”

“When combined with other upcoming laws, the local officials will inevitably have to emancipate their slaves. In that case, the first to be emancipated would be the elderly, who have no value as labor.”

“Ah!”

Upon hearing Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers exclaimed in admiration and nodded in agreement. To himself, Hyang mumbled,

‘Didn’t my American history professor in the 21st century say something like this?’

The American history professor back then had told the students:

-Before the war, Southern plantation owners were so opposed to freeing slaves. But after the war ended, they welcomed it. Why? Because it gave them an easy way to get rid of old slaves who were just consuming food without providing labor.

Recalling her 21st-century memories, Hyang muttered with a bitter expression,

“Given the current state of Joseon, we can’t even dream of welfare for elderly without family. It’s inevitable that we have to pass this burden onto the local officials.”

* * *

Thus, in the fall of Sejong’s 11th year, when the Slave Law was promulgated, the reaction of most local officials was somewhat uniform.

“It’s not completely satisfactory, but it’s acceptable.”

However, a minority of the officials scrutinized the laws with suspicion.

“The clauses about emancipation seem dubious. Why suddenly introduce regulations on emancipation?”

“The mere establishment of criteria for emancipation is too suspicious to simply overlook.”

“But why now, of all times?”

With these doubts, the officials focused their attention keenly on the movements in Hanyang.

Soon after, another law was promulgated, causing the officials to completely forget their suspicions.

Following the ‘Slave Law’, the new legislation was about the treatment of those who passed the civil service exams (like the ‘saengwon’ and ‘jinsa’ exams) but had not taken up official positions.

The content of the newly announced law was straightforward.

“Those who passed the ‘saengwon’ exam more than 10 years ago and the ‘jinsa’ exam more than 5 years ago, but have not taken up official posts, will be deprived of their tax exemptions. Furthermore, they will be removed from the ‘local records’. Only those who have retired from government positions or have been awarded honorary positions for their contributions may be recorded in the ‘local records.'”

It was a law that stripped the local gentry, who prided themselves as scholars, of their prestige and honor.

Chapter 153
Elements of Uncertainty (2)

Chapter 153: Elements of Uncertainty (2)

As soon as the ‘Law Regarding the Treatment of Non-Official Degree Holders’, colloquially known as the ‘Noble Law’, was promulgated, a massive storm swept through the local officials all over Joseon.

“We must submit a petition immediately! This is the worst of bad laws!”

“Right! Right!”

The backlash from many local officials was natural as they saw the benefits they had taken for granted disappear.

It was inevitable that a stream of petitions once again flooded into Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Facing this influx of petitions, Sejong publicly criticized the officials’ backlash.

– What is the purpose of the civil service examination? It is to select talents among those who wish to serve the country and its people!

– The distribution of red and white badges to the exam passers and the provision of various benefits were intended to enable those who were unprepared to get ready and contribute to making Joseon stronger!

– However, many are exploiting the country’s kindness for their own personal gain!

– Therefore, the country will no longer show such kindness. Only those who truly wish to serve the nation and those who have served will be treated accordingly.

Sejong’s public declaration that ‘without official service, there will be no benefits’ infuriated the local officials.

“Is this what a country is supposed to be!”

“What are the ministers doing? If the king is going astray, shouldn’t they risk their lives to stop him!”

“Since the departure of former Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon, only cowards remain in the court!”

Gathered at the Confucian academies under the pretext of offering sacrifices to the sages, the local officials, one and all, bitterly criticized Sejong and the ministers.

In the midst of this, praises for Ryu Jeong-hyeon and his supporters began to surface.

However, there were no outright acts of resistance. They knew they were losing in terms of moral high ground.

Thus, in secluded places, subversive talks began to circulate.

“The king’s tyranny is a sign of the nation’s downfall! To save Joseon, we must change the heavens!”

“We must restore the ousted legitimate heir of the former king!”

“If we think about it, the expulsion of the former king’s legitimate heir was dubious! This surely indicates a conspiracy!”

Among the local officials in the provinces, slanderous remarks began to circulate gradually.

Naturally, if these remarks were caught by the local authorities or reported, it would cause an uproar.

Therefore, the spread of these slanderous remarks was exceedingly slow.

Not all local officials in the provinces were engaged in such subversive activities.

“Exactly! This is how it should be! This is the proper law!”

Surprisingly, there were local officials who actively supported the laws promulgated by Sejong.

Those expressing support were mostly retired officials from the local aristocracy.

These officials, regardless of whether they were from the military or civil branches, were actively endorsing Sejong’s laws.

They supported Sejong’s decisions because, to them, the local aristocrats were an eyesore.

“While some are toiling away in the court, others are just sitting around filling their own bellies…”

“And acting all high and mighty…”

“What’s wrong with being a military official!”

As mentioned before, those who had served in the bureaucracy and returned to their hometowns often faced considerable ostracism in the local gentry society.

Those who were ostracized welcomed Sejong’s laws.

“Now we’ll see who the real nobles are!”

* * *

Sejong’s view of the local officials was straightforward.

‘The enemy of royal authority.’

Thus, Sejong aggressively implemented reform policies to corner the local officials.

The intensity of these measures was such that even Hyang, who tended to view the local officials negatively due to his 21st-century memories, felt a sense of crisis.

“Isn’t this dangerous?”

Ultimately, Hyang sought an audience with Sejong.

“Let the historians leave for a moment.”

After sending out the historians, Hyang instructed the inner court officials.

“Likely, the historians will cling to the door. Make sure they are sent far away.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And you all wait outside the door.”

Upon Hyang’s command, Chief Eunuch looked at Sejong. Sejong responded to the unspoken question.

“Follow the Crown Prince’s order.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In the Kangnyeongjeon Hall, only Sejong and Hyang remained. Hyang, with a voice full of concern, asked Sejong,

“Father, isn’t this approach too aggressive?”

“What do you mean?”

“Regarding the policies towards the local officials.”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong smiled, but there was no warmth in that smile.

“Crown Prince, I know you often read military texts.”

“I do have an interest in them.”

Hyang had extensively studied military texts to better understand and convey tactics to the military officers, particularly regarding the more efficient — or 21st-century — use of infantry and artillery.

Sejong continued his questioning based on Hyang’s response.

“So, what do those military texts say about pressing the enemy? Or rather, what does Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’, in the chapter on waging war, advise?”

After a brief moment of recollection, Hyang replied,

“When moving troops, be as swift as the wind, and when not moving, be as silent as the forest. When attacking and seizing, be as fierce as fire, and when defending, be immovable as a mountain. When hidden, be as unseen as black clouds obscuring the stars, but when moving troops, strike as swiftly as lightning.”

“You know it well. Then, what stage do you think we are in right now?”

Prompted by Sejong’s question, Hyang began to analyze the current situation. In the midst of this analysis, Hyang sighed.

“Phew… If this were a war, it’s the stage where the troops have already been mobilized.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded with a pleased expression.

“That’s right. Looking at the current situation, the enemy is unprepared, and we have struck a decisive blow. Can we stop here? If we stop now, the enemy will regroup and counterattack.”

“But, they also have considerable power.”

To Hyang’s counterargument, Sejong rebutted,

“That’s exactly why we can’t miss this opportunity. Do you think they will be reformed under the current circumstances?”

“No, they won’t.”

“Correct. Stopping here in the hopes of reforming them would only repeat the folly of Duke Song Yang.”

Sejong, referencing the ‘overly compassionate’ approach of Duke Song Yang, left Hyang with no choice but to concede.

“I will follow your will, Father. I was merely concerned that those driven into a corner might resort to reckless actions.”

“That would be a good thing. It would give us an opportunity to address potential problems.”

“Yes.”

Though Hyang responded, the worry was evident in his expression, prompting Sejong to speak again.

“Crown Prince, what do you think a king must do for our Joseon dynasty to last a thousand years?”

“…”

Hyang hesitated, overwhelmed by the multitude of theories that came to mind.

Seeing Hyang’s struggle, Sejong smiled.

“You… is it that you don’t know the answer?”

“No, it’s just that too many thoughts are coming to me…”

“Sometimes, seeing you like this, I feel ‘excess is just as bad as deficiency’ isn’t wrong.”

“I apologize.”

“No need for apologies… In my view, there are two ways: one is for the king to do everything, and the other is for the king to do nothing.”

‘Is it about being an absolute monarch or a constitutional monarch?’

Upon Sejong’s words, Hyang quickly replied,

“There is also a way to appropriately share responsibilities with the ministers.”

Sejong shook his head in disagreement with Hyang’s statement.

“Republicanism sounds good but is the worst of the worst strategies. Power and wealth, the more one has, the more one wants.

If we rashly implement republicanism, there will be disputes between the king and ministers, among the ministers themselves, between the king and the people, and between the ministers and the people. The result would be nothing but the ruin of the country.”

“But, Father, the two options you mentioned are also difficult to realize.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s observation.

“That’s true. The first option, if the king is incompetent or a tyrant like Goujian, would lead straight to the ruin of the country. The second can see the country crumble due to the schemes of eunuchs or ministers. There’s only one way to prevent this.”

When Sejong paused, Hyang immediately asked,

“What is that method, Your Majesty?”

Sejong answered firmly,

“The people must be enlightened. Enlightened people must guard against the king and ministers straying onto the wrong path.”

Hyang’s eyes widened at Sejong’s words.

‘Oh my! Is he suddenly shifting from an absolute monarch to an enlightened monarch?’

Seeing Hyang’s expression, Sejong smiled slightly and continued,

“And this is in line with the political views you’ve expressed before, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“What I’m doing now is removing the obstacles between the king and the people.”

“What do you mean by obstacles?”

“True scholars who learn the way of the sages should enlighten and awaken the people. But instead of doing so, they are exploiting the people. Such people are only useless barriers. I will remove these barriers and enlighten the people.”

As Sejong explained his intentions, he looked at Hyang.

“For more people to be enlightened, we must create a new script. The current Chinese characters only lead to the monopoly of knowledge.”

“That’s true.”

Hyang strongly nodded in agreement with Sejong’s point.

“Well, it’s getting late. Let’s rest for today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Have a peaceful night’s sleep.”

* * *

Upon leaving Kangnyeongjeon, Hyang looked back at the hall and murmured softly.

“Listening to Father, it seems he’s determined… I just hope things don’t get too out of hand.”

Hyang couldn’t hide his worry over Sejong’s firm stance against the local officials and sighed deeply.

“Phew… I just hope everything goes smoothly.”

As he headed back to the Eastern Palace, Hyang continued to organize his thoughts.

“At least one positive aspect is that Father is still committed to creating a new script. Considering the materials we’ve procured so far, there must be significant progress… After this issue settles, I can subtly offer advice.”

At the same time, Sejong, now in his nightclothes, looked in the direction of Eastern Palace and mumbled,

“Judging by his reaction when I brought it up, he seems to have thought about the creation of a new script to some extent. Once this matter is resolved, and there’s more leeway in the research institute and Area 51, I should involve him in the work. A little help from him when we hit a snag should wrap things up quickly.”

The father and son, thinking differently while lying in the same bed, were a perfect example of ‘same bed, different dreams.’

* * *

While the local officials were stirring in the provinces, an undercurrent was also flowing in Hanyang.

“Sir… Leader.”

“What is it?”

The leader of the secret police in Dadoong looked up as his subordinate approached.

“What’s up? Is there something?”

At the leader’s inquiry, the subordinate cautiously spoke up.

“Recently, some strange characters seem to be entering Hanyang.”

“Strange characters?”

“Yes, they seem to be from our line of work, but they don’t appear to be affiliated with Bukchon or Unjongga.”

“Huh?”

The leader’s face grew serious at the subordinate’s words.

If the subordinate referred to them as ‘eating the same rice’, it implied that these strangers were either private soldiers or part of their own secret police network. The issue was that they were not recognizable faces.

The leader of the secret police was well aware that the current atmosphere outside Hanyang was not normal.

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

After pondering for a moment, the leader stood up.

“I will pay a visit to Bukchon and Unjongga. Meanwhile, gather our men and see if you can find more of these characters.”

“Yes. And if we find them, we’ll see where they’re heading.”

“Yes.”

* * *

In a gisaeng house in Bukchon. The leaders of the secret police, who held sway over Hanyang’s nightlife, gathered together.

“…so I told the guys to follow them.”

After hearing the leader from Dadoong, the leader from Unjongga joined in.

“Our guys are saying something similar. They’ve seen a few suspicious characters around the Unjongga guesthouses.”

“Hmm…”

The leaders from Dadoong and Unjongga’s words made the leader of Bukchon stroke his chin thoughtfully.

“It’s true that the current state of affairs is a bit problematic.”

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the Bukchon leader looked around at the other leaders.

“Let’s report this to the higher-ups.”

Chapter 154
Elements of Uncertainty (3)

Late at night, at Kangnyeongjeon.

“Let’s call it a day for now. You have all worked hard.”

“May you rest comfortably tonight.”

After sending the officials away, Sejong had just changed into his night robes when an eunuch standing outside reported.

“Your Majesty, the Chief of the Royal Guard requests an audience.”

“Let him in.”

Shortly after, the Chief of the Royal Guard entered Kangnyeongjeon, bowed respectfully to Sejong, and took his seat.

“What brings you here?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the Chief of the Royal Guard glanced around and then spoke softly.

“Urgent news has arrived from Cheonggyecheon.”

Sejong’s face tensed up at the report and he extended his hand.

“Let me see it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Sejong’s command, the Chief of the Royal Guard pulled out a well-sealed letter from his robe and handed it to Sejong. Sejong opened the envelope, took out the letter inside, and slowly read through its contents.

After reading the letter for a while, Sejong let out a long sigh and handed it back.

“Hmm. Read it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chief of the Royal Guard respectfully took the letter and began to read it carefully.

After finishing, the expression on the Chief’s face was more serious than ever.

“Have you finished reading?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Immediate orders must be issued to the left and right bureaus of surveillance.”

Sejong shook his head at the request.

“No, I won’t issue them. If we issue orders now, we might commit the folly of ‘startling the snake by beating the grass’. Inform Cheonggyecheon as follows: Find out who they are meeting with and where they are staying. Also, warn them not to be blinded by a sense of righteousness and make mistakes.”

“I will convey your instructions.”

“And, can the Royal Guard and the Golden Army be trusted?”

At Sejong’s question, the Chief of the Royal Guard responded firmly.

“The Royal Guard is loyal only to Your Majesty.”

“I will trust only you, Chief of the Royal Guard.”

At Sejong’s words, the Chief of the Royal Guard saluted.

“I will not betray Your Majesty’s trust!”

After the Chief of the Royal Guard left, Sejong looked at the letter with a troubled face. Opening the glass cover of the lamp, he set the letter on fire and watched it burn on a copper tray, muttering to himself.

“Brother, I hope it’s not you.”

* * *

Upon receiving orders through secret channels, the secret police investigators immediately began their operation. Utilizing their members skilled in tailing and the beggars around Cheonggyecheon, they eventually started gathering approximate information about the subjects in question.

“We’ve found them.”

“Really? Where?”

“At the house of former Minister of Law and Punishment…”

The report from the member made the leader of Bukchon secret police’s face grow serious.

“Former minister of Law and Punishment… Seo Dal’s father?”

“Yes.”

At the member’s report, the leader smacked his lips.

“Tsk! They’re really going ahead with their plans.”

At the leader’s remark, all the members nodded in agreement. Everyone in Hanyang knew about the bad blood created between Sejong, the Crown Prince, and former Minister of Law and Punishment Seo Seon and his son Seo Dal.

“Will you report this immediately?”

At the member’s question, the leader shook his head.

“No. We’ll gather more information first. Who among our kids is good at scaling walls? Seems like it’s time for a game of cat and mouse.”

Upon hearing their leader’s words, the members of Bukchon secret police started listing those among them who were skilled at such tasks.

Similar activities were underway in the secret police of Dadong and Unjongga.

“The problem is the duplication and poor organization of information.”

At a meeting with only the leaders present, the leader of Dadong secret police pointed out the issue, to which the other leaders all nodded in agreement.

“It seems best for us to join hands and move together this time.”

“Let’s do that.”

Following their agreement, a kind of temporary joint headquarters was established. The more intellectually inclined members, serving as strategists, gathered to analyze the information coming in from members of each secret police.

“Those flocking to Hanyang now are coming from the Gyeonggi region.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought they’d be from the noisy Samnam region.”

“Gyeonggi region… Can’t be helped. It’s too far for them to come from Samnam.”

The strategists of each secret police started putting together a larger picture with the incoming information.

As they pieced together this picture, the strategists realized they were missing something important.

“This feels a bit unsettling, doesn’t it?”

“What exactly?”

“Can lord Seo really pull off this operation on his own?”

“There are other nobles involved, aren’t there?”

“Those nobles are just feathers, and the problem is lord Seo might be the body, but he lacks the head, the brain. After initiating an act as serious as Bumgweol (trespassing the royal palace), do you think he can just retreat?”

The Bukchon secret police strategist, well-versed in the ways of the nobility, made a point that led the other strategists to nod in agreement.

“That makes sense.”

“It’s absurd to think lord Seo himself aspires to the throne…”

As they pondered the question ‘Who then is the brain behind this?’, a strategist from Dadong secret police suddenly stood up.

“Gwangju!”

“Gwangju? The one in Jeolla Province?”

“No, you fool! Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province!”

“Ah!”

The other strategists gasped at the revelation from the Dadoong secret police strategist.

In Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, was Grand Prince Yangnyeong.

Yangnyeong had all the qualities to be the mastermind. He was originally the eldest son of the former king and the crown prince before being demoted.

“If he’s involved, the influx of people from Gyeonggi region isn’t just a matter of distance!”

“The main force is from Gyeonggi!”

With Yangnyeong as the presumed head, the picture they were painting rapidly came together.

* * *

Though demoted from the position of crown prince, Yangnyeong continued to live a life of turmoil.

He constantly caused trouble with alcohol and women and roamed around under the pretext of hunting, creating problems.

Suddenly, Yangnyeong would appear, conscripting local villagers as beaters for his hunts and squandering the resources stored in government offices and monopolies during his feasts. Complaints from local officials and Ministry of Taxation officials became frequent, lamenting the hardships caused by his extravagance.

Moreover, he frequently ignored the order not to enter Hanyang and visited the palace.

As a result, numerous petitions from ministers demanding Yangnyeong’s punishment poured in, but Sejong did not accept them. For Sejong, Yangnyeong was his political Achilles’ heel.

* * *

Upon hearing the strategists’ reports, the leaders immediately issued orders.

“Find out where that nobleman is right now!”

“That’s not advisable!”

The strategists countered the leaders’ commands.

“We control Hanyang, but we are outsiders elsewhere. We’ll be discovered immediately!”

“That’s right! It’s better to start trailing him the moment he enters Hanyang!”

“He might already be in Hanyang! We should report to the higher-ups first and then scour Hanyang again!”

Following the strategists’ advice, the leaders sat back down to reassess the situation.

After exchanging opinions, they quickly reached a conclusion.

“First, we report to the higher-ups.”

* * *

The report prepared by the secret police was promptly delivered to Sejong.

“Seo Seon, huh…”

“Should we arrest him right away?”

Sejong, grinding his teeth as he repeated Seo Seon’s name upon seeing it in the secret police’s report, was asked by the Chief of the Royal Guard.

Sejong shook his head in response to the Chief’s question.

“No, we will not act rashly for now. However, Chief of the Royal Guard, prepare the Royal Guard quietly. It’s likely that we will need to move soon. Such an event is bound to happen.”

“Understood.”

The Chief of the Royal Guard bowed and acknowledged Sejong’s command.

As Sejong was burning the letter, he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten and quickly turned to the Chief of the Royal Guard.

“Chief of the Royal Guard!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How much does Seo Seon know about the armament of the Royal Guard?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the Chief of the Royal Guard paused to recall and then answered.

“He was aware of the deployment of the muskets.”

“What about the semi-automatic muskets?”

When Sejong mentioned the semi-automatic muskets, the Chief of the Royal Guard quickly grasped the crux of the question.

“At that time, it had not been deployed yet, but if it’s lord Seo, he would have anticipated even that.”

“Indeed? Then prepare the long-range cannons well. But ensure that no rumors spread.”

“I will comply with your command.”

“It’s imperative that no rumors leak out.”

The Chief of the Royal Guard promptly acknowledged Sejong’s emphasis on secrecy.

“We can use Area 51 for that purpose.”

“I see. I will speak to the Crown Prince about this matter.”

The weapons used by the Royal Guard and the Golden Army were regularly maintained in Area 51. It wasn’t just for maintenance. Area 51 was also the location where the Royal Guard and the Golden Army soldiers conducted live-fire training.

After the Chief of the Royal Guard left, Sejong looked at the ashes of the burned letter. He had not shown the letter to the Chief because of one name written on it.

“Brother, please take care of yourself.”

* * *

Despite the unrest in Hanyang, Sejong did not cease his offensive against the local gentry.

The final and most devastating attack on the gentry was the ‘Tax Reform’.

– “From this year, all those earning an income will be taxed.”

– “The tax rate will be based on the amount of property and income one possesses.”

The new tax system, dubbed ‘Property Income Tax’, was to levy taxes on everyone from tenant farmers to the local gentry.

-The self-sustaining farmers will pay taxes ranging from a minimum of 4 pun to a maximum of 6 pun, based on their harvest, owned houses, fields, and the number of livestock they raise.

-Tenant farmers will also be taxed according to the same criteria, paying a minimum of 1 pun to a maximum of 1 pun and 5 ri.

-However, if a tenant farmer cultivates land larger than the average size owned by a self-sustaining farmer, and their harvest exceeds the average of self-sustaining farmers, then they will be taxed at the same rate as self-sustaining farmers.

-Tenant farmers who properly pay their taxes will have their rights protected by the state.

Although there was initial dissatisfaction among tenant farmers over being taxed, this quickly subsided. The tax rate was low, and there was an added incentive that proper tax payment would ensure protection from the state.

For self-sustaining farmers, the system was relatively favorable. Although the tax rate slightly increased, the burden of compulsory labor (tribute) was completely eliminated.

However, the local gentry faced a tax bombshell.

The tax rate differed based on whether their houses were thatched or tiled, and the number of rooms in the house further influenced the rate.

Taxes were also variably applied to the land they owned, based on its area and productivity.

The biggest issue was related to slaves. The tax rate changed depending on the number of slaves owned, especially those of working age.

Furthermore, this tax rate was progressive.

As a result, the taxes to be paid by the local gentry were significantly higher compared to those of self-sustaining farmers.

The least taxed individual paid 30% of their yearly harvest, with an average tax rate of 46 pun. There were not a few who were taxed at an astonishing rate of 58 pun.

However, gentry with names recorded in the local registry received a slightly more lenient standard.

– “These individuals have served the country with the toil of dogs and horses, and thus deserve proper respect.”

Another blow was dealt to the gentry who now faced the burden of unexpectedly high taxes.

– “All taxes must be paid in currency!”

-The currency can only be exchanged at the newly established National Joseon Exchange.

Upon Sejong’s announcement, the more astute among the gentry began to quickly find solutions.

“It’s a hint to manumit our slaves.”

“Since income is what remains after expenses… we may not feel it this year, but from next year onwards, we’ll have to hire laborers.”

Those who quickly found answers were mostly those who had recently retired from government positions.

Others, the majority of the gentry, chose to react not with acceptance but with resistance.

“Let’s submit a petition!”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Once again, petitions started pouring in, followed by news that local gentry from the provinces were planning to come to the capital to protest.

Receiving these reports, Sejong assessed the situation.

“If it ends with just a protest, that would be fortunate. But there’s a chance these fools might start something. Then, those in Hanyang will seize the opportunity. They know there’s a limit to the forces that can be deployed to the palace, so they won’t miss this chance.”

Traditionally, when the Jurchen tribes in the north or the Japanese pirates in the south caused disturbances, the troops guarding the palace were redeployed to the front lines.

Therefore, those planning to trespass the palace were likely hoping for the gentry to rise up.

Knowing this, Sejong had already devised a covert plan, mobilizing the Chief of the Royal Guard and a few military officials.

Having assessed the situation, Sejong sighed deeply.

“Hmm. With this opportunity, it’s time to settle some matters…”

Chapter 155
Trespassing the Palace (1)

In the Bukchon area of Hanyang.

It was a wealthy village of Joseon, where tiled houses of current and former high-ranking officials clustered.

In a large 70-room tiled house in Bukchon, an elderly scholar was seated in the largest room of the guest house.

With all the doors and windows wide open, the scholar stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the moon in the night sky.

“Your Excellency, it’s dangerous to be in such an open place.”

Hearing Nam Junseok’s words from the front yard of the guest house, the scholar chuckled softly and replied.

“Haha. What use is the life of this old man who has no power? If someone wanted me dead, I would have been long gone by now.”

At the scholar’s response, Nam Junseok implored once more.

“The great undertaking is not far off. You must be more cautious, especially now.”

“With you here, what do I have to worry about? I trust only in you.”

“Your Excellency!”

“Alright, I’ll be careful.”

Acknowledging Nam Junseok’s words, the scholar nodded with a resigned look. As the scholar stepped back, Nam Junseok gestured to his followers, who silently entered the guest house and closed the doors.

“Leave the southern window open. I still want to enjoy the moonlight.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

With that, Nam Junseok closed the doors and quietly ordered his men in a low voice.

“The great undertaking is near. Pay extra attention to Your Excellency’s protection and vigilance.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Following Nam Junseok’s command, a group of warriors took up positions around the guest house for security, while others patrolled along the walls.

Leaning on the window frame and looking at the moonlight, the scholar murmured softly.

“A great undertaking… Revenge would be more fitting.”

The scholar was Seo Seon, who had returned from his hometown.

* * *

Seo Dal had to be imprisoned in the Royal Inspectorate jail for ‘ordering an assault on an official in official attire.’

To prevent Seo Dal’s punishment, Seo Seon submitted his resignation, but due to strong insistence from the local community, Seo Dal had to endure 100 lashes.

Furthermore, complaints poured in about Seo Dal’s misdeeds, relying solely on Seo Seon’s power, prompting officials to demand punishment for Seo Seon as well.

Yielding to the officials’ demands, Seo Seon was stripped of his public service merits and military titles, and was also expelled from his position as Minister of Law and Punishments.

“Your Majesty! I will accept my punishment, but please, show mercy to my only son!”

Seo Seon pleaded for clemency for his son Seo Dal, but Sejong ordered the execution of the sentence. The situation was further exacerbated by the Hyang (local community).

“Don’t let him off easily!”

Under the order of the Crown Prince, the future authority, the soldiers carrying out the punishment struck Seo Dal with full force, a total of 100 lashes.

A flogging of more than 10 lashes was often fatal. Therefore, the executing soldiers usually didn’t strike so harshly unless the convict truly deserved it. Moreover, it was common for the soldiers to accept bribes from the criminal’s family and lash more leniently.

However, the circumstances were dire this time. Hyang had stationed himself at the place of punishment to ensure its proper execution.

As a result, Seo Dal’s pelvic bones were completely shattered.

“It seems he will not be able to walk on his own for the rest of his life.”

Upon hearing the physician’s response, Seo Seon asked anxiously.

“What about his lower body? Can he still have children?”

The physician shook his head silently to Seo Seon’s question.

“Look here! This boy is the only son of our family! I will give whatever wealth you ask for, just please cure him!”

Sighing, the physician responded to Seo Seon.

“There is little I can do at this point. First, his wounds need to heal, and he needs to recuperate in a comfortable place.”

“Ah, I understand!”

Following the physician’s advice, Seo Seon led his family to their main residence in Icheon.

However, Seo Dal did not recover. The injuries sustained from the flogging led to necrosis of the skin and muscles, causing multiple complications. Eventually, Seo Dal died within 100 days.

Seo Dal’s death brought tragedy to Seo Seon’s family. Unable to bear the shock of her precious son’s death from the beating, Seo Seon’s wife also passed away.

After conducting funerals for his son and wife, Seo Seon cried tears of blood and vowed.

“Your Majesty! I will avenge this grudge! And I will take revenge on those who worked with me for decades yet said nothing!”

Seo Seon, determined for a blood revenge, began to plan his vengeance.

“I cannot do this alone. I need others to join me. To gather people, I need a cause. A cause…”

As Seo Seon struggled to find a cause, an unexpected person approached him.

“Your Excellency, a visitor has arrived.”

“A visitor? Who would seek an old man with no power in the backroom… Who did they say it was?”

The servant cautiously answered Seo Seon’s query.

“He said you would know him by the name Yangnyeong.”

Crash!

Startled by the servant’s response, Seo Seon pushed away his desk and rose to his feet.

“Grand Prince Yangnyeong is here! The heavens have heard my prayers! Thank you, heavens!”

Barefoot, Seo Seon rushed into the courtyard, where he saw Yangnyeong dressed in a splendid robe, surrounded by warriors. Seo Seon ran towards them and prostrated himself.

“I greet Your Highness the Grand Prince!”

“I came quickly upon hearing of your sorrow, but it seems I am late. My apologies.”

“No, not at all! Please, come inside!”

It was a meeting of two individuals who harbored resentment against Sejong.

* * *

In front of Sejong, he wore a frivolous smile, but his resentment towards Grand Prince Yangnyeong could never be appeased.

“That place was mine!”

Each time Yangnyeong looked down at Sejong seated in Geunjeongjeon, he had to forcibly suppress the rage boiling within him.

Yangnyeong, in his own right, was capable, but his competence was overshadowed by various incidents and accidents.

At the root of such incidents caused by Yangnyeong lay his intense self-love.

Behind this extreme narcissism of Yangnyeong were Taejong and Queen Wongyeong.

According to records, Grand Prince Yangnyeong was Taejong’s eldest son. However, in reality, there were three sons older than Yangnyeong, but all three passed away at a young age, too young to even be recorded in the family registry.

Born in such circumstances and having survived the crisis, the affection Taejong and Queen Wongyeong had for Yangnyeong was incomparable.

Of course, they also loved Hyoryeong and Chungnyeong – later Sejong – but the one who received the most love was, undoubtedly, Yangnyeong.

Receiving excessive affection from his parents, Yangnyeong became self-centered.

Due to his strong narcissism, Yangnyeong turned into an extreme egotist, which led to significant problems after he became the Crown Prince.

Before considering the responsibilities of the Crown Prince, Yangnyeong, intoxicated by the power it brought, caused various incidents.

Among the incidents caused by Yangnyeong were many related to women.

He also caused Taejong headaches by recklessly catching and raising falcons under the guise of hunting.

Whenever such incidents occurred, the court officials would be in an uproar, and Taejong had to reprimand Yangnyeong.

However, Yangnyeong’s response to the reprimands was short-lived. Later, he even began to rebel in those very situations.

“What to do with this…”

Taejong, seeking a solution for the ever-wayward Yangnyeong, turned his attention to Chungnyeong.

[TL/N: Chungyeong is Sejong’s birth name before he was enthroned as King.]

At that time, Chungnyeong’s outstanding scholarship and orderly life were widely renowned.

“Yes! If I elevate Chungnyeong, even the Crown Prince will come to his senses!”

Taejong chose Chungnyeong as a stimulus for Yangnyeong.

However, this led to an unexpected outcome: a rivalry ensued between the Crown Prince and Chungnyeong.

Eventually, unable to overcome the aftermath of the purge resulting from the rivalry with Chungnyeong and Taejong’s frequent ‘abdication disturbances’, Yangnyeong ended up ruining his own life.

When Taejong decided to replace the Crown Prince, Queen Wongyeong opposed it.

“Ousting the elder brother to place the younger is the root of rebellion. It cannot be done!” (Note 1)

Taejong even considered making the young prince the Crown Prince due to Queen Wongyeong’s valid opposition. However, the young prince was only five years old at the time.

Taejong, whose health was deteriorating due to a stroke, could not make a choice that would destabilize royal authority.

Thus, on the day the change of the Crown Prince was decided, the now deposed Grand Prince Yangnyeong, yelled at Prince Chungnyeong, who had taken his place.

“All of this happened because you tattled to father about everything I did!” (Note 1)

* * *

Although Yangnyeong was ousted from power, he never gave up.

“The throne of Geunjeongjeon should have been mine!”

Every time he heard the people on the streets praising Sejong, Yangnyeong had to grit his teeth.

‘I could have done just as well!’

In his residence in Gwangju, consumed with rage, Yangnyeong resolved himself.

“I will surely reclaim it! I was called ‘Kwa Haji Yok’ (a term of contempt, literally meaning ‘the one who crawled between the legs’). I will thoroughly humble myself!”

As Yangnyeong recited the anecdote of Han Xin crawling between the legs of bandits, he resolved himself to endure humiliation and bide his time.

Dreaming of a resurgence, Grand Prince Yangnyeong began his preparations step by step.

Under the pretext of hunting, he traveled across Joseon, gathering men of exceptional valor. Claiming to make arrows for hunting, he covertly collected iron by raiding local government storerooms.

Of course, to avoid suspicion, he gathered little by little from various places.

Then, under the guise of throwing a feast, he raided the storerooms again to amass wealth for military funds.

Even amidst these activities, he made sure to appropriately support Sejong’s initiatives.

When Sejong proposed reducing the land grants to the royal family and providing them in kind instead, Yangnyeong subtly resisted but eventually supported the decision. He followed this pattern of mild criticism and compliance with other policies as well.

This was his way of reassuring Sejong while also maintaining favor with other royal family members.

* * *

Despite his meticulous preparations, Yangnyeong faced a significant shortfall.

“I need someone in the court to support me.”

Anticipating a major purge when he reclaimed the throne, he needed individuals to fill those positions.

It was clear that filling these roles with outsiders from the literati would not work efficiently.

He needed someone in the court who could move the officials on his behalf.

“Who could be suitable for this role?”

While pondering over candidates suitable for these positions, Yangnyeong heard that Seo Seon, who had been dismissed from his post, had returned to Icheon.

“It’s divine providence!”

With this thought, Yangnyeong sprang into action.

Grand Prince Yangnyeong and Seo Seon, sharing a common enemy, quickly joined forces.

With Yangnyeong’s support, Seo Seon moved swiftly and quietly.

“The soldiers guarding Gyeongbokgung are armed with muskets. We need muskets too.”

“Can you acquire them?”

“We can’t get the ones made by the Crown Prince, but we can find craftsmen who can make older models like the conventional muskets. The problem is the gunpowder…”

Seo Seon began searching for retired gunpowder makers.

Having located these retired individuals, Seo Seon took their families hostage to coerce them into making gunpowder.

The most crucial ingredient, sulfur, was surprisingly easy to obtain, as a significant amount was available in medicinal herbs collected for treating sores.

Thus, by February of the 11th year of Sejong’s reign, with preparations somewhat complete, Seo Seon reported to Yangnyeong.

“The time has come to enter Hanyang. This year, something big will happen in Joseon.”

“Are you suggesting we use the upcoming tax reform, as per the ‘Economic Reforms’ policy, to our advantage?”

“Yes. Given his nature, he will definitely stick to the schedule, and the local leaders won’t sit idly by.”

Being one of the central figures in the Economic Reforms project, Seo Seon could choose the right moment.

Upon Seo Seon’s suggestion, Grand Prince Yangnyeong swiftly made his decision.

“Good. Let’s proceed.”

Note 1: “Sejong Daewang Sillok: A Single-Volume Read” by Park Young-gyu, Woongjin Knowledge House.

Chapter 156
Trespassing the Palace (2)

Once Yangnyeong made his decision, he and Seo Seon began to move quietly.

“We’ll enter Hanyang in March. But if we all go in at once, we’ll draw attention. Let’s divide the people and enter in small groups.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Na Jun-seok, the leader of the warriors, promptly responded to Seo Seon’s command.

“Then, let’s proceed.”

“My Lord. What about the gunpowder artisans?”

“The gunpowder artisans… Were there other craftsmen too?”

“Yes. Including those brought in for making muskets, there are five craftsmen, and their families number 23 in total.”

Upon hearing Na Jun-seok’s report, Seo Seon pondered for a moment before issuing his order.

“Silence them permanently.”

Na Jun-seok lifted his head in shock at Seo Seon’s ruthless command. Seeing the worry on Na Jun-seok’s face, Seo Seon continued.

“It’s for the greater cause. ‘Sacrifice the small for the greater good’…It’s an unavoidable action. Carry out the order.”

Na Jun-seok bit his lip and bowed his head.

“Yes, My Lord.”

After receiving the order and stepping outside, Na Jun-seok sighed deeply.

“I gave up on paradise when I took up the sword, but now I’m certainly destined for hell.”

Following Seo Seon’s command, Seo Seon and Yangnyeong’s private soldiers dealt with the craftsmen and their families.

* * *

“Could this be discovered?”

Looking at the scattered corpses around, a subordinate asked the question, to which Na Jun-seok calmly replied.

“Wild animals will take care of them in less than five days. Leave the bodies, but search for and destroy any potential evidence.”

“Yes.”

As the subordinate led the other soldiers to search the blacksmith’s and gunpowder workshops, another subordinate rushed in with a report.

“Should we burn down the workshops?”

“Large smoke will attract the attention of the officials. Just demolish them.”

“Understood.”

Thus, the craftsmen and their families fell victim to a merciless purge.

* * *

After organizing their surroundings, Seo Seon and Grand Prince Yangnyeong began to discreetly move their private soldiers into Hanyang in small groups.

Seo Seon was the first to enter Hanyang.

Returning to his house in Bukchon, Seo Seon immediately called his servants and began to win over officials in the court.

Seo Seon, having served as Minister of Justice, knew that many officials were dissatisfied with Sejong’s Economic Reforms.

Moreover, Seo Seon rejoiced upon hearing that this year Sejong had appointed external talents as court officials through various channels.

“They’re digging their own graves!”

Seizing the opportunity of the local leaders’ strong opposition to external talent recruitment and various reform policies, Seo Seon gradually won over the officials.

His targets were those who wished to rise higher but were blocked by the new talent recruitment, as well as those who prioritized their family’s interests over the state and its people.

Another criterion was those with middle and lower ranks.

“These are the waist and limbs of the court. With them, we can easily gather information and paralyze the court when necessary.”

Seo Seon was cunning in his approach.

To the officials he won over, Seo Seon said:

“Observing the king’s actions from the outside, it seems quite perilous.”

“Then why not submit a petition? If it’s from you, My Lord, the king will surely take interest.”

Seo Seon shook his head at the officials’ suggestion.

“I would like to petition, but as a man guilty of great crimes, I cannot. I am merely waiting for the right time. That’s why I’m asking for your help.”

“Help in what way?”

“If the situation becomes more perilous, then I must submit a petition. At that time, lend me your strength.”

“That won’t be difficult.”

“And one more thing. Being disconnected like a kite without a string, I only know of Hanyang and the area around my hometown. Can you keep me informed about the national situation? So I won’t miss the right moment.”

Understanding Seo Seon’s ‘right moment’ as ‘the time to submit a petition,’ the officials readily nodded.

“Yes, we will do so.”

This way, Seo Seon could quickly gather information about movements in the provinces.

* * *

However, with continuous arrival of private soldiers from Icheon and Gwangju, it was inevitable that they would attract attention.

“It seems like rats are scurrying about.”

“Rats?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Na Jun-seok’s response, Seo Seon’s face hardened.

‘Have we been discovered?’

However, after briefly analyzing the situation, Seo Seon smirked and muttered to himself.

“It can’t be Gyeongbokgung. With his lineage, he wouldn’t stay quiet like this… Then, could it be the Secret Police?”

Recalling his time at the Ministry of Justice and memories of Hanyang’s security, Seo Seon turned to Na Jun-seok.

“Is it the Secret Police?”

“It appeared so.”

Upon Na Jun-seok’s reply, Seo Seon quickly gave an order.

“Eliminate them. Can you make it look like a fight among the Secret Police themselves?”

“It’s possible.”

“Then do so.”

“Yes.”

Thus, the night in Hanyang was stained with blood. A quiet yet deadly battle ensued between the Secret Police agents seeking more information and the private soldiers trying to stop them.

Consequently, bodies stabbed with swords began to float up in Cheonggyecheon every two to three days, creating unrest among Hanyang’s citizens and leading to intensified security operations by the police.

As the situation escalated, the leaders of the Secret Police reported to Sejong.

“The order has been given by the king.”

At the leader’s command, the agents straightened up and focused their attention. The leader, gritting his teeth, conveyed Sejong’s order.

“The king has ordered us not to approach the danger any further.”

“Isn’t there going to be any revenge?”

“No, not until those damned dogs make their move.”

“Damn it!”

“This is infuriating!”

The agents exploded in frustration at the leader’s command. As expletives flew from every direction, the leader shouted.

“Quiet! You bastards, shut up!”

As the agents fell silent, the leader continued.

“I understand your frustration, but we must not act rashly and disturb the peace. When they make their move, we can exact our revenge. Understood?”

“Yes, leader.”

“Instead, the king has ordered us to thoroughly investigate who this damned traitor is meeting with. Find every single person who enters and leaves that traitor’s house and identify them. This is the king’s command.”

“Understood.”

The agents suppressed their anger and accepted the orders.

As the mood among the agents settled, the leader brought out a small wooden box.

“The king sent this for those who died or were injured.”

Opening the lid, the box revealed yellow gold and silver ingots, and on top, a nameplate with names personally written by Sejong.

“The king’s command is to distribute these to the families of the deceased and injured. However, the nameplates must be stored separately here.”

“His grace is boundless!”

“Ah!”

The agents were deeply moved, prostrating themselves on the ground and expressing their gratitude.

Observing this, the leader continued.

“Even for the likes of us, the king keeps his promises. Commit your lives to this cause!”

“Yes!”

* * *

Not long after Hanyang’s Secret Police came under Sejong’s control through the efforts of the aromatic operation, Sejong went out in disguise to meet with the Secret Police.

“Greetings to His Majesty!”

The agents from Bukchon, Dadong, and Unjongga, gathered at one of Unjongga’s pavilions, trembled and prostrated themselves as soon as they saw Sejong.

“Shh! Quiet! I am incognito right now.”

Sejong, with a smile in his voice, commanded them.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Having gathered the Secret Police, Sejong then told them the truth.

“I have taken you under my command, but I cannot announce this fact. Firstly, because you are the Secret Police. The moment I make this public, there will be more than a few who will rise in rebellion. Furthermore, your wrongdoings become my wrongdoings.”

“Yes.”

The agents nodded, understanding Sejong’s words. They themselves were well aware of their own conduct.

The leader continued, observing their reaction.

“Secondly, and most importantly, you must become my hidden eyes and ears. If your existence is revealed, those harboring ill intentions will hide deeper, and greater sacrifices will be required. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Therefore, I regretfully must put you through hardship. Others may not know, but I and those who follow me will recognize your struggles. I promise! I cannot give you public rewards or rights! But if you die or are injured, I will surely compensate, and you will be remembered. This is a promise on my royal honor.”

At Sejong’s words, the leaders and agents all replied in unison.

“We will spare no effort for His Majesty and the country!”

* * *

Following Sejong’s command, the Secret Police stepped back.

“Recently, we haven’t seen any Secret Police activity.”

Hearing Na Jun-seok’s report, Seo Seon casually responded.

“They must have felt the difference in strength and backed off.”

“What if they have something else planned…?”

“Those are just parasites living off the money of courtesans. Do they even have the capability for such a plan?”

Responding to Na Jun-seok’s concern, Seo Seon pointed out the reality.

“Scared of them hastening our grand plan? Moving now would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. The best course is to strengthen our guard and make thorough preparations.”

“Understood.”

As Na Jun-seok left, Seo Seon muttered softly.

“Revenge against him and his offspring comes first. The success or failure of the grand plan is secondary.”

Stepping outside, Na Jun-seok sighed deeply.

“Ah… Seo Seon’s words are not wrong, but why this unease… But the sword is already drawn…”

Na Jun-seok hastened his subordinates to stay vigilant.

However, he knew well that for Seo Seon, the priority was not the success of the plan, but revenge.

That was the source of his unease.

* * *

‘Secretly bring the hidden military explosives into the palace.’

“Ah…”

Receiving the secret message through the captain of the royal guard, Hyang sighed deeply.

After burning the message, Hyang asked the captain.

“What about attacking now?”

“The issue with the military explosives and the need to keep some hidden until the end make it impossible, as commanded.”

“I see. Ah…”

Hyang sighed again, considering other issues.

“Can we trust the loyalty of the Inner Palace Guards and the Golden Army?”

“We’ve already identified potential suspects.”

“I see. Next issue, using the secret military explosives requires cannons, but does the Golden Army have artillerymen?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang pondered the situation, considering the words of the Inner Palace Guard Captain.

‘Relying solely on the walls of Gyeongbokgung for defense is impractical, and firing cannons from Gwanghwamun Gate Tower could destroy nearby civilian houses… Ultimately, the battle will need to be fought near Geunjeongjeon, but the cannons could be too cumbersome there… ’

Analyzing various scenarios, Hyang irritably scratched his head after removing his official hat.

“Ah! If only we had machine guns at a time like this!”

“What is a machine gun?”

At the Inner Palace Guard Captain’s question, Hyang waved his hand dismissively.

“Ah! It’s a type of firearm I’m conceptualizing! But why do we need the secret military explosives?”

“Because lord Seo is already aware of the existence of firearms, he’ll surely be well-prepared for them.”

“Indeed…”

Hyang nodded at the captain’s words but looked displeased.

‘The lethal range of the secret military explosives is too extensive… ’

After a moment of contemplation, Hyang stood up.

“Would you accompany me for a moment? I believe there might be a more suitable solution than the secret military explosives.”

“Yes? Yes.”

Hyang led the Inner Palace Guard Captain to the testing area of Area 51. When they arrived at the testing ground, a prepared item was already there, brought by a court eunuch sent ahead.

“What is this? It looks like a juggling ball.”

Seeing the unfamiliar object, the Inner Palace Guard Captain turned to Hyang. Hyang briefly replied to his question.

“This is called a throwing bomb.”

It was a hand grenade.

Chapter 157
Trespassing the Palace (3)

“A throwing bomb?”

“Yes. It’s like a smaller version of the secret military explosives that can be used by regular soldiers.”

“Hmm…”

As the Inner Palace Guard Captain inspected the throwing bomb, Hyang gestured to a soldier standing nearby.

“Let me show you how to use it.”

“Yes.”

The soldier approached, and Hyang opened the bottom cap of the bomb by twisting it. The lower part of the opened pouch was sealed with paper, bulging out in the middle.

“This bulging part contains a detonator. The wick inside the pouch connects to the explosive head on top.”

After explaining the key parts, Hyang handed the bomb to the soldier.

“Throw! Throw! Throw!”

The soldier, after receiving the bomb, shouted warnings in all directions, then struck the bulging part of the bomb against a protective wall and hurled it far away, quickly ducking behind the wall. Hyang and the Inner Palace Guard Captain also ducked for cover.

Boom!

Soon after, a loud explosion occurred. As the bomb detonated successfully, Hyang stood up and turned to the Inner Palace Guard Captain.

“What do you think?”

After inspecting the explosion site, the captain stroked his beard and said,

“It’s similar to a traditional firecracker.”

“It’s more convenient than that. There’s no need to carry a flame to ignite it.”

“I see…”

Nodding, the Inner Palace Guard Captain turned to Hyang.

“How much stock do we have now?”

Following the captain’s decision, a large quantity of throwing bombs was discreetly distributed into Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Meanwhile, as the situation grew increasingly serious, Hyang called the Inner Palace Guard Captain to inquire,

“Is there a plan in place for the Queen’s evacuation?”

“Not yet…”

“What about an emergency evacuation plan for the Central Palace where the Queen resides?”

“Not yet…”

At the captain’s response, Hyang sighed softly.

“Ah…”

“Every time a coup occurred, the king was captured because he couldn’t escape. There was a reason for that.”

Seeing the Inner Palace Guard Captain’s face, unable to hide his remorse, Hyang calmly took out a piece of paper.

“Let’s prepare.”

While devising the emergency evacuation plan, Hyang gathered the Crown Princess, the concubines, and a very few trusted eunuchs, explaining the escape plan to them.

“Remember this well. If an emergency arises, act according to this plan.”

As Hyang finished speaking, the Crown Princess asked him,

“Will Your Highness not be joining us?”

To the Crown Princess’s question, Hyang replied firmly,

“I must stay and suppress the enemy.”

The Crown Princess bit her lip at Hyang’s response and made a shocking statement.

“Then I will stay as well.”

“Crown Princess! It’s dangerous!”

“If something happens to Your Highness, living would be meaningless. Whether I live or die, I will be with Your Highness!”

At the Crown Princess’s words, Yangje and Yangwon also stepped forward.

[TL/N: Yangje and Yangwon is Hyang’s second and third consorts]

“I too will stay!”

“I as well…”

Faced with the declarations of the Crown Princess, Yangje, and Yangwon, Hyang looked troubled.

“Ah…”

Yet, Hyang didn’t stop trying to persuade them.

“If a conflict breaks out, it will be dangerous.”

The Crown Princess smiled and responded,

“Have you forgotten? My skills with the firearm are better than yours, Your Highness.”

“Ah…”

Hyang was left speechless.

* * *

On the first night, trying to break the ice, Hyang discussed firearms with the Crown Princess, leading to a conversation about gunnery.

Intrigued by the Crown Princess’s confidence in archery, Hyang taught her how to shoot with both the shoulder-fired and horseback muskets.

And the result was…

‘Folks, we have a sniper here!’

Hyang was astounded to witness the Crown Princess, using the horseback musket — notorious for its reduced accuracy at 30 paces (about 36 meters) — accurately hit a target at 50 paces (about 60 meters).

“How do you feel about shooting the musket?”

“Better than archery!”

The Crown Princess replied with a flushed face.

Becoming fond of shooting, the Crown Princess regularly visited the shooting range with Yangje and Yangwon, turning it into a daily routine.

Naturally, frequent practice led to valuable feedback.

“Your Highness, I have something to suggest…”

The Crown Princess hesitantly started, and Hyang, smiling, encouraged her to speak.

“What is it?”

Responding to Hyang’s question, the Crown Princess broached the main topic.

“Shooting the musket often, I’ve noticed a few issues…”

Hyang’s face grew serious.

“Problems? Is it serious enough to call a physician?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just… when shooting the horseback musket, I thought it might be better if there was something to support it…”

“Something to support it? Go on.”

Encouraged by Hyang’s interest instead of criticism, the Crown Princess confidently explained.

“It would be helpful to have something to rest the musket on the shoulder, like with the long musket.”

“Hmm?”

Hyang’s mind raced with images of 21st-century firearms with buttstocks he had seen online.

‘A revolver with a buttstock?’

Pondering whether it would fit, Hyang recalled a similar firearm from a Western movie and nodded.

‘That could work.’

“I understand. I’ll give it some thought.”

“And the longer the musket, the farther it can accurately shoot, so it would be great if its length could be extended.”

“I’ll consider that as well.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Then… let’s continue!”

“Aha!”

Their honeymoon was ablaze with excitement.

* * *

Not long after, Hyang created a custom musket as the Crown Princess had desired. It had a detachable buttstock and an extended barrel. Seeing the custom musket, Hyang chuckled.

“In the world… I must be the only guy who made a custom pistol for his wife.”

Then, taking the newly created custom pistol to the shooting range with the Crown Princess, Hyang was astounded.

The Crown Princess turned a target 80 paces (about 96 meters) away into a honeycomb.

As a postscript, when the military saw the newly improved musket, they begged Hyang for it.

“Please supply the army with this musket!”

“Why?”

“It’s the perfect weapon for cavalry! The horseback musket is useful in close combat but has a short effective range. The long musket is good for one shot, then it’s just a club!”

“Ah…”

Eventually, Hyang’s custom pistol was supplied to the cavalry as ‘long-range muskets’.

When the artisans received the design of the long-range muskets, they were puzzled by the Western characters written at the top of the diagram.

“What does this say?”

“I don’t know. Another whim of His Highness, I guess.”

At the very top of the diagram, next to ‘long-range muskets’, it was written in English:

-Queen’s custom

* * *

When the Crown Princess talked about her shooting skills, Hyang had no choice but to keep quiet.

“Then perhaps others…”

“I am the same.”

“I can hold my own in musket shooting as well.”

“Ahem…”

At the declarations of Yangwon and Yangje, Hyang could only smack his lips in resignation.

As the Crown Princess and Hyang grew closer through musket shooting, Yangje and Yangwon also devoted themselves to improving their shooting skills. Their proficiency soon surpassed that of the royal guards, and Hyang had to make custom pistols for them too, for domestic peace.

This led to some unintended consequences for Sejong.

From the Queen to the concubines, they subtly prodded Sejong.

When Sejong noticed the unusual reactions from the Queen and the concubines, he investigated the cause. Discovering it was due to Hyang’s gifts to his family, Sejong muttered,

“Do I have to make cannons as gifts now?”

The eunuch shook his head.

“Surely not?”

‘If he does, he’ll be firing cannons from the Central Palace to the Kangnyeongjeon.’

Ultimately, Sejong had to empty his pockets.

* * *

As the ‘Tax Reform’ was announced, the local leaders, especially those in the Samnam region, felt compelled to make a decisive stand.

“We’re at a dead end now! We have no choice but to rise up!”

While the number of nobles advocating for an uprising increased, there were also many who advised against it.

“Calm down! That’s rebellion! Better to submit a petition instead!”

“How many times have we submitted petitions, and what was the response? It was like reading scriptures to a cow! Now, the only solution is to use force!”

“But an uprising is nothing but treason!”

Despite the fierce debate over the use of force, there was one thing everyone agreed on.

“If we remain passive, it’s the end for us!”

“But we need a just cause! We need a reason!”

While those determined to rise were pondering over a plausible cause, a few came up with a suitable one.

“Purging treacherous officials seems a good cause!”

“Purging treacherous officials?”

“It’s because of these treacherous officials that the king is blind and deaf to our plight! We must eliminate them and enlighten the king’s vision and hearing!”

“Exactly!”

“Correct!”

“Purge the treacherous officials! Purge the treacherous officials!”

Those united in the cause of ‘purging treacherous officials’ began gathering like-minded individuals.

As influential figures joined, the discussions took a more serious turn.

“The issue of military force…”

“Each household has its own private soldiers, right? Let’s mobilize them.”

With the frequent incursions of Japanese pirates, the southern local leaders had been maintaining private soldiers under the pretext of ‘defending against pirates.’

However, some nobles, claiming to be knowledgeable in military tactics, pointed out another issue.

“Private soldiers alone aren’t enough. We need more numbers.”

“That can be solved by mobilizing the serfs.”

“The serfs?”

Hearing the suggestion of ‘mobilizing the serfs,’ the nobles pondered and then nodded in agreement.

“That’s a good idea. Just hint at ‘exemption from serfdom,’ and they’ll fight fiercely.”

“The issue of arms…”

“Even spears would suffice for the serfs.”

“Hmm…”

After further discussion, the local leaders who had somewhat formulated a plan came together to resolve the last remaining issue.

“When would be the best time to mobilize forces?”

“Neither too hot nor after the harvest. Winter comes right after the harvest.”

After much heated debate, the chosen date for mobilization was ‘three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival.’

“The Mid-Autumn Festival is when everyone from the family gathers, so we can rally more support.”

“And it avoids the impiety of missing the Mid-Autumn Festival sacrifices.”

“Let’s pray for the success of our cause to our ancestors and the deities through the festival.”

“Agreed!”

However, with many people gathering, word inevitably leaked out, and several local officials who obtained intelligence reported it to Hanyang.

A few days later, the local officials who had sent the intelligence reports were discreetly visited by the Golden Army.

“This is a secret response from His Majesty.”

The local official, filled with suspicion, scrutinized the Golden Army envoy.

“Without any notice? And why this attire?”

Usually, in formal circumstances, a fully dressed military officer or official would come, publicly read or deliver documents in front of everyone. However, the person in front of him was wearing a plain robe, claiming to have been sent from Hanyang.

To the official’s question, the Golden Army soldier looked around cautiously and whispered.

“It’s confidential. Please accept this secret response.”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing this, the official broke the seal of the letter and bowed deeply after placing it down.

The letter, stamped with Sejong’s seal, was written in Sejong’s own handwriting.

The official read the content of the letter with trembling hands.

“To thoroughly suppress the actions of the rebellious, avoid rash actions. In case of an incident, ensure the transfer of the family registry and land registry to a safe location.”

After confirming the content, the official looked at the Golden Army soldier.

“I have understood.”

“Then, please return the letter.”

“Why?”

“It’s a royal command.”

“Ah…”

Without further question, the official returned the letter. The Golden Army soldier immediately burned the letter upon receiving it. The official’s body stiffened at the sight.

“What! That precious document! It’s His Majesty’s own handwriting!”

“It’s a royal command.”

“Dammit…”

Chapter 158
Trespassing the Palace (4)

Around the same time, messengers dispatched from Hanyang hurried to military bases and naval stations located in strategic areas throughout Joseon.

In Gangjin, Jeollado, at the Jeolla Military Base:

“This is an order sent from the Chongcham (Joseon Army Headquarters).”

“Let me see it.”

Nam Kang-il, the military commander overseeing the land forces in Jeollado, received the order with a calm demeanor and broke the seal.

Thinking it was a routine order, Nam Kang-il’s expression gradually grew serious as he read through it.

“Is this true?”

“It is considered a fact at the Headquarter.”

“Ah…”

At the military officer’s reply, Nam Kang-il sighed deeply.

After reading the order again, Nam Kang-il asked the messenger.

“So, when is this supposed to happen?”

“The Headquarter anticipates it will occur around the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Hearing this, Nam Kang-il calculated the date. The Mid-Autumn Festival was about ten days away.

‘To avoid alerting the snakes lurking in the grass, I should inform only a minimum number of people first.’

As he briefly pondered whom to consult immediately, Nam Kang-il realized the messenger was still waiting.

“Tell the Headquarter that I will stake my life to suppress this.”

As Nam Kang-il responded, the messenger produced another sealed document

“What is this now?”

“It’s from His Majesty.”

Hearing this, Nam Kang-il quickly stood up, adjusted his official robe, knelt down, and respectfully received the secret letter from Sejong.

After breaking the seal and reading the contents, Nam Kang-il instructed the messenger.

“If His Majesty asks, tell him my response is ‘Jinchung Boguk’ (Loyalty and Protection of the Country).”

“Understood.”

* * *

After sending the messenger away, Nam Kang-il immediately called for his deputy military commander, Jung-eun.

“These damned traitors!”

Upon reading the urgent report from Hanyang, the Jung-eun, Lee Han-jong, cursed angrily.

“Who are these damned scoundrels? We must rush there and deal with them immediately.”

“The problem is, we still don’t know who these damned scoundrels are. That’s why the Headquarter has only issued a high alert.”

Nam Kang-il’s words made Lee Han-jong nod in understanding.

“Ah… I see. It’s not something to be broadcasted publicly…”

“That’s why I called you, to make preparations in advance.”

At Nam Kang-il’s words, Lee Han-jong walked over to a map hanging on the wall.

After studying the map for a while, Lee Han-jong turned to Nam Kang-il.

“If those traitors are gathering forces, they’ll have the numbers, but they won’t be well-armed.”

“That seems likely.”

“In that case… they’ll try to acquire weapons before advancing to the capital. Especially firearms.”

“That makes sense.”

Nam Kang-il nodded in agreement. Many had witnessed the effectiveness of firearms in the battles against Japanese pirates since the late Joseon period.

Pointing to a location on the map, Lee Han-jong suggested a strategy.

“This place, Bulsijaes, must be secured first. The fastest route from here, the Jeolla Military Base, to the capital passes through Bulsijaes. If we deploy cannons and muskets here to block them, we can send the cavalry to flank them.”

“That’s a sound plan. We should call the cavalry commander first, right?”

“Yes. The cavalry will be crucial.”

The two proceeded to call the cavalry commander, responsible for leading the military base’s cavalry forces.

* * *

Similar occurrences took place across military bases in the nation.

Each military base, upon receiving the orders, began to quietly deploy troops at key locations on the routes to and from their bases and Hanyang, preparing for any possible incidents.

The busiest movements were seen in the Left and Right Military Bases of Gyeongsangdo.

“If an incident occurs, they will try to quickly move to Hanyang. The fastest route from Gyeongsangdo to Hanyang is through Mungyeong Saejae, so the rebels will gather there! We’ll intercept them at Mungyeong Saejae and crush them!”

Following the orders of the Chongbyongsa (the military commander overseeing Gyeongsangdo, established during the Kyungjang era), the military commanders of the Left and Right Bases began moving their cavalry to Mungyeong Saejae.

* * *

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, an inexplicable tension began to pervade throughout Joseon.

“The air feels strange these days.”

“Right? It feels like something big is about to happen.”

“I’ve been having restless dreams.”

Even the common people, oblivious to the actual situation, could not hide their unease as the atmosphere grew increasingly ominous.

Then, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the flames of rebellion were ignited.

The local leaders in the Samnam region rose in revolt.

“Drive out the treacherous officials!”

* * *

Although the circulated documents among the rebellious local leaders specified ‘three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival’ as the date for the uprising, the revolt occurred earlier than planned due to significant opposition.

“Absolutely not! An uprising is treason! My children and I will not participate!”

“Listen! Cousin! Do you not understand the current situation? Are you suggesting we just sit and be destroyed?”

“But rebellion! My sons and I would rather die! Kill me if you must, but if not, I will report this to the authorities! How can you think of committing treason? Do you want to ruin our family?”

Many who attended the Mid-Autumn Festival rites and heard of the uprising fiercely opposed it.

Ultimately, those leading the rebellion had no choice but to deal with the opposition.

“We can’t kill our own kin. Lock them up in the granary for now.”

“Yes.”

Some were imprisoned in granaries because they were family, but others who vehemently resisted joining the rebels lost their lives.

With the situation escalating, those who had dreamt of uprising were forced to change their plans.

“We have no choice! Let’s move!”

“Let’s do it!”

Thus, the uprising began on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

* * *

Amidst the unfolding rebellion, local officials across the country sprang into action upon receiving the news.

“Magistrate! There’s a rebellion! A rebellion!”

“I’ll be damned! Why here, of all places!”

As news of the rebellion spread, local officials began to move swiftly.

“How many are in this band of traitors?”

“A great many!”

“This is serious!”

Having assessed the numbers involved in the uprising, the local officials scrambled to respond.

In towns where the garrisons were small, magistrates and local governors hurriedly loaded the family and land registries onto carts and retreated with their clerks to stronger defensive positions.

“Sir! Aren’t you coming too?”

Yet, amidst this chaos, some officials, as per their prior plans, sent the registries away and stayed to defend their offices.

“How can I, who receives stipends from His Majesty, flee in this crisis? My men and I will defend this office!”

Thus, not a few local governors and magistrates stood their ground against the rebels. Of course, many of those who resisted the rebellion lost their lives at the hands of the insurgents, and those who survived often suffered severe injuries and were imprisoned.

* * *

News of the rebellion continuously reached Hanyang via messengers.

Jo Mal-saeng gathered this incoming information and regularly reported to Sejong.

“…Therefore, the total number of rebels participating in this uprising across the country is about 70,000. Yeongnam and Honam have around 30,000 each, and Chungcheong just over 10,000.”

“What about the movements of the relevant military bases?”

“Chungcheong has mobilized to suppress the rebels, Gyeongsang is intercepting at Mungyeong Saejae, and Jeolla has started interceptions at the Jeolla Military Base and the naval station.”

“Hmm…”

As Sejong pondered over the map, hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s report, Hyang, who was also examining the map, asked,

“The rebels in Jeolla are targeting the naval station and the military base for weapons and warships, right?”

“That is the assessment at the Headquarter as well.”

The behavior of the rebels in Honam and Gyeongsang was somewhat peculiar.

Those who rose in Gyeongsang were fully committed to advancing north, while those in Jeolla moved towards the naval station and military base.

The rebels in Jeolla aimed to seize warships to move directly to Hanyang via the West Sea, and those in Gyeongsang sought to quickly advance via land routes.

“The Headquarter’s predicted routes are almost accurate.”

“Indeed. But it seems the scale is smaller and the movement slower than expected?”

At Sejong’s observation, Jo Mal-saeng explained the reason.

“In the areas where the rebellion broke out, those opposing the rebellion have joined forces with the authorities to block them.”

* * *

In several areas where the uprising occurred, unexpected chaos unfolded.

In Iksan County, Jeollado.

Whizz!

“Aah!”

“Ugh!”

“Arrows! Shields! Get the shields!”

The rebels attacking the Iksan County Office were forced to halt their assault due to a sudden barrage of arrows.

“There shouldn’t be this many soldiers from the military here?”

Before scholar Park Soon-hwi, who was leading the rebels, could finish his sentence, dozens of men wielding bows appeared on the wall.

Next to the firmly closed main gate of the office, an elderly man with white hair leaned out and yelled at the rebels.

“Hear this, you treacherous villains! I am Kang Hyun-su, a former head clerk of the Ministry of Taxation! Lay down your weapons and surrender now! If you don’t, you will be executed!”

Kang Hyun-su’s shout was immediately countered by Park Soon-hwi.

“Old man! We are not committing treason but rising to eliminate treacherous officials!”

“Silence! Who are these treacherous officials you speak of? It is you who are ruining this country!”

The exchange of words continued without progress, leading to a siege around the Iksan County Office, with the rebels outside and defenders inside.

“Take over the office!”

“Kill the traitorous scum!”

Similar scenes unfolded in various regions affected by the uprising.

Thus, the rebellion, later known as the ‘Gi-Yu Rebellion,’ became increasingly tragic.

People living in the same regions but supporting different causes clashed, leading to grudges and a series of brutal acts of revenge.

* * *

Sejong, nodding at Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation, pointed out a critical variable.

“What about those hiding in Hanyang?”

“There has been no movement yet.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s report, Sejong pondered the situation and then murmured,

“They must be waiting for the Golden Army to make a move.”

The Golden Army, primarily responsible for defending the capital, also functioned as a rapid response force in times of national crisis.

Realizing why Grand Prince Yangnyeong had not yet made a move, Sejong reached a decision.

“Deploy the Golden Army. You know what to do, right?”

“Yes, I’ve already relayed your command to the commanders.”

As Jo Mal-saeng reported, Sejong nodded in agreement but didn’t forget to caution.

“Ensure everything proceeds without any issues.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The next morning, the gates of Gwanghwamun opened, and the cavalry charged out. Quickly passing through Sungnyemun, they joined other waiting forces and swiftly disappeared southward.

* * *

News that the Golden Army had left Hanyang quickly reached Seo Seon’s residence.

“My lord. The Golden Army has finally left the city.”

“I see.”

After Seo Seon briefly responded to Nam Jun-seok’s report, he turned to Grand Prince Yangnyeong, who was seated at the high seat.

“The Golden Army has finally left.”

“I’ve heard.”

Yangnyeong, adorned in a studded armor with golden dragon epaulets on the shoulders, responded briefly.

While wiping his sword with a cloth, Yangnyeong asked Seo Seon,

“Shall we move today?”

“Not today. They will be on high alert with the troops having left.”

At Seo Seon’s reply, Yangnyeong nodded.

“That makes sense. When would be a good time then?”

“Two days from now would be suitable.”

After a moment of thought, Yangnyeong agreed.

“That sounds good. The moon is still bright, making it an opportune time.”

“Yes. I will prepare accordingly.”

Thus, the day for their action was set.

* * *

Two days later, at around 11 PM.

The main gate of Seo Seon’s house silently opened, and armed men quietly began to emerge.

It wasn’t just Seo Seon’s house.

From the homes of officials who had promised active cooperation due to Yangnyeong’s influence, groups of warriors also began to quietly step out.

Creak, creak.

At the forefront of these emerging warriors were large shields mounted on wheels. The massive shields, capable of covering a warrior’s entire body, were made of thick iron plates. The weight of these plates necessitated wheels at the bottom.

From the house of Hangangin, who held a position in the Ministry of Personnel, warriors were also exiting.

Watching the warriors leave, Hangangin’s wife, her face filled with worry, turned to him.

“Is it too late to report this…?”

“It’s already too late.”

Hangangin replied with a heavy heart.

Initially, his cooperation with Seo Seon was fueled by dissatisfaction over being overlooked for promotion. However, upon realizing it was a counter-revolution involving Yangnyeong, it was far too late.

By then, his family had already become hostages.

Hangangin looked up at the sky and murmured,

“Now, I can only hope for success.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Secret Police, hiding in the shadows of an alley and observing the scene, spoke to a colleague standing behind him.

“Report to the top. They’re moving.”

Chapter 159
Trespassing the Palace (5)

At Gwanghwamun Gate.

The main and smaller gates of Gwanghwamun were firmly closed, and the gatekeepers on watch were intently observing the approach to the gate.

“Gate Captain, sir!”

“What is it?”

In the guardhouse beside Gwanghwamun, the gate captain, who had been reviewing documents, stood up as a soldier from the Inner Palace rushed in.

“Urgent news from the Inner Palace Guards!”

“Urgent news?”

“Sir, there are villainous individuals planning to revolt today!”

“What?!”

Shocked by the urgent news, the gate captain hurried out of the guardhouse and scrambled up to the watchtower.

The soldiers on duty at the watchtower looked puzzled as the gate captain hurried towards them.

“Sir, what’s the matter?”

“It’s an emergency! Keep a close watch!”

“Sir?”

At the captain’s command, the soldiers leaned out of the watchtower to survey the area.

Likewise, the gate captain, who had been observing the road leading to Gwanghwamun, turned to look inside the palace.

He saw a considerable number of soldiers gathering in front of Heungnyemun Gate.

If following normal protocol, a significant number of soldiers would also be gathered at Geunjeongmun.

The gate captain bit his lip as he assessed the situation.

“We’re short on troops. It’s regrettable that the Golden Army has left the city.”

Currently, only 200 soldiers from the Inner Palace Guards were defending Geunjeongjeon.

Usually, in addition to the Inner Palace Guards, additional Golden Army troops would be stationed, but most had left two days earlier to suppress the uprising.

The total number of defenders in the palace was now barely 250.

“Sir!”

As the gate captain was surveying Heungnyemun and organizing his thoughts, he turned his head at the sound of someone calling him.

“What is it?”

“There are suspicious individuals, sir!”

Upon the soldier’s report, the gate captain stood up on the watchtower to survey the outside.

From the intersection where Yukjo Street meets the south of Unjongga, a group was rapidly approaching Gwanghwamun.

“Sound the drum!”

“Yes, sir!”

Dum-dum-dum!

At the gate captain’s order, a soldier began to beat the large drum behind him.

While the drum was being played, the gate captain counted the approaching group, clenching his teeth.

“At least 500… seems today might be the day of my demise.”

The sound of the emergency drum alerted not only the palace but also the nearby residences, which began to light up.

* * *

As the sound of the emergency drum spread, people working in the palace and residents from nearby neighborhoods lit their homes and hurried outside.

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know. Suddenly there’s some trouble.”

As the residents gathered in the alleys, large explosions started to erupt from the direction of Gwanghwamun.

Boom! Bang! Bang!

The unexpected drum sound and explosions caused panic among the people who had come out, leading them to run frantically.

* * *

“Halt! Who goes there!”

At the gate captain’s shout from the watchtower, Yangnyeong, positioned behind the soldiers, turned to Seo Seon.

“Let’s begin.”

“Understood. Advance!”

“Yes, forward!”

At Seo Seon’s command, Nam Jun-seok began to lead the soldiers forward.

Rattle, rattle, clank!

As the large shields at the front began to advance, the soldiers crouched and followed behind them.

“This is your last warning! Stop where you are and identify yourselves!”

Upon the gate captain’s warning, the soldiers waiting behind the shields raised their muskets.

“Muskets! Get down!”

Chi-chick! Boom-boom!

At the soldier’s shout, the gate captain and soldiers on the wall quickly ducked down.

At that moment, the muskets thunderously discharged their rounds towards the watchtower.

“Keep firing! Don’t let the enemy raise their heads!”

At Nam Jun-seok’s command, the soldiers with muskets continuously fired.

While the soldiers suppressed the watchtower, Nam Jun-seok ordered the soldiers carrying large bags.

“Now is the time! Blow up Gwanghwamun!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following Nam Jun-seok’s order, the soldiers with the bags rushed towards Gwanghwamun’s closed main gate.

Reaching the firmly closed wooden gate, the soldiers stacked the bags carefully against it.

After piling up all the bags, a soldier who appeared to be their leader used a dagger to pierce a hole in a bag in the middle and inserted a fuse he had unwound from his wrist.

Once the preparation was complete, the leader opened a small wooden container at his waist. Inside was an ember. He blew life into the ember with his breath, lit the fuse, and quickly retreated.

“Everyone, retreat!”

“Retreat!”

Bang! Bang!

As the soldiers retreated, the gatekeepers on the watchtower fired their muskets through the loopholes, causing screams as some of the retreating soldiers fell to the ground.

Boom!

Shortly after, Gwanghwamun’s main gate burst open with a loud explosion.

“Argh!”

The shock of the explosion knocked the gatekeepers on the watchtower to the ground.

As the flames and smoke cleared, the broken and collapsed wooden main gate of Gwanghwamun was visible.

Seeing the gate breached, Nam Jun-seok swung his sword forward and shouted,

“Charge! The gate is open!”

“Uwaaah!”

At Nam Jun-seok’s command, the soldiers let out a battle cry and charged towards Gwanghwamun.

Bang! Bang!

Some of the soldiers on the watchtower, regaining their senses, opened fire, but the fallen soldiers were quickly replaced by others.

“Uwaaah… Huh?”

The soldiers who energetically vaulted over the broken gate slowed down as they saw about twenty soldiers arranged in two horizontal lines in front of Heungnyemun.

“Fire!”

The front row knelt while the back row stood, all aiming their long muskets. At the command to fire, they pulled their triggers.

Rat-a-tat!

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

The unified gunfire of the Inner Palace Guards decimated the ranks of the attacking soldiers.

“Shields!”

Rumble-rumble.

Upon Nam Jun-seok’s command, the large shields that had passed through Gwanghwamun came to the forefront and began to advance.

As the shields moved forward, the Inner Palace Guards pulled out their muskets and began to fire at them.

Bang-bang-bang!

Despite continuous firing, the thick iron shields withstood the gunfire.

Observing this, the squad leader ordered a retreat.

“Retreat! Fall back!”

Following the leader’s command, the Inner Palace Guards quickly retreated over Heungnyemun towards Geunjeongmun.

“Chase them! Push the shields!”

“Uwaaa!”

At Nam Jun-seok’s command, the soldiers pushed the shields forward.

As several soldiers pushed together, the heavy shields quickly advanced.

While advancing, the soldiers lifted the shields over the threshold of Heungnyemun with a combined effort.

After all the shields had crossed Heungnyemun, the soldiers started to move in formation behind them, not wanting to become easy targets for the Inner Palace Guards’ muskets before the crucial moment.

As the soldiers breached Heungnyemun and approached Geunjeongmun, the Inner Palace Guards continued their musket fire.

Most of the shots were blocked by the shields, but they still gradually reduced the number of attacking soldiers.

The attacking soldiers weren’t just passive targets.

Though their archers fired diligently, the Inner Palace Guards’ armor repelled the arrows.

Ultimately, it was the aimed rounds from the soldiers’ muskets that brought down the defending Inner Palace Guards.

“Retreat!”

Outnumbered, the Inner Palace Guards eventually fell back over Geunjeongmun into the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.

“Those fools! Are they planning to surrender Geunjeongjeon?”

Grand Prince Yangnyeong, following the soldiers, was furious at this sight.

“So these are the weaklings Chungnyeong (Sejong) has raised! Was I cowering all these years in fear of such feeble men? Let’s go!”

In his frustration, Yangnyeong grabbed the reins of his horse. Soon, the horse carrying Yangnyeong crossed the threshold of Geunjeongmun and entered Geunjeongjeon.

Beside Yangnyeong, Seo Seon immediately issued an order to the soldiers as soon as they crossed Geunjeongmun.

“Attack Eastern Palace!”

“Yes!”

At Seo Seon’s command, a group of soldiers, led by two large shields, rushed towards the palace gate leading to Eastern Palace.

“Is this about revenge?”

Observing this, Yangnyeong asked. Seo Seon replied with a cold voice,

“He too should understand the pain of losing a child.”

“I see…”

* * *

“Finally, it’s happening! Attendant!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Startled by the emergency drum signals, Hyang sprang up and hurriedly donned his breastplate.

“No need for the lower part!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After putting on the breastplate and helmet, Hyang opened a chest and handed rifles to his attendant.

Lastly, taking out a large bag filled with ammunition, Hyang looked at his attendant.

“You know what to do, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will hand you the loaded muskets, and Chamberlain Jang will load the bullets into the muskets.”

“The direction of the bullets?”

“The pointed end goes in front.”

“How many bullets per musket?”

“Eight.”

“Good.”

Satisfied that his attendants knew their tasks well, Hyang took the rifle and went outside.

“Your Highness!”

As Hyang opened the door, the Crown Princess, Yangje, and Yangwon also came out from another room with their court ladies.

Seeing the Crown Princess holding the modified musket, Hyang asked worriedly,

“Are you determined to join us?”

“As I said before, if anything happens to Your Highness, our lives would be meaningless.”

Accepting her firm response, Hyang could only agree.

“Understood. Be careful.”

“Yes, we will. The second and third just need to do as I told. Understand?”

“Yes, sister.”

“Yes, sister.”

“Huh? Sister?”

Hyang expressed his surprise at their conversation, to which the Crown Princess simply replied,

“Living together, we have become sworn sisters.”

“Huh…”

“What? The Gwanghwamun Three Princesses Faction? No, the Three Queens Faction? Or the Crown Prince’s…”

“What are you doing? Time is of the essence!”

Lost in thought over the unexpected term ‘sworn sisters,’ Hyang was snapped back to reality by the Crown Princess’s rebuke.

“Right. Let’s go!”

Hyang and his group, including the Crown Princess, joined the waiting palace guards.

“Your Highness, you should flee now. If His Majesty arrives…”

Seeing Hyang and the ladies-in-waiting dressed in armor, a palace guard expressed concern. However, Hyang’s orders were firm.

“Shield bearers to the front.”

“Your Highness!”

“Should I just sit and wait while my Royal Mother is in danger? Shield bearers, forward!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s resolute command, the palace guard responded with a somber face.

Rumble.

The iron shields, slightly larger and thicker than those made by Seo Seon, rolled forward with a heavy sound.

“His Majesty will be furious.”

The attendant’s comment was met with a scowl from Hyang.

“I can’t just put the Royal Mother in danger, can I?”

Though there were various options, this was the best under the circumstances. Avoiding immediate danger could lead to unforeseen risks, especially if there were traitors among the rebels.

It was better to stand firm with proper firepower. Another reason was to signal the severity of the situation, justifying the crown prince’s direct intervention. This could lend more weight to the subsequent cleansing of traitors and the progress of the reforms.

“By the way, the Royal Mother has taken refuge, right?”

* * *

“Your Majesty, please!”

“Enough!”

King Sejong reprimanded the attendants and guards blocking his way.

“There’s no need for panic! Now is the time for me to act!”

King Sejong deemed it the right moment for his direct involvement, to show that the situation was critical enough to warrant the king’s personal action. This would serve as justification for the subsequent suppression of the rebels and the continuation of reforms.

The attendant, with a worried face, remarked,

“The Crown Prince will be shocked!”

But King Sejong looked sternly at the attendant and retorted,

“Isn’t that why I told you not to inform the Crown Prince?”

As he picked up a musket and walked towards where the rebels were coming from, King Sejong paused momentarily and cautiously asked,

“By the way, the Crown Prince has taken refuge, right?”

Chapter 160
Trespassing the Palace (6)

Upon Seo Seon’s command, a group of soldiers started to run towards the Eastern Palace. Yangnyeong, watching them, muttered with a frosty expression.

“It’s a shame, he’s such a clever child.”

That was the end of Yangnyeong’s sentiment. His gaze returned to the Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Little brother, you wouldn’t have run away, would you?”

Boom! Bang, bang, bang!

But soon after, from the direction of the gate leading to the Eastern Palace, loud gunshots and explosions began to be heard.

“What’s happening?”

Yangnyeong and Seo Seon, who had been looking towards the Central Palace, turned their eyes towards the Eastern Palace.

There, behind shields that seemed even sturdier than the ones they had made, they could see the figures of Hyang and the Crown Princess Consort, ceaselessly firing their muskets at the soldiers.

“What the…”

* * *

Following behind the shields, Hyang and his party reached the gate leading from the Eastern Palace to the Geunjeongjeon Hall and spotted soldiers rushing towards the Eastern Palace.

“Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!”

Click! Click!

Following Hyang’s command, the echo of his order was followed by the loud noise of cocking rifles.

Click!

After loading his rifle, Hyang looked at the opposing shield and smirked.

“People’s thoughts are all the same, aren’t they?… Throw the grenades!”

“Throw the grenades!”

Upon Hyang’s command, a few handpicked Inner Palace Guards took out grenades and unscrewed the back caps. Hyang jokingly yet seriously said to them,

“Show them the skills you boasted about in the local stone wars.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As the soldiers came within 20 steps, Hyang gave the order.

“Throw!”

“Throw!”

Something flew over the shields, causing the surrounding soldiers to be startled and look at it.

“Whoa! Be careful! It looks like they are hurling stones!”

Ssssss!

Just then, with a strong smell of gunpowder, smoke started to rise from the end of a sack, and a soldier exclaimed in alarm,

“Is, is this?”

“Argh!”

In an instant, with a loud blast, the bodies of those who had been staring blankly were caught in the explosion and hurled in all directions.

Boom! Bang, boom!

The grenades thrown by the Inner Palace Guards shattered the line of the soldiers’ shields. As the shields fell over from the explosion of the grenades, Hyang promptly pulled the trigger.

“Fire!”

Bang! Bang! Rat-a-tat!

With the firing from Hyang, the Crown Princess Consort, and the Inner Palace Guards, the soldiers running towards the Eastern Palace screamed and fell to the ground.

Hyang, having crushed the soldiers rushing towards the Eastern Palace and reaching the gate leading to Geunjeongjeon, saw soldiers swarming into the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.

“Annihilate the traitors!”

“Annihilate them!”

* * *

“Ah…”

Watching Hyang attacking the soldiers from the direction of the Eastern Palace, Seo Seon sighed in disbelief.

“That Crown Prince…”

“We’ve been hit hard. Tch!”

Yangnyeong, smacking his lips, surveyed the battle situation.

Although they had crossed the Geunjeongmun Gate with great momentum, most of the Inner Palace Guards were already entrenched in the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.

Especially, the Inner Palace Guards, like themselves, had set up large shields – even bigger and sturdier – in front and were aiming their muskets. Seeing this, the soldiers hesitated and watched cautiously.

Yangnyeong shouted angrily at this sight.

“What are you doing! Geunjeongjeon is right in front of us! Stopping here only leaves execution as our fate! Bet everything on this fight! Their muskets will also take time to reload! Charge!”

At Yangnyeong’s command, Nam Jun-seok yelled,

“It’s now or never! Victory brings you wealth and glory! Charge!”

Encouraged by Yangnyeong and Nam Jun-seok’s words, the soldiers started charging with curses.

“Damn it all! Better to die this way than that!”

“It’s do or die!”

“Charge!”

As the soldiers charged, the Inner Palace Guards simultaneously pulled their triggers.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

“Aargh!”

“Ugh!”

“Shield bearers!”

Rolling.

As the soldiers’ shields advanced again, the Inner Palace Guard commander ordered his troops.

“Throw the grenades!”

“Throw!”

Boom! Bang!

The grenades thrown by the Inner Palace Guards caused the soldiers’ shield line to collapse.

“Don’t stop!”

“Charge! Charge!”

Despite the shield line collapsing from the grenade explosion, the soldiers continued to charge.

Seeing this, the Inner Palace Guards standing right behind their shield line drew out their horse muskets and simultaneously pulled the triggers.

Bang, rat-a-tat-tat!

The Inner Palace Guards who fired six shots in an instant stepped back, and the next line of guards came forward to fire their horse muskets.

As the firing continued, the soldiers’ forces rapidly diminished.

“This is dangerous…”

“Uwaaaah!”

While the demoralized soldiers hesitated, a loud cheer burst out from behind.

“Huh?”

Turning their heads towards the cheer, Grand Prince Yangnyeong and Seo Seon’s expressions turned to dismay.

The Golden Army, which was thought to have left the city, had returned.

* * *

“Fortunately, we haven’t missed the opportunity.”

The commander in charge of the Golden Army let out a sigh of relief.

After departing from Hanyang, the Golden Army had galloped at full speed towards Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province.

The destination of the Golden Army was the Gyeonggi Military Camp located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.

“Reinforce our troops at the Gyeonggi Military Camp and suppress the traitors!”

The mid and low-ranking commanders and soldiers, without any doubt, followed their training commander, earnestly riding their horses.

The reason for this was that whenever there were invasions by Japanese pirates, a similar method was used to gather troops for battle.

The Golden Army, having departed from Hanyang early in the morning, was able to reach Gwangju Garrison before sunset that day.

This was possible because the entire dispatched Golden Army consisted of cavalry and artillerymen. Even in the early Joseon period, the main force of the Joseon army in both quality and quantity was the cavalry, and the Golden Army was a prime example of this.

Upon arriving at Gyeonggi Garrison, the training commander immediately sought the Gyeonggi’s Military Governor.

That evening, all military officers of the Golden Army, regardless of rank, were summoned.

“There will be a meeting about the operations to be conducted in the future. All military officers are to attend.”

Following the order conveyed by the messenger, the officers of the Golden Army, who were resting, gathered in the inner quarters of the command post where the Gyeonggi’s Military Governor was staying.

“Has everyone assembled?”

“Yes!”

Once it was confirmed that all the officers of the Golden Army had gathered, the training commander took out a small piece of paper from his pocket.

“Those called upon, step forward.”

The number of officers called out by the training commander was five. After confirming the officers who stepped forward, the training commander ordered the surrounding soldiers.

“These are traitors! Bind them immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

In this way, the training commander weeded out the Golden Army officers who were in collusion with Seo Seon and then split the Golden Army into different groups.

“Send 2 units to the residence of the criminal Yangnyeong, and send another 2 units to the residence of the criminal Seo Seon in Icheon. Bind everyone inside the houses, search the houses, and secure all evidence related to the treason! Execute anyone who resists! This is a royal command!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following the commander’s order, the Golden Army raided the house of Grand Prince Yangnyeongn in Gwangju and the ancestral home of Seo Seon in Icheon.

“The remaining troops will return to the army immediately!”

Following the commander’s order, the remaining troops of the Golden Army immediately left Gyeonggi Garrison and marched northward.

The Golden Army moved via a different route than the one they had taken to come down. Using back roads and crossing the river near Paldang, the Golden Army passed through Wabueup, circumventing Hanyang to the north. Having passed through Sukjeongmun[1], the northern gate of Hanyang, the troops concealed themselves in a nearby forest. They chose this location because it was an area with almost no pedestrian traffic.

“As soon as there’s trouble in the palace, we’ll push down immediately. Until then, not even a breath should be heard!”

“Yes, sir!”

Hiding the cavalry in the mountains was not an easy task, but fitting their reputation as elite troops, the Golden Army quietly concealed themselves.

Two days passed, and as soon as the sound of drums and explosions signaling turmoil in the palace were heard, the training commander mounted his horse.

“We’re moving! Protect His Majesty!”

“Uwaaaah!”

Not long after Chuseok, still relying on the bright moonlight, the Golden Army spurred their horses and began to race towards the palace.

* * *

As the Golden Army poured in through the Geumjeongmun Gate, the battle temporarily subsided into a lull. As the battlefield quieted down, King Sejong, who had been under the protection of the Inner Palace Guards, got up.

“Is it time for me to step in?”

Just then, Hyang’s shouting resonated across the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.

“Who ordered to stop the bombardment? The traitors’ muskets are still aiming for His Majesty! Do not stop the bombardment! Fire!”

Simultaneously with his shout, Hyang raised his rifle and aimed at a soldier nearby holding a musket, pulling the trigger.

Bang!

With Hyang’s shot as a signal, the momentarily ceased firing of the Inner Palace Guards resumed.

Bang, bang! Rat-a-tat-tat! Bang, bang!

Following Hyang, the Inner Palace Guards who had accompanied him and those blocking the front of Geunjeongjeon resumed firing at the soldiers. The Golden Army, who had been holding the rear, also began firing at the soldiers.

“Do not stop the bombardment!”

Hyang continued to pull the trigger and shouted.

‘When you have to shoot, shoot! Don’t talk! Why does the villain boss die! It’s because they blabber at crucial moments and get killed!’

Hyang, recalling a famous line from a Western movie[2] and the traditional cliché, pulled the trigger.

Click!

“Eunuch Go!”

“Yes!”

Hyang handed his empty gun to the eunuch and received a reloaded rifle. He then spoke to the Inner Palace Guard officer who was commanding beside him.

“I will go to see the Father! Keep annihilating the enemy forces until the end!”

“I’ll assign troops to accompany you! You men, escort His Highness!”

“Yes!”

“Crown Princess Consort! Let’s go!”

“Yes! Guys!”

Hyang and the party of the Crown Princess Consort, escorted by Inner Palace Guard soldiers, hurried towards Geunjeongjeon.

* * *

Arriving quickly in front of Geunjeongjeon, Hyang shouted at the Inner Palace Guard soldiers standing in front.

“Make way! I must see the Father!”

“Yes!”

As the Inner Palace Guard soldiers cleared a path, Hyang ran towards King Sejong.

Upon finding Sejong, Hyang immediately inquired about his well-being.

“Father! Are you unharmed?”

“I am fine.”

But not quite reassured, Hyang carefully inspected Sejong’s body.

“Phew~. It is the mercy of Heaven.”

Relieved that Sejong was safe, Hyang sighed with relief and then gritted his teeth.

“Those scoundrels! Shield bearers! Follow me!”

“Yes!”

“Eunuchs too, follow!”

“Yes.”

Carrying a shield, an Inner Palace Guard soldier followed Hyang up the stairs of Geunjeongjeon.

As they ascended the stairs, the situation in the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon became clear to Hyang.

“Shields! Defend well!”

“I will defend with my life!”

The Inner Palace Guard soldier crouched behind the shield, and Hyang, concealed behind him, began sniping at the soldiers.

The Inner Palace Guard soldiers blocking the front of Geunjeongjeon, the soldiers who had emerged from the Eastern Palace, and the Golden Army who had returned through Geunjeongmun Gate started to press the enemy soldiers. Then, a shout came from the direction of the Central Palace.

“Annihilate the traitors!”

“Uwaaaah!”

“Fire!”

Rat-a-tat-tat!

The Golden Army soldiers who had emerged from the direction of the Central Palace also opened fire upon seeing the enemy soldiers.

“No! The Golden Army, who should be evacuating the Queen and the consorts…”

When King Sejong expressed his confusion upon seeing the Golden Army pouring out of the Central Palace, the voice of Queen Soheon was heard.

“Your Majesty! Where are you? Your Majesty!”

“Why do I hear the Queen’s voice here?”

King Sejong, perplexed at hearing Queen Soheon’s voice unexpectedly, was at a loss for words.

Shortly after, upon seeing Queen Soheon appear escorted by Inner Palace Guard soldiers, Sejong was speechless.

Her usual wig was nowhere to be seen, seemingly lost. Hastily dressed in a dansam with a jeontong (traditional wrap) around it, she held a bow in her hand.

[TL/N: Dansam is an outer lining garment.]

“My, my lady… wife…”

Seeing Queen Soheon, Sejong forgot his formalities and called her by the title he used during his days as a prince.

“Your Majesty, are you safe?”

“I am unharmed.”

Like Hyang, Queen Soheon touched Sejong all over to ensure he was unharmed and then, finally relieved, slumped to the ground.

“My… wife!”

“Your majesty!”

As Sejong and a court lady supported Queen Soheon, Hyang, who had been observing with astonished eyes, let out a bitter laugh.

“Now that I think about it… my Mother is indeed a warrior.”

It was Queen Soheon who had endured the hardship of her family being destroyed due to treason[3] and who had directed firefighting efforts while heavily pregnant during a great fire in Hanyang.

The final phase of the battle in front of Geunjeongjeon came with the arrival of Prince Suyang.

“Annihilate the traitors!”

“Uwaaaah!”

Seeing Prince Suyang rushing in with soldiers guarding Myeongnyeong Palace, the will of the enemy soldiers completely broke.

However, there was one who continued to fight till the end. It was Nam Jun-seok, commanding the soldiers.

“Our lives are forfeit whether we surrender or not! Break through with all your might! We live only if His Highness the Grand Prince and His Excellency Seo Seon survive!”

“Uwaaaah!”

In a desperate situation, the soldiers, driven to frenzy, charged at the Golden Army to break through.

But what came in response to these desperate soldiers was a barrage of grenades and bullets.

1. Sukjeongmun is one of the eight gates of Seoul which surrounded the olden city during Joseon period.[↩]

2. A line from the character Tuco in the movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1966[↩]

3. Read the case of Shim On, the Queen’s father.[↩]

Chapter 161
Purge (1)

The concentrated attack by the Inner Palace Guards and the Golden Army led to the annihilation of the soldiers brought by Yangnyeong and Seo Seon.

The last charge to break through the escape route for Yangnyeong and Seo Seon proved to be a fatal misjudgment for the soldiers.

As the soldiers charged, the firing from the Inner Palace Guards and the Golden Army intensified.

Until just before the soldiers’ charge, the situation was such that the Inner Palace Guards and the Golden Army, having converged from the Eastern Palace and the Central Palace, were surrounding the area and gradually reducing the intensity of their fire to prevent accidental friendly fire.

However, as the soldiers’ charge began and their formation stretched sideways, the Inner Palace Guards and the Golden Army did not miss this opportunity.

After the intense gunfire, the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon was transformed into a mountain of bodies and a sea of blood.

“Clean up the battlefield!”

Following the training commander’s order, the Golden Army began to clear the bodies that filled the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.

Physicians and female nurses, who had rushed upon receiving the order, were frantically treating the wounded Golden Army and Inner Palace Guard soldiers.

Similarly, the wounded enemy soldiers, after receiving basic first aid, were kneeling to one side under the watch of the Golden Army.

Meanwhile, King Sejong and his family were under the strict protection of the Inner Palace Guards. Sejong, positioned at the very center, was calmly leading the situation.

“Where are the leaders of the traitors?”

In response to Sejong’s inquiry, the training commander answered cautiously. Although the man in question was a traitor, he had once been the crown prince and also the current king’s brother.

Finally, the training commander chose a safe expression.

‘Answer briefly and concisely, omitting the subject.’

“They are confined separately.”

“Are they unharmed?”

“Yes.”

Upon the training commander’s response, Sejong stood up, brushing off his robes.

“Your Majesty?”

“I must see the leader of the traitors.”

“Understood. Escort His Majesty!”

“Yes!”

Escorted by the Inner Palace Guards, Sejong walked towards where Yangnyeong and Seo Seon were bound.

* * *

“Seo Seon, why did you undertake such a reckless act?”

Arriving where Seo Seon and Yangnyeong were bound, Sejong addressed his first question to Seo Seon.

To Sejong’s question, Seo Seon retorted with a fierce face.

“I ask you. Why did you do that to my son?”

“It was according to the law.”

“Was his crime so severe to deserve such a beating?”

“I repeat, it was according to the law. Those who use violence against a government official in official robes are to be punished with 100 strokes of the cane, as the law dictates.”

To Sejong’s firm response, Seo Seon shouted as if spitting blood.

“He was my only son! Couldn’t you have shown some leniency? After all I’ve done for this country!”

“If I excuse one, I must excuse a hundred, then a thousand! Then what is the point of having laws! Does a former Minister of Law and Punishments not understand the weight of the law!”

“Argh!”

Biting his teeth in frustration, Seo Seon was confronted by Sejong’s continued words.

“Your attempt to harm me and even the Crown Prince is absolutely unforgivable. I will scour all the laws to make you pay for your crimes.”

To Sejong’s words, Seo Seon responded with a composed face.

“What a pity. I wanted to make you experience the same sorrow as me.”

Seo Seon’s mention of Hyang darkened Sejong’s expression.

“Lock him up! Make sure he cannot take his own life by binding him with chains and gagging his mouth!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Upon Sejong’s order, the Inner Palace Guards gagged Seo Seon’s mouth with a cloth and dragged him to the prison.

* * *

After dealing with Seo Seon, Sejong turned to Yangnyeong.

“What were you thinking?”

“I was merely seeking my rightful place, which was cunningly taken from me by your schemes.”

At Yangnyeong’s words, Sejong sighed.

“Huh… Your stepping down from your position was a decision made by our Father.”

Yangnyeong roared back at Sejong’s words.

“That was all your scheme! You exaggerated my minor faults and blinded Father!”

“Even if it wasn’t me, Father’s ministers would have informed him! And exaggeration? Do you not know what kind of person Father is!”

Sejong, countering Yangnyeong’s accusation, let out words he had kept in his heart.

“Honestly, who was the most cherished child to the Father and Mother? It was you, Grand Prince! Things that would have brought thunderous punishment upon Prince Hyoryeong[1] or me, were overlooked when it was you who did them! Even such parents pushed you away from your position! A minor fault? Speak sense!”

“I was to be the King of Joseon! Such faults could have been overlooked! But because of you! If only you hadn’t interfered! Who are you to scrutinize every little thing!”

Yangnyeong was referring to the time when Sejong was Grand Prince Chungnyeong. It was Sejong who had continuously criticized and tripped up Yangnyeong for his unrestrained and disorderly lifestyle.

* * *

A typical example was an incident that took place in September 1416, the 16th year of King Taejong’s reign.

On September 19th, Yangnyeong, the previous crown prince, along with other princes, visited Heungdeoksa Temple to offer incense in memory of Queen Sinui, Taejo’s first wife and Yangnyeong’s grandmother.

The issue arose when, immediately after the ceremony, Yangnyeong called three people to play Go at Heungdeoksa.

This act was naturally criticized by Grand Prince Chungnyeong.

“As a royal prince, it’s inappropriate to engage in games with lowly people, let alone at the memorial service of our grandmother.”

Chungnyeong’s remark irritated Yangnyeong, who retorted loudly.

“Why don’t you go to Gwaneumjeon and sleep!” (Note 1)

[TL/N: Gwaneumjeon is a Buddhist temple]

Such confrontations continued, and as Yangnyeong’s misbehaviors escalated, the situation increasingly turned against him.

Consequently, Chungnyeong replaced Yangnyeong as the crown prince.

* * *

Sejong raised his voice in response to Yangnyeong’s attempts to shift all the blame onto him.

“What minor fault? Was trying to sleep with your brother-in-law’s concubine a minor fault? Was sneaking in and sleeping with the concubine of a meritorious subject, just because she was said to be beautiful, a minor fault?”

“Any powerful man naturally attracts women!”

“Don’t make me laugh! There’s a proper way to enjoy the company of women! Do you have any idea how much worry and sorrow you caused the Royal Father and Mother with that incident? You were dismissed because of your disgraceful behavior! What’s the use of lofty dreams if your daily conduct is a mess?”

“Such a fault for a king is…”

“Shut up!”

Sejong interrupted Yangnyeong harshly.

“If a king behaves like that, the country will be ruined! Commander!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Imprison him! He is no longer a royal! Gag his mouth and bind him according to the law!”

“Yes! Take away the traitor’s leader!”

Following the commander’s order, the Inner Palace Guards gagged Yangnyeong’s mouth and dragged him away.

The fierce battle ended, and the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon gradually regained its peace. Thanks to the Golden Army clearing the bodies, only bloodstains remained in front of Geunjeongjeon.

“Huh…”

Sejong sighed deeply and looked around. Ministers were rushing through the wide-open Geunjeongmun Gate. Queen Soheon, the Crown Princess Consort, Princess Yongwon, and Princess Yongje were receiving care from female nurses on the stairs leading up to Geunjeongjeon.

And there, on one side, was the Crown Prince, carrying an unusual long rifle on his shoulder, giving instructions to the Inner Palace Guards.

“Look at him…”

Sejong watched Hyang with a contented expression, and then his gaze fell upon Jinpyeong.

[TL/N: Jinpyeong is childhood title for Prince Suyang.]]

Like a chick following its mother hen, Jinpyeong was closely trailing behind Hyang.

* * *

When Jinpyeong arrived at Geunjeongjeon leading the Golden Army guarding Myeongnyeong Palace, the tide of battle had already turned in Sejong’s favor.

Consequently, the Golden Army led by Jinpyeong was deployed to support the combat from the rear.

After the battle ended, Jinpyeong immediately sought Sejong.

“Father! Are you all right?”

“I am fine.”

Relieved at Sejong’s safety, Jinpyeong let out a sigh of relief.

“Huh…”

His relief was brief as Jinpyeong quickly turned his attention to his most pressing concern.

Jinpyeong grabbed a nearby Inner Palace Guard soldier and asked,

“The locomotive! No, the research… No, is the Eastern Palace safe?”

To Jinpyeong’s question, the Inner Palace Guard soldier answered with a bewildered expression.

“Yes? Yes! The Crown Prince has already subdued it.”

“My brother?”

Muttering softly, Jinpyeong looked around for Hyang.

“Ah! There!”

Upon spotting Hyang, Jinpyeong hurriedly ran to him.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

“Eh? Jinpyeong? What brings you here amid such danger?”

To Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong quickly responded.

“How could I stay away when Father, Your Highness, and the railroad are in danger?”

“Eh? Ahahaha!”

Amused by Jinpyeong’s response, Hyang burst into hearty laughter.

“That’s right! That’s like you!”

Laughing, Hyang patted Jinpyeong on the shoulder.

“Anyway, thanks for coming!”

“Your praise is too generous, Your Highness. But…”

While humbly responding to Hyang’s praise, Jinpyeong’s expression soured slightly due to an unpleasant smell.

“The smell…”

“Eh? Sniff sniff! Ah, it must be the smell of gunpowder.”

As Hyang brought his sleeve to his nose to sniff, Jinpyeong took another look at him.

Hyang’s face was smeared with gunpowder soot, and an indescribable aura of intimidation emanated from him, with the smell of gunpowder strongly wafting from his body.

Seeing this, Jinpyeong stopped a passing Inner Palace Guard soldier and asked,

“Did His Highness also participate in the battle?”

“He fought most valiantly.”

“Is that so? Understood. Go back to your duties.”

After sending the Inner Palace Guard soldier away, Jinpyeong looked at Hyang with a newfound expression of amazement.

The usual impression Jinpyeong had of Hyang was that of a ‘typical, stern scholar.’

This was due to Hyang’s role in teaching him when Jinpyeong was young and his usual demeanor in the research laboratory.

However, the way Hyang was interacting with the Inner Palace Guard soldiers, lightly patting their shoulders, embodied Jinpyeong’s ideal image of a man.

As Jinpyeong gazed at Hyang, his eyes grew dreamy.

“So cool…”

* * *

“Father!”

“Your Majesty!”

As the situation settled, the consorts and princes who had taken refuge returned to the palace. The first to rush to Sejong was Yong or Grand Prince Anpyeong.

Yong, who had not yet received a military title or fiefdom and was thus staying in the palace, had taken refuge with Sejong’s consorts when chaos erupted in Geunjeongjeon.

“Father! Are you unharmed?”

“I am fine. Thank you for your concern.”

Sejong, pleased by Yong’s concern, noticed the face of the eunuch following Yong and asked,

“Why does your face look like that?”

The eunuch, with his disheveled face, hesitantly answered Sejong’s question while looking at Yong.

“The prince…”

“Yong?”

As Sejong turned to him with a stern look, Yong hesitantly replied,

“I wanted to come to you, Father, but he tried to stop me by force…”

At Yong’s response, Sejong smiled faintly.

“They say blood does not stray far…”

* * *

Though the battle inside Gyeongbokgung Palace had ended, the fight outside the palace walls was still ongoing.

“Huh! Huh!”

A group of warriors was desperately running along the back alleys of Unjongga.

Breathing heavily with a sweet taste in their mouths, these warriors were soldiers who had escaped from Gyeongbokgung Palace.

They had broken through Gwanghwamun, but had not yet seized control of the gatehouse.

The soldiers who had split off to take over the gatehouse engaged in a battle with the defending troops stationed above the gatehouse.

However, subduing the defending soldiers on the narrow stairs leading up to the gatehouse was not an easy task.

As the soldiers engaged in a fierce battle, their faces turned pale upon seeing the Golden Army approaching.

“We’re done for! Scatter!”

Following the order of their leader, the soldiers who were attacking the gatehouse retreated, leading to their current frantic run through the back alleys of Unjongga.

“Where are you rushing to in such a hurry?”

“Eh?”

The soldiers, in the midst of their desperate escape, stopped in their tracks as they were confronted by men dressed in black.

The men blocking the soldiers’ way were members of the secret police, a group of swordsmen. The leader of the secret police at the front, with a smile full of murderous intent, said,

“Seems like we have quite a few scores to settle with each other, don’t we?”

Note 1) “A Single Volume Read of King Sejong’s Annals.” Authored by Park Young-Gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.

1. Sejong’s second son.[↩]

Chapter 162
Purge (2)

The battle between Seo Seon’s remaining soldiers and the secret police was fierce.

The remaining soldiers fought desperately to escape, while the secret police, seeking revenge for past grievances, fought with a do-or-die attitude.

“Why are you blocking us?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Debts must be repaid!”

Clang! Clash! Crash!

“Chase them!”

“Catch them!”

In the back alleys of Unjongga, a battle even more brutal than the one at Gyeongbokgung Palace unfolded.

The martial skills of the soldiers, gathered by Yangnyeong as he roamed the country, were outstanding.

However, the secret police’s members were no less formidable. They were either soldiers from powerful families or skilled martial artists who had not passed the military service examination.

Moreover, the secret police had the advantage in numbers and knew how to fight dirty.

Swoosh!

“Cough!”

“Still so tough after I’ve already killed three of you…”

As Ki Nam, who had just slashed open a the secret police member’s chest, surveyed the area to find a way out, sharp throwing knives flew from behind, piercing his arms and legs.

“Ugh!”

As a knife struck his leg, Ki Nam staggered with a short cry.

Seizing the moment, a the secret police member plunged a sword into Ki Nam’s chest.

Clang!

As the sword pierced his chest, Ki Nam’s sword fell from his hand.

The the secret police member who had stabbed Ki Nam kicked him away.

As the sword was pulled out, Ki Nam reached out his hands. He tried to speak, but with his pierced chest, his breath escaped him.

Eventually, Ki Nam collapsed to the ground with a look of despair.

The battle that ensued lasted for over an hour before it finally ended.

“We’ve killed them all.”

“Good work. What about our losses?”

“Eight in Dadoong, six in Bukchon, and we lost eight.”

“Tch… What a loss!”

The head of Unjongga’s the secret police clucked his tongue upon receiving the report.

The damage was more severe than anticipated. Adding to the losses suffered in battles against those cursed traitors, they had lost about half of their members.

“What about these bodies?”

“Gather all the weapons and dump the bodies in front of the government office.”

“Yes, understood.”

After issuing orders to his members, the head of Unjongga’s the secret police walked over to the other leaders.

“Our losses are significant.”

“Indeed.”

The leader from Dadoong agreed briefly, but the leader from Bukchon looked particularly distressed.

“At least the dead will be taken care of by our lord, but filling our ranks will be a problem.”

The other two leaders nodded gravely at the words of the Bukchon leader.

The leader from Dadoong, pondering the problem of replenishing their numbers, looked at the other leaders.

“It seems targeting those who failed the military exams would be our best bet.”

With the ongoing reforms of Sejong, the distinction between the literary and military branches became more pronounced. Positions nominally in the military branch, but actually held by literati, had disappeared.

Consequently, the number of applicants for the military exams had significantly increased.

Especially with the impending official confirmation of rumors about the establishment of a military academy, the competition had become even fiercer.

With the increasing competition, the expansion of military recruitment opportunities had not brought much change.

Hence, the leader from Dadoong suggested targeting those who failed the military exams.

At this suggestion, the leader from Bukchon pointed out a problem.

“The idea of targeting those who failed the military exams is indeed the best, but the problem is how to handle their stubborn pride, especially since they have attempted the exams. Don’t they see us as uncultured swordsmen?”

The leaders from Bukchon voiced this concern, and the other two leaders responded simultaneously.

“Weren’t we uncultured rascals until not so long ago?”

“That’s what I’m saying…”

“These people, really!”

After some back-and-forth, the leaders eventually agreed to ‘recruit those who failed the military exams’ and moved on to the next topic.

“What do you think will happen next?”

“What do you mean?”

“The uprising in the palace has been quelled, but isn’t the south still in chaos?”

At Dadoong’s leader’s words, the leaders from Unjongga and Bukchon fell into thought. After a prolonged silence, the eldest leader from Bukchon spoke up.

“For now, we should lay low. Except for executing orders from our lord, we should not take any initiative.”

The other leaders from Dadoong and Unjongga nodded in agreement to the words of the Bukchon leader.

“That’s the best approach. We should preserve ourselves for the time being. A harsh winter storm seems to be brewing over Gyeongbokgung.”

“There’s also the saying about being discarded after use.”

The leaders believed that while they might be useful tools for Sejong, they could also become a nuisance politically.

‘Now is the time to stay low and just observe the situation!’

* * *

As the leaders had anticipated, a severe storm was brewing inside Geunjeongjeon.

Seated in the council hall still in armor, Sejong glared down at his ministers with a fierce expression.

The ministers, unsettled by Sejong’s demeanor, could only swallow their words in discomfort.

‘What should we say… ’

‘It’s been a while since the last regular dismissal!’

‘I wondered why these past few days felt unusually peaceful!’

The council hall of Geunjeongjeon was filled with silently protesting ministers, councilors, and senior officials.

With the uprising in the south, Sejong’s attention had been focused solely on the Ministry of Military Affairs. While he had not completely neglected other matters, given the circumstances, all affairs of the court revolved around military concerns.

Furthermore, due to the uprising, various petitions and administrative reports from the provinces had ceased.

Consequently, departments other than the Ministry of Military Affairs had unexpectedly found some respite.

As a result of this newfound leisure, officials in the Six Ministries enjoyed the rare pleasure of regular dismissal from court duties.

However, this period of ease was disrupted by the unimaginable event of the palace uprising.

Amidst this silent observation of Sejong’s mood, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik cautiously opened his mouth.

“Despite the grave situation, Your Majesty remaining unharmed is truly a blessing from heaven.”

“Indeed! It is surely divine protection!”

Echoing Lee Jik’s words, the ministers unanimously praised the ‘heaven’s protection.’

To the ministers’ words, Sejong responded briefly with a calm face.

“I think so too. However, great credit goes to the Inner Palace Guards and the Golden Army, including the Crown Prince, who exerted all efforts to suppress the traitors.”

Immediately, the Royal Inspector raised an objection.

“As Your Majesty says, their contribution is significant, but the sin of allowing the uprising is also great. This must be scrutinized.”

“It was my command.”

“Your Majesty?”

Confused by Sejong’s response, the Royal Inspector raised his voice further.

“Then the sin is even greater! Regardless of Your Majesty’s command, allowing traitors into Geunjeongjeon is unthinkable! If Your Majesty were to be harmed, it would be a disaster shaking the very foundation of the nation!”

“The commanders of the Inner Palace Guards and the Training Commander initially insisted on my evacuation. It was my unilateral decision, so they cannot be blamed.”

Sejong, referring to himself as ‘I’, humbly protected the Training Commander and the commander of the Inner Palace Guards.

“However!”

As the Royal Inspector continued to object, Sejong’s voice sharpened.

“Royal Inspector! Then, what would you have considered the right course of action? Should we have allowed the traitors to incite a street battle outside Gyeongbokgung Palace? Would it have been right to turn the many alleys of Hanyang into battlefields, using innocent citizens as shields and firing muskets at each other? If things had turned out that way, could we have suppressed the rebellion in such a short time?”

Challenged by Sejong’s rebuke, the Royal Inspector fell silent.

Sejong’s point was valid. If a battle had taken place outside Gyeongbokgung Palace to suppress the uprising, it would have led to a fierce urban combat. Such a scenario would have undoubtedly resulted in tremendous civilian casualties.

There had already been a precedent for such an event.

The urban combat in Gaegyeong between the armies led by Yi Seong-gye[1], who had turned back at Wihwa-do, and those led by Choi Young was one such example.

[TL/N: Turning back the army from Wihwa Island refers to the 1388 episode in which General Yi Seong-gye of the Goryeo dynasty was ordered to march north with his army and invade the Liaodong Peninsula (northeast China, which was under the control of the Ming dynasty), but instead decided to turn back to Kaesong and trigger a coup d’état, thus securing the government. This was the first of a series of Yi’s rebellious actions that eventually led to the establishment of the Joseon dynasty, with him being installed as King Taejo. Read more on the Wihwa-do Retreat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wihwado_Retreat]

Finally, the Royal Inspector had to bow his head and admit his mistake.

“Please forgive my short-sightedness.”

“I understand that you said this out of concern for me, but it was a decision made after much deliberation, so let us not speak of it further.”

“I will take your words to heart.”

As Sejong silenced the Royal Inspector, Maeng Sa-seong, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“Your Majesty, did you anticipate that such a treacherous and unfilial event might occur?”

To Maeng Sa-seong’s question, Sejong responded briefly.

“There was intelligence.”

“Then, wouldn’t it have been better to apprehend the traitors beforehand?”

“Are you suggesting I should have arrested my own brother without solid evidence?”

At Sejong’s question, Maeng Sa-seong too had to bow his head.

“Please forgive my short-sightedness! I was merely concerned for Your Majesty’s safety!”

“I understand why you said so, and I will not fault you for it. However, know that I too had much to consider.”

“I am profoundly grateful.”

As the conversation with Maeng Sa-seong concluded, the Minister of Punishments stepped forward.

“How shall we deal with the culprits?”

“The unrest in the south has not yet been quelled. Once that is settled, we will handle the cases together.”

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

Not long after Sejong finished speaking, the Chief Eunuch entered to report.

“The Training Commander requests an audience, Your Majesty.”

“Let him in.”

Shortly after, the Training Commander entered Geunjeongjeon, paid his respects to Sejong, and then spoke.

“I have imprisoned the leaders of the traitors.”

“Good work.”

“Also, a message has arrived from the law enforcement office. A group of bodies has been left in front of the office. Judging by their attire, they appear to be traitors involved in the recent uprising.”

“Is that so?”

‘Seems like the secret police has wrapped things up.’

Sejong, having a rough idea of who was behind this, immediately gave an order.

“Find out who has done this good deed and report to me.”

“Yes. Additionally, reports have come from our soldiers sent to Bukchon. They have secured a list of the leaders and accomplices of the traitors.”

“Those who have received training are at risk of fleeing. Apprehend them immediately and imprison them.”

“I obey Your Majesty’s command!”

“And what about the handling of the traitors’ family estates?”

“According to the report brought by the messenger, the suppression has been completed.”

“Send messengers at dawn to transport them all.”

“Yes!”

“And ensure the soldiers are given sufficient rest. They may need to move to the south immediately if required.”

“Yes!”

Having received Sejong’s orders, the Training Commander saluted and promptly exited.

“The smell of blood is overwhelming…”

“I feel like I might vomit…”

As the ministers listened to Sejong and the Training Commander’s conversation, they were hit by a strong scent of blood, evoking a sense of nausea.

It was a reminder of the gruesome political purges they had experienced during King Taejong’s reign, which had left a lasting impression of bloodshed and revulsion in their minds.

* * *

As soon as day broke the next day, a messenger rode swiftly to the Gyeonggi military camp.

Sejong continued to conduct state affairs while still clad in his armor.

“Your Majesty, isn’t it time to take off the armor now?”

Chief State Councilor Lee Jik suggested Sejong should remove his armor, but Sejong decisively refused.

“I will not remove it until the unrest in the south has been resolved.”

The ministers had no choice but to remain silent in response to Sejong’s firm decision.

Reports of the battle between the rebel forces in the south and the Joseon army reached the court on the sixth day after the uprising began.

“Your Majesty! A report from the Chungcheong military camp! It’s a great victory!”

Entering Geunjeongjeon breathlessly, Jo Mal-saeng announced the victory of the Joseon army and handed the report to the Chief Eunuch.

After receiving the report from the Chief Eunuch, Sejong quickly read through it.

Having finished reading the contents of the report, Sejong turned to the ministers.

“This is indeed good news. The soldiers of the Chungcheong military camp have annihilated the rebels in Cheonan.”

It was the first victory report that the court had been eagerly awaiting.

1. King Taejo[↩]

Chapter 163
Purge (3)

The clash between Joseon’s government troops and the rebel peasant army in Cheonan was inevitable.

The rebel forces rising in Goesan, Jeungpyeong, and Jincheon areas[1] of Chungcheong province headed towards Cheongju-mok[2] to expand their forces and secure more weapons. However, facing fierce resistance in Cheongju-mok, the rebel forces had to change their route.

The leaders of the Chungcheong rebellion spread out a map and debated intensely.

“We can’t just waste time like this! Let’s head north immediately! There’s no other way!”

The hardliners insisted on heading north right away, but there were many opposing voices.

“If we head north like this, we’ll end up facing the Gyeonggi garrison head-on! We need to wait for the forces coming up from the southern provinces!”

“Don’t forget it’s currently harvesting season! We need to get this done as soon as possible and head back to bring in the harvest!”

Amidst the heated debate, a kind of compromise proposal was made.

– If we head north like this, we’ll clash with the Gyeonggi garrison. So let’s detour to Cheonan[3] and head up to Hanseong (Seoul). As we take the detour north, we must rally as much supporting forces as possible to expand our numbers.

It was a plan that left both the hardliners and the cautious faction dissatisfied, but there was no other option for the moment.

“Damn those lazy bastards down south!”

The usually leisurely and easy-going people of Chungcheong were cursing people from other regions for being slower than them – an absurd situation.

With the decision made to detour through Cheonan on the way north, the rebel forces changed direction and started moving towards Cheonan.

However, with the majority of their 12,000 troops being infantry, their speed of advance was not fast.

Thanks to that, the Chungcheong garrison was able to prepare quickly based on the intelligence brought back by their scouting troops.

“Fools. If you wanted to start something, you should’ve done it before the provincial forces mobilized.”

Looking over the reports brought back by the scouts, Chungcheong Provincial Commander Yang Jong-cheol scoffed at the actions of the rebels.

* * *

As Sejong’s military reforms progressed, the Joseon army also had to undergo massive transformation.

According to the military registry[4] established since the beginning of Joseon, the Joseon military had around 330,000 troops. However, the main force of this Joseon army was the auxiliary army[5] filled through conscription. And the upkeep cost of this regular army was borne by the bo-in (sponsors)[6].

However, this system had already shown cracks since King Taejong’s reign.

Therefore, as Sejong pushed ahead with military reforms, he also had to reform the military.

In this area, Hyang made great contributions. The mass-produced iron armor, muskets, and finally the fearsome mass destruction weapon Divine Thunder Strike cannons allowed the transformation of the Joseon military to proceed more smoothly.

– A hundred spears are no match for a single cannon!

– A horse is faster than a man!

Fitting such slogans, the Joseon military reduced its pure numbers and became faster and more powerful.

And it was in this situation that the transformed Joseon military took to the field to be tested against the rebel forces.

* * *

Yang Jong-cheol looked around at the commanders participating in the meeting and continued speaking.

“The rebel scums are scheduled to pass through Cheonan. Therefore, we will annihilate them at Cheonan. Any other opinions?”

“No, sir!”

“Then the composition of the units participating in this operation will be…”

According to Yang Jong-cheol’s plan, the Chungcheong garrison left the Haemie Fortress (or Haemieup-seong) with only the minimum personnel to defend the garrison itself.

[TL/N: The castle, located near Seosan in South Chungcheong, was the background of the Donghak Rebellion in 1864. This fortress, originally built to protect against Japanese pirates, was a historical site where thousands of Catholics were executed during the French Invasion in 1866.]

* * *

The Joseon forces led by Yang Jong-cheol closely monitored the movements of the rebel forces as they moved.

With the main forces being cavalry and artillery, the Joseon army was able to arrive in Cheonan earlier than the rebel forces and set up camp.

“Apart from the other things the Crown Prince made, the idea to mount cannons on carts is truly astonishing. Isn’t that so, Colonel?”

Observing the troops’ movements from atop a low hill, Yang Jong-cheol asked Colonel Lee Jae-hyun next to him. At Yang’s question, Lee nodded his head.

“Yes. Thanks to that, the cannons can move as fast as the cavalry.”

Hyang, who created the Divine Thunder Strike cannons and the new cannons to fire them, also made new gun carriages to mount the cannons. Created in the form of Western-style gun carriages used until the late 19th century and early World War 1, the new gun carriages gave Joseon’s cannons unprecedented mobility.

Pleased at the troops’ movements, Yang Jong-cheol rapped his palm twice with his baton.

“Good, very good. Now all that’s left is to sweep away those rebel scums.”

“Yes, sir.”

It wasn’t just the top commanders burning with fighting spirit. Even the common foot soldiers at the very bottom were aflame with vigor.

“How far have those rebel scums come?”

“Hmm… I heard they’re about a day away?”

“Are those bastards crawling here?”

“Maybe they’re taking their sweet time enjoying the scenery.”

“Scenery? Hahahaha!”

Cracking jokes, the soldiers looked upon the cannons they would wield. The soldiers’ eyes were full of trust as they gazed at the cannons shining gray.

“With these babies…”

They were troops anticipating the time they would get to use the fearsome Divine Thunder Strike cannons they’d heard about from the north.

* * *

“The government troops have gathered in Cheonan!”

“How many are there?”

“Around 6,000!”

Hearing that government forces had set up camp in Cheonan, the leaders of the rebel forces put their heads together.

“Where are those bastards from?”

“Must be the Chungcheong garrison.”

“Should we detour?”

When some scholars suggested detouring, scholar Ahn who had read some military books shook his head.

“If we detour, we’ll end up facing the Gyeonggi garrison. And they’ll be forces fully prepared while we waste time detouring. They say there are 6,000 troops in Cheonan now. It seems they weren’t properly prepared and moved hurriedly. Facing them would be better.”

“Scholar Ahn’s words seem correct.”

“However, them moving in a hurry means their main force is cavalry.”

Scholar Ahn, receiving criticism, pointed out their weakness.

“Even if we detour, do you think the cavalry of the Chungcheong garrison will just sit still? They’ll chase right after us. With most of the forces we’ve brought being slaves, do you think we can respond properly?”

“Ah…”

Ahn came to a conclusion.

“To somehow make the slaves fight decently, we have no choice but a frontal clash. Fortunately, Cheonan has no fortress and we have numerical superiority, so we have a chance.”

Eventually, the leaders of the rebel forces decided on a frontal collision. Even to them with little knowledge of military tactics, there seemed no other way when slaves made up the bulk of their forces.

But that was it. The leaders of the rebel forces knew nothing of the firepower held by the government troops and had no interest in finding out.

“In the end, almost all of us are armed with spears and swords! In times like these, we with superior numbers have the advantage!”

It was the result of them shutting their eyes and blocking their ears, only caring about their own interests while being cooped up in their hometowns.

* * *

And so the next morning, the government forces and rebel forces confronted each other in the eastern region of Cheonan.

Since the rebels were also aware of the government troops’ presence, they had made some preparations on their own.

“Were the slaves given a hearty breakfast?”

“They’ve eaten their fill. No chance of them losing strength mid-fight.”

Most of the preparations made by the rebel forces was feeding the slaves an early breakfast.

“Then let’s begin.”

“Let’s do it!”

“I wish you good fortune!”

“Good fortune!”

Exchanging formalities wishing each other good fortune, the scholar-leaders headed towards the slaves they led.

Soon after, the slaves standing at the vanguard of the rebel forces let out a war cry and rushed forward.

“Wooaaah!”

Even though most of them were only armed with a single spear, seeing their fellow men around them, they were burning with fighting spirit.

“The rebels have begun to move!”

“I see them too… Hmmm…”

Observing the rebels’ movements through the spyglass personally gifted by Sejong, Yang Jong-cheol gave orders.

“As expected, hardly any are properly armed. And most seem to be slaves. And… spears? Pah!”

Looking over the rebels charging towards them, Yang turned his gaze towards the rebel leaders in the back.

“Donkeys? Do they think war is some festive occasion?”

Seeing most of them were riding donkeys with the horse-riders extremely few in number, Yang scoffed and ordered his subordinates.

“When the enemy’s main force enters within 200 paces, fire the Divine Thunder Strike cannons!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Concentrate the bombardment on one area as trained!”

“Yes, sir!”

“And the musketeers will attack from alternating positions as trained!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Inform all troops! The rebels are a motley crew! If we just do things properly as trained, we won’t have to eat memorial rites food[7] next year on this day!”

“Yes, sir!”

The messenger let out a small laugh at the joke-like order before hurriedly moving to relay the commands.

* * *

“200 paces!”

“Open fire!”

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The artillerymen, having finished loading beforehand, immediately pulled the trigger cords at the command.

The number of cannons specialized for firing Divine Thunder Strike cannons mobilized by the Chungcheong garrison this time were 40. Excluding the 10 kept in reserve, the 30 cannons were trained to move in groups of 10 cannons, forming artillery batteries.

As trained, once the Divine Thunder Strike cannons were fired, huge holes were created in three places of the rebel formation charging towards the government troops. Craters too big to be filled up.

In those craters created, amidst the countless corpses, the injured were shrieking in agony.

“Arghhhh…!”

“Save me!”

“My leg! My leg!”

Amidst the screams of the wounded, the rebels’ charge ground to a halt where they were. The bulk of their forces, the slaves, had fallen into panic.

Observing the situation through spyglasses, the government troops’ commanders sensed victory and raised their voices.

“Do not cease fire!”

“Shoot! Shoot! Keep shooting!”

Boom! Bang!

Sensing victory like their commanders, the soldiers quickly reloaded and continued firing.

“What, what is this!”

“Cannons of such might!”

Watching the situation from the rear of the rebel forces, the scholars cried out in shock. With every huge pillar of fire rising from the rebel formation, holes too big to be filled were opening up in their ranks.

“What do we do now!”

Unable to find a solution, scholar Ahn who had unknowingly taken on the role of military advisor flustered at the leaders’ question.

“That, that is…”

“Scholar Ahn!”

“Please give me some time to think! I’ve never even heard of cannons with such might!”

At the leaders’ urges, scholar Ahn also raised his voice. But he had already come to a conclusion inwardly.

‘It’s over… ’

“Scholar Ahn! What do we do now…”

“The enemy is moving!”

“Huh?”

Just as they were pressuring scholar Ahn, the leaders turned their heads at word that the government forces were moving.

Indeed, as the barrage of the government artillery eased up a bit, the infantry ranks began advancing forward.

Seeing this, scholar Ahn let out a sigh of relief.

“An opportunity! Once they get close and the distance between us narrows, they won’t be able to shoot the cannons! Then a chance will come our way once more! We must reorganize the troops into formation right away!”

“Ah, you’re right!”

At scholar Ahn’s words, the leaders hurriedly dispatched messengers.

Seeing the rebels’ ranks beginning to reorder at the messenger’s words, scholar Ahn’s face was full of hope.

‘Alright! If we overcome this crisis, victory will be ours!’

But the situation developed beyond his predictions.

“First row, aim muskets!”

“Take aim!”

Having advanced to around 150 paces from the rebels, the musketeers from the Chungcheong garrison raised their equipped arquebuses at their commander’s order and took aim at the rebels.

“Fire!”

Rat-a-tat-tat!

In an instant, thick smoke obscured the Joseon troops’ vision and the second row that was waiting in the back surged past the first row to the front.

Watching the situation on the battlefield for a moment, the commander soon gave orders.

“Second row, take aim!”

“Aim!”

“Fire!”

Rat-a-tat-tat!

And so when it came to be the fifth row’s turn after rotating through the rows, the rebels’ formation had completely collapsed.

Observing the situation, Yang Jong-cheol gave orders.

“Inform the cavalry! Do not let the rebels escape!”

“Yes, sir!”

And so the clash between the Chungcheong garrison and Chungcheong regional rebel forces was decided in less than half a day. An overwhelming, massive victory for the Joseon Chungcheong garrison troops.

1. Gooesan, Jeungpyong and Jincheon are counties of Norther Chungcheong in today’s Korea[↩]

2. Read history of Cheongju-mok here: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/cheongju-center-for-local-governance-and-korean-buddhist-culture-cheongju-early-printing-museum/wQVhwE7DvWIQeQ?hl=en[↩]

3. Cheonan is a city in today’s South Chungcheong[↩]

4. 병적” (兵籍) refers to military registers or records. The Joseon Dynasty maintained a system of military service, and the 병적 was a record of eligible men for military conscription. It included information about individuals’ martial abilities, family background, and other relevant details.[↩]

5. A unit organized to support the regular army (정군 or 正軍) by individuals serving in lieu of active duty as mandatory military service personnel during the Joseon Dynasty.[↩]

6. Supporters providing economic assistance to the auxiliary army (정군) for the provision of military funds during the Joseon Dynasty.[↩]

7. meaning they won’t be dead, since usually memorial rites food usually offered during their death anniversary[↩]

Chapter 164
Purge (4)

As the rebel forces were getting decimated like this in Cheonan, clashes between rebel and government forces were also drawing near in Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces.

* * *

Jeolla Provincial Military Headquarters

Spread out on the table in the middle of the meeting room was a map, with large and small wooden chips scattered about on top.

“What’s the current movement of the rebels?”

At Jeolla Provincial Commander Nam Kang-il’s question, a military officer moved three large wooden chips as he answered.

“The rebels have split largely into three groups and are moving accordingly. One group is heading towards our Jeolla garrison, while the other two groups are moving towards the Jeolla Left and Right Naval Stations each.”

“What are their sizes?”

“The groups heading towards the naval stations number around 6,000 each. The number of the group coming towards our garrison is estimated to be around 25,000.”

“Their numbers have grown quite a bit.”

“The number of slaves joining the rebels has increased a little.”

“Still not enough to execute six times over!”

At the military officer’s report, Colonel Lee Han-jong immediately spat out profanities.

Most military officers participating in the meeting nodded their heads at his words. Quietly looking over the map, Nam Kang-il threw a question at the officer.

“For what reason has the number of criminals joining the rebels increased?”

“They probably heard the rumors about the palace invasion and still joined despite knowing it had failed.”

“Huh? They joined the rebels thinking the court, also in shock, would come out conciliatory?”

“They seem to have judged the possibility was high.”

Clenching his teeth at the officer’s report, Nam Kang-il said,

“Fools! Are they that bad at judging the situation? I want to see the face of the imbecile who came up with such a thought!”

Nam Kang-il, very curious about just who came up with a dream or hope-filled expectation that the shocked king would adopt a conciliatory policy after the rebellion and then the palace invasion, couldn’t help wondering.

“Well, the dumber the opponent, the more advantageous for us, so it’s a good thing in its way, but… Anyway, no matter how dim they are, for them to think of attacking the Navy… I’m starting to feel bad for them now.”

“Hahat!”

“Hahaha!”

At Nam Kang-il’s assessment, the meeting room was filled with laughter.

If asked right now who in Joseon was knowledgeable about firearms, the military would point out two.

– One was the Training Center associated with Area 51. And the other was the Navy.

Since the late Goryeo period when Choe Museon[1] developed firearms, the Joseon Navy and cannons have been inseparable.

As such, when the opinion was raised at court to decrease the production of gunpowder – especially the gunpowder – the one most actively opposed was the Navy.

It was a moment you had to feel bad for the rebel forces swarming an entity with the most skilled personnel on firearms within the Joseon military.

In any case, with the royal order already given to suppress the rebels, the Jeolla garrison steadily prepared step-by-step.

“The rebels are coming!”

“Which direction?”

“As expected, they are coming from the direction of the fire!”

At the scout’s report, Nam Kang-il rose from his seat.

“Good! We will annihilate the rebels!”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

In the ensuing battle, later named the Wolchulsan Battle, the Jeolla garrison annihilated the rebel forces.

Blocking off the embers and utilizing the natural barrier of the neighboring Wolchulsan and Saenggeumsan mountain ridges, they struck the deeply advanced rebels from three sides. As the fatally damaged rebels attempted to retreat, the cavalry unit detouring around Wolchulsan struck the rear of the rebels, leading to complete annihilation.

It was a textbook ‘Three-front Siege’.

* * *

The battle at Mungyeongsaejae[2] was the same.

Infantry wearing full body iron armor like the cavalry blocked the pass. While artillery and musketeers in the rear pinned down the rebel forces, cavalry concealed at Jigok-ri and Gakseo-ri[3] struck the rear of the rebels – a ‘hammer and anvil’ tactic.

Though the rebels surrounded front and back struggled fiercely, with slaves making up most of their forces quickly surrendering, the tide was irreversible.

But the most pitiful were the rebel forces who went to attack the Jeolla Left and Right Naval Stations.

Having received word ‘the rebels are coming’, the Jeolla Left and Right Naval Commanders took all cannons off their docked ships and placed them facing the path the rebel forces would come from.

As such, the rebel forces approaching to occupy the naval stations were blown apart by all the naval artillery, from Divine Thunder Strike cannons (Bigyeokjincheonrae) to joranhwan (Joseon’s version of Grapeshot).

Especially the Jeolla Left Naval Station used a unique tactic – switching around the gunpowder used for the cannons and firearms.

According to the new doctrine, enhanced gunpowder was to be used as propellant for artillery while double-strength gunpowder was distributed for the equipped arquebuses and horse muskets.

But the Jeolla Left Naval Station went through the cumbersome process of taking apart and reassembling the cartridges distributed for the arquebuses and muskets just to switch out the gunpowder.

“Out on the sea, the wind blows nicely to disperse the smoke so it’s not a big issue, but not on land! Switch them!”

It was done according to the Jeolla Left Naval Commander’s order, but it was a brilliant move.

Though they said the amount of smoke decreased, double-strength gunpowder was also a black powder that generated a lot of smoke. However, by using the enhanced gunpowder, the amount of smoke generated greatly decreased, allowing the naval musketeers to snipe the rebel forces much more efficiently.

* * *

And so with the complete annihilation of the rebel forces, the ‘Gi-Yu Rebellion’ that broke out in Hasamdo came to an end. While cleaning up the battlefields, the provincial military commanders and naval commanders wrote up reports to send to Hanseong and split up their forces to suppress the regions where the rebellion first broke out.

Through succeeding in suppressing this ‘Gi-Yu Rebellion’, the court obtained an unintended extra result as well.

That was the ‘annihilation of private armies’.

Though they endlessly pushed policies to stamp out private armies since the founding of the nation, private armies had tenaciously survived. Especially in the southern regions of Joseon, they were even expanding the private armies little by little using the rationale of defending against Japanese pirates.

However, through the failure of the ‘Gi-Yu Rebellion’, private armies thoroughly collapsed. Not only the private armies who sided with the rebels, but also the private armies who sided against them were largely depleted during the battles.

After this, private armies were no longer able to form in large scales.

Because after the Gi-Yu Rebellion, the principle ‘cultivating private armies = rebellion’ was established at court.

Later, romanticist historians appended the subtitle ‘Twilight of Private Armies’ to the ‘Gi-Yu Rebellion’.

* * *

Though the rebellion had ended, the blood had yet to cease flowing.

“Capture the families of the rebel scums!”

Following the orders they had received beforehand, provincial military commanders dispatched troops towards the regions where rebellions occurred.

In the process of capturing the rebels, the troops had to confront unexpected individuals. They were families who had lost their lives for opposing the rebellion.

“Sigh… Dear me…”

Entering a village near Naju, military officer Gang Choon-bae sighed as he agonized over the solution for the incident he had to handle.

The grand tile-roofed gate of scholar Oh who started the uprising was wide open, and a group of men holding blood-stained clubs came out to greet them.

“Welcome!”

“Who are you people!”

Tense, Choon-bae questioned the men. From among them, one scholar stepped forward.

“I am Jo Il-gu, second son of scholar Jo from the neighboring village.”

As the man politely answered, revealing his identity, Choon-bae asked again in a slightly relieved tone.

“I see. What business does scholar Jo have here?”

“My father and older brother lost their lives at the hands of the rebels. How can I leave this hostile household that committed unforgivable acts alone!”

Feeling the deep blood ties exuded from Jo Il-gu’s answer, Choon-bae hurried into the house.

“Dear me…”

Scholar Oh’s house was a bloodbath inside. Bloodstains were all over the walls and fence, and corpses were lying everywhere inside the house.

Seeing the sight, Choon-bae glared at Jo Il-gu.

“No matter how a rebel’s household, you cannot just kill them indiscriminately! Do you not know that?”

“So are you telling me to just forgive those who killed my father and brothers!”

“Sigh…”

Whether he knew of Choon-bae’s frustration or not, Jo Il-gu calmly replied.

“Other than taking the lives of the culprit’s family members, we didn’t touch a single hair or possession. My lord will be able to find evidence of that.”

“Sigh… You know this won’t just blow over, right?”

At Choon-bae’s voice unable to hide his frustration, Jo spoke in a desolate tone.

“Of course I do. But having exacted revenge on mortal enemies, I have no regrets.”

“Sigh…”

Heaving a long sigh, Choon-bae briefly replied.

“For now, put them in prison. Hey you lot! Imprison them!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following Choon-bae’s order, the soldiers took away the clubs from the hands of the men who came with Jo Il-gu and dragged them to the side. Knowing the circumstances, the soldiers did not treat the men harshly.

Watching the scene, Choon-bae let out another long sigh.

“Sheesh… So do I have to write up a petition too on top of the report?”

* * *

These kinds of incidents occurred frequently in regions where rebellions took place. Soldiers broke into sweats trying to stop people rushing in for revenge, or had to figure out the culprit through questioning after cleaning up houses already turned into bloodbaths.

In the worst cases, overlooking the revenge on the condition that assets would not be touched also occurred.

As the situation grew severe, there were also cases of entire rebel households committing mass suicide.

Though tragedies occurred here and there as a cycle of violence erupted with blood repaid with more blood, the turmoil in the southern provinces gradually began settling down. Reinforcements of troops and officials quickly dispatched by the court receiving these urgent reports was the reason why.

* * *

Only after reports of ‘the rebellion has been suppressed’ came in from Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces did Sejong take off his armor.

Only after Sejong removed his armor were the ministers of court able to breathe a sigh of relief.

As Sejong took off his armor, the tension at court that had been like walking a tightrope eased a little.

“So… how far has the organizing of the rebels’ clans progressed?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Law and Punishment answered.

“The ringleaders’ families have already been imprisoned and their assets have all been sealed up.”

“Good work.”

As Sejong’s words ended, Heo Jo stepped up to point out a problem.

“The issue is with their relatives. By law, their clans should be exterminated, but the scope is too large.”

“Hmm…”

“If we follow regulations and arrest them all to turn into slaves, it would number in the thousands. Also, they need to be dispersed to prevent collusion but few want to take in slaves due to the newly changed laws.”

“So there were such problems.”

“Also. Though they may be from the same clans as the rebels, there are those who opposed the revolt but were imprisoned or lost their lives.”

At Heo Jo’s words, Sejong – who was trying to find solutions – asked the Minister of Law and Punishments.

“What does the law prescribe in cases like these?”

“According to the Great Ming Code, the criminal of rebellion should be executed by slow slicing and his father and sons above 16 years old should receive strokes of the bamboo. Sons under 16 years old and his mother, wives, and daughters, as well as siblings, their spouses and grandchildren should all be made into slaves of meritorious retainers. All their assets will be confiscated. Even if they lived apart, paternal uncles and nephews will be exiled 3000 li. This is what is written.”

“Hmmm… Let us think a little more. While the rebels must be punished severely, in this case the scope is the problem.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Just as they got over one peak, another emerged.

1. A medieval Korean scientist, inventor, and military commander during the late Goryeo Dynasty and early Joseon. Famous for introducing gunpowder locally[↩]

2. Mountain in central South Korea[↩]

3. Villages in South Chungcheong[↩]

Chapter 165
Purge (5)

“Everyone gather!”

At Jeong-cho’s order, officials of the research facility promptly gathered in the front courtyard.

“Everyone has gathered.”

“Good work.”

Hearing Jeong-cho’s report, Hyang standing on the pavilion platform got straight to the main point.

“Work at the research facility will be suspended for a while.”

Exchanging glances with each other at Hyang’s statement, the research facility officials made a commotion.

When the bustling died down a bit, Hyang explained his reason.

“A lot of manpower is needed for the selection process regarding those involved in the revolt. So cooperation requests have come in from the Office of Taxation and the Office of Law and Punishment.”

“But doesn’t the Ministry of Taxation already have enough personnel?”

At Hyang’s explanation, Jinpyeong raised objections. To Jinpyeong’s objections, Hyang replied.

“The Ministry of Taxation needs to collect taxes and circulate currency in time for the autumn harvest this year. The harvest this year stopped all across Joseon because of this rebellion. If the timing is missed, all farming for this year could turn to naught.”

At those words, Jinpyeong and other officials who were complaining fell quiet.

“But the railroad research…”

“Ahem!”

As Jinpyeong started to say something about lingering attachment to locomotives, Hyang’s glare turned fierce so he immediately shut his mouth.

After suppressing the palace invasion last time, Jinpyeong simultaneously feared yet respected Hyang. So when Hyang’s expression turned severe, he quickly closed his mouth.

With Jinpyeong ceasing to speak, the bustling completely disappeared.

“Then bring in the carts!”

At Hyang’s order, the magistrates and gold troops brought in about 20 carts filled to the brim with books. In front of the carts, Hyang continued speaking.

“The lists of rebels surrendered by the ministries of Taxation and Law and Punishments, registry records of the regions involved, and confiscated genealogies of the rebels’ clans. Checking these will determine who is included in collective punishment.”

“…Yes.”

* * *

With the investigation into the rebels and their clans proceeding according to Hyang’s order, the research facility officials heaved sighs.

“The noblemen of Hasamdo will have their family lines cut off for sure.”

Though people often say when one is caught planning revolt ‘his three clans will be exterminated, his nine clans will be exterminated’, genuinely exterminating three and nine clans have been rare in the past.

To give the most recent example, even those implicated in ‘Gang Sang-in’s Conspiracy’ just had Gang Sang-in and his brother Shim On executed while their families were reduced to government slaves. Most others came out unscathed.

But this time, those who fall under exceptions were very few. Because the rebels gathered under the pretext of ancestral rites for their clans before rising up, almost all members of the clans were involved.

It was the same for the wives of the instigators. While normally even the wives would be reduced to commoners and the wife’s clans left alone, clans whose wives also joined the rebellion were not small in number.

“What the heck!”

While organizing the register of names, Yi Soonji threw down his writing brush and shouted in frustration.

“No matter how disconnected from the world they lived, are they idiots! How can anyone be so stupid!”

The order Sejong passed down through Hyang was simple.

—Though applying the Great Ming Code may be customary, we have our own laws in Joseon. Follow those laws to handle matters fairly and accurately.

While issuing this order, Sejong added the following.

“I feel like following the Ming Emperor’s example and exterminating beyond nine clans to ten clans. However, as laws exist, we ought to follow them.”

However, the scope of collective punishment for rebels according to Joseon laws or the Ming Code were mostly identical.

Additionally, most of these revolt cases consisted of members of a clan gathering together on the pretext of ancestral memorial rites before taking up arms. So those who could be excluded by applying collective punishment were extremely few.

This was exactly why Yi Soonji was so angry.

“Would you look at this! For crying out loud!”

“Calm down! Stay calm!”

The colleagues around hik tried to restrain Yi Soonji, but he could not hold down his anger.

“Look at this! This!!”

At Yi Soonji’s words, his colleagues glanced over the report he had been examining and unconsciously let out sighs as well.

“Sigh…”

At his colleagues’ reactions, Yi Soonji raised his voice.

“Even frogs stuck at the bottom of a well are smarter than this! Since when did 11 year olds participating in revolt make sense!”

“Sigh… There were that many idiots.”

“Concur.”

Hearing Yi Soonji’s words, even the colleagues who were restraining him had to heave sighs.

According to the overall trend that one is treated as an adult once married even if they have yet to formally come of age at 15 years old, clans with boys still in early teens participating in the revolt were not rare.

In the end, there were many clans where all males of the clan joined the revolt and as a result, the whole clan was obliterated.

* * *

Having produced the results after a whole month of overtime, Hyang looked at the thick scrolls and sighed.

“Phew… Dammit! Why is the summary report so freaking thick…”

Seeing the scrolls and thick books situated in front of him, Hyang stood up with a helpless expression.

“Still need to report though… Magistrate! Load all of these into carts!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

* * *

“Your Majesty, Crown Prince Hyang requests an audience.”

“Let him in.”

Entering the closed quarters, Hyang offered respectful greetings to Sejong before looking around at the ministers. Seeing the previously glowing ministers’ complexions now rough and coarse, Hyang had a sorrowful expression.

‘Their skin were shining just a few days ago… The elders must have suffered.’

“Is the organizing done?”

Tearing his sorrowful gaze from the ministers at Sejong’s question, Hyang promptly replied.

“Yes, Father. Magistrate.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The magistrate following behind Hyang handed three thick scrolls to the high official.

Receiving the scrolls from the high official, Sejong undid the knots and examined the contents.

“Sigh…”

Seeing what the scrolls Hyang submitted contained, Sejong let out a sigh before he knew it.

“To think so many committed such foolish acts…”

At Sejong’s sigh, Hyang immediately responded.

“It means there were that many who were completely ignorant of worldly matters among those who held the highest positions in those regions.”

“It must be so…”

Answering in a bitter tone at Hyang’s words, Sejong looked over the numbers written at the very front of each scroll.

The three scrolls respectively summarized the situations in Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla where rebellions occurred this time.

“As you can see from the scrolls…”

Hyang gave a verbal explanation summarizing the contents.

The scale of involvement in each region was as follows:

*Chungcheong

23 clans – 1218 people

Private forces – 654

Slaves – 7,855

*Gyeongsang

32 clans – 2,198 people

Private forces – 3,421

Slaves – 24,328

*Jeolla

26 clans – 1,887 people

Private forces – 10,578

Slaves – 21,894

“A great many. Especially in Yeongnam and Honam…”

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong looked around at the ministers.

“Hold on. As I recall, we prohibited possessing and cultivating private armies long ago.”

At Sejong’s words, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward to answer.

“That is correct. However, it seems powerful clans in the three southern provinces just changed the names and raised them. Passing them off as personal guards and merchants and so on.”

Sejong quietly nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s answer. After all, even his own older brother, Grand Prince Yangnyeong, called up private forces on the pretext of ‘merchants skilled at hunting’.

“We will have to strictly crack down so that no more private armies can be cultivated because of this incident.”

While planning a policy to newly implement and examining the report, Sejong questioned the ministers again.

“What is the reason there are so many private forces and slaves in Yeongnam and Honam?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately answered.

“Yeongnam and Honam have been famous granaries since long ago so there were frequent raids by Japanese pirates. So most clans raised private forces. The reason for the large slave numbers is because sharecropping is common, but there is also a lot of land directly farmed using slave labor.”

“And all those vast lands were tax-exempt?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom promptly answered.

“That is correct.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing Kim Jeom’s answer, Sejong looked over the scrolls again, brooding in thought. After a long period thinking alone, Sejong turned to the ministers.

“Though later generations may see this as cruel measures, I will have to make a resolute decision. Let us purge them.”

At Sejong’s decision, the ministers shut their eyes tight. ‘Purge’ meant merciless mass cleansing.

‘But we have no grounds to stop this!’

‘They dared armed rebellion… There are no grounds!’

And so in the end, the ministers could only bow their heads and give the same answer.

“We shall heed your orders!”

The scribe who recorded all these events appended the following at the end:

—Thus, when the King decided to purge those who instigated revolt, not a single minister opposed his will.

The scribe comments.

When the choice of a moment caused one’s own clan to perish, whom can they blame?

* * *

Though the decision was made to inflict extreme penalties on all officials related to the revolt, that did not end matters.

“What is this book?”

From among the books that came with the scrolls, Sejong picked up the thickest tome and looked at the title.

“Record of a Loyalty-Oriented Individual with Contrary Views.?”

Seeing Sejong expressing puzzlement at the title, Hyang immediately answered.

“It is the list of those, though from rebel clans, who did not participate in treason and kept their loyalty until the end.”

“Is that so?”

Eyes shining, Sejong looked over the names of those recorded in the list. However, in not long, he was full of regret.

“There are quite a lot of dead.”

“Many were killed for refusing to join the revolt.”

At Hyang’s reply, Sejong’s voice turned severe.

“By this, the rebels’ guilt grows heavier. No matter how you disagree, harming your own kin! Can such people still call themselves officials! Minister of Law and Punishments, listen!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Those from clans who killed their own kinsmen will all be executed through dismemberment! They should not die easily!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Discussion regarding how to handle those involved with the rebellion continued after that. As the punishments for the rebels had already been decided, the discussion was mainly centered around meritorious subjects.

After quite a lengthy debate, the reward criteria for those who achieved merit in suppressing this uprising was formulated.

1st class meritorious subject

Commanders who suppressed the palace invasion. Commanders who suppressed the uprising. Various commanders who died suppressing the palace invasion.

2nd class meritorious subject.

Intermediate and low rank commanders who suppressed the palace invasion. Intermediate and low rank commanders who suppressed the uprising. Soldiers killed suppressing the palace invasion. The heads of clans who opposed those who started the uprising.

3rd class meritorious subject

Various commanders killed suppressing the uprising. The heads of families who opposed those who started the uprising.

4th class meritorious subject

Those killed or injured in suppressing the uprising.

Through these determined standards, rewards were conferred on related parties.

Through the newly implemented honors system devised at Hyang’s suggestion, many received military orders and rewards.

However, in the process of giving rewards, Sejong gave them a choice.

“I will either give land or an annuity – choose.”

At Sejong’s proposal, those received rewards fell into thought.

If they chose the annuity, in addition to payments at set rates over a designated period, their children gained the benefit of admittance to military academy or exemption from corvee labor.

For country noblemen, Sejong additionally granted plaques personally inscribed with ‘Clan of Loyalty and Righteousness’.

In contrast, if they chose land, all the additional benefits like mentioned above were completely gone. Moreover, the rewarded lands were given a 5 year complete tax exemption, with taxes halved for the next 5 years – that was it.

Most meritorious subjects had no choice but to pick annuities.

It was Hyang who formulated this policy. While first coming up with the idea, Hyang muttered,

“I didn’t know you could apply policies like this…”

* * *

While rewards for the meritorious subjects ended like so, the suffering of rebel participants’ families had only just begun.

With the youngest rebel participant only 11 years old, male descendants had withered away from the clans involved with the rebellion.

Additionally, with slave laws changing and the tax system transforming, there were no meritorious subjects who wanted to take on slaves.

“Should we send them north?”

“If it was just a few, sending them north wouldn’t be an issue, but the numbers are too great. We can’t make the entire northern region into rebel sympathizers, right?”

After all kinds of discussions, the settled punishment was sentenced to labor in mines.

All family members of rebel participants were dragged off to work 30 years of forced labor in iron and coal mines.

Chapter 166
Aftershocks and Currency (1)

Following Sejong’s order, the rebellious clans were shattered.

With the adult male heads of families and clans all participating in the uprising, it was frequent for 15 year old boys to now be the eldest of families.

However, that was just the beginning of tragedy.

Regardless of age, those participating in the uprising were executed. Especially those who killed relatives opposing participation were dismembered.

That was not the end of the affairs. According to both Joseon’s ‘Economic Primary Six Codes’ and ‘Economic Land War’ (the revised version), sons of rebel participants over 15 years – the proper age to hold ancestral rites – were all given strokes of the rod.

With rebels moving by entire clans, it brought even greater disaster.

By law, collective punishment reached up to 3rd cousins of the offender. And those who fell under collective punishment were sentenced to exile.

Of course, depending on the will of the powerful, that scope could be expanded. However, with entire clans participating in this uprising, there were no such exiles to take place.

As a result, through this uprising, the noblemen society of the three southern provinces received a destructive blow.

Looking solely at the percentage of noblemen who faced destruction through this uprising – 40% for Chungcheong Province, 38% for Gyeongsang Province, 33% for Jeolla Province. But when looking at the economic side – 55%, 62%, and 69% of farm lands respectively fell into government hands. Or more precisely, into Sejong’s hands.

“So did they have to raise a rebellion after all…”

Looking over the report raised by the Ministry of Taxation, Sejong was so shocked he couldn’t speak properly.

Nearly half, or more than half, of Joseon’s important granary regions except for Gyeonggi Province had been under these noblemen’s control.

The contents in the thick tome report from the Ministry of Taxation were more than just that. As Sejong looked over the latter half, his expression turned fiercely sinister.

“Is this truly a fact?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom promptly replied.

“It is true.”

“Those bastards need to be ripped to death!”

Sejong revealed his anger in full.

The contents of the latter half of the report was about property seized from clans joining the uprising. Even excluding real estate like farms and forests, the total value of seized assets rivaled 15 years of tax revenue for the court. Simply put, it meant the court could run the government for 15 years if the missing tax revenue were truly collected.

“Those ungrateful bastards…”

With those gnashed teeth words, Sejong’s jowls shivered.

“Your Majesty! Please quell your justified anger!”

“Please quell your justified anger!”

Urged by ministers like Kim Jeom to settle his anger, Sejong took deep breaths to quell his rage.

After a long bout of deep breathing, having cooled his rage to some extent, Sejong spoke while gazing at the ministers.

“From the final years of the late king’s reign all the way until my first 5 years, we held rites, praying for rain every year. And every year, petitions from across the country reporting people starving to death poured in endlessly, followed by regional governors’ persistence that this should be resolved.”

“That is correct.”

“In such a situation, to have amassed wealth like this… Is it possible that this happened through legitimate means?”

“…”

The ministers said nothing to Sejong’s question. Because they had their fair share of sore spots as well. A significant portion of ‘gifts’ that officials ended up giving away during the Kim Doyeon incident were provided by these sorts of improperly enriched individuals.

With the ministers remaining silent, Sejong looked over the report once more. Staring at the report as if to pierce it through with his glare, Sejong called for the high official.

“Immediately summon the Crown Prince and Chief State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Soon after being summoned, with the Chief State Councilor and Hyang in front of him, Sejong gave a brief order.

“While executing those directly involved in revolt is unavoidable, come up with ideas on how to utilize those who have fallen to slavery, and report back on this. The price must be paid for favoring their fellow colleagues for this long.”

“We shall obey your order.”

The Chief State Councilor and Hyang lowered their heads respectfully as they answered.

And so the answer that came out from the Hall of Worthies and research facility was ‘30 years of labor in mines’.

* * *

“There is only harsh labor.”

Having received Sejong’s order from Hyang, officials at the research facility immediately mentioned ‘hard labor’. At the officials’ answer, Hyang nodded as he added on.

“While that may be the answer, I don’t think it’s the correct solution. Where and how the penal servitude is carried out is the issue. Others must clearly see ‘they are paying the proper price right now’. Additionally, those doing the same work cannot receive similar treatment. Lastly, escape must not be easy.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s stated conditions, all the officials cocked their heads.

Amid deep thought, Jeong Inji made a proposal.

“What do you think about assigning them to the road constructions currently in progress?”

At Jeong Inji’s words, Jeong-cho raised objections.

“Hasn’t it already been decided that road constructions will be handled by private consortiums?”

“That is true. However, according to the plans just formulated, very little of the roads will be straight. Due to mountains and rivers.”

“That’s a fair point.”

Bringing over a map and spreading it out on the desk, Jeong Inji continued his explanation tracing lines with his finger.

“I’m saying we assign them to the straightening reconstruction process for these roads. Drilling tunnels through mountains and rather than just picking narrow parts of rivers for bridges, erecting them at points closest to a straight line. Of course construction difficulty and capital investment will be significantly greater. We use criminals for that challenging construction work.”

“Hmm…”

“Sounds decent…”

At Jeong Inji’s words, officials at the research facility all had expressions as if it made sense.

However, the head supervisor of the project, Hyang, shook his head.

“No good.”

“Why not?”

Asked for the reason, Hyang immediately explained it.

“First, road construction sites are places where people live. Risk of escape is high.”

“If separate detention facilities are built for the regions undergoing challenging constructions…”

“No matter how many detention facilities you build, road work sites have villages right over a mountain or two. Plus those sites are covered with dangerous tools like hoes, axes, and shovels. If something goes wrong, it could lead to casualties for neighboring villages.”

“Still though…”

“Secondly, handing road constructions to private consortiums also serve the purposes of circulating funds, gathering personnel, expanding currency circulation, and expanding Joseon’s economic scale. Mass assigning criminals there? It may fall short of expected goals.”

“Ah…”

As Hyang’s explanation continued, Jeong Inji’s head drooped lower and lower. Seeing that, Hyang looked around at the other officials.

“Lastly, they’ll be building bridges and digging tunnels through mountains. Challenging constructions. As those types of projects are underway, the laborers will gain experience and become skilled technicians.”

Taking a short break and catching his breath, Hyang pointed out a critical problem.

“However, teaching such important skills and techniques to criminals, and especially those convicted of treason – does it seem reasonable to you? For ordinary criminals providing skills and reforming them makes sense so they never commit crimes again, but rebels are different, are they not?”

As Hyang pointed out the political issue, Jeong Inji waved the white flag.

“My thinking was a bit shortsighted.”

“While the idea was good, you didn’t consider the political problem. Go back and ponder this a little more.”

“Yes.”

As such, Hyang and research facility officials put their heads together agonizing over one proposal after another while going over various reports and maps from the Boards of the Interior and Revenue.

What made Hyang and his officials rack their brains was the issue of ‘disdained statuses tied to certain professions’.

“It’d be perfect if we use them for either mine labor or oarsmen for ships…”

“With that disdained status problem, there’s already fewer and fewer who want those roles. How will we handle securing manpower in the future?”

“Ugh…”

One day while Hyang was going over documents at Area 51, Lee Chun came to find him.

“Your Highness, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

As Hyang asked in puzzlement, Lee Chun made a faint smile and continued speaking.

“Though an official report will soon reach the court, a large iron mine has been discovered in a newly pioneered region.”

At Lee Chun’s words, Hyang’s eyes lit up.

“An iron mine, you say? Where is it?”

At Hyang’s question, Lee Chun took down a map from the wall and spread it out on the desk, pointing to one spot.

“Right here.”

Nodding as he looked over where Lee Chun indicated, Hyang said,

“Looks decent. We’ll need to research more on this. Thank you, general.”

“You flatter me. As a retainer of Joseon, I’m just doing my assigned tasks.”

Following Hyang’s order, officials from the research center immediately rode off northward.

“What brings people from Hanseong here?”

“The Crown Prince sent us.”

The dispatched official held out Hyang’s letter of introduction to Hwang Hui. After checking the letter’s contents, Hwang Hui called for his scribe.

“Go and—”

“I’m right here!”

Hearing Kim Jong-seo’s voice from right next door, Hwang Hui scowled.

“That rascal dashes to Hanseong no matter rain or shine…”

In a low voice, he muttered complaints as he gave orders to Kim Jong-seo.

“Hand over duplicated written materials on the mountain to them and if necessary, carry out on-site investigations as well.”

“Yes, sir! Then please follow me!”

With high spirits, Kim Jong-seo led the research center officials off.

“Where is the most popular pleasure quarter in Hanseong these days? How about gisaengs—”

Listening to Kim Jong-seo’s very excited inquiries about this and that regarding Hanseong, Hwang Hui’s face crumpled up.

“His love for Hanseong is always…”

* * *

Having obtained data through that process, Hyang and research center officials soon chose Muan-san as the most ideal location.

“With the mountain and Tumen River surrounding on three sides, the only exit is the Cheongjin road. Surveillance will be easy.”

“Since it is an open mine, utilizing female penal labor will also carry less burden. Additionally, it is the optimal position to supply iron to the second imperial ironworks scheduled for construction near Cheongjin.”

Following the report by Hyang and research officials, Sejong made his decision.

“Send the criminals to Mt. Musan for labor!”

* * *

According to Sejong’s decree, surviving members from rebellious clans had their status demoted to slavery and were dragged off to the iron mines in Mt. Musan and coal mines near Gyeongheung, which was discovered recently – called Aoji in the 21st century.

Once Sejong made his decision, those locked up in regional offices’ prisons and garrison prisons started heading north. The number of people who began relocating like this reached approximately 110,000 – clan members and slaves owned by clans.

In this process of moving north, considerable sacrifices occurred. Those who tried escaping when chances appeared, were caught and killed. Those in despair over their circumstances, committed suicide. As well as many who collapsed from mental shock and physical exhaustion, dying on route.

Those that died were carelessly buried in hillsides nearby.

“Move it!”

At the escort soldiers’ shouts, those remaining had no choice but to move their unsteady feet, tears flowing.

Having suddenly gone from living well as noblemen to the wretched status of slaves overnight. At the torment of having to bury their own family without proper rites, they went on moving. The minds of these survivors grew increasingly devastated.

* * *

One day in the distant future, progressive scholars used this incident and the earlier ‘Purging of Rebels’ event to launch fierce criticisms on Sejong.

“Sejong was a tyrant!”

The heated debates between these progressive historians and their conservative counterparts stirred up the field of history.

* * *

The ‘Southern Provinces Uprising’ sent massive ripples across Joseon society. As an aftermath of this uprising, the court’s centralization of power was further strengthened while local noblemen became increasingly subdued.

In the process, an unexpected victim emerged – village schools scattered across the nation.

Having received reports that the rebels began their conspiracies and formed cliques in village schools, Sejong ordered their abolition.

“Though created for holding memorial rites to the shrines of Great Scholar, and cultivating scholarly principles, they have become hotbeds for the unrestful! Thus village schools will be abolished! Memorial rites to past sages will be handled by the Sunkyunkwan, so those desiring to hold rites ought to properly do so by coming to the Sunkyunkwan!”

In the past, once this order came down, not only would ministers but local noblemen across the land rise up in defiance. However, with Sejong’s royal authority being absolute and righteousness completely in his grasp, no prominent local nobleman dared to resist.

And so before that year Gi-Yu ended, village schools across Joseon were dismantled.

Chapter 167
Aftershocks and Currency (2)

The day Sejong decided to dismantle village schools,

“Phew~.”

Exiting the morning court session, Minister of Rites Lee Maeng-gyun heaved a deep sigh. Seeing Lee Maeng-gyun’s face, other court ministers comforted him.

“Your Excellency, let’s leave on time today and have a drink. I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Let us go together, my lord.”

At his colleagues’ words, Yi heaved another long sigh as he nodded.

“I’ve been avoiding alcohol for a while, but I need a drink today. Thank you. Let’s go together.”

“Indeed. Let’s drink until our noses are crooked today.”

And so, receiving the comfort of his fellow ministers, Lee Maeng-gyun headed off to the pleasure quarters, gritting his teeth as he crossed the threshold of the Ministry of Rite’s government office.

“Damn those rebel scums! Of all times! We ought to exterminate not only their family but all their nine clans and more!”

Spitting curses at the rebels on his way in, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately gathered officials of the Ministry once inside.

Once the officials gathered, Lee Maeng-gyun spoke in a complicated tone,

“Just earlier, His Majesty made his decision in the court. That decision was…”

Stopping briefly, Lee took a deep breath before continuing,

“His Majesty has ordered the dismantlement of village schools.”

“What?”

“Are you serious?”

At Lee’s statement, officials looked around at each other with stunned faces, mumbling.

“Then what about the Confucian memorial rites…”

“With the Sunkyunkwan…”

Watching his officials discuss one of the key functions of village schools – memorial rites – Lee raised his voice,

“That is not the problem!”

“If that’s not the problem, then…”

Among the confused officials at Lee’s words, those quick on the uptake turned deathly pale.

“Could it be! Has the initial initiatives of establishing Four Peoples Schools already been decided?”

“Could it be! Wasn’t the establishment of Four Peoples Schools planned after the completion of the court’s departmental reforms??”

As the quick-witted mentioned ‘Four Peoples Schools’, the faces of other officials also started paling.

Seeing their expressions, Minister Lee Maeng-gyun nodded with a heavy look,,

“Nothing has come out formally yet. However, I and other ministers believe His Majesty will soon make his intentions known.”

“For what reason?”

At the officials’ question, Lee simply replied,

“Because unexpected massive wealth flowed in due to the rebels.”

“Ah…”

At Lee’s reply, the officials shut their mouths and nodded in understanding.

* * *

The educational institution Sejong termed ‘Four Peoples School’ was by the standards of the time, a highly progressive and sensational institution that couldn’t be seen anywhere else in the world.

At Four Peoples Schools, any freeborn child regardless of class or gender could receive basic education.

It was while listening to Hyang’s presentation of ideologies that Sejong thought of Four Peoples Schools.

—Joseon has small barren infertile land and scarce resources. For Joseon to develop in such bleak conditions, there is nothing we can rely on but people. That means investing in people.

—Investing in people means providing them education.

—Lowering the entry barrier of education and widening access must be done in order to foster greater numbers of talents.

Sejong was deeply impressed by Hyang’s opinions. Sejong’s greatest purpose had also been the enrichment and military strengthening of Joseon. Hyang’s words demolished the wall Sejong had been stuck behind, allowing breakthrough.

“Is this not the ideal those past sages had dreamed of!”

Falling to his knees at Hyang’s views, Sejong devised policies fitting the basic ideology of ‘Expanding Both Quality and Quantity of Education’ while laying out military reformation plans.

Of course the scholars of Hall of Worthies, who had been aiding to realize Sejong’s grand military plans, showed mostly negative reactions.

“While ideal, such a thing is impossible in reality, would it not?”

“Though the intention of educating commoners’ children is good… Would ignorant masses living scrappily hand to mouth even consider sending their own kids to school?”

At the Hall of Worthies scholars’ words, Sejong roared curses at them in a coarse voice.

“Watch that trash-spouting mouth this instant!”

“Mouth—”

“Your Majesty! Such language—”

As Hall of Worthies scholars tried to protest Sejong’s cursing, he immediately talked over them.

“I said watch it! Do you lot truly want to spread the sages’ teachings in this world! Blinded by tiny bits of sense of superiority! Look at successful civil service exam passers for starters! Are all those who attempt and pass the exam sons of noblemen? No small number are sons of farmers! And so what? Those masses won’t send their kids to study? What do you see Joseon subjects as! Do you still feel my ‘trash mouth’ words unjust!”

“Please forgive our blathering!”

At Sejong’s roar, the Hall of Worthies scholars could only prostrate flat.

And so was how the Four Peoples Schools came to be created.

According to contents planned in the military reforms, all people of Joseon, when their children reached ages 5-7 years old, in other words, old enough to express their own will to some extent, had to send them to Four Peoples Schools, regardless of gender.

What the Four Peoples Schools taught were basics of Hanja characters, arithmetic, and ethics.

After receiving education at Four Peoples Schools, children could enter more advanced educational institutions afterwards, according to individual circumstances and aptitudes.

For those seeking officialdom or commercial occupations going to village schools was arranged for further education, while those pursuing military or naval careers would enter local academies for further education – that was the basic framework.

And the administrative agency in charge was the Department of Education.

Through military reforms, the Ministry of Rites was set to be divided into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Department of Education. The Department of Education would manage the oversight of schools, entrance examinations including civil service exams, and other overall education policies.

However, because of this uprising, grave disruptions arose in this schedule. With village schools named as hotbeds of dissenters, they were demolished.

* * *

Lee Maeng-gyun continued his explanation.

“While we only caught bits and pieces, His Majesty seems to plan on taking this unfortunate incident as a lesson, and devote more attention to education. That means…”

Making a brief pause and looking around at each official, Lee resumed speaking.

“It means, depending on how we handle things, the budget scale could greatly increase or decrease.”

As Lee brought up the budget, officials’ gazes began sharply shining.

With encouragement of commerce and implementation of various economic policies, tax revenue flowing into the court’s coffers continuously grew. However, expenditures were also massive matching what came in.

As such, the Six Ministries making up the court waged bloody battles to squeeze out even just a little more budget.

If the budget grew, they could increase personnel as well as boldly implement experimental policies.

The most representative were the Ministries of Military and Taxation. And recently, the Ministry of Public and Works was right on their heels.

Minister Lee Maeng-gyun hence encouraged the his ministry’s officials.

“His Majesty likely won’t spend all the confiscated assets of the rebels in one go, but it’s certain the next budget will have an enormous increase! The portions going to Military and Taxation ministries can’t be helped and the Public Works as well due to newly implemented policies! But the budget cannot be snatched by other departments! Especially so for the research facility and Area 51 budgets!”

“Yes!”

The officials unanimously responded to their superior’s words.

“Do you want to leave work on time?”

“Yes!”

“There are lots of new junior officials coming in so you want a more comfortable work environment?”

“Yes!”

“Then we must take the initiative to move first! Only then can we secure a more abundant budget! Is that not so!”

“Yes. Indeed!”

“Then get moving!”

“Yes!”

At the cry-like response, Ministry of Rites officials hurried back to their posts.

Similar activity was taking place in other agencies around the same time. Thoughts of all officials were identical.

‘More budget ⟶ More personnel ⟶ Comfortable work environment ⟶ Leaving work on time ⟶ Family happiness’

While the officials may have been comforted with what minister Lee Maeng-gyun was saying when exiting the closed quarters, in truth, almost all reached the same conclusion…

* * *

While ministry officials waged bloody battles to secure even a little more of the budget, executions for the rebel instigators also steadily continued.

“Once executions for uprising participants ended, all that remained was administering punishment on Grand Prince Yangnyeong and Seo Seon.

“For Seo Seon and his clan, administer according to stipulations by law.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

While Seo Seon’s verdict quickly ended, the issue was Grand Prince Yangnyeong.

For quite a while, Sejong agonized over what adjudication to pass down on Grand Prince Yangnyeong.

While inclined to handle things according to law to end matters promptly, Grand Prince Yangnyeong was Taejong’s eldest legitimate son, former Crown Prince, and Sejong’s own older brother by blood.

Whether he lived or died, whatever verdict passed down would definitely remain a continuing political burden on Sejong himself.

“How to handle this matter…”

And so regarding Grand Prince Yangnyeong’s punishment, Sejong’s anguish could only deepen.

“Even my hands are tied on this issue…”

While Hyang understood well what was troubling Sejong, this time even he could not interfere.

No matter his status as Crown Prince, it was an extremely precarious political issue involving the king—who was Hyang’s own father and the king’s own brother.

With Sejong’s worries worsening this way, Grand Prince Hyoryeong came to find Sejong.

“Your Majesty, your complexion does not seem very good. Your face holds deep concerns.”

At Hyoryeong’s words Sejong let out a lengthy sigh.

“Sigh~. The burden on my shoulders is too heavy.”

Quietly observing Sejong, Hyoryeong asked,

“Is it because of our oldest brother?”

Not speaking a word, Sejong nodded at Hyoryeong’s question.

Silently watching Sejong, Hyoryeong gently remonstrated with him.

“Judge according to national law.”

“But he is my brother. Father’s eldest son and former Crown Prince.”

“Yet Father passed the throne to Your Majesty instead of our eldest brother. Thus everything was settled.”

“Sigh~.”

At Hyoryeong’s words, Sejong heaved a long sigh. In a quiet, composed tone, Hyoryeong continued speaking.

“Whatever decision Your Majesty makes, it will become a large shackle on you. Then, choose to stand by the law’s strictness. If you lean towards sentiment, in the distant future if similar situations arise, it could turn into a disadvantageous precedent.”

“I suppose you are right.”

At the powerless tone of Sejong’s voice, Hyoryeong continued his words.

“Anyway living in this world means crossing an ocean of suffering. One must endlessly get injured and feel anguish. Regrets and guilt will remain with you due to our brother’s situation. But please stand up over that and make Joseon even greater and more prosperous, with the people living in even more peace. Then the populace will praise you greatly.”

“That shall be my atonement.”

At Hyoryeong’s words, Sejong seemed to have hardened his resolve. His complexion gradually calmed and strength returned to his voice.

“Older brother, thank you. Thanks to you I have awakened from the dream.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyoryeong faintly smiled as he answered.

“It is all due to Buddha’s grace.”

[TL/N: Grand Prince Hyoryeong is Taejong’s second son, and also older brother of Sejong. He became a monk following Sejong’s installation as King.]

* * *

Having hardened his resolve by Hyoryeong’s words, Sejong announced the next day in front of gathered ministers.

“I will decide the criminal Yangnyeong’s punishment.”

Making ‘it has come’ expressions at Sejong’s announcement, the ministers nervously swallowed their saliva.

After a brief moment to catch his breath, Sejong continued speaking.

“According to law, criminal Yangnyeong and sons over 15 years old will be executed. However, given his status as royalty, punishments like sliced to death or hanged, will not be used. Instead, sentence to death by poison shall be administered. Additionally, the entire family including the criminal will be deleted from ‘Register of Royal Genealogies’ and remaining descendants will be demoted to commoners. While all assets possessed by the criminal’s clan will be confiscated, 10% shall be allotted to those demoted to commoners for minimal livelihood. Lastly, those demoted to commoners will be exiled by families to islands in the southern sea.”

As Sejong’s words ended, ministers uniformly bowed down to the floor.

“Your order is received!”

The day sentence was carried out, having heard about his family, Yangnyeong bowed in the direction of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“I am grateful for His Majesty’s bestowed grace.”

Chapter 168
Aftershocks and Currency (3)

Despite the swirling storms of upheaval following the uprising, there were those who remained undeterred, focusing solely on their tasks. On one side were those pioneering in the northern territories, and on the other, the Ministry of Taxation.

The officials of the Ministry of Taxation, led by Kim Jeom, were all intensely driven.

The time had come for the distribution of currency, coinciding with the harvest season.

* * *

As economic reforms progressed, the economy of Joseon gradually expanded.

With the growth of the economy, the government’s finances also increased in scale. Tax revenues rose, but so did expenditures. Therefore, the Ministry of Taxation’s office was bustling every day, except on New Year’s Day and Chuseok.

The officials had to work tirelessly overnight to prevent leakage in tax collection and to suppress expenditure as much as possible, all in an effort to secure funds for the operation of the new currency system.

After a relentless struggle, when the planned year of Giyu arrived, the Ministry of Taxation was somewhat prepared.

“If we hadn’t developed the gold and silver mines, this would have been impossible. And, the help from the Ouchi family was significant too…”

Kim Jeom murmured to himself while reviewing the reports.

* * *

Previously, trade with Japan involved intermediary trade via Tsushima Island. Most of the Japanese living in the Japanese enclaves (waegwan or wakan)[1] in Gyeongsang Province were from Tsushima.

However, with King Sejong’s active economic reforms, the composition of Japanese residents in Waegwan began to change gradually.

“We can’t trust those Tsushima scoundrels!”

Following King Sejong’s decision, the local government offices managing the Waegwan scrutinized them closely. If any Japanese resident showed the slightest fault, the Joseon officials would use it as a pretext to immediately expel them to Tsushima.

As vacancies arose, Joseon would promptly fill them with Japanese sent by the Ouchi family and the Governor of Kyushu.

This arrangement benefited the Ouchi family, the Governor of Kyushu, and Joseon alike.

The Ouchi family and the Governor of Kyushu could import cultural goods from the more advanced Joseon directly, bypassing Tsushima and reducing costs. They could then resell these goods in their neighboring territories for a profit.

For Joseon, this arrangement was beneficial as well. Unlike Tsushima, which was just a small island, the Ouchi family and the Governor of Kyushu were lords of large domains, thus capable of mobilizing significantly larger funds. Moreover, their friendly stance towards Joseon made maintaining a good relationship easier. Particularly in the case of the Ouchi family, communication was smooth, partly because they considered themselves descendants of the Baekje kingdom.

As a result, Tsushima suffered the greatest loss. With the Ouchi family and the Governor of Kyushu – formidable competitors for Tsushima – entering the scene, Tsushima was inevitably pushed out of the competition. Moreover, since the Tsushima Campaign, Joseon’s attitude towards Tsushima had not been favorable.

‘Otori in the north, Tsushima in the south’

King Sejong and his court already viewed these two as targets to be eliminated.

Tsushima was in a dilemma. Although they wanted to employ their old tactics of using pirates to adopt a hardline approach, they couldn’t underestimate the power of the Joseon military. Especially with the introduction of new warships known as ‘Panokseon’ in the navy, the maritime supremacy between Joseon and Tsushima was increasingly shifting in Joseon’s favor.

[TL/N: Panokseon. Also know as Turtle Ship.]

Additionally, Joseon held control over Tsushima’s lifeline through its trade ships, the Segyeonseon[2]. Although Tsushima had its agricultural lands, they were insufficient to provide enough food for the people of Tsushima.

Consequently, the Japanese in Tsushima had no choice but to lie low and be cautious of Joseon’s influence.

With these changes in the forces managing trade between Japan and Joseon, the composition of the Japanese residing in the Waegwan underwent significant changes.

By the time of the Giyu year, the composition of the Japanese in the Waegwan was approximately Ouchi 3.5: Governor of Kyushu 3: Tsushima 2: various merchants including those from the Shogunate and ten other regions in Japan (Jipcheo Waesa, the ten Japanese territories permitted to send envoys to Joseon) 1.5.

With the Ouchi family and the Governor of Kyushu becoming central to trade, Joseon was able to resolve long-standing issues. One such resolution was the smooth import of copper and sulfur.

Joseon, by encouraging competition and checks among the Ouchi family, the Governor of Kyushu, Tsushima, and other forces, managed to resolve the supply issues of copper and sulfur.

Furthermore, continuous mining activities within Joseon eventually led to the discovery of copper and sulfur mines, finally allowing King Sejong to breathe a sigh of relief.

“We have overcome one of the major challenges that troubled Joseon!”

* * *

While reviewing reports, Kim Jeom called for the officials of the Ministry of Taxation.

“Everyone from the lower to the higher ranks, gather in the meeting room!”

At Kim Jeom’s summons, intermediate officials up to the rank of Jeong 4-pum and senior officials up to the rank of vice minister gathered in the meeting room.

Once all the officials were seated, Kim Jeom reviewed the situation.

“Have all the marketplaces been set up?”

“Yes. We built them quickly thanks to the extra space allocated during the construction of the existing monopoly stores.”

“What about the supply of copper coins and both the white and yellow bronze coins?”

“We prepared them based on last year’s tax revenues, with an additional 20% surplus.”

“Is that so?”

Listening to the responses of the officials, Kim Jeom went through the records of last year’s tax revenues.

“Let’s see… last year’s tax revenues… focusing only on what was collected from the farmers…”

Humming like he was singing a song, Kim Jeom found the relevant section and recited the details.

“Looking at last year’s tax revenues from the farmers… we have rice 113,840 seok, field rice 70,013 seok, soybeans 36,650 seok, cotton fabric 28,750 bolts, cloth 57,550 bolts(footnote 1)… Is that correct?”

[TL/N: 1 seok is roughly around 100kg to 145kg depending on type of grains.]

At Kim Jeom’s question, the officials, after checking the records, all nodded in agreement.

“That’s correct.”

“Did you prepare accordingly based on these figures?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Hmm… And the transportation of the currency?”

“We transported it with military escort, and it’s almost complete everywhere except for Jeju Island and a few other islands.”

“That’s a relief.”

Receiving the reports from his subordinates, Kim Jeom showed a sigh of relief.

Since the Goryeo era, successive Joseon kings had tried but failed to circulate currency. Now, King Sejong was making another attempt.

Having started later than initially planned, they took extra care in preparation, fully committed to ensuring its success.

While Kim Jeom was reviewing the readiness, an official asked him a question.

“What about the tenant farmers working on the lands confiscated in the Samnam region?”

“Follow the law as already announced for this year. Right after this harvest, there will be a decision from His Majesty.”

“Understood.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the officials all bowed their heads.

“Any other questions? Or new matters to report?”

When the officials responded with silence, Kim Jeom stood up.

“Then, go back to your duties. If we do this right, next year will be easier.”

“We’ll keep that in mind!”

Returning to his office, Kim Jeom muttered with a worried expression.

“The Crown Prince’s words are still troubling me…”

* * *

The issue of handling the real estate, including the fields confiscated from the nobles who failed in the uprising, was a new topic of discussion.

“Shouldn’t we make it state property?”

At Lee Jik’s suggestion, King Sejong and the other ministers nodded in agreement. Seeing their reaction, Hyang posed a question.

“Does making it state property mean managing it as Gungbangjeon (Real Estates Owned by the Royal Household)?”

“Probably, yes.”

“But Gungbangjeon is tax-exempt land owned by the royal family, isn’t it? Won’t that cause issues with tax revenues?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s point, the ministers and King Sejong showed a realization.

King Sejong had temporarily allowed the management of the royal lands, except for the Royal Household Finance Office, naesusa[3], by the government to facilitate economic reforms. This was a temporary measure.

During this process, King Sejong had even promised in writing to the royal relatives that the privileges taken away would be returned when the time was right.

Once the economic reforms were complete and Joseon’s economy grew further, it was certain that the royal relatives would demand the fulfillment of this promise.

Eventually, King Sejong and the ministers had to reconvene to find a solution.

The decision made was to turn the confiscated fields and real estate into state-owned lands. As Joseon operated under an absolute monarchy where ‘Joseon = King,’ there were no significant issues. These lands would be managed separately from Naesusa and Gungbangjeon fields, minimizing impact on tax revenues.

“Of course, the problem will be how much rent to charge. We’ll need to deliberate on this aspect too.”

At Kim Jeom’s comment, King Sejong nodded.

“That’s true. However, if there’s a discrepancy between Gungbangjeon and these state lands, it might lead to discontent among the tenant farmers and promote illegal activities. Let’s think this through.”

Thus, a compromise was reached after thorough discussion:

– The rent for those who lease state-owned agricultural land will be the same as for Gungbangjeon.

– Those leasing Gungbangjeon and state-owned lands will pay taxes at the same rate as regular tenant farmers.

“That seems reasonable. But let’s think a bit more. Something feels off.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The ministers accepted King Sejong’s vaguely expressed concerns without objection. They didn’t have much time.

Delaying further could result in the harvested rice in the fields rotting. They needed to harvest and collect taxes as soon as possible, which would ease the burden on both the people and the officials, allowing them to plan next year’s budget more comfortably.

“Minister of Taxation.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As Kim Jeom was leaving the Geunjeongjeon after the meeting, he stopped when Hyang called out to him.

Kim Jeom’s unease stemmed from Hyang’s last remark.

“Why suddenly mention restorative tonics? Everyone in the Six Ministries Street knows that’s the last thing one should talk about these days, especially around the Crown Prince.”

Though his eyes were on the documents, Kim Jeom’s mind was increasingly troubled.

The father and son duo of the Geunjeongjeon and Easter Palace were always a step ahead. While it was often possible to anticipate the King’s actions to some extent, the Crown Prince was utterly unpredictable.

Additionally, the Crown Prince had recently developed a concerning habit. Even if he identified issues in new policies, unless they were critical matters affecting the nation’s survival, he wouldn’t mention them beforehand. Instead, he would vaguely hint at them to the ministers, quietly prepare countermeasures, and then present them to King Sejong when the situation escalated.

1. Read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waegwan_(enclave)[↩]

2. Japanese trading ships[↩]

3. A government office in charge of managing royal finances during the Joseon Dynasty[↩]

Chapter 169
Aftershocks and Currency (4)

As the autumn of the Giyu year arrived, the harvest and tax collection began amidst a mix of anticipation, fear, and tension.

‘This harvest, taxes will be collected in currency only!’

This announcement from the court had been made well before the uprising, so the people of Joseon were already aware and had somewhat prepared themselves mentally.

At the entrance of a bathhouse near Seochon (West Village) in Hanyang.

Two men were chatting at the entrance.

“Have you heard they’re distributing new currency?”

“Yeah, I heard it’s completely different from what we’ve used so far.”

“Really? Wonder if it’ll actually be useful this time.”

“We’ll see…”

“Are you here to bathe or just block the entrance chatting! Decide already!”

“Oops!”

The men, absorbed in their conversation, hurried to the bathhouse counter at the owner’s scolding.

“Here’s the fee.”

“Me too!”

They presented small sacks of grain, which the bathhouse owner opened to inspect.

“Beans, huh? Let’s see…”

He poured the beans into a scale’s pan to weigh them.

“Got the right amount this time. Go on in!”

As the men entered, the bathhouse owner grumbled while filling a large sack with beans.

“Darn it! It’s not like making money is birthing a baby, why does it take so long! They should release it quickly once decided. Even weighing these is a hassle!”

In Joseon’s urban areas, the general sentiment was in favor of the currency. However, the majority of rural dwellers responded negatively.

“Making new money? Just wasting good copper!”

“Cotton fabric was good enough, why bother with this…”

“What’s the use? They’ll just stir up trouble catching counterfeiters again.”

“Even if they make it, there’s nothing you can buy with it, just a nuisance…”

Rural and fishing communities were still accustomed to bartering. Additionally, the low trust in previously issued currencies fueled their skepticism.

Finally, on the day the harvest and tax collection began, the people of Joseon got their first look at the newly minted Joseon currency.

* * *

As the harvest began, the officials from the Ministry of Taxation dispatched across the nation were exceptionally busy.

The officials monitored the farmers packing the harvested rice into sacks, ensuring there was no malpractice.

“Let’s see… Kim Gap-seok’s rice, 22 seom… so, according to the tax rate…”

The official informed Gap-seok of the amount of tax he needed to pay.

“You understand how much you need to pay, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then, come to the grain market next to the trading post within five days and exchange it for currency to pay your tax.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t forget, a late fee of 1% per day will be added if you miss the five-day deadline!”

“I’ll make sure to come within five days!”

“Ah, and remember, the trading post also only accepts currency, so bring enough!”

“Yes! I understand!”

After repeatedly cautioning the farmer, the Ministry of Taxation official hurried off to inspect another household’s harvest.

* * *

Farmers, carrying or carting sacks and bundles of rice to the grain market to exchange for currency to pay their taxes, found the area beside the market teeming with people.

“Why are so many people gathered here?”

Gap-seok, like other farmers carrying rice sacks to pay taxes, asked a nearby farmer the reason for the crowd.

The farmer explained in a disinterested tone.

“Before entering the market, we need to attend a brief explanation about the currency. That’s why everyone’s waiting here.”

“Is that so?”

Gap-seok craned his neck to see ahead. Indeed, soldiers with spears were organizing the farmers into lines, and an official, seated behind a desk, was pointing at various items on the desk while explaining something.

“Next!”

After about two hours of waiting, it was Gap-seok’s turn. Along with other farmers, he approached the official’s desk. On the desk were colorfully marked paper bills and yellow copper coins, along with white silver coins, all laid out in abundance.

The official, after taking a sip of water to clear his throat, began explaining to Gap-seok and the other farmers.

“First, I’ll explain about the coins. This white one here is the white-copper coin[1]. The smaller sizes are 1 and 5 pun. Ten of these white-copper coin make one yellow-copper coin, which is worth 1 won. Do you understand so far?”

The farmers blinked and nodded at the official’s explanation about the coins.

“I think I get it.”

“Different sizes should make it easy to distinguish, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

Satisfied with their response, the official pointed to the yellow coins and continued his explanation.

“These are yellow-copper coin. The smallest ones are 1 won, then 5 won, 10 won, and 100 won. As with the white-copper coin, the size varies for different values. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Having explained the coins, the official moved on to the paper bills.

“This bill with a diagonal blue stripe is worth one nyang of silver. So, this paper bill is equivalent to one nyang of silver.”

The farmers widened their eyes as they examined the bill. Its edges were decorated with red and blue lines, similar to traditional Korean dancheong, and it was labeled ‘Silver 1 Nyang (銀1兩)’. Beside the label was a beautifully drawn landscape painting.

[TL/N: Dancheong is the decorative coloring on traditional Korean wooden buildings and artifacts for the purpose of style. See some of the designs below.

The official continued, “One thousand won of yellow-copper coin equals one silver nyang. Do you understand?”

“Yes? Yes.”

“And ten of these silver nyang bills make…”

He pointed to another paper bill.

“One gold nyang. Understand? Though, you won’t see a gold nyang bill often.”

The farmers nodded, almost reflexively. Gold was something they might only see once or twice in their lifetimes.

They had heard stories about someone finding rare ginseng in the mountains and buying a gold ring for their wife, changing their household’s fortune, but those were just stories.

After a brief basic education, the official posed a question to the farmers.

“So, which one is 1 pun?”

“Uh… that is…”

* * *

Having received education about coins and banknotes, Gap-seok and other farmers moved to the location of the grain market.

The market was set up in the spacious front yard of a large mansion that once belonged to a noble who participated in the “Giyu Rebellion”. The 70-plus room mansion’s yard hosted several desks, where officials were exchanging the farmers’ grain for currency.

“Wait here until a spot opens up, then move one at a time.”

“Yes, sir.”

The farmers obediently waited in line as instructed by the military officer guarding the area.

When it was his turn, Gap-seok moved to an empty spot and set down his jige frame carrier.

[TL/N: Jige carrier.]

“Where do you live, and what is your name?”

“I’m Kim Gap-seok, or rather, Kim Gap-dol, from Angol.”

“Kim Gap-seok from Angol…”

Upon hearing Gap-seok’s response, the official stood up and sifted through piles of documents at the back. He searched through dozens of well-arranged ledgers, picked one, and returned to his seat to check its contents.

“Kim Gap-seok from Angol… here it is. Is your yield this year 22 i?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then the tax rate is…”

After calculating with an abacus, the official asked Gap-seok.

“The tax you owe is 1 mal and 1 deo of rice, correct?”

[TL/N: 1 mal and 1 deo is around 2L]

“That’s right.”

Upon confirming with Gap-seok, the official used the abacus again.

“One mal and one deo of white rice equals… Let’s see, 1 seom of white rice is worth 1 nyang and 200 won of silver, so… that’s 110 won in copper coins. Did you bring the rice?”

“Yes, sir.”

Gap-seok then unloaded a bag of rice from his carrier.

“You brought a bag of rice?”

“Yes. I need to buy some salt and a few other things at the trading post. They only accept money now…”

“I see, you there!”

“Yes, sir!”

Responding to Gap-seok, the official signaled a waiting soldier. The soldier opened the rice sack to check for contamination and weighed it, then reported back to the official.

“There are no issues.”

“Good.”

After receiving the soldier’s report, the official opened a wooden box beside him and took out copper coins.

Receiving the coins, Gap-seok involuntarily let out a gasp.

“Ack…”

At Gap-seok’s reaction, the official chuckled slightly.

“Not much, is it? But it’s money guaranteed by the government.”

“Yes, yes…”

Gap-seok still looked unconvinced. Regardless, the official opened another wooden box and carefully took out a banknote, handing it over to Gap-seok with both hands.

“Here you go. This is worth one nyang of silver.”

“Why are you giving it to me with both hands?”

“Do you see the red seal at the bottom?”

“Yes.”

“That’s His Majesty’s royal seal (御璽, Ok-sae).”

“Good heavens!”

Startled, Gap-seok vigorously rubbed his hands on his trousers before respectfully accepting the banknote.

“It’s an item marked with the royal seal of His Majesty, so handle it with care and don’t damage it.”

“Yes! I will be careful!”

“For paying your taxes, please go inside the main house.”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

After paying his taxes, Gap-seok stared at the banknote in his hand.

“It’s turned into a hot potato in no time.”

The banknote felt like a burden to Gap-seok. He couldn’t just shove something stamped with the King’s royal seal into his underwear, and carrying it around was an open invitation to thieves.

After a brief contemplation, Gap-seok bit his lip resolutely.

“Best to get rid of this hot potato quickly! Let’s spend it and see how it goes!”

He headed straight to the nearby trading post.

That day, Gap-seok bought sacks full of salt, sugar, various spices, and even treats and alcohol for his children, before returning home. He then faced a lively scolding from his wife.

“What were you thinking! Who told you to buy so much salt and sugar? Are we going to plant salt in the fields instead of rice seeds?”

* * *

With the introduction of currency, naturally, merchants were among the most interested.

“Hmm…”

Carefully examining the newly circulated currency, the merchants soon reached a conclusion.

“Anyone skilled enough to forge these new coins could make much more money doing other things.”

“Indeed.”

The merchants assessed the coins as ‘unforgeable’.

The merchants, scrutinizing the newly minted coins, were certain of their assessment.

“Definitely not cast using traditional methods.”

“It’s certain that the press method the Crown Prince introduced was used.”

“Because of that, as we mentioned, counterfeiting them would be tough.”

As the merchants pointed out, the new coins were indeed minted using a press. The skills of the craftsmen in the royal foundries, honed through producing armor for the military, had reached a peak. With the introduction of animal-powered machinery replacing human force, they could apply much greater pressure. Utilizing high-quality steel from the foundries, they were able to create more precise molds.

The merchants’ high regard for the coins wasn’t just because of the difficulty in counterfeiting them.

“The metal value of the white-copper coin and yellow-copper coin, if melted down, is much less than their face value, so no smart person would melt them for other uses.”

“Indeed.”

This was Hyang’s doing. Aware of incidents during the IMF crisis where 10-won coins were melted for their metal value, leading to changes in their design and size, Hyang boldly reduced the size of the coins.

“The important thing is the number on the coin! And that the country guarantees its value!”

Convinced by Hyang’s argument, King Sejong and the ministers accepted this approach.

The merchants were unanimous in their praise for the coins. The varying sizes corresponding to different values, reducing confusion, was another aspect that received accolades.

The discussion among the merchants then shifted to the banknotes.

When they first saw the banknotes, their eyes were drawn to King Sejong’s royal seal stamped on one corner, and their assessment was straightforward.

“If you don’t want to be branded a traitor, don’t even dream of counterfeiting it!”

Traditionally, counterfeiting currency was akin to treason, punishable by death.

However, these new banknotes carried the King’s royal seal. Counterfeiting them was tantamount to undeniable treason.

In simple terms, it wasn’t just the counterfeiter’s head that would roll – it would mean the execution of their entire family.

“With this, we don’t have to worry about counterfeiting.”

“Right.”

Having concluded the banknotes were unforgeable, the merchants started to examine other aspects of the paper money.

Quietly inspecting the banknotes, they all tilted their heads in wonder.

“How exactly did they print these?”

TL/N: A little reminder of the currency introduced in this chapter.

Coins

- 10 White-copper coin = 1 Yellow-copper coin = 1 won.

Bills

- 1000 yellow-copper coin or 1000 won = 1 silver nyang (blue note)

- 10 silver nyang = 1 gold nyang

1. Coins made with combination of copper, nickel and zing[↩]

Chapter 170
Aftershocks and Currency (5)

The banknotes that puzzled the merchants were Hyang’s brainchild. In fact, Hyang had taken on the entire responsibility for designing the currency.

“Why would the Crown Prince…?”

“Why is the Crown Prince…?”

Seeing Hyang’s enthusiasm, everyone from King Sejong to the ministers was puzzled. Usually, Hyang avoided taking on additional responsibilities beyond their work in the research institute and Area 51, slipping away like an eel.

As time passed, King Sejong and the ministers came to understand the reason behind Hyang’s involvement.

“It makes sense now…”

“Typical of the Crown Prince.”

Hyang was harnessing all of Joseon’s technology to produce the currency.

* * *

“We must make the best use of what we have! That’s how progress happens!”

Sorting through the technologies for the currency manufacturing process, Hyang made a point that left the eunuch thinking internally,

‘Why does that comment come up now?’

Regardless, Hyang mobilized every technology available in Joseon that could be applied to currency production.

The coins were not just simply pressed out. The molds used to imprint designs on the coins were products of the latest technology.

The steel comprising the mold’s body was high-quality, difficult to find in neighboring countries.

Once the ironworks in Anju were fully operational, they began producing wrought iron and steel in large quantities.

These materials were used extensively in parts deemed necessary by the court – mostly in Hyang’s research institute and Area 51.

However, as always, Hyang didn’t just passively receive and use these materials.

Each batch of steel from the ironworks was rigorously quality checked, and feedback for improvements was continuously relayed to Anju.

Through this feedback process, the quality of steel produced by the ironworks steadily improved, a testament to the growing skills of the craftsmen there.

Using the supplied steel, the craftsmen created precise molds.

Like 21st-century coins, serrations were added to the edges of the coins, a measure to prevent counterfeiting.

* * *

The coins incorporated these advanced technologies, but the banknotes were a culmination of them.

The printing technology, evolving since the Goryeo Dynasty, had reached an unparalleled level, far surpassing that of Japan and even Ming China.

Hyang maximized the use of this technology.

Each component of a banknote was divided into separate parts, creating individual plates for each. The banknotes were then printed in a manner similar to fabric dyeing.

“It’s boring to just print the amount, right? While we’re limited with coins, banknotes offer more flexibility.”

For the coins, due to size constraints, only the value was inscribed on the front, and “Joseon National Currency (朝鮮國錢)” on the back. However, for banknotes, Hyang wanted to do something more.

Struggling to find a clear solution, Hyang had an epiphany while passing by a glass workshop.

“Aha!”

With a great idea in mind, Hyang immediately sought out Pietro and Raphael.

“Do you guys know how to do etching?”

“Etching?”

Pietro and Raphael expressed confusion, prompting Hyang to realize their mistake.

“Ah… that’s English. I mean, using acid and metal to…”

After hearing Hyang’s explanation, Pietro turned to Raphael.

“Etching?”

“Etching.”

After a brief exchange, Raphael and Pietro responded to Hyang.

“Yes, we know how. It’s a technique we often use to incorporate metal decorations in glass crafts.”

Hearing their response, Hyang smiled triumphantly.

“I need your help with something.”

“Really?”

While Raphael looked apprehensive, Pietro’s eyes sparkled.

‘What new challenge is this?’

‘This sounds exciting!’

Having found a way to bring the idea to life, Hyang next visited the Royal Painting Bureau, Dohwawon.

“Who’s the best at painting landscapes?”

“Ah, there’s a painter named An Gyeon[1].”

‘Wow! The same person I read about in textbooks is actually here!’

Delighted, Hyang quickly gave an order.

“Bring him here, please.”

Following Hyang’s command, An Gyeon painted several landscapes, adjusted to the size of the banknotes.

“Good. Let’s use these two.”

Choosing two of the submitted paintings, Hyang instructed the painters of Dohwawon.

“Replicate these paintings 100 times each.”

“What? Yes, your command will be followed.”

The head of Dohwawon, momentarily puzzled, quickly bowed and complied. The Crown Prince’s eccentricities were already well-known.

With 200 paintings secured, Hyang directed Pietro and Raphael.

“Make copper plates from these.”

“…Yes.”

“And if there are any failures, let me know immediately, and I’ll get more paintings.”

Having arranged the crucial elements of the banknote design, Hyang mobilized the craftsmen from the Royal Mint to make the printing plates. Having already verified the skills of Royal Mint craftsmen in making coin plates, Hyang had no particular concerns.

Now, Hyang was ready to tackle the final hurdle.

“The issue is counterfeiting…”

To address the anti-counterfeiting measures, Hyang went straight to King Sejong without much hesitation.

“Your Majesty, I have a request regarding the new currency we’re producing, especially the banknotes, to prevent counterfeiting.”

King Sejong showed interest in Hyang’s proposal.

“Indeed? You always come with clear solutions. What can I do for you?”

“Could you please make a new seal for us?”

“Hmm?”

King Sejong pondered for a moment before asking Hyang for clarification.

“You understand the significance of a royal seal, right?”

“That’s exactly why I’m requesting it, Your Majesty. Who would dare to counterfeit something stamped with Your Majesty’s seal?”

“I see your point.”

After a brief contemplation, King Sejong made his decision.

“I grant your request!”

Thus, 100 new seals were created, each bearing the inscription ‘King of Joseon (朝鮮國王)’ written by King Sejong himself.

* * *

With the printing plates for the currency ready, the court established a new government agency.

This new agency was named the ‘Mint Bureau’ and was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Taxation.

Hearing the news, officials from the Ministry of Taxation sought out Kim Jeom to express their concerns.

“Another task for us? Why is it always our department among the Six Ministries?”

Facing his subordinates’ lamentations, Kim Jeom responded with a gloomy expression.

“This is a task we must undertake. If another department handled it, we would be the ones criticized. Sigh… Just a bit more hardship for us.”

With all preparations complete, the actual printing process began.

Craftsmen dispatched from the Royal Mint to the Mint Bureau worked alongside Ministry of Taxation officials on the printing process, which had a unique aspect.

Every morning, upon arriving at work, the craftsmen and officials would maintain the printing press – a hybrid model that Hyang developed, inspired by Gutenberg’s printing press. They retrieved the printing plates from the vault and installed them in the press according to the printing schedule. After setting up the plates, the craftsmen and officials would proceed to the last vault.

The officials carefully opened the last vault, cautiously taking out a wooden box containing King Sejong’s seals.

Placing the box on the table, the officials and craftsmen deeply bowed to the box before opening it.

“Everything is in order!”

After checking the seals’ count and ensuring no issues, the officials carefully handed out one seal at a time to the craftsmen. The craftsmen, receiving the seals with great respect, meticulously placed them into the printing press.

Only after this process was the preparation for printing the banknotes complete.

* * *

On the day the first gold nyang and silver nyang banknotes were successfully printed, Hyang brought a full sheet of the completed notes to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, here are the new banknotes.”

“Are they finally finished?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang handed over the sheet to the high official, who then presented it to King Sejong. King Sejong unfolded the sheet and marveled at it.

“Wow! Truly beautiful! It’s almost too fine to be used as currency! The ministers should see this!”

“We are deeply honored, Your Majesty!”

The ministers also expressed their admiration upon seeing the sheet. After examining the banknotes, King Sejong handed the sheet back to Hyang.

“You’ve made excellent currency. The people will surely appreciate it.”

“These two sheets are the first completed ones. It seems fitting for Your Majesty to keep them.”

“Is that so? Then I must frame them and hang them in a place of honor.”

King Sejong, looking pleased, examined the sheet of banknotes and noticed a small sentence written at the bottom.

– Exchangeable for 9 jeon of silver in physical goods.

“Did you intentionally write this in small print?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang bowed and replied,

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

King Sejong responded with a playful smile,

“There’ll be a lot of people caught off guard by this.”

“Those who are greedy deserve a little lesson.”

Hyang’s face also wore a mischievous grin. The ministers, observing this father and son exchange, inwardly grumbled,

“Such a cunning duo!”

* * *

‘The face value is ‘one nyang of silver’, but if exchanged for physical goods, there’s a 10% deduction.’

This was Hyang’s suggestion.

“Why do we need to do this?”

“It’s a kind of acquisition tax. The primary reason for buying actual silver is for wealth accumulation, so we should tax it. However, tracking every transaction would be too cumbersome, so we’re imposing the tax from the start.”

Hearing Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong turned to the ministers.

“What do you think?”

As soon as King Sejong finished his question, Kim Jeom answered loudly,

“It’s an excellent plan! It ensures proper tax collection and reduces the need for manpower. It’s a strategy that benefits us in two ways!”

Thus, the world’s first form of indirect taxation was born.

* * *

The newly circulated currency quickly began to be used nationwide without much resistance.

In urban areas, many had been in favor of currency circulation from the beginning, so it settled in swiftly. In rural and fishing communities, the currency also surprisingly began to take root smoothly.

“At first, I wondered why we needed this, but it’s surprisingly handy!”

“I know, right!”

Initially skeptical, farmers and fishermen soon realized the convenience of the currency and began to use it frequently.

The widespread use of currency among farmers and fishermen was largely influenced by the trading posts. These posts sold essential items like salt and candy without discrimination based on social status, as well as luxury items like spices.

However, these items were available only for those who paid with currency.

Thanks to the trading posts, even those who were initially skeptical about the currency began to adapt quickly.

Furthermore, as currency started circulating, enterprising merchants began to create new products to capitalize on this change. One such invention was the ‘wallet’.

* * *

With banknotes bearing the royal seal, people needed a way to handle and store them properly. Noticing this need, merchants crafted wallets with leather exteriors and lined with cotton or silk.

These wallets soon became hit products.

In urban areas, it became fashionable among the young affluent class to carry wallets adorned with a charyeong (traditional Korean pattern) and filled with several silver nyang banknotes, tucked into their sleeve cuffs, strolling around with an air of leisure.

Interestingly, the banknotes, made from the finest quality hanji (traditional Korean paper) known for its durability, survived for hundreds of years. Those that survived, especially the first batch with serial numbers starting with ‘甲 (gap)’, became highly sought-after items among collectors worldwide.

* * *

The banknotes produced by Joseon also impacted trade among the three Northeast Asian countries. Merchants from the Ming Dynasty and Japan began to favor Joseon’s banknotes, especially the one nyang silver notes.

Ming China had been using silver as currency much earlier than Joseon. Silver was deeply ingrained in their system, used for tax payments and various transactions.

In this context, Joseon’s ‘one nyang’ silver banknotes proved to be incredibly useful. As they were backed by the guarantee of the Joseon government, their value as currency was solid.

Therefore, for long-distance travels or trade, Joseon’s banknotes made it easier to avoid the hassle and risk of carrying actual silver ingots and the burden of verifying their purity.

The banknotes effectively eliminated the need to carry cumbersome silver and streamlined the process of trade, not just within Joseon but also in its dealings with neighboring nations. The convenience and security offered by these banknotes rapidly enhanced their acceptance and usage across the region, significantly influencing the dynamics of trade in Northeast Asia.

1. Famous Joseon painter[↩]

Chapter 171
Aftershocks and Currency (6)

Certainly, there was the issue of a 10% deduction when exchanging banknotes for physical silver. However, King Sejong acted swiftly upon learning of the popularity of Joseon’s banknotes in Ming China. He sent envoys to the Ming emperor towards the end of the Giyu year.

After the establishment of the joint trading company, the Ming emperor treated envoys from Joseon with great hospitality. Thanks to this, the newly dispatched envoys were quickly granted an audience with the emperor.

“What brings the ambassador from Joseon again so soon after your last visit?”

“Your Majesty, I come with an important matter to discuss, if I may…”

Through this audience, the Joseon envoys managed to obtain a decree from the Ming emperor stating that “in matters concerning Joseon’s currency, Joseon’s laws shall be followed.”

The Ming emperor’s consent wasn’t just out of favor for Joseon. He had his own calculations.

“Merchants are quick to see profits and avoid losses. With this decree, they will never willingly hand over silver to Joseon.”

At the emperor’s words, his chancellor bowed deeply.

“Your judgment is truly wise, Your Majesty.”

With this decree from the Ming emperor, the response in Ming China was relatively calm. There was no issue as long as they didn’t exchange the banknotes for physical goods.

In Japan, the response was even more enthusiastic.

* * *

At that time, only Ming China had the technology to refine high-purity silver. However, Hyang’s intervention introduced a variable.

“What was it… the cupellation[1] method?”

Thanks to Hyang, Joseon could produce silver of a purity comparable to Ming’s, more easily. The cupellation method Hyang verified was more productive than the amalgamation method used in Ming at the time.

However, due to the significance of this technology, neither Ming China nor Joseon shared the cupellation or amalgamation methods with Japan.

Consequently, the silver ingots produced in Japan had lower purity. Therefore, when trading with Japan, Joseon usually demanded high-quality silver from Ming. If not, three nyang of Japanese silver was valued as one nyang in Joseon, and this rate was officially recorded.

For instance, the ‘500 kan of silver (about 1.87 tons)’ recorded as the official price for the Tripitaka Koreana sold to Japan by Hyang was the final amount converted into Joseon silver. In reality, Japan had paid with 1,500 kan of their lower-purity silver.

Given these circumstances, Joseon’s ‘one nyang’ silver banknotes became an optimal tool for trade and wealth accumulation for Japanese merchants.

Japanese merchants commonly loaded their ships with silver ingots, exchanged them for Joseon’s banknotes upon arrival, and this practice became routine.

Thus, Joseon’s banknotes were becoming the official trading currency of the three Northeast Asian countries.

* * *

Japan wasn’t the only country exchanging silver for banknotes.

Merchants from Ming China also brought silver to the trading ports in Shandong, exchanging it for Joseon’s banknotes.

At Joseon’s trading ports, the purity of the silver brought by the merchants was meticulously inspected, and only exchanges for high-quality silver were accepted. The exchange wasn’t immediate; the silver had to arrive in Joseon and be verified before the newly printed Joseon banknotes were shipped back to Shandong and handed over to the merchants.

This stringent process ensured that only high-quality silver was accepted in exchange for the banknotes, maintaining the integrity and value of Joseon’s currency in international trade.

Although it took time, the merchants of Ming China were satisfied with the process.

“Joseon’s officials don’t take bribes!”

“If we send 10 nyang of silver, we exactly get 10 banknotes in return!”

Such positive reputations bolstered the trust in Joseon’s banknotes, attracting more Ming merchants to bring silver to Shandong.

The remarkable aspect was that this surge in trade happened within just a few months, from the fall of Giyu year to the spring of Kyungshul year.

* * *

As substantial amounts of silver began flowing in from Ming China, Kim Jeom rushed to report the situation to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, a significant amount of silver is coming in from Ming China.”

“Didn’t you report the same thing recently?”

At King Sejong’s query, Kim Jeom elaborated in greater detail.

“The amount has exceeded our expectations. Until last month, it was 50,000 nyang of silver, but this month it’s nearing 1 million nyang.”

“1 million nyang!”

King Sejong was visibly shocked at Kim Jeom’s report, and so were the ministers. According to a recent report from the Ministry of Taxation, the total value of wealth circulating in the entire Joseon Dynasty, converted to silver, was about 2 million nyang (Note 1).

In simple terms, it meant that half the circulating wealth of the entire Joseon Dynasty was being imported.

“Is this a good thing or a bad thing?”

Faced with an unexpected scenario, King Sejong was more worried than pleased. At King Sejong’s reaction, minister Jo Mal-saeng immediately responded.

“Traditionally, it is said that ‘more is better,’ so isn’t this a good thing? We just printed a few sheets of paper, and in return, a vast wealth is coming in. Isn’t this a cause for celebration?”

Jo Mal-saeng’s optimistic view was immediately countered by Kim Jeom.

“But there’s also an old saying, ‘too much is as bad as too little.’ And just a few sheets of paper? Do you understand the value and effort behind those banknotes?”

This marked the beginning of a heated debate.

The ministers engaged in a fierce argument over whether the influx of large amounts of silver from Ming China was beneficial or detrimental. A notable difference from past debates was the absence of personal attacks involving each other’s parents. Instead, they now attacked based on the other’s ranking in past civil service exams.

Eventually, King Sejong had to intervene.

“Enough! What disgraceful behavior! Are we here to solve the problem or to boast about ourselves?”

At King Sejong’s reprimand, the ministers immediately bowed.

“We apologize for our behavior!”

“Please forgive our disgraceful conduct!”

“Tsk!”

King Sejong, displeased, commanded the high official.

“Go and summon the Crown Prince!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Meanwhile, a historian seated in a corner of Geunjeongjeon diligently recorded everything.

—As the ministers’ debate intensified, the King halted their arguments and called for the Crown Prince.

The historian noted:

—The ministers have served in their positions for decades, and in terms of scholarship, they are among the most respected in Joseon.

Yet, whenever a complex issue arises, they struggle to find solutions, often relying on the Crown Prince, who has just reached adulthood. This is problematic.

I, too, wish to amass a stack of banknotes. The salary of this low-ranking official is too meager.

* * *

“The situation is a crisis, a major one at that,” declared Hyang, who had hurried over after being summoned. His expression turned serious after hearing the explanation of the problem.

“Why so?” asked King Sejong.

Hyang countered, “Your Majesty, among Joseon, Ming, and Japan, which country produces the most silver?”

“Ming.”

“And between Ming, Joseon, and Japan, where is silver most needed?”

“Ming…”

As King Sejong responded, he trailed off, his face growing grave.

“This is a disaster of the highest order!”

“Exactly.”

Hyang and King Sejong’s exchange left the ministers muttering to themselves.

‘Here they go again with their cryptic exchanges!’

‘Do they think they’re the only ones who need to understand?’

Finally, Minister Heo Jo stepped forward as a representative to ask for clarification.

“Your Majesty, why is this situation a disaster?”

With a look of frustration, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Crown Prince, explain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Your Excellency.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you remember what I once said? ‘No one likes it when the wealth from their own granary is taken by others.’ That’s what I’m referring to.”

“Remember when I mentioned that no one likes to see their wealth being taken away by others? The same principle applies here. Do you think Ming would be pleased with their silver flowing out of the country?”

“That makes sense.”

“But even if the Ming emperor doesn’t object and lets it happen, it poses a problem for us.”

“Why is that?”

“Because Joseon simply doesn’t have the capacity to absorb all this silver.”

At this point, Heo Jo raised an objection.

“We have many plans that were delayed due to funding issues. With this influx of funds, we can execute those projects and increase Joseon’s capacity to utilize the resources, can’t we?”

“Your point has merit. However, the silver currently entering our country is ours but also not ours.”

“What do you mean?”

Heo Jo looked perplexed, and he wasn’t alone. Seeing the confused faces of the other ministers, Hyang sighed.

“Sigh… Your Excellency.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Imagine we start using this silver for various projects, and suddenly, a large group of Ming merchants comes demanding to exchange their banknotes for silver. What would we do then?”

“Could such a situation really happen?”

At Heo Jo’s question, Hyang responded decisively.

“‘Unlikely’ scenarios have a way of catching people off guard.”

Hyang internally recalled the IMF crisis, a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of financial markets.

* * *

In 1997, the financial instability triggered in Southeast Asia severely impacted South Korea. When the Korean capital market showed signs of instability, Japan was the first to pull out its funds, followed by other Western capital investors.

As a result, South Korea had to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The support from the IMF led to a harrowing experience for Koreans. Stable companies collapsed, and the middle class was decimated.

The trauma of the IMF crisis became deeply ingrained in the Korean psyche, embedding a belief that “we are not a developed country.” This mindset persisted even during the global pandemic of 2020. Despite Korea’s commendable handling of the situation and international praise, many Koreans felt perplexed rather than proud.

The common sentiment was, “Koreans undervalue themselves,” but even this recognition was met with skepticism by many Koreans.

In this context, Japan’s ongoing anti-Korean sentiment seemed almost natural to the wary Korean public.

* * *

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Hyang continued.

“Grain or rice can be re-cultivated annually. Cotton and hemp are similar. Even timber, though it takes time, can be regrown from saplings. But gold and silver are different. They aren’t unlimited; they have an end. Right now, Ming produces the most silver, but that supply isn’t eternal, is it?”

“That’s true,” agreed Heo Jo and the other ministers, nodding in understanding.

“If we use the influx of silver for various projects, it might seem easy and fast. But that’s just superficial growth. A hollow husk without substance is like a barren cob of corn – it’s inedible. We need to balance both the external and internal growth.”

The ministers all nodded in agreement with Hyang’s explanation.

After a brief silence, King Sejong spoke.

“We must send an envoy, then?”

At King Sejong’s suggestion, Hyang nodded.

“Yes. We should propose to Ming to create and circulate their own banknotes. If we don’t handle this carefully, it could lead to a military conflict with Ming.”

‘I regret giving up the position of a key currency, but Joseon is still too small for that role.’

“That seems best,” King Sejong concurred, but then Jo Mal-saeng interjected.

“Should we apply the same method for the silver coming from Japan?”

Hyang shook his head.

“No. The silver from Japan is in smaller quantities and lower in purity. It requires further processing by us, so it’s harmless to let it be.”

“But Japan might also react negatively.”

“There’s a sea between Joseon and Japan, and our navy guards that sea,” Hyang pointed out, emphasizing Joseon’s maritime strength and strategic advantage.

Understanding the strategic importance of Joseon’s navy in controlling the waters between Joseon and Japan, Jo Mal-saeng finally nodded in agreement. Hyang internally grumbled about the minister’s delayed comprehension.

‘Maybe he should be reassigned to the record-keeping office?’

Ultimately, the assembly decided on the composition of the emergency diplomatic mission to Ming.

* * *

“…So, you’ll be the chief envoy to Ming. You’re the most knowledgeable about the banknotes, aren’t you?” Kim Jeom addressed the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Taxation.

The vice minister expressed his displeasure, “Isn’t lord excellency more knowledgeable about banknotes than I am? I’m already swamped with work. Why me?”

Kim Jeom replied calmly, “I need to stay here to oversee the unfolding events, don’t I? Besides, at my age, should I be traveling all the way to Beijing?”

The vice minister grumbled internally, ‘Unbelievable! We’re both getting old, and yet he pulls this!’

“As soon as the diplomatic mission is assembled, the Crown Prince will give a special lecture. Make sure to prepare well.”

“…Yes.”

“And when you’re in Beijing, take the opportunity to indulge in all the healthful delicacies they have. It might do you some good.”

The Vice Minister almost choked in frustration.

* * *

Note 1: The tax revenue list mentioned in Chapter 168 is a fictional estimate based on the author’s imagination.

1. Cupellation is known as a process where ores are treated under high temperatures and controlled operations to separate noble metals i.e Gold and Silver, from base metals like lead, Copper, Zinc, and others present in the ore.[↩]

Chapter 172
Feedback (1)

After the suppression of the ‘Giyu Rebellion’ and the execution of the punishments for those involved in the uprising were completed, the court and the military began their post-rebellion handling.

“Though it’s called post-rebellion handling… it’s more accurate to say that it involves identifying and refining the deficiencies encountered during the suppression of this rebellion,” said the Minister of Military Affairs, who was leading the meeting, to which King Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers all nodded in agreement.

The Minister of Military Affairs continued speaking.

“Just before the recent rebellion, we had drafted an escape plan which, in the event of an emergency, involved immediately escorting His Majesty and key figures to Changdeokgung Palace. Of course, during the last treasonous incident, no one had to flee…”

“Ehem!”

“Cough!”

Sejong and Hyang turned away, trying to cover their embarrassment with a cough at the pointed remark of the Minister.

After the incident, both of them had been in trouble with Queen Soheon for a while.

* * *

When Grand Prince Yangnyeong led the counter-insurgency during the rebellion, the Golden Army soldiers guarding the Junggungjeon followed the plan to escort Queen Soheon, the concubines, and the princes to Changdeokgung Palace.

“Has His Majesty already evacuated?”

Queen Soheon, upon learning that Sejong was still holding out in Geunjeongjeon, scolded the Golden Army military officer who was about to take her away.

“You fool! His Majesty is facing a crisis, and you’re dallying here!”

At Queen Soheon’s rebuke, the officer responded awkwardly.

“This is the established plan and procedure…”

“Silence! Chief Court Lady!”

At Queen Soheon’s call, the Chief Court Lady, who was standing nearby, rushed over.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Bring me my bow at once!”

“Your Highness…”

The Chief Court Lady hesitated at Queen Soheon’s order to fetch her bow. Queen Soheon, grasping the hem of her skirt, went back inside the room and came out with her bow.

“We’re heading to Geunjeongjeon! Soldiers, follow me!”

“Your Highness!”

“Quiet and follow!”

Following the Queen’s command, the officer in charge of the Golden Army soldiers at Junggungjeon resignedly instructed his subordinates.

“First and Second Squads, follow me. The rest, escort the concubines, princes, and princesses to Changdeokgung Palace. Move out!”

“Yes!”

* * *

Thus, after leading the soldiers to Geunjeongjeon, Queen Soheon collapsed from relief once the situation was resolved.

Afterwards, Sejong and Hyang had to plead earnestly for forgiveness from Queen Soheon.

“I am sorry,” Sejong, sitting in front of the bedridden Queen Soheon with his head bowed, sincerely apologized. Hyang, sitting beside him, felt the same.

“Royal Mother, please forgive us.”

“Ugh…”

Groaning in discomfort, Queen Soheon propped herself up and admonished Sejong.

“Your Majesty… You are the sole sovereign of this nation. How could you stay in such a perilous place?”

“Well, there were guards…”

“Your Majesty! Even with guards, that place was extremely dangerous! It was fraught with arrows and iron bullets flying in every direction!”

“I, I am sorry.”

“And the Crown Prince too! How could the future foundation of our nation wander around the battlefield! What were you thinking?”

“I have made a mistake!”

“Ugh!”

Groaning again, Queen Soheon lay back down and turned away.

“This is serious…”

Realizing that Queen Soheon was deeply upset, Sejong turned to the court physician, who silently shook his head. Sejong let out a long sigh.

“Sigh…”

Ultimately, Sejong and Hyang had to repeatedly seek Queen Soheon’s forgiveness over the next three days.

* * *

As Sejong and Hyang coughed awkwardly, the Minister of Military Affairs continued the meeting.

“After the situation was resolved, the Joseon Army’s General Staff revisited the plan. Upon review, we concluded that the plan implemented this time was quite flawed.”

“Flawed?”

Sejong, showing interest, prompted the Minister to nod.

“Yes, Your Majesty. If the scale of the rebels attempting an uprising had been larger, simply moving the royal palace would not suffice to ensure Your Majesty’s safety.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong stroked his beard, looking unconvinced, which prompted Hyang to join the conversation.

“I believe it is a valid point. Although the palaces are separated, they are not far apart. If the rebels are large in number, they could easily launch simultaneous attacks.”

“Are you suggesting another rebellion might occur?”

Sejong’s question was promptly answered by Hyang.

“While we hope it won’t happen again during Your Majesty’s reign, we can’t be sure. Moreover, similar situations could arise in the future.”

Sejong nodded in agreement with Hyang’s reasoning.

“That’s a sensible point from the Crown Prince. So, what’s the alternative?”

At Sejong’s query, the Minister of Military Affairs quickly responded.

“We propose building fortresses to the north and south of Hanyang.”

Heo Jo immediately objected to the Minister’s suggestion.

“Build fortresses? Isn’t that a bit excessive?”

“It’s not excessive. The purpose of building fortresses is not only to prepare for rebellions. In case of foreign invasions, though our Joseon army would valiantly resist and repel the invaders, if we are unable to protect the capital and it’s in danger, these fortresses would also serve as strategic points for His Majesty to continue the resistance.”

Heo Jo challenged the Minister’s statement again.

“Do you really think foreign enemies could penetrate this far into our capital? Is that even possible?”

The Minister of Military Affairs retorted briefly.

“Have you forgotten the events of the previous dynasty?”

“Ah…”

At the Minister’s reminder, Heo Jo fell silent.

During the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo, remnants of the Red Turban Army had invaded Goryeo and even captured Gaeseong. At that time, King Gongmin had to retreat as far as Andong.

And it wasn’t just the Red Turbans.

In the first year of King Gongmin’s reign, Japanese pirates invaded, ravaging Ganghwado and even threatening Gaeseong.

With the Minister of Military Affairs citing these events from just two generations prior, the opposition was effectively silenced.

Having quelled the opposition, the Minister of Military Affairs continued speaking.

“The fortresses to the north and south are not merely for His Majesty’s evacuation. They serve to regroup our forces and defend against the enemy, allowing time to gather the Joseon troops stationed in other regions to attack the enemy’s rear. This is one of the most fundamental tactics, the ‘hammer and anvil,’ where these fortresses act as the anvil.”

Sejong posed a question upon hearing the Minister’s explanation.

“What if the invading enemies ignore these fortresses and pass by, heading either south or north of the capital?”

Hyang responded in place of the Minister.

“The enemies cannot simply bypass these fortresses.”

“How so… Ah!”

Sejong, about to ask for an explanation, stopped himself and nodded in understanding.

“I see. These are the places where the King of Joseon resides; they would not dare to simply pass by. It makes perfect sense.”

Nodding in agreement and understanding, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Is this your doing?”

“I just added a little touch.”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong chuckled.

“Just a little touch? You must have set the whole table. Knowing the kind of person you are.”

‘Exactly! Of course, it is!’

‘The Crown Prince is like a snake in the grass, full of cunning! How many times have we been deceived by that face!’

The ministers vigorously nodded in agreement with Sejong’s words, each of them internally acknowledging Hyang’s shrewdness.

However, for Hyang, this was somewhat unfair. Even before Hyang’s involvement, the renowned military enthusiast Munjong, during his time as Crown Prince, had advocated for the construction of Bukhansanseong. The issue was that Bukhansanseong was constructed much later, during the reign of King Sukjong.

What Hyang had done was merely suggest the addition of Namhansanseong[1] alongside Bukhansanseong.

Bukhansanseong

Namhansanseong

* * *

“Let the one who expanded the plan explain in more detail.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon Sejong’s command, Hyang stood up. As Hyang took the lead, the Minister of Military Affairs quickly handed over the pointer and returned to his seat.

The reason for this was not the complexity of the matter, but rather the pressure from the ‘high-ranking officials.’ Although the Minister himself was among the high-ranking, the array of dignitaries in front of him was dauntingly eminent.

As Hyang stood in front, the ministers began their questioning.

“We understand the need for fortresses. Do you have suitable locations in mind?”

“Yes, there are. Eunuch, bring the map of Hanyang and the surrounding area.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, an eunuch brought a scroll with a map attached.

As the strategic discussion progressed, several items, including maps, were always kept on hand in Geunjeongjeon.

Hyang placed the map beside him and pointed to a location on it with the pointer.

“For the northern fortress, we plan to expand Jungheung Fortress. In the south, we are considering the site of Jujang Fortress[2] from the the Three Hans period, located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.”

“What is the reason for choosing that site?”

“Yes, the location has been historically significant as a fortress site since the Three Hans period. Its distance from Hanyang is also ideal for quick movement. Lastly, it allows us to actively utilize the Han River, a crucial geographical defense.”

Hearing Hyang’s explanation, the ministers nodded in agreement.

“If an attack comes from the south, the Han River can serve as the first line of defense, while Bukhansanseong prepares for a defensive stance. Conversely, if the attack comes from the north, the Han River again serves as the first line of defense, and Namhansanseong can be fortified.”

Seeing the ministers convinced, Hyang pointed out another location.

“To prepare for any incursions through the Han River from the sea, we will construct a fortress here in Haengju. This site, too, was once a fortress during the Three Hans period, making it a strategically significant location.”

Hyang continued to explain how these three fortresses would interconnect.

“The fortresses in the north and south won’t just serve as temporary capitals during wartime. Properly integrating these three fortresses will significantly strengthen the defense of Hanyang.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong and the ministers weighed the effectiveness of Hyang’s plan.

“This is promising…”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers nodded. Indeed, as Hyang had explained, building fortresses in these locations would greatly enhance the defense of Hanyang. The fact that these sites were once military fortresses in the Samhan period further underscored their strategic importance.

However, there was an issue.

After a moment of contemplation, Kim Jeom spoke up.

“Although I acknowledge the necessity, constructing fortresses in such terrain is no easy task. I have not been to the southern site, but the northern site is visible from Bukhansan and Inwangsan, which reveals the ruggedness of the terrain. Constructing fortresses in such harsh mountainous areas will require significant labor from the people, not to mention the considerable construction costs.”

“You’re right. Building fortresses requires a lot of stone, and transporting it to those high and rough mountains is no ordinary task.”

Starting with Kim Jeom, the ministers pointed out the geographical challenges of construction.

At these concerns, Hyang, along with the Minister of Military Affairs and military officials, smiled knowingly. The ministers, noticing Hyang’s smile, felt a sense of unease.

‘What’s going on? What am I missing?’

While the ministers were pondering, Hyang spoke up.

“Have you forgotten? We have iron-reinforced concrete.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers looked as if they had been hit with a realization.

The concrete first used by Hyang in road construction, had been officially named ‘Iron-reinforced concrete’. The ministers were well aware of its usefulness. With proper formwork, iron-reinforced concrete could be used to construct buildings in shapes and forms that were impossible with traditional wood or stone construction.

“I had forgotten about that.”

“Of course, transporting aggregates, reinforcing bars, and concrete mix to the fortress sites is not an easy task. However, it requires less labor than quarrying, refining, and moving stone.”

At Hyang’s explanation, the ministers had nothing to do but nod in agreement.

Eventually, Sejong made a decision.

“I will accept the proposal of the Ministry of Military Affairs. The Ministry of Taxation should calculate the necessary budget, and the Ministries of Public Works and Personnel should devise plans for sourcing the required labor for construction.”

“We shall comply with Your Majesty’s command!”

Kim Jeom and the heads of the relevant departments responded with a somewhat troubled expression, understanding the magnitude of the task ahead.

In contrast, at Sejong’s decision, Hyang, the officials of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and the military officers bowed their heads in deep gratitude, loudly expressing their appreciation.

“Your grace is boundless!”

1. Namhansanseong was designed as an emergency capital for the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), in a mountainous site 25 km south-east of Seoul.[↩]

2. Jujang Fortress is from the period of Unified Silla, also a current site for Namhan Fortress or Namhansanseong[↩]

Chapter 173
Feedback (2)

Upon seeing Sejong’s favorable reaction, Hyang opened his mouth once more.

“Your Majesty, I have another request to make.”

‘When opportunity knocks, row your boat!’ he thought.

As soon as the word ‘request’ popped out, Sejong replied in a stern voice.

“Another? If it’s about the budget for Area 51, there isn’t any.”

“It’s not about Area 51. It’s for the defense of our Joseon.”

Sejong, who had been tense in anticipation of another budget-related request, slightly relaxed upon hearing Hyang’s words.

“Let’s hear it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Eunuch, go to the Eastern Palace and bring the ‘fortification model.'”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Following Hyang’s order, the eunuch hurried out of the Geunjeongjeon Hall.

The ministers, especially those from the Ministry of Taxation, Ministry of Personnel, and Ministry of Public Works, swallowed dryly and prayed inwardly.

‘Please! Anything but a budget-heavy project!’

‘Something with minimal personnel!’

‘The best would be for His Majesty to refuse it!’

A moment later, four eunuchs entered, groaning under the weight of a large board covered with a cloth. The ministers closed their eyes tightly, alarmed by its sheer size.

‘It’s doomed! We’re doomed!’

‘Look at the size of that! I can already hear us groaning!’

‘I won’t look! I refuse to look!’

Sejong looked at the model placed on the large conference table brought in by other eunuchs.

“It’s quite large, isn’t it? What is it?”

“In making the terrain model, it became somewhat large. The actual thing isn’t as big.”

The ministers, who had their eyes tightly shut and weren’t even looking, cautiously opened their eyes upon hearing the conversation between Sejong and Hyang – particularly Hyang’s words ‘It isn’t as big.’

“Remove the cloth.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the eunuch removed the cloth, a mock terrain made of plaster and weeds was revealed.

At the center of the terrain was a slightly elevated hill.

Hyang began his explanation, holding a pointer.

“Upon examining the geography, our Joseon’s land features an east-high-west-low terrain. Hence, looking at the records of invasions since the ancient Three Han period, the western plains have been the main route of attack.”

“That’s true.”

“However, even in this western plain, the traffic routes are limited, and one must inevitably pass through hills and valleys.”

“That’s also true.”

Sejong nodded thoughtfully in response to Hyang’s words. Even as he earnestly answered her questions, Sejong couldn’t hide his curiosity.

‘Why is he so diligently discussing facts that we all know?’

Whether Hyang knew what Sejong was thinking or not, he continued his explanation with enthusiasm.

“Stationing defense forces at all these strategic points would be a waste. In fact, with Joseon’s military budget, it’s impossible.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“Therefore…”

Hyang pointed to the wooden model placed on the hilltop.

“Therefore, I propose installing rockfall barriers at these strategic points.”

Sejong began to show great interest in Hyang’s explanation.

“Rockfall barriers?”

“Put simply, it’s like causing a landslide with human intervention.”

What Hyang was proposing was akin to the anti-tank rockfall barriers that could still be seen in the northern areas of Seoul in the 21st century.

‘In the 21st century, these might be considered somewhat outdated, but their effectiveness now would be tremendous!’

Sejong, descending from his throne, examined the model Hyang had created in detail. The ministers also gathered around Sejong and scrutinized the models closely.

“Hmm… So, these pillars hold it up, and then we place these square structures on top of them, is that right?”

“That’s correct. Just like this.”

When Hyang tapped the support holding the rocks with a pointer, the square wooden pieces on it came tumbling down.

“O-ho~?”

Seeing the wooden pieces blocking the road, Sejong let out a small exclamation of admiration and his eyes lit up. Hyang continued, pointing to the wooden pieces.

“Although we used wood for this model, in actual construction, we would use iron-reinforced stones.”

“If we’re using iron-reinforced stones, the weight will be considerable. The supports must be very strong.”

The Minister of Public Works interjected into Hyang’s explanation, to which she nodded.

“That’s right. Therefore, the supports will also be made of iron-reinforced stones.”

Responding to Hyang, the Minister of Public Works raised a concern.

“With the strength I know iron-reinforced stones to have, their sturdiness is incomparable. If we use them for the supports, wouldn’t it take a long time to trigger the rockfall?”

The ministers all nodded in agreement with the Minister of Public Works’ point. After a brief pause, he continued.

“It’s intended to block the enemy’s advance, but if mishandled, it could hinder our own troops’ retreat or miss the timing and allow the enemy to advance. Wouldn’t that reduce its effectiveness?”

“That’s a valid point.”

Hyang did not argue but simply nodded in agreement to the Minister of Public Works’ remark. Surprised by Hyang’s unusual response, the Minister of Public Works momentarily wore an expression of doubt.

Leaving the Minister of Public Works’ reaction behind, Hyang continued to explain to Sejong and the other ministers.

“Of course, relying purely on manpower or mechanical force would consume a significant amount of time. In the urgent context of a battlefield, this can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, in situations where we need to block roads with rockfalls, we use gunpowder.”

“Gunpowder? Gunpowder…”

As Sejong looked skeptical, Hyang picked up a model that he had set aside.

“This is a scaled-down model of the support. As you can see, we’ve pre-drilled holes of appropriate size in the middle of the pillars. If necessary, we place gunpowder in these holes and detonate it.”

“Is this to scale?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, assessing the size of the holes drilled in the pillar, turned to Hyang.

“Is the amount of gunpowder that fits into these holes sufficient to bring it down?”

“Yes. We’ve tested it.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong closed his mouth upon hearing Hyang’s reply that he had already tested it. He wanted to ask ‘when?’ but it wasn’t necessary, considering the reputation of Area 51.

‘Area 51 is known for its work; if there’s no sound of gunpowder exploding, that’s when there’s a big problem.’ It was the place where various devices were tested daily, along with gunpowder, cannons, and firearms.

As Sejong was inspecting the rockfall barrier model, he turned to Kim Jeom.

“You, as the Minister of Taxation, probably have the most to say. Please, speak first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kim Jeom, who had been impatiently waiting in the background, immediately started to question Hyang as soon as Sejong gave him the opportunity.

“I understand what the Crown Prince has stated and its effectiveness. However, the issue is the cost. Though it’s called a rockfall barrier, it’s still a structure. Structures require continuous maintenance. Considering that, wouldn’t the cost outweigh the benefits?”

Hyang nodded in agreement with Kim Jeom’s words.

“That’s true. However, such rockfall barriers don’t have elements like doors or windows, so they don’t require a lot of time and money to build. As for maintenance, only structural issues like cracks need to be managed.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Satisfied with Hyang’s clear explanation, Kim Jeom stepped back, rethinking his position.

Several other ministers took turns asking questions, but Hyang had no difficulty answering them.

Finally, Sejong posed the last question.

“So… Crown Prince, your explanation makes it seem effective in hindering the enemy’s movement. But wouldn’t it also obstruct us if we were pursuing the enemy?”

“If we prepare enough horses and cattle in advance, it won’t be an issue.”

“But wouldn’t the enemy do the same?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang once again explained the purpose of installing these barriers.

“The purpose of this rockfall is not to completely block the enemy, but to delay their advance momentarily, allowing our forces to reorganize. Whether the enemy clears the rockfall, crosses over it, or finds a detour, they will waste time. This time can be used for our troops to regroup, reducing our own casualties in the process.”

“To ‘reduce our own casualties’…”

Sejong pondered Hyang’s words.

Sejong was not ignorant of military strategy. According to military tactics, an army suffers the most casualties when retreating under enemy attack.

‘Unstoppable momentum, overwhelming victory’ was a phrase pleasant to the ears of the attackers, but utterly dreaded by those on the receiving end. Therefore, in such cases, it was common to organize units to hold back the enemy, even at the cost of high casualties.

‘However, with the equipment the Crown Prince mentioned, we can hold back the enemy while reducing our losses. But the problem is… ’

After organizing his thoughts, Sejong posed a final question to Hyang.

“All this is well and good, but I’m not pleased with the assumption that we’re allowing an enemy invasion. Is our Joseon army so weak?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng responded loudly.

“Absolutely not! Our Joseon army would never permit an invasion by foreign enemies! I, Jo Mal-saeng, swear it on my life!”

Hearing the military commander’s response, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“What do you say to that?”

Hyang calmly replied.

“The words of the military commander are correct. The primary objective of our Joseon army is to defend the homeland and ensure the safety and peace of Your Majesty and the people. Hence, they are vigorously training and vigilantly guarding against enemies on the border. This is beyond doubt.”

As Hyang spoke, Jo Mal-saeng and the other military generals nodded vigorously. Glancing at them, Hyang continued.

“However, it is said, ‘Better safe than sorry.’ Preparing for ‘the worst-case scenario’ allows us to establish more effective measures. This is not a matter of pride, but of survival.”

“Not pride, but survival…”

Sejong, mulling over Hyang’s words again, let out a long sigh.

“Sigh… Lord Kim, Minister of Public Works, and Minister of Personnel.”

At Sejong’s call, the ministers, starting with Kim Jeom, bowed their heads.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You all will need to put in some extra effort. And to the rest of fellow ministers, please review the matter and coordinate with other departments as necessary.”

“We will heed your command.”

The ministers bowed and replied.

‘Another task added to the pile… ’

‘It’s a regrettable necessity with no grounds for objection.’

* * *

Back in the court, Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Is this the end of the military issues?”

“No, it is not.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s response, Kim Jeom asked with a trembling voice.

“Is there more?”

Responding to Kim Jeom’s water-laden question, Jo Mal-saeng replied softly.

“My apologies.”

“What is the issue, military commander? Speak.”

At Sejong’s command, Jo Mal-saeng brought up his concern.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Though it may seem disloyal to mention, during the recent suppression of the rebels, the Crown Prince used a new type of musket. Both the Royal Guard and the Inner Palace Guard praised its performance, suggesting we mass-produce and deploy these muskets to the Joseon army.”

“Ah? A new type of musket? Now that I think about it…”

Sejong, recalling the past event, turned to Hyang. He remembered that at that time, the Crown Prince had a musket he had never seen before. He hadn’t seen it properly, but it definitely wasn’t the standard matchlock musket.

‘But, the Crown Prince hid it immediately after the situation was resolved, didn’t he?’

Sejong, piecing together his memories, glared at Hyang.

“I remember that too. Crown Prince, you indeed used a new musket then. Explain what that was about.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang glared at Jo Mal-saeng.

‘Ah, this old man! Why must he speak so much!’

Cursing Jo Mal-saeng inwardly, Hyang explained to Sejong.

“Yes, I did use a new musket. However, that musket was experimental and has many issues that prevent its mass deployment in the Joseon army.”

Chapter 174
Feedback (3)

“What is the issue? No, let me see the real thing while we discuss this.”

King Sejong, second to none in his curiosity, commanded that the actual object be brought to him.

Following King Sejong’s order, Hyang brought the replica of the problematic Winchester rifle.

“How smoothly it’s made. It feels odd to say this about a rifle, but it’s beautiful.”

King Sejong’s first impression upon seeing the ‘new rifle model’ was that it was ‘beautiful.’

After returning the rifle to Hyang, King Sejong descended from the hall.

“I wish to see its performance.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

King Sejong moved to a newly built archery range at one side of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

With King Sejong watching, Hyang demonstrated shooting with the Winchester rifle.

Bang!

“How truly remarkable!”

As the last of the eight shots rang out, King Sejong was full of admiration.

“To be able to fire eight shots continuously without pause! And its range surpasses that of a horseback rifle! Truly, it’s a magnificent rifle!”

King Sejong was impressed, but Hyang shook his head.

“This rifle cannot be used for military purposes, Your Majesty.”

“Why is that?”

“The problem lies in the reloading process.”

Hyang demonstrated the loading process of the Winchester rifle.

“As you can see, each bullet must be loaded individually. Loading takes time, and firing is quick, leaving a significant gap in between.”

“We could do alternating firing!”

Although Jo Mal-saeng countered, Hyang explained why that would not be feasible.

“During that rebellion incident last time, I had to rotate using five rifles. Even then, eventually, there wasn’t enough time, and I had to use a gun loaded with only five bullets instead of eight. Alternating firing is not the solution. And…”

Hyang then showed a bullet.

“As you can see, instead of paper, the part containing the gunpowder is made of copper. Therefore, mass production is impossible.”

“But aren’t we receiving a good supply of copper? Moreover, copper mines have been discovered!”

Jo Mal-saeng continued to persistently counter.

However, Hyang was equally resolute.

“The amount of copper supplied has increased, but so have its uses. We still don’t have enough to manufacture casings out of copper.”

“Casings?”

At King Sejong’s expression of curiosity at the unfamiliar term, Hyang briefly explained.

“Yes, I have named it so.”

But the man who wouldn’t give up, Jo Mal-saeng, persisted.

“If we could recover the casings to the maximum extent…”

“Lord Cho! While it may be possible to recover them during training, how feasible is that in actual combat? Will you stop fighting to pick up casings?”

Hyang’s words silenced Jo Mal-saeng. Observing Jo Mal-saeng’s reaction, Hyang delivered the final blow.

“Even the Gapshik rifles currently used by the Joseon army are unmatched by Japan, let alone Ming China. And you want to make a new rifle? What if Ming, like the Tang Dynasty did with Silla in the past, demands the new rifles as tribute or asks for our craftsmen? What will you do then?”

What Hyang referred to was the Thousand Step Crossbow (Cheonbono) incident between Tang and Silla. Back then, Tang’s Emperor Gaozong coveted Silla’s crossbow and demanded craftsmen be sent to him. The craftsman Gu Jin-cheon, who was sent over, deliberately dragged out his work, and ultimately, Tang failed to acquire the Cheonbono.

Referencing the past incident, Hyang pointed out a reality.

“Ming China! Right now, maintaining a lead of just one step is the best course! Even if we have technology that is two steps ahead, externally showing that we are only one step ahead is the optimal strategy! Joseon is just beginning to sprout! We absolutely must not provoke Ming!”

At Hyang’s words, Jo Mal-saeng’s expression turned gloomy. King Sejong, who was listening to Hyang, sighed.

“Hmm. It seems the Crown Prince’s words are correct. Regrettably, let us consider this matter as if it never happened. We must avoid excessively provoking Ming.”

“I comply with Your Majesty’s decision.”

Ultimately, Jo Mal-saeng had to relinquish his ambitions regarding the Winchester rifle.

* * *

After resolving the issue with the rifle, King Sejong, back in the council hall, proceeded with the meeting.

“Let’s move on to the next agenda item.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The one to step forward on King Sejong’s command was Chief State Councilor Lee Jik.

“I, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik, have reflected upon this recent matter and examined various situations. While I identified several issues, most of them can be resolved through reforms. This is a testament to Your Majesty’s wisdom, bringing great fortune to Joseon.”

Lee Jik began his speech with praise for King Sejong. At his commendation, King Sejong responded with a modest smile.

“It seems you are gilding my face.”

“It’s not gilding.”

“The words of the Chief State Councilor are correct. Your Majesty is indeed a great blessing to Joseon.”

The ministers continued with their chorus of praise for King Sejong.

Although King Sejong was pleased by the ministers’ flattery, he remained careful not to exceed proper bounds.

“There’s a saying, ‘too much is as bad as too little,’ and excessive courtesy is indeed discourtesy. I believe the same applies to praise for a monarch. Let’s stop here. The kind words I’ve heard so far are sufficient.”

Although said with a smile, it was a clear warning, so the ministers promptly got to the point.

Chief State Councilor Lee Jik stepped forward again to continue.

“From the recent reckless incident in the southern provinces, we’ve identified issues with communication.”

“Communication issues…”

At Lee Jik’s statement, King Sejong stroked his beard. The smile had vanished from his face.

Lee Jik continued with his explanation.

“Excluding rebellion incidents, there are many situations that require urgent reporting, like foreign invasions or the outbreak of epidemics.”

“That’s true.”

King Sejong nodded in agreement.

“We’ve had similar discussions in the Ministry of Military Affairs before, and I’ve ordered the refurbishment of the relay stations. But you’re saying that’s still insufficient?”

“Under normal circumstances, the relay stations would suffice. However, even with fast horses, it takes at least three days to travel from southern places like Dongnae or northern places like Gilju. And for the messengers, it can be as quick as five days. That’s during peace, but what about in times of emergency?”

“I see. In times of chaos, indeed, time is more precious than a thousand gold pieces…”

Sejong nodded at Lee Jik’s words.

“Do you have a solution then?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The installation of beacon towers.”

“Beacon fires…”

King Sejong stroked his beard thoughtfully, his head nodding slightly.

“Certainly… beacon fires would be faster.”

Convinced by Lee Jik’s proposal, King Sejong asked further.

“If we were to install beacon towers, have we identified suitable locations?”

Lee Jik smoothly responded to King Sejong’s question.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Since the founding of our Joseon, we have records of the fortresses from the ancient Three Han states and the Goryeo period. Many of these sites already have foundations for beacon towers, which can be utilized as references for selecting locations.”

“I see.”

King Sejong nodded at Lee Jik’s explanation.

Lee Jik, pointing to a map that was already set up, continued his explanation.

“After discussions in the State Council, we believe that forming a line of beacon fires extending from Mount Mokmyeok (located in Namsan) in Hanyang to the cardinal directions of Joseon would be sufficient to fulfill its role.”

“That sounds good.”

King Sejong continued to nod at Lee Jik’s explanation.

Indeed, in Joseon, as well as in Ming and Japan, there was no faster means of communication than beacon fires.

Hyang, who had been listening to the conversation, frowned.

‘It’s a good suggestion and probably the most appropriate one. But I can’t shake off this feeling that something is missing… ’

As Hyang pondered over what might be lacking, the ministers and officials, noticing Hyang’s expression, began to tense up.

‘The Crown Prince looks displeased!’

‘Look at that troubled face!’

‘I’m not looking! I absolutely refuse to look!’

In the midst of the ministers’ silent clamor, King Sejong, sensing the odd atmosphere, surveyed the surroundings.

“Hmm?”

Detecting the suddenly uneasy atmosphere, King Sejong sought the cause. Following the ministers’ gazes, he turned his head and saw Hyang, then muttered softly to himself.

“Is it you again?”

After murmuring to himself for a moment, King Sejong raised his voice to address Hyang.

“Crown Prince, what concerns you so? Why such a troubled expression? Do you see an issue with the installation of the beacon towers?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately shook his head.

“No, Your Majesty. How can I be dissatisfied with beacon fires, when nothing compares to their swiftness? It’s just that I have a curiosity…”

“Curious? About what exactly?”

“Yes, as far as I understand, the number of fires and the smoke from the beacon towers convey different situations.”

“That’s correct.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers nodded. The number of beacon fires indicated everything from normal conditions to the breakout of a battle.

“But what are you curious about?”

King Sejong’s inquiry led the ministers to fix their gaze on Hyang, as they too found the Chief State Councilor’s suggestion quite fitting.

Responding to King Sejong, Hyang walked to the front of the map and continued.

“Like the Chief State Councilor suggested, if we align beacon towers throughout Joseon’s territory to the north, south, east, and west, we can quickly understand the situation. I understood this much. However, what I am curious about is… how do we then determine the exact location where the incident has occurred?”

“Hmm?”

“Eh?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers simultaneously showed expressions of realization, as if they had all overlooked a crucial point.

“Of course, being able to quickly know from which direction – north, south, east, or west – the enemy invades is a significant advantage. However, until the messengers or fast horses bring more detailed information, we can only prepare general countermeasures. While this is better than having no information at all, it’s still inferior to preparing with detailed knowledge.”

“That’s true.”

“Indeed.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words, looking at him once again.

‘He’s my son, but how can he be so thoughtful?’

‘Despite his young age, such insight! It’s always surprising!’

Whether aware of the admiring glances or not, Hyang continued to point out the aspects he found lacking.

“As the Chief State Councilor initially mentioned, it’s not just wars that require urgent information. Epidemics also need quick reporting and response, just as urgently.”

“What then is the solution?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang looked troubled.

“I’m sorry, but I am not yet sure. I only just thought of this issue…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Hearing Hyang’s response, King Sejong turned to the ministers.

“In my view, there is nothing wrong with the Crown Prince’s observations. I ask you all to consider what might be a good solution to this issue.”

“I comply with Your Majesty’s command.”

“Crown Prince, you should also ponder on this matter.”

At King Sejong’s order, Hyang bowed in agreement.

“I will do as commanded.”

* * *

Back in the Eastern Palace, Hyang removed his official headdress, Ikseongwan, and scratched his head.

“This mouth of mine… always stirring up trouble, creating more work.”

At the same time, in the State Council Hall, the ministers gathered and discussed Hyang.

“Usually, I just thought he was eccentric, but sometimes, on days like today, the Crown Prince can be quite daunting.”

“I agree. To think of such insights at his age…”

“What will happen when the Crown Prince ascends to the throne…”

While the high officials and ministers were busy discussing, Kim Jeom interjected with a remark.

“I may not live to see the Crown Prince ascend the throne, but this much I know for sure. He is the blood of our current King, and having observed how the King rules, it won’t be easy for the officials.”

“Oh dear…”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers clicked their tongues briefly. However, the young officials who had followed the ministers to the State Council Hall turned ashen-faced, clearly unsettled by the prospect.

Chapter 175
Feedback (4)

Chapter 175: Feedback (4)

Following King Sejong’s command, Hyang actively sought a solution.

The first person Hyang consulted was Lee Cheon, who was in charge of Area 51.

“Are you referring to beacon fires?”

“Yes. Beacon fires rely on fire and smoke, but they can’t be used during rain, can they?”

“That’s true.”

“What is done in such cases?”

Lee Cheon stroked his beard, recalling relevant information.

“Hmm… If I remember correctly, high poles with white or red flags are used as substitutes for beacon fires.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

Returning to his office, Hyang tapped his desk with his fingers, muttering to himself.

“This is really tricky. If only we had telegraphs, we could use Morse code. Wait…”

Hyang suddenly stopped talking. His eyes widened as he reconsidered his own words.

“Morse code? Codes?”

Bang!

Hyang abruptly stood up and rushed to the wall where maps were hung.

“The locations of garrisons and military camps are…”

“The positions of each provincial government office are…”

Pointing at various places on the map and murmuring to himself, Hyang’s face lit up with realization.

“I’ve found it!”

* * *

Five days later, Hyang visited Geunjeongjeon with a bright face.

“So, what brings you here today? Seeing your bright face, it must be good news.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang smiled broadly in response.

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Oh? What good news has made our Crown Prince so happy?”

“The communication issue you ordered to be resolved a few days ago has been solved.”

King Sejong’s face lit up with delight.

“Really?”

“Yes. Eunuch, hang it up, please.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Following Hyang’s order, an eunuch hung a chart on one side of Geunjeongjeon.

Standing next to the map, Hyang began to explain to King Sejong and the ministers.

“On this map, the red dots represent the garrisons and naval bases installed throughout Joseon. The blue dots are the military posts established through recent reforms. And the green dots are the relay stations across the country.”

“That makes sense.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation, but their faces were filled with a look of ‘So what?’

Noticing their expressions, Hyang continued his explanation while turning the pages of the chart. The second map displayed interconnecting red and blue lines.

“As you can see from this map, connecting the garrisons, naval bases, military posts, and relay stations allows us to link the entire territory of Joseon.”

“That’s true. Your point seems to be about using this network for communication, but we are already doing that, aren’t we? The problem is the slow speed of this method, hence the use of beacon fires. However, beacon fires alone make it difficult to convey detailed information about the incidents.”

King Sejong’s observation prompted Hyang to nod in agreement.

“That’s correct. That was the very point I raised. What I want to propose is that this network can be used for rapid communication.”

Hyang turned the chart to reveal the third map to King Sejong and the ministers. This third map had two-digit numbers assigned to each province’s garrisons and naval bases.

“We designate the capital, Hanyang, as 0 and assign two-digit numbers to each province’s garrisons and naval bases. Then, we assign two-digit numbers to the military posts along their command lines and to the nearby towns as well. This way, we can identify any area with just six digits.”

“Really?”

King Sejong, who had been skeptical, now leaned forward with interest.

“That makes sense. With a six-digit number, we can instantly know the location. But then? Surely you’re not suggesting we convey this using beacon fires? That would require an excessive number of beacon towers.”

“Exactly. To convey not just the location but also the content would mean far more than the current five smokestacks at each beacon tower.”

“That’s right.”

“So, I propose building watchtowers along the relay stations.”

“Watchtowers?”

“Yes, erecting watchtowers every 5 li (about 2 km) and conveying messages through hand signals.”

“Hand signals?”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong looked puzzled, and Jo Mal-saeng appeared somewhat confused.

“I’ve heard that the navy uses flags to send signals.”

“Similar, but different.”

Responding to Jo Mal-saeng’s comment, Hyang turned to another page.

The fourth sheet listed four-digit numerical combinations for various scenarios.

“Starting with 1111 to indicate ‘no issues’, we can use combinations of numbers to convey not only the invasion of Japanese pirates but also their scale, and even report natural disasters and outbreaks of epidemics immediately.”

“Interesting. But we’re talking about a 10-digit number here. Are you suggesting we use watchtowers to convey this? How?”

King Sejong’s question was echoed by nods from the ministers. Hyang confidently responded to the query.

“Just two flags will suffice.”

“Two flags?”

“We have prepared a demonstration in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon.”

“Really? Let’s all go out and see.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following King Sejong’s lead, the ministers stepped out of the hall and walked briskly.

* * *

As King Sejong and the curious ministers arrived at the front yard of Geunjeongjeon, the waiting soldiers and military officers saluted in unison.

“Military salute!”

“Respect!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After King Sejong acknowledged the salute, the military officers and soldiers straightened up, and King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Let’s see how it’s done.”

“Yes. Proceed with the demonstration!”

“At ease! Signalmen, forward!”

At the officer’s command, four soldiers stepped forward, each holding two flags, one red and one yellow, diagonally divided in half. Once the soldiers were in position, the officer gave the order.

“Ready!”

At the command, the soldiers extended their arms forward, holding the flags.

“One! Two! Three! Four!…”

With each count, the soldiers moved the flags in various directions, indicating numbers.

After confirming that the soldiers could represent numbers from 1 to 0 with the flags, King Sejong nodded.

“Indeed, with this method, it’s possible to represent all numbers with just two flags. Hmm… Let’s summarize. Crown Prince, what you’re suggesting is to build watchtowers every 5 li and use trained soldiers like these for communication?”

“That’s correct. Regular communication will be conducted every hour, and in case of urgent news like Japanese pirate invasions, a red flag will be raised at the top of the watchtower to signal an emergency and convey the message through hand signals. Additionally, to prepare for contingencies, we will station a fast horse at each watchtower.”

King Sejong continuously nodded as he listened to Hyang’s explanation.

“That’s good. Very good.”

As King Sejong expressed his approval, Lee Jik raised a concern.

“However, the flags seem quite small. Considering the distance of 5 li, wouldn’t it be difficult to see?”

Jo Mal-saeng stepped in to answer on behalf of Hyang.

“Not at all, it’s entirely feasible. With the large single-lens telescopes used on naval battleships, even 10 li is possible.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

Responding to Lee Jik, Jo Mal-saeng bowed to King Sejong and said:

“Your Majesty! Although the Crown Prince suggested a distance of 5 li, considering the deployment and operation of the troops, that interval seems too narrow. With the large telescopes used by the naval forces, it would be feasible to discern targets from a distance of 10 li.”

“Hmm… 10 li…”

King Sejong pondered, stroking his beard, upon hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

‘Indeed, training soldiers and maintaining facilities all require money. While it’s good to spend less, the Crown Prince must have considered this too… ’

After a moment of contemplation, King Sejong reached a decision.

“Let the Ministry of Military Affairs test which telescopes used by the land and naval forces are more effective. Also, test to find the most appropriate distance between the watchtowers and report back.”

“I will follow Your Majesty’s command!”

Jo Mal-saeng replied energetically to Sejong’s order. The increase in work was a welcome development due to the potential of a fast communication method for the military.

* * *

Returning to Geunjeongjeon and ascending to the royal chamber, King Sejong looked around at his ministers.

“I’ve given orders to the Ministry of Military Affairs, but I’d like to hear your opinions.”

The first to respond to Sejong’s inquiry was Heo Jo.

“I, Heo Jo, Minister of Personnel, humbly report to Your Majesty. The method proposed by the Crown Prince is indeed very useful. Even excluding times of war, rapid response to epidemics or disasters can minimize damage. Utilizing the Crown Prince’s proposal, we can achieve a response incomparably faster than what we have now.”

“Is that so? Any differing opinions?”

Upon Sejong’s query, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik stepped forward.

“I believe the proposal made by the Crown Prince is the optimal solution.”

With the endorsement from the Chief State Councilor, the situation seemed settled. Or it almost did, until the Chief Royal Secretary stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, I have a question for the Crown Prince, if I may.”

“The Chief Royal Secretary? Well, it’s been a while since we’ve heard from you. Go ahead.”

“Your graciousness overwhelms me.”

Granted permission, the Chief Royal Secretary turned to the Crown Prince and asked:

“I have a question for the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, I am all ears.”

At the Chief Royal Secretary’s words, Hyang tensed up and straightened his posture. Known for being particularly meticulous and critical, the Chief Royal Secretary and the Chief Scholar were the epitomes of such characteristics.

Upon hearing Hyang’s response, the Chief Royal Secretary slowly began to speak.

“I am not well-versed in military tactics, nor am I knowledgeable about these devices. However, I do understand the usefulness of what the Crown Prince has discussed today.”

‘What? Praise, all of a sudden?’

Surprised by the Chief Royal Secretary’s commendation, not only Hyang but also King Sejong and the other ministers looked at him with astonishment.

To reiterate, the Chief Royal Secretary was known for his thoroughness. If there was even a slight issue, he would persistently delve into it.

Therefore, Hyang looked at the Chief Royal Secretary with even greater tension. Whether he knew of Hyang’s feelings or not, the Chief Royal Secretary continued.

“Again, I am not familiar with these devices. That’s why I have a question for His Highness. The flag signal system is indeed useful, but it relies on human eyes for verification. What happens in cases of fog, rain, or during the night when the flags cannot be seen?”

“Ah!”

Everyone in Geunjeongjeon realized the oversight at the Chief Royal Secretary’s remark. King Sejong looked at Hyang with eyes full of worry.

‘My son!’

‘It’s within the expected range!’

Relieved by the Chief Royal Secretary’s question, Hyang inwardly sighed. After catching his breath, Hyang responded to the question.

“As the Chief Royal Secretary pointed out, flag signals are indeed problematic in situations like fog, rain, or at night.”

“Then, do you have an alternative?”

“We are currently researching it. The reason I haven’t presented it yet is because the decision to build the watchtowers needs to be made first, as it’s a subsequent issue.”

“So, you do have an alternative?”

“Yes, I do.”

Upon Hyang’s response, the Chief Royal Secretary bowed to King Sejong and spoke.

“My curiosity is satisfied, so I have no further questions.”

“Then, do you also support the Crown Prince’s proposal?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hearing the Chief Royal Secretary’s response, King Sejong looked at the other ministers.

“I will now make a definitive decision. The Ministry of Military Affairs will conduct the experiments as I have earlier instructed, and the heads of other departments shall proceed with the construction of communication towers nationwide based on the results presented by the Ministry of Military Affairs.”

“We will follow Your Majesty’s command!”

After hearing the ministers’ responses, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“You have done well, Crown Prince. I look forward to seeing more excellent outcomes in the future.”

At King Sejong’s commendation, Hyang deeply bowed.

“I shall heed Your Majesty’s command!”

* * *

Returning to the Eastern Palace, Hyang, relieving the tension in his neck, muttered to himself.

“Teacher Samcheonpo, that old man was right. It’s not that people in the past were foolish, they just seemed so because they had access to less information. His words are absolutely correct.”

Chapter 176
The Final Phase of the Reform (1)

In the Giyu year, towards the end of the year,

King Sejong gathered his ministers in Geunjeongjeon and commanded:

“Prepare to initiate the Household Registration Law[1] as planned in the reform.”

“We shall follow Your Majesty’s command!”

The ministers replied in unison to King Sejong’s order.

The Household Registration Law was not a novel concept introduced by Sejong; it was first attempted during King Taejong’s reign but led to various side effects and eventually became obsolete.

The failure of the Household Registration Law under King Taejong was primarily because the identification tag, intended merely as an identification document, turned into shackles that restrained the people. In an economy centered on agriculture, the citizens had no freedom to relocate, and the identification tag served as a mechanism to prevent them from arbitrarily leaving their hometowns.

While the identification tag made it easier for Joseon to collect taxes and impose corvée labor, it simultaneously intensified the suffering of merchants and lower-class commoners.

As a result, many started forging identification tag to claim the status of Cheonmin, a class exempt from certain duties – especially military service, leading to the obsolescence of the Household Registration Law attempted during King Taejong’s time.

However, Sejong was determined to give the Household Registration Law another try.

‘This time it will be different! This time!’

Sejong was fueled with determination, reflecting on the failures of King Taejong’s era.

* * *

With King Sejong’s order, carts loaded with tools and materials for making identification tag, along with artisans, began to move across the nation.

“I would like to deploy artisans and equipment in every corner of the country, but the situation does not permit it,” Sejong remarked.

The ministers bowed their heads in agreement.

“That is true, Your Majesty.”

“So, where should we start?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers began to discuss, suggesting the optimal regions for the initial implementation of the Household Registration Law.

Unlike previous debates, this discussion was conducted calmly and ended with a decision to start the production and distribution of identification tags on a trial basis in Hanyang (present-day Seoul), followed by implementation starting from the Samnam region (the southern provinces).

“Why is that?”

At King Sejong’s inquiry, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik explained the reason.

“Due to the rebellion incident that occurred last autumn, a considerable amount of state-owned farmland has emerged in the Samnam region. To utilize these lands without missing the farming season next year, we need to find tenants. If the issuance of identification tags and the organization of household registers are delayed, we risk missing the planting season.”

Sejong nodded at Lee Jik’s explanation.

“Your opinions are sensible. Then, let’s begin the distribution of identification tags starting from the Samnam region.”

“We will follow Your Majesty’s command!”

Thus, the distribution of identification tags started in the Samnam region.

On the day the artisans and officials set out, King Sejong summoned those in charge to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Due to the lack of space, tents were set up in front of Geunjeongjeon, and several large braziers were placed to warm the area, where a feast was prepared.

The artisans and officials, seated in front of the lavish banquet, looked at the table with stern faces.

“Wasn’t there a saying, ‘The day you receive Ministry of Taxation provisions?'”

“It seems this task will indeed not be easy.”

“Long live His Majesty!”

The officials and artisans, who were grumbling in front of the banquet, quickly rose from their seats at the sound of the royal approach.

“We greet His Majesty!”

Receiving the bows of the artisans and officials, King Sejong sat down and gave a command.

“Everyone, please take your seats comfortably.”

As the officials and artisans sat down, Sejong began his address.

“The task you all are about to undertake is of great importance. It is crucial for you to adhere to the schedule, as starting from the road construction, all policies of the reform rely on timely execution. I sincerely wish for you all to do your best.”

At Sejong’s exhortation, the officials and artisans responded loudly.

“We shall devote ourselves wholeheartedly!”

“Then, since tomorrow will be the start of busy days, enjoy this evening. Let the music begin!”

As the musicians started playing, the officials and artisans began to enjoy the food and drink.

The next day, the production of identification tags commenced in all areas of Hanyang.

It was the beginning of a major endeavor that was expected to take about 5 months if everything went smoothly, or 7 months if any complications arose.

* * *

Naturally, Hyang got involved in the process of creating and distributing the identification tag.

Visiting the Ministry of Taxation, Hyang grabbed hold of Kim Jeom and started a discussion.

“Minister Kim.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

“In the process of making the identification tag, don’t you think it’s a waste of time to make them in the order of arrival?”

“What do you mean?”

Perplexed, Kim Jeom asked for clarification, to which Hyang explained with a simple example.

“Imagine the first person to come is born in the year of ‘Gap’, the next in the year of ‘Byeong’, and then ‘Eul’. Wouldn’t it be cumbersome for those stamping the identification tag?”

Realizing Hyang’s point, Kim Jeom nodded.

“Ah! That does make sense!”

“So, what if we use a bit of strategy?”

“What kind of strategy?”

“The first day, we only invite those born in years starting with ‘Gap’ and ‘Eul’, and the next day ‘Byeong’ and ‘Jung’, and so on. We can also examine the household registry in advance to determine which years have the most people and adjust the schedule accordingly.”

Hyang suggested applying a method commonly used in the 21st century to Kim Jeom.

Kim Jeom’s face brightened upon hearing Hyang’s suggestion.

“A brilliant idea! It would reduce the workload of the artisans and minimize errors! I will implement it immediately! Thank you very much!”

“It’s nothing…”

Hyang humbly dismissed the praise with a nonchalant expression.

* * *

Thus, after one improvement, the procedure for creating identification tags was established.

“Today, all adult men and women born in years beginning with ‘Gap’ and ‘Eul’ should come to the town hall to receive your identification tag! Those who fail to do so will be fined!”

At the proclamation of the town criers, people from all over Hanyang, who met the criteria, headed to the town hall.

Soon, a long line formed at the venue.

While the town criers and soldiers managed the line with their batons, inside the hall, officials with the household registry and artisans were busy verifying information and creating the identification tag.

“Your household number, name, year of birth, birthplace, and residence, please.”

An official called out, and a person came forward to receive the identification tag.

“My household number is 134 in Chang-dong, my name is Han Pan-sul, born in the year of ‘Gap-Sul’. I was born in Gyeonggi Province.”

After Pan-sul’s response, the official checked the household registry, verified the information, and nodded.

“Correct.”

After verifying the details, the official wrote the birth year, birthplace, and name on a piece of paper with a golden pen and handed it to the artisan seated behind him.

“Wait over there, and you’ll receive your identification tag in due time.”

“Yes, sir.”

Following the official’s instructions, Pan-sul moved to the waiting line set up beside them.

After Pan-sul’s processing was completed, the official called out for the next person.

“Next!”

* * *

The production of the identification tag that followed the verification of personal details was akin to a Ford-style assembly line operation.

The artisan, receiving the paper with personal details, combined the typeset letters accordingly and placed them into a frame.

Once the frame was ready, a thin metal plate was placed over it, and the artisan turned a large wheel attached to the printing press.

As the wheel turned, a heavy iron block pressed down on the metal plate, imprinting the details of the identification tag owner onto the soft cast iron plate.

After turning the wheel to lift the iron block, the artisan removed the plate to check if the imprint was clear.

Satisfied with the imprint, the artisan passed the plate to the next artisan sitting beside him.

The second artisan placed the imprinted plate inside a thin metal frame and covered it with another metal frame. This top frame had a hollow center, fitted with a piece of glass.

The artisan aligned the two frames and screwed bolts into the holes at each corner. As the screws tightened, the two frames securely interlocked.

Once the frames were properly combined, the artisan handed over the assembly to the next artisan.

The final artisan, upon verifying the assembly, poured melted lead into the largest hole among the corner screw holes and waited for it to cool before stamping the official seal.

After sealing, the artisan handed the completed identification tag to a waiting official.

The official receiving the identification tag called out the name written on it.

“Born in the year of ‘Gap-Sul’, Han Pan-sul! Where is Han Pan-sul?”

“Here! I am here!”

Pan-sul, who had been waiting, stepped forward, and the official marked the registry before handing over the identification tag.

“Take good care of this. If you lose or damage it and need a reissue, you’ll have to pay 300 won.”

“Goodness! That’s expensive!”

“That’s why you need to take good care of it.”

At the official’s words, Pan-sul pointed to the glass in the center of the identification tag.

“This has glass embedded in the middle?”

To Pan-sul’s query, the official added an explanation.

“Do you see the iron netting embedded in the glass?”

Upon the official’s question, Pan-sul examined the identification tag again. Indeed, there was a finely woven iron net inside the glass. The official continued the explanation.

“That iron netting makes the glass stronger.”

“I see…”

“And remember, this identification tag is a proof of your identity. Don’t be careless with it. If some miscreant steals it and uses it for ill, you could face serious trouble.”

“Yes! I will keep that in mind!”

Leaving the town hall, Pan-sul looked at the identification tag in his hand with a complex expression.

“It’s really peculiar. What is this really… It makes me feel as if I’ve become someone important.”

The identification tag, with its expensive glass, seemed to imbue Pan-sul with a sense of unexplained pride.

Pan-sul scrutinized the identification tag, murmuring to himself.

“Whose idea was this? Truly a marvelous invention…”

* * *

Indeed, the design of the identification tag was Hyang’s work.

“Simply carving wood takes too long, and securing materials is a problem…”

If the identification tag were to be made of wood like the previous ones, there would be many issues with preservation.

“What would be better?”

While pondering for a solution, Hyang snapped his fingers as a soldier passed by and saluted.

“That’s it!”

What Hyang remembered was the dog tags worn during military service in the 21st century.

Based on the design of the dog tags, Hyang made some modifications.

Instead of rubber, he wrapped the edges with metal, inserted glass to add a touch of sophistication, and finally, secured it with screws, covering it with lead and stamping an official seal to prevent forgery. Hyang presented this prototype to King Sejong.

“Excellent! Let’s proceed with this design!”

King Sejong immediately approved the prototype upon seeing it.

* * *

The distribution of the identification tag began with King Sejong and was carried out methodically. After completing the distribution in Hanyang, the smooth progress of the identification tag distribution starting from the Samnam region was reported daily, and Sejong praised Hyang.

“Your contribution is truly significant!”

“It was merely good fortune on my part!”

Receiving King Sejong’s praise and returning to the Eastern Palace, Hyang stopped by the research institute. Looking at the various devices on display, he mumbled to himself.

“We have created so much. The problem is…”

Observing the empty spaces in the display case, Hyang continued.

“There’s still so much more to make. I wonder if, a few hundred years from now, historians studying Father’s and my reign will criticize us?”

Imagining the distant future, Hyang let out a wry chuckle.

“Who knows?”

1. A legal system established to enforce the carrying of 호패 (identification tags). It was implemented during the reign of King Taejong, the third king of the Joseon Dynasty, and was temporarily abolished before being reinstated in 1458, the 4th year of King Sejo, the seventh king of Joseon. It remained in effect almost until the end of the Joseon Dynasty. Under this system, those of the second rank (이품) and above in the Dongban (Eastern Class) and Seoban (Western Class) carried a specific type of tag (아패), those of the third rank (삼품) and below and those who passed miscellaneous examinations carried another type (각패), scholars such as 생원 (students) and 진사 (licentiates) carried 황향목패, and lower-ranking officials, commoners, minor clerks, and local officials carried a 소방목패 (small rectangular wooden tag). Public and private menials and temporary officials carried a 대방목패 (large rectangular wooden tag).[↩]

Chapter 177
The Final Phase of the Reform (2)

By February of the twelfth year of King Sejong’s reign (1430, the year of Gyeongsul), the distribution of household registration plates was nearing completion not only in the three southern regions but also throughout most of Joseon.

Upon reviewing the situation, King Sejong issued two edicts:

- For this year only, emancipation of slaves will be allowed even during the spring hunger period. However, the conditions for emancipating slaves remain the same.

- We are recruiting those who wish to cultivate the farmlands confiscated from traitors. The land rent will be the same 30% as the palace fields, with preference given to those who have established families.

These two royal decrees issued by King Sejong triggered a massive population movement across the entire nation.

* * *

The first significant change was the emancipation of slaves.

Landowners, who had been required to pay high taxes in the fall of the Giyu year due to their possession of slaves, began to emancipate their slaves hastily following the issuance of King Sejong’s special order.

However, the process was not entirely smooth.

“How exactly should we go about emancipating someone…?”

According to the edict issued by Sejong, the criteria for emancipation were as follows:

- If the slave to be emancipated has a family, they should be emancipated as a unit. However, adult children should not be included in the family unit.

- Upon emancipation, a sum sufficient for three months of living must be provided.

- Emancipation is not to be carried out during the spring hunger period.

- Slaves over the age of 60, both male and female, are not to be emancipated.

“Hmm… Since it’s allowed to emancipate during the spring hunger period just for this time, that shouldn’t be a problem…”

Those who owned slaves began to struggle with the dilemma of whom and how to emancipate.

Of course, those who were pondering this were landowners who had survived the recent rebellion.

This issue was a concern for those who owned between 20 to 30 or more slaves, while households with only four or five slaves found the decision relatively straightforward.

In the courtyard of a modestly sized tile-roofed house of an aristocrat in Chungcheong Province, barely exceeding 20 rooms, the house owner, Scholar Song, was discussing with his slaves.

“This time, your children have come of age, haven’t they? I’ll grant them their freedom.”

“Oh, thank you so much, my lord!”

Sitting next to Scholar Song, his wife addressed the slave couple with a gentle expression.

“You two are of age as well, so just grow old with us.”

“Thank you, madam.”

It was common practice to prioritize the emancipation of adult children among the slaves.

Among those observing the changing times, some took a more proactive approach.

In the tile-roofed house of Scholar Kang in Haenam, Jeollanam-do, he made a groundbreaking announcement to the gathered slaves.

“I’ll grant freedom to all of you this time! It wouldn’t be fair if some were emancipated and others remained slaves, would it? I’ll free everyone!”

At Scholar Kang’s generous decision, the slaves bowed deeply in gratitude.

“Thank you, my lord!”

“From now on, you’ll continue the farming and household work you’ve been doing, but you’ll be paid for it.”

“Thank you, my lord!”

While the slaves repeatedly bowed in thanks, Kang’s family was filled with worry.

“Dear, are you sure this is okay?”

“Father, about this decision…”

Seeing his family’s concern over changing all the slaves to paid workers, Scholar Kang rebuked them instead.

“Wife! Do you not see how the world is changing? And you, you call yourself the eldest son of this household, yet lack such foresight, how can I trust this family to you?”

At Kang’s scolding, his eldest son, Kang Jun-man, had no choice but to prostrate himself on the floor.

“I am deeply ashamed!”

“These are times of great change. To survive, our family must stay a step ahead of others!”

“I will bear that in mind.”

“You say the right things at least…”

Scholar Kang, looking disappointed at Jun-man, explained why he had made such a decision.

“The king has made such a decision primarily to secure tax revenue, but also to weaken the power of landlords like us. It’s likely that the kings following him will only strengthen these policies, not reverse them. So, what should we do? Should we rise up like those fools last autumn?”

“No, we shouldn’t.”

Disappointed by his eldest son’s response, Scholar Kang clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! Think before you speak!”

* * *

Throughout the nation, many slaves from large and small aristocratic families were emancipated and ventured outside.

The first place the emancipated slaves visited was the local government office.

In Gijang County, Gyeongsang Province,

“Have you come here having been emancipated?”

“Yes, my lord.”

After hearing the slaves’ stories, the magistrate of Gijang County called an official from the Ministry of Taxation.

After listening to the stories, the official from the Ministry of Taxation looked at the slaves.

“Follow me.”

“Yes, my lord.”

After issuing orders to the slaves, the official from the Ministry of Taxation respectfully bowed to the magistrate.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

“We are all serving the nation together. Cooperation is natural. Take care.”

“Thank you.”

After exchanging pleasantries, the official from the Ministry of Taxation led the slaves to the Ministry’s building.

After the Ministry of Taxation official left, the magistrate of Gijang County’s expression turned grave.

“Look at those dark circles under that nobleman’s eyes… Hmm…”

The magistrate rose from his seat and walked towards the clock mounted on the pillar of the main hall. Looking at the time and the calendar beside it, his expression grew anxious.

“My term isn’t much longer… What noble should I send a gift to now? These days they don’t seem to accept gifts… Who should I send it to so I can avoid the Ministry of Taxation’s scrutiny…”

The magistrate of Gijang County was deeply worried, pondering over his connections.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Taxation official who had led the slaves into the adjacent building looked at them as they sat down.

“So… you’ve come after being emancipated?”

“Yes, my master said we need to update our identification tag as well…”

“Of course! Tell me your names, birth years, and whose household slaves you were.”

“Yes. I was a slave at the house of Oh Saeng-won in Baenamugol…”

After hearing the personal details of the slaves, the official rummaged through the bookshelves for the family registry books and pulled out the relevant one.

“Here it is.”

After verifying the registry, the official wrote down the date in the remarks column and added the word “emancipated.”

“Hand over your identification tag.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The official received the identification tag from the slave and passed it to a craftsman in the back.

The craftsman skillfully dismantled the identification tag’s frame and took out the metal plate. Placing the plate on an anvil, he positioned a steel stamp on one side of the plate and struck it hard with a hammer.

Bang!

After ensuring a proper imprint, the craftsman reassembled the frame, resealed it, and handed it back to the official.

“Here you go. Hmm… Do you have a job?”

“No, my lord. I was considering tenant farming, but… there are no available positions.”

Upon hearing the slave’s response, the Ministry of Taxation official began to fish for information.

“Is that so? Hmm… This spring, there will be road construction projects across Joseon… I heard that work on the road from Dongnae to Hanyang is starting. How about it? Why not go and work there? Until spring, you could work at the port. Why sit idle?”

The slave eagerly took the bait offered by the Ministry of Taxation official.

“Is that so? I’d like to go! I will do it!”

Pleased with the slave’s response, the official continued.

“Really? Just wait a bit. Traveling alone can be dangerous and lonely, right? If there are enough people, we can arrange transportation, so it’ll be safe and convenient, won’t it?”

“Yes, I’d like that!”

Hearing the slave’s eager response, the official glanced over the faces of the other slaves standing behind. Noticing that most of the young male slaves had similar expressions, the official internally celebrated.

‘Yes! A big catch! A full haul!’

With the anticipation of mass emancipation, the court had already devised a plan.

“This is a situation we anticipated, so proceed as planned.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following King Sejong’s orders, couriers were dispatched to all Ministry of Taxation offices and the Joseon Textile Factory.

The command sent to the offices and the textile factory was straightforward:

- Evacuate as many people from the rural areas as possible and absorb their assets into the textile factory.

Following the court’s orders, the Ministry of Taxation officials began to lure the newly emancipated commoners.

Having successfully sent the emancipated male slaves to the construction sites, the official now turned his attention to the female slaves.

“So… Have you found a place to work?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“Do you know how to weave?”

“At our age, who doesn’t know how to weave?”

With a triumphant smile at the women’s responses, the official made his pitch.

“There’s going to be a large spinning mill opening in Daegu and Gyeongsan soon. They’re looking for skilled weavers. How about it? Interested?”

“It’s a bit far…”

Seeing the women hesitate, the official gently waved the bait.

“Staying here, you said there aren’t proper job opportunities, right? Then what will happen? You’ll end up living day by day as a day laborer, or worse, fall into destitution, won’t you?”

“That is true…”

When the Ministry of Taxation official pointed out the harsh reality, the female slaves nodded gravely. Many of them had already endured harsh treatment simply for being female slaves. Although such acts were illegal according to the law, there was often a gap between the law and reality.

In the end, the women had no choice but to take the bait offered by the official.

“We will do as you say, my lord. But…”

“It seems like a good opportunity, but the journey to Daegu is long…”

Seeing the women hesitate at the last moment, the official confidently reassured them.

“Indeed! Would I send you women alone on that long and perilous journey to Daegu! If there are enough of you, I’ll arrange transportation! What do you say?”

Eventually, the women agreed to the official’s proposal.

* * *

With their identification tag updated to show their status as free commoners, the emancipated slaves were approached by another individual.

“Listen, everyone, shall we discuss our future together?”

“Eh? The future?”

“Just hear me out for a moment. I’ve come from the textile factory. Have you heard about it?”

“Yes, we’ve heard it was established by His Majesty…”

“Exactly! I work for the establishment set up by His Majesty, so no need to doubt, just follow me for a bit.”

Following the textile factory employee, the slaves crossed the threshold of the factory, their faces showing a mix of curiosity and bewilderment.

* * *

Upon entering the textile factory, the factory official led the slaves into a large meeting room – formerly the parlor of the original owner – on one side of the factory.

“Please, take a seat.”

“Wow…”

As the slaves awkwardly found their seats, the factory employee began to get to the point.

“Now, what do you see outside the window?”

Prompted by the employee’s question, the slaves turned their heads. As they looked through the wide-open windows of the meeting room at the landscape of the mountain beyond, they responded in unison.

“We see a mountain.”

“Right. So…”

The employee closed the window. With the paper-covered window now shut, the employee asked the slaves.

“Then you can’t see anything, right?”

“Yeah…”

“That’s your future. Nothing visible… In other words, if you go out like this, you’ll be at a loss.”

“Really?”

As the slaves looked puzzled, the employee reopened the window and continued.

“Seriously, think about it! You’ll leave this place and go elsewhere to work, right? And when you work, you’ll earn wages, won’t you? What will you do with that money? With cash in hand, all sorts of peddlers and opportunists will flock to you. After a few days of excitement, you’ll be left with nothing. You’ll live penniless until you receive your next wages. Won’t you?”

Hearing the employee’s words, the slaves nodded involuntarily. They had experienced this themselves when they first became emancipated and left their master’s house, only to be swarmed by various traders.

Chapter 178
The Final Phase of the Reform (3)

The employee highlighted the harsh reality.

“What will the end be if you live like that? While others save money to buy houses, open stores, or purchase fields, what will you do with nothing to your name? Others are getting married, having children, and even seeing their grandchildren, but do you want to end up scratching yourself alone in a tiny room, clutching a bottle of cheap liquor, wallowing in misery? Now that you’ve been emancipated and become commoners, shouldn’t you buy a house, get married, and start a family?”

At the employee’s words, the slaves nodded their heads in a daze, as if they were under a spell.

“And what do you think will happen if you just save up whatever wages you get? You won’t be able to sleep properly at night or day for fear of thieves, right?”

“That’s true…”

As the slaves nodded in agreement, the bank employee raised his voice.

“That’s why! Create an account at the bank! Make an account and deposit all the wages you earn from your work! Withdraw money only when you need it! Then your money will accumulate! As you know, the bank is run by the state! There’s no chance of your money being embezzled! Not only that, but you also get interest! If you deposit 1 nyang of silver, you get 12 won of interest in a year! How great is that? Go out and try digging up the land! Will 12 won just appear out of nowhere?”

At the employee’s words, the slaves vigorously nodded their heads. Seeing them, the bank employee continued in a softer voice.

“This is all because His Majesty the King and the government pity you. Think about it! Thanks to His Majesty’s grace, you’ve become commoners! Now that you’re commoners, shouldn’t you try to live a decent life?”

That day, dozens of accounts were created at the Joseon bank located in Gijang County.

* * *

Similar incidents to what happened in Gijang County occurred all over Joseon.

After reviewing the reports organized by the Ministry of Taxation, Sejong looked around at his ministers with a pleased expression.

“As the saying goes, ‘Many a little makes a mickle.’…Gathering the funds of those who have been emancipated has indeed created a significant sum. Moreover, it has also made it easier to secure manpower for road construction.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Not only that, but it has also become easier to replenish the workforce for the textile mills.”

The ministers all bowed their heads and responded to Sejong’s words.

Ironically, the first person to come up with this idea was not a merchant but Sejong himself.

While reviewing reports on the upcoming revisions to the tax and slave laws, Sejong suddenly had a thought.

“It seems that the wealth received upon emancipation is not insubstantial, is it?”

Prompted by this thought, Sejong immediately instructed the Ministry of Taxation to estimate the amount of wealth that would be generated through emancipation.

“Another task…”

Despite their complaints, the officials of the Ministry of Taxation faithfully followed the command.

As they calculated the estimated amounts, the expressions on the faces of the Ministry officials grew increasingly grave.

“This is quite a lot?”

“If all these assets are released at once, it could cause problems with inflation…”

With serious expressions, the officials of the Ministry prepared a report and submitted it to Kim Jeom.

Upon reading the report, Kim Jeom’s expression turned grave.

“This could lead to serious trouble if mishandled.”

Kim Jeom immediately rushed to the State Council.

The Chief State Councillors, recognizing the severity of the situation, convened to discuss the matter.

“If the slaves are emancipated all at once, there will definitely be problems. Not only inflation, but crime and housing issues could also escalate significantly.”

“Hmm… Perhaps we should limit the number of people who can be emancipated each year?”

“That seems like a reasonable solution. It would also reduce the burden on the officials.”

Having reached a consensus, the Chief State Councillor and fellow ministers submitted the proposal and their opinions to Sejong.

Kim Jeom felt an ominous sense of foreboding.

“What is this uneasy feeling?”

* * *

His ominous premonition proved accurate when Sejong, having received the report from the Chief State Councillor, erupted in anger.

“Limit the number of emancipations? Do the ministers have any sense at all? Do they think landlords, desperate to reduce their tax burdens, will accept this decree? And what about those who have worked side by side, where some receive emancipation and others do not? Can’t they foresee the resentment this will cause?”

At Sejong’s reprimand, the ministers hastily bowed their heads.

“Your Majesty, we are deeply regretful!”

“Our considerations were indeed shallow! We beg for your forgiveness!”

As the ministers and high officials bowed, Sejong continued, “Human nature is such that receiving one favor leads to the desire for another. Therefore, instead of imposing limitations, we should devise a plan that is acceptable to all. Reflect upon this and present a new proposal!”

The ministers had no choice but to bow repeatedly to Sejong’s stern command.

* * *

Sejong didn’t stop with just issuing orders to the ministers. He himself also delved deep into finding a solution.

“Hmm… There must be a better answer…”

While reviewing the policies he had initiated, including the reforms suggested by Hyang and his own banking policies, Sejong paused at the section on the ‘Joseon bank’.

“Creating deposit and loan accounts for the common people at the bank?”

After reading and re-reading this section several times, Sejong struck his knee with his hand in realization.

“This is it!”

The next day, Sejong shared his idea with the ministers.

“…Therefore, let’s persuade as many of the emancipated slaves and serfs as possible to supply manpower to the road construction sites and textile mills. This will also benefit the guilds, so they should have no complaints.”

The ministers all nodded in agreement to Sejong’s insightful plan.

“We are in awe of Your Majesty’s wisdom!”

With no opposition from the ministers, Sejong continued, “Furthermore, let’s send officials from the bank to the places where emancipations are verified, and absorb as much of the wealth brought by the emancipated individuals into the bank as possible. Given the progress with the bank, aren’t we already planning to create deposit and loan accounts for the general populace?”

“That is correct.”

“Then let’s start by creating accounts for those being emancipated! Seeing this, other citizens will follow suit and open their accounts at the bank as well. What do you think?”

As the ministers mulled over Sejong’s words, they began to nod their heads one by one.

“Truly a brilliant idea!”

“If executed properly, the government could secure more funds, and we could also stabilize market prices!”

The ministers unanimously supported Sejong’s proposal.

Meanwhile, Hyang, upon hearing this news, widened his eyes in surprise, unable to hide his astonishment.

“The King himself came up with this idea? Could it be that he too…?”

Hyang continued his thought with a ‘what if’ expression but soon shook his head.

“Better not get ahead of myself. Might end up getting stoned for it.”

Although he acknowledged it as a good plan, Hyang felt something was lacking. Ultimately, Hyang decided to add a bit of ‘MSG’ to the plan and sought out Sejong.

“What brings you here?”

“I’ve seen the plan you proposed regarding the emancipation of slaves. It was indeed an ingenious solution.”

“It was a bit of work.”

“Would it be too presumptuous of me to add a spoonful to this?”

“You?”

Sejong paused for a moment at Hyang’s words but soon nodded.

“There hasn’t been a time when your involvement has led things astray. Alright. You have my permission.”

With Sejong’s approval, Hyang immediately shared his idea.

“If the emancipated individuals are to open accounts, why not have the guilds directly deposit the wages of their workers into these accounts?”

“Direct deposits?”

“Yes. The payments to the guilds from the Ministry of Taxation are already processed through the bank. If we instruct the guilds to compile a register of their workers’ names and account numbers, and based on this, directly deposit their wages into the workers’ accounts, it would eliminate the need to do the work twice and also minimize tax evasion to the greatest extent.”

“Mmm…”

After pondering Hyang’s words, Sejong soon nodded in agreement.

“Indeed! That would be the best approach!”

Thus, the first instance of a worker’s salary being directly deposited into a bank account was established.

* * *

Hyang’s ‘MSG’ didn’t stop there.

He continued his explanation in the presence of Sejong and the ministers.

“Simply forcing people to create accounts could lead to resistance.”

“That’s true.”

“They might even feel like they’re being robbed.”

Sejong and the ministers nodded in agreement with Hyang’s observation. After clearing his throat, Hyang continued.

“That’s why the officials at the bank need to persuade those who have been emancipated to open accounts.”

“Persuasion? That won’t be easy.”

Acknowledging Sejong’s point, Hyang nodded.

“Indeed. That’s why we must target their most significant concern.”

Hyang borrowed advertising techniques from a 21st-century bank to craft persuasive rhetoric.

This was the very method used by the bank employee in Gijang County to captivate the emancipated slaves.

After witnessing Hyang’s demonstration, Sejong and the ministers looked at him in astonishment. After a moment, the still-dazed ministers turned to Sejong.

“Your Majesty, we too should open accounts.”

“I was thinking the same.”

Convinced by the effectiveness of the approach, Sejong and the ministers readily accepted Hyang’s suggestion.

With the method decided, officials responsible for the task at banks across the country were summoned to Hanyang.

In the Eastern Palace, Hyang once again demonstrated the ‘art of persuasion’ to the assembled officials.

And that day, the bank employees opened accounts in their own names at the bank.

“Regardless… It’s clear that the officials from the Ministry of Taxation and the employees of the bank have fulfilled their responsibilities well in this matter. Therefore, ensure that the promised rewards are distributed.”

At Sejong’s command, the ministers bowed their heads again.

“We shall heed Your Majesty’s command!”

Thus, Sejong acquired another ‘world’s first’ title:

- The first to officially use an incentive system.

Of course, there had been systems in place to recognize and reward military achievements on the battlefield, but this was the first time an official reward system was used for regular administrative tasks outside of warfare.

* * *

Amidst these significant and minor upheavals, as the spring of the Gyeongsul year arrived, a nationwide road construction project began.

Rumors of a road paving project connecting the entire Joseon region attracted young people who had received emancipation and left rural areas, as well as those who could not find jobs in urban areas, to the construction sites.

But they weren’t the only ones. A considerable number of farmers from villages near the construction sites also visited.

The farmers were drawn to the construction sites because of the rice transplanting method.

As mentioned before, one of the significant advantages of the transplanting method was that it required less labor.

Apart from the times of planting and harvesting, the transplanting method did not require a large workforce.

Thus, farmers who found themselves idle for a month or two turned to the construction sites for side jobs, intending to make extra income.

It wasn’t just the farmers. Small merchants and itinerant vendors, upon learning that those involved in the construction received regular monthly wages, gathered around the sites, leading to the formation of small markets.

As these developments overlapped, an increasing number of Joseon’s citizens began to engage in economic activities outside of agriculture.

* * *

If the large-scale emancipation was one factor driving the massive population movement in Joseon, another was the vast amount of farmland that became state-owned through the ‘Giyu Rebellion’.

-The government is looking for tenants to cultivate the confiscated lands. Priority is given to commoners who have established families.

-The rent for the state-owned farmland is set at 30%, the same as for royal granaries, and the tax rate imposed on tenant farmers follows the law.

Upon seeing the government’s proclamation, tenant farmers were all abuzz.

“30%? The rent for the land I’m currently farming is 50%!”

“Is there any state-owned farmland nearby?”

“Does that matter? Even if it’s a thousand li away, we should go if we can get tenancy there!”

Ultimately, many tenant farmers began to leave their current residences to seek tenancy on the state-owned farmland.

Chapter 179
The Final Phase of the Reform (4)

In the twelfth year of King Sejong’s reign (1430, the year of Gyeongsul).

Mid-January. With the New Year festivities concluded and state affairs resuming in earnest, King Sejong issued a decree to his ministers.

“Proclaim an edict regarding the national farmlands confiscated during the Giyu Rebellion.”

“Your command shall be obeyed!”

“Clearly disclose all information related to eligibility for tenancy, land rent, taxes, and such, so that the people are well-informed and can act accordingly!”

At King Sejong’s admonition, the ministers bowed once more and responded.

“We shall bear it in mind!”

Thus, the ministers reviewed the contents of the proclamation once again. Finally, after King Sejong’s ultimate approval, the proclamation was posted throughout the entire Joseon territory, not only in the Samnam region but also in the Gyeonggi and Seobuk areas.

It was an official proclamation related to the national farmlands secured through the ‘Giyu Rebellion.’

While the previously issued proclamations had the nature of ‘prepare for this upcoming event,’ this time, the posted proclamation contained detailed information related to the matter.

1. The court is seeking tenants for the farmlands confiscated this time. The priority is given to free commoners who have established households.

2. The land rent for the national farmlands is set at 30% similar to that of palace farmlands, and the tax rate imposed on tenant farmers follows the law.

3. The size of the farmland to be allocated ranges from a minimum of 2 Gyeol to a maximum of 5 Gyeol, based on the grade of the land and the number of family members of the applicant.

4. Those who were tenant farming the land before it was confiscated as national farmland must choose according to the following scenarios.

A. Those who had their own land but had to entrust it to bandits due to unavoidable circumstances.

In such cases, one of the following two options must be chosen
i. Review the family register and reclaim the entrusted land to become an independent farmer.

In this case, the ownership of the land is recognized, and new family and land registers are created.

However, since they have transitioned from tenant farmers to independent farmers, they are subject to the corresponding tax obligations.

ii. Choose not to reclaim the land and continue living as a tenant farmer.

In this case, the right to tenant farm is guaranteed until the death of the individual who signed the tenancy agreement, and the taxation is adjusted according to the standards for tenant farmers.

However, the contract becomes void upon the death of the party who signed it.

B. Those who continued to live as tenant farmers without entrusting their land to anyone.

Individuals in category B follow the same approach as the second option for A, but the contract duration extends to the current tenant and his son.

i. Those who own their farmlands but cannot harvest a minimum of 1 Gyeol due to the small size of their lands, and those who have been tenant farming but similarly own small plots that yield less than 1 Gyeol, can tenant farm up to an additional 2 Gyeol.

However, this is only applicable if there are remaining lands after distribution to those who applied for tenancy.

ii. Those in category B, those who were tenant farming lands not belonging to bandits, and those who have been exiled along with their families and are landless, can move without regional restrictions to receive tenancy. This, however, is limited to those who possess a document issued by the magistrate of their hometown, proving one of the three conditions mentioned above.

As the “Proclamation on Tenant Farming of National Farmlands” was posted in government offices nationwide, the tenant farmers had to think hard.

Some pondered so intensively that there was an increase in visits to physicians.

In Boeun, Chungcheong Province, a farmer visited a physician’s office located in the marketplace.

“Physician, I need some medicine…”

“Have you come because of a headache too?”

“Yes.”

Hearing the farmer’s reply, the physician casually selected a few medicinal herbs, mixed them, and handed them over.

“That will be 50 won.”

Grumbling, the farmer opened his purse.

“I’ve been living carefree all my life, and now in my old age, what kind of trouble is this…”

“Are you also troubled by the tenancy issue?”

“Yes. The scholar’s family I was tenant farming for got swept away in this recent rebellion… And now my head’s about to burst from the worry.”

Hearing the farmer’s complaint, the physician offered some advice.

“It’s not just about you, but your children’s future as well, so give it some careful thought. Don’t just drown your sorrows in alcohol and make rash decisions.”

“Yes…”

As the farmer left with a nod, another farmer entered the physician’s office.

“Have you come because of a headache too?”

“Yes…”

“Ugh…”

With a soft groan, the physician mechanically mixed the medicines.

As such incidents became frequent, the physician piled up bundles of paper-wrapped medicine in front of his office and put up a sign.

- Headache medicine. 500 won per packet.

Until the issue regarding the national farmlands was somewhat resolved, the physician managed to achieve unprecedented sales.

* * *

Most of those who were seriously contemplating to the extent of becoming indebted to the physician’s office belonged to the category outlined in section 4, A, of the proclamation.

These individuals would sit on the wooden platforms set up in their front yards, sharing a bottle of rice wine with neighbors in similar situations, as discussing their options had become part of their daily routine.

“Should we just continue living as tenant farmers?”

“Man! A true farmer should have his own land, even if it’s no bigger than a booger, right?”

The homeowner nodded in agreement with his neighbor’s words, but pointed out the issue.

“That seems right, but it’s the taxes, you see. The taxes.”

“Of course, the tax rates are worrying since they’re more than double right now, but opting for tenancy isn’t the solution either, is it? Excluding taxes, everything from land rent starts to add up! Plus, you have to consider that tenancy rights end abruptly with your death!”

“Our eldest is smart, so maybe he doesn’t need to stick to farming…”

“What about the second and the third?”

“Ugh…”

Groaning at the neighbor’s pointed observation, the farmer looked at his second and third sons covered in dirt as they came in and shouted at them.

“You good-for-nothing kids! Your father is here worrying himself sick over your futures, and all you do is gallivant around! I ought to teach you a lesson!”

“Good heavens, man! Why are you suddenly taking it out on the kids, causing such a commotion!”

As the farmer, unable to contain his anger, picked up a stick nearby to discipline the children, his wife rushed out of the kitchen to stop him.

Amidst the chaos, the neighboring farmer who had been partaking in the conversation swiftly retreated to his own home.

Back in his house, the farmer opened the door to a room that had been newly added last spring.

“Heaven above, earth below…”

Watching his son diligently reciting the Thousand Character Classic with a content smile, the farmer made up his mind.

“Listen, wife! Let’s have a talk!”

* * *

Unlike those who were pondering their choices after entrusting their lands and becoming tenant farmers, those who had always been tenant farmers didn’t have much to worry about.

In fact, some were even getting a bit greedy.

“Really? You want to continue with the tenancy?”

“Yes. I don’t have any land of my own, nor do I have any other skills, so I’ll continue with the tenancy.”

“Is that so?”

“I just want to increase the size of the tenancy a bit.”

“Want to expand the cultivated area? Show me your household register.”

“Here you go.”

Receiving the household register, the official from the Ministry of Taxation reviewed the family and land records.

“You qualify, but… won’t it be too much for you?”

The farmer replied with a smile.

“My eldest can now do the work of an adult.”

“The eldest? Hmm… But he’s only twelve, isn’t he?”

“He lifted a millstone not long ago.”

“Oh!”

Impressed by the farmer’s response, the Ministry of Taxation official let out a light exclamation of admiration.

During the Joseon Dynasty, sons of the nobility, known as “sadaebu,” would tie their hair in a topknot and wear a traditional hat called a “gat” between the ages of 15 and 20, while daughters would comb their hair and secure it with ornamental hairpins. Since weddings often took place around this age, there was a common belief that marriage equated to a coming-of-age ceremony. However, strictly speaking, the coming-of-age ceremony and wedding were separate events.

For the common people, the coming-of-age ceremony was somewhat different. Demonstrating strength by lifting a “deul-dol,” a stone weighing about 100 “geun” (approximately 60kg), and offering food to the elders of the village in a gesture known as “jinsurteok” were ways to be recognized as an adult. (Note 1)

* * *

Impressed by the farmer’s claim, the Ministry of Taxation official did not immediately stamp the document.

“The matters of the state must be handled with rigor. Bring that eldest son of yours to demonstrate. Then, I’ll consider your request.”

“Can’t you just take my word for it…”

“What did I just hear? This is a state matter. If your words are true, what’s the issue? Just come and lift a stone, and it’s settled.”

“Yes, understood.”

Chastened by the official’s sternness, the tenant farmer left the government office. Watching the farmer’s retreating back, the official grumbled.

“One wrong move and it’s straight to the records office for me. Who does he think he’s dealing with…”

* * *

As time passed, many tenant farmers began to leave their ancestral homes and move to the southern provinces, known as “Samnam.”

Their target lands were those cultivated directly by the landlords who had participated in the rebellion, using slaves for labor. These lands, being the economic foundation of the landlords, were prime for farming. Through either appealing to the authorities, using strong-arm tactics, or employing slaves for water management projects, these lands were well-prepared to withstand most droughts or floods, making them the best available for agriculture.

To ensure the safety of the tenant farmer families during their relocation, the royal court devised various measures.

“With a household register and an account book for the land, you won’t go hungry!”

Before they set out, local officials and land management officers explained the use of the account book and the support measures provided by the government.

“So, if it looks like night will fall while you’re on the road, stop by a nearby government office or military camp. They’ll provide a place to stay. Even if it’s just a tent, it’s better than sleeping outdoors, right? Sleeping outside could end up making you a tiger’s meal.”

“Understood!”

“And if you run out of food along the way, just speak to the officials at the government office or military camp. They’ll sell you grain at a low price.”

“Thank you, we understand!”

Thus, the families of the tenant farmers were able to move smoothly. In some cases, they were even escorted by nearby soldiers.

With such escort and support, the tenant farmers praised King Sejong.

“A sage king indeed! A sage king has come to us!”

“Indeed, a true sage king!”

* * *

While the tenant farmers were praising King Sejong, back at the court, Kim Jeom was reporting to King Sejong.

“…Thanks to this initiative, we have been able to significantly reduce the stock of grain that was close to expiring.”

“Well done.”

The primary purpose of King Sejong and the court’s support for the migrating tenant farmers was to maintain public order.

“It’s good that they have set out, but if they become vagrants, everything will have been in vain. We need a plan for this.”

Following King Sejong’s order, the ministers convened and came up with the support measures mentioned above.

“The greatest difficulties faced by those setting out on relocation are finding a place to sleep and securing food. There will certainly be those who seek to exploit these challenges for profit, using various tricks. We must prevent this in advance.”

Sejong nodded in agreement with Heo Jo’s explanation.

“That’s a reasonable concern. So, what solution have you come up with?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Heo Jo then shared the solution the ministers had devised.

The solution thought up by the ministers was to provide sleeping accommodations for the tenant farmers at local government offices, military barracks, and magistrates’ offices located along the route to the southern provinces.

“…If the scale is small, we can provide vacant rooms in the government buildings. If the scale is large, we can set up tents for them.”

“It’s better than sleeping outdoors.”

Sejong, nodding at the ministers’ explanation, pointed out another issue.

“We can manage sleeping arrangements that way, but what about food?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward.

“We will sell the military’s grain at cost price.”

“The military’s grain?”

“Yes. Among the grains currently stored, there is a considerable amount that is nearing the end of its storage period. If we start by disposing of these grains, we can recover the funds invested in their production and solve the storage problem as well.”

Sejong thought for a moment and then let out a chuckle.

“It seems the ministers have become quite cunning.”

To Sejong’s remark, the ministers internally exclaimed in unison.

‘How could we compare to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince!’

“Anyway, it’s a solution that serves two purposes. Implement it immediately.”

“Your command shall be obeyed!”

Chapter 180
The Final Phase of the Reform (5)

Throughout Joseon, numerous tenant farmers began migrating to the Samnam region, becoming dependent on various local government offices, military barracks, and provincial offices.

As these tenant farmers and their families stayed for a day before departing, the respective government offices, barracks, and provincial offices promptly reported to their higher authorities. These reports were eventually collected and organized at the Ijo office in Hanyang.

The organized reports were submitted daily to King Sejong. After reviewing the reports, King Sejong looked around at his ministers.

“Things are progressing smoothly.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“How long do you expect the migration of the tenant farmers to continue?”

Heo Jo immediately responded to King Sejong’s question.

“It is expected to continue until the early part of March.”

“Then, will there be enough farmland for them to return to?”

Kim Jeom promptly answered King Sejong’s query.

“If the current trend continues, we will run out by the end of February.”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing Kim Jeom’s response, King Sejong glanced at the calendar.

“The end of February is not far off. Then, we must immediately implement the third plan and also prepare for the fourth plan without any delay.”

“Your command will be obeyed!”

As the ministers bowed, King Sejong reiterated his instructions.

“The success of this strategy depends on the safe completion of the fourth plan. Bear this in mind and devote your utmost sincerity.”

“We shall heed and execute Your Majesty’s command!”

The ministers responded in unison.

* * *

As the mass migration of tenant farmers progressed, a question began to circulate among them nationwide.

“Why do we have to give half of our crop rent to the landlords?”

This question marked the beginning of doubts about the long-unchallenged practice of “Byeongjak Bansu” (sharing half the harvest with the landlord) among many tenant farmers.

* * *

The traditional practice of Byeongjak Bansu, where the harvested crops were split equally between the landlord and tenant farmer, dates back to the Goryeo Dynasty.

At the end of each farming year, during the harvest, the crops were divided equally between landlords and tenant farmers. This system was somewhat rational under a rice farming system with irregular yields due to inadequate irrigation facilities.

However, over time, various problems began to emerge.

In years of poor harvest, the rent might be reduced or even waived, but this only happened if the yield decreased by more than 70% compared to an average year. In simpler terms, the situation had to be dire, bordering on starvation, for the rent to be reduced.

Then there was the issue of by-products after the harvest, with straw being a prime example. Straw was crucial for farmers, used for thatching roofs, making ropes, weaving sacks, and more. However, when landlords provided the seeds, they often took all the straw as well.

Another problem was related to taxes.

Originally, tenant farmers were exempt from taxes. However, due to various reasons, taxes were imposed. In northern regions, landlords often bore the tax burden, but in the southern granary regions, it fell upon the tenant farmers.

Lastly, there was the issue of excessive interference by landlords.

From the tenant farmers’ perspective, Byeongjak Bansu was advantageous during lean years but a loss during bountiful ones. Landlords also saw downsides due to the fixed distribution rate, as it could lead to tenant farmers slacking off or secretly taking crops before the harvest.

Therefore, landlords either personally intervened or appointed overseers to manage and supervise tenant farmers. However, this oversight was often harsh, leading to constant complaints among the tenant farmers.

* * *

The undercurrents of discord that had been gradually accumulating came to the surface due to King Sejong’s water management projects.

With King Sejong’s initiation of active governance, the water management projects led to a reduction in droughts and floods. Yearly crop yields steadily maintained average levels, and the frequency of bountiful years increased, bringing these grievances to the forefront.

The primary catalyst for these emerging complaints was the vast scale of land confiscated by the state through the Giyu Rebellion.

Almost 60% of the farmland in the Samnam region was transferred to the royal court, and those farming on this land were only required to pay 30% of their produce as rent, which was a significant provocation for the tenant farmers.

“How is it fair that just across a ditch, some only have to pay 30%, while others have to pay 50%?”

Landlords who had not participated in the rebellion breathed a sigh of relief for surviving, but it created a paradoxical situation where tenant farmers vented their frustrations.

Another factor that stirred the tenant farmers was the development of commerce and industry.

– “Participating in road construction earns a steady monthly wage, they say! And if managed well, it’s better than tenant farming!”

– “Even day labor in the city earns as much as tenant farming!”

– “The state is about to establish schools where anyone but slaves can send their children to learn!”

Rumors like these circulated, prompting tenant farmers to seriously consider relocating.

* * *

This was the “Third Plan” that King Sejong had ordered his ministers to implement.

– “Until now, too many of our people have been solely reliant on agriculture. To address this issue, we encourage the relocation of tenant farmers.”

The success of the “Third Plan,” designed with this goal in mind, was facilitated by agents of the government discreetly spreading rumors.

Eventually, many tenant farmers began to make decisive choices.

In a small rural village near Anseong in Gyeonggi Province.

“Wife, let’s have a talk!”

At his wife’s behest, Gapseong sat down on the wooden porch again.

“What’s the matter?”

“Let’s move.”

Gapseong looked astonished at his wife’s words.

“What? Are you out of your mind, talking nonsense after a hot meal?”

“It’s not nonsense, I’ve heard some news. Over in Suwon, there’s a merchant group planning to expand their medicinal herb gardens significantly. They aim to sell these herbs to Ming and Japan.”

Realizing his wife’s words weren’t mere fanciful talk, Gapseong’s expression turned serious.

“And then?”

“They need people to manage the vast herb gardens and are offering a monthly salary. Two silver taels a month!”

Gapseong’s curiosity faded with his wife’s words.

“With such good conditions, locals must have already snapped up the opportunity.”

“That’s not the case. The merchant group is specifically looking for people with experience in growing herbs.”

“Is that so?”

Gapseong’s expression changed again, sensing an opportunity.

Sensing the shift in her husband’s mood, Gapseong’s wife spoke with more conviction.

“That’s why we need to act fast! Where else can you find a monthly salary of two silver taels? We toil away at tenant farming, barely scraping by after paying the crop rent and taxes, and that’s after swapping our white rice for mixed grains.”

“That’s true…”

Gapseong nodded, agreeing with his wife.

“Thanks to the medicinal herbs you’ve grown in our backyard garden, we’ve managed to hold on a bit longer. So, why not take on the herb garden ourselves?”

“It sounds promising, but…”

Torn between interest and fear, Gapseong hesitated. Seeing her husband’s reluctance, his wife brought up their children.

“This spring, we should consider sending Gapsik and Byungsik to school! We can’t just let our kids end up as tenant farmers like us.”

“That makes sense.”

Mentioning the children made Gapseong nod in agreement.

* * *

Among many non-aristocrats at the time, there were quite a few who were proficient in Chinese characters.

Although not as perfectly literate in Chinese characters as the aristocracy, a considerable number of people possessed some knowledge of them.

Merchants formed the largest group among these literate individuals. The necessity of writing contracts, keeping ledgers, and creating promissory notes for transactions made literacy indispensable for conducting business.

Following the merchants were the physicians. To properly read medical texts written in Chinese characters, knowledge of them was essential.

Craftsmen, especially those connected with the government, came next. To fulfill orders from the court, military barracks, and administrative offices on time, it was necessary to be able to read official documents.

Lastly, the situation for peasants and fishermen was somewhat unique. While a significant number could read, very few could write.

This was largely due to public notices posted by the government offices. Since most of these notices were closely related to their lives, many peasants could read the Thousand Character Classic to some extent.

Of course, when a public notice was posted, they could ask a nearby scholar-official to read it aloud for them. However, this often resulted in significant humiliation, as not all scholar-officials would read the notices kindly, with many displaying scornful expressions while reading.

Due to such grievances, even the lower-class peasants had a strong desire to educate their children. Of course, during the early Joseon Dynasty, education was an unattainable dream during years of famine, but as living conditions improved, the enthusiasm for education began to rise again.

Rumors about “Samin Hakdang” (schools for commoners) discreetly spread by the government began to circulate, causing excitement among mothers with children.

* * *

Mentioning their children made Gapseong seriously contemplate.

For Gapseong and his wife, their two sons were precious. Originally, they had three brothers, Gapeulbyung, but lost one to famine and disease.

After much deliberation, Gapseong made a decision.

“Which merchant group in Suwon was it?”

“It was the Daejin merchant group in Suwon.”

“Suwon is about 50 li (approximately 20km) from here… Wife, pack some rice balls! I’ll be back in two days! And gather some coins too!”

“Yes!”

At Gapseong’s words, his wife excitedly rushed to the kitchen.

The tenant farmers’ actions prompted a reaction from the landlords.

“What are you doing, Mansik! It’s almost planting season!”

In a rural area of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, a dispute was unfolding between a nobleman and a peasant.

In response to the landlord’s question, the peasant replied in a brusque tone.

“Can’t you see? I’m packing up!”

The sight of the peasant loading both large and small household items and bundles of clothes onto a sizable cart caused the landlord to beat his chest in frustration and raise his voice again.

“That’s exactly what I’m asking, why are you packing up?”

“I’m moving!”

“Moving? To where?”

“To Suwon! I heard they’re opening workshops at a merchant’s there and hiring people, so I’m moving!”

“But if you leave, who’s going to tend to the crops?”

“What do I care? Even after slaving away on the farm, half of it just disappears. What’s the point in farming?”

“But we’ve shared a life here! How can you just leave without saying anything?”

“Shared a life? That’s a laugh! So much for shared life! Every time there’s a feast or a memorial service, my wife gets dragged away to work in the kitchen all day, I have to chop wood and haul it over, and if the big master decides to go fishing, I have to drop everything and go set the nets in the stream… Is that what you call shared life? Yeah, right!”

“Well, that’s…”

The landlord was taken aback by Mansik’s retort. The landlord had a habit of relying heavily on tenant farmers instead of keeping many slaves, confident in his control despite knowing the farmers’ growing discontent.

The landlord, who had always been dismissive of the tenant farmers’ grievances to his fellow landowners, was taken aback.

“Let them be dissatisfied! If they don’t work on my land, what will they do!”

“Alright then!”

As Mansik, with his children loaded onto the cart, grabbed the handle to leave, the landlord hastily blocked his path.

“Alright, I get it! I’ll only take 30% of the harvest, isn’t that enough?”

“Hmph! Forget it!”

As Mansik rebuffed him, the landlord grew desperate. Nearly half of his tenant farmers had already left, and Mansik was influential among the remaining farmers. It was clear that if Mansik also left, there would hardly be any farmers left.

Finally, the landlord made another offer.

“30%, and whenever I need your labor, I’ll pay you for it!”

“How much will you pay?”

“I’ll give you 50 won each time! How’s that?”

“100 won!”

“100 is too much, let’s settle at 60 won!”

After a moment’s hesitation, Mansik nodded.

“Fine. Let’s go to the trading center and write up a contract!”

“Do we need to go as far as writing a contract?”

To which Mansik replied curtly.

“The law requires it, so we must follow!”

* * *

Similar incidents unfolded across the country, leading most landlords to reduce the rent to 30% along with various other conditions.

These changes were all documented in contracts, and reports about them were sent up to Hanyang.

King Sejong, after reviewing the reports, smiled and looked at his ministers.

“It seems the Third Plan has been quite successful.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Then proceed with the Fourth Plan!”

“Your command will be obeyed!”

Reference:

– Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture (EncyKorea) http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0058714

Chapter 181
I Am Not a Sage King (1)

“I’m sorry, but all the tenant farming spots have been filled.”

“Oh, what shall we do now!”

The tenant farmer, who had come to apply for a lease on state-owned farmland, slumped down in despair upon hearing the official’s words that no spots were available.

“Oh dear, my husband!”

“Dad!”

As the head of the family slumped down, his family members rushed to his side, trying to help him to his feet.

“Darling, please get up! Hurry!”

“Father, stand up!”

Despite the family’s tearful efforts to lift him, the farmer, having lost all strength in his legs, sat despondently on the ground, muttering to himself.

“I traveled thousands of miles, lured by the promise of leasing one of Joseon’s finest fertile fields at a cheap price… What are we to do now… What shall we do…”

“Father!”

“My husband!”

Watching the family’s turmoil with a look of sympathy, the official cautiously began to speak.

“Listen, could you spare a moment to hear me out?”

“Yes?”

“It’s a bit difficult to just turn back now, isn’t it?”

Tearfully, the tenant farmer responded to the official’s question.

“It is, but what choice do we have? Disgraceful as it may be, we’ll have to beg if necessary.”

“How about this then? Are you aware that we’re currently developing the northeastern area?”

Light began to return to the tenant farmer’s eyes upon the official’s question.

“Yes, I’ve heard rumors. Wasn’t it last year or the year before that many people moved there?”

“As part of the development, we’ve expanded the land significantly. But, we’re in need of people to cultivate it. How about it? Would you be willing to give it a try and build your fortune there?”

“But… clearing land is no easy task.”

The official nodded in agreement to the farmer’s words.

“I’m well aware. That’s why His Majesty has decreed a tax exemption for the first five years, followed by a halving of taxes for the next five years. Additionally, food support and farming tools will be provided for the first two years, and even a draft horse will be provided.”

Upon hearing the official’s words, the tenant farmer sprang to his feet as if nothing had happened.

“A draft horse as well? Even that expensive item?”

“Indeed, it’s all thanks to His Majesty’s compassion. Such grace is truly immense.”

Overjoyed, the farmer rushed towards the official.

“Then! How much land will you provide?”

“At least two gyeol (approximately 2 jeongbo (roughly ~20,000m2,) or 36 majigi (~ 75,000m2)) to start, and up to four gyeol. What do you think? Are you willing to give it a try?”

Hearing the official’s question, the tenant farmer looked back at his family standing behind him. Having listened to the official’s explanation, all family members nodded in agreement.

Seeing his family’s positive response, the tenant farmer grabbed the official’s sleeve.

“We’ll do it! We’ll go! We’ll set off right away!”

The official smiled in response to the tenant farmer’s enthusiasm.

“The journey to the northeastern area is a long one. We’ve prepared a ship, and as soon as we gather enough people, we’ll depart immediately. For now, you’ll stay in Gyeongsang Left Navy Command. Once there, we’ll provide accommodations and food, all for free. It’s by His Majesty’s command.”

“Oh, my!”

Overwhelmed by the official’s reply, the tenant farmer prostrated himself in the direction of the north.

“Your grace is boundless! We pray for your long and prosperous reign! Thousand years! Thousand years! Thousand years!”

The tenant farmer was praying for the longevity of King Sejong.

* * *

In the Samnam region, it had become common for tenant farmers who arrived a bit late and missed their chance against competitors to choose to move northward.

Of course, not a few chose to return to their hometowns where they had lived before, but the majority opted for the new opportunities awaiting them in the north.

“Land! I’ll have my own land!”

The biggest reason for tenant farmers choosing to go north was the prospect of having ‘their own land’.

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Taxation busily went about their duties among the tenant farmers.

“Do you have your departure certificate for you and your family?”

“Yes? Yes.”

Prompted by the official’s question, the tenant farmer rummaged through his piled belongings and pulled out a sheet of yellow paper.

“Here it is.”

“And your household registration certificate as well.”

“Yes.”

After confirming that the names and family registry on the certificate matched those on the household registration certificate, the Ministry of Taxation official recorded the information in his ledger and moved on to the next matter.

“And do you have your account book?”

“Yes, right here!”

Upon receiving the account book, the official verified the account holder’s name and the household registration certificate number, recorded the additional information in his ledger, and then returned the book to the tenant farmer.

The Ministry of Taxation official returned the household registration certificate, the proof of departure, and the account book to the tenant farmer, advising him of the precautions to take.

“Once you settle in the newly developed area in the north, you must report to the local office within five days. If you fail to do so, you won’t be eligible to receive the benefits promised by His Majesty.”

“Yes? Yes! I will definitely do so!”

“Then make sure to take good care of your belongings.”

Having finished his duties, the Ministry of Taxation official moved on to another group of tenant farmers.

As the official left, the tenant farmer looked at the certificate in his hand and muttered to himself.

“This is as good as gold…”

* * *

Once a certain number of people had gathered, the tenant farmers began their journey northward.

The tenant farmers from the Honam and Yeongnam regions were transported by military ships to the north, while those gathered in the Chungcheong region started their journey northward by land, escorted by the military.

As people set off, couriers spread out across the entire Joseon Dynasty.

Some couriers headed to the hometowns of those who had gone north, while others went to Hanyang.

The reports brought by the couriers to Hanyang were immediately reviewed by officials from the Ministry of Taxation, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Military Affairs.

The reports, verified and organized by the officials, were then submitted to King Sejong.

King Sejong, reviewing the daily reports, looked around at his ministers with a relieved expression.

“It seems that the fourth and fifth phases are proceeding smoothly as well.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“I believe all this is thanks to your hard work.”

“Your Majesty is too generous! None of this would have been possible without Your Majesty’s initial planning!”

Hearing this, the other ministers nodded in agreement, murmuring to themselves.

“Truly, this father and son are beyond ordinary.”

“Could such a cunning plan really come from a mere mortal?”

The ministers, while praising King Sejong, felt a sense of awe.

* * *

Immediately after the successful suppression of the Giyu Rebellion, Sejong set this plan in motion.

The strategy, starting from the first phase and extending to the sixth, was a supplemental measure to the ongoing reform of the land system.

The amendments aimed at rapidly and massively implementing the land reform took advantage of the weakened power of the local nobility following the Giyu Rebellion’s outbreak and suppression.

If these strategies succeeded, the land reform, reaching its seventh year, could be successfully concluded.

Among these strategies, “Phase 4” aimed to persuade as many tenant farmers as possible, who had moved to state-owned farmland through “Phase 3” but did not receive land, to relocate north. This was a plan to solve the sluggish northern migration, which persisted despite various incentives.

“Phase 5” was designed to test the condition of Joseon’s terrestrial transportation routes and the capacity for information movement.

Couriers departing from their origins had to meticulously record the number and condition of relay stations they passed, the state and size of the roads, travel times, and more, reporting these details to their superiors.

The reports were compared and updated against existing records held by the Ministry of Taxation, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Defense, as well as records from research institutes that traveled nationwide for astronomical observations. Based on the finalized version, road construction would proceed.

Additionally, local offices and military camps that received administrative documents from the couriers had to verify changes and compile reports to be sent to Hanyang. In Hanyang, administrative documents from the origins, destinations, and those received directly were compared to check for discrepancies and their extents.

This entire process constituted “Phase 5,” which was largely conceived by Sejong, albeit with a slight addition of “MSG” for flavor.

* * *

Even as “Phases 4 and 5” progressed smoothly, Sejong did not forget to admonish his ministers.

“Phases 4 and 5 will soon conclude. So, do not let your guard down until the end and continue to give your best for success. Only then can we successfully embark on ‘Phase 6’ starting this fall.”

The ministers bowed deeply in response to Sejong’s admonition, pledging their commitment.

“We shall devote ourselves entirely!”

The last “Phase 6” that Sejong and his ministers were preparing for was the establishment of “Samin Schools.”

* * *

“Let’s conclude here for today.”

After ending the discussion on “Phases 4 and 5” and addressing several pressing issues, Sejong declared the meeting adjourned.

As Sejong announced the adjournment, the ministers respectfully bowed and exited the Geunjeongjeon Hall.

With the ministers gone, Sejong, his face filled with fatigue, sighed deeply.

Sejong let out a weary sigh, “Phew, I’m exhausted.”

“Do you wish for the royal physician to be summoned, Your Majesty?” inquired the chief eunuch.

Sejong shook his head in response, “It’s not that serious yet. I’d like to be alone for a while, so please step out.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And have the scribes step out as well.”

Accustomed to Sejong’s requests, the scribes promptly gathered their writing materials, bowed respectfully, and exited the Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Descending from the throne, Sejong quietly stretched and made his way to a wall adorned with maps.

Standing before a map that depicted the entirety of Joseon, the Jurchen territories, the uncharted lands to the east, as well as parts of Ming China’s Shandong region and some areas of Japan, Sejong raised his finger to the northeastern region, contemplating deeply.

Sejong declared with resolve, “By the end of this year, we will have reclaimed all the regions we promised to Ming. Furthermore, the resettlement policy will be completed. Once the relocated people have fully settled, even the Jurchen tribes will be subdued. And then…”

His finger traced eastward to the uncharted lands.

“Then, it will be time for an eastward expansion. By exploring these virgin lands and integrating them into Joseon’s territory, our nation will flourish even more. If executed properly, even Ming won’t be able to treat us lightly.”

Pausing there, Sejong sighed deeply.

“Phew, the problem, though, is the lack of people. The population difference is just too vast.”

According to the annual household surveys, Joseon’s total population, including the lowest classes, was nearing 5 million. This was a significant increase from the 4.3 million recorded at the start of the land reform, but Ming’s population was estimated to exceed 60 million. (Note 1)

Even a simple comparison showed a disparity of more than 12 times. This difference in potential military strength made it impossible to rashly antagonize Ming.

‘If a war breaks out, we might win the initial battles. But if Ming decides to continue the conflict, we will be the ones to lose.’

It was evident to anyone, even without an analysis from the Joseon Military Headquarters, that in such a situation, defeat was inevitable.

“The conclusion is clear; we need to increase our population. Just as the Crown Prince stopped smallpox with variolation, we need to control other diseases to minimize population loss. Food supply isn’t an issue with the expanded territory, but the real challenge is human resources…”

Sejong tapped on the map of Joseon’s mainland, murmuring to himself.

“The Samin Schools will be the starting point. From there, we’ll cultivate and utilize talent. If necessary, we might even have to appoint women. If we fail to do so…”

Sejong sighed once more, deeply.

“Phew. Joseon will falter.”

With a troubled expression, Sejong shook his head, dismissing his own thoughts.

“I will never let that happen. Not ever!”

Firm in his resolve, Sejong turned around.

“The ministers are unaware, but if ‘Phase 6’ succeeds, we must quickly proceed to ‘Phase 7’ without delay. We must prepare as swiftly as possible to seize the moment.”

Mentioning the yet undisclosed ‘Phase 7,’ Sejong opened the door and called for the chief eunuch.

“Chief Eunuch, I’ll head to Kangnyeongjeon. I plan to retire early tonight due to fatigue.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Note 1: Population changes and social transformations in China. Northeast Asian History Network.

Chapter 182
I Am Not a Sage King (2)

As March arrived, Hwang Hui returned to Hanyang for the regular report.

“Please forgive my disloyalty during the reckless incident last year,” Hwang Hui pleaded for forgiveness as soon as he entered Geunjeongjeon, prostrating himself flat on the floor.

The incident he sought forgiveness for was his inaction during the Giyu Rebellion when he had not moved an inch from the north.

* * *

Sensing the chaotic atmosphere just before the Giyu Rebellion and the invasion by nomads, Sejong had immediately sent a secret command to “maintain your position.”

However, receiving the secret command and not moving from his spot was enough to be criticized for disloyalty. A slight misstep could have led to impeachment, intertwining with past incidents.

Fully aware of this, Hwang Hui had immediately consulted with the military to start forming a special mobile unit upon receiving the command.

However, gathering suitable personnel from the troops spread out in the northeast, let alone the unexplored territories west of Baekdu Mountain, and assembling them all took time.

By the time he heard of the uprising in the south and was about to deploy the troops, the situation at Gyeongbokgung had already been resolved.

“-Thus, you and the military commanders in the north should fulfill your duties as assigned.”

Upon receiving Sejong’s subsequent order, Hwang Hui clicked his tongue lightly.

“Tsk! I’ll have to prostrate myself when I go to Hanyang this time.”

* * *

Given the circumstances, Hwang Hui immediately prostrated fully upon entering Geunjeongjeon.

As Hwang Hui sought forgiveness with full prostration, Sejong responded nonchalantly.

“I had already issued an order before the incident, and you faithfully followed that order, so you have done no wrong. You may rise.”

At Sejong’s command, Hwang Hui bowed deeply.

“Your mercy is boundless!”

Gathering himself, Hwang Hui cautiously walked forward and handed over a document to the Chief Eunuch.

Receiving the document from the Chief Eunuch, Sejong carefully reviewed the contents of the report.

After quietly going through the report, Sejong turned to Hwang Hui.

“Have you received reports about the peasants currently settling in?”

“Yes. We have already secured sufficient land.”

“And how have the Jurchen tribes reacted?”

“Given their sparse population, they seem unthreatened. In fact, some of the Jurchens who have been farming all along are even hopeful of learning agricultural techniques from the Joseon farmers.”

Relieved by Hwang Hui’s response, Sejong sighed.

“That’s fortunate. It’s good that they didn’t react hostilely despite foreigners entering what they considered their territory.”

Sejong’s comment prompted an explanation from Hwang Hui.

“The effectiveness of the vaccination law played a big part.”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Sejong’s eyes sparkled.

“The vaccination law? Has smallpox finally been eradicated in the Jurchen territories?”

“Yes.”

* * *

The Jurchen region was no stranger to the ravages of smallpox. Fortunately, thanks to incense, Joseon had almost completed vaccinating against cowpox early on, and as a result, no cases of smallpox emerged among the peasants who moved north or their families.

“Why do the Joseon people not succumb to smallpox?”

The sight of Joseon people unaffected by smallpox filled the Jurchens with curiosity.

Their questions were answered when they witnessed the Joseon people administering cowpox vaccinations. After settling in the north, vaccinations were given to children who were born there and had safely passed their first year, a practice that naturally piqued the interest of the observing Jurchens.

“What is being done there?”

“That? It’s to prevent smallpox.”

“Smallpox?”

Their eyes widened at the Joseon people’s explanation.

“Just by receiving that needle, one is spared from smallpox?”

“That’s right.”

“Truly?”

“Has this man lived his whole life being deceived? If it were a lie, why would the king have issued a decree?”

“A decree?”

“By decree, all Joseon people received that injection. Since then, there have been no new cases of smallpox.”

Hearing this, the Jurchens flocked to the government offices.

“Please allow us, or at least our children, to receive that injection!”

“We are now subjects of Joseon too! So please, allow us to receive it!”

Convinced by the Jurchens’ pleas, Hwang Hui immediately contacted the capital to request cowpox vaccinations for the Jurchens.

Sejong readily agreed to the request, and a large medical team was dispatched to the north.

Through their efforts, widespread vaccinations were administered, and for the esteemed Jurchens, smallpox ceased to be a terror.

* * *

Hwang Hui continued his report.

“With the spread of cowpox vaccinations, even tribes that were previously hostile towards settling have begun to settle. This has significantly reduced armed conflicts.”

“That’s a relief.”

As Sejong expressed his relief, Hwang Hui presented a gift.

“The settled Jurchens have offered a tribute to Your Majesty.”

“A tribute for me? What is it?”

“It awaits in the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon.”

“Is that the sound of horses I’ve been hearing? Let’s take a look.”

Sejong descended from the royal residence, his face filled with anticipation.

“Ah~.”

Stepping out into the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon, Sejong couldn’t help but exclaim in awe at the sight before him.

Dozens of horses filled the space in front of Geunjeongjeon, each one displaying an extraordinary appearance.

Hwang Hui, standing beside Sejong, continued with additional information.

“These are the finest horses selected from those raised by the settled Jurchen tribes. There are ten males and thirty females.”

Descending the stairs of Geunjeongjeon to inspect the horses, Sejong was filled with admiration.

“Such splendid horses indeed! The settled Jurchen tribes presented these steeds as a tribute?”

“That is correct.”

Upon Hwang Hui’s response, Sejong instructed the following to the royal secretaries.

“Send these horses to Majang-dong and Jayang-dong as per the usual practice.”

“Yes.”

“And order the Ministry of Royal Stables to breed these horses as well.”

“Yes.”

Following Sejong’s command, the royal secretaries immediately gathered palace attendants to execute the orders.

* * *

The Jurchen tribes had presented more than just horses.

Treasures like leopard skins, bear gallbladders, and dried sea cucumbers, obtained from the uncharted eastern lands still untouched by civilization, were presented to Sejong in large and small boxes.

Showing the contents of the boxes to Sejong, Hwang Hui explained,

“These items are tributes from the Jurchens, moved by the grace you’ve extended, including the cowpox vaccinations. The loyalty of the settled Jurchens is profound. All of this is thanks to Your Majesty’s virtue.”

Sejong responded with a slight smile to Hwang Hui’s praise.

“How could this be solely due to my virtue? Is it not also thanks to the efforts of many officials and soldiers of Joseon, including yourself?”

“Could mere effort alone have achieved this? It was possible because Your Majesty persuaded the Jurchen chiefs. And it was possible because Your Majesty widely propagated the cowpox vaccinations. Now, the shamans of the settled Jurchen tribes are proclaiming, ‘A sage king has arisen,’ and are praying for Your Majesty’s longevity.”

“Is that so? I’m grateful for that.”

Sejong smiled at Hwang Hui’s words, but his eyes flickered subtly. After a brief response, Sejong turned away.

“Let’s proceed quickly; there’s much to do!”

* * *

“The settled Jurchen tribes have presented fine horses and various gifts to His Majesty!”

“The settled Jurchen tribes are praising the King as a sage monarch!”

The news about the gifts Hwang Hui brought spread quickly throughout the capital and the entire Joseon.

It was only natural for the people who benefited from Sejong’s reforms to react.

“Look at that! Even those Jurchen folks are praising His Majesty’s virtue, and what are we doing?”

“Indeed! We live in such comfort under a sage king; we can’t just sit idly by!”

Consequently, all sorts of valuable items from across Joseon started flowing into Gyeongbokgung.

And it didn’t stop there.

“In our village, the land is barren and we have nothing to offer as tribute, so let’s erect a Stele of Virtue!”

“Indeed!”

In villages where the harsh environment left nothing suitable for tribute, the people came together to erect Steles of Virtue. They rushed to their local government offices, urging the officials.

“We’re not well-versed in writing, and our handwriting is poor, so could you please write it for us, sir?”

“Of course!”

The local officials gladly complied with the people’s requests. It was an opportunity to showcase their literary talents and add a notable achievement to their records.

* * *

Every time reports came in of various tributes and Steles of Virtue erected across Joseon in honor of Sejong’s virtue, the ministers unanimously praised Sejong’s benevolence.

“The people erecting Steles of Virtue in Your Majesty’s honor is a sign of a peaceful era! All of this is thanks to Your Majesty’s virtue!”

Grateful for the ministers’ praises, Sejong responded with a smile.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to your assistance as well.”

As reports of the people’s adoration became frequent, a hint of bitterness tinged Sejong’s smile.

Eventually, Sejong began to drink alone at night.

When Hyang heard that Sejong’s drinking had become frequent, she was immediately concerned.

‘This man! After all the effort we’ve put into maintaining his health, now he turns to alcohol? In Joseon, liver failure could mean the end!’

That night, upon hearing that Sejong was once again drinking alone, Hyang sought him out.

“Where is His Majesty?”

“He is at the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion.”

“Lead the way.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

* * *

Upon arriving at Gyeonghoeru, Hyang found Sejong.

“Your Majesty, it’s getting late. The air is still chilly, perhaps it’s time to head inside?”

Sejong, slightly inebriated, looked at Hyang with a broad smile and spoke.

“Ah, my eldest! It’s been a while since we’ve shared a drink, hasn’t it? Chief Eunuch, bring a cup for the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Father, I…”

As Hyang attempted to decline, Sejong, with exaggerated gestures and voice, ushered him to sit.

“Ah! When your father speaks, you sit! Where are you trying to go? Sit down, sit! Let’s enjoy a drink together, just father and son, after so long!”

‘Realizing Sejong’s condition was not good… ’

Sensing that Sejong was not in the best state, Hyang quietly took his seat.

Facing Sejong across the drinking table, Hyang cautiously asked,

“Is there something troubling Your Majesty?”

Sejong shook his head dismissively in response.

“Troubles? In such a peaceful time, what troubles could there be?”

“Yet, I see worries in Your Majesty’s eyes.”

“You must be mistaken.”

Despite Sejong’s denials, Hyang persisted with his questions.

“Father, what worries you so much?”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong emptied his cup several times before speaking.

“My Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Do you also believe that I am a sage king?”

Hyang replied immediately.

“You are a sage king.”

‘In the 21st century, denying that would get you stoned!’

At Hyang’s response, Sejong frowned and shook his head.

“No, I am not a sage king. How can I be when I displaced my elder brother, the rightful heir, to seize the throne and was responsible for his death?”

“Father…”

Before Hyang could finish, Sejong continued.

“I am a tyrant, a dark monarch! I exaggerated minor faults to execute and exile loyal subjects and founding contributors of the country. When local nobles opposed my will, I chose suppression over persuasion. Even in dealing with the common people, I didn’t spread virtue and enlightenment but manipulated and coerced them into following my lead. How can such a person be a sage king?”

Hyang’s face hardened as Sejong’s pent-up outburst flowed out.

“Father…”

“If you hadn’t discovered cowpox, I would still be conceding much to my ministers and local nobles in governing the country!”

Sejong beat his chest, criticizing himself as if spitting blood.

“When I was powerless, I was cautious, but once I gained power, I resorted to the sword instead of persuasion! How cunning is such a person! Me, a sage king? Do you think that makes sense?”

Faced with Sejong’s self-reproach, Hyang responded with a stern face.

“One of the prime ministers in the West once said, ‘The ends justify the means.'”

“That’s sophistry!”

Sejong firmly denied Hyang’s words.

“No matter how noble the goal, if the means are wrong, the outcome will only be a corruption of that goal! That’s nothing but sophistry and a cowardly excuse.”

Hyang held a sad smile in response to Sejong’s angry outcry.

‘This gentleman must have been under a lot of stress from everything that’s happened. After all, I’m probably the only one he can speak so openly with.’

As the head of the family and the king, Sejong couldn’t express such concerns to Queen Soheon or even more so to his ministers, who could be considered his political adversaries.

However, the relationship between Hyang and Sejong was somewhat special. For Sejong, Hyang wasn’t a threat to the royal authority but a partner with aligned goals, akin to a chief strategist devising various plans and strategies for implementing reforms. Thus, Sejong felt comfortable revealing his innermost thoughts to Hyang.

Hyang’s expression softened slightly, and with a voice calmer than ever, he spoke to Sejong.

“Yet, do not the people rejoice in Father’s actions? And was it not the decision of Grand Queen Dowager to displace the former Crown Prince, and was Father not compelled to act against him because he rebelled? And as for the traitor Ryu Jeong-hyeon, did he not receive his punishment for failing to recognize Your Highness’s grand vision and for being solely preoccupied with preserving his own power?”

Listening silently, Sejong’s lips were tightly sealed as Hyang continued, almost as if soothingly telling him not to be pained.

“Lastly, those who instigated the rebellion did so not for a greater cause but to protect their own privileges, thus deserving their fate.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong let out a sigh filled with regret.

“Sigh~ But he was my own brother, a loyal subject who dedicated his life to the foundation of Joseon, and they were the nobles of various localities.”

Hyang then asked further.

“Then, will Your Majesty abandon the reforms? And will you recall the exiled meritorious subjects who are still alive? Will you restore the families of the nobles who were sent to slavery?”

Sejong answered decisively.

“No. To recall them would be to revert to the old ways. Such an event must never occur. They must die in exile.”

Confirming Sejong’s firm resolve, Hyang pointed out the reality.

“In my humble opinion, the people call you a sage king and show absolute loyalty to Your Majesty. Would they do so if Father were truly a tyrant or a cruel monarch?”

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Hyang concluded.

“Your Majesty, you are a sage king. The people themselves are the proof.”

“The people are the proof? The people are the proof…”

Sejong pondered over Hyang’s words in a daze.

Continuing to mull over Hyang’s words, Sejong smiled.

It was as if he no longer had any reason to worry.

“Then I must be a sage king. Having donned the mantle of a sage king, I must do my utmost until death.”

Sejong emptied his cup and rose from his seat.

“I should refrain from drinking for a while. There won’t be enough time to work otherwise.”

As Sejong stood up, Hyang followed suit and respectfully responded,

“Please rest comfortably in your chambers.”

As Sejong was turning away, he looked back at Hyang.

With a visibly relaxed face, Sejong extended his hand to Hyang, who was bowing his head.

“Thank you. My heart feels lighter because of you.”

After lightly patting Hyang on the shoulder, Sejong left Gyeonghoeru and returned to Kangnyeongjeon.

As Sejong disappeared into the distance, Hyang, with a bitter smile, muttered to himself,

“Sometimes I forget that he, too, is human. Perhaps it’s because I first learned about my father through books.”

Chapter 183
Samin Schools (1)

The tribute of horses and various other tribute items by the Jurchen tribes sparked a nationwide competition amongst people in displaying loyalty. Precious fruits, seafood, herbs, and more from across Joseon were presented, and in regions lacking such offerings, steles praising King Sejong’s virtues were erected. As more and more of these steles were established, the competition even spread to the northern frontiers.

The intensity of this competition was such that King Sejong had to issue an urgent decree.

“Since the farming season has begun, let the people focus on their livelihoods!”

Hyang, witnessing this entire spectacle, muttered with a look of disbelief.

“There was a reason why that ruler in 21st-century Pyongyang was called a tyrant“

He grumbled about the phenomenon, which seemed not just enthusiastic but almost ‘fanatical’, and then a question popped into his mind.

“But did the Jurchen tribes also erect steles?”

Curiosity piqued, Hyang diligently gathered related information.

After marking the gathered information on a map, Hyang whistled lightly.

“Whew~ Looks like it covers the Donggan region, right? It’s uncertain how much Joseon’s territory will expand through Dongjin and Seojin, and how long it can be maintained, but at least up to the Gando region, there will be solid physical evidence.”

* * *

Meanwhile, despite the commotion, the court officials remained diligently focused on their tasks.

Or rather, they had no choice.

“If we don’t meet the deadline, it’s overtime! Do you want to come to the office even on holidays?”

“No, sir!”

Driven by the goal of ‘protecting their holiday off days’, the court officials were ablaze with motivation.

With the arrival of the Gyeongsul year, the list of officials suffering from overwork expanded to include those affiliated with the Ministry of Rites.

The cause of the busy schedule for the officials of the Ministry of Rites was the ‘Samin Schools’.

* * *

The Samin Schools was the embodiment of the ‘expansion of education’ clause written in the reform plan. Initially, only boys were allowed to enter the academy. However, after the suppression of the Giyu Rebellion, King Sejong added a command.

“Our Joseon lacks talent! It’s a disgrace that such incidents occur when there are restrictions on learning! Therefore, allow girls to also enroll in the Samin Schools, which is responsible for the most basic education!”

Despite King Sejong’s firm command, the Minister of Rites found it difficult to accept.

“Is there a need for girls to learn as well?”

In response to his minister’s question, King Sejong retorted briefly.

“So, are the daughters of your household illiterate?”

“…I shall heed Your Majesty’s command.”

Faced with King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Rites had no choice but to bow his head immediately. For the children of noble families, even girls were expected to have a basic scholarly foundation, starting with learning the Thousand Character Classic.

King Sejong, looking at the Minister of Rites with a look of disappointment, turned to the other ministers.

“It is said that children follow in their parents’ footsteps. How can a mother, who spends the most time with her child until adulthood, be a good role model if she is ignorant?”

At King Sejong’s remark, all the ministers had to bow their heads in agreement.

“Your Majesty’s words are most wise!”

* * *

Having received King Sejong’s decree, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were troubled.

“It’s good that His Majesty, in his generosity, has allowed even girls to attend. But will the parents actually send them? Given the current situation, there are many who wouldn’t even send their boys…”

The ordinary citizens they had observed would put their children to work as soon as they were old enough. If the children were too weak to help with farming, they would at least be sent to herd cattle as part of their daily routine.

Having seen such practices, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were skeptical about King Sejong’s command.

This was a misconception among the officials, or rather the scholar-officials.

The middle and lower-ranking officials who were in charge of the practical work had seen the citizens back in their days before passing the civil service exam – during the late reign of Taejong and early Sejong – when Joseon was going through a series of severe famines. Back then, the priority for Joseon’s peasants was survival over their children’s education.

However, whenever there was even a slight bit of leeway, the common folk were keen on their children’s education.

Their emphasis on education was also for survival.

“It’s important to know what’s written on the government’s public notices to avoid being taken advantage of.”

“Indeed, and it’s not just about understanding the public notices from the government. When it comes to sharecropping, do you know the kind of tricks landlords can pull with the contracts?”

“Have you heard? Go and learn!”

In such circumstances, most farmers knew at least half of the Thousand Character Classic.

Even in these tough times, if their child showed any talent, these ordinary Joseon citizens, whom the officials tended to overlook, would go through all sorts of hardships to provide them with education.

This was evident from the fact that a significant number of those who passed the civil service examinations each year were not from the noble class but from the commoner class, something that the nobility unconsciously disregarded.

* * *

Regardless, a royal command was a solemn matter, so the officials of the Ministry of Rites had to diligently seek solutions.

In a meeting room established within the Ministry of Rites, junior and senior officials were brainstorming and sharing their opinions.

“Let’s start by tackling the easier tasks first.”

“The easier tasks?”

“Let’s start with choosing the locations for the schools.”

“Weren’t we going to use the Confucian schools for that?”

When the term ‘Confucian schools’ was mentioned, one of the clerks looked puzzled and raised a question.

* * *

After the suppression of the Giyu Rebellion, King Sejong issued a decree to dismantle all Confucian schools across Joseon.

“These buildings were made for the nobility to gather, offer rites to the sages, and build connections! Gathering in groups to form corrupt factions is better off abolished!”

Following King Sejong’s command, all Confucian schools nationwide had to close their doors. The ancestral tablets of the sages that were housed in the Confucian schools were all moved to the Sungkyunkwan in Hanyang, and the rites for the sages were to be conducted only at Sungkyunkwan.

It was the Ministry of Rites that intervened to prevent the demolition of the now-closed Confucian schools.

At that time, the Minister of Rites risked his own position to plead with King Sejong.

“It would be wasteful to demolish the carefully constructed Confucian schools! They should be repurposed for a good cause!”

“What good use do you have in mind?” King Sejong inquired.

The Minister of Rites presented an idea he and the officials of the Ministry had conceived.

“They should be utilized as academies for commoners! Establishing schools requires buildings. It is more sensible to repurpose the Confucian schools than to expend resources on constructing new ones!”

“Hmm?”

The proposal from the Ministry of Rites piqued King Sejong’s interest. He sought the opinions of other ministers, and Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation, among others, responded positively.

With the ministers in agreement, King Sejong approved the request from the Ministry of Rites.

Thanks to this, most of the Confucian school buildings were spared, except for a few that had already been demolished.

* * *

“I am well aware that we decided to use the Confucian schools. However, did not a new royal decree come down to educate girls as well? Therefore, we need to look for new locations. It’s problematic enough that there’s no distinction between the classes; if we remove the distinction between genders, it could lead to significant issues.”

The officials became serious at the explanation given by the official who initially raised the concern.

When King Sejong ordered the establishment of the academies for commoners, he emphasized something in particular.

“Think carefully about why I named it ‘Samin Schools.'”

After pondering King Sejong’s words, the officials of the Ministry of Rites soon grasped his intentions. ‘Commoners’ referred not only to the four classes of society—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—but also to all the people.

Ultimately, what King Sejong desired was for everyone, regardless of class, to learn and compete together in one place.

Given the decree to open education to girls as well, the concerns of the Ministry of Rites officials were not unfounded.

Amidst the deep contemplation for a viable solution, one of the senior officials in the room spoke up.

“I think we can continue to make use of the Confucian schools.”

“Really?”

“Confucian schools aren’t small buildings, right? If we divide them appropriately, we can create separate spaces for teaching boys and girls.”

“Hmm…”

The officials began to recall the Confucian schools in their hometowns, assessing the feasibility of the suggestion.

“Indeed…”

No matter how impoverished a village was, it didn’t have single-room Confucian schools. The officials, having done their mental calculations, all nodded in agreement.

“That seems reasonable.”

“The issue is with villages that don’t have Confucian schools nearby; we’ll need to construct buildings there. While we could ask boys to travel even if it’s a bit far, it’s risky for girls due to potential dangers.”

“That’s a valid point.”

“Then, let’s settle this matter as such. Any objections? None, right?”

With no one raising their hands to the presiding official’s query, the proposal was accepted without dispute. It was a plan with no significant flaws, and no one wanted to waste time nitpicking only to end up working overtime.

With that hurdle crossed, the meeting began to pick up pace.

The next major challenge arose when discussing ‘how to ensure children attend the academies’.

As soon as the topic was introduced, one of the officials raised a concern.

“The biggest issue is the farming season. Except for very young children, others are expected to help with farm work.”

“And if they’re young enough to not be of much help on the farm, traveling to and from the academy would be difficult for them. In principle, children as young as five can attend, but realistically, isn’t that impractical?”

“That’s true.”

“Therefore, the educational schedule should avoid the farming season. Only then can we ensure high attendance rates.”

“That makes sense. So, we should definitely avoid summer, right?”

“Yes. Apart from being the farming season, the heat is also a problem. Remember how much we struggled with our studies in the heat?”

The mention of ‘studying and the heat’ had all the officials nodding in agreement, recalling the hardships of studying during the peak summer heat. The discomfort of sweat-soaked seats was just the beginning, as the heat often led to decreased concentration, resulting in reprimands from their teachers.

“Yet, eliminating summer would disrupt the continuity, wouldn’t it?” remarked the presiding official, prompting another official to raise his hand.

“That’s why I propose starting the classes after the harvest season ends and concluding them before the planting season begins. How about that?”

“Hmm?”

Upon hearing this suggestion, the officials took a moment to consider and then nodded in agreement.

“That’s a good idea!”

* * *

After many meetings, the finalized plan was submitted to the Minister of Rites.

Having reviewed the comprehensive plan from start to finish, the Minister nodded in approval.

“This looks good. I’ll report this to His Majesty. Well done.”

“Thank you.”

“If there’s nothing else, it seems you can leave on time today.”

A broad smile appeared on the face of the official who had submitted the report at the Minister’s words.

“Thank you!”

* * *

“Hmm…”

King Sejong, reviewing the plan submitted by the Minister of Rites, nodded in approval.

“This appears to be a sound plan. It’s proper to educate boys and girls separately, and setting the class period from after the harvest until before the planting season is wise. I can see the effort put in by the officials of the Ministry of Rites. Well done.”

“Your Majesty is too kind.”

The Minister bowed deeply, letting out a small sigh of relief at King Sejong’s praise.

‘We’ve overcome a major hurdle!’

“But… about this part here, ‘providing meals for those who attend to increase attendance rates.’ I think this needs some explanation.”

‘Within expectations!’

The Minister felt a sense of relief at King Sejong’s predictable inquiry and immediately began to explain.

“Yes. Even after the harvest, families often face food shortages through the winter. Although the hardships of the spring famine have lessened, it remains a burden for many. Therefore, providing even a single meal can encourage parents to send their children to the academy.”

“That’s a sound suggestion, but preparing food supplies for the children attending the academy won’t be an easy task, will it?”

“That’s why the meals provided at the academy will be based on the dry rations supplied to the military.”

“Dry rations?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

King Sejong pondered for a moment. The dry rations developed by Hyang and popular within the military were quite decent. They were not just dried grains ground into powder; they also included sufficient dried meat, making them suitable for a meal.

“If each academy has a skilled cook, the meals should be quite edible.”

After contemplating, King Sejong made his decision.

“Proceed as planned.”

“Your command shall be obeyed!”

‘Yes! I can leave on time today!’

The minister responded joyfully, pleased with the outcome.

Chapter 184
Samin Schools (2)

On the day King Sejong granted his approval, all the officials from the Ministry of Rites left work punctually.

While some rushed to the pleasure quarters in small groups to celebrate their timely departure, most officials headed straight home.

“My dear, what brings you home so early today?”

Tired, the official replied to his wife’s question.

“I was able to come home early because the project I’ve been working on has successfully passed the initial stage. Work will pile up again from tomorrow, so I decided to come home early today.”

“Is that so? Then, for dinner…”

“I’ve already eaten at a restaurant. I’ll go to bed first.”

The wife sighed deeply as she watched her husband disappear into their private room.

“Ah, to think we’re still newlyweds… It’s as if I’m living the life of a widow without being one…”

With a face full of discontent, the wife gazed towards the private room.

* * *

Not long after their wedding, her husband passed the civil service examination. Both families were overjoyed with the double celebration, as passing the exam was considered a great honor.

However, the joy ended there. Since her husband started his career as a bureaucrat at the royal court instead of a local official, it became difficult to even see his face.

Leaving at dawn and returning late at night became his routine, and overnight stays away from home were frequent.

Even when he was home on holidays, he spent most of his time sleeping.

At first, the wife suspected he was spending time with courtesans or having an affair, but she eventually realized his absence was due to the overwhelming amount of work. Unsure whether to laugh or cry about the situation, she was torn between feelings.

Could it be said that when it rains, it pours? Not only her in-laws but also her own parents started to mention the topic of having children more frequently.

Eventually, the wife confided in her mother about her situation, lamenting,

“Even though I have a husband, I’m living like a widow. What should I do about this situation!”

Her mother also looked troubled upon hearing her daughter’s words. Her husband, too, was a government official and had been burdened with heavy duties for several years.

“Maybe some tonic…”

“Don’t even mention tonics! Just bringing it up causes him to have a fit! What am I supposed to do!”

At her daughter’s response, the mother remained silent. Her husband also reacted strongly whenever the topic of ‘tonics’ was mentioned.

In the end, the women from both families came together to brainstorm, but since both the in-laws and her own family were involved in government service, they all shared a sense of empathy for each other’s situation and were looking for solutions to the same problem.

Eventually, they decided to seek advice from Madame Jeonggyeong, a woman of respect and acquaintance. After hearing their complaints, Madame Jeonggyeong also sighed deeply.

“Do you think your husbands are the only ones like this? Our man is the same… Sigh.”

“Then, is there no solution?”

Madame Jeonggyeong shook her head in response to the question.

“You must insist on them taking tonics. That’s the best solution. Force it if you have to, and make sure to be together on holidays, no matter if it’s morning or night. And perhaps dress a bit more lightly.”

“Wouldn’t that be somewhat improper?”

The wives looked embarrassed at Madame Jeonggyeong’s suggestion, but her expression remained serious.

“Do you prefer to end your lineage then?”

Her words made the faces of the wives turn serious as well. Madame Jeonggyeong pointed out the harsh reality.

“Remember, even if you feed him tonics like fodder to a cow, the strenuous duties of serving the nation drain all his energy. Your only option is to press on with sheer numbers.”

“Ah…”

Thanks to this, ever since the initiation of the health regime, the medical clinics in Hanyang were always thriving. And the trading companies supplying herbs to these clinics actively engaged in cultivating medicinal herbs to meet the demand.

The ultimate recipients of these tonics, the officials, complained to their colleagues.

“My wife keeps brewing these tonics for me, but somehow, I feel they are not meant for my benefit…”

“You too?”

“I’ve started to dread weekends…”

* * *

Nevertheless, with King Sejong’s approval granted, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were busily in motion.

To check the condition of the Confucian schools, especially those in the southern provinces, and to find suitable locations for new schools, they requested the cooperation of the Ministry of Public Works.

Seeing the officials from the Ministry of Public Works setting off on their missions, the officials from the Ministry of Rites could not hide their envy.

“We should be the ones going…”

As they busied themselves with solving the location issues, the Ministry of Rites was deeply engaged in curriculum development.

“There’s no disagreement that the Thousand Character Classic should be the first thing taught, but how is the progress on the mathematics textbook?”

At the Minister of Rites’s inquiry, the Assistant Minister promptly responded.

“Yes, it’s currently undergoing final review at the research institute.”

The Minister of Rites frowned slightly at the Assistant Minister’s response.

“At the research institute? Isn’t that place filled with math geniuses? I hope it’s not too complex.”

“I assured them that it’s for children to learn, so don’t worry…”

Despite the Assistant Minister’s reassurance, the Minister of Rites’s concern seemed to trail off with uncertainty.

* * *

With the initiation of the reform, Hyang’s research institute, which opened concurrently, showed remarkable growth as time progressed.

Especially notable was its achievement in the field of mathematics.

During the early Joseon Dynasty, those who applied for the miscellaneous exams were required to take the arithmetic test without exception. As a result, many studied arithmetic using methods like the Chinese-imported Commercial Arithmetic, Yang Hui’s Arithmetic, and the Enlightenment of Arithmetic.

While the Commercial Arithmetic taught the most basic mathematical concepts based on the four fundamental operations, Yang Hui’s Arithmetic and the Enlightenment of Arithmetic were of a higher level. Particularly, the Enlightenment of Arithmetic covered topics as advanced as higher-order equations.

However, among the mathematical texts introduced from China, many had issues. A significant number of these imported books recorded only problems and solutions without any explanation of the solving process.

As a result, many who studied arithmetic had to research the solving process on their own. It was natural that progress in this field was slow.

However, with the establishment of the Hyang Research Institute and its active operations, the level of arithmetic in Joseon improved dramatically.

One of the first steps was the introduction of Arabic numerals, named Cheonchuk numbers in Joseon, and the active recruitment of Islam residents in Joseon who were proficient in arithmetic. Additionally, envoys to the Ming Dynasty were used to bring back and translate mathematical texts from the Roman Empire that had spread to the West, distributing them to the researchers at the institute.

As a result, Hyang’s proficiency in Latin reached an expert level, which was an added bonus.

Furthermore, by discreetly integrating the mathematical knowledge that was basic in the 21st century, the arithmetic skills of the institute’s researchers surged.

“Though it may sound like self-praise… in this era, there might be no one across all nations who surpasses the mathematical skills of the institute’s researchers.”

Hyang’s self-praise was by no means an exaggeration.

The reason was that Hyang had sprinkled the ultimate MSG on the researchers at the research institute.

The MSG Hyang sprinkled was none other than symbols representing arithmetic operations. Until then, replacing what was written in characters, regardless of East or West, with simple symbols led to an explosive growth in the researchers’ abilities.

It was as if Hyang had pulled forward the history that began in 1489 when the German Widmann first used the + and – symbols by nearly 60 years.

Thanks to the MSG Hyang sprinkled, talented researchers like Lee Soon-ji had advanced to the level of solving 10th-degree equations. Especially in the case of Lee Soon-ji, he was even delving into the concept of calculus, albeit at a rudimentary level.

“What a good thing! Do not spare your support!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Having received the report about Lee Soon-ji through the official document, Hyang outwardly rejoiced but was inwardly crying.

‘Calculus! How much I suffered because of calculus and probability and statistics!’

In the 21st century, when Hyang took the Grade 5 civil service exam, especially for the finance position, economics was a compulsory subject, and optional subjects included accounting, business administration, etc. All these subjects required not only calculus but also probability and statistics.

* * *

Thus, with the research institute’s researchers’ unmatched mathematical abilities, there was concern when it was heard that they were assigned to write the math textbook.

However, this was almost a groundless fear for Minister of Rites.

Because Hyang was there.

Upon seeing the math textbook created by the ordered researchers, Hyang immediately rejected it.

“Are you planning to teach running to a child who can’t even walk properly yet? Make it again! Make it very easy!”

“Yes.”

Rejected by Hyang, Jeong-Cho turned to Jeong Inji.

“This should be easy enough?”

“Indeed.”

While the two were grumbling, Hyang was voicing his dissatisfaction.

“They say a frog does not remember its tadpole days… Are we creating a situation akin to teaching the theory of relativity to kids just learning numbers?”

After rejecting it three more times, Hyang participated in the textbook creation himself.

Recalling his elementary school days, Hyang significantly revised the content of the textbook.

Of course, he added MSG as usual. The MSG added to the textbook was the multiplication table.

“…And when learning mathematics, let’s also teach how to use the abacus.”

“Yes.”

Thus, the math textbook created satisfied not only the Minister of Rites but also Sejong.

* * *

However, the Minister of Rites also faced rejection from Sejong regarding the textbook issue.

The textbook that the Minister of Rites was rejected for was about conduct.

When initially planning the Four Social Classes School, Sejong had subtly broached the subject.

“How about educating on proper posture and lifestyle from a young age?”

Upon hearing Sejong’s suggestion, the ministers welcomed it with open arms.

“Truly wise words!”

“We are in awe of Your Majesty’s insight!”

For them, being Confucian scholars, educating the populace was a must-do task, so there was no room for objection.

However, in the initially planned curriculum, this part was not mandatory but an elective course. That is, it was decided to be taught not through dedicated class time but through moral stories.

Sejong was slightly dissatisfied with this but did not object.

It was due to staffing issues.

However, an event that shook the era occurred in the 10th year of Sejong’s reign when a man named Kim Hwa from Jinju murdered his own father.

Enraged, Sejong sentenced Kim Hwa to death.

“It is due to my lack of virtue!”

Seeing Sejong blame himself, Byeon Gye-Ryang suggested creating and distributing a book of filial piety, which Sejong accepted.

But when the Giyu Rebellion broke out the following year, Sejong commanded that loyalty and filial piety be formally included in the curriculum of the Four Social Classes School.

“Teach and learn about loyalty and filial piety properly to ensure such incidents never happen again!”

“We shall obey the command!”

Thus, the Minister of Rites created the textbook based on the book of filial piety.

However, upon receiving the first draft of the textbook, Sejong immediately rejected it.

“What use is a book filled with characters to children who can’t even read yet? Make it again!”

Thus, the Minister of Rites had to create the textbook once again. Pondering over the issue, the Minister of Rites sought advice from Hyang. Upon the Minister of Rites’s request, Hyang responded immediately.

“When I used to teach my younger siblings, I found that incorporating illustrations helped them learn more easily. Why not include pictures related to the content?”

“Ah! What a solution!”

Armed with Hyang’s advice, the Minister of Rites created a revised draft of the textbook and submitted it to Sejong.

And it was rejected again.

“Do we not have filial sons, loyal officials, and virtuous women in our own Haedong? Why is it filled with figures from Ming?”

“My thought was shortsighted! Please forgive my offense!”

“Make it properly once again.”

And so, after three attempts, the textbook was created.

It was the birth of the (Illustrated Conduct of the Three Bonds).

Chapter 185
Currency War (1)

“Your Majesty, it has come to our attention that our merchants are extensively using banknotes issued by Joseon.”

As the Cabinet Secretary reported, Emperor Xuande stroked his beard.

“Banknotes from Joseon? Wasn’t there a diplomat here not long ago discussing issues of exchange and forgery? But what issue have our merchants caused now?”

To Emperor Xuande’s question, the Cabinet Secretary began his explanation.

“A significant number of merchants are exchanging silver for Joseon’s one-nyang banknotes, seeking to acquire them.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the Joseon government guarantees the value, and it’s believed to be more reliable and convenient than carrying physical silver, our merchants prefer to exchange for Joseon’s banknotes.”

“And how much silver has been lost to this?”

“We have yet to determine the exact amount, but reports suggest it’s significant.”

The report turned Emperor Xuande’s expression grave.

The economy of the Ming Dynasty was heavily reliant on silver. The proportion of taxes collected in silver was gradually increasing, and market transactions were also predominantly conducted in silver.

The outflow of such a crucial resource could pose a serious problem.

With a grave look, Emperor Xuande instructed the Cabinet Secretary.

“Verify the facts immediately and report back.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A month later, the Cabinet Secretary reported back to Emperor Xuande.

“The exchange of silver is taking place at the Joseon trade office in Shandong, with last month’s transactions alone amounting to 1 million nyang.”

“1 million nyang… Is that a serious amount?”

At Emperor Xuande’s question, the Cabinet Secretary pondered for a moment.

‘Considering the current scale of our Ming Dynasty, 1 million nyang isn’t an unbearable burden. However, thinking ahead… Should I declare it a serious matter? No, considering the substantial benefits the Emperor has gained through Joseon, especially from the Crown Prince of Joseon, speaking carelessly could endanger my own position.’

Contemplating the best response, the Cabinet Secretary cautiously began to speak.

“At present, the burden isn’t significant. However, if the volume of transactions continues to increase at the current pace, it will eventually become a major problem.”

“Is that so? Then what should be done…”

Emperor Xuande frowned at the Cabinet Secretary’s words.

While the Cabinet Secretary often preemptively worried, he was far from incompetent.

On the contrary, under the Cabinet Secretary’s leadership, the Ming empire’s finances were becoming more robust.

‘But to pressure Joseon… ’

Applying pressure on Joseon to reclaim silver through tribute or other means seemed the easiest route, but it was not favorable for him.

Joseon had been enriching his personal coffers—not the state treasury of Ming but the emperor’s own finances. Recklessly pressuring Joseon could lead to a foolish act akin to ‘killing the cow to straighten its horn,’ where excessive measures lead to adverse outcomes.

As Emperor Xuande and his ministers mulled over their options, urgent news arrived from Shandong.

“A diplomat from Joseon has come?”

After reading the message, Emperor Xuande turned to the Cabinet Secretary.

“Is now the time for a diplomat to visit?”

“It is not.”

“What’s the matter then? I’m curious about what issue has arisen this time.”

As Emperor Xuande’s curiosity peaked, the envoys sent by King Sejong arrived at the Forbidden City.

* * *

“So… What brings the envoys from Joseon here?”

After the exchange of pleasantries adorned with all sorts of polite expressions and their corresponding replies, Emperor Xuande quickly got to the point.

At Emperor Xuande’s inquiry, the head of the envoy, the official from the Minister of Taxation, immediately knelt and raised his voice.

“Your Majesty! Please spare our small border country, Joseon!”

“Eh?”

Taken aback by the unexpected plea, both Emperor Xuande and the Cabinet Secretary blinked in surprise.

After regaining his composure, Emperor Xuande, with a face full of questions, asked, “To my knowledge, neither I nor my empire have caused harm to Joseon. What is this absurd claim?”

“Who wouldn’t know of Your Majesty’s special consideration for Joseon? However, currently, an excessive amount of Ming’s silver is flowing into our Joseon! Our nation is small and struggles to bear this burden. We beseech Your Majesty to bestow your grace and control the flow of silver!”

Hearing the Ministry of Taxation official’s plea, Emperor Xuande turned to the Cabinet Secretary.

“It seems that this influx of silver is also a problem for Joseon.”

“It appears so.”

With the Cabinet Secretary’s nod, Emperor Xuande turned back to the Ministry of Taxation official and spoke, “I too am aware that a significant amount of our Ming’s silver is entering Joseon and have been seeking measures to address it. However, this involves legitimate trade by merchants, and it’s not something we can easily interfere with. Does Joseon have any proposals to manage this situation?”

At Emperor Xuande’s final question, the Cabinet Secretary looked at him with slightly surprised eyes, realizing that if Joseon didn’t have a suitable answer, it could be used as a pretext to pressure them.

Yet, Emperor Xuande wasn’t thinking of pressure; he genuinely hoped for a solution, believing that the Crown Prince of Joseon, whom he knew well, would not stand idly by. ‘It’s clear,’ he thought.

Faced with Emperor Xuande’s inquiry, the Ministry of Taxation official slightly changed the topic, “How could a small nation interfere in the affairs of a great one?”

“However, this issue pertains not only to my empire but to Joseon as well. Thus, Joseon must have contemplated some solutions. Speak now. It is an imperial command.”

Upon Emperor Xuande’s command, the Ministry of Taxation official hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Our Joseon believes that the best solution would be for the great nation to also mint and circulate its currency.”

“Create currency? Hmm…”

Upon hearing the Ministry of Taxation official’s suggestion, Emperor Xuande looked towards the Cabinet Secretary.

The Cabinet Secretary shared a similarly troubled expression with Emperor Xuande.

They were well aware of the Yuan Dynasty’s issuance and circulation of Jiaochao (paper money) and had attempted to circulate paper money (Jizhuan) in the Ming as well. However, the circulation of paper money was heading towards failure.

The primary reasons were the inflation caused by Emperor Yongle’s frequent military expeditions and the depreciation of paper money’s credibility due to counterfeiting.

Eventually, the Cabinet Secretary intervened on behalf of Emperor Xuande.

“Let the envoy from Joseon listen. Our Ming empire also attempted to circulate paper money, but it did not go well. And now, you suggest we issue it again?”

The Ministry of Taxation official replied to the Cabinet Secretary’s question, “How could we in Joseon not know? However, seeing Ming merchants seeking our Joseon banknotes, we believe there must be a solution.”

At the Ministry of Taxation official’s response, both Emperor Xuande and the Cabinet Secretary nodded in agreement. The fact that merchants sought after Joseon’s banknotes indicated that the concept of paper currency itself wasn’t the issue.

“Hmm…”

After quietly observing the envoy, Emperor Xuande posed a question to the Ministry of Taxation official.

“Is the envoy sent by the Crown Prince?”

“Eh? No, Your Majesty! I am here by the command of our king.”

The Ministry of Taxation official’s response elicited a slight smile from Emperor Xuande.

“I’ve heard that the King of Joseon is a remarkable person. However, I’ve also heard that he is more of a scholar. The answer you just gave sounds more like that of a merchant. In the current Joseon palace, the only one capable of thinking like a merchant would be the Crown Prince. Am I wrong?”

As the Ministry of Taxation official continued to deny, Emperor Xuande concluded with a smile, “Very well. Let it be known as such. So, Joseon is suggesting that we reintroduce paper money. But to suggest reissuing a form of currency that has already failed implies there’s a solution to its problems. What might that be?”

Promptly, the Ministry of Taxation official answered, “Trust.”

“Trust?”

“The belief that if a paper note is marked with the value of one nyang of silver, it genuinely holds the value of one nyang of silver. And the belief that it cannot be counterfeited.”

Emperor Xuande murmured in a slightly disappointed tone upon hearing the Ministry of Taxation official’s response, “That’s a well-known principle…”

‘Everyone knows this principle. The Crown Prince would surely be aware of it.’

Emperor Xuande was disappointed because this was common knowledge. However, the Ministry of Taxation official calmly replied, “To establish currency, there is no other strategy but to adhere to these two principles to the best of our ability.”

“Why are you so confident?”

“Because I, too, was involved in the issuance of our banknotes.”

At the Ministry of Taxation official’s response, Emperor Xuande, who had been observing the envoy, turned to the Cabinet Secretary, “Now that I think about it… if merchants seek it out, it must be because they trust it. But I have never seen Joseon’s paper money. Do you have it, Cabinet Secretary?”

Upon Emperor Xuande’s inquiry, the Cabinet Secretary immediately knelt down.

Although curious about the rumors of Joseon’s paper money, the Cabinet Secretary had deliberately refrained from seeking it out, a matter of pride.

‘How could the currency of a minor nation be of any consequence!’

“I do not possess it either. Please forgive my disloyalty, Your Majesty.”

As the Cabinet Secretary sought forgiveness, Emperor Xuande waved his hand dismissively.

“Such a trivial matter is hardly disloyalty… Rise.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Taxation official, witnessing the exchange, clenched his teeth.

Being somewhat proficient in Chinese, he understood the conversation and felt slighted.

‘To dismiss it as such! Do they not realize the effort it took to create and properly circulate our currency? If they haven’t seen it, they could have simply asked me! How belittling towards Joseon!’

The Ministry of Taxation official suppressed his anger, recalling the advice given before departure.

‘Given our current circumstances, Joseon is not in a position to confront Ming. For now, and for the foreseeable future, leave your pride and ego behind in Joseon! There will come a time when we can repay any debts.’

Remembering this counsel, the Ministry of Taxation official calmed himself and interjected into the conversation.

“I have one with me.”

“Is that so? Let me see it.”

At Emperor Xuande’s request, the Ministry of Taxation official took out a wallet from his sleeve.

With careful movements, he extracted a one-nyang banknote and handed it to the eunuch.

“This is a banknote from Joseon.”

“Is it?”

Though his tone was nonchalant, Emperor Xuande carefully received the banknote. He was aware that Joseon’s banknotes were stamped with a seal.

“This is truly beautiful! This is not just a banknote; it’s closer to a work of art!”

Upon seeing Joseon’s banknote for the first time, Emperor Xuande involuntarily exclaimed in admiration.

Blue and red lines framed the banknote, and within these borders lay a beautiful landscape painting. In one corner of the banknote, marked with ‘one nyang,’ was King Sejong’s seal, clearly imprinted.

“The seal looks slightly different from the one on official documents?”

At Emperor Xuande’s inquiry, the Ministry of Taxation official promptly responded, “This is a new seal created specifically for use on currency.”

“Is that so…”

After examining the Joseon banknote thoroughly, Emperor Xuande handed it to the Cabinet Secretary.

“Take a look, Cabinet Secretary. It seems we won’t have to worry about counterfeiting, at least.”

As the Cabinet Secretary examined the banknote, he looked at the Ministry of Taxation official in astonishment.

“Is this truly printed?”

“It is indeed printed.”

Hearing the Ministry of Taxation official’s confirmation, the Cabinet Secretary stared at the banknote in a daze, murmuring to himself unwittingly.

“I’ve heard that the printing technology from the East has always been superior…”

Regaining his composure, the Cabinet Secretary presented the banknote back to Emperor Xuande, saying, “Your Majesty’s insight is correct. It seems we need not worry about the issue of counterfeiting.”

“Right? Let the envoy take it back.”

After returning the banknote through the eunuch, Emperor Xuande murmured as he gazed into the distance, “The one that got away is always the biggest… Truly a pity.”

Emperor Xuande was evidently regretting the missed opportunity regarding the technology.

“We’ve understood the solution to counterfeiting. But what about maintaining its value?”

“The first step is to issue currency only up to the value of the predetermined budget. This builds trust among the people, who will gradually accept an increased circulation, provided there is an equivalent amount of physical assets backing it. Furthermore, any additional issuance should only be in exchange for an equivalent amount of silver brought by those wishing to exchange, meticulously assessing the quality of the silver to accurately determine its value.”

“That’s the standard approach.”

Pleased with the Ministry of Taxation official’s succinct explanation, Emperor Xuande nodded and then looked towards the Cabinet Secretary.

“Now I see why we failed.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

The Cabinet Secretary nodded in agreement with Emperor Xuande’s observation.

To secure the budget for Emperor Yongle’s military campaigns and voyages of exploration, the Ming cabinet at the time had recklessly printed paper money.

This led to the devaluation of the paper currency.

“The envoy may withdraw.”

Following Emperor Xuande’s command, the envoy bowed respectfully and withdrew.

After the envoy left with a three-fold cheer for the emperor, Emperor Xuande turned to the Cabinet Secretary.

“If we prepare properly, we could manage it, couldn’t we?”

“It is entirely feasible.”

“Right? The humiliation of our state-issued paper money being treated as inferior to a merchant guild’s promissory notes must end. And…”

Pausing briefly, Emperor Xuande revealed his true thoughts.

“It would be absurd if we couldn’t succeed in something even that small nation has accomplished.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Thus, the Ming empire embarked on another attempt to issue paper currency, marking the beginning of a challenging period for Ming craftsmen.

Chapter 186
Currency War (2)

Upon hearing the imperial decree from Emperor Xuande, the ministers pestered the Prime Minister for answers.

“Esteemed Minister! Even if His Majesty has made a decision, you should have dissuaded him!”

“Prime Minister! Reintroducing the old currency is by no means an easy task!”

Not only the scholars in the cabinet but also the ministers from various departments scolded the Prime Minister. However, they were silenced by the Prime Minister’s words.

“Our people of the Great Ming are using the banknotes of Joseon. To think that they trust the banknotes made by that small Joseon more than our own Ming currency. How shameful is this? Until when shall we bring dishonor to His Majesty?”

* * *

The scholars and ministers remained silent in response to the Prime Minister’s question.

It was indeed a shameful matter that the people trusted the money of another country, especially one significantly smaller, more than their own Ming currency.

The Prime Minister continued in a stern voice.

“Let’s say the banknotes of Joseon are one thing. Looking at the current situation, it’s apparent that the bills issued by the merchant guilds are trusted more than the official currency issued by our court. Where else can such disloyalty be found? Therefore, no matter what, we must succeed in circulating our currency this time.”

Hearing the Prime Minister’s words, the scholars and ministers let out long sighs.

“Sigh… Although it is an exceedingly difficult task, let’s attempt it.”

“We cannot bring more shame to His Majesty.”

* * *

Though they agreed in words, the ministers faced numerous challenges to overcome.

The first hurdle was deciding how to deal with the previously issued currencies.

“If the people were not using this currency at all, it might be a different story, but the problem is that it’s still in use.”

“Even if we print new currency, failing to solve this issue will only perpetuate the vicious cycle.”

As the ministers and scholars pondered over a clear solution, their eyes caught the Joseon envoys who were slowly starting to prepare for their return.

“Wasn’t this not the first time Joseon used paper money?”

“Indeed! I heard that Joseon also faced a significant failure once!”

“We should learn from their experience!”

The ministers and scholars, after exchanging opinions hurriedly, went straight to the Prime Minister.

“How about we summon the officials from Joseon?”

“Yes, if we understand how they managed, we can handle things more swiftly and accurately!”

Hearing the words of the scholars and ministers, the Prime Minister nodded and rose from his seat.

“It seems you are right. Let’s propose this to His Majesty together.”

“Yes!”

With the Prime Minister leading, the ministers and scholars followed. The presence of the Prime Minister reduced the risk of receiving an imperial rebuke.

* * *

“Your opinions are valid.”

After hearing the Prime Minister’s explanation, Emperor Xuande nodded in agreement. With the Emperor’s consent, the Prime Minister continued.

“Then, regarding the selection of the envoy to send to Joseon…”

“Why complicate things? Aren’t the experienced ones already here?”

“Excuse me?”

Recalling Emperor Xuande’s words, the Prime Minister’s face lit up with realization.

“Ah! Yes! The chief envoy of the delegation that came this time was involved in that matter!”

“Exactly. So, call the Joseon envoy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Shortly after, the Vice-Minister of Taxation, having been informed by the eunuch that Emperor Xuande was summoning him, arrived before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, did you summon me?”

“Yes. You mentioned to me last time that Joseon had participated in the process of creating and circulating currency. Is that correct?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so? Then, I shall ask. As far as I know, before the current king of Joseon ascended the throne, there was an attempt to circulate paper money and coins, which failed. But this time it was successful. What methods were used?”

The Vice-Minister of Taxation promptly responded to Emperor Xuande’s inquiry.

“Indeed, that was the case. Therefore, to avoid failure this time, we accepted taxes exclusively in our currency.”

“Just that?”

‘Danger!’

Sensing imminent peril instinctively, the Minister of Taxation scrambled to justify further.

“There were several other measures, but explaining them all would require much time. Upon my return, I shall report in detail to His Majesty…”

However, before he could finish, Emperor Xuande raised his hand to stop him.

“Enough, my time is precious. Thus, the envoy shall stay here and cooperate with us. I will send an envoy to the King of Joseon.”

With no other option, the Vice-Minister of Taxation had to bow in acknowledgment of the Emperor’s command.

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

* * *

Returning to Huitong Hall, the lodging for the Joseon delegation, the Minister let out a long sigh.

“Am I still working overtime even here…”

Burdened with an unexpected task that disrupted his schedule, the Vice-Minister began drafting a report.

Although it felt like locking the stable after the horse had bolted, he had to inform King Sejong of the entire situation and seek approval, as that was the protocol.

As he spread out the paper, pondering how to phrase his report, a memory suddenly flashed through his mind.

Before departing, Kim Jeom had said to him,

“There are many fine tonics in Beijing; make sure to take good care of yourself!”

Reflecting on Kim Jeom’s words, the Vice-Minister gazed eastward with a speculative look and murmured,

“Could His Excellency have anticipated such an event back then?”

But soon, he shook his head in dismissal.

“No way, if that were possible, he wouldn’t be a minister but rather a fortune-teller instead…”

Meanwhile, Kim Jeom, grappling with paperwork, suddenly rubbed his ears vigorously.

“Who’s speaking ill of me so fervently…”

Muttering to himself, the subordinates around Kim Jeom inwardly remarked,

‘Would it just be one or two?’

Unaware of his subordinates’ thoughts, Kim Jeom grumbled while staring into the distance,

“How long has the Vice-Minister of Taxation been gone? Did he find a pretty concubine in Beijing?”

* * *

Upon reading the official letter from Emperor Xuande delivered by the envoy who had hurriedly arrived from Ming, King Sejong turned to his ministers.

“With the situation having turned out this way, we must tell the Vice-Minister of Taxation, who went as an envoy, to endure for a while longer.”

“That would be wise.”

None of the ministers objected to King Sejong’s words. Although they were swamped with work here as well, it was better than aggravating Ming and dealing with the headache of their displeasure.

Hyang, who had attended the meeting due to the importance of the matter, actually welcomed the news with enthusiasm.

“This is indeed a great opportunity! Ming is our largest counterpart, so this chance to learn more about the internals of Ming more definitively is invaluable!”

“Really?”

Initially puzzled by Hyang’s comment, King Sejong quickly gathered his thoughts.

‘Certainly, Emperor Xuande must need our experience, hence he’s borrowing the Vice-Minister of Taxation for a while. In that case, he will likely suggest circulating currency in the manner we did. If that happens… I see! This could be a chance to firmly grasp information such as Ming’s financial scale and population! A good opportunity to learn the truths and falsehoods of Ming!’

Realizing Hyang’s thought process, King Sejong smiled warmly at him.

“You always have good ideas.”

“Your praise is too generous!”

Listening to their conversation, the other ministers grumbled internally.

‘Here they go again! The exclusive dialogue between the two!’

‘Do they think if they understand each other, that’s enough? Is it really?’

“What do the rest of you think?”

“Uh? What?”

Caught off guard by King Sejong’s sudden question, the ministers responded in a bewildered tone, causing King Sejong’s expression to turn stern.

‘Yikes! Think! Must think!’

‘No more sighing, that’s forbidden now!’

As the ministers desperately racked their brains, Maeng Sa-seong was the first to respond.

“Indeed, it is an excellent opportunity. By doing so, we can numerically ascertain the scale of Ming, which could not be a better opportunity!”

Maeng Sa-seong’s response eased King Sejong’s expression.

With a now milder voice, King Sejong replied,

“Indeed, that is so. While Ming and our Joseon are on friendly terms, no one knows what the future holds. We must send a secret letter to the Vice-Minister of Taxation.”

“A wise decision indeed!”

The ministers unanimously agreed with King Sejong’s decision.

After the meeting concluded, the ministers rushed to Maeng Sa-seong to repeatedly express their gratitude.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Hanyang, as these events were unfolding, the Vice-Minister of Taxation in Beijing found himself in heated discussions with Ming officials.

“When the new currency is issued, the previously issued notes must be collected as much as possible. However, we should set a timeframe for this collection to prevent unnecessary expenses.”

The Ming officials nodded in agreement to the Vice-Minister of Taxation’s words.

The meeting room was filled not only with court officials but also eunuchs and the Imperial Guard.

The organization of the eunuchs, known as the Eastern Depot, was so large and structured that it constituted another government. Furthermore, the Imperial Guard was akin to a political police directly under the emperor.

Thus, members of the Eastern Depot and high-ranking officials of the Imperial Guard also needed to attend the meeting.

Emperor Xuande, seated at the highest position, presided over the meeting.

A eunuch from the Eastern Depot[1] raised an objection to the Vice-Minister’s suggestion.

“However, the amount of currency issued since the Hongwu era is enormous. To collect it implies that it must be exchanged for physical silver or the newly issued notes. While this might be feasible for a small country like Joseon…”

The eunuch’s face, dripping with sarcasm as he trailed off, was filled with mockery.

The Vice-Minister of Taxation clenched his teeth to suppress the rising anger within him.

‘This damned eunuch!’

With a sigh, he calmed his anger and responded to the objection raised.

“Of course, that may be the case. However, ignoring the scale of the old currency and introducing a new one will only lead to the new currency being treated the same way. Therefore, it is imperative to collect as much of it as possible.”

At his words, the same eunuch raised another issue.

“But given the massive volume of it…”

The Vice-Minister then pointed out the reality in response to the eunuch’s words.

“What is the current value of these banknotes? In transactions at the Shandong trading posts, they barely fetch fourteen percent of their face value. Surely, you weren’t considering exchanging them at their full nominal value?”

“Well, no, but…”

The eunuch faltered under the Vice-Minister’s scrutiny. However, not only Emperor Xuande but also the other officials and Imperial Guard officers’ gazes were far from friendly.

Ever since the Eastern Depot had been officially established, various scandals had been leaking out.

Finally, Emperor Xuande stepped in to conclude the matter.

“The exchange of the old banknotes will be based on the current market rates. A timeframe will be set for this exchange, after which the old banknotes will no longer be recognized as legal tender.”

“We shall comply with Your Majesty’s command!”

At Emperor Xuande’s decision, everyone in the meeting room bowed and responded in unison.

It was a drastic decision, but there was a consensus that there was no other solution at this point.

* * *

With the matter of exchanging old for new currency settled, the meeting moved on to the next agenda item.

“The issuance of currency should be managed by an independent agency and produced in only one location. Otherwise, controlling the issuance becomes difficult, and it opens the door to counterfeiting issues.”

A Ministry of Revenue official from Ming raised a concern in response to the Vice-Minister of Taxation’s statement.

“Our Ming territory is vast, making distribution challenging if done from a single location. Ming is not a small country like Joseon.”

Despite the repeated jabs at Joseon’s size, the Vice-Minister of Taxation maintained his composure and patiently explained his reasoning.

“If currency is printed in multiple locations, it’s impossible to control the issuance volume. Do you want the new currency to suffer the same fate as the old ones?”

“That’s not what we want, but…”

“We need to distribute the pre-printed new currency starting from the furthest locations first, and then begin the exchange simultaneously. If we create multiple printing locations for the sake of convenience, it leads to issues in controlling and monitoring the issuance volume. What if a location, far from Beijing, decides to print and distribute large quantities on purpose? How would we manage that?”

The Vice-Minister’s points left the Ming officials speechless.

One of the reasons the current currency had become worthless was exactly that.

Once again, Emperor Xuande had to make a decisive call.

“The place where the new banknotes issued will be printed right here within the Forbidden City!”

1. The Eastern Depot was established as a separate department with espionage being a primary function as well as also observing and eradicating political threats.[↩]

Chapter 187
Currency War (3)

Although the selection of the location for issuing new paper currency had concluded, an even greater obstacle awaited.

The question was, “Who would have the authority to manage it?”

In principle, all authority resided with the Emperor Xuande. However, in reality, it was those delegated by him who were issuing the currency.

It was at this juncture that the three major political forces of the Ming clashed head-on.

The bureaucratic faction centered around the Cabinet Secretaries, the eunuchs, and the Imperial Guard all claimed that they should oversee and supervise the issuance of the currency.

“The officials in charge of national affairs should bear this responsibility!”

“We, the eunuchs closest to His Majesty, should take charge! Please bestow the authority upon us, Your Highness!”

“Please entrust this important task to the Imperial Guard, the strongest sword of His Majesty!”

The ensuing debate grew heated.

None of the three bodies could back down. They could not pass up the opportunity to control the financial lifeline of the vast empire of Ming to another organization.

The moment another organization seized that authority, they would have to watch and heed their directives.

‘We must not let those bastards gain control at any cost!’

This thought was so strong that those engaged in the debate forgot before whom they were speaking.

“If the eunuchs had any conscience, they wouldn’t step forward to take charge! Isn’t it said that no matter how loyal and diligent one is, without bribing the superiors, one would have to spend a lifetime shoveling shit?”

“And are you lot clean? Do you think the people call the governor a ‘gold-hugging official’ for no reason?”

“We, the upright warriors, should be in charge!”

“Shut up, you bandits!”

“Bandit? Coming from men who cake their faces and dribble urine?”

The exchange between the officials, eunuchs, and armed Imperial Guards crossed the line.

As the situation escalated, the Cabinet Secretaries, senior officials, the chief eunuch, and the commander of the Imperial Guard, with their faces gone pale, tried to intervene.

But it was too late.

Clash!

“Enough!”

Emperor Xuande, who had been watching the argument from the high seat, picked up a porcelain vase from the table beside him and hurled it at those who were arguing, shouting loudly.

Startled by Emperor Xuande’s roar, everyone immediately fell to the floor, sweating cold sweat.

“Is there no one outside!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

At Emperor Xuande’s command, the Imperial Guard soldiers and eunuchs waiting outside hurried in.

With a face distorted by anger, Emperor Xuande ordered the soldiers and eunuchs who had entered,

“Take all those prostrated on the ground, except for the Cabinet Secretaries, senior officials, the chief eunuch, and the commander, and imprison them! I will personally inquire into their crimes!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The Imperial Guard soldiers and eunuchs began to drag the designated individuals out by their arms.

“Your Majesty, have mercy!”

“Please show us your mercy!”

Sensing that their lives were over, they screamed for mercy, but Emperor Xuande’s anger did not subside.

“You rascals! Do you truly not know the gravity of your offenses! What place is this! In front of me! And in the presence of a foreign dignitary, you show such disgrace! And you still hope to live! Take heed! Imprison them immediately! I have clearly memorized their faces, and anyone who tries to scheme, will be punished just the same! Take them away now!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

The individuals who had caused the uproar were dragged out, calling out to Emperor Xuande with pitiful voices.

After the commotion, the meeting room was utterly frozen in silence.

The remaining individuals, including the Cabinet Secretaries, were all pale-faced, dripping with cold sweat, and clinging tightly to the ground.

However, the most awkward were the Vice-Minister of Taxation and the translator.

As the subjects of Ming prostrated themselves, the two, having done the same, were sweating profusely and muttering to themselves,

‘Why here? Why me?’

‘Ah! I want to go home!’

“Let the subjects of Joseon rise.”

“We heed Your Majesty’s command.”

At Emperor Xuande’s order, the Vice-Minister of Taxation and the translator cautiously got up.

“And you, rise as well.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

After the subjects stood up and resumed their seats, Emperor Xuande warned,

“If such disgrace occurs again in my presence, not only the involved parties but also you will be held responsible.”

“We will bear that in mind!”

Hearing the stiff responses of the subjects, Emperor Xuande asked the Vice-Minister of Taxation,

“Who is in charge of issuing and managing currency in Joseon?”

“Legally, it falls under the Ministry of Taxation, but half of the operations are managed by an independent agency called the Mint.”

“Half is independent?”

“Yes. While the Ministry of Taxation has jurisdiction over determining the monthly issuance volume, the Mint manages all printing. However, the management of the seal used for printing the currency is under the eunuchs’ purview, and the inspection of issued currency and disposal of defective ones are conducted in the presence of officials from the Office of Inspector General and the Board of Censors. The subsequent processes are…”

“It’s complicated.”

At the lengthy explanation of the Vice-Minister of Taxation, Emperor Xuande slightly furrowed his brows and murmured.

Emperor Xuande’s assessment was accurate; the process of issuing paper currency in Joseon was indeed very complex. To be precise, it wasn’t the printing process itself that was complicated, but rather the procedures before and after it.

Retrieving the seal used for the currency from the vault was the responsibility of officials from the Mint, which was under the Ministry of Taxation.

However, once printing was completed, the task of collecting the seal, verifying its condition and count, and returning it to the vault fell to the eunuchs’ department.

Inevitably, defective prints would occur during the printing process.

After the final printing stage, before cutting, the inspection process identified any currency deemed defective, which was then stamped in red with ‘불통 (Rejected)’ and recorded by its issuance number.

After the currency was cut, those marked as ‘Rejected’ were separated and incinerated.

Officials from the Office of Inspector General and the Board of Censors were involved in this disposal process.

With officials from these departments present, the recorded issuance numbers were verified and confirmed to be properly incinerated, marking the end of the first phase.

The officials from the Board of Censors and the Office of Inspector General who participated in this oversight process were randomly selected and assigned each morning.

This was a measure to prevent potential corruption.

After these procedures, the prepared currencies underwent another verification to count the total number of bills, which was then reported to the king.

Upon receiving these currencies, storehouses throughout Joseon and the Korean commercial agencies in Shandong immediately conducted inspections and sent reports back to Hanyang.

Comparing the figures in these reports with those from the initial issuance report to ensure accurate delivery marked the second phase of the process.

In simple terms, if 100 bills were issued, the total number mentioned in the reports from the recipients should also add up to 100.

The Vice-Minister of Taxation nodded in agreement to Emperor Xuande’s assessment.

“Your Majesty’s words are accurate. It is complex, cumbersome, and requires much effort. However, there was a royal decree stating that we must endure this to maintain the trustworthiness of the paper currency.”

“Is that so?”

After a brief response to the Vice-Minister of Taxation’s words, Emperor Xuande fell into thought.

There was a long silence as Emperor Xuande pondered with a serious expression.

Finally, nodding, Emperor Xuande slowly began to speak.

“Indeed. That is correct. Maintaining trust is the only right answer through the proper way and standard practices. The King of Joseon is truly wise. Then, how is the circulation of the currency managed?”

At Emperor Xuande’s inquiry, the Vice-Minister of Taxation explained about the national storehouses.

Emperor Xuande, being no fool, immediately understood and expressed great admiration.

“Truly meticulous and ingenious! Indeed! I see why Joseon succeeded this time!”

Emperor Xuande, who did not cease his admiration, then ordered the Cabinet Secretaries and the chief eunuch among others.

“Refer to Joseon’s policies to devise ones that suit us!”

“We will heed Your Majesty’s command!”

Hearing the response from the Cabinet Secretaries and others, Emperor Xuande issued a stern warning to them.

“However, bear in mind that those who offer trivial excuses for decentralization or the like must be prepared to forfeit their lives at that very moment!”

“Gasp! We will bear it in mind!”

Seeing the Cabinet Secretaries and the chief eunuch startled, Emperor Xuande continued,

“The deadline is… Joseon’s envoy, listen. I have a question for you.”

“Please ask, Your Majesty.”

“How long did it take for Joseon to prepare for the circulation of this currency?”

“It took five years to secure the budget and one year to prepare for issuance and circulation.”

“Right. The budget is the most crucial aspect. I command you all: Refer to the path Joseon has taken and complete our own plan within three months. This plan must accurately include the time needed to secure the budget. It might be difficult for Joseon’s envoy, but cooperate until the plan is completed.”

Hearing Emperor Xuande’s command, the Vice-Minister of Taxation looked distressed but had no choice but to accept the order.

Given that an envoy from Ming had already been sent to Joseon and they had some anticipation of the response from Joseon, they thought,

‘After all, Ming is our largest trading partner, so let’s take this opportunity to learn in detail.’

“We will heed Your Majesty’s command.”

Emperor Xuande, seeing the tearful face of the Vice-Minister of Taxation, then commanded the chief eunuch,

“Provide the envoy from Joseon with medicinal herbs to maintain his health. It’s natural for one’s body and spirit to weaken when staying in a foreign land for a long time without returning home. Find the best medicinal herbs from my storehouse and give them to him.”

“We will heed Your Majesty’s command.”

Hearing the responses from Emperor Xuande and the chief eunuch, the Vice-Minister of Taxation knelt and exclaimed,

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless! Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long, long live!”

‘Herbal medicine here too!’

Though he was shouting “Long live the Emperor!” outwardly, the Vice-Minister of Taxation was inwardly shedding tears of blood.

* * *

Following Emperor Xuande’s command, the ministers and eunuchs set out to develop a plan for currency management.

Naturally, the design of the currency was also being developed alongside this.

“Didn’t Joseon avoid creating high-denomination notes?”

At the question from a minister of Ming, the Vice-Minister of Taxation from Joseon responded with a slight smile,

“Joseon is a small country, so…”

Initially, Joseon had planned to issue high-denomination notes, but faced strong opposition from the local elites, leading to the abandonment of the plan.

“There’s no need for high-denomination notes given Joseon’s current scale! If made, they would only serve to inflate prices!”

The local elites provided detailed reasons for their opposition.

Convinced by their rationale, King Sejong and his ministers decided to scrap the high-denomination note plan.

“Indeed, Joseon is a small country…”

‘Oh, really? Saying that to my face? This is something to be recorded in history as disgraceful!’

The Minister of Taxation was seething with anger at the condescending remark about Joseon being a small country, but he clenched his teeth and held back his anger.

Time passed, and finally, the new currency design of Ming was completed and presented to Emperor Xuande.

“Hmm… Not bad.”

Upon reviewing the new currency design, Emperor Xuande immediately ordered a eunuch,

“Summon all the ministers and high officials.”

“Your command will be obeyed!”

Following Emperor Xuande’s order, all the officials working in the Forbidden City gathered in one place.

“His Imperial Majesty, please grant us an audience!”

At the eunuch’s call, all the officials bowed in unison and paid their respects.

“The design for the new currency has been completed. You are all to review it and share your opinions.”

As the long-rumored design was finally revealed, the officials’ eyes sparkled with interest.

After the design made its round among the officials, Emperor Xuande spoke,

“I find it satisfactory. What are your thoughts?”

At Emperor Xuande’s inquiry, the officials responded loudly,

“It is excellent!”

“A currency that embodies the majesty of the empire!”

“Is that so?”

As positive responses emerged from various quarters, a smile began to spread across Emperor Xuande’s face.

Just then, a challenging voice cut through the air.

“I object! This is an ominous sign!”

“Who is it? Who opposes?”

At Emperor Xuande’s inquiry, an old man stepped forward from among the ministers.

“And who might you be?”

“I am Won Tae-so, an instructor at the National Academy.”

Emperor Xuande’s expression turned serious upon learning the man’s identity.

The National Academy was an educational institution operated by the Ming government. An instructor from such an establishment could not be disregarded for his scholarly background.

“Very well… Instructor Won, why do you oppose?”

Won Tae-so explained his reasoning.

“In the design of the new currency, there is a flaming pearl at the center top, with two dragons facing each other around it, their bodies encircling the perimeter of the currency.”

“That’s correct.”

As Emperor Xuande nodded, Won Tae-so took a moment to gather his breath before continuing.

“Traditionally, a dragon is considered complete only when it has a flaming pearl. However, in the new currency design, two dragons are depicted facing each other over a single flaming pearl, which symbolizes a dispute over imperial power within the Ming Empire! Such an ominous design must not be used!”

“Hmm?”

At Won Tae-so’s words, Emperor Xuande took another look at the currency design.

Chapter 188
Currency War (4)

Won Tae-so’s argument had Emperor Xuande re-examining the design of the currency closely.

“Indeed…”

The image of two dragons facing each other, with a magical orb between them, seemed as if they were growling at one another.

That’s when the heated debate among the officials began.

The main participants were the assistant instructors of the National Academy.

“What if we just add another magical orb, if it’s all about the one orb?”

“The problem is the two dragons. Two complete dragons in one place? That implies the nation will be divided!”

“Even numbers easily split into two! We must never have an even number!”

“How about three dragons, then?”

“That wouldn’t be balanced, would it!”

“Look at the ‘Ding’ (鼎, an ancient cooking vessel, symbolizing nobility). It stands on three legs, doesn’t it! Yet it’s perfectly balanced and held in high esteem!”

“How many corners does the currency have? Four, right! And you suggest putting in only three dragons? Does that make sense to you? We need to put in four!”

“Four dragons on that small currency? Do you not know the meaning of ‘excess’ (절)? Ah, to think a high official of this empire could be so ignorant!”

“Ignorant? Such insolence!”

The fierce debate escalated dangerously. However, considering the recent incident that led to many eunuchs, officials, and warriors being imprisoned, and eventually executed, they were careful not to cross the line of danger too blatantly.

“One dragon is enough!”

“Aren’t you considering the harmony of Yin and Yang? Can harmony be achieved with just one?”

“In all my years, I’ve never heard of dragons having genders! Dragons, by definition, are mythical creatures that ascend to heaven by absorbing the qi of the universe through cultivation! The idea of sacred dragons mating like common beasts and having offspring is ludicrous!”

While watching the heated debate among Ming officials and eunuchs, the Vice-Minister of Taxation muttered to himself in frustration.

‘Just use a landscape painting!’

He wasn’t the only one with this thought. Emperor Xuande, looking tired and irritated, suddenly shouted in anger.

“Enough! Stop this at once!”

At the emperor’s stern command, the officials immediately ceased their arguing and prostrated themselves on the floor. Emperor Xuande, with a face full of annoyance, turned to the Minister of Taxation.

“I ask the envoy from Joseon! How did Joseon resolve this issue?”

“As you know, we used a landscape painting.”

“Right.”

Hearing the Vice-Minister of Taxation’s response, Emperor Xuande looked back at his Ming subjects.

“If we must include an image on the currency, let it be a landscape painting instead of dragons.”

“That would be unacceptable!”

The objection came immediately from the Minister of Internal Affairs.

“Why is that?”

“Dragons symbolize the emperor and the empire itself! We cannot possibly remove the dragon!”

“That’s right!”

“The dragon must be included!”

With those words, the previously arguing parties united in support of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Emperor Xuande, placing a hand on his forehead, sighed deeply.

“Ah, how shall we resolve this…”

After a long and intense debate, Emperor Xuande finally made a decision.

“If a dragon must be included in the new currency, then it shall be only one. There is but one emperor, and one empire. Thus, there shall only be one dragon. Like the emperor’s sovereignty encompassing the four seas, the dragon shall encircle the four corners of the currency.”

“We obey your command!”

“Long live the emperor! Long, long live!”

At Emperor Xuande’s decision, the officials and eunuchs all prostrated themselves and responded in unison.

Watching from the side, the Minister of Taxation joined in the cheers but grumbled to himself.

‘Really, if he was going to decide it all along, why put us through all this trouble!’

* * *

Two weeks later, the Vice-Minister of Taxation was finally able to return to his homeland.

“There’s Jemulpo!”

Hearing the shout of a subordinate official, the Vice Minister of Taxation rushed out of the cabin to the bow of the ship.

“Finally, back to Joseon! I’ve returned to Joseon!”

Emotion filled the Vice-Minister of Taxation’s voice.

* * *

Upon arriving at Jemulpo, the Vice-Minister of Taxation and his entourage switched boats and traveled via the Han River directly to Hanyang.

Entering Geunjeongjeon, the Vice-Minister of Taxation and his party reported their return to King Sejong.

“You have endured much hardship, taking on unexpected tasks.”

“It is our duty to follow Your Majesty’s commands.”

Though their words were respectful, the faces of the Vice-Minister of Taxation and the envoy were worn.

Seeing their weary faces, King Sejong gave an order.

“There must be much you need to report, but seeing your current state, rest is paramount. Take two days off, then come to report.”

Upon King Sejong’s words, the Vice-Minister of Taxation and his entourage immediately prostrated themselves and exclaimed,

“Your benevolence is boundless! Long live the king, long, long live!”

The historian who recorded all these events added a note at the end.

-The historian remarks,

(We’re) full of envy.

* * *

Two days later, the Vice-Minister of Taxation went straight to Geunjeongjeon upon his court appearance. In the presence of King Sejong, high-ranking officials, and senior ministers, the Vice-Minister of Taxation reported everything that had transpired in Ming.

“…Therefore, Ming is preparing to circulate new currency. They anticipate the new currency will be in circulation in about two years.”

“I see. What about the population and commercial scale of Ming?”

At King Sejong’s inquiry, the Vice-Minister of Taxation paused to recollect before responding.

“While I could not access detailed information to provide exact figures, it is estimated that the population is about 12 times larger, and the commercial scale is about 20 times that of ours.”

“Twenty times!”

The words “the commercial scale is 20 times” caused a stir among the ministers gathered in Geunjeongjeon.

“On what basis can you make such a claim?”

King Sejong asked with a trembling voice. He was aware that Ming was a great nation, but the notion that their commercial scale was 20 times larger was hard to believe.

In response to King Sejong’s question, the Vice-Minister of Taxation explained the basis of his claim.

“Although I couldn’t access precise information, during the planning for the new currency, I had a brief opportunity to see the household registers and tax lists prepared by Ming’s Ministry of Taxation. Based on the population recorded in the household registers and the tax amounts listed, I estimated the commercial scale to be 20 times larger.”

“Even so, 20 times is…”

As King Sejong shook his head in disbelief, Hyang intervened.

“Couldn’t it be possible?”

“You think it’s possible?”

“Yes, the founding of Ming predates ours in Joseon. Moreover, we in Joseon have hindered the growth of commerce and industry. Combining these two factors, it’s entirely plausible.”

“Is that so…”

Sejong nodded, persuaded by Hyang’s explanation.

* * *

Hyang’s argument had some merit.

Ming was established in 1368, while Joseon was founded in 1392, leaving a gap of about 24 years between their foundations. Additionally, Joseon emphasized agriculture in accordance with Neo-Confucian ideals.

Of course, the 24-year gap was during the late Goryeo period, which had a tradition of favoring commerce. However, during this gap, the Korean Peninsula was devastated by invasions from Japanese pirates and internal strife among political powers, making it unsafe for commerce and industry to flourish.

The time gap and the agricultural focus of political ideology contributed to this significant disparity.

* * *

Hearing Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong and the ministers nodded in agreement.

“I thought we had somewhat caught up, but to still be so far behind… Sigh.”

King Sejong sighed deeply and commanded his ministers,

“It seems we still have a long way to go. Let’s put in more effort.”

“We will follow your command!”

Once again, King Sejong and his ministers reaffirmed their resolve.

* * *

The Vice-Minister of Taxation then began to speak about what he considered to be the most crucial issue.

“Your Majesty, during my stay in Beijing, I deemed one matter of utmost importance, which I shall report. As you might already be aware, the value of silver in Ming continues to rise.”

King Sejong turned to Hyang upon hearing the Minister of Taxation’s words.

“I have received reports. Is it that serious?”

“Right before my return, one could exchange 1 nyang of gold for 8 nyang of silver. Consider this in light of the time when Joseon attacked Tsushima Island and we obtained sulfur from Ming for gunpowder production, where the exchange rate was 1 nyang of gold for 10 nyang of silver.”

“Hmm…”

King Sejong pondered for a moment. The conquest of Tsushima Island had occurred 11 years prior. During the preparation for that campaign, there was a need to increase the stockpile of gunpowder by obtaining sulfur from Ming.

“I see. The value of silver has risen significantly. What’s the reason?”

“The consumption of silver has increased. Ming had already started collecting taxes in silver and conducting commercial transactions in silver long before Joseon. As a result, the consumption of silver outpaced production, leading to an increase in its value.”

“I understand. So…”

Pausing briefly, Sejong turned to Hyang, recalling the flurry of activities that ensued upon receiving information about the influx of silver from Ming.

Reflecting on Hyang’s actions, Sejong asked the Minister of Taxation,

“What do you think would have happened if we hadn’t mentioned the currency circulation issue to Ming this time?”

“I tentatively brought up the subject with the Ming officials we’ve established rapport with, and it seems there was a considerable likelihood that they would have recouped silver in the form of tributes.”

“Is that so? That was a close call.”

Hearing the Vice-Minister of Taxation’s response, Sejong sighed deeply and brushed his chest in relief. If the commercial scale of Ming was as immense as described by him, there was a risk of all of Joseon’s silver being drained away as tribute, without proper compensation.

Sejong looked around at his ministers.

“As you’ve heard from the Minister of Taxation, with the increasing demand for silver in Ming, we must find ways to protect our silver. And we must do so without provoking Ming, a superior nation.”

“We will follow your command!”

As soon as the ministers responded, Hyang joined the conversation.

“Your Majesty, may your son speak?”

“Proceed.”

With Sejong’s permission, Hyang quickly got to the point.

“To prevent our silver from being drained into Ming, we must consider various strategies. However, the first thing we should do is prevent Joseon’s merchants from bringing gold into Ming.”

“Why gold of all things, not silver?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang succinctly replied,

“Even if individual merchants profit, it’s a loss for Joseon as a whole.”

“Hmm?”

Hyang’s answer made Sejong and the ministers stroke their beards as they pondered the underlying meaning.

After a moment, Sejong, Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom, and Maeng Sa-seong simultaneously exclaimed in realization,

“I see! For every nyang of gold that comes in from Ming, we lose two nyang of silver!”

“Exactly!”

What Hyang was referring to was the arbitrage opportunity and loss between the gold-to-silver exchange rates of Ming and Joseon.

* * *

When they first introduced paper money, Hyang and the Ministry of Taxation set the gold-to-silver exchange rate at 1:10. This rate was decided not only based on production and circulation volumes but also for ease of management in various economic aspects, including taxation.

However, if the gold-to-silver exchange rate between Ming and Joseon differed, as it currently did, it was clear that merchants would exploit this difference.

Immediately, merchants buying gold in Ming and bringing it to Joseon to exchange or to pay for goods would gain an additional two nyang of silver for every nyang of gold, due to this rate difference.

While this was profitable for individual merchants, it was a loss for the nation as a whole.

This was not just a theoretical concern. During the latter part of Ming and the Qing Dynasty, European merchants trading with China maximized their profits precisely through such arbitrage.

Until the 17th century, Europe’s exchange rate maintained a traditional level of 1:12. However, China’s rate was 1:6. Simply put, European merchants could buy gold in China and sell it upon returning to Europe for a 100% profit.

Thus, the merchants of the East India Company busily traversed between Europe, China, and Japan, reaping substantial profits through arbitrage.

They would take silver from Europe and Japan to China, exchange it for gold, take that gold to Japan to exchange for silver, and then bring that silver back to China to exchange for gold again before returning to Europe to sell it for a profit, multiplying their earnings several-fold. (Note 1)

* * *

Understanding the issue Hyang raised, King Sejong and his ministers decided to immediately enact relevant laws.

Then, Hyang made another assertion.

“We must bring Japan under control.”

“Subjugate Japan? Isn’t that too hasty?”

Sejong, who equated ‘subjugation’ with ‘war,’ expressed his concern in a worried tone. Hyang elaborated further.

“I’m not suggesting we subjugate them through military force. We need to make the Japanese market exclusively ours.”

Note 1: The Story of the Jews – How They Created the History of Wealth, by Hong Ik-hee. Published by Planet;B Leaf.

Chapter 189
Teacher (1)

As March arrived, proclamations were posted at government offices throughout the nation.

– A (甲). Responsible for education at the School for Commoners (Samin School or School of Four Social Classes).

– B (乙). In charge of managing the Samin School’s buildings and its attached farmlands.

Applicants for category A should be men and women of commoner background, distinguished in scholarship, upright in character, and talented in teaching.

For scholarship, the selection is based on the results of the employment examination conducted by the Ministry of Rites.

For character, applicants who pass the employment examination will initially be screened through interviews, and their character will continue to be evaluated throughout the subsequent training process.

For teaching talent, it will be identified during the training process among those who have passed the above two stages.

In addition to the above criteria, women’s skills in sewing and weaving will also be assessed.

Women who have received the titles of Filial Wife (孝婦) or Virtuous Widow (烈女) will be given preference.

* * *

The court’s proclamation stirred the nobilities of Joseon for the following reason:

– Is teaching children at the Samin School considered an official service?

“To think that teaching the Thousand Character Classic to children counts as an official service! And that too, in a school where anyone but the children of slaves can attend!”

Many were trapped in the traditional mindset that ‘scholarship is for the nobility to learn and master,’ showing a negative reaction, but there were not a few who thought otherwise.

“The world is changing. The number of commoners is decreasing, and even commoners can enter official service if they try hard!”

“Why is official service the only answer? Look at Joseon now; the number of merchants and artisans is increasing! It’s only when those who are properly educated become merchants and artisans that the world can be set right. The Samin School is truly the place of enlightenment that the ancient sages longed for!”

“As Mencius once said, one of the three joys of a gentleman is ‘to find and teach the talented youth of the world!’ Though it may just be teaching the Thousand Character Classic, simple arithmetic, and basic morals, who knows if through this, someone who will take responsibility for the future of Joseon might emerge!”

Despite the heated debates, to cut to the conclusion, on the day of the civil service exam, numerous nobles gathered at the examination sites set up at the offices of the provincial governors – formally, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioners.

However, the aspect that Sejong pondered over the most was the employment of female teachers.

* * *

Before officially deciding on the matter, the one who spent the most time with Sejong was Hyang.

Late at night, with all the historians sent away, Sejong and Hyang were discussing the topic of ‘educating women.’

“In this father’s view, if necessary, women in Joseon should also be allowed to take official positions. It’s because Joseon is short of people.”

In Sejong’s judgment, it was wasteful to spend time distinguishing between men and women in current Joseon.

Regardless of gender, even the hands of children needed to be utilized for the success of the reformation and for Joseon to stand proudly on its own, making it a natural concern.

And one more thing.

Creating a gap in the gender barrier would be advantageous in the eventual debate over the class system that would surface.

“That’s true. However, the problem is that if you reveal your intentions now, there will be tremendous opposition.”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. That’s the issue.”

Seeing Sejong like this, Hyang also sighed inwardly.

‘Even in the early Joseon, when women’s status was somewhat higher, it’s still like this.’

As Hyang mentioned, women’s social status was relatively high until the early Joseon period. However, this was more about respecting women’s domains within the traditional gender roles.

The idea of taking official positions was about women entering men’s domains, which was bound to face significant opposition.

Amidst this prolonged dilemma, Hyang made a suggestion to Sejong.

“It might be a bit of a workaround, but what about using the Samin School?”

“The Samin School?”

“You’ve already declared girls’ admission to the school, and there was no opposition. So, why not find women to teach these girls?”

“That’s true. With the distinction between men and women, even if they are teacher and student, we can’t cause problems.”

Nodding at Sejong’s words, Hyang continued.

“So, we establish criteria for these women to become teachers. Becoming a teacher should become an honor for the village and the family.”

“An honor for the village and the family…”

As Sejong mulled over the words, his face brightened.

“I see! If we make Filial Wives and Virtuous Widows teachers, it would be justified!”

“Exactly. That’s how we gradually expand the scope.”

“Let’s proceed with that plan!”

Seeing Sejong’s enthusiastic response, Hyang couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

‘Filial Wives and Virtuous Widows… In the future, this might just become a controversial topic ripe for criticism.’

But in the current era, this was the most effective and best strategy available.

Stimulating the Confucian sense of honor among the scholar-nobles was the best course of action.

Thus, the employment standards for female teachers at the Samin School were established.

* * *

While men voluntarily applied for the examination, an unexpected situation arose for women. It became a common sight to see local elites and provincial officials pleading with recognized Filial Wives and Virtuous Widows to take up teaching positions.

“What would a mere woman know?”

“Ah, come now! Please, for the sake of our village, lend us a bit of your strength.”

“How wonderful it would be if the girls of our village grew up emulating your proper conduct?”

Receiving the titles of ‘Filial Wife’ or ‘Virtuous Widow’ from the country was already a matter of pride for the village, but producing a teacher for the children would elevate the village’s honor even further.

Amid this chaos, a series of petitions with similar content began to pour in from local officials.

There were women who, despite lacking formal education, were recognized as Filial Wives or Virtuous Widows and had exceptional skills in weaving and sewing. The petitions requested that these women be allowed to teach.

Upon receiving these petitions, Sejong made a decision.

“Loyalty, filial piety, and chastity cannot be learned from books alone. These virtues must be observed and emulated in action. Even if they are uneducated, they have enough qualifications to teach. Especially since children learn most from their mothers, why bother distinguishing the importance?”

Following Sejong’s decree, women known for their chastity and filial piety, though they might not have been formally educated, were recommended to discipline and teach the girls.

Sejong’s decision quickly spread among the people.

Many citizens nodded in agreement with Sejong’s decision.

“That’s right. The elders must set a proper example for the children to learn correctly.”

“Exactly!”

“But do we really need to teach the girls sewing separately? Can’t they learn that at home?”

“And that’s why your clothes are stitched the way they are?”

“…”

Regardless of social class, when the male head of a household was absent, it became the responsibility of the women to manage the household’s finances. The common jobs for these women included day labor in the fields or paid sewing work.

Especially those skilled in weaving or with exceptional sewing abilities could live somewhat more comfortably than those working as day laborers in the fields and paddies.

Hence, there were hardly any objections to educating girls in sewing and weaving.

The reason Hyang said ‘hardly’ is because a significant number of officials from the Ministry of Rites raised objections.

“Now that textiles are being produced in factories, do we still need to teach weaving?”

“That’s a valid point.”

“Let’s omit weaving. It’s better to spend that time teaching them even one more character.”

Convinced by his subordinates’ arguments, the Minister of Rites proposed to Sejong that weaving be removed from the curriculum. While Sejong and the ministers were nodding in agreement, Hyang raised an objection.

“The foundation of the automatic looms used in textile factories is still the loom. To quickly identify the quality of the fabric or troubleshoot issues with the loom, those with weaving experience are more competent than those without.”

“Ah…”

Enlightened by Hyang’s point, Sejong and the ministers nodded in agreement.

“That could be an issue.”

“We’ve never weaved ourselves, so…”

Muttering internally, Hyang grumbled about the privileged lives of these nobles.

‘Weaving is generally considered women’s work, but men often participate in the process as well. Especially in tasks like weaving decorative patterns, men’s participation is quite high.’

However, most of the ministers filling the Geunjeongjeon Hall were from generations that never had to worry about making a living, so they were unaware of this aspect.

“Of course, as automatic looms continue to evolve, there may come a time when knowing how to weave becomes unnecessary. But for now, it’s essential.”

“That makes sense.”

“We were short-sighted.”

In the end, the proposal from the Ministry of Rites was dismissed.

As April arrived, the screening process to appoint teachers began.

Men and women who passed the civil service examination had to come to Hanyang for interviews. During the interview process, the examiners carefully observed the candidates’ tone of voice, demeanor, and other aspects to assess their character.

Due to the large number of candidates, a spacious venue was required, for which Sejong offered Changdeok Palace[1], an unprecedented move.

“Your Majesty! Offering the palace for this purpose is utterly preposterous!”

Despite the ministers’ unanimous uproar, Sejong stood his ground.

“Who are we selecting? Those who will teach the children of Joseon! And who are these children? They are the ones who will bear the future of Joseon! For such a significant endeavor, why should we hesitate to temporarily lend the palace?”

Faced with Sejong’s firm stance, the ministers could no longer oppose.

The ministers, having stepped back, gathered at the Council of State Affairs, where Maeng Sa-seong was the first to speak.

“Let’s turn this crisis into an opportunity.”

“A crisis into an opportunity?”

“Among the criteria for selecting teachers, scholarship is important, but we cannot overlook character, can we?”

“That’s true, but…”

The ministers nodded in agreement to Maeng Sa-seong’s words, as Sejong had emphasized ‘character’ in the selection criteria.

‘The most important quality in a teacher is character! If there isn’t a significant difference in scholarship and talent, prioritize those with good character!’

Maeng Sa-seong continued.

“However, can we truly know one’s character from just one or two meetings? And with so many other matters at hand, we cannot allocate a large workforce to the teacher appointment process.”

Kim Jeom, who had been listening quietly, clapped his hands lightly and added.

“That’s right! Changdeok Palace[2] already has many court ladies and eunuchs. They can observe the candidates!”

“That’s exactly what I meant.”

Hearing the conversation between Kim Jeom and Maeng Sa-seong, the other ministers soon nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, this could be turned into an opportunity.”

Thus, the candidates had to stay at Changdeok Palace, undergoing a second round of interviews and receiving training.

While staying at Changdeok Palace, the candidates were required to wear large numbered badges on their chests. The eunuchs and court ladies managing the palace meticulously observed the candidates’ attitudes and behaviors in daily life. The reports compiled by the court ladies and eunuchs were sent to the Ministry of Rites, serving as guidelines for eliminating candidates during the process.

* * *

Not only the Ministry of Rites was busy with the Samin School, but also Hyang’s Area 51.

The Area 51 was bustling due to the textbooks needed for the Samin School.

The number of children expected to enroll in Samin Schools nationwide was at least between 200,000 to 300,000.

The entry criteria were boys and girls aged between 5 to 7, but those up to 12 could enroll if they wished, leading to the estimated numbers.

Printing textbooks for all these students was impossible for the Type Foundry alone. Hence, the task was handed over to Area 51.

“Why Area 51 again?”

Young officials at the court frequently posed this question to their superiors, becoming wary of Area 51 as it gradually took on more responsibilities and expanded its influence.

The superiors had a simple answer to the young officials’ inquiries.

“Area 51 is the only place capable of handling the volume of paper needed for the textbooks.”

“There are many guilds dealing with paper, though.”

“Their capacity is insufficient for the supply, and the budget involved is significant.”

Faced with their superiors’ explanations, the young officials had no choice but to concede.

The Area 51 had access to straw paper[3], which made it uniquely equipped for the task.

1. One of the five grand palaces built during Joseon dynasty.[↩]

2. One of thefive grand palaces aside from Gyeongbokgung[↩]

3. Yellow-colored paper, typically made from oat straw. Used for scriptures and other books[↩]

Chapter 190
Teacher (2)

As mentioned before, the paper consumption at Area 51 and the laboratory was enormous. The amount of paper used for various reports, proposals, and research records was no joke, and the cost of purchasing the necessary paper was also significant.

“Damn it! I’m going to use up the entire budget just buying paper!”

Feeling the crisis, Hyang mobilized artisans to create a papermaking machine using pulped wood.

The paper made from pulp using trees cut from the mountains surrounding Hanseong, rather than the limited supply of dak trees[1] used for traditional Hanji[2], hence it was much cheaper.

“Well… the quality isn’t top-notch, but…”

Holding the paper, Hyang muttered with a voice full of regret.

There was no problem using brushes or gold pens to write documents, but the yellowish paper felt undeniably cheap.

“We could bleach it, but what about the environmental pollution? I don’t even know about that side of things…”

However, the cost-effectiveness of the yellow paper was incomparable to traditional Hanji, so government offices began to use yellow paper for non-critical documents.

As a result, as mentioned before, among the common people, yellow paper began to be called “Yeokji” (unlucky paper).

* * *

Hyang, who was ordered to produce textbooks for use at the “Samin School,” faced a similar dilemma.

“I can manage to produce the paper somehow… but the problem is the printing…”

Printing hundreds of thousands of textbooks was a significant challenge for Hyang.

“I don’t like the idea of just throwing manpower at it, isn’t there a smarter way?”

Hyang spent days wracking his brain, pondering over and over. Of course, orders were also given to the artisans in the laboratory and Area 51.

“Find a way to print the textbooks in the shortest possible time!”

Following the Crown Prince’s orders, researchers and artisans had to rack their brains as well.

Amidst the ongoing deliberations, the one who found the answer was Jang Yeong-sil.

“Your Highness! There’s no need to change the typefaces one by one for textbooks, right?”

“That’s true, but?”

At Hyang’s response, Jang Yeong-sil spread out the blueprint he had brought on the table.

“Engrave the pictures and letters on a large cylinder, and then roll it over the paper!”

Upon seeing the blueprint drawn by Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang, Jeong-cho, and Jeong In-ji exclaimed in unison.

“This is it!”

It was primitive, but it was a printing press and method suitable for mass production.

And it was Jang Yeong-sil who had created it.

* * *

Based on Jang Yeong-sil’s blueprint, the researchers and artisans at the laboratory began creating a prototype.

– For convenience in production, the method of casting was used.

– For ease of transport and management, the cylinder engraved with characters was cut vertically, cast, and then assembled.

Following this plan, the researchers at the laboratory adjusted the size of the typefaces and the books. Jeong-cho was the most diligent in this process.

“Do you know what’s the most critical part to pay attention to?”

“Yes! The characters must not be split at the seam where the two parts join!”

Jeong-cho nodded in satisfaction at the researchers’ response but did not forget to emphasize again.

“Listen well! This is a textbook that will teach the future talents of our Joseon! It must be made with all your heart!”

“Yes!”

Satisfied with the researchers’ response, Jeong-cho left to attend to other matters.

After politely seeing Jeong-cho off, the researchers returned to their seats and murmured among themselves.

“Why is that gentleman so concerned about this?”

“Have you forgotten what you learned during your studies of Mencius? Don’t you know what’s written in ‘Mencius, The Part of Exerting One’s Utmost’?”

The one who asked the initial question blushed at his colleague’s rebuke.

The ‘Mencius, The Part of Exerting One’s Utmost’ contains the famous ‘Three Joys of a Gentleman.’

– The first joy is having both parents alive and siblings unaccused of crimes.

– The second joy is feeling no shame before the heavens above and before the people below.

– The third joy is obtaining the talents of the world and teaching them.

The story of the ‘Three Joys of a Gentleman’ circulated in connection with the Samin School. Hearing this story, Hyang murmured to himself.

“Come to think of it, this reminds me of my high school Korean teacher.”

* * *

In the 21st century, when Hyang was a high school student, his school mainly scheduled core subjects like language arts, math, and science in the morning.

The reasoning was that these key subjects should be taught when students’ minds were the clearest.

However, due to scheduling constraints, some classes were inevitably arranged after lunchtime.

As afternoon classes began, it was commonplace for many students to succumb to post-lunch drowsiness.

Every time the Korean language teacher, who was in charge of Hyang’s second year, saw this, he would click his tongue.

“There’s an old saying about the ‘Three Sorrows of a Gentleman’, and one of them is ‘teaching the dullards of the world’…Wake up, you lot!”

It wasn’t until Hyang was in his third year of high school that he realized ‘The Three Sorrows of a Gentleman’ was a play on ‘The Three Joys of a Gentleman’.

“I thought it was real!”

* * *

As prototypes were made and printing tests were repeatedly conducted, an optimal form gradually emerged.

Of course, working with steel was challenging, so most experiments had to be conducted using cylinders made by connecting wooden boards.

“Success!”

“Then let’s try it with steel!”

“Yes!”

On the day the first steel prototype was tested, even Hyang attended the experiment.

With a hissing sound, the steam engine connected to the roller with engraved typefaces started moving, and the large cylinder began to slowly rotate, pulling in the paper.

As the cylinder continued to turn, papers with printed characters and images began to emerge in a steady stream.

“Stop!”

“Stop!”

With another hiss, the steam engine stopped, halting the printing press, and Hyang, Jeong-cho, the researchers, and artisans examined the printed papers.

“It seems to have been printed correctly.”

“Yes, it was printed correctly!”

Once Hyang and Jeong-cho approved, the researchers and artisans burst into cheers and applause.

“Wow!”

“It’s a success!”

As the cheers and applause subsided, Hyang spoke up.

“Now, let’s properly set the typesetting and try it. Remember, both sides of the paper need to be printed without any errors in the sequence.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The artisans and researchers responded with uplifted spirits in loud voices.

After achieving successful results, Hyang turned to Jeong-cho and asked, “What should we name this new device and printing method?”

“Hmm…”

As Jeong-cho stroked his beard in thought, he soon seemed to have an appropriate name in mind and answered with a bright expression,

“Since it prints characters by turning a large wheel, how about calling it ‘Yunjeon (輪轉, wheel-turning)’? Since it’s a printing press, we could call it ‘Yunjeon-gi’.”

“That sounds good.”

‘Wait… Is this how a real rotary press works? Ah, never mind!’

Hyang irresponsibly made a quick decision after a brief moment of contemplation.

* * *

“Now that the textbook issue is sorted out…”

Having resolved the textbook problem, Hyang immediately tackled the next issue.

“We’ll need notebooks if we have textbooks… Especially for studying arithmetic, since it involves solving equations… But…”

Hyang paused for a moment and then sighed with a troubled expression,

“Sigh… The problem is the paper. If we make notebooks out of paper, pretty much all the mountains in Joseon will become bare. The person who insisted on afforestation projects causing deforestation? I’d deserve all the criticism.”

Although Hyang was adamant, Joseon traditionally invested effort in forest management. The problem was that this effort was limited to pine trees.

Therefore, Hyang advocated for systematic management that included not only pine trees but also fruit trees.

Convinced by Hyang’s argument, Sejong and the ministers established a ‘Forestry Department’ within the Ministry of Works to start active management.

While contemplating trees, Hyang’s thoughts drifted off again.

“Lush forests can reduce the damage from droughts… Wait a minute? Speaking of which, the current ratio of irrigated rice fields in Joseon seems surprisingly low.”

Hyang’s thoughts had seamlessly shifted to the issue of irrigated rice fields.

Indeed, during this period, Joseon had surprisingly few irrigated rice fields, not because the proportion was initially small, but because the irrigation works continuously conducted under Sejong’s direction had expanded the waterways, nearly eliminating irrigated fields in flat areas.

The terraced fields on mountain slopes that Hyang mentioned, commonly seen in the 21st-century Korean Peninsula, were those that couldn’t be farmed properly without powerful water pumps.

However, such terraced irrigated fields were scarce at this time.

Contemplating the reason, Hyang burst into a wry smile.

“Tigers are actually useful in times like these.”

During this era in Joseon, the mountains were home to not only tigers but also bears, leopards, and wolves. Thanks to these predators, unless one was in a situation of being eaten by a beast or starving to death, the effort to cultivate such terrains was almost non-existent.

“For there to be a need to cultivate to such an extent due to a lack of food, the population on this land would have to exceed 30 million. We’ve just barely surpassed 5 million, so it’s still a distant concern, and we’re already improving crop varieties and diligently developing the north, so there’s no worry there… If all else fails, we could explore the North American continent… But then we’d need to build steamships… The improvement of steam engines… The form of the propulsion system should initially be that of a paddle steamer?”

Hyang, who had been aimlessly wandering in his stream of consciousness, suddenly slapped his forehead.

“Oh no! I’ve gone too far!”

Realizing he had veered off course, Hyang hurriedly returned to the original topic.

“So notebooks are impractical right now… Then…”

After a moment of contemplation, Hyang reached a conclusion.

“Chalkboards are the answer. After all, the teachers needed large chalkboards for arithmetic lessons, and we can make small personal chalkboards to replace notebooks.”

Having concluded that chalkboards were the solution, Hyang chuckled.

“Ha! Does this mean homework checks are off the table for a while?”

* * *

The production of chalkboards was straightforward, allowing for the rapid completion of prototypes. Additionally, chalk was made using limestone, which was mined in large quantities for the production of cement.

“This seems quite useful!”

Sejong was greatly impressed upon seeing the prototypes of the chalkboards and chalk. The ministers shared his sentiment.

“This will be useful not only for teaching children but also for conducting meetings!”

“Not just for meetings. It will be beneficial for work processes as well!”

With overwhelming support from the ministers, mass production of chalkboards and chalk was decided.

Once again, items that diverged from the original history were created, marking a first in the world.

* * *

As the ministers predicted, the distribution of chalkboards made the court’s work more convenient. Large and small chalkboards were hung at the entrance of the Six Ministries’ offices, in meeting rooms, and in the offices where various officials worked.

At the entrance of the offices, the names and reasons of those who were on leave that day were recorded. In meeting rooms, officials wrote on the chalkboards during discussions, and in offices, the chalkboards listed who was doing what, facilitating smoother management.

Soon, merchants in the marketplace also started using chalkboards, writing down the products they handled and their prices on chalkboards hung at the entrances of their stores, allowing customers to easily check.

As chalkboards spread, communal dining halls in the Six Ministries and the palace also began to use them, posting daily menus outside the dining halls.

This led to various comical situations.

One day, in an office of the Ministry of Personnel,

“Look here, Steward Song.”

“Yes, Director Oh.”

“Did you see what’s for lunch today at the communal dining hall?”

“It’s rice with five-colored seasoned vegetables and tofu soybean soup.”

At Steward Song’s reply, Director Oh’s face soured.

“Damn it! Looks like I’ll have to eat out again today! What, did the cook get a beating from his wife? Why are all the side dishes just greens?”

At Director Oh’s complaint, Director Ko beside him made a joke.

“Why not go to the dining hall at Gyeongbokgung then?”

At Ko’s jest, Oh shouted back,

“Are you wishing to see me get indigestion and die from eating there?!”

The communal dining hall at Gyeongbok Palace was where Sejong and officials of higher rank than councilors dined.

Thanks to Sejong’s taste, the dining hall never lacked meat, and in principle, any official could dine there. However, among the officials below the rank of councilor, no one ventured to eat there.

1. Korea’s mulberry tree[↩]

2. Korean handmade traditional paper made of mulberry trees[↩]

Chapter 191
Teacher (3)

Meanwhile, the Samin School was continuously embroiled in controversy.

After the dispute over the eligibility criteria for children enrolling in the academy was resolved by King Sejong, another debate arose, this time over the term ‘Teacher’.

-The use of the term ‘Teacher’, especially the word ‘Sa (師, master/teacher)’, should not be taken lightly. Why does the phrase ‘The king, teacher, and father are one’ exist? It signifies the great grace of a teacher and their esteemed presence! Why is their presence esteemed? It is because their scholarship is exceptional, and they teach precious children! How then can we attach such a noble word as ‘Sa’ to those who teach, including teaching girls, whose origins we can hardly ascertain!

As petitions with such content were submitted, the ministers were outraged and appealed to King Sejong.

“Please punish those who dare to submit such insolent writings at once!”

The reason the ministers were incensed was that their grandchildren or great-grandchildren were enrolling in the newly established Samin School.

With the purging of extreme conservatives like Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the progress of reforms, the ministers’ perspectives had significantly evolved as they faced the realities of Joseon and its future challenges. That’s why they did not oppose when King Sejong mentioned the establishment of the Samin School. Moreover, they had actively advocated for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to enroll, fitting the term ‘Samin (four classes of people)’.

Even so, they could not tolerate being included among those ‘whose origins they did not know’.

At the ministers’ opposition, King Sejong sighed.

“Sigh. How soon after seeing blood do you wish to see it again? Am I a demon starved for blood?”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers immediately bowed their heads.

“Please forgive your subjects’ disloyalty!”

“Our thoughts were indeed short-sighted!”

“It’s alright. It’s understandable why you would say such things.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

Having dismissed the ministers’ mistakes, King Sejong looked at the petitions with a look of disdain and continued.

“These people are not malicious but foolish. They cram all standards of life into a small frame and pity those who cannot escape it. Hmm…”

King Sejong paused, pondering for a moment, then resumed.

“Such people dislike even the smallest loss to themselves. Listen well. Establish by law that the eligibility for entering the Intermediate Academy and Military Academy that will follow the Samin School is limited to those who have completed the Samin School, and make sure this is documented.”

“We shall obey your command!”

“Additionally, legislate that the royal family’s children also start their education at the Samin School.”

“Your Majesty… That is…”

As the ministers looked troubled, King Sejong spoke firmly.

“The royal family and the people are like fish and water. Without water, fish cannot live; without the people, the royal family cannot exist! Only by understanding the lives and hardships of the people from a young age can one be respected as a member of the royal family!”

Though King Sejong’s words were radical, they were justified, so the ministers had no choice but to accept them.

“We shall obey your command!”

Thus, what had been merely talk became established by law and documented.

King Sejong’s response did not end there. Not long after the petitions were submitted, King Sejong’s reply was posted on bulletin boards in government offices across the country.

-Many oppose the idea of calling those who discipline children at the Samin School ‘teachers’. However, such opposition is merely short-sighted, akin to the perspective of a frog in a well.

They question how the noble word ‘Sa’ can be attached to those who only teach basic academics to children. Yet, it is precisely these individuals who are fitting to be called ‘Sa’.

As stated numerous times before, the Samin School is not merely a place for teaching academics. It is where children are taught proper conduct and mindset, and how to live uprightly, and those who undertake this task are indeed worthy of the title ‘Sa’.

King Sejong’s reply was a direct criticism of the nobles who were nitpicking over the term ‘teacher’.

Faced with such criticism, the nobles had no choice but to remain silent.

Following the suppression of the Giyu Rebellion, King Sejong’s royal authority had reached its peak.

Of course, as the sayings go, ‘Even the full moon wanes’ or ‘Power does not last ten years,’ and ‘No flower stays in bloom for ten days,’ there would come a time when his power would diminish, but it was impossible to predict when that would be under the current circumstances.

This was because, aside from a very conservative minority of nobles, the vast majority of the people supported King Sejong at almost a ‘religious’ level.

As a result, the conservative nobles were reduced to venting their frustrations only in their private gatherings.

“In this land of Joseon nowadays, it’s impossible to find the teachings of the sages!”

“Indeed!”

“Speak up! It’s the end of times!”

Seeing the reaction of these conservative nobles, other nobles and the common people scoffed.

“Hmph! And what will you do about it? Start another rebellion?”

“If you were so dissatisfied, you should have joined in last year when everything blew up! Whether it led to success or failure! But instead, you all just watched quietly like mice… Tsk! Don’t go around calling yourselves nobles! You’re just bringing shame to the title!”

The conservative nobles faced criticism for a simple reason: their opposition was not genuinely based on Confucian principles.

They were criticized because they merely wanted to revert to the state before King Sejong’s reforms, not out of any principled stance.

Not long after King Sejong’s reply, an official proclamation from the court was posted on the bulletin boards.

-In line with the newly reformed court, the method of appointing officials will also change. This will be further announced in due course.

-Only those who have completed the Samin School course and subsequent courses will be eligible to take the upcoming civil service examinations.

In essence, this meant that those who had not attended the Samin School would be barred from entering officialdom. This effectively blocked the conservative nobles from entering politics.

“How is this any different from the tyranny of a dictator!”

The conservative nobles vented their frustration again, but that was the end of it.

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had observed the court meetings or heard about the public’s reaction through the eunuchs, shook his head disapprovingly.

“Conservatism is as necessary as progress. But these people are not conservatives; they are reactionaries.”

Thus, King Sejong resolved the issues surrounding the Samin School and the teachers.

“Some may criticize this as radical or dictatorial, but I hope they understand that this had to be done. I especially implore the Chief State Councillor and the Chief Scholar to understand.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers unanimously responded.

“Not at all. It was a justified decision!”

The specifically mentioned Chief State Councillor and Chief Scholar made it clear that they supported King Sejong.

“Enlightening the people is our duty. This is something even the ancient sages would have dreamed of. Opposing this goes against the sages’ wishes.”

“Their arguments cling to the trivial and fail to grasp the essence, so there’s no need for worry.”

“Thank you.”

King Sejong was genuinely grateful for the responses from the Chief State Councillor and the Chief Scholar. Their support meant that the supervisory officials were on his side, indicating that even the most troublesome figures were backing him.

* * *

While these events unfolded at the court, debates were also taking place in Changdeok Palace.

Those who had passed the first written exam and the second interview were residing in Changdeok Palace, undergoing their educational courses.

However, since the curriculum of the Samin School was unprecedented, the officials from the Ministry of Rites were also navigating this new territory for the first time.

As a result, most of the curriculum was being established through discussions between the Ministry of Rites, the officials, and the candidates.

During this process, the teaching materials created by Hyang received high praise from the candidates.

Seeing the Thousand Character Classic word cards made by Hyang for the education of Jinpyeong and Anpyeong[1] – who had received the title of Bonggun in the Gyeongsul year – the candidates were unanimous in their acclaim.

“These teaching materials are truly useful! If utilized well, they could make it much easier for children to learn the Thousand Character Classic.”

“Indeed. But who created these materials?”

At the candidate’s inquiry, an official from the Ministry of Rites answered with a proud expression.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. And he made them at the age of eight, no less, to teach his younger brothers, the princes.”

“Good heavens!”

The candidates were astonished by the official’s reply. Seeing their faces filled with disbelief, the official continued solemnly.

“Do not doubt it. Many have seen these materials. The rumors of His Royal Highness’s wisdom being not of this world are not just rumors, but reality.”

“Incredible…”

Most of the candidates were left speechless with their mouths agape. However, a few candidates with relatives working as bureaucrats in the court nodded in understanding.

They had seen and heard about their relatives, burdened with work due to the genius of King Sejong and his projects based on that genius.

Seeing such relatives, not a few had chosen the path of teaching rather than becoming officials, aiming to avoid such overwork.

Yet, even those who had chosen the path of teaching felt a foreboding sense upon seeing the teaching materials created by Hyang.

‘Surely, teachers won’t be overworked as well, right?’

* * *

Through these discussions, the method of educating children became more systematic.

It was natural for heated debates to arise as men and women of various ages from across the nation gathered to discuss their opinions.

Most debates found a consensus quickly, but some required significant time and energy to reach an agreement.

One of the fiercely debated topics was ‘corporal punishment’.

“It has been said since ancient times that ‘the more precious the child, the less one should spare the rod.’ Since teachers are not merely imparting knowledge but also disciplining children in place of their parents, we should not spare the rod!”

“That’s correct!”

“It’s not correct! I’m not saying we should never use corporal punishment, but indiscriminate physical discipline is worse than not using it at all!”

“Exactly! As children grow, they become stronger and bigger, but parents grow weaker with time. What happens then? The children no longer fear the rod! This leads to the worst outcomes!”

“I agree! The more one is beaten, the more accustomed one becomes to it! Once accustomed, one no longer fears the rod! If one doesn’t fear the rod, one won’t fear doing wrong. And if that happens, one won’t fear breaking the law! The rod should not be wielded too frequently!”

The candidates, drawing from their own life experiences and backgrounds, divided into two camps and engaged in intense debates.

Ultimately, it was Madam Cho, one of the eldest participants, who resolved the situation. Having come from Jeolla Province, Madam Cho spoke in a calm voice, sharing her thoughts.

“I have lived a bit longer than many of you here, so I’d like to offer some words based on my experiences. Would you listen?”

“We will listen attentively.”

As Madam Cho, who was honored with titles such as ‘Filial Wife’ and ‘Virtuous Woman’, began to speak, not only the candidates but also the officials from the Ministry of Rites fell silent and listened.

“Having lived for some time, I’ve had the chance to see children from my village grow up into adults. I’ve seen children from households that did not spare the rod, as some of you have mentioned. These children tended to grow up into two types. Some became the troublemakers of the village, causing disturbances because they no longer feared punishment, while others became subdued, like cattle, doing only as they were told without any thought of their own. Do you think such individuals would be beneficial to our country?”

Madam Cho’s words were gentle, yet they carried a profound weight.

1. Hyang younger brothers. These are their birth names[↩]

Chapter 192
Teacher (4)

As Madam Cho’s words came to an end, another person began to speak.

“The ancient sages, when teaching their disciples, did so through questions and discussions, not by corporal punishment, did they not? The point is not to abolish corporal punishment entirely, but to minimize it as much as possible. That, in fact, would be a more effective way to teach our children.”

The discussion continued for a while, but the consensus eventually leaned towards ‘minimizing corporal punishment.’

* * *

The next major debate revolved around the concepts of ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences.’ (Note 1)

The debate began with Madam Cho’s statement.

“It is my belief that teaching ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ indiscriminately is not appropriate.”

“Why do you think so?”

Many of the male participants were surprised by Madam Cho’s question, expressing shock on their faces.

It was unexpected because Madam Cho, known for her fidelity and virtue, was criticizing ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences.’

Responding to the question, Madam Cho calmly explained her reasoning.

“‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are not included in the ‘Three Bonds and Five Relationships’.”

“Really?”

* * *

The ‘Three Bonds and Five Relationships’, represent the three cardinal principles and five virtues that one must adhere to in Confucianism.

The Three Bonds are the relationships between ruler and subject, parent and child, and husband and wife, indicating the duties that must be upheld in each. The Five Relationships outline the ethical standards that one must follow as a human being.

* * *

Madam Cho continued in her usual composed tone.

“The reason I fulfilled my duties as a faithful wife and virtuous widow is because my late husband fulfilled his duties towards me. As the head of the family, he adhered to the principles of ‘The father is the model for his son)’ and ‘The husband is the support for his wife’, and he observed the ‘The distinction between husband and wife’ from the Five Relationships, ensuring that we respected each other’s boundaries. It was because he fulfilled his duties that I was able to fulfill mine.”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing Madam Cho’s words, many nodded in agreement, especially the virtuous widows and dutiful wives, who almost unanimously showed their assent. After taking a moment to collect her breath, Madam Cho continued.

“But what do we see in the capital today? How many are there who do not uphold human decency themselves yet demand it from their partners?”

At this, a few coughed awkwardly. Madam Cho, undeterred, pressed on with a pointed remark.

“Even the lowest of ruffians claim to uphold a code of honor. If they can do so, then insisting solely on ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ or ‘The Three Obediences’ in such times can only be harmful.”

“Honor, you say…”

“Though it may seem like a convoluted discussion, it all comes down to honor. The division of honor among parents, children, and spouses is what forms the basis of the ‘Three Bonds’ and ‘Five Relationships.’ Therefore, the most crucial task is to ensure a thorough education in these principles.”

Despite the controversy sparked by Madam Cho’s bold statements, the women largely held the upper hand. This was largely because most of the female attendees who supported Madam Cho were themselves recognized as virtuous widows and dutiful wives, providing a strong foundation for their stance. Additionally, these virtuous women had endured all manner of hardships to uphold their families’ honor, developing a resilience that was not easily matched by those who had merely pursued academic studies.

* * *

Ultimately, without an easy resolution in sight, the matter escalated to King Sejong.

The debate among the ministers who heard the story was no less intense. Surprisingly, the Chief State Councillor and the Chief Scholar came out in support of Madam Cho.

“It is only natural that the Three Bonds and Five Relationships should be upheld first! There is nothing wrong with Madam Cho’s words!”

“Indeed! Nowhere in the Three Bonds and Five Relationships are ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ mentioned!”

With the Chief State Councillor and the Chief Scholar, known for their stringent adherence to Confucian values, supporting Madam Cho, another voice added weight to their argument.

“As Madam Cho said, unless the duties represented by the Three Bonds and Five Relationships are fulfilled, ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ will only serve as shackles. This will turn into a greater poison in the distant future.”

Ultimately, King Sejong issued a formal decree.

– ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’, being adjuncts to the Three Bonds and Five Relationships, are not as crucial! Exclude this part!

“Sigh, does this reduce the potential for future criticism?”

Muttering to himself, recalling the gender debates of the 21st century, Hyang suddenly realized something he had forgotten.

‘Damn it! The textbooks need to be reprinted!’

* * *

However, King Sejong’s decision sparked immense controversy.

“Even if the world changes, ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are virtues that all women must uphold!”

“Indeed! We must inform His Majesty of this injustice!”

Not only the staunchly conservative scholars but also the more moderate conservatives were united in their opinion this time and began drafting petitions.

The uproar was not confined to the scholars.

Among the general populace, too, word spread, stirring similar sentiments.

“What’s this? Are we regressing to the Goryeo era?”

“Is it like the song from ‘Ssanghwajeom’ playing all over again?”

The lyrics of the song from ‘Ssanghwajeom’ went as follows: “I went to a dumpling shop and the Mongolian owner grabbed my wrist; I went to a temple and the head monk grabbed my wrist; I went to draw water from the well and the dragon of the well grabbed my wrist.” This metaphorically referred to sexual acts.

The song hinted at the promiscuous sexual culture of the time, leading many scholars to derogatorily refer to it as ‘words of mutual pleasure between men and women.’

One of the main criticisms that Neo-Confucian scholars founding Joseon had against Goryeo was this very licentious sexual culture.

In an effort to eradicate it, they sought out and honored virtuous widows and dutiful wives, promoting ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’.

“When the hen crows, the house will fall,” they say. “A woman should just listen to the man’s words at home…”

“Exactly. It seems the King has made a grave mistake this time.”

While the men murmured among themselves, the women also had their say.

“Oh really? What did His Majesty say? That the duties of humanity come first, right? And what are these men doing after the harvest? Drinking, gambling, and fooling around with women, and then they talk nonsense!”

“Acting all high and mighty when they can’t even keep their eyes off a pretty maid…”

* * *

During the agricultural off-season, many men would engage in gambling.

While some stayed at home making ropes or preparing for the next farming season, for the majority of peasants, spending their surplus time drinking and gambling was a routine part of the off-season.

This scene was also typical in the rural areas of South Korea in the 20th century, even before the military government initiated the Saemaul (New Village) Movement.

Following King Sejong’s decree, the incidence of gambling during the off-season decreased as people were mobilized for water management works. However, this had unintended consequences.

The wages earned from these public works projects became stakes for even larger gambling games.

The authorities were vigilant in cracking down on gamblers and peasants involved in these games, but gambling persisted stubbornly.

The homes of the scholars were no quieter. In fact, they were even more tumultuous.

The cause of the uproar was the issue of concubinage.

The issue of concubinage often led to discord, and the most effective tool to quell such disputes was based on ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’, encapsulated in the ‘Seven Grounds for Divorce’.(Note 2)

Indeed, compared to the later Joseon period, the status of women was relatively higher in the early Joseon era.

Divorce was more accessible compared to later times, and in matters of inheritance, sons and daughters had equal rights.

Yet, Sejong’s decision still faced significant backlash.

* * *

As the situation developed, even the ministers began to suggest a retraction of their stance quietly.

“Your Majesty, while Your Majesty’s intentions are undoubtedly just, it appears the timing may not be right. Might it be prudent to postpone this matter for now?”

To Chief State Councilor Lee Jik’s suggestion, King Sejong firmly shook his head.

“There will be no postponement.”

“But the circumstances…”

As Lee Jik faltered, King Sejong cut him off with a brief remark.

“If we always acted according to the current trends, the position of Chief State Councillor would still be held by the criminal Ryu Jeong-hyeon.”

“…”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers fell silent.

“What are the Three Bonds and Five Relationships? They are the most fundamental duties that a person must observe, the very essence. ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’, ‘The Three Obediences’? As I’ve said before, these are secondary. If the people do not adhere to the most basic duties, what use is there in enforcing these two?”

“…”

The ministers remained silent.

“How can a man who indulges in debauchery demand his wife to observe her duties, or a woman who engages with multiple men demand her husband to observe his? The most important are the Three Bonds and Five Relationships! It is only when the Three Bonds and Five Relationships are firmly established that we can proceed to the next steps!”

“…”

“Ah! Did Madam Cho not say it was about loyalty, not just duty? That is the correct answer! In life, one must have loyalty!”

No one among the ministers dared to counter King Sejong’s words.

While King Sejong’s statements were principled, they were undeniably correct.

Ultimately, King Sejong had to issue another royal proclamation.

– While ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are important, they are secondary. The primary and most essential duties that one must adhere to as a person are the Three Bonds and the Five Relationships. Merely reciting passages from the ‘Liji (Book of Rites)’ or the ‘Yili (Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial)’ without truly upholding these principles is akin to building a pagoda on sand!

Therefore, the most important teachings in the schools for the common people should be the Three Bonds and the Five Relationships!

This is because they represent the fundamental duties and loyalties that everyone must observe!

Faced with King Sejong’s firm response, the scholars had no choice but to remain silent.

“Continuing to argue will only make us look like the fools from last year.”

“The King was thought to be wise, but now it seems otherwise. Even if not now, he is creating a snare that will strangle future generations…”

* * *

The ministers shared a similar sentiment to the scholars.

At the Office of Royal Decrees, Heo Jo voiced his concerns with a worried tone.

“This matter is a great mistake by His Majesty. While there is no issue with His Majesty and the Crown Prince being wise, the future is concerning. If a successor to the throne lacks the necessary qualities, it will undoubtedly bring about great calamity.”

Listening silently to Heo Jo’s points, Maeng Sa-seong nodded and, looking towards Geunjeongjeon Hall, responded.

“Who wouldn’t know that? His Majesty must surely be aware of it too. The problem is that despite this, he persists in his stubbornness.”

* * *

Hyang was also aware of the issue.

“The foremost among the Three Bonds is the bond between ruler and subject… Father must be aware of this…”

Ultimately, Hyang sought an audience with King Sejong.

“What brings you here? It’s unusual for you to come to me first.”

“I apologize for the intrusion.”

“Alright, what’s the matter? But let me forewarn you, I have neither time nor budget to spare.”

A fleeting smile crossed Hyang’s face at King Sejong’s jest before fading.

“I’ve come to discuss the recent proclamation you issued, Father.”

“The proclamation? There were no errors in it, were there?”

As King Sejong continued to jest, Hyang’s tone became more serious.

“Father, surely you understand it’s not about typographical errors? While the Three Bonds and Five Relationships are fundamental duties, they could create a trap that might ensnare even a king.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong smiled and spoke.

“You’re referring to the bond between ruler and subject and the righteousness between them, aren’t you?”

“Why would you say that?”

Hyang’s expression grew even more serious, realizing that King Sejong had spoken with intention.

Despite Hyang’s earnest demeanor, King Sejong remained composed in his response.

“There are several reasons, but two stand out most prominently. The first is to liberate women from the shackles that bind them. For Joseon to progress further, we need more talented individuals. That means if a woman is talented, she must be recognized as such. However, those with vested interests find it hard to accept new entrants. When the time comes, those lacking in ability but full of greed will use ‘A Woman Must Follow Her Husband’, ‘The Three Obediences’, and the ‘Seven Detestable Sins’ to block progress. Even now, there are many women who bear the responsibility of providing for their households.”

“That makes sense.”

Hyang nodded in agreement with King Sejong’s point. It was common to see women taking on the role of breadwinner for their families due to war or disease. Even among those working in the palace, there were many such cases.

With Hyang convinced, King Sejong moved on to the second reason.

“The second reason is to prevent incompetent individuals from ascending to the throne of Joseon and ruling over it. As Ryu Jeong-hyeon said, no one can guarantee that tyrants like Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang will not emerge. Even if not a tyrant, if someone who can’t even uphold the Three Bonds and Five Relationships ascends to the throne, can Joseon truly be safeguarded? In such cases, the king must be replaced.”

King Sejong paused briefly, his gaze drifting into the distance.

“For the sake of the royal family, the people, and for Joseon itself, such individuals must not ascend to the throne.”

“Do you think the ministers have realized this?”

At Hyang’s question, King Sejong chuckled and replied.

“By now, they probably have some inkling. They are smart people, after all.”

* * *

After concluding the conversation with King Sejong and exiting the Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Hyang turned towards the Eastern Palace, then paused to look back in the direction of Gangnyeongjeon Hall, situated beyond Geunjeongjeon Hall.

After a moment of contemplation, Hyang shook their head in disbelief and turned away.

“Truly a formidable figure.”

* * *

Note 1: In the Confucian cultural sphere before modern times, this term refers to the moral norms specifying the status and roles of women. Known as the Three Obediences and Four Virtues.

Source: Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture

Note 2: A set of seven grounds from Confucian ideology during the Joseon Dynasty that justified a husband in divorcing his wife.

Source: Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture

Chapter 193
Fanaticism 2 (1)

As mentioned before, with the advent of the Gyeongsul year, Yong received the title of “Anpyeong” along with his fiefdom.

Having established his independence from the palace, he indulged in his passions within his own residence.

“Now, I can freely pursue the dreams I’ve had!”

His dream was to gather the itinerant troupes from all over Joseon and enjoy their performances.

As a child, having been utterly captivated by a performance by a local troupe, Anpyeong caused a stir with his fervent desire to join such a troupe.

To prevent this, not only the Queen Soheon but also King Sejong himself had to intervene with a disciplinary rod. However, Anpyeong’s stubbornness was unyielding.

“He says he can’t stoop to petty theft… What are we to do with him?”

Ultimately, unable to bear the Queen Soheon and King Sejong’s dilemma, Hyang stepped forward to coax Anpyeong.

“If you adhere well to the teachings of the royal tutors and achieve scholarly success, I will arrange for you to watch the troupes’ performances!”

Hyang’s persuasion worked wonders, and Anpyeong devoted himself to his studies.

Of course, Hyang’s coaxing wasn’t the end of it. Each time Anpyeong completed a classic text as part of his studies, Hyang would arrange a performance by a local troupe near Hanyang as a sort of reward.

Whenever such performances were held, the Queen Dowager Soheon among others from the palace joined to admire the troupe’s talents.

These performances served as a rare refreshment in the otherwise stifling palace life.

In any case, having received his fiefdom and gained independence, Anpyeong soon set about realizing his long-held desire.

“I shall see every itinerant troupe across Joseon!”

However, it was not feasible for Anpyeong to summon all the itinerant troupes from across Joseon just because he wished it.

The road conditions in Joseon were still poor at the time. As a result, the troupes were largely divided into major regions like Gyeonggi and Hoseo (Gyeonggi Province and Western Korea), Yeonghonam (Southern Korea), and Seodo (Hwanghae and Pyongan Provinces), with numerous large and small groups active within these regions.

As a result, Anpyeong was still plagued by an unquenched thirst. He had seen all the famous troupes from the Gyeonggi region, but he had not been able to see those from other regions.

“If they can’t come to me, why not go to them myself? Haven’t I already gained my independence?”

With his mind made up, Anpyeong soon packed his bags and set out to find the troupes.

As Anpyeong set off on his quest, the person who suffered the most was his wife, Lady Yeongil of the Jeong clan.

Having only recently married, she found herself living an unexpected widow’s life as her husband roamed outside.

* * *

Anpyeong’s unusual behavior quickly reached the ears of King Sejong.

“This rascal!”

Upon hearing the report, Sejong immediately sent for Anpyeong. However, upon learning that Anpyeong had gone to the southern provinces to watch a troupe’s performance, Sejong immediately dispatched a messenger to the Jeolla military camp.

– Send Anpyeong to Hanyang immediately upon finding him!

– To prevent any possible danger, ensure he is strictly guarded during the journey.

The true intent behind the second command was well understood by both King Sejong, who issued it, and the military governor of Jeolla, who received it.

– That scoundrel! We can’t let him slip away, so bind him tightly and send him back!

Upon receiving Sejong’s dispatch, the military governor of Jeolla sighed deeply.

“Sigh. They say the most challenging farming is raising children…”

Nevertheless, a royal command was a royal command. The military governor called his subordinate commanders and relayed the orders.

“Dispatch soldiers immediately to locate Prince Anpyeong!”

“Yes!”

Following the order, it took ten days before Anpyeong was finally apprehended. Upon receiving the report, the military governor chuckled and looked at his staff.

“People say our Joseon land is small, but it seems that’s not quite the case.”

“Indeed, sir.”

“Once the prince arrives, ensure he is escorted and sent to the capital without delay.”

* * *

Thus, Anpyeong was compelled to head to Hanyang. Of course, under the guise of ‘escort,’ a considerable number of cavalrymen surrounded Anpyeong and his servant.

“This is really something…”

Anpyeong clicked his tongue in disappointment, but there was nothing he could do. Meanwhile, the servant moving alongside him started trembling uncontrollably as they neared Hanyang, his face turning pale.

“Have you caught malaria? Why are you shaking so?”

“Your Highness! Aren’t you afraid at all?”

“Why would I be afraid… Wait a moment…”

Anpyeong’s face, which had been nonchalant at his servant’s words, turned serious.

‘Wait… Did he say it was a royal command?’

Realizing the gravity of the situation upon remembering the military governor’s mention of a royal command, Anpyeong understood he was in a predicament.

‘I suppose I did roam around quite a bit.’

Intuiting that he was in for a severe reprimand from Sejong upon his return to Hanyang, Anpyeong looked back at his servant.

“Seeing you shiver so, it seems you might indeed have caught malaria.”

“Me? But I feel perfectly fine, Your Highness.”

“Shh!”

Anpyeong urgently signaled his servant to be quiet and whispered softly.

“You’ve contracted malaria. Understand? You must insist that you have malaria.”

“Yes? Yes…”

With Anpyeong’s directive, the servant had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Upon entering Hanyang, Anpyeong selected one of the escorting cavalrymen to send to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

-The servant accompanying me has contracted malaria. There’s a risk of contagion, so I’ll wait a few days to assess the situation before entering the palace.

After sending the message through the cavalryman, Anpyeong directed his horse towards his residence.

“We’ve had a long journey here, so let me treat you to a meal. Come to my house with me.”

“If you insist…”

The commander of the cavalrymen nodded with a brightened face.

They had been camping out and eating dry rations on the journey due to the royal command to ascend to the capital as quickly as possible.

But being treated by a prince meant they could expect a decent meal, if not a feast of the finest delicacies.

As Anpyeong and the cavalry were heading towards Prince Anpyeong’s residence, the messenger horse sent to Gyeongbokgung returned.

“Here is a decree directly from His Majesty!”

Anpyeong took the sealed letter handed over by the cavalryman with courtesy, broke the seal, and pulled out the letter inside.

After reading the content, Anpyeong sighed deeply.

“Alas, it seems I must go to Gyeongbokgung after all.”

The letter’s message was straightforward.

-Stop the nonsense and come immediately!

“Tsk. It didn’t work…”

Clicking his tongue and grumbling, Anpyeong instructed his servant.

“Take them back and treat them to a meal.”

“What about you, sir?”

“I have to enter the palace.”

“Yes.”

After giving his instructions to the servant, Anpyeong courteously bowed to the cavalry commander, bidding him farewell.

“Follow the servant and have your meal first before you go. I appreciate your efforts during this time.”

“Not at all. Thank you.”

* * *

“You rascal!”

As soon as he saw Anpyeong, Sejong roared in anger.

“What are you doing wandering around after having established your own household!”

“I am deeply sorry.”

“At a time when you should be contemplating how to contribute to the country as a prince of Joseon, you waste time and resources chasing after troupes! Such recklessness!”

“I am deeply sorry!”

Anpyeong had to bow his head and seek forgiveness under Sejong’s scolding.

After a long reprimand, Sejong came to a conclusion.

“Had it been before you received your fiefdom, I would have taken the rod to you, but it’s regrettable that I cannot do so now that you have been granted one and are independent! I command the royal secretariat! Issue an order immediately to the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Palace Affairs Bureau to cut the provisions allocated to Anpyeong’s palace by half!”

“Your Majesty!”

Anpyeong, realizing the funds for his indulgences were being cut, called out to Sejong in a pitiful voice. However, Sejong was resolute.

“All the wealth you’ve squandered comes from the hard-earned taxes of the people! It’s unforgivable to waste such precious resources in this manner! Go back and reflect on your actions!”

“Yes…”

Anpyeong had to withdraw with a gloomy expression, following Sejong’s command.

Months later, a new report about Anpyeong was brought to Sejong. Upon receiving the report, Sejong clasped the back of his neck in frustration.

“Ah, this wretched boy!”

According to the report submitted by the audit office, Anpyeong was still wandering in search of troupes. It was only natural that his household became impoverished with the reduction of his stipend. Ultimately, Anpyeong’s wife, Lady Yeongil of the Jeong clan, had to speak to her family to borrow food and funds to sustain their household.

“Bring this rascal to me at once!”

Hyang, who heard the rumor while working in Area 51, shook his head in dismay.

“This is serious…”

As he continued to shake his head, Hyang stood up.

“It seems I must intervene after a long time. After all, according to the history before my regression, this younger brother of mine will be a strong shield for me; I must nurture him…”

“I will attempt to resolve Anpyeong’s issue.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong was delighted.

“That’s right! We have the Crown Prince! Since you resolved it last time, I’ll trust you to handle it this time as well!”

“I will do my utmost.”

* * *

Having received Sejong’s permission, Hyang intercepted Anpyeong as soon as he was brought in, taking him straight to the Eastern Palace.

“What a sight you are~.”

At Hyang’s short but potent remark, Anpyeong immediately bowed his head.

“Your Highness…”

“Do you realize your wrongdoing?”

“I am deeply sorry.”

“What have you to be sorry for to me? You should apologize to your wife. Due to your reckless handling of household affairs, her family had to intervene. How disgraceful is it for a prince of Joseon?”

With Hyang’s reprimand, Anpyeong’s head drooped even lower towards the ground.

“Tsk!”

At Anpyeong’s demeanor, Hyang clicked his tongue lightly and continued.

“I’m well aware that since your childhood, you’ve had a fondness for the plays of itinerant troupes. But tell me, what remains after you watch those plays?”

“What remains? What do you mean by that?”

“What else stays with you besides the memories?”

“Well…”

Anpyeong hesitated, unable to find a response. While the troupe’s performance unfolded, bringing laughter and joy, all worries seemed to vanish. But once the show ended, a sense of emptiness prevailed. Of course, his mind was filled with the various feats and sounds exhibited by the troupes, but that was all there was to it.

“You’re aware that various rumors are circulating about your behavior, aren’t you?”

“Yes, there are talks of me shaving my head and retreating to the mountains…”

“You know of them then.”

Faced with Hyang’s reproach, Anpyeong could only bow his head.

* * *

Until the early Joseon period, itinerant troupes had a strong Buddhist influence.

The term ‘society hall’ used for these troupes originated from the Goryeo period, denoting the ritual performances conducted by shamans for the nation’s well-being. Over time, these society halls adopted Buddhist influences.

Thus, watching the performances of these troupes would often involve a head monk or a master leading the recitation of Buddhist prayers and conducting water and land rites. However, as time passed, these rituals evolved into traveling theater performances, incorporating various skills and musical elements, altering their original character.

Therefore, amidst the still prevalent Buddhist influences in the itinerant troupes’ performances, there were rumors among both the common people and the ministers that Anpyeong, who was deeply immersed in these plays, might take refuge in Buddhism.

The ministers’ worries were not unfounded, given the precedent set by King Sejong’s brother, Prince Hyoryeong. Although Prince Hyoryeong had not fully entered monkhood, the emergence of a royal family member deeply engrossed in Buddhism was a serious concern for the Confucian ministers.

* * *

“I have absolutely no intention of becoming a monk!”

To Anpyeong’s protest, Hyang nodded lightly and continued.

“I would think not. I know your character well enough not to worry about that. That’s why I’m suggesting…”

Hyang paused for a moment and looked directly at Anpyeong. As Hyang stopped speaking, Anpyeong turned his gaze towards his older brother.

‘His Highness will have some solution!’

Recalling his own experiences and the actions Hyang had taken in the past, Anpyeong looked at Hyang with hopeful eyes.

Observing Anpyeong, Hyang broached the main subject.

“How about you take on the task of documenting and organizing the plays and music of the itinerant troupes?”

“Excuse me?”

* * *

Note 1) Korean Folklore Encyclopedia, entry on Itinerant Troupes.

Chapter 194
Fanaticism 2 (2)

Surprised by the unexpected suggestion, Anpyeong momentarily experienced cognitive dissonance, prompting Hyang to explain in more detail.

“Starting with the music and dances of the sadangpae[1], we will record the music and dances of the gisaeng, as well as the music and dances of the common people.”

“For what reason?”

“How much do we really know about the music and dances enjoyed by our ancestors?”

Prompted by Hyang’s question, Anpyeong, after a moment of reflection, responded.

“Hardly anything, Your Highness.”

“Indeed. Then will our distant descendants, a few hundred years from now, know what we did and played, what songs we sang?”

Anpyeong fell into silent thought at Hyang’s inquiry.

‘I think I grasp the gist of His Highness’s words, but… ’

Realizing the significance of Hyang’s proposal, Anpyeong pondered it seriously.

After a long contemplation, Anpyeong looked at Hyang.

“The ministers and the nobility may disapprove, Your Highness.”

“Why? They diligently record their own poems, writings, and deeds in books, do they not? Are they the only people of Joseon?”

“Certainly not, Your Highness.”

“It’s not just the scholars who are the people of our Joseon. Shouldn’t we also record the lives of other citizens?”

Prompted by Hyang’s words, Anpyeong was once again lost in thought. However, unlike before, the negative aura on his face gradually dissipated.

After much deliberation, Anpyeong finally made up his mind.

‘That’s right! If I enjoy it alone, it ends with me, but if I record it, dozens, hundreds, thousands of people will know about it! This is also the work of a scholar!’

Anpyeong, determined, looked at Hyang.

“Though I am lacking, I shall undertake this task, Your Highness.”

“Good!”

Hyang clapped his hands lightly and moved on to the next point.

“To record and organize properly, you need experience. As it happens, Park Yeon, the judge of the Bongsangsi (Office of Music), is in charge of organizing the music used in the palace. Gain experience by helping him.”

“Yes?”

“Since he is exceptionally talented in the musical arts, he will be of great help when you undertake your own tasks later. It’s mutually beneficial, right?”

“Yes, yes. Then I will work alongside him.”

“I will speak to His Majesty and arrange a position for you, so wait a little while.”

“Yes.”

Anpyeong, after finishing his conversation with Hyang, continued to tilt his head.

“Why do I feel so uneasy?”

* * *

On the other hand, Hyang, who had entrusted Anpyeong with the task, went straight to Sejong.

“…Thus, I humbly ask Your Majesty to allow Anpyeong to learn under Park Yeon.”

As soon as Hyang’s words ended, Sejong immediately replied.

“Granted!”

As soon as Sejong’s decision was made, Heo Jo, the Minister of Personnel, stepped forward and objected.

“Your Majesty! The Grand Prince’s rank is First Senior Grade. Park Yeon’s rank is only Fifth Senior Grade Judge. How can a First Senior Grade superior work under a Fifth Senior Grade as a subordinate?”

Sejong pondered for a moment at Heo Jo’s point, then quickly came to a conclusion.

“Until Park Yeon’s work is finished, Anpyeong will retain his newly rank as Fifth Junior Grade Assistant Director. The Ministry of Personnel shall announce the corresponding personnel changes.”

Heo Jo had no choice but to bow his head at Sejong’s command.

“I obey your command.”

This was because even Heo Jo thought Sejong’s order was extremely fair.

And so, in the fourth month of the year Gyeongseul, Anpyeong entered Park Yeon’s service and became engrossed in the task of organizing the Aak[2].

[TL/N: Aak musicians]

* * *

It was six years ago that Park Yeon was entrusted with the organization of the Aak.

In the sixth year of Sejong’s reign, Sejong issued an order to his ministers.

“The music used in the court needs to be organized. Recommend suitable candidates.”

At Sejong’s command, the ministers recommended Park Yeon. Sejong, accepting the ministers’ recommendation, appointed Park Yeon as the head of the Office of Music.

“I order you to organize the musical scale.”

“I obey your command!”

Park Yeon, having received Sejong’s command, devoted himself wholeheartedly to the task.

Park Yeon checked the items needed to organize the musical scale and made a report to the Ministry of Rites.

The Ministry of Rites, after reviewing Park Yeon’s report, immediately submitted the report to Sejong.

- The musical styles are scattered indiscriminately in the classics and historical records, making them difficult to access.

- No one possesses the Munheontonggo, Jin’s Treatise on Music Theory[3], Compendium of Du[4], or Music in the Rites of Zhou[5], making it very difficult to study music theory privately.

- Therefore, the current musical scale is in danger of being lost.

- To solve this problem, one scholar will be assigned to compile a book of music. The melodies of Hyangak[6], Aak, and Dangak[7] will be examined, and the instruments and musical notation will be compiled.

- The compiled book will be printed, and one copy will be kept in the palace, and one copy each will be kept in the Ministry of Rites, the Office of Music, the Office of Music Practice, and the Office of Aak. (Note 1)

“The Ministry of Rites’ request is reasonable.”

After reading the report submitted by the Ministry of Rites, Sejong immediately accepted their request.

Accordingly, Park Yeon, while serving as the head of Aak’s Music, was granted the position of Judge of the Office of Music and was put in charge of organizing the Aak. The reason for this was because the Office of Music was responsible for managing the musical instruments.

Thus, six years passed, and in February of this year, Park Yeon made another suggestion.

In his petition, Park Yeon argued that the instruments and music used in ceremonies should be restored to their old standards.

“Judge Park Yeon is right.”

With Sejong’s decision, Park Yeon began to move more actively.

It was in this situation that Anpyeong came to work under Park Yeon.

* * *

“I have come to work with you by royal decree. Please take care of me.”

“I have received the royal decree. Are you sure it is okay for you to work under me?”

Park Yeon’s attitude towards Anpyeong was very stiff.

This was because he had been doing everything on his own, and now, out of nowhere, an outsider, and a Grand Prince at that, had come in.

“It doesn’t matter. I am just a Fifth Junior Grade Assistant Director now.”

To Anpyeong’s answer, Park Yeon immediately replied.

“I see. Then let’s get started right away.”

‘Huh?’

Anpyeong was momentarily taken aback by the sudden change in Park Yeon’s attitude.

“What are you doing! Are you planning to stay up all night!”

“Ah… Yes, no, I’m going!”

At Park Yeon’s words, Anpyeong quickly followed after him.

* * *

Even after that, Park Yeon continued to treat Anpyeong without any regard for his rank.

To Park Yeon, who had received the royal decree, Anpyeong was not a Grand Prince. He was simply a subordinate official who was supposed to faithfully carry out his orders.

Hyang, who heard about this situation through the eunuchs, muttered to himself.

“Isn’t this like a drama I saw in the 21st century? A capable executive who treats the heir of a conglomerate who parachuted in like a spoiled child. The only difference from the drama is that in the drama he is the heir, but here he is far from the heir. But isn’t he being too obvious about it?”

Even though he was far from the line of succession, Anpyeong was still Sejong’s legitimate son.

No matter how fair Sejong was, if he made a single mistake, Park Yeon would fall from grace.

However, Park Yeon demonstrated his abilities without reservation.

When Park Yeon made and presented a Seokgyeong (stone chime, one of the instruments of Aak), Sejong said this:

“People say that Park Yeon knows nothing about the world and only knows music, but that is not true. Park Yeon is a scholar who is also proficient in worldly affairs.” (Note 1)

This was how much Park Yeon was trusted by Sejong.

In the end, all Hyang could do was call Anpyeong, who was leaving, and offer him some words of comfort.

“I heard you’ve been having a hard time lately. But don’t give up and keep working hard. Then, you will be able to do your job properly later, right?”

To Hyang’s words, Anpyeong answered with a strong voice.

“Your Majesty doesn’t have to worry! There are not many days when I don’t learn something new these days!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Little by little, I’m starting to see what I need to do!”

Hyang patted Anpyeong’s shoulder with a pleased expression on his face at Anpyeong’s strong appearance.

To Hyang, he was just a child who had suffered a stroke of luck, but even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Anpyeong was considered one of the greatest writers of early Joseon.

It was not uncommon for envoys from Ming to visit Anpyeong and ask him to write for them, and he was so famous as a calligrapher that even the emperor of Ming was impressed. He was also a talented artist who was proficient in instruments such as the gayageum.

As Anpyeong was rigorously trained by Park Yeon, his professional abilities were developing rapidly.

This became a catalyst for Park Yeon to accelerate his work on organizing the Aak.

* * *

After seeing Anpyeong diligently handling his work, Hyang went to the Crown Princess.

“I’m sorry, but could you please take care of Anpyeong’s wife?”

“Are you referring to Grand Prince Anpyeong’s wife?”

“Yes. It’s good that this child has made up his mind and is working hard, but he’s working too hard. It hasn’t been long since they got married, and Anpyeong’s wife is constantly alone, isn’t that a pity? It is said that peace in the family leads to peace between brothers, so I would like you to please take some trouble, Crown Princess.”

At Hyang’s words, the Crown Princess nodded her head gently.

“I will do as you say. Grand Prince Jinpyeong’s wife also comes often, so the two of them will get along well.”

“Yes. That’s good. Let’s call it a day.”

* * *

In a gathering where the wives of Jinpyeong and Anpyeong were also present, talk turned to their respective husbands.

After talking about their husbands for a while, the Crown Princess sighed softly and muttered.

“How can the three brothers be so alike…”

“Indeed.”

At the Crown Princess’s words, not only Hyang’s concubines, Yangje and Yewon, but also Jinpyeong and Anpyeong’s wives nodded their heads.

Of course, Hyang, as well as Jinpyeong and Anpyeong, were all living a life of ‘practicing virtues’.

Jinpyeong’s wife, who had been nodding her head at the Crown Princess’s words, let out a long sigh and complained.

“At least His Highness the Crown Prince and Grand Prince Anpyeong maintain some semblance of decorum. But looking at my husband, it seems like the railroad is his main wife, and I am just a concubine.”

“Oh dear…”

At the tearful complaint, the Crown Princess felt genuinely sorry.

* * *

Jinpyeong’s life, having become a ‘train fanatic’, was literally a life ‘of the railroad, by the railroad, for the railroad’.

He spent most of his time participating in railroad-related experiments at the research institute and Area 51, and whenever he had a free moment, he would travel all over Joseon to investigate ‘railroad construction sites’.

Jinpyeong’s horsemanship and martial arts skills were excellent, but it was also all thanks to the ‘railroad’.

In the case of horsemanship, it was for the purpose of moving quickly and conveniently when investigating areas where railroads were being laid or planned.

The same was true for martial arts.

Although he had to learn martial arts according to the royal code, his training had a different purpose.

Hyang asked Jinpyeong why he was learning not only the traditional archery, swordsmanship, and hand-to-hand combat, but also musketry and spear fighting.

Jinpyeong’s answer to Hyang’s question was simple.

“As I travel around to lay railroads, there may be times when I encounter wild animals or bandits. This is in preparation for those times.”

“…I see. Work hard.”

Hyang, who had encouraged him and turned back, muttered with a troubled expression.

“If I think about my brother, this is something he should like. But why… do I feel like I’ve lost a perfectly good child?”

* * *

Perhaps because they shared similar sorrows and pains, the Crown Princess, the concubines, and the wives of Jinpyeong and Anpyeong quickly bonded.

The women who had grown close enjoyed having tea together, shooting arrows at the archery range, and indulging in musketry.

Eventually, even the princesses began to join their circle.

Hyang, upon receiving the report, scratched his head and muttered,

“Are we going to end up creating a Gyeongbokgung Mafia at this rate?”

* * *

Anpyeong carried out his duties vigorously. As a result, Park Yeon began to trust him more, gradually entrusting him with more responsibilities.

However, during this process, a rift began to form between Anpyeong and Park Yeon.

The cause was their differing views on court music, including Aak, Hyangak, and Dangak.

* * *

Note 1) A Comprehensive Read of the Annals of King Sejong. The Park Yeon Section. Authored by Park Young-kyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.

1. A group of masked dancers who perform at village shrines and festivals.[↩]

2. Traditional Chinese court music.[↩]

3. A book on music theory written by Chen Yang (陳暘) during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279).[↩]

4. Also known as the Comprehensive Compendium of Du You, it is an encyclopedia compiled by Du You (杜佑) during the Tang dynasty (618–907).[↩]

5. A section of the Rites of Zhou (周禮), a classic Chinese text on禮 (lǐ), or ritual and propriety.[↩]

6. Korean indigenous music[↩]

7. Traditional Korean court music[↩]

Chapter 195
Fanaticism 2 (3)

“Hoo~, another day is over.”

After stretching his arms, Hyang tidied up the papers in his office and stepped outside.

Hyang got on the horse that the eunuch had brought for him and waved to the cavalrymen and eunuchs waiting in front.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

* * *

“Hmm… It’s quiet and peaceful.”

Hyang, who was now free to look around thanks to his horse knowing the way, muttered as he looked at the surrounding scenery.

As Hyang said, the journey from Area 51 back to Gyeongbokgung Palace was peaceful.

* * *

After the Malbok incident, there had been several more cases of geukjeong (striking a bell or gong to appeal for justice). However, at the suggestion of the ministers, who pointed out that it could be a safety issue if such incidents occurred while Sejong was away, a new office was created to receive petitions.

The creation of this new office had the biggest impact on the Law Prohibiting Commoners from Accusing Local Officials.

The Law Prohibiting Commoners from Accusing Local Officials, which stated that “commoners cannot accuse the local officials who govern them,” had been the subject of numerous petitions calling for its abolition.

“Even if the corrupt officials do something wrong, we cannot report it, so please abolish the law!”

Petitions with similar content continued to be submitted, but Sejong never accepted them.

“The sages said that the military and the people are one! The local officials are those who have gone out to carry out my will! Just as it is not right for a child to criticize his parents, it is also not right to criticize them!”

Sejong rejected each petition with these words.

The reason Sejong was so strongly opposed to it was because he saw allowing citizens to accuse local officials as a weakening of the royal authority.

The vast majority of those who could write such petitions were the local literati.

The biggest reason why these local literati wrote petitions was to weaken the power of the local officials and protect their own interests.

Thus, the Buminkosogeumjibeop, which had been maintained by Sejong’s strong will, was gradually losing its effectiveness as the reforms progressed.

At least the Office of Monopoly[1] of the Ministry of Taxation, which was deployed at least at the military unit level, was a major institution that checked the local officials in addition to its assigned tasks.

The Household Register and Land Register that were placed in the local government offices had to be copied and kept at the Office of Monopoly.

In addition, inspectors regularly went down to check if the contents of the Hojeokdaejang and Tojidaejang held by the two institutions were the same.

Another reason was that the power of the local literati had greatly declined due to the Giyu Rebellion that took place the previous year.

Finally, in the year Gyeongsul, Sejong officially abolished the Law Prohibiting Commoners from Accusing Local Officials.

“It is the duty of the king to listen to the appeals of the people, and it is only natural to do so. However, those who falsely accuse local officials for their own gain will be punished for the crime of deceiving the king.”

Sejong, who posted proclamations throughout Joseon, established an independent department in the government office where each provincial governor stayed to receive petitions.

The task of this department was to transcribe the petition in two parts as soon as it was received, send one part to the governor and the other to Hanseong.

In addition, a receipt with a date was always issued to the petitioner.

The governor who received the petition reviewed the contents of the petition and made a fair judgment, and reported the result to the petitioner and Hanseong.

If the petitioner could not accept the result, he could go directly to Hanseong to appeal.

At this time, the first thing those who received the appeal in Hanseong checked was the receipt that the appellant brought.

With the date and petition number recorded on the receipt, the officials of the reception office checked the reports that came up from the local area.

If there was any omission in this process, it was a serious crime that could cost the governor his life.

If everything was in order, the appellant’s appeal was immediately sent to Sejong and the ministers.

Then, the answer was given after coordinating the opinions of Sejong and the ministers.

At this point, the appellant accepted the result regardless of the outcome.

It was the king’s judgment.

It was only natural that Hyang’s influence was felt in this whole process.

By introducing the double-check process, which was the most basic in the 21st century, the possibility of fraud was greatly reduced.

Of course, when Hyang first proposed the idea, the ministers opposed it, saying that it would increase the workload of the officials.

However, Sejong accepted Hyang’s opinion as it was.

“The officials may say it is difficult, but it is right to do so because it will reduce the injustice of the people.”

Thanks to this, the number of people who filed complaints or appealed to the court decreased, and Hyang’s commute to and from work became quieter.

* * *

It was quiet on the streets of Hanseong because it was late at night.

Looking at the quiet street, Hyang turned his head and spoke to the eunuch who was following him.

“It’s too quiet. Wouldn’t it be interesting if someone came out and blocked our way?”

At Hyang’s words, the eunuch spoke his mind without realizing it.

“That must never happen! Oh!”

The eunuch, who realized his mistake, looked at Hyang with a terrified expression. Hyang burst out laughing at his reaction.

“Haha! That’s right! Such a thing must never happen! I was just joking! Sorry!”

As Hyang laughed it off, not only the eunuch in question, but also the other eunuchs and the soldiers of the Royal Guard who were guarding him let out a small sigh of relief.

* * *

Hyang, who had thus returned safely to Gyeongbokgung Palace, immediately went to Sejong and reported his return.

After a brief conversation with Sejong, Hyang went to Queen Soheon and repeated the same thing.

Having thus concluded the day in accordance with etiquette, Hyang headed for the Eastern Palace with the eunuchs.

Walking towards the Eastern Palace, Hyang saw a young official standing around at the entrance of the palace and focused his eyes. Soon, after confirming the identity of the official, Hyang tilted his head.

“Hmm? Isn’t that Anpyeong?”

Anpyeong, who had been standing around at the entrance of the Eastern Palace, approached and bowed his head as soon as Hyang recognized him.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“What are you doing here at this late hour? Are you working overtime?”

“That is not the case.”

“Then you are leaving work. Why are you here?”

At Hyang’s question, Anpyeong looked around for a moment and then spoke quietly.

“I have something I would like to ask Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

Hyang looked at Anpyeong closely, unable to understand his words. Seeing Anpyeong’s serious face, Hyang soon began to walk.

“Let me hear what it is.”

Hyang and Anpyeong entered Hyang’s study and sat down facing each other across the desk.

“Bring us some tea,” Hyang said to the eunuch.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After a while, the eunuch brought teacups and Hyang spoke first.

“So, what is it?”

As Hyang spoke first, Anpyeong sighed deeply.

“Hoo~.”

“What is it? Just tell me.”

At Hyang’s urging, Anpyeong opened his mouth cautiously.

“I don’t think it’s proper for a scholar to criticize his superiors without reason, but…”

As Anpyeong continued to hesitate, Hyang pointed out the problem first.

“Is it about Magistrate Park Yeon?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang’s face also became serious at Anpyeong’s answer.

Since Anpyeong was involved, Hyang had also heard various rumors about Park Yeon.

According to the rumors, Sejong’s trust in Park Yeon was considerable.

In addition, he was so capable that he was scheduled to be promoted from a 5th-rank magistrate to a 4th-rank junior councilor soon.

“What’s the problem with Magistrate Park? Is there a problem with his character?”

After hesitating for a moment, Anpyeong finally opened his mouth.

“He has a narrow perspective.”

“A narrow perspective? Explain it in more detail.”

“Yes. That is…”

Anpyeong told Hyang about Park Yeon’s “narrow perspective”.

To summarize Anpyeong’s story, Park Yeon looked down on all music other than Aak.

No, he didn’t just look down on them; he ignored them as if they had no value.

At that time, Joseon music was divided into the Left and Right Music Bureaus. The Left Music Bureau was Aak, and the Right Music Bureau was Hyangak and Dangak.

Aak, which Park Yeon claimed was “the only music,” was originally the music of ancient China.

This Aak was brought in from Song during the reign of King Yejong of Goryeo and was used for royal events.

So Park Yeon went through the classical Chinese sources to create reference materials, and based on those materials, he created Aak instruments and Aak scores.

Park Yeon’s goal was to return to the original Aak as described in the Chinese classics, that is, the Aak played in the Zhou Dynasty.

“Hmm…”

Hyang listened to Anpyeong’s explanation and pondered with a serious face.

‘So… in simple terms, they’re fighting over whether it’s bibimbap or tteokbokki, but originally it was bibimbap that could only be eaten in a restaurant, so it’s like saying that neither bibimbap nor tteokbokki is tangsuyuk?’

Hyang, who had sorted out the situation in his own way, became even more worried.

‘But come to think of it… this doesn’t make sense… According to my memories of studying Korean history in middle and high school, Park Yeon’s achievements were to organize Aak and lay the foundation for Joseon’s unique music. Is this also my influence?’

Hyang, who was becoming more and more worried about the story that was so different from what he had learned, raised his head and looked out the window to cool his head.

As Hyang looked around, he saw the roof of Geunjeongjeon and fixed his gaze on it.

After a while, a smile began to spread across Hyang’s face.

‘That old man is there!’

Hyang, whose face had become much warmer, turned to Anpyeong.

“Park Yeon’s narrow perspective will soon be broadened.”

At Anpyeong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“No, I’m not good at music. Someone much better than me will come forward.”

“Someone better than Your Highness…”

Anpyeong’s face brightened as he pondered Hyang’s answer.

“That’s right! There’s Father!”

As Anpyeong’s face brightened, Hyang continued.

“So, go back and do your best.”

“Yes!”

As Anpyeong, whose face had brightened, turned to leave, Hyang muttered to himself, looking at Geunjeongjeon.

“I’m just… a cheater, but the fact that that old man is literally out of bounds is scary.”

* * *

‘Let’s perfectly restore the Aak described in the Zhou dynasty’

Park Yeon, who set this goal and worked hard, reported the results to Sejong.

“This is truly wonderful! It seems that your hard work has paid off!”

At Sejong’s praise, Park Yeon bowed his head and replied.

“I am overwhelmed by your praise.”

“So, what’s next?”

“Yes. I suggest that we use only Aak for all royal and Confucian ceremonies and sacrifices.”

“Use only Aak? You mean we shouldn’t use Hyangak and Dangak?”

At Sejong’s question, Park Yeon made a puzzled expression and asked back.

“Isn’t that obvious? Although it has not been fully restored yet, the Aak of the Zhou Dynasty has been restored, so why would we use inferior things like Hyangak or Dangak…”

“Your thinking is wrong.”

Sejong cut off Park Yeon’s words with a stern expression.

“Aak is originally not the sacred music of our country, but that of China. The Chinese people would be used to hearing it, so it would be natural to play Aak at sacrifices. However, our people always listen to Hyangak while they are alive, so wouldn’t it be strange for them to hear Aak when they die?”

Sejong paused for a moment and looked around at Park Yeon and the ministers before continuing.

“Officer Park Yeon wants to correct the music of the court, but doing it right is not easy. Even the ‘New Book of Music and Lü’ (written by Cai Yuanzheng of the Song Dynasty) is just a formality. Although our music cannot be said to be perfect, we do not necessarily have to be ashamed of it. Can we say that Chinese music is correct?”

The ministers nodded at Sejong’s words.

This was because if Chinese music books like the New Book of Music and Lü were properly written, there would have been no need for Park Yeon to do the restoration work.

After that, Park Yeon continued to be rejected by Sejong and had to reorganize the music.

In another sense, he too was beginning to be divided in his principles.

1. Jeonmaecheong Office of Monopoly (전매청) was a government agency during Korea’s Joseon dynasty that held legal monopolies over specific goods and services.[↩]

Chapter 196
The Beginning of Spring (1)

Year 1430, Spring

With the arrival of spring, Joseon once again buzzed with activity. Various sectors that formed the backbone of the economy were growing rapidly in the wake of the Land Reform. However, agriculture still remained the mainstay of the economy, and rice cultivation was its cornerstone.

As the full-fledged planting season began, all corners of Joseon gradually began to stir. In the aftermath of the Giyu Rebellion, Joseon’s rural areas had started to undergo subtle changes.

The most significant change was the marked increase in the number of regions implementing land consolidation.

The state of Joseon’s agricultural land made land consolidation an absolute necessity. When Hyang first saw the rice paddies of Joseon, she could only mutter, “Is this some kind of giant puzzle…?”

For Hyang, who had only seen neatly organized fields resembling checkerboards in the 21st century where mechanized farming was commonplace, this was a natural reaction. However, there was a reason for this state of affairs.

Two-thirds of the Korean peninsula is mountainous. People lived on the remaining third, the plains, where they cultivated farmland and built their homes. The ownership of farm roads of each household varied, which inevitably led to the irregular shapes of the fields and plots.

This situation inevitably led to problems. The biggest problem was land management. The fields were so intertwined that it was almost impossible to manage farm roads, irrigation canals, and drainage ditches. As a result, it was impossible to use carts on the narrow farm roads, and disputes over agricultural water were commonplace.

Of course, the countries of the Korean peninsula had not given up on solving this problem. However, due to various issues such as manpower mobilization and ownership disputes related to land consolidation, they had not seen much success.

Joseon was no exception.

In 1419, the governor of Go-bu County and the governor of Jeolla Province petitioned to build a dike called Neulje[1] in Gobu County and reclaim 10,000 gyeol of farmland below it. Jeolla Provincial Governor Yi An-woo implemented the Jeongjeon System (Land Division System)[2].

However, the results were not good. In August of the following year, a major flood broke the banks of the levee, destroying about 600 gyeol of rice paddies. In the end, Jeolla Provincial Governor Jang Yun-hwan recommended the closure of Neulje, which was eventually closed.

This situation began to improve slowly after Hyang received the title of Crown Prince.

Hyang, who began to assert his presence with the royal seal, advocated for nationwide flood control projects using relief funds.

Sejong and his ministers, who agreed with Hyang’s proposal, began flood control projects using relief funds.

The scale of these projects was gradually expanded as their effectiveness was demonstrated. As the scale of the projects grew, so did the variety of works undertaken.

Once the construction and repair of dams and reservoirs were nearing completion, the court focused on river management.

During the short period between harvest and the freezing of ice, and again between the melting of ice and the start of planting, the court concentrated manpower on river maintenance.

The riverbed was dredged of accumulated sand, and the surrounding area was cleared to widen the riverbed and reduce the risk of flooding.

In the early stages, stone was used to build underwater dams. Later, after the development of cement called Hoeju (a type of cement made from lime and clay), reinforced concrete was used to build dams to prevent drought and salinity damage caused by seawater intrusion during high tides.

While the proposal to utilize relief rice for flood control projects came from Hyang, the knowledge and technology used in these projects were not his own.

Over thousands of years, humanity has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in river management. This was also true in Joseon. Since the Three Kingdoms period, Koreans have built dams and reservoirs, demonstrating their technical expertise.

However, the reason why Joseon – and previous dynasties – had not been able to properly manage their rivers was a problem of mindset. Traditionally, large-scale civil engineering projects such as river management were considered “corvée labor.” As a result, Joseon officials often resorted to forced mobilization of labor.

This meant that there was no incentive for workers, and they often had to provide their own food. This situation led to many people becoming slaves or vagrants.

It was here that Hyang applied his knowledge to great effect.

Initially, he offered relief rice in exchange for labor. Later, as the financial situation of the court improved, he introduced the concept of “performance-based pay” to these projects.

Officials who oversaw the projects and managed to shorten construction time or prevent accidents were promoted. Laborers involved in the projects were also given additional rewards in addition to relief rice.

As Hyang said, “Praise can make even whales dance, but incentives can make them fly!”

With these incentive measures in place, river management projects gained further momentum.

As a result, by the year Giyu (1429), the sixth year of King Sejong’s reign, river management efforts across Joseon were beginning to show significant results.

* * *

In this situation, a large number of slaves were exempted as the land tax system was reformed. This was followed by the Giyu Rebellion and its aftermath, which caused a large-scale migration of tenant farmers. The landlords, who had previously managed many slaves and tenant farmers, now had to farm with far fewer.

With fewer hands, they had no choice but to increase agricultural efficiency if they wanted to maintain the same level of production as before. The answer was land consolidation.

Before the planting season, the landlords recruited not only tenant farmers but also people from nearby towns to participate in the land consolidation. They demolished the uneven and tangled ridges of the paddy fields and fields to create one large field, and they also improved the irrigation system.

It was not just a simple improvement of the irrigation system. With the water level of the rivers stabilized by reservoirs and various types of dams, waterwheels, which had previously been known but not widely used, were introduced on a large scale to supply water to the irrigation system.

As the irrigation system and cultivated land were improved, it was natural that the farm roads would also be widened. The narrow farm roads, which previously could only be passed by one person carrying a backhoe, were now wide enough for carts to pass through.

* * *

As the land reform progressed, the court received an unexpected gift.

It was the spread of carts.

Sejong had worked hard to encourage the people to use carts widely.

The effort to spread the use of carts began during the reign of Taejong. Jang Jahwa, who had been sent to Ming as an envoy, reported as follows:

“There is nothing like a cart for transporting goods.”

“Is that so?”

After receiving the report, Taejong ordered the craftsmen to make carts, but he met with strong opposition from Yeonguijeong Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

“Our Joseon is a mountainous country, so carts have their limits! Considering the resources, time, and effort required to make them, their usefulness is too low, so there is no need to make them!”

In the end, Taejong had to give up on spreading the use of carts.(Note 3)

The same was true during the reign of Sejong. A look at the history before Hyang made its introduction shows that in 1435 (Eulmyo year, 17th year of Sejong), Sejong and his ministers clashed over the issue of ‘carts’.

However, Sejong pushed ahead, and after confirming its usefulness, he said to his ministers:

“Some people may not like it, but there is nothing more convenient than a cart for carrying things like bricks, tiles, and stones. If you load them all on a cart at once, you can carry twice as much as three people carrying them, so how beneficial is that?”

Gaining confidence, Sejong decided to expand the use of carts to the Dongbuk and Seobok regions[3]. However, the ministers, including Hwang Hui, continued to oppose it.

“Carts are convenient, but they are only good on flat roads. They cannot be used on rough or muddy roads. Even in Pyongan Province, the road to Anju is good because it is flat, but the roads in other areas are too rough to use them.”

Pointing out the geographical problem, Hwang Hui continued.

“And carts are not something that anyone can make. If we want to spread the use of carts, the country has to send craftsmen to make them, but they will break down as soon as they are used and become unusable within a few months. It is not possible for the country to keep sending craftsmen, is it?”

In the end, Sejong gave up on spreading carts to rough terrain. After that, carts gradually disappeared in Joseon.

It is funny that 350 years later, Park Je-ga, a Silhak[4] scholar during the reign of Jeongjo, strongly advocated for the use of carts in his book “Discussion of Northern Learning”[5].

And Sejong’s frustration made him hand over more and more work to the crown prince.

Sejong, who was frustrated by his health deteriorating due to a diet too heavy on meat and stress, and his continued failures to push through various reform policies, began to hand over government affairs to the crown prince.

Having handed over the work to the crown prince, Sejong began to focus on studying the Korean alphabet.

* * *

However, after Hyang intervened and changed history, the number of carts gradually increased.

The expansion of commerce and industry played a role in the increase in the number of carts, but Hyang’s virtues also played a role.

The handcarts (or rearcars in the 21st century terms) produced in the Area 51 by Hyang were a huge hit during the Great Fire of Hanseong.

The handcarts, which had frames made of iron that was mass-produced from the ironworks in Anju, were sturdy.

“If only we had rubber…”

Unlike Hyang’s regret, the wooden cartwheels were more sturdy than expected.

Another reason for their popularity, along with their sturdy structure, was their convenient size.

The fact that they were small enough for one or two people to push and pull instead of using horses or oxen was actually the reason for their success.

Although the carts were small, they could carry at least as much as four or five men could carry on their backs in one go.

Even the rough terrain that Hwang Hui had pointed out, and the narrow paths that large carts pulled by oxen or horses could not go through, were mostly passable by handcarts.

Since two or three men could push and pull them to pass through rough terrain, peddlers became the biggest buyers of handcarts.

It gradually became a common sight to see peddlers carrying goods on handcarts pulled by donkeys.

The same was true for large merchants. They needed a lot of carts to transport their goods.

While large carts pulled by oxen or horses were useful, handcarts pulled by manpower were perfect for short-distance deliveries.

Finally, thanks to blacksmiths suddenly becoming symbols of high-income professionals, the problem of maintenance was also solved as blacksmiths increased nationwide.

In this way, the number of carts began to explode due to a complex web of causes and effects.

After the fall of Goguryeo, which was known as the “Land of Carts,” carts had gradually disappeared, but they made a spectacular comeback during this period.

* * *

Even though it was unintentional, as land reform was actively carried out and the countryside was waking up, the court finally began road construction.

“It is finally starting.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers looked at him with tense faces.

Sejong continued with a serious expression.

“There is also water transportation, and they say that railroads are being researched, but water transportation is vulnerable to natural disasters, and we don’t know when the railroads will be completed. Therefore, we must improve the land roads of this Joseon so that the people can be comfortable. So you all know how important this road construction is that we will be undertaking from now on.”

“We will keep it in mind.”

The ministers answered in unison, but Sejong continued to urge them.

“Keep in mind that the development of this Joseon depends on the success or failure of this project.”

“We will engrave it in our hearts!”

The ministers answered Sejong’s urging with loud voices.

1. One of three main lakes that were used as embankment[↩]

2. It is a land system that is said to have been implemented during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties of China. It is a system in which the land is divided into nine sections in the shape of a well, and the central land is cultivated as public land and the proceeds are used to pay taxes.[↩]

3. Northwest regions[↩]

4. Silhak (“Practical Learning”) was an intellectual and reform movement in Korea that aimed to address societal problems through critical analysis and practical solutions.[↩]

5. The book addressed issues of social inequality and the rigid class system. Park Je-ga proposed some reforms, though he wasn’t radically advocating for overthrowing the social order.[↩]

Chapter 197
The Beginning of Spring (2)

“Then let’s review the construction plan again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Sejong’s command, the Minister of Public Works gestured to the officials behind him.

A moment later, the Vice-Minister of Public Works, who had set up a large map next to him, bowed respectfully to Sejong.

“Let’s begin.”

“I obey.”

The Vice-Minister of Public Works, who had bowed to Sejong, turned to the ministers and bowed humbly before speaking.

“I will now report on the road paving plan that will begin this year.”

‘Why do I feel like I’m hearing a familiar BGM[1]?’

It was a feeling as if he was hearing a BGM that he had grown accustomed to hearing over the generations, as it was used in the weather forecast corner.

The Vice-Minister of Public Works, who had bowed respectfully, turned the page with a long pointer.

Flap!

“The lines drawn on this map are the main roads connecting the major regions of Joseon.”

“Hmm…”

“Ooh~.”

Sejong and the ministers, who saw the map, expressed their interest with murmurs.

The road network drawn on the map was a masterpiece created by the officials of the Ministry of Public Works after working tirelessly, even forgetting to leave work.

In order to create this road network, the Ministry of Public Works had requested cooperation from the Ministry of Military Affairs and even the Research Institute.

“Does it go all around Joseon?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Vice-Minister of Public Works answered Sejong’s question respectfully.

A red solid line, representing the road network, surrounded the Korean Peninsula.

To the north, the red line followed the Amnok River and the Tumen River, and in other parts, it followed the coastline.

Inside, a red line was drawn in the shape of an X, centered on Hanseong.

The Vice-Minister of Public Works continued his explanation, pointing to the red line with his pointer.

“We will start with the northeastern region first. The northeastern route will start from Heunginjinmun[2] in Hanseong, pass through Pocheon[3] and Cheorwon[4], and arrive in Wonsan[5]. After that, we plan to build an outer road along the coastline from Wonsan to Noktundo Island[6].”

“Then can we say that Wonsan is the real starting point of the northeast direction?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why did you choose Wonsan?”

At Sejong’s question, the Vice-Minister of Public Works turned the page to the next chapter.

The next page showed a close-up map of Wonsan.

“As you can see, Wonsan is a natural deep-water port. The Wonsan Peninsula, which juts out so far, protects ships from high waves. In the future, when we develop the virgin lands to the east, we will need to move materials by road, but ships will play the biggest role. Therefore, we chose Wonsan, which has the best location as a port, as the starting point.”

“I see. I understand.”

Once Sejong understood, the Vice-Minister of Public Works continued his explanation.

He spoke eloquently, and thanks to his concise and easy-to-understand explanation, Sejong and the ministers were able to quickly grasp the gist of it.

“I think that vice-minister would be more needed in the Ministry of Rites than in the Ministry of Public Works.”

“Wouldn’t he be better suited for the Ministry of Personnel than the Ministry of Rites?”

As the ministers of each department began to covet the vice-minister’s eloquent speaking skills, the Minister of Public Works stepped in to block them.

“Don’t even dream of it until I’m dead and in my coffin.”

“Tsk!”

The other ministers clicked their tongues at the Minister of Public Works’ firm response.

* * *

The explanation, which had been going smoothly, came to a halt at the part about ‘Mungyeong Saeje’[7].

“Why do we have to go through Mungyeong Pass’? I know very well that the terrain of mountain pass is dangerous. Did we choose the wrong route?”

At Sejong’s question, the Chief explained the reason.

“Yes, Your Majesty. There are four main routes from Dongnae to Hanseong. One is the Mungyeong Saeje Pass that we have chosen as the main road, and the other is the Hwaryeong Pass that goes through Sangju, Boeun, and Chungju. The third is the Chupungnyeong Pass, also known as the ‘Left Road’, and the fourth is the Jungnyeong Pass[8], also known as the ‘Right Road’.”

“I know that too. Tell me the reason.”

The vice-minister took a moment to catch his breath before speaking.

“Yes. The reason we didn’t choose the Left Road or the Right Road is because they would require a large detour. The Right Road was excluded because the terrain of Jungnyeong Pass is just as dangerous as mountain pass, and we would have to go through the Danyang Gorge. The Chupungnyeong Pass on the Left Road is lower, but it would require an even larger detour, and it was also excluded because of the Geumgang Gorge. The Hwaryeong Pass is better, but it was also excluded because it would require a detour to Boeun and Cheongju.”

However, Sejong continued to point out the problems.

“Yes, I understand that the route through mountain pass is the shortest distance. But how will we deal with the dangerous terrain of mountain pass?”

At Sejong’s question, the vice-minister turned the page of the map.

The next page showed a road drawn in a winding ‘之’ shape.

“This is a road design that we have named ‘S-shaped Road’.”

“It looks like a path that a snake would have taken. Is there a reason why you made it like this?”

“Yes. The overall length of the road is definitely longer, but it is less strenuous and suitable for climbing steep passes.”

“Are you sure?”

At Sejong’s question, the vice-minister nodded.

“Yes. The researchers at the Research Institute confirmed the results while building the road on Mt. Mokmyeok (Mt. Namsan) located in Area 51.”

At the vice-minister’s answer, the eyes of Sejong and the ministers focused on Hyang.

‘You again?’

‘Is it the Crown Prince again?’

As the gazes gathered, Hyang spoke in a shy voice.

“I studied it because the road to Mt. Mokmyeok is a bit dangerous.”

“You better report it properly.”

“I did, but?”

Sejong, who had paused for a moment at Hyang’s answer, soon changed his expression and ordered the vice-minister.

“Alright. Since you said you have already confirmed the results, I will not make any further comments. However, considering the winter of our Joseon, the terrain of mountain pass is dangerous. We should also develop a detour using Hwaryeong Pass. It will take additional time and budget, but it is a necessary measure if we consider the safety of the people.”

“I obey your command!”

The Minister of Public Works and the Chief answered in unison.

Behind them, the officials of the Ministry of Public Works took out paper and writing brushes to record Sejong’s additional orders.

Next, the focus turned to the road network being built along the Amnok River, the Tumen River, and the coastline.

“Why are you building roads around the outside like this?”

“Yes. If you look at the terrain of our Joseon, 2/3 of it is mountains. Crossing these mountains is the biggest challenge. Therefore, taking a boat was the best way to travel north and south of Joseon. However, water transportation requires a large scale, so it is difficult for the people to use it easily. However, if we build roads along the coast and the riverbank, it will be much easier to travel.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong stroked his beard and calculated the pros and cons as he listened to the Chief’s explanation.

“But won’t it take too long?”

At Sejong’s question, the Chief turned to the next page. The next page showed a map of the Korean Peninsula with many blue lines drawn on it.

“These are the secondary roads connecting to the main roads. If we connect them well, we can minimize the loss of time.”

The Vice-Minister turned to the next page right away.

The next page showed a red and blue line intertwined, connecting all parts of Joseon.

“It’s not bad, but…”

Sejong couldn’t hide his disappointment after seeing the picture.

“Isn’t there any way to reduce the travel time a bit more?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang stepped forward.

“There is one way, but it is impossible for now.”

“What is it?”

“It is to dig a tunnel through the mountain.”

“Why is that impossible? Aren’t we already digging tunnels into mountains to mine ores?”

“The scale is different. In a mine, the tunnel is only big enough for one or two people to enter, but for use as a road, at least one or two carts need to pass through. It takes too much time, money, and manpower to dig a tunnel that big.”

Sejong was discouraged by Hyang’s answer.

Hyang, who used to come whining for a budget all the time, was saying it couldn’t be done because of the budget.

“Seeing you make a fuss about the budget tells me it must indeed be an impossible task.”

“With the current level of technology in Joseon, it is quite difficult. However, it may not be entirely impossible given more time.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong smiled faintly.

“It does offer some consolation.”

After continued explanations and a Q&A session, a few additional matters were added.

“It seems we’ve decided what’s needed. Let’s proceed as planned.”

“I shall obey the command.”

“This is an important task that will invigorate Joseon. I hope everyone will give their best.”

“I will bear it in mind and act accordingly!”

With this meeting, the evolution of land transportation in Joseon began.

* * *

As soon as Sejong’s approval was given, road construction started throughout Joseon.

Roads began to be organized in all directions from Hanyang – east, west, south, and north. Simultaneously, from the north in Anju and Wonsan, and from the south in Mokpo and Dongnae, roads started to be laid towards Hanyang.

The first phase was to complete this cross-shaped network of roads, followed by the construction of outer ring roads.

With the commencement of road construction across Joseon, many people began to move.

Workers participating in the construction, those supervising them, and merchants and prostitutes targeting the workers’ earnings all became active.

“The world is changing!”

“Exactly. If things go well, we might see a better world.”

“A better world will come. With such a virtuous king, how could it not?”

“Yes! A virtuous king has come!”

Amidst the bustling energy, the people began to harbor a tentative hope.

However, not everyone was pleased.

A flurry of petitions against the road construction began to flood the court.

Their content was almost identical.

“Although the roads in our village are narrow and rough, there has been no trouble in the movement of people and goods.

Now, with the new road construction underway, how can this not be distressing?

It is distressing that resources and people are being mobilized for an unnecessary task, and the gathering of men at the construction sites is attracting prostitutes and gamblers, corrupting the purity of our village. How can this not be distressing?”

Lastly, wide roads are also detrimental to national defense, how could this not be distressing?

If the enemy invades through well-maintained roads, they will strike like a tempest.

Therefore, the construction must rightly be stopped…”

Reading the petition, Sejong crumpled it irritably and tossed it aside.

“These scholars know one thing but are ignorant of another! Can they truly be called educated?”

As Sejong burst out in frustration, Hyang gave a bitter smile.

‘Wasn’t there a similar situation just before the Imjin War?’

* * *

Just before the Imjin War, although it was concluded that ‘the Japanese forces would not invade,’ fortresses were still being repaired everywhere as a precaution.

As soon as these repair works began, petitions opposing them were submitted, most of which contained the following arguments:

-The moats of our village fortresses are narrow, yet no one can leap over them.

The walls may be low, but even the nimble cannot easily climb over them.

Despite this, mobilizing the people for repairs is unnecessary and tyrannical, and thus should be immediately halted.

* * *

‘And then, what happened when the Imjin War broke out? Weren’t they all swept away?’

Recalling those who opposed with limited insight, Hyang wore a bitter expression and approached Sejong.

“Your Majesty, it seems they do not trust Your Majesty.”

“Me?”

“Their opposition reflects their lack of faith in our Joseon military. Doesn’t that imply they also lack faith in Your Majesty’s wisdom in leading the military?”

“That seems to be the case…”

Nodding at Hyang’s words, Sejong looked at him and smiled wryly.

“If you weren’t the Crown Prince, you would have made the most formidable of traitors. Truly a fearsome fellow.”

At Sejong’s remark, the officials involuntarily nodded in agreement. Hyang’s ability to frame the petitioners as disloyal with just a few words was indeed intimidating.

The historian recording all these events added the following note:

-The historian states:

The Crown Prince’s eloquence is not just outstanding; it is fearsome.

When the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, the officials must be wary of their words.

1. Background Music[↩]

2. more commonly known as Dongdaemun is one of The Eight Gates of Seoul[↩]

3. an inland city in the far northeastern region of Gyeonggi province in South Korea.[↩]

4. a county in Gangwon province. Located right next to North Korea today[↩]

5. In Kangwon province, North Korea today[↩]

6. Noktundo was an island in the delta of the Tumen River on the border between Primorsky Krai, Russia and North Korea.[↩]

7. Mungyeong Saejae held immense significance during the Joseon period as the primary gateway connecting the southeastern Gyeongsang province to the capital of Hanyang (modern-day Seoul). This mountain pass served as a crucial conduit for scholars, government officials, and traders traveling between the regions. Its strategic location made it a key point for defense and control of movement, while also facilitating cultural exchange and the flow of goods.[↩]

8. is a mountain pass located in South Korea. It is situated on the border between the provinces of North Gyeongsang and North Chungcheong, and it is part of the Sobaek Mountain Range. It’s also known as one of the strategic routes during Joseon dynasty[↩]

Chapter 198
The Beginning of Spring (3)

As petitions against the road construction continued, King Sejong issued a response.

– There are those who oppose the road construction currently being undertaken by the court.

They claim that the roads in their own regions are sufficient for the transport of goods and people, and thus the construction is unnecessary, urging for its cessation.

However, this perspective is akin to that of the frog in the well, narrow-minded and deeply saddening.

Considering the current state of Joseon, the roads are narrow and treacherous, making it difficult for the produce of one region to reach the neighboring ones, and people have grown accustomed to abandoning long journeys.

Thus, the people of Joseon remain unaware of the vastness of the world, confined within narrow limits, becoming increasingly isolated—a truly sorrowful state.

The road construction was initiated to address this issue. By widening and improving the roads, we aim to ease the movement of many people, enlightening them to the vastness of the world. It is essential for the prosperity of Joseon that its people understand their place in the world and their duties.

Secondly, the concern that the customs of the regions may become chaotic is valid. To prevent this, additional soldiers will be deployed, so the people should not worry and focus on their livelihoods.

Lastly, the claim that well-maintained roads pose a problem for national defense is the epitome of folly.

It is argued that well-maintained roads would facilitate enemy movement and thus are undesirable. However, isn’t it also true that such roads would allow our Joseon soldiers to move more swiftly?

And why do you not trust our Joseon soldiers? They who conquered Tsushima years ago and continue to bravely defend against the barbarians in the north are the soldiers of Joseon.

Is it the soldiers of Joseon you do not trust, or is it me?

The final sentence of King Sejong’s proclamation silenced the protesting scholars, reducing them to submission.

Questioning the national defense was equated to doubting the king, leading to accusations of disloyalty.

“Foolish honesty could lead one to disaster!”

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the local scholars hastily put away their petitions.

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, upon reading King Sejong’s proclamation, burst into laughter.

“These noblemen… Do none among their kin serve in the military? Or perhaps… is it fortunate that they do not? Had they heard the complaints about national defense, their heads might have been cracked open.”

Such was the state of Joseon’s strengthened military that not a single court official or military officer could deny Hyang’s significant contribution.

The first creations of ‘Area 51,’ which Hyang had persuaded King Sejong to establish, were gunpowder weapons and armor.

“Though I was called a jack of all trades, my true passion lay in military affairs! With me around, such nonsense cannot stand! Besides, I am the crown prince! Who would dare obstruct the future king’s focus on national defense? Do they have a solid insurance plan in place?”

Hyang, making full use of his political background, consistently produced weapons.

The weapons created by Hyang were recognized for their performance and were mass-produced and deployed.

“It does cost quite a bit to manufacture them.”

“However, the performance is worth several times the investment. And with His Majesty’s approval, what other choice do we have?”

The Ministry of Taxation, responsible for budget execution, grumbled, but Sejong pushed forward vigorously.

The military was an area of great interest to Sejong as well. With his dream of northern expansion, Sejong deemed the weapons created by Hyang absolutely necessary.

Thus, amidst the supply of weapons with unmatched performance, unable to be followed even by Japan or Ming, Hyang persuaded Sejong.

“Numbers on a ledger are just that, numbers! We must cultivate proper soldiers and military officers!”

Joseon operated a conscription system. According to the system implemented since the era of King Taejo, Joseon could theoretically muster an army of 300,000 in times of emergency.

‘Theoretically.’

However, due to the irrationality of Joseon’s taxation system and the contradictions within the conscription system itself, there were many who avoided military service.

As a result, during the Tsushima campaign in the first year of Sejong’s reign, everyone from scholars living in the southern provinces to the commoners had to be conscripted by force.

The only exception was the slaves. Slaves were considered people and yet not people.

“As long as I have started this! I will ensure that the portrayal of Joseon’s army as mere cannon fodder in dramas ceases to exist!”

Determined, Hyang overhauled the military conscription system completely, involving not only military officers but also officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Taxation.

Through such birthing pains, a complete transformation of the Joseon army was achieved.

That’s why Hyang laughed at the scholars who submitted petitions after reading Sejong’s proclamation.

* * *

“There are still many who are unaware of how the world works.”

“Such people should be dealt with decisively and drafted into the army…”

Military officers who read Sejong’s proclamation shared a reaction similar to Hyang’s. Among the military officers who scoffed at the scholars, one named Kang Kyung-in suddenly grabbed his colleague.

“Listen, what did you just say?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you say we should drag them into the army and put them to work?”

“Yes, I did… Why?”

Unlike his bewildered colleague, Kang Kyung-in spoke with a serious expression.

“Aren’t there areas where we’re lacking, even with a military academy? Like administration or logistics.”

“That’s true.”

Kang Kyung-in’s point made his colleague nod in agreement.

With Sejong’s ascension, military officers were also expected to have scholarly knowledge, raising their academic standards. However, as military officers, their promotions were most influenced by martial skills and specializations. As a result, the support units at the rear always lacked personnel.

“So, let’s pull in those who submitted the petitions and assign them tasks.”

Kang Kyung-in’s suggestion made his colleague shake his head.

“Would they do it? They’re nobles, after all.”

“If they rage about the country’s concerns but refuse when actually asked to contribute, they’re hypocrites! They’ve made their stance known, so they should take responsibility, right?”

“Indeed?”

Intrigued by Kang Kyung-in’s argument, his colleague appeared persuaded. He wasn’t the only one; the military officers who overheard the conversation seemed to share the sentiment.

“Why not flesh out this plan in more detail?”

“Should we?”

The spontaneously devised plan was quickly formalized into a document and submitted to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Not bad. Let’s see a well-developed plan.”

“Yes!”

As the enthusiastic military officers retreated, the Minister of Military Affairs asked with concern.

“Your Excellency, is this really alright?”

To the Minister’s worry, Jo Mal-saeng responded nonchalantly.

“If they are nobles and gentlemen, they should follow through. They wouldn’t want to be labeled as ‘hypocrites who go back on their word.'”

“Isn’t the problem that most of those who talk big can’t actually deliver?”

“We know from experience, right? Once put to the task, they’ll manage. If not, we’ll hold them accountable for recklessly advising the king, and dump them in the Royal Archives. There’s been complaints about shortages there anyway. Works out well.”

While explaining the solution to the Minister, Jo Mal-saeng suddenly paused and stroked his beard. After pondering for a moment, he smirked wickedly.

“Hmm… actually, this could work out well. We could filter out the competent ones for the Minister of Military Affairs, send the mediocre ones to the northern frontier—General Choi and Minister Hwang Hui have been complaining about shortages—and dump the utterly incompetent ones in the Royal Archives… Perfect. Couldn’t be better, right?”

To Jo Mal-saeng’s rhetorical question, the Minister of Military Affairs nodded. The initial worry on his face was replaced by a cunning smile.

As the reform progressed, a ‘common enemy’ emerged for the ministers and officials of the court.

This ‘common enemy’ was the local nobility. Each time petitions from the local nobles arrived, the court officials would unleash a torrent of curses.

“Damn it! As if we weren’t busy enough already!”

“If they’re so great, why don’t they come forward and do the work themselves!”

The orders and tasks from Sejong were challenging but fulfilling. It was clear to them that Joseon was steadily advancing towards becoming a wealthy and powerful nation.

However, the local nobles were seen as ‘worthless fellows who could be cursed for three days and nights without issue’.

“Presuming to advise without proper understanding!”

This was the common sentiment among the central government officials.

Ironically, the most hostile reactions to the local nobles’ petitions came from the officials of the Office of Censorship and the Office of Inspector-General. This was because the petitions invariably included criticisms of these two bodies.

-It is the fault of the Office of Censorship and the Office of Inspector-General that they did not prevent His Majesty from making a misjudgment! Therefore, they should be severely punished!

Each time such a sentence appeared, Sejong would smile and hand the petition to the Chief Royal Secretary and the Chief Inspector.

“What do you think?”

“This insolent person must be severely punished!”

“Indeed!”

If the petitioner had been present, the Chief Royal Secretary and the Chief Inspector would have erupted in fury, as if they were about to beat them to death.

The other ministers felt the same. It was human nature to dislike sharing power once one had it.

However, as the reform progressed and the ministers became exhausted from overwork, they unanimously criticized the petitions whenever they came.

“Let them try doing it themselves for once!”

“Do they even understand the field?”

“Who are they, and where do they live? Find out! Shake them down!”

* * *

Eventually, the plan devised by the officials of the Minister of Military Affairs and the military department was presented to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Good! I will submit it as it is!”

Taking the plan, Jo Mal-saeng rushed to Sejong to present it.

After carefully reading the plan submitted by Jo Mal-saeng, Sejong ordered the Chief State Councillor.

“Summon all the Ministers and the heads of the various departments.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Soon after, the Ministers and heads gathered at the Geunjeongjeon Hall. Once everyone was assembled, Sejong handed the Minister of Military Affairs’s plan to the senior officials.

“Read this and let’s discuss.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Ministers and heads took turns reading the plan in detail.

“Huh…”

After reading the plan, one of the officials, Lee Jik, exhaled in astonishment.

“In all my years…”

Lee Jik trailed off, but his expression as he looked at Jo Mal-saeng said everything that needed to be said.

The faces of the other ministers who read the plan mirrored Lee Jik’s reaction.

“What do you all think?”

At Sejong’s question, the chief ministers and ministers looked towards him. After a moment, Maeng Sa-seong spoke up.

“It’s indeed a wicked plan, one that a true gentleman should not lightly entertain. However, it seems to be the perfect scheme to acquaint those ignorant of reality with the harsh truths of life.”

“Even though it’s wicked?”

“Is not reality often harsher?”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s response, Sejong smiled slyly.

“The Left State Councillor is correct. The plan proposed by the Minister of Military Affairs is indeed malevolent. But, given the harshness of reality, let’s use this opportunity to broaden the horizons of those frogs in the well.”

Thus, the ‘Talent Acquisition Plan’ proposed by the Minister of Military Affairs was unanimously approved.

The historian who recorded this event added the following note:

-… Thus, with the unanimous consent of the ministers, His Majesty approved the execution of the Minister of Military Affairs’s plan.

The historian remarks:

Looking at the current court, it seems all the gentlemen who debate morality have vanished.

Even in the plan proposed by the Minister of Military Affairs, there’s not a trace of moral principle to be found, no matter how hard one looks. It is filled with deceit.

Yet, even I, the historian, find myself in favor of the Minister of Military Affairs’s plan, which is truly disheartening.

I cannot be the only one to perish.

Chapter 199
The Beginning of Spring (4)

Hyang sighed deeply after reviewing the proposal sent up from the Ministry of Military Affairs.

“Phew~. They’ve all turned into water ghosts… Who on earth brought in such foul water?”

Had the ministers and Sejong heard this, they would have been taken aback by Hyang’s casual manner in addressing such serious matters.

* * *

Two weeks later, at a tiled house in Andong.

“By royal command! Scholar Kim Chang-seop, come forth and receive the royal decree!”

At the loud voice of the county magistrate outside, the large gates of the tiled house swung open, and the person in question, Kim Chang-seop, hurried out.

“Are you Kim Chang-seop?”

Despite being acquainted for a long time, the magistrate asked with a stiff expression as if they were meeting for the first time, to which Kim Chang-seop quickly replied.

“Yes, that is correct.”

“The king’s command is to be followed without delay. Dress in your official attire at once!”

Following the local official’s order, Kim Chang-seop quickly turned around to change into his official robes.

He then solemnly performed the pre-reception ritual before the magistrate began reading the royal decree.

“Scholar Kim Chang-seop, listen well. Having read your petition, I could not hold back tears at your patriotic loyalty. Though you have lived in obscurity, your devotion to the country shines bright. How can this not bring joy?

I am thankful, profoundly thankful, to the heavens and earth that such talents still exist in Joseon.

How can we allow a person of such patriotic loyalty to remain hidden in obscurity?

Thus, Kim Chang-seop, upon receiving this decree, come at once to Hanyang and report to the Ministry of Military Affairs.

Reveal all that you have for the well-being of Joseon at the Ministry of Military Affairs.”

After reading the decree, the magistrate handed it to Kim Chang-seop.

“Congratulations. Such opportunities are rare, and to be called to service by royal command is truly commendable.”

“Ah? Yes? Thank you.”

Still in a daze, Kim Chang-seop received the decree as the magistrate offered one more congratulation before turning to leave.

Such events were unfolding all across Joseon.

Noblemen who received Sejong’s decree were filled with dreams and hopes, heading towards Hanyang.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the northeast frontier, there was much discussion about Sejong’s proclamation.

“It seems there are still many down south who are unaware of how the world works.”

Choi Yoon-deok’s remark was met with a nod from Hwang Hui.

“Frogs in a well, indeed. It’s giving me quite the headache.”

“A headache? Why?”

At Choi Yoon-deok[1]’s question, Hwang Hui pointed to the proclamation.

“This proclamation is the cause of my headache. Considering the current situation with the Jurchen tribes, quite a few have submitted to the might of the Joseon army led by the Commander-in-Chief. However, I worry that this proclamation might embolden some to underestimate Joseon and engage in foolish acts.”

“Hmm…”

At Hwang Hui’s concern, Choi Yoon-deok also stroked his chin beard with a serious expression.

Hwang Hui’s worry was not unfounded. To the average Joseon person, the Jurchens were seen as ignorant barbarians.

However, the Jurchens were far from ignorant barbarians.

They were cunning.

Moreover, many of them possessed intellectual capabilities rivaling those of Joseon’s scholars.

If such individuals underestimated Joseon and caused trouble, it could bring great turmoil to the northeastern region, which was just beginning to find stability.

Yet, contrary to Hwang Hui’s concerns, Choi Yoon-deok soon responded with a slight smile.

“I believe it would be manageable.”

“Really?”

“With the current capabilities of the Joseon army, we can certainly suppress them. In fact, hiding too much might lead them to suspect and distrust us, complicating matters further.”

Hwang Hui stroked his chin beard at Choi Yoon-deok’s words.

“There is some merit to your point, but…”

“This is guaranteed by me, who has fought against the Jurchens in the north and the Japanese pirates in the south.”

“Hmm…”

As Hwang Hui pondered, Choi Yoon-deok added,

“Unless the Jurchens wish to confront the Green Tiger Army, no fool would act rashly just because of a piece of proclamation.”

“I see.”

Hwang Hui nodded in relief at Choi Yoon-deok’s words.

* * *

The Jurchens referred to the Joseon army as the Green Tiger Army.

This was because the Joseon army’s plate armor was covered with dark green cloth.

It was Hyang’s idea.

The plate armor, covering most of the body, would become unbearably hot under the sun.

To prevent this, Hyang wrapped the plate armor in cotton cloth.

“While we’re at it…”

Hyang dyed the cotton cloth dark green.

As a result, the armor’s reflection of sunlight was reduced, allowing Joseon soldiers to approach the Jurchens more closely.

Thus, the dark green armor became a symbol of the Joseon army. And as the northeastern frontier was developed, the Joseon army began to be called the Green Tiger Army.

Jurchens who had never clashed with the Joseon army mockingly called them the ‘Green Racoon Group,’ underestimating them.

“No matter how many racoons swarm together, a racoon is still a racoon! Cunning racoons that only know how to ambush!”

They ridiculed the Joseon army, which primarily used ambushes and surprise attacks as their tactics, calling them racoons.

However, for the fortunate Jurchens who survived an encounter with the Joseon army, the ‘Tiger’ in ‘Green Tiger Army’ was not a racoon but a tiger.

“It’s not a racoon, but a tiger as cunning as a racoon! It’s a pack of such tigers swarming together!”

Those who survived the Joseon army’s assaults cried out in fear, captured by terror.

* * *

Hwang Hui felt a wave of relief wash over him at Choi Yoon-deok’s confident words and nodded in agreement.

“Now that the Commander-in-Chief is so assured, I feel relieved. By the way, what are your plans regarding the Odori tribe?”

When Hwang Hui mentioned the Odori tribe, Choi Yoon-deok’s expression turned troubled.

“That’s a bit worrisome. They hardly show any weaknesses…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to command Lee Jing-ok[2] to handle it?”

Choi Yoon-deok shook his head at Hwang Hui’s suggestion.

“That won’t do. His Majesty ordered us to handle it discreetly. But Lee Jing-ok is the type to forcefully attack without regard for diplomacy. He wouldn’t consider diplomacy at all.”

“That is true.”

Hwang Hui nodded in agreement with Choi Yoon-deok’s assessment.

* * *

King Sejong’s order to deal with the Odori tribe stemmed from a longstanding grudge that dated back to the reign of King Taejong.

The leader of the Odori tribe, Tong Mengge Temur (Aisin Gioro Mengtemu), had been a chieftain of the Jurchen tribes who had submitted to Joseon since the time of King Taejo.

However, when Taejong succeeded the throne and Emperor Yongle ascended to the throne in Ming, Temur defected to the Ming.

This marked the beginning of the hostile relationship between the Odori tribe and Joseon.

Taejong did not want the Odori tribe, located near the ancestral lands of his family, to defect to the Ming.

Consequently, there were continuous clashes between the Joseon army and the Odori tribe, leading the Odori tribe to migrate to the area controlled by Aha Chu’s Huligai tribe.

Later, after Sejong ascended the throne, the Odori tribe returned to their original settlement near Hwaryeong.

Temur expressed a willingness to resubmit to Joseon and offered his son as a hostage, but Sejong refused.

“We don’t need hostages. If you need something, say it. We will provide support.”

Though outwardly a peaceful relationship was established, Sejong was determined to eliminate both Aha Chu’s Huli Gai and Temur’s Odori.

“One cannot entrust the border to such bat-like beings! Elimination is the best course of action!”

Thus, Sejong had given Choi Yoon-deok the order.

– Eliminate the Odori at the first sign of vulnerability.

* * *

Explaining that entrusting the task to Lee Jing-ok would bring more harm than good, Choi Yoon-deok continued with a slight smile.

“Fortunately, the Orangkhai tribe is located on both sides of the Odori. Moreover, the Orangkhai tribe has definitively submitted to our Joseon, and even better, they don’t get along with the Odori.”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s words, Hwang Hui stroked his chin beard and nodded.

“Then an opportunity will arise soon.”

“It will. It all depends on how long Temur and his clan can hold out.”

“I hope it won’t take too long. You have no idea how much my impatient subordinate has been pestering me…”

Hwang Hui’s complaint elicited a knowing look from Choi Yoon-deok.

“An impatient one… are you talking about Kim Jong-seo?”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s question, Hwang Hui silently nodded.

* * *

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-seo was discussing matters with Lee Jing-ok.

“Look here, Jing-ok. It seems like the reorganization of the Jurchen tribes is almost complete, but why hasn’t the Commander-in-chief ordered a withdrawal yet?”

“Brother Kim, isn’t there still one left? No, perhaps two?”

At Yi Jing-ok’s words, Kim Jong-seo nodded as if he understood.

“Ah, the tribe from Mount Baekdu?”

“Exactly. Those reed-like fellows. The other one is the Imangju.”

“Tsk.”

Kim Jong-seo clicked his tongue lightly at Lee Jing-ok’s words.

For Joseon, Aha Chu and Tong Mengge Temur symbolized betrayal and were entities that must be eliminated eventually.

Besides the reason for their betrayal, both Imangju’s Huligai and Tong Mengge Temur needed to be eliminated for national defense reasons as well.

Their locations near the northern banks of the Amnok River and the northeastern banks of the Tumen River, as well as near Baekdu Mountain, were strategic.

Securing the natural defenses of the Amnok River, Tumen River, and Baekdu Mountain required the elimination of these two tribes.

Lee Jing-ok grumbled with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“I’d like to just march in and sweep them away, but the problem is that both have received official positions from Ming… This is why I hate politics!”

“I’m no fan of politics either.”

“Aren’t you an official in the court? How can a nobleman like you dislike politics?”

“It’s a job, just a job. I’d rather enjoy the nights in Hanyang as a man of culture.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Lee Jing-ok grumbled to himself.

‘That’s why he gets called a dandy.’

In the northeastern frontier, Kim Jong-seo was famously known as a ‘dandy.’

Even the Jurchens called him an ‘old horse,’ implying that he would do well when asked but would dawdle and try to escape until then, much like an old horse that’s been through much and only has tricks left.

Whether Kim Jong-seo was aware of Lee Jing-ok’s grumbling or not, he continued to complain.

“Ah~ I miss Hanyang. I long for the courtesan alleys of Ungjongga and Bukchon! I’m even starting to miss the smell of dung from Cheonggyecheon!”

Expressing his longing for Hanyang openly, Kim Jong-seo then suggested a plan to Lee Jing-ok.

“How about using the Jurchen cavalry?”

“The Jurchen cavalry? Ah! You mean the scouts?”

“Exactly!”

Kim Jong-seo was referring to a newly organized unit within the Joseon army composed of Jurchens.

* * *

As Joseon expanded into the northeastern frontier, many Jurchen tribes submitted to their rule.

Hwang Hui pondered over how to manage these surrendered Jurchens efficiently.

While Hwang Hui struggled to find a solution, Kim Jong-seo presented an answer.

“Wouldn’t settlers from the south be arriving soon?”

“That’s right.”

“They’ll need to clear land for farming, given the situation where we have vast lands but not enough people, right?”

“Indeed.”

“What if we recruit labor from among the Jurchens?”

“Hmm?”

Kim Jong-seo’s plan was as follows:

- As previously mentioned, the new settlements were vast in land but short on people.

- Recruit Jurchen men who were willing to learn farming.

- Employ these recruited individuals as laborers to assist the settlers from the south in their land-clearing efforts.

- This arrangement would enable Joseon’s farmers to quickly clear and cultivate the land, while the Jurchens could learn the methods of clearing and farming.

- Since the Jurchens would be recruited as paid laborers, they would be compensated. Although the state would need to provide the wages, a significant portion of the funds could be recouped through their expenditures at the government-run market.

- This approach could facilitate the settlement of many Jurchens.

“That’s a good idea.”

As Hwang Hui responded positively, Kim Jong-seo quickly added:

“Of course, we’d need His Majesty’s approval for the payment of wages. In that case, you should go to Hanyang, right? Since you said we should always move together, I’ll prepare to go to Hanyang!”

“Hey! How did the conversation turn to that!”

Despite Hwang Hui’s loud protest, Kim Jong-seo had already disappeared.

Watching Kim Jong-seo’s departure, Hwang Hui grumbled:

“That dandy fellow…”

1. A military commander. First introduced in Chapter 97[↩]

2. Another prominent military officer first introduced in Chp.97[↩]

Chapter 200
The Beginning of Spring (5)

Kim Jong-seo’s proposal quickly took shape under the hands of the officials. However, it was Kim Jong-seo himself who did the lion’s share of the work.

As he accepted Kim Jong-seo’s proposal, Hwang Hui spoke a word to him.

“Your idea sounds plausible, so we’re going to go ahead with this plan. But let me tell you something, if you don’t do it right, you’ll be going back to Hanseong having only seen Gyeongbokgung Palace.”

“O-ho, my lord. I’m doing it properly, I assure you.”

Hwang Hui snorted at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“Hm! Really? Have you forgotten who the one approving this plan is? If you just make something half-assed, you’ll be packing your bags and heading back right away.”

“Gulp!”

Kim Jong-seo gulped at Hwang Hui’s words. Knowing Hwang Hui’s personality as he did, he knew that was entirely possible.

Seeing Kim Jong-seo’s expression, Hwang Hui continued.

“But if you do it properly and get approval, you’ll be spending a long time in Hanseong, starting with preparing funds for implementation and handling all sorts of other tasks. How long do you think it will take?”

“At least a month…”

Kim Jong-seo found himself blurting out an answer, before quickly tensing up.

“Please leave it to me! I won’t do it twice!”

“Do it well. Because the time you spend in Hanseong rests in your hands!”

“Yes!”

Kim Jong-seo was filled with a renewed sense of determination.

From then on, until the plan was finalized, Kim Jong-seo relentlessly drove his subordinates.

“You idiot! The numbers are wrong here!”

“No! I told you not to use the vulgar form!”

“Oh my~. Look at this mess! Did you write this sentence with your hands or your feet? Do I have to rewrite it myself?”

Kim Jong-seo berated his subordinates using the regional dialects he had learned while living with officials from all eight provinces of the country.

* * *

After about a month of preparation, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo returned to Hanyang with their proposal.

As they traveled down the east coast, connected through the northeastern frontier, passing through Wonsan and Cheorwon via the Goguryeo structures, Hwang Hui turned to Kim Jong-seo.

“We’re currently planning to rebuild the entire road network of Joseon. The route we took through the northeast seems the best option, doesn’t it?”

Kim Jong-seo nodded in agreement.

“Definitely better than accidentally crossing the wrong mountain range and ending up as tiger feed.”

“Make a note of that.”

“Understood.”

At Hwang Hui’s command, Kim Jong-seo pulled out a writing board with ink and brush, and despite riding, his writing flowed smoothly, a skill honed from his long stay in the northeastern regions.

Hwang Hui internally grumbled as he watched Kim Jong-seo’s calligraphy.

‘This guy… his handwriting is bold and earnest, but his actions are nothing but dawdling… How am I supposed to deal with this… ’

“Wow! Well written! Truly a master of calligraphy!”

Oblivious to Hwang Hui’s concerns, Kim Jong-seo, having finished writing, admired his own work without cease.

Hwang Hui looked up to the sky and sighed deeply.

“Phew~. How did I ever get saddled with such a lifetime commitment to this fellow… How am I supposed to handle these damn sons of mine…”

Hwang Hui’s thoughts of his own misfortune made any sympathy for his sons vanish into the distance.

* * *

After going through various events, Hwang Hui’s group finally passed through Sukjeongmun, the northern gate of Hanseong, and the cityscape of Hanseong came into view.

“Hanseong! I’m back!”

Woof woof woof!

“Shush!”

At Kim Jong-seo’s loud voice, the sound of a dog barking came from a nearby thatched-roof house. When Kim Jong-seo, who was startled by the sudden barking, shouted, Hwang Hui, who was next to him, spoke a word.

“Stop talking nonsense with your friend and let’s go. We need to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace before sunset.”

“Yes… Yes? My lord! Friend? Are you calling me a dog? That’s a bit harsh!”

“Shush!”

The two of them continued their banter and headed towards Gyeongbokgung Palace on horseback. The guards following them behind whispered quietly.

“They’re really a match made in heaven.”

“I agree. Every time I see them bicker like that but still stick together…”

* * *

“Hmm…”

Sejong sniffed as he looked through the report submitted by Hwang Hui. He had already heard the explanation verbally from the ministers, but he was going through the process of checking it again by looking at the actual document.

After reading it all, Sejong closed the book and looked at the ministers. He saw Kim Jeom counting something with his fingers, his eyes fixed on the distance, and muttered softly.

“I guess I have the answer…”

However, there was a procedure to follow, so Sejong coughed loudly.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Sejong gathered the attention of the ministers with his cough and got to the point.

“What do you think, ministers?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers took a moment to collect their thoughts and opened their mouths one by one.

“In my opinion, I think it is a very good idea.”

“I agree. The Jurchens are inherently violent people, and if their lives are not stable, they will immediately show their viciousness. It will require a lot of money, but it is not a loss at all if we can stabilize and pacify the Jurchens.”

The ministers evaluated Hwang Hui’s proposal as useful.

Sejong looked back at Hwang Hui after hearing the ministers’ evaluations.

“I will accept the proposal you have brought. Immediately consult with the ministers of the Six Ministries and finalize the scale of the necessary resources. You have come a long way, so take a day off first and then start working.”

“Thank you very much!”

Hwang Hui bowed deeply to express his gratitude to Sejong’s order. It was a good thing that Sejong accepted the plan that Kim Jong-seo had made, but what he was most grateful for was the day off.

Kim Jong-seo felt the same way.

“Thank you very much!”

Sejong smiled and opened his mouth at the sight of Kim Jong-seo expressing his gratitude in a loud voice.

“Are you Kim Jong-seo?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’ve heard rumors.”

Sejong continued, looking at Kim Jong-seo with a mysterious smile.

“I won’t say anything if you just guard the border.”

“Thank you very much!”

* * *

‘The drinker of Hanseong has returned!’

The news of Kim Jong-seo’s return quickly spread to the Gisaeng district.

“Which house will he go to first this time?”

The Gisaeng’s customers waited for Kim Jong-seo to arrive, looking out the street.

Not long after, Kim Jong-seo appeared in the Gisaeng district and shouted loudly.

“I’m back!”

“Oh, my dear! Welcome!”

“Dear! Come to our house today!”

“No, come to our house first!”

Kim Jong-seo looked back at Hwangbo-in at the even more fierce solicitation of the customers than expected.

“Why do you think the solicitation has gotten worse?”

“Because business is not good in this neighborhood either.”

“Huh?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s puzzled expression, Hwangbo-in explained the reason.

“The officials are too busy working to have time to go to the Gisaeng houses.”

“Ah…”

Kim Jong-seo nodded at Hwangbo-in’s explanation and dragged him into his favorite Gisaeng house.

“Since it’s been a while, bring us a good table!”

“Yes, sir!”

After a while, the table was set and the Gisaeng came in. The Gisaeng’s performance began and Hwangbo-in, who had taken a sip of the alcohol, frowned.

“This alcohol is tasteless! Bring us a proper one! Otherwise, I won’t pay the bill!”

“Oh my! Yes, sir!”

At Hwangbo-in’s shout, the Gisaengs quickly moved to change the alcohol jug.

“Hmm? Wasn’t this the original taste?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s question after tasting the alcohol in his glass, Hwangbo-in answered briefly.

“You may not know it, but I have to go to court tomorrow. If I want to avoid getting scolded for being late, I have to eat quickly, get drunk quickly, and go to bed quickly.”

“Huh…”

Kim Jong-seo shook his head at Hwangbo-in’s explanation.

“It has always been said that alcohol should be drunk slowly…”

“You’ll have to get used to it if you want to survive in Hanseong.”

Kim Jong-seo’s face became filled with a sense of loss at Hwangbo-in’s answer.

‘This is not the Hanseong life I had in mind… ’

By the way, drinking alone to get drunk quickly and end the night quickly became a custom and bad habit passed down from generation to generation among Joseon officials.

Just as the sailors and lower class people of the Age of Discovery sought rum to get drunk quickly and cheaply, so did the Joseon officials seek solo recitals.

* * *

Hwang Hui, who had obtained Sejong’s approval and even secured the necessary funds, set off on the road back to the northeastern frontier with Kim Jong-seo.

“No, did you really hate leaving Hanseong that much? You look like you’ve lost everything.”

At Hwang Hui’s question, Kim Jong-seo answered in a gloomy voice.

“That’s…”

As Kim Jong-seo told him about what he had experienced every time he went to the Gisaeng house, Hwang Hui burst out laughing.

“You idiot! Do you know what the most common saying in the court these days is? It’s ‘There are not enough people!’ Do you know how bad it is that there’s even talk of the ministers of the Six Ministries gathering to evaluate every single petition that comes up? With a shortage of people and a pile of work to do, do you have the time to drink alcohol leisurely?”

“Even so, alcohol has always been…”

At Kim Jong-seo’s expression, still unable to hide his regret, Hwang Hui sighed softly.

“That’s true… Alcohol does taste better when you drink it slowly. In that sense, wouldn’t the drinking parties in the frontier be better? The alcohol may be a bit rough, but there’s also decent clear alcohol if you go to a local tavern.”

“That is true…”

Kim Jong-seo nodded unconsciously at Hwang Hui’s words. The work in the frontier was hard, but the drinking parties still had a certain charm to them.

“Right? So what do you think? This time, let’s settle down in the northeast region for good. Soon, we’ll start reclaiming the virgin land in the east…”

“Absolutely not! I’m going back to Hanseong as soon as the frontier is sorted out!”

Kim Jong-seo strongly rejected Hwang Hui’s words before he could finish. Hwang Hui clicked his tongue at Kim Jong-seo’s reaction.

“What a pity… He was almost there…”

* * *

With the funds provided by the central government, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo soon created a new organization.

‘Labor Support Agency’

After creating the organization and appointing officials, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo immediately began recruiting laborers from the defected Jurchen people.

“So you’re saying you’ll pay us?”

“Yes! That’s not all. While working on land reclamation and agricultural assistance, you can learn how to farm and get a job right away by learning civil engineering skills by participating in road construction!”

Many Jurchens had stern expressions at the official’s sweet talk.

Among the Jurchens, there were quite a few who farmed, but their farming methods had hardly developed since the old Samhan period. However, the Joseon farmers were in a more developed situation than that.

Of course, to the eyes of Hyang, who had experienced the 21st century, it was all the same.

Nevertheless, the number of Jurchens applying for the job was increasing as the government guaranteed wages.

The main reason was that it could solve the problem of survival, which was the biggest problem that the Jurchens had to live a nomadic life. That’s why many Jurchens, regardless of gender, knocked on the door of the Labor Support Agency.

The existence of the ‘Labor Support Agency’ was also a great help to the farmers who were promoted to the policy of common people.

The average area of farmland that farmers received per household was 2gyeol. When converted to land unit measurement, this was an area of about 12,000 to 16,000 pyeong.

Although they received as much land as they wanted, it was very difficult for one household to reclaim it. Even though the country provided oxen and horses for farming, it was still too much.

It was also a problem to cooperate with neighboring farmers. The area to be reclaimed also increased in proportion to the number of people working.

At this time, the Jurchens who were supported by the Labor Support Agency were a great help. The Jurchens were tenacious as they had endured the harsh environment.

Although they communicated with gestures and signs because of the language difference, the Jurchens and Joseon people gradually reclaimed the farmland while talking in a mixture of Jurchen and Korean.

Through the reclamation of farmland and the expansion of irrigation facilities, the frontier of the northeast region gradually changed into the appearance of Joseon.

Chapter 201
The Darling of the Ministry of Taxation (1)

The lives of the Jurchens gradually stabilized with the help of the Labor Support Agency established by the Joseon court.

Although it was not a high income, the fact that money came in steadily every time they worked was a great blessing for the Jurchen people.

Except for the large tribes, the lives of the Jurchen people were even more difficult than those of the Joseon farmers. That’s why many Jurchens had robbed the villages of Joseon and Ming people.

However, now they had money and could go to the Ministry of Taxation’s monopoly store whenever they wanted to buy the goods they needed.

The monopoly store of the Ministry of Taxation was the symbol of the capital and its darling.

* * *

As the development project progressed, the monopoly store of the Ministry of Taxation was able to escape its status as a backwater.

At first, it was just a place where salt and sugar were sold as a monopoly.

Therefore, the Ministry of Taxation officials who were initially assigned to the monopoly store were quite dissatisfied.

“I studied so hard and passed the civil service exam, and now I’m a merchant!”

The officials were quite dissatisfied, but none of them resigned immediately.

The reason they had to study so hard was for one goal: to ‘serve the country’.

So, the officials who were assigned to the monopoly store and grumbled began to scream soon after.

They were not only selling salt and sugar, but also given an enormous amount of work.

- They were to copy the land and household registers of the county, the lowest level of local government where the monopoly store was located, as well as those of the neighboring counties.

- The copies were to be made in two parts, one to be kept at the monopoly store and the other to be sent to Hanseong.

The Ministry of Taxation officials at the monopoly store, after seeing the order from Hanseong, looked nonchalant.

“It’s been a while since I’ve used my writing brush.”

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s not that difficult.”

The officials at the monopoly store consulted with the officials at the neighboring monopoly stores to adjust the number of counties they would be responsible for and immediately began working.

Although the amount of work was considerable, the two Ministry of Taxation officials assigned to each monopoly store proceeded quickly. The reason they were able to work so quickly was because the monopoly store was only open once every five days, on market days.

However, the workload descending from Hanyang continued to increase.

– Survey the number of serfs owned by landlords in each military post and county.

– Record the yields of barley in spring and rice in autumn, noting the increases or decreases compared to the previous year and recording the average changes to report back to Hanyang.

Especially with the yield records, by the fourth year of reform, it became necessary to document the fluctuations and average changes to send to Hanyang, a task far beyond the capability of just two officials assigned to each trade post.

As a result, by the latter half of the reform period, the number of officials from the Ministry of Taxation stationed at each trade post had increased to four.

Yet, the workload continued to grow. The establishment of the Joseon bank was underway, and with the preparation for currency circulation, the workload showed no signs of diminishing.

Additionally, the range of products handled at the trade posts was gradually expanding. Some items were added by the government, including high-value, low-volume goods like spices, while others were added in response to the demands of the people.

For instance, in remote areas like Gangwon Province, there was a notable demand for paper.

“Are you asking for paper?”

“Yes. In the area where we live, not even peddlers come by. So, we don’t even have paper to hang on the doors.”

“So, you traveled 30 ri (about 12km), crossing over those mountains?”

“Yes.”

The Ministry of Taxation officials were perplexed but could understand the plight of the people.

Not just in Gangwon Province but in many parts of Joseon, there were areas that peddlers rarely entered due to difficult terrain.

Although larger communities like counties would have markets every five days, attracting more peddlers, the chances of finding needed items precisely when required were slim.

That’s why the people flocked to the trade posts run by the Ministry of Taxation. Even though they still had to travel to the county level, trade posts consistently received regular shipments of goods.

Eventually, the officials had no choice but to accommodate the people’s requests.

“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. But it might take at least a month. Is that okay?”

“Yes!”

“Is there anything else you need besides paper?”

As such proxy purchasing became more frequent, the matter eventually reached the agenda of the government discussions.

Ultimately, the court decided to increase the variety of goods handled by the stores.

“Simply increasing the number of items is a great waste. Order them to accurately identify the items that are absolutely necessary but difficult to obtain in each region.”

At Sejong’s command, the ministers bowed in unison and replied.

“A most just command! We receive your command!”

Thanks to this, the work of the officials assigned to the stores also increased.

As things progressed, the variety of goods handled by the stores began to increase rapidly.

“I wonder… shouldn’t we call it Joseon Mart instead of a store soon?”

Hyang was so surprised after receiving the report.

* * *

Even though the variety of goods sold at the stores increased, the common items sold were salt, sugar, and medicinal herbs. Medicinal herbs were sold as much as salt and sugar.

* * *

The people of the countryside treated diseases through folk remedies passed down through the generations. There were many effective remedies, but there were also many that were not.

At this, Sejong summoned the imperial physicians and gave an order.

“There are many people who suffer greatly because there is no proper prescription for diseases that can be easily treated! Find an answer to this with your knowledge!”

“We receive your command!”

Although they responded immediately because it was a strict royal command, the imperial physicians looked troubled.

“The only thing that the people can easily eat is medicine boiled in water, but isn’t it taboo to make medicine recklessly?”

“That’s right. It is fundamental to examine the patient’s condition through questioning and pulse diagnosis…”

The imperial physicians were unexpectedly cautious.

However, they could not help it because the patients they treated were mostly members of the royal family or high-ranking officials. Even a small mistake could result in exile, or even death in severe cases. Therefore, they had no choice but to be cautious.

“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s go to the Crown Prince!”

“That’s right!”

After listening to the imperial physicians’ complaints, Hyang immediately asked a question.

“I’ve read quite a few medical books myself. If I look at the medical books, I think the amount of ingredients to be added is also determined in addition to the list of ingredients?”

“That is the approximate amount. To make a proper medicine, you need to accurately identify the patient’s condition and make the medicine by adding and subtracting the amount of ingredients.”

“The medicine we need now is emergency medicine. It is not a cure, but a medicine to stabilize the condition, so it seems that we can adjust the amount based on medical books and experience.”

“However…”

“When a major epidemic broke out in the past and I went out to treat it, didn’t I boil medicine in large quantities unless the patient was in critical condition? Think of it as the same situation.”

“Aha!”

The imperial physicians, who had caught on to Hyang’s words, brightened their faces and bowed in unison.

“Thanks to your insight, we have found the answer! We are truly grateful!”

“Thank you!”

As the imperial physicians expressed their gratitude, Hyang waved his hand as if it was nothing.

“It is thanks to the excellence of the imperial physicians that the work has become easy.”

Hyang, who had seen off the imperial physicians, had a vague expression on his face.

“Emergency medicine… It’s something that I can’t quite grasp…”

Hyang, who had been frowning and thinking as if he was chasing something that was only slightly visible in the fog, suddenly snapped his fingers.

“That’s right! Opium!”

Hyang hurriedly got up from his seat and looked for the eunuch.

“Eunuch! Prepare to go to His Majesty! It’s urgent, so get ready right away!”

“Yes? Yes!”

Hyang, who had visited the Geunjeongjeon, immediately told Sejong his business.

“To stop the cultivation of poppies? Why?”

Sejong asked, and Hyang immediately answered.

“You are aware that many people use the sap of poppies as an emergency medicine, are you not?”

“I know. I heard it is quite useful.”

“However, if you take too much of this poppy sap, you will hallucinate and become addicted. Once you become addicted, you will start looking for more and more poppies, and if you can’t get them, you will resort to violence and crime to get them.”

“What is your evidence?”

“It is something that is commonly pointed out in many medical books.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong looked around at the ministers. Thanks to the fact that reading medical books was a hobby of the scholars, as was mathematics, quite a few of the ministers nodded their heads.

After confirming the reaction of the ministers, Hyang continued speaking.

“There are many pharmacies all over Joseon, and this time, medicinal herbs will be sold through the stores. Therefore, I ask that you prohibit ordinary people from growing poppies and have a separate person cultivate only the amount needed to supply the hospitals.”

Sejong looked around at the ministers at Hyang’s words.

“What do you think, ministers?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers, who had been calculating in their minds, answered in unison.

“We think it is reasonable.”

In the absence of opposition from the ministers, Sejong immediately came to a conclusion.

“Then let’s do it. Now that the people can easily obtain medicinal herbs, it is right to prevent them from associating with dangerous things like poppies.”

Thus, an order was issued to ban the cultivation of poppies throughout Joseon.

However, there were always those with the Blue Tiger symbol, so there were those who secretly manufactured and distributed poppies. Therefore, the cat-and-mouse game between drug organizations and crackdowns continued throughout Joseon history.

However, in the process, the sparks flew to an unnecessary place, and that was to Sejong.

“Addiction is really scary. That’s probably why the saying ‘too much is too much’ and the saying ‘excess is in proportion’ exist.”

“That’s right.”

As the ministers responded to Sejong’s words in unison, Hyang’s gaze turned elsewhere.

Hyang’s gaze was directed at the candy jar placed on the table below the hall, where the officials were seated.

“Father. Doesn’t the candy jar you put there seem bigger than before?”

“Ah… I’ve been drinking tea a lot lately, so…”

“Father, as I told you before, if you eat too much candy, you will get thirsty, and then…”

“I’m still fine! I know what I’m doing!”

Even though Sejong cut him off, Hyang continued speaking, looking at Sejong in a certain way.

“Well, you see… the rate at which my younger siblings are being born…”

“You rascal, get out!”

After chasing Hyang out, Sejong ordered the eunuch.

“Change it to a smaller jar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sejong’s eyes narrowed at the eunuch’s bright voice.

“You, why do you like it so much?”

“I was also worried…”

“Ugh… go change it right now.”

Sejong groaned and held out his hand.

The people visited the stores more and more as the Ministry of Taxation sold medicinal herbs.

Of course, there was a criterion for selling medicinal herbs at the stores: only in places where there was no pharmacy within a radius of 5 li (about 2 km).

However, there were countless such places. The fact that they could now buy medicinal herbs at the stores was a great blessing for the people.

“Now we can live a little!”

“That’s right. Now the number of minor illnesses becoming major illnesses will decrease!”

“This is all thanks to the grace of the King!”

“That’s right! We have a wise ruler! A wise ruler!”

Words of praise for Sejong flowed throughout Joseon, and his support among the people reached the sky.

Chapter 202
The Darling of the Ministry of Taxation (2)

The most popular items sold at the royal store were undoubtedly candy and salt.

* * *

Candy was an item imported from Ming and sold by the royal store, with its import and distribution strictly managed by the court.

“The demand is gradually increasing, but it’s a problem that we have to import all of it. We need to find a substitute…”

As Hyang pondered over this issue, he casually brought it up to Suksu, the head chef of the royal kitchen.

“Hey, Suksu.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What ingredients can we use to create a sweet taste?”

“There’s rice syrup, isn’t there?”

“Doesn’t rice syrup consume a lot of precious grains? That’s why we import candy in the first place.”

“That’s true…”

Suksu fell silent for a moment, trying to recall something from his memory.

After some time had passed, Suksu’s face lit up.

“Ah!”

“Did you remember something?”

“We have radishes!”

“Radishes? Ah!”

At Suksu’s answer, Hyang suddenly remembered something. It was an old TV program he had watched aimlessly on an internet video site back in the 21st century.

The program was about the origin of the phrase “Eat yeot!” (equivalent to “Eat sh*t!” in English), and one of the origins was related to radishes.

“Radishes are also sweet…”

Although Hyang nodded in agreement, Suksu’s expression wasn’t very pleased.

“However, to obtain sweetness equivalent to candy using radishes, we would need an enormous quantity.”

“That’s true. Anyway, thank you.”

After expressing his gratitude to Suksu, Hyang turned around and continued muttering to himself as he walked.

“Radishes… There was something… Something…”

However, Hyang couldn’t dwell on radishes any longer as he had a lot of pending work at the research institute and Area 51.

A few days later, while sleeping with the Crown Princess, Hyang suddenly woke up shouting.

“Sugar beets! That’s what it was! I found it! Well done, my brain!”

“Your Highness! Your Highness! What happened all of a sudden?”

The Crown Princess, who had also woken up startled by Hyang’s sudden outburst, called out to him in a panic.

“Your Highness! What’s the matter? Did you have a bad dream?”

“Ah, no. I just remembered the answer to a problem I had been pondering over.”

“Is that so?”

Hyang reassured the Crown Princess, who was looking at him with a worried expression, and got up from his seat, heading towards the nearby writing desk. As he wrote “sugar beet” on the paper on the desk, Hyang suddenly panicked and frantically scratched the paper with the tip of his gold pen.

“Argh… Hey, you bastard!”

“Your Highness! What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Although Hyang repeatedly said it was fine, the Crown Princess didn’t back down.

“I’ll call the royal physician.”

“I said I’m fine…”

“No! Hey, eunuch!”

At the Crown Princess’s call, the eunuch waiting outside promptly responded.

“Yes, My Lady. Did you call for me?”

“Bring the royal physician right away. Right now!”

“Yes, My Lady!”

* * *

In the end, this late-night commotion reached King Sejong and Queen Soheon the next day.

“Take care of your health.”

“Yes, Father.”

King Sejong brushed it off briefly, but Queen Soheon was different.

“What did the royal physician say?”

The Crown Princess immediately answered Queen Soheon’s question.

“He said it’s because His Highness has been exerting a lot of mental energy lately. So he prepared a tonic to nourish his energy.”

“Well done. Listen, Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“I hope you will keep in mind that everything about the Crown Prince does not belong to the Crown Prince alone.”

“I will keep that in mind, Mother.”

Queen Soheon’s nagging continued for a long time after that. Of course, the pressure for a second child was not left out either.

In the end, Hyang had to leave the Crown Princess’s palace feeling drained.

“Then, I’ll go and take care of work, so the Crown Princess can go ahead first.”

“Yes. Please take care of yourself.”

“I will do so.”

After sending the Crown Princess ahead, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. It’s hard, so hard.”

As he grumbled, Hyang slapped his own mouth with his hand.

“No matter how much you wake up from sleep, this damn mouth of mine is the problem, this damn mouth of mine!”

“Your Highness?”

“It’s just me talking to myself! Go on ahead!”

When the eunuch called out to him with a worried expression, Hyang staggered away with a look of nothing happened.

* * *

That night, King Sejong summoned Hyang. In a situation where even the eunuchs were sent out, let alone the royal historians, King Sejong confirmed the truth with Hyang.

“I didn’t say it in the morning because it was awkward, but what did you write on the paper last night that made you react like that?”

“I was writing down something I remembered, and I made a mistake in writing the characters…”

“You made a mistake in writing?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

When King Sejong narrowed his eyes and glared at him, Hyang furtively averted his gaze.

King Sejong, who had been glaring at Hyang, threw another question.

“Have you finished reading the phonology books that were brought in some time ago?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’ll go borrow them soon.”

“Yes.”

“Go and rest.”

“Yes, Father, please get some comfortable sleep as well.”

King Sejong watched Hyang politely bow and leave, then muttered softly to himself.

“That guy, I need to catch him one day and interrogate him…”

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had come outside, let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. I’ll have to be damn busy for the time being.”

It was a fierce battle of wits between a father who wanted to make his son work and a son who didn’t want to work.

* * *

Despite the commotion, Hyang, who had remembered sugar beets, sent out proclamations not only throughout Joseon but also to the eastern pioneer region.

Of course, it was natural that he had to go through various hardships while creating the proclamations.

“What’s the Chinese character for radish?”

As Hyang pondered over the word for radish while writing the document, Jeong-cho, who had come to report at that moment, intervened.

“It’s called ‘nabok’ (蘿蔔). It uses the character ‘na’ (蘿) for mistletoe and ‘bok’ (蔔) for radish.”

“Ah! I see! Thank you!”

As Hyang looked delighted and searched for the character dictionary, Jeong-cho asked a question.

“What’s the reason for suddenly looking for the Chinese character?”

In response to Jeong-cho’s question, Hyang promptly explained the reason.

“Hmm…”

Hyang’s explanation made Jeong-cho stroke his beard and become lost in thought. After briefly recollecting his memory, Jeong-cho soon opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it… I remember eating a similar vegetable in Ming. The name was probably… Ah! It must have been written as ‘chamchae'[1]”

“Is that so? Thank you!”

As Hyang expressed his sincere gratitude, Jeong-cho smiled. Although Hyang was his superior and the Crown Prince of this nation, he sometimes gave the impression of being like Jeong-cho’s own grandson.

While smiling warmly, Jeong-cho soon remembered the purpose of his visit and held out the book he had brought.

“This is a report documenting the development progress of the steam engine.”

“Ah! Thank you. Were there any good results?”

“The performance has improved a little compared to the last quarter, but there are still many parts that need further improvement.”

At Jeong-cho’s answer, Hyang clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! It’s fortunate that the performance has at least improved a bit. Although there are various rumors circulating from all directions, there is a saying, ‘Ubo cheon-ri’ (牛步千里, walking a thousand li at the pace of an ox. Slow but steady). Please encourage the craftsmen and officials not to give up.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Jeong-cho bowed his head and answered Hyang’s request.

* * *

In this way, a proclamation seeking ‘chamchae’ was distributed nationwide. However, there were several types of vegetables with that name. This was because the term ‘chamchae’ itself meant ‘sweet vegetable’.

“The conclusion is that I have to go through some physical hardship.”

Looking at the vegetables that had been brought up, Hyang began to taste them one by one, dividing them by type.

Through this process, Hyang was able to find sugar beets—to be precise, primitive sugar beets before the development of improved varieties.

After tasting the result of boiling the juice extracted from the sugar beets he had found, Hyang shook his head.

“It’s bland. There was a reason why sugarcane beat it.”

In fact, sugarcane showed an ‘insurmountable’ difference in profitability compared to sugar beets, which is why it maintained its dominant position even in the 21st century.

After confirming the results, Hyang made a decision.

“It’s not profitable as it is. I’ll have to breed improved varieties.”

Hyang passed on the sugar beets to the department in charge of breeding various grains.

“Oh my goodness…”

The researchers in the department that had been given a new assignment by Hyang became perplexed.

“Just like the oriental melon last time, why is he always looking for sweet things?”

“Whether it’s oriental melons or this, it’s like trying to catch a cloud.”

The officials who received the assignment from Hyang muttered in a perplexed tone.

* * *

Anyway, the main products of the royal store were undoubtedly salt and candy.

However, as the year of Giyu (1429) arrived, a powerful product emerged that threatened the status of these two items.

The name of that product was ‘goyak (medicinal plasters)'[2].

The invention of goyak was also Hyang’s work.

* * *

One hot summer day in the 10th year of King Sejong’s reign (the year of Musin, 1429), Hyang, who had come out to take a short break, noticed a soldier of the Inner Palace Guard.

“Hey, what’s wrong with your walking?”

The soldier answered Hyang’s question, which was prompted by curiosity at the sight of him walking unsteadily, with an embarrassed face.

“Some time ago, a boil appeared on my buttocks, and it got badly inflamed, so…”

“Oh dear! Go see the royal physician right away.”

At Hyang’s words, the soldier replied with a troubled expression.

“I already went to see him, but he said it needs to be lanced…”

“Ah…”

At the soldier’s answer, Hyang unknowingly nodded his head.

“I’ll write an order for you, so go home and recuperate for a while.”

“I am deeply grateful!”

The soldier sincerely thanked Hyang and bowed deeply at his words. However, his posture was awkward due to the pain from the boil.

Hyang, who had returned to his room and written the order to give to the soldier, muttered with a serious expression.

“I had forgotten about this…”

At that time, boils were a fatal disease in Joseon. The best treatment was to lance them, but considering the hygienic conditions in Joseon at the time, this was a dangerous gamble.

“A little safer, a little cleaner!”

Exclaiming this, Hyang spread the method of disinfection using alcohol (ethanol) and improved hygiene by supplying soap. However, surgical procedures were still the last resort.

This was not just a problem in Joseon.

In the West, the situation was similar until the introduction of modern disinfection methods in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Surgery or procedures were considered ‘putting one foot in the grave’.

“Come to think of it… Father also suffered from boils, right? And wasn’t it said that the cause of death for King Jeongjo was a boil?”

Hyang muttered with a serious expression.

Hyang didn’t know, but in the history before his intervention, some scholars even mentioned abscesses as the biggest reason for King Munjong’s short life.

How much did Munjong suffer at that time? King Sejong, who could no longer bear to see the Crown Prince writhing in pain, issued a royal order with a heart of praying to the heavens to unconditionally pardon criminals with sentences below hard labor among the criminals nationwide. (Note 1)

However, Munjong’s boils recurred frequently, and he eventually died just two years after his enthronement. (Note 2)

“I need to find a solution…”

As Hyang walked around trying to find a solution, he soon stopped and snapped his fingers.

“That’s it! Medicinal plasters!”

* * *

The place where Hyang had set up a blacksmith shop in the 21st century was a rural area on the outskirts of Yangsan.

It was a place where elderly people with an average age easily exceeding 70 gathered, so it was common to see people with various ailments.

If you went out a little, there was a hospital in Yangsan City, but the place most frequented by the residents was a nearby traditional Korean medicine clinic.

It was run by a traditional Korean medicine doctor who was as old as the residents, ‘aging together’ with them, and the residents would visit this clinic whenever they felt even slightly ill.

The most famous thing at that clinic was medicinal plasters.

* * *

Note 1) The very thing that made the kings of Joseon tremble. The Hankyoreh. 2014.07.25
http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/science/science_general/648527.html

Note 2) Joseon, fighting a battle against boils. Written by Bang Seong-hye. Window of the Era.

1. 甜菜[↩]

2. medicinal plasters[↩]

Chapter 203
The Darling of the Ministry of Taxation (3)

In the 21st century, before moving to Yangsan, Hyang didn’t even know about medicinal plasters. To be precise, he knew the name but had never actually seen the product.

However, after settling down in Yangsan, Hyang became familiar with medicinal plasters.

This was because medicinal plasters were a staple medicine for the elderly living in the area.

Whenever Hyang went to repair farm tools or fix the electrical facilities at the village hall, he would say with a worried expression:

“But why don’t you go to the big hospitals in Yangsan City right next door?”

Whenever Hyang asked, the elderly people’s answers were similar.

“We do go. But it’s bothersome to travel back and forth.”

“Well, it’s not like we have any serious illnesses…”

Despite their words, the elderly relied heavily on medicines. The familiar medicines Hyang saw every time he visited their homes were digestive medicines, painkillers, medicated patches, and medicinal plasters.

It was inevitable for medicinal plasters to be common in the homes of the elderly. As people age, it is unavoidable for all bodily functions to weaken. In particular, problems with blood circulation were the most common, leading to frequent occurrences of skin diseases, including boils.

“It would be better to just go to a dermatologist…”

Hyang would grumble whenever he saw those elderly people, but he gradually became curious.

So Hyang sought out the traditional medicine clinic that made and sold medicinal plasters to the elderly.

Hyang visited the clinic with a few bottles of good soju and probed the old traditional medicine doctor about medicinal plasters while treating him to a drink.

“Why do you make and sell medicinal plasters? They’re sold at pharmacies, aren’t they?”

“They do sell them. But those old folks complain that the efficacy isn’t the same as in the past. That’s why I make them myself.”

“There must be a prescription for medicinal plasters, right?”

“Ha! This is a different secret method from that!”

“Could it be that the efficacy is lower?”

“If the efficacy was lower, would those old hags buy them?”

The more Hyang conversed with the doctor, the stronger his curiosity grew, so he scoured the internet.

After obtaining information about medicinal plasters through a few clicks, Hyang showed a surprised expression.

“Oh? The origin of this was Western medicine?”

According to records about the most famous medicinal plaster, ‘Lee Myeong-rae’s Medicinal Plaster’, it was created by Lee Myeong-rae, a Catholic, by combining the knowledge of herbology learned from a Western priest with traditional Korean medicine. (Note 1)

This unexpected information piqued Hyang’s curiosity even more.

“In this village, the traditional medicine doctor makes them. What’s the difference?”

Hyang kept visiting the doctor and asking about medicinal plasters.

“Why do you keep asking about medicinal plasters? Are you going to make and sell them yourself?”

When the doctor asked with suspicion, Hyang waved his hands in denial.

“Without a medical license, why would I make and sell them and face the consequences? I’m just curious because the elderly use them a lot.”

The doctor gave a rough answer to Hyang’s response.

“I’ll only tell you two things. Purslane and pine roots.”

“Could you be more specific…”

“Not transmitted to non-humans!”

* * *

“What the hell is ‘not transmitted to non-humans’…”

As Hyang recalled his memories about medicinal plasters, he soon moved to the bookshelf.

“Medical books…”

While searching for medical books, Hyang suddenly hit his forehead.

“Idiot! Why should I suffer by looking it up myself?”

Hyang, who had a change of thought, immediately visited the Royal Clinic.

“Who is the most knowledgeable about medicinal herbs?”

At Hyang’s question, the royal physicians pointed to one doctor.

“What’s his name?”

“It is Oh Han-byeok.”

“Alright, Doctor Oh, work with me on something.”

“Pardon?”

Having recruited a doctor in this way, Hyang immediately began developing medicinal plasters with Doctor Oh.

* * *

The development of medicinal plasters was, as expected, a series of trial and error.

Selecting and combining medicinal herbs that were said to be effective for boils full of pus, and then boiling them down into the sticky form of a medicinal plaster, required a lot of effort.

Therefore, even the female physicians were mobilized to help make the medicinal plasters.

When prototypes of medicinal plasters made with various combinations were produced, Hyang prepared for the next step.

“We need to conduct clinical trials…”

As Hyang pondered over finding a suitable subject, he recalled his memories from the 21st century.

According to records he had seen through the internet in the 21st century, Lee Myeong-rae had visited beggar villages to confirm the efficacy of the medicinal plasters he had made. (Note 1)

Hyang clicked his tongue after recalling and confirming his memory.

“Tsk. I’ll have to use my authority. Eunuch! I’m going to Geunjeongjeon Hall! Prepare for departure!”

Entering Geunjeongjeon Hall, Hyang told his purpose to King Sejong. After hearing the details, King Sejong reconfirmed with Hyang.

“You want permission to experiment with a new medicine on patients at Public Medical Service, Hyeminseo[1], and Relief Center, Hwarinwon[2]?”

“Yes, Father.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong fell into deep thought while stroking his beard.

“Indeed, boils may seem minor, but they are unexpectedly serious diseases. It would be good if a medicine that can easily treat them is developed. However, my son. It is a medicine to be used on people. Are you certain?”

“In theory, it seems to be the answer, but we need to confirm it because we don’t know for sure in practice.”

At Hyang’s response, King Sejong looked around at his ministers.

“What do you think, ministers?”

The ministers could not easily answer King Sejong’s question.

After all, medicine was something related to human life. Therefore, they had to oppose the immediate use of a new medicine.

However, they could not thoughtlessly oppose it because of the case of Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

If they had blindly opposed it, they could have ended up drinking poison like Ryu Jeong-hyeon and his colleagues or being sent into exile for an indefinite period.

After a long silence, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik took the lead.

“If what the Crown Prince said is true, it would indeed be a wonder drug, but what concerns me is that its efficacy has not been proven.”

Hyang immediately responded to Lee Jik’s answer.

“It is natural that the efficacy has not been proven. We haven’t even used it on patients yet. That’s why we’re proposing to conduct experiments, isn’t it?”

“That is true, but…”

In the end, King Sejong had to decide whether to approve or reject this matter.

After pondering silently for a long time, King Sejong finally made a decision.

“Alright. The Crown Prince may conduct experiments on patients at Public Medical Service and Relief Center. However! Coercion is not permitted! Only conduct experiments on volunteers!”

When King Sejong gave his permission, Hyang bowed deeply.

“I accept your command! I am immensely grateful for your permission!”

With that, they began recruiting volunteers among the patients with boils who visited Public Medical Service and Relief Center.

“Who made this medicine?”

“It is a medicine that the Crown Prince made together with the royal physicians.”

“Then, I will try it. The Crown Prince is trusted by His Majesty, so how could it be unreliable!”

Surprisingly, the volunteer rate among the patients was very high.

In the background was the smallpox inoculation that Hyang had pushed forward. The people who had experienced the effectiveness of the smallpox inoculation firsthand were showing full trust in Hyang.

Thanks to this, Hyang and the royal physicians were able to confirm the efficacy of different types of medicinal plaster prototypes.

Fortunately for Hyang and the patients, all the prototypes showed some degree of efficacy.

“It’s because we gathered medicinal ingredients that originally had such effects…”

Relieved by the positive results, Hyang began to select the combinations with the best effects among them.

Although they started with half doubt and half distrust, when positive results emerged, the royal physicians and female physicians began to work on the project enthusiastically. They were not the only ones.

Some of the royal physicians who heard the news volunteered to join the project.

“If we can properly treat boils, we can save many lives! Please give us a chance too!”

“You’re welcome to join.”

As the research team was further reinforced, the development of medicinal plasters gained even more momentum.

Thanks to this, the final version of the medicinal plaster was unveiled before the year of Musin (1429) had passed.

When it showed good results not only among the patients at Public Medical Service and Relief Center but also among those who came from nearby Hanseong after hearing the rumors, Hyang immediately went to see King Sejong.

“It was a success! We must sell this medicine to the people!”

All the ministers expressed their agreement with Hyang’s proposal.

“It would be right to sell it through the royal stores!”

“Agreed!”

“Please allow the sale through the royal stores!”

When all the ministers agreed and came forward, King Sejong also gave his consent.

In this way, the medicinal plaster began to be sold through the royal stores established nationwide.

The medicinal plaster, named ‘Balgeun-go'[3], meaning ‘to pull out the roots of boils’, began to be sold nationwide under the official product name ‘Royal Secret Formula Balgeun-go'[4].

* * *

Not long after ‘Balgeun-go’ officially went on sale, its sales began to rise vertically through word of mouth from the people who experienced its efficacy.

Although the price of a soy sauce cup-sized container of the medicinal plaster was quite expensive, equivalent to one doe of white rice, people purchased it without hesitation.

That’s how much boils tormented the people.

“The body must be clean to prevent boils from forming!”

Following King Sejong’s subsequent proclamation, the sales of bino (soap) also naturally increased.

* * *

The medicinal plaster that began to be sold in this way became a hit product not only in Joseon but also internationally.

It was not only Joseon that suffered from boils.

Boils were quite a troublesome disease in Japan, which suffered from a humid climate, as well as in Ming, where people enjoyed oily foods.

Merchants from Japan and Ming who saw Balgeun-go at the trading posts in Waegwan and Shandong and experienced its efficacy vied to purchase it.

It was not only Ming and Japan. Merchants from Dai Viet and Siam, who frequently visited the trading post in Shandong, also purchased large quantities of Balgeun-go.

This Balgeun-go proved effective in an unexpected place, which was the settlements of the Jurchen people.

There were quite a few Jurchen people who suffered from boils as they spent a lot of time sitting on horse saddles.

* * *

As Balgeun-go recorded tremendous sales, attempts to replicate it naturally occurred.

However, within Joseon, no one dared to dream of replicating it thanks to the four characters ‘王室祕方’ (Royal Secret Formula) and the apricot blossom engraved on the lid.

Therefore, the places that mainly attempted to replicate it were Ming and Japan.

However, the results of those attempts were not very good.

This was because all the characteristics—such as scent and color—of the ingredients used disappeared during the numerous manufacturing processes required to make the medicinal plaster.

Therefore, they also searched through medical books and tried to manufacture by gathering medicinal ingredients with similar effects, but they failed to create a product with the same efficacy as Balgeun-go.

The reason was that Hyang had played a little trick with the raw materials and manufacturing process.

It was due to a few ingredients that Hyang added based on his memories from the 21st century, in addition to the ingredients recorded in traditional medical books.

* * *

Through this huge hit product, the royal stores were able to firmly establish their position.

In particular, in the pioneer region of the northeast, the royal stores became the most powerful institution for absorbing the Jurchen people into Joseon.

The fact that they could proudly purchase products such as salt, candy, and Balgeun-go just like the Joseon people as long as they had goods—later money—was a great shock to the Jurchen people.

There was no need to feel humiliated while receiving charity like before, and there was no need to risk their lives to plunder.

They could simply visit the royal stores with their loyalty certificates and goods and obtain what they needed without discrimination.

Moreover, they could legally obtain these goods by volunteering at the labor support centers or selling the horses, cattle, and sheep they raised.

Finally, as the naturalized Jurchen people received the same identity tags as the Joseon people instead of loyalty certificates, they pledged their loyalty to Joseon.

* * *

Note 1) Korea Agricultural Policy News. 2017.04.15.

http://www.ikpnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=29703

Chapter 204
Dilemma (1)

As the loyalty of the naturalized Jurchen people increased, serious discussions began in the military and the Ministry of Military Affairs about incorporating the Jurchen people into the Joseon army.

“Is it really a good idea to accept the Jurchen people?”

“Wouldn’t there be a problem of betrayal?”

The most pressing issue that the officials, from Choe Yun-deok at the frontlines to Jo Mal-saeng in Hanseong, were deeply concerned about and debated over was the matter of ‘trust’.

‘Can we trust the naturalized Jurchen people?’

The debate on this issue soon went beyond the scope of the military and the Ministry of Military Affairs, and even King Sejong and the ministers began to participate in heated discussions.

Those in favor argued as follows:

‘They have pledged loyalty to our Joseon, and they rely on our Joseon for their livelihood to maintain their food, clothing, and shelter. In this situation, it’s okay to incorporate them into the military.’

However, those opposed were also formidable.

‘The Jurchen people pledge loyalty in front but stab you in the back. It’s not like it hasn’t happened once or twice to Joseon and even during the Goryeo era, right?’

As both sides had valid grounds, a fierce tug-of-war continued.

At this, Hyang proposed a third option.

“What about imposing qualification restrictions?”

“Qualification restrictions?”

“We only accept the children of those who hold high positions in the tribe, or those who have started a family and have children, into the Joseon army.”

“Hmm…”

“That might work.”

King Sejong and the ministers were intrigued by Hyang’s proposal. However, there were also those who raised objections.

“Please consider the case of Mentemu Dudu of the Odori tribe. He pledged loyalty to our Joseon by entrusting hostages, but in the end, he defected to Ming. And we had to send all the hostages back under pressure from Ming. Considering this, it’s not the best plan.”

Hearing the objection, Hyang refuted again.

“Of course, there are such cases. However, it’s even more dangerous to just leave them be. Think about the brutality of the Jurchen warriors. We need to incorporate them into the military and control them.”

“But…”

“Then how about this method?”

Hyang put forth a revised proposal.

– The next generation of power holders, such as the chiefs’ sons, are placed in Seonggyungwan to receive civil official education and be utilized.

– The children of the elders are placed in the military but maintained as hostages. The Jurchen warriors who join the military are grouped by tribe but divided into units (of 15-25 people) and mixed with other tribes.

– They are given opportunities for promotion to encourage loyalty competition.

King Sejong and the ministers showed increasingly positive responses to Hyang’s revised proposal. However, as there were still those who opposed, Hyang presented an additional revised plan.

– Arquebuses are not provided to the Jurchen units. The Jurchen people only use traditional bows, spears, and swords as weapons.

– Armor is also limited to helmets and breastplates. The full-body armor used by Joseon cavalry or spearmen is not provided.

“If arquebuses are not provided, I will not oppose.”

Even those who had expressed opposition turned to agree with the additional revisions Hyang proposed.

Following the decision of King Sejong and the court, a wave of change swept over the Jurchen people.

The chiefs of the naturalized Jurchen tribes held onto their sons who were leaving for Hanseong and gave them instructions.

“Securing a position in the court is not only an opportunity for you but also a great opportunity for our tribe. There will surely be discrimination, but grit your teeth and endure it.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I don’t expect you to reach the level of Prime Minister or Minister. However, you must at least rise to the rank of Danghagwan (Senior 3rd Rank to Junior 6th Rank).”

“Yes, Father.”

“Then go. Take care of yourself.”

The families of the chiefs’ sons who left in this way settled in Hanseong. For their convenience, the court assigned them houses near Dongdaemun. Later, this would be the birth of the village called ‘Dongyeochon’.

“For the sake of our Joseon, for the sake of your tribes, and lastly, for the sake of your own success and fame, do your best.”

At the welcoming banquet for the chiefs’ sons who arrived in Hanseong, King Sejong gave the above instructions.

The Jurchen people attending King Sejong’s instructions all answered in unison.

“We will engrave it in our bones and hearts!”

Three days after the banquet, they all entered the Hall of Appointment. The Hall of Appointment, who was in charge of guiding them, spoke to them about their future schedule.

“For the next six months, you will study here and receive practical training. Throughout this process, you will be graded based on your attitude and performance, which will determine the rank bestowed upon you later. Also, how well you speak the Joseon language will affect the rank you receive, so I hope you do your best.”

“Yes!”

Thus began their eventful school days.

Since most of them had brought their families, they were paid the salary of officials of the 9th junior rank.

In addition, those with excellent grades received an additional fixed amount each month, so they competed with fiery eyes.

After a fierce competition, they were assigned ranks ranging from the 8th junior rank to the 6th junior rank and assigned to the court.

“Sigh~.”

On the first day of reporting to the government office they were assigned to, they all sighed as they stood in front of the threshold.

“I’m Jurchen, I wonder how much discrimination I’ll face?”

They were full of worries, but the Joseon officials welcomed them enthusiastically.

“Come on in! Welcome!”

“You’ve come to the right place! Welcome!”

The Jurchen people couldn’t help but be suspicious of the overly enthusiastic welcome.

‘Is this a trap?’

However, in less than three days, they understood why the Joseon officials had welcomed them so enthusiastically.

“The work never stops!”

“Overtime every single day!”

“Save me! This place is hell!”

As the Jurchen people cried out ‘hell’, a passing Joseon official chuckled and struck up a conversation.

“This is just the entrance to hell. Do you know where the real hell is?”

The Joseon official raised his hand and pointed to where the record-keeping office was located.

“That place is the real hell. Work hard. If you make a mistake, you’ll be sent to that hell.”

Overwhelmed by work, the Jurchen people seriously considered resigning.

“Should I abandon my tribe and flee far to the north?”

However, their attempts were met with strong opposition from their wives and children.

“Where do you think you’re going? Don’t you dare ruin the children’s future!”

“Where in the world can you find a house and household goods like this? Just endure it for a bit! Your father said the same thing! He said to live without your liver and gallbladder for the time being!”

“This isn’t a matter of pride, I’m dying from work!”

“But the children aren’t starving, are they?”

At the wife’s final words, the men were deflated.

It was because, even as the sons of chiefs during their nomadic life, they had to live worrying about hunger.

In the end, they had to go to work with their shoulders drooping.

It was the sad portrait of husbands burdened by life.

* * *

However, their wives also had their reasons.

Although the salary their husbands received was meager, it was an enormous amount from the perspective of the Jurchen people.

Even from the Joseon perspective, the salaries received by the officials were substantial.

As the economy expanded through the reforms, King Sejong began to gradually make the salaries paid to officials and royal family members more realistic, as promised.

Of course, in return, if even a small amount of corruption was detected, most of their assets would be confiscated, and they would be thrown into the records office or mines.

Therefore, unlike in the past, the officials had to show an extreme aversion to bribes.

Anyway, the standard of living they enjoyed with the salaries they received was far higher than what they had experienced during their nomadic life.

Moreover, the treatment their wives and families received from the surrounding Joseon people was different.

They were not simply ‘Jurchen tag-alongs’ but ‘my lord who serves the country’ and ‘my lord’s family members’.

Additionally, according to rumors, the Samin schools were scheduled to open soon. Rumors were rampant that if they received a little more advanced education through the Samin schools, they could work not only as officials but also in merchant groups with good treatment.

Hearing the rumors, the Jurchen women gritted their teeth.

“There are Samin schools nationwide, but the number of higher-level schools is much smaller! It’s obvious that the ones located in Hanseong will be the best! We must hold out in Hanseong no matter what!”

It wasn’t just Joseon mothers, but Jurchen mothers also began to show their ambition.

* * *

Meanwhile, the situation was similar for the Jurchen people who joined the Joseon army.

Although they were also cavalry, the Jurchen people only received breastplates and helmets, unlike the Joseon troops.

As for weapons, the Jurchen people were not given the arquebuses used by the Joseon troops. The Jurchen cavalry had no choice but to continue using the bows, spears, and swords they had always used as their main weapons.

However, the Jurchen people seemed satisfied.

“Although the power of the arquebus is good, its range is short!”

The Jurchen people pointed out that the range of the mounted arquebus, the main weapon of the Joseon cavalry, was short.

The Joseon cavalry’s counterargument was also formidable.

“It’s true that the range is short. However, the range of the new mounted arquebus is much longer. And the range of the armored long arquebus is even longer. Lastly…”

The Joseon cavalry ended their words while tapping on the armor they were wearing.

“The distance at which the mounted arquebus can pierce the Jurchen armor is much farther than the distance at which the Jurchen arrows can pierce this armor!”

At the words of the Joseon cavalry, the Jurchen cavalry nodded their heads.

“Yeah, we admit that. That’s why we’re not saying anything.”

Although they only received breastplates and pointed helmets, the Jurchen cavalry had no complaints as they were given armor and helmets with exactly the same performance as those worn by the Joseon cavalry and spearmen.

Rather, the Jurchen cavalry preferred receiving only the breastplates and helmets.

– The full-body armor worn by the Joseon cavalry has good defense, but it’s too heavy and cumbersome to move in!

The above was the assessment of the Jurchen people. It was more convenient to wear only the breastplate and helmet to perform the dazzling mounted martial arts that the Joseon cavalry described as ‘closer to acrobatics than martial arts’.

In this way, when the Jurchen cavalry was incorporated into the Joseon army, the Joseon military leadership organized them into a vanguard unit.

Utilizing the unique mobility of the light cavalry, they scouted enemy positions ahead of the Joseon cavalry units and delivered that information.

If the size of the enemy was manageable, they would independently strike the enemy and tie them down.

Once the enemies were immobilized, the Joseon cavalry with superior firepower would charge in and inflict irrecoverable damage, which became the main tactic.

* * *

When they were first incorporated into the Joseon army, many Jurchen cavalry had the same concerns as the Jurchen people who went to Hanseong.

“What if the Joseon bastards discriminate against us?”

Although they pledged loyalty to Joseon upon surrendering, the relationship between the Joseon and Jurchen people until then had often involved bloodshed.

However, when the Joseon soldiers encountered the Jurchen military officers who commanded the units, the flag units (consisiting of 3-5 units) commanded by the flag commanders, and the higher-ranking Jurchen military officers, they politely saluted them.

The polite salutes were so respectful that the Jurchen military officers who received them were rather flustered.

This was due to the royal command that Hyang had issued through King Sejong when the incorporation of the Jurchen people was decided.

King Sejong and the ministers were concerned about the disharmony that would arise from incorporating the Jurchen people into the Joseon cavalry.

Seeing this, Hyang advised King Sejong.

“The military etiquette prescribed in the military code is not about respecting people but about respecting ranks. Therefore, it is the military code to salute superiors regardless of whether they are Joseon or Jurchen. Failure to follow this is a serious crime of violating the military code.”

Borrowing a line from a drama about U.S. airborne troops during World War II that he had seen in the 21st century, King Sejong was impressed by Hyang’s advice and clapped his knees.

“Those are truly fitting words! Indeed! What does it matter if the superior is Jurchen or Joseon! It is only natural to salute a superior, as it should be!”

Chapter 205
Dilemma (2)

In this way, King Sejong’s royal decree was delivered to the entire Joseon military.

– Military etiquette is about paying respect to rank! Therefore, it is only natural that those who do not adhere to military etiquette, even if they are not Joseon natives, should be punished for violating military discipline!

As the stern royal decree was issued, the Joseon military strictly adhered to etiquette for their superiors, regardless of whether they were Joseon natives or not.

During this process, there were those who unexpectedly benefited from it, and they were the Hangwae (Koreans of Japanese descent).

Since the late Goryeo period, there had been a small number of Hangwae, and most of them served in the military.

The problem was that most of them were discriminated against for being Japanese, just like the Japanese pirates, regardless of their rank.

Even the Hangwae who had risen to the rank of military officer through their military achievements were discriminated against.

However, with the issuance of King Sejong’s royal decree, they too were able to receive the treatment befitting their military officer status.

* * *

The situation did not end with their incorporation into the Joseon military.

They also had to engage in fierce competition, just like their kinsmen who had gone to Hanseong.

“Since we’ve joined the military, we should aim to become generals, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Then you’ll have to work hard. For now, ranks have been determined based on the size of the tribe or origin, but that’s the end of the special treatment. From now on, it’s up to you to handle your responsibilities.”

At the words of Joseon’s thousand-man commander in charge, the Jurchen military officers gulped.

“Which ones get promoted quickly? It’s not simply the ones who fight well alone, but those who are good at commanding will be promoted faster. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, sir!”

When accepting the Jurchen people, the Joseon military had set two conditions.

– Must be well-versed in Hanja (Chinese characters).

– Must be able to speak the Joseon language.

The first condition was due to the paperwork that a commander naturally had to handle, and the second condition was also an essential requirement.

Thanks to that, there were no Jurchen people starting from the “Thousand Character Classic,” but “military strategy” was not an easy subject to learn, so they had to rack their brains.

“Studying at this age!”

Whenever the Jurchen people gathered among themselves, they would lament to each other, but they also had to study fiercely.

This was because the Joseon military officers working beside them were intensely engaged in studying.

And it was because they had to face a frustrating reality.

The reality they faced was that they had to pay respect and give deferential treatment to their young superiors who were still “wet behind the ears.”

The royal decree that “military etiquette is about paying respect to rank, not to the person” did not only apply to Joseon natives.

The Jurchen people and Hangwae also had to show the utmost respect to their Joseon superiors.

* * *

Traditionally, and for the most part, the Joseon military’s superiors were still relatively old.

Therefore, there was little psychological discomfort in paying respect to them.

Even for the Jurchen people, who were called “barbarians,” it was basic to show courtesy to the elderly.

However, in the process of strengthening the military, the Joseon army was getting younger.

As a result, while the high-ranking officers were still middle-aged and elderly with gray beards, the mid-level and lower-level officers were getting younger.

Because of this, many Joseon officers desperately studied military strategy and strived to achieve results in order to avoid seeing “unsightly scenes.”

And this atmosphere quickly spread to the Jurchen people and Hangwae as well.

* * *

Of course, Hyang’s influence played a significant role in bringing about these changes in the Joseon military.

The rule that “behind every change, there is the Crown Prince,” which was openly circulated among the officials, did not spare the Joseon military either.

Hyang played a significant role in supplying new weapons and establishing tactics to maximize the effectiveness of those new weapons.

This was not only because Hyang was a military enthusiast but also because he had knowledge and experience gained from serving in the military in the 21st century—although his knowledge was barely superficial, and his experience was only at the level of a private.

The value of military knowledge that had continuously developed over a long period of more than 500 years, approaching 600 years, could not be carelessly discussed.

During the extensive reforms that involved completely dismantling and reassembling the Joseon military, Hyang, the Ministry of War, and the top-ranking military officials focused on the issue of “nurturing commanders to lead the new generation.”

“Even now, there are many young military officers in the army. And through the military academy established by His Majesty’s strengthening of the military, more and more officers will join.”

“Indeed, that seems to be the case.”

At Hyang’s words, the elderly generals and officials nodded in agreement. They also seemed to have high expectations for King Sejong’s policies.

Confirming the favorable response from the elders, Hyang continued, “However, the most important thing is to identify talented individuals among them, isn’t it? Looking at the history of our country and China, there have been quite a few wars where great losses were suffered due to overlooking talented individuals.”

“That’s right!”

“Absolutely!”

The elders vigorously nodded at Hyang’s words.

As veterans who had experienced all sorts of battles, Hyang’s words resonated deeply with them.

“I, too, have read many books out of interest in the military and military studies. I have also read all the military histories I could get my hands on. After reading and pondering over them, I came to the following conclusion. Eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuch hung up a chart. Hyang flipped through the pages with a pointer and continued speaking.

“So, I’ve classified the types of military commanders as follows.”

What Hyang had written down was the famous “Four Types of Officers.”

On the paper of the chart, four main types were listed.

– Chonggeun (clever and diligent), Chongtae (clever but lazy), Ugeun (foolish but diligent), Utae (foolish and lazy).

Hyang continued his explanation.

“Chonggeun refers to those who are intelligent and diligent. Being intelligent, they are well-versed in military strategy, and being diligent, they perform their duties well. However, these individuals have their own fixed framework, so when something happens outside that framework, they struggle to find solutions quickly. Moreover, since they are smart and good at their jobs, if they harbor ill intentions, they can cause immense harm. Therefore, they should be assigned to staff or administrative roles, and a strict system of rewards and punishments must be in place.”

“Indeed…”

The elders nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“Next, Chongtae refers to those who are intelligent but lazy. Their characteristics are…”

As they listened to the description of “those who are intelligent but lazy,” the elders looked at Hyang with a peculiar gaze.

‘Isn’t he talking about himself?’

Based on what they had seen and heard so far, Hyang himself was a prime example of “an intelligent but lazy person.”

Regarding the development of new weapons and various tools, there was no one who could compete with his excellence. However, when it came to delegating tasks, Hyang was also unrivaled.

‘This sounds like self-praise, doesn’t it?’

‘But based on my experience, Chongtae (clever but lazy) is indeed the most suitable type for top commanders.’

The elders pondered over various thoughts while listening to Hyang’s explanation.

“…That is all.”

As soon as Hyang’s explanation ended, all the elders nodded in agreement.

“It is truly a clear classification. Indeed, when observing the military commanders, they can be categorized in such a way.”

“It reminds me of my former superior. He was the epitome of a foolish but diligent person. I can’t even count how many life-threatening crises I faced because of him…”

The elders, who had experienced all kinds of battles, strongly resonated with Hyang’s classification. Seeing their agreement, Hyang proceeded further.

“Therefore, I believe the evaluation of commanders should be conducted according to these four criteria. Of course, the evaluation alone shouldn’t be limited to that. I think the tactics should also be aligned with this.”

Hyang began explaining the concept of “mission-type command system” to the elders.

* * *

The military elders, who strongly resonated with Hyang’s proposal, immediately started applying it to the military.

Consequently, not only the military officers but also the soldiers began to move busily.

Especially the military governors who were assigned ranks from jeong to jong-9 (ranks), and the soldiers who were scheduled for promotion to military governors, had to go through hardships to pass the new standards.

* * *

The “four types of military officers” mentioned by Hyang clearly demonstrated what a ripple effect was.

Upon receiving the report, King Sejong posed a question at a meeting with his ministers.

“Have you all heard about the ‘four criteria’ that the Crown Prince mentioned?”

“Yes.”

“Despite his young age, the Crown Prince shows such profound insight. This is a great fortune for Joseon.”

As the ministers competed to praise Hyang’s insight, King Sejong smiled contentedly.

No parent dislikes hearing their child being praised.

Soon, King Sejong brought up the main point after composing himself.

“In my opinion, the ‘four criteria’ classified by the Crown Prince should not be limited to only military officers. Is the fierce struggle for survival and victory limited to war? Daily life is just as fierce as war, so wouldn’t it be wise to apply these criteria to all departments of the government and evaluate the promotion and demotion of officials accordingly?”

“…”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers closed their mouths and began to ponder.

‘His Majesty’s words are not wrong.’

‘But… why do I have a feeling that I’ll be exhausted? Why?’

‘It’s certain that personnel evaluation will become even more tiring!’

As if knowing the ministers’ thoughts, King Sejong continued.

“Of course, the tasks related to personnel affairs will become a bit more difficult, but there is a saying that ‘personnel is everything.’ Considering the future of our Joseon, I believe it must be applied.”

Realizing that King Sejong had already made up his mind, the ministers had no choice but to surrender.

“Do as you wish, Your Majesty!”

In this way, the criteria for evaluating government officials changed.

The reactions of the officials who heard the news were largely divided into two types.

One group worked even harder, while the other group simply focused on diligently carrying out their assigned tasks.

“I know my limits well. I don’t have the capacity to dream of becoming a high-ranking official, so I’ll just get promoted moderately and receive a pension later. That’s it.”

The ministers clicked their tongues at the officials’ reactions.

“Rather, it becomes easier to differentiate them. Is this also a good thing?”

* * *

Due to this situation, the Jurchen people had to suffer to the point of their mouths reeking, both at the northern borders and in the Six Ministries.

“You should live an ordinary life!”

“Don’t even dream of living off the government’s rice!”

The heads of households who returned after enduring such hardships said those words to their children, but whenever they said that, their wives’ eyes gleamed with determination.

“Talk some sense!”

“Are you telling him to just farm?”

No matter what anyone said, in Joseon’s situation at the time, the fastest way to rise in status was to become a government official and live off the government’s rice.

Therefore, in the households of the surrendered Jurchen people, they began urging their children to study.

The same was true for the neighboring Joseon villages.

* * *

As a side note, after the establishment of the Samin schools and as Jurchen and Joseon children began learning in the schools, the competition became even fiercer.

In particular, to enter government service or become a regular employee of a large merchant group, a graduation certificate from a higher education institution was mandatory, leading to intense competition for entrance exams.

Joseon and Jurchen mothers started running around, fluttering their skirts for their children’s education.

As a result, the prestigious educational institutions in Joseon were located either in Hanseong or the northeast region.

The nightmarish period for Joseon and Jurchen children began 500 years earlier.

* * *

Putting aside the side story, as Joseon accelerated the absorption of the surrendered Jurchen people, there were also those who found themselves in a difficult situation.

Those who faced difficulties were the ones who chose Ming instead of Joseon, symbolized by Odori.

Chapter 206
Dilemma (3)

As Joseon crushed Emperor Xuande and secured the Northeast region, the Odori tribe found itself in a difficult situation.

The Odori tribe resided in the Hoeryeong area, centered around Mount Baekdu.

To the east and west of the Odori tribe, the Wuliangha tribes had settled.

The problem was that the relationship between the Odori and these Wuliangha tribes was not particularly good.

Since sheep herding was the economic mainstay, the Jurchen tribes needed vast lands. This was due to the eating habits of sheep. Unlike cattle or horses that only grazed on leaves and stems, sheep pulled out and ate the roots, necessitating extensive pastures.

This issue was the main reason for the deterioration of the relationship between the Odori and Wuliangha tribes.

* * *

“Bayiru, another branch tribe has defected to Joseon.”

“Whew~.”

Upon hearing the report from his subordinate warrior, Mengtemu let out a long sigh.

“Is this the fourth time?”

“Yes, Bayiru.”

At the subordinate’s answer, Mengtemu pressed his temples to alleviate the throbbing headache.

“I understand. You may leave.”

“Yes, Bayiru.”

After dismissing the subordinate, Mengtemu let out another long sigh.

“Whew~.”

Left alone, Mengtemu murmured as he gazed into the distance with eyes full of regret.

“Was it a huge mistake I made back then?”

* * *

Aisin Gioro Mengtemu was a symbolic figure of the fierce competition between Ming and Joseon in the early Joseon period in the region later known as Manchuria.

Mengtemu, who became the young tribal leader of the Odori tribe, was renowned for his exceptional tactics.

Mengtemu and Ahachu established ties with Yi Seong-gye, the emerging power in the Northeast region, and became his subordinates. Yi Seong-gye bestowed the Hoeryeong area upon him.

This relationship with Yi Seong-gye began to falter when Yi Seong-gye entered Goryeo.

The saying “out of sight, out of mind” did not only apply to romantic relationships. As Yi Seong-gye entered Goryeo and engaged in full-fledged political struggles, the distance between Yi Seong-gye and Mengtemu gradually grew.

Even when Yi Seong-gye founded Joseon and ascended to the throne as Taejo, their relationship had grown distant but not completely severed.

However, the relationship between Mengtemu and Joseon completely broke off when Yi Bang-won ascended to the throne, and around the same time, Emperor Yongle began working to strengthen his control over the Liaodong region.

Mengtemu and Emperor Yongle’s relationship was established through Ahachu, who had served as Yi Seong-gye’s subordinate alongside Mengtemu.

When Emperor Yongle was the Prince of Yan, Ahachu’s daughter became his consort.

Later, as the Prince of Yan ascended to the throne as Emperor Yongle, Ahachu received the position of Jianzhou Guard Councilor. The task assigned to Ahachu in his new position was to entice the Jurchen tribes under Ming’s authority.

This was Emperor Yongle’s plan to simultaneously keep both Northern Yuan and Joseon in check. The strategy was to use the Jurchen tribes bordering Northern Yuan to contain them and weaken Joseon’s power by bringing the Jurchen tribes allied with Joseon under his command.

* * *

When Ahachu approached Mengtemu, Mengtemu was contemplating his future course of action.

Although he had established a ruler-subject relationship with Taejong, without Yi Seong-gye, his relationship with Joseon had lost its personal aspect and remained a purely political one based on profit and loss.

At this time, Ahachu, who sought out Mengtemu, advised him to come under Emperor Yongle’s authority.

Ahachu persuaded Mengtemu, saying the following:

“For the well-being of the tribe, it is best to enter the shadow of a great man. Now that the great elder has passed away, Joseon can no longer be our shelter! The shadow of Yi Seong-gye, that great man, is gone! We need a new shadow in this situation!”

“Is that shadow the Emperor of Ming?”

“Of course! Ming is currently an unrivaled hegemon that no one can challenge! Naturally, it can provide us with a shadow!”

“That may be true, but…”

Seeing Mengtemu’s hesitation, Ahachu struck his chest with his hand and said, “Trust me! I am the Emperor’s father-in-law, after all!”

With Ahachu’s assurance, Mengtemu met Emperor Yongle. Indeed, as Ahachu had said, Emperor Yongle possessed the aura of a great man.

In the end, Mengtemu pledged his loyalty to Emperor Yongle.

Upon Mengtemu’s oath of loyalty, Emperor Yongle appointed him as the Commander of the Left Guard of Jianzhou.

“I shall bestow upon you the surname Tong.”

“I am immensely grateful for Your Majesty’s grace!”

* * *

When the news spread that Mengtemu had obtained an official position in Ming and pledged his loyalty, Taejong immediately took action.

He ceased trade with the Odori and attacked Morin Guard. In response, Mengtemu retaliated by raiding Gyeongwon.

As the relationship between the two grew hostile, Ming intervened as a mediator.

Emperor Yongle threatened the Joseon envoys who had come to protest, saying, “What is more important to you, Joseon or Mengtemu?”

Under Emperor Yongle’s pressure, Joseon had to hand over Mengtemu and release all the hostages they had taken as collateral.

“Your lord’s family is persistent. For now, it is best to hide and avoid them.”

Worried about Joseon’s reinvasion, Mengtemu led his tribe, left Hoeryeong, and moved northward.

* * *

However, what followed was not a happy ending.

Ming, symbolized by Emperor Yongle, did not want the Jurchen tribes to grow powerful. Therefore, they continuously enticed and subjugated the Jurchen tribes, sowing discord among them to prevent them from uniting their strength. And when a tribe became too powerful, they were sent to engage in conflicts with Northern Yuan, whom Ming referred to as Tartar.

Mengtemu’s Odori tribe was no exception. Although the size of the tribe gradually increased, many warriors had to lose their lives in the conflicts with Northern Yuan.

Moreover, due to Ming’s divisive tactics, their relationship with the neighboring Jurchen tribes deteriorated.

Eventually, in the second year of King Sejong’s reign, Mengtemu sent envoys to Joseon.

– I regret the past incidents and ask for forgiveness. Please allow us to return to Hoeryeong.

King Sejong, with Taejong behind him, accepted Mengtemu’s request.

* * *

When Mengtemu’s Odori tribe returned, King Sejong provided support for their resettlement. He resumed trade and bestowed various goods upon them, but the envoy’s report was negative.

“I could not find any goodwill in the eyes of the young Joseon king.”

“Oh dear… Whew~.”

At the envoy’s report, Mengtemu let out a long sigh.

In the end, for the well-being of the tribe, Mengtemu had to lead his warriors and move busily. They had to serve as a fence (barbarian fence) to block other Jurchen tribes that threatened Joseon’s borders and fight against the Jurchen tribes that troubled Ming.

* * *

During this precarious period, the surrounding environment began to change once again. Wan Temur, the grandson of Ahachu, led his tribe and descended southward.

Moreover, after Taejong’s death, Sejong, who had consolidated all the power as his own, began to actively pursue military reforms.

As Sejong pushed forward with the reforms, the relationship with the Joseon military also changed. In many aspects, the opponent they had considered easy to deal with gradually became a more troublesome one.

Then, a few years ago, an incident occurred where a Joseon village at the border was pillaged, completely reversing the relationship. Through a retaliatory attack that annihilated not only the tribe responsible for raiding the Joseon village but also the nearby tribes, the Joseon military had become an object of terror.

And as the situation changed in such a way, the dark times for the Odori tribe began.

* * *

The true beginning of the dark times was when Xuande Emperor ascended to the throne. In Xuande Emperor’s eyes, the value of Mengtemu and Wan Temur had significantly diminished. In contrast, the value of Joseon was steadily increasing.

Realizing that Ming’s interest was waning, Mengtemu lamented.

“Do I need to find another shadow? Where should I look for it?”

While Mengtemu was pondering, his subordinates brought urgent news.

“The Joseon troops have occupied Mount Baekdu!”

“What!”

When Mengtemu arrived at Mount Baekdu with his subordinates, the Joseon commander presented Xuande Emperor’s imperial edict.

– I permit Joseon to reclaim the land of their ancestors. All nearby Jurchen tribes are to actively cooperate with this.

The cunning Joseon had even brought along Ming officials and was waiting.

“The Emperor’s command is clear, so follow it.”

“I understand.”

At the Ming official’s words, Mengtemu had to withdraw his subordinates. They were at a disadvantage both in terms of justification and military strength.

‘We will establish the border along the foothills of Mount Baekdu.’

Saying the above, the Joseon army designated the land within a 50-li radius (approximately 20 km) north of Mount Baekdu as Joseon territory.

“Isn’t this too much!”

Mengtemu protested against Joseon’s decision, but the Ming official condoned his protest.

This was Xuande Emperor’s order.

– Joseon will surely be greedy. However, do not stop them. The worse the relationship between Joseon and the Jurchen becomes, the better it is for us.

The Ming official faithfully followed Xuande Emperor’s order.

* * *

From then on, the situation of the Odori tribe continued to deteriorate.

The young king of Joseon summoned the tribal leaders of the Jurchen tribes who had been under Yi Seong-gye’s command.

The problem was that Wan Temur and Mengtemu were excluded from this summons. Through this, Mengtemu could clearly understand Sejong’s intention.

‘Wan Temur and Mengtemu are targets for elimination!’

Realizing the precariousness of the situation, Mengtemu had to ponder.

‘Should I move back to the north?’

However, in that case, it was certain that he would end up being used as a scapegoat in the conflicts with Northern Yuan, just like before.

‘What if I completely surrender to Joseon?’

If he became a subject of Joseon, Ming would certainly not remain silent. It was a matter of Ming’s vassal defecting to another country, even though Joseon claimed to be a vassal of Ming.

‘On the contrary, what if I defect to Ming?’

In that case, it was certain that they would all be killed by the Joseon military.

– He formed a ruler-subject relationship twice and betrayed them both!

It would be the worst self-inflicted wound, handing Joseon a blade.

“Sigh~.”

No matter how Mengtemu tried to figure it out, no good solution emerged, and his sighs grew deeper.

In such a situation, an incident occurred that kept pushing Mengtemu to the edge of a cliff.

Seeing the branch tribes that had surrendered to Joseon gradually prospering, they began to defect to Joseon one by one.

The problem was that it was not just a matter of leading the tribe to defect, but they handed over the entire territory where the tribe lived to Joseon.

And each time they surrendered in such a way, Joseon dispatched soldiers to designate the area as Joseon territory.

Mengtemu protested to Ming, but the response he received was devastating.

– After examining the records, the area in question is indeed the territory once ruled by Yi Seong-gye. Therefore, in accordance with the previously issued imperial edict, it is recognized as Joseon’s territory.

Upon receiving the reply sent by Ming, Mengtemu collapsed with a desolate expression.

* * *

In this situation, an incident occurred that shattered Mengtemu’s composure.

“Bayiru, a Joseon military officer has come to see you.”

“A Joseon military officer?”

“Yes. But…”

Seeing the warrior’s unpleasant expression as he reported, Mengtemu got up from his seat and went outside.

Outside, a group of Joseon cavalry was confronting the Odori tribal warriors.

“Sheathe your swords!”

At Mengtemu’s command, the Odori tribal warriors sheathed their swords.

As Mengtemu stepped forward, the leading military officer greeted him with familiarity.

“Bayiru, how have you been?”

“You!”

Mengtemu could not believe his eyes. The Joseon military officer smiling brightly before him was the tribal leader of the Wuliangha tribe, with whom the Odori tribe had the worst relationship.

Wearing the battle robe and helmet of a Joseon military officer, the smile on the face of the Wuliangha tribal leader grew deeper.

“I have recently been appointed as a brigade commander by His Majesty’s grace. Although I am a local officer protecting my own land. Let’s get along well from now on.”

Though he said to get along well, the smile he wore was fiercely vicious.

Chapter 207
Dilemma (4)

April, 12th year of Sejong’s reign (Gyeongsul year, 1430 AD).

Byeon Gye-ryang passed away.

Born in the 18th year of King Gongmin[1]’s reign (1369), Byeon Gye-ryang gained renown for his exceptional literary talent and enjoyed great favor.

However, at the height of his success, he was troubled by accusations of treason and murder, allegedly made by his own sister and niece, leading to public scandal.

Fortunately, King Taejong valued his talents, thoroughly investigated the matter, and recognized his defense, ultimately declaring him innocent. However, this significantly damaged his standing, necessitating Taejong’s intervention to restore it.

Even after that, Byeon Gye-ryang’s life was far from smooth.

He was sued by his father-in-law for abusing his wife. According to the father-in-law’s complaint, the mental and physical abuse Byeon inflicted on his wife was severe.

In the end, Byeon wrote a lengthy letter to Taejong to defend himself.

However, only a small portion of the letter expressed self-reflection, while most of it flaunted his literary prowess.

Ultimately, Taejong, who highly valued Byeon Gye-ryang’s exceptional literary talent, halted the impeachment proceedings against him.[1]

* * *

Due to these incidents, Byeon Gye-ryang was ridiculed by the educated class, but his academic prowess and literary talent were acknowledged, and he was heavily relied upon by Taejong and Sejong.

However, as Hyang became involved, his life began to twist.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, he was valued by Sejong until his death, receiving treatment as the head of the Hall of Worthies and the Chief of the Sungkyunkwan.

Even if his personal life became a topic of gossip, his scholarly standing remained unshakable.

However, the massive purge of powerful officials triggered by Hyang’s involvement, followed by the swift implementation of the “reform” significantly diminished Byeon Gye-ryang’s position.

* * *

It began when Sejong handed over the draft of the reform.

“Review this strategy.”

At Sejong’s command, Byeon Gye-ryang and the scholars of the Hall of Worthies gathered to examine the draft.

“This is the Crown Prince’s…”

“Indeed.”

The strategy named “reform” was the Crown Prince’s policy view.

To be precise, while it incorporated many of Sejong’s ideas, it was evident that the foundation was the Crown Prince’s policy view, which had been announced not long ago.

“Since we were told to review it, we should do so.”

At Byeon Gye-ryang’s words, the scholars began to scrutinize the contents of the reform.

However, before long, all the scholars showed the same reaction.

“This is absurd!”

“This goes against the principles of Confucianism!”

The scholars, who centered everything around Neo-Confucianism, vehemently objected.

Seeing their reaction, Byeon Gye-ryang sighed.

“Keep in mind that His Majesty’s intentions are embedded within it.”

“Even if they are His Majesty’s intentions…”

“If you find it so disagreeable, identify the problems! Don’t think I’m doing this because I like it!”

At Byeon Gye-ryang’s words, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies immediately began searching for issues.

As mentioned before, the Joseon court was an extremely small one.

Most officials held two or three concurrent positions.

However, this did not mean their salaries were doubled or tripled. Compared to Goryeo, the significantly reduced salaries made bribery a common occurrence among officials.

As a result, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies were well-versed in practical affairs, and finding problems was an easy task for them.

Whenever they identified an issue, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies compiled lengthy reports and submitted them.

The conclusions of these reports were almost identical.

“…Considering these problems, it is better not to implement the reform.”

Whenever such a report was submitted, Sejong would present a solution to the problem before long.

“That issue can be resolved in this manner, so take this into account and make revisions.”

As the king provided answers, and those answers were definitive solutions, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies delved deeper, identifying and reporting more problems.

From that point on, it began to take longer for Sejong’s responses to arrive.

“Finally!”

Believing that Sejong had taken the bait, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies further scrutinized the reform, uncovering and reporting even more issues.

“With a little more effort, His Majesty will also give up! If that happens, this absurd and unprincipled plan will come to naught!”

However, the scholars’ attempts ended in failure.

Although it took slightly longer than before, a response arrived.

And that response was clear.

In the end, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies had no choice but to point out more fundamental aspects.

-This strategy does not align with the intentions of the sages. While “learning should be useful for governing the world[2]” is important, it should not become the foundation.

They argued that Sejong’s reform deviated from the Neo-Confucianism they had learned and mastered, calling it a “sado, heretical path[3]”.

In response, Sejong sent a reply filled with anger.

—Have you not seen the state of the common people?

Our poor subjects in Joseon live each day thinking only of survival.

Before discussing the righteous path and heretical ways, it is a situation of “mudo” (無道, “absence of the Way”)!

Shouldn’t resolving the hardships of these people be the foremost priority?

Your arguments are hollow!

The reply was not the end of it. Sejong summoned Byeon Gye-ryang and sternly reprimanded him.

“What kind of person are you? You are renowned as the greatest literary figure in our Eastern lands! Yet, have you failed to properly understand the reform strategy I have bestowed?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

At Byeon Gye-ryang’s answer, Sejong pounded on his desk and raised his voice.

“Then why must I receive such worthless papers that are nothing but a waste of paper?”

“The scholars, from a purely academic perspective…”

“Silence! Your words are now a poorer excuse than the barking of dogs in the commoners’ homes! What good is beautiful writing if the content is nonsense? Bring me something proper at once!”

“Yes, yes…”

Having been scolded by Sejong, Byeon Gye-ryang had to urge the scholars of the Hall of Worthies.

“Are you not going to do your job properly? Why should I be the one to receive criticism from His Majesty? Remove all the nonsense about the righteous path and heretical ways, and do it right!”

“But if we do that, we will be criticized for being ‘serving the ruler’s will[4]’…”

Concerned about being accused of colluding with power, the scholars spoke, but Byeon Gye-ryang raised his voice.

“As long as you wear official robes, you are serving the ruler’s will! If you dislike it, resign and leave!”

In the end, scholars who could not accept this submitted their resignations and returned to their hometowns.

‘If I do this, the king will be intimidated!’

‘The king values his subjects and scholars! If this happens, the king will also be intimidated and back down!’

However, the result far exceeded their expectations.

Sejong accepted all of their resignations.

“Why?”

While the scholars were still in shock at the unexpected outcome, an even greater shock struck them.

Sejong had purged the senior officials, symbolized by Ryu Jeong-hyeon, en masse.

Immediately after the purge of the officials, Sejong declared to the remaining officials.

“We will proceed with the reform!”

In the end, the scholars who had submitted their resignations became like kites with cut strings and had to return to their hometowns in disgrace.

* * *

As events unfolded in this manner, Byeon Gye-ryang’s position gradually diminished.

It was not only Byeon Gye-ryang’s standing that narrowed. The Hall of Worthies’ influence also began to dwindle.

As soon as the reform began, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies lost their concurrent positions.

Their duties were limited to policy consultation for Sejong and other academic research.

“Isn’t this a good thing?”

“Indeed. It was rather difficult to find time for proper research while handling court affairs, but now we can dedicate ourselves to it.”

Initially, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies showed positive reactions.

However, they soon faced a formidable competitor.

Hyang had established a research institute.

* * *

When Hyang first established the research institute, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies did not have much concern.

“Well, he is quite a peculiar person…”

Many scholars of the Hall of Worthies considered the research institute as just another one of Hyang’s eccentricities.

In fact, some even pitied those who were recruited as members of the research institute.

“Having to engage in mere practical learning and creating various devices… They have become pitiable.”

“His Excellency lord Jeong-cho and Elder Jeong Inji have fallen into a sorry state.”

Many felt sorry for those whose affiliations had suddenly changed to the research institute, while others found it rather refreshing.

Byeon Gye-ryang was a representative of such individuals.

“With those who constantly criticized me gone, it feels quite refreshing!”

For him, it was immensely satisfying to see Jeong-cho, who had always criticized him, relegated to a minor position.

However, defying their expectations, the research institute rapidly grew into the strongest competitor.

Gaining recognition for creating remarkable devices, the research institute secured the full support of Sejong and the Crown Prince, expanding its pool of talented individuals.

As its workforce grew, the research institute achieved more diverse accomplishments.

It revolutionized the weapons of the Joseon military and subsequently presented the astounding result of “revising the calendar system.”

“In the end, it’s just miscellaneous learning!”

Byeon Gye-ryang and the scholars of the Hall of Worthies consoled themselves with such words, concealing their unease, but this was only the beginning.

Under the pretext of “overseeing the use of the budget,” the research institute’s audit unveiled an unimaginable plan called the “railroad.”

No, the railroad was not the issue.

The research institute had put forth an absurd item called the “Comprehensive National Development Plan.”

The plan presented by the research institute captured the attention of Sejong and the officials.

“It is filled with excellent content, so refer to it when implementing the reform.”

“Your words are truly wise, Your Majesty!”

As Sejong and the officials showered praise, the research institute’s position grew increasingly solid.

Consequently, the task of formulating and evaluating various policies began to be allocated to the research institute with increasing frequency.

Sejong had openly instigated a competition.

With Sejong initiating the competition, the scholars of the Hall of Worthies had to desperately devote themselves to their work.

However, it was not easy for the scholars, who had only known Neo-Confucianism, to expand their scope of thought. In the end, they sought assistance from the researchers at the institute.

Although they were competitors, many had shared meals together for a while, and they were ultimately all subjects of Joseon.

“Phew~. It’s not easy. How have you all broadened your perspective so much?”

In response to the question from the scholars of the Hall of Worthies, the researchers at the institute replied with a bittersweet smile.

“It becomes easier if you give up.”

“Pardon?”

“Give up on leaving work on time, give up on seeing your wife and children’s faces, give up on this and that, and it becomes easier. If you give up on everything and just do as you’re told, you’ll attain enlightenment.”

“Ah…”

However, competition was competition, and the Hall of Worthies was gradually being pushed back by the research institute.

At the very least, Byeon Gye-ryang was serving as a buttress, using his literary talent and authority to the fullest, but it was evident to anyone that the Hall of Worthies’ prestige was not what it used to be.

It was in this situation that Byeon Gye-ryang passed away.

* * *

The scholars of the Hall of Worthies, gathered at Byeon Gye-ryang’s house to pay their respects, all wore gloomy expressions as they conversed.

“With the Chief Scholar gone, what should we do?”

“Shouldn’t we strive even harder?”

“Is that striving? Isn’t it colluding with power?”

“Then what do you propose? Should we resign and leave?”

“We’re already being criticized for serving the ruler’s will anyway…”

“So you’re saying we should give in to despair and abandon our principles and conscience?”

“Then should we return to seclusion? Do you not understand the current state of affairs?”

It was a group portrait of individuals who had lost their towering figure and were struggling to find their way.

[1] From “Reading the Annals of King Sejong in One Book” by Park Young-gyu, published by Woongjin Knowledge House.

Chapter 208
Return Home (1)

July, Gyeongsul year (1430 AD).

A large fleet entered Jemulpo.[1]

The fleet consisted of two extra-large dhows and three regular large dhows.

Escorted by Joseon Navy’s panokseon[2], the foreign ships carefully docked at the port of Jemulpo.

As the gangplanks were laid out on the ships that had docked, people began to disembark, with Joseon individuals at the forefront.

Those who had left for Aden in the Musin year (1428) had finally returned.

* * *

Just like last time, the fleet approaching Joseon encountered Joseon’s panokseon midway.

“It seems their patrol range has expanded compared to when we left.”

“Indeed, sir.”

At the question of Oh Ha-seok, a josangwan (military captain) and officer-in-charge[3], Seon Dong-jin, the chogwan[3] standing beside him, nodded in agreement.

Seeing the panokseon turn their bows to maintain the effective range of their firearms while maximizing their firepower, Oh Ha-seok ordered Seon Dong-jin.

“They’re extremely tense. Tell the captain not to act rashly under any circumstances.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Also, tell him to raise a white flag if possible.”

“Aye, sir!”

Thus, the fleet that encountered the panokseon headed towards Jeolla Right Naval Station.

Just like last time, the Right Naval Station immediately dispatched an express messenger to Hanseong. A few days later, the messenger returned from Hanseong. As expected, the returning messenger brought an order to send the fleet to Jemulpo.

And so, Mansur’s fleet arrived at Jemulpo. Escorted by the Joseon Navy, the fleet sailed north through the Yellow Sea and safely reached Jemulpo.

* * *

Soldiers who had been waiting in advance were standing guard at the pier where the fleet was docking.

Seeing Oh Ha-seok’s party disembarking with Oh Ha-seok at the lead, an official approached them first.

“I am Byeon Gang-seok, an official of the Ministry of Taxation. Welcome back, and I’m glad you’ve returned safely.”

“I am Oh Ha-seok, a captain of the Navy. Nice to meet you.”

“But the number of people…”

As Byeon Gang-seok carefully spoke after checking the number of people in the party, Oh Ha-seok replied in a bitter voice.

“We lost five. Two encountered pirates on the way, and three to tropical diseases.”

“Ah… May the deceased rest in peace.”

“Thank you on behalf of the bereaved families.”

After a brief conversation, the officials from the Ministry of Taxation, including Byeon Gang-seok, quickly got to work.

They confirmed the number of crew members in the fleet, advised them not to carelessly leave the Hui[8] residential area, and recorded the types and quantities of the goods brought to create an inventory.

“The work has become even more efficient.”

In response to Oh Ha-seok’s remark, Byeon Gang-seok gave a wry smile.

“You know how the court is, don’t you? If you don’t want to be scolded instead of being fed, you have to be diligent.”

“Ah… Right.”

Nodding his head, Oh Ha-seok unknowingly muttered to himself.

“I’ve finally come back.”

* * *

The Joseon individuals led by Oh Ha-seok immediately headed to Hanseong.

Passing through Gwanghwamun and entering Geunjeongjeon, Oh Ha-seok’s party respectfully bowed deeply to Sejong, who was seated on the throne.

“The seven individuals, including Captain Oh Ha-seok, have returned after completing the mission!”

In response to Oh Ha-seok’s report, Sejong replied.

“It was a long and arduous journey to a distant and perilous place. Seeing you return safely, I am truly grateful. Well done.”

“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty.”

“Well… I heard that you lost five. Are the others all unharmed?”

“By the grace of Heaven, the others are all safe and sound.”

“That is fortunate. Deputy State Councillor, listen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong gave an order to the Deputy State Councillor.

“In accordance with the newly established regulations, send an official from the Royal Secretariat to inform the families of the deceased about their passing and offer condolences in my name. Also, support the bereaved families as stipulated by the law.”

“I shall follow your command.”

The Deputy State Councillor bowed and answered in response to Sejong’s order. Hearing Sejong’s command, Oh Ha-seok deeply expressed his gratitude and bowed.

“Your grace is immeasurable. Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King for a thousand years!”

* * *

As a side note, Hyang’s influence was strong in the procedures and support measures for soldiers and officials who died in battle or while performing other official duties.

The “Law of Rewarding Merit, Bohunbeop[4]” was one of the first laws to be revised when the reform began. As the reform progressed and Sejong’s royal authority strengthened, it became one of the laws that were further reinforced.

“Since ancient times, it has been said that there is righteousness between the ruler and his subjects. Are the subjects only those who wear official robes and work in the government offices? They have died and been injured while working for the country, so it is only right for the country to uphold that righteousness!”

As Sejong’s will was so strong, the officials had to follow his intentions.

“His Majesty’s will is so strong…”

“Is it only His Majesty? Don’t you see the Crown Prince behind him?”

They remembered Hyang, who had strongly advocated for measures to support and reward meritorious subjects when presenting his policy views.

However, Hyang went a step further.

“If the King does not value the people, will the people value me? The people are the children of the King. Therefore, it is proper to show them courtesy.”

“I see. Well, tell me what you wish to do.”

Hyang shared his thoughts. After listening to Hyang’s words for a while, Sejong nodded.

“Your words are correct.”

Thereafter, it was codified into law that for those who died while serving in the military away from their hometowns or those who died in accidents or from overwork while performing official duties, at least a Pachong (lieutenant colonel or officials with the rank of Jangnyeong (4th-rank) or higher would visit to inform the family of the death and offer condolences. If the deceased had only young children or elderly parents to conduct the funeral, the visiting official would remain to oversee the funeral proceedings.

This was applied equally to the surrendered Jurchen and Wako who had submitted to Joseon. As a result, the Jurchen and Wako fought even more fiercely in battles than Joseon soldiers.

And the valiant efforts of the Jurchen and Japanese pirates had a chain effect, further igniting the fighting spirit of Joseon soldiers.

* * *

Having finished reporting to Sejong at Geunjeongjeon, Oh Ha-seok’s party was granted a three-day leave.

When they returned to the Ministry of Military Affairs and an interpreter to report their return and inform them of the three-day leave, their colleagues at both institutions gave the same response.

“Rest for three days! Rest unconditionally! Don’t even dream of going to gisaeng houses[16] and just rest! Whether you develop bed sores or not, just lie down and rest, and sleep!”

“Huh? But we’ve returned after two years, so how about a drink at least…”

“Shut up and rest!”

Three days later, Oh Ha-seok’s party understood the reason behind their colleagues’ words.

* * *

Three days later, as soon as they reported for duty, the first to seek them out were the royal physicians from the Royal Clinic.

“Let’s go to the Royal Clinic for a moment!”

“Pardon? Pardon?”

“It’s a royal command.”

Oh Ha-seok’s party, who were dragged to the Royal Clinic, were thoroughly examined from head to toe.

They checked their complexion, whether their eyes were yellowish, and even whether they had gained or lost weight.

After completing the examination by having them stick out their tongues to check for white coating and taking their pulses, the royal physicians immediately delved into the most important issue.

“You mentioned that there were individuals who died from tropical diseases, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“May they rest in peace.”

“Thank you.”

“What symptoms did the tropical diseases present? And what were the treatments?”

“Well… That is…”

And so, Oh Ha-seok’s party was thoroughly questioned at the Royal Clinic from the moment they reported for duty until they left for the day.

* * *

Their work did not end there.

The interpreters of the interpreter had to write lengthy reports on the Arabic and local languages they had learned in the Aden region.

The reports did not stop there. Following that, they had to write detailed reports on the geographical environment, customs, and the dispositions of the residents in the Aden region.

“You said you went to a place called Alexandria?”

“Yes. To sell the goods we brought from Joseon at an auction…”

“Write a report and bring it to me. Especially, don’t forget to include the prices at which they were sold and the reactions of the Westerners.”

“Yes…”

“But how should we write Alexandria in Idu script?”

“Well…”

Both the superior giving the orders and the subordinate carrying them out could only ponder with troubled expressions. In particular, the person in charge of writing the report had to turn pale and break out in a cold sweat.

“It’s not just Alexandria. There are many other place names, starting with Aden…”

“Damn it.”

The superior unknowingly cursed.

* * *

Something similar happened at the Ministry of Military Affairs.

“Did you call for us?”

“Yes, I did.”

The military officials of 4th-rank, who had gathered those who had participated in the voyage, starting with Oh Ha-seok, got straight to the point.

“You must have kept proper records during the voyage, right?”

“Yes.”

“Write a report. Include the duration of the voyage, the ports you visited, changes in wind direction, and so on.”

“Yes.”

Oh Ha-seok’s party answered calmly.

They had already anticipated that they would have to write a report on the voyage.

However, as the official continued to speak, the faces of the party began to turn pale.

“What I’ve mentioned so far are the basic things you need to include in the report. There are additional reports that need to be written separately. First, write a detailed report on the defense status of the ports you stopped at during the journey. Also, write a report on the temperament of the residents living in those ports and their reactions to foreigners. You encountered pirates along the way, right? Include in the report whether the pirates you encountered were Chinese, Japanese, or from other regions. Write about their armaments, the size of their pirate ships, whether they had firearms installed, and how vicious they were.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Also, there’s a massive ship among the ones that arrived this time, right? Write a detailed report on that as well.”

“Yes, understood.”

“There are many people waiting at the top, so make sure to write the reports properly.”

At the military official’s words, Oh Ha-seok’s party swallowed nervously. Seeing their expressions, the military official added.

“Ah, the deadline is six days.”

“That’s too short. We need at least ten days…”

Oh Ha-seok stepped forward to protest, but the military official shook his head.

“You know about the records of the voyages by the eunuch Zheng He from Ming China that arrived before, right? You need to write separate reports comparing your voyage with those. And you’re going to delay? The Minister of Military Affairs will be scolded by His Majesty, and do you think the Minister and your immediate superiors will leave you alone then?”

“…Still.”

“You rested well for three days, didn’t you? Now it’s time to work. Go and write the reports.”

After leaving the military official’s room, Oh Ha-seok’s party blankly looked up at the sky.

Oh Ha-seok let out a long sigh as he gazed at the sky.

“Sigh~. So there was a reason why they told us to rest unconditionally.”

* * *

Meanwhile, the officials from the Ministry of Taxation, who were organizing the inventory of the goods brought by Mansur, paid attention to one particular item.

“Has black tea arrived?”

“Black tea…”

An official from the Ministry of Taxation who was searching through the inventory list exclaimed.

“It’s here! It has arrived!”

At his colleague’s shout, the surrounding officials gathered around.

“Is it here? How much is the quantity?”

They were the officials who had been suffering from withdrawal symptoms since the latter half of the Giyu year[20] when the coffee ran out.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the residential area for the Hui people, Mansur gathered those working in the government, including Hassan, separately.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is the favor?”

“Help me acquire bigger and more powerful firearms.”

At Mansur’s words, the faces of the officials in the room, including Hassan, turned pale.

“Firearms! Are you in your right mind?”

“I have no choice.”

Mansur continued with a desperate expression.

“To ensure the safety of the trade routes and to protect our family in Aden, we need firearms. And rifles[5] as well.”

“Oh my…”

Mansur summed up the current situation briefly.

“Right now, our family is in a situation where we are walking a tightrope across a cliff. To protect our family, we absolutely need Joseon’s firearms.”

1. A port located in present-day Incheon, South Korea[↩]

2. A type of large Korean warship used by the Joseon Navy[↩]

3. A military officer rank in Joseon, lower than jongsagwan[↩]

4. 報勳法[↩]

5. A type of firearm used in the 15th and 16th centuries.[↩]

Chapter 209
Return Home (2)

“What has happened that you need to protect the family?”

At Hassan’s question, an elder next to Mansur stepped forward to explain.

“Aden is currently split in two.”

* * *

The goods that Mansur’s fleet brought from Joseon shook Aden.

Since the quantity was far greater than the previous shipment, the Ottaibis and Azzams moved to Alexandria once again to sell the goods.

At the auction house in Alexandria, Joseon’s products were sold at an astounding price—an average of 30 times the purchase price in Joseon.

“While it’s a good thing for us to reap even greater profits, why is that?”

At Mansur’s question, an Arab merchant who had purchased a large amount of Joseon goods raised his finger and pointed at a crate.

The tip of the merchant’s finger was pointing at a golden apricot flower engraved inside the crate.

“It’s because of that flower.”

“Ah…”

At the merchant’s explanation, Mansur nodded.

* * *

Before the first and this auction began, Mansur had explained about the apricot flower engraved on the products.

Having heard the explanation that the quality differed depending on whether the apricot flower was made of gold, silver, or bronze, and the number of apricot flowers, the merchants asked Mansur a question.

“I understand the difference, but why that flower pattern?”

In response to the merchants’ question, Mansur explained the reason.

“That flower is the symbol of the Joseon royal family. In other words, these products are guaranteed in quality by the King of Joseon. Of course, there are also certificates of guarantee.”

“Let’s see the certificate.”

“Which product’s certificate would you like to see?”

At Mansur’s question, the chosen merchant pointed to a crate containing a tea set made of porcelain that he desperately wanted to obtain.

“I’d like to see that one.”

Mansur opened the crate, took out the certificate, and handed it over.

The merchant, seemingly familiar with Chinese characters, skillfully read the contents of the certificate and nodded.

“It’s clear. The date of manufacture, names and seals of the manufacturer and inspector are stamped, and the official seal is also affixed.”

Receiving the certificate back from the merchant, Mansur resealed the crate and replied.

“A good merchant never lies.”

“That’s true.”

* * *

With strong confidence in the goods, the competition became even fiercer.

Thanks to the wide variety and different grades of Joseon products brought, many merchants participated in the auction.

Merchants competed with those of similar standing for items that matched their purchasing power.

Of course, there were merchants who attempted to sweep up everything with their immense capital, but the variety and quantity of goods Mansur brought made it impossible.

Amidst this, some European merchants exhibited peculiar behavior.

“That’s a gonne[1], right?”

“It seems so.”

“It’s quite a unique gonne. Ask if they can sell it.”

They had shown interest in the muzzle-loading rifles carried by Joseon military officers for self-defense.

“They are asking if you can sell the rifles you are wearing.”

Upon hearing the words that had gone through several stages of interpretation, Oh Ha-seok replied in a blunt voice.

“Tell them it’s not for sale.”

“They say they will pay 20 times the purchase price.”

“Tell them I can’t sell it as it was given by the country.”

Hearing Oh Ha-seok’s answer through the interpreter, the European merchants retreated with disappointed expressions. However, their eyes were still full of greed.

Seeing the European merchants’ demeanor, Oh Ha-seok issued an order to the other military officers.

“Their eyes are unsettling. Pay attention to the management of the rifles. No, don’t even think about leaving the lodging until we return.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

The auction ended successfully.

As Mansur was preparing to return with a vast amount of gold and silver coins, the Alexandrian merchant who had mediated the auction approached him.

“I’ve also profited greatly thanks to you.”

“Likewise for us. Thank you for conducting a fair auction.”

Seeing Mansur expressing gratitude in the Arab manner, the merchant cautiously warned.

“Be careful on your way back. There are many who are targeting you.”

“Pardon?”

“How many wolves would there be targeting a plump, fattened sheep?”

“Ah…”

“May Allah’s protection be with you on your return journey…”

“Inshallah.”

* * *

The Alexandrian merchant’s warning was true.

As soon as Alexandria disappeared beyond the horizon, bandits attacked, aiming for the wealth possessed by the caravan.

To fend off the attacks from real bandits as well as other merchants disguised as bandits and return to Aden, Mansur’s group had to forge a bloody path.

Of course, Mansur had anticipated this and brought along a large number of private soldiers with the help of the Azzam family, but the situation was not easy.

In this situation, it was the Joseon military officers who provided a breakthrough.

The officers made full use of their assets.

Using monoculars, they scouted in all directions, detecting the bandits’ approach from afar and issuing warnings.

“We have guests.”

“Good ones? Bad ones?”

“Judging by the way they’re drawing their swords as they approach, they don’t seem to be good guests.”

Upon receiving the report from his subordinate, Oh Ha-seok called for an interpreter.

“Uninvited guests are coming.”

Shortly after, shouts rang out from all directions, and the private soldiers began to form a circular formation for defense.

In the ensuing battle, the long rifles possessed by the military officers proved their might.

“The one on the black horse, lingering in the back, seems to be the leader.”

“Understood.”

When Oh Ha-seok designated a target, the military officers aimed their rifles at it.

“Fire!”

Bang!

When an important figure fell in this manner, the attacking bandits would often retreat.

Of course, if the fallen individual turned out not to be the leader or a high-ranking member, contrary to expectations, they had to engage in a slightly tougher fight. And in such cases, the mounted rifles had to ceaselessly spit fire.

* * *

“It’s Aden!”

“Hurrah!”

“We’re back!”

When the earthen walls defending Aden came into view in the distance, everyone, without exception, cheered.

The caravan that returned to Aden celebrated their safe return with each other.

However, the real great war began from that point onward.

“Hold a banquet!”

“Hurrah!”

At Mansur’s words, the private soldiers and merchants who had unloaded their luggage shouted in unison. However, the elders of the Ottaibis and the Azzams rushed over.

“Let’s postpone the banquet for a moment!”

“Why?”

As Mansur frowned and asked for the reason, an elder replied.

“The Sindwas are plotting to make a move.”

“What!”

* * *

Originally, Aden was dominated by five families.

These five families ruled Aden through mutual checks and cooperation.

However, the Ottaibi family led by Mansur had shaken up this arrangement.

Upon hearing rumors that the Sindwa family was pressuring the Ottaibi family with force, the Azzam family immediately joined hands with the Ottaibi family.

This was not due to a sense of justice. It was a check to prevent the Sindwa family from gaining too much power.

As a result, they became enemies with the Sindwa family, but the Azzam family was confident.

It was because the Azzam family was the most powerful force in Aden.

Based on this confidence, the Azzam family cooperated with the Ottaibi family and embarked on a trade expedition to Joseon.

Seeing this, the Sindwa family sneered.

“Hmph! Will Allah’s protection continue for a second time?”

The sea route to Joseon, or more precisely, the sea route to China, required passing through the narrow strait between Malacca and Majapahit. And this strait was notorious for pirates.

Even if they safely passed through this strait, the route ahead was also fraught with danger, with Chinese pirates and Wako (Japanese pirates) rampant.

Therefore, when the Ottaibi family completed their first trade with Joseon and returned, the Sindwa family reached this conclusion.

-There won’t be consecutive strokes of luck! This one time will be the end of the trade with Joseon!

Based on this conclusion, the Sindwa family had suppressed the Ottaibi family by force and sneered at the second voyage in alliance with the Azzam family.

However, the second voyage had also returned successfully.

Although there were signs of severe battles, they had returned without a single loss of a ship.

Seeing the cargo being unloaded from the six merchant ships, the executives of the Sindwa family became grave.

“At this rate, it won’t be the Five Great Families, but the Six Great Families!”

“We should be grateful if it’s only to that extent. The Azzam family’s monopoly may begin.”

Sensing the crisis, the Sindwa family began persuading the other families.

-If this continues, the Azzam family will take over Aden!

-We must defeat the Azzam and Ottaibi families!

Soon, rumors began to circulate rampantly in the streets of Aden.

‘The Sindwa family is planning to attack the Azzam family!’

Confirming the truth of the rumors, the Azzam family also took countermeasures.

The head of the Azzam family sent an envoy to the Zayed family, another major family with whom they had a marriage alliance.

‘Let’s join forces! If we defeat them this time, Aden will be ours!’

Upon receiving the Azzam family’s proposal, the Zayed family immediately summoned their elders for a meeting.

The problem was that the marriage alliances were not limited to the Azzam family.

All five families were connected through marital ties, forming a tangled web of relationships.

“Putting everything else aside, let’s think about what would bring the greatest benefit to our family. Looking at the Joseon goods that have arrived at the port, which side would be profitable? Who holds the monopoly on trade with Joseon?”

At the head of the Zayed family’s point, the elders put aside their concerns and immediately reached a conclusion.

“We must join hands with the Azzam family!”

And so, the Ottaibi, Azzam, and Zayed families formed an alliance, while the other two families gathered their strength centered around the Sindwa family.

Thus, Aden was split in two, but they could not immediately engage in a show of force.

It was because the combined military power of the Azzam and Zayed families was similar to that of the other three families combined.

Therefore, they could only growl at each other in a standoff.

This was the situation just before Mansur left for Alexandria.

* * *

“Unless the Sindwas have gone mad…”

As Mansur made an expression of utter incomprehension, the elder replied briefly.

“The profits earned this time were too great.”

“Has the rumor already spread?”

“The Sindwas had sent people to Alexandria.”

“Oh no…”

Mansur’s face turned pale as he felt darkness before his eyes.

“What should we do about this…”

As Mansur pondered deeply to find an answer, his eyes fell upon the Joseon military officers.

“It’s them! We must seek their help!”

Mansur felt enlightened.

Those Joseon military officers were soldiers. Moreover, they were not mere warriors but individuals who had proven through actual combat that they had learned and mastered systematic military strategies.

“Allahu Akbar!”

Having found the answer, Mansur unknowingly uttered the phrase praising Allah.

“Huh? Why is that man…”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Me too.”

When Mansur exclaimed “Allahu Akbar,” Oh Ha-seok and the other military officers had an ominous feeling.

It was because nothing good had happened before or after those words were spoken.

* * *

“‘Allahu Akbar’ means ‘Allah is the greatest,'” Oh Ha-seok muttered with a frown, recalling the meaning he had learned from an interpreter at the interpreter during the voyage.

“The greatest, my foot…”

It was because Mansur and the crew had been shouting “Allahu Akbar!” after engaging in a fierce battle with pirates.

“If he’s such a great god, he should have prevented us from tangling with pirates and brigands.”

For Oh Ha-seok, who had lost the military officers who had departed together from Joseon, it was a sentiment he could not sympathize with at all.

* * *

That was why Oh Ha-seok had a bad feeling when Mansur exclaimed “Allahu Akbar.”

“The leader is requesting your assistance. He says the family is currently in a crisis.”

Upon hearing the purpose through the interpreter, Oh Ha-seok’s face crumpled.

“Damn it!”

1. An early type of firearm, a precursor to the modern gun[↩]

Chapter 210
Return Home (3)

Although he cursed to his heart’s content, Oh Ha-seok had no choice but to help Mansur.

He believed that if Mansur’s family collapsed, the chances of them returning to Joseon from Aden were almost none.

“If we’re ruined, we’ll most likely become slaves.”

Mentioning slaves, Oh Ha-seok shuddered.

It was because the image of the slaves he had seen at the slave market in Alexandria came to mind.

“Therefore, it’s do or die. Everyone, steel yourselves.”

“Yes, sir!”

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, the military officers responded, gritting their teeth. Oh Ha-seok turned to the interpreters.

“You should also prepare yourselves. I saw that you were all skilled archers on the way here. I’m counting on you this time as well.”

“Understood, sir.”

The interpreters replied, fingering the mounted rifles and bows at their waists.

Having made his resolve, Oh Ha-seok headed to where Mansur was.

“I will assist the leader.”

“Thank you!”

* * *

Having made up his mind, Oh Ha-seok moved proactively.

“First, we need a map.”

“There is no map, sir!”

At Mansur’s answer, Oh Ha-seok cursed inwardly. Taking a deep breath to quell his rising anger, Oh Ha-seok spoke.

“Then draw a rough sketch on the ground.”

“Understood.”

Mansur picked up a nearby branch and drew a rough map on the ground. Seeing the sketch of the Ottaibis’ mansion and the neighboring houses, Oh Ha-seok went outside the main gate to compare it with the actual streets.

“Hmm…”

Stroking his dusty beard entangled with sand, Oh Ha-seok observed the surroundings and returned inside to command Mansur and the military officers.

“Go to the ship and bring all the long guns, gunpowder, and pellet shots.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And leader, are you close with the neighbors nearby?”

“Most of them are either our relatives or the homes of those who work for us.”

“Then gather them all…”

Pausing for a moment, Oh Ha-seok used the branch to point at various spots on the rough map drawn on the ground and continued.

“Fortunately, the back is facing the sea, so there’s no road. Therefore, the enemies can only come from the front. There are three main roads leading to the mansion. Block the other two roads and small alleys immediately, except for the largest one in the middle. We need to minimize the enemies’ approach routes for easier defense.”

“I will do so.”

Responding to Oh Ha-seok’s words, Mansur immediately issued orders to the elders.

Upon hearing Mansur’s orders, the elders promptly mobilized people to carry out Oh Ha-seok’s commands.

Meanwhile, Oh Ha-seok continued to assess the situation.

“That… Azzam, was it? Did you request support from the family that was moving together with you?”

“I sent someone, but there’s no reply yet.”

“Damn it…”

Hearing Mansur’s answer through the interpreter, Oh Ha-seok unknowingly cursed.

Seeing Oh Ha-seok’s expression, Mansur continued.

“They are probably not in a good situation either. We’ve turned three out of the five families that shake Aden into enemies.”

In response to Mansur’s answer, Oh Ha-seok made a cutting remark.

“That family may not be finished, but don’t forget that your family will be.”

“…”

“Now your nose is three feet long, and you’re thinking about whom to spare… Tsk!”

Clicking his tongue, Oh Ha-seok noticed the camels and horses being led inside and hurriedly turned to Mansur.

“Don’t tell me… You’ve already distributed the wealth brought from Alexandria?”

“Not yet.”

Hearing the answer, Oh Ha-seok let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew~. That’s fortunate, at least. Keep the wealth brought from Alexandria in the deepest part of the mansion. And send someone to that Azzam family or whatever and tell them, ‘If we fall, you fall too.'”

“…But if the Azzam family holds a grudge…”

As Mansur hesitated, thinking Oh Ha-seok’s words were too extreme, Oh Ha-seok raised his voice.

“There’s no room to worry about future matters now! Save those concerns for after we survive this ordeal!”

“Ah, understood.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, Mansur called for an elder. Although it was radical, Oh Ha-seok’s words were not wrong.

Seeing this, Oh Ha-seok grumbled.

“What’s with that man? He was so decisive at sea, but why is he like this on land? Is he afflicted with a disease that turns him into a coward the moment he steps on shore?”

However, Mansur had his reasons. The five families of Aden, especially the Azzam family, were the families with the longest history and the greatest power.

That was why Mansur had to be intimidated, whether he knew it or not.

* * *

Shortly after, the military officers who had headed to the pier returned with the crew of the Mansur family.

“We’ve brought all six long guns, pellet shots, and gunpowder!”

“Did you also bring the gunpowder and bullets for the long rifles and mounted rifles?”

“Aye, sir!”

Hearing the military officers’ response, Oh Ha-seok took an officer skilled in gunnery and went outside the main gate again.

Oh Ha-seok pointed to a small puddle in the center of the square in front of the gate.

“Do you see that puddle?”

“Yes, sir.”

Oh Ha-seok continued, pointing to the road stretching beyond the puddle.

“Currently, all other roads are being blocked except for that one. Then the enemies will all flock to that road, right?”

The military officers immediately understood Oh Ha-seok’s words.

“We can fire the pellet shots from the left and right, using that puddle as a reference point.”

“Exactly!”

“Hmm…”

The military officers turned their bodies and examined the walls extending to the left and right of the main gate.

“It would be good to position ourselves about one zhang (丈, approximately 3 meters) away from the main gate.”

“Rather than collapsing it, it would be better to make holes.”

“Including the spares we brought, there are six long guns, so we can divide them into three each and take turns loading and firing.”

Words about what to do poured out of the military officers’ mouths.

Seeing this, Oh Ha-seok couldn’t hide his reassurance.

“As expected of Joseon’s naval officers!”

Among Joseon, or even including Ming China and Japan, the most familiar with firearms were Joseon’s naval forces. And the individuals in front of Oh Ha-seok were the cream of the crop among those officers.

“What are you doing? Move quickly!”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Inside the Ottaibis’ mansion, people were moving busily.

“Yalla (يلا, quickly)! Yalla!”

Amidst the shouts urging them to move faster coming from all directions, Oh Ha-seok continued to issue orders.

“Remove the leaves covering the roofs of those sheds and stables!”

“Place buckets of water at the entrances of the buildings! We need to be able to extinguish fires immediately if they break out!”

“Gather all the cloth and make them into bandages! Prepare medicinal herbs in advance too!”

The interpreters had to shout until their throats were hoarse to convey Oh Ha-seok’s orders.

Although the conversation took place through the interpreters, the work progressed quickly.

It was because the workers were well aware of the desperate situation.

Watching this, Oh Ha-seok gave a bitter smile.

“I never thought I’d use what I learned while being plagued by the Jurchen and Wako here.”

As the hurried preparations were nearing completion, those keeping watch shouted.

“They’re coming!”

“It’s the flag of the Sindwa family!”

Hearing the shouts, Oh Ha-seok and Mansur climbed the temporarily constructed watchtower next to the main gate.

The private soldiers of the Sindwa family were approaching, filling the only road leading to the Ottaibis’ mansion.

* * *

The private soldiers of the Sindwa family stopped their march at the entrance where the road entered the square.

A man on horseback came forward through the silently standing soldiers.

Recognizing the man’s face, Mansur muttered a curse under his breath.

“Damn baldy…”

The one who had come forward was the bald merchant who had visited when the first voyage was completed and seized everything brought from Joseon.

The merchant who had entered the square raised his voice.

“Listen, Ottaibis! The Ottaibis and our Sindwa family have maintained a good relationship for a long time! Let’s resolve this peacefully without incurring great harm over a small profit!”

At the merchant’s words, Mansur shouted loudly.

“How do you propose we resolve this?”

“We wish to share the wealth obtained from Alexandria…”

The bald merchant couldn’t finish his sentence. It was because the arrow shot by Mansur had pierced his heart.

Mansur, who had fired the arrow, muttered with a satisfied expression.

“Damn baldy.”

“The Ottaibis fired an arrow!”

“It’s a battle!”

“Charge!”

At the charge order from behind, the private soldiers of the Sindwa family rushed into the square with a roar.

“Uwaaaaah~”

* * *

“It has begun.”

“Indeed, sir.”

Hearing the roaring sound from ahead, the head and elders of the Sindwa family knew that the battle had finally commenced.

There was an optimistic atmosphere among the head and elders.

The military power of the Sindwa family was overwhelming the Ottaibis.

According to what was known, the number of private soldiers of the Ottaibis, including the crew, did not exceed 200. However, the Sindwa family had over 400 pure combat troops, excluding the crew.

Of course, the Azzam and Zayed families were a concern, but currently, the private soldiers of the other two families allied with the Sindwas were blocking the entrances and keeping them in check.

“Although their shallowness is evident…”

The head of the Sindwa family licked his lips.

It was because he could see the shallow scheme played by the two families allied with him to avoid losses.

However, the Sindwa family had to overlook it despite knowing.

For them, the best course of action was to mobilize their overwhelming military power and crush the Ottaibis in the shortest time with minimal losses.

“If we launch a single overwhelming attack with our superior forces, they will crumble on their own.”

At the elder’s words, the head of the Sindwa family nodded.

“Dealing with the two foxes later will be a bigger problem.”

The head of the Sindwa family was more concerned about the two families that had formed an alliance with his family.

At that very moment, a tremendous explosion shook the square.

Bang! Kaboom!

* * *

“They’re coming! Hold! Hold!”

At Oh Ha-seok’s command, the archers of the Ottaibis nocked their arrows and swallowed their saliva.

The main force of the Ottaibis was the crew.

Through the training they had received in Joseon and the real battles they had experienced on the way back, they had transformed into well-honed warriors. And the crew understood Oh Ha-seok’s orders without the need for interpretation.

Although those orders consisted of only four: “Hold!”, “Aim!”, “Fire!”, and “Shoot!”.

Of course, they had become several times more familiar with Joseon curses.

In any case, through the battles they had experienced on the way back, the crew had absolute trust in Oh Ha-seok’s judgment.

Mansur also trusted Oh Ha-seok just as much.

In fact, Mansur had even issued the following order to the crew.

“When the battle begins, obey the commands of the Joseon commander absolutely! My orders come next!”

Therefore, the crew members who had climbed onto the scaffolding along the walls and held their bows were waiting according to Oh Ha-seok’s commands.

Even though the private soldiers of the Sindwa family were approaching right in front of them.

As the vanguard of the Sindwa family passed the puddle while approaching, Oh Ha-seok shouted and pulled the trigger of his mounted rifle.

“Fire!”

Bang!

The gunshot became a signal, and the waiting military officers ignited the fuses of the long guns.

Kaboom!

With a thunderous explosion, two long guns spewed fire.

A total of about 200 pellet shots loaded in the long guns rained down on the private soldiers of the Sindwa family.

With a single volley, the front line of the Sindwa family completely collapsed.

Experiencing this for the first time in their lives, the private soldiers of the Sindwa family stood frozen in place.

Seeing the gruesome scene unfolding before their eyes, the soldiers unknowingly muttered.

“O Allah…”

The comrades who had been charging forward with high spirits until just a moment ago were now lying in a sea of blood.

The newly improved pellet shots by Hyang—maintaining lethality while minimizing size to allow more to be fired at once—had once again proven their effectiveness, this time against soldiers instead of pirates.

“Shoot!”

At Oh Ha-seok’s following shout, the waiting crew members fired their arrows in unison.

It was not only the crew members standing behind the walls.

The soldiers of the Ottaibis, who had been hiding behind the roofs and windows of the houses located around the only entrance, revealed themselves and began to draw their bows, aiming at the private soldiers of the Sindwa family.

Chapter 211
Return Home (4)

As the front line was annihilated by the crossfire of the long guns, the soldiers stood frozen in place, merely observing the situation.

“This won’t do!”

Sensing the crisis, the head of the Sindwa family shouted at the soldiers.

“To the first one who crosses the gate of the Ottaibis, I will give a reward of 100 gold coins! I swear it in the name of Allah!”

“Uwaah!”

At the leader’s words, the soldiers roared again and stepped forward. 100 gold coins was a large sum that would allow one to live idly for a lifetime.

The leader continued to encourage the soldiers.

“Charge! Charge! The wealth of the Ottaibis is ours! Charge!”

“It takes time to reload the cannons! Use that gap! Charge!”

“Uwaaaaah!”

The soldiers shouted and suppressed the fear they had felt just moments ago.

‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance anyway!’

“Charge! Charge!”

The head of the Sindwa family waved his sword in the air and shouted like a madman.

* * *

“That fellow over there, the one shouting on the horse, he seems quite high-ranking. Who is he?”

At Oh Ha-seok’s question, Mansur narrowed his eyes and examined the person in question.

After staring intently, Mansur gritted his teeth and answered.

“He’s the head of the Sindwa family.”

“So, the ringleader who started this mess?”

“That’s right.”

“In that case…”

Oh Ha-seok picked up the armored long rifle he had set aside and aimed it.

“Isn’t it too far?”

“It’s enough.”

Answering briefly, Oh Ha-seok controlled his breathing.

* * *

“Leader! It’s dangerous!”

“You’ve gone too far forward!”

At the elders’ warning, the head of the Sindwa family sneered.

He knew he had stepped forward, but he was outside the range of arrows.

“Hmph! At this distance, even an elephant can’t…”

Bang~.

The head of the Sindwa family fell from his horse before he could finish his sentence. At the same time, a distant gunshot was heard.

“Leader!”

“Leader!”

The elders of the Sindwa family rushed to the leader’s side. However, the leader, with a hole in his forehead, lay motionless with his eyes wide open.

“Oh no…”

“Oh dear…”

As the elders were at a loss due to the unexpected tragedy, another loud explosion was heard from the direction of the square.

Kaboom!

In the end, the battle that day ended with the defeat of the Sindwa family.

The Sindwa family lost nearly half of their mobilized forces—about 100 died, and a similar number were severely injured—and to make matters worse, they suffered a fatal loss with the death of their leader.

* * *

With the battle ending in the defeat of the Sindwa family, a storm of blood swept through Aden.

The Sindwa family was the target of that storm.

The two families that had joined hands with the Sindwa family attacked them.

With the leader dead without properly determining a successor and more than half of their soldiers lost, the Sindwa family was a delicious prey for them.

In the end, the Sindwa family collapsed less than half a month after their defeat in the battle against the Ottaibis.

The families that devoured the Sindwa family began to catch their breath for a moment to digest what they had consumed.

In the rapidly changing situation, the Ottaibi, Azzam, and Zayed families, feeling the threat to their survival, had no choice but to unite even more firmly.

* * *

“…So, Aden is currently split in two. The Azzam and Zayed families have even moved their base near our family, and we are in a situation where we are building defensive walls surrounding the three families.”

“Is the situation that dangerous?”

At Hassan’s question, Mansur and the elders nodded silently.

Mansur, moistening his throat with a sip of tea, continued.

“That’s why we need firearms. It would be nice to obtain large cannons, but we need to acquire a large quantity of the firearms we obtained last time. Those were the ones that played the biggest role in the previous battle.”

Mansur was greatly impressed by the power of the long guns utilizing pellet shots.

Mansur and the elders were completely captivated by the charm of firearms in the desperate struggle against pirates and the battle with the Sindwa family.

Hearing the story, Hassan’s face turned troubled.

“I understand the leader’s words and the crisis facing the family, but it’s not an easy matter. Firearms are the most important weapons in both Ming China and Joseon.”

“I’m well aware of that. So please, let me meet with the Crown Prince.”

“You mean His Highness the Crown Prince?”

At Hassan’s question, Mansur nodded.

“If we can persuade the Crown Prince, can’t we also persuade the king?”

“Sigh~.”

At Mansur’s words, Hassan let out a long sigh.

After pondering silently for a while, Hassan spoke.

“Have you already informed the Joseon military officers who accompanied you?”

“I did. But the reaction wasn’t good.”

“That’s to be expected. As I said before, firearms are the most crucial weapons.”

“That’s why…”

Hassan interrupted Mansur’s words.

“However, the military officers will definitely submit a report on the matter. And His Majesty will either summon you immediately or provide an answer. You must wait until then.”

At Hassan’s answer, Mansur raised his voice.

“Isn’t that why I’m asking you to arrange a meeting with the Crown Prince, as there’s a high possibility of it being rejected!”

“Meeting the Crown Prince directly may worsen the situation! Last autumn, there was a rebellion in Joseon.”

“A rebellion?”

“A rebellion, you say?”

As Hassan mentioned “rebellion,” the faces of Mansur and the elders stiffened. Hassan lightly nodded and continued.

“Yes. Local nobles who disregarded His Majesty’s royal authority rebelled. The rebellion was thoroughly crushed, and anything that threatens the royal authority is strictly forbidden in the current situation. But meeting the Crown Prince instead of His Majesty? This is an act of disregarding His Majesty’s authority. Doing so will turn even feasible matters unfeasible.”

“Oh no…”

At Hassan’s answer, Mansur and the elders couldn’t hide their regret.

For a king, any action that disregarded his authority was an unforgivable act. And the prince who would succeed him was also the most formidable competitor.

That was why Mansur and the elders couldn’t conceal their disappointment.

Seeing the faces of Mansur and the elders, Hassan concluded.

“Therefore, for now, focus only on trade while maintaining a friendly relationship. During that time, the military officer’s report will be submitted, and an opportunity will surely come.”

“I understand.”

* * *

As Hassan said, the report written by Oh Ha-seok was immediately delivered to Sejong through the Ministry of Military Affairs.

It had to be delivered so quickly because of the battle that took place in Aden and the firearms requested by the Ottaibi family.

After reading the entire report, Sejong ordered the eunuch.

“Go and summon the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And you, ministers, read this report thoroughly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

By the time the ministers of the Six Ministries, except for Jo Mal-saeng, and the Chief State Councilors had finished reviewing the report, Hyang arrived.

“Father, did you call for me?”

“Yes. I thought I should hear your judgment as well, so I summoned you. Let’s read the report first and then discuss.”

“Yes, Father.”

* * *

“Phew~.”

After quickly reading the contents of the report, Hyang let out a long sigh and put down the report.

“So, what do you think?”

“I would like to hear the opinions of the ministers.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded.

“Indeed. That would be the natural course. What are your thoughts, ministers?”

The first to answer Sejong’s question was Heo Jo.

“I believe we should prohibit the sale of firearms. Firearms are an important weapon of Joseon. Selling them to barbarians would bring more harm than good.”

As soon as Heo Jo finished speaking, Kim Jeom stepped forward.

“I believe we should sell the firearms. They are important trade partners to us.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Heo Jo became agitated.

“Look here, Minister of Taxation! No matter how important they are as trade partners, there are lines that should not be crossed! Firearms cross that line! Moreover, we also have Ming China and Japan as trade partners!”

In response to Heo Jo’s words, Kim Jeom immediately countered.

“Considering the growing production capacity of Joseon, Ming China and Japan alone have limitations! We need more and more trading countries!”

Having refuted Heo Jo’s words, Kim Jeom directly appealed to Sejong.

“Your Majesty! The commerce and industry of Joseon are growing in size! If we consider the future of Joseon, we must further expand that size, but Ming China and Japan have limitations!”

“What is the reason for that?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom promptly answered.

“I’m not sure about Japan, but Ming China has many craftsmen with skills on par with Joseon’s craftsmen.”

“That’s true.”

At Kim Jeom’s point, Sejong and the ministers all nodded.

What Joseon could make, Ming China could also make.

That was why Hyang had to lure Emperor Xuande.

Looking at the current situation, apart from glass products and soap, there was nothing that Ming couldn’t catch up to without the protection of the apricot flower emblem.

Of course, there were various gunpowders developed by Hyang, but these were items that weren’t even sold in the first place.

Seeing the reaction of Sejong and the ministers, Kim Jeom gradually put more strength into his voice.

“Therefore, Joseon must listen to the request of the Ottaibi family. This is also essential for Joseon’s future advancement into the distant oceans! Aden, where the Ottaibi family is located, will become a place that Joseon absolutely needs!”

“Absolutely necessary? Why?”

“Because of the Hui people and Alexandria reported by military official Oh Ha-seok. Alexandria is where the large market where merchants from the Western world gather is located. We must secure Aden to secure the route to Alexandria!”

“Hmm…”

At Kim Jeom’s passionate speech, Sejong nodded.

Watching the scene from the side, Hyang cheered for Kim Jeom in his heart.

‘Well done, our side! Fight, our side! Win, our side!’

“Does the Minister of Taxation believe that Joseon has benefits in advancing that far?”

As Heo Jo questioned again, Kim Jeom instead asked back.

“Has the Minister of Law Enforcement not even heard the rumors? The rumors that the large ships they brought are even bigger than Joseon Navy’s panokseon?”

At that time, the largest ship in Joseon was the panokseon that Hyang had modified.

At Kim Jeom’s question, Heo Jo faltered.

“I have heard, but…”

As Heo Jo hesitated, Kim Jeom pressed again.

“The officials of our Ministry of Taxation have personally seen and confirmed it. Minister of Law Enforcement! Think about it! Would profit-seeking merchants have built such large ships without any calculation?”

At Kim Jeom’s point, Heo Jo had no choice but to remain silent.

Having silenced Heo Jo, Kim Jeom bowed to Sejong again and appealed.

“I, Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation, appeal to Your Majesty! Aden is a valuable port for Joseon’s ships to head to. It would be best if those friendly to us secure this valuable port! Therefore, please allow the sale of firearms to the Ottaibi family!”

Not long after Kim Jeom finished speaking, the Minister of Rites opened his mouth.

“The Minister of Taxation’s words are not wrong, but considering the power of firearms, they should not be given carelessly. I think it would be better to sell armored rifles instead.”

“Armored rifles won’t do! If it must be an rifle, the long gun is the only answer!”

As soon as the Minister of Rites finished speaking, Hyang stepped forward to express his opposition.

“Why is that?”

“Yes, why? Isn’t the long gun closer to a cannon than an rifle?”

Even Sejong asked for the reason, and Hyang answered.

“Cannons are as large as their power. Therefore, they can be seen and prepared for from afar. However, armored rifles and mounted rifles are small in size and easy to conceal, so if mishandled, they can potentially cause even greater damage than cannons.

Secondly, cannons are difficult to manufacture. Rifles are also difficult to make, but not as much as cannons. That means armored rifles can flow even to those we don’t want, unintentionally.”

“But the armored rifle you made is useless without fuse cord, isn’t it?”

“Even without fuse cord, can’t they be used by inserting a wick?”

Hyang didn’t back down from his opposition until the end.

‘That’s why AK and RPG are troublesome!’

In the latter half of the 20th century, the weapons that inflicted defeats on the Soviet Union and the United States, which divided the world, and caused headaches for regular armies even in the 21st century, were not the most advanced weapons.

They were the AK rifle and RPG-7, which were easy to conceal and easy to manufacture.

Chapter 212
Return Home (5)

The heated debate continued. At some point, the topic had shifted from “Should we sell the cannons or not?” to “Which ones should we sell?”

“Cannons are out of the question! We should limit it to rifles!”

“Have you forgotten what the Crown Prince said? What if the rifles end up being distributed indiscriminately?”

“Wouldn’t the same issue apply to cannons like the chongtong?”

The high-ranking officials gathered in Geunjeongjeon raised their voices as they argued.

In the end, Sejong had to step in and take control of the situation.

“Silence! Quiet down!”

At Sejong’s thundering command, the officials all fell silent. Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Are rifles even more problematic than cannons like the chongtong?”

“Yes, they are.”

Hyang gave a brief response and paused for a moment. After pondering deeply over something, Hyang bowed to Sejong and spoke.

“First, let me clarify the terminology. The gapsikchotongtong will now be called ‘jangchong‘ (long cannon). The masangchotongtong will be renamed ‘masangchong’ (mounted cannon).”

“Oh? Jangchong? Jangchong… Given its length, that’s a fitting name. Masangchong is also appropriate since it’s primarily used by cavalry.”

“And we will only use the term ‘chotongtong‘ for the ones mounted on wagons.”

[TL/N: These are all the names of the cannons. They vary in length and size. I may have translated them as literal English names for earlier chapters but I’m going to stick with their Korean transliteration instead from hereon.]

“Hmm…”

After a brief contemplation, Sejong nodded in agreement.

“Very well. That will make it easier to distinguish between them. If anything, this change is overdue.”

“I apologize for my shortcomings.”

“It’s not solely your fault, so don’t dwell on it.”

With the terminology sorted out, Hyang continued his explanation.

“I am confident that the guns currently used by Joseon’s soldiers are far superior to those used in Ming, Japan, and even the Western barbarians. That is precisely why it’s a problem.”

“It’s a problem because they’re superior? Isn’t the secret of the fulminating silver carefully guarded?”

Sejong still looked perplexed. In his view, the most outstanding aspect of the new guns was the ignition method using fulminating silver (mercury fulminate).

Seeing his reaction, Hyang provided a more detailed explanation.

“As I mentioned earlier, even without fulminating silver, it can be replaced with matchlock. Therefore, this aspect cannot be considered a strength. The greatest advantage of the new guns lies in their unrivaled range and accuracy.”

“Ah…”

Finally, Sejong seemed to grasp the situation to some extent. Observing his understanding, Hyang continued.

“Ming and Japan are nearby. As a result, Joseon has the luxury of observing their situations and preparing accordingly. However, Aden is far away from Joseon. If the secrets of our guns are leaked there, we would have no way of knowing. No, we could even tolerate the leakage. The real issue lies with the Westerners beyond Alexandria.”

Pointing to the Europeans, Hyang elaborated further.

“They wage wars against the Muslims and among themselves. From what I’ve heard about the state of affairs through the Ottomans, the situation there resembles the Warring States period of China. If our gun technology falls into their hands, what do you think will happen? They will relentlessly refine and improve upon it.”

“Oh…”

At last, Sejong and the officials understood why Hyang had been so vehemently opposed to the idea. Throughout history, both in China and on the Korean Peninsula, whenever wars broke out, various weapons and related technologies rapidly advanced. Even during the late Goryeo period and the founding of Joseon, firearms had quickly evolved to combat the wokou (Japanese pirates).

Although Sejong and the officials seemed to comprehend the situation, Hyang provided additional explanations.

‘I need to ensure they clearly understand the dangers.’

“Let me reiterate: Ming and Japan are close by. As long as we remain vigilant, we have ample time to prepare. But those Westerners are different. They are so far away that it becomes difficult for us to take precautions. However, blindly assuming that ‘they will always be ahead of Joseon’ and continually investing in military preparations can place an excessive burden on our finances. That is why we absolutely cannot allow the guns to fall into their hands.”

“I see…”

Sejong nodded in agreement with Hyang’s argument.

* * *

Hyang’s concerns were not unfounded.

After gunpowder was introduced to Europe through the Mongols and Muslims, European nations competitively developed gunpowder weapons.

Looking at the situation in Europe during this period, they were gradually moving away from the traditional hand cannons used by Joseon and Ming—a design where a wooden stock was attached to the back and held under the armpit.

It was around this time that primitive trigger mechanisms and serpentines, leveraging the principle of levers, began to appear on handgonnes with wooden stocks, such as the Tannenberg Handgonne.

[TL/N: The Tannenberg handgonne was an early hand cannon, likely the oldest surviving one from Germany. Made of cast bronze, it was a bulky weapon with a caliber of around 15mm. It represents the very early stages of firearm technology in Europe.]

* * *

As Sejong nodded along with Hyang’s explanation, the Inspector General pointed out a problem.

“In that case, wouldn’t cannons also be an issue?”

In response to the Inspector General’s question, Hyang smiled slightly and answered.

“As for cannons… The Westerners won’t be particularly fond of Joseon’s cannons.”

“Pardon?”

“In terms of both performance and size, Joseon’s cannons will not meet the standards of the Muslims and Westerners.”

“Pardon?”

The unexpected answer provided by Hyang left not only the Inspector General who had raised the question but also the officials and even Sejong wide-eyed in astonishment.

Seeing their reactions, Hyang began to explain the reason.

* * *

After the concept of cannons was introduced through the Mongols, the European and Middle Eastern countries primarily viewed cannons as siege weapons.

To breach the high, thick, and sturdy walls of enemy fortifications, European and Middle Eastern cannons gradually increased in size.

As the cannons grew larger, they became heavier, more cumbersome, harder to aim, and slower to reload.

It wasn’t until the late 15th century, when France realized the limitations of these large siege guns and began developing small-caliber bronze field guns, that cannons started to change.

However, the pace of change was slow until the late 16th century, when the distinction between siege cannons and field cannons became clearer. (Note 1)

And it was at this crossroads that the Islamic countries, which stubbornly adhered to traditional purposes, began to fall behind Europe.

The Muslims had always overwhelmed European armies on the battlefields they typically fought on—vast open lands. For them, cannons had limited applications.

To the Muslim nobles, cavalry symbolized their identity. Becoming infantry was considered humiliating for them. (Note 1)

For them, the only times they needed cannons were when breaking through the walls and fortifications of enemies they had surrounded.

These choices they made would later cause them to kneel before Europe when the era of imperialism arrived.

* * *

Having understood the “big gun mentality” of the Europeans and Muslims through Hyang’s explanation, Sejong asked a question.

“Then, should we also produce big guns?”

In response, Hyang shook his head.

“The disadvantages outweigh the advantages. There are many operational issues, and production is costly. Moreover…”

Pausing for a moment, Hyang confidently declared.

“I am certain that, at least in terms of firepower, we are ahead of them. And we will continue to stay ahead.”

‘A single bigyeokjincheonroe (Fying Thunder Strike Shocking the Heavens) alone makes us invincible for the time being!’

[TL/N: I can’t remember what I translated this as in earlier chapters. But if you see this pic, maybe you’ll remember.

]

Sejong smiled contentedly at Hyang’s self-assured response.

“Hearing that puts my mind at ease. That level should suffice for resolving disputes between merchants or protecting trade caravans.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s just the right amount.”

“In conclusion… It’s acceptable to provide cannons, but absolutely not rifles and similar weapons. Is that your intention?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After hearing Hyang’s answer, Sejong looked around at his officials.

“What are your thoughts on this matter?”

At Sejong’s question, the officials took a moment to gather their thoughts before responding one by one.

“I believe the Crown Prince’s words are reasonable.”

“I share the same opinion.”

As most of the officials expressed their agreement, Jo Mal-saeng pointed out an issue.

“I humbly beg your pardon, but given the current production rate of cannons, we are struggling to even equip our own military.”

“Couldn’t we provide the decommissioned old cannons?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng turned to Kim Jeom. Under Jo Mal-saeng’s silent pressure, Kim Jeom answered while breaking out in a cold sweat.

“We have already melted down most of the decommissioned cannons…”

At Kim Jeom’s response, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! Didn’t I order to keep them in storage for at least three months, just in case?”

“We followed Your Majesty’s command!”

“Oh?”

As Sejong expressed his puzzlement, Kim Jeom explained what had transpired.

* * *

The old cannons of the Joseon military were mostly concentrated in the navy. On land, they were primarily deployed in the northern regions facing the Jurchen people. However, since Hyeokjincheolloe were more suitable for dealing with the Jurchens, the northern regions had already replaced their cannons with those specifically designed for Hyeokjincheolloe.

As a result, the only remaining old cannons were those used by the navy. However, as Hyang developed new cannons and mass-produced them, the old cannons gradually made their way into warehouses.

The problem arose after the Tsushima campaign, when the Japanese pirates became less active. Consequently, every three months, the old cannons lying dormant in the warehouses were all sent to the furnaces.

* * *

“So, how many old cannons are currently stored in the warehouses?”

In response to Sejong’s sharp question, Kim Jeom wiped the cold sweat from his brow and answered.

“I would need to check the records for the exact quantity, but it’s approximately 40 or so…”

“What about those still mounted on the ships?”

At Sejong’s inquiry, Kim Jeom turned to Jo Mal-saeng. This time, Jo Mal-saeng answered while perspiring heavily.

“Around 120, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s response, Sejong tapped his fingers on the armrest of the throne, deep in thought.

‘The two of them didn’t disobey my order. In fact, they faithfully followed it. It’s ironic that the wokou’s inactivity has led to this situation… But how should we handle this…?’

As if sensing Sejong’s thoughts, Hyang interjected.

“Given their urgent situation, we should start by providing the 40 cannons currently in storage.”

“However, considering the contents of the report, they will undoubtedly complain about the insufficient quantity if we only provide 40.”

As Sejong pointed out this issue, Kim Jeom, who had been sweating profusely, chimed in.

“There is a solution! We still have the iron molds used for the Crown Prince’s iron molding method. We can cast new cannons using those!”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately supported Kim Jeom’s suggestion.

“That will work! That way, we can meet the minimum… No, the maximum quantity they require.”

Other officials also chimed in to support the two.

Seeing the officials’ reactions, Sejong took a moment to consider before reaching a conclusion.

“Proceed with that plan.”

It was the moment when the Gungisi (Military Supplies Office) craftsmen’s grueling overnight work was decided.

* * *

Many years later, among the historians of the East and West who studied Joseon history, the era of Sejong and Hyang was referred to as “The Great Leap Era.”

The development achieved during this period was so rapid that no neighboring country, nor any nation in Europe or the Middle East, could keep pace with Joseon, hence the name “The Great Leap.”

The sheer volume of documents recording this development and its aftermath was staggering, making this era one of both amazement and lament for historians.

Since the progress made during this time was incomparable to any other part of the world, it was only natural for conspiracy theories to emerge.

The development was so illogical that even renowned scholars entertained conspiracy theories.

Among them, the most prominent one revolved around the meteorite recorded in the Annals of Sejong.

-Sejong Year 5 (Gyemyo Year, 1423), October 1st: A meteorite fell in Gangeum-hyeon, Hwanghae Province, creating a sound like thunder. Officials were dispatched to perform the Haegwae ritual (a ritual to dispel strangeness). (Note 2)

Using this recorded fact, conspiracy theorists claimed the “Alien Arrival Theory.”

“It wasn’t a meteorite that fell, but a UFO crash! They utilized the aliens rescued from that UFO to achieve this great leap!”

Mainstream scholars scoffed at such claims.

“One of the key figures of the transformation, the Crown Prince, began to stand out after being appointed as the Crown Prince in Sejong Year 3 (Sinchuk Year, 1421). Check the calendar first!”

Putting that aside, the fact that countless “world’s first” achievements occurred during this period gave rise to such conspiracy theories.

Among them was the “world’s first mass production of standardized cannons.”

And this, too, was Hyang’s work.

Until then, the common method of casting cannons was the clay mold method, which involved creating a mold using casting sand, pouring molten bronze into it, and completing the process.

The problem with the clay mold method was that it was time-consuming to create the mold using the casting sand.

To address this, Hyang introduced the iron mold method.

The cannon was divided into several parts, and corresponding molds were made from cast iron for each part. These molds were then assembled into one, with an iron core placed in the center, and molten bronze was poured into it to complete the cannon.

Once the poured bronze had cooled sufficiently, the outer iron molds were disassembled, and the iron core at the center of the cannon was removed, instantly producing one cannon.

This made the mass production of cannons much easier.

This wasn’t entirely Hyang’s original idea.

It was the method used for mass-producing cannons in Joseon during the late Joseon period after adopting the technology from Qing China. (Note 3)

* * *

Note 1: Guns, Sails and Empires: Technological Innovation and the Early Phases of European Expansion, 1400–1700 by Carlo M. Cipolla

Note 2: The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, National Institute of Korean History, http://sillok.history.go.kr/id/kda_10510001_002

Note 3: Weapons and Armor of Joseon by Min Seung-gi, Garam Planning

Chapter 213
The Challenger (1)

While the court was deciding on the reproduction of old cannons, the craftsmen at the Military Supplies Office were enjoying a brief respite.

“Phew~ It’s finally done.”

“It’s been a while since we had a break.”

As the craftsmen sat down, massaging their tired shoulders and backs, a small jar of takju (cloudy rice wine) made its way among them.

“Let’s just have one bowl each.”

“Agreed.”

If Hyang had seen this, he would have thrown a fit, but it was a long-standing tradition.

The alcohol in the takju helped alleviate fatigue, and since it was made from rice, it could also serve as a simple snack.

However, when Hyang witnessed this scene, he was appalled and overturned the practice, resulting in the dismissal of three craftsmen who had been drinking heavily.

Concerned about safety accidents, Hyang banned drinking within the workshop from then on, but the craftsmen discreetly enjoyed their small pleasure by having just a cup or two.

As the bowls of takju made their rounds, the youngest craftsman asked a question.

“But what should we do about that?”

“About what?”

In response to his senior’s question, the youngest pointed towards the warehouse.

“The iron molds for the janggun-hwatong (general cannons) filling up Warehouse No. 3. Shouldn’t we start melting them down soon?”

At the youngest’s words, the craftsmen all nodded in agreement, each making a comment.

“That’s true. With the amount filling up that warehouse, how many kwan (a unit of weight, 1 kwan=3.75 kg, 8.3lb) of cast iron would that be?”

“But we have no choice since we’ve been told to keep storing them for the time being.”

“Damn it… We’re already mass-producing the new cannons…”

The craftsman cursing under his breath suddenly stopped and shuddered.

“What’s wrong?”

“I suddenly got the chills…”

At his words, some of the others—mostly the senior craftsmen—muttered with similar expressions.

“Now that you mention it, I also feel a sudden chill…”

“You too? Same here…”

“Hey, kid! Go check if the forge fire has gone out!”

“The forge is fine, though?”

Hearing the youngest’s response, the senior craftsmen brushed off the goosebumps that had risen all over their bodies and muttered.

“What’s going on all of a sudden…?”

The moment they felt the chills was the exact time when the court decided on the craftsmen’s overnight work.

* * *

Meanwhile, Sejong, who had decided on the reproduction of old cannons for the Ottomans, changed the subject.

“Come to think of it… What are the field commanders’ evaluations of the newly deployed cannons?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng bowed and answered.

“They are very satisfied. Although heavier than the previous janggun-hwatong, the panokseon can sufficiently handle the weight, and their firepower and range are superior to the old ones, so everyone is pleased.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

Satisfied with Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Crown Prince, your contributions are immense.”

“You overpraise me. I was simply fortunate.”

Hyang responded humbly. Seeing his modesty, the officials grumbled inwardly.

‘Look at him, feigning humility!’

‘Ugh, so annoying! If only he were my grandson!’

‘Just openly brag about how great you are! That would be better!’

The officials knew all too well that when the Crown Prince displayed such humility, the King’s boasting about his son would drag on, and they would have to listen helplessly.

* * *

As mentioned earlier, during the era of Sejong and Hyang, there were numerous “world’s first” achievements.

The new cannons that Hyang had personally overseen the creation of and were now being intensively supplied to the navy were also items deserving of such a title.

The new cannons made by Hyang, the eul-sik-janggun-hwatong (Second Model General Cannon), were the world’s first cannons to use composite materials.

Hyang’s decision to redesign the cannons stemmed from the issue of copper. Cannons were made of bronze, and bronze was an expensive material.

“We need to find a way to reduce the usage of bronze…”

This concern was not unique to Hyang.

All nations producing and using cannons faced the same dilemma.

The most common material used for making cannons was bronze. It was the optimal material for withstanding the explosive pressure due to its toughness and elasticity.

However, as bronze was expensive, nations were preoccupied with finding alternative materials.

As a result, during this period, there were primarily two materials used for manufacturing cannons: bronze and wrought iron.

However, cannons made of wrought iron had inferior performance compared to those made of bronze.

Aware of Joseon’s economic situation, which had begun to grow but was still meager, Hyang had to rack his brains to reduce the burden of military expenditure.

“Iron, specifically steel, would be the best solution, but… It’s still too early…”

Although large quantities of iron materials had started to come out of the large ironworks established in Anju, the quality still had a long way to go.

As a result, Hyang’s concerns deepened.

“Looking at the navy’s situation, they need many high-performance naval guns… Wait a minute! Naval guns? Naval guns!”

A solution flashed through Hyang’s mind.

“I’ve found the answer! Long live the big ship, big gun doctrine!”

The source of Hyang’s answer lay in the main guns of the battleships built during the “big ship, big gun” era.

At that time, the major powers chose one of two methods to enhance the power of their battleship main guns.

One was to fire even larger and heavier projectiles—weighing close to a ton—to even greater distances, while the other was to fire projectiles of moderate weight—still easily exceeding several hundred kilograms—at even faster velocities.

Whichever method was chosen, the gun barrels needed to be long and sturdy.

This was where the difficulty arose.

To fire projectiles farther and at faster velocities, the propellant explosives needed to be more powerful.

As the power of the propellant increased, the gun barrels had to be sufficiently thick and strong.

Moreover, to fire the same amount of gunpowder to greater distances, the gun barrels needed to be long enough for complete combustion.

These two conditions came into conflict.

The gun barrels, made thick and long to withstand the explosive pressure of the gunpowder and improve efficiency, could not support their own weight and bent downward. If the barrels were made thinner to prevent this, they could not withstand the pressure of the gunpowder.

To solve the challenge of withstanding the explosive pressure of the propellant while maximizing the range and minimizing the weight, engineers devised various methods, one of which Hyang had recalled.

* * *

Hyang changed the structure from a single barrel to a triple-layered barrel.

The innermost barrel, which had to withstand the explosion of the gunpowder, was made of bronze, and its exterior was wrapped with steel cords—thin steel wires twisted together like ropes. Using cattle, the most powerful source of energy available in Joseon at that time, the cords were wrapped with the maximum possible tension.

Once this first process was completed, the primary barrel was inserted into a secondary barrel made of wrought iron.

This insertion was not a simple matter either. The secondary barrel, with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the primary barrel, was heated to expand and then the primary barrel was inserted before rapid cooling.

Finally, the secondary barrel with the completed primary barrel inside was inserted into a heated tertiary barrel made of cast iron, following the same process as the secondary barrel.

When Hyang introduced the prototype made through this process, Sejong and all the officials reacted negatively.

“It requires too much manual labor. It would be difficult to mass-produce.”

“With the amount of manpower required, the cost would be high.”

Despite the negative reactions from Sejong and the officials, Hyang was confident.

“Let’s first take a look at the performance.”

In the ensuing test, the new cannon demonstrated outstanding performance. Using the same amount of gunpowder as the existing janggun-hwatong, it flew 200 more bo (a unit of length). The maximum range of the existing janggun-hwatong was 1,300 bo (approx. 1.6 km), while the prototype flew 1,500 bo (approx. 2 km).

“The performance is indeed good, but with the amount of labor required… The cost would be…”

As Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation, could not hide his regret, Hyang provided a clear answer.

“Even including labor costs, we can reduce the cost by 20% compared to the existing cannons.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom immediately took the bait.

“How so?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Hyang promptly replied.

“We were able to reduce the amount of copper used by 60%.”

Upon hearing the explanation about the production cost, the Minister of Taxation ran straight to Sejong, prostrated himself, and exclaimed.

“I humbly advise that we adopt it immediately!”

In the end, with the enthusiastic support of the officials—especially the Minister of Taxation—the adoption of the new cannons was decided.

As an aside, when European nations later obtained information about these cannons, they made a serious misconception.

Mistaking these cannons as being made of cast iron due to the outer cast iron layer, European countries had to waste tremendous amounts of time and money trying to create “cast iron cannons with even better performance than bronze cannons.”

* * *

Since the sale of cannons to the Ottomans had been decided, the court entered into negotiations with Mansur.

“Minister of Taxation, go ahead and finalize the deal.”

“As you command!”

Kim Jeom, having received Sejong’s order, summoned Mansur, who was staying in the guest Muslim quarter.

“Welcome. You must have had a difficult journey.”

As Kim Jeom greeted him warmly, Mansur also politely bowed and replied.

“Thank you for the warm welcome.”

After a brief exchange of greetings, with interpreters and translators between them, the tug-of-war between Kim Jeom and Mansur began.

“According to the report written by Official Oh Jong, you wish to obtain Joseon’s cannons. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Would the chongtong you purchased last time suffice?”

“That would be good too, but we were hoping to acquire even larger cannons if possible.”

“Even larger cannons? Are you planning to go to war?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mansur explained the reason.

“Considering the pirates lurking along the route between Aden and Joseon, it’s as good as war. Moreover, for the safety of our headquarters and partners in Aden, large cannons are a must.”

“Your headquarters is in danger?”

“There’s a Chinese proverb that goes ‘what the eye sees, the heart desires.'”

“Ah…”

At Mansur’s answer, Kim Jeom nodded in understanding.

Having confirmed Mansur’s definite intention to purchase, Kim Jeom casually brought up the topic.

“His Majesty has reviewed the report submitted by Oh Jong-sagwan and has authorized the sale. How many cannons do you require?”

“Considering the number of cannons to be mounted on the newly built ships and the quantity to be installed in Aden…”

Mansur stated the desired quantity.

Hearing Mansur’s answer, Kim Jeom stroked his beard and asked.

“For that quantity, the payment would be quite substantial. Would that be feasible?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mansur immediately replied.

“I would like to see the performance first. If the cannons meet the desired performance, we will pay.”

“Let’s proceed then.”

* * *

Five days later, a demonstration of the janggun-hwatong was held by the Han River. After witnessing the firing demonstration of large arrows used for targeting ships and large iron balls called cheonja-cheoltan-ja, Mansur made an additional request.

“Can it also fire hollow shells (joranhwan)?”

“Of course it can.”

“I would like to see that as well.”

After observing the ensuing demonstration of hollow shells, Mansur was greatly satisfied.

The hollow shell firing of the janggun-hwatong was incomparable to that of the chongtong.

Having seen all the demonstrations, Mansur made an immediate decision.

“We will purchase them. Considering the number of cannons to be mounted on ships and the quantity to be deployed at our headquarters…”

As Mansur attempted to move straight to the main point, Kim Jeom raised his hand to stop him.

“Let’s first take a look at your ships before discussing that matter.”

“Pardon? Ah, yes…”

* * *

Three days later, military officers rushed to the craftsmen who were finishing up work on a sailing ship designed by Hyang.

“Listen up! Stop what you’re doing and prepare to depart immediately!”

“Pardon? What’s going on?”

In response to the head craftsman’s question, the military officer explained the reason.

“The ships the Muslims arrived on this time are much larger than the ones they came on last time. The Muslims want to mount janggun-hwatong on those ships, so you’re ordered to go and assess the feasibility and thoroughly examine the structure.”

At the military officer’s words, the head craftsman let out a long sigh.

“Phew~ Understood. We’ll prepare right away.”

“Carriages are standing by, so get ready as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir!”

After sending off the military officer, the head craftsman turned to the other craftsmen.

“You heard him? Pack your bags!”

“Yes, sir!”

The craftsmen scattered in all directions to gather their belongings. Meanwhile, the second-in-command craftsman approached the head craftsman and asked.

“We won’t have to dismantle and modify the whole thing, right?”

He was pointing to the ship that was in the midst of being finished. Designed by Hyang, the ship had a never-before-seen appearance in Joseon.

The head craftsman, upon hearing the question, let out a long sigh.

“Phew~ Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. And it shouldn’t. That ship has the sturdiest frame I’ve ever seen. It’ll probably be my pride and joy.”

“It is indeed sturdy.”

The eyes of the two men gazing at the ship were filled with pride.

Chapter 214
The Challenger (2)

The craftsmen tasked with investigating the ship’s structure spent seven days meticulously examining the extra-large dhow.

They measured not only the length and width but even the height by pulling the ship onto land. They thoroughly inspected everything from the top of the masts to the bilge, where water collected at the very bottom of the hull.

They didn’t just conduct a single inspection either.

The head craftsman divided his subordinate craftsmen into three groups to carry out cross-validations.

“For heaven’s sake, weren’t we supposed to inspect whether the ship can carry cannons or not?”

When the captains voiced their complaints about the excessively thorough inspection, the head craftsman curtly replied.

“Do you want the cannons you load to be mere decorations?”

“…”

Upon hearing his words through the interpreter, the captains promptly fell silent.

Having silenced the captains, the head craftsman urged his subordinate craftsmen.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and inspect! Are you going to let our own ship rot while gawking at someone else’s?”

“Yes, sir!”

At the head craftsman’s shout, the craftsmen scurried into action.

* * *

After seven days had passed in this manner, a lengthy report made its way to the Ministry of Military Affairs. The report was immediately transcribed and delivered to Sejong, the ministers of the Six Ministries, and Hyang.

Having read the entire report, Sejong issued an order to Kim Jeom.

“Based on this report, secure the best possible outcome.”

“I will devote my utmost efforts, Your Majesty!”

“Other ministers, provide full support if the Minister of Taxation requests it.”

“We shall obey your command!”

After finishing his discussion with the ministers, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Did you read the report?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It states that the new warship we built this time is superior to the ships the Muslims recently constructed. It’s not biased reporting from the craftsmen, is it?”

“That shouldn’t be the case.”

Hyang responded confidently to Sejong’s question. Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, Sejong didn’t forget to remind him once more.

“Don’t forget that a considerable amount of resources went into building the new warship.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang bowed his head and replied.

“I always keep that in mind.”

‘After all the hardships we went through to build it!’

* * *

The ship Hyang was leading the construction of was a galleon, yet not a galleon.

To be precise, its prototype was the central pirate ship from a certain pirate movie.

To create the ship featured in the movie, enthusiasts had even produced blueprints.

To realize the movie’s ship, which was a fusion of Eastern and Western designs based on a galleon, the enthusiasts had mobilized all their knowledge and experience.

As a result, a ship that was only 1/4 in size but fully capable of actual sailing was born. Impressed by this, a wealthy Middle Eastern enthusiast commissioned a 1:1 scale version, leading to the construction of an actual-sized ship.

At the time, Hyang, whose enthusiasm ran deep in his bones, had taken a leave of absence from university and ran away to the United States to participate in the entire process.

Thanks to this, he returned home with a considerable amount of pocket money, knowledge related to his passion, and a copy of the ship’s blueprints, only to immediately enlist in the military.

Even without the final remark, through the ship’s construction process, Hyang had acquired theoretical knowledge and practical experience regarding galleons, as well as theoretical knowledge about the higher-tier ships of the line.

Despite this background, building the new warship was no easy task.

The main reason was that even if the blueprints were completed, the craftsmen who would actually build it couldn’t understand them.

The craftsmen’s lack of understanding stemmed from the significant differences between the traditional shipbuilding process and the new one.

Therefore, Hyang had to go through countless trials and errors to find the appropriate integration points.

Innumerable blueprints were created and discarded, and various scaled models were built and discarded as well.

During this process, Hyang decided to take a bold leap.

“If we start with a carrack, I’ll die of frustration! Let’s begin with a ship we’re familiar with! For the sake of my leadership without illness!”

Through that decision, he skipped over the carracks and caravels displayed in the research institute and jumped straight to galleons.

And thus, a headache for future historians, especially those specializing in naval history, was born.

* * *

Meanwhile, Kim Jeom, the Minister of Taxation, entered into negotiations with Mansur.

“According to the report written by the craftsmen, the maximum number of janggun-hwatong that can be mounted on the large ships you brought is 20 per ship.”

“20 per ship?”

“That’s right.”

In response to Kim Jeom’s answer, Mansur immediately replied.

“Then we’ll start by contracting 140 cannons.”

“140 cannons?”

Surprised by the higher-than-expected number, Kim Jeom soon eyed Mansur with suspicion.

“Only 40 cannons will be loaded onto the ships… Are you planning to build a fortress?”

“No. We will be loading 120 cannons onto the ships.”

“Pardon?”

When Kim Jeom failed to properly understand the unexpected explanation, Mansur provided additional details.

“Within six months at the latest, two more large ships similar to the ones that arrived this time will come to Joseon. And within the next six months after that, another two ships will arrive. A total of six ships will be in continuous operation.”

“My word… Did your family invest its entire fortune?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s astonished question, Mansur smiled slightly and answered.

“Three families, including ours, have joined forces.”

“I see…”

At Mansur’s explanation, Kim Jeom had a look of great realization.

‘Is this the scale of merchants who trade across the seas? Our Joseon merchants should observe and learn from them.’

“Hmm… Alright. 140 cannons. In that case, what quantity of gunpowder and cannonballs would you prefer?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mansur took out a piece of paper from his bosom, examined its contents, and replied.

“For gunpowder, an amount sufficient for four full-scale battles will do. After that, we can procure craftsmen from Alexandria. As for cannonballs… We don’t need anything else, hollow shells (joranhwan) alone will suffice.”

“Pardon? Only hollow shells will suffice?”

“Yes.”

Mansur’s answer was short and concise.

* * *

During the previous voyage, they had to engage in a fierce battle with pirates on the way to Aden.

At that time, each ship equipped with cannons had crew members trained in their usage, as well as skilled Joseon military officers proficient in gunnery.

However, the large arrows fired from the chongtong had low accuracy and power.

In the end, what blew away the pirates who had come close despite the cannon fire was a large quantity of hollow shells.

Moreover, in the bloody battle that unfolded in Aden, it was the hollow shells that led to the annihilation of the Sindwa family.

Through these experiences, Mansur had become deeply enamored with the charm of hollow shells.

* * *

“Even the most skilled gunner cannot sink an enemy ship with a single shot. In that case, we would need to keep firing to sink the enemy ship, but these are merchant ships. There’s already a lack of space to load goods, so we don’t have the luxury of carrying more gunpowder and cannonballs than necessary. It’s more efficient to deal with the enemy at an appropriate distance using hollow shells. The same goes for cities. The cannons of those damned Catholics or Ottomans are too large to be of any use in urban warfare.”

“Ah, I see.”

Kim Jeom nodded at Mansur’s explanation.

He also found Mansur’s answer to be reasonable.

“In that case, let’s focus on hollow shells. How shall we handle the payment?”

“Let’s deduct it from the proceeds of selling the goods we brought.”

“Agreed.”

Having easily reached a consensus, Mansur and Kim Jeom parted ways with smiles.

“This is just the beginning.”

After seeing Mansur off, Kim Jeom steeled his resolve.

The truly important matter was at what price they would purchase the goods the Muslims brought and sell Joseon’s goods.

* * *

Amidst the tug-of-war negotiations and bargaining between the two sides, the exchange of goods brought by Mansur and Joseon’s goods proceeded.

The trade was evenly matched.

Since most of the goods Mansur brought were items requested by Joseon, it was difficult to simply drive down the prices.

Similarly, most of the goods Mansur sought were products exclusively made in Joseon, making it challenging for him to strong-arm the prices.

In the end, the trade was concluded with both sides compromising to a reasonable degree.

As the goods were transferred from Mansur’s caravan to the government’s warehouses, there was one item that all the officials sought out first.

“Take out the black bean tea first!”

It was those addicted to coffee who had flocked together.

* * *

Meanwhile, there was also an item Hyang had been eagerly awaiting.

“Your Highness, it has arrived!”

“What’s the quantity?”

“Here is the report.”

After verifying the items and quantities listed in the report, Hyang felt relieved and immediately issued an order.

“Send it to the shipyard.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As the ordered official hurried away, Hyang muttered with a look of relief.

“With this, the waterproofing issue is one less concern.”

The item Hyang had been waiting for was pitch.

* * *

Waterproofing was essential for a ship’s safety.

The traditional method involved filling the ship with hemp and applying a mixture of oil and lime on top, then drying it. Hyang, who found this method unreliable, had ordered pitch instead.

“However, coating the entire ship with pitch from top to bottom would be too costly…”

Worried about the scolding he would receive from Sejong due to the budget, Hyang applied a hybrid method.

He coated the ship with pitch up to the odd-numbered decks, then applied lime on top and performed smoking.

This method proved to be surprisingly effective, leading Joseon to actively utilize it.

Hyang also made changes to the sails. Instead of using the typical yellow cloth or European-style white cloth, he had the sails dyed gray.

“Why did the navies of the 21st century paint their ships gray as if their lives depended on it?”

The gray hull, resulting from the smoked lime, and the gray sails made the ships less visible when sailing far out at sea.

Due to Hyang’s clever tricks, Joseon’s warships earned the notorious nicknames “Sea Ghost” and “Gray Devil.”

It also led European warships to sacrifice their individuality and uniformly paint their ships gray.

As a result, European captains, enraged by this decision, began cursing Joseon whenever they drank.

* * *

Amidst the ongoing trade, there was a new product that caught the attention of Mansur and his group: Balgeungo, a medicine for boils.

The people of the Middle East also suffered from boils caused by hygiene issues.

After hearing about the medicinal effects, Mansur purchased Balgeungo in large quantities.

“And please give us some ginseng as well.”

“Ginseng?”

“Yes.”

At Mansur’s request, Kim Jeom had a look of surprise.

“Do Muslims also know about the efficacy of ginseng?”

“Korean ginseng has been famous since ancient times. Moreover…”

Pausing for a moment, Mansur added with a chuckle.

“Those damned Europeans are dying to get their hands on it. They call it the ‘Mandrake of the East’ and treat it as a miraculous panacea.”

“Well, well~ Good things are recognized by everyone.”

While exclaiming in admiration at Mansur’s answer, Kim Jeom suddenly became worried.

‘Oh no… Does this mean we can’t freely consume our own tonics anymore?’

* * *

Ginseng, which had become possible to cultivate in large quantities a few years prior, was Joseon’s star product.

Merchants from Ming and Japan, who knew about the excellent efficacy of “Korean ginseng,” vied to purchase ginseng.

Although its medicinal effects were inferior to wild ginseng, the mass-cultivated ginseng had no quality issues, so the merchants from Ming and Japan welcomed its sale.

Of course, it was only natural for not only the government but also private merchant groups to take special care to prevent the secrets of ginseng cultivation from leaking.

The Europeans, who encountered ginseng for the first time through Mansur’s merchant group, were enthused by its effects.

“An old and frail person who was bedridden suddenly got up after consuming ginseng!”

“A 70-year-old man had a child after taking ginseng!”

As testimonies from those who had experienced the effects of ginseng spread, European merchants flocked to Alexandria in search of ginseng.

Due to the human-like appearance of ginseng roots, European merchants began calling it the “Mandrake of the East.”

Chapter 215
The Challenger (3)

The products Mansur chose were diverse.

Among them were many unique items, including Balgeungo, ginseng, and the newly added Clear-Mind Pill[1].

“Clear-Mind Pill? Have you tried it?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mansur nodded.

“There was a time in Aden when I nearly collapsed from excessive stress, and that’s when I experienced its efficacy.”

“Hmm… That’s fortunate.”

“Thanks to that, I plan to stock it as an emergency medicine for our family rather than for sale.”

At Mansur’s answer, Kim Jeom tilted his head.

“The quantity seems high for that purpose.”

“Well, we have three families, and there are quite a few elderly among us.”

“Hmm… I see.”

However, Mansur’s large-scale purchase of Clear-Mind Pill encountered an unexpected obstacle.

The royal physicians from the responsible department, the Royal Clinic, opposed the idea.

“Although Clear-Mind Pill is an emergency medicine, the dosage must be adjusted based on the patient’s condition. It should never be sold indiscriminately! If mishandled, it might gain a reputation as a poison rather than a medicine!”

When the royal physicians voiced their opposition, Sejong, upon receiving the report, summoned them. Sejong posed a question to the prostrated physicians.

“Why are you opposing this? Hasn’t it been sold successfully to Ming and Japan?”

“Aren’t there physicians in those places who are well-versed in Clear-Mind Pill?”

“Indeed.”

Nodding at the physicians’ explanation, Sejong turned to Kim Jeom.

“I find the physicians’ opinion to be reasonable. They say that the difference between medicine and poison is as thin as a sheet of paper. If it is misused or abused, we will face criticism. Explain this to them.”

“I shall obey your command.”

As Sejong’s decision was made, Kim Jeom conveyed that decision to Mansur.

“That’s unfortunate. Does this mean it can’t be sold at all?”

“For the time being. If it’s truly necessary, send a physician. Only by understanding the proper usage can dangers be avoided.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Mansur had no choice but to look forward to the next opportunity.

Meanwhile, Hyang, upon hearing the news, had a look of surprise.

“Oh? The nobles of this era are surprisingly stricter.”

In the 21st century, Clear-Mind Pill was a medicine that could be easily obtained at pharmacies. As a result, it was used in various situations. Even Hyang had the experience of chewing a pill in advance before facing a situation where he might get scolded by his parents.

However, Joseon’s royal physicians were extremely particular about the use of Clear-Mind Pill.

Of course, Hyang’s influence had also reached this medicine. He had intervened to remove cinnabar (zhūshā) from the ingredients of Clear-Mind Pill.

“Cinnabar has traditionally been used as a medicinal ingredient, but…”

“Mercury is the problem.”

“Mercury is also used as a medicinal ingredient, but…”

“According to records from the Westerners, consuming mercury causes physical deformities and adversely affects one’s offspring.”

“However…”

As the royal physicians continued to show negative reactions, Hyang forcefully conducted an actual experiment. He demonstrated the problems by feeding mercury to chickens. Of course, it was a long-term experiment that lasted nearly a year.

Having confirmed the actual harm, the royal physicians decided to exclude cinnabar from the ingredients.

* * *

Apart from such medicinal products, Mansur made large-scale purchases of perfumes and aromatic oils.

“Fragrances are products that unexpectedly polarize preferences. Do they sell well?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mansur nodded.

“Yes. The scents are subtle yet long-lasting, making them popular. Even those damned Catholics enjoy them.”

“Is that so?”

At Mansur’s answer, Kim Jeom muttered to himself.

‘The response to fragrances is positive. I must remember this.’

As Kim Jeom noted, the fragrances produced by Joseon were receiving unexpected praise and selling well in the Middle East and Europe.

The fragrance manufacturing techniques of Joseon, which had been passed down since the Three Kingdoms period, were shining brightly.

Meanwhile, Hyang was urging the craftsmen who supplied fragrances to the royal court to attempt the creation of new fragrances.

The new attempt Hyang instructed was to make fragrances by dissolving them in alcohol.

Hyang’s reason for this attempt was simple.

“I need skin lotion!”

As he reached an age where his beard was becoming thicker, Hyang began to pay attention to shaving and attempted to create the essential product, skin lotion.

* * *

The dealings between Mansur and Kim Jeom continued for several days. The reason it took so long was not due to issues with the unit price.

There was a difference between the quantity Mansur desired and the quantity Joseon could supply, necessitating constant adjustments.

“No! I’m telling you I’ll pay for it!”

“Who’s talking about payment issues? It’s about the quantity.”

“What about the goods piled up in the warehouses at Jemulpo?”

“Those already have owners.”

“Then if I purchase them at a higher price…”

“Nonsense!”

When Mansur mentioned “higher price,” Kim Jeom immediately dismissed it.

“Although I’m not a merchant, I well understand the importance of trust! Don’t even utter such filthy words!”

In response to Kim Jeom’s resolute reaction, Mansur glanced at Hassan. Seeing Hassan’s nod, Mansur politely apologized.

“I apologize for my imprudence. My greed got the better of me…”

“Be mindful. As the leader of a large merchant group, you should be well aware of the importance of trust, shouldn’t you?”

“But I brought so many ships, and the quantity is lacking…”

“Still, it’s more than last time, isn’t it? More and more workshops are being established in Joseon, so the day will soon come when we’ll have more than enough to fill the holds of those ships. In that regard…”

Pausing for a moment to draw Mansur’s attention, Kim Jeom subtly dangled the bait.

“Are you perhaps interested in cloth?”

“Cloth?”

“We call it wide cloth[2]. It’s also known as machine cloth.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Mansur pondered for a moment.

‘If this gentleman recommends it, it must be no ordinary item!’

“May I see the actual product?”

“Of course!”

When Mansur showed interest, Kim Jeom cheered inwardly.

‘Hooked him!’

Upon seeing the wide cloth Kim Jeom presented, Mansur’s eyes sparkled.

“The width is quite substantial! And the tight weave is to my liking!”

Aden, where the Ottomans resided, faced the sea and was hot and humid. However, just a short distance inland, the intense sunlight dried out both humans and animals, creating an arid climate. Moreover, the temperature difference between day and night was considerable. In such a climate, tightly woven cloth that effectively blocked sunlight was popular.

Therefore, Mansur had recognized the marketability of the cotton fabric recommended by Kim Jeom.

“How much of this can be procured?”

“How much do you need?”

Thus, Kim Jeom was able to reap an unexpected harvest.

* * *

After seeing Mansur off, Kim Jeom handed the relevant documents to his subordinates.

“Organize them well and bring them to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“As quickly as possible. I need to report to His Majesty.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the face of the Ministry of Taxation official turned deathly pale. Seeing his expression, Kim Jeom remarked.

“What’s a night or two of overtime?”

“It’s been four days now…”

“Just do it. I’ll make sure you get overtime pay.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Having passed the documents to his subordinate, Kim Jeom poured water from a kettle he had prepared and quenched his thirst.

“Talking non-stop has made me thirsty.”

After quenching his thirst, Kim Jeom muttered with a much more relaxed expression.

“Anyway, one task is resolved.”

The task he referred to was wide cloth.

Both Hyang and the merchants had anticipated that wide cloth would be a huge success. However, when wide cloth actually hit the market, the response deviated far from their expectations.

“Paying money for cotton cloth?”

“Paying money for cotton cloth that we can simply weave ourselves? Is money growing on trees?”

The commoners, accustomed to weaving cotton cloth at home, showed a lukewarm response. As time passed, wide cloth made its way into even small villages, but the commoners’ reactions remained negative.

“It’s good, but paying money for it is a bit…”

“The current cotton cloth is fine…”

The cotton cloth produced in factories failed to satisfy the commoners in terms of cost-effectiveness. As a result, the factory-made cotton cloth was only sold to the wealthy class accustomed to high-quality cotton fabrics.

“Selling such high-quality products at this price!”

For the wealthy, it was actually an affordable price, making it popular. However, the number of such wealthy individuals was limited throughout Joseon.

Consequently, an increasing amount of inventory began to pile up in the warehouses. The government and merchant groups engaged in promotional activities in Ming and Japan to find sales channels, but the situation was similar to Joseon.

In Ming, cotton cloth of similar quality was common—Hyang referred to it as a victory of the Ying-Hai strategy. In Japan, they lacked the funds to purchase such cotton cloth.

In the end, while struggling to find sales channels, Mansur became the solution.

* * *

Finally, in the third month of his stay in Joseon, Mansur was ready to depart.

Visiting Geunjeongjeon and prostrating before Sejong, Mansur expressed his gratitude.

“I am deeply grateful for the generous treatment bestowed upon a mere merchant.”

“I am glad there were no inconveniences. I wish for your safe return to your homeland.”

“I am humbled by Your Majesty’s royal concern.”

“Your success is the success of our Joseon, so I hope for good results.”

“I will do my utmost.”

As Mansur bid farewell to Sejong and exited Geunjeongjeon, Kim Jeom accompanied him to the very end.

“As His Majesty said, have a safe journey back.”

“Thank you. I am truly grateful for the kindness you have shown, from the cannons to everything else.”

“Not at all… Isn’t it all for our mutual benefit?”

“That is true.”

While listening to Mansur’s response, Kim Jeom gestured to the Ministry of Taxation official following behind. At Kim Jeom’s gesture, the official promptly handed over a large bundle.

“Take this with you.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a tonic. Health is always the most important thing, so boil it well and consume it.”

“Yes…”

Receiving the tonic, Mansur’s expression became peculiar. He too had heard the rumors circulating among Joseon officials about tonics. Seeing Mansur’s expression, Kim Jeom immediately added.

“There have been strange rumors about tonics lately, but this is truly given with goodwill. Goodwill!”

“…Thank you.”

“To live in an era of distrust where goodwill is doubted!”

“I am truly grateful!”

Having bid farewell to Kim Jeom, Mansur asked Hassan, who was accompanying him.

“It’s genuine goodwill, right?”

“It should be goodwill.”

‘Probably?’

Hassan kept the last word to himself.

* * *

Five days after Mansur’s group departed, Sejong led Hyang and the ministers to Gyeonggi Province.

“Is this the newly paved road?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Looking at the road stretching out before them, Sejong had a delighted expression.

“It is truly a wide and straight road! I hope the future of our Joseon will be like this!”

In response to Sejong’s words, Hyang promptly replied.

“With Your Majesty’s firm resolve and the capable ministers in place, it will certainly be so.”

“Your words are correct.”

Smiling at Hyang’s response, Sejong turned to the ministers following behind.

“I shall trust in you all.”

“We will devote our utmost efforts!”

The ministers answered in unison with loud voices. However, their insides were burning black with exhaustion.

‘This is clearly a sign that he will assign more work!’

‘I need to escape! I must submit a resignation letter!’

The place Sejong’s entourage headed to was the shipyard of the Gyeonggi Naval Station.

In Namyang Hwaryangman (South Yangflower Bay) of Gyeonggi Province, there was a place where the warships of the Gyeonggi Naval Station were built.

And it was here that the construction of the new warship, led by Hyang, was taking place.

“Greetings to Your Majesty!”

“At ease!”

Responding to the military salute led by the Navy Commander (Susa) of the Gyeonggi Naval Station and the naval soldiers, Sejong entered the naval station, dismounted from his horse, and inspected various parts of the station.

In particular, Sejong inspected the condition of the warehouses storing various spears and swords, the warehouse storing cannons, and finally, the warehouse inspecting gunpowder. He then turned to the Navy Commander and praised him.

“Not a single speck of rust on the spears, swords, and cannons. I can see the efforts of the Navy Commander and the soldiers. It is thanks to the generals and soldiers that the seas of Joseon are at peace. I am truly grateful!”

At Sejong’s praise, the Navy Commander and soldiers had proud expressions on their faces.

1. also called uhwang-cheongsimhwan (우황청심환) and cheongsimwon (청심원), is a pill formulated with thirty odd herbs and other medicinal ingredients, including calculus bovis, ginseng, musk, and Chinese yam root. It is used to treat various symptoms, such as numb limbs and fit of apoplexy, epilepsy, and others in traditional Korean medicine.[↩]

2. Yards of cloth. Weaved by machine[↩]

Chapter 216
The Challenger (4)

After spending a night at the naval station, Sejong moved to the shipyard.

“I wish I could have gone directly from Hanseong to the shipyard, but the title of king makes it difficult.”

As Sejong complained with a wry smile, Hyang unconsciously nodded in agreement.

In the 21st century, the distance from Seoul to Namyang, Gyeonggi Province, would not take much time.

If the president were to visit Namyang, the travel time would be further reduced through traffic control.

However, Joseon was the opposite.

The newly built roads made travel convenient, but the occupation of being a king held him back.

If there was a county along the way, Sejong had to enter the government office and personally check the local officials’ work, pointing out any shortcomings.

Thanks to the supplemented systems, there were hardly any instances of people rushing to Sejong with petitions as soon as he arrived. However, the commotion caused by the people flocking to present precious items to the esteemed king prolonged the travel time.

It was the same when they arrived at the naval station. They had to receive the salute from the Navy Commander and soldiers, and hold a feast with meat and alcohol to acknowledge their hard work.

Only after spending a night at the naval station’s official residence could they move to the shipyard.

‘If things go well at the shipyard, there will be an additional night’s stay there. The couriers will be the only ones busy.’

Even though Sejong was here, work continued, so the couriers were the only ones moving at a breakneck pace.

Meanwhile, the faces of the ministers and high-ranking officials accompanying Sejong were filled with delight.

Unlike when working in Hanseong, their workload had significantly decreased, and they had the benefit of resting while visiting government offices under the pretext of inspecting their work.

‘Even if we die from work when we return, it’s truly wonderful now!’

‘When it’s time to rest, we should rest!’

Thus, half for work and half for vacation, Sejong and the ministers entered the shipyard.

“Greetings to Your Majesty! I, Han Tae-woo, am honored to see Your Majesty’s countenance in this remote place. This is the glory of three lifetimes! Long live the king, long live the king, long live the king!”

Han Tae-woo, a low-ranking official in charge of managing the shipyard in the Joseon era, shouted “long live the king” with teary eyes.

As someone who had entered through the selection of talents and held a miscellaneous position, he never thought he would see the king in his lifetime.

Moved by the fact that he could directly see the king he thought he would never meet, Han Tae-woo showed an enthusiastic reaction.

“You’ve truly worked hard.”

When Sejong offered words of appreciation, the elderly Han Tae-woo could not contain his emotions and prostrated on the ground.

“I was merely doing what I am supposed to do, yet you praise me so highly. It is truly an honor! Sob!”

Seeing Han Tae-woo’s overly enthusiastic reaction, Sejong gestured to Hyang. As Hyang approached, Sejong whispered softly into his ear.

“Was he like this when you came too?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang also replied in a soft voice.

“It was similar, but he seems even more moved today. It’s probably because you are here, Your Majesty.”

“I see. Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue, Sejong actually felt pity for Tae-woo.

‘How many people are there who diligently do their work in situations where no one recognizes them? I have a lot to do.’

“Rise. Don’t you have a lot of work to do?”

“Yes, yes!”

At Sejong’s command, Tae-woo stood up from the ground.

Wiping his tears with his sleeve, Tae-woo immediately raised his arm and pointed to the interior of the shipyard.

“This way, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Following Han Tae-woo’s guidance, Sejong entered the shipyard and meticulously examined its interior.

Seeing the old ships being dismantled, Sejong asked Tae-woo.

“What happens to the planks from the dismantled ships?”

“We inspect their condition and use the good ones on other ships, while the ones deemed defective are used as firewood or raw materials for hwangji (oiled paper).”

When the term ‘hwangji’ was mentioned, Sejong turned to Hyang. In response to the unspoken question, Hyang simply replied.

“We have to be frugal to live well.”

“That’s a wise answer.”

Sejong thoroughly examined various parts of the shipyard.

“Huh? What is that building?”

Noticing a large warehouse built on one side of the shipyard, Sejong asked Tae-woo.

“It’s where we display Ming’s fuchuan (fortune ships) and Japan’s wasen (Japanese ships).”

(Fuchuan)

(Wasen)

“Ships from Ming and Japan? Let’s take a look.”

His curiosity piqued, Sejong headed towards the building in question.

Inside the building, large and impressive Ming fuchuan and small wasen were displayed in disassembled states.

Beside them, Korean ships were also displayed in a similar manner.

“They are all disassembled. We can properly examine their structures.”

“It was an order given by the Crown Prince.”

At Tae-woo’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers looked at Hyang.

“I had it created for the craftsmen who will build Joseon’s warships in the future to refer to.”

Tae-woo immediately added to Hyang’s answer.

“Even now, not only the captains of the Gyeonggi Naval Station but also captains and apprentices from all over Joseon visit at least once to observe before leaving.”

Hearing the explanation, Sejong nodded.

“Indeed. The current shipwrights[1] cannot continue working forever.”

“Yes. That’s why we plan to build a school to teach not only housing construction but also shipbuilding skills to the carpenters.”

“Carpenters?”

“Not just carpenters, but we will establish a school to systematically teach the skills of craftsmen such as ironworkers and potters. If we continue with the current apprenticeship system, many techniques will disappear.”

“I see. Try planning it out.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

When Sejong granted permission, Hyang replied with a delighted expression.

Behind them, Kim Jeom’s face turned deathly pale as he witnessed the scene.

“The budget, the budget…”

* * *

After touring the ship exhibition hall, Sejong finally reached his destination.

It was the drydock where the new warship, into which Hyang had poured his heart and soul, was located.

“It is truly large and beautiful!”

Seeing the new warship, Sejong exclaimed in admiration.

The new warship, sleek from bow to stern, was incomparably elegant compared to the ships he had seen until now.

It wasn’t just Sejong who was amazed. The ministers also showered it with exclamations of admiration.

“It is indeed a beautiful ship!”

“The pointed bow resembles an arrowhead, so it seems like it will move very swiftly!”

Hearing the evaluations from Sejong and the ministers, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘It will be slightly slower than the original galleon.’

The galleon Hyang had built was slightly different from the traditional galleon.

While traditional galleons had a width-to-length ratio of about 1:4, Hyang’s had a slightly wider ratio of about 1.5:4.

This was something he had learned when building a ship for a wealthy Middle Eastern enthusiast’s request in the 21st century.

At that time, the American enthusiast in charge of the design had persuaded the client.

“I’ll follow most of your requests, but the width needs to be wider. Traditional galleons have too high a risk of capsizing when turning at high speeds!”

Observing this scene, Hyang had increased the width when building galleons in Joseon.

‘It’s already a ship with an unfamiliar shape, so if an accident happens, it’ll be buried! Safety first!’

As Hyang expected, if this new warship were to face a real galleon, it would definitely be slower.

However, Hyang was not worried.

“Even if the speed is lower, the firepower and defense will be better, right?”

If they were to encounter Western naval powers at the time Hyang anticipated, they would be armed with even larger and more powerful cannons by then.

Even if they were to meet within the next 4-5 years, Joseon’s current gunpowder weapons would not be inferior.

Hyang had also designed the ship to increase its defense—more precisely, its survivability—using the knowledge he had gained in the 21st century.

And lastly, regarding speed…

“What did that person say back then? ‘Why worry when we’ll be installing an engine?'”

Hyang also had the intention of immediately retrofitting the ship once a proper steam engine was developed.

“I like the American style. If the speed is lacking, we can just install a more powerful engine, right?”

* * *

Before the launch, Sejong boarded the ship and looked around.

The place Sejong showed the most interest in was the second deck.

“As far as I know, on panokseon (board-roofed ships), this spot is where the rowers are positioned. But on this ship, even this spot is used for cannon placement?”

“Yes. The new warship moves solely by wind.”

“Only by wind? Wouldn’t that make it slow?”

In response to Sejong’s point, Hyang promptly replied.

“It is sufficiently possible. And if the steam engine is improved enough, we can install it.”

“Steam engine…”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong tried to recall his memory.

Last year, the completed steam engines were sent to coal mines and ironworks. They were deployed to replace oxen and horses in pumping water out of mine shafts and blowing air into blast furnaces, and the results were observed.

The reports from the coal mines and ironworks were full of praise.

‘A single steam engine performs the work of more than 20 oxen or horses, making it the best device!’

Remembering the evaluation, Sejong nodded.

“It seems like a good idea. So… how many cannons will be installed on this warship?”

“50 eul-sik janggun-hwatong (Second Model General Cannon) and 20 grapeshot cannons currently under experimentation are planned to be mounted.”

Sejong seemed satisfied with Hyang’s answer.

“With that many, we won’t be inferior in firepower anywhere.”

Sejong’s words astonished not only Hyang but also the ministers.

‘Inferior in firepower, you say? If everything goes as planned, it will become the bully of the seas!’

‘Your Majesty! There are 50 cannons alone!’

Before Hyang’s intervention, the Golden Hind, the galleon Francis Drake used for his circumnavigation of the world, was launched in 1577.

However, the number of cannons mounted on the Golden Hind was 22. (Note 1)

Leaving behind the ministers who were dumbfounded by the difference in the concept of cannon quantity, Sejong, who was examining the second deck, turned to Hyang.

“You’ve installed many bulkheads, haven’t you?”

Seeing the sturdy wooden bulkheads erected on both sides of each cannon position, Sejong asked, and Hyang immediately explained the reason.

“Yes, the bulkheads are installed to prepare for the event of being hit.”

“Hmm…”

While Sejong was nodding, Kim Jeom muttered softly.

“No wonder the budget was so high…”

Having finished inspecting the second deck, Sejong descended to the lowest part, the hull bottom.

“The bulkheads are substantial here too.”

“Survivability was prioritized.”

“Well done.”

Satisfied with Hyang’s answer, Sejong did not hesitate to praise him.

When designing the hull bottom, the part below the waterline, Hyang had focused the most on installing compartments.

He allocated space for the steam engine that might be installed in the future and installed a total of 6 compartments, 3 on each side, around it. And the doors installed in the passageways connecting the compartments were made as sliding doors instead of hinged doors.

This was because sliding doors provided slightly better stability than hinged doors with the still lacking metalworking technology. And the pitch, which had recently been obtained through Mansur, was thoroughly applied to the exterior and interior of the hull for reliable waterproofing.

* * *

Having finished inspecting the interior of the hull, Sejong went up to the main deck and observed the rest.

After examining the captain’s quarters and the officers’ quarters, Sejong noticed four protrusions on the sides of the hull and turned to Hyang.

“What are those? The parts protruding from the hull, surrounded by a roof and walls.”

Looking at the places Sejong pointed out, Hyang simply replied.

“They are latrines.”

“Pardon? Hahaha!”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong burst into laughter.

Wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, Sejong nodded.

“It is indeed a place befitting its name!”

It was a play on words using the fact that the ‘cheok’ in ‘cheokgan’ means ‘the edge of a bench.’

Laughing like that, Sejong climbed to the stern—more precisely, the roof of the captain’s quarters—and called Hyang again.

“What is that over there? It can’t be another latrine, can it?”

At the highest point of the stern, there was a structure in the center, surrounded by thick wooden boards on all sides and covered with a roof. There were gaps between the roof and the walls to allow a view of the outside.

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang, who had seen the structure, simply replied.

“It’s the wheelhouse.”

“Wheelhouse?”

* * *

Note 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Hind

1. carpenters who build ships[↩]

Chapter 217
The Challenger (5)

“The wheelhouse? Hmm…”

Sejong fell into thought for a moment at Hyang’s answer.

‘He said wheel… But… ’

Sejong pondered the meaning of the word, but he couldn’t quite grasp it.

He could have simply accepted it as the ministers did, thinking ‘the Crown Prince said it, so it must be so.’ However, Sejong’s nature wouldn’t allow him to let it pass.

In the end, Sejong had to ask Hyang a question.

“As far as I know, the rudder is located at the rear of the ship, connected to a long pole, and controlled by the boatman. However, the wheelhouse you mentioned doesn’t seem to have such a pole, so I’m very curious about its principle.”

Hyang promptly answered Sejong’s question.

“The principle of moving the rudder left and right attached to the stern to control direction is the same. It’s just that the control method has been slightly modified.”

“Slightly?”

At Sejong’s query, Hyang opened the door to the wheelhouse.

Inside the wheelhouse, which was spacious enough to comfortably fit four or five adult men, there was only a single thick wooden pillar. The wooden pillar, about chest-height for an adult man, had large wheels attached to the front and back.

“This is the steering wheel. The rudder is controlled by turning this wheel.”

“Oh?”

Eyes sparkling, Sejong went back inside to examine the mechanical devices connected to the steering wheel.

Seeing the steering mechanism composed of long metal rods, gears, pulleys, and ropes, Sejong exclaimed in admiration.

“How ingenious!”

“It allows for more precise control of the rudder with less force.”

“I see!”

After inspecting the steering device, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Can this device be installed on turtle ships as well?”

“It’s under research.”

“I really hope it can be installed.”

“As soon as its performance is verified, it will be installed immediately.”

Just as Hyang assured, this steering wheel began to be installed on turtle ships as well.

In the cabin created below the command tower of the turtle ship, the helmsman could control the direction of the hull from the wheelhouse.

This provided considerable advantages in battle.

Previously, the helmsman was exposed, so in combat, they were frequently killed or wounded, making it difficult to control the warship. However, the situation changed with steering from the wheelhouse surrounded by thick wooden planks.

As commands from the commander in the tower were immediately relayed, they could gain the upper hand in battle, which enhanced the combat capabilities of the turtle ships.

* * *

As an aside, this steering wheel was later called the ‘nightmare of historians’ or the ‘Prince’s bad taste.’

Among the things that emerged from Joseon during the ‘Great Leap Period,’ there were quite a few that transcended the era.

Still, many of the things created in that way – notably, long-lasting metal type, wire nets, and others. – were things that could be rationally explained to some extent by the level of technology, science, and historical background at the time.

However, the things called ‘nightmares’ or ‘bad tastes’ were beyond the scope of such explanations.

Among such things that even the general public could understand, the blasting cap was a prime example.

The steering wheel was one of those ‘nightmares.’

The steering wheel that suddenly popped up caused historians to suffer from insomnia.

Interestingly, the people of the time when the steering wheel was first invented, both in the East and the West, simply went ‘Oh? This is quite useful?’ and moved on.

However, it was different for the scholars who had to academically reorganize this in later generations.

“Let’s say they could make Challenger-class ships! Turtle ships existed not only in Goryeo but also in the Silla period, and they were common in neighboring countries too! No, if we say they made the Challenger-class based on information brought by Middle Eastern merchants, who were major trading partners, it can be explained to some extent! Carracks and caravels existed in Europe around the same time!”

The scholars burst out in frustration, throwing away their materials.

“But what about this steering wheel? At that time, both the East and the West used the tiller method!(Note 1) The rudder in the East was even more primitive than in the West! But how did the steering wheel pop up? There’s no intermediate process!”

In fact, in the history before Hyang’s intervention, the steering wheel only properly emerged around the 1700s.

When many of the world’s historians were voicing such grievances, Korean historians instead responded with a serene face.

“Back then, there was already a saying like this: ‘The Crown Prince did what a Crown Prince does.’ It was a period when geniuses emerged one after another.”

“There’s got to be a limit, even for a genius!”

“There are records, records. There are the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, and the National Archives have very well-organized records and blueprints.”

When Korean scholars mentioned the records, scholars from other countries had to shut their mouths and quell their anger inwardly.

There was no flaw in what the Korean scholars said.

In addition to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the records held by the National Archives had everything clearly preserved.

The records contained detailed and accurate contents according to the Six Elements (5W1H).

The most definitive evidence was the blueprints, component performance specifications, and production logs.

The accuracy of the blueprints drawn to the correct scale and proportions, the specification sheets recording the required component standards, and finally, the documents meticulously recording the manufacturing and testing processes were unrivaled.

In fact, there were numerous instances where objects or ships made with those blueprints and records using the technology of the time functioned properly.

Therefore, when ‘records’ were mentioned, scholars from other countries shut their mouths.

Eventually, as such incidents became frequent, all sorts of conspiracy theories emerged.

“Yi Hyang was an alien!”

“There are records of when he was born and when he died, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“There’s a record that the real Yi Hyang was sickly as a child! The real Yi Hyang died young, and an alien…”

When such ‘crossing the line’ remarks popped up, that’s when the government stepped in.

The spokesperson for South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs gathered reporters from each country and issued a statement.

It was a statement full of all sorts of diplomatic and political modifiers, but the content was simple.

“Do you want to die? You want to die? Should I kill you?”

For Koreans, the monarchs who led the ‘Great Leap Period’ were inviolable.

* * *

After examining both the interior and exterior of the new warship, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Now I want to see it float.”

“Yes. Then we will hold the launching ceremony.”

Shortly after, an altar was set up at the dock where the experimental ship was located. All the craftsmen and officials gathered in neat attire, and the ritual began.

Starting with the announcement of the beginning of the ritual by the presider, the ritual proceeded calmly, and it came to the part of reading the prayer.

At this, Sejong stepped forward and read the prayer.

“In the year of Gyeongsul, the 7th month…”

Sejong read the prayer with all his heart.

‘I proclaim to the gods of heaven and earth and the Dragon King of the sea, please allow this ship to safely carry out its duties.’

Then, following the sequence of the first and final offerings and bows, he burned the prayer paper.

Lighting the prayer paper on the altar with a candle, Sejong flicked the paper upward.

The prayer paper that left Sejong’s hand soared into the sky, burning brightly as it rode the wind.

Seeing this, not only Sejong but all those who attended the ritual could not hide their joy.

“It’s an auspicious sign!”

* * *

Gaining confidence from the auspicious sign seen at the end of the ritual, the craftsmen prepared for the launch of the experimental ship with renewed courage.

“Release the fasteners!”

At the command of the head shipwright, the craftsmen released the fasteners that were securing the hull.

“All released!”

“Good! What about the state of the mooring ropes? They’re well prepared, right?”

“Yes!”

Having checked everything, the head shipwright shouted loudly.

“Alright! Let the water in!”

“Let the water in!”

The craftsmen who received the order began to open the sluice gate blocking the small waterway.

Shortly after, seawater rushed in through the waterway.

“Will there be enough water?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s concern.

“It should be sufficient since it was timed with the high tide.”

Although he answered promptly, Hyang was slightly worried.

‘Considering the time lost in between, it’s a bit tight… ’

As the level of seawater filling the dock rose, the experimental ship slowly began to lift.

“It’s floating! It’s floating!”

Amid the craftsmen’s shouts, Sejong and the ministers watched the situation with sweaty palms.

Finally, the experimental ship floated naturally on the seawater that filled the dock.

“Put the gangway in place!”

With the experimental ship safely afloat, a gangway was placed, and the craftsmen swarmed in to inspect the interior.

“No abnormalities!”

“There are no leaks!”

Having confirmed there were no problems with flooding, the head craftsman proceeded to the next step.

“Now let’s balance it!”

Following the instructions of the head craftsman, who checked the tilt of the ship through observation instruments installed on land, shell limestone blocks pre-made with oyster mortar were moved to the bottom of the hull.

“They used shell limestone, not just ordinary stones?”

Hyang promptly answered Sejong’s question.

“Ordinary stones are irregular in shape, so they take up a lot of space. However, by using shell limestone blocks made in advance to fit the interior shape of the hull, space waste can be minimized.”

“I see…”

After going through a tediously meticulous process, the new warship, having achieved balance, still floated elegantly.

“Is going out to sea the only thing left now?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“No. First, we will load the cannons, gunpowder, as well as the cannonballs and iron shots, and while loading other materials and provisions, we will verify how much can be loaded. Once that process is completed without issue, the captain and crew who will command the ship will board, and test sailing will begin at sea. If the test sailing and short-distance solo sailing are completed without incident, it will finally become independent.”

Sejong could not hide his disappointment at Hyang’s explanation.

“I thought it would be done with the launching, but there are truly arduous processes remaining.”

“It can’t be helped since everything about this new warship is literally unprecedented. We must consistently and meticulously prepare, conduct, and record everything. Only then will the operation of the ships that will be built and deployed after this become easier.”

“I understand that well. It’s just that I wanted to board that ship and sail through the blue sea, so it’s a bit regrettable.”

“You will be able to fulfill that wish once that ship is deployed in actual combat.”

“I’d like to, but there’s too much to do.”

“Don’t you have capable ministers?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong looked around at the ministers. Receiving Sejong’s gaze, the ministers unanimously bowed their heads and responded.

“We will serve with utmost loyalty!”

“Thank you!”

“It is the natural duty of a subject!”

Sejong showed a pleased expression at the ministers’ responses. However, Hyang, standing beside him, clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Why do the old men’s voices sound so watery… Tsk tsk tsk… ’

* * *

“Is everything wrapped up now?”

“One thing remains. We need to give it a name.”

“A name…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong fell into thought, stroking his beard.

According to Sejong’s memory, the existing warships were named after the regions where the naval forces were stationed. So if there were multiple warships belonging to that naval station, numbers such as one, two, three were added after the name.

‘Then the first matter is which naval station this ship will be assigned to… But it feels somewhat lacking to decide that way.’

Finding it unsatisfactory to name it according to the existing method, Sejong agonized repeatedly.

While agonizing, Sejong glanced at Hyang.

Seeing Hyang’s twinkling eyes and mumbling mouth, Sejong burst into laughter.

“You rascal! You already decided everything and were just being coy! Alright! What name do you have in mind?”

“The Challenger!”

“The Challenger? Challenge…”

After thinking for a moment, Sejong nodded his head.

“Considering the tasks this ship will undertake in the future, it’s a fitting name! Let’s decide on that!”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

At Sejong’s decision, Hyang immediately bowed and responded loudly.

It was the moment of birth for the ‘Challenger-class warships,’ which would go on to account for the largest number among Joseon’s naval vessels, sweep across all the seas east of Africa for decades to come, and gain all sorts of notoriety starting with the ‘Ruffians of the East.’

* * *

Note 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiller

Chapter 218
Changes in Public (1)

As the latter half of the reform era progressed, the people living in Joseon began to change gradually.

During the transition from the 7th to 8th month of the Gyeongsul year (1430), farmers were sweating profusely in the midsummer heat.

“It’s a bumper crop this year too!”

In the major agricultural areas of the Korean Peninsula, farmers shouted in joy, looking at the rice paddies filled with rice plants.

The flood control projects initiated by Hyang from the transition period between the 3rd year of Sejong (1421, the Sinchuk year) when he was appointed as Crown Prince, to the 4th year of Sejong, continued year after year, resolving the water supply issues throughout Joseon.

As the water shortage problems began to be resolved, and as the climate gradually became warmer, the harvest started to improve steadily.

However, the people did not stop and be satisfied with that. The commoners made compost and maintained the waterways to increase the yield even slightly.

It was not only the commoners who made efforts. The court was also busy.

* * *

“We should compile a book gathering the knowledge of the people familiar with farming! Who will do it?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately stepped forward.

“I will do it, Your Majesty!”

Having taken on the task, Hyang returned to the research institute and summoned Jung Cho and Jung In-ji.

“It is a royal command from His Majesty. Select those who will lead this project.”

“Yes, sir.”

Although it was an abruptly assigned task, Jung Cho and Jung In-ji did not express any dissatisfaction. Whatever the reason, it was the responsibility of the officials to free the people from hunger.

As a result of the dedicated efforts by the research institute personnel, the ‘Nongsa Jikseol’ (Straight Talk on Farming) was completed in the 9th year of Sejong (1427). It was an appearance 2 years earlier than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

“Print this book and widely distribute it!”

Following Sejong’s order, the ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ was mass-printed and disseminated nationwide.

The distribution of ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ elicited a huge response not only from farmers in the provinces but also from the officials encouraging agriculture.

It was because, unlike the old Chinese agricultural books that had been used as guidelines until then, this was an agricultural book tailored to Joseon’s environment and circumstances.

As agricultural output increased in this way, some undesirable things also happened. The local landlords who gained more profits from the increased yields became greedy.

As they pursued their own interests in this way, they crossed the line, and the Giyu Year Rebellion broke out, which ended with them being annihilated by Sejong.

* * *

Hyang did not stop at completing the ‘Straight Talk on Farming’.

First, Hyang obtained from Sejong a portion of the royal farming land in Heukseok-ri, Habuk-myeon, Gwacheon-gun – present-day Heukseok-dong.

“2 gyeol of rice paddies, 1 gyeol of fields, and Mount Seodal should be enough.”

Having secured the farmland and the hillside, Hyang posted notices and sent out cooperation documents to gather renowned farmers and officials interested in agriculture.

“From now on, your task will be to improve crop varieties.”

Hyang had created a research institute dedicated to seed improvement.

Reporting on this, Hyang concluded as follows:

“It will take at least 10 years for this research institute to show some results.”

“10 years… Can you wait that long?”

Knowing Hyang’s nature of trying to see results as quickly as possible, even staying up all night once he set his mind to start something, Sejong asked with genuine concern.

At Sejong’s question, Hyang answered with a helpless expression.

“Farming is not something that can yield immediate results no matter how impatient I am, is it?”

In response to Hyang’s answer, Sejong made a brief comment.

“Thinking of the folly of ‘plucking seedlings to help them grow’ (揠苗助長)[1], you have really matured.”

- During the Spring and Autumn Period in Song China, there was an impatient farmer. He became anxious, thinking that the rice in his field was growing slower than his neighbor’s. In the end, he pulled up all the rice sprouts growing in his field. As a result, all the rice seedlings in the field withered and died.

Sejong praised Hyang, mentioning the story from Mencius’ Gongsun Chou chapter.

* * *

Because Hyang said it would take “at least 10 years,” the researchers at the research institute were envied by other researchers.

“We are plagued with work every day, but it must be truly enviable to leisurely farm!”

Whenever they heard such remarks, the researchers at the ‘Seed Research Institute’ burst into anger.

“If you envy it so much, come and try doing the work!”

The work at the Seed Research Institute was no easy task either.

Whether it rained or the sun was scorching hot, they had to go out to the fields every day to record the growth status, and if there were problems with pests and diseases, they had to investigate the causes and results one by one and write reports.

That was not all. The tasks they received from Hyang were also out of the blue.

The best example of such an unexpected task was the oriental melon. The oriental melons of this period were not the same as the ones Hyang had tasted in the 21st century.

“They’re not oriental melons, they’re radishes…”

To the extent that Hyang called them “radishes,” the oriental melons of this period had low sugar content. In most cases where commoners ate oriental melons, it was when there was a barley famine and there was nothing to eat. Although the sugar content was low, they contained carbohydrates, had firm flesh, and had adequate moisture, so they could fill the stomach.

Because oriental melons were closer to emergency food rather than a fruit vegetable symbolizing summer, Hyang immediately added a task to the Seed Research Institute.

- Oriental melons are not sweet! Increase the sugar content!

It was a truly random order for the officials.

“They’re not sweet, so make them sweet? How?”

* * *

It was not only the rural areas that changed.

Cities also began to change. The urban areas designated as large capital-level cities {Daedohobu) , pastoral cities (Mok), and small-level cities (Dohobu) also slowly started to change their appearance.

The first thing that began to change was the roads.

“I heard the new roads in Hanseong are so good!”

“Not ‘heard they are good,’ they are good.”

“Then, let’s pave new roads too!”

The paved roads that Hyang supervised and constructed during the restoration process after the great fire that burned Hanyang in the 8th year of Sejong (1426) were called “new roads” and became a hot topic. It became not just a “talk of locals” but a “nationwide topic.”

“I heard the newly paved roads in Hanseong are so amazing!”

“I heard they don’t turn into mud even when it rains!”

This was the part that drew the attention of the people from other regions. At that time, it was common for Joseon’s roads to become a mess as soon as it rained. Even the roads in urban areas that were solidly compacted turned into puddles and mud as soon as it rained.

Eventually, the rumors spread and became more and more exaggerated.

“I heard that no matter how much it rains, if you walk on the new roads, you won’t even get wet!”

In reality, unless you wore straw sandals, it was impossible to avoid getting your feet wet no matter how new the road was. However, it was true that the degree was less.

From the beginning of paving the roads, a slight slope was given so that the center of the road was slightly raised, allowing rainwater to flow to both edges, and drainage ditches were dug along those edges. As a result, it prevented feet from becoming muddy like the previous dirt roads and greatly reduced the degree of getting wet.

In the end, unable to resist their curiosity, people from the provinces set out on excursions to Hanseong. The relatively well-off provincial scholar-officials moved first, and the farmers went up to Hanseong after the autumn harvest was over.

It was solely to see the new roads.

As people came to Hanseong for excursions, it had a butterfly effect of newly establishing or properly setting up lodging businesses and restaurants along the way to handle accommodation and meals.

Having seen the new roads paved in Hanseong, the people from the provinces, especially those from urban areas, rose up and demanded that new roads be paved in their cities as well.

As petitions poured in one after another, Sejong gathered the ministers. Amidst the fierce debates for and against, Hyang voted in favor.

“Why is that?”

“If only Hanseong has this convenience, everyone will flock only to Hanseong. We must prevent this. This is the first reason.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers nodded their heads.

Although there was a saying circulating by the locals, “Send people to Hanseong and horses to Jeju Island,” those people were talents, not all sorts of riffraff.

Hyang continued to explain the reasons why new roads should be paved in provincial cities as well.

“There are many people looking for work in the cities of the provinces as well. We can provide them with jobs. We can mobilize these experienced individuals for the nationwide road construction projects to be carried out later. And since we need to have people to manage the newly built roads, new jobs will be created. This is the second reason.”

“That’s good.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong immediately gave a positive assessment. Even in this period, there were unemployment problems. Hyang continued.

“Lastly, if the roads in the downtown areas are well organized, permanent markets can be established. As people gather in this way, it becomes easier to know what the common people are saying. If you pay just a little attention, that is.”

“I really like that!”

As Sejong showed a pleased expression, Kim Jeom immediately stepped forward to oppose.

“Although what the Crown Prince is saying is good, the budget is an issue! The budget is insufficient to pave all the urban areas of Joseon.”

In response to Kim Jeom’s opposition, Hyang immediately presented an alternative.

“Is there a need to construct all urban areas simultaneously? For now, we can start with the most populous urban areas. If petitions come from urban areas that have been pushed back in order, tell them to bear the financial burden. Aren’t the granaries of the landlords full of wealth? Tell them to use it. Will they take it with them when they die?”

“My boy! Well said!”

At Sejong’s exclamation, which popped out for the first time in a long while since the debate with Ryu Jeong-hyeon, the court froze on the spot.

“The historian should…”

Sejong, who tried to stop the recording, saw the historians already enthusiastically wielding their pens and shut his mouth.

Anyway, in that way, the roads in provincial cities also began to be paved. It was in the 9th year of Sejong (1427).

* * *

As the paving of roads in provincial cities began, the officials who had supervised the paving construction in Hanseong and those who had commanded the workers went down to the provinces.

Among the provincial cities, the first to start paving were Gaeseong, which was treated as the second capital, and the bu (major cities: Jeonju, Gyeongju, Yeongheung, Pyongyang) nationwide.

Those who came down from Hanseong gathered the officials and merchants in charge of the construction in the respective bu (village) and took out a thick book.

“What book is this?”

“It’s about the rules to follow and the facilities that must be installed when paving new roads.”

“The thickness…”

Looking at the book boasting a tremendous thickness, people gulped. Seeing those people, the supervisor who came down from Hanseong strongly warned:

“There were quite a few who were scolded or kicked out by His Highness the Crown Prince for not properly following what’s written here during the construction in Hanseong. In that sense, read these.”

The supervisor carefully took out an order from his sleeve and handed it over.

“Read it carefully.”

Those who saw the order turned pale.

- The full authority over the construction lies with the dispatched supervisor. If the construction is not carried out properly, the supervisor will be held responsible.

- As stated above, the full authority over the construction lies with the supervisor. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the construction and maintain quality, the supervisor can exercise all authority, including suspension of work, dismissal of officials, and termination of contracts with merchant groups.

Not only was the content written in the order formidable, but the problem was the handwritten approval of Sejong at the end of the order.

Perhaps due to the power of the order personally signed by Sejong, the construction proceeded thoroughly according to the principles, literally. The supervisor, of course, and the foremen who came down together meticulously carried out the construction.

“They say Seoul (Note 1) people are nitpicky, but they’re really strict!”

Not only the local officials and merchants directing the construction but also the laborers clicked their tongues, but the supervisor and foremen were thorough.

The reason they had to be thorough was soon revealed. As the construction progressed to a certain extent, inspectors periodically came down from Hanseong to check everything. Even the supervisor and foremen who acted like grim reapers at the site were shaken down like mice in front of cats before the inspectors.

* * *

Note 1) The origin of the name “Seoul” is considered by academia to date back to the Silla period of the Three Kingdoms era. Source: Seoul History Publication Institute.

https://history.seoul.go.kr/nuri/etc/sub_page.php?pidx=153716087297

1. https://www.cultureyard.net/blog/chinese-idiom-ya-miao-zhu-zhang[↩]

Chapter 219
Changes in Public (2)

The road paving in provincial cities, which started and progressed steadily in this way, faced a significant change in the 12th year of Sejong, the Gyeongsul year (1430).

The construction of the land road network connecting Hanseong and the whole country had begun. The first step was to build main roads stretching from Hanseong to the east, west, south, and north.

Through the construction of these main roads, major cities in the provinces began to be connected.

In this process, an unexpectedly region emerged as a transportation hub: Wonsan.

Wonsan, which had been a small village under Deokwon-bu (renamed from Uiju, its name during the Goryeo Dynasty), was upgraded by a whopping 5 levels to Wonsan-mok.

“Has the court gone mad?”

“Where is Wonsan?”

“Why Wonsan? Is gold buried there or something?”

The people were all curious about the reason for Wonsan’s sudden promotion.

However, before long, the people – especially the merchants – came to know the reason.

While Gangneung, the largest city in the East Sea region since ancient times, had to cross the Taebaek Mountains, the route to Wonsan was relatively easier. Moreover, the port being built in Wonsan drew the attention of merchants.

“It’s a natural good harbor!”

Thanks to the natural breakwater of the Wonsan Peninsula, the port being built in Wonsan was safe from storms.

Confirming that the roads and sea routes that would not only connect to the newly pioneered northeastern region but also extend to the virgin territory to its east started from Wonsan, the merchants immediately took action.

“We need to secure a spot first!”

In this way, Gangneung and Wonsan would fiercely compete for the position of the central city in the East Sea region in the future.

* * *

The situation where Joseon was rapidly changing was not good for everyone.

In the 8th month of the Gyeongsul year, all the gisaeng in Hanseong submitted a joint petition.

“How can such an outrageous thing happen? The lowly gisaeng submitting a petition!”

The officials who received the petition all made a fuss, saying it was a rude act, but Sejong showed a different reaction.

“The gisaeng are also subjects of this Joseon, so they can submit a petition if necessary. Therefore, bring it.”

“Your Majesty, it is a petition from lowly gisaeng. It will only taint Your Majesty’s eyes.”

The ministers tried to dissuade him, but Sejong did not back down.

“Don’t they know their own status? Yet, if they submitted a petition, doesn’t it mean there is an injustice significant enough for them to do so? Bring it.”

At Sejong’s insistence, the Chief Royal Secretary submitted the joint petition from the gisaeng to Sejong.

Receiving the petition, Sejong immediately unrolled the scroll.

“The handwriting is truly beautiful and elegant. Whoever the gisaeng is, she wrote it very well.”

Admiring the petition’s handwriting, Sejong soon began to carefully examine the content.

Excluding the customary greetings and words praising the king, the main content was a complaint about how difficult it was to make a living these days.

- These days, government officials do not frequent the gisaeng houses often.

- We lowly gisaeng liven up the host’s mood with singing and dancing skills we have honed since we were young gisaeng, and we make a living with the rewards earned through that effort. However, now, not only has the number of people visiting the gisaeng houses decreased, but those who come only focus on getting heavily drunk, making it difficult for us gisaeng to make a living.

- So when we asked the officials who came as customers for the reason, they said it was because they had a lot of work and few days off.

- We heard that Your Majesty is a wise ruler who wishes for all the people to live in peace and always contemplates good methods. Although we are lowly gisaeng, we are also subjects of Joseon, so please increase the officials’ days off to alleviate our difficulties.

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who read the joint petition from the gisaeng, stroked his beard and fell into thought. After pondering for a moment, Sejong handed the petition to Chief Eunuch.

“Chief Eunuch, read it out loud so everyone can hear.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When Chief Eunuch finished reading, Sejong asked the ministers.

“What do you think?”

“…”

The ministers could not immediately answer Sejong’s question. It was because they, too, had reduced the number of visits to the gisaeng houses, citing fatigue as the reason.

In the end, the ministers had no choice but to give a theoretical answer.

“It is the narrow view of the gisaeng. Do not worry, Your Majesty.”

At the ministers’ answer, Sejong showed a displeased expression.

“According to the petition, they said they do not go to the gisaeng houses because they have a lot of work and few days off. As far as I know, the officials’ days off are not few, right?”

“…”

At Sejong’s point, the ministers shut their mouths again.

* * *

In fact, the guaranteed holidays for Joseon officials were not few.

Most basically, they did not work on the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 23rd of every month. It was similar to the 6-day work week system in 20th-century Korea.

In addition, they also rested on the days corresponding to the 24 solar terms. (Note 1)

It was the same for traditional holidays. They rested for 7 days during the Lunar New Year, 3 days for the first full moon, 3 days for Dano, and a day for Chuseok. (Note 2)

Moreover, each government institution had additional holidays set according to their internal regulations. For example, in the case of Seonggyungwan, the 8th and 23rd of every month were holidays. (Note 3) Hyang also gave a day off every 10 days to those working at the research institute.

When these cases were combined, there were often consecutive holidays of several days.

Therefore, at the beginning of the year, Seoun-gwan was crowded with officials. It was to calculate the consecutive holidays created by combining the legally set holidays, seasonal divisions, and traditional holidays.

* * *

Sejong, who was well aware of this, questioned the claim that there were insufficient holidays.

“Are the holidays really insufficient? Or have the holidays that should be enjoyed been forcibly reduced?”

At Sejong’s question, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik took responsibility.

“The holidays have not been reduced, Your Majesty.”

“Then, are you saying the holidays are insufficient? As far as I know, the holidays were the same during the reigns of the previous kings, but such words did not come out.”

“Your Majesty’s words are correct. The reason this situation has occurred is…”

Lee Jik, who paused for a moment, took a deep breath, closed his eyes tightly, and continued.

“The officials have too much work to do!”

‘Poison or the Office of Records? Let it be as it may!’

With a sense of resignation, Lee Jik answered. Sejong asked with an absurd expression.

“A lot of work?”

“A lot!”

“Even though the number of officials has increased so much?”

“For every one official added, two or three tasks increase!”

“Hmm…”

At Lee Jik’s report, Sejong stroked his beard.

“Does this mean we need to further increase the number of government officials?”

“That’s right! This is also necessary for the smooth progress of the reformation!”

“I thought it had already been increased sufficiently. Considering the increase in local officials as well…”

“At least 30% more must be added!”

“Then the budget…”

When Sejong mentioned the budget, Kim Jeom stepped forward.

“Of course, it is true that there is no room in the budget! However, as the national wealth of this Joseon is gradually increasing, if we can continue this, we will be able to handle the increase in officials!”

“That’s not an easy task, is it?”

At Sejong’s point, this time, Heo Jo stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, increasing the number of officials also means giving opportunities to those who have been discriminated against. It means widely opening the door to those who were banned from serving in the government because they were illegitimate sons or from the northwest. What could be better than this?”

“That is true.”

As even Heo Jo, who was in charge of personnel management in the court, stepped forward, Sejong took a step back. Seeing this, Maeng Sa-seong stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, we, your subjects, will do our best for the wealth and military strength of this Joseon that you desire. However, there is a limit with a limited number of personnel. Therefore, the number of personnel must be increased for certain. Your Majesty! We will do our utmost to govern the lower-ranking officials and assist Your Majesty! So, please allow the replenishment of personnel!”

“Please allow it!”

All the officials gathered at Geunjeong-jeon prostrated themselves regardless of their rank and pleaded for an increase in officials.

Seeing this, Sejong answered in a solemn voice.

“As your intentions are firm, I will trust you. However, there are limits to the finances, so expand gradually.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

“Convey my intentions to the gisaeng who submitted the petition as well. Tell them that if they endure for just two or three years, good days will come.”

“We shall obey your command!”

“And since the number of personnel will continue to increase, there will be no need to increase the holidays, right?”

“Huh? Yes…”

The ministers, who hesitated for a moment at Sejong’s words, soon bowed their heads and answered. Hearing the answer, Sejong summarized the matter in a much brighter voice.

“Alright then! Let’s handle this matter in that way! What is the next agenda?”

“Next is…”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following:

- …So, His Majesty decided to replenish the workforce, but decided to maintain the existing practice regarding holidays.

The historian discusses:

Josam-mosa (조삼모사, 朝三暮四). <Note: Aesop’s fable “The Monkey and the Cats”>

* * *

In the end, the replenishment of the workforce was decided. However, since it was decided to be implemented over time, the officials of the court had to continue working overtime.

On a late night in the 8th month, bright lights were still leaking from the windows of the government offices on Yukjo Street.

“What time is it now?”

An official from the Ministry of Taxation, who was wrestling with numbers using an abacus and counting rods, raised his head and opened his mouth. Starting with him, the officials began to straighten their backs and open their mouths one by one.

“It’s already past haesi-ban (10 p.m.)…”

“Already? Time flies.”

“I know, right? There’s still a mountain of things to deal with…”

Grumbling while looking at the still plentiful workload, the officials’ stomachs growled.

“How long has it been since we had dinner…”

“Quite a while. By the way, I’m really getting hungry.”

“The restaurants are closed, and if we go outside, the city gates are closed, so there’s a curfew…”

While everyone was grumbling with an empty stomach, one official took out a basket wrapped in a cloth. Untying the cloth and opening the lid of the basket, the official frowned.

“As expected, the rice has gone bad! Damn it!”

As the official grumbled, having confirmed that the rice he had bought had spoiled, a colleague beside him remarked.

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if the rice was fine in this heat?”

“That’s true, but…”

In the end, to soothe their bodies tired from overtime work and to forget their hunger, the officials began to chat.

They chatted about this and that, but the hunger led the topic of conversation to food.

“Ah~. At times like this, the tang-guk (soup with meat) from Myeongwol House is perfect.”

“The tang-guk from Myeongwol House? Is it that delicious?”

The one who mentioned Myeongwol House nodded at his colleague’s question.

“They boil the beef bones well, add sliced boiled beef and noodles, and top it with green onions! That milky-white broth is truly outstanding!”

“Gulp!”

The officials listening to the description swallowed simultaneously. Whether he knew it or not, the talk continued with tang-guk as the topic.

“Having a drink with that tang-guk is the best! The hot broth goes well with either clear rice wine or cloudy rice wine! Ah~!”

“Stop it! I’m already hungry enough as it is!”

As a colleague reacted sharply, the one who talked about the tang-guk immediately raised his hands.

“Ah, sorry.”

The situation was settled for now, but soon, one by one, they began to open their mouths.

“By the way, I’m really, really hungry.”

“It’s our mistake for forgetting to buy snacks before the curfew while working.”

* * *

As the officials of the Six Ministries worked overtime every day, a new sight was created on Yukjo Street.

A group of merchants appeared in time for the officials’ leaving work. The merchants sold yeot (taffy) or tteok (rice cakes) to the officials who remained due to overtime work. Since the curfew was immediately imposed when the gates of the capital closed, it was a daily routine for the officials who had to work overtime to purchase late-night snacks from the merchants.

However, those who missed the timing like today due to the heavy workload had to gulp down water or tea to fill their hungry stomachs.

* * *

Among the officials grumbling while holding their hungry stomachs, one suddenly brought up an unexpected remark.

“Shall we order delivery?”

“Order delivery?”

“We can just send someone to Myeongwol House and tell them to bring tang-guk, right?”

“But it’s curfew.”

“We can issue a night travel permit.”

“Ah!”

The officials who found a loophole immediately put it into action.

They issued a night travel permit, confirmed the number of people who would eat the late-night snack, and then sent a servant to Myeongwol House.

“Oh my…”

The head gisaeng of Myeongwol House, who heard the message from the servant who had hurriedly come from Yukjo Street, had a perplexed face. However, the head gisaeng soon made a decision.

“In a recession like now, what can’t we do? Wait a moment!”

It was the moment of birth for Joseon’s first food delivery.

* * *

Note 1) The Academy of Korean Studies.

http://story.ugyo.net/front/sub01/sub0103.do?chkId=S_KSH_0021

Note 2) Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_South_Korea

Note 3) Naver Blog.

https://m.blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=kstudy0700&logNo=220695565729&proxyReferer=https:%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Chapter 220
Changes in Public (3)

After the officials from the Ministry of Taxation opened the floodgates, delivery quickly took hold among the officials working in the Six Ministries.

The officials enjoyed delivery, as it allowed them to eat delicious food from the gisaeng houses they frequented.

As delivery rapidly gained a foothold, a spectacle was created in Hanseong. In time for the officials’ arrival at work, servants from the gisaeng houses would flock out and distribute flyers.

“We have a new dish this time!”

“If more than ten people order, we’ll give pyeonsu (Gaeseong-style dumpling dish) and boiled pork as extras!”

The servants from the gisaeng houses raised their voices, promoting their respective establishments while handing out flyers.

The flyers distributed by the servants had detailed information on the available dishes for delivery and their prices.

Watching the servants from the gisaeng houses promoting like this, Hyang slowly began to worry.

“This is starting to look dangerous.”

As the gisaeng houses competitively engaged in delivery, signs of overheating began to appear.

Moreover, not only the gisaeng houses but also nearby restaurants joined the competition, accelerating the pace of overheating.

It was certain that if the degree of overheating crossed the line, the risk of problems occurring would rapidly increase.

However, not long after, the delivery issue surfaced for a different reason.

The censors from the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors submitted impeachment memorials.

- The officials of the Six Ministries working overtime are privately issuing travel permits! This is a dishonest act of using loopholes to do what is prohibited by the state and must be prohibited!

Upon hearing the news of the memorials submitted by the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors, officials from other government offices simultaneously cursed.

“What nonsense are these bastards spewing!”

“Didn’t they order delivery for themselves?”

“What nonsense are these rootless fellows, who drink even during the day, spouting?”

As mentioned before, the censors were quite free-spirited compared to other departments of the court.

The censors were the ones who would risk their necks to confront and argue if they thought something was wrong, not only with the ministers but also with the king.

So, in exchange for the risks they faced, it was customary for the censors to have no hierarchy of superiority and inferiority between ranks and not be reprimanded for drinking to intoxication during work hours.

The officials of the Six Ministries cursing them as “rootless fellows” was also due to this part.

Amid this commotion, Sejong, who received the memorials from the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors, quickly reached a conclusion.

“It is natural for officials to feel hungry when working late. However, it is certainly unjust to issue travel permits through loopholes. Therefore, the Ministry of Personnel should establish a system and create travel permits and usage methods related to delivery.”

“We shall obey your command!”

“Your Majesty! This is…”

“Enough.”

When the Chief Censor and the Chief Inspector opened their mouths to refute Sejong’s decision, Sejong raised his hand to stop them from speaking.

“I’ll say it again, it is natural to feel hungry when working late. However, it is not efficient to keep the communal dining hall open late. And isn’t it also a good thing that money flows into the gisaeng houses and markets through delivery? Therefore, I think it is better to guide them in a good direction rather than unconditionally prohibiting it. If this is not right, I will first punish the censors of the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors for drinking and getting heavily drunk during work hours.”

At Sejong’s threat, the Chief Censor and the Chief Inspector had to shut their mouths.

The historian who recorded all of this added the following:

- Thus, His Majesty ordered the establishment of a proper system for ordering and eating delivered food.

The historian discusses:

It has been said since long ago that even a dog is not disturbed while eating.

* * *

Since Sejong granted permission, the Ministry of Personnel deliberated to create regulations related to this.

After several days of deliberation, the Ministry of Personnel came up with the “Regulations on Night Delivery.”

The contents of the newly created system were as follows:

- Those delivering food must carry a travel permit specifying “delivery.”

- The travel permit can only be used once, and each of the Six Ministries has a different color for the travel permit.

- When questioned, the deliverer must submit the travel permit and verbally state the government office to which they are delivering. If the color of the travel permit and the verbally stated destination are different, the deliverer will be detained.

- The delivered food must be divided into individual portions and placed in bowls. Additionally, it must be in a fully cooked state. Delivery of uncooked food is prohibited due to the risk of fire.

- The size of the basket containing the bowls for delivery is limited. This is to prevent the transportation of weapons or other dangerous items.

- Alcoholic beverages are strictly forbidden in the delivered food. Also, it is prohibited for irrelevant individuals such as gisaeng to move together with the deliverer.

This detailed and meticulous bill was submitted to Sejong. After reviewing the bill, Sejong immediately stamped his seal.

“It’s good. Execute it as is.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

In this way, delivery began to be systematized.

As soon as the bill was enacted, the Ministry of Personnel printed and distributed it to the gisaeng houses and restaurants in Hanseong.

“If you don’t follow this bill, be prepared to close your doors.”

“We will keep that in mind!”

* * *

The gisaeng houses and restaurants that saw this enacted bill had to agonize.

“It says to divide the food into bowls according to the number of people?”

Until then, the delivery method was to put the soup in a large soup container, put the noodles or other toppings in a separate basket, put the empty bowls in another basket, and deliver by carrying them.

Upon arriving at the destination, they would lay out the empty bowls, put the noodles or toppings in them, and scoop the broth with a ladle to serve.

However, doing so required using large serving trays or jars. And a serving tray or jar of that size was large enough to hide several long swords.

Therefore, it was natural for the Office of the Controller General or the Police Bureau to be suspicious.

“Well, dividing the food into bowls according to the number of people is not a big deal, but…”

The issue the gisaeng houses and restaurants were agonizing over was not the problem of dividing the food. What they were worried about was the transportation method.

“How do we carry and deliver this?”

In a situation where no answer came out no matter how much they thought about it, the head gisaeng who ran a gisaeng house in Unjong-ga complained to a regular official.

“We can somehow manage dividing the food into bowls. But we don’t know how to transport it!”

At the head gisaeng’s complaint, the regular official tilted his head. After pondering for a long time, the official let out a long sigh.

“Ah~. It’s a difficult problem! A difficult problem!”

As he was pondering over the problem without an easy answer, the official’s face suddenly brightened.

“I don’t have the answer, but there is someone who might know it!”

“Really?”

“Absolutely!”

“If you find the answer for me, not only will I give you free drinks today, but I’ll also give you two more free meals in the future!”

“Don’t forget that promise!”

* * *

The official, who had gotten free drinks the day before, headed straight to Hyang’s research institute. He sought out a colleague who had passed the civil service examination together with him.

“Hey, what brings a busy official from the Ministry of Personnel here?”

“I have something I need your help with. If you do it right, I’ll treat you to free drinks!”

“What is it?”

The official from the research institute, after hearing the problem from the Ministry of Personnel official, immediately started thinking, but an answer did not easily come out.

“I can’t think of it right away, but as soon as I find the answer, I’ll let you know.”

“I’m counting on you.”

* * *

The researcher who took on the homework tried to think about it in various ways, but a good solution did not easily come to mind.

“Oh my…”

The official, who was suffering from a headache in the difficult situation, brightened up as soon as he saw Hyang.

“Of course! His Highness is here!”

Having found the optimal person, the official hurriedly got up from his seat.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

* * *

Hyang, after hearing the story from the official, briefly searched his memory and immediately answered.

“When I went to the Ming Dynasty before, I saw them attaching square boxes to the front and back of long bamboo poles and putting bowls in them to transport. Wouldn’t that work?”

At Hyang’s explanation, the official immediately pointed out the problem.

“The bamboo will sway with each step. Unlike the food of the Ming Dynasty, our Joseon’s food has a lot of broth, making it difficult to use. Also, in our Joseon, the bowls are large, so not many can fit.”

“Hmm…”

At the official’s explanation, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘The conclusion is none other than a metal container.’

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang said to the official.

“Just wait three days.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Then go and take care of your work. Have you finished all the tasks you need to do?”

“I will finish them right away!”

At Hyang’s question, the researcher ran off as if his tail was on fire.

* * *

Arriving at Area 51, Hyang summoned the night workers and began the production of metal containers.

After adjusting the size to fit the soup bowls and rice bowls currently used in Joseon and creating the optimal prototype, Hyang stroked his chin.

“Wait… This could make money, couldn’t it?”

Smelling the scent of money, Hyang registered a patent for the metal container with the Intellectual Property Management Office.

* * *

The metal container, born in this way, was warmly welcomed.

With one metal container divided into appropriate sizes, six bowls of soup could be transported.

Therefore, with two delivery workers, they could deliver meals for 10 people, including soup, rice, and side dishes.

No, not even two people were needed.

Using the handcart made by Hyang, one person could deliver more than 20 portions.

The advantage of the metal container was not only the ease of transportation.

The silver-colored, shiny metal container looked clean just by looking at it. And it was easy to clean even if the broth spilled inside, and it did not retain odors.

Also, even if it was dropped or dented by hitting something, it could be repaired with a few hammer strikes, so it had a long lifespan.

In the end, there was no gisaeng house or restaurant delivering food in Hanseong that did not have a metal container.

And before long, this metal container spread nationwide.

This was because provincial government offices also suffered from overtime work. And women who wanted to eat the famous delicacies of the gisaeng houses but found it difficult to enter the gisaeng houses frequently used delivery.

It was the birth of a new market.

What was interesting was that, unlike in Hanseong where the market was mainly formed targeting the officials working overtime, the market targeting ordinary households was formed first in the provinces. And that spread to Hanseong through word of mouth.

Thanks to this, delivery workers carrying metal containers in both hands or pulling handcarts full of metal containers ran through the streets of Hanseong and provincial cities day and night.

As this new market was created, a butterfly effect occurred.

Pottery artisans began to stay up all night to develop porcelain bowls that would not easily break even when subjected to shocks during delivery, and brassware artisans began to ponder how to make light yet heat-retaining brass bowls.

It was not only the bowl artisans who were pondering.

Gisaeng houses and restaurants across Joseon began to think about creating dishes that could represent them.

Hearing this news, Sejong smiled and turned to Hyang.

“We should set a date and tour the whole country once the road construction is finished.”

“Pardon?”

“With such delicacies overflowing throughout the country, shouldn’t we taste them at least once?”

At Sejong’s words, a lightning bolt struck Hyang’s mind.

‘Michelin Guide!’

“Then, Your Majesty, how about also giving scores?”

“Scores?”

“Yes, the gisaeng houses or restaurants that receive high scores from Your Majesty will gain popularity and prosper. Seeing that, would other restaurants stay still? If such a thing is repeated, how delicious will the food of our Joseon become?”

“That’s right!”

In this way, the ‘King’s Gourmet Guide,’ boasting history and tradition, was created.

Chapter 221
Ocean-going Fleet (1)

Two months had passed since the ‘Challenger’ was safely launched. From this time, Sejong began to gradually urge the Ministry of Military Affairs and Hyang.

“Is the Challenger still not ready?”

“Are they still under training?”

Every time Sejong urged, Jo Mal-saeng and Hyang had to give the same answer.

“The naval forces’ training level is still insufficient, so they are training day and night, forgetting about the time.”

“A little more time is needed.”

“Oh my~.”

Every time he heard the answers from Jo Mal-saeng and Hyang, Sejong did not hide his impatience.

“Isn’t the establishment of the 1st Ocean-Going Fleet almost finished? Yet, the preparations for Ship No. 1, the Challenger, are still not done?”

At Sejong’s reprimand, Hyang immediately answered.

“The hull form of the Challenger is different from the Korean ships that have been used until now, so it is taking time to master its characteristics. Those who have mastered the characteristics of ocean-going ships through the Challenger will become the core personnel for the ships that will follow, so we are taking every precaution in training.”

“It’s taking time because the hull form is different… Tsk.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong had to click his tongue. Seeing this, Hyang continued.

“Yes. Fundamentally, the ships that form the backbone of our Joseon Navy have been flat-bottomed ships for generations. However, the Challenger is a sharp-bottomed ship. Speaking of this sharp-bottomed ship…”

* * *

Hyang’s explanation was not a mere excuse.

Since the Goryeo Dynasty, flat-bottomed ships had been the mainstream for Korean ships. This was because the main area of activity for Korean ships was limited to the West Sea and the South Sea. Therefore, flat-bottomed ships, which focused on safety rather than speed overall, became the mainstream.

In the West Sea, which had a strong character of a calm inland sea and a large tidal range, and the South Sea, which had a complex coastline and strong tidal currents, flat-bottomed ships with a shallow draft, small turning radius, and good balance even when stranded on tidal flats at low tide were advantageous.

However, sharp-bottomed ships like the Challenger had a deeper draft and a wider turning radius, unlike flat-bottomed ships.

Also, due to the characteristics of sharp-bottomed ships, if they were to be stranded on tidal flats, they would immediately tilt and run aground.

Because of these differences, it took more time for the Joseon Navy to handle the ships.

However, Hyang had no choice but to insist on sharp-bottomed ships.

This was because when going out to the ocean, the advantages of flat-bottomed ships would become disadvantages, and the disadvantages of sharp-bottomed ships would turn into advantages.

* * *

Sejong, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, pointed out the problem.

“Then, the most important thing would be the commander who will move the ship…”

“I have already reported…”

As Hyang’s words slightly trailed off, Sejong searched his memory.

Sejong, who had to find the memory he had deeply buried while dealing with dozens to hundreds of reports every day, finally remembered who the captain of the Challenger was.

“We promoted and appointed Assistant Commander Oh Ha-seok as Manho (萬戶, Commander of 10,000 men), right?”

“That’s right. We appointed him because he had experience sailing the ocean and had mastered the characteristics of sharp-bottomed ships through the ships of the Hui people.”

[TL/N: Sharp-bottomed ships or sharp-schooner are ships with sharp curved midsection on its bottom.]

“Hmm… I see.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded his head.

According to his memory, those who had safely traveled to Aden with Oh Ha-seok were all assigned to the Challenger.

They would gain experience in ocean navigation through the Challenger and then move on to become captains of the newly launched ocean-going ships.

In the end, Sejong had no choice but to take a step back.

“It is natural to be cautious as it is a matter upon which the future of our Joseon depends. However, we must prevent the delay of progress by putting in too much effort.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

Hyang bowed his head and answered at Sejong’s words. However, Hyang kept grumbling inwardly.

‘Your Majesty! I am more urgent! I’m saying we need to assemble the fleet as quickly as possible to send them to South America!’

* * *

“Once the fleet is assembled, we must send it to South America under any pretext.”

Hyang muttered while examining the report recording the training situation and improvements of the Challenger.

“What we will bring from South America is not just gold or silver. There is something even more important. What we will bring from South America are potatoes, sweet potatoes, and rubber. No, even if we skip everything else, we absolutely need rubber.”

For Hyang, rubber was an item that he had to obtain at all costs. Hyang tapped the desk with his fingers and muttered.

“If we can just get rubber, we can warp this Joseon right away.”

* * *

The starting point for Hyang’s desperate desire for rubber was the steam engine.

Connecting the pipes through which high-temperature steam passed required copper gaskets. However, the steam engines currently being continuously improved in the research institute and Area 51 required copper gaskets for all parts that needed sealing, even if they were not exposed to heat.

“If it’s like this, the manufacturing cost will be too high, even if I don’t know about the lifespan.”

It was not just a matter of the unit cost of steam engines. As more and more devices were being made, the need for rubber was increasing.

The water hose attached to the water pump used by the Geumhwa-gun (Firearms Corps) to spray water towards the fire also needed rubber.

The water hose made of thick and tough cotton cloth had a short lifespan, and its water discharge performance and pressure resistance were poor.

If the pressure increased even slightly, the hose made of cotton cloth would burst first.

As a result, the centrifugal pump mounted on the water pump could not be utilized to its 100% capacity.

That was not all.

Rubber was also needed for the housing complex for homeless officials, which had completed its design and only had the land purchase process remaining.

The part where rubber would be used in the newly designed housing was the well pump. Hyang, who remembered the well pump installed in the kitchen sink in the Western movies he had seen in the 21st century, was agonizing over how to apply it.

“I remember the structure well, but the problem is the packing, as expected.”

The piston of the well pump, which was one of the few remaining in rural villages of Yangsan, had to have a packing component made of rubber.

Of course, it worked even when using a copper-made, hinge-type packing, but rubber had to be used for better performance.

It could be somewhat substituted with wood, bamboo, or even paper, but there was the issue of decay.

However, what made Hyang desperately want rubber was to create a device he considered most important along with the steam engine.

“If this is completed, Joseon can develop not just by leaps but at warp speed!”

What Hyang was determined to make was a generator.

* * *

In the 21st century, it was an era where survival itself would be a problem without electricity. Being so accustomed to the existence of electricity, Hyang absolutely could not give up on it.

“It’s not like I don’t know the structure of a generator…”

During his high school days in the 21st century, Hyang had the experience of making a model steam locomotive that actually moved by heating water and won a prize in a competition.

Of course, Hyang did the overall system design and conceptualization, while his science-track classmates did all the actual numerical calculations.

At that time, it was mutually beneficial. Hyang, who was immersed in steampunk, was happy to indulge in his interests, and his science-track classmates could acquire a card that would be advantageous when applying to university.

Of course, Hyang had to receive both praise and scolding from his parents at the same time.

“It’s commendable that you won an award. But what will you use this award for as a humanities student!”

Although he was scolded like that, the following year, Hyang made and submitted a model of a generator connected to a steam engine.

Therefore, Hyang had definite knowledge about generators.

That’s why Hyang completed the basic design of the generator as the steam engine was being made, but he had to stop there.

“The problem is the electric wire. The electric wire…”

To be precise, it was the problem of the insulating material to wrap the electric wire.

Of course, electric wires could be made even without rubber.

For simple insulation, it would suffice to wrap the wire with paper or cloth soaked in oil.

In fact, the wires inside the radio used by the Japanese military during World War II were wrapped in oil-soaked cloth.

Hyang, who confirmed the relevant records through the internet, clicked his tongue.

“They had rubber-producing areas under their control, yet they made wires like this? No wonder they lost.”

Anyway, since there were relevant records, Hyang had thought of borrowing this method, but he soon abandoned the idea.

It was because of the Great Fire of Hanseong, the devastation of which he had witnessed with his own eyes.

“Most of the houses have thatched roofs and are made of wood, and the wires are soaked in oil… It will burst into flames.”

Hyang gave up on the idea of using oil-soaked cloth or paper as an insulator.

* * *

In addition, there were numerous devices whose performance would dramatically increase with the use of rubber, from water bottles to shoes.

Hyang had thought of making synthetic rubber, but unfortunately, he did not know the process.

Therefore, Hyang wanted the rapid deployment of the ocean-going fleet more than anyone else.

That’s why, while soothing Sejong’s impatience, Hyang was internally complaining.

‘If there’s anyone here who’s as anxious as me, come out and show yourself!’

* * *

Returning to his office, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. For the ocean-going fleet to function properly, we need at least 15 ships. And that’s just warships.”

Hyang’s plan was to operate the fleet by having 3 ships go to the Middle East, another 3 ships return from the Middle East, and another 3 ships rest and undergo maintenance.

After allocating 9 ships in this way, out of the remaining 6 ships, 3 would be on standby as a reserve force, and the other 3 would be sent to the New World. This was Hyang’s scenario.

“Fortunately, sending them up north and having them come down south is safer and can receive more reliable support than having them cross the Pacific Ocean unconditionally.”

Hyang spread out the world map he had made – which was nothing more than a rough sketch, regardless of scale – and checked his plan.

“Starting from Wonsan, passing through Sakhalin, using the Kuril Islands as a signpost, passing through the Kamchatka Peninsula, crossing the Bering Sea from there to arrive in Alaska, and then going down along the west coast of North and South America will ensure maximum safety while moving. Of course, we have to be careful that the northern route becomes inaccessible as soon as winter comes… Then, will the first forward base be the Kamchatka Peninsula? Or Vladivostok? It’s not Russian territory now, so what should we name it…”

Looking at the map and fantasizing alone, Hyang suddenly realized the reality and burst into laughter.

“Hah! It’s like a dream. We’re currently struggling to secure wood to build ships, yet…”

* * *

The state of Joseon’s forests during this period was not easy.

Although coal was being supplied more and more, many trees were still being cut down for cooking and heating.

Therefore, efforts were being made to protect the forests and restore the destroyed forests from the early days of the founding of the nation.

However, trees do not grow rapidly, and the need for quality wood was not limited to shipbuilding, so the supply and demand of wood were not smooth.

Therefore, even when building turtle ships, there was a saying, “Every time a turtle ship is built, a forest disappears.”

Knowing this situation, Hyang laughed in dismay.

“The conclusion is that we must secure the Siberian forest zone. Dense and strong wood is the best for building ships. Why do you think French ships of the line and American frigates were called ruffians?”

Recalling the movies and internet records he had seen in the 21st century, Hyang reaffirmed the need to secure the Siberian forest zone.

“The problem is that the stabilization of the pioneer areas in the northeast is not yet complete. Roads will be built and people will enter only when this area is stabilized…”

Continuing to check the situation, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. When will that ever happen…”

Chapter 222
Ocean-going Fleet (2)

Although he grumbled “When will that ever happen~,” Hyang and the Joseon Navy did their best to shorten that time.

As soon as they confirmed the potential of the new warships, the Navy accelerated the construction speed of the shipyard they were building in Wonsan. It was not just the construction speed they increased. They began full-scale preparations so that they could immediately start work as soon as the construction of the shipyard was completed.

Hyang and the Navy paid attention not only to the construction of the shipyard but also to the cultivation of sailors who would operate the new ships.

“We simply cannot train them with the existing warships or turtle ships.”

At Hyang’s words, the officials of the Ministry of Military Affairs, starting with Jo Mal-saeng, and the Naval Commanders nodded their heads.

“I agree. However, the problem is that the only ship currently available for training is the Challenger.”

“I have something in mind.”

Hyang placed the paper scroll he had brought on the table and unfolded it.

“What is this?”

“It’s a training mock ship. To put it simply, it’s like placing a ship split in half on land.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s explanation, the officials of the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Naval Commanders carefully examined the blueprint.

After examining the blueprint for a while, the Naval Commanders were the first to express their opinions.

“I think it will be good. Although it’s training on land, if we become familiar with the structure through this, we will be able to quickly adapt even when boarding an actual ship.”

“I also think the same.”

When all the Naval Commanders agreed, Jo Mal-saeng opened his mouth.

“The problem is where to build it. If we think about the immediate situation, it would be good to set it up in Namyang, but if we think about the future, wouldn’t Wonsan be better?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, the Naval Commander of Jeolla Province pointed out a problem.

“That’s right. However, there is the issue that the construction of the shipyard in Wonsan takes time not only for the construction of the drydock but also for the construction of auxiliary facilities.”

In response to the Jeolla Commander’s point, the Naval Commander of Gyeongsang Province raised an objection.

“But there is a budget problem if we build training facilities in both places, isn’t there? The Ministry of Taxation will not stay still.”

At the Gyeongsang Naval Commander’s point, everyone, including Hyang and Jo Mal-saeng, nodded their heads.

“That’s the problem…”

Currently, all the departments of the Joseon government – especially the Ministry of Military Affairs, which only spent money and did not earn anything – were busy being mindful of the Ministry of Taxation.

So much so that there was a saying openly circulating in the government circles, “In Joseon, the one person below ten thousand[1] is not the Second State Councilor but the Minister of Taxation.”

Of course, every time he heard such rumors, Kim Jeom would shout angrily.

“Who the hell is the stupid bastard spouting such nonsense? Does anyone want to feed them poison? No, actually, have you ever seen a one-in-ten-thousand who suffers from overtime work every day? Have you?”

However, the authority of the Ministry of Taxation, which held and shook the budget, was mighty. Sometimes even Hyang had to be mindful of the Minister of Taxation.

“Your Majesty, about the budget…”

When such words came out, Sejong would immediately look at Kim Jeom. Depending on Kim Jeom’s expression, it was decided between “Yes? Let’s think about it.” and “Get out, you bastard!”

So even when rumors about the Ministry of Taxation and its Minister were heard, Hyang would just shrug his shoulders.

“Well, it can’t be helped. Even in the 21st century, the flower of central government officials was the fiscal department.”

* * *

When Hyang was taking a major course at university, the professor in charge had said this:

“How powerful is the fiscal department? Shall I give an example? Even the Kwantung Army[2], which looked down on the Imperial General Headquarters. When the budget officer from the Ministry of the Army came, they even held a parade to welcome him. Do you understand what this means?”

At the professor’s words, all the students taking the class burst into laughter. The professor concluded with the following words at that time:

“It’s no joke that time and budget rule the world.”

* * *

In the end, the choice of the “construction site for the training facility” was given to Hyang. After pondering for a moment, Hyang immediately reached a conclusion.

“Let’s build it in Wonsan. After all, the only place where the Challenger and other ocean-going ships can train comfortably and properly is the East Sea.”

“Understood.”

There was no objection from the participants at Hyang’s decision.

Confirming that no one objected, Hyang turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Then, please report this to His Majesty as is.”

“Yes. I will organize the document right away.”

Hyang, who always showed genius-level talent in delegating work.

* * *

Confirming the contents submitted through the Ministry of Military Affairs, Sejong immediately approved it.

“Tell them to implement it right away.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

As Jo Mal-saeng immediately bowed and answered, Kim Jeom stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, the budget going into the Ministry of Military Affairs is gradually increasing.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, implicitly objecting, Sejong waved his hand.

“Of course, it’s a costly matter, but wouldn’t it be cheaper than losing ships due to the mistakes of improperly trained sailors?”

“Your words are absolutely correct!”

As Jo Mal-saeng answered in a loud voice, Kim Jeom had to shut his mouth.

* * *

With Sejong’s approval, facilities were quickly established in Wonsan.

Once the facilities were completed, Hyang and those involved headed to Wonsan to check the situation.

“They really split a ship in half and placed it up.”

Seeing the completed facility, all the Navy officials uttered the same words.

The facility built for the training of sailors was completed in a form that looked like the bottom part of the hull of the new ship and one side of the hull’s outer wall had been completely cut out.

Seeing the completed facility, Hyang muttered with a satisfied expression.

“Watching the making films of dramas or movies helps at times like this.”

As Hyang said, the training facility built in Wonsan was created by bringing in the concept of a set created to film the interior in movies or dramas.

In the training ground, which was made to be able to see through like that, a space for instructors was created to match the height of the deck. The purpose was for the instructors to observe the movements of the sailors and conduct training from that space.

After inspecting the facility, Hyang turned to those involved.

“Then let’s start.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s order, the instructors put the sailors to be trained into the facility.

“Raise the anchor and hoist the sails!”

At the order of the instructor, who put a megaphone to his mouth, a shout was heard from all directions.

“Raise the anchor and hoist the sails!”

“Raise the anchor and hoist the sails!”

The sailors who received the order ran to the parts they were in charge of.

The sailors who headed to the bow clung to the handles of the capstan, which looked like a large wagon wheel laid down.

“Turn it!”

“Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”

As the sailors holding the handles turned the capstan in unison, pulling up the anchor, other sailors began eagerly turning the pulleys connected to the masts.

Creak! Creak!

As the sailors turned the pulleys, the yards holding the sails began to rise one by one along the masts.

This was Hyang’s experimental challenge.

If it were a traditional galleon, the yards holding the sails would have been pulled up once when the ship was first built and then remained fixed to the masts. And to unfurl or furl the sails, the sailors would have to climb up the masts, hang on the yards, and unfurl or furl the sails.

However, in Hyang’s view, this seemed to be an extremely dangerous task.

“If the waves sway even a little, it’s perfect for becoming disabled or dying.”

Therefore, Hyang applied the Oriental method to this sail part. It was to use pulleys to pull up the yards holding the sails onto the masts.

Of course, the sails themselves were Western-style sails, but the operating method was a compromise with the Oriental method.

After fixing the yards to the masts like this, the method was to adjust the direction of the sails using pulleys and ropes. This was a common method in both the East and the West.

Watching the actual sails being raised, Hyang muttered softly.

“Hanging the yards and unfurling the sails, or pulling up the yards with the sails attached. I don’t know which one will be superior, but the next version will definitely be even more superior. The problem is…”

Hyang’s face became even more serious.

“Sailing ships require too much manpower.”

Hyang racked his brain desperately to reduce the number of sailors required for operation. That was the reason for actively using pulleys. However, to reduce the fatigue of the sailors, a somewhat ample number of crew members was necessary. And the number of sailors required by sailing ships was not small.

As the anchor was raised and the sails were fully unfurled, the instructors checked the time. The instructors, who checked the time using the hourglass made as the supply of glass became abundant, talked among themselves.

“It took 3 gak (about 45 minutes).”

“It takes too long.”

The instructors were not satisfied with the 3 gak spent preparing to depart by unfurling 6 sails on 2 masts and pulling up the chain with a 20-gwan (about 75kg) anchor attached.

“It is reasonable to consider it slow because it is not yet properly familiar. Then let’s take a look at the artillery battle.”

“Yes!”

The instructors answered with a salute at the order of the training commander.

Ding~.

A little later, a loud bell sound rang, and a shout erupted.

“Enemy ship spotted! Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”

With the shouts popping out from here and there again, the sailors moved busily. The sailors, who were wrestling with the pulleys and ropes on the 1st deck, scattered in an instant and began preparing for battle.

The doors of the warehouse at the stern of the 1st deck opened, and small canister shots and gun shields were brought out and took their places in the fixed gun mounts built on the deck. The gun captain shouted for each properly assembled gun.

“Preparation complete! Bring gunpowder and chain shot!”

While they were moving like that on the 1st deck, they were also busy moving on the 2nd deck.

“Open the powder magazine!”

As the door of the powder magazine, which was tightly closed for safety, opened, the waiting sailors received sacks containing propellant gunpowder and ran to the artillery they belonged to.

Meanwhile, sailors were also busy moving around the artillery pieces separated by bulkheads. The lids of the boxes containing the iron balls, which had been taken out in advance for immediate use, were opened, and the gun captains examined the condition of the artillery fuses.

Other sailors, holding loading sticks to load gunpowder and iron balls into the artillery, waited for the gunpowder to arrive.

“Set the distance to maximum!”

At the order of the military officer commanding the artillery, the gun captain turned the handle attached to the carriage to adjust the angle of the barrel.

“The gunpowder is here!”

As the soldier arrived carrying sacks of gunpowder in both hands, the gun captain grabbed a powder bag, poked it with a skewer, and handed it to the soldier in charge of loading.

After the loading of gunpowder and the loading of shells were completed, the sailors pulled the thick rope connecting the carriage and the ribs of the hull. As the rope was pulled, the carriage moved to the firing position and was fixed.

Finally, the gun captain, who inserted the fuse into the firing mechanism and pulled the lanyard, grabbed the cord connected to the lanyard and shouted loudly.

“Ready!”

“Fire!”

“Fire!”

With the shouts, the gun captains pulled the cords.

Boom boom!

With a loud explosion, shells were fired from the artillery, and a little later, columns of water rose in the distant East Sea.

The instructor who counted the number of water columns with a monocular telescope reported to the training commander.

“All fired without any problems.”

“Really? The time?”

“Just under half a gak.”

At the report of the instructor who checked the hourglass, the training commander let out a small sigh.

“Phew~. At least the battle preparation was fast. We have a long way to go.”

The training commander, who made the evaluation, turned around. On the seat located in the back, Hyang and other high-ranking gentlemen would be making an evaluation.

“I hope they look at it favorably…”

The commander was already worried about the fastidiousness the high-ranking people might show.

1. 一人之下 萬人之上, holding a lofty position or wield real power[↩]

2. Imperial Japanese Army from 1919 to 1945[↩]

Chapter 223
Ocean-going Fleet (3)

Contrary to the concerns of the training commander, the high-ranking officials, including the naval commanders, gave a rather favorable evaluation.

“Overall, the effect seems to be good,” remarked Jo Mal-saeng, and the other naval commanders nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, I believe it would be beneficial for the Turtle Ships to create similar facilities and use them for training as well.”

“I concur. Unlike on land where there is no rocking, even a slight breeze can cause the sea to sway. However, if the trainees know beforehand how to move, they only need to get accustomed to the rocking. This is especially advantageous as it allows us to weed out those who cannot properly grasp the rhythm of the sea from the beginning.”

“Precisely. Grasping the rhythm of the sea is crucial. We cannot afford to have an unlimited number of people on board.”

The naval commanders became more vocal in advocating for the extensive use of the training facilities.

As the officials from the Ministry of Military Affairs and high-ranking military officers were discussing their opinions, they turned to Hyang.

“What are your thoughts on this matter, Your Highness?”

Upon being asked, Hyang replied with an awkward expression, “As you all have given a positive evaluation, I have nothing further to add. I am simply satisfied that it proves to be effective in nurturing a strong navy.”

With everyone present giving their approval, a report documenting the results was submitted to King Sejong. After reviewing the report, King Sejong fixed his gaze on his ministers, particularly Kim Jeom, and spoke.

“The report states that the training facilities are highly effective in cultivating the crew members who operate the ships and suggests implementing a similar process for the Turtle Ships. I believe this is an excellent proposal. What are your thoughts?”

At King Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom began to calculate the potential gains and losses.

‘It will undoubtedly require financial investment. However, building the facilities on land makes maintenance easier. Moreover, considering the potential losses that may occur if inexperienced crew members were to venture out to sea immediately—not only in terms of human lives but also the ships themselves… ’

After carefully weighing the pros and cons, Kim Jeom promptly bowed his head and replied, “It is true that constructing the facilities desired by the navy will incur considerable costs. However, if we can cultivate skilled crew members through this, it will ultimately reduce losses in the long run. In the grand scheme of things, I believe it will prove to be profitable.”

“Does the Minister of Taxation agree with this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon hearing Kim Jeom’s answer, King Sejong looked around at the other ministers. As the Minister of Taxation, who held the purse strings of the court, had given his approval, no other ministers opposed the idea.

After confirming the reactions of his ministers, King Sejong asked once more, “Do the other ministers also agree?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With a clear confirmation, King Sejong made his decision.

“Then, accept the navy’s request and proceed with the construction of the training facilities.”

“We shall obey your command!”

The court historian who recorded all of this added the following:

When the King inquired, the ministers unanimously agreed, and thus, the King ordered for the navy’s request to be carried out as proposed.

The historian remarks:

It is surprising that the Minister of Taxation, who usually opposes any expenditure, has given his approval.

Perhaps he has been consuming too much medicinal tonics.

* * *

Meanwhile, the Challenger was engaged in real combat training in the East Sea.

Unlike the West Sea or the South Sea, the East Sea was an optimal training ground for ships like the Challenger.

As the Challenger roamed the East Sea at every opportunity, the shouts of its captain, Oh Ha-seok, resounded throughout the ship.

“You scoundrels! Move faster!”

“Let’s finish quickly and return early!”

“Is this your first time on a ship? Get your act together!”

Each time Oh Ha-seok’s reprimands echoed, the crew members responded like startled rabbits.

“We apologize, sir!”

“Captain!”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Move swiftly!”

“Yes, si… Captain!”

As the crew members scurried away with their responses, Oh Ha-seok let out a long sigh.

“Phew… To think these fellows will be in charge of the second ship…”

The tasks currently assigned to the Challenger were numerous.

- As the flagship of the Ocean-going Fleet, it was set to embark on a long-distance voyage soon.

- It had also taken on the responsibility of patrolling the East Sea, which had been neglected until now.

- It was responsible for training the crew members who would operate the second ship, which was currently in its final stages of completion.

As a result, most of the crew members currently operating the Challenger—from the military officers to the sailors—were not the original crew but those who would be manning the second ship.

Oh Ha-seok served as both the captain of the Challenger and the instructor tasked with training these individuals.

Given the immense responsibility, Oh Ha-seok’s nerves were on edge.

“You scoundrels! Move properly! Is this how you call yourselves the navy of Joseon?”

Dissatisfied with the movements of the crew, Oh Ha-seok raised his voice once more.

“You scoundrels! At this rate, I’ll retire before we even reach Aden! Well? Can you see your feet?”

* * *

One day, as Oh Ha-seok was berating the crew while the Challenger was traversing the East Sea, the lookout at the top of the mast frantically rang the bell.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Startled by the sudden ringing, Oh Ha-seok, who was commanding the ship, ran to the base of the mast and shouted through a megaphone.

“Lookout! What’s the matter?”

“Japanese ships on the starboard side!”

“Starboard?”

Upon hearing the lookout’s response, Oh Ha-seok dashed to the stern deck.

Reaching the highest point of the stern, Oh Ha-seok took out his spyglass and scanned the sea.

Noticing several ships in the distance, Oh Ha-seok observed them more closely.

“Definitely Japanese ships. Judging by their size, they appear to be fishing boats.”

After examining the Japanese ships that looked tiny even through the spyglass, Oh Ha-seok issued an order.

“Helmsman! Starboard full rudder!”

“Aye! Starboard full rudder!”

As the helmsman responded, the Challenger began to tilt diagonally, turning its bow.

“Drummer! Beat the drum! We’re engaging in combat!”

“Aye!”

At Oh Ha-seok’s command, the drummer began striking the large drum.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the drumbeat resounded at regular intervals, the voices of the crew members erupted from all directions.

“Battle stations! Battle stations!”

Simultaneously with the cry of ‘battle stations,’ the crew members moved swiftly.

Observing their movements, Oh Ha-seok shook his head slightly.

“At least they’re quick in preparing for battle…”

Despite his constant grumbling, Oh Ha-seok gave his all in commanding the ship.

“Unfurl all the sails! Advance at maximum speed!”

“Aye! Hoist the sails!”

With all six sails unfurled, the Challenger began to increase its speed, heading towards the faintly visible Japanese ships in the distance.

* * *

“Old man! A ship is approaching!”

“A ship? What ship?”

Ooshiro, who was joyfully directing the fishing expedition after a long-awaited bountiful catch, lifted his head at the young fisherman’s shout.

“Where?”

“To the north!”

“The north? Did you say the north?”

At the young fisherman’s response, Ooshiro raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun and scanned the northern horizon.

“There’s nothing…”

Just as Ooshiro was about to say, ‘There’s nothing,’ he couldn’t finish his sentence.

A massive ship with gray-dyed sails was rapidly charging towards them.

“Where did such a ship come from…?”

“Old man! What should we do?”

Ooshiro, who had been staring at the rapidly approaching ship with bewildered eyes, came to his senses at the young fisherman’s cry.

“Throw away the nets! Then hoist the sails! We’re fleeing! And row with all your might!”

At Ooshiro’s shout, the fishermen on board threw the nets they had been holding into the sea and immediately prepared to escape.

The fishermen unfurled the folded sails and began rowing with all their strength.

The fishing boat carrying Ooshiro and the other boats desperately attempted to flee, but the gray warship in question drew closer at an increasingly rapid pace.

“What kind of ship has such speed…?”

As the gray warship approached, Ooshiro turned pale.

The large ship, with its sails that appeared larger than the sails on Ooshiro’s boat—and there were six of them—continued to advance swiftly.

As the distance rapidly closed, allowing Ooshiro to discern the individuals on the problematic ship, he exclaimed in dismay.

“Damn it! It’s the Joseon military!”

Ooshiro, who had experience raiding Goryeo—or more precisely, the newly established Joseon—in his youth, recognized the military banners and the sight of soldiers wielding swords.

If it was the Joseon military, they would undoubtedly possess firearms, and given the size of the ship, the number of firearms would be substantial.

The nightmare of the past resurfaced in Ooshiro’s mind.

Although Ooshiro was unaware, the battle that had given him nightmares was none other than the First Tsushima Island Conquest that took place in the fifth year of Taejo’s reign (1396).

Gritting his teeth, Ooshiro shouted, “Damn it! If we’re caught, it’s a death sentence! Flee with all your might!”

“There are a total of four Japanese ships!”

“Hmm…”

Oh Ha-seok assessed the situation. The Japanese ships desperately fleeing ahead were undoubtedly fishing boats, judging by their size.

Firing cannons at such small boats would be akin to wasting gunpowder. However, launching small boats to pursue them was also impractical.

“In times like these… the Joseon Matchlock is the best! Gather the musketeers on the deck! Prepare only the grapeshot cannons!”

“Aye! Captain!”

Following Oh Ha-seok’s orders, the musketeers assembled on the deck, and the cannons were loaded with grapeshot.

Oh Ha-seok then commanded the helmsman.

“Overtake them and block their path!”

“Aye, Captain!”

The pursuit ended with the Challenger overtaking the fleeing fishing boats and blocking their escape route.

“Is there anyone who can speak Japanese?”

At Oh Ha-seok’s question, one of the crew members raised his hand.

“I can speak a few simple phrases.”

“That’ll do. Tell those wretches to stop immediately.”

“Yes.”

Taking the megaphone, the crew member shouted towards the fleeing fishing boats.

“止まれ (Tomare, Stop)! 止まれ!”

Despite the crew member’s throat-rending shouts through the megaphone, the fishing boats continued their attempt to escape.

Observing their actions, Oh Ha-seok shook his head and grumbled.

“These fellows never listen to words… Gunnery Officer!”

“Aye, Captain!”

“Fire the starboard cannons! Tell them to block the path of those fishing boats!”

“Aye, Captain!”

Upon receiving Oh Ha-seok’s order, the Gunnery Officer stood at the entrance leading to the second deck and shouted through the megaphone.

“Starboard cannons, fire! Don’t sink them, just give them a scare!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shortly after the Gunnery Officer’s command, the 25 cannons positioned on the starboard side of the second deck fired in unison.

Moments later, huge columns of water erupted in front of the fleeing fishing boats.

“What?”

“Huh?”

The Joseon naval forces—from Oh Ha-seok to the lowest-ranking sailors—were astounded by the sight.

The fishing boats caught in the water columns created by the cannon fire had completely capsized.

“What kind of boats… No matter how small, this is… Are they made of paper?”

The Joseon navy had not yet realized the formidable performance of the cannons improved by Hyang.

It was only natural, as it was the first time they had been used in actual combat.

During the previous training exercises, they had not fully grasped the cannons’ true power.

* * *

Witnessing the flailing fishermen who had been flung into the sea, Oh Ha-seok promptly issued an order.

“Lower the small boats and rescue them. Don’t forget to have the musketeers accompany you.”

“Aye, Captain.”

“If they resist, shoot them on sight.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Following Oh Ha-seok’s command, two small boats carried by the Challenger were lowered into the sea.

Each small boat, carrying a squad of five musketeers, headed towards the capsized fishing boats.

After making two more round trips, the surviving Japanese fishermen were brought aboard the Challenger.

“Oh my… Tsk!”

Oh Ha-seok clicked his tongue upon seeing the fishermen kneeling on the deck.

The fishermen were in a state of shock due to the impact of the cannon fire.

“They’re in no condition for a proper interrogation, and we don’t have an interpreter…”

After assessing the situation, Oh Ha-seok ordered the helmsman.

“Set course for home!”

“Aye, Captain!”

“Tie up these wretches and lock them in the hold! And keep a strict watch over them!”

“Aye, Captain!”

At Oh Ha-seok’s command, the fishermen were escorted to the hold under the surveillance of the crew members.

As the bow turned towards Wonsan, Oh Ha-seok pressed his fingers against his brow.

“I’m dreading the report I’ll have to write…”

Chapter 224
Ocean-going Fleet (4)

When the news of the captured Japanese fishermen from the Challenger and the report written by Oh Ha-seok reached Hanseong, the court was put on high alert. As a result, even Hyang had to attend the meeting.

Seated in Geunjeongjeon, King Sejong issued an order to Jo Mal-saeng.

“The Ministry of Military Affairs shall explain to the ministers the report sent by Oh Ha-seok and the findings of the investigation thus far.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s command, Jo Mal-saeng gestured to an official standing behind him.

The Chief of the Ministry of Military Affairs, who stepped forward, bowed respectfully to King Sejong and then turned to the ministers, offering a slight bow.

After paying his respects, the Chief of the Ministry of Military Affairs explained the situation.

“During the capture attempt by the Challenger, a total of 14 Japanese fishermen were taken prisoner. At the time of capture and upon arrival in Wonsan, they were not in their right minds, but after about three days, they regained their senses, and we proceeded with the interrogation. According to the interrogation, these fishermen are from the Oki Islands of Japan.”

“Where are the Oki Islands located?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, the official promptly answered.

“It is a group of Japanese islands located approximately 400 ri (about 160 km) southeast of Usando (Dokdo).” (Note 1)

Upon hearing the official’s answer, King Sejong tapped his armrest with his finger and muttered.

“400 ri… That’s quite far. Then, who governs the Oki Islands?”

“The Kyōgoku clan[1].”

“Hmm…”

King Sejong fell into thought, making a humming sound at the official’s answer. As King Sejong remained silent, the Minister of Rites took the opportunity to ask a question.

“What is the size of the fishing boats?”

“According to Oh Ha-seok’s report, the largest boat is about the size of a medium-sized ship.”

“How many people can fit on a boat of that size?”

“Based on our naval organization, 30 men.” (Note 2)

“Then, how many fishing boats did the Challenger sink?”

“Four boats.”

The official’s answer filled Geunjeongjeon with the murmurs of the officials.

“Even with a simple calculation, that’s 120 people…”

“Usando is right next to Mureungdo (Ulleungdo). And Mureungdo is just a stone’s throw away from Gangwon Province. This is not a matter to be taken lightly.”

For many of the ministers gathered in Geunjeongjeon, the Japanese pirates were not unfamiliar.

Amidst the commotion, Chief State Councillor Lee Jik spoke up.

“The Ministry of Military Affairs used the term ‘capture’ instead of ‘sink.’ And the number of Japanese brought in is a mere 14. A simple calculation suggests that only one-tenth survived. Something doesn’t add up. Let’s hear a more detailed explanation.”

At Lee Jik’s words, the murmuring subsided, and the Chief of the Ministry of Military Affairs was able to continue his explanation.

“To be precise, among the boats the Japanese arrived in, only one was as large as a medium-sized ship. The remaining three were about the size of a fast boat. According to the fishermen’s statements, a total of 32 men were together, and 14 of them were captured.”

Upon hearing the official’s words, those who had been anxious just moments ago showed signs of relief. However, they simultaneously had the same thought.

‘You should have said that from the beginning!’

As they were grumbling, King Sejong spoke.

“Then, did Oh Ha-seok attack not Japanese pirates but mere fishermen?”

At King Sejong’s remark, the faces of those who had shown relief turned grave.

On behalf of them, the Minister of Rites opened his mouth.

“This must be clarified! If they attacked unarmed fishermen, it will be problematic! Those cunning Japanese will use this against us to cause trouble! If necessary, we must behead Oh Ha-seok!”

“Minister of Rites! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves! The explanation isn’t over yet!”

The Minister of Rites, who had even mentioned Oh Ha-seok’s execution, closed his mouth at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“The Minister of Military Affairs is right. It is proper to listen to the report without prejudging. Continue the explanation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chief bowed slightly and cleared his throat before continuing.

“First of all, they were indeed fishermen, but they were not unarmed. Bring it here.”

At the Chief’s order, two officials waiting in the back came forward, carrying a small table.

On the table covered with a white cloth lay three Japanese swords (wato) with their sheaths.

“According to Oh Ha-seok’s report, after the rescue of the fishermen was completed, as a precaution, crew members skilled in diving were selected to investigate the capsized fishing boats. During this process, these Japanese swords were found in the cabin of the largest fishing boat.”

“There were Japanese swords on a fishing boat?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

At the official’s answer, King Sejong’s face hardened. Seeing this, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward.

“Considering the past behavior of the Japanese pirates, it is understandable. Most of the boats used by the Japanese pirates who have targeted our land have been similar in size to medium-sized ships. Moreover, a boat is not something that just anyone can operate. In other words, it is reasonable to view those Japanese fishermen as Japanese pirates ready to take up arms and engage in plundering at any moment.”

“That seems to be the case.”

King Sejong, the ministers, and Hyang nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation.

Even in the 21st century, operating a boat, especially venturing out to distant seas, was a task only qualified individuals could undertake. This held true even in the 21st century, where boats were equipped with all sorts of advanced devices, starting with GPS.

As Hyang nodded in agreement, he asked Jo Mal-saeng.

“In that case, there is only one issue to verify. Where were those Japanese ships located?”

In place of Jo Mal-saeng, the Chief answered Hyang’s question.

“According to the report, they were 30 ri (about 12 km) southeast of Usando.”

Upon hearing the Chief’s answer, King Sejong called for the Minister of Rites.

“Minister of Rites, in this matter, it is not Japan who should question us, but we who should question Japan.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s discuss this part in a moment. For now, let’s hear more of the explanation. I’ve read the report, but there’s something I don’t understand. It says that with mere warning shots, the boats capsized and broke apart? Is that possible?”

“It is possible, Your Majesty.”

“Oh?”

“According to Oh Ha-seok’s report, he ordered the cannon fire to land as close as possible to the Japanese fishing boats without directly hitting them. With the 25 eul-class general cannons mounted on the Challenger, it is entirely possible.”

“Hmm… Even if we accept that they capsized, what is the reason for them breaking apart?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang stepped forward.

“I will explain that part, Your Majesty.”

“Go ahead.”

“To research the construction of new ships, I procured and examined boats from Ming and Japan.”

“I remember. I saw them being disassembled in Namyang.”

“Yes. During this process, I learned about the characteristics of Japanese ships. Unlike our ships, the planks that make up the hull are extremely thin. Moreover, the crossbeams and bulkheads supporting the hull are subpar. Therefore, even impacts that our Turtle Ships and new warships can easily withstand can have a devastating effect on Japanese ships. However, their speed is something our Turtle Ships cannot match.”

“They chose speed over durability?”

“That is correct.”

King Sejong, who had been nodding at Hyang’s answer, looked at Hyang with surprised eyes.

“You said the Japanese sacrificed durability for speed. And our navy’s main ships, the Turtle Ships, sacrificed speed for durability. However, the new warships are fast enough to not only catch up to fleeing Japanese ships but even overtake them, and they are sturdier than the Turtle Ships. What on earth have you created?”

As Hyang was about to answer King Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom unconsciously muttered.

“A budget-devouring monster… Gasp!”

Kim Jeom covered his mouth in surprise, but it was too late.

In the end, Hyang had no choice but to answer with a bitter smile.

“As the Minister of Taxation said, I have created an expensive one.”

There was a reason for Kim Jeom’s remark. The size of the new warships was slightly more than twice that of the Turtle Ships. However, considering only the construction costs, it was enough to generously build five Turtle Ships.

Of course, a significant portion of the cost was not purely from construction but from the losses incurred in processing the timber to fit the ship’s design. In addition, the cost of manufacturing the large-scale equipment required for the construction process was not insignificant.

“…Therefore, as the craftsmen gain experience and reduce trial and error, and since the large-scale equipment is already completed, we can significantly reduce the budget.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

‘Probably.’

Although Hyang answered, his gaze was directed elsewhere.

King Sejong, who had been looking at Hyang with narrowed eyes, cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“Ahem! Well… For the sake of protecting the nation’s borders, we must endure the necessary expenditures. I have heard the report from the Ministry of Military Affairs well. Reward the captain of the Challenger, Oh Ha-seok, and the crew members according to their ranks. They have done deeds worthy of commendation.”

“We shall obey your command!”

Jo Mal-saeng’s face was filled with joy as he answered in a loud voice. In the past, before the Gyeongjang, he would have been reprimanded for causing unnecessary disturbances.

However, as the reform progressed, Joseon’s economy grew, and trade with external forces expanded, Joseon was becoming increasingly proactive, active, and aggressive.

* * *

“Now, let’s discuss what our Joseon should do.”

At King Sejong’s words, the Minister of Rites immediately stepped forward.

“We must strongly protest to the Japanese king—the shogun of the Muromachi bakufu[2], whom Joseon referred to as the king of Japan at the time (Note 3)—while returning the captured fishermen.”

“That goes without saying. I’m talking about the defense of the East Sea.”

At King Sejong’s words, Jo Mal-saeng promptly replied.

“We must station troops on Mureungdo. Additionally, to make it clear that it is the territory of our Joseon, we should have people live on Mureungdo and erect a monument on Usando.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Maeng Sa-seong asked with wide eyes.

“The residents of Mureungdo? Are you suggesting abolishing the repatriation policy?”

“That is correct.”

“Oh my~.”

The ministers showed troubled expressions at Jo Mal-saeng’s statement.

* * *

In the third year of King Taejong’s reign (1404), Taejong decided to summon the residents of Mureungdo to the mainland.

At that time, many people had fled to Mureungdo to avoid military service. As the number of residents increased, there was a high probability that Japanese pirates targeting them would also target Gangwon Province.

However, Ulleungdo was too far to station soldiers.

In such a situation, Taejong created a policy to repatriate the residents of Mureungdo to the mainland.

However, due to various circumstances, this policy could not be implemented immediately.

Then, in the sixth year of King Taejong’s reign (1407), an incident occurred.

So Sadashige, the protector (shugo) of Tsushima Island, sent an envoy. The envoy conveyed the following message:

“I wish to live on Mureungdo together with the residents of Tsushima Island!”

Upon receiving this proposal, Taejong discussed it with his ministers.

“If we allow this, won’t it create an opportunity for the king of Japan to accuse me of harboring rebels?”

In response to Taejong’s concern, Nam Jae immediately replied.

“When the Japanese rebel, they always follow someone else. This happens all the time, so they cannot prevent it. Who would dare to devise such a scheme?”

Despite Nam Jae’s answer, Taejong shook his head.

“Even if it is a common occurrence within Japan, crossing the border is different. They will surely say something about it.”

Worried about the issue escalating into an international problem, Taejong rejected So Sadashige’s proposal.

And as time passed, in the 19th year of King Taejong’s reign (1416), the repatriation policy was actually implemented. (Note 4)

* * *

Now, 14 years later, Jo Mal-saeng proposed the abolition of the repatriation policy.

“According to the books from the West, territorial rights can only be claimed if there are people. In hindsight, isn’t this a matter of course?”

In response to Maeng Sa-seong’s point, Jo Mal-saeng promptly replied.

“The Japanese would deny it. They are that kind of people.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Hyang unconsciously nodded.

‘Correct!’

* * *

Note 1) The basis for referring to Usando as Dokdo is referenced from this material:

The Truth of Dokdo. Sejong University Dokdo Research Institute.

http://www.dokdoandeastasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/%EB%8F%85%EB%8F%84%EC%9D%98-%EC%A7%84%EC%8B%A4-1_%EC%9A%B0%EC%82%B0%EA%B5%AD%EA%B3%BC-%EC%9A%B0%EC%82%B0%EB%8F%84.pdf

Note 2) Korea Creative Content Agency.

http://www.culturecontent.com/content/contentView.do?search_div=CP_THE&search_div_id=CP_THE010&cp_code=cp0232&index_id=cp02320048&content_id=cp023200480001&search_left_menu=2

Note 3) As the shogun established a tributary relationship with Ming, he gained the title of King of Japan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Japan

Note 4) Sejong University Dokdo Research Institute
http://www.dokdoandeastasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/%EB%8F%85%EB%8F%84%EC%9D%98-%EC%A7%84%EC%8B%A4-2_%EC%A1%B0%EC%84%A0%EC%9D%98-%EC%9A%B8%EB%A6%89%EB%8F%84-%EC%87%84%ED%99%98%EC%A0%95%EC%B1%85.pdf

1. The Kyōgoku clan (京極氏, Kyōgoku-shi) were a Japanese daimyō clan which rose to prominence during the Sengoku and Edo periods. The clan descend from the Uda Genji through the Sasaki clan. The name derives from the Kyōgoku quarter of Kyoto during the Heian period. The Kyōgoku acted as shugo (governors) of Ōmi, Hida, Izumo and Oki Provinces in the period before the Ōnin War.[↩]

2. Bakufu were governments which ruled Japan from 1185 until 1868. Also called “shogunate”, a bakufu was technically limited in authority to the feudal overlord’s domains and the men who owed close allegiance to him.[↩]

Chapter 225
Ocean-going Fleet (5)

The court engaged in a heated debate over the issue of “having people reside on Mureungdo (Ulleungdo).”

“Overturning the policy implemented by the previous king after much consideration is an act of unfilial piety! Causing His Majesty to commit an unfilial act is an act of disloyalty!”

Some opposed, arguing that reversing the policy implemented by King Taejong was a disloyal act, but a rebuttal immediately emerged.

“The reason the previous king implemented the repatriation policy was for the national interest of Joseon! As time has passed and circumstances have changed, it is natural to change the policy!”

As they were losing ground in the justification argument, the opposition brought up another reason to continue their opposition.

“If people are allowed to reside on Mureungdo, soldiers must also be stationed there for defense! It’s an unnecessary expense!”

“It’s not an unnecessary expense! It’s for national defense!”

“We must consider the finances!”

As the opposition mentioned finances, King Sejong stared silently at Kim Jeom.

Receiving the unspoken question, Kim Jeom gave an unexpected answer.

“As for the finances… If we don’t wage a war to conquer all of Japan right now, and if we don’t try to do everything at once on Mureungdo, we can manage it.”

“Are you certain?”

At King Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom answered firmly.

“Our Joseon, although still in progress, has grown significantly.”

With Kim Jeom’s answer, King Sejong made a decision.

“Establish a naval garrison on Mureungdo. Once the garrison is properly established, relocate the residents there.”

At King Sejong’s determination, the ministers all bowed and replied in unison.

“We shall obey your command!”

With King Sejong’s decision made, the next steps proceeded swiftly.

‘Is it the aftermath of the purge still lingering? Or has the constitution changed through the Gyeongjang Reforms?’

While Hyang was observing the ministers with a newfound perspective, the ministers were diligently coordinating the situation.

“Is there a place to build a port on Mureungdo?”

At Lee Jik’s question, Jo Mal-saeng unfolded a map and answered.

“Before the repatriation order was implemented, a pacification commissioner was dispatched. This is the map created by those who accompanied him at that time.”

After providing a brief explanation about the map, Jo Mal-saeng pointed to the eastern part of the island and spoke.

“The most suitable area is this small bay on the east side. There is an even larger bay to the south, but it is directly adjacent to a mountain slope, making it difficult to construct a garrison. Moreover, the entire bay is directly exposed to the open sea, so when high waves surge in due to storms, it is impossible to stop them.”

The ministers nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation.

While nodding, Maeng Sa-seong pointed out the next issue.

“It seems like a suitable location. Then, what type of warship do you think would be best to station there? The Turtle Ship again?”

As Maeng Sa-seong mentioned the Turtle Ship, Jo Mal-saeng shook his head.

“The Turtle Ship won’t do. The Turtle Ship cannot catch up with the Japanese ships. Furthermore, while the Turtle Ship’s hull design is superior in inland seas like the West Sea or the South Sea, it becomes unstable when venturing into the open sea.”

“Then what about medium-sized ships or large-medium ships?”

“They are also not suitable for the open sea. Moreover, they cannot carry sufficient cannons.”

“Then what kind of warship… Surely not the new warship?”

When Maeng Sa-seong mentioned the ‘new warship,’ Kim Jeom’s face contorted. As if understanding Kim Jeom’s feelings, Jo Mal-saeng shook his head.

“The new warship is too excessive.”

Jo Mal-saeng, who also rejected the new warship, bowed to King Sejong and spoke.

“Your Majesty, may I ask the Crown Prince?”

“I permit it.”

With King Sejong’s permission, Jo Mal-saeng asked Hyang.

“How long would it take to design and create a warship with a hull shape similar to the new warship but slightly smaller in size?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Hyang promptly replied.

“Please provide specific criteria. How many cannons should it carry, what should be the overall size, and how long should it be able to stay at sea once it sets sail, and so on.”

At Hyang’s request, Jo Mal-saeng stepped back and began discussing with the officials from the Ministry of Military Affairs and the naval officers from the General Staff Headquarters.

Although their voices rose a few times, Jo Mal-saeng quickly coordinated their opinions and returned to answer Hyang.

“For the cannons, around 10 eul-class general cannons and 20 grapeshot cannons. Also, since the main mission is to patrol the vicinity of Mureungdo and Usando, the food and water supply should be sufficient for a maximum of 3 to 5 days. However, the more cannon shells and gunpowder it can carry, the better.”

“How many ships do you need?”

“A minimum of 6 ships. They will operate in pairs, rotating between patrolling, standby, and maintenance.”

“Hmm… Give me a moment.”

While Hyang was calculating in his head, King Sejong intervened.

“Isn’t 10 general cannons too few? Wouldn’t it be better to increase it a bit more?”

King Sejong, who was deeply enchanted by the cannons, felt uneasy about the small number of cannons. However, Jo Mal-saeng rejected King Sejong’s request.

“Considering the performance of the Japanese ships, around 10 cannons should be sufficient.”

“Still…”

“The combination of eul-class general cannons, grapeshot cannons, and arquebuses will be more than enough to deal with the Japanese pirates.”

“Is that so? Hmm… I will trust your words.”

While King Sejong was hiding his regret, Hyang was enthusiastically engaging in his hobby.

‘Considering the number of cannons and the duration of operations, a two-deck ship is unnecessary. Then a clipper? A sloop? A clipper would be better for speed, so a mini-clipper? Yes! Let’s go with a clipper!’

Having finished his mental indulgence and reached a conclusion, Hyang answered Jo Mal-saeng.

“It will take about four months for the design, model testing, and construction of a prototype ship. If the performance is satisfactory, we can build 6 ships within 2 years.”

“Isn’t that too much time?”

“There are quite a few new warships currently on standby.”

“Ah… If that’s the case… So you’re saying we can receive 3 ships within a year?”

“One year and four months.”

At Hyang’s answer, Jo Mal-saeng nodded.

“That’s acceptable.”

‘It’s a bit regrettable, but if the desired performance is achieved, 3 ships should be sufficient for the time being.’

“Wait a moment!”

Just then, Kim Jeom intervened.

“Building the new warships already requires a significant budget, and now you want to develop another new ship? Let’s just use the Turtle Ships. Turtle Ships! Or just use the new warships!”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Hyang promptly replied.

“Since it’s smaller than the Challenger-class, it won’t require as much budget.”

“Still… Isn’t it a waste to create a new ship just to build 6 of them?”

Kim Jeom’s point was valid.

While Jo Mal-saeng, backed into a corner, was contemplating an answer, one of the officers who had been discussing in the back approached Jo Mal-saeng and whispered in his ear.

“Huh? Hmm… I see… Yes… That’s right.”

Jo Mal-saeng, who had been nodding while listening to the officer’s words, looked at Kim Jeom with a bright face.

“It may not end with just 6 ships.”

“What kind of novel idea is that… Gasp!”

While glancing at Kim Jeom, who was blocking his unfiltered words, Jo Mal-saeng bowed to King Sejong and spoke.

“Your Majesty, if the performance of the newly designed warship proves to be satisfactory, Japan will not be able to venture out to sea as they please!”

“Explain in detail.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s command, Jo Mal-saeng gestured to the officer standing behind him.

The officer who came forward at Jo Mal-saeng’s gesture saluted King Sejong.

“Loyalty! I am Son I-seop, a naval commander (manho, rank 4)!”

“Very well. Provide your explanation.”

At King Sejong’s order, Son I-seop gestured to his colleagues. Shortly after, a large map was placed on a scroll stand.

“This map depicts our Joseon, Japan, and Ming.”

Son I-seop pointed to Japan with a pointer and began his explanation.

“These three islands here are Japan. According to the Japanese merchants who frequent the Japanese settlement, there is a large island in the north, but it is not yet Japanese territory.”

At Son I-seop’s explanation, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘Hokkaido is not yet Japanese territory? We should quickly seize it.’

During this period, Hokkaido was a foreign land even to Japan.

Hokkaido became part of Japan’s territory during the Sengoku period. However, it was only recognized as a proper part of Japan’s territory after the Meiji Restoration.

While Hyang was having such thoughts, Son I-seop continued his explanation.

“As you can see on the map, the merchant ships of the Muslims coming for trade turn their bows northward near Jeju Island and come up. And the trade route with Japan starts from Dongnae and goes to either Tsushima or Kyushu.”

“That’s right.”

King Sejong nodded at Son I-seop’s explanation. Son I-seop pointed to Jeju Island with the pointer and continued his explanation.

“If the ships currently being developed are stationed on Jeju Island, we can ensure the safety of the maritime trade routes.”

“Oh?”

“Furthermore…”

Son I-seop paused for a moment and pointed to Tsushima and Kyushu with the pointer.

“If we incorporate Tsushima and Kyushu here into our Joseon’s sphere of influence, the Japanese pirates will not easily look down on our Joseon.”

“That’s true.”

“Indeed, it is.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Son I-seop’s explanation.

Son I-seop continued to point to Mureungdo and drew an imaginary straight line to the northeast.

“The previously developed eastern advancement strategy is not only important for land routes but also for sea routes. If we secure Wonsan, Mureungdo, and the islands that may exist in the north and establish naval bases, the sea east of Ming will fall into our Joseon’s hands. If that happens, our Joseon will need the Challenger-class ships and the newly developed ships more than the Turtle Ships.”

“Wouldn’t that endanger the coastal defense?”

As Chief State Councillor Lee Jik, who had been listening to the conversation, pointed out, Son I-seop promptly replied.

“We can change the navy’s warship operation strategy from passive defense to active defense.”

“Active defense?”

“Instead of waiting for them to come, we go out first and strike them. To make this possible, fast and powerful ships are the best.”

“Hmm…”

After contemplating for a moment, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“What do you think?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“The issue with the shipyards can be resolved by expanding the shipyard in Wonsan and hiring more personnel. However, the biggest problem is the supply of timber. If we only obtain timber from Joseon, all the mountains in Joseon will become bare.”

Unlike in later periods, Joseon during this time did not lack forest resources. However, there was fierce competition to obtain the straight and tall timber used for constructing warships.

This was because the timber with straight and solid wood grain was not only used for warships but also for construction.

Moreover, trees did not grow quickly.

The trees used for warship or construction materials were at least 10 to 20 years old.

That meant if they recklessly engaged in deforestation without any consideration, they would find themselves in a situation where they couldn’t do anything due to the lack of trees.

Having pointed out this problem, Hyang immediately continued.

“I think we should start exploring the area east of the Tumen River starting this year. If we can find the forest area that I have only seen in books, we can immediately solve the timber problem.”

“That’s the only answer. I should send an order to Hwang Hee. If the timber issue is resolved, does that solve everything?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang looked at Kim Jeom and answered.

“It solves 90% of the problem. Building warships in large quantities means that the craftsmen will continue to work. The more work there is, the more skilled the craftsmen will become, which means we can reduce unnecessary budget waste.”

“I see. What does the Minister of Taxation think?”

At King Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom answered with a resigned expression.

“If Joseon’s commerce and industry can continue to grow in size as they are now, you will achieve your goal.”

“I will trust only you.”

“I will do my utmost until I die.”

As Kim Jeom waved the white flag, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Proceed according to the Ministry of Military Affairs’ plan. If we can block the foreign enemies threatening Joseon at sea, we can prevent our territory from being harmed, so how could it not be a good thing?”

Despite making the decision, King Sejong did not forget to give a word of caution.

“However! If you cannot control your greed and overdo it, the people will suffer, and the Gyeongjang Reforms will fail, so you must keep this in mind and act accordingly.”

At King Sejong’s admonition, the ministers replied in unison.

“We will keep it in mind and carry it out!”

The court historian who recorded all these events added the following:

- …In accordance with His Majesty’s decision, the development and mass production of new warships were decided.

The historian comments:

It is natural to strive to protect the royal ancestral shrines and the people’s well-being and to devote efforts to defense. However, as His Majesty said, it is something that should be avoided if other areas are harmed for the sake of defense.

For the time being, I should not even go near the Ministry of Taxation.

The Minister of Military Affairs seems likely to serve for a long time.

Chapter 226
Ocean-going Fleet (6)

With the decision made to develop and mass-produce new warships different from the Challenger class, King Sejong brought up another agenda item.

“Earlier, the Ministry of Military Affairs stated that we should incorporate Kyushu Island into the sphere of influence of our Joseon. Is this a substantive annexation or something else?”

At King Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward.

“I believe that a substantive annexation would be a poor move. Although the Ouchi clan, who rules northern Kyushu, and the Kyushu Provincial Governor, who governs other regions of Kyushu, have friendly relations with our Joseon, they are also powerful clans of Japan. If we proceed with a substantive annexation, we will either have to engage in armed conflict with them or guarantee their vested interests. The costs may outweigh the benefits.”

In response to Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Heo Jo raised a question.

“Considering the character of the Japanese, they are weak to the strong and strong against the weak. If our Joseon demonstrates its might by deploying military force, wouldn’t they immediately submit?”

At Heo Jo’s remark, Jo Mal-saeng immediately shook his head.

“We do not have sufficient military strength.”

“Pardon?”

“What?”

King Sejong and the ministers all expressed confusion at Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

Witnessing their reaction, Hyang grumbled inwardly.

‘These gentlemen, really… Did they eat crow meat and forget everything, or have they been swayed by the magic of numbers?’

Jo Mal-saeng, seemingly sharing Hyang’s sentiment, explained the reality in a slightly rough voice.

“When we conquered Tsushima Island, how much did we struggle even in the preparations?”

“However, hasn’t the military’s strength greatly increased since then?”

In response to Heo Jo’s question, Jo Mal-saeng simply replied.

“And haven’t the responsibilities the military must uphold during peacetime also significantly increased?”

“Ah…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s point, Heo Jo let out a small groan and fell silent. ‘The military’s strength has increased, but so have the areas it must protect.’ This was the ‘magic of numbers’ Hyang had mentioned. Observing this, Jo Mal-saeng bowed to King Sejong and continued.

“A substantive annexation is a poor move. If Your Majesty commands it, I, Jo Mal-saeng, will stand at the forefront and strike the Japanese enemies. However, I earnestly implore Your Majesty. It is still premature to confront Japan with military force.”

“Premature… What is the reason?”

“Firstly, compared to Japan, Joseon has smaller land and a smaller population. Smaller land means lower output. This makes it difficult to procure war funds when engaging in warfare. A smaller population means it is challenging to replenish the military. No matter how well-equipped with new weapons, losses are inevitable when war breaks out.

Secondly, the one holding power in Japan is formidable. Unlike the Hongwu period when it was divided into two, now the authority of the King of Japan is strong, so Japan will move as one body.”

“The Minister of Military Affairs is correct! The words of the merchants traveling between the Japanese settlement and Kyushu were similar.”

The Minister of Rites also lent support to Jo Mal-saeng’s statement. Encouraged by the Minister of Rites’ assistance, Jo Mal-saeng spoke with even greater force.

“Lastly, it is not easy even if we limit the battlefield to Kyushu. Although the Ouchi clan and the Kyushu Provincial Governor, the Minamoto clan, are powerful, they do not have complete control over Kyushu. There are more clans who oppose them.

Therefore, I earnestly implore once again. A forceful and substantive annexation employing military force must never be pursued.”

“Hmm…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, King Sejong stroked his beard with a grave expression.

‘The greatest achievement of a monarch is the expansion of territory. Wouldn’t the annexation of Kyushu be a good opportunity? However, the Minister of Military Affairs’ words are not entirely wrong… ’

Observing King Sejong’s contemplative appearance, Hyang sensed a crisis.

‘Not yet! No to military adventurism!’

Feeling the danger, Hyang immediately joined the conversation.

“Your Majesty, forgive my presumptuousness, but I believe the Minister of Military Affairs’ words are extremely reasonable.”

“Reasonable? Explain.”

At King Sejong’s command, Hyang calmly explained the reasons.

“In general, for a country to wage war against another, its rear must be secure. Take the example of Emperor Wu of Wei in ancient times. Why did he attack Goguryeo? To ensure the safety of his rear before conquering Shu and Wu. This situation is similar. To deal with Japan, we must first stabilize the Jurchen in the north, but the situation in Liaodong remains unstable. Conversely, if we were to completely conquer the Jurchen, Ming and Japan would intervene. Putting Ming aside, Japan must be dealt with, but it is beyond our military capabilities.”

“Beyond our capabilities…”

As King Sejong showed a displeased expression, Hyang firmly replied.

“It is beyond our capabilities. The navy’s strength is not yet complete, both in quantity and quality. Moreover, the final conclusion of a war requires our military to enter the enemy country and occupy it, but the manpower of the land forces is insufficient. If we’re not careful, we may end up removing the lower stone to support the upper one, committing a foolish act.”

“That’s true.”

Nodding at Hyang’s point, King Sejong let out a long sigh.

“The Crown Prince and the Minister of Military Affairs are correct. I only saw the apparent strength before my eyes and failed to consider the distant dangers. This is my lack of virtue.”

As King Sejong reproached himself, the ministers prostrated themselves and responded in unison.

“No, Your Majesty! This is the fault of us, your subjects, for failing to properly assist you. Please punish us!”

“Please punish us!”

Seeing his subjects pleading for their own punishment, King Sejong calmly spoke.

“Rise.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Let us learn from this incident and work even harder in the future.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Once the situation was somewhat settled, King Sejong asked Hyang.

“Previously, you said that making the Japanese market ours is tantamount to subjugating Japan. I heard that when our goods cross over to Japan, they sell out. Doesn’t that mean the subjugation is already complete?”

“Currently, the majority of the goods crossing over to Japan are luxury items. We need to make even the common people of Japan buy our products. We must make even the ordinary Japanese people admire our Joseon for the subjugation to be complete.”

Hyang provided a more detailed explanation.

- The items being sold now are mostly high-priced luxury goods.

- Those purchasing these luxury goods are primarily the Japanese clans. And the source of income for these clans is the taxes collected from the people, especially the farmers.

- To purchase luxury items, the clans are collecting taxes harshly, and the discontent of the farmers is gradually accumulating.

- However, this discontent is highly likely to be directed not at the clans exploiting them, but at our Joseon.

“Why is that? Didn’t our Joseon only produce the goods? The ones buying from Joseon are also Japanese merchants, and those giving them money and buying the goods are ultimately the Japanese clans, aren’t they?”

In response to Heo Jo’s point, the Minister of Rites answered on Hyang’s behalf.

“If our Joseon hadn’t made such goods, they would have thought there was no reason for them to suffer, wouldn’t they?”

“Ah…”

As Heo Jo nodded, Hyang added.

“The Minister of Rites is correct. If this discontent accumulates, the Japanese people will gradually become hostile towards our Joseon. If the control of the Japanese clans falters even slightly, they will turn back into Japanese pirates. Look at the captured Japanese fishermen this time. Even the fishermen carry swords on their boats. That’s how the Japanese are.”

At those words, King Sejong and the ministers nodded in agreement.

“Then, Crown Prince, how do you plan to seize the Japanese market?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang promptly replied.

“We just need to make the Japanese people work.”

“Pardon?”

Hyang provided a more detailed explanation.

- Japan has resources that our Joseon desperately needs, such as sulfur and copper.

- We negotiate with the Japanese clans to lease mines or acquire mining rights.

- We employ Japanese people in these mines and pay them wages.

- We sell Joseon’s products to these Japanese people who receive wages.

“As they are commoners, it won’t be easy for them to buy expensive goods. However, instead of expensive ceramics, we can sell them earthenware, and instead of silk, we can sell them cotton. If this happens…”

King Sejong interrupted Hyang.

“They will gradually want better things! Our Joseon also went through those stages!”

“That is correct. Moreover, we can also eliminate the hostility the Japanese people hold towards Joseon. They will be grateful to Joseon for providing them with the wages to make a living.”

“Then the discontent of the Japanese people will be directed towards the clans ruling over them! It is a truly ingenious strategy!”

“It would be even better to subtly give advance notice to the clans we need, such as the Ouchi clan and the Kyushu Provincial Governor, the Minamoto clan.”

“Indeed! Especially the Ouchi clan, who openly claim to be descendants of Baekje, would be perfect to use as our agent!”

King Sejong exclaimed in admiration, slapping his knee at Hyang’s explanation.

Seeing King Sejong and Hyang, father and son, exchanging ideas in such a manner, the ministers grumbled inwardly.

‘Again! Again! They’re starting! Only they understand and move on!’

‘It’s not like they planned this in advance, but how do they complement each other so well?’

‘Oh my… Will people with poor intelligence live in misery?’

Despite their grumbling, the ministers were not unintelligent and quickly grasped the concept.

As they understood, the ministers looked at Hyang with renewed eyes.

‘I realize it again, but the Crown Prince is not just intelligent, he’s cunning! Has Emperor Wu of Wei been reincarnated?’

‘Those who will work under the Crown Prince when he ascends the throne will have a hard time!’

‘Oh dear… Should I give His Majesty some medicinal tonics? To live a long life… ’

In any case, King Sejong, who was very pleased with the strategy presented by Hyang, turned to the ministers.

“I would like to proceed based on the strategy the Crown Prince has proposed. What are your thoughts?”

At King Sejong’s question, the ministers eagerly responded.

“It was truly a brilliant proposal!”

“It is a strategy that achieves two goals with one action, so it is appropriate to adopt it!”

With all the ministers in agreement, King Sejong made a decision.

“Since you all agree, let us properly devise a plan and implement it! To ensure the peace of our Joseon, we must minimize external concerns.”

“We shall obey your command!”

The court historian who recorded all of this wrote the following:

- The historian remarks:

Why do I feel sorry for the people of Japan?

* * *

As Hyang left Geunjeongjeon after the meeting, his expression gradually darkened.

“Did I do the right thing?”

Hyang, who muttered with a face full of worries, let out a long sigh.

“Phew~, to think that I would plan ‘the most sophisticated imperialism’ with my own hands… It’s bitter.”

What Hyang had proposed to King Sejong and the ministers was the ‘Global Value Chain’ born amidst the frenzy of ’21st-century neoliberalism,’ slightly modified to fit the current era.

* * *

With the end of World War II, imperialism came to a close.

To be precise, classical imperialism ended, and a new form of imperialism was born and began to evolve.

During the Cold War, the system referred to as ‘colonial capitalism’ or ‘comprador capitalism’ evolved once again as the Cold War ended.

While classical imperialism physically colonized and exploited, the new imperialism was invisible.

It had evolved into a sophisticated system called the ‘Global Value Chain,’ where components were made using the labor and resources of developing countries, assembled in the home country or other developing countries, and sold to all nations worldwide.

Under this system, politicians and workers in developing countries did not antagonize the capitalists of developed countries but rather welcomed them.

A situation different from classical imperialism had unfolded.

Chapter 227
Ocean-going Fleet (7)

With the strategy for dealing with Japan decided upon, the court swiftly sprang into action.

“The first and foremost thing we must do is to clearly notify that Usando (Dokdo) is the territory of our Joseon,” stated Heo Jo.

At Heo Jo’s words, the Minister of Rites asked in astonishment, “But why do we need to bother with our own land…?”

“We should also record it in an official letter to other countries. To prevent them from making any other claims in the future.”

Everyone nodded at Heo Jo’s explanation.

“We must send an envoy to Ming. Since Japan also pays tribute to Ming, we must use Ming to warn Japan. This will give us justification against Japan later on.”

King Sejong responded to Heo Jo’s words with a smile.

“Sometimes, even flattery is necessary. It also serves as a legitimate reason for us to build ships.”

In a position where they still had to be mindful of Ming, there was no better excuse than this.

“That’s a good method. Are there any other ways?”

“We should erect a stone stele on Usando. We must engrave a clear declaration that this land is our territory, along with the date, leaving no room for argument. Additionally, the navy should periodically check the condition of the stele. If it’s damaged? We must sternly reprimand the King of Japan.”

“That’s not bad either.”

As King Sejong listened to their discussion, he had another thought.

‘It would be wise to do this in advance in other places as well.’

King Sejong was already thinking ahead, preparing to stake his claim for the future, even if it wasn’t immediately apparent.

Afterward, various other agenda items were brought up, and the ministers selected the two most effective ones to report to King Sejong.

“Very well. In addition to sending an envoy to Ming, let’s also dispatch an envoy to Japan. We can send them together when we return the captured fishermen.”

“You mean not to hand them over to the Lord of Tsushima?”

At King Sejong’s decision, the Minister of Rites immediately sought confirmation. Until now, when Japanese fishermen in distress due to storms or other accidents were rescued, they were handed over to the Lord of Tsushima.

King Sejong explained the reason for the Minister of Rites’ question.

“In the past, we did so because they were poor souls who had lost their boats and were in distress due to various circumstances. But this time, the situation is different, isn’t it? The Lord of Tsushima is an untrustworthy person, and we don’t know what trickery he might employ in the middle, so it’s better to send them directly to the King of Japan. Come to think of it, isn’t the Ouchi clan closer to the King of Japan?”

“There are such rumors.”

“Then, inform the Ouchi clan to convey our Joseon’s intentions to the King of Japan.”

“I shall obey your command.”

Once King Sejong made the decision, the Ministry of Rites moved swiftly.

Due to the importance of the matter, the Minister of Rites personally visited Ming, while the Vice Minister of Rites sought out the Ouchi clan.

“An envoy has come from Joseon?”

“Yes. They wish to meet with the Shogun.”

Upon hearing the retainer’s answer, Ouchi Moriharu (Ouchi Morimi) expressed his puzzlement.

“Why?”

“They say they captured fishermen who were illegally fishing in Joseon’s waters. However, weapons were discovered on their boats.”

At the retainer’s response, Moriharu clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! That’s just asking to be labeled as Japanese pirates!”

“The envoy from Joseon is saying the same thing. That’s why they want to discuss this matter with the Shogun.”

“Damn it…”

Moriharu let out a brief curse at the retainer’s reply. The current Shogun was a very ruthless individual. He didn’t want to get involved with him.

“We’re in a bind.”

Realizing there was no solution no matter how much he calculated, Moriharu ordered his retainer.

“Send someone to the Bakufu to inform them that the envoy from Joseon requests an audience.”

“Yes, my lord!”

* * *

And so, the Vice Minister of Rites was able to meet with Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th Shogun of the Muromachi Bakufu.

“I am pleased to meet the lord of Japan.”

“I am delighted to meet the envoy from Joseon. You must have faced many hardships on your long journey.”

“Thank you.”

The formal diplomatic language continued for a long time after that.

After the complicated greetings ended, Yoshinori brought up the main topic.

“So, what is the reason the envoy from Joseon wanted to see me?”

“As you may have learned from the report, some fishermen were caught recklessly fishing in our Joseon’s waters.”

“I am aware of the report.”

“However, Japanese swords (wato) were discovered on their boats. Therefore, our Joseon suspects that they may be the vanguard of Japanese pirates.”

At the Vice Minister of Rites’ words, Yoshinori looked at the retainers accompanying him. Receiving an unspoken command, one of the retainers answered on Yoshinori’s behalf.

“Ah! Those are weapons for the fishermen’s self-defense. Japanese pirates are a headache for us as well, you see.”

“So, you mean to say that even fishermen carry weapons to protect themselves from Japanese pirates?”

As the Vice Minister of Rites pressed the issue, the retainer nodded.

“That is correct.”

‘Self-defense, my foot!’

Inwardly cursing up a storm, the Vice Minister of Rites composed himself and continued.

“In that case, we will understand and overlook that part. Then, the next issue is… Japanese fishermen crossing the border and fishing.”

At the Vice Minister of Rites’ point, the previous retainer spoke up.

“Where were the fishermen captured?”

“Near Usando.”

“Usando is…”

“It is 200 li away from Mureungdo.”

“Isn’t that too far?”

The Vice Minister of Rites smiled and replied to the retainer’s remark.

“It is more than 400 li away from Japan’s Oki Islands.”

“Ah…”

At the Vice Minister of Rites’ point, the retainer fell silent.

After a brief silence, Yoshinori opened his mouth.

“Very well. We acknowledge that part as our fault. I will issue an order for the fishermen to be more cautious in the future.”

“They must be extremely careful. Our Joseon navy stationed on Mureungdo will soon enforce strict measures.”

At the Vice Minister of Rites’ words, the faces of Yoshinori and the retainers turned unprecedentedly grave.

“Did you say the Joseon navy will be stationed there?”

“That is correct.”

“Along with warships?”

“How can there be a navy without warships?”

“How many?”

“That is a state secret.”

“Ah…”

At the Vice Minister of Rites’ response, Yoshinori and the retainers couldn’t hide their disappointment. However, they couldn’t recklessly pressure the envoy.

In the end, Yoshinori had no choice but to answer in a serious tone, unlike before.

“I understand. I will strongly caution them.”

“Thank you.”

Thus, the talks concluded, achieving the desired results.

Yoshinori hosted a grand banquet, trying to extract information, but he was blocked by the Vice Minister of Rites’ impenetrable defense.

‘Even though I may not look like it, my body has been tempered by pure alcohol in the alleys of Hanseong’s pleasure quarters! Did you think I would be swayed by a few drinks?’

Eventually, after seeing off the Vice Minister of Rites, Yoshinori summoned his retainers.

“What do you think is the best course of action?”

“For the time being, it would be wise to move according to Joseon’s wishes.”

At the retainers’ answer, Yoshinori spat out a curse.

“Damn it!”

Seeing Yoshinori’s reaction, the retainers tensed up and carefully observed his mood.

* * *

Yoshinori, who had newly ascended to the position of Shogun, was ruthless.

He greatly strengthened the military forces under the Shogun’s direct control and used it as a foundation to reinforce the Shogun’s power.

Yoshinori believed that his becoming the Shogun was the will of the gods.

The 5th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshikazu, had died young, and the 4th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimochi, had served as the acting Shogun.

Yoshimochi did not designate a successor until his death. Therefore, the Bakufu’s leaders selected multiple candidates and drew lots at a shrine. They sought the “will of the gods.”

In two rounds of drawing lots, Yoshinori was chosen both times.

As a result, Yoshinori believed that his becoming the Shogun and all his actions as the Shogun were the will of the gods.

Consequently, he considered opposing his will as defying the will of the gods and punished them cruelly.

* * *

Because of Yoshinori’s nature, the retainers were highly anxious and carefully observed Yoshinori’s mood.

Suppressing his anger, Yoshinori issued an order.

“Execute all the men Joseon sent back! How dare they cause such a problem! They deserve to die!”

“Yes, my lord!”

“And which family governs the Oki Province?”

“The Kyōgoku family.”

“Tell them to pay attention!”

“Yes, my lord!”

With that, Yoshinori concluded the situation. Yoshinori’s retainers let out sighs of relief.

“Fortunately, a storm didn’t brew!”

“Indeed.”

However, not long after, an envoy sent by Ming arrived, turning the Bakufu upside down.

- According to what the envoy from Joseon informed me, fishermen from your country of Japan recklessly crossed the border into Joseon’s waters and were caught fishing. Although there are no clear borders on the sea, going more than 400 li from the Oki Islands is far beyond reason.

If such incidents become frequent, the relationship between Joseon and Japan will inevitably become strained.

There is nothing more unfortunate than the deterioration of relations between vassals, so the King of Japan must exercise the utmost caution.

While the envoy read Emperor Xuande’s imperial edict, Yoshinori respectfully knelt and, once the reading was finished, politely paid his respects.

“I accept the command of His Majesty the Emperor!”

A few days later, after the envoy from Ming had departed, Yoshinori exploded.

“Send someone to the damn Kyōgoku family and tell them to severely punish those responsible!”

“Yes, my lord!”

As Yoshinori’s order was delivered, the middle and lower-ranking samurai managing the Oki Islands had to take responsibility by committing seppuku or being beheaded.

It was a desperate measure to avoid being subjugated by Yoshinori.

* * *

While such a diplomatic battle was unfolding, Hyang was busily working to build the new warships requested by the navy.

Although the shape of the hull was quite different, the experience gained through the Challenger accelerated the progress of the work.

As a result, the prototype ship could be launched in two and a half months instead of the initially estimated four months.

Oh Ha-seok was tasked with the test voyage of the prototype ship.

“What about my ship…?”

“It can’t be helped. There’s no one as skilled with such ships as you.”

“I understand.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Oh Ha-seok set out to sea with the prototype ship and a group of carefully selected crew members.

“This is insane!”

As Oh Ha-seok ventured into the East Sea, he couldn’t help but be startled.

The prototype ship, properly catching the tailwind, rushed through the sea at a truly crazy speed.

It was a mad speed that neither Oh Ha-seok nor the crew members had ever experienced before.

After completing the test in an unarmed state, Oh Ha-seok and the crew members hurriedly returned to Wonsan.

“Load the cannons and ammunition immediately!”

Oh Ha-seok and the crew members loaded the prototype ship with the designated amount of cannons, gunpowder, ammunition, food, and drinking water, and set out to sea once again.

Three days later, Oh Ha-seok returned to Wonsan and concluded his report with a single sentence.

“It’s the best!”

* * *

Upon reading the report documenting the final test results, King Sejong ordered the ministers.

“I’ll make a quick trip to Wonsan.”

“Pardon? We shall accompany you!”

And so, King Sejong and the ministers, who had headed to Wonsan, expressed their admiration upon seeing the newly built warship.

“This ship has its own charm as well!”

At King Sejong’s praise, Hyang bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you!”

“Since it’s said to be so fast, I should also take a ride.”

“It’s dangerous!”

“I trust you, Crown Prince. I trust only you.”

The ministers also boarded the ship, following the stubborn King Sejong.

Their thoughts were unanimous.

‘Rather than dying from the aftermath if something goes wrong… ’

Contrary to Hyang’s concerns, the ship safely completed its voyage and returned.

King Sejong, who had even witnessed the firing of cannons during the voyage, highly commended Hyang as soon as he disembarked.

“You have truly created a remarkable ship! It’s truly amazing!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I have decided on the name for this ship. Since it’s as swift as a falcon, I shall call it ‘Haeung (Sea Hawk)’!”

* * *

And so, the Haeung-class high-speed ships, born in this manner, gained fame alongside the Challenger-class battleships.

If the Challenger-class was called the “Ruffian of the East,” the Haeung was known as the “Gray Seagull” or the “Gray Watchdog.”

These nicknames were given due to the inherent limitations of the Haeung.

As its primary mission was high-speed patrolling near ports, the Haeung had limited cargo capacity and couldn’t venture far from the ports.

Consequently, merchants welcomed the Haeung, calling it the “Gray Seagull.” Spotting a seabird on the vast ocean was an auspicious sign indicating nearby land.

Similarly, encountering a Haeung meant that a port would soon appear.

To pirates, the Haeung was a spine-chilling watchdog.

The basic tactic of the Haeung-class was to move in groups of at least two ships, so encountering one meant another Haeung was nearby.

Moreover, its speed was unrivaled, making it nearly impossible to shake off and escape.

According to the standard speed criteria later agreed upon by Europe, Ming, and Joseon, the Haeung recorded a top speed of 18 knots (approximately 33.3 km/h).

This record remained unbroken for nearly a generation.

Chapter 228
Japan (1)

With the decision to mass-produce the Haeung-class high-speed ships, the allocation of the budget and the expansion of the shipyards began.

That meant the Ministry of Taxation was going to suffer.

“Seriously… Even if we only carry out the plans made at the beginning of the year, the finances will be in a hole, so why do unexpected situations keep arising?”

In the conference room of the State Council, Kim Jeom exploded with frustration. At Kim Jeom’s anger, Lee Jik and Maeng Sa-seong comforted him.

“What can we do when the situation flows that way? If we could know everything in advance, we’d be immortals, not humans.”

“The shipyards are still under construction, so if we expand them a bit more while we’re at it…”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Kim Jeom’s eyes rolled back.

“Do you think expanding the shipyards doesn’t cost money? Do you think it’s a feast that ends with adding just one spoon?”

“M-Minister, calm down! Calm down!”

“Aaaah!”

“Bring the calming tea! Bring the calming tea!”

* * *

Although he had erupted in the State Council, Kim Jeom couldn’t overturn a decision that had already received final approval.

In the end, to create a budget for the expansion of the shipyards, Kim Jeom had to rack his brains with his subordinates.

“At least we have the gold and silver mines to save us…”

At Kim Jeom’s words, a subordinate official who was calculating with an abacus responded.

“Didn’t those fools who rebelled and went utterly broke also help us?”

Kim Jeom grinned and nodded at his subordinate’s remark.

“Those fools did help indeed.”

* * *

Joseon’s economy was continuously growing in size, and tax revenue was steadily increasing.

However, the government’s budget was always in deficit.

Firstly, money was continuously being spent on flood control projects, and large-scale construction projects such as the maintenance of the road network were underway.

Lastly, an enormous budget was being consumed on the reorganization of the administrative network and the military.

Even the local clerks, who were unpaid until the Gyeongjang Reforms, began receiving official ranks and salaries, and various irregular positions in the government were converted into official positions.

As a result, the loyalty of the local clerks and irregular officials, who were treated poorly, increased towards the government.

Consequently, government expenditures rose significantly.

“The conversion of local clerks and irregular positions into official positions seems a bit excessive.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, King Sejong glared at Kim Jeom.

“Then, how was it possible in the previous dynasty?”

“…”

At King Sejong’s point, Kim Jeom had to shut his mouth.

In the case of the previous dynasty, not only the royal family but also the officials received higher salaries compared to Joseon. (Note 1) Of course, during the chaotic period at the end of Goryeo, it became a mess, but when Goryeo was functioning properly, the salary system also worked well.

In any case, what resolved the crisis of deficit, where expenditures exceeded tax revenue, was the gold and silver mined from the mines.

The gold and silver from the mines secretly mined, apart from the publicly known mines, provided a lifeline for the finances.

However, they had to avoid attracting the attention of Ming. Therefore, they couldn’t actively use the gold and silver mined from the mines, and Joseon’s development was not proceeding at a fast pace.

Of course, this assessment of being ‘slow’ was entirely from Hyang’s perspective.

“In the 21st century, or rather the 20th century, they would have used foreign debt to get it done quickly… But now, we have to spend cautiously even with what we have…”

Whenever he was alone, Hyang grumbled while reviewing the reports. However, Hyang soon changed his mind.

“No? Isn’t this gold and silver the foreign debt of this era?”

In such a situation, the ‘Giyu Rebellion’ had taken place.

After the rebellion was suppressed, the government confiscated all the property of the local scholars who participated in the rebellion and launched an investigation.

“Oh my goodness…”

The confiscated property amounted to a staggering quantity, equivalent to 15 years’ worth of the Joseon government’s budget.

“While the common people are suffering from hunger, they have accumulated such enormous wealth! Severely punish those who participated in the rebellion!”

Following the decision of the enraged King Sejong, the members of the families who participated in the rebellion had to face merciless punishment. However, the government, especially the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Military Affairs, cheered in joy.

“We can breathe now!”

“We can make it through!”

* * *

While the Ministry of Taxation wrestled with the budget, the government gathered to devise plans for dealing with Japan.

“First, there’s something I’m curious about. Isn’t the one we call the ‘King of Japan’ not the real king of Japan?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Rites answered.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. Although there is an ‘Emperor’ as the nominal monarch, in reality, the Ashikaga clan rules Japan and has received the title of ‘King of Japan’ from Ming.”

At the Minister of Rites’ explanation, King Sejong shook his head.

“There is a king, but someone who is not the king exercises the authority of the king? I have heard of it, but it is truly immoral.”

After making that criticism, King Sejong continued his critique.

“For someone who is not the king to act as the king, they will surely rely on military force. The problem arises when such a person loses that military force, don’t you agree?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. At the end of the previous dynasty, the Kamakura Bakufu in Japan collapsed, and the Japanese royal family split into two, leading to a conflict. And from that point on, the Japanese pirates began to run rampant.”

“Hmm… Then, is it better for us to have a King of Japan? Even if someone who is not the king acts as the king.”

At King Sejong’s question, the Minister of Rites promptly replied.

“Although it is immoral, I believe that is the most beneficial for our Joseon.”

“Is that so…?”

At the Minister of Rites’ answer, King Sejong trailed off.

As King Sejong showed a dissatisfied expression, the ministers became extremely tense.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen that expression… ’

‘If he clicks his tongue there… Oh no! It’s terrible!’

‘Think! Think!’

“No matter how much I think about it, I feel uneasy.”

“Pardon?”

“The system of that country of Japan is truly unstable. What is the meaning of ‘Bakufu’? Doesn’t it mean the place where the general has set up camp? In simple terms, isn’t it the same as the military regime of the previous dynasty?”

“Th-That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“How long did the military regimes last? Except for the Choi clan’s regime, was there any long-lasting regime?”

At King Sejong’s question, Lee Jik stepped forward.

“There wasn’t, Your Majesty. However, the Kamakura Bakufu, which this Ashikaga clan overthrew, lasted for 150 years…”

“How much military force do you think they built up to last that long? That’s why the Japanese pirates immediately ran rampant when the Kamakura Bakufu collapsed!”

“Ah…”

At King Sejong’s point, Lee Jik had to close his mouth. King Sejong continued to express his concerns.

“Isn’t it certain that the Ashikaga clan, who has seized power this time, will also implement a carrot-and-stick approach to maintain their authority? What is the reason for the Kings of Japan to ask us for Buddhist scriptures and plead for trade?”

At King Sejong’s question, Maeng Sa-seong answered.

“It must be a conciliatory measure to appease the clans within. They will pacify the clans with the goods sent by our Joseon. They will also reap the benefits.”

“I think so too. And with the profits they gain, they will strengthen their military power. And if necessary, they will turn a blind eye even if the local clans engage in piracy.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s point, the ministers nodded in agreement. Observing the faces of the ministers, King Sejong moistened his throat and continued.

“What worries me even more is whether the King of Japan might deliberately gather the power of the clans and attack our Joseon. Wouldn’t it be greatly beneficial for the King of Japan to attack Joseon? He can exhaust the strength of the clans that threaten him, and at the same time, he can plunder our Joseon to his heart’s content.”

“Surely not…”

Heo Jo muttered softly at King Sejong’s words. In response to the Minister of Taxation’s reaction, Jo Mal-saeng spoke up.

“It’s not impossible. It’s quite possible. For those Japanese, swords and spears are the means to seize power.”

“Hmm…”

As even Jo Mal-saeng joined in supporting King Sejong, the expressions of the ministers hardened even more.

“What truly worries me is… The very existence of this so-called King of Japan is an entity that has abandoned righteousness. There is already a king, yet he does not hesitate to be called a king, so where is the righteousness? If there are people of integrity in Japan, would they sit idly by and watch this?”

“That is true.”

At King Sejong’s point, the ministers unanimously nodded in agreement. Observing this from the side, Hyang unconsciously nodded as well.

‘As expected! They immediately understand when the word “righteousness” is mentioned! Aside from that… ’

Glancing at King Sejong, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Did this gentleman lay out a mat or something?’

King Sejong’s remarks actually came to pass. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ended Japan’s Sengoku period, launched the Japanese invasions of Korea, and in the 19th century, self-proclaimed ‘shishi (men of purpose)’ who rose up in the name of ‘Sonnō jōi (Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians)’ toppled the Tokugawa Bakufu.

‘Men of integrity, my foot… ’

Grumbling inwardly, Hyang listened attentively to King Sejong’s words.

“The Japanese in the south and the Jurchen in the north are the greatest calamities for our Joseon. I have only heard stories, but I was told that there was an incident where our Joseon nearly lost its sovereignty due to the Japanese pirates and the Jurchen.”

At King Sejong’s mention, Heo Jo promptly replied.

“Are you referring to the Conquest of Japan Theory, jeongwaeron and the Northern Conquest Theory, bukjeongron?”

“That’s right.”

At King Sejong’s answer, Lee Jik let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. Just thinking about it is devastating.”

At Lee Jik’s answer, King Sejong glanced at Hyang and ordered Lee Jik.

“I don’t know the details well since I was young, and the Crown Prince must be hearing about it for the first time, so please explain in detail. One must know the past well to prepare for the future.”

“Yes, I shall obey your command.”

Lee Jik began to recount the events of that time.

* * *

In the 17th year of King Gongmin’s reign (1368), Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne as the Hongwu Emperor of Ming and issued the ‘Imperial Ming Ancestral Instructions.’

The content of the Imperial Ming Ancestral Instructions was simple.

- International relations will be built around a tributary system centered on the Ming Dynasty, and there will be no tolerance for countries that do not comply!

In other words, countries that paid tribute to Ming through the tributary system would receive economic and cultural benefits, while those that refused would be punished with military force.

Having declared this national policy, when the raids of the Japanese pirates intensified, the Hongwu Emperor sent an envoy to Japan with a diplomatic letter requesting to stop the piracy.

However, both the Northern and Southern Courts of Japan rejected Ming’s request.

In response, Emperor Yongle sent a diplomatic letter to Joseon in the 13th year of King Taejong’s reign (1413). The content of the letter can be summarized simply.

- I’m going to attack Japan, so Joseon should be aware of that!

Upon receiving the letter, the Joseon court immediately went on high alert.

The reasons for the Joseon court’s high alert were as follows:

- If Ming attacks Japan, they will definitely pass through Joseon. If Ming’s troops stay on Joseon’s territory, it may be revealed that Joseon has a friendly relationship with Japan!

At that time, Ming prohibited having a friendly relationship with Japan, so it could definitely become a problem.

The next problem pointed out was even more serious.

- The Japanese pirates are the enemies of our Joseon, so it would be good if Ming gets rid of them. However, if they use the conquest of Japan as an excuse for a long-term stay, the burden on Joseon will become too great, and Joseon may lose its sovereignty due to Ming’s military.

In the end, Joseon delivered information through Tsushima Island and requested the control of Japanese pirates.

As Joseon stalled for time in this way, Ming raised the Northern Conquest Theory.

- We will conquer the barbarians in the north!

Joseon had no choice but to go on high alert again.

If the Northern Conquest were to be actually implemented, the barbarians pushed back by Ming would cross Joseon’s borders. Then, Ming would use the justification of conquering them to send troops into Joseon.

As Ming pressured with the Conquest of Japan Theory and the Northern Conquest Theory, the ministers, unable to endure it any longer, rose up.

The ministers, led by Left Prime Minister Ha Ryun, advocated for a ‘Joseon-Japan Alliance’ to King Taejong.

“Let’s rather form an alliance with Japan and engage in a decisive battle against Ming!”

However, their argument was rejected by King Taejong. King Taejong sent an envoy to Ming, offering to annihilate the Japanese pirates on the west coast and provide information on the Japanese pirates passing through the west coast to Ming, temporarily resolving the situation.

However, as the degree of Japanese pirate invasions became excessive, the conquest of Tsushima Island was carried out in the first year of King Sejong’s reign. (Note 2)

* * *

As Hyang listened to Lee Jik’s explanation, his expression gradually crumpled.

‘The Conquest of Japan Theory is the Conquest of Ming Passage Theory when reversed… Whether it’s the 21st century or now… Being pressured from all sides… ’

In the end, Hyang let out a long sigh and muttered.

“Phew~. Of all places to set up base, it had to be such a filthy… Gasp!”

Startled by the words that inadvertently slipped out, Hyang covered his mouth and looked at King Sejong.

King Sejong, who received Hyang’s gaze, also showed a bitter smile.

“Crown Prince, it is truly so. How did we end up establishing our base in such a filthy place…?”

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, Nokbong (Official Salary) section.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0012978

Note 2) Military Strategies of the Joseon Dynasty. Institute for Military History Compilation.

Chapter 229
Japan (2)

“As the situation surrounding our Joseon is like this, we need a solution to resolve it. I will give you five days. I hope that you, my ministers, will deliberate repeatedly and present good opinions.”

At King Sejong’s command, all the ministers bowed their heads and replied.

“We shall obey your order!”

After issuing the order to the ministers, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Crown Prince, the same goes for you.”

“I shall obey your command.”

* * *

Having received the order, Hyang returned to his office at the research institute and grumbled with pouted lips.

“Oh, goodness… I should just make a steam locomotive and be done with it…”

In Hyang’s mind, the issues related to Japan were the most difficult of challenges.

“Even the name of this country is problematic…”

The part Hyang mentioned was Japan’s official name.

Japan’s formal country name was ‘Nippon.’ Therefore, when looking at the records of official documents regarding envoys sent by the Bakufu’s shogun, it was always recorded as ‘Envoy of the King of Nippon.’

It was the same for Ming. When Ming sent envoys to Japan, the diplomatic letters they sent along always addressed the recipient as the ‘King of Nippon.’

However, both Ming and Joseon referred to them as ‘Wae’, dwarfs (倭) internally.

But this derogatory term was not only applied to Japan. Both Ming and Joseon had their own derogatory names.

Therefore, Hyang had no choice but to conclude by clicking his tongue.

“Tsk! This issue probably won’t be resolved until humanity goes extinct… Since ‘Waeguk’ rolls off the tongue better than ‘Ilbon,’ let’s keep calling it ‘Waeguk’ and… Let’s get to the main point, the main point…”

* * *

Hyang gathered his thoughts and immediately summarized the situation.

“First, the question is whether Japan’s current political system is truly beneficial to our Joseon.”

- Currently, Japan’s political system is the Bakufu system. The current Bakufu’s shogun, Ashikaga Yoshinori, has a firm grip on power. Rumor has it that he is carrying out quite a reign of terror, which is worrisome.

This was where Hyang’s prediction was correct. Looking at the history before Hyang’s intervention, this shogun eventually met his end through assassination.

- Even if we were to empower the Japanese Emperor, putting aside the feasibility, it would not benefit our Joseon at all.

If the central government of Japan became a mess, the Japanese pirates would immediately start rampaging.

- The parts our Joseon should be most concerned about are the safety of the coastal regions and the security of maritime trade routes.

- Relying solely on Joseon’s side is inefficient in securing this safety. Our Joseon must secure naval supremacy at least up to the northern regions of Kyushu.

Having summarized the situation thus far, Hyang sighed.

“All of this has been repeatedly mentioned before. It’s like beating a dead horse.”

To find a brilliant solution to the difficult problem, Hyang continued to ponder deeply.

- For Kyushu’s safety to be secured, the Kyushu Provincial Governor and the Ouchi clan must have control over Kyushu.

The second problem arises here. The Kyushu Provincial Governor is known to be loyal to the Bakufu, but the Ouchi clan is the issue.

- Looking at the records of Ouchi Moriharu, who currently rules the Ouchi clan, he rose to the position of ruler through internal strife. This suggests he is an ambitious individual.

- If we support him and the Ouchi clan becomes powerful, they may challenge the Bakufu’s authority.

- However, if we don’t support him, it becomes difficult to pursue our interests in the Kyushu region.

“Hmm…”

Having organized the situation up to this point, Hyang pondered his next move with his arms crossed, looking at the documents and maps.

“Should I mobilize the warships and wreak havoc on every single port?”

Hyang, who had considered an extreme method, immediately shook his head.

“There’s no justification. And if we do such a thing, it immediately leads to an all-out war with Japan. Joseon still lacks the capacity to handle an all-out war. Moreover, the number of warships is too small, so gaps will inevitably form.”

According to the records Hyang had read, the Japanese pirates who invaded Goryeo and Joseon mobilized large numbers of small and medium-sized ships rather than large ships. If the Japanese pirates started rampaging again and flocked with such small and medium-sized vessels as before, a complete blockade would be impossible.

The same applied to blockading Japan’s ports. The ports of this era were not like the ports of the 21st century, which required massive time and costs to rebuild if destroyed. As long as it was a place that could avoid waves and had a suitable depth for ships to dock, it could be used as a port anywhere.

Japanese ships were the same. Of course, it wasn’t that they didn’t require any cost at all, but compared to iron ships, they consumed less cost and time.

Hyang, who had been calculating the option of using force, shook his head.

“So, to resolve this situation, the army would eventually have to go in and occupy… Anyway, the army is a numbers game, and that’s our Joseon’s weakness.”

The population of Joseon during this period was slightly below 6 million. (Note 1)

However, Japan had a larger territory than Joseon and a larger population. And this situation had never been reversed.

Moreover, Hyang, who was accustomed to international news in the 21st century, had a negative view of military annexation.

“Even if they fight to the death among themselves inside, the ones invading from the outside are more hateful. If we’re not careful, we might exhaust ourselves trying to maintain the occupied territories, and the foundation might crumble.”

Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. The problem is that Japan is not Africa. England was lucky.”

This was Hyang’s misunderstanding.

* * *

Until the era of imperialism, most of the African continent operated on a tribal level. Therefore, England easily expanded its colonies by employing the tactic of ‘using barbarians to control barbarians.’ However, in places where national identity had already begun to emerge to some extent, they had to struggle quite a bit.

A prime example was the Anglo-Zulu War.

And entering the 20th century, they had to endure continuous resistance.

* * *

“If our Joseon wants to pursue military expansion, it’s an issue to consider after the population exceeds 10 million. 10 million… At least one generation (about 30 years) must pass.”

During this period in Joseon, it was not surprising to see grandchildren even in one’s 30s.

To put it bluntly, there were hardly any contraceptives, and childbirth occurred during the most fertile age. And until then, ‘high birth rate, high death rate’ was common due to hygiene issues, but it was steadily improving through Hyang’s intervention.

Therefore, Hyang had reached a conclusion through his own calculations.

“In the end, no matter what, we need to increase the population first. Only with a sufficient headcount can we do anything.”

* * *

“In conclusion, economic invasion is the best option after all. Although it is also risky, it’s still better than other methods.”

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang sighed again.

“Damn samurai… They always make things difficult!”

Having decided on the strategy, Hyang rummaged through the reports to find a suitable tactic – an economic tool.

“What would be appropriate… What…”

As Hyang was sifting through information related to Japan, he shook his head.

“They’re all rumors, and their freshness has deteriorated… The most recent one is from half a year ago…”

Hyang, who was complaining about the quality of information, took out a sheet of paper and grabbed a gold pen.

“The first thing to do is to establish a trading post on the Japanese mainland. Even if we overlook the reliability, the freshness deteriorates too much when it comes from across the sea.”

Hyang wrote ‘Establish Trading Post’ on the paper and unfolded a map. It was a map created by compiling information obtained through envoys sent by Joseon and merchants coming from Japan.

The map depicted the rough shapes of the three main islands of Japan, and the names of the clans governing those regions and the names of major areas were marked.

“Hmm… Where would be good?”

Hyang examined the map as if he were selecting an item from a display case.

Hyang’s behavior seemed to suggest that a trading post could be established anywhere in Japan.

However, this was not Hyang’s arrogance.

As the reforms progressed, the level of Joseon’s commerce and industry, especially the craftsmen, had improved by leaps and bounds. The products they made, from high-end items with five golden plum blossoms attached to straw shoes made by a neighborhood craftsman, were rapidly improving in quality.

As a result, merchants from Ming and Japan were eagerly buying Joseon’s goods. While Ming’s merchants mainly purchased high-end products, Japan’s merchants bought low- to mid-priced products in large quantities.

Although they were low- to mid-priced goods, considering Japan’s technological level, they could reap significant profits beyond sufficiency.

Therefore, Hyang was confident about establishing a trading post. There would be no foolish Japanese lords who would miss out on the benefits of having a trading post in their territory.

“No, considering the temperament of the Japanese, there might be such people.”

Hyang examined the map with a more serious expression.

After scouring the map for a while, Hyang focused on one location.

“Nagato would be good. It’s under the control of the Ouchi clan, so it’s convenient to observe the situation…”

As Hyang was examining the map, he snapped his fingers upon seeing the region east of Nagato.

“I forgot about this region! If we play our cards right, we can control the Ouchi clan!”

The place Hyang pointed to was labeled as ‘Iwami’ on the map. In Japanese, it was called ‘Iwami.’

It was the location of a mine known as Japan’s largest silver mine from the Sengoku period to the Edo period.

Having confirmed Iwami, Hyang rummaged through the relevant reports to assess the situation.

“There are rumors of a silver mine, but no rumors of full-scale development.”

Reading the record, Hyang showed a puzzled expression.

“Huh? In the novels I read in the 21st century, this was the place that had to be seized no matter what. Because of the immense silver mine. But why not yet?”

The Iwami silver mine began full-scale development in 1526, nearly 100 years from now.

However, unaware of that fact, Hyang came up with the most plausible reason.

“With Japan’s current metal smelting level, it must have been difficult to dig deep…”

This was somewhat true.

Japan’s technological level did not surpass Joseon’s until they brought a large number of Joseon’s craftsmen during the Japanese invasions of Korea.

* * *

Hyang, who had written down the location for establishing a trading post and the Iwami silver mine on the paper, muttered with his arms crossed.

“This is a bit lacking… Is there any good card?”

While Hyang was pondering for a suitable card to persuade the Japanese lords, a eunuch’s voice was heard from outside.

“Your Highness, someone has come from Area 51.”

“Let them in.”

After a brief moment, an official entered and bowed to Hyang.

“What is the matter?”

“Your Highness, the cotton gin you had ordered has finally been completed.”

At the official’s report, Hyang’s face lit up brightly.

“That’s truly great news! Please give me the report!”

“Here it is, Your Highness.”

Hyang quickly received the report from the official and swiftly examined its contents.

After reviewing the report, Hyang issued an order to the official.

“Tell those involved that they have done a great job, and prepare rewards according to the internal regulations.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As the official left, Hyang clenched his fist.

“A fantastic card has arrived! The race begins!”

With a confident smile, Hyang added a sentence to the paper.

- Cotton cultivation commission.

Having written the sentence, Hyang showed a self-assured expression.

“With the completion of the cotton gin and the success of large-scale cotton cultivation, cotton fabric will become cost-effective! And…”

Pausing for a moment, Hyang glared at the map of Japan.

“The first button will be fastened to make Japan’s economy dependent on our Joseon!”

* * *

Note 1) Korea’s History from an Economist’s Perspective (13), The Korea Economic Daily. 2014.05.19
https://www.hankyung.com/news/article/2014051670741

Chapter 230
Japan (3)

Five days later, King Sejong asked the ministers.

“So, have you devised a plan to resolve the situation surrounding our Joseon, especially Japan?”

At King Sejong’s question, Chief State Councillor Lee Jik stepped forward.

“The high-ranking officials have gathered and deliberated, and we have come up with a plan to some extent.”

“Is that so? Please explain it.”

At King Sejong’s words, Lee Jik gestured to an official seated behind him. The official brought forward a large map depicting parts of Joseon and Japan on a scroll.

“In our opinion, forcefully annexing Japan is an overreach. However, it is also evident that leaving Japan alone will become a source of constant concern for our Joseon. Therefore, we must tame Japan.”

‘Why is the prologue so long?’

Hyang, who was grumbling inwardly at Lee Jik’s words, glanced at King Sejong’s face.

‘Oh no! His blood pressure is rising!’

At Lee Jik’s presentation, which followed the lengthy classical style, King Sejong’s expression was gradually turning fierce. Finally, King Sejong interrupted Lee Jik.

“That’s true… So?”

Realizing that King Sejong’s tone was unusual, Lee Jik hurriedly got to the main point.

“Therefore, we believe the most appropriate course of action is to first establish Tsushima Island under our Joseon’s effective control and support the lords in Japan who are favorable to us to expand our influence!”

At Lee Jik’s answer, King Sejong softened his expression and stroked his beard.

After briefly reflecting on Lee Jik’s statement, King Sejong asked Lee Jik.

“I know Tsushima Island is subservient to us, but it is also subservient to Japan. If we exert effective control, will Japan remain silent?”

The issue of Tsushima Island’s dual subservience was known to all three countries in Northeast Asia. Therefore, if mishandled, it could escalate into an international problem.

At King Sejong’s point, Lee Jik promptly replied.

“Of course, if we claim it as Joseon’s territory right now, there will be a conflict. However, we can rule it without making it our territory.”

At Lee Jik’s frank answer, King Sejong briefly asked.

“How?”

Lee Jik gestured to the official standing next to the map. As the official turned the page, a large map depicting Tsushima Island appeared.

Lee Jik pointed at the map with a pointer and continued his explanation.

“We will demand the cession of Asama Bay, where our Joseon army first set up camp during the last conquest of Tsushima, and the Ofunakoshi area on the opposite side as naval ports.”

“What’s the justification?”

“The Asama Bay area is for patrolling and protecting the route from Dongnae to Japan, and the Ofunakoshi area is for patrolling and protecting the route from Japan, especially Kyushu, to Dongnae.”

“Not bad.”

King Sejong, who was nodding at Lee Jik’s answer, immediately found a problem.

“But will the Lord of Tsushima agree?”

“Given the current situation in Tsushima, the Lord will surely agree.”

“Hmm…”

At Lee Jik’s answer, King Sejong tried to recall.

* * *

Although the conquest of Tsushima had dampened the momentum of the Japanese pirates, Joseon did not stop being vigilant towards Tsushima.

This intensified as the reforms progressed, as the composition of Japanese merchants residing in the Japanese settlement had changed.

Over time, merchants from Kyushu began to dominate, while most of the merchants were originally from Tsushima.

This was not a natural change. Joseon sought out even the slightest flaw to expel merchants from Tsushima and give their positions to Japanese merchants from other regions.

As a result, Tsushima had no choice but to rely on the intermediary trade conducted by the few remaining merchants and the grain provided by Joseon.

* * *

“Hmm… It might be possible…”

King Sejong muttered while nodding his head.

Hyang, who was watching this from the side, had the same reaction.

‘Amazing! These gentlemen thought of such a move! I was thinking of a policy of starvation through economic blockade and isolation… ’

* * *

Hyang also knew that Tsushima was a thorn in the side. As a method to solve this problem, Hyang was assuming the use of force.

“The problem is finding a justification…”

To accumulate justification for the use of force, Hyang had thought of a method that the United States had frequently employed in the 21st century – economic sanctions.

Noticing that the area controlled by the Ouchi clan was the northern part of Kyushu and the Chugoku region of Japan, Hyang had considered a complete economic blockade of Tsushima.

- Make the Ouchi clan the main trading partner and thoroughly exclude Tsushima. This will corner Tsushima.

- The moment the threshold is crossed, Tsushima will try to use force – the Japanese pirates. The moment they use force, it becomes a good justification for the conquest of Tsushima.

- Complement the parts missed in the last conquest of Tsushima and firmly make Tsushima Joseon’s territory.

- Profit!

This was Hyang’s plan.

However, the method devised by the ministers, led by Lee Jik, was less economically burdensome than Hyang’s method and more fatal.

As Lee Jik had mentioned, Tsushima’s current situation was at its worst.

‘It’s as serious as when the boycott movement occurred in the 21st century.’

With most of the island being mountainous, Tsushima could not survive independently.

Therefore, Tsushima had to rely on intermediary trade. However, as both Goryeo and Japan fell into turmoil, intermediary trade became impossible, and they began to engage in piracy, symbolized by the Japanese pirates.

However, as mentioned earlier, with the conquest of Tsushima and the progress of the reforms, the Japanese pirates were suppressed, and Tsushima was gradually declining as it was pushed out of the trading market.

* * *

“It seems like a good method, but is it feasible? If I were the Lord of Tsushima, I wouldn’t easily accept it no matter how dire the situation.”

“There is a way to make them accept.”

“There’s a way?”

Lee Jik answered with a confident expression.

“Yes. We can use two things. One is the port usage fee, and the other is the monopoly office.”

“I understand the port usage fee, but using the monopoly office? How?”

“Tsushima is subservient to Joseon. Therefore, legally speaking, the Japanese of Tsushima are our Joseon’s people. Consequently, there is no problem in establishing and using a monopoly office.”

King Sejong nodded at Lee Jik’s explanation.

“Not bad. So, what amount are you considering for the port usage fee?”

“50 nyang of silver per month for the two locations combined.”

“50 nyang of silver?”

“The white rice bestowed upon the Lord of Tsushima is 100 seom per year.(Note 1) The Lord of Tsushima will surely agree.”

At Lee Jik’s explanation, King Sejong recalled the information he had received regarding prices. Although there were fluctuations depending on the harvest and prices were gradually rising recently, the price of one seom of white rice was roughly between 1 and 1.5 nyang of silver.

As King Sejong showed a positive response, Lee Jik spoke with emphasis.

“However, the usage fee paid to the Lord of Tsushima will not be in actual silver but in paper money, and the transactions at the monopoly office will also be conducted only in currency.”

At Lee Jik’s words, King Sejong burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! If that happens, Tsushima will have no choice but to obey our Joseon without using force. Excellent! Regarding Tsushima, implement that plan!”

At King Sejong’s decision, all the ministers bowed and replied.

“We shall obey your command!”

* * *

With the matter of Tsushima settled, King Sejong moved on to the next topic.

“Now that Tsushima is taken care of… What are your thoughts on dealing with the Japanese mainland?”

“As I mentioned earlier, we have decided to move in the direction of encroaching on Japan’s economy (gyeongse)(Note 2) based on the lords who are favorable to our Joseon. We are still deliberating on the means to achieve this.”

At Lee Jik’s honest answer, King Sejong nodded.

“It is indeed not an easy task. Taking control of a country’s livelihood.”

As King Sejong gently moved on, the ministers all bowed their heads.

“We will do our utmost!”

After the ministers’ response, Hyang spoke up.

“I have also deliberated on something. May I speak of it?”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong’s face lit up.

“Oh? I permit it! Speak quickly.”

With King Sejong’s permission, Hyang moved to the scroll where the map was hanging.

“Let’s see…”

Hyang found the complete map of Japan after flipping through a few pages and began his explanation.

“I also had similar thoughts to the ministers. So I came up with a few ideas. First, the method that can be implemented the soonest is here.”

Pointing to Nagato on the map, Hyang continued.

“Establishing a trading post in Nagato.”

“A trading post?”

“Yes. Looking at Nagato, it can be directly reached from Dongnae without going through Tsushima. And it’s the territory of the Ouchi clan, who are friendly with us.”

“I see.”

As King Sejong nodded, Kim Jeom raised a question.

“If a trading post is opened in Nagato, won’t the number of Japanese merchants visiting Joseon decrease? The tax revenue will decrease. On the contrary, we will have to pay trading post taxes to the Ouchi clan, so expenditures will increase.”

“Of course, that aspect exists. However, if we look at the Japanese merchants entering our Joseon, half of them are indeed merchants, but shouldn’t we consider the other half as spies? And aren’t the problems caused by the warriors who entered under the pretext of escorting the merchants also significant? If the number of Japanese merchants decreases, the number of warriors will also decrease, reducing the burden on public order. And conversely, can’t we also send merchants to learn about the situation in Japan more quickly?”

“That’s true.”

While Kim Jeom was nodding, Jo Mal-saeng exclaimed in admiration.

“That is indeed true! It’s a brilliant move!”

‘If this gentleman gets too excited, he might even clap like a seal!’

Hyang, who responded to Jo Mal-saeng’s flattery with a slight bow, continued.

“The number of Japanese merchants visiting Joseon may decrease, but it won’t completely disappear. Not all of our Joseon’s products are available at the trading post. Japanese merchants will continue to visit the Japanese settlement to find products they need that are not available at the trading post.”

The ministers nodded at those words. It was a situation they had already become accustomed to through the trading post established in Shandong. Although the scale of the trading post established in Shandong was enormous, not all of Joseon’s products were available there. Therefore, a considerable number of merchants from Ming consistently visited Jemulpo.

“This is the first proposal. The second proposal is right here.”

Hyang pointed to Iwami and continued.

“A place called Iwami. According to the records, there is a silver mine here. As if the gods and spirits are aiding us, this place is also under the control of the Ouchi clan. Therefore, we will develop the silver mine together with the Ouchi clan.”

As soon as the words “silver mine” were mentioned, the eyes of King Sejong and the ministers began to sparkle fiercely.

‘Goodness! Look at those eyes! They’re piercing!’

Observing the eyes that seemed to emit lasers rather than just sparkle, Hyang continued.

“We will provide the mining tools, and in return, we will directly employ the Japanese to develop the mine. The ore extracted in this way will be divided between the Ouchi clan and us in an appropriate ratio.”

“What is the reason for directly employing the Japanese?”

“To pay wages to the employed Japanese. Once they have wealth in their hands, they will naturally spend it.”

At Hyang’s answer, Kim Jeom showed a regretful expression.

“If we could establish a monopoly office there, we could make a significant profit…”

“We will establish a monopoly office.”

“What do you mean? It’s possible with Tsushima since they are subservient to us, but that place is the Japanese mainland. Although the Ouchi clan is friendly with us, claiming their roots are in Baekje, is that even possible?”

“We will send Joseon mining technicians. Around 100 people. Of course, this includes their families and the troops to protect them.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong and the ministers collectively exclaimed in admiration.

“Aha!”

The justification was sufficient. What could they say about establishing a monopoly office for Joseon people? Of course, they could find fault and prevent the Japanese from using that monopoly office, but there was always a backdoor everywhere.

* * *

Note 1) According to the Gyehae Treaty signed with the Lord of Tsushima in the 25th year of King Sejong’s reign (1443), 200 seok of annual tribute rice and beans were given to the Lord of Tsushima. This is the author’s imagination based on that information.

Note 2) The word “gyeongje” is known to be a shortened form of “gyeongsejemin” (governing the world and saving the people). It is said that the word “gyeongje” acquired the meaning of “economy” as we know it in the late 19th century, originating from Japan. Therefore, in the text, the word “gyeongse” is continuously used instead of “gyeongje.”

https://www.korean.go.kr/nkview/nklife/2000_1/2000_0111.pdf

Chapter 231
Japan (4)

Hyang’s proposal to mine silver in Ouchi’s territory received a favorable response.

However, they never forgot to point out anticipated problems, rather than unconditionally agreeing.

Heo Jo began first.

“Will Ōuchi really agree to this?”

In response to this point, Hyang answered immediately.

“Since starting regular trade, the Ōuchi clan has reaped great benefits. They will not refuse.”

“What if the Ashikaga clan blocks it?”

Minister of Rites answered on Hyang’s behalf regarding Heo Jo’s question.

“Although the Ōuchi clan has the shogun’s trust, they are not completely loyal to the bakufu.”

“Is there a reason?”

“As trade with the Ōuchi clan increased, we received a lot of news. While organizing this information, we uncovered the reason… It’s due to how the previous lord of the Ōuchi clan died.”

“Was he poisoned?”

Minister of Rites explained the reason in response to Heo Jo’s query.

“When the previous lord was alive, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who led the bakufu at the time, provoked a rebellion and the lord died.”

* * *

Ōuchi Yoshihiro, the 25th lord, was expanding his power, succeeding the previous generation. However, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the 3rd shogun, began to keep Ōuchi’s growth in check.

To thwart Ōuchi’s rise, Yoshimitsu schemed using a new villa he built in Kyoto.

“Send landscaping trees to the villa I recently constructed!”

At Yoshimitsu’s command, the other lords all sent gifts, but Yoshihiro refused.

Using this as a pretext, Yoshimitsu and Yoshihiro clashed. Yoshihiro, allied with lords resentful of Yoshimitsu’s tyranny, engaged Yoshimitsu’s forces in battle at Osaka Sakai.

In this battle, Yoshihiro was hit by an arrow and died, resulting in defeat. Ōuchi’s ambitions for hegemony were frustrated.

* * *

“So they don’t like the bakufu?”

“There’s more to the story. Yoshimitsu seized most of their territory, granting Nagato and Suō Provinces to the deceased lord’s brother. However, the current lord, another brother, objected to this decision and had to wage an internecine conflict. Now, the present lord strives to regain their former glory.”

Heo Jo continued to press for details after the Minister of Rites’s explanation.

“Are you certain of this?”

“Their advance into northern Kyūshū is proof. The Ministry of Rites judges that his loyalty to the bakufu was to obtain the position of tandai[1] in the northern Kyūshū region. As tandai, he would hold military and taxation authority.”

After hearing the Minister of Rites’s explanation, Heo Jo stroked his beard.

“Someone who feigns obedience while plotting betrayal… This is a bit…”

Having heard about Ōuchi Masahiro, the current head of the Ōuchi clan, Heo Jo showed a negative reaction. Heo Jo stepped forward and spoke to Sejong.

“Your Majesty, I believe we must reconsider partnering with the Ōuchi clan. Based on the Ministry of Rites’ explanation, he seems to be a duplicitous figure.”

“Hmm…”

At Heo Jo’s words, Sejong sank into thought, stroking his beard. Seeing this, Hyang interjected.

“What if we look at it from a different perspective?”

“A different perspective?”

Hyang’s remark drew the attention of Sejong and the ministers.

“While he could be seen as two-faced, couldn’t he also be considered as someone biding his time for vengeance?”

“Hmm… Perhaps…”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words. Noting Sejong’s reaction, Hyang continued his explanation.

“His ambition, with military and taxation authority over Kyūshū, could benefit us. To attempt something grand, the first thing one must secure is funding. The Iwami silver mines will become his most crucial financial resource, so he will ensure that Kyoto’s eyes remain blind to it.”

“I see.”

“Such a scheme…”

Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words.

It was no ordinary mine, but a silver mine. If the bakufu discovered this, they would not remain idle. To prevent such an occurrence, Ōuchi would do his utmost, which was not a bad thing for Joseon.

“To elaborate further, there is a saying in the art of war: ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ Also, Kyoto is too far. They know little of Joseon, and we, too, know little of them.”

Sejong and the ministers nodded again at Hyang’s point.

After briefly wetting his throat, Hyang continued.

“Even in terms of national defense, the Ōuchi clan is a good match for us. I reiterate, Kyoto is distant. But Kyūshū is close at hand. We can quickly learn of and prepare for any developments in Kyūshū.”

“Isn’t that the same for the Ōuchi clan?”

Hyang nodded at Heo Jo’s point.

“Correct. That’s why it’s even better. As our Joseon navy’s ships come and go, the Ōuchi clan will witness the might of Joseon with their own eyes. As you said, whether he is a man who ‘feigns obedience while plotting betrayal’ or one ‘biding his time for vengeance,’ such a person will coldly assess the situation. If being on good terms with Joseon benefits him and he cannot surpass our military strength, he will maintain friendly relations with us and handle matters in Wa on our behalf.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Heo Jo nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

Hyang’s words were undoubtedly correct. The most significant characteristic of duplicitous individuals was ‘swallowing the sweet and spitting out the bitter.’ As long as allying with Joseon proved advantageous, the Ōuchi clan would become their greatest collaborator.

‘If Joseon continues to grow as it is now, the Ōuchi clan will have no choice but to rely on us.’

Having made his judgment, Heo Jo reported to Sejong.

“I believe the Crown Prince’s words are correct. An old saying goes, ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’ Though the Ōuchi clan may be two-faced, having them in plain sight will make them a good match for Joseon.”

“Your words are wise.”

With Sejong’s reply, the Ōuchi clan was chosen as their partner.

* * *

Having overcome one hurdle, another obstacle emerged.

Kim Jeom asked about the aspect he was most interested in.

“Then, what would be an appropriate distribution ratio?”

“8 to 2. With Joseon taking 8.”

At Hyang’s answer, everyone from Sejong to the ministers squinted at Hyang.

Sejong and the ministers were already well-accustomed to Hyang.

“Speak of the real distribution ratio we must secure, not the bait. Time is precious.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang slightly pouted his lips.

‘8 to 2 is the best!’

However, Hyang knew very well.

‘The problem is that ratio is just asking to be called a bandit… ’

“The optimum is 65% to 35%. The line we must defend at all costs is 6 to 4. Since we are providing all the prospecting and mining technicians, as well as the tools, we must uphold this ratio.”

“Sounds reasonable…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to transport refined silver ingots rather than ore?”

Kim Jeom fiercely retorted to the Minister of Public and Works’ suggestion.

“Are you saying we should hand over silver refining techniques to them?”

“Ah… That was a slip of the tongue.”

“No wonder you passed the civil service exam with a eulgwa[2]…”

When Kim Jeom started attacking using past exam results, the Minister of Public Works burst out angrily.

“Lord Kim!”

“Did I say anything wrong?”

“Grrr…”

The Minister of Public Works ground his teeth at Kim Jeom’s innocent response.

After Sejong’s royal command prohibiting mentioning parents during arguments, the ministers began using civil service exam results as a source for personal attacks.

The fatal effect of this attack was the difficulty in responding. It was not as unethical as inquiring about one’s parents’ well-being and merely dug at facts.

‘Defamation by stating facts doesn’t exist in this era!’

As Hyang was muttering while observing the Minister of Public Works’ reddening face, Sejong intervened.

“Lord Kim, your words were a bit harsh.”

“I am deeply humbled.”

“And Minister, I ask that you think a bit more carefully.”

“I am deeply humbled!”

‘Lord Kim wins!’

As Sejong stepped in to handle the situation, Hyang continued.

“Of course, transporting refined silver ingots instead of ore could improve efficiency. However, as Lord Kim said, there is a high risk of refining techniques being leaked. Moreover, there is another reason why we must bring in ore. Silver ore often has lead and tin mixed in. For Joseon, lead and tin are essential minerals.”

Lead was widely used as a material for bullets and soldering. Tin was an indispensable ingredient in making copper alloys.

In the end, it was decided that Hyang’s opinions would be heavily reflected in formulating plans regarding the silver mines.

* * *

With the silver matter settled, Sejong asked Hyang.

“Do you happen to have any other proposals? I’m asking just in case.”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers turned to Hyang.

‘If he comes up with something else here, the Crown Prince is not human!’

‘Please, don’t make us feel inadequate!’

However, Hyang’s answer betrayed the ministers’ hopes.

“I have one more.”

“Oh! Is that so? Quickly, tell me!”

Sejong was delighted, while the ministers inwardly sighed.

‘His Majesty will scold us for not keeping up with our age again!’

‘They say the heavens are fair!’

‘Ugh! What a filthy world!’

The ministers were making complaints that the commoners outside Gyeongbok Palace would curse at for 3 or 4 days if they heard.

Anyway, at Sejong’s command, Hyang promptly replied.

“Cotton.”

“Cotton?”

“Yes. The low sales of the wide cloth produced by the merchant groups this time were because the people were unsatisfied with the prices.”

“I received a report.”

“The issue with the price was not due to merchants adding high margins. It was because the price of raw cotton was expensive. And the reason cotton is expensive is that few cultivate it.”

After Mun Ik-jeom introduced cotton in the late Goryeo period, the cultivation area for cotton had been gradually increasing. However, hemp cloth was still the norm for the people of Joseon.

Because cotton was so precious, cotton cloth was used in place of currency.

This was precisely the point Hyang was making.

“To endure the cold Joseon winters, cotton padding is essential. However, because cotton is scarce, the padding is also scarce. And in order to stay warm during winter, people burn a lot of fires, making wood precious. To break this vicious cycle, we need cotton in large quantities.”

Kim Jeom interjected at Hyang’s words.

“In that case, shouldn’t we mass-produce it in Joseon instead of Wa? Then we wouldn’t needlessly give wealth to Wa.”

“Then where will we grow grain?”

“Ah…”

Kim Jeom closed his mouth with an awkward expression at Hyang’s retort. Seeing this, the Minister of Public Works showed a gratified expression.

“Won’t Wa face the same food problem?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question with a grin.

“Can’t they just sell it for money? They can buy it cheaply from the Jiangnan region of Ming and sell it.”

“It’s a good answer, but… The people of Japan will dislike it.”

The ministers nodded at Sejong’s point. If they were told to grow cotton instead of the crops they had been farming and to buy the grain they needed to eat immediately with money, there would not be a single farmer who would be happy.

In response to Sejong’s words, Hyang presented an alternative.

“Do we have to be the ones selling it? Can’t the lords of Wa sell it? Joseon can simply purchase and deliver it. For the lords, it’s an easy way to make money sitting down, so they will be thrilled.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong and the ministers had the same thought.

‘How devious!’

1. is a Kamakura and Muromachi period colloquialism for any very important governmental, judiciary or military post in a determinate area.[↩]

2. The second-tier group in the Joseon civil service examination results, below *gapkwa* (甲科), the top-tier group.[↩]

Chapter 232
Japan (5)

Although Sejong and the ministers shuddered at Hyang’s deviousness, they also thought his method was the best course of action.

Hyang continued his explanation.

“In the process of recruiting Japanese to work in the mines and cultivate cotton, we will try to exclude the Japanese lords as much as possible.”

At Hyang’s words, Maeng Sa-seong immediately asked a question.

“Does excluding the Japanese lords mean that Joseon will directly recruit the workers?”

“In principle, yes. Once we obtain permission from the Japanese lords, Joseon will step in and make the contracts from then on.”

In response to Hyang’s answer, Sejong expressed his doubts.

“Will the lords allow it?”

“We just need to create a justification. ‘We will personally select diligent workers.’ Isn’t that a good reason? They will profit by collecting taxes from the wages we pay.”

“That’s true.”

As Sejong nodded, Hyang made a meaningful remark.

“Lords who can see the big picture will rise to greatness, while the petty ones will shorten their own lives.”

Sejong and the ministers, after briefly pondering the meaning of Hyang’s words, shook their heads.

‘So devious!’

‘How cold!’

Amidst their head shaking, the Minister of Rites pointed out a problem.

“But if we do this, won’t too much power be concentrated in the Ōuchi clan? If we’re not careful…”

Hyang promptly responded to the Minister of Rites’ concern.

“I don’t plan on entrusting this to the Ōuchi clan.”

“Then who?”

“Isn’t there Minamoto no Michisada, the Kyūshū Tandai?”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong and the ministers all exclaimed in admiration.

“Aha!”

* * *

Hyang, who had selected Minamoto no Michisada as the second lord to bring under Joseon’s influence, explained his reasoning.

“First, Michisada is an outsider directly appointed by the bakufu. If Joseon wins over such a person, we can expand our influence against the bakufu.”

In response to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong asked a question.

“What kind of person is Michisada?”

The Minister of Rites stepped forward to answer Sejong’s query.

“According to our investigation, his original surname is Shibukawa. He originally ruled Bitchū and Aki Provinces but was appointed as the Kyūshū Tandai. After being appointed Kyūshū Tandai, he was ordered by the bakufu to govern Hizen Province and has established his base in Chikuzen and Hakata.”

“How are his relations with neighboring regions?”

“The reason the bakufu dispatched Michisada was to strengthen its control over Kyūshū. And in recognition of his merits, it was decided that the Shibukawa clan would inherit the position of Kyūshū Tandai.”

Sejong immediately grasped the meaning of the Minister of Rites’ answer.

“In other words, their relationship is not good.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. He is particularly in constant conflict with the Shōni clan, who originally ruled Hizen and the surrounding areas. Moreover, the Shōni clan is suspected to be the mastermind behind the Wokou pirates who troubled Goryeo since the late period.”

“Is that so?”

Sejong’s voice following the Minister of Rites’ words had turned bitterly cold.

The Ministry of Rites’ speculation that the Shōni clan was behind the Wokou had considerable basis.

The biggest evidence was that the Sō clan, the lords of Tsushima Island, were under the Shōni clan.

The second piece of evidence was that conflicts between the Shōni clan and the Muromachi bakufu intensified as the bakufu began to take full control of Kyūshū, and from then on, the appearances of the Wokou (Japanese pirates) became more frequent.(Note 1)

When the ‘Wokou’ were mentioned, Sejong immediately made up his mind.

“Strengthening the Minamoto clan’s power will benefit Joseon.”

Hyang immediately followed up on Sejong’s words.

“If we can get both the Ōuchi and Minamoto clans in our hands, we can control the regions of Kyūshū and the main island of Japan that are closest to Joseon.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong looked at the map hanging on the stand. Connecting the areas Hyang and the Minister of Rites had just mentioned would create a defensive line blocking the sea routes heading toward Joseon.

With his mind made up, Sejong turned to the ministers.

“I will tell you, my subjects.”

“We are listening with utmost attention.”

“Handle Tsushima Island as you have suggested, and for Kyūshū, proceed based on the Crown Prince’s plan.”

“We shall obey your command!”

“If this strategy succeeds, not only can Joseon break free from the threat of the Wokou, but we can also subjugate Japan, the home base of the Wokou, so we must ensure its success.”

“We will engrave it in our bones and minds!”

Thus began the operation named ‘Laughing While Concealing a Knife.’

* * *

Once Sejong’s determination was set, things progressed rapidly.

“I believe securing the navy’s strength is most important for this operation to truly succeed. I ask the Crown Prince, how is the production of the high-speed Haeung-class warships going?”

Hyang promptly answered Sejong’s question.

“We are currently constructing the third warship. The shipyards are being expanded, and the craftsmen are becoming more skilled. By the end of this year, we should be able to complete about eight ships.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, Sejong immediately made some calculations.

‘The warships to be deployed to Murung Island… And the training of the naval forces to board the warships… The time it will take to build the naval base and port on Murung Island… ’

“It will take at least three years for the facilities on Murung Island to function properly, right?”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong looked at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Can the turtle ships handle the South Sea until the Haeung ships are deployed?”

“If we can properly deal with Tsushima Island, it will be more than enough.”

Jo Mal-saeng answered immediately.

There was a basis for Jo Mal-saeng’s answer. The Joint Chiefs of Staff had previously devised plans and conducted map exercises under the premise of using military force against Japan.

With favorable winds, it only took a day to travel from Dongnae to Tsushima Island. Therefore, even with just the turtle ships, they could exert sufficient deterrence.

Hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Sejong showed a relieved expression.

“Phew~. That’s fortunate. Very fortunate. Then, we can start the operations against Tsushima and Kyūshū as soon as possible. The Ministry of Rites shall select the envoys to send to Tsushima, the Ōuchi clan, and the Minamoto clan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I trust you understand the importance of this matter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sejong did not forget to urge the Minister of Rites.

* * *

Sejong showed particular interest in selecting the envoys. As a result, the Minister of Rites had a harrowing experience. And the reprimands continued.

“They’ve already been rejected twice! Do they not want to do their job properly?!”

“I, I apologize.”

Whenever the Minister of Rites’ shouts rang out, the officials of the Ministry of Rites became docile and apologized profusely.

They selected candidates they deemed suitable, created a list of names, and submitted it to Sejong along with their performance evaluation reports.

“Here is the list of names we consider suitable to send as envoys this time. Please select from among them.”

At the Minister of Rites’ words, Sejong placed the list on one side of his desk and replied.

“I will do it as quickly as possible.”

“Pardon?”

The Minister of Rites involuntarily raised his head to look at Sejong, surprised by his response after urging him so hastily.

In response to the Minister of Rites’ reaction, Sejong pointed to the documents piled on his desk and explained his reason.

“As the Minister of Rites can see, there are many matters that require immediate resolution. Also, considering the importance of this matter, I want to carefully examine the envoys.”

“Ah, yes… I understand.”

The Minister of Rites answered Sejong’s words and left Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

And five days later, Sejong summoned the Minister of Rites.

“None of them pass.”

“Pardon?”

Sejong explained the reasons for failing the candidates one by one.

“They all seem capable, but their mouths are too loose.”

“Pardon?”

“Rumors are rampant in the alleys of Hanseong. They say that when these people get drunk, everyone in Hanseong learns about the court’s affairs.”

“Ah…”

“What is most important in this matter? Isn’t it to conceal our intentions as much as possible?”

At Sejong’s point, the Minister of Rites bowed his head.

“I will select the candidates again.”

“Work hard.”

The Minister of Rites, having been rejected by Sejong, once again selected candidates and submitted them to Sejong.

And he was rejected by Sejong again. What made it worse was that among the candidates put forward, there were some with suspicions of taking bribes.

“I had warned you before, yet another person who took bribes has appeared! Not only that, but you recommended such a person to me? Minister of Rites! Do you lack discernment to that extent?!”

“Please have me killed!”

This was why the Minister of Rites, after being severely reprimanded, was now urging his subordinates.

“Where did you keep your eyes and ears to select a bribe-taker as a candidate?! Do you know how much I was scolded by His Majesty?! Should I have to be scolded at this age?!”

“We, we apologize!”

“Select them again immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Someone capable, tight-lipped, and not crooked!”

“Yes, sir!”

As soon as they answered, the officials who left the Minister of Rites’ room let out a long sigh. After catching their breath to some extent, the officials discussed the criteria.

“Find someone capable, tight-lipped, and not crooked? Does such a person even exist?”

“Ever since they weeded out people over the bribery issue before, there are quite a few who aren’t crooked, but the first two are the problem…”

“No, that’s not it. There are many capable people, but the problem is finding someone tight-lipped. Is there anyone in the court these days who can keep a secret?”

At their colleague’s words, the officials quietly nodded their heads.

* * *

What loosened the lips of those working in the court was alcohol. Officials suffering from overwork relieved their stress by drinking hard liquor at gisaeng houses.

As they drank hard liquor and got drunk quickly and heavily, all sorts of words they had kept inside burst out.

It started lightly with lamenting the hardships of work and went as far as boasting about the tasks they were in charge of.

The real problem was that among the words that spilled out, there were many confidential matters.

Even those who would rather die than open their mouths when sober had lips lighter than feathers after a bottle of the famous hard liquor called hongjoo (red wine).

And all these incidents were reported to Sejong by the secret royal inspectors, and Sejong was creating his own personnel evaluation reports.

* * *

The grumbling officials clicked their tongues as they watched the military officers from the Office of the Inspector General rush in.

“The number of human pillars at the Office of Records will increase again.”

“You’re right about that. How did they end up taking bribes?”

“Foolish fellows…”

As they were grumbling, the Minister of Rites’ voice rang out from behind them.

“Hurry up and get to work! Do you want to become pillars too?!”

“Yes, sir! We’ll do it, we will!”

And so, the Ministry of Rites selected new envoy candidates and submitted them to Sejong.

“This is the third time… Are you confident?”

In response to Sejong’s doubtful question, the Minister of Rites answered while sweating profusely.

“We did our best!”

‘They say the third time’s the charm! Please!’

“Hmm… Leave it and go.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Five days later, Sejong summoned the Minister of Rites.

“Form the envoy groups with those I have selected.”

“I shall obey your command!”

The Minister of Rites’ steps as he left with Sejong’s order were as light as if he could fly to the sky.

Fifteen days later, Cheongjin.

As the development of the northeast region progressed, Hwang Hui’s governor-general’s office also moved up to Cheongjin.

“Jong-seo~.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’ll have to go on a business trip to Kyūshū.”

“Kyūshū?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jong-seo turned his head to the map hanging on the wall.

“I’ve heard the name Kyūshū before…”

“Not this Kyūshū, the one across the sea.”

Kim Jong-seo asked with a pale face at Hwang Hui’s words.

“Kyūshū across the sea? Don’t tell me… Are you talking about Kyūshū Island in Japan?”

“That’s right.”

“When I go on a boat, I get severe seasickness…”

“Don’t worry. The royal physicians will go with you.”

“I get terrible motion sickness even with slight waves…”

“What about that fishing trip you went on with me last time? Is the East Sea a lake?”

“Sir…”

“Shut up and pack your bags right now!”

* * *

Note 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dni_clan

Chapter 233
Japan (6)

On his way back to Hanseong, Kim Jong-seo’s complaints were ceaseless.

“What kind of official’s life is like a floating weed? Going north, going south…”

Kim Jong-seo, grumbling like this, returned to Hanseong.

After arriving in Hanseong, Kim Jong-seo stopped by the Ministry of Rites as per the orders he received.

“Huh? Isn’t it Ji-bong?”

“Oh? Jeol-jae! Long time no see!”

Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo, who ran into each other at the Ministry of Rites, greeted each other with pleased faces.

As the two conversed with laughter, an official from the Ministry of Rites came out and guided them to a large room.

In the large room, those who would participate in the envoy group to Japan this time had gathered.

Shortly after, the Minister of Rites, who entered the room, asked the official who had entered first.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes.”

“Good work.”

The Minister of Rites, after lightly complimenting him, opened his mouth as he looked at those gathered in the room.

“The reason I gathered you all here today is that we must soon send envoys to Japan.”

At the Minister of Rites’ opening remarks, one of those gathered asked a question.

“Are we going as a diplomatic mission?”

“Similar.”

“Pardon?”

Most of those in the room stared at the Minister of Rites’ face, filled with doubts.

“The task of going to Japan this time…”

* * *

After the Minister of Rites’ explanation ended, the faces of those leaving the room were unprecedentedly serious.

It was because the mission they heard through the Minister of Rites was unprecedentedly grave.

Kim Jong-seo was among those who came out with such serious expressions. Emerging with a deeply furrowed face, Kim Jong-seo spat out a curse.

“Damn it! Of course! With my luck…”

* * *

When he received the sudden order from Hwang Hui to go to Kyūshū, Kim Jong-seo had thought optimistically.

“While going to Kyūshū isn’t an easy task, it’s still better than just looking at documents here.”

‘I obviously don’t have what it takes to be the chief envoy, so at best, I might be the vice envoy. No, considering my career, I probably don’t have what it takes to be the vice envoy either. Then, I’ll be one of the officials in the envoy group? In that case, I’ll have plenty of free time… Is the old man letting me rest a bit?’

Having assessed the situation, Kim Jong-seo’s mood improved.

“I wonder what Japanese gisaeng houses look like? What would be good for my wife?”

Kim Jong-seo had a grateful heart toward Hwang Hui in his own way.

* * *

However, Kim Jong-seo’s optimistic hopes were ruthlessly shattered.

‘Succeed in negotiations with the Ōuchi clan, who controls the northeastern region of Kyūshū! The items to negotiate are… ’

What Kim Jong-seo had to succeed in were the establishment of a trading post and joint silver mining.

‘Damn it! Just one of these could cost me my neck if things go wrong!’

As Kim Jong-seo was grumbling about being tasked with such a risky job, Hwangbo In walked up beside him.

“How about a drink?”

At Hwangbo In’s words, Kim Jong-seo nodded.

“All right! Let’s have a drink! On a day like this, we should drink! Which gisaeng house is famous these days?”

In response to Kim Jong-seo’s question, Hwangbo In suggested an unexpected place.

“Let’s have a drink at my house.”

“At your house? Why?”

“Isn’t it a safe place even if we can’t resist the alcohol and blabber?”

At Hwangbo In’s words, Kim Jong-seo clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! What a wretched fate that I can’t even go to a gisaeng house with peace of mind! What sins did I commit in my past life?!”

* * *

Anyways, the two ended up drinking at the men’s quarters of Hwangbo In’s house. When they were well into their cups, Hwangbo In asked Kim Jong-seo.

“Why do you think His Majesty and the court are conducting this matter in such a complex and secretive manner?”

“What do you think?”

“Me?”

Hwangbo In, after pondering for a moment with a flushed face from the alcohol, grinned and opened his mouth.

“Shall we imitate an old story?”

“An old story?”

Hwangbo In took out a sheet of paper from the desk pushed back, tore it in half, and held out one half to Kim Jong-seo.

Seeing this, Kim Jong-seo chuckled and accepted the paper.

“Shouldn’t it be the palm, if we’re doing it properly?”

“Isn’t it bothersome to wash hands while drinking?”

“True…”

Kim Jong-seo, nodding at Hwangbo In’s words, rummaged through his sleeve and took out a gold-tipped brush and ink stick.

A moment later, the two checked what the other had written and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“Haha!”

On both pieces of paper, the word ‘subjugation’ was identically written.

After laughing heartily, Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo continued their drinking session, but at some point, the task they were assigned had turned into a drinking snack.

“But you know, why do you think we need to use such a strategy instead of a direct approach?”

In response to Hwangbo In’s question, Kim Jong-seo gave a short answer.

“Because Joseon is weak.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwangbo In tilted his head.

“Joseon is weak? Right now, out at sea, the pirates are busy fleeing at the mere sight of our turtle ships, and in the north, the Jurchen tribes are continuously submitting to us.”

“We can’t catch those who flee, so the number of pirates isn’t decreasing, and we’re already struggling just to pacify the Jurchen tribes who have submitted.”

Kim Jong-seo, pointing out the reality, emptied his cup and continued.

“If we were truly a strong nation, pirates wouldn’t even think of appearing nearby, and we would have strength to spare even after pacifying those who submitted.”

While pouring alcohol into the empty cup, Kim Jong-seo reached a conclusion.

“Joseon is still weak.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwangbo In’s face turned serious.

“To that extent? Even with the weapons created by the Crown Prince, which are said to have the best performance?”

“The performance of the weapons is good. The problem is that we still lack the ability to make those weapons earn their keep.”

Kim Jong-seo’s face was filled with regret as he emptied his cup again.

“To put it simply, with Joseon’s current capabilities, it’s easy to win battles but difficult to win wars.”

“To that extent?”

“Think about it. The main weapons of the Joseon military all use gunpowder. That means if the logistics don’t function properly, they’re useless. Looking at the current situation in the northeast region, worries are piling up like a mountain. We’re worried about the east because we don’t know what’s there, and we’re terrified of the west because we know too well what kind of bastards are holding out there.”

“Ah… Oh!”

Hwangbo In, who was nodding at Kim Jong-seo’s words, suddenly exclaimed as if he had thought of something.

“If gunpowder is the problem, can’t we import it from Ming?”

“Do you think Ming will give it to us? That precious gunpowder? Those guys who wouldn’t even give us rhino horns?”

“Ah…”

At Kim Jong-seo’s point, Hwangbo In smacked his lips with a regretful expression. Seeing Hwangbo In’s expression, Kim Jong-seo added.

“Also, Ming’s gunpowder has poor performance.”

“Poor?”

“Compared to the gunpowder the Crown Prince has refined, it’s so poor in performance that it’s filthy. And after using it once, you have to disassemble and clean the barrels and cannons because of the dirty residue left behind. In a word, it’s too filthy to use.”

“I see…”

Hwangbo In kept nodding at Kim Jong-seo’s harsh evaluation.

* * *

The issue of gunpowder supply was always a headache. And the main culprits causing this problem were potassium nitrate and sulfur.

Although Hyang used the pastures on Nabi Island to make firecrackers and mobilized various methods to increase the production of potassium nitrate, the consumption kept rising.

Fortunately, as trade with Japan increased, the inflow of sulfur grew, and several sulfur mines were discovered, providing some relief.

However, the problem was potassium nitrate. This alone remained a suffocating situation.

“How about reducing the training that uses gunpowder?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s suggestion, the Ministry of Military Affairs, of course, and even Hyang strongly opposed.

“Talk sense! When all the main weapons of the military use gunpowder, are you saying not to train at all?! Aren’t you a former general?!”

Jo Mal-saeng, heated up, jumped around, forgetting that they were in Geunjeong Hall, and Hyang calmly explained the reason.

“Gunpowder weapons emit a loud explosion and flames. One must become accustomed to these to be able to properly engage in actual combat later.”

Hyang’s explanation had a precedent. In the 17th-18th centuries, gunpowder was also an expensive item in European nations. Therefore, when training, they trained without using gunpowder. In other words, they fired blank shots. In contrast, Britain, which could obtain large quantities of potassium nitrate at low prices, used large amounts of gunpowder in the training of its army and navy.

And that difference manifested as the unstoppable advance of the British forces.

“This time, the Minister of Military Affairs and the Crown Prince are correct.”

When even Sejong sided with Jo Mal-saeng and Hyang, Kim Jeom had to close his mouth.

However, Hyang had no intention of just letting this part pass.

“Once enough Challenger-class ships are built, we must immediately start building merchant ships. As soon as we have a sufficient number of ocean-going merchant ships, we must head to India.”

Staring at India on the map, Hyang’s eyes shone.

Hyang knew well where Britain purchased large quantities of potassium nitrate from. Until potassium nitrate was discovered in Chile, the largest producer of potassium nitrate was India.

The problem was not knowing exactly where in India. To resolve this, Hyang subtly probed Mansur.

“Do Muslims also use gunpowder?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Where do they obtain the ingredients for gunpowder?”

“We procure them through trade from various places.”

“Then where do you obtain potassium nitrate from?”

“We get it from Delhi. Your Highness, shall I procure some for you?”

Mansur, who had now grasped Joseon’s situation to some extent, cautiously made an offer, but Hyang shook his head.

“No need. It’s just personal curiosity.”

Hyang, flatly rejecting Mansur’s proposal, muttered inwardly.

‘Anything else can be intermediary trade, but not potassium nitrate! It’s a defense material! I absolutely cannot place my lifeline in someone else’s hands!’

Having found out the location in this way, Hyang was now just waiting for the right time.

* * *

While the education for the diplomatic mission and envoys to be sent to Japan was underway, the court continued to refine the plan.

“But, Your Highness, if all the cotton is produced in Japan, won’t those who produce cotton in Joseon suffer a great loss?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Hyang expressed doubt.

“As far as I know, there are none who have staked everything on cotton, right?”

At Hyang’s point, Kim Jeom explained in more detail.

“Of course, that’s true. However, there are quite a few who earn a tidy profit from cotton cultivation. Of course, if we only consider the wide cloth, this plan is the best, but there will be a lot of complaints.”

“That’s probably true.”

Hyang nodded with a bitter face. Although it could be called an ‘inevitable sacrifice’ or ‘victims of change,’ it was certain that there would be those who blamed the country.

“So, I’ve thought of something. I plan to order cotton seeds from Mansur’s merchant group that will arrive soon.”

“Cotton seeds, you say?”

“I heard that the cotton from a country called Egypt is of such good quality.”

“Do you mean…”

“We’ll make the cloth to be sold cheaply with cotton imported from Japan, and for the expensive high-end products, we’ll use cotton cultivated from seeds imported from Egypt. Then, those who grow cotton in Joseon will also be somewhat satisfied.”

* * *

Hyang learned about Egyptian cotton due to a connection from his university days.

Among the very few people Hyang built friendships with during his university life, there was one gold spoon.

Hyang gave him, who was also his senior in the department, the nickname ‘Stealth Gold Spoon.’ It was because he gave almost no impression of being a gold spoon with his plain attire.

However, that was a trap. Those plain-looking clothes were ultra-high-end luxury brands that only famous foreign celebrities wore, most of which were unheard of in Korea.

One day, Hyang, out of boredom, investigated the prices of the clothes that senior was wearing and almost fainted. When he added up the prices of everything he wore from head to toe, the price of a mid-range car from the German Big Three popped up.

“When you go out into society, you need to have a few luxury items for when it’s absolutely necessary. It may seem materialistic, but still.”

While advising Hyang, that senior explained various things. In the process, Hyang learned about Egyptian cotton.

* * *

Kim Jeom, nodding at Hyang’s words, asked again.

“But Egypt and Joseon have different climates, so will it grow well?”

“We’ll test it first, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll have to improve the variety.”

Hyang nonchalantly said something that would make the officials of the Seed Research Institute gasp in shock.

Chapter 234
School Opening (1)

While the highest echelons of the court were establishing and executing various plans regarding Japan, Joseon’s internal affairs were steadily progressing.

“This is indeed the best outcome obtained through the reform.”

Hyang was making a positive assessment as he observed the court operating without issue.

* * *

From the perspective of Hyang, who had experienced the 21st century, the court before the reform was an embodiment of irrationality, given tasks and authority beyond its capabilities.

The founding group of Joseon, believing that a ‘big government’ close to ‘Confucian ideals’ was not good for the people, intentionally created a small government.

Before the reform, the total number of civil service positions in the Joseon government was around 500.

However, this small government placed excessive burdens on its members. Lower-level officials were replaced every few months by new officials, and it was common for officials of considerable rank to concurrently hold at least two positions.

No matter how capable one was, there was a limit to the work that could be handled in a day. As a result, the mindset of ‘what’s good is good’ inevitably spread, leading to subpar administrative handling.

This situation posed a serious burden to both those working as officials and those aspiring to become officials.

Only 33 individuals could pass the higher civil service examination and become officials through the regular triennial examination. Naturally, competition was fierce.

Moreover, even after becoming an official, it was difficult to lead a proper life on salary alone.

There were many ‘che-a-jik‘ positions, where people worked irregularly and received salary only when working, despite having a rank. As mentioned earlier, even officials who entered through the civil service examination were replaced every 3 to 6 months. There were also many ‘mu-rok-jik‘[1] positions without any salary at all.

Of course, most of the mu-rok-jik positions were honorary positions given to long-lived elders, but there were also a significant number of other positions.

This salary issue was even more serious for officials who entered through the miscellaneous examination (jap-gwa) recruitment.

Therefore, factors such as excessive workload, frequent job rotations due to the absolutely small number of positions, and insufficient salary levels to ensure a comfortable life led to subpar administration and corruption.

Despite this precarious and unstable situation, the Joseon court somehow functioned.

The reason was that the king was as overburdened with work as the court. Thus, unless the king possessed exceptional abilities, many issues were overlooked.

The most striking example of this, before Hyang’s intervention, was the case of Seo Dal’s assault and manslaughter involving Hwang Hui, Maeng Sa-seong, and Seo Seon.

If Sejong had not ordered a reinvestigation, stating that the fabricated report ‘differed from the previously received records,’ the incident would have been buried.

These problems and irrationalities accumulated over time, becoming solidified as traditions and precedents. The festering boil that burst as a result was the turmoil of the mid to late Joseon period.

During Hyang’s high school days, Teacher Samcheonpo left a critical assessment.

-Joseon ended up in that state because of the Japanese invasions and the Manchu invasions? Nonsense! The internally festering boil ate away at Joseon, leading to its collapse in the face of foreign invasions! Simply put, it caught the flu and held a funeral in a situation where its immunity was a mess!

Therefore, Hyang had advocated for the ‘expansion of government organizations’ from the moment he presented his political views.

And Sejong, greatly accepting those political views, significantly expanded the size of the government through the reform.

* * *

Although Hyang was making such a positive assessment, he was not satisfied.

“However, it’s still not complete. Complaints about overtime work are popping up everywhere… But this part requires time. It will probably take my father laying the foundation, me refining it, and my son fine-tuning it for things to settle into place. That way, it can endure well in the future.”

The court Hyang envisioned was as follows:

‘A court that supports rapid progress when encountering a wise ruler, enables steady development under an average monarch, and allows the country and people to endure even under an incompetent ruler.’

Having organized his plans for the court, Hyang moved on to the next matter.

“Once the court is somewhat complete like this… The next step would be to properly determine a successor, right?”

Hyang, who had been muttering the word ‘successor,’ shook his head.

“This issue should be pondered after the successor is born first. Right now, the problem is the birth…”

* * *

Although it had been over three years since Hyang’s wedding, there was still no news of an heir. This deepened the concern of Sejong and Queen Soheon, and the royal physicians had to take every opportunity to check the pulse of the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje. It was not limited to the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje. Hyang also had to undergo continuous examinations by the royal physicians.

“There are no particular abnormalities. All four of you are very healthy.”

The royal physicians’ reports only deepened the concerns of Sejong and Queen Soheon.

“Then why is there still no heir?”

“They are still young, so you can relax a little…”

At the royal physician’s words, Queen Soheon remarked.

“When His Majesty was the Crown Prince’s age, he already had two children.”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

At Queen Soheon’s words, Sejong coughed awkwardly for no reason.

Princess Jeongso, the eldest, was born when Sejong was fifteen, and Hyang was born when Sejong was seventeen.

Given this situation, Hyang was also secretly worried.

“Why? I’m diligently trying whenever I have the chance, but why? Could it be…”

As Hyang pondered the reason for the lack of an heir, he came up with a plausible hypothesis.

“Even if the exterior is like that, could it be because the core, me, is an Irregular?”

Hyang’s worries were deepening. However, without knowing the correct answer, there was only one conclusion Hyang could reach.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll just have to try harder.”

* * *

As various matters continued in this manner, time passed, and the opening of Samin School was just around the corner.

“I’m going to die because of this!”

With a pile of documents stacked like a mountain in front of him, the Minister of Rites had a haggard expression.

A pile of documents regarding the selection of envoys to secretly dispatch to Japan and the selection of diplomatic mission to openly send formed a large stack. On one side, there was another pile of the latest information on the situation in Ming, sent from the trading post established there.

And on another side, reports related to Samin School were piled up.

“At least with Samin School opening soon, the number of reports coming in has decreased…”

The Minister of Rites’ eyes were fixed on the pile of documents next to it.

Documents related to the establishment of Middle School and Military Academy, which were set to open next year, formed a large stack.

“As for the Military Academy… We’ve been preparing step by step, so it’s not an issue… But Middle School…”

The Minister of Rites ground his teeth as he examined the documents.

“Damn those bastards! Raising a rebellion for no reason!”

The targets of the Minister of Rites’ teeth-grinding were those who had rebelled in the year of Gi-yu (11th year of Sejong’s reign, 1429).

Before they staged the rebellion, the plan established by the Ministry of Rites was as follows:

-Construct a new building for Samin School and teach the children there. For those who wish to study further after completing Samin School, their education will take place at the local Community School. The teachers to instruct them will be recruited from the local Hyangban (rural elites) with excellent skills.

However, when the rebellion broke out, all plans were disrupted.

In particular, as the aristocrats who participated in the rebellion were all purged, there was a shortage of those who could take charge of Middle School.

As a result, the establishment of Middle School, which was supposed to be established simultaneously with Samin School, was delayed by a year.

To do it properly, at least three more years were needed, but due to Sejong’s pressure, it was reduced to one year.

And the officials of the Ministry of Rites had to suffer due to the stress.

“But now, Samin School is opening! We’ve overcome one hurdle!”

Positive officials rejoiced at having overcome one hurdle.

However, the pessimistic officials’ complexions worsened even further.

“And reports on unexpected problems will pile up like a mountain. We’ll suffer trying to find solutions to them…”

* * *

Sejong was also deeply interested in matters related to Samin School.

“The condition of the buildings to be used as schools is also fine, and the deployment of teachers is well done.”

Hyang, observing Sejong assessing the situation while looking at the reports, opened his mouth.

“Is there anything that displeases you?”

“No.”

“It seems like there’s something bothering you.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong let out a sigh.

“Phew~. It’s just that there are some issues with the teachers who will instruct the girls.”

“Their qualifications don’t seem to be a problem, though?”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s point.

“There’s no problem with their qualifications. As for qualifications…”

Sejong, who paused for a moment, let out another long sigh.

“However, the shackles are too heavy.”

“Ah…”

Hyang nodded, letting out a brief groan at Sejong’s words.

The women who would educate the girls at Samin School were those who had received the titles of virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law in each town. Among them, those with deep scholarly knowledge would teach academics, while those with shallow knowledge would teach weaving or other necessary life skills.

However, the shackles Sejong referred to were the societal notions regarding women.

Because they were women, they could not leave their hometowns. As a result, efficient deployment became impossible, and in places with many women, the number of male teachers had to be reduced.

This was quite a daring attempt.

“How can a woman teach a boy?!”

When the proclamation regarding the deployment was first posted, there were quite a few who protested like this. However, Sejong did not allow opposition.

“It was Mencius’ mother who raised Mencius! The content of the teaching is important, not the gender of the teacher!”

With this justification, one issue was overcome, but there was no answer to another problem even for Sejong.

That other problem was the ‘avoidance system.’

Since teachers were also government officials, they had to be subject to the avoidance system.

This was where the problem arose.

In the case of male teachers, there was no issue with deploying them to places other than their hometowns. Official residences and even public slaves to assist with chores were assigned for them.

However, this was not possible for women.

“I must guard the family.”

“I must serve my elderly in-laws.”

Because all the female teachers had received the titles of virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law, the avoidance system could not be applied to them.

Therefore, in places with many such women, the number of male teachers had to be reduced.

“Should we select unmarried women from now on?”

Hyang immediately shook his head at Sejong’s words.

“There will be an uproar about blocking their marriage prospects.”

“I suppose so… Phew~.”

Sejong sighed at Hyang’s answer.

Sejong had also anticipated this part.

If the avoidance system were applied to unmarried female teachers and they were sent to other regions, there would be an immediate uproar.

The Office of the Inspector-General and the Office of the Censor-General would be the first to be turned upside down, citing chastity and virtue.

To prevent this, strict security measures would have to be implemented at the women’s residences, which would be an unnecessary waste.

Of course, unlike the notorious late Joseon period, women’s rights and freedoms were still guaranteed, but sending women to other regions was a risky move.

‘Wait? No… No… ’

Hyang, who had been making various judgments, came up with a compromise.

“Your Majesty, unmarried women may not work, but what about married women?”

“Huh?”

“Now, we have recruited teachers from among virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law. However, as time passes, even they will have to step down due to age. And as the population grows, the number of those who need to be taught will also increase, resulting in a constant need to fill vacancies.”

“That’s true.”

“It is impossible to fill these vacancies solely with virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law. Right?”

“Right.”

“In that case, we select talented individuals from among married women to fill the positions.”

“Select married women?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Official residences are already prepared. Then, there should be no problem even if a couple moves in.”

“Wait a minute? Wait…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong began to seriously consider the possibility with a sincere expression.

1. Voluntary officials[↩]

Chapter 235
School Opening (2)

“Hmm… It seems like it could work…”

As Sejong muttered with a slightly perplexed expression, Hyang immediately provided additional explanations.

“Your Majesty, women with enough scholarly knowledge to teach children would be from noble families.”

“I suppose so.”

“Then, wouldn’t their husbands also be men from noble families?”

“That’s right.”

Sejong nodded, increasingly furrowing his brows at Hyang’s explanation.

‘There’s something, but what am I missing?’

Seeing Sejong’s expression, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘This person is sometimes weak to irregular attacks… ’

Having confirmed that Sejong was struggling, Hyang explained in more detail.

“If the husband hasn’t passed the civil service examination…”

At that moment, Sejong slapped his knee.

“That’s it! What does it matter where they study for the exam?! Even if they move with their wife, as long as they have the will and determination, they can certainly achieve good results!”

Hyang smiled brightly at Sejong’s words.

“That’s right. Or, the couple could work together as teachers.”

“Exactly! Exactly!”

Sejong clapped his knee in delight at Hyang’s words.

Hyang came up with this idea because of the aristocrats culture at the time.

* * *

For men born into the aristocrats class, which included both civil and military officials, the ultimate goal was to ‘enter government service.’ To achieve this, men from noble families, especially civil officials’ families, had to study diligently.

This was precisely the part Hyang focused on.

According to Hyang’s survey of officials, the average age at which boys from noble families began studying was around 5 years old. They started learning the Thousand Character Classic at this age and began studying in earnest around the age of 10.

Through this process, those with excellent abilities passed the civil service examination in their mid-teens, but the average age was in the 30s.

“In other words, they’re long-term exam preppers who prepare for nearly 20 years. The difference from the 21st century is that most of them self-study without private tutors or prestigious academies. They solve economic problems through tenant farming and don’t even manage it themselves by employing overseers.”

Given this situation, Hyang had come up with the idea of having married women from noble families – not virtuous women, but those with husbands – enter the teaching profession.

If a married woman with a husband entered the teaching profession and was subject to the avoidance system, she would still be able to relocate.

As mentioned earlier, teachers were provided with official residences and public slaves. And if the couple serving as teachers were from a well-off family, they could even bring their family’s private slaves.

In that case, even if the husband followed his wife’s relocation, he would be able to continue his studies without much issue.

“Wasn’t there a saying? In the 80s and 90s, pharmacists were ideal spouses, in the 2000s, female teachers, and after that, any kind of civil servant…”

* * *

Sejong, after hearing Hyang’s explanation, kept nodding.

“Excellent! One of the most pressing issues in Joseon was the lack of people, but this could solve that problem!”

This time, Hyang showed an expression of incomprehension at Sejong’s words.

“Your Majesty? Could it be that you intend to open government positions to women as well?”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s question.

“Of course, there will be many limitations, but if they have the will to do it, why should we stop them?”

Hyang spoke with a pale face.

“It seems too radical, Your Majesty.”

‘This person! It’s already causing an uproar for being too fast! Now you’re determined to put people who have just gotten used to the speed of a running horse on a KTX!’

Seeing Hyang’s expression, Sejong chuckled and continued.

“Don’t tell me you think it can be implemented right away? It will probably take a long time. Perhaps…”

Sejong paused for a moment and looked at Hyang with mischievous eyes.

“Around the time you ascend to the throne?”

“Hahaha…”

Hyang laughed strenuously while breaking out in a cold sweat.

“It’s late. I should go and rest.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang, leaving Gangnyeongjeon Hall, let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. Anyway, you always warp as soon as you take a single step… I’m afraid to say anything.”

Hyang, who had been shivering while recalling the conversation that had just taken place, suddenly counted his fingers.

“When I ascend to the throne… At least 20 years? No, even now, Your Majesty is properly managing his health, so a minimum of 30 years… That’s quite a long time. Your Majesty is taking it easy too.”

Hyang, who had been walking with relief, suddenly stopped and was startled.

“No!”

“Yes, Your Highness! What’s the matter?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. It’s nothing…”

Hyang’s voice trembled as he told the eunuch it was nothing.

Hyang’s mind was in a state of panic as he headed to Donggung Palace.

‘I forgot! How my father ascended to the throne!’

Sejong had ascended to the throne through Taejong’s abdication.

Having experienced it himself, he could abdicate the throne at any time.

‘No, not just abdication! There’s also that regent rule!’

There was a fact that Hyang didn’t know because it wasn’t covered in the curriculum and Teacher Samcheonpo didn’t mention it.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, during the last 8 years of Sejong’s reign, Crown Prince Munjong had served as regent.

Anyway, Hyang desperately tried to organize his thoughts.

‘Don’t panic! This is Gongmyeong’s trap… No, that’s not it! Anyway, it’s not confirmed yet, so don’t be afraid in advance! His Majesty is still vigorous!’

As Hyang was struggling to assess the situation, his thoughts suddenly jumped to a completely irrelevant place.

‘That’s right! Let’s quickly produce an heir! Even if His Majesty wants to abdicate or have a regent rule, there will still be at least 10 more years. Let’s quickly have an heir, raise them, and then toss them!’

Hyang’s train of thought had jumped not to Samcheonpo, but to Andromeda.

“Eunuch!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Tell the royal physicians to procure some medicinal ingredients good for nourishing and strengthening the body.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll need to exert a lot of effort from now on.”

“Pardon?”

* * *

Although it was Hyang’s momentary wit, Sejong, who liked this plan, told the ministers about it.

“…so, I had this thought, and it seems quite good. Therefore, I hope you will find and supplement any shortcomings and create a plan.”

“Pardon? Yes… Yes… We shall obey your command.”

At Sejong’s order, the ministers were perplexed, then showed expressions of disbelief, and finally accepted Sejong’s command with resignation.

The ministers gathered in the State Council’s meeting room let out long sighs.

“We already have a lot of work to do, and suddenly this out of nowhere…”

Heo Jo’s grumbling was immediately followed by Kim Jeom.

“But, doesn’t His Majesty’s words also make sense? Joseon has a long way to go, and there are quite a few things we can’t do due to a lack of people.”

“But to go as far as women…”

“When we’re desperate for people, should we discriminate between men and women now?”

“Tsk!”

At Kim Jeom’s point, Heo Jo and the other ministers ended the situation by smacking their lips.

Although it was a groundbreaking royal decree that shattered the values they had held until now, they empathized with the necessity more than anyone else.

This was something that most officials working in the Joseon court at the time could relate to.

The daily heavy workload made them acutely aware of the need for a supply of talented individuals.

Therefore, the court quickly entered the process of materializing Sejong’s command.

Of course, there were also those who refused until the end.

Those who refused in this way eventually fell behind in competition and disappeared, or had to conclude their careers at the Office of Records.

Of course, unlike this ending, everyone who took on the task was curious about one thing.

“But who was the first to think of this?”

“Isn’t it His Majesty? He’s the one who issued the royal decree.”

“Have you worked with His Majesty for just a day or two? Although His Majesty is a transcendent figure, he’s not someone capable of such a radical move, is he?”

“That’s true…”

‘Who could it be?’

It was a question that everyone from the ministers to the low-ranking officials was curious about.

However, they soon found the answer.

“It must have been the Crown Prince…”

“Who else could it be besides His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

* * *

Anyway, since most of those in charge of state affairs agreed to it, this soon became a new policy.

And as time passed, it began to produce results that even Hyang had not anticipated.

The way of thinking of Joseon people began to change.

No, the social position of women, which had continued from the Three Kingdoms period through Goryeo and began to be suppressed with the start of Joseon, began to find its place again.

Of course, until this period, women’s rights were relatively well guaranteed compared to the later period.

They could travel freely. Although the procedure was complicated for daughters of noble families, they could divorce if they wanted to.

Moreover, when parents passed away, they divided the property equally with their brothers.

However, only their clan origin was recorded in the genealogy as “so-and-so clan of such-and-such place.”

Women who became official government officials, albeit as teachers, began to have their full names recorded in the genealogy.

Although they were women, it was because they had accomplished the honorable feat of “entering government service,” which was prestigious for both their husband’s family and their own family.

And as women’s social advancement gradually increased and their rights improved in this way, historians of the distant future – foreign historians studying Joseon history – had to rack their brains.

“It skipped again!”

In response to the screams of foreign historians, Korean historians replied with a calm expression.

“Since the ancient times of the Three Kingdoms period, women’s social participation was free.”

“That wasn’t the case in Joseon!”

“It was like that. However, the period of suppressing women was only about 30 years from the early founding of the dynasty to the end of Sejong’s reform. It was too short a time to fully take root. Although it seems radical, if you look closely, it’s correct to view it as a reaction against such suppression.”

“Does that make sense?!”

“Yes, it makes sense.”

In the end, as various controversies continued, the “Lee Hyang Extraterrestrial Theory” or “Lee Hyang Time Traveler Theory” popped up again.

Then, the Korean government intervened once more.

“Do you want to die? Do you want to perish? Do you want to go to your grave?”

Once again, Sejong and Hyang, who led this period, were “sacred and inviolable” figures.

* * *

These matters were for the distant future, and Sejong and Hyang had to spend each day busily.

“The Muslim merchant ships have arrived at Jemulpo!”

Hyang, who was working in Area 51 and received the report, frowned and grumbled.

“They said they would arrive within 3 months… They exceeded it by a whole month…”

However, Hyang quickly composed himself and immediately assessed the situation.

“Has the Ministry of Taxation dispatched officials?”

“Yes!”

“Since they have passed through the hot season, there may be patients with infectious diseases, so send physicians to check.”

“Yes!”

After giving the orders, Hyang got up from his seat.

“I should go to Gyeongbok Palace.”

* * *

While Hyang was paying attention to the Muslim ships, Samin School finally opened across the country.

Children flocked to the schools established nationwide, from large cities to the smallest administrative units, the hyeon (district).

Noble family boys riding on ponies or donkeys pulled by servants, mischievous boys who came with the village children, noble family girls holding their nannies’ hands, and girls in worn-out skirts and jackets all gathered at the school entrance.

Shortly after, the teachers came out as the doors of the school, renovated from the Community School, opened.

“Boys, this way!”

“Girls, this way!”

The official schedule of the school began by separating the gathered boys and girls.

It was the start of a grand journey that would later be called “the greatest driving force of Joseon’s great leap forward.”

Chapter 236
School Opening (3)

Samin School, started by Sejong’s strong will and urging of the court, also received a positive response from the people.

On the opening day of Samin School, it was not only children who flocked to the schools. The children’s parents also gathered in front of Samin School, chatting and gossiping.

“They say they’ll feed the kids?”

“That’s right. They say they’ll definitely provide one meal a day.”

The man who asked the question sighed in relief at the answer from the neighboring man beside him.

“Phew, that’s one less worry.”

“Why? Worried the kids might starve?”

“That’s not it. Those little brats, with bodies the size of puppies, eat like oxen, so I was worried. But if they eat one less meal, that’s fortunate.”

“Hey! Talking about people!”

Shortly after, the doors of Samin School opened, and the teachers who would instruct the children came out.

As the teachers emerged, the clamor that had been bustling immediately died down. People’s attitudes toward the teachers were very cautious.

Their cautious attitude was partly due to showing respect in front of the teachers, but the teachers’ attire also played a role.

The male teachers were all wearing black Confucian robes (note 1) and Confucian hats (note 2). On the forehead part of the Confucian hats, there was a circular gold ornament with the Chinese character “教” (teach) engraved on it.

The female teachers were wearing black skirts and jackets, and they were also wearing black short-sleeved tops called “dansam” (note 3).

One distinctive feature was that they did not wear the “gache” (wig), which was an essential item for royal and noble family women. Instead, they wore a black “jokduri” (a type of traditional Korean hat), and in the center of the jokduri, there was also a gold ornament with the character “教” engraved on it.

Lastly, both the Confucian robes and dansam had gold lines on the sleeves, and in the center of the gold lines, there was a gold-leaf peony flower pattern.

* * *

All of this was also Hyang’s idea.

“They say you shouldn’t even step on a teacher’s shadow, but there are women too, right? Problems could arise. We need something to prove authority. What would be good?”

As Hyang pondered a good item, a 21st-century university graduation ceremony came to his mind. He remembered the professors and students all wearing black gowns and square academic caps.

“That’s it!”

The black uniforms the teachers were wearing now were a suitable adaptation based on that memory.

When Sejong first saw the uniforms Hyang had made, he shared his impression.

“Isn’t the ink-black color too intimidating?”

In response to Sejong’s point, Hyang explained the reason.

“It’s not solely for the authority of the teachers. Ink-black is the heaviest color. This serves as a constant reminder of the gravity of the teachers’ duties. What is Samin School? A place that simply teaches letters and numbers? No! It is a place that teaches children who do not yet properly know right from wrong, nurturing the pillars who will support this Joseon. How is this task not important?”

“Those words are correct!”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong loudly exclaimed his agreement. The ministers also had the same expression as Sejong.

Because even when compared to the teachings of the sages, Hyang’s words were not wrong.

Thanks to this, Hyang’s words were printed and distributed to Samin School schools nationwide after undergoing a mounting process. The place where these mounted frames were hung was the teachers’ office.

The black teacher uniforms created in this way became the common uniform worn by teachers not only in Samin School but also in Middle School (middle schools).

These teacher uniforms became the pride and tradition of those who dedicated themselves to the teaching profession in Joseon.

As time passed and changes in attire occurred, the black Confucian robes, dansam, Confucian hats, and jokduri remained unchanged as the teachers’ uniforms.

Of course, there were those who cried out for a “new era” and rejected such teacher uniforms, but most teachers did not abandon the uniforms, even if they made minor improvements.

“Abandoning these teacher uniforms means abandoning the sacred intentions of our great ancestors!”

In the end, there was a clash between the “old fogeys” and the “foolish dreamers” over the teacher uniforms.

* * *

Regardless of what happened in the future, with the opening of Samin School, many parents in Joseon gained hope.

“Our children must be in a better position than us!”

Perhaps because that hope was overheated, laughable incidents occurred in a few places.

In a village near Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

“Were there always this many children in our village?”

As one man tilted his head while looking at the children filling the area in front of the doors of Samin School, a neighboring man beside him scolded him.

“Dol Soe’s father, haven’t you heard the story?”

“What story?”

“You know Madam Kang from the neighboring village is among the teachers at our village’s school, right?”

“Who is Madam Kang?”

As the man named Dol Soe’s father stood on tiptoe to look at the teachers, the neighboring man raised his hand and pointed.

“Over there, the third one from the right.”

Dol Soe’s father, who found the female teacher in question at the neighbor’s words, nodded his head.

“She looks a bit feisty. You’re saying the number of children at Samin School increased because of that teacher? Why?”

“That teacher has three sons, and while raising her in-laws alone, she made all three of them pass the civil service examination.”

“Oh my!”

“And she taught them herself and made them pass without even a writing teacher.”

“Oh my!”

At the neighbor’s words, Dol Soe’s father’s eyes grew as wide as they could. As Dol Soe’s father couldn’t hide his surprise, the neighbor continued excitedly.

“Although they didn’t come in first place, all three sons passed the higher civil service examination in the first and second divisions at the age of weak capping (20 years old)! And without even going through Seonggyungwan (Confucian academy)!”

“Oh! Impressive!”

As the story continued, Dol Soe’s father couldn’t conceal his astonishment. Seeing Dol Soe’s father’s reaction, the neighbor continued the story with excitement.

“So, when His Majesty heard the rumor… He told her to teach at Middle School, but she declined.”

“Why?”

The moment Dol Soe’s father expressed his question, those nearby also showed the same expression. Before they knew it, those around them had also become immersed in the story.

In response to Dol Soe’s father’s question, the neighbor swallowed his saliva to wet his throat and continued.

“That teacher replied, ‘It was only because the children were intelligent that such results were achieved, and she did nothing special.'”

“How humble!”

“Right? In response to that answer, His Majesty spoke again, saying, ‘Even if the children’s talents are bright, if there is no one to properly teach them, those talents cannot blossom.'”

“As expected of His Majesty! His insight is different!”

“So, even when he ordered again, she declined? The reason was… ‘Those who have reached Middle School aim for the civil service examination, so they must figure it out on their own. However, Samin School is for children who are just starting to learn, so they must be taught the joy of learning.’ And she remained as a teacher at Samin School.”

“Oh my…”

Dol Soe’s father, who had been expressing admiration at the neighbor’s words, tilted his head again.

“I understand that the teacher is amazing, but why did the children flock here? If it’s for the civil service examination, they should go to Middle School, right?”

In response to Dol Soe’s father’s words, the neighbor gave a simple answer.

“You fool! You need to look further! What did you hear earlier? She said those who have reached Middle School must figure it out on their own, right? What’s the most important thing to figure it out on your own? You need to know how to study. But that teacher said, ‘They must be taught the joy of learning’…”

“Ah!”

Before the neighbor could finish his words, Dol Soe’s father and those nearby who were listening to the story all exclaimed in admiration.

* * *

Three months before the opening of Samin School.

“My lord, what do you think about us moving?”

“Moving?”

Kim Saengwon asked back with a puzzled face at his wife’s sudden suggestion to move.

In response to Kim Saengwon’s question, his wife, Madam Han, answered with more emphasis.

“Yes. I’d like us to move to the neighboring village.”

“Why?”

“I heard that among the teachers at the Samin School being established in the neighboring hyeon (district), there is Madam Kang.”

“Who is Madam Kang that you say that?”

In response to Kim Saengwon’s question, Madam Han explained in detail about Madam Kang.

After hearing the story, Kim Saengwon still couldn’t hide his puzzlement.

“Although she is an impressive woman, I don’t quite understand why we should move because of that…”

“Husband!”

Madam Han raised her voice.

“Look around you! The people in the village call you Saengwon and call our house the Saengwon’s house, but according to the law, we are also just commoners, right?”

At Madam Han’s point, Kim Saengwon’s head drooped. As Sejong changed the law, Kim Saengwon lost his Saengwon (student) qualification by a narrow margin. Therefore, Madam Han’s words were like rubbing salt on Kim Saengwon’s painful wound.

Seeing Kim Saengwon’s reaction, Madam Han gently consoled him.

“Of course, there’s no need to worry since you are preparing for the civil service examination again, but we need to think about our children’s future too. If we lay a good foundation from now on, won’t it be easier for our children to pass the civil service examination in the future?”

To study well, one needed not only a good mind but also to persist and cling to books.

The best way to have this persistence was to enjoy studying.

Therefore, after hearing Madam Han’s words, Kim Saengwon had no choice but to nod.

“All right… Let’s do it, let’s move.”

This incident didn’t only happen in Kim Saengwon’s household.

* * *

Seeing Dol Soe’s father’s expression, the neighbor concluded.

“That’s why the noble families nearby sent all their children who are just starting to learn to read and write here.”

“Is that possible?”

“Didn’t you see the tile-roofed houses that were built in large numbers around our village recently? If it were Jeolla or Gyeongsang Province, it would be a problem, but if it’s nearby, they just gloss over it and come in.”

At the neighbor’s words, Dol Soe’s father couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

“Oh my…”

It was the first case in the history of the Korean Peninsula of fake moving to pursue a good school district.

This wasn’t just happening here. Similar incidents occurred near Samin School schools where there were rumors of a female teacher who was known for providing excellent education to her children or a teacher who had outstanding scores on the teacher appointment exam.

In the end, a report was submitted to Sejong.

After reading the report, Sejong looked at Hyang and the ministers.

“How should we handle this correctly?”

In response to Sejong’s question, the ministers answered with a nonchalant expression.

“There is a saying, ‘Mencius’ mother moved three times for his education,’ so how about just letting it slide? Isn’t it for the purpose of educating their children well?”

“Is that so? That could be the case.”

As Sejong nodded at the ministers’ words, Hyang stepped forward.

“We must thoroughly prevent it, Your Majesty!”

“Why?”

“Firstly, if they keep moving like that, it will cause problems with the household registers. If the household registers become a mess, everything from taxes to everything else will be disrupted, so we must stop it!

Secondly, if they move to follow famous teachers, it will create discord among the teachers! This will also have a negative impact on the learning children, so it must be prevented!

Lastly, in the case of teachers, they are rotated every 3 years! If this happens every time, it will be a nightmare!”

As the ministers listened to the Crown Prince’s points and tried to make predictions, their faces, especially Kim Jeom’s, gradually turned pale.

In the end, the ministers instantly reversed their opinions.

“The Crown Prince’s words are truly reasonable!”

Eventually, by Sejong’s strict order, a thorough investigation into fake moving was carried out.

As a result of the investigation, children confirmed to have fake moved had to transfer to the Samin School they were originally supposed to attend, and the households that had fake moved had to pay a hefty fine.

* * *

Note 1) Image of Confucian robes.

http://dh.aks.ac.kr/Encyves/wiki/index.php/%EB%B0%95%EC%84%B8%EC%B1%84_%EC%B4%88%EC%83%81(%EC%9C%A0%EB%B3%B5%EB%B3%B8)

Note 2) Image of Confucian hat.

https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/kr/topic/detail/7137

Note 3) Image of dansam.

https://theqoo.net/square/759337965

Chapter 237
School Opening (4)

Although there were people who showed a passion for education to the extent of even falsely transferring their residency, there were also those who did not.

Jugyohyeon near Boryeong, Chungcheong Province.

Teacher Lee Chung-ho, who checked attendance every morning, furrowed his brow.

“Still absent…”

Lee Chung-ho, who was checking attendance through the student roster created by the Board of Finance, had a serious expression.

“It’s been five days since school started, and they’re still absent…”

Sensing something strange, Lee Chung-ho opened his notebook, made a record, and led the children into the school building.

That evening, after the lessons ended, Lee Chung-ho pointed out this issue at the teacher’s meeting.

“…So, there are students who have not come to school for five days.”

“How many are there?”

“Three. They are siblings.”

At Lee Chung-ho’s answer, the teachers’ expressions turned serious. It was definitely strange for all the siblings not to come to school.

“Are they sick?”

“Only those siblings are sick? That doesn’t make sense.”

“That’s true, but…”

As everyone trailed off, Ahn Sook-hee, the most senior teacher, spoke up.

“Their parents must have stopped them.”

“…”

At Ahn Sook-hee’s words, the teachers fell silent. The situation they least wanted to think about had occurred.

“Fortunately, there are no classes tomorrow, so Teacher Lee and I will visit those siblings’ home.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The next day, Ahn Sook-hee and Lee Chung-ho visited the home and heard the answer they expected.

“What’s the use of those brats learning to read? It’s enough if they can read and write their own names!”

“But for that, they need to come to school…”

“The village clerk can teach them everything, so why go to school? It’s much better to feed the cows and plow the fields during that time!”

“You never know, the children might achieve success…”

“Hah! Do you think everything that comes out of your mouth is sensible? Don’t put silly ideas in their heads!”

In the end, their persuasion failed.

On the way back to school, Ahn Sook-hee let out a long sigh.

“I think we’ll have to write a petition.”

“A petition?”

“Did you see those children’s eyes earlier? They were full of frustration at wanting to learn but not being able to.”

“Ah…”

At Ahn Sook-hee’s words, Lee Chung-ho showed an expression full of compassion. However, Lee Chung-ho also knew the reality.

“Even if we submit a petition, will we receive a response? And even if we do, it will probably just end with a perfunctory ‘We encourage you.’ Will such people comply with that?”

At Lee Chung-ho’s words, Ahn Sook-hee’s voice rose.

“So should we give up? Should we abandon those children?”

“That’s not what I mean, but…”

“Then a petition is our only option.”

And so, a petition signed by Ahn Sook-hee, Lee Chung-ho, and the other teachers working with them was sent up to Hanseong.

* * *

Ten days later, as the sun was slowly setting in the west.

A group of cavalry rode into the village where Ahn Sook-hee and Lee Chung-ho’s private school was located.

The cavalry that entered the village headed towards the private school.

As soon as word spread that ‘the cavalry entering the village headed to the private school!’ the villagers flocked to the school.

“What’s going on all of a sudden?”

“I know, right?”

The villagers looked at the private school with worried eyes.

There were only two reasons for the military to swarm into the village.

Either a rebellion had broken out, or there was treason.

“But aren’t the people at the private school chosen by the government?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“Then has a rebellion broken out?”

“Say something!”

As the residents whispered among themselves, the teachers came out of the private school.

“Where are you gentlemen from?”

Ahn Sook-hee, the most senior among the teachers, stepped forward.

“The children are in the middle of class. Where are you gentlemen from?”

At Ahn Sook-hee’s question, one of the men who had dismounted from the cavalry stepped forward and answered.

“We have come escorting His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Pardon?”

The startled teachers immediately knelt on the ground and loudly proclaimed.

“We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

As the teachers offered deep bows in unison while proclaiming ‘We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!’, the children who had followed behind them and the residents gathered around also erupted in chaos.

“Oh my goodness!”

“Wow!”

“Oh!”

All sorts of exclamations burst out as the children and villagers prostrated themselves on the ground.

“We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

Among those bowing was also the local magistrate who had rushed out of the government office upon hearing that the cavalry had arrived.

Receiving the people’s bows, Hyang ordered the eunuch beside him.

“Tell them to rise.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Everyone, please rise!”

At the eunuch’s shout, those prostrating on the ground hurriedly got up.

“Your Highness. This humble one is Lim Jae-seok, the magistrate of Jugyohyeon.”

At the greeting from the magistrate who had hurriedly approached, Hyang lightly nodded his head.

“Is that so? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It is an honor for this humble one to meet Your Highness as well. But may I ask why you have come here…”

“I came to meet someone. Who is Teacher Ahn Sook-hee?”

At Hyang’s question, Ahn Sook-hee stepped forward.

“That would be me.”

“I read the petition that you and the other teachers jointly submitted. There were a few things I was curious about after reading it, so I came.”

“Is that so? For a matter that could have been inquired about in writing…”

“Sometimes there are things that need to be seen directly rather than through documents.”

“But we never imagined you would come in person.”

Hyang smiled and replied to Ahn Sook-hee’s words.

“Hahaha! His Majesty was going to come directly, but I came in his stead.”

“What an immense honor…”

As Ahn Sook-hee showed an overwhelmed expression, Magistrate Lim Jae-seok was fainting with his eyes rolled back.

‘His Majesty was going to come directly!’

“Sir, sir!”

“Qu-quickly call a physician!”

As the clerks fussed about supporting the collapsing Lim Jae-seok, Hyang, who was watching, issued an order.

“The magistrate seems to be ill. Clerks and physician, take good care of him.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Amidst the commotion, Ahn Sook-hee informed Hyang with a still overwhelmed face.

“We are utterly astounded and at a loss for words that His Majesty was going to come personally because of the petition we submitted. Please forgive our transgressions.”

“I did not come to punish you teachers. I simply had something I was curious about.”

“Pardon?”

The teachers showed puzzled expressions at Hyang’s answer which they could not grasp at all. Seeing their expressions, Hyang spoke.

“Where is the house of the man who made you write the petition? Guide me there.”

“Pardon?”

* * *

A short while later, Hyang’s group arrived at a small thatched-roof house on the outskirts of Jugyohyeon.

“This is the place.”

At Ahn Sook-hee’s words, Hyang turned to the eunuch. At Hyang’s signal, the eunuch stepped forward and called out.

“Come here! Come here!”

At the eunuch’s call, a woman came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Who is it?”

The eunuch answered the woman’s question.

“Is this farmer Chu’s house?”

“My husband’s surname is Chu, but who are you?”

Ahn Sook-hee stepped forward to address the woman who was full of suspicion at the group of people who had come.

“Do you remember me?”

“Oh my, aren’t you the teacher?”

“Where has Jang-soe’s father gone?”

“He’s still in the fields.”

“An esteemed guest has arrived, so tell him to come quickly.”

“Pardon? Yes… Mak-soe!”

Chu’s wife called her youngest son who was inside.

“Go and get your father…”

“Huh? Dad!”

However, before his wife could finish speaking, Mak-soe called out to his father with a happy face.

“What?”

Beyond the low brushwood fence, Chu was running over in a hurry.

Chu, who had run over in a rush, immediately prostrated himself upon seeing Hyang and shouted.

“This lowly farmer Chu pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

Hyang spoke with a surprised expression.

“How did you know to come?”

“The neighbors told me…”

“Is that so? Rise.”

“Yes.”

Chu, who had hurriedly gotten up, stood awkwardly, observing Hyang’s expression. Seeing Chu, Hyang spoke with a slight smile.

“But how long are you going to make us stand outside?”

“Pardon? Ah! This way!”

Chu tried to escort Hyang to the main room. However, Hyang shook his head and walked towards the wooden bench in the yard.

“The weather is still hot, so let’s talk here.”

“Pardon? Yes.”

As Hyang sat on the wooden bench, Chu knelt on the ground next to it.

Seeing this, Hyang pointed to the empty space on the bench.

“Come up here.”

“Oh no! How could I!”

At those words, Hyang laughed and responded.

“Haha! I did not come to see you as the Crown Prince today, but as a guest who has something to ask you, so come up here.”

“It’s fine like this.”

As Chu continued to refuse, Hyang put on a stern expression.

“Then it is an order.”

At those words, Chu hurriedly climbed onto the bench and knelt.

“Teacher Ahn, you come sit here too.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Once the situation had settled to some degree, Hyang brought up the main topic.

“You refused to send your children to the private school?”

At Hyang’s words, Chu immediately pressed his head to the bench.

“I will send them right away! I will send them immediately!”

“No, I am not trying to punish you. Of course, sending the children is something you should naturally do.”

Chu, who had raised his head at Hyang’s words, sat politely on his knees.

“First, sit more comfortably.”

“This is comfortable!”

Hyang showed a resigned expression at Chu’s posture, kneeling rigidly at a right angle, and continued.

“But why did you say you would not send the children to school?”

“This ignorant one thought wrongly! I will send them! I will send them right away!”

“I am curious about that wrong thought. To be honest, His Majesty was quite disappointed. He worked hard to prepare this for the people, but the people are refusing it.”

Hyang spoke as if it was no big deal, but it was different for Chu and Ahn Sook-hee who were listening. The two immediately turned pale and pressed their heads to the bench.

“I have committed a capital offense!”

“I am deeply apologetic! Our teachers’ incompetence has caused His Majesty distress!”

“As I said again, I did not come to punish you, so don’t worry and sit comfortably. Come on.”

At Hyang’s order, the two straightened their postures but were breaking out in a cold sweat with pale faces.

“So. What was the reason? It was written in the petition, but I want to hear it properly.”

“That… that…”

Seeing Chu unable to answer with a frightened face, Hyang glanced at the sky and ordered the eunuch.

“Has it already become evening? I’m hungry. Go and buy some snacks and alcohol.”

“I will have it prepared immediately by informing the government office.”

“And bother the people who are already flustered just by our arrival? I saw a chicken joint on the way here. Go buy a few fried chickens and some alcohol.”

“Did you say alcohol?”

“Is there a place that sells chicken but no alcohol next to it?”

“I don’t think they sell soju in a place like this.”

“Makgeolli is fine too. Buy a jar of makgeolli.”

“Ah, yes…”

“And buy plenty for you all to eat as well.”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s order, the eunuch selected a few from the soldiers who had come along and disappeared.

After issuing the order, Hyang smiled at Chu.

“The conversation seems like it will be long, so shall we have a drink while we talk?”

When the eunuch returned with the fried chicken and makgeolli, a simple drinking table was set up on the bench. With the well-fried chicken and pickled cucumbers made by Chu’s wife, Hyang and Chu sat facing each other across the table.

“Now… It’s just us two men left, so let’s drink and talk frankly.”

Considering the occasion, Hyang sent Ahn Sook-hee away and used a gourd to fill his and Chu’s cups to the brim with makgeolli.

“Then let’s drink.”

“Yes, yes!”

With those words, the two raised their cups simultaneously.

“Whew! Hak!”

Twisting his body to down the makgeolli, Chu unintentionally let out an exclamation of admiration but flinched. Seeing that, Hyang laughed and refilled his cup.

“Indeed! You empty it well and in a forthright manner!”

And so, for the first time in Joseon history, an inspection of the people’s affairs was conducted with the Crown Prince and a commoner sharing drinks.

Chapter 238
School Opening (5)

“Hic!”

As the jar of makgeolli brought by the eunuch was emptied and about a third of the newly brought makgeolli was consumed, Chu finally couldn’t overcome the effects of alcohol and started hiccuping.

Seeing this, Hyang smiled brightly, while the eunuch watching from the side broke out in a cold sweat.

‘I feel it occasionally, but His Highness is truly a frightening person!’

While drinking with Chu, Hyang was truly cunning. Although it seemed like they were emptying their cups equally, the amount Hyang drank was only about two-thirds of Chu’s.

However, even two-thirds was a considerable amount, but there was no hint of intoxication on Hyang’s face.

‘Indeed, blood doesn’t lie, does it?’

From Taejo Lee Seong-gye, they were a family that could hold their liquor well.

Moreover, looking at the royal family’s events, alcohol was never absent, and the alcohol used at such events was strong soju.

Therefore, being able to hold one’s liquor was also one of the qualities a king should possess.

And in that regard, Hyang was showing definite talent.

Anyhow, seeing that Chu’s guard had fallen due to the effects of alcohol, Hyang slowly proceeded with the matter at hand.

“So, what is your name?”

“Muh name? Jus’ call me Chu. Wha’s the use of knowin’ the name of a lowly farmer?”

“I’m just curious.”

At Hyang’s words, Chu, who was looking at Hyang with bleary eyes, answered.

“Han, hic! It’s Hansu.”

“Hansu, a good name. Here, have another drink.”

After making Hansu drink another bowl of makgeolli, Hyang asked what he was truly curious about.

“But Hansu, why didn’t you send your children to school?”

“Hic! Ah! I’ll send ’em, I said!”

“Sending them from now on is one thing, but why haven’t you sent them until now, I’m asking.”

At Hyang’s question, Hansu picked up the cup in front of him and downed it in one go. Seeing this, Hyang quickly refilled his cup.

After consecutively emptying three cups, Hansu exhaled roughly and spoke.

“Phew~. Yer Highness. Wha’s the use of the children of a man who barely gets by farming learning to read?”

“Who knows? They might have a talent for writing and serve the country.”

“Puhahaha!”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu laughed loudly and waved his hand.

“As expected, hic! Yer Highness also doesn’…hic! Phew~. Yer Highness also doesn’ know the ways of the world.”

“Don’t know the ways of the world?”

“Phew~. D’ya know how much, hic! One of those books full of Confucius this and Mencius that costs?”

“Ah…”

At Hansu’s question, Hyang let out a short sigh.

* * *

Although there were metal movable type printing presses, books were expensive items not only in Goryeo but also in Joseon. This was because the characters used to fill the contents of books were in Chinese.

Chinese characters, which are ideograms, had to be made into movable type one character at a time.

Although Hyang had created a cylindrical printing method where text was engraved in units and printed, the books printed in this way were only those used in private schools.

In the end, books were still items that boasted high prices.

How expensive were they? Books like the Great Learning or Doctrine of the Mean cost the equivalent of two to three seom of rice.

In other words, to buy a single book, one had to spend the entire yield of two to three majigi of rice paddies. (Note 1)

* * *

Seeing Hyang’s expression, Hansu continued speaking with a flushed face.

“Hic! Phew! Listen, hic! Although I may look like this, hic! Listen. When I was young, people called me a, hic! Prodigy. Do ya know how happy muh parents were? Phew! But d’ya know what happens when a child from a tenant farmer’s family is called a prodigy? Hic!”

“Well?”

When Hyang pretended not to know, Hansu raised his voice.

“The young masters of the landlord’s family tormented muh father! They said the landlord scolded ’em, sayin’ they were worse than me!”

“Oh my! Tsk tsk…”

As Hyang clicked his tongue, Hansu beat his chest and exploded with resentment.

“Those immature brats! Hic! They were upset about gettin’ scolded! They beat up muh father on a straw mat! What crime did muh father commit!”

Hyang, whose heart felt heavy at Hansu’s cry, downed his cup in one go.

Still feeling suffocated, Hyang consecutively emptied three cups.

“Your Highness. You’re drinking too quickly.”

When the eunuch approached and spoke, Hyang glared at him.

“If it were you, would you not drink and endure it?”

“…”

At Hyang’s question, the eunuch shut his mouth.

* * *

Having relieved his stifling feelings with makgeolli, Hyang asked Hansu.

“No matter how much of a tenant farmer one is, recklessly using violence against an innocent person is illegal. Did you report it to the authorities?”

“Puhah!”

Hansu, who burst into a hollow laugh, emptied his cup and looked at Hyang.

“Yer Highness. Phew! I, hic! Although it may sound like boasting, my father and I… hic! Phew~. Have heard the saying ‘One can live even without the law.’ But listen. Phew! From what I’ve seen living, there are two kinds of people who live without the law.”

“Two kinds?”

“Yes. One kind is the bastards who can ignore the law and get away with it. The other is the bastards who are ignored by the law. Hic! Which kind do ya think folks like me are, Yer Highness?”

“…”

Hyang couldn’t answer and emptied his cup. Seeing this, Hansu smirked and also emptied his cup, then continued.

“Folks like me are the kind ignored by the law.”

“Then shouldn’t you study hard to avoid such a fate?”

“Fuck…”

As Hansu spat out a curse, the eunuch beside him shouted.

“You bastard!”

“Enough.”

When Hyang raised his hand to stop the eunuch, the eunuch spoke to Hyang.

“Your Highness! That lowly bastard to Your Highness…”

“He’s drunk. He’s just drunk on alcohol and resentment. Just stay still.”

“Yes…”

The eunuch had a face full of dissatisfaction but had to step back.

Hyang filled Hansu’s cup to the brim with makgeolli and spoke again.

“Of course, it’s an ignorant thing to say, but wouldn’t it still be good to have them study?”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu shook his head greatly.

“Yer Highness! What did I say earlier? The cost of books is so damn expensive, but yer tellin’ me to study? Phew! As I said before, I know ’cause I was also called a prodigy. Learning is like drinking salt water. When ya drink salt water, ya get thirsty and look for water, right? Learning is the same. Once ya learn, ya go crazy wantin’ to learn more! Then should I risk pullin’ out muh roots?”

“But with learning, can’t you appeal to the law when you face injustice?”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu pounded his chest.

“Argh! It’s so frustratin’! Even if there are law books, who makes the judgments! It’s people! Then whose side d’ya think they’ll take?”

“…”

Once again, Hyang shut his mouth. Hansu continued, beating his chest.

“Lowlifes like us! We don’t need any laws or anythin’! We just need to grovel and prostrate to survive! We gotta rip out our liver and guts, swallow our pride, and grovel to survive! We gotta give up on everythin’ and live! Hic! But listen! If young punks spout some Confucius bullshit after learnin’ a few lines, it ain’t gonna work! They’ll waste their lives tryin’ to pass the civil service exam and gain fame, or they’ll take the military exam and become arrow fodder for the Jurchen bastards up north! Hic! That’s if they’re lucky! If they thoughtlessly argue right and wrong, their heads will fly off!”

“…”

In the end, Hyang, who was at a loss for words at Hansu’s remarks, had no choice but to empty his cup again.

“Is that so? I see. Let’s have another drink.”

After that, Hyang and Hansu diligently emptied their cups.

Completely drunk, Hansu continued to vent his grievances while beating his chest, and Hyang nodded along, listening to his words.

In the meantime, the eunuch had to go and buy another jar of makgeolli.

After some time passed, unable to overcome his drunkenness, Hansu collapsed sideways, still holding his cup.

“Phew~. Phew~.”

Seeing Hansu, who had fallen asleep while exhaling alcohol fumes, Hyang emptied his last cup and stood up from his seat.

As Hyang stepped down from the wooden bench, Hansu’s wife, who had been anxiously watching, hurriedly ran over and prostrated herself.

“Please forgive my husband for the nonsense he spoke while drunk.”

At the wife’s plea, Hyang smiled and replied.

“I didn’t hear anything bad. I only heard him lamenting his lot in life. Your husband seems quite drunk, so quickly take him inside. Wouldn’t it be terrible if he caught a cold?”

“Pardon? Yes! Jang-soe!”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu’s wife called her eldest son. Jang-soe, who had deeply bowed to Hyang, hoisted Hansu onto his back and moved him to the room.

Watching this with a smile, Hyang turned to the eunuch.

“Give me the purse.”

“Yes.”

When the eunuch respectfully held out the purse, Hyang took out a banknote worth one nyang of silver and handed it to the wife.

“Tomorrow, make a good pot of hangover soup for him.”

“Such a large sum! I truly don’t know how to express my gratitude!”

“Raise your children well.”

After giving the wife his well-wishes, Hyang turned around.

“We’ll have to impose on the local government office’s guesthouse today.”

“I have already sent word.”

“Good work. And…”

Hyang lowered his voice.

“Make sure no unnecessary rumors spread.”

At Hyang’s warning, the eunuch immediately bowed his head.

“Yes.”

The next morning, Hyang, who had risen early from the magistrate’s residence, headed to Hansu’s house with his entourage.

“Did you sleep well? Is your stomach alright?”

At Hyang’s question, Hansu prostrated himself flat on the ground and answered with a trembling voice.

“This lowly one committed a capital offense yesterday!”

“Crime? What crime?”

Hyang laughed playfully and turned to the eunuch beside him.

“Do you know?”

“I do not know.”

“There you have it. Ah! We did make one promise! Starting from today, you said you would send your children to school. Have you prepared them?”

“Pardon? Yes!”

Hearing Hansu’s answer, Hyang shifted his gaze.

Beside Hansu and his wife, the three siblings were also prostrating themselves on the ground, only observing the situation.

“You children must study hard! For the sake of your parents, for your own sake, and lastly, for the sake of this Joseon. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

When Jang-soe, the eldest, answered loudly, Hyang, who was watching with a pleased expression, spoke to Hansu.

“Trust in His Majesty. I apologize for only being able to say this much now.”

“Oh, not at all!”

“Then take care.”

After bidding farewell to Hansu, Hyang stopped by Jugyohyeon’s private school to encourage the teachers.

Lastly, Hyang visited the magistrate of Jugyohyeon to commend him, then turned to his entourage.

“We’re returning to the palace!”

“Yes!”

* * *

“Your subject has returned.”

When Hyang announced his return, Sejong welcomed him with a delighted face.

“Good work. So, how was it?”

The petition had not only come from Jugyohyeon.

Similar petitions had come from all over Joseon, and Sejong had to suffer from stress.

“Why in the world…?”

In the end, unable to bear seeing this, Hyang had personally taken action.

Jugyohyeon was chosen because it was the first place the petition had come from.

‘If they were preventing the children from going to school for an absurd reason, I was going to punish them severely!’

It was with this determination that Hyang had gone down.

At Sejong’s question, Hyang smiled and answered.

“I met a good teacher.”

“Oh? A good teacher?”

When Sejong showed curiosity, Hyang reported his conversation with Hansu.

“My word!”

When Hyang’s long story ended, Sejong exclaimed in admiration.

“They say ‘Among any three people walking, there must be one who can be my teacher’! You met a good teacher! You gained a good teacher! What do you think, ministers?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Jik stepped forward and answered.

“Although he was called a mere peasant, his words are full of profound wisdom.”

Following Lee Jik, the Minister of Justice continued.

“That is so, Your Majesty. When making judgments, we must take to heart the saying ‘Even if there are law books, it is people who make the judgments,’ and ensure there are no unjust verdicts.”

“Truly so. And…”

Sejong paused for a moment, then continued with a face of genuine admiration.

“‘Learning is like a thirsty person who drank salt water seeking fresh water. The more one learns, the more one wishes to learn.’ This is indeed the proper attitude of those who pursue learning, is it not? I believe it is our duty to quench this thirst of the people.”

“It is indeed so, Your Majesty!”

“Then let us devise a plan.”

“We heed your command!”

The ministers answered in unison.

The ministers also had no reason to oppose.

One of the ideals of Neo-Confucianism was to educate the people. And part of that education included the people learning.

Therefore, the ministers participated enthusiastically.

Two things came out of that meeting.

One was making it mandatory for children to attend private schools.

It was not merely a recommendation but was made into something that must be done, implementing the world’s first compulsory education and the world’s first free education.

The second was the creation of a scholarship system for students studying at secondary schools who came from poor families.

As these systems were established, many historians in the future had to suffer from stress, clutching their hair and going bald. And on the Korean internet, the number of people looking for the culprit increased.

* * *

Note 1) “The History of Books and Knowledge in the Joseon Dynasty” by Kang Myeong-gwan. Cheonnyeon’s Imagination.

http://books.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/01/04/2014010400558.html

Chapter 239
The Secret Envoy (1)

Izuhara, Tsushima Island.

“They’re finally coming.”

Watching the Joseon envoy ships entering the harbor under the escort of three guard ships, Tsushima’s daimyo, Todo Takayuki, muttered with a tense expression.

* * *

Two months ago, Todo Takayuki had received a letter sent by the Joseon court through a merchant at the Waegwan (Japanese trading post).

‘We have an important matter to discuss with the shogun of Japan, so we will be sending an envoy in two months.’

“Suddenly? Why?”

Upon reading the letter sent by the Joseon court, Todo Takayuki was thrown into confusion.

Since the founding of Joseon, there had been a few instances of Joseon sending envoys to the shogun. However, they had never unilaterally informed them like this.

Looking at the previous procedures, Joseon would send an envoy in response to the ‘Japanese King’s Envoy’ sent by the shogunate.

When Joseon announced they would send an envoy in this manner, numerous negotiations would follow.

First, they had to decide on a suitable time for the visit. The periods to avoid were when typhoons were frequent and when public order was unstable due to natural disasters such as droughts.

Next was the rank of the chief envoy. The chief envoy dispatched to Japan was limited to the lower third rank among government officials.

As it took several months of various negotiations like these before the envoy would depart, Todo Takayuki was flustered.

“Joseon rarely does things in such a hurry…”

Feeling a vague sense of unease, Todo Takayuki issued orders to his retainers.

“Tell the merchants who have gone to Waegwan to gather information on the situation in Joseon!”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Then what should we do with this letter?”

“Send it to Kyoto. They need to prepare as well.”

“Yes, my lord!”

And two months later, Joseon’s ships had flocked to Izuhara.

* * *

As the gangway was connected to the ships, the Joseon envoys disembarked.

As the envoys got off the ship, Todo Takayuki, composing his expression, warmly welcomed them.

“Welcome! We welcome you to Tsushima!”

Upon hearing Todo Takayuki’s words through the interpreter, the chief envoy politely bowed and replied.

“Thank you for the welcome. This humble one, although lacking, has come as an envoy on the orders of His Majesty. My name is Nam Gi-ju.”

“Come, come!”

After a brief exchange of greetings at the pier, Todo Takayuki and the envoy moved to Kaneishi Castle in Izuhara.

* * *

A lavish banquet was held at the daimyo’s residence. Amid the exchange of cups and various conversations, Todo Takayuki looked at Nam Gi-ju.

Todo Takayuki’s lips were smiling as he looked at Nam Gi-ju, but his eyes were not.

‘He’s a man whose true intentions are impossible to discern!’

As he observed Nam Gi-ju, Todo Takayuki was inwardly tense. Nam Gi-ju, the chief envoy who had come this time, was being impeccably polite. Although it was a small island, the lord who governed Tsushima was by no means in a low position. Therefore, the envoys who had visited here until now had shown courtesy on the surface, but their eyes had been full of condescension towards Todo Takayuki.

However, he could not find any emotion in the eyes of this man called Nam Gi-ju. He maintained perfect decorum and spoke in a gentle voice, but Nam Gi-ju’s eyes revealed no emotion. Nam Gi-ju’s eyes were as transparent as glass beads.

In the end, Todo Takayuki had to speak first.

“By the way, Lord Nam, where were you serving before becoming an envoy?”

To Todo Takayuki’s question, Nam Gi-ju gave a brief answer.

“I was in the Ministry of Military Affairs.”

“Ministry of Military Affairs?”

Upon hearing the answer, Todo Takayuki’s face momentarily stiffened.

Among the envoys Joseon had sent until now, there had never been a chief envoy from the Ministry of Military Affairs. They had all been civil officials.

Of course, being from the Ministry of Military Affairs did not necessarily mean he was a military official. However, Todo Takayuki’s instincts were issuing a sharp warning.

‘He’s definitely a military official! One who has experienced the battlefield!’

Considering the ranks of the envoys Joseon sent to Japan, if the man before him, Nam Gi-ju, was actually a military official who had experienced the battlefield, he would have held the position of at least an army commander, called Jeomjeoljaesa.

* * *

The highly tense Todo Takayuki forced a smile and continued the conversation with Nam Gi-ju.

“But why did His Majesty send an envoy so suddenly?”

To Todo Takayuki’s question, Nam Gi-ju put down his cup and replied.

“Although you may think it’s sudden, there is a reason behind it. Do you remember the incident that occurred near Muryeongdo Island a few months ago?”

“Yes.”

Todo Takayuki nodded at Nam Gi-ju’s question. It was an incident where several lives were lost because they had been caught while fishing near Joseon.

Nam Gi-ju calmly continued.

“At that time, Joseon took this issue very seriously. Looking at the current situation between Joseon and Japan, trade is increasing.”

“That’s true.”

Responding to Nam Gi-ju’s words, Todo Takayuki felt bitter inside.

* * *

As Nam Gi-ju said, the volume of trade between Joseon and Japan was gradually increasing. However, in the process, Tsushima was being increasingly pushed aside. In Waegwan, where Tsushima merchants used to be at the center, they were gradually being pushed out, and merchants from other domains were gaining power.

“This is Joseon’s doing!”

Upon hearing the situation, Todo Takayuki gritted his teeth. The Joseon officials managing Waegwan would find the slightest pretext to expel Japanese merchants from Waegwan.

And most of the merchants being expelled were from Tsushima.

Todo Takayuki gnashed his teeth but had no countermeasures. If he argued, Joseon had justification on their side, and if he used force, Tsushima could once again become a battlefield.

Therefore, Todo Takayuki had to endure.

* * *

Whether he knew of Todo Takayuki’s feelings or not, Nam Gi-ju continued.

“In that situation, Japanese fishermen were caught near Muryeongdo Island. The problem is that weapons were found on their ships. In other words, our court became suspicious of whether they were real fishermen or pirates.”

“As I’ve already said, that was for the fishermen’s self-defense…”

“That may be so, but for us who have suffered from pirates since the end of the previous dynasty (Goryeo), it’s not something we can easily believe, is it?”

“That’s true…”

Todo Takayuki had no choice but to nod weakly at Nam Gi-ju’s point.

Having gained the upper hand, Nam Gi-ju finally got to the main point.

“As trade increases between our Joseon and Japan, many merchant ships are coming and going. Our court cannot help but worry about the safety of these merchant ships.”

“So… is that why His Majesty sent you, to discuss that matter?”

“That’s correct.”

Todo Takayuki’s face no longer showed any hint of a smile. With a stiff expression, Todo Takayuki asked Nam Gi-ju.

“What measures has His Majesty devised?”

“Joseon wishes to borrow ports in Tsushima.”

“You mean the ports of our Tsushima?”

“That’s right.”

* * *

As the conversation between Nam Gi-ju and Todo Takayuki grew serious, the banquet hall fell silent. Todo Takayuki’s retainers and the Joseon envoys all listened intently to the conversation with grave expressions.

“Ports… Do you want Izuhara here?”

To Todo Takayuki’s question, Nam Gi-ju shook his head.

“No. Do you have a map of Tsushima?”

At Nam Gi-ju’s request, Todo Takayuki called a retainer in a rough voice.

“Matsumura! The map!”

“Yes, my lord!”

* * *

A short while later, a map depicting the geography of Tsushima was spread out on the large table where the dishes had been cleared away.

Nam Gi-ju pointed to two locations on the map with his finger.

“Joseon hopes to borrow the areas of Asako Bay (淺茅灣, present-day Aso Bay) and Ofunakoshi on the opposite side. Asako Bay is to ensure the safety of ships departing from Busan, and Ofunakoshi is to protect ships departing from the main island of Japan.”

“Hmm…”

Examining the map while listening to Nam Gi-ju’s explanation, Todo Takayuki’s expression became complex.

Asako Bay, the first place Nam Gi-ju pointed out, was the area where the Joseon army had first anchored when they attacked Tsushima.

Quietly studying the map, Todo Takayuki turned to Nam Gi-ju.

“Does His Majesty desire the cession of these places?”

At Todo Takayuki’s question, the retainers swallowed nervously. Depending on the words that came out of the Joseon envoy’s mouth, Tsushima might have to prepare for war.

However, the answer that came from Nam Gi-ju’s mouth was unexpected.

“His Majesty wishes to lease them.”

“Lease? You want to borrow them?”

“That’s correct.”

Todo Takayuki, unable to immediately understand Nam Gi-ju’s answer, asked again.

“You really want to borrow them?”

“That’s right.”

At Nam Gi-ju’s reply, Todo Takayuki’s mind became completely chaotic. To him, no, to the people of this era, it was a method they could not possibly comprehend.

‘I need some time to gather my thoughts!’

Todo Takayuki, needing time to collect his thoughts, called a retainer.

“Matsumura, tea (お茶)!”

“Yes, my lord!”

After giving orders to his retainer, Todo Takayuki turned to Nam Gi-ju and spoke.

“It seems the conversation will be a bit long, so let’s have some tea for a moment.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

“Please have some. This person is a renowned tea ceremony master even in Kyoto.”

“Thank you.”

As Nam Gi-ju bowed his head in gratitude, the tea ceremony master also politely reciprocated and expressed his thanks.

“It is an honor to serve tea to someone from Goryeo, which is famous for tea ceremonies.”

Tea ceremonies flourished on the Korean Peninsula until the Goryeo period. This was the influence of Buddhism. However, as Joseon was founded and advocated the policy of ‘revering Confucianism and suppressing Buddhism’, the tea culture gradually began to decline.

However, at this time, they still had a more advanced tea ceremony culture compared to Japan.

While enjoying tea in a much more relaxed atmosphere, Todo Takayuki diligently organized his thoughts.

‘He definitely said borrow. Is it really simply borrowing? Then what is the price? The continuation of my position? Or more than that?’

Although he tried to gather his thoughts, Todo Takayuki’s mind only became more complicated.

* * *

After enjoying the tea, the group once again gathered around the map.

Examining the map, Todo Takayuki asked Nam Gi-ju.

“I’ll be frank with you. His Majesty said he wants to borrow them, but how will Joseon use these places?”

“As I mentioned earlier, the purpose is for Japan to protect the merchant ships traveling between Joseon and Japan. If we dispatch our warships for this purpose from Dongnae, it will take too long. Therefore, we plan to build ports in Asako Bay and Ofunakoshi, using them as anchorages for our warships and as a place for merchant ships encountering bad weather to take shelter.”

“How many warships will be stationed there?”

“About 10 to 20 ships each on both sides.”

“Hmm…”

As Todo Takayuki pondered, one of the retainers standing behind approached and whispered softly. Nodding his head as he listened to the retainer’s words, Todo Takayuki turned to Nam Gi-ju.

“Borrowing means paying a price. How much is His Majesty thinking of paying?”

“20 nyang of silver per month for the two places combined. If we hire residents of Tsushima as laborers, that portion will be paid separately.”

At Nam Gi-ju’s answer, Todo Takayuki’s retainers’ side instantly fell into a commotion.

“Quiet! Settle down!”

After calming the commotion among his retainers, Todo Takayuki made a request to Nam Gi-ju.

“As it is late today, I would like to continue the rest of the discussion tomorrow. What do you think?”

“Very well.”

With that, the day’s events came to an end. Returning to the prepared lodging, Nam Gi-ju was writing a report when he glanced out the window.

Looking towards where Todo Takayuki and his retainers were, Nam Gi-ju muttered softly.

“They must have quite the headache.”

Chapter 240
The Secret Envoy (2)

As Nam Gi-ju anticipated, a heated debate was taking place between Todo Takayuki and his retainers at his residence.

“We must oppose this! It’s like placing a blade at our throats!”

“Exactly! Even if we allow Asako Bay, Ofunakoshi is too close to Izuhara! We must stop this at all costs!”

On the other hand, there were quite a few retainers in favor of the proposal.

“We should accept Joseon’s proposal! Those pirates are troublesome for us anyway. It’s a plan to borrow a knife to kill someone!”

“Agreed! Those pirates disobey us more often than they listen! We should deal with them using this opportunity!”

Watching his retainers fiercely arguing for and against, Todo Takayuki felt a headache coming on.

Both sides had a point.

After the previous Joseon invasion, Tsushima had been on high alert for any moves by Joseon. They needed military strength they could use in case of emergency.

The pirates were also in a difficult situation.

As the Muromachi Shogunate firmly grasped power, the pirates began facing restrictions in their movements.

On top of that, they had suffered a decisive defeat and great losses in their offensive against the Ming Dynasty during the Tsushima Invasion in the first year of Sejong’s reign. Since then, they needed a suitable place to hide.

Since the interests of both sides aligned, the pirates often used Tsushima as a hideout.

No, it could be seen as the number of pirates among Tsushima’s residents had increased.

However, as things turned out this way, it became a headache for Todo Takayuki as well.

It was not easy to control the pirates.

As both sides were in a deadlock, Hatoyama, the eldest among them, spoke up.

“In my humble opinion…”

As Hatoyama began to speak, not only the retainers but even Todo Takayuki lent an ear.

It was because someone who had remained silent until then had spoken up.

With everyone listening attentively, Hatoyama shared his thoughts.

“I believe we should accept Joseon’s proposal, but with some adjustments.”

“Adjustments?”

“Yes. We can lend out Asako Bay, but we must not give up Ofunakoshi. It would pose a problem for the defense of Izuhara.”

Not only the retainers but even Todo Takayuki nodded at Hatoyama’s words.

Hatoyama continued.

“While it is appreciated that Joseon is offering compensation, 20 nyang of silver per month is too little. No matter how barren Tsushima may be, we cannot give it up for such a cheap price.”

“Exactly!”

Todo Takayuki strongly nodded at Hatoyama’s words.

However, another retainer cautiously raised an objection.

“But will Joseon really agree to that? 20 nyang of silver per month amounts to 240 nyang of silver in a year. Considering we receive 100 seom of rice from Joseon as annual tribute, that’s double the amount. Joseon will think it’s sufficient.”

At those words, Hatoyama’s voice grew louder.

“The land value of Tsushima is even higher than that! If they want to end it with a mere 240 nyang, it’s better not to accept Joseon’s proposal at all!”

Hatoyama, who had shut down the objector, bowed to Todo Takayuki and advised.

“According to rumors heard recently, those Joseon bastards enjoy haggling. 20 nyang of silver is surely just bait! If we swallow it whole, the whole world will know of our retainers’ incompetence! We must obtain as much as possible through negotiation!”

“Obtain as much as possible… Hatoyama, what else should we gain besides more money?”

“Monopoly offices!”

“Monopoly offices? Hmm…”

At Hatoyama’s words, Todo Takayuki stroked his beard.

Tsushima’s environment was barren. Therefore, they had to obtain many necessities from outside the island, and in the process, they had to suffer from merchants’ profiteering. However, if monopoly offices were established, this problem could be greatly resolved.

“But will the King of Joseon allow the establishment of monopoly offices?”

“They are also a subject of Joseon. If a subject makes a request, would the king not grant it? Additionally, we should add a clause stating that the families of the naval forces stationed at the port must also reside there in exchange for lending the port.”

“The families of the naval forces? Ah! As hostages?”

Todo Takayuki’s words were met with a nod from Hatoyama.

“That’s right. Furthermore, it provides a solid basis for establishing monopoly offices. Aren’t there Joseon subjects there?”

“Indeed!”

As Todo Takayuki seemed to lean towards lending the port, a retainer who had been opposed hurriedly spoke up.

“Even with hostages, it’s too dangerous! Although Asako Bay and Izuhara are separated by mountains, if the Joseon army truly sets their mind to it, they can cross over at any time! And other lords will laugh at us for giving up territory for a mere pittance!”

Hearing the objection, Hatoyama countered again.

“A visible enemy is safer than an unseen one. If the Joseon army enters Asako Bay, we can quickly prepare by placing a few swift soldiers in between! But if we completely block the Joseon army, do you think Joseon will sit still? They will surely hold a grudge, and we’ll have to spend several times more troops to monitor them! And do you think a mere 20 or 30 warships worth of soldiers can take over Tsushima?”

In the previous Tsushima Invasion, the Joseon army had mobilized a total of 227 ships, large and small, with a force of 17,285 men. (Note 1)

* * *

Hatoyama paused for a moment and caught his breath. After composing himself, Hatoyama bowed to Todo Takayuki and spoke.

“Let the other lords laugh at us! There is a saying, ‘sleeping on firewood and tasting gall’. We must diligently save up the wealth Joseon provides, strengthen our military preparations, and accumulate war funds. Don’t we need to reclaim the lost territory taken by the Ouchi clan?”

“Indeed!”

At Hatoyama’s words, Todo Takayuki leaped up from his seat and shouted.

The Ouchi clan, having suffered great losses in the armed conflicts on the main island of Japan, had advanced into Kyushu.

In the process, a conflict arose with the native power of Kyushu, the Shoni[1] clan. As a result of that armed struggle, the Shoni clan lost a significant portion of their territory, and the Todo clan, who were backed by the Shoni, had to retreat, losing their dominance over Kyushu.

Having made his resolve, Todo Takayuki shouted to his retainers.

“Let the other lords laugh! Sleeping on firewood and tasting gall, sleeping on firewood and tasting gall! We will thoroughly prepare our military and reclaim our lost territory! Until then, we will thoroughly cater to Joseon’s whims while taking as much as we can!”

“Yes, my lord!”

At Todo Takayuki’s order, the retainers replied in unison.

* * *

The next day, Todo Takayuki, his retainers, and the Joseon envoys gathered again.

After exchanging simple greetings, Hatoyama resumed the negotiation on behalf of Todo Takayuki.

“We have deeply considered the proposal you mentioned yesterday.”

“Is that so? Have you reached a decision?”

To Nam Gi-ju’s words, Hatoyama replied.

“I think some adjustments are necessary.”

“Adjustments, you say?”

“That’s right. First, we have decided to lend only one port to Joseon, Asako Bay.”

“Only Asako Bay?”

“Yes. Ofunakoshi is too close to Izuhara. Many residents of Tsushima are still haunted by the nightmare brought by the previous Joseon invasion. For the sake of reassuring the residents, Ofunakoshi is absolutely out of the question. But you are free to use Asako Bay as you wish.”

At Hatoyama’s words, Nam Gi-ju nodded and muttered to himself.

‘His Highness the Crown Prince was right again. Does this mean we proceed with plan B?’

During the brainstorming session while formulating plans before departure, Hyang had predicted that Tsushima would propose in this manner.

Since the possibility of things going as Hyang predicted could not be ignored, a revised plan for this situation was also created and approved by Sejong.

Anyway, since Tsushima had made a proposal, Joseon also had to give an answer.

“This is not a decision I can make alone, so could you give me some time?”

“Very well.”

Pausing the meeting briefly and returning to his lodging, Nam Gi-ju discussed with the vice envoy.

“It’s just as His Highness the Crown Prince predicted.”

“Indeed. Then we should proceed with plan B, right?”

“We should. Let’s take some time. How about a game of Go?”

“Sounds good!”

As the Joseon envoys took quite a long time to return, Todo Takayuki turned to Hatoyama.

“It’s taking quite a while.”

“They may actually be taking time to coordinate, or they may be deliberately stalling.”

“Deliberately?”

“They’re probably trying to unsettle us. It’s a common tactic.”

“I see.”

* * *

It took about two shichen (approximately 4 hours) for Nam Gi-ju’s group to return to the meeting room.

“Have you reached a decision?”

“If you fully lend Asako Bay, we will accept the proposal.”

“You are free to do as you wish with Asako Bay.”

“Thank you. Then is everything settled?”

“No. 20 nyang of silver per month is too little.”

At Hatoyama’s words, Nam Gi-ju’s voice slightly rose.

“You’ve already reduced the ports from two to one, and now you want more money?”

To Nam Gi-ju’s words, Hatoyama explained the reason.

“If we lend Asako Bay to Joseon, we need to relocate the people living there. Considering the relocation costs for those people, the tax revenue we won’t be able to collect until they settle in their new location, and the cost of consoling those displaced people, 20 nyang of silver per month is too little.”

“So how much do you want?”

“40 nyang of silver.”

“You’re cutting the ports in half but doubling the cost? Does that make sense?”

“Then depart from Dongnae.”

At Hatoyama’s words, Nam Gi-ju’s face turned fierce.

“I guess Tsushima’s merchants don’t need Waegwan.”

This time, Hatoyama’s face turned fierce.

They had each taken a jab at each other.

The verbal sparring continued between the two sides.

Since they had started off with strong blows from the beginning, the words exchanged were not pleasant.

In the end, as the atmosphere on both sides turned hostile, Todo Takayuki intervened.

“Now, now! This is a negotiation where everyone should benefit, so how can we proceed like this? I’ll make a compromise! Frankly, 20 nyang of silver is too little. But since we’ve also reduced the ports to one, let’s make it 30 nyang of silver. What do you say?”

At Todo Takayuki’s mediation, Nam Gi-ju and the envoys withdrew and whispered among themselves.

After a short while, Nam Gi-ju, who had taken his seat again, replied.

“Since you have proposed a compromise, we will accept it.”

“Thank you!”

Delighted by Nam Gi-ju’s words, Todo Takayuki gave Hatoyama a slight wink.

This was something the two of them had planned.

By doing this, Todo Takayuki would be perceived as being favorable to Joseon and gain a positive evaluation.

The problem was that Nam Gi-ju and the vice envoy were also exchanging glances.

* * *

After that, fierce negotiations took place over various issues.

‘The Joseon naval forces stationed at Asako Bay must reside there with their families.’

When Tsushima made this proposal, Joseon replied as follows:

‘Then we will build walls for the safety of the people.’

There was a lengthy verbal sparring over this issue, but in the end, Joseon emerged victorious.

‘Instead of building walls, we will establish monopoly offices in the civilian residential area. And these monopoly offices will be accessible to unarmed residents of Tsushima.’

Since the monopoly offices were also desired by Todo Takayuki and his retainers, an agreement was quickly reached on this matter.

And through this agreement, Joseon was able to construct defensive facilities at a strategically important location.

In this manner, fierce debates continued, but almost all the issues were as Joseon had anticipated—more precisely, as Hyang had anticipated.

The Joseon envoys and Todo Takayuki, who had reached an agreement through the coordination of opinions, smiled with satisfied expressions.

“Then all that remains is going to Kyoto.”

To Nam Gi-ju’s words, Todo Takayuki immediately replied.

“We will do our utmost to assist you. Then let’s depart as soon as possible!”

* * *

At that moment, the ship carrying the secret envoys set sail for Kyushu.

* * *

Note 1) Chapter 2, The Tsushima Invasion. Military Strategies of the Joseon Dynasty. Institute for Military History Compilation, Ministry of National Defense.

Chapter 241
The Secret Envoy (3)

The envoy group departing from Tsushima headed to Kyoto via the sea route.

“I’m worried about pirates.”

Although Todo Takayuki, who had boarded the ship with the envoys, expressed concern, Nam Gi-ju unexpectedly did not seem very worried.

“Surely there wouldn’t be anyone bold enough to attack these panokseons?”

Not only the three ships carrying the envoys but also all the escort ships were panokseons. Of course, the panokseons carrying the envoys and cargo had to reduce their gunpowder and fire arrows by about half to accommodate them, but the three escort ships were loaded with the designated amount of gunpowder and fire arrows.

There were few daring pirates who would attempt to attack a panokseon fleet so heavily armed.

However, as the saying goes, “Misfortune comes from the least expected,” and there were pirates who attacked on the way from Tsushima to Shimonoseki.

* * *

“Unidentified fleet approaching! Fleet approaching!”

“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”

“Confirm the number of approaching ships!”

“Approximately 30 ships and increasing!”

Boom boom boom!

At the shouts of the soldiers watching the sea from the watchtower, the battle drums rang out loudly, and the naval forces of the fleet hurriedly began preparing for battle.

Shortly after, two panokseons broke formation and blocked the path of the approaching fleet, while another one supported them from behind.

The three ships carrying the envoys formed a formation at a slight distance and began battle preparations.

Once the preparations were complete, the interpreter on the panokseon forming the first line of defense shouted into a megaphone.

“This is a ship carrying envoys of the great Joseon nation! Retreat! Retreat! If you do not retreat, we will attack!”

Despite the interpreter’s shouts, the unidentified fleet continued to approach.

“Retreat! Retreat!”

As the interpreter shouted once more, there was a response from the fleet.

“Uwoah!”

The Japanese on the approaching ships began raising their swords and spears, shouting battle cries. At the same time, as arrows began to fly, drums sounded from the panokseons, and a new flag began to be raised.

The newly raised flag signified battle.

“It’s a battle! Fire the cannons!”

Boom boom boom!

The two panokseons forming the first line of defense simultaneously spewed fire.

Each time the large cannons mounted on the panokseons fired, the number of pirate ships carrying the pirates rapidly decreased. Ships directly hit by large arrows or iron pellets were immediately riddled with holes and disappeared beneath the surface.

Even if they were not directly hit by the large arrows or iron pellets, it was problematic if they fell right next to the ship. The small ships carrying the pirates often capsized due to the waves created by the large arrows and iron pellets falling nearby.

“Enemy ships approaching!”

However, there were tenacious pirates who tried to approach and cling to the panokseons of the Joseon forces despite the barrage.

At the soldiers’ shouts, the ship’s commander shouted.

“Fire the scattershot cannons!”

“Fire!”

Bang!

At the commander’s order, the soldier in charge of firing the scattershot cannon pulled the lanyard.

With a thud and a spew of fire from the scattershot cannon, the small boat targeted was stained with blood. The pirates standing on the boat and letting out terrible screams were dismembered without even a chance to scream.

“Reload!”

“Reload!”

The scattershot cannons that had finished firing were quickly reloaded. The loaders in charge of reloading pulled the breech at the rear of the cannon and turned the handle of the breech containing the pellets and gunpowder. As the handle turned, the engagement with the barrel was released, and the breech was removed. The loaders then inserted a new breech by turning it.

Meanwhile, the gunner, who had attached the lanyard to the breech, aimed at another small boat and pulled the lanyard.

Bang!

* * *

After a total of four rounds of bombardment, even the tenacious pirates had no choice but to retreat.

The number of pirate ships that had initially attacked was about 40, large and small. However, when they retreated, there were less than 10 remaining.

“The pirates are retreating!”

“Check for casualties among our forces and inspect the condition of the ships!”

“Yes, sir!”

After issuing orders to his subordinates, the commander turned to the deputy commander beside him.

“I never thought they would be bold enough to attack us.”

“Indeed, sir.”

* * *

In the seas between Ming, Joseon, and Japan, the panokseons of the Joseon navy had a notorious reputation. Pirates or fake Japanese pirate ships consisting of junks or small ships would immediately retreat upon seeing a panokseon.

The panokseons, which had become larger under Hyang’s influence, were equipped with the most cannons and were the sturdiest ships among the warships of the three countries in Northeast Asia. The only drawback was their “damned slow” speed.

However, even with their slow speed, the value of the panokseons was not diminished. The narrow straits between Joseon and Japan and the routes in the West Sea to Shandong could be sufficiently covered by the panokseons.

* * *

“By the way… When this report goes up, there will be another verbal battle between the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Supreme Council, and the Naval Command.”

“Is it about the scattershot cannons?”

The commander nodded at the deputy commander’s question.

The ships mainly used by the pirates were junks and small boats. The pirates’ favorite tactic was to tie small boats behind junks with ropes or attach them to the rear, then deploy the small boats along with the junks to swarm merchant ships or raiding targets when they got close.

To counter these pirates, pellets were superior to large arrows or iron pellets. Of course, the arrows shot by the pirates were threatening, but the gun shields equipped on the scattershot cannons and the shields lined along the side railings of the panokseons protected the soldiers.

Therefore, the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Supreme Council wanted to change the armament of the panokseons in charge of the South Sea.

“It’s excessively heavy armament for dealing with the pirate ships, so let’s remove the large-mounted cannons and increase the number of scattershot cannons!”

The navy strongly opposed the opinion of the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Supreme Council.

“The pirates also have large ships, and the large-mounted cannons can also fire pellets!”

“They can fire them, but when actually used, don’t they all fly over the pirates’ heads?”

Considering the height of the panokseons, even if the large-mounted cannons was fired at the maximum depression angle, the pellets often passed over the pirates’ heads.

“That’s why the large-mounted cannons are only effective against the fake Japanese pirate ships when firing pellets! Reducing them is more economical!”

“The fake Japanese don’t only operate in the West Sea, and the pirates don’t only operate in the South Sea, right? We cannot accept the removal of the large-mounted cannons!”

“Then let’s adjust the numbers!”

“No way! Over my dead body!”

The navy could not give up firepower even if they were accused of being overarmed.

Seeing this, Hyang had to smile bitterly.

“Was the tradition of overarmament a deep-rooted tradition passed down from the Joseon Dynasty?”

He recalled the image of the 21st-century Korean Navy, which was evaluated as a “moving powder keg” or “It’s a wonder they can float with that much loaded.”

The Ministry of Military Affairs and the Supreme Council insisted, but the navy had justification on their side.

“Damn it! Then at least build more panokseons!”

“……”

Since they had not yet deployed an adequate number, the navy was sailing the seas with as much armament as they had.

* * *

After a fierce battle, the fleet, having checked their condition, continued their voyage.

“This is why… our Joseon navy wants to establish a port in Tsushima.”

“Yes……”

At Nam Gi-ju’s words, Todo Takayuki nodded with a pale face and trailed off.

Todo Takayuki inwardly screamed.

‘Is this the power of the new Joseon naval ships that I’ve only heard rumors about?’

He had certainly heard rumors that the panokseons of the Joseon navy possessed tremendous power.

‘If you encounter the new ships of the Joseon navy, flee with all your might. Otherwise, you’ll end up as fish food.’

It was a rumor that had been circulating for the past 2-3 years.

“The new ships of the Joseon navy seem to be powerful.”

Having heard the rumors, Todo Takayuki discussed it with his retainers.

“It seems so. However, it appears their numbers are not yet great, so it’s not something to be too concerned about.”

“Indeed.”

At his retainers’ words, Todo Takayuki nodded and lost interest.

Even after that, rumors about the new warships called panokseons continued to circulate, but the prevailing opinion among the retainers was “nothing to worry about.”

“According to the merchants traveling to and from Waegwan, their numbers are still not large. The sea is vast, and their numbers are few, so they don’t pose a significant threat.”

“Wouldn’t it be a problem if those ships enter the ports?”

“If they enter the ports, that place will become their graveyard. The main weapons of the Joseon navy use gunpowder, so if we shoot fire arrows from all directions, they won’t be able to withstand it.”

Recalling the confident answers given by his retainers, Todo Takayuki looked at the retainers beside him and growled softly.

“They won’t be able to withstand it if we shoot fire arrows from all directions?”

“We are ashamed.”

At the answer from Hatoyama, the leader of the retainers, Todo Takayuki replied softly.

“We’ll see when we return.”

“My lord!”

At Nam Gi-ju’s call, Todo Takayuki composed himself and replied.

“Where do you think these pirates came from?”

At Nam Gi-ju’s question, Todo Takayuki took a moment to gather his thoughts and answered.

“They seem to be pirates from the east.”

“The east? Where in the east?”

“The east of the Chinese region.”

“China? Do you mean our Joseon?”

At Nam Gi-ju’s question, the interpreter beside him explained instead.

“It refers to the area facing Joseon from the main island of Japan.”

“Ah……”

Nam Gi-ju nodded at the interpreter’s explanation. Not missing the opportunity, Todo Takayuki added.

“They probably mistook this fleet for a simple merchant fleet and attacked.”

“If they are pirates, they should be well aware of the panokseons, shouldn’t they?”

“Well, that’s……”

At Nam Gi-ju’s words, Todo Takayuki struggled to find an answer with an embarrassed expression. Seeing Todo Takayuki’s expression, Nam Gi-ju answered himself.

“Perhaps they knew our fleet was carrying envoys to Japan and attacked. Considering the traditional scale of envoys to Japan, they might have thought the panokseons would have reduced their armament and loaded people. Isn’t that right?”

“That could be the case.”

“Then it means they knew in advance that our fleet was carrying envoys……”

As Nam Gi-ju trailed off and glared, Todo Takayuki hurriedly waved his hands.

“No! I didn’t utter a word.”

“Could it be among your retainers……”

“They are all my loyal retainers! There must have been pirates hiding in the port.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is!”

Hurriedly resolving the situation, Todo Takayuki pointed to the scattershot cannons beside him and changed the subject.

“By the way, these small cannons are very powerful!”

At Todo Takayuki’s words, Nam Gi-ju’s face brightened as he replied.

“They are cannons made by His Highness the Crown Prince! They are truly remarkable! Few can withstand them in close combat.”

‘Except for those insane Divine Thunder Strike cannons!’

Nam Gi-ju replied to Todo Takayuki with a face full of pride.

* * *

As Nam Gi-ju said, the scattershot cannon was the strongest weapon in close naval combat.

This cannon with the simple name “scattershot cannon” was a modified version of the cannon called “Bulganggi” (佛狼機) in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

Hyang had played a little trick on the simple method of inserting the breech into the barrel, lighting the fuse, and firing. He made it so that the breech and barrel would be firmly engaged by aligning the grooves and turning it sideways. Additionally, he extended the muzzle part of the breech and made it engage more tightly with the barrel for better sealing.

In actual combat, the loader would insert the breech into the barrel’s groove and turn the handle. If properly engaged, the position of the vent on the breech would precisely align with the position of the breech on the barrel.

* * *

“A large fleet is approaching!”

The fleet heading to Shimonoseki after the battle tightened their guard once again at the lookouts’ shouts.

As the naval forces of the fleet tensed behind the cannons again, the approaching fleet stopped its approach.

Shortly after, a small boat was lowered and approached the fleet carrying the envoys. The interpreter, who had spoken with the warrior on the small boat, reported with a relieved expression.

“It’s the escort fleet sent by the Ouchi (大內) clan.”

At the interpreter’s report, Nam Gi-ju also showed a similar expression.

“That’s a relief.”

Under the protection of the fleet belonging to the Ouchi clan, Nam Gi-ju’s group entered the main island of Japan.

Chapter 242
The Secret Envoy (4)

The Joseon fleet, having encountered the fleet sent by the Ouchi clan, dropped anchor at Shimonoseki.

“Welcome, esteemed envoys!”

Ouchi Morimori, the heir of the Ouchi clan, enthusiastically welcomed Nam Gi-ju and his entourage.

* * *

The reason Ouchi Morimori warmly welcomed Nam Gi-ju’s group was that the Ouchi clan was one of the biggest beneficiaries since Sejong’s military reforms.

Among the Japanese merchants staying at Waegwan, a significant portion were merchants sent by the Ouchi clan.

That was not all. One of the only ten remaining copies of the Tripitaka Koreana in Japan was housed in the Rurikou Temple in Yamaguchi, and many monks and Buddhist devotees were making pilgrimages there. The wealth generated from these monks and pilgrims was not insignificant either.

* * *

During their four-day stay in Shimonoseki, Nam Gi-ju’s group had a busy “rest” period.

They had to attend banquets hosted by Morimori without fail and receive visits from scholars or various clans from the vicinity.

“It is an honor to meet the highly erudite envoys from Joseon.”

Engaging in discussions, writing, and drawing pictures to distribute to the visiting intellectuals and clan leaders left Nam Gi-ju’s group with little actual rest despite taking a break.

While the envoys spent their time in this manner, the naval forces on the panokseons that had carried them were busy. They completed maintenance and procured water and food supplies.

“Work completed, sir.”

“Good work. But…”

The ship’s commander, receiving the report, glanced at the soldiers working below and turned to the deputy commander.

“The soldiers haven’t caused any trouble, have they?”

* * *

The commander’s concern had a reason. He knew that before departing from Dongnae, all sorts of rumors about Japanese women had circulated among the naval soldiers.

“They say Japan is overflowing with women!”

“Japanese women, even commoners, not just courtesans or entertainers, will not only let you stay the night if you ask but even sleep with you! And for free!”

When it became known that such rumors were spreading among the soldiers, the higher-ups were troubled.

Once a ship set sail and until its return, everything had to be entrusted to the heavens. If they encountered a storm midway, the ship and its crew could all become ghosts of the sea in an instant.

As a result, not only the naval soldiers but most of the crew on civilian merchant ships tended to live without regard for tomorrow.

If such men heard rumors about a foreign country and went there, military discipline could break down, leading to international problems.

In the end, the Naval Commander had to step up and warn the soldiers.

“Those who recklessly violate military discipline in Japan will face extreme punishment!”

* * *

Knowing the situation from Dongnae, the ship’s commander could not hide his concern. If any unsavory incidents occurred, it could hinder his own promotion.

To the commander’s question, the deputy commander replied with a smile.

“The soldiers also value their lives, so such things won’t happen.”

At the deputy commander’s answer, the commander sighed.

“Whew~. That’s a relief, but sometimes those who can’t control their youthful vigor are the problem.”

“That’s true, but… the lads are refraining from going out after the first day.”

“Oh? Why?”

“They say the Japanese women smell bad…”

“What?”

Surprised by the unexpected answer, the commander doubted his own ears.

* * *

Since Hyang mass-produced soap and strengthened hygiene education, the people of Joseon had become much cleaner. As they paid more attention to hygiene, the incidence of skin diseases and various illnesses decreased, and the people, having confirmed the effects, began to pay even more attention to hygiene.

Before long, the people living in Joseon had become the cleanest among the three countries of Northeast Asia.

* * *

The issue of Japan’s sexual culture was also a topic of controversy in the royal court.

“If we obtain a naval base in Tsushima, open a trading post in Japan, and begin mining, it will definitely become a problem. Even if we send only single men to the naval base, trading post, and mines, they will be influenced by Japan’s customs and cause issues. And if we send men with families, their entire families will be influenced by Japan’s customs. When such people return to Joseon, the morality among the people will surely crumble!”

Sejong nodded at the point raised by the Office of the Inspector General.

“This is indeed a matter that requires serious consideration. Therefore, gather people and devise countermeasures.”

“We shall heed your command!”

At Sejong’s order, the ministers summoned senior and junior officials to begin a strategy meeting.

Including young officials in the meeting was quite unusual. However, the ministers also had their reasons.

“These days, my body is not what it used to be. It’s time to start preparing for the future.”

“You too? I’m also…”

Having served in official positions since the late Goryeo period, they were preparing to step down. It was a move to entrust their successors to those with long careers and have the young ones observe and gain experience in how things operated.

The problem was that Sejong was not one to let them go easily.

Through this process, the ministers formed a kind of task force and entered the meeting.

“Making a decision based only on fragmentary rumors risks committing a fatal error, so we must investigate thoroughly!”

“I agree with that statement.”

Following this decision, they began an investigation into Japan’s customs and culture by questioning the Koreans in Japan and the merchants at Waegwan.

And upon seeing the Japanese customs they had gathered, the young officials were all appalled.

“Such promiscuous customs!”

“It’s barbaric! Barbaric!”

While the young officials were appalled and in an uproar, the reaction of the older officials was slightly different.

“Japan’s civil war lasted quite a long time, didn’t it?”

“When I took office, I heard it was still in the midst of a civil war, so it’s been a while.”

“According to the records, it lasted for nearly 60 years.”

The senior officials, discussing the civil war that had taken place during Japan’s Northern and Southern Court period, nodded and reached a conclusion.

“With a civil war of that scale, it’s understandable that such customs would develop.”

“Pardon?”

The young officials expressed doubts at the senior officials’ conclusion.

Seeing this, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik stepped forward to explain.

“Have you young ones ever experienced a war?”

“We have experienced a few invasions by the Japanese pirates.”

At the young officials’ answer, the Chief State Councilor waved his hand dismissively.

“Ah~. The Japanese pirate invasions you experienced at your age are nothing compared to those at the end of the previous dynasty.”

That was indeed the case.

* * *

The Japanese pirate invasions at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty had devastated the southern regions of Goryeo. To stop them, the Goryeo army made desperate efforts, and in the process, Lee Seong-gye, who had made a name for himself, went on to found the Joseon Dynasty.

The rampant Japanese pirates’ activities began to subside after they suffered heavy losses to the Goryeo army, which had introduced gunpowder weapons in the late Goryeo period. Afterwards, as Joseon was founded, they pacified the Japanese lords, launched offensive campaigns including the Tsushima Invasion, and finally suffered a crushing defeat in Ming during the period of the Tsushima Invasion.

Even after that, the Japanese pirates attempted to invade Joseon several times, but they were thoroughly defeated by the Joseon navy, which had been strengthened through military reforms, making it difficult to find Japanese pirates in the seas near Joseon.

Therefore, Lee Jik had given such an answer.

* * *

Taking a sip of black tea, Lee Jik continued.

“If a situation like the rampant Japanese pirates at the end of the previous dynasty persists, what do you think is the first to be wiped out?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Men. Especially the low-ranking soldiers who were farmers or fishermen. Those who only knew how to fistfight end up being used as sword and arrow fodder, and their line is the first to be wiped out. Next are the middle and low-ranking military officers commanding them.”

Hearing Lee Jik’s words, Hyang recalled a line from a movie he had seen in the 21st century.

“In the Vietnam War, do you know the average survival time of a newly commissioned second lieutenant when first deployed in combat? 16 minutes! A fucking 16 minutes!”

‘Whether then or now… ’

While Hyang was lost in thought, Lee Jik’s words continued.

“Then what happens? You may not know in the cities, but if you go a bit out, it becomes difficult to see men. Then what follows? Seeds become precious. To obtain those seeds and continue the family line or have children to farm and support, the things you call promiscuous happen.”

The Chief State Councilor’s words were filled with the pain of those who had survived a period of chaos.

“So don’t simply look at one piece and condemn it as promiscuous or whatnot. There’s no law saying similar things won’t befall our Joseon.”

As Lee Jik finished speaking, Kim Jeom’s words followed.

“Those Japanese are not ignorant of morality either. If you had properly examined the records, you would have seen the small clan in the corner of Japan that was wiped out. When the lord’s daughter committed suicide, unable to bear the shame of being raped, look at what happened as a result. If they were simply promiscuous and barbaric, such a thing would not have occurred. Therefore, as the Chief State Councilor said, don’t make rash judgments based on fragments, but examine more broadly and deeply.”

“Yes, sir.”

The young officials replied sincerely to Kim Jeom’s advice. Those elder statesmen had left them advice that would become their bones and flesh.

Watching that scene, Hyang was immediately filled with doubt.

‘Then what about the videos in my computer’s hidden folder and the internet stories from the 21st century?’

With that question in mind, Hyang directly asked the elder statesmen.

“Then, is there no possibility of such primitive and promiscuous customs persisting?”

To Hyang’s question, Lee Jik replied.

“If the current regime established by the Ashikaga clan is maintained stably for a long time and the people’s lives become stable and well-educated, there is a high possibility of it disappearing before long. However, if the lifespan of the Ashikaga regime is short and another long period of civil war follows, it may become a traditional custom.”

“I see.”

Hyang replied briefly but inwardly shouted.

‘The Sengoku period!’

However, the young officials’ point was not entirely wrong.

“It’s unfortunate that Japan has developed such customs. But considering our Joseon people who will immediately settle in Japan, this is a big problem.”

“Then what do you think we should do?”

“We should build walls around the residential areas of the naval base and trading post to cut off contact.”

“Is that possible? It doesn’t seem so in the Waegwan area.”

The elder statesmen showed a skeptical reaction to the young officials’ answer.

Despite the strong social sentiment of hostility towards the Japanese due to the pirates and strict entry and exit control, Japanese customs had considerably infiltrated the Joseon people around Waegwan.

Therefore, the elder statesmen had shown a skeptical reaction.

Afterward, various measures were proposed, but most of them were methods to block contact, so they did not receive much support.

Watching the scene from one side, Hyang intervened in the meeting.

“Instead of blocking contact, how about educating them?”

“Educate them, you say? Should we dispatch scholars?”

“The Joseon people going to the trading post and mines will mostly be families anyway. Then shouldn’t we also establish private schools to educate the children of those families?”

“Ah!”

The officials, simultaneously exclaiming at Hyang’s words, immediately proceeded with the meeting.

From then on, the meeting progressed swiftly.

The results of the meeting can be summarized as follows:

- Operate private schools for Joseon families residing in Japan.

- The Japanese have envied Joseon’s scholarship, so if they see these private schools, they will strive to enroll their own children.

- Use this situation to educate the Japanese while making them admire Joseon. Then, some Japanese clans will emerge wanting to send their children to study in Joseon.

- Ultimately, through this process, give birth to clans loyal to Joseon and secure political influence over Japan. Use this influence to maintain Joseon’s security.

Watching the process of reaching this conclusion, Hyang’s expression turned bitter.

‘Not Japanization but Joseonization… The hypocrisy is unreal… ’

* * *

Note 1) https://www.huffingtonpost.kr/2016/12/26/story_n_13780142.html

Chapter 243
The Secret Envoy (5)

The envoy fleet departing from Shimonoseki headed to Kyoto under the escort of the warships belonging to the Ouchi clan.

Although the envoy had come suddenly, the fleet had to stop at famous Japanese ports along the way for diplomatic procedures and to replenish supplies.

“Well… the need for frequent replenishment is definitely a problem.”

At Nam Gi-ju’s words, the commander of the panokseon carrying him nodded.

“Indeed. It’s likely an inherent limitation of the panokseon itself.”

The panokseon was a ship born with the mission of operating in coastal waters. Moreover, being heavily armed with cannons, a significant portion of the ship’s interior was occupied by gunpowder, large arrows, and iron pellets. Therefore, the operational period of a panokseon could not exceed five days at most.

Of course, as Hyang made improvements, the size of the panokseon increased, but the Joseon Navy filled the expanded space with cannons and supplies for the cannons.

“This problem will be resolved once the Challenger-class ships are deployed in large numbers.”

At the commander’s words, Nam Gi-ju lightly shook his head.

“That won’t happen. The Challenger-class ships will be deployed as an ocean-going fleet. The seas near Joseon will still need to be guarded by the panokseons. Of course, the Japanese pirates and the fake Japanese will have their butts scorched when the Haeung-class battleships arrive.”

“Ah! I’ve heard the rumors. They say the Haeung is incredibly fast?”

Nam Gi-ju nodded at the commander’s question.

“If the pirates encounter the Haeung at sea, they’ll have to choose between two options. Surrender and beg for mercy or take a trip to the Dragon Palace.”

Having said that, Nam Gi-ju glanced back slightly. The retainers of the Tsushima daimyo and the Ouchi clan, who had been listening to the conversation between the commander and Nam Gi-ju, were hurriedly averting their gazes.

Seeing this, Nam Gi-ju chuckled and looked at the commander. The commander also nodded slightly with a subtle smile.

“We will soon arrive at Ushimado.”

At the navigator’s report, Nam Gi-ju joked with a smile.

“Ah, my arm will ache from wielding the brush again.”

“Take care, sir.”

“Then I should start preparing.”

As Nam Gi-ju descended from the command tower of the panokseon, the retainers of Tsushima and Ouchi also followed him down.

Watching this, the commander chuckled and muttered.

“I heard Tsushima and the Ouchi clan were rivals…”

The retainers of the two clans, who had boarded the ship together under the pretext of guiding the envoy group, never stayed close to each other.

However, it was evident that they were not mere guides. Although all conversations were conducted through interpreters, it was noticeable that they understood the Korean language well.

Therefore, it was unacceptable to let them linger inside the ship, especially near the cannons.

That was why Nam Gi-ju had deliberately gone up to the command tower to talk with the commander. To eavesdrop on the conversation between the two, the retainers of the two clans could not leave the tower.

It was a situation where they both knew and played along with each other. The retainers of the two clans knew Nam Gi-ju was keeping them in check, but they couldn’t easily make a move. This was because, like before, bits of information they didn’t know were slipping out among the words casually dropped.

Of course, even the content of these leaks was something Hyang and the ministers had devised.

* * *

The voyage from Shimonoseki to Osaka took over a month.

This was because they had to stay at least four to five days at each port they stopped at along the way.

“Nanba (難波, Naniwa, the old name for Osaka)!”

At the shout of the lookout watching the sea, Nam Gi-ju, standing on the observation deck, turned to the commander.

“We have finally arrived.”

“Indeed, sir.”

As the fleet carrying the envoy approached Osaka Harbor, numerous ships filled the waters off Osaka. Looking at the ships crowding the waters off Osaka Harbor, the retainer of the Tsushima daimyo introduced them.

“It’s the shogun’s fleet.”

“Looks to be about 100 ships.”

At Nam Gi-ju’s words, the retainer of the Ouchi clan chimed in.

“Since this envoy visit was decided hastily, the number seems a bit small. Originally, 200 ships would have gathered.”

“Is that so?”

Listening to the answers of the retainers from the two clans, Nam Gi-ju looked at the Japanese ships filling his view.

Despite the enormous fleet filling the sea, and being told it was only about half the size, neither Nam Gi-ju nor the Joseon Navy seemed particularly intimidated.

This was because the vast majority of the ships gathered in such numbers were junks and small boats, much smaller than the panokseon. There were just over ten ships of similar size to the panokseon.

Even if they were to turn hostile, the Joseon ships had the ability to break through and escape.

‘Even if we can’t escape, 80% of those ships will become ghosts of the sea with us.’

Nam Gi-ju, who had made calculations with his usual emotionless eyes, showed no sign of fear.

The shogun’s attempt to flaunt his might to the Joseon envoy and exert psychological pressure had little effect.

* * *

The panokseon docked at the pier of Osaka Harbor, and the gangway was connected. Just before disembarking, Nam Gi-ju conversed with the commander.

“Thanks to you, we have arrived safely.”

“Please take care in Kyoto as well.”

“You take care too, Commander.”

After exchanging farewells, Nam Gi-ju descended the gangway.

The panokseons carrying the envoy group docked at the pier, and various cargoes, horses, and wagons were unloaded onto the pier.

Once the horses unloaded from the ships had stabilized to some extent, cavalry soldiers approached and began saddling them.

Seeing the cavalry soldiers saddling the horses, equipping Gapshik rifles and cavalry guns, and mounting the horses, the eyes of the Japanese sparkled.

“The armor is unusual?”

When the Japanese asked about the full-body plate armor worn by the cavalry soldiers, Nam Gi-ju replied with a nonchalant expression.

“It’s a new type of armor we started using recently.”

“Is that so?”

The expressions of the Japanese listening to Nam Gi-ju’s answer were complex.

‘Although covered with cloth on top, it’s definitely armor made of iron!’

‘It’s certainly steel! And judging by their movements, they’ve been wearing it for a long time and are accustomed to it!’

‘Making armor that covers the entire body with that expensive steel and equipping them with it! What has happened in Joseon?’

The Japanese, distracted by the cavalry’s armor, had completely forgotten about the Gapshik rifles and cavalry guns tucked into the saddles on both sides.

“My lord, the horses are ready.”

“Is that so? Good work.”

Following the cavalryman’s guidance, Nam Gi-ju’s group mounted their horses.

“What about the retainers of Tsushima and the Ouchi clan?”

“They have also finished their preparations.”

Confirming that the retainers of the two clans who had accompanied them were also on their pre-arranged horses waiting for them, Nam Gi-ju steered his horse towards them.

“The matter is urgent, so let’s move a bit quickly to Kyoto.”

“Yes, sir.”

The retainers of the two clans all agreed with Nam Gi-ju’s words.

* * *

In their view, this envoy was unusual in many ways. Until the previous visit to Japan, all envoys had used palanquins. And most of the escort troops were a small number of infantry.

However, this envoy was completely different. With the reason of “an urgent matter to discuss,” they brought horses and all the escort troops were cavalry. Moreover, their number seemed to fully fill one Gi (旗, usually consisting of 3-5 companies, up to 125 men) according to the Joseon military organization.

Having received this news in advance, the shogunate had also sent an escort and guide unit composed entirely of cavalry. The number of Japanese cavalry troops that arrived was about 500.

The retainers sent by Tsushima and Ouchi muttered to themselves as they saw the cavalry.

‘Sending out 500 cavalry… Is it to boast that Kyoto is that safe?’

In particular, the retainer of the Ouchi clan had a very serious expression.

‘Does this mean they have definite military power and authority to the extent that they are not worried even after sending out that many?’

The cavalry unit sent by the shogunate carried an unspoken warning to Joseon and the Japanese clans.

‘The shogunate is this powerful! Don’t harbor any vain thoughts!’

“Depart!”

“Depart!”

At the order of the Japanese cavalry commander, who confirmed that the envoy’s preparations were complete, the Japanese cavalry at the forefront began to move ahead. And the envoy group followed behind them.

And Japanese painters were diligently capturing that scene in paintings.

* * *

The journey to Kyoto was smooth. As the movement progressed smoothly, the retainers of the two clans and the retainers sent by the shogunate conversed with Nam Gi-ju.

“Joseon’s cavalry soldiers look very solid.”

“With frequent clashes with the Jurchen tribes, it can’t be helped.”

“Ah…”

At Nam Gi-ju’s answer, the retainers nodded. They also knew about the disturbances caused by the Jurchen tribes in the northern part of Joseon.

“But the cavalry soldiers don’t have bows? Isn’t Joseon famous for archery?”

“We’re traveling for diplomatic relations, so there’s no need to bring bows, right? Having enough to defend against any unforeseen circumstances is sufficient.”

“That’s true.”

Although the retainers nodded at Nam Gi-ju’s words, they had different thoughts in their minds.

‘I heard Joseon’s angular bows are vulnerable to moisture, and it turns out to be true!’

‘It’s not that they didn’t bring them because they weren’t needed, but because they can’t use them!’

The retainers were making their own military judgments.

As they reached their own conclusions, the retainers showed interest in the Gapshik rifles and cavalry guns quietly resting on the saddles of the Joseon cavalry horses.

“What are those long weapons?”

“Those? They’re hand cannons.”

“Hand cannons?”

At Nam Gi-ju’s answer, the retainers from Tsushima and Ouchi showed expressions of unfamiliarity, but the retainer from the shogunate pretended to know.

“Ah! I’ve heard rumors! They say Ming and Joseon use a small hand cannon that individual soldiers carry around!”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

At Nam Gi-ju’s answer, the retainer sent by the shogunate organized the situation in his mind. The retainer in question had experience going to Ming and Joseon with the Japanese pirates.

‘When I went to Ming and saw it, the hand cannon could only be used as a club after firing one shot. So they carry two of them? It seems they brought them instead of bows. Two shots are enough for basic defense.’

The retainer from the shogunate, reaching his own conclusion based on his experience, nodded his head.

Just as the retainers from Tsushima, Ouchi, and the shogunate tried to gather intelligence on Joseon’s military power, Joseon also observed the situation in Japan.

In fact, even Nam Gi-ju, who was appointed as the chief envoy, had experienced actual combat with the Jurchen tribes in the north until he took a position in the navy. Therefore, while engaging in various conversations with the Japanese, his eyes constantly surveyed the surroundings and memorized them.

Even on the way to Kyoto, Nam Gi-ju organized data for his daily reports to the point of falling asleep.

- The condition of the roads is better than Joseon before the military reforms.

- The activity of merchants is very lively.

- In terms of agriculture, the cultivation of field rice (田米) is still the main focus. Most of it is large-scale farming where a large number of people are mobilized to cultivate a wide area.

- The aftermath of the civil war that continued at the end of the previous dynasty seems to linger. About 70% of those engaged in farming are women. However, the number of boys who will soon reach adulthood is quite significant.

- Although the King of Japan holds power, the military strength independently possessed by the clans is also considerable.

- The problem is that these clans are located close to where the King of Japan resides.

- Considering that they maintain military power despite the poor conditions of the rural areas we passed, there still seems to be deep distrust between the clans and the King of Japan.

Nam Gi-ju’s observations were surprisingly accurate.

As Joseon and Japan probed each other, the envoy group finally arrived in Kyoto.

Upon arriving in Kyoto, Nam Gi-ju took a deep breath.

“Phew! We’ve finally arrived. We must succeed!”

Chapter 244
The Secret Envoy (6)

Standing on a hill near Kyoto, Nam Gi-ju had a peculiar expression as he gazed at the city.

“It looks more like China than Japan.”

The downtown area of Kyoto was composed of a square-shaped city wall on a wide plain with a grid-patterned cityscape.

As sea routes became more active, Joseon envoys frequently traveled to China via the sea. The appearance of Kyoto was almost identical to the old capitals of China that they had passed through on their way to Beijing while escorting the envoys.

“Shall we go?”

“Let’s go.”

Nam Gi-ju’s group, who had been briefly admiring the layout of Kyoto from the hill, began moving towards the city at the words of the retainer sent by the shogun.

* * *

Passing through Rashomon, the southern gate of Kyoto, Nam Gi-ju’s group headed north along Suzaku Avenue.

At the end of the avenue, a palace surrounded by high walls appeared again.

“This is the imperial palace where the Emperor resides.”

At the words of the shogunate retainer in charge of the guide, Nam Gi-ju briefly asked.

“Then should we go in and pay our respects?”

At Nam Gi-ju’s words, the retainer shook his head with a slight smile.

“There is no need for that.”

“Is that so? I understand.”

Nam Gi-ju responded briefly to the retainer’s words.

This was because Nam Gi-ju had also heard about the political situation in Japan beforehand.

Arriving at the shogun’s residence under the escort of the shogunate cavalry, Nam Gi-ju forced back a wry laugh that threatened to escape and inwardly cursed.

‘Damn it! It’s someone else’s country, but just look at the state of this nation!’

The arrangement of the shogunate buildings and the imperial palace was utterly disrespectful.

Even in Gyeongbokgung in Hanseong and the royal palace built in Gaeseong during the previous dynasty, no other buildings were allowed to be built behind the palace.

This was not only for safety reasons but also a matter of etiquette.

If buildings were compared to people, the only ones who could sit behind the king were the most senior members of the royal family, such as the former king who served as regent or the Queen Dowager.

It was unthinkable for a subject to sit behind the king. And the same applied to the arrangement of buildings.

Of course, if the palace was built in the very center of the city, like the Forbidden City in Beijing, with the idea that the emperor – the center of China – was the center of the world, it could be an exception. However, if the palace was located in the north, as in Gaeseong, Hanseong, and Kyoto, such an arrangement was the epitome of disrespect.

It was a matter for which one could be treated as a traitor for insulting the king, with no room for argument.

However, the shogunate building was located right behind the imperial palace. Although not as massive as the imperial palace, it was a large-scale building that boasted an imposing presence.

Therefore, even Nam Gi-ju, known for his lack of emotional expression, momentarily lost his composure and inwardly cursed.

‘I heard Japan has two kings! It’s really true!’

However, since it was ultimately another country’s affair, and considering the task at hand, Nam Gi-ju suppressed his emotions as much as possible.

* * *

Entering the shogunate, Nam Gi-ju’s group had an audience with Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th shogun.

“I pay my respects to the King of Japan.”

“You must have had a long journey. Let’s first relieve your fatigue and then have a conversation.”

Hearing Yoshinori’s words through the interpreter, Nam Gi-ju bowed his head and replied.

“I am grateful for your hospitality.”

That night, after a grand banquet, Yoshinori met separately with the retainers of Ouchi and Tsushima.

“Why did your lords not come with you?”

Generally, when envoys came from Joseon, at least the lord of Tsushima would accompany them to Kyoto.

However, this time, neither the lord of Tsushima nor the head of the Ouchi clan came along, and only their retainers had come.

In response to Yoshinori’s question, the retainer of the Ouchi clan lowered his head deeply and answered.

“Our lord suddenly fell ill…”

“Fell ill?”

“He was suddenly stricken with a severe cold and fever… Instead, here…”

The retainer of the Ouchi clan, prostrating on the floor, took out a letter from his bosom and raised it above his head.

The shogunate retainer, who took the letter on behalf of Yoshinori, removed the seal and confirmed that there was nothing unusual. Having verified that there was nothing amiss with the envelope and its contents, the shogunate retainer respectfully presented the neatly folded letter to Yoshinori.

“Hmm…”

Reading the contents of the letter, Yoshinori glared at the Ouchi retainer and spoke.

“It’s regrettable that he couldn’t come due to a severe fever from a cold. I hope he recovers soon.”

“I am deeply ashamed!”

“What about Tsushima then?”

“Just before coming, there were signs of pirate movement, so he couldn’t come.”

“Is that so? Pirates… Well~. It is indeed a big problem. The lord must be having a tough time.”

The retainer of Tsushima also presented a letter to Yoshinori.

After reading the letters, Yoshinori waved his hand.

“You have done well. Convey my words to your lords. ‘I will let it slide this time.’ Understood?”

“Yes, my lord!”

The retainers of Tsushima and Ouchi answered while breaking out in a cold sweat and politely withdrew.

Watching their departure, Yoshinori turned to his retainers.

“Why do you think Tsushima and Ouchi couldn’t come?”

In response to Yoshinori’s question, one of the retainers answered.

“They are probably preoccupied with calculating the gains and losses that Joseon’s proposal will bring.”

“That’s likely the case.”

Yoshinori nodded at the retainer’s answer.

The letter from Joseon stating, ‘We have an urgent matter to discuss and will send envoys,’ also briefly mentioned the issues to be discussed.

Joseon had conveyed two agenda items.

One was the lease of ports in Tsushima, and the other was the desire to open a trading post in the Ouchi region.

The shogunate had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Joseon envoys due to the end of Joseon’s letter stating, ‘We wish to discuss and coordinate the details through the envoys we send.’

“Based on the current situation, it seems that both Tsushima and Ouchi have accepted Joseon’s proposal, right?”

“It appears so.”

“Then what should I do? Should I clap hands in agreement or make a fuss? Both Tsushima and Ouchi are not to my liking.”

At Yoshinori’s words, the retainers began to discuss their opinions among themselves.

After exchanging opinions, the retainers advised Yoshinori.

“If Joseon provides sufficient benefits to our shogunate, it would be best to accept the proposal.”

“Why? Both of them don’t listen well to me.”

“Aren’t Tsushima and Ouchi rivals?”

At the retainers’ answer, Yoshinori clapped his hands.

“That’s right!”

From the shogunate’s perspective, both Ouchi and Tsushima were undesirable clans. Ouchi was a powerful clan that had built up its capabilities while engaging in trade as much as the shogunate. Concerned about this, the previous shogun had devised a scheme, and the head of the Ouchi clan, falling for this scheme, had rebelled and died in battle.

Afterward, someone who seemed likely to obey the shogunate was appointed as the heir, but a civil war broke out, expelling him, and the current head, Morimi, succeeded the position. The shogunate tried to make an issue of this, but the clans surrounding Ouchi all recognized Morimi as the head, forcing the shogunate to acknowledge him as well.

Tsushima was no different. As a member of the Shoni clan in Kyushu, which disobeyed the shogunate, Tsushima was a clan that paid lip service to the shogunate.

The only fortunate thing was that Ouchi and Tsushima, or more precisely, the Shoni clan of Kyushu, were mortal enemies. Ouchi’s move to regain their lost power was to advance into Kyushu, and in the process, the Shoni clan had to suffer enormous damage.

The weakening of the Shoni clan, the native ruling power in Kyushu, was what the shogunate wanted, so they even granted Ouchi the position of Tandai (探題) of Kyushu, and Ouchi and Tsushima became rivals who couldn’t wait to devour each other.

Therefore, Yoshinori reached a straightforward conclusion.

“I like this very much. Let’s accept Joseon’s proposal to some extent while securing benefits for ourselves.”

“Yes, my lord!”

* * *

With the shogunate having predetermined the direction, the talks proceeded smoothly. Of course, it was smooth in the sense that there were no major debates or disagreements, not that the talks themselves progressed quickly.

With Yoshinori stepping back, Nam Gi-ju’s group and the shogunate retainers coordinated their opinions.

“Let’s proceed with the leasing of Tsushima’s naval base as agreed upon between Joseon and Tsushima.”

“Very well.”

“Then let’s move on to the next agenda. Regarding the establishment of trading posts, Joseon wants two locations, right?”

“Yes.”

Initially, Joseon had decided to establish only one trading post. However, a point was soon raised regarding this.

“If only one location is designated in the Ouchi clan’s territory, the shogunate may oppose it. We need to provide an appropriate bait to the shogunate as well.”

As the objection was valid, a meeting was held on this matter. And the number of trading posts to be established increased to two.

“Where does Joseon want them to be located?”

To the shogunate retainer’s question, Nam Gi-ju promptly replied.

“First, we would like to establish trading posts in one of Shimonoseki or Nagato, and one location recommended by the shogunate.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing Nam Gi-ju’s answer, the retainers had troubled expressions.

‘There are too many options to choose from!’

In the end, the retainers had to declare a recess.

Because of this, although the mood of the meeting was good, it ended up consuming an enormous amount of time.

After a series of time-consuming meetings, the locations for the Joseon trading posts were finally decided.

Nagato and Naniwa (Osaka).

With all agreements reached, Nam Gi-ju boarded the return journey with a sense of relief.

On the observation deck of the panokseon heading to Shimonoseki, Nam Gi-ju inwardly muttered as he gazed at the sea.

‘I wonder if the secret envoys did well?’

* * *

“My lord! I have returned!”

As the retainer prostrating on the ground announced his return, Morimi calmly replied.

“Good work. So, where was it decided to establish the trading post?”

“In Nagato.”

At the retainer’s answer, Morimi frowned.

“As expected of the shogun. He used a clever trick.”

Shimonoseki was a traditional trading port, and Ouchi had long established solid defense facilities there.

However, with the designation of Nagato, Ouchi had to spend manpower and resources to enhance defense facilities in Nagato as well.

That was why Morimi referred to it as a “clever trick.”

“My lord! Please forgive my mistake!”

As the retainer pleaded for forgiveness, Morimi replied with an unconcerned expression.

“It’s alright. I had already anticipated the high possibility of Nagato being chosen. Joseon had also initially pointed out Nagato. And…”

Pausing for a moment, Morimi brought a teacup to his lips and continued.

“In the meantime, a secret envoy came from Joseon.”

“A secret envoy, you say?”

“Yes. The official envoys were just a decoy.”

At Morimi’s words, the retainer gulped.

“What did Joseon offer?”

“Joint development of the Iwami silver mine.”

“Gasp!”

The Iwami silver mine had been discovered quite some time ago but had not been properly mined. The reason was that Japan’s technology could not yet dig deep enough.

Morimi and his fellow retainers continued with joyful expressions.

“With Joseon’s technology, the mining output will increase several-fold!”

“And Joseon will even pay the wages, it’s the icing on the cake!”

“Indeed! This will give us room to breathe in strengthening our military!”

Nodding at his retainers’ words, Morimi showed a slightly regretful expression.

“It’s just a bit disappointing about the distribution ratio. 65% to 35%… Of course, it’s not a big loss since Joseon agreed to pay the wages, but…”

“It’s a profitable deal since we can learn Joseon’s mining techniques!”

“It would have been nice if we could have obtained refining techniques as well…”

Unable to hide his disappointment, Morimi gave orders to his retainers.

“Try reaching out to Ming. Ask if we can find refining technicians.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Having given orders to his retainers, Morimi once again licked his lips.

“By the way, was his name Kim Jong-seo? He seemed quite useful…”

The reaction was the same for Won Do-jin, the Governor-General of Kyushu.

“Was his name Hwangbo In? Joseon has many talented individuals.”

Chapter 245
Misunderstandings, Prejudices, and the Butterfly Effect

The retainer who finished reporting to Morimi asked his fellow retainers about something he was curious about.

“Kim Jong-seo, was it? Was the secret envoy from Joseon really that remarkable? This is the first time I’ve seen our lord covet someone so much.”

At the question about Kim Jong-seo, the fellow retainers who had interacted with him nodded in unison.

“He was extraordinary. He seemed like the reincarnation of a hero from the heroic tales.”

“Indeed, indeed. He always acted boldly without losing his smile, but he never suffered a loss.”

“He seemed to gloss over things, but he never missed a thing.”

“He appeared to have sufficient ability to run a nation.”

“He seemed to enjoy drinking, indulging in the arts, and being extravagant, but his loyalty was firmer than a rock.”

“Huh… There was such a person?”

When the questioning retainer showed a look of disbelief, another retainer spoke up.

“The day before that Kim Jong-seo returned to Joseon, our lord hosted a banquet.”

* * *

The day before Kim Jong-seo, who had successfully concluded negotiations with Ouchi Morimi, was to return, Morimi held a grand banquet. Morimi, Mochiyo, the posthumous son of Morimi’s deceased brother and designated heir, and even the retainers who had not gone to Kyoto all attended the grand banquet.

Officially, it was to bid farewell to Kim Jong-seo, who was returning to Joseon, but internally, it was a banquet to entice Kim Jong-seo.

Therefore, renowned beauties and talented women from the domain were gathered and seated around Kim Jong-seo.

As the banquet was in full swing and everyone began to feel the effects of alcohol, Morimi casually brought up the topic.

“Aren’t they truly beautiful women?”

“Indeed, they are. It feels like I have become a butterfly fluttering in a flower garden.”

“Hahaha! A butterfly fluttering in a flower garden! What a splendid expression!”

Morimi, who had burst into laughter at Kim Jong-seo’s words, spoke again.

“Lord Kim’s literary talent is truly remarkable. May I request a poem?”

“My skills are too trivial to boast about.”

After declining a couple of times, Kim Jong-seo finally had to recite a poem.

“Although my skills are trivial, please enjoy it lightly.”

Kim Jong-seo, who lightly sang the tune, turned his head and looked outside. Gazing at the moon visible through the window, Kim Jong-seo began to speak.

“Is the round moon in the sky the same in Hanseong?

Why does the singing voice of the beautiful lady sound so sorrowful?

Is it because she cannot forget the sincere love in Jongno?”

“Ah…”

Morimi was left speechless by the poem recited by Kim Jong-seo. Although it was a short poem, it was filled with unwavering loyalty towards the King of Joseon.

‘I should give up… ’

Forcibly hiding his disappointment, Morimi unleashed a series of exclamations.

“Truly! It was truly a magnificent poem! Lord Kim’s literary talent is indeed extraordinary.”

“You flatter me. I am ashamed to have tainted your ears with my trivial skills.”

As Kim Jong-seo replied humbly, Morimi shook his head.

“No! No! Although my learning is shallow, I have ears to listen! It was a truly outstanding poem! It can be called the best under the heavens!”

To Morimi’s words, Kim Jong-seo responded modestly.

“There are many in Joseon who surpass me.”

As Kim Jong-seo continued to express humility, one of the retainers chimed in.

“Did you say there are many in Joseon who are even more outstanding than you?”

“That’s right. It’s embarrassing, but my rank in the civil service examination was 13th.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Morimi and the retainers were left speechless.

Meanwhile, the Joseon officials who had accompanied Kim Jong-seo to assist him had to pinch their thighs and desperately manage their expressions.

‘They say dream interpretation is more important than the dream itself! Look at their faces! They definitely misunderstood!’

‘That damned Hanseong addiction! Even in a situation like this!’

‘It’s a severe case, a severe case!’

As a side note, the poem recited by Kim Jong-seo at this banquet was later included in a Korean middle school Korean language textbook. And the commentary on this poem was as follows:

- Using the “round moon” and “sincere love,” it is a masterpiece that expresses one’s loyalty to the king with restrained expression.

- * * *

The next day, after seeing off the Koreans, including Kim Jong-seo, and returning to his residence, Morimi became speechless.

Morimi’s face, gazing at the well-manicured garden, was more hardened than ever before. Seeing Morimi like this, Mochiyo and the retainers had unusually tense expressions.

‘What’s going on? The negotiations went well, though?’

‘Why on earth?’

As Mochiyo and the retainers were anxiously observing the situation, Morimi spoke.

“Frogs…”

Morimi, who suddenly uttered an incomprehensible word, turned around and looked at Mochiyo and the retainers.

“What do you think of the secret envoy sent by Joseon this time?”

In response to Morimi’s question, Mochiyo stepped forward and answered.

“He was a remarkable talent.”

“Indeed, he was a remarkable talent. But do you know what’s truly frightening? That such a talent ranked 13th in the civil service examination. Simply put, it means there are 12 more talented individuals above him.”

“Ah…”

At Morimi’s words, Mochiyo and the retainers nodded their heads. They also knew about the civil service examinations conducted in Ming and Joseon through rumors.

However, they looked down on the civil service examination system itself.

‘Literature is weak! The world is dominated solely by military power!’

It was a thought befitting those who had lived through the era of turmoil, the division of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

“Of course, military power is the most important for aspiring to rule the world. But!”

Morimi paused for a moment and clenched his fist.

“With military power alone, even if you gain the world, it’s nothing more than a fleeting dream! To become the true master of the world, not just a momentary dream, what is absolutely necessary is literature!”

Despite Morimi’s impassioned speech, Mochiyo and the retainers showed signs of not readily agreeing.

Seeing this, Morimi shouted angrily.

“That’s why you are frogs! Frogs in a well! Look at Joseon now! Who holds dominion over the sea, not only the Tsushima Strait but also the sea leading to Ming?”

“…It’s Joseon.”

“What do you think is the reason for Joseon’s rapid growth?”

Mochiyo, who pondered for a moment at Morimi’s words, asked in return.

“Is it the power of literature?”

“Yes! It’s clear that strengthening military power is the most important task! However, it is literature’s role to foster and maintain that military power! Look at Joseon! It’s because individuals like that Kim Jong-seo support them that they could grow so quickly! Mochiyo!”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Why did Ouchi Yoshihiro, your father, my brother, and the previous lord, have to pass away?”

“It was because of the scheme of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the previous shogun!”

“Why did he fall for the scheme? It was because there was no one who could see through the scheme. There were those skilled in military strategy but none skilled in political strategy!”

Morimi passionately lectured Mochiyo and the retainers.

“It is said that defending a castle is more difficult than attacking one. Governing a nation is more difficult than founding one! To become the true master of the world, the dream of our clan, we need the power of literature! I will issue an order! Gather not only your children but also the children with literary talent from across the domain! Send the gathered children to study in Joseon!”

“There may be financial issues!”

When one of the retainers pointed out the problem, Morimi shouted angrily.

“Have you forgotten about the trading post to be established in Nagato and the Iwami silver mine?”

“I am ashamed!”

“This is why I call you frogs! While it’s important to nurture children with military talent, literature must not be neglected! To become the true master of the world, marching to the capital is not everything! We must thoroughly prepare for what comes after as well!”

At Morimi’s cry, Mochiyo and the retainers bowed their heads in unison and replied.

“Yes, my lord!”

It was a moment when another turning point in history was created.

* * *

The panokseon carrying Kim Jong-seo, who had successfully completed his mission, did not head towards Tsushima but instead took a detour towards Jeju Island and arrived at the Left Naval Station of Jeolla Province.

As the mission itself was secret, the panokseon belonging to the Left Naval Station of Jeolla Province moved instead of Dongnae, where there were many Japanese eyes.

Kim Jong-seo, who had safely arrived at the Left Naval Station of Jeolla Province, immediately mounted a horse and headed to Hanseong.

“What a diligent fellow! He could have rested for a day, but he’s going straight up!”

The Commander of the Left Naval Station of Jeolla Province saw off Kim Jong-seo’s group with a pleased expression. However, Kim Jong-seo’s entourage glared at him with narrowed eyes.

‘Diligent, my ass!’

‘As if you’ve only known him for a day or two! He’s definitely doing this to finish early and go to the pleasure house!’

Although they grumbled inwardly, Kim Jong-seo’s entourage all agreed on one thing.

“Still, he does his job thoroughly!”

* * *

Kim Jong-seo, who arrived in Hanseong amidst numerous misunderstandings and prejudices, immediately went to Sejong.

“Well done.”

Sejong, who received the report through the eunuch, said to Kim Jong-seo.

“Rest for two days and then report to me. I have many things to ask.”

‘Just give me one more day.’

Although grumbling inwardly, Kim Jong-seo bowed his head and replied.

“Your grace is immeasurable.”

“You may leave.”

After paying respects to Sejong and leaving, Kim Jong-seo counted his fingers and muttered.

“If you’re going to use me, use me thoroughly. What’s with two days, two days… Where should I go first?”

Kim Jong-seo continued to count his fingers, pondering where to go.

* * *

After two days of rest, Kim Jong-seo had to come before Sejong again.

“In your opinion, what kind of person was the head of the Ouchi clan?”

“He seemed to be a very ambitious person.”

“Ambitious? Why?”

As Sejong showed interest, Kim Jong-seo recounted his observations.

“When he heard the proposal for joint mining of the Iwami silver mine, if he were loyal to the King of Japan, he would have first mentioned obtaining the King’s approval. However, until I left, he never mentioned such a thing even once, and there were no signs of him sending someone to the King of Japan.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Sejong nodded his head, stroking his beard at Kim Jong-seo’s explanation.

“If he is that ambitious, he must be hostile to the King of Japan.”

“He did not show such an attitude in front of me, but he did not show more respect than necessary.”

“I see.”

Kim Jong-seo had to answer Sejong’s questions for a long time after that.

Having extracted enough information from Kim Jong-seo to his satisfaction, Sejong gave him an order.

“Good work. There is someone waiting for you at the State Council, so go and see.”

“I shall heed your command.”

As he left after paying respects to Sejong, Kim Jong-seo tilted his head.

“Who is waiting for me?”

“Jong-seo!”

“Gasp!”

Hearing the familiar voice calling him, Kim Jong-seo’s face turned pale as if he had seen a ghost. In the distance, Hwang Hui was walking towards him, waving his hand.

“Why is the Minister here? Why here?”

As Kim Jong-seo was muttering with a pale face, Hwang Hui, who had walked right up to him, spoke.

“You finished reporting to His Majesty, right?”

“Pardon? Yes.”

“Then pack your bags. We need to get back to work soon.”

“Minister! It hasn’t been long since I returned from the envoy mission…”

As Kim Jong-seo grumbled with a sorrowful expression, Hwang Hui shouted angrily.

“Listen! In my days, I went back to work the very day I returned from an envoy mission! You had plenty of rest while on the mission!”

“Minister! I crossed the sea!”

“Listen! In my days, I passed through areas swarming with Jurchen tribes! Pack your bags now!”

“Minister…”

“The more you resist, the further away your return to Hanseong will be. Choose. Do you want to lead the virgin land expedition team, or do you want to work with me and then return to Hanseong?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jong-seo replied with tears welling up in his eyes.

“I will go home, change into my official robes, and return.”

* * *

After that, Sejong continued to receive reports related to Japan.

After reading the reports from Hwangbo In, who had met with Won Do-jin, the Governor-General of Kyushu, following a secret order like Kim Jong-seo, and Nam Gi-ju’s group, who had met with Ashikaga Yoshinori as official envoys, as well as the analysis reports compiling these reports, Sejong looked at his ministers.

“To reach a conclusion, the situation in Japan is like a lantern in the wind, right?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Chief State Councilor Lee Jik immediately answered Sejong’s question and added.

“Judging from the fact that not only the head of the Ouchi clan but even the Governor-General of Kyushu, Won Do-jin, who is said to have the trust of the King of Japan, kept the contents of their meetings with the secret envoys confidential, it seems that although the King of Japan’s rule may appear strong on the surface, it is unstable on the inside.”

“I see. Then let’s also establish a plan assuming the worst-case scenario.”

“We shall heed your command!”

Chapter 246
The Navigator Prince Henry (1)

Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante Dom Henrique, o Navegador)

Northern coast of Morocco, Ceuta.

Knock, knock.

At the light knocking sound, Prince Henry, who had been reviewing documents, answered in a low voice.

“Come in.”

At Prince Henry’s command, the door opened, and a knight entered.

“What is it?”

“The ships have returned from Alexandria.”

“Is that so?”

At the knight’s report, Henry’s face brightened, and he rose from his chair.

* * *

Watching the cargo being unloaded from the ships docked at the pier, Henry turned to the captains.

“What about the goods from Joseon?”

“They are being unloaded over there.”

At the captains’ words, Henry moved to that location.

“Unload carefully! If the goods are damaged, you bastards won’t be able to pay it off even if you work your entire lives!”

“Careful! Careful!”

Amidst the shouts of the supervisors managing the unloading of the cargo, the sailors and slaves were carefully unloading the cargo boxes.

Examining the amount of cargo being unloaded from the ships, Henry’s expression hardened.

“Isn’t the quantity less than expected?”

At Henry’s observation, the manager in charge of purchasing answered, sweating profusely.

“Those Italian bastards put up a fierce fight…”

“Fucking mongrels!”

At the manager’s response, Henry spat out a curse, forgetting his dignity as a prince.

* * *

From a few years ago, extraordinary goods had begun to arrive at the auction houses in Alexandria. In terms of quality and beauty, these products were far superior to the goods being traded in the Islamic and European markets at that time.

“Where were these made?”

European and Islamic merchants who had flocked to Alexandria asked the Aden merchants who had brought the goods about their origin.

“It’s a secret.”

“Come on, tell us!”

“I said it’s a secret!”

The Aden merchants kept their mouths firmly shut, but the merchants who purchased the goods kept trying.

And so, one merchant, swayed by a suitable bribe and alcohol, finally opened his mouth.

“We didn’t obtain these goods ourselves. One merchant from Aden paved the way.”

“So where is that place?”

“He said it was called Joseon.”

“Joseon? Where is Joseon?”

“I don’t know that much.”

Because of this, Joseon had to be treated as a “land of mystery” for a while afterwards.

This curiosity of the merchants was resolved starting from when Joseon goods were released for the second time.

The merchants who brought Joseon goods the second time, from the Ottaibi and Azram families of Aden, released an even more diverse and larger quantity of goods to the auction houses in Alexandria.

The expectation that prices would fall due to the increased quantity was greatly off the mark. Even more merchants had flocked than the first time, having heard the rumors.

The merchants who had gathered in this way asked the same question again while obtaining the goods.

“Where is this place called Joseon located?”

The merchants from the Ottaibi and Azram families answered frankly.

“It is located east of Kitai (a transliteration of Khitan, another name for China).”

“East of Kitai? Then isn’t it Zipangu[1]?”

“It’s a country situated between Kitai and Zipangu.”

“I see, thank you.”

Having received an answer, the merchants expressed their gratitude and withdrew. Seeing this, the merchants from the Ottaibi and Azram families smiled with satisfaction.

‘Why? Are you going to try to find it?’

The reason the Ottaibi and Azram families were so confident was due to the issues of sea routes and permits.

Europeans didn’t know the sea routes to Kitai at all. Of course, there were quite a few Islamic merchants who knew the routes to Kitai, but they were well aware of the dangers of those routes.

Lastly, the merchants who had some information about Kitai and Zipangu were well aware of the existence of “trade permits.” They knew that without these permits, only dangerous and unprofitable smuggling was possible.

‘Now that Joseon goods have been released like this, smuggling won’t be profitable!’

As Joseon products became popular in this way, the ones who rushed in most enthusiastically were the Italian merchants.

Based on the economic power they had secured through intermediary trade, the Italian merchants bought up Joseon’s goods indiscriminately.

“These are goods that will turn into several times their weight in gold once they cross the Mediterranean!”

* * *

It was in this situation that the merchants led by Prince Henry entered the competition being waged by the Italian and Islamic merchants.

Prince Henry’s involvement in this competition was for both economic and religious reasons.

Portugal, which had been established after driving out the Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula, invaded North Africa as soon as it gained strength and secured Ceuta.

Securing Ceuta[2] was for the purpose of claiming a share in the Mediterranean trade routes and for expelling Islamic forces.

“Let’s conquer Morocco!”

Henry, who had made the greatest contribution to the occupation of Ceuta, persuaded his father and other brothers to conquer Morocco.

He came to make this argument because of a story he had heard from a merchant in Ceuta.

-There is a trade route where gold travels from the south of Africa, across the desert, to Morocco in the north.

Upon hearing this story, Henry strongly advocated for the conquest of Morocco.

“If we conquer Morocco and secure that golden trade route, Portugal can become a great power in an instant!”

The king and the other princes all agreed with Henry’s argument. They, too, had heard and seen things. It was a famous rumor from long ago that a considerable amount of the gold entering Morocco came from somewhere in southern Africa.

However, Henry’s challenge immediately ran into the reality of the situation.

What blocked Henry and Portugal were the mountains and deserts of Morocco.

Conquering Morocco by crossing these mountains and deserts was beyond the capabilities of Portugal, a newborn nation.

In the end, Henry continued to steadily expand Portugal’s share in the Mediterranean trade routes while also conducting explorations of the western coast of Africa.

“If the land route is difficult, we can go by sea!”

It was in this situation that information and goods related to “Joseon” came in.

* * *

The start of Henry’s explosive interest in Joseon was the golden pen.

Disguised as an ordinary merchant and wandering around the market in Alexandria, Henry heard the shout of an Islamic merchant.

“Buy pens! Pens from Joseon for sale!”

“Joseon? That rumored Joseon? Why are goods that should only be at the auction houses here?”

Curious at the mention of goods from the country that merchants were going crazy over, Henry walked over there.

“Let’s see these so-called pens from Joseon.”

“Yes, sir! These are excellent pens called gold pens in Joseon!”

At Henry’s words, the merchant hurriedly took out a box containing the gold pens and opened the lid.

“Oho!”

Henry let out an exclamation upon seeing the contents of the opened box.

Inside the box were a silver-gleaming gold pen and a handle in which to insert the pen. The patterns engraved on the gold pen were beautiful, but the handle, boasting vivid patterns and luster with mother-of-pearl lacquerware, was also an extraordinary item.

As Henry showed interest, the merchant continued his enthusiastic introduction.

“It’s remarkable, isn’t it? Do you see the flower pattern engraved on the inside of this box? It has three flowers! Although not as good as the ones made of gold with five flowers, it’s still sufficiently high-class!”

“If it’s such a high-class item, why are you selling it here instead of putting it up for auction?”

At Henry’s question, the merchant answered with an embarrassed expression.

“When I went to Joseon following the elders, I spent all my private funds to buy just one… And people don’t buy pens made of expensive silver when there are light and easily obtained quill pens.”

“Wouldn’t wealthy people buy them?”

“Such people don’t know me.”

“Hmm…”

At the merchant’s words, Henry looked over the merchant’s appearance and nodded.

“Indeed…”

The merchant in front of him was so young that it would be more fitting to call him a boy. And while his clothing was clean, it was not of good quality.

‘A newcomer. He’s running it alone to gain experience.’

Henry understood the merchant’s efforts to sell the gold pen.

It was one of the ways that quite a few merchants raised those who would succeed them. They would give some funds to young people who had sufficiently learned the trade within the merchant group and have them obtain and sell goods, allowing them to purely accumulate their own experience rather than being taught by others.

Seeing such a merchant, Henry felt a strange sense of kinship. It felt like himself, who had set out to conquer Morocco only to fail.

With that feeling, Henry asked the price.

“How much is it?”

* * *

Having bought the gold pen and returned to his lodging, Henry inserted the pen into the handle, dipped it in ink, and wrote sentences on paper.

“Oho!”

Henry let out an exclamation after trying out the gold pen.

This foreign silver pen, called a gold pen, had a truly astounding writing feel. The letters flowed as smoothly as a ship sailing on a calm sea. And it wrote well on both expensive paper and rough cheap paper.

Henry examined the gold pen closely. It was definitely an alloy of silver and other metals, thin but with the necessary strength. The groove running along the center of the pointed nib allowed the ink to be drawn up and the letters to be written.

However, what impressed him the most was the very tip of the nib. It was not simply pointed, but slightly rounded to allow smooth writing even on rough-textured paper.

“Remarkable.”

Smiling with the joy of having obtained an item more impressive than expected, Henry suddenly had another thought.

“Should I try making and selling these? The French would go crazy for them…”

As he was gauging the possibility while examining the box, Henry saw the warning engraved on the inside of the box lid.

The warning, written in Chinese characters, Arabic, and Latin, was as follows:

-Those who reproduce without permission from Joseon will not engage in any trade with the country whatsoever.

“How arrogant. Such great confidence.”

Henry, who had been chuckling while reading the warning, soon thought differently.

‘The rumor is that all the Joseon goods on the market now are extraordinary. If a country that makes such goods were to directly engage in trade… ’

Having thought that far, Henry sighed.

“Whew~ It’s not simple arrogance.”

* * *

In this way, Henry, who had become interested in Joseon, obtained Joseon goods that had actually come on the market and confirmed their value with his own eyes.

“These are goods that will bring definite profits!”

With this conviction, Henry immediately rushed to his father the king and his brothers and persuaded them that they must purchase Joseon goods no matter what.

Henry’s persuasion was successful, and Portugal also joined the competition to purchase Joseon products.

However, they kept being pushed back by Italy, which put forth enormous capital, and it was then that Henry had spat out a curse.

* * *

As the competition intensified in this way, Henry’s interest in Joseon only grew.

“Just what kind of people live in that country to be able to produce such goods?”

Porcelain dishes and tea sets engraved with beautiful patterns, subtle yet captivating fragrances, etc.—the products coming from Joseon invariably caught the eyes of merchants and people alike.

In the end, interest in Joseon was not Henry’s alone.

In the process, information about Joseon’s location was released.

-A country located between Kitai and Zipangu.

Upon hearing that rumor, Henry, gazing at the gold pen inserted in the pen holder, muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Could it be… Prester John?”

The name of a powerful Christian nation said to exist somewhere in the far east, appearing since the days of the Crusades and even in Marco Polo’s travelogue, occurred to Henry.

1. Another name for Japan. Also called as Land of Gold by Marco Polo[↩]

2. A city in Spain[↩]

Chapter 247
The Navigator Prince Henry (2)

The reason Henry thought Joseon might be the country of Prester John was because of the gold pen.

When Henry became involved in Mediterranean trade, he mainly dealt in gold, ivory, slaves, pepper, and spices. In the midst of this, goods from Kitai (a transliteration of Khitan, the name used for China in medieval Europe)—mostly porcelain and books—would occasionally come in, and these were mainly bought by wealthy Italians or European nobles.

As they were quite high-priced items, there were many counterfeits, and European merchants had considerable knowledge about the characters and culture of Kitai to distinguish genuine products from counterfeits.

The problem was that knowledge about Kitai’s culture was based on Marco Polo’s travelogue.

Even putting aside the question of whether the contents written in the travelogue were true—there were over 100 types of manuscript copies—it had been well over 100 years since the book had been published.

Anyway, Henry also knew a fair amount about Kitai’s characters. And he also knew about the brushes used to write those characters.

When judging the gold pen with such background knowledge, Henry’s assessment was that this metal pen called a gold pen was not suitable for writing Kitai’s characters.

“It’s inconvenient for writing Arabic too. The most suitable script is… considering the era… Latin and Greek.”

Henry, who had reached a conclusion that would make those in the know clutch their bellies and laugh.

* * *

While he was growing more convinced, a merchant working under Henry rushed to him.

“Your Highness! Please look at this item!”

What the merchant held out was a glass bottle containing perfume.

“It’s a beautiful glass bottle. So what?”

At Henry’s question, the merchant continued.

“Please look at the bottom!”

“The bottom?”

As Henry examined the bottom of the glass bottle at the merchant’s words, his eyes widened.

“This is?”

A cross was engraved on the bottom of the glass bottle.

Seeing Henry unable to hide his surprise, the merchant offered his opinion.

“There was a rumor some time ago that several Venetian craftsmen had been captured by pirates. Quite a few among them had unknown whereabouts, so could it be that the glassmakers among those captured craftsmen were taken to Joseon?”

“That could be. But look at the shape. Isn’t it completely different from the glass products made by Italians?”

“They might have been ordered to make it that way…”

At the merchant’s words, Henry shook his head.

“It’s too natural for that. This doesn’t seem to have been made by Italian craftsmen.”

“Then by whom?”

“Could it be Prester John after all…”

“Pardon?”

As the merchant was surprised, Henry cautioned him.

“Shh! It’s not certain, so keep it to yourself.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And is this the only one with a cross engraved on it?”

“No. There are a few more.”

“Bring them all to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Having given orders to the merchant, Henry took the perfume bottle and returned to his room.

Sitting in a chair, Henry muttered while looking at the gold pen and perfume bottle on the desk.

“I feel certain, but I can’t jump to conclusions recklessly. I can’t repeat the failure from before.”

Recalling the disappointment of having advocated for the conquest of Morocco, Henry opened the door and called a knight.

“José!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“There’s something to be done!”

“Yes!”

* * *

Following Prince Henry’s orders, Portuguese merchants and knights entered Alexandria and diligently gathered information about Joseon.

“The merchants who went to Joseon have arrived!”

Just in time, Mansur’s group, who had gone to Joseon, entered Alexandria.

The Portuguese merchants circling around Mansur’s group to dig up information were able to obtain unexpected information, which was that they had come by ship from Aden.

Upon hearing the rumor, all the merchants in Alexandria shook their heads.

“They came to Suez by ship? Are they crazy?”

All the merchants in Alexandria shook their heads, calling them crazy.

They reacted that way because the sea route from Aden to Suez passed only through the Red Sea, and the Red Sea was notorious for pirates.

The pirates of the Red Sea were normally fishermen catching fish. However, when they spotted a merchant ship of a suitable size to hunt, they would immediately transform into pirates and plunder.

Therefore, the merchants of Alexandria judged it reckless.

However, the merchants who spread the rumor presented new information.

“They’re not crazy, the ship they came on is said to be enormously large.”

“Still. There would be a difference in numbers…”

“They mounted cannons.”

When the merchant who brought the rumor mentioned cannons, the eyes of the merchant who had shown a negative reaction widened.

“Cannons?”

* * *

As mentioned before, due to the pirate problem in the Red Sea, merchants heavily used land routes when transporting large quantities of valuable goods.

The reason they moved in the opposite way of generally using ships when transporting large amounts of cargo was because of pirates.

The existence of ships itself had limitations on personnel. On top of that, the weapons used by sailors and pirates alike during this period were only bows and spears.

Moreover, the Red Sea was not a wide ocean but a narrow sea blocked on both sides.

Under these constraints, if pirates attacked in numbers beyond what the sailors could handle, merchant ships had no choice but to be plundered.

However, it was different when traveling by land. Unlike ships, they could secure sufficient personnel, and in the desert environment, they had the time to spot approaching bandits from farther away and find appropriate countermeasures—whether to fight, flee, or negotiate.

Therefore, in the Middle East, using land routes for safety was the norm.

But this time, the merchants who came from Aden broke that norm.

What made that possible was the existence of “cannons.”

* * *

“Cannons, where did they get such expensive items?”

“They said they got them from Joseon… They’re not the cannons we know. They’re said to be very small.”

“What’s the use of small cannons?”

The merchant who had shown interest at the mention of cannons rapidly lost interest when told they were small.

In response, the merchant spreading the rumor waved his hand.

“They may be insufficient for destroying fortresses, but they’re perfect for killing people.”

“Even so…”

“They say the pirates in the Red Sea were annihilated.”

“Huh?”

At those words, the merchant who had been losing interest began to show interest again.

Meanwhile, behind them, the merchant sent by Henry was diligently committing it to memory.

* * *

The information obtained through these machinations was immediately conveyed to Henry.

Reading the reports in which the information was recorded, Henry gradually started to reach hopeful conclusions.

-Joseon people believe that the son of a god named Hwanung descended to their land and founded a nation. They say the reason Hwanung descended to earth was to widely benefit humans.

“The one true God and Jesus Christ?”

-Joseon’s nobles persecute shamans. Joseon’s nobles believe that shamans deceive innocent people and lead them to ruin.

-Joseon people, especially the nobles, emphasize fidelity between husband and wife. This is the same for commoners. Those who commit adultery after marriage receive severe criticism.

“They follow the Ten Commandments!”

-Joseon’s officials must refrain from work one day out of seven. Commoners have also begun to live somewhat similarly.

“At least the nobles observe the Sabbath?”

Analyzing the information that piled up in this way, Henry finally reached a conclusion.

“Joseon is the country of Prester John! Although many parts have changed, this occurred due to long isolation!”

It was Henry’s fatal misjudgment.

There were several religions that believed in one God besides Catholicism, such as Judaism and Islam.

The Sabbath was the same. Jews also observed the Sabbath, and Muslims also observed the Sabbath.

The negative view of adultery between husband and wife was also the same in Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam.

The negative reaction to shamans was also the same.

Not only Joseon but also Ming did not give a good evaluation of shamanistic beliefs.

This was the influence of Confucianism.

Although Henry claimed to exercise caution, in the end, he forcibly fit the evidence to his own conclusion.

* * *

Around the same time. At the glass workshop in Hanseong.

“You damn bastard!”

“What is it this time?”

At Pietro’s nonchalant response, Raphael raised his voice.

“Is the cross a talisman, huh?”

“‘Let it be according to your faith.’ Don’t you know?”

“Fuck!”

Raphael grabbed Pietro by the collar and gnashed his teeth.

The whole story was as follows.

Glass, due to the characteristics of its molecular structure, was a truly fragile item.

Therefore, it was a daily occurrence for glassmakers to encounter accidents where the products they had painstakingly made broke due to unintended mistakes.

Seeing Joseon people sighing over such incidents, Pietro had played a prank.

“There’s a talisman we use in our homeland, would you like to try it?”

“Talisman? Bring paper and cinnabar?”

“It’s not that kind of talisman…”

What Pietro taught them was to engrave a cross on the bottom of glass products.

“Hmm…”

The Joseon people who heard Pietro’s explanation looked at him with doubtful expressions. Because they knew his usual behavior well.

Then one day, an incident occurred where a product a craftsman had painstakingly made fell to the bottom during the cooling process.

“Gasp!”

Not only the maker but also all the colleagues around him had faces filled with surprise and disappointment, but an anomaly occurred.

The fallen glass product was intact.

Not only the person concerned but also nearby colleagues approached in surprise at the sight of the intact glass product that had fallen from a height perfect for breaking.

“How…”

The craftsmen carefully examining the problematic glass product discovered the cross engraved on the bottom.

“I engraved it just in case, but the divine power is awesome!”

“Indeed!”

“Let me try it too…”

All the Joseon glassmakers began to engrave crosses on the bottoms of the glass products they made.

Of course, just because they engraved a cross didn’t mean all the products would become sturdy.

Naturally, products that encountered situations where they would break did break, and only an extremely lucky few survived.

However, the craftsmen all shouted in unison.

“Wow! The divine power of that Western talisman is awesome!”

Therefore, Raphael ended up grabbing Pietro by the collar and growling.

“You unbelieving bastard destined for hellfire! Is the cross a talisman?!”

“Well, they used it similarly in Italy too, you know?”

“Fuck!”

Despite Raphael’s shout, Pietro shrugged with a nonchalant expression.

* * *

Meanwhile, Henry, who had reached a conclusion, sought out his father the king and his brothers.

“…Therefore, we must secure a route to Joseon.”

“Are you certain that Joseon is the country of Prester John?”

At the king’s question, Henry answered with determination.

“I believe so!”

Seeing Henry like that, his older brother Duarte, who was beside him, spoke up.

“Even if Joseon is not the country of Prester John, if we can pioneer a trade route, it will bring tremendous profits.”

At Duarte’s words, King João I nodded. He, too, was well aware of the popularity of Joseon goods that had spread not only to the Mediterranean region but also to Northern Europe.

In the end, after contemplating for a moment, João I reached a conclusion.

“You may proceed with the plan.”

Chapter 248
The Navigator Prince Henry (3)

As King João I gave his approval, Henry quickly took action.

“First, we must strengthen the defense of Ceuta.”

Ceuta, known to be the location of the southern pillar of the Pillars of Hercules, was the region Portugal had acquired when invading Morocco.

It was a strategic stronghold that had to be passed through for travel between the Mediterranean region and the areas of England and France.

Of course, it was possible to travel by land from Italy, but the barrier of the Alps stood in the way.

Therefore, to transport goods desired by nobles of England, France, and various countries of Northern Europe, one had to pass through the Mediterranean and go up to the North Atlantic.

For that reason, the value of Ceuta was becoming increasingly important.

The Marinid dynasty of Morocco, which had lost Ceuta, was continually building up its strength and waiting for an opportunity to recapture it.

It was not just the Marinid dynasty.

The Crown of Aragon and the Crown of León-Castile, which had driven out the Islamic dynasties from the Iberian Peninsula through the Reconquista, were also aiming for Ceuta.

To guard against this, the first task was to ensure the defense of Ceuta, which would become the forward base for the route to Joseon.

For this, Portugal invested funds to strengthen the defense of Ceuta.

First, the moat of the fortress, which had been built by Muslims and renovated for use, was dug wider and deeper, and a large number of cannons were deployed.

However, not all resources were spent solely on the defense of Ceuta.

Henry began sending out exploration ships to survey the western coast of Africa.

The goal of the exploration ships was not to explore routes but to find supply bases.

-Find a suitable place on the western coast of Africa to serve as a supply base.

-A place with a geographical environment where ships can take shelter in adverse weather.

-A place where food, water, and timber for ship repair are easily obtainable.

-A place with a climate similar to Europe.

-A place where contact with slave traders is convenient.

Portuguese ships departing from Ceuta searched the western coast of Africa to find a place meeting the above conditions.

* * *

“Funds are the problem.”

“Already?”

At the report from the managers in charge of the exploration work, Prince Henry’s face crumpled.

With the king’s approval, considerable finances were allocated to Henry’s exploration work.

However, the finances invested in this way were already starting to run out.

“What’s the reason?”

“There is a lack of ships.”

“There is also a lack of sailors.”

“Ugh…”

At the managers’ report, Prince Henry had no choice but to groan while clutching his head with both hands.

Exploring the western coast of Africa was not something that could be done with just one or two ships.

At least every six months, more than two ships had to be sent out at a time for the exploration work to proceed.

The reason it had to be this way was due to the limitations of wooden ships and communication issues.

Compared to the relatively calm Mediterranean, the seas west of Africa were fierce.

Therefore, even a small mistake could make both the ship and its crew disappear.

The problem was that even if the ships at sea met with such a disaster, those who sent them had no way of knowing.

Until the ships returned on the scheduled date, the shipowners and the families of the sailors could only visit the church and pray for their safe return.

For this reason, at least every 6 months, more than 2 ships had to be sent out.

If 2 or 3 ships moved together, at least 1 could survive and return with the survivors.

This method of exploration necessarily required many ships.

Even now, shipyards in mainland Portugal were diligently building ships, but somehow a shortage of ships had already occurred.

The issue of sailors was even more serious.

Even if a ship that went out for exploration returned safely, it was close to a miracle for all the sailors who had boarded the ship at departure to return unharmed.

Whether catching diseases or encountering pirates, there were inevitably casualties while experiencing various incidents and accidents.

Moreover, there was a constant occurrence of sailors who became physically and mentally weakened due to long-distance voyages in harsh environments, making them unfit for life on board.

Therefore, when the returned ships finished maintenance and set out again, it was not uncommon for more than half to be filled with new sailors.

“What is the answer to this?”

At Prince Henry’s words, the managers answered in unison.

“We must recruit more sailors!”

The managers’ opinions were as follows.

-By recruiting and operating a large number of sailors, experienced sailors can be cultivated.

-If there is a sufficient number of sailors, adequate rest can be provided to sailors who have returned from long-distance voyages.

“Hmm… I see. Proceed as stated.”

“As I mentioned again, there is a problem with funds.”

At the managers’ answer, Prince Henry frowned.

“The solution?”

At Prince Henry’s question, the managers presented various solutions.

“We must purchase and sell more spices and Joseon’s goods.”

“That part is not easy because of those Italians. That’s why we’re trying to find a route to the East, isn’t it?”

“We must get our hands on the African gold trade route.”

“That issue is not easy because of those Muslims.”

“We can strengthen the slave trade.”

At the last manager’s words, Prince Henry nodded.

“That’s good. Anyway, as we pioneer the route, a way to acquire slaves will also open up. Try to come up with a plan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

In this way, the unpleasant exchange between the European and African continents proceeded more quickly and on a larger scale.

It was an unfortunate butterfly effect caused by Hyang’s intervention.

* * *

Following the managers’ proposal, Prince Henry began recruiting sailors on a large scale.

‘Prince Henry of Portugal is recruiting sailors and prospective captains!’

‘I heard you become rich if you go to Africa once!’

At the rumors spreading in Europe, sailors and prospective captains flocked to Portugal from Italy and various other countries.

Young people who had been living as serfs or apprentices in guilds with no future set out for Portugal in hopes of making a fortune.

They were not the only ones. Those who had gained experience by steering other people’s ships in the Mediterranean also moved to Lisbon, Portugal.

“I can’t work under others forever, can I?”

Those who gathered in this way were transferred to Ceuta.

Prospective sailors began training in Ceuta, and prospective captains were also appointed as first mates on newly assigned exploration ships to test their qualifications.

In this process, many—not only prospective sailors but also prospective captains—were eliminated along the way.

This was due to a superstition circulating among European seafarers at the time.

In order for Prince Henry’s goal to be achieved, crossing the equator and going south was an inevitable gateway.

However, not only for new recruits but also for Portuguese sailors who were accustomed to living in the rough seas around Portugal, crossing the equator was taboo.

Such a taboo was based on experience.

The place name “Cape Non,” located at 29 degrees north latitude on the western coast of Africa, was given because none of the seafarers who passed through there had ever returned.(Note 1)

Therefore, there were quite a few who gave up and turned back on their own.

“Crossing the equator is a profane act!”

However, there were even more people flocking in with lofty dreams than those who gave up.

Because there were neighbors who were immediately making a fortune by selling slaves from Africa and goods coming from far away places like India, China, and Joseon.

* * *

Prince Henry was well aware of this problem.

To solve this, he gathered geographers in Sagres while also recruiting sailors and prospective captains.

The task of the geographers gathered in this way was to conduct research based on the nautical charts of Islam, Byzantium, and the logbooks recorded by captains during navigation.

The results that came out and the newly incoming information were delivered to the expedition commanders and captains setting out for exploration.

It was natural for funds to be consumed in this entire process. In the case of sailors, training costs could be deducted during the process of settling profits after returning from a voyage, but this was not possible for scholars.

In the end, Prince Henry sought out his father the king.

“We will have to borrow the hands of merchants.”

* * *

‘Prince Henry is gathering funds from merchants. The purpose is to find a detour route to the East!’

Such rumors swiftly flowed into the ears of Italian merchants.

Italy. Florence.

“The cowards have found courage.”

Upon hearing the rumor, Cosimo de’ Medici, the head of the House of Medici, chuckled and muttered.

There was a reason Cosimo disparaged them as “cowards.”

He, who would later build the House of Medici that continued to wield prestige and notoriety, was an outstanding intellectual.

From a young age, he learned Latin, Greek, Arabic, and Hebrew and interacted with scholars and artists.

Especially as the eldest son, in return for accepting his father’s wish to carry on the family business, he was able to collect ancient books, and he diligently collected them.(Note 2)

The ancient documents he gathered in this way from Europe and Byzantium, along with the information obtained through Islamic merchants, continually fattened his knowledge.

Therefore, Cosimo used the word “cowards.”

As mentioned above, people in Northern Europe at the time firmly believed that they could not cross the equator.

However, Cosimo knew that Islamic merchants, albeit by land, were crossing the equator back and forth without any problems.

Of course, excluding unavoidable natural disasters and attacks by bandits.

Moreover, he also knew that the newly emerged great empire called Ming in Kitai had sent a large fleet to the end of Africa.

He was also aware that quite a few Islamic merchants had attempted to use ships to go from the eastern to the western sea of Africa.

And he knew that those attempts had ended in miserable failure.

* * *

The sea near the southernmost tip of Africa, the apex where the eastern and western coasts of Africa meet, had become a graveyard for Islamic ships due to its geographical characteristics—natural adversities such as ocean currents and winds.

The triangular waves created by the meeting of the two oceans were difficult to overcome with the dhows used by Islamic merchants.

In the end, due to such natural limitations and the reason that profitable trade took place in the Mediterranean region, Islamic merchants gave up on that challenge.

In the end, it was because Cosimo knew through various information that the development of a detour route was possible that he evaluated Prince Henry’s challenge as “the cowards have found courage.”

* * *

“Hmm… What should I do?”

Having grasped Prince Henry’s movements, Cosimo pondered his future response.

As mentioned above, the knowledge Cosimo possessed was tremendous. If he cooperated with Henry, there was a possibility that Prince Henry’s attempt would succeed in a short time.

“However, the problem is that it’s not profitable for me.”

Behind Cosimo’s accumulation of immense wealth was the Medici Bank located in 16 European countries.

However, the capital that maintained that bank came from the intermediary trade between Islam and Europe.

Therefore, Cosimo did not release the knowledge he had.

Of course, there were many others with outstanding academic knowledge besides him. However, there were hardly any who comprehensively accumulated such knowledge while also being in a position to exert political and economic power.

* * *

Note 1) The Age of Exploration. Korea Daily News Time Life. Published in 1978.

Note 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosimo_de%27_Medici

Chapter 249
Where Did Those Papers Go?

Although the Challenger and Haeung had been completed, Hyang did not stop designing new ships.

“It’s impossible to cross the Pacific with just the Challenger. Of course, we could establish sufficient supply bases in all directions, but considering issues like resource transportation, we need large ships. If we start building only when the need arises, the gap will catch up. We must prepare in advance.”

Considering the future and raising the necessity, Hyang persuaded Sejong about this.

“…Therefore, I think we should at least make designs and scale models. If there’s an opportunity, it would be good to experimentally construct about one ship.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers looked at Hyang with wide eyes.

‘The reason sounds plausible, but… ’

Sejong, who had been looking at Hyang with a dubious face, examined the report Hyang had submitted along with it.

“A proposal for the development of a new firearm?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Why the sudden new firearm again?”

“According to what we found out from the Muslims who trade with us, Muslims and Westerners also use firearms like us.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers nodded.

“If they have knowledge of gunpowder, they should be able to make firearms too. But why do you say we need to make new firearms? Didn’t they buy firearms from us because they didn’t have any?”

At Sejong’s point, Hyang explained the reason.

“That’s because Muslims and Westerners don’t have small firearms like the ones Joseon uses.”

“Small?”

At Hyang’s words, the expressions of Sejong and the ministers changed slightly. Joseon’s firearms were the pride of Joseon that made even the Japanese pirates and Jurchen tribes tremble. Hearing the Crown Prince call them “small,” Sejong and the ministers’ pride was slightly hurt.

Even while seeing Sejong and the ministers’ reactions, Hyang continued speaking.

“Even looking at Joseon’s largest firearm, the Janggunhwatong, the weight of the Janggunhwatong made before improvements was 104 geun 10 nyang (about 67.2 kg).(Note 1) In the case of the newly made Eulsikjanggunhwatong through improvements, it is 140 geun (about 85 kg). However, in the case of the stone-throwing siege cannon used by Westerners, it exceeds 11,000 geun (about 6.6 tons).”(Note 2)

“11,000!”

“It’s 11,000 geun. Of course, firearms of such enormous size cannot be mounted on ships. However, for those accustomed to such large firearms, the firearms mounted on ships will also be considerably large and powerful.”

“Indeed.”

“And for Westerners who are busy fighting Muslims and among themselves, they will make warships that can safely operate such firearms and withstand attacks from such firearms.”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong and the ministers nodded with serious faces.

Sejong and the ministers also thought Hyang’s words were reasonable.

It was because Joseon had also experimented with the defensive capabilities against firearms while newly making the Panokseon, Challenger, and Haeung-class warships.

If Westerners had brains, they would definitely mount firearms on their warships, and those firearms would certainly boast considerable size even if miniaturized. And to win in battles between warships equipped with such firearms, the defensive power would also have to be considerable.

While pondering over various matters while listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong looked at Hyang.

‘But it’s too suspicious… ’

“So how much time do you need for development?”

“The more funds are invested, the time…”

Hyang, who had been eagerly continuing, changed course slyly when Sejong’s expression gradually became fierce.

“There are limits to the government’s finances, and the research institute also has limitations in budget and manpower… We expect about 5 years for ships and about 10 years for firearms.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong stroked his beard and glared at Hyang.

‘No matter how I think about it, it’s confusing. Is that guy really doing it for Joseon’s future, or is he doing it for his own enjoyment… ’

However, there was little justification to reject the plan Hyang had presented.

It was because as trade increased, the need for large and powerful warships and cargo ships was growing.

On top of that, there was also intelligence that Ming China, which had heard various rumors about Joseon’s firearms, had also begun improving firearms.

* * *

Hyang, who thought it was necessary to quickly obtain information about Ming China, persuaded Sejong to insert a royal merchant group into the trading post established in Shandong. From the outside, the royal merchant group was indistinguishable from ordinary merchant groups. However, internally, its mission was to win over Ming Chinese merchants connected to high-ranking officials in Beijing and obtain rumors leaking from the Ming court.

According to the intelligence that came in through the royal merchant group in Shandong, information from a very small number of Jurchen survivors who narrowly survived the battle with the Joseon army and Ming Chinese merchants who witnessed the battles between the Joseon navy and pirates had entered the Ming court.

Having obtained such information, the Ming court had also begun improving firearms.

According to the information sent by the royal merchant group, there were officials who proposed receiving firearms from Joseon as tribute. At the suggestion of such officials, Emperor Xuande reportedly became furious.

“Stupid fools! If we receive and use firearms from Joseon like that and the route to Joseon becomes blocked, what will we do then?”

“Then if you tell us to send craftsmen…”

“Have you forgotten the old tale of the thousand-step crossbow! Are those fellows living in the land of Samhan easy to deal with? To have such stupid fools as officials!”

Many officials who had angered Emperor Xuande received severe punishment and were expelled from their posts. Upon this information, Hyang reported to Sejong.

“When I spoke with the emperor, I felt he was not ordinary.”

“I see. But aren’t you the only one?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang smiled and bowed his head.

“That is too much praise.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong muttered softly.

“Did it sound like praise?”

“Pardon? What did you say? I didn’t hear well.”

When Hyang expressed confusion, Sejong turned his head and continued.

“I praised you. Praise.”

However, Chief Eunuch, who was standing nearby, knew Sejong’s true feelings.

* * *

Putting aside Westerners, it was a worrisome matter that Ming China had also begun improving firearms. The issue was not simply that the Ming military’s power would increase but that those weapons could be leaked to Japan or Japanese pirates.

There was a considerable possibility of leakage through plunder in battles, but the biggest threat was Ming Chinese merchants. If it was Ming Chinese merchants who valued only profit above all else, there was a high probability they would hand over firearms to Japan or Japanese pirates.

‘In the end, no matter what, there is only one answer.’

Smiling bitterly, Sejong had no choice but to reach a conclusion.

“I permit it. Proceed with the research to the extent that it does not strain the finances of the government and the research institute.”

“I receive your command.”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following:

-… Thus, His Majesty permitted the development of new firearms and warships.

The historian discusses:

Looking at the current situation, enormous resources are being consumed for national defense. However, as we cannot neglect national defense, it is unavoidable.

Is it a vain dream for the people of the four seas to interact with each other without conflict?

* * *

As Sejong’s order had been given, Hyang immediately began designing.

The first thing he considered was up to what stage he should proceed.

After pondering over this and that, Hyang soon reached a conclusion.

“Let’s exclude ships of the line. The cost-effectiveness is too low.”

Generally, the ultimate weapon of combat sailing ships was considered to be ships of the line, but in terms of cost-effectiveness, they were not an attractive option.

Looking at the three elements of offense, defense, and mobility, their attack power and defensive power were unmatched, but mobility was the problem.

Therefore, even in the era when ships of the line were the flower of naval battles, the main force in mobile operations were the smaller and faster frigates.

However, due to the problem that only ships of the line could face ships of the line, ships of the line had to continue to exist.

But Hyang had a countermeasure for this problem. It was cannons and cannonballs.

“If cannons, no, cannonballs are well improved, ships of the line will just become big targets.”

In the end, the final evolved form of combat sailing ships that Hyang thought the Joseon Navy would use was the heavy frigate used by the United States.

“Next, engines should be installed.”

Hyang wrote “Heavy Frigate,” “Engine,” “Ironclad,” etc. on paper and circled them. Hyang, who lifted his head for a moment to refresh his mind, lightly shouted and hit his forehead.

“Ah!”

“Your Highness, what’s the matter?”

At Hyang’s voice, the eunuch outside hurriedly entered.

“It’s nothing. You may go.”

Hyang sent the eunuch out and scribbled “Clock, Chronometer” on the paper with a gold pen.

“I was forgetting an important issue. For this, I’ll have to call Jang Yeong-sil.”

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang dipped the gold pen in ink and drew lines through the words written on the paper. Not satisfied with that, Hyang thickly dipped the brush in ink and scribbled over it. Looking at the paper covered in ink, Hyang grumbled in a small voice.

“Until when do I have to do this? Should I slowly lay the groundwork with Father? Or should I pretend to be crazy and shout ‘We need our own writing system!’ in front of the ministers?”

Hyang was getting tired of having to find and write each Chinese character one by one and repeating the process of writing in Hangul and then erasing it.

* * *

That night, when Hyang retired to his bedchamber, the eunuchs moved. The eunuchs emptied the trash cans and cleaned Hyang’s study in the Eastern Palace, his office in the research institute, and Area 51.

“It’s finished.”

“The quantity?”

At the senior eunuch’s question, the eunuch lifted the bin he was holding and showed the inside.

“It’s a bit less today. Take it there.”

“Yes.”

The eunuchs who received the order headed to Gangnyeongjeon.

The eunuchs who arrived at Gangnyeongjeon went around the corner and entered through the back door of Gangnyeongjeon.

The eunuchs who entered through the back door in this way went into a secret room created in one side of Gangnyeongjeon.

“We brought it.”

“Good work. Let’s see.”

The eunuch who received the bin handed over by the eunuchs who had entered through the back door took out the papers inside and sorted them. The eunuch first picked out the papers that had no ink stains at all and handed those sorted papers to the waiting eunuch.

“Send them to the paper washing room.”

“Yes.”

Paper was an expensive item, so even in the palace of Joseon, hanji (Korean traditional paper) was washed and recycled. The papers picked out first this time would be moved for that process.

Having sorted the papers once, the eunuchs carefully sorted them again.

The eunuch gathered the ink-stained hanji in one place and separately collected the ink-stained hwangji (yellow paper), then ordered the waiting eunuchs.

“Begin the work.”

“Yes.”

The eunuchs began the process of handling the sorted papers.

The ink-stained hanji were soaked in a basin filled with water and washed, then checked to see how much ink had been removed. If enough of the ink coating had been removed to reveal the letters underneath, the eunuchs hung the papers on a line to dry. And they took down the papers from the previous day’s work that had finished drying and attached them to a folding screen located on one side.

For the hwangji, they held them up to a lamp to check the letters written under the ink stains.

“Let’s see… This shape is…”

The eunuchs, after confirming the shape of the letters revealed by the lamplight, copied those letters onto another paper and attached them to the folding screen.

* * *

“Is all the work finished?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who appeared around the time the work was being completed, approached the folding screen and examined the papers.

“Hmm, mm… Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been nodding his head with light nasal sounds, turned to the eunuchs.

“Good work. Go and rest for today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t forget to keep it secret.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who had sent all the eunuchs out, opened another secret room door that had been closed.

Inside the secret room, there was a desk, a chair, and a lamp located in the center.

However, on the remaining two walls, excluding the wall with the outward-facing window and the sliding door entrance, there were bookshelves, and they were filled with books on phonology and grammar books written in Latin, Greek, and other Western languages. And not only on the floor but also on the empty spaces of the walls, numerous papers with Hangul letters and strange symbols that were neither Hangul nor the alphabet were attached.

Sejong, who sat down, brightened the lamp’s flame and opened a book.

“Where did I leave off yesterday?”

* * *

Note 1) Weapons and Armor of Joseon. Written by Min Seung-gi. Garam Planning.

Note 2) Gunpowder and Galleys: Changing Technology and Mediterranean Warfare at Sea in the 16th Century. Written by Carlo Cipolla. Miji Books.

Chapter 250
Signboard Change or Transformation? (1)

In the 13th year of Sejong’s reign (1431, Sinhaenyeon), as soon as January began, the royal court moved busily.

It was busy because it was the start of the new year, but also because the reorganization of the government was finally being implemented.

“First, change the State Council to the Ministry of State Affairs. Its role is overall command of state affairs.”

Starting with the change of the State Council, Sejong changed the structure of the government.

It was a change that could be called nothing short of “unprecedented.”

-Change the State Council to the Ministry of State Affairs.

-Rename the Chief State Councilor to Prime Minister, and the Second State Councilor and Third State Councilor to Left and Right Deputy Prime Ministers.

-The role of the Ministry of State Affairs is to oversee the work of administrative organizations and coordinate work conflicts between departments.

-Change the Ministry of Personnel to the Ministry of General Affairs.

-The role of the Ministry of General Affairs is to oversee administrative affairs throughout Joseon.

-Exclude education, taxation, justice, military affairs, and public order from the administrative affairs directed by the Ministry of General Affairs.

-Change the Ministry of Taxation to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

-Separate budget-related affairs from the Ministry of Taxation.

(omitted below)

According to such policies, the Six Ministries that had been modeled after the systems of Chinese states like Tang and Song had to go through a chaotic process of changing names and being divided and merged.

These changes simultaneously drew the welcome and opposition of working-level officials. However, most officials were in a welcoming mood like those of the Ministry of Rites.

As the Ministry of Rites was divided into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, most officials belonging to the Ministry of Rites welcomed the reorganization.

“Yesterday I dealt with foreign affairs, and today I dealt with education-related matters, but now I only have to deal with one.”

“Concentration will increase too… But the best part is…”

As the organization differentiated and work became specialized, officials had hope.

“Work intensity will definitely decrease, and overtime will definitely decrease too!”

Hearing the mood of these officials, Hyang chuckled and muttered.

“Will it really be like that?”

* * *

The core of the government reorganization carried out by Sejong was “differentiation,” “specialization,” and “clear specification of work areas.”

For example, in the case of the Ministry of Punishments (Hyeongjo), it was divided into the Ministry of Justice, the Police Agency, and the Court of Judgment, and their duties were separated. The Ministry of Justice was in charge of revising laws over time, examining the expiration of laws that had become dead letters, etc. The Police Agency was responsible for public order in Hanseong and throughout the country, and the Court of Judgment made judgments based on the law code.

By splitting one department into several in this way and clearly defining the work areas, officials came to have a clear grasp of the work they were in charge of.

* * *

Although the overall flow of the reorganization was “differentiation,” there were also places that were “integrated” on the contrary.

The places that were integrated in this way were the Censorate and the Office of Inspector General. Sejong integrated the Censorate and the Office of Inspector General to create an auditing organization called the “Board of Audit and Inspection”.

The duties of the Board of Audit and Inspection included inspecting government officials and investigating civil complaints filed by the people.

However, one duty was added that made not only government officials but even Hyang widen their eyes.

“Protection of whistleblowers?”

The law created by Sejong explicitly stipulated the state’s protection for those who reported for the public interest.

-An internal whistleblower who exposes corruption related to public service shall be promoted by a minimum of 2 ranks to a maximum of 3 ranks according to the severity of the report. In addition, retaliatory measures such as demotion to idle posts are prohibited.

All of these measures shall be reported to the king.

The reason for establishing such methods was to prevent ostracism and the like against internal whistleblowers.

If there was no change in rank or only one rank was raised, it was clear as day that they would be ostracized. However, if raised by about 3 ranks, they could not be treated recklessly.

On top of that, even if the rank was raised, to prevent retaliation by sending them to idle posts, all measures were to be reported to the king.

Such protection for internal whistleblowers was also clearly applied to the private sector.

-In civil affairs, a person who reports for the public interest shall receive personal protection by law.

The state shall investigate the situation every 6 months and report to the king to ensure that the whistleblower does not suffer disadvantages in making a living.

In addition, even if it is not a regular investigation period, the state shall investigate the situation and report to the king whenever the king commands.

If it is confirmed that a public interest whistleblower is receiving unfair treatment, the state must severely punish the perpetrators.

Because the Board of Audit and Inspection was given such powerful authority, strict criteria were also set for personnel selection.

A person who has worked in a practical administrative organization for 10 years or more, has excellent work evaluations, and is clean and honest.

A person who has worked for 6 months or more after passing the state examination, is physically and mentally healthy, diligent, and clean and honest.

In simple terms, auditing duties were entrusted to those who had worked in practical organizations for 10 years or more, knew the work well, and had no scandals, or to diligent and sincere new recruits who had just passed the state examination.

Of course, as the reports submitted in writing could not be completely trusted, officials belonging to the Board of Audit and Inspection secretly monitored the candidates.

Sejong additionally used secret inspectors.

However, Sejong did not stop there.

-A person who exposes corruption within the Board of Audit and Inspection shall be promoted by a minimum of 3 ranks to a maximum of 5 ranks.

It was a preemptive measure to prevent corruption among officials of the Board of Audit and Inspection through mutual inspection within the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Regarding this action, quite a few officials opposed it as being too harsh, but Sejong enforced it as is.

“If you do not commit corruption, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

At Sejong’s point, the officials had to shut their mouths.

Of course, it was natural to also clearly stipulate punishment for false accusations.

Those who recklessly made false accusations would at minimum face ruin of their family, and if severe, had to perform hard labor in mines for 10 years or more.

* * *

Lee Jik, who was examining the matters related to this government reorganization, clicked his tongue and muttered.

“I wonder what expression Lord Ryu Jeong-hyeon would have had if he had seen this.”

“Shh!”

“Ahem!”

As Maeng Sa-seong warned while looking around, Lee Jik coughed exaggeratedly and shut his mouth.

The change that occurred through the reorganization carried out by Sejong was the “transfer of royal authority.”

Important state policies were decided in the “State Council Meeting” attended by the king, the prime minister and deputy prime ministers of the Ministry of State Affairs, and the ministers of each department.

Of course, this was something that had been done before as well.

It was precisely the morning court that Sejong and the ministers held every day by gathering at Geunjeongjon Hall.

However, what had fundamentally changed was explicitly stipulating that “policies shall be decided through meetings and consultations between the king and officials.”

On top of that, personnel authority for each department was transferred to each department and the Ministry of General Affairs. Each department would send personnel transfer-related matters to the Ministry of General Affairs, and the Ministry of General Affairs would compile them and report to the king.

The king only had to confirm this.

As the mighty authority of personnel rights was transferred, responsibility also became heavy.

If corruption was detected through the Board of Audit and Inspection or internal whistleblowing and facts were confirmed, the future of those involved was one of two things.

Confiscation of property followed by exile to the Records Office, or confiscation of property followed by exile to the mines.

Although Sejong transferred a significant portion of power to the government through various provisions and policies, he firmly held on to what he deemed absolutely necessary.

It included the independent operation rights of royal assets, the operation authority of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the authority to reject budget execution.

Sejong, who had preemptively stipulated that “royal assets shall not be recklessly increased,” prevented interference in the operation of royal assets.

The Board of Audit and Inspection was the same. Although it was a won (院) lower than a seong (省) or bu (部), the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection attended the “State Council Meeting.”

In addition, by establishing the right to reject budget execution, he checked the arbitrariness of officials.

And he kept secret inspectors to the end, giving them the role of a “hidden blade.”

One of the reasons for insisting on the independent operation rights of royal assets was for the operation of these secret inspectors.

In this way, by protecting what needed to be protected and transferring what needed to be transferred, Sejong reduced the burden of work that he (the king) had to handle.

It was the perfect way to save face by holding officials accountable for the success or failure of policies while reducing his own workload.

The ministers were not unaware of this either. However, no fool would oppose the king sharing and transferring power.

“Knowing it’s a poisoned cup… We have no choice but to drink it!”

In the end, due to this situation, Lee Jik mentioned Ryu Jeong-hyeon. He became curious about what reaction Ryu Jeong-hyeon, who advocated for “harmony between royal authority and ministerial authority” and “republican politics,” would show.

‘Would he praise it as an ideal reform? Or would he curse it as turning a blind eye?’

It was the common thought of the senior ministers who knew Ryu Jeong-hyeon and those who had been purged along with him.

* * *

Meanwhile, Sejong summoned Hyang and asked for his impressions on this.

“What do you think?”

“It is something Father has done. How could I recklessly evaluate it?”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong’s eyes narrowed.

“Answer properly, not with glib words.”

‘Tsk! Just let it slide for once! These days, the hurdles are getting higher and higher!’

Hyang, who had completely forgotten about the things he had done so far and was grumbling inwardly, cleared his throat and answered.

“An outstanding king would control his officials, an ordinary king would consult with his officials, and an incompetent king would be swayed by his officials.”

“Indeed. Then what should a king do?”

“Shouldn’t he ceaselessly strive to improve himself?”

“You know well.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong smiled inscrutably and replied.

However, the ministers who saw Sejong’s smile simultaneously had the same thought.

‘It’s a warning.’

‘It’s a warning.’

‘It’s a warning not to act recklessly and arrogantly just because he conceded power.’

‘Both His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince… At least until His Majesty hands over the throne to the Crown Prince, we won’t be able to make a move.’

The ministers who understood the warning conveyed by the conversation between Sejong and Hyang lightly shook their heads.

Hyang was the same.

‘Is it a warning to not pay attention to other things? Should I slowly give up my hobbies now?’

* * *

After that, the meeting continued with various agenda items. As the atmosphere of wrapping up slowly began to linger, Sejong suddenly threw an odd question at Hyang.

“By the way, Crown Prince.”

“Please ask.”

“I was curious about Westerners, so I read the books they wrote.”

“Yes.”

“But when I looked at those books, their calligraphy was peculiar. While we use the right-to-left vertical writing method, they write horizontally from left to right. What do you think is the reason for that?”

“Isn’t it because the characters they use are suitable for horizontal writing?”

“Is that so? Then which do you think is more comfortable to look at?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang shut his mouth.

After arranging his thoughts for a moment, Hyang opened his mouth and answered Sejong’s question.

“Generally, when a person examines objects, they largely look at the whole, then examine from left to right, and then from top to bottom. In that case, wouldn’t horizontal writing from left to right be slightly more comfortable?”

“Why is that? I see. Let’s end it here for today.”

Nodding at Hyang’s answer, Sejong ended the meeting.

Hyang, who came out, tilted his head.

“Why is that? And why so suddenly?”

But a sense of crisis he couldn’t explain brushed past his spine.

Meanwhile, the historian who recorded all these events added the following:

-The historian says:

Why?

Chapter 251
Signboard Change or Transformation? (2)

As the reorganization plan was finalized, Street of the Six Ministries moved busily. The government purchased nearby civilian houses, demolished them, and began constructing new government office buildings.

When the buildings were completed at the end of such construction, officials loaded books, scrolls, and bundles of letters onto carts and carried out the relocation.

“Check the list of documents to be moved!”

“Nothing left out?”

“Hey! These are documents that should be left behind!”

“Yes! Yes! I’ll organize them!”

“Oh! Oh! It’s collapsing!”

“I told you to stack them properly!”

Amidst all sorts of shouts and reprimands, mid and low-level officials had to move the luggage while sweating profusely.

“Move them properly! Make a mistake and see what happens! I’ll have you stuck in the Records Office for life!”

“Eek!”

* * *

The relocation that had been proceeding with a huge commotion paused for a moment.

“Take a lunch break and reassemble!”

“Yes!”

The officials who had stopped work for a moment scattered in groups of three or five. While a considerable number of the scattered officials moved to the communal dining hall, others opened their pockets, collected money, and called servants.

“Malbok! Bunnam!”

The servants who were called parked their carts and came running.

“Yes, my lord!”

“Did you call for me?”

“You go and buy dried rice cake soup according to the headcount and bring it back, and you buy three or four crocks of takju (cloudy rice wine). No, tell them to deliver it.”

“Yes, my lord!”

The servants who received the order put the coins in their pockets and quickly disappeared.

One of the officials watching them grumbled to his colleagues.

“If those bastards could read, we could get work done more conveniently…”

One of the colleagues smirked at the complaint.

“What? You think it’s possible for them too since the commoner schools are going well?”

The official who first brought up the topic silently nodded at his colleague’s question.

* * *

As the operation of commoner schools that opened last fall continued for about 4 months, reports on the academic achievement of children attending the schools came up from all over the country.

– In 3 months, they perfectly acquired an average of 500 Chinese characters, and children with fast progress finished the Thousand Character Classic and entered the Elementary Learning.

In the case of mathematics, they achieved the ability to calculate basic addition and subtraction.

Sejong and the ministers who confirmed these reports were encouraged by the positive results.

“If this situation continues, the people can escape from ignorance!”

Therefore, the idea of teaching writing to nobi (slaves) came up.

* * *

The conversation that started as a casual joke gradually turned into a serious discussion.

The official who brought up the idea of educating the slaves presented grounds for his argument.

“Aren’t they human too anyway? Then if we teach them, they can learn.”

To that, the official who mentioned the commoner schools shook his head.

“It’s difficult. Did you forget the reason those schools produced those results? Didn’t they do that by teaching the children from morning until sunset?”

* * *

The classes at commoner schools were limited to the agricultural off-season. As a result, classes started in the morning and continued until around sunset. Lunch was provided at the school, using dried military rations as Hyang had planned. It was a porridge that was so thick it was chewy, but the children liked it. The reason was that it contained a large amount of meat as it followed the same standard as the rations supplied to the military. Of course, starting with dried rice cake soup, the meat consumption of ordinary people had increased, but meat was always welcome.

Moreover, it was not simply providing dried rations. The cooks hired by the commoner schools showcased their skills and made soups and side dishes to eat with the rations. Soybean paste soup with dried radish greens was a staple, and there were always types of soups made with seaweed or kelp and salted vegetables. Occasionally, fruits donated by the wealthy of the village where the school was located were served as special treats, and the children’s nutritional status actually improved.

* * *

The official who presented the class hours of commoner schools as a counterargument continued.

“Even if the slaves want to learn, do you think they’ll have time to learn?”

“…”

At those words, the official who first presented the opinion was at a loss for an answer. Seeing that, the official who had expressed opposition pressed on.

“They say knowing the Thousand Character Classic is roughly enough, but that’s not actually the case, is it? The situation is that you need to know at least 3,000 characters to be considered somewhat literate.”

At that, another official chimed in.

“Nah~ 3,000 characters aren’t necessary. If you know about 1,500 characters, you can understand what the official bulletins posted on the walls are saying, right?”

“3,000 characters or 1,500 characters, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. Anyway, it’s impossible to teach the slaves writing and make use of it. It would be better to find ways to encourage the studies of those learning at commoner schools and middle schools instead.”

“That’s the right answer. Even if they know up to 1,500 characters, it’s still insufficient for official documents, right? Official documents contain at least 10,000 characters.”

At those words, all the officials nodded. As soon as he finished speaking, the official who had opposed from the beginning continued.

“There’s also the issue of idu (characters writing).”

“Ah…”

As ‘idu’ was mentioned, all the officials who had been listening to the conversation around them greatly nodded.

* * *

For letters or contracts exchanged between close acquaintances, most could be resolved with the aforementioned 1,500 characters or so.

However, that was not the case for formal official documents or memorials submitted to the king. Therefore, on the desks of officials, there were always official document writing textbooks and dictionaries like Yupian along with writing instruments. Even officials who had thoroughly studied the Four Books and Five Classics, or in severe cases the Thirteen Classics, and had passed the state examination and were confident in their writing had to break out in a cold sweat without textbooks and dictionaries.

* * *

This problem became even more unsolvable when it came to idu (including hyangchal, gugyeol, etc.).

Gugyeol, which was used as a substitute for Korean particles, consisted of about 20-30 characters, so it was not a significant problem. However, the situation became complicated starting with hyangchal. It was because one had to consider whether the hyangchal notation written in a sentence represented meaning or pronunciation.

Of course, there were customary methods to distinguish between meaning and pronunciation, but those methods did not always fit.

To make matters worse, as Joseon’s trade range expanded and Joseon’s territories increased, the concerns of officials deepened.

Ming, the suzerain state of Chinese characters, could be set aside, but Japan was also in the same Chinese character usage sphere, so if the Chinese characters they used were written as is, the situation was resolved. Although Joseon’s pronunciation and Japan’s pronunciation were different, if written in sentences, conversation was possible even without interpretation.

However, the situation was different for the Jurchen people who had recently entered in large numbers. In severe cases, all records had to be made, including the name bestowed by Joseon, the one received from Ming, and the transliteration of the name called among the Jurchen people themselves, in order to prevent errors from occurring. Fortunately, there was a way for the Jurchen tribes to write their names or unique words in Chinese characters. Errors could be reduced by using their Chinese character notation.

For Muslims and Westerners, it was even more complicated.

To record their names like ‘Pietro,’ ‘Raphael,’ ‘Mansur,’ or place names like ‘Aden’ or ‘Alexandria,’ officials had to go beyond simple recording and into the realm of creation.

If an official was good at writing, they made a transliteration notation that could be inferred to some extent, but in most cases, the best they could do was bring Chinese characters with the closest pronunciation to the original and attach them.

The most representative example was transcribing ‘Alexandria’ as ‘Araegusanduria’ (亞來口山豆里亞).

When the officials who first checked the report submitted by Oh Ha-seok called him without reading it.

“What is it?”

“What kind of sentence is this?”

“This is a place name. It’s a city called ‘Alexandria.'”

At Oh Ha-seok’s answer, the officials sorting documents all frowned.

“What kind of city name…”

“For us, it would be like taking the name of a famous king from the old Three Han States era and attaching a word meaning city to it.”

“The name of a king?”

“They say it’s Alexander.”

“Alex… Ugh…”

In the end, the officials had no choice but to use ‘Araegusanduria’ (亞來口山豆里亞) as is.

Of course, a few officials who didn’t know how to give up sought out Hyang with a glimmer of hope.

Upon receiving the report, Hyang asked on the spot.

“Do you have time to worry about that too? You have a lot of free time, don’t you?”

“No! We’ll just use it as is!”

The startled officials had to run away with their tails between their legs.

* * *

“Idu is definitely a problem.”

“Indeed.”

“We need some kind of alternative.”

“An alternative? You mean directly using their writing systems?”

The official who was asked shook his head.

“Isn’t that impossible? The countries we will trade with in the future will keep increasing, so isn’t it impossible to learn all their languages and writing systems?”

“Then what?”

“Isn’t the best solution to create a writing system that makes that possible?”

As soon as the official’s answer ended, the surroundings became quiet. After a brief silence, the officials around them simultaneously waved their hands.

“Nah~ Say something that makes sense!”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

“Are you dreaming in broad daylight?”

At the negative reactions around him, the official who spoke also asked with a bitter smile.

“It’s probably difficult, right?”

“Isn’t that obvious! From the old Three Han States era when Chinese characters first came in until now, for nearly a thousand years, do you think there haven’t been people who had such thoughts? But what are the results? There aren’t any, right?”

“That’s true…”

The official who had spoken also nodded at that point.

In the end, the most senior official among those chattering stepped forward and reached a conclusion.

“Creating a writing system is not an easy task. And creating a perfect writing system like the one you mentioned is even more difficult. If someone capable of that appears, they would go down in history for that alone.”

“I suppose so.”

“Indeed. Ah! The dried rice cake soup and takju have arrived! Hurry and eat, then get back to work!”

“Yes!”

With that, the officials ended the discussion and started their meal.

* * *

“These days, our father is being too suspicious.”

Hyang, who was organizing documents in the study of the Eastern Palace, muttered while looking in the direction of Geunjeongjon Hall with his arms crossed.

It was because recently, the number of times Sejong asked about writing was gradually increasing.

Although he casually threw questions as if he just thought of them in passing, the difficulty level of the questions was gradually increasing.

It was the same at the morning court.

“Ah, by the way. Crown Prince. I was reading a book by Westerners about city hygiene and…”

As the court ended and Hyang and the ministers were hastily gathering their writing tools and reports, Sejong suddenly spoke to Hyang.

“Yes, Father. Please ask.”

‘Anyway, Father is also non-standard. Way off at that.’

When he first encountered Latin books, Sejong needed Hasan’s help. However, before long, Sejong no longer needed Hasan’s help. That’s why Hyang evaluated him as “non-standard.”

‘But what book did Father bring these days?’

While Hyang was trying to remember, the question Sejong threw was absurd.

“The letters that make up the speaking form of words are usually about 5-6.”

‘You’re talking about vowels!’

Having grasped the meaning of Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately answered.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is it possible to express all pronunciations with such a small number?”

“Regarding that issue, Westerners express it by pairing the letters representing that form or mixing the pronunciations of other letters.”

“It’s a bit complicated.”

“Indeed.”

‘Therefore, the vowels of Hangul are basically based on the three elements of heaven, earth, and man… Oops!’

Hyang forcibly held back the words that were about to automatically come out.

‘Endure it! You’ll be beheaded if you’re not careful! You have to endure!’

Sejong, who was glancing at Hyang struggling to hold back the words that were automatically trying to come out, leaned back on the backrest.

“I see. Go and take care of your work.”

“Yes, Father.”

Sejong, who had sent Hyang and the ministers out, descended from the throne.

“I will take a brief nap at Gangnyeongjeon, so the historian should not follow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Sejong, who had returned to Gangnyeongjeon, entered the secret space and unfolded a paper.

“It would indeed be a problem if the number of medial vowels is too small.”

Sejong had already established the basic structure of initial consonants, medial vowels, and final consonants.

“But it’s not good to indicate each one with a different shape either…”

Pondering, Sejong observed the traces of Hyang scattered in the other room.

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been tracing the shapes with his finger, suddenly became stiff.

“Aha! Based on the three elements of heaven, earth, and man… I’ve solved it!”

Chapter 252
Signboard Change or Transformation? (3)

The reorganization of the central administrative organization was immediately announced nationwide through express messengers.

The proclamation documents on the reorganization brought by the express messengers were enormous in volume. The bulletin boards installed in each local government office were not enough to handle them, so one side of the wall surrounding the government office had to be filled with the proclamation documents.

However, the ones with the biggest headaches were the local governors and clerks of each region.

“It looks well over 10 sheets.”

“Precisely 18 sheets.”

“Oh my…”

Looking at the proclamation documents on the government’s reorganization plan brought by the courier, the local officials and clerks sighed.

“Let’s read it before posting it outside. As Hanseong has started to move, it’s certain that the sparks will spread to us soon.”

“No way… Were those rumors true?”

At the local official’s words, the clerks’ faces turned pale white.

* * *

From last year, strange rumors had been circulating among local clerks.

-The government is doing something strange!

-They completely renovated the government offices of counties within a day’s distance from Hanseong!

-They say they will change all government offices throughout Joseon like that someday!

When those rumors first circulated, clerks working in regions far from where it happened scoffed.

“Hmph! Do you think it’s easy to renovate the structure of a government office?”

“We’re already dying from being swamped with work, and they want to create more work? Are they crazy?”

“Hmph! Do you know how many local government offices there are in Joseon? Where are they spouting nonsense?”

Most local clerks, except for those in counties near the region undergoing the experiment, denied the rumors with a sneer.

The majority of local clerks were those who were worn out from practical work.

They knew well how difficult it was to change the organizational structure. That’s why they scoffed.

“Although it is immensely appreciated that His Majesty changed the clerks’ positions from unpaid to paid, he really doesn’t know much about the work on the front lines, even if he doesn’t know the details!”

The clerks at local government offices evaluated it as a reckless act done by Sejong because he didn’t know much about local affairs.

However, they didn’t know how meticulous Sejong was.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Sejong was cautious and meticulous enough to select a place to pilot the reorganization of the tax system before starting it, and then decide on the nationwide implementation of the new system based on the results.

Although his caution decreased slightly after Hyang’s intervention as his control over state affairs reached its peak, Sejong maintained his meticulousness.

Therefore, the local clerks did not know that long before this announcement, Sejong had created a scaled-down model of the newly reorganized structure, checked whether it operated properly and how much efficiency improved, and made adjustments several times.

Likewise, they scoffed without knowing that the reorganization of local government offices had also gone through the same process.

* * *

However, as the proclamation documents arrived and they saw the governors’ faces becoming serious, the clerks realized that the rumors were true and that the aftermath would soon befall them.

Therefore, the clerks’ faces turned pale white.

It was no longer a situation to watch someone else’s house burn but a situation where they had to put out the fire in their own house.

“Examine these proclamation documents carefully and check how they are connected to the positions you are in charge of. Perhaps some of you will have to move your place of work…”

“Understood.”

At the governor’s words, the clerks began reading the proclamation documents in turns. Then someone cursed.

“Damn it…”

“It’s really 18 sheets.”

“…Shit!”

The joke that followed the cursing made the atmosphere even more gloomy. Even while cursing, the clerks meticulously examined the proclamation documents.

It was a matter of their livelihood.

The proclamation documents that the clerks read until they were worn out were posted on the wall of the government office.

“What proclamation documents all of a sudden?”

“It’s a surprise, but why are there so many?”

Seeing the enormous volume of proclamation documents posted on the wall, the people all grumbled but clung to the wall to know the contents of the proclamation documents.

“Hey! Choi Seobang! Why don’t you read it as a representative!”

“That’s why I told you to study a bit!”

“Forget it! Read it!”

In the end, someone who knew some letters and had a good voice stepped forward to read the proclamation documents on behalf of those who couldn’t read.

“Let’s see… Ahem… This time, the government’s organizational structure has been changed…”

As the volume of the proclamation documents was large, the person reciting them drank water and even takju in between while reading the documents.

After the recitation was finished, people gathered in groups of three or five to exchange opinions.

“It’s a story about the government in Hanseong, do we need to pay attention to it?”

“You fool! The place you have to pay taxes to has changed! Until now, you had to pay to the government office, but they say to pay to a place called the National Tax Service!”

“Oh? Is that so?”

At first, people thought lightly of it as a story that happened in Hanseong, but upon realizing that it was deeply related to their lives, they started exchanging opinions with serious faces.

It was the same for the rural scholars.

“Officer Oh, what do you think?”

The noble who visited Officer Oh’s office after seeing the proclamation documents asked Officer Oh.

At the nobles’s question, Officer Oh stroked his beard and answered.

“His Majesty seems to have considerable confidence.”

“Confidence?”

“If you look at the proclamation documents, didn’t he distribute a significant portion of royal authority to his subjects? This shows confidence that he has firmly grasped the government, doesn’t it?”

At Officer Oh’s explanation, all the nobles nodded their heads.

“Indeed…”

Looking at the contents of the proclamation documents, Sejong transferred authority to the government—which would now be renamed the cabinet—except for a few essential powers such as the command of the military and the right to execute the budget.

Officer Oh continued his explanation.

“With this system, if done poorly, the king may be dragged along by his subjects. Even a mere villager and commoner like me knows this danger, so how could His Majesty not know?”

“Ah…”

At Officer Oh’s explanation, the nobles all nodded their heads.

As the nobles gathered in the office nodded as if they understood, Officer Oh continued.

“Those gathered here who are still young or have sons of age to take the state examination should pay some attention.”

“Ah…”

At Officer Oh’s words, the eyes of the nobles gathered in the office began to shine.

The contents of the proclamation documents were not simply a change in the signboard of government ministries. As the government organization was reorganized, the demand for officials was also certain to increase tremendously.

Even until now, the government had recruited a large number of new officials every year, but judging from the contents of the proclamation documents, even the number of people selected in that way would be insufficient.

Entering government service was the glory of a family, so the eyes of the nobles began to sparkle.

* * *

Of course, not everyone viewed the contents of the proclamation documents positively.

In a small village near Gongju, Chungcheong Province, a father and son who had returned after finishing a day’s work were talking.

“Father. Did you see the proclamation documents?”

“I did.”

“What do you think?”

“I have no thoughts.”

As the son’s eyes widened, the father answered with an indifferent face.

“What’s the point of paying attention to the lofty words of nobles whose heads are full of ink? If it’s something that will go well like that, it will go well even if we don’t pay attention, and if it’s something that will go wrong, it’s the law that it won’t work no matter how much we struggle. For bottom-dwellers like us, the best way is to just live like that without any thoughts.”

At his father’s words, the son’s mouth twitched as if he was full of dissatisfaction, but he didn’t talk back. If it was his father’s personality, a chamber pot would fly at him the moment he talked back.

Instead, the son made a firm resolution inwardly.

‘They say they will soon select people to work on road construction, so that’s when I’ll leave this rural corner!’

The son was reaffirming his thoughts of leaving his hometown and going to a bigger place.

* * *

Not long after that, express messengers scattered nationwide again from Hanseong.

Local officials who received the order delivered by the express messengers immediately summoned the clerks.

“Gather skilled carpenters right now.”

“Carpenters, you say?”

“Yes. As expected, a royal command has arrived from Hanseong. We need to renovate this government office, and there are quite a few buildings that need to be newly constructed, so recruit them quickly.”

“Yes, understood.”

As it was something they had already expected to some extent when the previous proclamation documents arrived, the clerks moved swiftly.

However, the number of carpenters skilled enough to build tiled-roof houses was far insufficient compared to the demand. As a result, a competition to host carpenters broke out throughout Joseon.

It was an unexpected boom for carpenters who built houses.

* * *

In the reclaimed land of the northeast region.

“Hey, Jongseo!”

“Yes, My lord.”

Hwang Hui, who had called Kim Jong-seo, handed him the order sent by the express messenger and asked a question.

“It’s an order from the government to reorganize the local administrative organization. Are the preparations finished?”

At Hwang Hui’s question, Kim Jong-seo immediately answered.

“We just need to attach the signboards.”

“Is that so? Then let’s attach the signboards.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s answer, Hwang Hui began writing the order with a gold pen in his hand.

The officials who heard Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo’s conversation nearby lightly shook their heads.

‘Those two. Even though they bicker, their work skills are no joke.’

‘Is that why they are called His Excellencies and are candidates for Prime Minister?’

* * *

Hwang Hui, who had obtained information that Sejong was selecting targets to experiment with the reorganized local administrative organization, immediately took action.

Hwang Hui sent letters to the Prime Ministers and ministers in Hanseong to obtain the structural diagram of the new local administrative organization to be implemented, and immediately called Kim Jong-seo.

“What do you think?”

“Did His Majesty conceive this?”

“Probably? Such thoughts could never come from the rigid minds of the Prime Ministers and fellow Excellencies that I know.”

“Hmm…”

Kim Jong-seo, who was examining the structural diagram, answered Hwang Hui.

“Although it looks complicated on the surface as it’s split into small parts, if it operates properly, I think the work will go well.”

“Right? Then the possibility of realization is high?”

“It was conceived by His Majesty. Then even if the possibility of failure is high, won’t it still be implemented? Look at the ox-horn law.”

“Hey!”

Hwang Hui looked around and warned in a small voice.

“Don’t mention that. You might lose your head if you’re not careful.”

“Ah…”

The ox-horn law was not only Sejong’s achievement but also a taboo for Sejong and the ministers.

It was because senior ministers, including Ryu Jeong-hyeon, were purged as a result of the political struggle over the issue of nationwide implementation of the ox-horn law.

After cautioning Kim Jong-seo, Hwang Hui tapped the desk with his finger and analyzed the situation.

“Even if it’s not His Majesty’s idea, the possibility is quite high, right?”

“That’s right. It’s divided quite efficiently.”

“Hmm…”

Hwang Hui, who had made various calculations again, turned to Kim Jong-seo.

“What if we configure the local government offices in the northeast region that are currently being organized to fit this?”

“…”

At Hwang Hui’s question, Kim Jong-seo shut his mouth tightly and began to glare at the structural diagram.

Kim Jong-seo, who had been silently staring at the paper until it was pierced, finally opened his mouth after a long time.

“I think it would be fine. The possibility of realization is high, and as the northeast region also has the issue of Jurchen adaptation, there’s no harm in preparing in advance.”

“Then reorganize the structure to fit this. You have three days.”

“…Yes.”

“Instead, I’ll move up your trip to Hanseong by three days. The return date remains the same. Then you can spend three more days in Hanseong, right?”

“I’ll do my best!”

* * *

In this way, the northeast region was put in a situation where they only needed to attach the signboards.

Chapter 253
The Expedition Team (1)

Spring of the 13th year of King Sejong’s reign (1431, the Year of the Metal Boar).

A cavalry unit arrived at the administrative headquarters of the pioneer group located in the northeast region of Gilju.

“A royal decree has arrived!”

As the military officer who dismounted from his horse announced the arrival of the royal decree, Hwang Hui, Kim Jong-seo, and other officials who were attending to official duties inside hurriedly rushed out.

“Chief Administrator Hwang Hui, receive the royal decree!”

“Yes!”

Shortly after, a straw mat was laid out in the front courtyard of the administrative headquarters, and Hwang Hui, neatly dressed in his official robes, paid his respects toward the capital and knelt down.

Once all the preparations were complete, the military officer unrolled the scroll and read its contents.

“Chief Administrator Hwang Hui, listen.”

The contents that followed began by praising Hwang Hui’s merit in establishing the administrative organization in the pioneer area of the northeast region.

Furthermore, it stated that the newly expanded territory, including the northeast region, would be renamed as Hamgil Province and officially incorporated as a province of Joseon.

“…Accordingly, the name of the newly created province shall be called Hamgil Province. Hamheung shall be elevated to Hamheung-bu (prefecture), and Gilju shall be designated as Daedohobu (grand protectorate prefecture).”

The officials who were respectfully standing and listening to the contents of the royal decree inwardly cheered at the news that the northeast region was being promoted to Hamgil Province.

It meant that their hardships thus far had not been in vain.

The military officer’s reading on behalf of the king continued.

“…In recognition of his meritorious service, Chief Administrator Hwang Hui is hereby appointed as the Provincial Governor[1] of Hamgil Province. Take charge of this position and solidify the stability of Hamgil Province. However, the quarterly face-to-face reports in Hanseong shall continue as before.”

After some minor details, the reading of the royal decree concluded. The military officer, who neatly rolled up the scroll, handed it to Hwang Hui and congratulated him.

“Congratulations, Your Excellency.”

“Thank you. By the way, what happened to General Choi Hae-san?”

“He has been promoted to the Chief of Staff of the Joseon Army Headquarters.”

“That’s wonderful news. He has endured so much hardship, so it’s fortunate.”

“Indeed, Your Excellency.”

“If you meet the general, please convey my sincere congratulations to him.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Hwang Hui expressed his heartfelt congratulations upon hearing the news of the promotion of General Choi Hae-san, who had come up north with him and was in charge of pacifying the area west of Baekdu Mountain.

‘By the way… When General Choi Hae-san returns, the shape of the fortresses located on the plains, excluding the mountain fortresses, will all change.’

* * *

During the conquest of the northern regions, which was carried out under the pretext of ‘reclaiming the land of their ancestors’ origins,’ the Joseon army established fortresses and military camps at strategic points in the newly reclaimed areas.

In the process of constructing these fortresses and camps, the Joseon army unveiled a new material: they used iron-reinforced concrete, which they had introduced through road paving projects, to build the walls of the fortresses and camps.

The Jurchen tribes, who were eagerly eyeing their lost lands, had to shed tears of blood in front of these walls.

This was because in the time it would have taken to erect mere wooden fences, solid stone walls had been built instead.

While constructing the facilities inside the stone walls took additional time, the mere existence of the sturdy stone walls itself had crushed the Jurchen tribes’ morale.

Moreover, the shape of the erected stone walls forced the attacking Jurchen tribes to make unnecessary sacrifices.

The walls, which the Joseon army named ‘thorn-shaped defensive walls'[2] because the four corners of the fortresses protruded like sharp thorns, were a simplified variation of star-shaped fortresses.

The fortress walls, which had a rectangular shape with rounded corners, concentrated the gunfire of the musketeers positioned on the walls into a single spot.

The thunder bombs fired from the cannons placed on the cannon mounts built at the center and four corners of the walls inflicted fatal damage on the Jurchen tribes clustered along the walls.

These walls, which made the Jurchen tribes shudder in tears, were also the work of Hyang.

While the fortresses were responsible for the first line of defense, the military camps were responsible for the second line of defense. The fortresses installed in these camps were built according to the standard star-shaped fortress design.

The walls, constructed with two to three layers intersecting each other, were designed to rain crossfire upon the Jurchen tribes.

Moreover, there was the location where these camps were established. Hyang had set the positions so that the main land transportation routes would pass through the center of the camps.

This made it impossible for the enemy to advance into Joseon’s interior without capturing the camps.

Of course, to prevent falling victim to the ‘Trojan Horse’ tactic, where enemies disguised as civilians attack from within, the military and civilian areas were internally segregated.

The camps and fortresses constructed in this manner were of considerable size.

This was to accommodate nearby civilians and reduce casualties when the Jurchen tribes attacked.

Lastly, Hyang’s ingenuity was fully demonstrated.

In the case of the fortresses, the walls were built with a strength that could withstand the Jurchen tribes’ attacks but would crumble under friendly cannon fire.

In the case of the camps, secret passages were created for counterattacks when the enemy captured the fortresses.

These secret passages were top secret, and related information existed only at the Army Headquarters in Hanseong.

Even those serving in the respective camps were unaware of these disguised secret passages.

With such multi-layered countermeasures, the camps and fortresses were built, and the Jurchen tribes had to retreat after suffering heavy losses without even being able to cross the fortresses.

And the Jurchen tribes who retreated in such a manner were pursued by the Joseon army and vanished into ashes, leaving no trace behind.

An extremely small number of survivors crossed over to the Ming Dynasty, but that was the end of it.

The fate of most Jurchen tribes who dared to challenge the Joseon army and people was to become food for wild beasts.

And Choi Hae-san, who had developed a taste for the combination of concrete walls, guns, and cannons, was planning to transform Joseon’s main defensive bases in a similar fashion.

* * *

The military officer handed a thick scroll to Hwang Hui.

“What is this?”

“It’s a personnel transfer order.”

“Personnel transfer?”

Hwang Hui nodded his head as he received the scroll.

The officials had endured hardships for several years in the remote and rugged northeast region. Appropriate rewards were a must.

“Many of our friends will be delighted.”

“The offices in Gilju will be busy.”

“Haha!”

Laughing at the military officer’s words, Hwang Hui assigned lodgings for the military officer’s party to rest and returned to his office.

Back at his desk, Hwang Hui unrolled the scroll and examined its contents.

The scroll was densely filled with the names of those being promoted, the ranks they would be promoted to, the positions they would be transferred to, and other details.

As Hwang Hui meticulously reviewed the contents, he smiled contentedly upon reading one section of the scroll.

“These people… They’ve been properly rewarded.”

Having finished the review, Hwang Hui handed the scroll to Kim Jong-seo, who was fidgeting impatiently in front of him.

“Make a copy and post it on the bulletin board.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Kim Jong-seo immediately unrolled the scroll and checked its contents upon receiving it.

“Huh? No! Your Excellency!”

As he read the contents of the scroll, Kim Jong-seo clung to Hwang Hui with a flushed face.

“What is this? Assistant to the Provincial Governor[3]? What kind of bizarre position is this that I’ve never heard of before?”

“It’s a newly established position this time. Did you see the rank? It’s a junior 4th-grade position. Congratulations on your promotion. Going from a senior 5th-grade to a junior 4th-grade is a rapid advancement.”

“Your Excellency! Is promotion the issue here? Many of our other friends are going to Hanseong, so why do I have to stay here?”

“But you’re getting promoted quickly in return, aren’t you?”

“I’m telling you, is promotion the problem right now?”

In response to Kim Jong-seo’s protest, Hwang Hui leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and looked at Kim Jong-seo.

“So, what? Are you going to submit a resignation letter?”

“How can I not submit one?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwang Hui chuckled.

“You brat. Do you think it’s within my power to raise your rank by several grades at once?”

“Pardon?”

Kim Jong-seo paused and pondered the hidden meaning behind Hwang Hui’s words.

After a moment, Kim Jong-seo muttered with a pale face.

“Don’t tell me… Don’t tell me…”

“That ‘don’t tell me’ is what gets people in trouble.”

Hwang Hui pointed his index finger toward the ceiling and continued.

“Our king has a great desire for talented individuals. I wrote in your evaluation that you’re ‘a talent hard to come by twice,’ and you did a great job during the last secret envoy mission. Do you think His Majesty will let you go easily? I could even bet half a year’s salary that he ‘won’t let you go.'”

“Damn it…”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jong-seo’s head drooped low.

Seeing his reaction, Hwang Hui rubbed salt into the wound.

“Of course, if you want to give up the promotion and remain a 5th-grade civil service examiner until retirement, I’ll send you to Hanseong. But you know what, Jong-seo? How much is the salary of a 5th-grade civil service examiner? Will it be easy to support your family and enjoy a life of luxury with that salary? Can you endure that? A dog can hold in its poop. If you do that, the only answer is bribery. And if you get caught, you’ll end up in the Records Office… No, with your personality, you’ll likely end up in the mines.”

“Ugh…”

Kim Jong-seo could only let out a groan at Hwang Hui’s words.

Even he thought that in such a situation, the chances of accepting bribes would be high. And given King Sejong’s personality, if a capable person engaged in corruption, he would give an even greater punishment. A trip to the mines was certain.

Seeing Kim Jong-seo’s reaction, Hwang Hui gently persuaded him.

“So, Jong-seo. Do you want to receive a meager salary in Hanseong, be mindful of your wife’s gaze, lament your light purse, and live holed up, or do you want to endure a little hardship but get promoted, boast to your wife, and live while being treated well doing what you love? You know it well, don’t you? Customers who come frequently and spend a little are treated better than those who come occasionally but spend lavishly each time.”

“Ugh…”

Kim Jong-seo’s groaning grew louder at Hwang Hui’s words. Seeing his reaction, Hwang Hui dangled a tempting bait.

“I’ve become the Provincial Governor this time. You know, right? The term of a Provincial Governor is usually 2 or 3 years. Given the situation here, I’ll probably serve the full 3 years. If you endure hardship for just 3 years, you’ll return to Hanseong. What do you want to do? Suffer for 3 more years and continue to get promoted and treated well, or go to Hanseong now and live while being mindful of others?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jong-seo fell into deep thought with his lips tightly sealed. After much contemplation, Kim Jong-seo burst out shouting.

“Keep that promise! If you leave me behind after 3 years, I don’t know what I’ll do!”

“Hey! You just need to stick close to me and follow my lead! So go and do what you’re told to do!”

“Shit…”

Muttering a small curse, Kim Jong-seo returned to his office.

As Kim Jong-seo disappeared outside, the officials who witnessed the scene cautiously approached Hwang Hui.

“Your Excellency, we too…”

“The same goes for you all. Just work hard!”

“Yes, Sir!”

At Hwang Hui’s reprimand, the officials hurriedly returned to their respective positions. Suddenly, as if he had just remembered something, Hwang Hui called a subordinate official.

“Hey, you! Go and tell Jong-seo to prepare properly since he needs to go to Hanseong in five days!”

“Yes, Sir!”

* * *

A few days later, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo entered Hanseong. It was for the regular face-to-face report with King Sejong.

Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo, who entered Geunjeongjeon Palace, respectfully paid their respects to King Sejong, who was seated on the throne.

“Your subject, Hwang Hui, Provincial Governor of Hamgil Province, humbly presents himself before Your Majesty.”

“Your subject, Kim Jong-seo, Assistant to the Provincial Governor of Hamgil Province, humbly presents himself before Your Majesty.”

“You’ve worked hard on your long journey. Thanks to your excellent handling of affairs in the northeast region, the northeast region could be promoted to Hamgil Province. I am truly grateful.”

In response to King Sejong’s praise, Hwang Hui bowed his head and replied.

“Your grace is immeasurable.”

“And Kim Jong-seo, you have also worked hard. Both your secret envoy mission to Daenaecci and your diligent assistance in the northeast region. I am truly grateful to have an outstanding talent like you.”

“Your praise is far too generous. I am at a loss for words in the face of such undeserved praise.”

“No, not at all.”

After commending Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo, King Sejong received reports on their work.

The report proceeded in a warm atmosphere from beginning to end. The court historian who recorded it added the following:

-… Thus, His Majesty praised the merits of Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo.

The court historian comments:

Kim Jong-seo’s abilities are outstanding, so he will likely be very busy.

Chapter 254
The Expedition Team (2)

Whenever King Sejong asked questions about the northeast region that had been upgraded to Hamgil Province, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo answered to the best of their abilities.

“Are the Jurchen people who have surrendered obeying well?”

“Yes. Since surrendering, they have shown their loyalty to Joseon.”

“What do you think is the reason?”

“It is all because Your Majesty’s virtue is so great.”

In response to Hwang Hui’s answer, King Sejong smiled slightly and replied.

“I appreciate the praise, but please give a proper answer. That way, the court historians won’t curse at me, right?”

At King Sejong’s words, the eyes of all the ministers inside Geunjeongjeon Palace turned toward the court historians. The ministers’ eyes looking at the court historians seemed capable of killing a person with just a glance.

“Gasp!”

“Your Majesty! How could we…!”

The court historians, subject to the ministers’ glares, immediately prostrated themselves on the floor and appealed their grievances.

In response to the court historians’ appeals, King Sejong turned his head, gazed into the distance, and spoke.

“Well… Seeing what you guys have been doing lately…”

As King Sejong slightly trailed off, the court historians immediately realized the situation was turning against them. Fortunately, the court historians currently in charge of recording were senior members.

“Your Majesty! It seems to be the result of the excessive zeal of the newly appointed court historians! We will make sure to instruct them thoroughly!”

“We will ensure that Your Majesty need not worry!”

At the court historians’ replies, King Sejong turned his head and looked at them.

“Are you certain?”

“Please don’t concern yourself, Your Majesty!”

“Really? Then, I’ll trust you. Carry on with your duties.”

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

As they returned to their positions, the court historians gnashed their teeth.

‘Which one…!’

‘Which bastard did it…!’

* * *

As lectures on Confucian classics given to the king proceeded, a fierce struggle had taken place between King Sejong and the court historians. No, it was a continuation of the struggle that had been going on since the time of Taejo Yi Seong-gye.

It was a struggle between the kings who wanted to maintain a minimum of privacy and self-esteem and the court historians who sought to record everything in writing.

King Sejong was no exception. Even when he wanted to engage in solitary contemplation or have secret conversations with Hyang, the court historians would not back down.

Therefore, King Sejong had to wield his authority to drive away the court historians.

And the court historians who were chased away hid behind the door and made every effort to record the conversations between King Sejong and Hyang.

In the end, King Sejong had to make a request, not a demand, to the court historians.

“It is commendable that you are devoted to your duties. However, being too excessive is not good. Shouldn’t you at least give me time for my own contemplation?”

In response to King Sejong’s words, the court historians flatly refused.

“The monarch is a public figure. We have the duty to record everything about the monarch!”

At the court historians’ principled answer, King Sejong gnashed his teeth.

“Is that so? Is that what you’re saying? Very well.”

From the next day onward, a fierce battle – to be precise, King Sejong’s relentless nagging – took place between King Sejong and the court historians.

The day before the battle, King Sejong summoned Sangseon.

“Sangseon, you’ll have to endure some hardship from now on, but please prepare some diapers.”

“Pardon?”

The next day, King Sejong entered Geunjeongjeon Palace wearing diapers inside his pants. From that moment, the battle began.

King Sejong never once descended from the throne while attending to state affairs. The only times he descended from the throne were when he went to the dining hall to eat and when he returned to Gangnyeongjeon Hall after finishing the morning court session.

From then on, the court historians and ministers had a terrible time.

The court historians who recorded the sacho (史草, draft history) and the court diarists who wrote the Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Journal of the Royal Secretariat) were assigned to Geunjeongjeon Palace in pairs. The reason for assigning them in multiples was so that even if one of them had to leave their post due to toilet needs or other matters, the recording could continue uninterrupted.

However, as King Sejong’s nagging began, the court historians and diarists had no choice but to become petrified statues.

Whenever a court historian, desperate to relieve himself, tried to get up from his seat, King Sejong’s reprimand immediately followed.

“Where are you going?”

“I, I need to relieve myself…”

In response to the court historian’s answer, King Sejong made an exasperated expression.

“Oh my, state affairs are currently proceeding without pause, yet the court historian who is supposed to record this is leaving his post?”

“B-but this is a physiological phenomenon…”

“I’m also staying at my post.”

“There is another person…”

“Don’t two people need to be present to cross-check and ensure accurate records? Sit down.”

“Yes.”

And so, just before the court historians were about to burst from holding in their urine, King Sejong would slightly release them.

“Judging by your face, it seems you can’t hold it any longer. We can’t have you soiling Geunjeongjeon Palace, so go take care of your business and come back.”

“Your grace is immeasurableee.”

When the court historian who disappeared with an echo returned to his seat, King Sejong’s nagging resumed.

“How can a man with such weak endurance handle important responsibilities?”

“I-I apologize deeply!”

The court historian had to bow his head whenever King Sejong reprimanded him, and the other court historians and diarists had to record this while squirming uncomfortably.

The hardships of the court historians and diarists continued even during mealtimes.

“Where are you gentlemen going? Do you expect any conversations to take place during mealtime?”

When the court historians and diarists were heading to the dining hall used by ordinary officials instead of the one where King Sejong and the ministers ate, they had no choice but to accompany King Sejong to the dining hall at his words.

Upon arriving at the dining hall, King Sejong suddenly spoke as if he had just remembered something while eating.

“Come to think of it… Chief State Councilor.”

“Yes, please speak, Your Majesty.”

Just as King Sejong was about to say something to the Chief State Councilor, he looked at the court historians and diarists.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to record?”

“Y-yes, yes!”

The court historians and diarists had to put aside their meal trays and take out their writing brushes and ink.

King Sejong leisurely ate his meal while conversing with the ministers. However, there were absolutely no pauses. As a result, the court historians and diarists had to starve throughout the entire mealtime while recording.

* * *

This situation continued even after King Sejong moved to Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

After reading the remaining memorials and reports on the agenda items to be discussed the next day, King Sejong got up from his seat.

“It’s time to sleep now.”

“May you have a peaceful slumber.”

“Where are you going?”

At King Sejong’s question, the court historians who were organizing their seats paused and looked at him.

“Even while sleeping, I might wake up and handle state affairs if something comes to mind. Are you just going to leave?”

“B-but…”

“Sit back down.”

“Yes, yes…”

In the end, the court historians had to sit back down and spend time aimlessly.

However, the court historians were also human. Thanks to King Sejong’s scheme, the court historians had to work from the morning court session until just before the next day’s morning court session without fail. This was a considerable amount of overwork, and eventually, as time passed, the court historians began to doze off.

The next morning, when the court historians opened their eyes, they had to be startled.

The dragon robes worn by King Sejong and the blankets he used to sleep were draped over their shoulders.

“Gasp!”

As the surprised court historian turned his head, King Sejong was sitting there, watching them.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Please punish us with death!”

As the court historians prostrated themselves and pleaded guilty, King Sejong replied in a nonchalant voice.

“Death? No need for that… If you’re tired, it can happen. Chief Eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s command, Sangseon collected the dragon robes and blankets that the court historians had been using.

King Sejong, wearing the dragon robes that Sangseon had retrieved, left Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

* * *

Upon arriving at Geunjeongjeon Palace, King Sejong ascended to the throne and began the morning court session.

After opening with various small talk, King Sejong looked at the Chief State Councilor.

“Chief State Councilor.”

“Please speak, Your Majesty.”

“It seems the court historians’ work is quite demanding.”

“It’s not an easy job. Did something happen, Your Majesty?”

“Last night, I suddenly woke up with a thought, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the court historians all slumped over their desks, sleeping. They looked so pitiful that I covered them with my dragon robes and blankets.”

“Gasp!”

The Chief State Councilor and ministers, startled by King Sejong’s words, glared at the court historians as if they were going to kill them. Maeng Sa-seong, angered by the appalling incident, spoke in a stiff voice.

“What an impudent act! We must immediately seize those insolent individuals and punish them for their crimes!”

In response to Maeng Sa-seong’s words, King Sejong shook his head.

“No. It is natural for people to sleep when they are tired. How can we punish them for that? It happened because they were diligently carrying out their assigned duties, so I will not hold them accountable.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers bowed their heads in unison.

“It is Joseon’s fortune to have a king who shows such magnanimity!”

Although they said those words, it was obvious that the ministers would rush to the Office of Royal Decrees after the court session ended and scold the court historians.

* * *

The fierce battle between King Sejong and the court historians also affected the ministers.

As King Sejong refused to move from Geunjeongjeon Palace, the ministers also could not leave Geunjeongjeon Palace. Since they had to be in Geunjeongjeon Palace during the day, all their work had to be done in the evening and at night after leaving Geunjeongjeon Palace.

For the elderly ministers who were old enough to retire at any time, this was an unbearable ordeal.

“Why is His Majesty doing this?”

The ministers, who were suffering from King Sejong’s torment disguised as advice, investigated the cause.

“His Majesty is acting this way because of the court historians.”

“As expected… Grr!”

“They caused such disputes even during the reigns of King Taejo and King Taejong… Tsk!”

The ministers, clicking their tongues or grinding their teeth, immediately rushed to the Office of Royal Decrees and scolded the court historians.

“You people! How are you doing your job? Don’t you know flexibility?”

“However, the duty of court historians is to record everything!”

However, the court historians continued to protest, citing principles as their reason. In response, the ministers clicked their tongues and said a word each.

“Who told you not to record? We’re telling you to record what needs to be recorded, but distinguish between what must be recorded and what can be omitted! How can you be so frustrating!”

“B-but…”

“You people! Who told you not to record at all? You must record the official duties and events that His Majesty attends to, but you can just overlook the private matters that His Majesty engages in!”

“In any case, how can you lack flexibility to this extent!”

* * *

The suffering of the court historians did not end there.

Following the ministers, the court historians had to answer the summons of Queen Soheon, the queen consort.

“I have heard about the recent incidents in Geunjeongjeon Palace and Gangnyeongjeon Hall.”

“We apologize deeply.”

“I understand your duties, but I believe it would be better to show some flexibility.”

“However…”

“What do you mean by ‘however’! Do you know how many days it has been since His Majesty last visited the queen’s quarters? Seven days! Seven days! You’re saying ‘however’! If something terrible happens to him due to overwork, will you take responsibility? Huh? Will you take responsibility?”

The court historians, who witnessed Queen Soheon’s notorious temper firsthand, had to immediately bow their heads.

“We deeply apologize!”

“In any case, if anything happens to His Majesty, not only I but also the concubines will not let you off easily! Keep that in mind!”

“Yes, yes!”

The court historians, who had been scolded by Queen Soheon and came out with pale faces, looked up at the sky.

“Phew… Why…”

“If it comes to this, the only one left is the Crown Prince…”

As one of the court historians muttered those words, a eunuch hurriedly approached and informed them.

“His Highness the Crown Prince summons you immediately.”

“…Understood.”

Some of the court historians, following the eunuch, muttered softly.

“Should I just submit my resignation?”

Seeing the court historians’ pale faces, Hyang inwardly muttered.

‘If I nag them too, these people will all go insane. They already look 80% insane… ’

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Hyang ended it briefly.

“Please handle it well on your own. Goodbye.”

“Yes!”

* * *

In the end, the court historians had no choice but to wave the white flag to King Sejong. From then on, whenever there were various incidents – most of which involved Hyang – and King Sejong gave a slight hint, the court historians would silently pack up and leave without a word. Moreover, instead of hiding behind the door and eavesdropping like before, they would stay far away until a eunuch came to fetch them.

Chapter 255
The Expedition Team (3)

This was what King Sejong wanted.

Having thoroughly tamed the court historians, King Sejong breathed a sigh of relief.

“Phew… Now I can finally feel at ease. I can conduct my research without worries now.”

The biggest reason King Sejong had become sensitive to the presence of the court historians was because of his research on writing systems. The only ones who knew that King Sejong was researching a unique writing system for Joseon were the eunuchs who were his close aides.

King Sejong had no particular concerns about these eunuchs. The eunuchs, who knew well that they would struggle to be treated as human beings once they left the palace, showed absolute loyalty to King Sejong. Even if an eunuch with different intentions appeared, King Sejong was not very worried. According to what King Sejong had heard here and there, if an eunuch with different intentions was caught, they would be dealt with quietly among the eunuchs without anyone knowing.

In the end, King Sejong had gone through all this to tame the court historians, who were the most awkward presence for him and his research.

Having succeeded in taming the court historians, King Sejong offered them a suitable carrot.

He promoted the Office of Royal Decrees, which supervised the court historians, to the National Records Office and expanded the number of court historians from 8 to 32. As it was promoted to an office, opportunities for promotion increased, and by increasing the number of personnel, the intensity of work was reduced.

And in return, the court historians had entered into a sort of gentlemen’s agreement to leave their posts whenever King Sejong wanted.

However, among the newly appointed court historians, there were some who broke this agreement.

* * *

As the court historians took their positions again, King Sejong subtly warned them.

“It seems the new members haven’t grasped the ropes yet, so make sure to teach them well.”

“We will engrave it in our minds!”

The court historians, answering in a loud voice, busily moved their pens.

-The court historian comments.

Which bastard is it?

-The court historian comments.

It seems we need to have a very deep conversation with the new members.

* * *

After the storm caused by King Sejong’s nagging of the court historians had passed, King Sejong continued the conversation with Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo.

“So, can we trust the Jurchen people who have surrendered?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui immediately answered.

“If we guarantee the safety and livelihood of the surrendered Jurchen people as we do now, they will continue to be loyal.”

“Is that conditional loyalty?”

“…”

At King Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo responded with silence.

Seeing their reaction, King Sejong nodded and spoke.

“Well, it hasn’t been many years since they surrendered… I don’t trust them, so why would they unconditionally trust me? But you said it’s conditional loyalty?”

“Yes. The surrendered Jurchen people can be trusted as long as their safety and livelihood are guaranteed.”

Following Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jong-seo continued.

“They are tribes that have had deep ties with King Taejo since before the founding of Joseon. I believe it was our mistake that our relationship with them grew distant.”

“Our mistake? Why?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Kim Jong-seo answered based on his own experience.

“According to what I saw and heard while visiting the surrendered tribes, the elders of the surrendered tribes still had a deep admiration for King Taejo. However, the reason they grew distant from Joseon was that after the founding of the dynasty, as we focused on internal governance, our relationship with them became estranged.”

King Sejong nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

After Yi Seong-gye founded the dynasty and firmly established his position on the Korean Peninsula, the relationship with the Jurchen people gradually grew distant. However, the one who provided the biggest cause for the distancing of the relationship with the Jurchen people was King Taejong.

There were quite a few Jurchen people in King Taejo’s personal guard. However, they were disbanded during the abolition of private armies by the previous king, King Taejong, and in the process, anti-Joseon sentiment began to spread among the Jurchen people who returned to their hometowns.

Recalling the memories he had seen and heard when he was young, King Sejong nodded.

“Hmm… That could be the case.”

As King Sejong showed understanding, Kim Jong-seo continued speaking with more force in his voice.

“It takes a lot of effort to bring a relationship that has grown distant back to closeness. The behavior of the currently surrendered Jurchen people may be seen negatively as conditional loyalty, but if we consider them as the people of Joseon and treat them sincerely, they will also become loyal subjects of Joseon.”

“The Assistant’s words are correct.”

King Sejong nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s explanation. The ministers who were listening to the conversation also nodded their heads and muttered inwardly.

‘As expected of a talent chosen by Minister Hwang.’

While everyone was admiring Kim Jong-seo’s insight, Hwang Hui had different thoughts in mind.

‘This guy… I heard he emptied his pockets trying to win back the heart of his estranged beloved courtesan while staying in the north… Don’t tell me he’s alluding to that?’

“Alright, I’ve heard the explanation well. Since Joseon has no reason to mistreat the surrendered Jurchen people, can we entrust them with important responsibilities?”

Hwang Hui, pondering the meaning behind King Sejong’s question for a moment, asked King Sejong in return.

“By important responsibilities, do you mean to start the eastward expansion?”

King Sejong nodded at Hwang Hui’s question.

“That’s right.”

* * *

Shortly after, military officers from the Army Headquarters and Hyang entered Geunjeongjeon Palace.

Once the preparations were complete, a military officer placed a large map on a stand beside him and began his explanation.

“Last autumn, the Challenger-class ships No. 2 and No. 3 were newly launched. Before the official commissioning of ships No. 2 and No. 3, we conducted training in the East Sea to increase the proficiency of the navy personnel in charge of their operation.”

Starting with an explanation of the Challenger-class ships, the military officer began his report. Although King Sejong and the ministers had already heard the contents, none of them showed any signs of boredom.

“When the Army Headquarters judged that the navy personnel’s proficiency had reached a certain level, we issued orders for three Challenger-class warships to survey the East Sea. And the result is this map.”

The military officer used a pointer to flip the cover of the map hanging on the stand.

“Oh!”

Hwang Hui let out a small exclamation upon seeing the newly revealed map.

The map showed the terrain in more detail than before.

The military officer continued with a more detailed explanation.

“The Challenger No. 1 departed from Wonsan and sailed northward along the northeastern coastline of Joseon. Through that voyage, Ship No. 1 was able to confirm the general shape of the coastline east of the Tumen River. And after about half a month of sailing, they discovered this large peninsula, which the Army Headquarters named ‘Landing Point No. 1’.”

The place the military officer pointed to was Vladivostok.

Tapping Vladivostok with the pointer, the military officer provided a more detailed explanation.

“As you can see from the map, this peninsula has the optimal terrain for building a large port and shipyard.”

“Indeed.”

Hwang Hui nodded at the military officer’s explanation. In his view as well, that peninsula had a very suitable terrain for avoiding harsh weather.

“But building a shipyard?”

Hwang Hui, tilting his head, immediately asked King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, are you planning to build a shipyard there?”

“That’s right. According to the report from the Challenger No. 1, which landed and surveyed the nearby geography, there is a vast forest area nearby. I believe it’s better to build a shipyard there rather than hauling the timber from there to Wonsan.”

“That is true…”

Hwang Hui, nodding in agreement with King Sejong’s words, inwardly deduced the next part.

‘Your Majesty is considering expanding up to that place! And you plan to place the Jurchen people at the forefront, which is why you inquired about their loyalty!’

King Sejong, watching Hwang Hui’s expression, ordered the military officer.

“Continue the explanation. It seems the Provincial Governor Hwang doesn’t fully understand yet.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The military officer immediately responded to King Sejong’s order. Seeing this, Hwang Hui’s face was filled with questions.

‘I don’t understand?’

Leaving Hwang Hui aside, the military officer’s explanation continued.

“While Ship No. 1 moved along the coastline, Ships No. 2 and No. 3 took a route slightly further out to move. As a result…”

The military officer flipped the map with the pointer.

Seeing the map drawn on the next page, Hwang Hui unconsciously let out a loud exclamation.

“Oh!”

* * *

On the second map, the peninsula named ‘Landing Point No. 1’ was located in a small corner, and the coastline continued endlessly to the northeast. And to the east of that coastline, another terrain was drawn. To the south of it, a large island was depicted, and to the northeast of that island, small islands were lined up.

The military officer continued his explanation while pointing to the terrains.

“According to the survey by Ship No. 2, this coastline extends endlessly to the north. While sailing along that coastline, they discovered a new coastline to the east. However, as the weather worsened, they had no choice but to return, so they were unable to gather further information. Therefore, it is unknown whether this new coastline is an island or a peninsula like ‘Landing Point No. 1’.”

The unidentified coastline the military officer explained was the coastline of Sakhalin Island.

“Oh my…”

At the military officer’s explanation, Hwang Hui was half-dazed. It was because the information he received far exceeded the capacity of the geographical knowledge he had known until then.

Seeing Hwang Hui in such a dazed state, King Sejong smiled slightly.

‘Minister Hwang is the same.’

* * *

The moment they read the reports submitted by the Challenger-class warships that had returned from the voyage, King Sejong and the ministers had a calm discussion.

“It seems there is quite a vast land to the northeast.”

“It appears so.”

King Sejong and the ministers, who had thought of it as ‘quite a large unexplored territory,’ had to be astonished when the reports and maps compiling the information brought by the warships were presented.

The information contained in those reports and maps far exceeded the concept of geographical knowledge and scale they had known until then.

“Is this truly real?”

So much so that King Sejong, after receiving and reading the report, summoned the senior officials of the Army Headquarters to inquire about its authenticity.

In response to King Sejong’s question, the senior officials of the Army Headquarters answered in unison.

“According to the information brought by the ships, it is true, Your Majesty.”

“Oh my…”

“We also couldn’t believe it at first, Your Majesty. However, not only the soldiers but also the military officers all gave the same answer. We couldn’t find any traces of fabrication in the ship logs either.”

“Then it’s true?”

King Sejong, looking around with an incredulous expression, flinched upon seeing Hyang’s expression.

While everyone else was unable to hide their astonishment like King Sejong, Hyang maintained a composed expression.

‘What’s with this guy?’

As King Sejong watched Hyang’s calm face, he fell into suspicion.

‘Is he bold, or did he already know?’

In the end, King Sejong threw a direct question at Hyang.

“The Crown Prince doesn’t seem surprised?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hyang answered in a calm voice.

“I had anticipated it to some extent.”

“You had anticipated it?”

“Yes.”

Hyang explained the reason to King Sejong.

* * *

‘This world is round!’

Through the debates and research that had taken place, those who were conducting research at the research institute and Area 51 knew that the Earth was round. The next thing that piqued the researchers’ curiosity was the size of the Earth.

“Then how big is this world?”

“How do we measure it? We can’t just go around with a ruler and measure it bit by bit, right?”

While studying methods to measure the size of the Earth, the researchers utilized not only Zheng He’s ship logs but also the geographical information obtained through Mansur as reference materials.

As a result, the researchers had reached the following conclusion.

“Although we don’t know exactly yet… It seems it could at least reach the hundred-thousand unit range?”

* * *

“…Therefore, I had anticipated that there would be vast lands to the northeast as well.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong and the ministers couldn’t hide their admiration.

“Oh my… They say one can see a thousand miles while sitting…”

“I thought researchers were just entities that consumed budgets…”

By impressing King Sejong and the ministers in this way, the research institute and Area 51 gained an unexpected benefit.

The reprimands King Sejong and the ministers used to give during the process of securing and executing budgets had decreased.

Chapter 256
The Expedition Team (4)

Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo, who were unable to hide their confusion due to the sudden influx of information exceeding their acceptable level, regained their composure and returned to their usual expressions after a brief moment.

“The world seems to be truly vast.”

In response to Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong replied with a slight smile.

“I felt the same. Continue the explanation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s command, the military officer briefly responded and pointed to a large island with the pointer.

“This island was discovered by the Challenger Ship No. 3. According to the measurements by Ship No. 3, its overall size is estimated to be similar to the combined area of the Three Southern Provinces (Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang).”

“Oh!”

At the military officer’s explanation, Hwang Hui let out an exclamation, and greed began to swirl in his eyes.

‘If it’s an island of that size… ’

If a vast land existed as terra nullius (no man’s land), it was only proper to make it Joseon’s territory.

For a monarch and ministers responsible for running the country, expanding the territory and ensuring the people’s well-being were the foremost tasks.

With his eyes filled with greed, Hwang Hui’s mind began to spin rapidly.

‘The population issue… The deployment of troops… The expansion of the navy… The finances… ’

While calculating various problems and examining the map, Hwang Hui noticed another island drawn south of the island in question and asked a question.

“Is the island to the south Japan?”

“Yes. It is Japan’s main island.”

At the military officer’s concise answer, Hwang Hui’s face turned serious.

‘If the distance is that close, Japan would also be aware of its existence. Then, would Japan also…?’

Hwang Hui asked with a serious expression.

“Are the Japanese aware of the existence of that island?”

“Yes. Since Japan’s main island is located directly to the south, we inquired with the Japanese merchants at the Japanese trading post and found out that they are aware of its existence.”

“Then, is that island Japanese territory?”

“No. The Japanese consider it a foreign land.”

At the military officer’s answer, Hwang Hui immediately remonstrated to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty! Above all else, we must annex that island into Joseon’s territory!”

In response to Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong nodded and replied.

“The cabinet and I have reached the same conclusion in the state council meeting. However, if we proceed without proper preparations, it may result in significant losses, so we plan to have a preparation period.”

“How long of a preparation period do you have in mind, Your Majesty?”

In response to Hwang Hui’s question, Lee Jik answered on behalf of King Sejong.

“For now, we expect it to be three years.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Hwang Hui strongly objected.

“Three years is far too long! We must complete the basic preparations within a year and put them into action!”

As Hwang Hui insisted on one year, Maeng Sa-seong stepped forward to oppose.

“It’s too rushed! This is a matter of conquering a massive island the size of the combined Three Southern Provinces! If we hastily proceed without proper preparations, we will suffer great losses!”

However, Hwang Hui did not back down from his stance.

“One year is sufficient! Look here! How long does it take to travel between that island and Joseon?”

“Based on the Challenger-class warships, if they receive favorable winds and sail without rest day and night, they can reach the southern protrusion of the island within five days from Wonsan.”

“Five days! Is that certain?”

“It is the result of trials.”

At the military officer’s answer, Hwang Hui was delighted.

Seeing Hwang Hui’s reaction, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘They were lucky.’

* * *

The maximum speed the Challenger could reach, with favorable winds, was 10 knots per hour (approximately 18 km/h). Applying this to Joseon’s unit system, it meant it could cover about 90 li (36 km) in one shichen (approx. 2 hours).

However, this speed was only possible when all heavy items, such as food, cannons, gunpowder, and ammunition, were unloaded.

‘According to the test report, the distance from the southern protrusion of Hokkaido to Wonsan is about 2,800 li (approximately 1,120 km), right? If we calculate it simply arithmetically, it would take a little over a day and a half to arrive, but this is the Joseon era. It’s an era without automatic navigation functions or GPS. The idea of sailing straight through the night is just a dream… Above all, if we load the ship to the brim, it won’t reach top speed even if we die trying. That’s why it takes five days… Excluding everything else, the ship is too slow!’

As Hyang was calculating inwardly, he unconsciously let out a small sigh.

“Phew…”

“Crown Prince, why the sudden sigh?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Be honest.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang answered with a helpless expression.

“The ship is a bit slow.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong and the ministers all showed exasperated expressions.

* * *

The Challenger-class warship used in the trial was not only the largest but also one of the fastest warships in the Joseon navy.

Of course, there was the Haeung-class warship, which was even faster and elicited reactions of “they’re crazy” even within the Joseon navy, but the Haeung-class had too little cargo capacity.

Therefore, King Sejong and the ministers looked at Hyang with exasperated expressions. The ministers, in particular, looked at Hyang as if they were seeing a monster.

‘He says that’s slow?’

‘I heard he’s researching a new type of warship, but what kind of monster is he thinking of creating?’

‘What about the budget? The budget!’

* * *

Regardless of King Sejong and the ministers’ reactions, Hwang Hui delightedly remonstrated to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty! It’s only five days! Then even a year is too long! We should make the maximum possible preparations within six months and start the conquest. If there are any shortcomings, we can immediately supplement or revise them as needed! Five days is worth attempting!”

At Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong showed a troubled expression.

“But wouldn’t that be close to gambling?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui answered in a strong voice.

“No, Your Majesty! What kind of people are the Japanese? The information that we have been inquiring about the northern island will have reached the Japanese king (shogun) as well. Look at the location of that island! It is much closer to Japan than to Joseon! If I were the Japanese king, I would not just sit back and watch Joseon take an island situated right in front of me! It’s not just a matter of territorial expansion but also related to national defense!”

“If he were the type to have such thoughts, wouldn’t he have left it alone until now?”

At Lee Jik’s point, Hwang Hui pointed out one fact.

“Until now, Joseon had no interest in that island, right? But now, Joseon has started to show interest. Would the Japanese king just let it slide?”

“There is a point to that.”

At Hwang Hui’s point, King Sejong nodded his head. As King Sejong agreed with Hwang Hui’s words, the scales began to tip in Hwang Hui’s favor.

“Are there only three Challenger-class warships currently?”

“One more has been built since then. Starting next month, all five ships from Challenger No. 1 to No. 5 can be deployed for operations.”

“If you add one to three, isn’t it four?”

At Hwang Hui’s point, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward and answered.

“The navy dislikes the number four.”

“Huh? Ah…”

Hwang Hui, who was expressing confusion at Jo Mal-saeng’s words, immediately nodded his head.

It was well-known that the pronunciation of the number four (sa) and the word for death (sa) was the same, so it was avoided even among the common people.

Moreover, it was a well-known fact that the degree of avoidance was severe among the sailors and navy who had to risk their lives in the unknown realm of the sea.

“Minister of Mil- no, Minister of National Defense, how much can be transported if all the Challenger-class warships are mobilized?”

In response to Hwang Hui’s question, Jo Mal-saeng answered.

“We can barely transport enough to establish a beachhead.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Hwang Hui bowed his head to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty! If the Japanese king has learned of Joseon’s movements, he will certainly take action! We must preemptively claim this island before that happens!”

“Hmm…”

At Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong stroked his beard, deep in thought.

As King Sejong became lost in thought, the ministers other than Hwang Hui began to eagerly calculate on their abacuses inwardly.

‘We may need to completely revise the plan.’

‘The problem is that Minister Hwang’s words are reasonable… We’ll suffer from overtime work again.’

‘Should we completely revise the budget execution plan…?’

‘The land in the northeast region won’t run away even if we leave it alone for a while, but that island is different… ’

The ministers were grumbling inwardly but making their own preparations. They, too, didn’t want to see Japan preemptively claim it.

Meanwhile, Hyang, watching that scene, clicked his tongue seeing the ministers’ expressions change.

‘Anyway, the greed for land is… In any case, they say the more land, the better.’

* * *

The initial plan that came out after analyzing the information brought by the Challenger-class warships was as follows:

– Construct a port at ‘Landing Point No. 1’.

– Secure a land transportation route from east of the Tumen River to ‘Landing Point No. 1’.

– Use the connected land transportation route to send personnel and materials, build a shipyard at ‘Landing Point No. 1’, and expand the scale of the port.

– Use the newly built Challenger-class ships from the new shipyard to conquer the newly discovered island.

– Once the conquest of the island has progressed to a certain extent, resume the exploration of the northeast region of ‘Landing Point No. 1’ and the northern sea routes.

However, due to Hwang Hui’s proposal, this plan was about to be scrapped.

The problem was that there was hardly anything wrong with Hwang Hui’s point.

Half of the merchants at the Japanese trading post were also tasked with being spies.

On one hand, they traded with Joseon’s merchants, and on the other hand, they constantly monitored Joseon’s internal affairs.

In such a situation, there was no way the Japanese king wouldn’t know. And it was only natural for the Japanese king to react once he became aware of Joseon’s movements.

In the end, the ministers had no choice but to blame themselves.

‘We were too complacent in our thinking!’

* * *

As the atmosphere changed in this way, Hyang fixed his gaze on Hwang Hui.

‘Judging from what he has done in the northeast region and the current situation, he is a man of great ability, but… ’

Hwang Hui was one of those who perfectly fit the description of ‘having great ability but being problematic as a person’.

As Hyang looked at Hwang Hui in that way, he now turned his gaze to Jo Mal-saeng. Looking at Jo Mal-saeng, another person who matched the description of ‘human qualities inversely proportional to ability’, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Whether it’s Minister Jo or Minister Hwang, they received the punishment of dying when they retire, so is it a happy ending in a way?’

As those gathered in Geunjeongjeon Palace were lost in various thoughts, King Sejong spoke.

“I will draw a conclusion.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang and the ministers focused their attention on him.

Receiving everyone’s attention, King Sejong stated his conclusion.

“The original plan we devised was reasonable, and I also find the opinion of Hwang Hui, the Provincial Governor of Hamgil Province, to be reasonable. However, with Joseon’s current capabilities, it would be difficult to execute both plans simultaneously. So we have to make a choice, and I intend to implement Hwang Hui’s proposal first. Are there any objections?”

After a brief silence, the ministers soon bowed their heads at King Sejong’s question.

“We will follow Your Majesty’s will!”

“Thank you. Then, please revise the plan accordingly and submit it. How much time will you need to make the revisions?”

Lee Jik, who had done some calculations, answered King Sejong’s question.

“We will need about a month.”

“A whole month? That long?”

As King Sejong’s voice hardened, Lee Jik explained the reason.

“We need to re-examine the island’s terrain, recalculate the scale of troops we can deploy, and recalculate the budget. To do all of this properly, we need at least a month.”

After briefly calculating upon hearing Lee Jik’s answer, King Sejong said to him.

“No matter how I think about it, a month seems a bit long. It will be difficult, but I’d like to receive the revised plan within half a month.”

Although it was a suggestion, it was an order. In the end, Lee Jik bowed his head and replied.

“I will follow your command.”

“Let’s take a break after this.”

As the meeting ended, the ministers who left Geunjeongjeon Palace vented their complaints to Lee Jik.

“Did you forget His Majesty’s personality? You should have asked for more time!”

“You should have said two months!”

“Just when I thought we wouldn’t have to work overtime for a while…”

Chapter 257
The Expedition Team (5)

Thanks to King Sejong cutting the timeframe in half, personnel selected from the Ministry of National Defense, the Army Headquarters, and the Ministry of Finance and Economy gathered in one place to revise the plan.

The first to speak were those from the Ministry of National Defense and the Army Headquarters.

“First, let’s base the geographical data on what we acquired last time.”

“Wouldn’t that be risky?”

“We have no choice but to prepare as thoroughly as possible before starting, and then deal with any variables or shortcomings that arise on the spot.”

“There are limits to on-site response as well.”

“That’s true.”

As the debate continued, the attendees had to agonize over finding a suitable alternative.

“How about this?”

As a naval officer who was searching through various reports to find an alternative spoke up, the attention of everyone in the meeting room focused on him.

“Do you have a good idea?”

“It’s using the Haeung-class warships.”

“The Haeung-class? Considering their size, they can’t carry much…”

An immediate objection was raised, but the initial proposer shook his head.

“I’m not suggesting we entrust transportation to the Haeung-class. I’m saying we use them as dispatch ships.”

“Use the Haeung-class as dispatch ships?”

The eyes of those gathered in the meeting room began to sparkle.

“Please explain in more detail.”

At the urging of the others, the proposer soon began to explain in detail.

“Among the Haeung-class ships launched so far, there are a total of 6 warships that have been assigned to the navy and completed training. We will rotate these 6 ships.”

“Rotate them?”

“It would go something like this. 2 ships will be on the island to be conquered, another 2 ships will be at Wonsan Port, 1 ship will head towards Wonsan, and the last 1 ship will head from Wonsan to the island. Among the 2 ships staying in Wonsan, 1 will maintain a standby state, and the other will be under maintenance. Among the 2 ships staying on the island, 1 will handle regular communication with the ship coming from Wonsan, and the other will be in charge of delivering urgent news.”

“It’s like a waterwheel turning.”

“That’s right. What do you think?”

The attendees who heard the proposer’s explanation huddled together and began to murmur.

“It seems pretty good, doesn’t it?”

“But won’t we be short on warships to deploy to Tsushima and for East Sea patrols?”

“For Tsushima, we should be fine with panokseon for the time being, right? To be honest, the main purpose of deploying warships to Tsushima was to deal with the Japanese pirates, right? It’s to keep the Lord of Tsushima on a leash. And for the East Sea patrols, can’t the Haeung-class ships in charge of regular communication handle that as well?”

“Still, it’s a bit…”

“Before this summer ends, 5 more Haeung-class warships and 3 more Challenger-class warships will be launched, so we just need to endure a little.”

“In that case…”

After the conversation continued in this manner, it was decided to establish a high-speed communication network using the Haeung-class ships.

* * *

As one agenda item was settled, a debate erupted over another issue.

The topic of the second debate was ‘Where should we land?’

With the map of the target island placed in the center, the opinions of the attendees were divided into two.

“The best landing spot is the bay on the east side of this southern protrusion!”

“The bay on the west side of the island is better than that!”

In 21st-century terms, it was a division of opinions between ‘Uchiura Bay’ and ‘Ishikari Bay’.

The opinions of those supporting Uchiura Bay were as follows:

– Looking at the island’s terrain, this bay is the optimal location for defense.

– This is because the shape of this southern protrusion is like a curved finger. The bay located inside is shaped like a jar, so if we construct fortresses on the southern and northern protrusions of the bay, which are like the mouth of the jar, defense will be easy.

– Considering the subsequent exploration of the ocean located to the east of the island, there is no better place than this. Once we exit the bay’s entrance and head east, we will immediately reach the ocean.

However, the rationale of those supporting Ishikari Bay was also formidable.

– To reach the bay on the southern protrusion, we must pass through the narrow strait between Japan’s main island and the island.

– This has a high possibility of causing conflicts not only with the Japanese pirates but also with Japan’s navy.

– Rather than wasting time and combat power in unnecessary armed conflicts, it is more efficient to select the bay on the west side of the island as the landing point.

– According to the report from Challenger Ship No. 3, the bay on the west side directly connects to a wide plain. However, the bay on the south does not. Considering the subsequent expansion of territory and the relocation of people after securing the beachhead, the bay on the west side is optimal.

– The subsequent exploration plan should continue with the unfinished exploration of the northern waters of the island, not the exploration of the ocean to the east of the island. The ocean exploration comes after that.

The confrontation between the two sides continued in a stalemate. As both sides presented reasonable arguments, a decision could not be easily reached.

In the end, the attendees, exhausted from the endless debate, keenly felt the need for a mediator.

“Let’s ask the higher-ups!”

“Let’s do that!”

And so, this issue was elevated to the Army Headquarters and the Ministry of National Defense. However, even the Ministry of National Defense and the Army Headquarters ended up being split into two, and it ultimately reached King Sejong.

* * *

“A difficult problem remains a difficult problem.”

Even King Sejong, who received the report, muttered with a perplexed expression.

“What do you all think?”

At King Sejong’s question, the ministers also split into two, and a debate ensued.

Watching this scene, King Sejong’s eyes turned to Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo. Since it was his proposal, Hwang Hui could not return to Hamgil Province and was stuck in Hanseong.

Thanks to this, Kim Jong-seo, who had unexpectedly seized good fortune, was enjoying the ‘Nights of Hanseong’.

Seeing Hwang Hui remaining silent even amid the ongoing debate, King Sejong spoke.

“What does the Provincial Governor think?” (The official title was Provincial Governor of Expulsion and Promotion[1]. However, due to the tongue-twisting name, it was often shortened to Provincial Governor, and later, Provincial Governor became the official title. [Note 1])

At King Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui took a moment to organize his thoughts and then spoke.

“Will you proceed with the matter of sending Kim Jong-seo as a secret envoy, as we did last time?”

“That’s right.”

“In that case, I recommend the bay on the west side.”

“The incident in Kyushu is related to the choice of the bay? Hmm… I see.”

King Sejong, who had been pondering Hwang Hui’s words for a moment, nodded his head and turned his gaze. Seeing Hyang seated below the throne, King Sejong asked a question.

“What does the Crown Prince think?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“I agree with the opinion presented by the Provincial Governor. The actions in Kyushu will also provoke the Japanese king, so if we openly cause incidents in the north, he may overreact.”

“That’s right. But it seems like you have something more to say?”

“It’s because of the people living on that island. I read a record that there are indigenous people.”

“Ah.”

At Hyang’s point, King Sejong nodded his head.

* * *

It wasn’t just the military that took action after confirming the report submitted by the captain of Ship No. 3 and the subsequent copy of the ship’s log. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took action.

In the ship’s log of Ship No. 3, there was a record of contact with the indigenous people of the island. To avoid unnecessary conflicts, the captain of Ship No. 3 attempted to communicate. However, since he couldn’t communicate with the indigenous people, the effort to find someone capable of written communication continued. Through this process, he found someone who knew Chinese characters and exchanged written messages, learning that they called themselves ‘Ainu’.

According to the captain’s report, the reactions of the indigenous people were not favorable, but they were not unconditionally hostile either.

After having a more in-depth conversation, he was able to ascertain that they were not on good terms with Japan’s main island to the south and returned.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after thoroughly analyzing the captain’s report and the ship’s log, searched the records of the Records Office.

By analyzing the records from the Records Office and the information obtained from inquiring with the merchants at the Japanese trading post, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deduced that the title ‘Seii Taishōgun'[2], referring to the shogun of the bakufu, was related to them.

“The pieces seem to fit roughly, don’t they?”

“They do. Report it.”

* * *

Seeing King Sejong’s reaction, Hyang continued.

“Considering the securing of the beachhead and the expansion of the occupied territory, contact with the indigenous people there is inevitable. In that case, I think we should also prepare in advance a way to accept them as the people of Joseon. Shouldn’t we avoid causing conflicts by going unprepared?”

“That’s true. However, it won’t be easy.”

“It might be surprisingly easy if we fill in their lacking aspects. Wasn’t it the same with the Jurchen people?”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers nodded their heads.

“Filling in their lacking aspects…”

As King Sejong muttered, Hyang immediately followed up.

“Don’t we have the Office of Monopoly?”

“Aha!”

As Hyang mentioned the ‘Office of Monopoly’, King Sejong and the ministers simultaneously exclaimed.

Seeing this, Hyang smiled slightly and muttered inwardly.

‘While Western explorers lured indigenous people with glass ornaments, we have the Office of Monopoly!’

As Hyang mentioned the Office of Monopoly, Hwang Hui added.

“The Office of Monopoly will certainly be much more useful than force. There are Jurchen tribes that surrendered because of the Office of Monopoly.”

“I think so too.”

As King Sejong agreed, Jo Mal-saeng interjected.

“It’s better to establish a relationship through trade rather than prioritizing force. The most lacking thing for our Joseon military is manpower.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, King Sejong let out a long sigh.

“Phew… Is it only the military that’s like that?”

At King Sejong’s sigh, Kim Jeom, the Minister of Finance and Economy, interjected.

“As Joseon’s population is rapidly increasing, Your Majesty’s concerns will soon be resolved.”

“I hope that day comes quickly.”

King Sejong replied to Kim Jeom’s words with a genuinely earnest expression.

* * *

As royal lectures progressed, Joseon’s population began to increase.

The spread of cowpox vaccination, the strengthening of hygiene education, and the pre-prepared large quantities of medicinal ingredients prevented the spread of epidemics.

In addition, as irrigation facilities and farmland were improved, food production also started to increase.

Moreover, the surrender of the Jurchen people also accounted for a significant portion of Joseon’s population growth.

With the addition of various conditions, the graph representing Joseon’s population growth was showing an increasingly steep upward trend.

Confirming the graph, Kim Jeom muttered with a face full of delight.

“If we continue like this, we will soon surpass 7 million. And when the children born these days reach adulthood, form families, and have children of their own, even 10 million won’t be a dream.”

A population of 10 million.

If Joseon’s capabilities continued to be strengthened as they were now, and new technologies were introduced, surpassing a population of 10 million would mean no longer having to unconditionally bow down to the Ming Dynasty.

It was the revival of a powerful nation that even the rulers of China in the past could not treat recklessly.

* * *

Although the conversation briefly went off on a tangent, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“I will draw a conclusion. Our Joseon army will establish a beachhead at the bay on the west side.”

“We will follow your command.”

“And while preparing thoroughly in case of armed conflict, make sure that Joseon does not take the initiative in attacking first. Let’s have faith in the Office of Monopoly.”

“We will engrave it in our minds!”

Following King Sejong’s decision, the operation to conquer this unclaimed island entered full-scale preparations.

Although slightly derailed, Joseon’s external expansion had officially begun.

* * *

Note 1) In 1466 (12th year of King Sejo’s reign), the title was changed from Provincial Governor of Expulsion and Promotion to Provincial Governor. This is based on the author’s imagination.

Chapter 258
The Tree Wishes to Stay Still (1)

While preparations for acquiring territories across the sea were steadily progressing, a small commotion occurred in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The commotion began in the Crown Prince’s palace.

“Your Majesty! The royal physician says he has an urgent matter to report.”

King Sejong, who was continuing a meeting with the ministers in Geunjeongjeon Palace, paused the meeting upon hearing Sangseon’s report.

“The royal physician? Let him in.”

“Yes.”

King Sejong’s expression was slightly tense at Sangseon’s report. The combination of the words ‘royal physician’ and ‘urgent news’ was never to be taken lightly. The ministers felt the same way.

‘There are no elders in Gyeongbokgung Palace right now. Then, who could it be?’

‘The Queen Consort or the other concubines? Surely not, they’re all in their prime, just like His Majesty… ’

‘Could it be an epidemic? No. It’s not the time for epidemics to spread, and if it were such a matter, a dispatch rider would have come, not the royal physician.’

Amid the slight tension between King Sejong and the ministers, the royal physician entered Geunjeongjeon Palace and paid his respects to King Sejong. After receiving the salute, King Sejong asked the royal physician.

“So, what is the urgent matter to report?”

“The Crown Princess is with child.”

“What?”

King Sejong leaped up from his seat at the royal physician’s report.

“Furthermore, Yangwon and Yangje are also with child.”

[TL/N: Yangwon and Yangje are titles for crown prince’s concubines]

“Such joyous news!”

King Sejong could not hide his delight at the royal physician’s report.

The ministers, who had been tense at the words ‘urgent news from the royal physician’, soon came to their senses and bowed their heads to King Sejong in unison, exclaiming.

“This is a great celebration for the royal family! Your Majesty! We offer our respectful congratulations!”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

Everyone in Geunjeongjeon Palace offered their congratulations to King Sejong.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

King Sejong, who had sat back down, could not contain his joy, with his mouth stretching from ear to ear.

It had been over four years since the Crown Prince’s marriage. During that long time, the lack of an heir had been a growing concern.

“Ha, haha! Hahaha! To have three pregnancies at the same time! He truly is no ordinary fellow! Hahaha!”

King Sejong, barely suppressing his laughter, looked around at the ministers.

“It’s truly a great celebration, so shouldn’t we announce it?”

“We will dispatch riders throughout Joseon.”

“As it is a great celebration for the nation, how about issuing an amnesty decree, Your Majesty?”

“That’s good, but it seems somewhat lacking.”

“Pardon?”

The ministers raised their heads and looked at King Sejong. Usually, when such a celebration occurred, it would end with issuing an amnesty decree.

However, the current king had said that it was not enough.

“What would be good? What should we do to make the people rejoice and pray for a safe childbirth?”

“Ah…”

The ministers nodded at King Sejong’s murmur. It was news of pregnancy that came after a long time since the Crown Prince had taken a consort. It was the heart of a parent wishing for a safe delivery.

After a brief contemplation, King Sejong soon reached a conclusion.

“For the next fifteen days, reduce the price of all goods sold at the Office of Monopoly by 10 percent.”

“Pardon? Yes.”

And so, a ‘special sale’ began at the Office of Monopoly throughout Joseon for fifteen days.

The court historian who recorded all of this added the following:

-… Thus, when His Majesty made the decision, Minister of Finance Kim Jeom bowed and accepted it.

The court historian comments:

The issue of an heir had been a concern for the royal family. It is a great celebration among celebrations to have it resolved.

I should take this opportunity to buy a lot of salt and sugar. They don’t spoil, so it’s a good chance.

* * *

While King Sejong was generously opening his purse strings in Geunjeongjeon Palace, filled with joy, the Queen Consort’s palace was also full of delight.

“Is there such a celebration! One would be grateful enough, but three!”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Queen Soheon smiled and replied to the congratulations from the court ladies and servants.

“Thank you. Thank you all.”

While responding to the congratulations from the court ladies and servants, Queen Soheon suddenly seemed to remember something and ordered the head court lady.

“Oh my! Look at me! Listen, head court lady.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“How could we let such a celebration pass by? Double the amount of offerings sent to the Great Monk this time.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And…”

Queen Soheon, thinking about the next steps, rose from her seat.

“We can’t sit still during such a celebration. Let’s go to the Crown Prince’s palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness. We will prepare immediately.”

* * *

That day, the Crown Prince’s palace was bustling with people. Not only King Sejong and Queen Soheon but also King Sejong’s concubines all visited the Crown Prince’s palace to congratulate the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje on their pregnancies.

“Truly a joyous occasion.”

“Indeed, it is.”

Following the words of King Sejong and Queen Soheon, who were seated at the head of the table, King Sejong’s concubines also offered congratulatory words to Hyang, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje in order of their rank.

Each time the congratulations continued, Hyang, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje respectfully bowed their heads and repeated their responses.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you very much.”

After the congratulations, the table was piled high with all kinds of tonics and medicinal ingredients for the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje.

Hyang, who had seen off the elders, including King Sejong, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all…”

“I know how much concern you all must have had until now. From now on, I hope you will only see, hear, and think of good things.”

“Thank you very much.”

* * *

That night, Hyang, who was alone in his bedroom, looked at the moon beyond the window. His expression as he gazed at the moon in the sky was complex.

“Pregnancy…”

Hyang mulled over the word ‘pregnancy’.

“Come to think of it, in my previous life, I was far from the word ‘marriage’.”

In his previous life, Hyang had lived a life far from marriage due to his reputation as a famous eccentric otaku.

Suddenly, the faces of his 21st-century parents flashed through Hyang’s mind as he looked at the moon.

“Are they doing well?”

Hyang’s parents, who had been worried about the narrowing employment opportunities and the insecure working environment, had insisted on a stable job as a civil servant.

However, when Hyang couldn’t endure the depression and quit being a civil servant, his parents had suffered from guilt.

Therefore, even when Hyang went down to Yangsan, opened a workshop alone, and insisted on living single, his parents couldn’t persist in their opposition.

As Hyang recalled his parents from his previous life, who were always filled with regret and sadness whenever they saw him, he had to calm his melancholic feelings.

“I hope they live a peaceful life…”

Hyang’s melancholy did not last until the next day.

“Refrain from sharing a bed for the time being?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s still dangerous as it hasn’t been long since the pregnancies were confirmed.”

Hyang nodded at the royal physician’s answer.

“I understand. Please take good care of them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the royal physician left the room, Hyang clenched his fist and shouted softly.

“Olé!”

* * *

Having received an official ‘prohibition on sharing a bed’ from the royal physician, Hyang immersed himself in the research institute and Area 51.

“Opportunity is chance! If you miss this moment, you’re a fool!”

Hyang passionately devoted himself to various tasks.

“First, focus on miniaturizing and increasing the output of the steam engine! How many years has it been since the steam engine was introduced, and it’s still in this state!”

“Speed up the production of position measurement devices and precise compasses for ocean navigation!”

Under Hyang’s whip-cracking, driven by excitement, groans escaped from the mouths of the people at the research institute and Area 51.

Their groans were not solely due to the increased work intensity.

“He still hasn’t gone home?”

“Yes.”

At the answer from the subordinate official with a gloomy face, Jeong Cho sighed while looking at the clock.

“Oh my… It’s already past haeshi-cho (9-10 pm) and approaching haeshi-jeong (10-11 pm)… Oh my…”

Sighing once more, Jeong Cho rose from his seat and went to Hyang’s room.

“Huh? You’re not going home yet, Your Highness?”

At Hyang’s nonchalant question, Jeong Cho suppressed the sudden surge of anger and asked back with a forced smile.

“Aren’t you going home, Your Highness?”

“For me, even if I go back, it’s an empty workshop, so I’m thinking of working.”

“Is that so?”

“But you’re still not going home… Could it be because of me?”

“…”

Seeing Jeong Cho’s silent affirmation with a troubled face, Hyang leaned back in his chair and ordered.

“Convey that those who have no urgent tasks to handle by today should go home immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“This order remains in effect from now on.”

“Understood.”

Although Hyang gave this order, few followed it straightforwardly.

‘What if I fall out of favor?’

While everyone was just being mindful and enduring, there was one person who dared to leave work on time.

It was Lee Soon-ji.

“Oh, that weirdo!”

Everyone shook their heads at the sight of Lee Soon-ji.

However, the moment they confirmed that Lee Soon-ji suffered no harm, everyone started leaving work on their own.

* * *

There were others who became gloomy due to Hyang’s behavior. They were the court ladies working in the Crown Prince’s palace. There were quite a few court ladies who dreamed of ‘turning their lives around’ by catching the Crown Prince’s eye, as he couldn’t control his spring passion due to the prohibition on sharing a bed with the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje.

In principle, court ladies were the king’s women, so such an act would be a scandal, but the world didn’t always operate according to principles.

However, their dreams of ‘one big break in life’ turned into fleeting dreams as Hyang immersed himself in the research institute and Area 51.

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang’s actions were reported to King Sejong almost in real-time.

Upon receiving the report, King Sejong smiled with satisfaction.

“Is that so? Then when would be a good time?”

King Sejong was delighted at the thought of dragging Hyang in and shaking him down.

* * *

Dispatch riders carrying King Sejong’s royal decree rushed throughout the country, and soon after, a ‘discount sale’ began at the Office of Monopoly across Joseon.

The people of Joseon were also delighted by the ‘discount sale’ at the Office of Monopoly.

“Honey! Did you hear the news? Go to the market right now and find some money!”

“I already found it!”

“Then let’s go to the Office of Monopoly before it’s too late! If we miss the timing, we’ll have to wait at least three days!”

And so, with A-frames on their backs and baskets on their heads, the people flocked to the Office of Monopoly like a herd of African buffalo.

To control the crowd that had gathered, the police officers from the law enforcement office had to shout at the top of their lungs with megaphones.

“Line up! Get in line!”

“Please line up! Line up!”

“Damn it! Line up!”

During the fifteen-day discount sale period, the Office of Monopoly recorded its highest sales ever.

Upon receiving the report, Kim Jeom made a serious suggestion to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty, it would be good to hold regular discount events at the Office of Monopoly.”

Meanwhile, an amusing joke was circulating among the people who had excitedly swept up the goods.

“Should we offer purified water every night and pray for this?”

“What should we pray for?”

“For the Crown Prince to have a son.”

“Why should you pray for that?”

The person who had started the conversation beat his chest at the neighbor’s question.

“You’re such a frustrating woman! Think about it, woman! The child born this time will be the Crown Prince’s firstborn, right? But what if that firstborn comes out with a pepper (penis)! They gave a 10 percent discount for the pregnancy, so if it’s a son, wouldn’t they start with at least half off?”

“Wait, wait, that makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Right? Right?”

“But will it work if we pray for it?”

“Who knows if a slim chance might actually work?”

“Is that so?”

A few days later, King Sejong received a secret report from the secret royal inspector.

“The number of people in Hanseong praying for the safe delivery and birth of a son for the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje is increasing? Is there such a grateful thing?”

King Sejong, who was reading the report with a pleased face, smiled wryly as he read the following sentence.

‘They are looking forward to the discount event that will be held at the Office of Monopoly? With an even greater discount than this time? Oh my, oh my… ’

At that moment, King Sejong’s face turned into one of dismay.

Chapter 259
The Tree Wishes to Stay Still (2)

While Joseon was bustling with various affairs, a thundercloud that would bring a storm was growing in size north of Mount Baekdu.

“Beile[Lord title]. We have captured the traitors.”

“Is that so?”

Upon his subordinate’s report, Mentemu rose from his seat and stepped outside.

In the wide yard in front of the wooden house where Mentemu resided, four bloodied men were kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, surrounded by Mentemu’s personal guards who exuded a menacing aura.

Seated on a chair brought by his subordinate, Mentemu addressed the captives.

“Why have you betrayed your brothers?”

At Mentemu’s question, the man on the far right protested loudly.

“We did not betray anyone!”

“Did not betray?”

“That’s right! We merely wanted to enter Joseon because it was difficult to live here! It is our nature to leave when life becomes tough!”

“That may be true. However, betraying and killing your brothers is unacceptable.”

The man raised his voice again at Mentemu’s words.

“He betrayed us! When we tried to leave, he attempted to take the furs we had collected at a dirt-cheap price! So, when we protested, he drew his sword first! We only resisted to survive!”

Mentemu shook his head at the man’s protest.

“Those who died at your hands were the Han who led you and his brothers who held the Ming Emperor’s decree. The Han deceiving the tribesmen? Who would believe that?”

The man spat on the ground at Mentemu’s words.

“Ptooey! Then kill us! Why waste time if you won’t believe us anyway? There is no Han who deceives the tribesmen? Hah! Look at yourself first, Beile! You took our well-living brothers to Kaiyuan and sold them as arrow fodder in the war between the Ming and the Mongols!”

“Kill them!”

Enraged by the man’s words, Mentemu immediately ordered his subordinates.

As soon as Mentemu’s command was given, the subordinates beheaded the men without hesitation.

“Throw their corpses in the field to feed the beasts.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Mentemu’s order, the subordinates tied ropes to the dead men’s legs and attached the ropes to their saddles. Holding the severed heads in one hand, the subordinates mounted their horses and rode off towards the plains.

* * *

Returning inside, Mentemu sat on a chair and let out a long sigh.

“Huu~”

Mentemu’s face, filled with remorse as he gazed into the distance, seemed to have aged several years.

“Was it a mistake…?”

The cry of the man who had just died, accusing him of selling his kinsmen as arrow fodder, kept echoing in Mentemu’s mind.

He was well aware that this was a rumor circulating among the tribesmen these days.

Clutching his head with both hands, Mentemu muttered.

“There was no other choice at the time…”

* * *

When Mentemu met Yi Seong-gye, he had just started leading the tribe. As a young tribal leader, Mentemu had made a name for himself by cleverly trapping and killing the tribe’s enemies, and releasing survivors in exchange for ransom. As the tribe grew in size, Mentemu settled in Hoeryeong and became a subordinate of Yi Seong-gye, known as the “Tiger of Liaodong.”

After Joseon was founded and Yi Seong-gye disappeared into history, the Yongle Emperor of Ming extended his hand to Mentemu.

However, Mentemu refused the Yongle Emperor’s proposal.

“I will live as a Joseon subject.”

Despite rejecting the proposal, the pressure from the Yongle Emperor intensified. Moreover, the Taejong in Gyeongseong was Taejong, not Yi Seong-gye.

Eventually, Mentemu had no choice but to join hands with the Yongle Emperor.

Later, when Joseon discovered Mentemu’s alliance with Ming, a series of revenge attacks followed, and the conflict between the two could only be resolved through Ming’s mediation.

However, knowing that Joseon could attack again at any time, Mentemu had to leave Hoeryeong and head west.

Settling in Kaiyuan, where Aruktai had established himself, Mentemu was able to expand his tribe’s size with Ming’s support.

“If I grow the tribe like this and return to the Ussuri River, even Joseon won’t be able to act recklessly.”

However, Ming betrayed Mentemu’s expectations.

-If ten thousand Jurchen gather, the world cannot withstand them.

This was a common saying in Ming.

Knowing how the Song Dynasty had suffered at the hands of the Jin Dynasty, a Jurchen state founded by Aguda, Ming prevented the Jurchen forces from growing too powerful.

With this goal in mind, when Mentemu’s Odoli tribe grew in strength, Ming conscripted the Odoli warriors for conflicts with the Mongols or imposed the role of a first line of defense against the southward-advancing Mongols.

On the other hand, they also exploited the weakness of the Jurchens living in harsh environments.

The Jurchens had to trade with Ming merchants to obtain the necessities they needed. And the Jurchen merchants who wanted to trade with Ming merchants needed a permit issued by the Ming Emperor, known as the Imperial Decree.

With this Imperial Decree, Ming controlled and manipulated the Jurchens. If they were even slightly displeased, they would revoke or refuse to issue the decree.(Note 1)

In the end, Mentemu had no choice but to return to the Ussuri River once again.

“At least I returned with a thousand warriors, unlike when I barely left with five hundred. I suppose that’s a consolation?”

Comforting himself in this way, Mentemu, who had returned to the Ussuri River, immediately sent an envoy to Joseon to inform them of his submission.

“I will live as a loyal subject of Joseon. If necessary, you may take my son as a hostage.”

However, Sejong refused.

“How could I take the son of one who has received an official post from the superior state of Ming as a hostage and have him reside in Hanseong? I do not permit it.”

Although he refused, Sejong provided Mentemu with adequate food and clothing.

However, Mentemu, who learned of all this news through his son, could understand Sejong’s intention.

“Yi Bang-won and his son still want my head!”

In the end, Mentemu had no choice but to stay put in the Ussuri River.

However, as Sejong carried out the reformation plan and strengthened national defense, Mentemu began to feel a threat to his survival.

In particular, the news that Sejong had obtained a decree from the Xuande Emperor allowing him to reclaim the birthplace of Yi Seong-gye’s family was the worst news for Mentemu.

After that, as the Orankhai tribes around Mentemu defected to Joseon, their territories became Joseon’s land.

Moreover, Mentemu’s relatives, the Odoli tribes, began to surrender to Joseon one by one.

The Mentemu tribe had become isolated.

* * *

“Huu~. Where did I make a mistake?”

Regretting his past actions, Mentemu soon shook his head vigorously.

“No! I have always chosen the best course of action for the tribe! And the same goes for now!”

Mentemu rose from his seat and went outside.

“Chungseon! Chungseon! Where are you?”

At Mentemu’s call, his son Chungseon came running and knelt down.

“Did you call for me, Father?”

“Gather your brothers by this evening and summon Pancha!”

“Yes, Father!”

* * *

That evening, Mentemu’s children and his half-brother Pancha gathered at Mentemu’s house.

“The time has come for us to make a choice for the survival of our tribe.”

At Mentemu’s words, the faces of his children and Pancha turned grave.

After a brief silence, Pancha, representing those gathered, posed a question.

“By choice, do you mean we will clash with Joseon?”

“We strike them hard and retreat to Geonju. Or we can go to Kaiyuan.”

“The fortresses built by the Joseon bastards are impregnable. And even if we gather all our warriors now, we barely exceed seven hundred. Of course, if we scrape together everyone, we can reach twenty-five hundred, but…”

Pancha trailed off. That number of twenty-five hundred included boys who had just come of age. They knew how to handle horses, bows, and swords, but they had never experienced real battle.

Mentemu nodded at Pancha’s point.

“Scraping together like that will lead to great losses. But seven hundred is far from enough, so let’s at least reach a thousand.”

“It’s still reckless.”

“I’m well aware of that too. That’s why I…”

Mentemu paused for a moment to catch his breath before continuing.

“I will join hands with Manchu.”

“You mean Manchu?” Pancha responded with an uncomfortable expression at Mentemu’s words.

“Yes, Manchu.”

“Beile, Manchu leads a large tribe of over ten thousand households. He won’t be easy to sway. If things go wrong, we will be the ones bleeding while Manchu reaps the benefits.”

“I know. But there’s no other way. With the forces we have, we cannot face Joseon.”

Chungseon, Mentemu’s son, posed a question at his father’s answer.

“Then why don’t we simply leave this place?”

“Regardless of the reason, our tribe is Joseon’s Fanhu (barbarians in charge of border defense). If we leave this place without reason, Joseon will pursue and kill us, claiming that we have betrayed them again.”

“Even though you hold an official post from Ming?”

“Joseon has the justification.”

“…”

Chungseon looked troubled by Mentemu’s words.

“But will Manchu even agree to this?”

At Pancha’s point, which he had been pondering, Mentemu provided the reason.

“He has no choice but to agree. Since those damned Joseon bastards started cultivating ginseng, the number of Ming merchants visiting Liaodong has decreased, and they have been constantly losing out in trade. And…”

Mentemu paused to wet his throat before revealing the most compelling reason for Manchu’s participation.

“Manchu knows very well. That after me, it’s his turn. And that the place he is in now is closer to Joseon than to Ming.”

At Mentemu’s words, Pancha and Mentemu’s children fell silent.

They, too, were well aware that their tribe was now backed into a corner.

The Orankhai tribes surrounding their tribe had already become Joseon’s faithful hunting dogs. And other Odoli tribes, who shared the same bloodline as them, were also defecting to Joseon.

They could not be certain that even their fellow kinsmen would not slaughter them as Joseon’s spearmen and swordsmen.

Allying with Manchu was not very appealing either. Although Mentemu said such a thing would not happen, it was almost certain that Manchu would use them as arrow fodder.

However, there was no other choice.

Eventually, Pancha spoke as the representative.

“I will prepare the warriors. When do you plan to depart?”

“We will depart tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

“Keep in mind that Joseon must not find out until we carry out the plan.”

“I will bear that in mind.”

The faces of those leaving Mentemu’s house after the meeting were filled with worry, concern, and unease.

“Huu~”

Pancha, who had been gazing at the sky with a long sigh, glared at the south and muttered.

“Even when surrounding an enemy, one should leave at least a minimal path of retreat, as the military texts have taught…”

It was a remark full of resentment towards Sejong, who forced them to choose between withering to death and dying in battle.

* * *

The next morning, as soon as the day dawned, Mentemu set out with his escort warriors towards the Pazhu River, where Manchu’s tribe was located.

* * *

Note 1: https://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=moonmogabi&logNo=70181087834&proxyReferer=https:%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Chapter 260
The Tree Wishes to Stay Still (3)

“Welcome.”

“It’s been a while.”

Seeing Manchu’s arrogant demeanor as he greeted him, Mentemu had to muster all his strength to suppress his sense of humiliation.

‘Damn bastard! Did you forget the relationship between your father and me?’

Manchu’s father, Aruktai, had been a subordinate of Yi Seong-gye alongside Mentemu. However, while watching the situation between Joseon and Ming, Aruktai had sided with Ming first – more precisely, his son-in-law Zhu Di had become the Yongle Emperor – and that’s how he was able to expand his power.

As a result, even though they both served as arrow fodder for Ming, Manchu was able to expand his influence.

Mentemu, exercising superhuman patience, entered the room with Manchu.

“I heard you’ve been struggling because of Joseon lately. Are you all right?”

“Not good. That’s why I think I’ll have to reach a conclusion soon.”

As Mentemu got straight to the point, Manchu straightened his posture and looked at Mentemu.

“Are you thinking of using force?”

Nodding at Manchu’s question, Mentemu went directly to the main issue.

“That’s why I need your help. I want us to join hands and strike Joseon.”

Thinking for a moment at Mentemu’s words, Manchu shook his head slightly.

“I hold the position of Ming’s military commander. If we’re not careful, it could cause a conflict between Ming and Joseon.”

Mentemu immediately countered Manchu’s words.

“I also hold the position of Left Commander of Geonju. But is Ming properly taking care of us?”

“…”

At Mentemu’s words, Manchu attempted to say something but closed his mouth. However, he was inwardly mocking Mentemu.

‘Why would they bother with a small tribe like yours?’

As if sensing Manchu’s thoughts, Mentemu continued with a smirk.

“Of course, compared to you and your tribe, who have a relative as the third empress of the former Yongle Emperor, we are indeed a much smaller tribe. But let me tell you. These days are different from the past, aren’t they?”

“Ahem!”

At Mentemu’s words, Manchu had to cover his expression with a fake cough.

Mentemu’s words were accurate. After moving south to the Pazhu River under pressure from Dalian, Ming’s treatment had become increasingly meager. Especially after the death of the Yongle Emperor, the extent of the meagerness was visible to the eye.

It was natural for Ming to do so.

* * *

The reason for treating Aruktai well was not only because he was the Yongle Emperor’s father-in-law but also because he led a large number of tribesmen.

During the Yongle Emperor’s Mongol expeditions, Aruktai had participated in the campaigns alongside the Ming army and had also been at the forefront of blocking Mongol or Dalian invasions.

Therefore, Ming had no choice but to provide good support. Of course, they did not forget to constantly consume them to prevent them from growing too powerful.

However, Manchu had abandoned Kaiyuan and migrated south.

And from that point on, Ming’s support began to dwindle.

“If I told you to guard the house, why should I feed a dog that ran away first? It’s better to raise another dog instead.”

Of course, finding a new dog that would be loyal to Ming took time, so the support and treatment continued to some extent, but both the quantity and quality began to deteriorate.

Moreover, as Ming reduced the number and intensity of conflicts with the Mongols through various economic exchanges, including horse markets, Manchu’s value was steadily declining.

Mentemu had pointed out precisely this aspect.

* * *

Observing the change in Manchu’s expression, Mentemu continued.

“Think about it carefully. These days, Ming is getting along fairly well with the Mongols, and they are conducting significant trade with Joseon through the sea routes of Shandong. That means the value of Liaodong is gradually decreasing. From Ming’s perspective, Liaodong is no longer an entity to be coaxed and tolerated as before. It’s more profitable for them to throw some scraps and make three or four obedient dogs growl at each other.”

“So you want to attack Joseon? If we, who have received official posts from Ming, attack Joseon, Ming may take the initiative to strike us first.”

Manchu’s point was valid.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, when the Jurchens of Geonju grew in strength and harmed Ming, Ming had declared a campaign against the Jurchens and demanded Joseon’s participation. Seizing this opportunity, Joseon had purged Manchu.

“Of course, there’s a high possibility that Ming will take such action. But let me ask you. How long will we continue to play the role of hunting dogs?”

“You mean…”

“There is a saying circulating among the court and commoners of Ming, isn’t there? ‘If ten thousand Jurchens gather, the world cannot withstand them.’ How long must we serve as house-guarding dogs for Ming and Joseon?”

At Mentemu’s words, Manchu’s eyes began to shine.

“Do you mean… we should rebuild the Jin Dynasty?”

“What’s stopping us? Don’t you dream of becoming a hero in history while leading a large tribe of ten thousand households?”

Mentemu was gradually stimulating Manchu’s ambition.

While being tempted by Mentemu’s provocation, Manchu tried his best to think rationally.

“Alright. That’s a good idea. As you said, Beile, breaking away from Joseon and Ming and establishing our own independent country. It’s a great notion. However, there are numerous things we need to achieve that. Where will we obtain them? Should we strike Ming? Or Joseon?”

“Joseon.”

At Mentemu’s simple answer, Manchu immediately shook his head.

“Are you insane? You want to attack Joseon even after seeing the fortresses they have built along the border these days?”

“Of course, I’m well aware of Joseon’s damn fortresses.”

“If you know that…”

Mentemu interrupted Manchu’s words and continued.

“However, we can strike the places where those damn fortresses haven’t been established yet, the places that are Joseon but not quite Joseon, can’t we?”

“Places that are Joseon but not quite Joseon? Are there such places?”

“Yes, there are. The ones who have grown fat and plump by attaching themselves to Joseon.”

“Ah!”

At Mentemu’s words, Manchu’s eyes began to shine again.

‘If it’s those places, there’s still a possibility!’

The places Mentemu pointed out were where the Jurchen tribes that had surrendered to Joseon were located.

* * *

The first thing Joseon established when Jurchen tribes surrendered was a trading post.

The officials stationed at the trading post investigated the exact population and territory of the surrendered tribe. Once the related reports were submitted, those in charge of creating identity tags would come down and distribute the tags to the Jurchens.

As long as they possessed those identity tags, the Jurchens could easily obtain salt, sugar, and various spices from the trading post. It wasn’t just convenient to purchase. The prices were also much cheaper compared to those offered by Ming or Jurchen merchants.

Of course, money was needed to buy these goods. To earn money, the surrendered Jurchens brought furs, wild ginseng, and various other items to exchange for cash.

During this process, the Jurchens were surprised once again, as the officials in charge of the transactions at the trading post were fair in setting prices and conducting trade, unlike the merchants from Ming or other Jurchen tribes.

“Ah! You are now a subject of Joseon, so you must pay taxes, right?”

Although a considerable amount had to be taken as taxes, it was still a much more profitable trade compared to previous dealings.

As this process repeated, the Jurchens genuinely became Joseon subjects. Once that happened, Joseon would relocate farmers from the south.

The Joseon people who migrated in this way introduced advanced farming techniques compared to the Jurchens’ methods at the time, and the Jurchens who learned those techniques while working alongside them also began to yield more and more from their own farmlands.

“Then we must pay taxes, right?”

Of course, it was painful every time they paid taxes, but it was the same for both Jurchens and Joseon people.

And once they were fully settled, Joseon military fortresses would come and establish themselves.

It seemed like the order of things was slightly reversed, but considering the deep-rooted distrust towards the Jurchens, it was inevitable.

That’s how the “Jurchens who had grown fat and plump,” as Mentemu described them, came to be.

Through the trading posts, they became affluent in goods, and by learning Joseon’s farming techniques, their yields increased, giving them economic comfort. However, they were not yet under the complete protection of the Joseon military.

Of course, they were well aware of their situation, so they had formed self-defense organizations to prepare themselves.

However, if an army beyond their capacity to resist were to invade, the self-defense organizations would be useless.

* * *

“Hmm…”

Sensing that Manchu was nearly persuaded, Mentemu put strength into his voice.

“If we capture these pigs who have only grown fat and plump, we can secure sufficient resources to establish a new base and foundation. No, if it’s not enough, we can even penetrate further into Joseon. Those damn fortresses may be blocking the transportation routes, but there’s more than one way, isn’t there?”

“But Ming is a bit of a concern.”

“Is it only Ming? Joseon will also be in chaos. That’s why, as soon as we start the operation, the tribes must begin migrating immediately.”

“Hmm…”

Staring intently at Mentemu, Manchu, who had been deep in thought, asked.

“So, have you thought of a place to settle down?”

‘He’s almost convinced!’

Inwardly cheering, Mentemu answered promptly.

“North of the Mudan River, in the Samseong region.”

“That area belongs to the Udige tribe, doesn’t it?”

“It’s the northern border of the Udige tribe’s territory.”

“Hmm…”

At Mentemu’s words, Manchu pondered with his arms crossed. After a long silence, Manchu asked Mentemu.

“So, how many troops are you planning to mobilize?”

‘He’s convinced!’

“One thousand. However, only about seven hundred will actually engage in combat. We need to leave at least three hundred to protect the tribes moving north.”

“Then I will mobilize two thousand. However, there’s something we must do first.”

Manchu rose from his seat and walked outside.

Calling a soldier who was waiting outside, Manchu immediately gave an order.

“Gather the tribal leaders.”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Most of the tribal leaders under Manchu who had gathered agreed with Mentemu’s plan. They, too, had been feeling the worsening situation.

Three days later, Manchu was seeing Mentemu off.

“The day of execution will be in ten days. In ten days, the great undertaking will begin, starting from Jaseong.”

At Manchu’s words, Mentemu promptly replied.

“Then I will commence from Muchang. I wish us good fortune.”

“May fortune be with you.”

After sending Mentemu off, Manchu returned to his house. A tribal leader who had remained behind asked with a worried expression.

“Can we trust that fellow? What if he stirs up trouble and then puts the blame on us?”

At the tribal leader’s question, Manchu answered with a slight smile.

“That guy has no choice but to go through with it. He’s already cornered with no way out. And if he tries to blame us? He’ll be the first to die by our hands. What can he do with a measly force?”

The tribal leader nodded at Manchu’s words. The downfall of the Mentemu tribe was already a well-known story among the Jurchens in the Liaodong region. If Mentemu were to betray them, that moment would be the end of Mentemu.

Even if he were lucky enough to escape that crisis, the fate of Mentemu and his tribe would be sealed. Having betrayed the children of the great elder Yi Seong-gye, and now betraying Ming and stabbing them in the back once again, there would be no Jurchens anywhere who would welcome such a person.

Chapter 261
The Tree Wishes to Stay Still (4)

Ten days later, at the Manpojin fortress near Jaseong.

In the communication tower that stood tallest at the center of the Manpojin fortress, a group of soldiers and a military officer were leisurely spending their day.

“Keep a close eye on the telescope! Don’t end up like those guys who got dragged away for peeking at Jurchen maidens bathing and missed the communication last time!”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers answered loudly at the officer’s words.

* * *

The large binocular telescope installed in the communication tower—named the Gapsik large telescope—boasted an enormous size.

As a result, it was called the “General’s Telescope” by the soldiers, in reference to the general’s firearms.

Thanks to its immense size, the soldiers could quickly and accurately confirm regular and emergency communications. However, there was also a drawback.

The lenses installed inside to match its tremendous size were also enormous and caused great fatigue to the soldiers’ eyes.

Therefore, the soldiers had to take turns holding the telescope in two-gak (approx. 30 minutes) intervals.

* * *

“Huh?”

While observing the surroundings after receiving the warning, one soldier noticed something unusual.

“Sir! A group of riders is heading towards the village at full speed!”

“What? How many?”

“Three!”

Upon receiving the report, the officer’s expression turned grave.

When two or three people came on horseback, they were usually messengers or hunters. And such people never rode at full speed.

However, the fact that they were galloping at full speed now meant that something was wrong, which was why the officer became tense.

At that moment, the soldier who was checking the communication from the east shouted.

“Urgent news from the east! The number is…”

The soldier read out the numbers while looking at the light signals sent from the communication tower installed in the east.

The officer, who had written down the numbers the soldier was calling out and checked the content, hastily inhaled.

“Huff! ‘Jaseong under attack. Enemy number over 3,000.’ Hey! Send a communication to the south right away!”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldier, who received the paper with the numbers written on it from the officer, began to hurriedly operate the light signaling device towards the south.

Just then, the soldier observing the village shouted.

“Sir! A cavalry is coming here from the village! The number is one!”

“Blow the emergency horn!”

At the officer’s command, a soldier placed a horn trumpet installed on one side of the communication tower to his lips and began to blow the horn.

Puu-woo~

It was a trumpet heralding the start of a war.

* * *

Two si-jin (4 hours) later, soldiers burst into the communication officers’ room at the General Staff Headquarters.

“Urgent news! Jaseong under attack! Enemy number over 3,000!”

“Urgent news! Muchang under attack! Enemy number over 1,000!”

“What? Issue an alert!”

“Yes, sir!”

The officer who gave the order clutched the papers brought by the communication soldiers and dashed to where his superiors were.

One gak (approximately 15 minutes) later, the high-ranking commanders, staff officers of the General Staff Headquarters, and Choi Yoon-deok gathered in the conference room.

“Report the situation.”

“Yes, General.”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s order, an officer explained the situation to the commanders.

“Two si-jin ago, a surprise attack by the Jurchens began in the north. The Jurchens attacked two places: one is Jaseong, and the other is Muchang. The number of Jurchens who attacked Jaseong is estimated to be around 3,000, while those who attacked Muchang are estimated to be around 1,000.”

“Have the identities of the attacking Jurchen tribes been confirmed?”

“Still under investigation.”

Upon hearing the officer’s answer, Choi Yoon-deok sighed.

“Haa~. Of all times, an incident occurs right after I return…”

Uttering words filled with regret and disappointment, Choi Yoon-deok looked around at the commanders and staff officers gathered in the conference room.

“What’s the plan?”

“First, we will mobilize the soldiers according to the pre-established measures. Here is the operation plan.”

Looking at the operation plan handed over by the staff officer, Choi Yoon-deok sighed.

“All the land and naval forces of Joseon are on the move.”

“It can’t be helped. We still have a shortage of soldiers.”

“That’s the problem… Haa~.”

Choi Yoon-deok, who had replied briefly, sighed again.

* * *

According to the military system established when Joseon was founded, if it operated properly, the Joseon army should have maintained approximately 300,000 soldiers.

However, that system was already showing signs of strain in various aspects, even though it had only been 30 years since the founding of the country.

The maintenance cost of a soldier was supposed to be covered by attaching five po-in (supporting individuals) to each soldier. However, as soldiers began to treat the po-in like slaves, many of them left their hometowns and became wanderers.

As a result, the burden that should have been borne by the po-in fell directly on the soldiers, leading them to abandon their military service and become wanderers or bandits.

Consequently, a shortage of military personnel occurred, and during the conquest of Tsushima Island in the first year of Sejong’s reign, all those who could sail a boat or fight, regardless of whether they were yangban or commoners residing in the three southern provinces, were forcibly recruited to fill the lacking military strength.

Therefore, as the reformation plan began, the military system also underwent a major reform.

The expenses for operating and maintaining the military were entirely covered by the government’s finances.

In other words, the po-in system was abolished.

The court utilized the taxes paid by the people and the gold and silver mined from the mountains as finances to operate the military.

The soldiers’ clothing, equipment, and food were provided by the court, and their salaries were accurately paid every month.

As a result, the Joseon army, which had been reduced to 70,000 troops combined from the army and navy, focused on building its internal strength while gradually expanding in size. This year (13th year of Sejong’s reign, Sinhaenyeon, 1431), the goal was to train 100,000 soldiers.

However, a war had broken out. In order to repel the invading Jurchens and maintain the northern border, the land and naval forces across Joseon had to leave their garrisons, leaving only the minimum number of troops behind.

* * *

“First, mobilize the troops according to the plan. And quickly identify those bastards who committed this atrocity that deserves six deaths.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And prepare to report to His Majesty immediately.”

“Understood.”

“I will go to Geunjeongjeon.”

With those words, Choi Yoon-deok rose from his seat. As Choi Yoon-deok stood up, the other commanders and staff officers also rose and saluted.

“Execute the plan as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Half a si-jin (1 hour) later, tension and murderous intent permeated Geunjeongjeon.

A strong murderous aura emanated from Sejong, who was seated in the palace hall. This was the second time Sejong had emitted such a murderous intent since the palace intrusion incident.

“So, what are the countermeasures for the incidents in Jaseong and Muchang?”

“First, we have ordered the mobile strike forces stationed in the nearest regions to pursue them.”

“Pursue? Not annihilate?”

As Sejong questioned with a displeased expression, the ministers muttered inwardly.

‘Blood ties don’t disappear easily.’

‘They say one can’t steal seeds… ’

Choi Yoon-deok explained the reason on behalf of the ministers.

“We still don’t know which Jurchen tribes are responsible for this act. The number of Jurchens who carried out the attack in the east and west combined exceeds approximately 4,000. Of course, with this number, if we mobilize all the mobile strike forces in the north, we can annihilate them. However, to ensure that such incidents do not happen again, we need to eradicate the root cause.”

“That’s true. But given the current situation in the north, aren’t there influential figures?”

“There are. Mentemu and Manchu.”

“Those bastards! Tsk!”

An even thicker murderous aura began to flow from Sejong, who was gritting his teeth.

Hyang, who was receiving that murderous intent from beneath the palace hall, grumbled inwardly.

‘Just live casually! Why stir up trouble! Argh!’

While Hyang was grumbling inwardly, Sejong moved on to the next topic.

“So, what are our upcoming countermeasures?”

“We are mobilizing the land and naval forces.”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s gesture, a waiting officer stepped forward with a large military map.

The officer, who had saluted Sejong, stood beside the map and began to explain.

“The General Staff Headquarters has prepared emergency plans in anticipation of such incidents. According to the plan…”

The officer flipped the indicators on the map with his pointer.

As the cover was flipped, the map that appeared depicted the entire Joseon territory, with numerous arrows moving in various directions.

“Currently, the mobile strike forces are pursuing the Jurchens who carried out the attack. Additionally, Jurchen scouts are being deployed to identify the identity of the Jurchens responsible for this incident.

And for a full-scale suppression, one division from Pyeongan Province and one from Hamgil Province will be mobilized for the operation.”

“At full strength?”

At Sejong’s question, the officer promptly replied.

“At full strength, Your Majesty.”

“Well done.”

Upon hearing the answer, Sejong nodded, but Kim Jeom’s face was gradually turning pale.

‘Full strength? Full strength, you say?’

The smallest unit in the Joseon military organization was the o (squad), consisting of five members. And according to the principles of yin-yang and the five elements, as the units moved up to higher levels, their size increased fivefold.

Of course, this was the case when the full strength was filled, and normally, excluding the o, the higher-level units were three times the size.

However, the officer had just reported that two divisions at full strength would be entering the operation. That meant over 30,000 troops would be mobilized.

Eventually, Kim Jeom intervened in the conversation.

“Isn’t the number of troops being mobilized excessive?”

“If the one behind this incident is Manchu, this much is necessary.”

“Ah…”

Kim Jeom had to close his mouth. The Huligai tribe led by Manchu had over 10,000 households.

“Then, are the other arrows filling the gaps?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The officer promptly answered Sejong’s question and continued his explanation with the pointer.

Following the already issued orders, the land and naval forces across Joseon had left their garrisons, leaving only the minimum number of troops for maintenance.

The units stationed in Hwanghae Province and Gangwon Province would take charge of the defense of Pyeongan Province and Hamgil Province, while the units from Gyeonggi Province and Chungcheong Province would form the reserve forces. The units from Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces would be responsible for defending the vicinity of Hanseong.

After hearing the subsequent operation plans, Sejong nodded.

“Looks good. That should be enough to properly handle the situation. Then the issue is supplies… Are preparations made?”

“Yes, we are already retrieving the pre-stocked supplies.”

“Well done.”

Sejong nodded, seemingly satisfied with the military’s response. Meanwhile, Kim Jeom was calculating with a face that had turned not just pale but yellowish.

‘To fill the hole left by the military funds… ’

“I think the military aspect is sufficient… Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong called for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and immediately gave an order.

“You are to go to Beijing right now. Go to Beijing as quickly as possible, inform them of this incident, and argue that our subjugation is justified.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And try to delay receiving the Emperor’s response as much as possible.”

“Pardon?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, who did not fully understand the unexpected order, was taken aback.

Seeing his reaction, Sejong explained the reason.

“Your task is simple. Hold out as long as possible to prevent Ming from interfering!”

At Sejong’s order, the Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately understood and replied with a loud voice.

“I will make sure it is accomplished!”

Chapter 262
Battle (1)

The reason Sejong ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs to hold out as long as possible in Ming was to prevent Ming’s interference.

Although their value had diminished to almost nothing, Manchu and Mentemu held high-ranking positions in Ming.

Moreover, they were figures that could be immediately mobilized whenever trouble arose between the Ming people and the Jurchens.

Therefore, it was certain that Ming would definitely attempt to intervene and mediate at an appropriate point.

In the end, Sejong, the ministers, and the military, who were well aware of the entire situation, had all reached the same conclusion.

-Finish the job before Ming interferes!

-If that is impossible, kill as many as possible before withdrawing! However, Manchu, Mentemu, and their families must be eliminated!

-If they are left in a state beyond recovery, the nearby Jurchen tribes will take care of the aftermath themselves, as they have always done.

Sejong instructed Choi Yoon-deok.

“No matter what happens, this incident was orchestrated under Manchu’s leadership. Even if those who have invaded our Joseon territory belong to other tribes, it was instigated by Manchu!”

At Sejong’s words, Choi Yoon-deok promptly replied.

“Indeed, that is certainly the case. Jurchens who are aware of Joseon’s situation would never commit such an atrocious act! There is only one possibility for such an incident to occur! It is only possible with Manchu’s instigation!”

Following Choi Yoon-deok’s statement, Maeng Sa-seong continued.

“Hwang Hui, the governor of Hamgil Province, reported that the Jurchen tribes who have surrendered remain loyal to Joseon.

Moreover, even the Jurchen tribes beyond our borders wish to establish friendly relations with Joseon and have no intention of provoking us.

There are foolish ones who only prioritize plundering and have invaded our territory, but they have all been annihilated by our Joseon army.

The same holds true for Pyeongan Province.

However, the fact that there are those who dare to invade Joseon’s territory is impossible without someone’s instigation! And the only one capable of such instigation is Manchu!”

“Absolutely right!”

“Manchu is the only mastermind behind this incident.”

“We must subjugate Manchu’s forces!”

As soon as Maeng Sa-seong finished speaking, other ministers stepped forward and argued for punishing Manchu.

Sejong, who had been quietly listening to the ministers’ discussions, spoke.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“I await your command, Your Majesty!”

Sejong summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs and immediately gave an order.

“Search through all the records in the Archive and report to the Ming Emperor about all the conflicts instigated by Manchu’s Huligai tribe. And earlier, I told you to depart immediately, but…”

Pausing for a moment, Sejong turned to Choi Yoon-deok.

“How long will it take for the soldiers of Hamgil Province and Pyeongan Province to cross the border?”

“The main forces can cross the Amnok and Tumen Rivers within three days, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed, Minister of Foreign Affairs. I will give you three days. Ah! And if by any chance the Ming Emperor asks when we received the intelligence, tell him that we knew immediately through the beacon system and learned the detailed information two days after the incident occurred. I trust he will understand the reason.”

“It is to avoid revealing our light communication network! I, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Maeng-gyun, stake my life on fulfilling Your Majesty’s will and returning!”

“I trust you!”

Having shown his trust in Lee Maeng-gyun, Sejong turned to the ministers.

“That Manchu’s actions since moving south have been a thorn in our side! As that atrocious man has drawn his sword against us first, we must eliminate him decisively and firmly imprint the terror of Joseon in the minds of all Jurchen tribes who have not surrendered! Pour all of Joseon’s capabilities into this great undertaking!”

“We obey your command!”

The ministers responded in unison to Sejong’s order.

Joseon’s total war against Manchu and Mentemu was about to unfold.

The court historian who recorded all of this wrote the following:

-His Majesty commanded to exert utmost effort, and all the subjects responded in agreement.

The court historian comments.

Whether Manchu is indeed the mastermind behind this incident is still unknown to anyone. However, it is true that Manchu poses the greatest threat.

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had been observing the entire situation from beneath the palace hall, muttered to himself.

‘It’s been a while since I remembered the random stories of Teacher Samcheonpo.’

-The conquest of the Four Commanderies and Six Garrisons by Sejong is covered in textbooks, right? But there’s a part that’s not mentioned afterward, which is the thrashing of Manchu and the assassination attempt on Mentemu, the ancestor of Nurhaci.

-Why did Sejong try to eliminate Manchu? It is said that Mentemu dug his own grave by going back and forth between Ming and Joseon, but still. Ah! Mentemu’s actions can be considered pragmatic diplomacy by today’s standards, but even now, behaving like that would likely result in being abandoned.

Sejong’s attempt to eliminate Manchu was not solely because Manchu’s father, Aruktai, had abandoned Yi Seong-gye and joined hands with Ming. It was the result of bloody international politics.

* * *

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, in the 15th year of Sejong’s reign (1433), two years from now, Sejong had ordered Choi Yoon-deok to subjugate Manchu’s Huligai tribe.

The incident’s origin could be traced back to the previous year, the 14th year of Sejong’s reign (1432).

December of the 14th year of Sejong’s reign. Approximately 400 Jurchen cavalry attacked the Yeoyeon region.

Upon receiving the report, Sejong expressed his intention to establish defense measures against the Jurchens and simultaneously carry out a large-scale subjugation campaign.

Moving into the new year, January of the 15th year of Sejong’s reign (1433). Manchu returned 64 Joseon prisoners. During this process, Manchu claimed that the perpetrators of this incident were the Uriankhai and had nothing to do with him.

Meanwhile, Joseon sent a report to Ming regarding this matter, characterizing the Jurchen forces in the Pazhu River region and other areas. The problem was that according to the information gathered until then, the perpetrators were the Hulan Uriankhai. However, Joseon insisted that they were Jurchens from the Pazhu River region—more precisely, Manchu.

Until then, the Joseon court had been engaged in a fierce debate over the subjugation of the Jurchens—specifically, Manchu.

However, following Sejong’s strong will, the subjugation was carried out, and an envoy was sent to Ming.

The issue was the date the envoy was sent. Sejong dispatched the envoy to Ming one week before the Joseon army set out. It was a timing chosen when Ming would have difficulty intervening even if they knew.

The Joseon army, with Choi Yoon-deok as the commander, achieved great military success in the subsequent subjugation campaign.

The reason Joseon, or rather Sejong, was relentlessly targeting Manchu’s elimination was due to Manchu’s position.

-Manchu’s tribe was the core tribe of the Jurchens in Geonju. If Manchu’s influence grew further, it was certain that Joseon’s influence over the Jurchens would gradually diminish.

-Manchu was pro-Ming. He had received a high-ranking position from Ming and greatly emphasized this fact. Joseon did not want Ming to expand its influence through him.

-In connection with the above reason, Manchu did not acknowledge Joseon as a superior state. If this were left unchecked, it was evident that Joseon would lose its initiative and dominance in the Amnok River region.(Note 1)

Therefore, Joseon relentlessly targeted Manchu until the reign of King Sejo, ultimately killing him.

* * *

‘No matter how you look at it, Manchu was destined to die. International politics… ’

Recalling the random stories of Teacher Samcheonpo, Hyang, who had been slightly smacking his lips, suddenly remembered one fact and was startled.

‘But within three days, the main forces of Hamgil Province and Pyeongan Province will cross the Duman River and Amnok River? Even if I have used my abilities, isn’t this too much?’

If it was the full strength of one division, that would be at least 15,625 men. With two divisions, it easily exceeded 31,000 men. Even if it was only a portion, if it was called the main force, it meant a minimum of 6,000 to 7,000 men per division.

Simply put, even if the soldiers scattered throughout Hamgil Province and Pyeongan Province were gathered and mobilized immediately, three days was an absolutely impossible timeframe.

‘This would be unreasonable even for the South Korean military in the 21st century! Unless preparations are made in advance… ’

Having thought that far, Hyang looked at Choi Yoon-deok.

“Crown Prince, why are you looking at the Chief of Staff like that?”

Sejong, who noticed Hyang’s gaze, immediately questioned him. Hyang promptly answered Sejong’s question.

“I was surprised by the fact that the main forces can cross the Amnok andTumen Rivers in just three days.”

At Hyang’s remark, Choi Yoon-deok responded with a slight smile.

“We were fortunate.”

“Pardon?”

As Hyang did not fully understand, Choi Yoon-deok provided a more detailed explanation.

“Originally, every spring famine season, Pyeongan Province and Hamgil Province deploy their soldiers forward in anticipation of Jurchen invasions.”

“I remember. I received a report and approved it last February.”

Sejong interjected, pretending to know, at Choi Yoon-deok’s explanation. Choi Yoon-deok immediately continued.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. And after the beginning of spring, as the number of Jurchens surrendering from the Odoli tribe increased, we were paying attention to the unsettled atmosphere within the Odoli tribe when this incident occurred.”

“I see. It was a situation befitting the saying, ‘In times of peace, prepare for war.’ The general’s contribution is truly immense.”

“The credit goes to the General Staff Headquarters. It is the result of continuous research in anticipation of such times.”

Seeing Choi Yoon-deok attributing the credit to the General Staff Headquarters, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘Is this the limit of praising virtue?’

Although Hyang had brought about many changes in the military aspect, they were mainly focused on equipment and small-scale tactics.

Large-scale strategies and tactics were the responsibility of the General Staff Headquarters. And this was where Sejong’s choice shone.

As Sejong unfolded the framework of the General Staff Headquarters, the generals who had gained experience in the battlefield spread their wings.

This was an area where Hyang had limitations.

* * *

The next day, a communication officer from the General Staff Headquarters urgently sought out Choi Yoon-deok.

“Urgent news from the north.”

“Let me see!”

Choi Yoon-deok snatched the paper and examined its contents before sighing.

“Haa~.”

“General, what’s the matter?”

As the nearby commanders hurriedly approached and questioned him, Choi Yoon-deok handed over the paper.

“The identities of those responsible for this incident have been confirmed. Manchu and Mentemu.”

“Ah…”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s words, the commanders all expressed relief. Representing their sentiments, Choi Yoon-deok muttered.

“Fortunately, there’s no need for complicated schemes…”

Choi Yoon-deok retrieved the paper and rose from his seat.

“I must go to Geunjeongjeon! Contact the units in Pyeongan Province and Hamgil Province and tell them to cross the river as soon as possible! For an incident of this scale, the tribes must have emptied their hideouts! We must capture them before they escape our grasp and before Ming finds out!”

“Yes, sir!”

After issuing orders to the commanders, Choi Yoon-deok mounted his horse and immediately rode to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

* * *

Once the identities of those responsible for the incident were confirmed, all information was swiftly delivered to Hanseong.

The Jurchen scouts dispatched by Joseon quickly tracked the traces of Mentemu and Manchu.

The scouts who discovered the traces immediately rushed to the nearby Joseon military camps and garrisons to relay the information. And the garrisons and camps that received the information sent it to Hanseong using the light communication devices.

It took time for the Jurchen scouts to reach the garrisons and camps, but after that, it took only about 2 si-jin (4 hours) for the information to be delivered to Hanseong.

Based on this information, not only the General Staff Headquarters but also Sejong and the ministers could receive updates on where Manchu and Mentemu were moving almost in real-time—according to the communication speed of that time.

Observing the discussions between the General Staff Headquarters, Sejong, and the ministers, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘Didn’t Teacher Samcheonpo say that Joseon’s attitude toward the Jurchens during this period was almost paranoid? That’s a fitting statement.’

In the case of invasions by the Japanese, only the term “Waegu” had a designated number code, but for the Jurchens, over 100 codes were assigned for all the large and small tribes combined.

* * *

Note 1: Reading Joseon through Wars. Compiled by the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies. Geulhanggari.

Chapter 263
Battle (2)

While the fierce pursuit and search for the traces of Manchu and Mentemu were underway, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Maeng-gyun boarded a ship to Shandong.

“At full speed! We must reach Beijing as quickly as possible by any means necessary!”

“Yes! You bastards! Hurry up!”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s shout, Captain Han Song-ro answered loudly and urged the crew.

The ship Lee Maeng-gyun was on was the largest and fastest among the ships operated by private merchant groups.

* * *

Among the naval warships, the only ship faster than the others, excluding the Challenger-class and Haeung-class, was the Kwaiseon (fast ship). However, this Kwaiseon had a capacity of only around 10 people.

Therefore, the delegation led by Lee Maeng-gyun rented a ship from a private merchant group and headed towards Ming.

The ship built with the capital of private merchant groups was weaker than the Panokseon but faster.

This was similar to the history before Hyang’s intervention. After the late Joseon period, when water transportation was entrusted to private merchant groups and even construction rights were handed over, the evaluation of the ships that emerged was similar.

Based on these reports, the navy even came up with a plan to create new warships using these ships as a foundation.

Many people were interested, but the reason it was abandoned was that the ships built by merchant groups were designed primarily for cargo transportation, so to convert them for combat use, they had to be completely dismantled and rebuilt from scratch, which was deemed economically unfeasible.

And not long after, a monster that was incomparable to even the private merchant ships, the “Challenger-class,” emerged.

* * *

“We must reach Shandong as quickly as possible and head to Beijing! Whose ship is the fastest?”

At the words of the official from the court, the captains and shipowners gathered at the pier all pointed to one person.

“Han’s is the fastest!”

“Who is it?”

Han Song-ro, who was chosen in this way, had to reluctantly take the court officials on board.

“I will pay any amount for the cost! We need to get to the Joseon Consul in Shandong as quickly as possible!”

“For that, we need additional skilled sailors and a navigator.”

“Don’t worry about the cost and recruit them immediately!”

At the official’s words, Han Song-ro persuaded other captains and shipowners to borrow sailors and navigators familiar with seafaring. Of course, the court paid the costs right on the spot.

“Do you prefer a promissory note or cash?”

When the official asked, those who were suddenly burdened with the task answered in unison.

“Cash, of course!”

* * *

“How long will it take to reach Shandong if we move as quickly as possible?”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s question, Han Song-ro looked up at the sky and promptly replied.

“If a favorable wind blows, we can reach there in seven days, but now is the time for headwinds… Even if we go as fast as possible, it will take eleven days.”

“Eleven days… It’s cutting it close. Please do your best.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, the captain answered with a serious expression.

Han Song-ro, who had stepped back to command the crew, sought out the navigator.

“Hey, Mr. Chu. Don’t you think something has happened in the court?”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors? They say there’s trouble in the north.”

At the navigator’s answer, Han Song-ro cursed under his breath.

“Damn it! If we’re really late, our heads will roll. We’ll have to give up on sleeping comfortably until we reach Shandong!”

* * *

As Lee Maeng-gyun couldn’t hide his impatience, a subordinate official beside him asked.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to use the Challenger or Haeung instead?”

At his subordinate’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun glared at him with a fierce expression and growled.

“Have you not considered the time it would take to bring the ships from the East Sea to Jemulpo? And if a country that is struggling due to the Jurchens shows up on a ship loaded with cannons, what do you think Ming will think?”

“Ah… My thoughts were short-sighted. I apologize.”

“If you’re sorry, don’t do things you’ll be sorry for!”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s reprimand, the subordinate official had to retreat, turning pale.

* * *

While Lee Maeng-gyun urged his subordinate officials and headed toward Shandong, the General Staff Headquarters, the Ministry of National Defense, and the court were busily moving.

“The entire Huligai tribe led by Manchu is on the move! Direction is northeast!”

“Mentemu’s tribe is also moving! Direction is north!”

The reports from the Jurchen scouts sent to locate the two tribes were delivered to the General Staff Headquarters in Hanseong as quickly as possible.

However, as the distance grew and the time for the information to arrive became longer, Sejong made a decision.

“The General Staff Headquarters shall move to Hamheung!”

“We obey your command!”

Sejong’s order was a welcome development for the General Staff Headquarters as well.

* * *

In principle, the command of the military should be the responsibility of the commander at the front lines.

Even when several units were combined as they were now, it was natural to appoint a commander-in-chief and delegate authority to him.

This was the same in Joseon.

When the incident first occurred, the General Staff Headquarters recommended Lee Suk-mo as the commander-in-chief, and Sejong approved it.

It was a decision without any particular issues, as he had consistently built his career in the military after passing the military service examination.

The problem arose as more detailed information about the movements of Manchu and Mentemu came in.

‘Most of the tribes led by Manchu and Mentemu have left their residences!’

The court was in an uproar over the urgent news.

The reason for the court’s uproar was the size of the Huligai tribe led by Manchu.

The size of the tribe governed by Manchu was approximately 10,000 households.

In the case of Joseon, based on average life expectancy and various other conditions, the average number of family members constituting one household was 4 to 5 people.

However, for the Jurchens, it was at least 7 to 8 people.

Based on this, the population of Manchu’s tribe was at least 70,000 to 80,000.

Of course, not all of these many people were directly ruled by Manchu, and there were numerous tribes and tribal chiefs under him.

According to the investigations conducted so far, the average size of a Jurchen tribe was about 150 households with a population of around 1,000.

The problem was that about half of those 1,000 people were soldiers.

In that case, the number of troops Manchu could mobilize if he was determined could exceed 30,000.

* * *

“The fate of Joseon in the future depends on this battle! We must pour all of Joseon’s capabilities into it!”

Upon receiving the report, Sejong decided on a total war.

And there was no minister who opposed this decision. They were well aware of the severity of the situation and had faith in the elite Joseon army they had nurtured.

Having decided on a total war, Sejong moved the General Staff Headquarters to Hamheung.

And in less than half a day, Sejong made another additional decision.

“I will also go to Hamheung!”

“That must not happen!”

As soon as Sejong’s words were spoken, all the ministers began to oppose.

“Absolutely not! If Your Majesty goes to a dangerous place and encounters an unexpected situation, the ancestral shrine and the state will be in danger!”

The ministers had only one reason for their opposition.

‘If the king goes up and dies or gets injured, the country will be turned upside down!’

Despite the fierce opposition from the ministers, Sejong did not back down either.

“What is the reason Manchu and Mentemu are acting so brazenly? It’s because they look down on me! When the Great King Taejo was alive, those who only watched their step now look down on me and the royal family! If we just stand by with our hands behind our backs, such brazen individuals will continue to emerge! I must personally move and let those Jurchens know whose blood I and the royal family have inherited! I will not accept any opposition!”

At Sejong’s resolute stance, the ministers had to close their mouths.

‘That family’s temperament… ’

Sejong, who had silenced the ministers, turned to Hyang.

“The Crown Prince shall remain in Hanseong and act on behalf of state affairs!”

“I will also go with you!”

Although Hyang requested to go together, Sejong rejected his request.

“The Crown Prince has things to do here in Hanseong. While we achieve great things in the north, it is your job to ensure that the supply lines are not cut off. With your usual talents, you will do well. Right?”

“…I will do my best.”

Hyang, who reluctantly bowed his head and answered, grumbled inwardly.

‘I said I would go together because I knew this would happen… Well, this is the principle, so there’s no helping it.’

Quickly giving up, Hyang grumbled about another issue.

‘But even if many things have changed due to my intervention, isn’t this too much? You should also consider the future test-takers, Father!’

Sejong’s subsequent movements were literally like lightning.

“The day after tomorrow, at sunrise, we depart! Make sure all preparations are completed by then!”

Following Sejong’s order, all personnel at the General Staff Headquarters had to work through the night to pack their belongings.

On the morning of the day he set out for his hometown, Sejong, wearing the plate armor made by Hyang, ordered the ministers who had come to see him off.

“Assist the Crown Prince and ensure that there is not the slightest deviation in the administration of state affairs.”

“We obey your command!”

“The Crown Prince will not disappoint this father, will he?”

“Such a thing will never happen!”

“I trust you!”

Lightly patting Hyang’s shoulder, Sejong mounted his horse.

As Sejong passed through Gwanghwamun, the people of Hanseong who had come out upon hearing the rumors all bowed deeply and shouted.

“Achieve great things!”

“We pray for your good fortune!”

Hyang, who had accompanied Sejong to Heunginjimun (currently named as Dongdaemun), turned his body and looked at the ministers.

“Now! Shouldn’t we go and do our work? If we are lazy, the soldiers at the front will starve or have to fight with bare hands. I believe you all know very well what Father will do if such a thing happens.”

“Yes!”

At Hyang’s threat, the ministers hurriedly returned to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

* * *

Sejong and the General Staff Headquarters, who had left Hanseong, moved northward at the fastest possible speed.

“It’s definitely good to have paved roads!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

Thanks to the well-paved roads to Wonsan, the speed of movement was much faster than before.

Even while moving, information continued to pour in from the front lines, and the collected information was processed through meetings held during mealtimes or before bed.

“Based on the direction of Manchu and Mentemu’s advance, where do you think their destination is?”

At Sejong’s question, thrown while filling his stomach with dried rations and dried meat, Choi Yoon-deok examined the map and pointed to a place.

“It will be north of Udige. Probably in the Samseong region near the Mudan River[1].”

“Samseong…”

Sejong, who had been examining the map, looked at Choi Yoon-deok.

“Are they thinking of establishing a country?”

“If it’s the Samseong region, it’s far from both Ming and Joseon, and with the scale of the forces Manchu commands and the amount of plundered wealth, they will think it’s possible.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been silent for a moment at Choi Yoon-deok’s answer, soon issued an order.

“Deliver my command not only to the surrendered Jurchen areas but also to all the tribes of the wild Jurchens. ‘The descendants of the Great King Taejo are about to punish the traitors, so mobilize your forces and join us.'”

At Sejong’s order, Choi Yoon-deok expressed difficulty.

“Delivering the message is not difficult, but will they really follow Your Majesty’s command?”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s question, Sejong answered with a cold smile.

“Wouldn’t it be good to distinguish between friend and foe this time?”

“Ah… I see.”

Choi Yoon-deok, who had grasped Sejong’s intentions, broke out in a cold sweat.

‘How many moves ahead is Your Majesty thinking?’

Meanwhile, Sejong, who had reviewed the report summarizing the situation, continued to check the next agenda item.

“How are the units selected from the armies of Gyeonggi Province and Chungcheong Province doing?”

“Yes, they have finished organizing and are currently moving to Wonsan.”

“Has the navy prepared the warships?”

“Yes. The Challenger-class and Haeung-class warships are on standby in Wonsan to transport the spearmen and artillerymen who need to be moved first due to the issue of movement speed. According to the calculations of the General Staff, it is estimated that about five round trips will be sufficient to transport the initially required numbers.”

“Have they prepared the carts to load their equipment onto the warships?”

“Preparations are progressing steadily. By the time the troops being transported from Wonsan arrive in Onsong, the carts will also be fully prepared.”

“Manchu and Mentemu will be in for a real shock.”

At Sejong’s words, Choi Yoon-deok nodded. Watching Choi Yoon-deok’s face, Sejong turned his head and looked to the south.

“I thought the Crown Prince was just being stubborn about the carts, but we’re benefiting from it this time.”

1. a river in Heilongjiang province in China[↩]

Chapter 264
Battle (3)

Sejong, who had been recalling the debate over the carts and the Crown Prince’s stubbornness, once again discussed with Choi Yoon-deok over the map.

“Do you think Manchu or Mentemu expected us to move this quickly?”

At Sejong’s question, Choi Yoon-deok promptly replied.

“They probably did not expect it, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Choi Yoon-deok’s words were partly true and partly false.

Manchu and Mentemu had also heard rumors that Joseon’s communication system had become much faster than before.

Therefore, they had begun moving their tribes northward while simultaneously attacking the Jurchen and Joseon villages near the border.

However, what they did not anticipate was that Joseon’s communication system had not just become “much” faster but “extremely” faster, that the Joseon army had deployed troops in advance to the north in preparation for possible Jurchen invasions during the spring famine season, and lastly, that the Joseon army’s movement speed was very fast.

* * *

Choi Yoon-deok did not forget to point out the problems as well.

“Thanks to the communication system developed by the Crown Prince, we were able to find out quickly, but the regret is also great.”

“Regret? What is it?”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s remark, Sejong asked with gleaming eyes.

“Once we leave Joseon’s territory, we cannot use light communication. The problem is not the presence or absence of communication facilities, but the inability to use pre-determined communication codes, which is the biggest cause.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong nodded at Choi Yoon-deok’s point.

* * *

Although Joseon’s communication system had become very fast, it was only a partial success.

For situations that could be anticipated in advance, such as diseases or foreign invasions, the numerical codes developed by Hyang could be used to deliver information quickly.

Regarding the Jurchens, over 100 codes were assigned. However, most of those codes were assigned to the large and small tribes under Manchu and Mentemu and the regions where they resided.

Therefore, the moment Manchu and Mentemu left their dwellings, nearly 70% of the codes assigned to the Jurchens became useless.

Another important issue was the selection of which words to encode.

There were countless military and administrative terms.

If all those terms were coded, in a situation where urgent communication was needed, one would end up flipping through the codebook until the situation was over.

Therefore, the selected terms were only those with the highest risk, such as diseases, natural disasters like floods, and the invasions and scale of the Jurchens or Japanese pirates.

As a result, for a large portion, most of the communication had to rely on the traditional method—dispatch riders.

* * *

Choi Yoon-deok, who had pointed out this part, concluded with a face full of regret.

“The light communication network is very useful not only for administration but also for military purposes, but in the current situation, it is like a lame duck. We need to resolve this issue. However, to do so, we would have to convert all those numerous terms into codes, which would make it completely unusable, so it is only full of regret.”

“Where do you think that problem started, General?”

At Sejong’s question, Choi Yoon-deok promptly answered.

“It’s because of the writing system, Your Majesty. Chinese characters are ideograms, so we can immediately understand their meaning by looking at them, but we have to assign separate codes for each character.”

“I see…”

Sejong, who had been nodding his head, slyly brought up a topic.

“I noticed that the Westerners use a phonetic writing system. What do you think about that?”

“A phonetic writing system… Ah! I met the Westerners in Area 51 regarding the telescope issue, and are you referring to the writing system they use?”

“Yes, they write the sounds they speak as they are.”

“Hmm…”

At Sejong’s words, Choi Yoon-deok fell into thought. After a brief moment of contemplation, Choi Yoon-deok promptly replied.

“Since the number of pronunciations people use in conversation is almost fixed, a phonetic writing system seems suitable. However, looking at their sentences, it seemed like it would take a lot of time to learn. It would take a long time to become accustomed to using it. In that case, it would be better not to use it in the military.”

“That seems to be correct.”

With that conversation, the meal ended, and as soon as the seats were cleared, Sejong and the members of the General Staff mounted their horses again.

While riding on horseback, Sejong muttered softly.

“It should be easy to learn and easy to use. And if the military supports it…”

* * *

It took six days to reach Hamheung from Hanseong.

This was a new record. It only took six days despite detouring through Wonsan.

‘It’s almost a 1,000-ri (approx. 400 km) distance, and it took only six days… Even if they only moved on horseback… ’

Sejong, who had been making various calculations, lowered his head.

Looking at the well-paved roads, Sejong turned his head and gazed to the south.

“I am seeing the Crown Prince’s virtue again.”

Sejong, who had been smiling slightly while recalling Hyang’s insistence on properly refining the roads throughout Joseon, turned to Choi Yoon-deok.

“How have the Jurchens who have defected from Manchu and Mentemu been dealt with?”

“Yes. We have mobilized the cavalry from the reserve units of Hwanghae Province and Gangwon Province. They say they will arrive within the next two days.”

“Is that so…”

Sejong nodded at Choi Yoon-deok’s answer.

* * *

As soon as it was determined that Manchu and Mentemu were the perpetrators of the attack, the units that had departed from Pyeongan Province and Hamgil Province immediately dispatched cavalry to the locations of the two tribes.

The task given to the cavalry was simple.

‘Beat them as much as they hit us! And tie their feet when those who caused trouble return!’

When the ordered cavalry arrived, what they saw were empty headquarters.

Upon confirming that the tribes under Manchu and Mentemu had left their bases, the Joseon army cavalry immediately began pursuit.

Not long after the pursuit, the Joseon army cavalry encountered Jurchens holding white flags. Seeing the Joseon army cavalry, the Jurchens desperately waved the white flags and shouted.

“We surrender!”

“Huh?”

“All troops, halt! Halt!”

The Joseon cavalry, who were about to charge while gripping their spears, had to hurriedly stop their horses.

The Joseon cavalry completely disarmed the surrendered Jurchens and immediately sent a report to Hanseong.

The General Staff Headquarters in Hanseong had immediately dispatched the cavalry belonging to the armies of Hwanghae Province and Gangwon Province, who were in charge of defending Hamgil Province and Pyeongan Province as reserve units, to the north.

* * *

“Hmm…”

As Sejong nodded at Choi Yoon-deok’s report, a group of officials entered his sight.

“Who are they?”

“It’s Governor Hwang Hui.”

“I see.”

The officials waiting, led by Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo wearing cheonlyeok (heavenly wings) and jeonlip (battle helmet), all saluted in unison with discipline.

[TL/N: Cheonlyeok and Jeonlip is a type of battle armor]

“Chung!”

“Huh? Oh? You’ve worked hard…”

Sejong, who had answered with a bewildered expression, dismounted from his horse and walked towards Hwang Hui.

“The officials are truly disciplined.”

“After working in Hamgil Province for a long time…”

“Is that so?”

“Most of them have been with me since the beginning of the Dongbuk-myeon development.”

“Is that so?”

Sejong looked at the officials with a newfound expression.

The posture of the officials, who had fixed their gaze on him, exuded not the aura of civil officials but that of military officers, particularly veteran generals who had experienced numerous battles.

Seeing such officials, Sejong turned his head to look at Choi Yoon-deok and muttered softly.

“That explains it…”

In Choi Yoon-deok’s eyes as he looked at the officials, there was an undeniable ambition.

“Let’s go in.”

As Sejong turned his body and entered the Hamheung government office, the officials and the personnel of the General Staff also began to follow him inside.

Choi Yoon-deok quickly approached Hwang Hui.

“Excuse me, Governor Hwang…”

“Absolutely not. However, I will assist only in the areas where they are knowledgeable about this region.”

“Tsk…”

Choi Yoon-deok had to smack his lips at Hwang Hui’s attitude of cutting him off before he could even speak.

* * *

That evening, numerous Jurchen tribal chiefs flocked to the temporary royal palace established in the Hamheung government office.

Upon receiving the report, Sejong asked a military officer.

“I already met the surrendered Jurchen tribal chiefs during the day, so who are they?”

“They are the tribal chiefs from the wild Jurchen regions.”

“Really? Let’s meet them.”

Sejong rose from his seat and went outside.

“His Majesty the King has arrived!”

The Jurchen tribal chiefs, who had been huddled together in the front yard of the Dongheon (Eastern Annex), immediately knelt on the ground when Sejong appeared.

“We pay our respects to the King!”

“Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King for ten thousand years!”

Seeing the tribal chiefs chanting “Long live the King” according to the etiquette, Sejong spoke in a calm voice.

“Where are you from and who are you?”

“We are the Udige clan!”

“Udige? You have indeed come from a far place. Have you seen the letter I sent?”

“Yes! We have brought our soldiers in accordance with Your Majesty’s command!”

“I am truly grateful! Although it is wartime, this is not a matter that can be overlooked. Attendants! I will hold a simple banquet, so prepare for it!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

And so, on the first day of Sejong’s arrival in Hamheung, a meeting between Sejong and the chiefs of the Udige tribe took place.

* * *

The next day, the chiefs of the Udige tribe who had met Sejong left Hamheung with their subordinates and headed north.

It was to join the Joseon army that was advancing ahead.

“Ten thousand cavalry… It’s reassuring.”

At Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui immediately responded.

“It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s virtue.”

“It is not my virtue but the prestige of the Great King Taejo.”

Sejong evaluated coldly.

That was because the words unanimously spoken by the Jurchen tribal chiefs at the previous night’s banquet implied such.

-The discipline of the soldiers reminds us of the time when the Great Elder was here!

In the end, the reason they heeded Sejong’s command was not because they feared Sejong but because of the shadow of Yi Seong-gye.

In any case, with 2,000 reinforcements from the surrendered Jurchens and 10,000 cavalry from the Udige tribe, the Joseon army’s strength was greatly enhanced.

After assessing the situation, Sejong looked at Choi Yoon-deok.

“Now, all that remains is to choose a suitable location and eliminate Manchu and Mentemu.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Meanwhile, as Sejong properly settled in Hamheung, communication with the front lines became even more active.

On the third day after Sejong’s arrival in Hamheung, a communication officer entered the conference room.

“Urgent news from the Pyeongan Province army! They have caught up with the moving Manchu tribe! They report that they will now commence the crushing operation!”

“Finally!”

As soon as they heard the urgent news, the conference room was filled with murderous intent.

After a persistent pursuit, they had finally caught up with the fleeing Huligai tribe of Manchu.

Not long after, more detailed information arrived.

“The location where the Pyeongan Province army caught up is here, Maeha-gu. It is approximately 180 ri (about 72 km) from the Pazhu River.”

“I don’t understand how they could have only gotten that far since the time they started the incident. It’s incomprehensible.”

At Sejong’s question, Choi Yoon-deok promptly answered.

“Although some have remained and surrendered, nearly 10,000 households are on the move, so it cannot be fast. Moreover, they are likely to be the rearguard.”

Sejong nodded at Choi Yoon-deok’s explanation.

“I see. In that case, the burden on the Pyeongan Province army will also be reduced. They can defeat them individually.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. If they are careful about ambushes and traps, they can easily defeat them individually. And General Lee Soon-mong, who commands the Pyeongan army, is a cautious man, so he will handle it well.”

Sejong, who had been nodding at Choi Yoon-deok’s words, continued with the next question.

“Then, have the movements of Manchu and Mentemu, who caused this incident, been found?”

“Yes. They are currently in the Daedun region, continuing to move northward.”

“Their speed is also slow?”

“Yes, it seems to be due to the issue of moving the plundered goods and waiting for their own tribes.”

Sejong, who had been examining the map while listening to Choi Yoon-deok’s explanation, looked at Choi Yoon-deok.

“Can our army block their path?”

“It is fully possible. We have already determined a place to meet them.”

“Where is it?”

Choi Yoon-deok pointed to a spot on the map with his finger.

“Right here, Gilim.”

Chapter 265
Battle (4)

As the battlefield to confront Manchu and Mentemu was chosen, the temporary palace in Hamheung bustled with activity.

Among those who were busy, the busiest were those involved in supply issues.

In the meeting regarding supplies, the officials under Hwang Hui were literally “flying” around.

“The most urgent matter is the supply for the Pyeongan Province army, which has caught up with Manchu’s tribe.”

When a young military officer from the General Staff pointed out the issue, everyone gathered in the meeting room nodded their heads.

At least during this period, there were no commanders in the Joseon army who took logistics and supplies lightly.

* * *

As the main weapons of the Joseon army shifted from cold weapons such as spears and swords to firearms using gunpowder, the importance of supplies was increasingly emphasized.

Therefore, those who excelled in administrative abilities among the military service examination passers were immediately sent to the supply division.

This was also an opportunity for rapid promotion for the successful candidates.

As a result, with a large influx of those who had avoided the fiercely competitive civil service examination and applied for the military service examination entering the supply division, the Joseon army’s supply system began to establish a sound system at a fast pace.

Of course, it was natural that Hyang’s various interventions were involved in this process.

“The most reliable route of advance on the battlefield is a road paved with steel!”

Not only Choi Yoon-deok but all the commanders nodded at Hyang’s exclamation.

In particular, Choi Hae-san, the son of Choi Mu-seon and the Joseon army’s top artillery expert, nodded so vigorously that one might worry his neck would fall off.

* * *

With no objections, the military officer who stepped forward as the speaker continued, pointing at the map with a pointer.

“Therefore, the supply for the Pyeongan Province army will first be transported to Uiju. Next, it will be transported to a suitable point using the Amnok River, and then supplied by land. Two locations have been nominated for this secondary supply base: one is Chosanjin, and the other is Manpojin. The advantages of the two locations are…”

[TL/N: Both locations are located in modern North Korea]

“Wait a moment.”

As the military officer was explaining with a confident voice, an official from Hamgil Province interrupted him.

“Speed is crucial for supplies as well. But you’re suggesting sending them to Uiju and then back up the Amnok River? It’s a waste of time. How about this method?”

The official picked up another pointer and tapped various spots on the map.

“First, we gather the supplies sent from Hanseong and the south in Wonsan. Then, we transport them to Hamheung using sea and land routes. From there, we connect supply lines from Hamheung to Manpojin and Hyesanjin. Manpojin sends supplies and reserve troops to the Pyeongan Province army, while Hyesanjin sends them to the Hamgil Province army heading towards Gilim.”

“It certainly shortens the distance.”

At Sejong’s assessment after listening to the explanation, the official bowed his head.

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

With Sejong’s favorable evaluation, another military officer from the General Staff objected.

“The route is shorter, but the problem is that it passes through the Kaema Plateau[1]. The Kaema Plateau is the most treacherous terrain, teeming with all sorts of ferocious beasts. Your Majesty, tiger attacks occur even in Hanseong, which is full of people. However, it is unacceptable to traverse the Kaema Plateau, which is filled with not only tigers but also bears, leopards, and wolves! The soldiers will quickly become exhausted from being on guard against the beasts!”

The officer’s objection was reasonable.

* * *

Joseon, a country with many mountains, was also known as the “land of ferocious beasts.”

Joseon villages were often surrounded by mountains.

The mountains near the villages had become almost bare due to the trees being cut down for firewood or building materials, but just beyond the village boundaries, there were numerous mountains filled with trees.

And in these mountains, there were plenty of ferocious beasts such as tigers, leopards, bears, and wolves.

What was even worse was that these mountains were connected in a series, forming mountain ranges throughout the Korean Peninsula.

Therefore, in such terrain, a fierce struggle between humans and ferocious beasts continued.

“For half of the year, tigers chase people, and for the other half, people chase tigers.”

“During the day, people catch tigers, and at night, tigers catch people.”

These sayings were not jokes in Joseon.

And among the notorious places in Joseon, the most notorious was the Kaema Plateau.

* * *

Although all the military officers from the General Staff objected, the officials from Hamgil Province smiled and responded.

“We can guarantee the safety of the transportation routes in the Kaema Plateau. At least for Joseon people.”

“Pardon?”

“Huh?”

When not only the commanders of the General Staff but also Sejong expressed doubts, Hwang Hui stepped forward and answered.

“Your Majesty, do you remember the skins of ferocious beasts that were presented to you starting from the second year of the Dongbuk-myeon development?”

“I remember. The quantity was quite substantial.”

“That’s not even half of what these fellows caught.”

“What?”

At Hwang Hui’s explanation, Sejong looked at the officials with surprised eyes.

Hwang Hui explained the reason in detail.

* * *

As the Dongbuk-myeon development began, the officials suffered from overwork. The area to be handled was vast, and there were not enough people.

As a result, all the officials had to become masters of horsemanship, and while dealing with the troublesome Jurchens, they became masters of marksmanship and archery.

In a situation with a heavy workload and a shortage of personnel, the shortest possible routes had to be taken to increase efficiency.

The problem was the Kaema Plateau.

To pass through the treacherous terrain teeming with ferocious beasts, military escort was essential, but it was impossible to receive support whenever needed.

In the end, the officials took up muskets, horse guns, and bows and mounted their horses.

“Damn it! Whether we die from overwork or get bitten by beasts, it’s all the same!”

Whenever they were off duty, the officials would gather in groups and roam the Kaema Plateau, hunting down the ferocious beasts.

As a result, the beasts living in the Kaema Plateau began to suffer. And the officials’ marksmanship and archery skills improved by leaps and bounds.

At first, they had to hit a tiger with more than ten bullets to kill it, but in less than a year, they developed the skills to sever a tiger’s lifeline with a single shot.

* * *

“…So, we collected the skins of the ferocious beasts in good condition among those we caught and presented them to Your Majesty.”

At Hwang Hui’s explanation, not only Sejong but also the military officers from the General Staff could only gape.

“Oh my… Well then…”

Even Sejong was stammering with an embarrassed expression when Choi Yoon-deok, who had come to his senses, asked Hwang Hui.

“Then, have the ferocious beasts in the Kaema Plateau gone extinct?”

At Choi Yoon-deok’s question, Hwang Hui shook his head.

“That’s not the case. It’s just that these beasts, as if they have some sense of thought, immediately flee when they sense the presence of Joseon people. What’s funny is that it’s not the case for the Jurchens. That’s why I said it’s limited to Joseon people.”

“Can the Governor confidently guarantee the safety of that transportation route?”

“As long as they don’t fall behind the main force, they don’t need to worry about attacks from ferocious beasts.”

At Hwang Hui’s answer, Sejong began to weigh various possibilities.

‘Hwang Hui does not make false claims. In that case… ’

Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Since speed is important, set the route to pass through the Kaema Plateau!”

“We obey your command!”

At the decision of the supreme commander, everyone answered in unison.

* * *

While such a decision was being made in Hamheung, the first battle between the Joseon army and Manchu’s Jurchens was about to begin at a place 15 ri (about 6 km) northeast of Maeha-gu.

“Khan! It’s the Joseon army!”

Tribal chief Agudai, who had briefly dismounted to take a rest, shook his head in disbelief at the warrior’s shout.

“The Joseon army can’t possibly move this quickly! Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?”

“No! Khan! It’s the Joseon army!”

“Really? The real Joseon army, not those who have attached themselves to the Joseon army?”

At Agudai’s repeated denial, the warrior shouted angrily.

“It is indeed the Joseon army! I’m telling you it’s the proper Joseon army!”

“Damn it!”

Cursing, Agudai mounted his horse and asked the warrior.

“Where?”

“To the southwest!”

“Let’s go!”

At the warrior’s answer, Agudai rode his horse and climbed a nearby hill.

“Over there!”

Agudai turned his head in the direction the warrior was pointing and involuntarily cursed.

“Damn it…”

Far in the distance, a huge cloud of dust was rising. The glinting between the dust clouds was definitely the gleaming of blades.

‘Beile said we would encounter the Joseon army only after we joined forces! But they’re already in pursuit!’

Pondering the unexpected situation, Agudai hurriedly turned his horse’s head and galloped towards his tribe.

“It’s too late! Now, the only thing left is to fight!”

Agudai, who had rushed to the tribesmen moving with large and small carts loaded with all sorts of household goods, shouted loudly.

“The Joseon bastards are chasing us! Everyone, come out!”

Having given orders to the tribesmen, Agudai commanded the warrior beside him.

“Blow the horn! Tell the scouts to return!”

“Yes, Khan!”

The warrior who received the order hurriedly blew the horn trumpet.

Puu-woo~. Puu-woo~.

As the sound of the horn trumpet spread far and wide, the warriors who had gone out scouting in the distance were seen rushing back.

From various parts of the moving procession, those who had put on armor and armed themselves emerged on horseback.

The ages of those gathered ranged from boys who had just started to grow fluffy hair to wrinkled old men.

In front of the assembled men, Agudai explained the situation.

“The Joseon army has caught up faster than expected. Now, we have only one thing to do. We strike the Joseon army with all our might to tie their feet, and then we flee with all our strength to join the other tribes! Understood?”

“Yes!”

“You know well what will happen to our families if we can’t stop the Joseon army here, right?”

At Agudai’s question, the men silently nodded.

The recent rumors about the Joseon army were not to be taken lightly.

There were rumors that more than a few tribes had disappeared after crossing the Joseon border, thinking it would be easy like before.

In fact, among the tribes that Agudai’s tribe had been in contact with, there was a tribe that had disappeared in such a way.

When a battle broke out with the Jurchens, the Joseon army was even more brutal than the Jurchens.

Unlike the Jurchens, who kept some alive to enslave them, the Joseon army killed them all.

Therefore, all the men of the tribe were tense.

Just then, the warriors who had returned after hearing the horn sound joined, and Agudai gave the order.

“Intercept the Joseon army as far away as possible! Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

With a loud battle cry, a cavalry of over 1,500 began to ride their horses in the direction the Joseon army was coming from.

* * *

The Joseon army also immediately noticed that Agudai’s warriors had set out to intercept them.

“General! The Jurchen bastards are coming! Their number is about 1,500!”

“Distance?”

At Lee Soon-mong’s brief question, the scout promptly replied.

“Approximately 10 ri (4 km)!”

“Hmm…”

At the scout’s answer, Lee Soon-mong made a quick calculation.

Based on his experience, they would not charge at full speed from that distance.

Among the armor worn by the Jurchens, the properly made ones weighed about 30 geun (18 kg).

Usually, they wore lighter leather armor, but even the leather armor weighed 20 geun (about 12 kg).

“About 1 gak (approximately 15 minutes)?”

Having estimated the time it would take for the Jurchens to arrive, Lee Soon-mong immediately issued an order.

“Prepare for battle! Formation is a straight line! Arrange as previously trained!”

“Yes, sir!”

As soon as Lee Soon-mong’s order was given, the messengers ran in all directions.

After a moment, with various shouts erupting from all around, the Joseon army began to form their formation.

The Joseon army quickly started to build their formation.

The cavalry lined up in three rows at the very front, followed by the spearmen and swordsmen, then the musketeers, and behind them, the artillerymen took their positions.

Finally, the command post where Lee Soon-mong was located and the reserve unit composed of musketeers took their positions and looked forward.

It took about 10 minutes for the 15,000 soldiers to complete the formation. Lee Soon-mong was very satisfied with the speed at which the soldiers formed the formation.

“The training we’ve done so far is paying off!”

“Indeed, sir.”

The staff officers accompanying him also had the same expression at Lee Soon-mong’s assessment.

The Joseon army, which had transformed its constitution through the reformation, was worthy of being called elite.

Moreover, they had benefited from being fully armed and expecting battle since catching up with the rearguard of the Huligai tribe.

Having confirmed the completion of the formation, Lee Soon-mong issued an order.

“I’ll say it again, their main objective will be to tie our feet. Therefore, they will probably target the cavalry. That’s why I placed the cavalry at the very front. As soon as the Jurchens enter firing range, the cavalry will immediately fire one volley and move to the left and right of the formation. Did you convey it properly?”

“Yes, sir!”

Satisfied with the staff officers’ answer, Lee Soon-mong mounted his horse.

“Then, let’s have a proper fight.”

“Yes, sir!”

1. The Kaema Plateau is a highland in North Korea. It is surrounded by the Rangrim Mountains, the Macheollyeong Mountains and the Bujeollyeong Mountains.[↩]

Chapter 266
Battle (5)

And not long after, the Jurchen cavalry appeared in the distance.

“Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!”

Following the orders of the commanders, the soldiers prepared for battle, calming their trembling breaths.

* * *

“Ah, damn it…”

Sundol, dressed in full armor as a spearman, cursed while rotating his right arm.

“What are you doing?”

At the question of the senior soldier standing next to him, Sundol answered with an embarrassed face.

“The tattoo area is itchy.”

“That’s why I told you to get it done properly at a good place, even if it costs a bit more. You tried to save a few coins and now you’re in trouble.”

“Tsk…”

Sundol could only smack his lips with a perplexed face at the senior soldier’s reprimand.

At that time, Joseon soldiers would get their personal information such as name, date of birth, and hometown tattooed on their bodies before going to war. It was a kind of identification tag.

This tradition, known as “Bubyeong Jaja (赴兵刺字),” was prohibited when Hyang created identification tags, but many soldiers still followed the tradition and got tattoos on their bodies.

“Who’s chatting in this situation!”

At the shout of a nearby officer, Sundol and the senior soldier quickly shut their mouths and looked forward.

The sound of horse cries began to be heard in the distance.

“Kneel down! Spears!”

At the commander’s order, the spearmen knelt on one knee and rested their spears on their right shoulders.

* * *

While the soldiers at the front were bracing themselves, the command post, located on a slightly elevated hill at the very rear of the Joseon military’s formation, was observing the situation with monoculars.

“The enemy has entered a distance of 170 jang (about 510 m)! Shall we fire the cannons?”

“Fire.”

At Lee Soon-mong’s command, the staff issued the order, and the signal bearer frantically waved the signal flag.

The artillery captains, who had been looking only at the command post from the very rear of the formation, shouted in unison.

“Fire! Fire!”

“Fire!”

At the commanders’ orders, the artillerymen pulled the fuses in unison.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, the waiting cannons spewed fire simultaneously. As the recoil from the firing caused the gun carriages to stagger backward, the waiting artillerymen pushed the gun carriages forward again and started reloading.

“Use one less round of fuse on the ignition tube!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the artillery captain’s order, the artillerymen wrapped fuses around the ignition tubes.

‘Already telling us to reduce by one round?’

Some had such doubts, but an order was an order, and the artillerymen silently followed the command.

Boom!

“Argh!”

Neigh!

The cannons that flew like this inflicted injuries on the front line of the approaching Jurchen. Although the wounds were very shallow, Agutai and the warriors took the situation seriously.

‘Is that the rumored Joseon military’s fire bullet?’

Boom!

Another simultaneous explosion occurred, and this time, it left slightly deeper wounds.

Seeing the situation, Agutai sent hand signals and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Charge at full speed!”

Neigh!

Thud thud thud!

“Aaaah!”

As soon as Agutai’s order was given, all the warriors simultaneously kicked their horses’ sides. With a loud cry, the horses began to gallop forward roughly.

As thousands of horses charged at full speed simultaneously, the ground began to shake.

Before he knew it, Agutai, who had ridden right behind the lead, diligently calculated the possibilities.

‘Those damn cannons can’t easily adjust the range! Although we had to charge at full speed from a farther distance than expected, this much distance is fine!’

* * *

As the Jurchen charged at full speed, Lee Soon-mong gave a satisfied smile.

“They’ve fallen for it.”

Charging at full speed required tremendous stamina. No matter how renowned they were as the strongest under the heavens, if they wore armor and held spears and swords and charged at full speed, they couldn’t even go 30 jang (about 90 m) before panting and unable to run properly.

The same was true for horses. Carrying a load of nearly 140 geun (about 80 kg) to 150 geun (90 kg) on their backs and charging at full speed was a serious overexertion. For cavalry to deliver a proper impact, it was common to start charging at full speed between 100 jang (about 300 m) and 150 jang (450 m). If it was shorter than that, they couldn’t reach their proper speed, and if it was farther, the horses would get tired and slow down.

Therefore, Lee Soon-mong had used the cannons to force the Jurchen to expend their stamina.

Of course, the distance of 10 to 20 jang (30-60 m) might seem short, but on the battlefield, that short distance could determine victory or defeat, life or death.

“Tell the cavalry to prepare! Fire when they enter 100 jang (about 300 m)!”

“Yes, sir!”

The staff officer who received the order urgently rode his horse forward.

* * *

Boom!!!!

“Aaaargh!”

“Damn it!!!”

Hearing the screams of the warriors, Agutai gritted his teeth and spurred his horse.

Those damn Joseon military’s fire bullets were exploding in the air.

Whenever the fire bullets exploded in the air, warriors and horses rolled on the ground together with terrible screams. In such a situation, instant death was a blessing. It was certain that even if one survived that situation, it wouldn’t be truly living.

“Ride!”

“Ride with all your might, even if it kills you!”

Seeing the deaths of their comrades who had been like brothers, the warriors with bloodshot eyes gritted their teeth and kicked their horses’ sides.

The sight of the Joseon military’s cavalry lined up in a row entered the eyes of the Jurchen warriors riding with rough breaths as if they were about to die at any moment.

Seeing the Joseon military’s cavalry quietly stopping and waiting, Agutai and the warriors grinned bitterly.

“Stupid fools! How can cavalry just stand there! Do they only believe in those measly cannons? Anyway! The match is decided! We win!”

Agutai pulled out the bow he had hung on the saddle, held it up, and leaned on the saddle as he nocked an arrow.

Shooting a bow from a running horse was a basic skill of Jurchen warriors. The Joseon bastards also performed similar tricks, but they couldn’t keep up with them.

Thinking similarly, the Jurchen warriors in the second and third rows simultaneously drew their bows. If the second and third rows provide cover with arrows, the lead warriors will charge at the enemy. It was a tactic that had been honed for generations since their ancestors, and it always worked well.

“Just a little more, and the arrows will reach! We’ll pay them back several times over!”

Just as he was pulling the bowstring with force and looking at the Joseon military, the Joseon cavalry formation was suddenly enveloped in smoke. And a thunderous roar followed.

Ratatata!

Swish! Swish!

“Kaaaargh!”

With sounds several times sharper than the sound of arrows flying, the warriors riding at the lead fell to the ground one after another.

“Don’t stop! Ride!”

“Uaaaaah!”

However, the Jurchen warriors rode their horses, shouting battle cries that sounded like screams.

– Cavalry dies if they stop.

It was knowledge ingrained in their bodies through a long history of conflict.

Having crossed another line of death like that, the Joseon military’s formation clearly entered the eyes of Agutai and the Jurchen warriors.

The Joseon cavalry that had been blocking the very front were splitting and moving to the left and right, and the infantry holding spears had formed a formation in the center that had become empty, waiting for them.

‘A head-on collision won’t do! The moment we’re blocked by that wall and stop, we’ll be attacked from all sides! We have to bite and cling to the cavalry!’

Agutai, who had taken the lead before he knew it, waved his arms to send hand signals. At Agutai’s hand signals, the Jurchen warriors split into two groups and began to chase the Joseon cavalry moving to the sides.

Seeing that sight, Lee Soon-mong shouted, gripping the command baton.

“They’ve fallen for it!”

* * *

The moment the Jurchen warriors split to the left and right, exposing their flanks, the commanders of the musketeer units, who had been waiting in a horizontal formation about 5 jang (15 m) away from the spearmen’s formation, shouted in unison.

“Fire!”

“Fire!”

At the commanders’ orders, the musketeers in the first row pulled their triggers simultaneously.

Ratatata!

With a thunderous gunshot, the muskets spewed fire, and the soldiers in the first row passed the empty guns back and received new guns from behind, preparing to fire.

“Fire!”

Ratatata!

Having fired again, the soldiers in the first row passed the empty guns once more and received loaded guns.

The tactic that Hyang had devised and the frontline commanders had refined was finally making its debut.

“The limitation of muzzle-loading rifles is that it takes too long to reload…”

Knowing the problem of muzzle-loading rifles, Hyang found the answer in his 21st-century memory.

It was a tactic born in the European armies of the linear infantry era.

To overcome the limitations of muzzle-loading rifles, the first thing European commanders thought of was to rotate the soldiers like a waterwheel.

When the first row of soldiers lined up in three or four rows horizontally fired, they would immediately retreat backward, and the next row would come forward and fire.

However, this method required high-level training, and the short engagement distance of the smoothbore musket era meant that if the enemy took advantage of that momentary gap and charged, there was no answer.

As time passed and the rifled musket era arrived, another change in tactics occurred, which was the same as what the Joseon military was doing now.

The people stayed in place, and the guns rotated like a conveyor belt. The soldiers in the second to third or fourth rows would load gunpowder, load bullets, and pour priming powder like machines, and the soldiers in the first row would continuously fire the guns passed to them.

However, the problem with this method was that it only shone when there was a facility that could protect the soldiers in the first row.

A typical example was the “Fredericksburg Killing Machine Battle” during the American Civil War.

When the Union Army, which had looted Fredericksburg, attacked the Confederate Army positioned behind the city, the Confederate Army relied on a stone wall for defense. Unfortunately, due to the fog that occurred at the time of the battle, the Union artillery could not provide support fire, and only the Union infantry had to charge.

And in the battle that unfolded like this, the Confederate Army, relying on the defensive structure of the stone wall, maximized efficiency through gun rotation, and the Union Army had to retreat after suffering enormous casualties.

The Confederate Army suffered about 5,000 casualties. It was a defeat that caused a staggering 12,000 casualties for the Union Army.

* * *

However, the Joseon military had human barricades in the form of spearmen and swordsmen armed with full-body armor.

As long as the Jurchen were not armed with firearms, these spearmen and swordsmen were certain to become a sturdy barricade.

Moreover, the spearmen provided another advantage to the musketeers. It prevented the musketeers’ shots from concentrating on a single target.

As long as the spearmen were in front, aiming was simple for the musketeers.

‘Just aim and shoot between the spear on your left and the spear on your right in front of your eyes.’

Thanks to hearing it until it was ingrained in their ears, the musketeers almost mechanically aimed only between the spears.

* * *

Although casualties continued to occur due to the musketeers’ firing, Agutai and the Jurchen warriors were persistent.

“If we just catch the cavalry! If we just catch the cavalry, victory is ours! Even if the infantry is armed with cannons, they’re slow as snails! If we catch the cavalry, we can turn the tide at any time!”

The Jurchen warriors were tenaciously chasing the Joseon cavalry, gritting their teeth with persistence.

As the Jurchen warriors chased the Joseon cavalry while bleeding, the Joseon cavalry turned around in front of them.

“Finally!”

As the Joseon cavalry turned around and charged with spears in hand, Agutai and the warriors drew their curved swords and rushed head-on.

* * *

The head-on collision between Agutai’s warriors and the Joseon cavalry ended in a complete victory for the Joseon cavalry.

As the horses carrying the Jurchen grew tired and their feet slowed down, the reactions of the Jurchen warriors became delayed.

And once again, the Joseon cavalry’s sturdy full-body armor and six-barreled horse guns shone.

And the Jurchen tribe led by Agutai ceased to exist.

After completing the operation, Lee Soon-mong called the commander.

“Good work. Take a rest here today and resume the pursuit tomorrow. Keep in mind that there are still many Jurchen tribes to deal with.”

“Yes, General.”

The nightmare of the Huligai tribe was not over.

Chapter 267
Battle (6)

Starting with the annihilation of the Agutai tribe, the Pyeongan Army began to erase the Huligai tribes led by Manchu one by one.

“Phew… I can’t even do this anymore.”

Lee Soon-mong let out a long sigh as he looked at the miserable scene with smoke rising from all directions.

Starting with the Agutai tribe, the Pyeongan Army persistently caught up with the Huligai tribe and erased the lagging tribes one by one.

As a result of catching up with and dealing with the Jurchen tribes at one- or two-day intervals, the number of Jurchen tribes that had disappeared under Lee Soon-mong’s command now exceeded seven.

And now, the soldiers under Lee Soon-mong were under severe mental pressure.

“Annihilation is easier said than done. Severing lives as precious as one’s own is not an easy task…”

Lee Soon-mong was unable to continue speaking as he looked at the gruesome scene with no Jurchen survivors at all.

“The problem is that the size of the Jurchen tribes we encounter is getting bigger and bigger.”

At the staff officer’s words, Lee Sun-ji nodded with a heavy expression.

Starting with the case of the Agutai tribe, the first Jurchen tribe they encountered was small in size.

Compared to the military strength under Lee Soon-mong’s command, there was an overwhelming difference in military power of 5:1 on average, so they were able to suppress them easily in the initial stages.

However, as they approached the center of the Huligai tribe, the difference in military power had narrowed to 3:1. As the difference in military power decreased, the consumption of gunpowder began to soar.

Managing this gunpowder consumption was another burden.

Just then, if the supply unit that had traversed the Gaema Plateau had not provided supplies, Lee Soon-mong’s pursuit would have been thwarted halfway.

However, as supplies continued steadily, Lee Soon-mong was able to take a breather. As gunpowder and food were supplied, and from the second round, reserve troops filled the vacancies left by casualties, the situation became somewhat more manageable.

However, the problem was that even those who had joined like that were gradually showing their limits due to the continuous slaughter.

“General! Supplies have arrived!”

“Really?”

Lee Soon-mong, who had been looking at the battlefield, turned his head with a delighted face.

* * *

“The scale is larger than expected. Could they be reinforcements?”

The cloud of dust raised by the supply unit was even larger than before.

“Come quickly.”

“I’m glad you’re safe, General!”

At Lee Soon-mong’s warm welcome, the supply unit commander saluted and answered.

After a brief return salute, Lee Soon-mong asked what he was curious about.

“The supply unit’s size is larger than expected. Did support troops come along?”

“Yes!”

After a moment, the supply unit commander introduced someone.

“This is General Hong Sa-seok, who commands the support unit.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“It is an honor to meet someone who has gained fame for eradicating the Jurchen.”

After exchanging brief greetings, Lee Soon-mong and Hong Sa-seok immediately got to the point.

“How many troops have come?”

“5,000 drafted from Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces.”

Upon receiving the report on the number of support troops, Lee Soon-mong’s expression brightened considerably.

“5,000… This will definitely give us some breathing room!”

“Here is the royal command issued by His Majesty.”

At the mention of ‘royal command,’ Lee Soon-mong immediately knelt on the ground and bowed toward the south.

Following the traditional etiquette, Lee Soon-mong received Sejong’s written order and opened it on the spot, tearing off the seal.

After reading the entire content of the written order, Lee Soon-mong let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. ‘Stop the annihilation of the Jurchen tribes and focus solely on pursuit.’ Indeed, the burden was growing as the size of the Jurchen tribes increased, so this is fortunate. However, in this case, who will deal with those Huligai tribes?”

“The Wudihe tribe will handle it.”

“Wudihe?”

“Yes. As you may have received the information, 10,000 Jurchen cavalry centered around the Wudihe tribe have joined our Joseon military. They will press the Huligai tribe and drive them toward Gilim.”

“Hmm…”

At Hong Sa-seok’s explanation, Lee Soon-mong stroked his dusty beard.

“Is the plan to force Manchu and Mentemu to head toward Gilim with no other choice?”

“Yes. We are making it so that they have no choice.”

“If I were Manchu, I could consider breaking through the 10,000 and finding another route.”

“Our mobile strike units are also doing their part.”

“Ah…”

Only after Hong Sa-seok mentioned the mobile strike units could Lee Soon-mong nod his head.

The mobile strike units, consisting of 1,500 to 2,000 troops, were units composed solely of cavalry and artillery. And their combat power was considered incomparable.

In fact, they had been proving their worth by maintaining an undefeated record since their establishment.

And all three of those mobile strike units were mobilized for this operation.

Observing the unfolding situation, Lee Soon-mong muttered softly.

“If I were Manchu or Mentemu, the current situation would be truly terrifying.”

“They will have no choice but to bet on a desperate move for a miraculous turnaround.”

Nodding at Hong Sa-seok’s words, Lee Soon-mong summarized the situation.

“Then our task is to conserve our strength while pursuing them from behind? And if Manchu tries to use us as a breakthrough point, we block that attempt?”

“That’s right.”

At Hong Sa-seok’s answer, Lee Soon-mong sighed.

“Phew~. It won’t be an easy task. It will be quite dangerous.”

“That’s why I brought my subordinates. As they are units that were stationed in Gyeongsang and Jeolla Provinces in preparation for the Japanese pirates, they have a knack for cannons. We have also brought fire wagons.”

“Even fire wagons!”

Lee Soon-mong’s face brightened in an instant. Lee Soon-mong looked north with a satisfied smile.

“I’d like to see the faces of Manchu and Mentemu for once.”

* * *

“Damn it! It’s terrible!”

As Lee Soon-mong predicted, Manchu, who had assessed the current situation, was grinding his teeth and exploding with anger.

“There are at least 20,000 troops holding out in front, and 10,000 troops are chasing from behind! What do you think we should do?”

At Manchu’s question, Mentemu looked at the map and asked back.

“What would be good? Should we turn our troops back and deal with the 10,000 first?”

“Nonsense! The moment we turn our horses’ heads, those 20,000 Joseon troops in front will charge at us to devour us! If we try to move to the side, the Wudihe bastards and the Joseon cavalry will grab our ankles and cling to us, and the 30,000 Joseon troops will devour us!”

In this frustrating situation, Manchu beat his chest and exploded with anger.

* * *

Manchu and Mentemu’s plans began to go awry because the Joseon military’s response was far faster than they had anticipated.

As a result, the tribes that had started late and were at the rear were defeated one by one.

To prevent the sacrifice of the tribes, Manchu stopped the movement and began to gather the tribes together.

While the scattered tribes gathering together prevented them from being defeated individually, they could not stop the Joseon military from overtaking them.

It was because the Wudihe mongrels and the Joseon cavalry thoroughly blocked their sight.

No, it wasn’t just blocking their sight, but fixing their route to Gilim.

“How will we escape this trap!”

Despite Manchu’s condemnation, Mentemu, who had been examining the map, answered in a calm voice.

“Although it’s a trap, it could also be a desperate move for a miraculous turnaround.”

“What do you mean by that…”

Mentemu, who had interrupted Manchu’s words, pointed at the map with his finger and explained the situation.

“Look at the Joseon military’s forces.”

“10,000 behind, 20,000 in front. Indeed, it’s a large force. However, to put it another way, this means that these are all the forces Joseon can mobilize in the north right now. In other words, if we break through them, Joseon will need a lot of time to chase us.”

“Huh?”

At Mentemu’s explanation, Manchu examined the map with shining eyes.

Even though Manchu only cared about Ming, he had been continuously gathering basic information about Joseon.

Although it wasn’t the most up-to-date information, according to the information obtained that way, the current Joseon military was not the same as when Yi Seong-gye was alive.

Of course, there were reports of them being strengthened again recently, but the Joseon military had weakened.

“Hmm…”

Manchu examined the map with shining eyes.

The 30,000 Joseon troops blocking the way in front and behind were, as far as he knew, the entirety of the forces Joseon had deployed in the north.

If, as Mentemu said, they could get rid of the 20,000 in front of their eyes, it was certain that Joseon would be unable to exert strength for the time being. With that time, they could regain their strength in the north, sweep away the damn Wudihe mongrels, and grow in size.

“I see what you mean. Then we need to gather as many troops as possible.”

“Cavalry is important, but infantry is also crucial. Using only cavalry is not cost-effective in shattering the infantry formation, right?”

“Indeed. So how many troops can Odoli send?”

“2,000, including infantry.”

“That’s heartbreaking.”

Manchu, who had slightly sneered, called his subordinate.

“Tell the tribal chiefs to gather!”

“Yes, Buyeo!”

After a while, all the chiefs of the Huligai tribe had gathered.

The chiefs who heard the explanations of Manchu and Mentemu agreed to stake everything on a single battle.

“It’s a trap anyway! Since it has come to this, we’ll smash those Joseon bastards and make a miraculous comeback!”

* * *

Three days later, the two great armies confronted each other on the plains southwest of Gilim.

Manchu, who had been examining the Joseon military’s formation, cursed.

“They’re deployed by the book! By the book!”

The Joseon military, with their backs to the Songhwa River, had built their formation centered around a slightly elevated hill nearby.

On the left and right flanks of the main camp, the cavalry was positioned, and in the main camp, soldiers holding long spears stood at the forefront, building a defensive line.

“Where are those Wudihe mongrels…”

Manchu, who had been looking around to find the Wudihe tribe’s cavalry that had been holding them back, gnashed his teeth.

“Those damn jackals!”

The Wudihe tribe was lined up long to the north of the hill where the Joseon military was positioned.

It was a position that clearly showed their intention to attack the flanks of their allies or target the tribes in the rear if the Joseon military properly held them back.

Manchu called a nearby chief.

“Take your men and make sure those bastards can’t move properly! It will be tough, but you just need to hold out until we crush the Joseon troops!”

“Yes, Buyeo!”

The chief who received the order soon left with his warriors.

Seeing those who had left to keep the Wudihe tribe in check slowly taking their positions, Manchu turned to Mentemu.

“Begin.”

As Mentemu silently nodded, Manchu shouted.

“All troops advance!”

“Advance!”

“Advance!”

As soon as Manchu’s order was given, the large cavalry force slowly began to move forward.

And behind them, infantry holding shields and spears slowly began to march.

* * *

“They’re coming!”

“All troops! Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!”

At the commanders’ shouts, the spearmen and swordsmen at the very front swallowed their dry saliva and glared forward.

The musketeers behind them also looked forward, taking deep breaths.

Lee Suk-myo, who had been watching Manchu’s army approaching from the top of the hill, gave a brief order with an indifferent expression.

“Prepare the fire wagons.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Will the fire wagons begin, sir?”

At the staff officer’s question, Lee Suk-myo nodded briefly.

“The general’s fire cannons are a waste of iron balls, and the cannons has a short range, so the fire wagons are just right. Continuous fire is important, so have them properly prepared.”

“Understood, sir.”

And so, the fire wagons were tasked with beginning the ‘Battle of Gilim,’ which would go down in history.

After a while, a report from the staff officer came up.

“The fire wagons are ready!”

“What about the enemy?”

“They have entered the fire wagons’ range.”

“Then give the order to fire.”

“Yes, sir! Fire!”

At the staff officer’s order, the signal bearer vigorously waved the signal flag.

A moment later,

Swish!

With an ear-splitting noise, thousands of singijeon fired from the fire wagons filled the sky.

Chapter 268
Battle (7)

“Fire rockets!”

“Fire rockets!”

As thousands of rockets flew, leaving white smoke trails behind them, the Jurchen cavalry riding at the very front began to scatter to the left and right, shouting.

Fire rockets were not unfamiliar to the Huligai tribe.

The Ming military also had a similar gunpowder weapon propelled by gunpowder called “fire rocket.” The Huligai tribe, who had often seen the Ming military use fire rockets against the Northern Yuan cavalry, learned the countermeasures devised by the Northern Yuan cavalry.

Following those observed and learned countermeasures, the Jurchen cavalry quickly dispersed to the left and right.

Although they would lose the density and speed, which are the most important factors in the cavalry’s specialty of breakthrough tactics, density was a secondary issue, and speed could be sufficiently recovered at the current distance.

However, there was something the Huligai tribe did not anticipate.

The fire wagons and singijeon of the Joseon military were quite different from the fire rockets and their launching device, the swarm of arrows, which they were familiar with from the Ming military.

[TL/N: Singijeon is a type of fire arrow launcher. Click here for image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Hwacha-Shinkigeon_Style.jpg/330px-Hwacha-Shinkigeon_Style.jpg ]

* * *

“It may be cliché, but when it comes to King Munjong, the fire wagon is a must-mention, and I can’t just gloss over it, right? I’m supposed to be that fellow. And it will be quite useful for the time being.”

At the decision of Hyang, the fire wagon and the singijeon to be loaded on it were greatly improved.

The first thing Hyang touched was the singijeon. It was decided that the singijeon to be mounted on the fire wagon would be the medium singijeon, not the small singijeon.

As the capacity of the propellant increased, the singijeon fired from the fire wagon gained even faster flight speed, a range of 500 bo (about 600 m), and penetration power to pierce leather armor even at that distance.

After completing the development of the singijeon, Hyang also worked on the fire wagon.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, one could choose between two options: the arquebuses or the medium singijeon, but Hyang boldly stipulated to use only the medium singijeon.

He also modified the cart on which the rack was placed, designing it for easy attachment and detachment of the launch rack.

Therefore, when a battle occurred and 100 rounds of simultaneous fire were completed, the time to bring a new launch rack that had been placed in a safe zone and replace it could be greatly reduced.

The fire wagon developed in this way made a significant difference in power compared to the fire rockets and their mounting device, the yiwofeng arrows, used by Ming.

Ming’s infantry could fire 32 fire rockets at once using the arrows. However, Joseon’s fire wagon fired 100 rounds at once.

Ming’s fire rockets could theoretically fly 400 bo (about 480 m). However, due to the fact that they had to be carried and fired by a person, the effective range was around 200 bo (about 240 m).

However, by using the fire wagon, the Joseon military could properly utilize the theoretical maximum range.

* * *

The singijeon fired by the Joseon military flew over the heads of the Huligai cavalry.

“Huh?”

The cavalry, who had turned their eyes to follow the singijeon flying over their heads, realized that the target of the singijeon fired by the Joseon troops was not them.

“Targeting the infantry?”

Upon confirming that the target of the singijeon was the infantry, the Huligai cavalry burst into laughter without even realizing it.

“Foolish!”

The infantry had shields. Although fire rockets had the advantage of being able to fire a large number of arrows simultaneously at once, the power of a single fire rocket was not significantly stronger than that of a single arrow. It could be effective against mounted archers who could not have shields, but for infantry holding defensive shields, its power was notably weak.

“Fire rockets!”

“Raise shields!”

“Shields!”

Seeing the singijeon filling the sky and flying toward them, the infantry of the Huligai tribe raised their shields above their heads and crouched.

Swish! Thunk! Thud!

The singijeon began to stick into the shields covered with leather on the outside and copper plates around the edges. The soldiers’ eyes were filled with fear as they saw the arrowheads pierce through the wooden boards, revealing themselves with the sound of wood splintering.

“Don’t be afraid! Trust your shields!”

The soldiers, for whom this was their first battle, had to forcibly suppress their fear at the shouts of the commanders and veteran soldiers.

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

In the midst of that, some unfortunate ones screamed as singijeon pierced their shoulders, arms, or legs.

And another unexpected event unfolded for the Huligai tribe.

Bang! Boom!

“Aaaargh!”

“Ack!”

“My eyes! I can’t see!”

“My ears! My ears!”

“Aah! My arm!”

“My leg! My leg!”

In an instant, screams overflowed among the infantry of the Huligai tribe.

The singijeon that had stuck into their shields and bodies had exploded.

The screams erupted as wooden fragments created by the exploding singijeon stuck in the shields and the iron pellets inside the singijeon flew out, causing permanent damage to their vision or hearing.

Even worse off were those who had singijeon stuck in their shoulders, arms, or legs. Broken bones were a given due to the shock created by the explosion, and some even had their arms or legs severed. Those who had singijeon stuck in their shoulders or chests died instantly on the spot.

* * *

In the history of Joseon before Hyang’s intervention, Joseon had also agonized over strengthening the power of the singijeon fired from the fire wagon. As a result of that agony, they came up with the idea of creating a separate space filled with gunpowder in front of the propellant container attached to the singijeon.

The explosion of the gunpowder stored in this extra space could inflict additional damage, large or small, to the soldiers or facilities hit by the singijeon, and the singijeon that fell to the ground could explode, causing confusion in the enemy formation.

And Hyang had touched this extra space. He filled it with Deokgap-style gunpowder, which had even stronger power than black powder, along with 5-6 small iron pellets used in cannons.

As this space exploded, the iron pellets inside would scatter in all directions, inflicting additional damage.

* * *

Leaving behind their unfortunate comrades, the infantry of the Huligai tribe had to continue advancing, covering their heads with shields.

“Keep moving! If you stand still, you’ll end up like those guys!”

Although they suffered considerable losses as more than 1,000 singijeon poured down in an instant, the infantry of the Huligai tribe had no choice but to advance.

Swish! Whoosh!

“They’re coming again!”

“Run! Run! There’s no other way than running!”

As the loud flight sound was heard from the sky once more, the infantry of the Huligai tribe gritted their teeth and began to charge at full speed.

As the infantry started running, the Huligai cavalry moving ahead also had to speed up.

Their mission was to crush the enemy formation and allow the infantry to safely break through. Therefore, they had to move ahead of the infantry.

* * *

“The plan is falling into place nicely.”

On the hill where the Joseon military had set up their formation, Lee Suk-myo looked at the staff officers with a bitter smile.

– Break the enemy’s morale, make them exhaust their energy, and put our troops in an advantageous position.

This was the first thing Lee Suk-myo had thought of.

In his opinion, the greatest strengths of the Jurchen were that most of them were skilled horsemen and their brutality.

To prevent these strengths from being properly utilized, Lee Suk-myo had to thoroughly use his head from the selection of the battlefield.

Using the mobile strike units and the Wudihe cavalry, he forced Manchu and Mentemu to head toward Gilim and made them pass through the narrowest of the passages in the southwestern region of Gilim.

And in the middle of that narrow passage, he built a defensive line with spearmen, swordsmen, and musketeers, and deployed the artillerymen on both hills. And to the left and right of that, he positioned the Joseon cavalry and the Jurchen cavalry of Wudihe, making it so that Manchu and Mentemu had no choice but to choose a frontal breakthrough.

And using the long range of the singijeon mounted on the fire wagons, he had shaken the advancing warriors of the Huligai tribe.

“It will be 50 jang (about 150 m) at best…”

Seeing the warriors of the Huligai tribe charging while raising a cloud of dust, Lee Suk-myo held back the rest of his words.

An additional 50 jang or so would not be a big problem physically for the cavalry. However, for the infantry who had to take the singijeon with their bodies like that, 50 jang would be a demonic distance that gnawed at their willpower and stamina.

As the cavalry of the Huligai tribe began their charge, Lee Suk-myo immediately issued an order.

“Fire the cannons.”

“Yes, sir! Fire the cannons!”

At the staff officer’s order, the signal bearer waved the signal flag.

After a moment, the cannons that had set up formations on both hills simultaneously fired the cannons.

Boom boom boom!

As both hills were enveloped in smoke, Lee Suk-myo muttered.

“Let’s see how useful the tricks learned from the navy are. By the way…”

Lee Suk-myo smiled deeply, feeling the wind tickling his cheeks.

“The wind is very good. I like both the wind direction and the wind speed. The smoke will dissipate quickly.”

While Lee Suk-myo was enjoying the wind, about 100 explosions simultaneously spread over the heads of the charging Jurchen cavalry.

Boom boom boom!

“Aaaargh!”

Neigh!

Nearly 100 cannons exploded simultaneously above the heads of the charging Huligai cavalry.

As the cannons exploded, numerous fragments and the iron pellets inside scattered in all directions, and the Huligai cavalry and horses riding beneath them rolled on the ground, covered in blood.

* * *

The first to think of using the ignition tubes of cannons for aerial explosions was the navy.

While fighting against the Japanese pirate ships or Chinese pirate ships, the navy became dissatisfied with the cannons mounted on their warships.

“It’s over if we just hit the pirate ship. The problem is that hitting it is difficult.”

Engaging in a naval artillery battle on the waves was difficult to expect an accuracy rate above a certain level, no matter how well-trained the navy was.

The large arrows used in the general’s fire cannons, such as the general’s arrows or iron pellets, showed an accuracy rate close to wastage even with slightly rough waves. Therefore, the navy fired four slightly smaller arrows than the large arrows or filled the cannons with iron pellets and fired at the pirate ships.

At this time, young naval officers came up with a new tactic.

“Since the cannons has the best power, let’s try using it!”

So, when they used the cannons, they saw better effects than expected. And whether by chance or intentionally, the navy confirmed that the cannons that exploded in the air by wrapping less fuse had the most deadly effect, and they began to frequently use the cannons against pirate ships.

And this tactic was passed on to the army.

* * *

Boom!

Although there were slight differences depending on whether it exploded higher in the sky or at a lower altitude, whenever the cannons exploded above the heads of the Huligai cavalry, dozens to hundreds of cavalry had to roll on the ground.

“This is insane!”

The Huligai cavalry, with bloodshot eyes, kicked their horses’ sides like crazy.

Blood seeped from the horses’ sides that were kicked by the spurs, but no one had the leisure to care for them.

“We need to escape this hell!”

“We must get as close to the enemy formation as possible! If we get close, they won’t be able to do as they please either!”

“Even if we die, we must ride!”

With the quick judgment of veteran soldiers with extensive battlefield experience, the cavalry charged like madmen.

Riding alongside the warriors of the tribe, Mentemu shed tears of blood.

“We should have detoured even if it meant taking damage!”

Due to the pressure from the Wudihe tribe’s mongrels and the Joseon cavalry, Manchu and Mentemu had to head toward Gilim.

However, the problem was what came next. The place where the Joseon military had pushed them into was the narrowest of the many paths leading to Gilim.

The width of the road between the low hills rising on both sides and the connected hilly terrain was about 400 jang (about 1.2 km).

It would have been a width without any problem usually, but it was not so when tens of thousands of troops were gathered like now.

Especially now, it was a narrow space for nearly 20,000 cavalry to maneuver.

For the Joseon military, which had cannons as their main force, it was pushing the warriors of the tribe into the optimal killing ground.

“Joseon troops!”

“Joseon troops!”

“Joseon troops ahead!”

Hearing the shouts from around, Mentemu looked ahead.

In the distance, the formation of the Joseon military blocking the way with long spears could be seen.

Gauging the distance, Mentemu instinctively grabbed his bow, took out a long arrow from the quiver hanging on the right side of the saddle, and pulled the bowstring with all his might.

“Hng!”

Mentemu straightened his body, steadied his breath, and released the bowstring.

Swish! Whoosh!

Soon, the arrows shot by the Jurchen cavalry drew parabolas and fell over the heads of the Joseon troops blocking the way ahead.

Chapter 269
Battle (8)

“Stand spears! Shield from arrows!”

As soon as the commander’s order was given, the spearmen positioned at the very front of the Joseon army’s formation simultaneously pressed the upright spears tightly against their right shoulders and held them firmly.

The way they held the spears was very peculiar. The right arm, bent in an ‘L’ shape, was tightly gripping the middle part of the spear, and the left arm, raised to face level, was covering the face and gripping the upper part of the spear.

Between the soldiers who took that posture, the shouts of officers and veteran soldiers erupted.

“Keep your eyes only forward! Don’t look up at the sky trying to see the arrows and get one stuck in your eyeball!”

“How much gap between your left arm and helmet? Just enough to see outside slightly! If you’re nervous, place your left arm right under the helmet brim! Don’t hold it loosely and get your eyeball blinded by a stray arrow!”

“Trust your armor and helmet! There’s a reason they’re annoyingly heavy!”

As the shouts of the commanders and veteran soldiers echoed from all directions, the arrows shot by the Huligai cavalry began to pour down from the sky.

Clatter! Thud! Clang! Thwack!

The arrows that poured down like rain hit the upright spears and bounced off in all directions with a loud noise.

Feeling the vibration through the spear shaft, the spearmen gritted their teeth and gripped the shaft even more tightly.

The noise and vibration made by the arrows hitting the spears were eerie, but the vibration and noise made by the arrows bouncing off the helmets and armor – especially the sound of the green cotton cloth covering the outer surface of the iron armor tearing – were even more eerie.

“Aaargh! My eye!”

While blocking the arrow rain with their bodies like that, an unwanted scream erupted.

“You idiot! That’s why I told you to cover properly! Take this guy away. Fill the spot!”

Fortunately for the other spearmen, there were hardly any soldiers who were injured and had to retreat like that.

“Damn it! If I survive this battlefield, I’ll have to bow three times a day toward the East Palace! Long live the Crown Prince!”

The spearmen unconsciously nodded their heads at the veteran soldier’s shout coming from one side.

* * *

The armor worn by the commanders, cavalrymen, and spearmen of the Army was also Hyang’s creation.

Thanks to the ‘ultimate cheat of 21st-century memory,’ the production cost of plate armor became very low as press techniques were introduced.

The supply issue of the main material, steel, was resolved with the establishment of a large steel mill in Anju, and the mass production of armor accelerated.

The overall design followed Western plate armor, but one part was distinctly different.

It was the helmet.

The Western-style helmet that covered the entire head was not suitable for Joseon’s climate.

Joseon’s summers were damn hot, and winters were damn cold.

Of course, it wasn’t that Europe didn’t have summers and winters, but not as much as Joseon. Various measures could be taken by adopting European methods, but Hyang, who had the memory of military service in the 21st century, shook his head.

“Soldiers hate bothersome things at the genetic level, and you want to create more work? Not a single soldier will do it properly.”

Therefore, Hyang created a new helmet based on the cheomju[1] (簷冑, a helmet with a brim).

Overall, he increased the size of the brim, and despite having a neck guard made through plate work, he added a dream (a type of cloth) that covered the left, right, and back of the head.

Of course, he did not forget to secure protection by fixing iron plates inside the dream as padding.

The brim of the cheomju shielded from the strong sunlight in summer, and by tying the left and right dreams upward, some heat could be released.

Also, since the helmet and dream were spacious, when winter came, a hat made with cotton could be worn and carefully wrapped with the dream to protect the head from the cold.

* * *

“Damn it!”

The Huligai cavalry, who had been shooting arrows at Joseon’s spearmen, simultaneously cursed without exception.

It was because they saw with their own eyes that the arrows they had shot with all their might were not causing much damage.

A few of the Joseon spearmen standing like scarecrows fell, but their positions were soon filled. And the Joseon spearmen were steadfastly maintaining the defensive line.

Seeing the Joseon spearmen’s defensive line being firm, the Huligai cavalry glanced back.

In the midst of that damn hail of bullets from the Joseon troops, their tribal brothers kept falling but still charged forward.

Seeing that, the cavalrymen gritted their teeth and looked forward.

Retreat was not an option.

The moment they turned their horses’ heads, they would only become fodder for those damn bullets while getting tangled with the brothers charging from behind.

There was only one answer.

It was to charge with resolve to die and stick arrows in the faces of those Joseon troops, and then immediately move to the side.

Only by shaking the formation like that would the brothers following behind thoroughly avenge what they had suffered so far.

“Hiyah! Ha!”

“Let’s go!”

The cavalrymen shouted and spurred their horses.

* * *

“They’ll be within musket range soon.”

The spearmen commanders, who had been gauging the distance from the charging Huligai cavalry, shouted in unison.

“Kneel down! Spear formation!”

As soon as the commanders’ orders were given, the spearmen immediately knelt on their right knees and thrust their long spears diagonally forward, shouting.

“Formation set!”

The spearheads of the long spears held by the spearmen were aimed at the chest and head of the charging horses.

The long spears held by the spearmen were literally long spears with a length of 1 jang 5 cheok (about 4.5 m).

The front line of the Joseon army’s formation had literally turned into a wall bristling with thorns.

If the spearmen had turned into a thorny defensive wall, the musketeers were in charge of the attack.

“First row! Ready muskets! Aim!”

As soon as the spearmen, who had been blocking the view, simultaneously lowered their bodies and the view opened up, the commanders of the musketeer units shouted in unison.

Simultaneously with the commanders’ orders, the musketeers in the first row raised their muskets and aimed.

“Fire!”

Ratatata!

With a loud noise, the first row of the musketeer unit was enveloped in smoke. However, that smoke was swept away by the blowing wind.

And the musketeers, who received newly loaded muskets from their comrades behind them, aimed at the target again.

“Fire!”

Ratatata!

* * *

Under the concentrated fire of the musketeers, the leading group of the charging Huligai cavalry began to collapse.

The Huligai cavalrymen who leaped over their fallen brothers, whether they fell from their horses or collapsed on the ground with their horses, were relentlessly shot down by the following bullets.

The unceasing concentrated fire shattered the charging will of the Huligai cavalry.

Eventually, about 70 jang (about 200 m) away from the Joseon army’s formation, the Huligai cavalry split to the left and right.

The plan was to avoid the attack by splitting to the left and right while simultaneously shooting arrows.

It was a tactic ingrained like instinct in the long history of struggle that had continued through the Yao, Jin, Mongolia, and Ming.

However, the Huligai cavalry had forgotten about the presence of the Joseon cavalry positioned on the flanks.

* * *

As the Huligai cavalry, who had split to the left and right, entered firing range, the Joseon cavalry pulled out the muskets they had stuck in their saddles.

“Aim! Fire!”

Ratatata!

The hills where they were positioned were momentarily obscured by the smoke from the muskets fired by the cavalry units and then reappeared.

The cavalrymen who finished firing took out powder bags from small pouches they were carrying, tore off the bottom with their teeth, and poured the gunpowder into the gun barrel. Then, they began to shove the powder bag into the barrel with the ramrod.

The powder bag contained both gunpowder and ammunition.

The ammunition, whose size was precisely matched to maximize the effect of rifling, was difficult to load, but the powder bag made of oiled paper soaked in bean oil made it easy to load the bullet.

The Joseon cavalrymen, who finished reloading by replacing the flintlock with familiar hand movements, aimed at the Huligai cavalry and all had the same thought.

‘Come to think of it… It’s not common to fire muskets consecutively against Jurchen on horseback, right?’

Typically, after firing a musket, they would either immediately take a cavalry spear and charge, or engage in close combat with a six-barreled horse gun in one hand and a cavalry saber in the other.

Sitting in the saddle and leisurely firing muskets consecutively like this was unusual.

While the Huligai cavalry collapsed like a sand castle washed away by seawater under the gunfire from the front and flanks, the infantry who had made a death charge approached the Joseon army’s formation.

Seeing that, the spearmen commander sent a hand signal to the musketeer commander.

Confirming the hand signal, the musketeer commander shouted loudly.

“Cease fire!”

“Cease fire! Stand muskets!”

At the shouts of the commanders and lower-ranking officers, the musketeers stopped firing and stood their muskets beside them.

As the musketeers stopped firing and avoided the danger of friendly fire, the spearmen commanders ordered their subordinates.

“All rise!”

At the commanders’ orders, the spearmen rose from their positions, relying on their spears.

“Second row! Third row! Draw swords!”

At the commanders’ orders, the spearmen positioned in the second and third rows drew their swords in unison.

They were real long swords, with a length from the tip of the blade to the end of the hilt reaching up to the chest of an adult male.

* * *

Early on, when Hyang was acquiring Western books from Ming, he discovered a peculiar book among the Western books brought by the envoys.

“Why is this appearing here?”

What Hyang discovered was a longsword fencing manual published in Germany.

Even the envoys who purchased the book were unaware that it was a fencing manual. They had just done a sweeping shopping spree from a Ming merchant.

“So… Why is this fencing manual written by an unknown fencer in Ming…”

As Hyang examined the book this way and that, he found the reason on the very last page of the book.

– The swordsmanship of the Westerners is full of murderous intent, so it is not good for spiritual cultivation. Therefore, the descendants of the Sei family should neither see nor learn this fencing manual.

“So… Since they told you not to learn it, you just sold it? By the way, Sei family? Could it be Namgoong?”

Anyway, now that the fencing manual had arrived, Hyang immediately began his obsession.

Hyang, who translated the book written in medieval German into Chinese characters as much as possible, sought out a skilled swordsman. And he found a master at the closest place, who was the commander of the Royal Guard.

At Hyang’s request, the Royal Guard commander, who examined the fencing manual, gave an unexpected answer.

“If there is a sword suitable for this swordsmanship, it seems like it would be quite useful.”

“How about teaching it to the Royal Guards or the Gabsa?”

The Royal Guard commander, who pondered for a moment at Hyang’s words, soon nodded.

“It should be fine. Although there are those from long-standing military families or those who learned swordsmanship from renowned masters, not all of them are like that.”

In this way, the Royal Guard commander and Hyang joined forces to make longsword fencing into Joseon military swordsmanship.

And the result was the longsword held by the spearmen.

* * *

“Shoulder sword on the right!”

The spearmen who drew their long swords placed the swords on their right shoulders and glared forward.

“First row! Thrust!”

“Thrust!”

At the commander’s order, the spearmen in the first row simultaneously thrust their long spears forward and shouted loudly.

After confirming the state of the first row, the commander soon shouted loudly.

“Advance!”

Thud! Thud!

With the sound of heavy footsteps, the spearmen maintained their formation and narrowed the distance with the Huligai infantry charging from the front.

Watching the scene from behind, the musketeer commanders raised their voices.

“Musketeers! Bayonets!”

At the commanders’ shouts, the musketeers turned the bayonet scabbards hanging from their left hips upside down.

The connecting part of the bayonet blade inside the scabbard slid into the left hand due to gravity.

“Attach!”

At the commander’s order, the musketeers, who had pulled out the bayonets, inserted the connecting part into the protruding latch on the muzzle of the musket and twisted it.

The musketeers who had attached the bayonets to their muskets shouted loudly as they stood their muskets upright.

“Attached!” (Note 1)

With this, the musketeer unit was prepared for any potential close combat while observing the battle situation.

* * *

Note 1) For those who want to see this process in video, please watch the 1964 film “Zulu.”

1. https://colbase.nich.go.jp/media/tnm/J-14168/image/slideshow_l/J-14168_C0030997.jpg [↩]

Chapter 270
Battle (9)

While the musketeer unit was preparing for close combat, the spearmen unit was advancing step by step to confront the Huligai infantry while maintaining their formation.

As Joseon’s spearmen unit began to move, the cavalry unit of the Huligai tribe, which had retreated to the left and right, began to turn their horses’ heads to intercept the spearmen unit.

It was because as the spearmen unit advanced, a gap began to form between them and the musketeer unit behind them. And although Joseon’s spearmen unit tried their best to maintain their formation, they were gradually dispersing.

It was because if they penetrated that gap and wreak havoc, the Huligai infantry could deliver a proper strike.

“Let’s go!”

“Ha!”

As the Huligai cavalry drew their sabers and moved toward the spearmen unit, the Joseon cavalry unit firing from the hill also reacted.

The cavalry unit, who re-inserted their smoking muskets into the saddles, pulled out the cavalry spears hanging from the saddles and aimed them forward.

“Charge!”

“Uwaaa!”

As soon as the commander’s order was given, the Joseon cavalry unit, gripping their spears, rode their horses down the hill.

Their target was the Huligai tribal cavalry, who were starting to show their backs in front of their eyes.

The primary objective of the cavalry unit was to prevent those cavalry from attacking their allied spearmen unit.

No matter how thick the iron armor worn by the spearmen unit was, they couldn’t withstand horse hooves.

Those spearmen were as valuable as the cavalry unit. They were not mere consumables.

For the Joseon military, there were only three types of soldiers who wore full plate armor, excluding the commanders.

The Royal Guards who protected the king in the palace, the cavalry, and the spearmen.

Those who relied on iron armor covering their entire bodies and fought enemies with only spears and long swords, without even shields, could not be mere consumables.

The Army had selected the strongest men, painstakingly trained them in swordsmanship using long swords, and equipped them with iron armor that even arrows or blades couldn’t pierce. They were Joseon’s barricade.

They were the spearmen.

Because they were carefully selected, their numbers were not large.

The spearmen of the Hamgil Provincial Army advancing in the front and the spearmen of the Pyeongan Provincial Army coming from behind constituted the majority of the spearmen in the Joseon military.

* * *

After the spearmen unit was created by Hyang, the commanders who had confirmed its value through various training and mock battles insisted on making a large-scale – tens of thousands – spearmen unit.

“These people!”

Before Kim Jeom could explode at the opinion from the military department, Hyang stepped forward and opposed the military’s dissent.

“There are several problems, so large-scale organization is problematic.”

“Why is that?”

“Yes, why?”

When not only the military department but also Sejong expressed doubt, Hyang explained the reason.

“First, it’s a matter of cost. It’s true that the cost has become cheaper as the Anju Steel Mill supplies steel in large quantities and labor is reduced using presses. However, it’s still expensive.”

When he pointed out the cost issue, Kim Jeom nodded greatly.

However, the military department did not easily back down.

“According to the military tactics so far, all soldiers wear armor. Especially the units in charge of defense, such as the shield bearers, spearmen, and swordsmen, must wear at least chain mail. We are integrating those units and turning them into spearmen. The cost may have decreased, but it won’t increase to a problematic level.”

“Of course, it can be seen that way. However, considering the lifespan of the spearmen unit, it will cost too much.”

“The lifespan of the unit? Does the Crown Prince believe that the spearmen will soon become useless?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Why?”

“Because of arquebuses.”

After taking a brief breath, Hyang continued his explanation.

“In the case of the matchlock arquebus, it penetrates plate armor even from 100 bo (about 120 m) away. To borrow a vulgar expression circulating in the market, plate armor is penetrated in front of arquebuses ‘like the paper door of a newlywed’s room on the wedding night.'”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

“Cough!”

At Hyang’s expression, Sejong and the ministers coughed in unison.

“The historian…”

Seeing the historian already writing it down excitedly, Sejong let out a small sigh and brought up a counterargument.

“Isn’t that because the matchlock arquebus you created is superior?”

“When the matchlock arquebus appears on the battlefield, Ming will also immediately follow and make it. Although they won’t be able to match the performance of the matchlock arquebus right away, their performance will still be much better than the arquebuses currently in use. If such arquebuses are deployed in large numbers, the spearmen will become useless. My estimate is 30 years at most, 10 years at shortest.”

Kim Jeom interrupted Hyang’s words.

“Then, isn’t armor unnecessary for the cavalry as well?”

“Don’t the cavalry have horses? Of course, the cavalry will also take off their armor someday.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong, the ministers, and the commanders of the military department fell into serious contemplation.

Hyang’s explanation was too realistic to be considered an excessive speculation. They also thought that if Ming knew about the existence of the matchlock arquebus, they would surely follow and make it.

Joseon also secretly brought in good weapons used by Ming or copied and made them.

While everyone was pondering, a young commander from the military department asked Hyang.

“Then, why did the Crown Prince create the spearmen?”

“Because for those 10 to 30 years, they will definitely be worth it. Even now, if we confront the Jurchen and Japanese pirates, they will demonstrate the greatest power.”

“Ah…”

* * *

And so, the number of spearmen organized did not exceed 5,000. Of those, 4,000 were divided into two and deployed in Hamgil and Pyeongan Provinces.

And through this battle, the spearmen were clearly proving their worth.

Therefore, the cavalry stepped forward to prevent their meaningless loss.

* * *

The Joseon cavalry unit, which had gained even more speed by utilizing the acceleration obtained while descending the hill, charged into the Huligai cavalry with their spears aimed forward.

“Oh no!”

“It’s the Joseon army!”

As the Joseon cavalry unit struck, the Huligai cavalry fell into confusion and panicked.

Forgetting about the Joseon cavalry on the hill was a clear mistake.

However, the Huligai cavalry, from the commanders to the rank-and-file cavalrymen, were in a state of not being in their right minds.

Normally, the commanders of the Huligai cavalry would have deployed troops to keep the Joseon cavalry on the hill in check.

However, the bombardment using cannons and the gunfire from the musketeers and cavalry had turned their minds into a mess.

On top of that, there was the desperation to break through the Joseon troops and go north. In the end, the commanders could not come to their senses, and they ended up exposing their backs and flanks to the Joseon cavalry.

* * *

The Joseon cavalrymen who had made a full-speed charge simultaneously thrust their spears.

Skilled cavalrymen aimed at the Jurchen cavalrymen on horseback, but many cavalrymen aimed at the horses the Jurchen cavalrymen were riding.

Neigh!

The horses of the Jurchen cavalrymen, fatally wounded by the spears of the Joseon cavalry, collapsed to the ground with a pitiful scream.

The Jurchen cavalrymen who escaped from the saddle with agile movements had to desperately roll on the ground.

If they were even a little late, they would lose their lives by being hit or trampled by the hooves of the Joseon cavalry’s horses that followed.

Among the Jurchen cavalrymen who lost their horses like that, a few brave ones tried to grab and pull down the nearby Joseon cavalrymen, but they had to become skewers, pierced by the spears of the Joseon cavalry that followed.

Therefore, the Jurchen cavalrymen who lost their horses had to desperately roll their bodies for survival.

It was because they were outnumbered for such an adventure, and the Joseon cavalrymen were not easy opponents either.

The Joseon cavalrymen ignored those Jurchen cavalrymen and charged at the Jurchen cavalrymen who were still on horseback, drawing their six-barreled horse guns and cavalry sabers.

The threatening presence to the Joseon cavalry was the Jurchen cavalrymen on horseback.

The Jurchen and horses were inseparable. However, saddles were expensive items, and most Jurchen were accustomed to riding horses without saddles from a young age.

The problem was that to ride a horse without a saddle like that, they had to tightly squeeze the horse’s body with both legs.

As they lived like that during their prime growth period, the leg bones of most Jurchen men became deformed.

Therefore, Jurchen without horses had to be considered as having almost no mobility, and the Joseon cavalrymen ignored the Jurchen cavalrymen who had lost their horses.

The treatment of the unseated Jurchen cavalrymen could be done later or left to the infantry.

The ones that needed to be dealt with first were the Jurchen cavalrymen who were still on horseback.

* * *

While the Joseon cavalrymen and Huligai cavalrymen were fiercely engaging in close combat, the spearmen were also confronting the Huligai tribal infantry.

“These crazy…”

“They’re madmen…”

The spearmen at the very front, gripping their long spears, all cursed without exception.

The eyes of the Jurchen charging toward them were filled with only madness.

What was even more surprising was that most of the Jurchen charging like that were bare-chested.

With eyes full of madness, the bare-chested Jurchen were charging toward them, holding sabers or axes in their hands.

* * *

What had driven the Huligai tribal infantry into this state of confusion was the singijeon and cannons, no, the cannons.

The Huligai tribal infantry had somehow endured with armor and shields until the singijeon.

However, in front of the cannons, neither shields nor armor were of any use.

Whenever there was an explosion in the air, many brothers died or collapsed to the ground with severe injuries, covered in blood.

Watching such a tragedy, the Huligai infantry looked forward.

There were no attacks from those damn fire bullets where the cavalry was.

“Then…”

While running at full speed, the Huligai infantry threw away their shields and took off their armor.

In a situation where they had to run as fast as possible, the useless armor and shields were cumbersome items.

All they needed now were weapons to kill those Joseon bastards blocking the way ahead.

If we break through those Joseon bastards, everything will be solved!

Only this thought remained in the minds of the running Huligai infantry.

There was no thought about the next situation.

* * *

“Those damn bastards are begging to be killed! Grant their wish!”

At the commanders’ shouts, the spearmen at the very front gripped their long spears even tighter.

“First row! Thrust!”

“Yah!”

“Cha!”

As soon as the commander’s order was given, the spearmen in the first row thrust the long spears they were holding into the chests of the Jurchen and immediately withdrew them.

The simple awl-shaped spearhead aided in quick retrieval.

“Ugh!”

“Ack!”

Those stabbed in vital points collapsed to the ground with a short scream. However, the Jurchen who were stabbed while missing the vital points grabbed the spear shaft.

At that moment, the commander of the spearmen unit shouted.

“Second and third rows, advance!”

“Uwaaa!”

Through the space created between the spearmen in the first row, the spearmen in the second and third rows leaped forward, holding their long swords high.

The spearmen who leaped forward immediately cut off the necks of the Jurchen holding the spear shafts and swung their swords at the Jurchen charging behind them.

Clang! Clang!

Soon, a fierce close combat broke out with loud sounds of swords clashing from all directions.

Although they had suffered heavy losses from the singijeon and cannons bombardment during the charge, the number of Huligai infantry was about 5,000, and the Joseon spearmen they were facing numbered 2,000.

However, the situation on the battlefield was even, no, the Joseon troops were gradually gaining the upper hand.

The biggest reason was that the morale of the Huligai infantry had been greatly dampened due to the singijeon and cannons.

And by taking off their armor, the Huligai infantry’s defensive power had become non-existent.

However, as madness took the place of their broken morale, the Huligai infantry charged like crazy.

In this chaotic battle, those who had only recently become spearmen found themselves in a difficult situation.

Although they had become accustomed to swordsmanship through rigorous training and sparring until they had a foul taste in their mouths, they were constantly driven into a crisis as they encountered the overflowing murderous intent in actual combat.

In the end, to win and to survive, they drew other weapons they had prepared in advance.

The weapons they drew were sickles and axes.

Chapter 271
Battle (10)

Until they joined the military, most Joseon soldiers were farmers. To them, axes and sickles, especially sickles, were very familiar tools.

Joseon farmers could handle sickles almost like their own hands. And Joseon’s sickles – more precisely, wooden sickles – were that versatile.

Starting with cutting rice or barley during harvests, removing weeds, trimming branches, and cutting trees were the basics, and they even caught vipers or snakes that popped out of bushes.

“When encountering a snake, a noble catches it with a bow, and a commoner catches it with a sickle.”

This was the common sense of Joseon at that time.

Interestingly, those who wielded sickles and axes like this were the new recruits who had only recently become spearmen.

At least for three years or more, the veteran soldiers who had learned swordsmanship for an average of five years and experienced real combat conducted close combat with just a long sword.

Looking at the long swords of those veteran soldiers, the only thing that was the same was the length of the blade.

The specifications of the long sword issued to the spearmen were all the same.

With the progress of the training, it was 4 cheok (about 1.2 m) according to the standard Yeongjocheok (營造尺, a standard of measurement). Of that, the blade length was 3 cheok (about 90 cm), and the handle length was 1 cheok (about 30 cm).

The shape was a double-edged straight sword.

All spearmen were trained and put into real combat with long swords made in this uniform way.

And the veteran soldiers who had experienced various real combat situations and gained experience through sparring began to touch their beloved swords.

The part the veteran soldiers touched was the handle.

The first thing they touched was the guard.

Some attached heavy iron hammers to both ends of the guard, while others lengthened the guard and made it pointed. Or there were those who made both ends in the shape of small axes and even sharpened the blade.

Changing the shape of the guard like this was to win in close combat.

When holding the sword upside down and striking the enemy, this modified guard took the upper hand from the enemy.

Veterans who were not satisfied even after modifying the guard also touched the pommel.

At the end of the sword handle issued to the newly formed spearmen, there was a large round lump of iron attached.

It was to balance the sword and use it as a blunt weapon in close combat.

However, veterans who had experienced real combat made this pommel even heavier.

By intentionally moving the center of gravity to the back, they were able to handle the direction of the blade more quickly and freely with just the movement of the wrist. It was an improvement made through experience ingrained in the body without even knowing the principle of leverage.

Those who gained even more experience changed the shape of the pommel to a nail shape.

The purpose was to strike the back of the neck or back of the enemy trying to grab and knock down their body in close combat, inflicting fatal injuries.

With various decorations added to it, the swords of senior spearmen had their own unique shapes except for the blade.

* * *

The spearmen wielding these long swords, axes, and sickles engaged in close combat with the Huligai infantry.

“Die!”

To block the sickle swung down by the spearman, the Huligai infantryman instinctively raised his arm to cover his face.

“Aaargh!”

The Huligai infantryman who blocked the sickle with his arm screamed.

The sickle swung down by that Joseon soldier not only cut through the well-crafted leather armguard but also more than half of the forearm.

The terrible pain coming from the arm drained the strength from the Huligai infantryman’s body.

At that moment, the Joseon soldier’s sickle pierced this unfortunate Jurchen’s neck from the side.

Next to him, another spearman struck down the pommel with a sharpened blade toward the back of the Huligai infantryman who was trying to grab his waist and knock him down.

The Jurchen, whose chest was pierced by the awl-like sharp pommel, suddenly had difficulty breathing and couldn’t even make a sound.

Due to the sudden shortness of breath, the Jurchen began to struggle, and the spearman freed from the restraint swung his long sword at the Jurchen’s neck.

The Jurchen’s head fell to the ground like an apple falling from an apple tree by the spearman’s sword swung down like that.

* * *

Although the spearmen were blocking and engaging in a bloody battle with the infantry of the Huligai tribe, Huligai infantry who had broken through their defensive line also began to emerge.

The Huligai infantry who had climbed over or bypassed the spearmen’s wall like that began to run toward the Joseon musketeers and artillerymen who had set up a formation about 20 jang (about 60 m) away.

As the Huligai infantry charged, the musketeer commander shouted.

“Prepare for alternating fire! Advance! First row, aim! Fire!”

Ratatata!

As soon as the commander’s order was given, the musketeers in the first row simultaneously pulled their triggers. Breaking through the smoke that rose in an instant, the musketeers in the very back row stepped forward.

“Aim! Fire!”

Ratatata!

Following the commander’s orders, the musketeers moved their positions like a spinning wheel and continued advancing and firing.

The Huligai infantry, under the concentrated fire of the musketeers, faltered on the spot. No, they were collapsing as they came forward one by one, receiving gunfire.

As the musketeers made two rotations like that, the distance between the Huligai infantry and the musketeer unit narrowed to about 10 jang (about 30 m).

Gauging the distance, the musketeer commander issued another order.

“Retreat! First row, aim! Fire!”

Ratatata!

Following the commander’s order, the musketeers in the first row who pulled the triggers quickly moved to the very rear of the formation. And the musketeers in the second row, who had become the lead, raised their muskets and aimed at the Huligai infantry.

“Fire!”

And so, after the musketeer unit repeated advancing and retreating three times, there were no more Huligai infantry coming over the spearmen unit.

To be precise, the Huligai infantry had been annihilated.

Coinciding with the annihilation of the Huligai infantry, the Joseon cavalry units also began the process of finishing off the Huligai cavalry.

The Huligai cavalry desperately resisted the Joseon cavalry, but they could not withstand the six-barreled horse guns held by the Joseon cavalry.

Seeing the attempt of the Huligai warriors to break through the Joseon army’s formation being thwarted, Lee Soon-mong ordered his staff officer.

“Send a signal to the 2nd and 3rd Mobile Strike Units and the Wudihe tribes. Tell them to clean up what’s left behind.”

“Yes, General.”

After a moment, the signal bearer waved the signal flag.

As the Mobile Strike Units, confirming Lee Soon-mong’s order, moved toward the remaining tribesmen of Manchu and Mentemu, the cavalry of the Wudihe tribe also began to move.

* * *

As the cavalry of the Wudihe tribe moved in coordination with the movement of the Joseon military’s Mobile Strike Units, the cavalry of the Huligai tribe, which had been keeping the Wudihe tribe in check, had to block the Wudihe tribe’s path.

However, their morale had hit rock bottom. It was because they had clearly witnessed their main force being annihilated with their own eyes.

“Fight! If we collapse here too, our families will all become slaves!”

At the tribal chief’s blood-spitting shout, they forcibly mustered their strength and blocked the Wudihe tribe’s path, but the situation of being outnumbered by about 1:3 was unavoidable.

In the end, the last warriors of the Huligai tribe fought desperately to block the Wudihe tribe and were literally swept away.

Watching all the warriors of the tribe die, the remaining people of the Huligai tribe and the Odoli tribe desperately tried to turn their wagons and attempt to escape.

However, those targeting them clung to them tenaciously.

As a significant number of the remaining men turned into corpses, the tribespeople of the Huligai and Odoli tribes gave up everything and accepted their end.

And so, the survivors of the Odoli and Huligai who fell into the hands of the Joseon military and the Wudihe tribe numbered about 20,000. And most of them were women and children.

With the survivors of the Huligai and Odoli tribes in the middle, the Joseon cavalry and the cavalry of the Wudihe tribe surrounded them in layers.

While the survivors of the Huligai and Odoli were shedding tears of blood, thinking about their bleak future, Lee Soon-mong was discussing the distribution of the spoils with the Buyeo and chiefs of the Wudihe tribe.

“Our Joseon will take 80% of the spoils.”

“That’s a bit…”

At Lee Soon-mong’s words, the Buyeo of the Wudihe tribe had a troubled expression.

Although they played a supporting role, the sacrifices that occurred in the small-scale battles on the way to Jilin were not insignificant.

Therefore, if it were up to him, he would want to overturn the table right away, but the problem was that he couldn’t do that.

‘If we overturn the table here, we will end up like those Huligai and Odoli!’

Considering the overwhelming firepower the Joseon military had shown against the Huligai and Odoli warriors just before, it was something that should never be overturned.

Moreover, according to the report of the scouts who had gone out for reconnaissance and returned, there were nearly 20,000 Joseon troops that had come up to 20 ri away.

If they made even a small mistake, the Wudihe would also follow the fate of the Huligai and Odoli.

However, taking only a mere 20% of those many spoils was a huge loss.

As if knowing the mind of the Wudihe Buyeo, Lee Soon-mong continued.

“Ah! The spoils mentioned by our Joseon do not include the people.”

“Does that mean… you will hand over all those people to us?”

“That’s right.”

At Lee Soon-mong’s answer, the face of the Wudihe Buyeo brightened.

‘This changes things!’

Most of the survivors of the Huligai and Odoli over there were women and children. They were the most valuable beings.

With that number of heads, not only could they fulfill the number of slaves they needed, but they could also sell them to Ming or other tribes and make a tidy profit.

In the end, after a few more back-and-forth negotiations, the negotiation ended.

– Joseon takes 70% of the spoils, including warhorses, various weapons, and agricultural tools.

– The Wudihe tribe takes the survivors of the Huligai and Odoli tribes and 30% of the spoils.

After the negotiation between the two sides ended, the soldiers of the Joseon military and the Wudihe tribe began the distribution work.

Lee Soon-mong and the command post stepped aside and directed the distribution work and battlefield cleanup.

“Separate the corpses of our troops from the enemy’s corpses!”

“Wrap the corpses of our troops in blankets and load them on wagons!”

“Don’t forget to pay respects!”

The Joseon soldiers silently paid tribute to their fallen comrades and collected the corpses as carefully as possible.

However, the corpses of the Huligai and Odoli tribal warriors who killed them did not receive such treatment.

The Joseon soldiers roughly stripped the armor from the corpses, gathered the weapons separately, and loaded them onto wagons.

On one side, large pits began to be dug to dispose of the corpses of the Huligai and Odoli tribal warriors after the collection work was finished. Once those pits were completed, the corpses of the Huligai and Odoli tribal warriors would be thrown in and cremated.

Watching the soldiers busily moving around in all directions, a staff officer said to Lee Soon-mong.

“Wasn’t it too generous to hand over the prisoners to those Wudihe bastards?”

“It was the royal command issued by His Majesty. The General Staff also agreed.”

“I know that, but now that I see that number of heads, I’m saying it’s a waste. Joseon lacks everything, but isn’t the most lacking thing people?”

At the staff officer’s words, Lee Soon-mong clicked his tongue softly.

“Tsk! Did you see the eyes of those prisoners? They were brimming with venom. Do you think it will be beneficial to bring those venomous bastards to Joseon? Do you want to suffer catching bastards like Hwacheok again?”

“If we tame them moderately…”

“The best thing to do is to leave it to those who know how to properly remove the venom.”

Pointing at the Wudihe tribe with his chin, Lee Soon-mong concluded.

“By the time the eastern expedition is over and we head west again, those guys will have removed the venom on their own. That’s the best way.”

Chapter 272
Aftermath

While the pursuit was underway in the north, Lee Maeng-gyun, who had departed from Hanseong, was also preparing for a battle.

The morning before arriving in Shandong after sailing the sea at full speed, Han Song-ro informed Lee Maeng-gyun of the expected arrival time.

“We will arrive in Shandong around lunchtime tomorrow.”

“Is that so? Thank you. Then I should start preparing.”

Han Song-ro, who had informed Lee Maeng-gyun of the expected arrival date and left the cabin, tilted his head.

“Preparation? What preparation?”

Before long, Han Song-ro found out what the ‘preparation’ was.

Lee Maeng-gyun, who had been diligently eating meals without seasickness even on the rocking ship, started fasting and only drinking water.

And the officials accompanying Lee Maeng-gyun sternly warned Han Song-ro and the crew.

“Don’t forget. His Excellency has been weak in strength since boarding.”

“Pardon? Yes…”

At the official’s words, Han Song-ro and the crew had no choice but to nod their heads. They wanted to ask the reason, but the fierce gaze of the military officer standing behind the official was making them keep their mouths tightly shut.

The next day, at the scheduled time, Han Song-ro docked the ship at the Joseon consulate pier in Shandong.

“Good work…”

As Lee Maeng-gyun left the cabin with the support of young officials, he offered words of gratitude, and Han Song-ro politely answered.

“Not at all. Then, have a safe trip.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who briefly answered in a weak voice, got off the gangway with the support of the young officials.

Seeing that, Han Song-ro scratched the back of his head and muttered softly.

“It’s not like it’s some ghost play…”

* * *

Lee Maeng-gyun’s party, who arrived in Shandong, headed to Beijing using carriages. Around Lee Maeng-gyun’s party heading to Beijing, not only the Joseon military but also the Ming cavalry were moving together for escort.

Such Ming cavalry had the task of escorting Lee Maeng-gyun’s party, but they also had the task of monitoring them.

Lee Maeng-gyun’s party, who traversed about 1300 ri (about 500 km) from Shandong to Beijing in 7 days, immediately requested to have an audience with Emperor of Ming.

“A Joseon envoy has arrived? Why? There should be no reason for an envoy to come.”

Emperor, whose curiosity was piqued by the sudden arrival of the Joseon envoy, immediately granted an audience.

Lee Maeng-gyun, who came before Emperor with the support of young officials, bowed deeply.

“Jin, Lee Maeng-gyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Joseon, having an audience with Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Empire…”

Lee Maeng-gyun couldn’t even finish his words and collapsed on the floor.

“Your Excellency!”

“Your Excellency!”

The vice envoy and officials who came in with Lee Maeng-gyun ran up and lifted Lee Maeng-gyun, who had collapsed on the floor, and the Ming officials nearby were also greatly startled and in a state of confusion, Emperor, who was startled, got up from the throne and shouted.

“Doctor! Call the doctor!”

The doctor, who was hurriedly summoned to check the pulse, reported to Emperor.

“His strength has greatly weakened, and he has temporarily fainted.”

“Is that so? Then have the envoy recuperate in the guest house.”

“Yes.”

“The vice envoy shall remain for a moment and report to Us what the matter is.”

“Yes.”

After a while, the eunuchs came in, loaded Lee Maeng-gyun on a stretcher, and went out. Emperor, who was watching that, turned his head to look at the vice envoy and had an even more serious expression.

“The vice envoy’s complexion is also not very good. What on earth has happened in Joseon?”

“It is such a horrific event that it is difficult to even speak of.”

“That must be the reason you sought Us, so do not hesitate and speak.”

At the Emperor’s command, the vice envoy immediately answered.

– Manchu and Mentemu have invaded Joseon!

“Manchu and Mentemu?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm. I understand. We will also verify the facts. The vice envoy should also go and recuperate.”

“Your grace is immeasurable.”

The Emperor, who had sent the vice envoy out, turned to the Prime Minister.

“Prime Minister. Could their words be true?”

“Logically thinking, they wouldn’t lie about such a grave matter, would they?”

“That may be so, but why Manchu and Mentemu? No, above all, why has this report not reached Us? Is Liaodong, no, Manchu’s territory not close to this Beijing?”

“That is…”

The Prime Minister, who could not properly answer the Emperor’s rebuke, immediately prostrated himself.

“Please forgive our sins!”

“Please forgive our sins!”

“If you know your sins, immediately verify the situation!”

To escape Emperor’s anger, an express messenger was urgently dispatched from Beijing to Liaodong. However, that urgently dispatched messenger returned the next day.

It was because a messenger carrying an urgent report recording the incident that occurred in Liaodong came running to Beijing.

– Manchu and Mentemu have crossed the border and invaded Joseon villages!

The moment he saw the contents written on the first page of the report, the Emperor immediately closed the cover.

“It’s over.”

Meanwhile, Lee Maeng-gyun had been recuperating at the guest house.

* * *

The Emperor, who saw a senior official faint in his presence for the first time, ordered an investigation into their journey.

“He barely ate half a bowl of porridge at each meal? Using our Ming bowls?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After confirming the report, the Emperor looked at the Prime Minister with a serious expression.

“Did the chief envoy of Joseon collapse due to the calamity that has befallen Joseon? Or is it because he starved?”

“As he poured his efforts into the calamity, his body weakened, and in the end, he couldn’t eat properly, isn’t that right? If it were me, I don’t think I would be able to eat properly when my country has suffered a great disaster.”

“Hmm…”

At the Prime Minister’s words, the Emperor fell into thought, stroking his beard.

“It would be good if that were the case, but…”

‘Why do I feel like it’s because he starved?’

Koreans were also known for being big eaters. But he only ate half a bowl of porridge at each meal? It was natural for him to collapse from hunger.

The Emperor, who had been carefully considering the possibility of a conspiracy, soon reached a conclusion.

“But what can we do even if that’s the case? The justification is already on their side…”

And so, it was five days later when Lee Maeng-gyun rose from his sickbed.

* * *

After Lee Maeng-gyun returned to his position, a fierce diplomatic battle unfolded against the Emperor and the Ming court.

However, throughout the talks, Ming was being led by Joseon. Since Manchu and Mentemu had crossed Joseon’s border and caused trouble, the justification was on Joseon’s side.

Starting with the matter of the persons of Manchu and Mentemu’s families, most of the agenda resulted in the direction Joseon wanted.

However, there was a part that Ming could not easily concede, and that was regarding the territory.

“An urgent report has arrived that Joseon troops are staying on the land where the tribes of Manchu and Mentemu resided. Does Joseon intend to occupy this territory?”

At the question of the Prime Minister, who stood as Ming’s representative, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately answered.

“Ah, they are probably the ones staying to protect the supply route.”

“The supply route… Then is Joseon saying that it will not occupy their land?”

“We will withdraw from the Pazhu River basin, where the ringleader Manchu resided, as soon as the punishment is over. However, we will occupy the basin that Mentemu’s clan had taken.”

“Why is that?”

“Have you forgotten? The place where the Odoli tribe led by Mentemu was located is where our Joseon royal family originated. You haven’t forgotten the imperial decree issued by Your Majesty, have you?”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s retort, the Prime Minister shut his mouth.

When the Joseon Crown Prince first came to Beijing, the Emperor had permitted the recovery of the land where the Joseon royal family originated. The place where the Odoli tribe was located was definitely within that territory.

As expected, Joseon was gaining the upper hand on this agenda item as well.

“However, the land ruled by Mentemu belongs to our Ming’s Jianzhou Left Wing…”

“Prime Minister.”

As the Emperor, who had been listening to the conversation from behind, called the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister shut his mouth.

It seemed he knew the reason why the Emperor was calling him.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Joseon’s words are correct regarding the land ruled by Mentemu. Do not harm the goodwill between the two countries with needless stubbornness.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

By Emperor’s command, the land occupied by the Odoli tribe was officially recognized as Joseon’s.

“Listen, Joseon envoy.”

At the Emperor’s call, Lee Maeng-gyun rose from his seat and politely answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“For the sake of the goodwill between Ming and Joseon, Joseon must also abandon its greed.”

“I will engrave it in my bones and remember it.”

At the Emperor’s warning, Lee Maeng-gyun bowed his head and answered.

Lee Maeng-gyun, who had bowed his head like that, muttered inwardly.

‘For the time being… ’

* * *

As the negotiations ended and Lee Maeng-gyun’s envoy party was about to depart from the Forbidden City, a messenger from Liaodong entered the palace and reported.

– Manchu, Mentemu, and the Joseon army are getting closer and closer. It seems a battle will take place in the Jilin area.

– Considering the results of the battles so far, it is highly likely that the Joseon army will win.

Upon receiving the report, the Emperor glared at Lee Maeng-gyun.

“Listen, envoy. It seems Joseon will win, so how do you feel? From what I see, Joseon has been putting in a lot of effort, knowingly or unknowingly.”

“I and the officials of Joseon pour our efforts solely for the safety and comfort of our Joseon.”

“Is that so?”

The Emperor, who had been glaring at Lee Maeng-gyun, leaned back on the backrest of the throne and gestured.

“Return to Hanseong. The justification for this matter is with you. However, We will be watching your Joseon from now on.”

“Your grace is immeasurable.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who politely bowed, retreated backward from where the Emperor was seated.

Having left the Wenhuan Hall where the Emperor was seated, Lee Maeng-gyun let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. It will become tougher from now on.”

* * *

Around the time the Joseon army was wrapping up the final battle in Jilin, a merchant ship departed from Shandong to Jemulpo.

At the bow of the ship, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Maeng-gyun looked to the east with a face full of concern.

“I wonder if it went well?”

Seeing Lee Maeng-gyun looking to the east with a face full of concern, Han Song-ro spoke to Lord Chu, the navigator.

“Old man. I should never let my son become an official.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say before that as soon as he finishes the commoner school, you’ll send him straight to the middle school? What wind has suddenly blown?”

At Lord Chu’s question, Han Song-ro pointed to Lee Maeng-gyun and answered.

“Seeing how that man is doing, being an official isn’t an easy job either. I’d rather have him succeed me and do ship work.”

At Han Song-ro’s words, Lord Chu nodded his head.

“Indeed… When I saw him getting off the ship to go to Beijing, he could have been a con artist.”

* * *

Thanks to the favorable weather, the ship carrying the envoy party was able to return to Jemulpo in five days.

“Good work. The remaining payment will be made immediately.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, Han Song-ro bowed deeply and answered.

“Thank you. Please use our services anytime!”

At Han Song-ro’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun smiled and answered.

“It would be better for me not to ride your ship!”

“Pardon?”

“Take care!”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who bid farewell to Han Song-ro, mounted a horse that had been prepared in advance and headed to Hanseong.

“It’s an urgent matter, so move as quickly as possible! Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

As the envoy party on horseback disappeared into the distance, Han Song-ro, who had straightened his back, turned to Lord Chu.

“What did he mean just now?”

“Wasn’t the reason he rode this time because of the trouble in the north? Would such noblemen have any reason to ride our ship if there was no trouble?”

“Ah…”

Lord Chu muttered inwardly at the sight of Han Song-ro, who seemed to understand after the explanation.

‘It’s not that the captain’s son won’t become an official, but that he can’t. Where would that blood go?’

* * *

Lee Maeng-gyun’s party, who had returned to Hanseong, immediately headed to Gyeongbok Palace.

“Welcome! You must have had a long and difficult journey!”

At Hyang’s warm reception, Lee Maeng-gyun politely bowed and answered.

“Not at all. I have merely done what I had to do.”

Having answered like that, Lee Maeng-gyun gestured to the official who followed him in. At Lee Maeng-gyun’s gesture, the official handed a tray containing a thick scroll to the eunuch.

“This is Ming’s decision regarding this punitive expedition.”

“Is that so?”

Hyang, who received the scroll and unrolled it to check the contents, nodded his head.

“You have truly worked hard. I will make a copy of this and send it to Father right away.”

“How is the situation at the front?”

“The result has not arrived yet, but considering the results so far, it doesn’t seem bad.”

“Ah~. That’s a relief.”

At Hyang’s answer, Lee Maeng-gyun showed a relieved expression. Watching Lee Maeng-gyun like that, Hyang added.

“Please rest and recover for two days and attend court starting the day after tomorrow. Things are very busy now.”

“…Yes.”

A little later, Lee Maeng-gyun, who had left the Eastern Palace, looked up at the sky and muttered.

“Should I have starved on the way back too?”

Chapter 273
Hamheung Temporary Palace (1)

“Your Majesty! We have great news!”

“Has word finally arrived?”

Sejong, who had been reviewing reports sent from Hanseong, asked in delight at Choi Yoon-deokk’s exclamation.

“Yes, Your Majesty! News has arrived! It is a great victory!”

Choi Yoon-deokk handed the report sent by Yi Sun-mong to the attendant. Sejong received the scroll from the attendant and unrolled it to read the contents.

As Sejong read through the report, his expression grew brighter and brighter.

Having finished reading the entire report, Sejong leaned back and exhaled deeply.

“Whew~. We have finally alleviated the greatest concern in the north!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

“Where are their heads?”

“They are in the courtyard.”

At Choi Yoon-deokk’s words, Sejong rose from his seat and went outside.

In the inner courtyard of the Hamheung Temporary Palace, long wooden boards were laid out in a row on the ground, and dozens of severed heads were placed on top of them.

“These are the heads of the Mentemu clan, and these are the heads of the Manchu clan.”

“Mentemu’s face is quite a mess?”

“We found him dead on the battlefield.”

“Is that so?”

As Sejong examined the severed heads while listening to Choi Yoon-deokk’s explanation, he noticed something peculiar.

Many of the heads belonging to the Mentemu and other Odoli tribes were badly damaged, but the heads of the Manchu clan had fewer such injuries. In particular, Manchu’s head was in pristine condition.

‘Compared to Manchu, Mentemu’s forces were said to be extremely few… ’

Recalling the contents of the reports that had arrived before and after the war, Sejong muttered softly.

“They were driven to the front lines as arrow fodder, given their lesser stake…”

“Pardon?”

When Choi Yoon-deokk expressed confusion at Sejong’s mumbling, Sejong pointed to the heads of the Mentemu clan.

“Seeing how badly their heads are damaged, it seems most of them were in the thick of the battle.”

“According to the report, that is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Silently observing the severed heads, Sejong turned around.

“We have another reason for Joseon to grow stronger.”

“Pardon?”

“If our nation’s power is weak, we will become prey to stronger countries. If we are mediocre, we will become arrow fodder like Mentemu. Don’t you agree?”

“That is indeed the case.”

While immediately nodding in agreement with Sejong’s words, Choi Yoon-deokk felt slightly worried.

What the King had just said was the righteous path. However, even the righteous path had its limits. If all the nation’s power was poured into defense, it would no longer be the righteous path but a tyrannical one, leading to despotic rule.

As they returned to the main hall of the temporary palace, Sejong continued.

“Even if we do not need the power to coerce others, we must ensure that others cannot recklessly coerce us. Don’t you think so?”

“Your words are wise, Your Majesty!”

Choi Yoon-deokk replied loudly, feeling relieved.

“How are the preparations for the soldiers’ victory parade coming along?”

“Yes. We are preparing step by step.”

“Please ensure that everything is taken care of.”

This was the first battle where Joseon had fully exerted its military might since the conquest of Tsushima. Unlike the lukewarm conclusion of the Tsushima conquest, this campaign ended in a great victory.

Sejong intended to widely publicize this to boost the morale of the people and simultaneously warn the neighboring Jurchen tribes not to act recklessly.

“Your Majesty, here are the expenditure reports. And this is the budget for the welfare policy for those who died or were injured in this campaign and their families. Lastly, this is the war expenditure confirmed up to today.”

Receiving the reports handed over by a young official from the General Staff Office, Sejong reviewed the numbers with a serious expression.

“Are these numbers accurate?”

Sejong’s voice trembled slightly as he questioned the official. The official replied with a somewhat troubled look.

“These numbers have undergone at least three rounds of verification.”

Confirming the numbers, Sejong let out a long sigh.

“Whew~. There will be an uproar in Hanseong. The Crown Prince will have a hard time.”

Thinking of Hyang, who must be struggling in Hanseong, Sejong looked south with a gloomy face.

“Have I entrusted him with too heavy a burden?”

* * *

As Sejong worried, Hyang was engaged in fierce debates in Hanseong.

However, his opponent in these debates was always the same person.

Kim Jeom, the Minister of Finance.

As the war expenditure soared during the campaign, Hyang and Kim Jeom continued to argue, and watching their debates became a daily routine for the other ministers.

* * *

“The war expenditure is substantial.”

At Minister of Finance Kim Jeom’s words, Hyang replied with a helpless expression.

“War is a great matter, so it cannot be helped.”

Kim Jeom let out a long sigh at Hyang’s response.

“Whew~. Still, the war expenditure has exceeded our expectations. Especially the cost of gunpowder weapons.”

“Gunpowder is indeed quite expensive.”

As he answered, Hyang felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

* * *

As the focus of combat shifted from spears and swords to firearms, the consumption of gunpowder had greatly increased.

However, gunpowder was by no means a cheap commodity.

Gunpowder required large quantities of sulfur and saltpeter, which were difficult to obtain in Joseon.

To address this, Sejong and the court had to do their utmost.

In the case of sulfur, a few mines were discovered in Joseon, but their profitability was extremely poor. Therefore, only the two relatively more profitable mines were operated, and the rest had to be imported from Japan. Fortunately, the newly arrived Japanese merchants at the Waegwan were cooperative, ensuring a steady supply, but it was still an expensive commodity.

As for saltpeter, it was being supplied by operating pastures and niter beds throughout Joseon, but there was still a shortage.

The saltpeter issue was particularly serious because it was an essential component not only in the existing black powder called Gap-sik gunpowder but also in the improved brown powder called Eul-sik gunpowder, nitroglycerine (called as Pokyoo), mercury fulminate (called as Pokeun), and Deok Gap-sik gunpowder. In short, anything with the character “explosive” (爆) in its name contained saltpeter or nitric acid made from saltpeter.

Therefore, Hyang planned to send Haeung-ship to India as soon as he fulfilled his quota. There were rumors of saltpeter deposits in neighboring Ming, but like in the case of horn bows—the export of cow horns was prohibited—Ming did not like the idea of Joseon strengthening its military power.

As for sulfur, Hyang had Hokkaido in mind.

“Wasn’t there a famous sulfur hot spring in Hokkaido?”

While pondering the supply of sulfur, Hyang looked at Baekdu Mountain marked on the map.

“That place is also a volcano… There must be sulfur there…”

* * *

Kim Jeom continued to pressure Hyang over the war expenditure.

“Looking at this campaign, the amount of gunpowder consumed during the mere 20-day period is immense. We have exhausted the gunpowder ingredients accumulated over the past two years! Two years’ worth of supplies!”

“…”

Hyang and the ministers could not say anything in response to Kim Jeom’s words.

In the first year of Sejong’s reign, the Military Equipment Office submitted a memorial to Sejong.

-The current amount of saltpeter in the military arsenal is 3,316 geun (approx. 2,100 kg), but the annual consumption of saltpeter is 4,000 geun (approx. 2,400 kg). Additional production is necessary.

As the military reforms progressed, gunpowder production continued to increase, but Joseon still did not have sufficient gunpowder reserves.

* * *

“So, what does Your Excellency suggest we do?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom immediately replied.

“I believe it would be best to reduce the live-fire training conducted by the military.”

“That is not possible.”

“Your Highness!”

When Hyang immediately rejected the idea, Kim Jeom raised his voice.

However, Hyang did not back down from his decision.

“Your Excellency, have you forgotten the disgraceful behavior of the soldiers when the Gapsik Jangchong muskets were first mass-produced and distributed?”

“That is…”

Kim Jeom’s face turned troubled at Hyang’s question.

(TL/N: Note that I’m retaining the weapons original names here as mentioned in few chapters back)

* * *

Through the demonstration held in Area 51, the adoption of the Gapsik Jangchong muskets was decided, and the mass-produced muskets were supplied to the Royal Guard, the Five Military Commands, and the Gyeonggi Provincial Army.

During the first training session conducted by the Royal Guard using the newly supplied Gapsik Jangchong muskets, even the Royal Guard soldiers, considered the elite of Joseon, were startled by the loud blast of the muskets they fired and showed signs of panic.

* * *

Hyang continued to explain the reasons for his refusal.

“Soldiers handling muskets and artillery must become accustomed to the loud noise produced by their weapons to fight properly in actual combat. The same goes for the war horses they will ride. And hasn’t the effectiveness of this been proven in the recent campaign?”

“I acknowledge that, but I am merely suggesting that we reduce the number slightly.”

Hyang immediately clicked his tongue at Kim Jeom’s words.

“Tsk!”

As soon as Hyang clicked his tongue, Kim Jeom flinched.

‘Ugh! That sound of his tongue clicking!’

With a disdainful look, Hyang glared at Kim Jeom.

“You want to reduce the training where soldiers fire a mere 10 rounds each, only once a month? Do you think we can achieve the same military accomplishments as this time with such training?”

“If there is will, then…”

“If will alone can win battles, we might as well send soldiers with just a stick instead of spears and swords. Or perhaps Your Excellency alone can defeat an army of 100,000?”

“…”

Kim Jeom’s mouth immediately shut at Hyang’s sarcasm. Although Kim Jeom’s face turned bright red, he had nothing to say.

‘Ugh! If he were my grandson, I would’ve hit his legs with a stick… ’

Grinding his teeth inwardly, Kim Jeom proposed another solution.

“I understand about the muskets and artillery. However, the fire arrow rocket must be definitely retired!”

“Hasn’t it achieved results?”

“The gunpowder consumption is too high compared to its effectiveness!”

This time, it was Hyang who fell silent.

As Kim Jeom pointed out, the amount of gunpowder consumed by the fire arrow rocket was enormous. Although it had achieved some results, they paled in comparison to the amount of gunpowder used.

Kim Jeom highlighted the problems of the fire arrow rocket by comparing it to the Divine Thunder Strike cannons.

“The Divine Thunder Strike cannons also consumes a large amount of gunpowder, but its effectiveness is incomparable to the fire arrow rocket! Therefore, the fire arrow rocket must be retired!”

In the end, Hyang waved the white flag.

“It seems there are aspects to consider regarding that matter, so let’s review it.”

* * *

After handling a few more agenda items, a short break followed.

The other ministers expressed their curiosity at the sight of Kim Jeom leaving the Crown Prince’s residence while humming a light tune.

“Minister Kim, did something good happen to you?”

“Ah! I feel great after achieving my desired goal.”

“Desired goal?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers tried to recall, but there was nothing significant apart from the part where he was verbally defeated by Hyang.

After pondering for a moment, Maeng Sa-seong looked at Kim Jeom with surprised eyes.

“Could it be about the fire arrow rocket?”

“There is a saying, ‘Killing two birds with one stone.’ Hahaha!”

Laughing heartily, Kim Jeom walked away with a swagger.

Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince’s residence, Hyang scratched his head and muttered.

“I feel like I’ve been had…”

Kim Jeom, who had enjoyed a pleasant afternoon, grabbed the back of his neck upon reading the report from Hamheung.

“A victory parade? A victory parade, you say!”

* * *

“It may seem like excessive spending now, but let’s think about the future.”

As Hyang spoke, looking at Kim Jeom who seemed ready to rush to Hamheung at any moment, Kim Jeom shouted.

“Your Highness! The future, you say! If such victory parades become customary, it will be a problem!”

Maeng Sa-seong chimed in at Kim Jeom’s words.

“If wars become frequent enough for victory parades to become customary, wouldn’t that also be a problem?”

“That’s right.”

Following Maeng Sa-seong, Heo Jo spoke.

“According to the report, His Majesty has summoned all the chiefs of the nearby Jurchen tribes to this victory parade. If we show them the might of our Joseon army, would they dare to cause trouble in the future? This is the future that Your Highness speaks of.”

“You have keen insight.”

Responding to Heo Jo’s words, Hyang provided additional explanation.

“Through the victory parade, the Jurchen tribes will clearly witness the strength of our Joseon army with their own eyes. Then, they will engage in trade instead of plundering and may even submit to us. Wouldn’t that save us more money than conducting campaigns every time?”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom let out a long sigh.

“Whew~. I understand.”

Retreating, Kim Jeom inwardly ground his teeth.

‘If they don’t bring back the spoils of war properly, I’ll have them all killed!’

Chapter 274
Hamheung Temporary Palace (2)

When Ming learned that Manchu and Mentemu were engaging in a fight with Joseon, they paid close attention to the progress of the war.

The reason for Ming’s keen interest in this conflict was because of Joseon.

* * *

Although Joseon was a vassal state of Ming, it was the country that Ming had to be most wary of.

During the reign of Yi Seong-gye, Joseon exerted tremendous influence over Liaodong, and after Yi Bang-won ascended to the throne, Joseon maintained ties with Japan despite the orders of Emperor Yongle of Ming.

Moreover, although its influence was gradually waning, Joseon was the country that consistently engaged in schemes to maintain its influence over the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong.

Therefore, just as Joseon could not fully trust Ming, Ming could not fully trust Joseon either.

Due to this background, when the Japanese invasions of Korea occurred in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Ming had pondered:

-Could it be that Joseon and Japan are colluding to lure our Ming army into a trap?

In the end, realizing that it was not a trap but a genuine attack, Ming belatedly sent reinforcements.

* * *

Every day, dozens of messengers moved from Beijing to Liaodong and from Liaodong to Ming.

While the Ming soldiers stationed at the garrisons in the Liaodong region maintained a state of highest alert, scouts followed the Joseon army and the Jurchen tribes, monitoring the situation.

And all that they saw and heard was documented and reported to Emperor Xuande.

Upon receiving the documents, Emperor Xuande gathered the Grand Secretariat, led by the Senior Grand Secretary, and the civil and military officials to hold a meeting.

“It is said that the scale of the troops mobilized by Joseon in this conflict is around 40,000. It seems Joseon’s determination is quite significant.”

At Emperor Xuande’s words, a military official stepped forward, bowed his head, and replied.

“In my humble opinion, it appears that Joseon has exerted its full strength.”

“Oh? Why do you say so?”

“I have inquired with our merchants traveling between Shandong and Jemulpo. According to the merchants, not only the troops guarding the vicinity of Hanseong but also the soldiers guarding the southern coast have moved north, causing a commotion throughout Joseon.”

“The southern soldiers have moved north? Why?”

“To fill the positions of the soldiers who have been dispatched to pursue Manchu and Mentemu.”

“Hmm…”

Having heard the military official’s explanation, Emperor Xuande tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought.

‘It is the most plausible answer, but… ’

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Xuande turned to the Senior Grand Secretary.

“Senior Grand Secretary.”

“I am at Your Majesty’s command.”

“I heard that when I was young, Emperor Taizu had worried that Joseon might mobilize 300,000 troops to invade Ming. Is it that Joseon is struggling so much even when mobilizing a mere 40,000 troops?”

At Emperor Xuande’s question, the Senior Grand Secretary took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering.

“To my knowledge, Yi Seong-gye, who founded Joseon, had remarkable control over the Jurchen tribes. A significant portion of that 300,000 figure must have been Jurchen tribesmen.”

“Is that so?”

Emperor Xuande, who had been lost in thought again at the Senior Grand Secretary’s answer, turned to him.

“Then, should this be considered a case of internal strife?”

“I believe so, Your Majesty. All the tribes that have caused this turmoil were once loyal to Yi Seong-gye. However, after Yi Seong-gye’s death, they rebelled against Joseon.”

“That makes sense. In that case, is Joseon currently engaged in an all-out war?”

“It appears to be so.”

“An all-out war against just two tribes… Has Joseon grown that weak?”

Emperor Xuande began to ponder whether he should reassess his evaluation of Joseon.

Seeing the Emperor’s contemplation, another military official stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, it is said that the King of Joseon has personally led the campaign.”

At the official’s report, Emperor Xuande, who had been sitting in a relaxed posture, straightened his body and asked.

“The King of Joseon has personally led the campaign?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon hearing the answer, Emperor Xuande immediately burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Indeed, it is so! Indeed! It is indeed so!”

Repeatedly exclaiming, “It is indeed so!” while laughing, Emperor Xuande addressed his subjects.

“To sit idly in the palace when exerting all efforts for the royal cause that must be defended is a disgrace to a monarch! Indeed, it is so! It is said that Yi Seong-gye, who founded Joseon, was a formidable general. His blood has not gone to waste! Hahaha!”

Seeing Emperor Xuande’s overjoyed demeanor, the Senior Grand Secretary inwardly sighed.

‘His blood hasn’t gone to waste either.’

Early in Emperor Xuande’s reign, there had been an invasion by the Oirat tribe.

At that time, Emperor Xuande had personally led 3,000 cavalry and repelled the invading 10,000 Oirat tribesmen.

Emperor Xuande raised his voice with an exceptionally bright face.

“What about Emperor Taizong, Emperor Yongle? Whenever the Northern Yuan caused trouble, they personally led the campaigns! Inform those responsible for educating the Crown Prince! A monarch of a nation must take the lead on the front lines when the country faces a crisis!”

“We shall obey Your Majesty’s command!”

The officials immediately replied and bowed their heads, but the Senior Grand Secretary’s face turned pale.

‘This is dangerous! If the monarch personally leads the campaign and something goes wrong, the country will be in peril!’

The Senior Grand Secretary was about to remonstrate but hesitated for a moment.

‘However, not only Emperor Taizong of the previous dynasty but also Your Majesty have personally led campaigns and achieved victories. If I rashly advise against it in this situation, how will I bear the consequences of your anger?’

In the end, the Senior Grand Secretary decided to remain silent.

* * *

Records of the battles taking place in Liaodong continued to be sent to Beijing.

While examining these records, Emperor Xuande’s attention focused on the weapons used by the Joseon army.

“They mount fire arrows on carts and deploy them in large numbers?”

At Emperor Xuande’s question, a military official immediately stepped forward and answered.

“Yes. Our army also uses similar weapons. We assemble carts to form a wall and mount a cluster of fire arrows, then fire them toward the enemy.”

“To my knowledge, fire arrow clusters are used to suppress a large number of enemies at close range. However, it is recorded that the Joseon army used them from a long distance.”

“That is because the Joseon army lacks courage.”

“Lacks courage?”

“Yes. The power of a fire arrow ultimately does not exceed the power of a single arrow. The role of a fire arrow cluster is to suppress a large number of densely packed enemies at close range. If they shoot from such a distance, the dispersion will be too wide, greatly reducing its effectiveness.”

“Is that so…”

As he listened to the official’s explanation, Emperor Xuande made his own analysis.

‘Is it because the Joseon army is so timid that they mobilized such a large force?’

Emperor Xuande analyzed the situation based on his own experience.

The reason his 3,000 cavalry, which he had personally commanded during the Jurchen invasion that occurred shortly after his ascension to the throne, could repel the invading 10,000 Jurchen tribesmen was that the Ming cavalry was armed with arquebuses.

Against cavalry, gunpowder weapons were highly effective.

And to his knowledge, Joseon was a country that focused tremendous efforts on firearms.

If the concentrated deployment of gunpowder weapons performed properly, there would be little need to mobilize such a large army and even personally lead the campaign against just two tribes.

Even if the Manchu tribe was a large tribe with over 10,000 households and possessed more than 30,000 cavalry, if brave soldiers knew how to properly use gunpowder weapons, they could easily achieve a resounding victory.

‘Is that why the King of Joseon personally led the campaign? It makes sense.’

However, this conclusion was shattered within a few days.

According to the subsequent reports, the Joseon army steadily annihilated the Manchu tribes while pursuing them, and finally engaged in a decisive battle in Jilin.

And on the day the report arrived, the head of the official who had claimed that the Joseon army was cowardly was severed.

* * *

The Ming scouts meticulously observed the Battle of Jilin, wrote reports, and sent them to Beijing.

Upon reviewing the reports, Emperor Xuande carefully examined the military achievements.

In the process, the officials reported their analyses as meticulously and objectively as possible to avoid losing their heads.

“As expected, the power of the fire arrows is weak. The Joseon army seems to have increased the range, but considering the amount of gunpowder used in the fire arrows, the military accomplishments are too meager.”

“That is indeed the case. However, what is this explosive shell that detonates in mid-air?”

“It seems to be a weapon similar to the Thunder Crash Bomb.”

“Thunder Crash Bomb?”

When Emperor Xuande expressed his curiosity, a military official provided a detailed explanation of the Thunder Crash Bomb.

“So… it is a weapon where gunpowder is placed inside an iron shell with a fuse attached, and when thrown, it explodes and kills the enemy?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. The only difference is that the Joseon army appears to have loaded it into a cannon and fired it.”

“Loading it into a cannon and firing it… Hmm… It would fly far.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Upon hearing the official’s report, Emperor Xuande became lost in thought.

‘It flies far. That’s good. However, cannons are heavy weapons. Considering transportation and the gunpowder needed for the cannons, wouldn’t it be better to use them from a safe location?’

After further contemplation, Emperor Xuande reached a conclusion.

“It seems it would be excellent for defensive purposes.”

“We also thought the same, Your Majesty. Looking at the tactics of the Joseon army against the Jurchen or the Japanese pirates, their priority is to focus on defense. In that case, loading the Thunder Crash Bomb into a cannon and firing it or throwing it would yield the best results.”

“I see.”

Nodding his head, Emperor Xuande issued an order.

“Command the craftsmen who make cannons to create similar weapons for us as well. Have them installed in the fortresses of the Northern Yuan and Liaodong.”

“We shall obey Your Majesty’s command!”

* * *

Following the Flying Thunder, or rather, what drew the most attention from Emperor Xuande and the Ming military officials was the Gapsik Jangchong (Improved Long Gun) used by the Joseon musketeers.

“A small cannon that can be carried by one person?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t we already have those?”

“That is true, but it is said that the ones used by the Joseon army have a considerably longer range.”

“A longer range…”

Emperor Xuande stroked his chin, trailing off. As someone who had also benefited from it, Emperor Xuande’s interest was piqued.

Tapping his fingers on the desk, lost in thought, Emperor Xuande immediately issued an order.

“Add a command to the cannon craftsmen. Tell them to develop a ‘small cannon with a long range that can be operated independently by a single ordinary soldier.'”

“We shall obey Your Majesty’s command!”

Thus, the Ming Empire also began weapons development.

* * *

As befitting a great power, the Ming Empire had more cannon craftsmen than Joseon.

Thanks to that, the craftsmen who received Emperor Xuande’s orders began developing Thunder Crash Bombs that could be fired from cannons and small cannons with long ranges.

Bang!

“Aaaargh!”

“An accident!”

As a loud explosion and screams erupted, the craftsmen in the workshop rushed outside.

The craftsmen who ran to the source of the explosion and screams quickly took action.

“Extinguish the spreading fire!”

“Move the people!”

After a commotion of extinguishing the fire that had spread to the clothes of the craftsmen near the explosion site, and moving the dead and injured, the head of the workshop assessed the situation.

“Another small package?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing the answer, the head of the workshop immediately cursed.

‘A small cannon with a long range that can be operated by a single person’.

When the Ming craftsmen first received the order, they thought it would be easy.

They were already familiar with small cannons that could be operated by a single person.

However, the “long range” kept bringing death.

“How long is the long range?”

“At least 30 jang. (approx. 100m)”

“What?”

What the military wanted was an even longer distance than they had thought.

* * *

The best method they could think of was ‘adding more gunpowder’.

However, adding more gunpowder caused accidents like the current one, where the gun barrel exploded.

The reason was that they insisted on using the method of stacking gunpowder and projectiles in layers within a single gun barrel, just like the Joseon army before Hyang’s intervention.

Therefore, accidents occurred as soon as they increased the amount of gunpowder.

In the end, the head of the workshop clutched his head and cried out.

“How did those Joseon bastards do it!”

Chapter 275
How a Sparrow Catches up to a Stork (1)

As the evaluation came out stating, ‘There is a problem with the small cannons. There is no solution,’ retired craftsmen returned to the workshops.

“Welcome, Master Wang.”

“You’ve been working hard.”

When the head of the workshop warmly welcomed him with great respect, Wang Sam, who responded lightly, immediately got to the point.

“I heard there was a problem with the so-called small cannons?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Let me take a look.”

Seeing the small cannons brought by the craftsmen, Wang Sam tilted his head.

“If we only consider the size, this is not a small cannon but a fire lance, right?”

In Ming, small guns similar to the four-barreled guns used by Joseon were called fire lances. Just like the Joseon army, they were attached to long handles, hence the name ‘lance’.

In response to Wang Sam’s question, the head of the workshop immediately answered.

“The higher-ups referred to them as small cannons…”

“Do those in high positions know the types of cannons well?”

Grumbling while thinking of those lofty individuals in the Forbidden City who only gave orders, Wang Sam asked another question.

“Why was there a sudden order to create such a thing?”

In response to Wang Sam’s question, the head of the workshop spoke about the conflict between Joseon and the Jurchens that had taken place in Liaodong. After listening to the story, Wang Sam glared at the head of the workshop.

“From what I just heard, it’s clearly a fire lance, so why are they calling it a cannon?”

“I also thought the same, but since the higher-ups called it a cannon…”

“So you were going to make it like a fire lance but report it as a cannon?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk!”

Wang Sam clicked his tongue, seeming displeased. However, he could understand the head of the workshop’s sentiments.

‘If it doesn’t please them, not only his own head but also his family’s lives will be at stake… ’

Well aware of what happens when one falls out of the Emperor’s favor, Wang Sam began to solve the problem.

“Putting that aside, you said the small cannon exploded? How much gunpowder did you put in, and how did you do it?”

“One and a half liang (approximately 50g), Master Wang. As for how we put it in…”

Upon hearing the head of the workshop’s explanation, Wang Sam was astonished.

“You put one and a half liang in this small cannon? Are you crazy?”

“We heard rumors that Joseon does it that way…”

“You fool! If Joseon had done it the way you said, not a single Joseon soldier would have survived!”

“But there were such rumors…”

“Rumors are just rumors! You should have confirmed it with your own eyes! And you call yourself a workshop head!”

After severely scolding the head of the workshop, who continued to make excuses, Wang Sam continued.

“Listen carefully. The ones who learned gunpowder technology from us are Joseon. Both Joseon and we use the same gunpowder. What do you think that means?”

In response to Wang Sam’s point, the head of the workshop immediately answered.

“It means our method was wrong.”

“Exactly! As far as I know, even in Joseon, the amount of gunpowder that goes into a small cannon is around one liang, and after grinding the gunpowder, they layer it with iron pellets. If you want to do it the way you did, you should make a large cannon, not a small one!”

“I know that too! I know!”

The head of the workshop appealed to Wang Sam.

“But what the higher-ups want is a range of at least 30 zhang (approximately 100m)…”

“You fool! Then you should have found another way! Just putting in more gunpowder won’t solve it! Listen up, all of you!”

Wang Sam raised his voice, looking at the head of the workshop and the craftsmen.

“You all know very well what kind of thing gunpowder is, don’t you? You know exactly what will happen if one and a half liang of gunpowder goes into such a small thing, yet you work like this!”

“We’re sorry!”

“Enough! Tell me what you’ve thought of!”

At Wang Sam’s command, the craftsmen brought out what they had been thinking so far.

This situation was not unique to this workshop.

There were a total of three weapons workshops located in Beijing. The weapons that were made here and approved for adoption were soon replicated and spread throughout Ming. Therefore, the craftsmen had to rack their brains for the sake of their honor and future survival.

In that process, something similar to the four-barreled guns before Hyang’s intervention was created.

“It can hold 4 thin long arrows together, and 1 slightly smaller arrow can be loaded.”

At the head of the workshop’s explanation, Wang Sam added.

“Since the thin long arrows won’t reach the desired range, let’s exclude them altogether and tell the higher-ups that it’s possible with the slightly smaller arrows.”

“Yes.”

The head craftsman who made the prototype soon contacted an official and submitted the prototype.

In addition to Wang Sam’s workshop, other workshops also submitted prototypes at intervals of a few days.

Looking at the prototypes submitted by the workshops, Emperor Xuande ordered a eunuch.

“Summon the soldiers who witnessed the battles of the Joseon army in Liaodong.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A few days later, the soldiers summoned by Emperor Xuande entered the Forbidden City.

“It is an honor to be in Your Majesty’s presence! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”

The soldiers paid their respects with three cheers of “Long live!” Emperor Xuande lightly acknowledged them and ordered the eunuch.

“Bring those things.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After a while, the eunuchs entered carrying a large table. On the table covered with white silk were the prototypes made by the workshops in Beijing.

Emperor Xuande asked the soldiers.

“Did the small cannons of the Joseon army that you saw in Liaodong look like this?”

At Emperor Xuande’s question, the soldiers carefully examined the prototypes. After a long examination, one soldier spoke up.

“We, lowly soldiers, had to observe from afar, so we couldn’t see in detail, but they did not look like this, Your Majesty.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

As the other soldiers agreed, Emperor Xuande asked again with a serious expression.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. They definitely had a different shape.”

At the soldiers’ answer, Emperor Xuande made a light gesture.

“I understand. You have done well. Since you have endured hardships in a difficult place, I shall bestow rewards upon you.”

“Your grace is immeasurable! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”

After sending the soldiers out, Emperor Xuande turned to the Senior Grand Secretary.

“We will have to send an envoy to Joseon.”

The Senior Grand Secretary, immediately understanding Emperor Xuande’s words, pointed out a problem.

“Will Joseon respond properly? There is the story of Silla’s thousand-step crossbow, isn’t there?”

At the Senior Grand Secretary’s point, Emperor Xuande silently nodded.

To obtain the thousand-step crossbow, the most powerful weapon among Silla’s arsenal, Tang pressured Silla and brought the crossbow maker Gu Jincheon to Tang. Gu Jincheon, who was dragged to Tang, continued to sabotage by making various excuses.

In the end, no record of Gu Jincheon could be found anywhere after that.

Citing the historical anecdote, the Senior Grand Secretary presented a negative opinion. However, he had to remain silent at the subsequent question.

“Then, does the Senior Grand Secretary have an answer to solve this?”

“…”

Looking at the Senior Grand Secretary who fell silent, Emperor Xuande continued.

“I also don’t believe Joseon will act honestly. I would do the same if I were the King of Joseon. However, we just need to know what kind of thing they use and how they use it. We also have craftsmen and gunpowder. We won’t be fooled like with the thousand-step crossbow in the past.”

“That is indeed the case…”

While answering Emperor Xuande’s words, the Senior Grand Secretary couldn’t shake off a nagging feeling.

‘What am I missing? What have I overlooked?’

“Your Majesty.”

Among the officials listening to the conversation between Emperor Xuande and the Senior Grand Secretary, a military official stepped forward.

“What is it?”

“Shouldn’t we make it so that Joseon can’t use tricks even if they want to?”

“Make it so they can’t use tricks even if they want to? How?”

As Emperor Xuande showed interest, the military official spoke with a bit more force in his voice.

“We demand their small cannons while giving them a tight deadline.”

“Give them a tight deadline?”

“Yes, for example, we only give them a period of ten days or half a month. Additionally, we demand a large quantity. For instance, a deadline of ten days and a quantity of about 1,000 units.”

“That’s not bad.”

As Emperor Xuande showed a positive reaction to the military official’s explanation, a scholar from the Cabinet pointed out a problem.

“If we ask them to produce 1,000 units at once, Joseon will strongly object.”

In response to the scholar’s point, the military official who first spoke immediately continued.

“That is true. Therefore, we use the 1,000 units as bait. We only need 20 or 30 units at most. So, while pretending to make a reasonable concession, we drastically reduce the deadline. That way, Joseon won’t have an easy opportunity to use tricks.”

“What an excellent plan! What does the Senior Grand Secretary think?”

“I think it’s a good idea.”

The Senior Grand Secretary immediately agreed. It was because the nagging feeling he had while listening to the military official’s explanation had mostly disappeared.

With even the Senior Grand Secretary’s approval, Emperor Xuande made a decision right away.

“Then let’s send an envoy immediately!”

* * *

In accordance with the decision, Ming followed the custom and sent a messenger in advance to notify Joseon that an envoy would be coming.

Upon receiving the message sent by the messenger, Joseon was put on high alert.

“Why on earth now?”

Starting with Sejong, the ministers couldn’t hide their bewilderment. It was not a regular envoy but an urgent one.

In particular, due to the messenger who only informed them of the date of arrival but never revealed the reason for coming, their curiosity deepened.

“The most likely reason is the recent Manchu conquest.”

At Heo Jo’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately refuted.

“Didn’t we already obtain the Emperor’s approval for that matter? Changing his word is a matter of the Emperor’s honor, so would he do it recklessly?”

“But other than that, there are no issues between our Joseon and Ming, right?”

Amid the various debates, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“What does the Crown Prince think?”

“I believe it is most likely because of the Manchu conquest. However, it seems to be a different issue, not the matter of the territory we have claimed as our own.”

“A different issue?”

“The weapons used by our Joseon army.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong and the ministers nodded their heads.

It was a place where all kinds of new weapons developed by Joseon had been showcased.

As Hyang said, it was sufficient reason for Ming to send an envoy.

“It was expected, but their reaction is quick.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

At Sejong’s words, all the ministers nodded. Weapons, especially those used in large quantities, were not something that could be hidden forever.

Moreover, confronting Manchu and Mentemu was not something that could be won by hiding these weapons and fighting.

Furthermore, the place where the battles took place was also where Ming’s eyes and ears were located.

It was an act done with the expectation of exposure, and considering what was gained from it, it was sufficiently worth enduring.

However, what Sejong and the ministers regretted was that Ming reacted faster than expected.

But Hyang had the opposite opinion.

“You say their reaction is quick? I think it’s very late.”

“Oh?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers looked at Hyang again.

“Explain your reason.”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately explained the reason.

“How many years has it been since the Gapsik Jangchong and the mounted guns were created and used in actual combat? During that time, there have been numerous battles in the north. But only now has Ming shown a reaction. This means that the surveillance network Ming has established in Liaodong is more flimsy than we thought.”

“It can be viewed that way as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Sejong nodded at Hyang’s explanation, he asked Hyang again.

“Then, what do you think caught Ming’s attention?”

“The long guns.”

At Hyang’s assertion, Jo Mal-saeng interjected.

“But other weapons also displayed powerful might.”

In response to Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Hyang explained the reason.

“The fire arrow rocket, fire carts, and Flying Thunder… Ming also has similar weapons. However, that’s not the case with long guns. Of course, they have fire lances, but they are not comparable to our long guns.”

“That is indeed true.”

Jo Mal-saeng nodded at Hyang’s words.

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong’s expression turned serious.

“The story of Silla’s thousand-step crossbow comes to mind.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

At Sejong and the ministers’ words, Hyang interjected.

“We cannot hand over the craftsmen. No, Ming may not even ask for the craftsmen.”

“Why?”

“They would also know the story of the thousand-step crossbow.”

“Ah…”

“At least that’s a relief, but…”

Amid the growing conviction that the reason for Ming’s visit was because of the long guns, Sejong and the ministers pondered to find a solution.

Watching them, Hyang suddenly asked an out-of-the-blue question.

“Father, how should a sparrow catch up to a stork?”

“Pardon?”

Chapter 276
How a Sparrow Catches up to a Stork (2)

“What does that suddenly mean?”

Not only the ministers but even Sejong couldn’t immediately understand Hyang’s abrupt words and asked back.

In response to Sejong’s counter-question, Hyang continued.

“There is a saying among the common folk, ‘A sparrow, trying to keep up with a stork, tears its crotch.’ Has Father also heard of it?”

“I’ve heard it. Isn’t it a saying that means ‘Know your place and don’t act beyond your means’?”

At Sejong’s answer, the ministers also nodded. Seeing their reaction, Hyang asked again.

“But if you must catch up no matter what, what should you do?”

“Put in several times the effort…”

Sejong, who was unconsciously answering, continued with a slight smile.

“My son, I understand what you’re trying to say. However, it doesn’t fit the situation our Joseon is currently in.”

“Pardon?”

“To implement the plan you have in mind for the situation you described, external assistance is necessary. In the current situation, is there a reliable ally?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang, who was pondering his own words, immediately bowed his head.

“I apologize. I, with my shallow learning, have been acting pretentiously.”

“Be careful in the future. So, what plan do you have in mind?”

“Yes. It’s…”

Just as Hyang was about to explain, Maeng Sa-seong interjected.

“I’m afraid to speak, Your Majesty. We, your humble subjects, are not bright enough to understand the conversation between you two.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, not only the ministers but even the royal scribes nodded in agreement.

‘Stop having those cryptic conversations that only you two understand!’

‘How can a person with a poor brain live feeling sad?’

‘Should I take an intelligence-boosting tonic instead of a health tonic?’

As if sensing the ministers’ sentiment, Sejong spoke.

“Left State Councilor, if you were a sparrow and a stork was following behind, eyeing the prey caught by the sparrow. What should you do to avoid being caught by this stork?”

“Ah…”

At Sejong’s question, Maeng Sa-seong finally understood the cryptic conversation between the father and son.

Hyang had compared Joseon to a sparrow and Ming to a stork. The problem was that according to the common saying, it would become a situation where Joseon was chasing after Ming. Sejong had pointed out to Hyang that the analogy was flawed.

“I, Maeng Sa-seong, now understand.”

‘Ugh! This damned cryptic conversation!’

“Yes. What would the Left State Councilor do?”

“Shouldn’t you run with all your might?”

“But in the end, wouldn’t you still be caught?”

“That’s…”

“What do the other ministers think should be done?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers became lost in thought. Amid the continuing silence, Kim Jeom answered.

“Since the difference in power between our Joseon and Ming is clear, there is a limit to the orthodox approach. I believe that now, rather than the orthodox approach, an unorthodox strategy is needed.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Jo Gye-saeng, the newly appointed Minister of Education, immediately objected.

“No matter how urgent the current situation is, an unorthodox strategy is not acceptable! An unorthodox strategy cannot overcome the orthodox approach! We must keep in mind why the ancient sages valued the orthodox approach!”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s words, Jo Mal-saeng, the Minister of National Defense, immediately refuted.

“Who here doesn’t know the importance of the orthodox approach? But consider the gravity of the current matter. As Minister Kim said, the difference in power between Joseon and Ming is as clear as day, so is this a situation to discuss the orthodox approach?”

“All the more reason to value the importance of the orthodox approach!”

Jo Gye-saeng and Jo Mal-saeng engaged in a heated debate, their voices raising. Seeing that sight, Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers all had the same thought.

‘The brothers are really good at fighting.’

* * *

The flames of the debate that continued in this manner spread even to Sejong.

“Your Majesty! When it comes to employing an unorthodox strategy, one must ponder a hundred times and hesitate a thousand times, and even that is not enough! An unorthodox strategy may provide temporary sweetness, but it cannot provide lasting benefits!”

As soon as Jo Gye-saeng’s words ended, Jo Mal-saeng immediately refuted.

“Your Majesty! Among the ministers gathered here, no one is unaware of the importance of the orthodox approach! However, the situation demands an unorthodox strategy! Although an unorthodox strategy is a gamble, it must be used when necessary!”

“Your Majesty! The conduct of the ministers sets an example for the people! If the people emulate the preference for unorthodox strategies over the orthodox approach, what do you think will happen? If results alone justify everything, will morality remain among the people of Joseon?”

“That’s an exaggeration, isn’t it?”

At Sejong’s remark that Jo Gye-saeng’s words were excessive, Jo Gye-saeng firmly denied it.

“It’s not excessive at all! If you think lightly of it and neglect it, at some point, you will find yourself in an unfathomable quagmire!”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s words, Jo Mal-saeng raised his voice again.

“Then! Minister of Education, answer this! Ming, which is several times larger than our Joseon and has a stronger national power, is closely following us! In this situation, what is the orthodox approach?”

“Develop technologies superior to Ming, trade with more countries to make the nation prosperous, and ensure the comfort of the people!”

“That’s not the answer to Ming’s current demand for what we have! It may be the orthodox approach, but it’s the wrong answer!”

“How can you be certain that the purpose of the envoy coming from Ming is the long gun? Do you have proof?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, the inside of Geunjeongjeon froze. Jo Gye-saeng had just made a dangerous remark.

Jo Gye-saeng bowed his head to Sejong again and remonstrated.

“Your Majesty! All we know right now is that ‘An envoy is coming from Ming.’ That’s it! We know nothing! Yet, to presume ‘It will be like this’ and discuss an unorthodox strategy as a countermeasure is something that must be strictly prohibited!”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s words, Jo Mal-saeng interjected again.

“If not that, then what else could it be?”

“Isn’t that what we should discuss from now on? What is the reason for the ministers to gather in this hall?”

“Enough.”

As the debate was about to intensify again, Sejong stopped the conversation.

When the Jo brothers fell silent and stepped back, Sejong continued.

“There is no flaw in the Minister of Education’s words. However, Minister of Education, in the current situation, what the Crown Prince mentioned is the most likely scenario, so I was trying to hear a countermeasure for it. Even the Minister of Education doesn’t know whether the Crown Prince’s proposed countermeasure will be an unorthodox strategy or the orthodox approach, right?”

At Sejong’s point, Jo Gye-saeng, who was pondering his own words for a moment, bowed his head.

“Please forgive my wrongdoing.”

“I will overlook it, considering your heart for the country.”

“Your benevolence is immeasurable!”

“It seems the atmosphere has become too heated, so let’s take a moment to cool our heads. We will reconvene in half a shichen (approx. 1 hour).”

“We shall obey your command.”

As Sejong declared a recess, the ministers rose from their seats and left Geunjeongjeon.

“Crown Prince, shall we have a cup of tea together?”

Hyang, who was about to follow the ministers outside, turned around at Sejong’s words.

* * *

Meanwhile, outside Geunjeongjeon, a second round of confrontation was about to unfold between the brothers.

“Ah! Brother! Do you have any sense at all?”

“About what?”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s nonchalant answer, a vein popped on Jo Mal-saeng’s forehead.

“In this situation, what else could be the reason for Ming sending an envoy? Isn’t it because of our Joseon’s weapons?”

“How can you be so certain about that? A person who is supposed to be a minister can’t think seriously!”

“It’s because what the Crown Prince said is correct!”

“Even if what the Crown Prince said is correct, it is our duty as ministers to think it over again and report it to His Majesty! If you only see what’s in front of your eyes like that, you’ll end up like this!”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s scolding, Jo Mal-saeng’s voice grew even louder.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“Because you only saw what was in front of you and acted rashly, you ended up becoming a spectator in Geunjeongjeon! What’s so great about you?”

“Brother!”

“Oh? You want to hit me if you’re good enough? Go ahead and hit me! Hit me!”

“Aaaargh!”

As Jo Mal-saeng, unable to contain his anger, charged at Jo Gye-saeng, the ministers nearby stepped in to stop them.

“Hey! Calm down! Calm down!”

After a commotion, the ministers had to leave Geunjeongjeon while keeping the Jo brothers apart.

Seeing the Jo brothers heading to their respective offices, the ministers had to let out a long sigh.

“Whew~. How can brothers be so different?”

“I know, right?”

* * *

The brothers of the Yangju Jo family were all from a family of government officials. All five brothers held high-ranking positions, but the eldest, Jo Gye-saeng, and the fourth, Jo Mal-saeng, were receiving polar opposite evaluations.

In the case of Jo Gye-saeng, he was known for his solemn demeanor, integrity, and being a scholar who never put down a book. Thanks to that, he was appointed as the minister of the newly established Ministry of Education through the military reforms. It was an appointment that received the highest praise from not only Sejong but also all the ministers.

As for his younger brother, Jo Mal-saeng, he had outstanding abilities but was frivolous and fond of bribes. As a result, he was caught in a bribery case in the past and was stuck in the Office of Records before being transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs.

* * *

Meanwhile, Sejong was sharing tea and snacks with Hyang.

“The scribes should leave for a moment.”

At Sejong’s command, the scribes and secretaries quickly rose from their seats and went outside.

Having removed the listening ears, Sejong and Hyang conversed while drinking tea prepared by the eunuch.

“There is a saying among the common folk, ‘Old ginger is spicier,’ right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not a wrong saying, is it?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately grasped the meaning.

‘He’s talking about that person.’

“Indeed.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong continued while sipping his tea.

“That is where the value of the ministers’ existence lies. Pointing out what I have overlooked or failed to consider. The Crown Prince must also keep this in mind. When you ascend to the throne, the ministers who will deal with you will be the ones they have raised.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“However, there is a proper way. If they try to overstep royal authority, you must decisively purge them. Don’t forget that.”

“I will engrave it in my bones.”

Bowing his head at Sejong’s warning, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon left a big scar on everyone.’

‘The purge of Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the elder ministers’ was an undeniable big scar left on both Sejong and the ministers.

* * *

Half a shichen later, Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers gathered in Geunjeongjeon again.

“Crown Prince, explain your thoughts concisely and clearly.”

“Yes, Father.”

At Sejong’s warning, ‘Don’t beat around the bush unnecessarily,’ Hyang inwardly licked his lips and rose from his seat.

In front of the ministers, Hyang began his explanation.

“First of all, this countermeasure is based on the assumption that the envoy coming from Ming will demand our Joseon’s guns.”

Slightly avoiding the issue pointed out by Jo Gye-saeng from the start, Hyang continued.

“It is undeniably true that our Joseon lags behind Ming in most areas when compared. However, there are a few areas where we are significantly ahead of Ming, and one of them is firearms.”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers nodded.

“But we can’t just hand over this firearms technology if Ming demands it. As we can see from the example of the horn bow, Ming didn’t budge on this matter either, right?”

“That’s right.”

“If Ming demands long guns from our Joseon, our basic plan is to hand over long guns with reduced performance.”

At Hyang’s words, Maeng Sa-seong immediately questioned.

“What if they demand craftsmen instead of long guns?”

“Do you think Ming would believe that the craftsmen we send will do their best?”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s point, the ministers nodded. Even though they had declared their vassalage, when it came to national defense, Ming had many things to hide from Joseon and constantly monitored Joseon.

“If we reduce the performance, won’t Ming notice it right away? They have already seen it in Liaodong.”

As Maeng Sa-seong pointed out again, Hyang nodded and answered.

“That’s right. So, we have made the performance of the long guns to be handed over to Ming mediocre. It will be definitely superior to the guns currently possessed by Ming, but its performance will be inferior to the long guns we have. And it will make Ming go down the wrong path.”

“The wrong path, you say?”

“Yes, there are two ways for a sparrow to stay ahead of a stork that is following behind. One is to tie the stork’s feet, and the other is to make the stork go down the wrong path.”

Chapter 277
How a Sparrow Catches up to a Stork (3)

The ministers listened attentively to Hyang’s explanation with serious expressions. Heo Jo, who had been carefully listening to Hyang’s words, opened his mouth.

“First, I would like to ask about ‘tying the stork’s feet.’ I think it means to hinder what Ming wants to do, but wouldn’t we need an ally to help our Joseon for that?”

“That’s right. That’s why Father said it was inappropriate. The only potential allies to hinder Ming’s actions are the Northern Yuan or Japan, but the losses would outweigh the gains with them.”

At Hyang’s answer, all the ministers nodded. Using the Northern Yuan or Japan to hold Ming back was too likely to backfire.

Even if Joseon supported them, there was a very high possibility that they would attack Joseon, which seemed easier than Ming, which would be burdened.

* * *

Once the explanation about ‘allies’ was over, the ministers’ interest shifted to Hyang’s second method, ‘making them go down the wrong path.’

“Please explain the second method.”

At the ministers’ request, Hyang gestured to the eunuch.

“Go to the research center and ask for the ‘Dong Gun.'”

“The Dong Gun, you say?”

“Yes. The Dong Gun.”

“Understood.”

The eunuch who received Hyang’s order left Geunjeongjeon with quick steps.

* * *

Arriving at the research center attached to the Eastern Palace, the eunuch immediately conveyed Hyang’s order.

“The Crown Prince has asked for the Dong Gun.”

“The Dong Gun?”

The eunuch belonging to the research center tilted his head for a moment but soon nodded.

“Ah! The Dung Gun! Please wait a moment.”

“Dung Gun?”

While the eunuch from Geunjeongjeon was tilting his head, the eunuch who had gone inside came out with a long wooden box and handed it over.

“Here it is.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

“Here it is, Your Majesty.”

“Good work. Put it here.”

The eunuch who had gone to the research center placed the box in question on the table surrounded by the ministers.

As he opened the lid of the box, Hyang continued.

“This is the long gun to be shown to Ming.”

“Huh?”

Upon seeing the long gun taken out of the box, the ministers’ expressions momentarily turned complex.

“The shape is a bit peculiar.”

“Indeed, it is.”

Hyang, who answered lightly, respectfully presented the problematic long gun to Sejong.

“This is the deception plan I have devised.”

Examining the long gun he received, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“The shape is indeed peculiar.”

What Hyang had presented was a musket.

“Take a look, ministers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The ministers, who received the musket through the eunuch, took turns examining it and made their evaluations.

“It’s quite heavy.”

“It looks a bit dull.”

Amid various evaluations, the one who assessed it most thoroughly was Jo Mal-saeng.

“There is no shoulder rest, and all the aiming components have been removed. And…”

Jo Mal-saeng, who was examining the muzzle and trigger mechanism, turned to Hyang.

“There are no rifling grooves? No, that’s not the issue. Does this long gun not use mercury fulminate?”

“Yes.”

“Will the performance be adequate?”

“It falls far short of the Gapsik Jangchong, but it is far superior to their existing guns.”

“Oh my…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Jo Mal-saeng let out a sound that could be either admiration or lamentation as he put down the musket.

“So, what do you think?”

Sejong asked a question, seeing that the ministers had finished their observations. At Sejong’s question, the ministers inwardly weighed the pros and cons diligently. However, as most of them were laymen when it came to firearms, an answer did not come easily.

Seeing their reaction, Sejong ordered Hyang.

“Crown Prince, explain why you created this long gun.”

“Yes, Father.”

After taking a brief breath, Hyang soon began his explanation.

“First of all, the development of this long gun, which the research center and Area 51 call the Dong Gun, began when the Gapsik Jangchong was completed and started to be deployed. It was certain that once the long guns experienced real combat in the north, they would be exposed to Ming. I have already explained this part.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers all nodded. Seeing the ministers’ reaction, Hyang continued his explanation.

“Therefore, we anticipated that if Ming learned of the existence of the long guns, they would definitely make some kind of demand to Joseon. They could demand craftsmen like in the ancient tale of the thousand-step crossbow, but we expected the possibility to be low as Ming would also know the historical anecdote.”

“That is indeed the case.”

Maeng Sa-seong nodded at Hyang’s words and continued. It was natural for him to have done the same.

“So, I thought the highest possibility was that Ming would demand the actual long guns from our Joseon.

Of course, Ming would certainly expect us to play some tricks, but still.

Therefore, I created this Dong Gun. Starting with a performance that is definitely superior to the guns used by our Joseon or Ming’s similar fire lances, we will deceive Ming’s eyes and make them go down the wrong path.”

“My son, what is the exact performance?”

“With ordinary marksmanship, a soldier can hit a helmet at a distance of 10 jang (approximately 30m). An exceptionally skilled soldier can hit the target from a distance of 20 jang (approximately 60m) with luck. And it can penetrate a helmet from at least 30 jang (approximately 90m).”

“Isn’t that too superior?”

“It needs to be at this level for Ming to have less suspicion.”

“That may be so, but…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong understood on one hand but couldn’t hide his regret on the other.

Hyang took out a round lead pellet from the box.

“This is the lead ball used in this Dong Gun. It is made of lead and weighs 1 liang (approximately 34g).”

“It has a completely different shape from the bullets used by our military.”

As Jo Mal-saeng pretended to know, Hyang immediately explained the reason.

“The conical bullets used by our military only perform optimally in long guns with rifling grooves. If we provide bullets that don’t even match the gun with deliberately lowered performance, they will contemplate to achieve that performance, and if that happens…”

“The very thing we want to avoid will occur.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s interjection.

“That’s right, Father.”

The bullet used in the Gapsik Jangchong was the Lorenz bullet. It could be called the “terminator of bullets for muzzle-loading rifles.” Of course, it was not 100% identical to the original Lorenz bullet, but its shape was definitely that of a Lorenz bullet.

“As someone who even made guns, I can’t just let this pass, can I?”

* * *

After explaining the bullets, Hyang continued to explain other aspects.

-Removal of the stock (buttstock).

-Removal of aiming devices.

-Removal of rifling grooves.

These three measures were taken to reduce the accuracy of the Dong Gun. It was intended to make Ming also ponder over improving accuracy, consuming time in the process. In particular, the removal of aiming devices was Hyang’s deliberate decision. The musket also had aiming protrusions.

“Perhaps it will take quite some time for them to come up with the idea of attaching that simple component. There’s a reason why the saying ‘Columbus’ egg’ exists.”

Hyang was employing every possible trick to buy as much time as possible.

-Deterioration of the ignition mechanism. The technology of mercury fulminate primers must never be handed over. However, using the existing fuse ignition may raise suspicion, so the ignition method is modified to use specially designed firecrackers.

Hearing the explanation up to this point, the ministers were all impressed.

“Truly ingenious!”

“Indeed! It is definitely superior to the previously used methods, but it is clearly inferior to the methods used by our Joseon military!”

At the ministers’ praise, Hyang inwardly gave a bitter smile.

‘Ingenious, my foot… I just traced history in reverse… Although, I did trace back hundreds of years.’

As the ministers’ praise died down, Hyang explained the final part.

“The part I paid the most attention to in this Dong Gun is the barrel.”

As Hyang pointed to the barrel, the ministers once again focused their attention on it.

Jo Mal-saeng, who was closely examining the Dong Gun on the table, turned to Hyang.

“Is it made of bronze?”

“Yes. It is a trap made using the craftsmen’s knowledge.”

“Oh…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Jo Mal-saeng let out another groan that could be either admiration or lamentation, and the ministers focused their attention on him.

Feeling the other ministers’ gazes, Jo Mal-saeng explained the reason.

“The barrels of our Joseon’s guns are made of iron.”

“The difference between iron and bronze…”

The ministers began to ponder the reason why Jo Mal-saeng was showing an unexpected reaction when only the material had changed.

After a moment, Kim Jeom spoke up.

“Ah! Is it to increase the production cost?”

“That is also one reason.”

“Huh?”

The ministers continued to ponder but couldn’t easily find an answer.

“My son, explain it. I’m also not sure about anything other than the cost.”

“Yes, Father.”

At Sejong’s order, Hyang explained why he had made it out of bronze.

-Until Hyang made gun barrels out of steel, both Joseon and Ming made cannons out of bronze. Therefore, Ming’s craftsmen would not be suspicious of this bronze barrel.

-For the same reason, Hyang produced the barrel by casting. Until Hyang led the production of long guns, both Joseon and Ming made guns by casting (of course, cannons were still being produced by casting). Producing by casting requires a considerable level of difficulty. If there is even the slightest defect inside the cast barrel, it is dangerous. Significant time will be consumed to solve this.

-Lastly, bronze is a material that has severe limitations in performance improvement.

“Limitations?”

“Weight, Father.”

Hyang held up the Dong Gun and continued his explanation.

“The barrel of this Dong Gun is about 2 chon (approximately 7cm) shorter than the barrel of the Gapsik Jangchong. However, this Dong Gun is much heavier in overall weight. The heavier the weight, the more effort is required from the soldiers handling it.”

“I see.”

Whether it was the Dong Gun or the Gapsik Jangchong, they were weapons carried by soldiers. If the weight was heavy, it was certain that the soldiers would tire more quickly.

“If Ming’s craftsmen try to improve the performance, this is where they will spend the most time. The most important aspects of a long gun’s performance are ‘How far can it shoot? How accurate can it be?’ There are four ways to solve this problem. One is to increase the amount of gunpowder, another is to make the barrel longer, the third is to attach aiming devices, and the last is to add rifling grooves. Bronze makes the first and second conditions difficult.”

“I see.”

Sejong, who was unconsciously nodding at Hyang’s answer, looked at Hyang and muttered inwardly.

‘Scary fellow! How many traps did you set in a single gun? You made it impossible for them to even dream of modification or improvement!’

The ministers had a similar reaction.

‘Scary, so scary! You didn’t just teach them the wrong path; you completely blinded them!’

‘To be able to set traps to that extent at that age!’

‘Vicious, so vicious!’

Sejong, who was shaking his head slightly at the relentlessly set traps that sent shivers down his spine, asked Hyang.

“My son, how long do you think it will take for Ming’s craftsmen to overcome these obstacles?”

“It is difficult to predict as I am not well aware of the level of Ming’s craftsmen. However, assuming that the skills of Ming’s craftsmen are similar to our Joseon craftsmen, it will take 5 years if they are lucky, and at least 10 years if not. However, these numbers are based on the assumption that Ming does not obtain the actual long guns used by our Joseon military.”

“Then, we should diligently run away in the meantime, right?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“I have prepared to some extent.”

At Hyang’s answer, Kim Jeom’s face turned pale.

Chapter 278
How a Sparrow Catches up to a Stork (4)

Glancing at Kim Jeom’s face, Hyang immediately added.

“Of course, we don’t plan to develop and deploy it right away. We need to observe the situation of Ming and neighboring countries and respond accordingly. If we recklessly develop and deploy in advance, all our efforts so far will be in vain.”

“That’s true. Well thought out.”

Nodding in agreement with Hyang’s words, Sejong looked at Lee Maeng-gyun and Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defense, never stop observing not only Ming but also the neighboring countries. As our Joseon’s power is not yet strong, we must be cautious and careful.”

“We shall obey your command.”

With Sejong giving orders to Lee Maeng-gyun and Jo Mal-saeng, the meeting regarding the topic Hyang mentioned was concluded for the time being.

Putting the Dong Gun back into the wooden box and preparing for the next meeting, Hyang looked at Kim Jeom. Seeing Kim Jeom’s face gradually returning to its original color, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘I’ll have to be careful for the time being. If I make a slight mistake, that person might collapse.’

Meanwhile, Kim Jeom, who felt someone’s gaze and was looking around, made eye contact with Hyang. As Hyang slightly bowed his head and sent a greeting with his eyes, Kim Jeom, who inadvertently responded, grumbled inwardly.

‘Oh, shoot! What kind of trouble are you trying to cause by looking at me? Now, just making eye contact with the Crown Prince makes my heart flutter!’

* * *

Afterward, the meeting continued regarding the agenda that Ming’s envoy would bring this time.

“…Hmm. I have heard your opinions well. I also think the territory acquired from the Odoli tribes led by Mentemu and the matter of the long guns are the most likely, so prepare focusing on these two aspects.”

As Sejong reached a conclusion, Hyang and the ministers all bowed their heads and answered in unison.

“We shall obey your command.”

“Then, let’s end it here for today.”

As Sejong declared the end, Hyang and the ministers gathered their documents and rose from their seats.

* * *

That night, Hyang quietly visited Gangnyeongjeon.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

As the eunuch announced Hyang’s visit, Sejong’s response came from inside.

“Let him in.”

“Yes. Please come in.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Hyang, who entered through the door opened by the eunuchs, politely bowed to Sejong.

“Have a seat.”

As Hyang sat on the chair brought by the eunuch, Sejong smiled warmly and spoke.

“You never came before I called for you, so what brings you here today?”

“I have a confidential matter to discuss with Father. Could you dismiss the scribes and secretaries?”

“Huh? Scribes and secretaries, please step outside for a moment.”

At Sejong’s command, the scribes and secretaries immediately rose from their seats and went outside.

Once the scribes and secretaries were outside, Sejong asked Hyang in a low voice.

“So, what is it that you’re doing this?”

“Please mobilize the Geomgye (secret police unit).”

“The Geomgye? Come closer.”

As Hyang uttered the word ‘Geomgye,’ Sejong’s face turned serious.

The father and son, sitting close together, conversed in low voices.

“Suddenly mentioning the Geomgye, what’s the matter?”

“Ming’s interest must have heightened due to the recent events in Liaodong.”

“That would be the case. That’s why Ming is sending an envoy this time.”

“Even if the envoy comes for another reason, Ming will show curiosity about the firearms we possess. The capabilities demonstrated in Liaodong are not something they can simply ignore.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s face became very grave.

“Are you saying we should mobilize the Geomgye to secretly monitor the craftsmen related to firearms because there is a high possibility of secretly approaching them?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong stroked his beard with a serious expression. Seeing Sejong’s face, Hyang continued his explanation.

“Regarding the long guns and mounted guns, we have gone through the maximum division of labor, so acquiring one or two of the lowest-level craftsmen won’t easily reveal the overall framework.”

“Wasn’t the division of labor process done to increase productivity?”

“Productivity was an issue, but there was also a purpose of maintaining secrecy.”

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong felt goosebumps all over his body and muttered inwardly.

‘He’s my son, but Crown Prince, this scary fellow!’

* * *

As Hyang said, the Gapsik Jangchong and Gapsik Six-barreled Mounted Gun went through a thorough division of labor process.

In the case of the long gun, even the trigger mechanism was modularized. It was assembled by attaching a bronze box containing internal components such as springs and levers to the gun body, so even the craftsmen in charge of the final assembly process were unaware of the overall framework and how each component functioned.

The only ones who knew the entire process were Hyang and the craftsmen who initially participated in the development with him.

* * *

After explaining this part, Hyang continued.

“We have minimized the risk as much as possible through division of labor for the guns and cannons, but the biggest problem is mercury fulminate. Due to its danger, craftsmen make it alone in their individual rooms.”

“I see.”

Sejong, who knew the process of making mercury fulminate by reading the report submitted by Hyang, nodded.

As Sejong examined the situation with a serious expression, a sudden question arose.

“I understand the importance and danger of the matter. So, I’m curious about something. Wouldn’t it have been better to speak openly about this and devise countermeasures?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang answered the reasons why it was not possible.

“If we openly monitor or protect, it will place a heavy mental burden on the craftsmen who are the targets. Then they won’t be able to work properly.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong shook his head slightly.

“Anyway, you cherish the craftsmen too much.”

“Craftsmen with that level of skill are hard to find, so it can’t be helped. However, the biggest reason is…”

Hyang paused for a moment and let out a sigh.

“Whew~. It’s to prevent those with unnecessary patriotism from stepping forward and making a fuss.”

“Unnecessary…”

Sejong, pondering Hyang’s words, nodded his head with a solemn expression. Seeing his reaction, Hyang added.

“There will definitely be those who will step forward and say we should send the craftsmen to Ming, shouting ‘sacrificing the small for the greater good.’ They will say we should preemptively prevent the tragedy that will unfold in the future by sending the craftsmen. Fortunately, there are no such individuals among the ministers currently leading the cabinet, but if it becomes a public discourse, they will definitely emerge. Those who confuse what is small and what is great for our Joseon.”

“That is indeed true. Whew~.”

Sejong, who let out a long sigh like Hyang, reached a conclusion.

“As you said, we will have to contact the Geomgye.”

“We must instruct them to carefully monitor outsiders approaching the craftsmen. And not only the craftsmen but also their families should be closely watched.”

“Hostages?”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Having finished his business, Hyang bowed and left Gangnyeongjeon. Sejong, who was staring at the empty space with a serious expression, called for Chief Eunuch.

“Chief Eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Summon the commander of the Royal Guard.”

* * *

Two days later, the chiefs of the three major Geomgye in Hanseong summoned their members.

“A royal order has been issued.”

At the chief’s words, the eyes of the members began to sparkle.

The members had never had such exciting days. They were once those who had dreams of success but had given up on those dreams due to various constraints or reasons. Having given up and spending their days aimlessly as destitute people, they were now working for the country and the king. Although they couldn’t openly say it, their pride was immense.

Seeing the members whose recently slacking attitudes had disappeared and whose aura was like a sharpened sword, the chief conveyed Sejong’s order.

“The order is to monitor those who attempt to approach the craftsmen working in Area 51.”

“The craftsmen, you say?”

“Yes. You all have heard about the recent war in the north, right?”

“Yes, didn’t we achieve a great victory?”

“I heard the firearms played a significant role in that war. And those firearms were made in Area 51.”

Having heard the explanation up to that point, the members immediately understood what they had to do.

“So, you mean to monitor what kind of people approach those craftsmen?”

“Exactly. And also monitor if there are any who try to use the craftsmen’s families.”

The members nodded at the chief’s words.

“It’s definitely not something to take lightly, so pay special attention. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“In the shadows.”

“Protect the nation.”

Having chanted their own motto, the members soon began to arrange shifts and teams.

‘In the shadows, protect the nation.’

It was the motto given by Sejong when the Geomgye transformed into the king’s secret guard force. Moreover, it was not simply written on paper but engraved on the iris swords carried by the members and distributed. Therefore, this motto was not just a simple motto but the creed and pride of the Geomgye.

The members of the Geomgye staked their lives on these four characters.

As the members who had arranged their shifts and teams left, the chief of the North Village Geomgye let out a small sigh.

“I hope there won’t be a need to use the license this time…”

The license the chief mentioned was a ‘license to kill.’

* * *

Last time, during the suppression of the palace intrusion led by Prince Yangnyeong, the Geomgye had engaged in a bloody battle with the rebels.

After the incident was over, the Police Bureau (Podocheong) conducted a large-scale pursuit of the Geomgye. They considered it a large-scale slaughter taking advantage of the chaos in the capital.

At this time, Sejong secretly sent licenses to the chiefs.

The content written on the scroll with Sejong’s royal seal was simple.

-The crimes committed by the holder of this license are for the sake of the country, so do not question their crimes and prohibit their physical detention.

The chiefs who received the licenses immediately submitted them to the Police Bureau, and all the arrested members were able to be released.

“Since when has the Geomgye…”

Seeing the head of the Police Bureau with an expression of disbelief, the chief answered meaningfully.

“It’s not that the Geomgye, but we are within the Geomgye.”

“Ah!”

“So, I ask for your discretion.”

“I understand!”

The head of the Police Bureau nodded deeply.

‘They are the ones who have hidden within the Geomgye!’

This line that led the head of the Police Bureau to misunderstand was Hyang’s creation.

After that, Sejong and Hyang revised the license once more.

-The license is personally kept by the king and only issued when deemed necessary or when a justifiable request is considered.

It was the birth of the ‘license to kill’ that would later become a staple in dramas and movies set in the Joseon era.

* * *

Fifteen days after the messenger’s visit announcing ‘the envoy is coming,’ Ming’s envoy arrived at Jemulpo.

At the pier in Jemulpo, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was waiting for the ship carrying Ming’s envoy, grumbled to a subordinate official who had accompanied him.

“Ming was in a rush. It usually takes about a month and a half to arrive, but they came in just half a month.”

“Besides that, there isn’t much to gain even if they come to Joseon, so they probably want to finish quickly.”

“Is that so?”

At the subordinate’s words, the Vice Minister burst into laughter.

Previously, Hyang had rebelled against Sejong, citing the extortion by Ming’s envoys, and his shins had been shattered. Afterward, through an envoy sent by Sejong, they received an imperial edict handwritten by the emperor prohibiting extortion, greatly reducing the envoys’ extortion.

Moreover, after Hyang personally visited Beijing, the extortion by envoys from Ming dramatically disappeared. As a contract was established between the emperor and the Joseon royal family, it became difficult to treat Joseon recklessly.

In fact, there was once a fool who didn’t realize the situation had changed and came to Joseon to extort as before. Immediately after the envoy returned, Joseon sent a letter to Emperor Xuande. Receiving the letter filled with subtle thorns and greatly angered, Emperor Xuande immediately imprisoned the problematic envoy.

“Do you wish to live after smearing excrement on my face!”

Greatly enraged, Emperor Xuande exterminated the nine familial extents of the envoy’s family.

After that, there were no more Ming envoys who came to Joseon and recklessly extorted or made unreasonable demands.

Instead, it became customary for envoys to handle their business and return immediately.

Chapter 279
How a Sparrow Catches up to a Stork (5)

The envoy delegation from Ming that arrived at Jemulpo was welcomed by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“Welcome, Your Excellency. You must have had a long journey.”

“Thank you for the warm reception.”

After a brief exchange of greetings, the Ming envoys boarded the carriages prepared by Joseon.

As extortion was prohibited, the Ming envoys, who could no longer enjoy much pleasure even if they stayed longer, chose to handle their business as quickly as possible and return. Therefore, they preferred traveling by sea rather than land and began to use carriages instead of palanquins for transportation.

The time it took to travel from Jemulpo to Hanseong by carriage was merely half a day.

“To travel a distance of over 100 ri (approximately 40 km) in just half a day…”

The chief envoy from Ming repeatedly expressed his admiration.

As the nationwide road construction project progressed in earnest, one of the first roads to be constructed was the one connecting Hanseong and Jemulpo.

The Ming envoy delegation, who had crossed the Han River by boat near Seonyudo, boarded the carriages again and headed towards Donuimun (Donuimun, Seodaemun).

In front of Yeong-eunmun, the entrance to Mohwaru (Mohwaru), which was built outside Donuimun, Crown Prince Hyang and officials were waiting for the Ming envoy delegation according to custom.

“Your Highness, the envoys are coming.”

At the eunuch’s words, Hyang checked his attire once more and stepped forward.

Shortly after, the envoys alighted from the carriages that had arrived in front of Yeong-eunmun.

Following the established etiquette, Hyang performed a double bow, and the Ming envoys also respectfully reciprocated according to protocol.

“You must be tired from the long journey, Your Excellency.”

“We are grateful for such a warm welcome.”

“Please come in.”

“Yes.”

Upon the arrival of the Ming envoy delegation, a grand banquet was held at Mohwaru to welcome the envoys.

As courtesans performed dance and music to the rhythm, adding to the excitement, the Crown Prince and the chief envoy engaged in conversation.

“I had the pleasure of meeting you once before when you visited Beijing, Your Highness. I was amazed then, but seeing how much more elegant you have become, I cannot help but be astonished.”

“Hahaha! I am immensely grateful for your kind words.”

“No, it’s true. At that time, there were rumors circulating among the ladies of the Forbidden City and Beijing.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, indeed.”

The chief envoy, who answered firmly, was sincere.

Moreover, those who came from Ming had almost the same reaction as the chief envoy.

* * *

When Hyang visited Beijing, his handsomeness had shaken the Forbidden City.

‘If he were to step out onto the streets of Beijing right now, he would reenact the ancient tale of throwing fruits to fill a carriage.’

Hyang’s physical features were such that even Emperor Xuande and the ministers who heard the rumors all agreed.

In the end, the palace maids of the Forbidden City who heard the rumors gathered to see Hyang’s face, causing a commotion. And these rumors about Hyang spread beyond the Forbidden City, so on the day Hyang left the Forbidden City to return to Joseon, many women flocked to the streets to catch a glimpse of him.

* * *

Even afterward, the Ming envoy seemed unable to escape Hyang’s charm. Especially when Hyang was requested to compose a poem during the ongoing banquet, the chief envoy was moved to tears upon receiving it.

“It is truly an honor!”

“Hahaha! Thank you for your kind words!”

Hyang grew increasingly embarrassed by the excessive praise.

* * *

After the banquet ended and they left Mohwaru, Hyang’s face turned gravely serious.

“Too much of a good thing, they say?”

Hyang grew even more suspicious of the Ming envoy’s excessive goodwill.

Meanwhile, the Ming chief envoy discussed in a serious tone with his entourage gathered in his room.

“It won’t be easy.”

At the chief envoy’s words, the deputy envoy immediately responded.

“It seems so. I also had a conversation with Joseon’s ministers, and they are not to be taken lightly.”

“The Crown Prince is the same. While expressing gratitude for the goodwill, he remains cautious, and while enjoying the praise, he remains vigilant. If the Crown Prince takes the lead in the negotiations…”

The chief envoy, feeling frustrated, took a sip of tea to soothe himself and continued.

“If the Crown Prince takes the lead in the negotiations, it will be quite challenging.”

Having reached a conclusion, the chief envoy let out a complaint.

“I truly wonder how the King of Joseon has educated his son. Such a talent…”

“Indeed, you’re right.”

* * *

Two days later, the Ming envoy delegation, having recovered from their journey, entered Gyeongbokgung.

Sejong, who welcomed the envoys passing through Geunjeongmun, exchanged greetings with the envoy according to protocol.

Shortly after, Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers knelt in the courtyard of Geunjeong Hall, and the chief envoy climbed the steps of Geunjeong Hall and untied the seal on the imperial edict.

“Listen, King of Joseon…”

The imperial edict from Emperor Xuande, read aloud by the envoy, was simple.

-I have heard that the small firearms used by Joseon’s individual soldiers are highly superior. If they are that superior, present an appropriate quantity as tribute.

After the reading was finished and the formal proceedings were over, the chief envoy respectfully presented the scroll containing the imperial edict to Sejong.

Receiving the scroll, Sejong immediately got to the point.

“You mentioned an appropriate quantity, but exactly how much do you want?”

“Literally, an appropriate quantity.”

“You mean to negotiate.”

“I won’t deny it.”

Eventually, a negotiation room was set up in the Uijeongbu building, and people from both sides gathered to begin the negotiation.

“Oh my…”

The Ming envoys, who had taken their seats in the negotiation room, cursed under their breath when Hyang stepped forward as Joseon’s representative.

For them, he was the one they most wanted to avoid as a representative.

“You said an appropriate quantity, so how much do you want?”

As Hyang directly got to the point, the Ming chief envoy immediately responded.

“First, we would like to see the performance of the small firearms used by Joseon.”

“Didn’t you say you came after hearing the rumors?”

“Rumors and reality are often different. Isn’t that right?”

At the chief envoy’s words, Hyang turned his head and ordered the eunuch.

“Inform the Royal Guard to prepare.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After a while, the negotiation teams from both countries moved to the shooting range prepared inside Gyeongbokgung.

At the shooting range, scarecrows wearing helmets were set up at regular distance intervals. And at the very back, a wooden target board was erected.

In front of it, a small table was placed, and on top of it were muskets and accessories.

“Those are the small firearms the envoy mentioned in the rumors. We call them long guns.”

“Is that so?”

The Ming envoy delegation went down to the shooting range and examined the muskets. After the observation process was completed while listening to the explanation from the military officer in charge, a shooting demonstration was immediately conducted.

As three Royal Guard soldiers stood by with muskets, Hyang explained to the envoys.

“A well-trained soldier can hit a target from a distance of 10 jang (approximately 30m).”

At Hyang’s gesture, the military officer commanded the soldiers.

“Fire!”

Bang!

With a loud gunshot and thick smoke rising, the scarecrow standing 10 zhang away swayed.

“May we examine the scarecrow?”

“Do as you wish.”

With Hyang’s permission, the Ming envoys immediately went down to the shooting range and examined the scarecrow.

“Impressive. Truly impressive.”

The chief envoy, who examined the scarecrow, exclaimed repeatedly. The helmet worn by the scarecrow, which was located 10 jang away from the shooting platform, had clean holes punctured through the front and back.

A Ming general who accompanied the envoy delegation examined the helmet and spoke.

“It’s a properly made helmet. With this level of power, even the Northern Yuan’s cavalry would be like fallen leaves in the wind.”

“Is that so?”

After witnessing the subsequent demonstrations, the Ming envoys engaged in a brief conversation as they returned to the negotiation room.

“It definitely has limitations.”

“Still, it is far superior to the fire lances used by our military. And…”

The Ming general, suppressing his urgent desire, immediately continued.

“If it is used not by one or two people but on a large scale, its power will be tremendous.”

“I see…”

The chief envoy nodded at the general’s words.

* * *

Returning to the negotiation room and taking his seat again, Hyang asked the Ming chief envoy.

“Have you confirmed the performance?”

“Yes, we have thoroughly confirmed it.”

“So, what do you think?”

“It is as the rumors say.”

“Is that so? Then, what would be an appropriate quantity?”

“1,000 units. We would like to receive them within a month.”

Bang!

As soon as the chief envoy finished speaking, Hyang slammed his fist on the table and shouted.

“Nonsense! Right now, Joseon’s musketeers barely number 5,000! And they are troops we have trained for nearly 10 years! Yet you want us to present 1,000 units? Is that the intention of His Majesty the Emperor? His Majesty clearly spoke to me about the friendly relations between our two countries and made a promise! Chief Envoy, answer me directly! Is 1,000 units the Emperor’s intention?”

“No, that’s not it…”

Faced with Hyang’s intense reaction beyond expectation, the chief envoy began to break out in a cold sweat. Ming, no, the Emperor of Ming and the Joseon royal family had a relationship of shared interests. If something went wrong and their relationship turned sour, the consequences would surely fall upon him.

‘I was too greedy.’

The Ming chief envoy was filled with regret.

* * *

Before coming to Joseon, Emperor Xuande had given the following orders:

-If the small firearms used by Joseon are as rumored, acquire an appropriate quantity and bring them to Ming.

-However, this appropriate quantity only needs to be sufficient for Ming’s craftsmen to study. Instead, it is enough to bring back a quantity that can be acquired as quickly as possible, preferably when returning to Ming.

-Time is more important than quantity. If too much time is given, there is a high possibility that Joseon will tamper with the firearms.

Having heard Emperor Xuande’s orders, the chief envoy and deputy envoy summoned the head craftsmen before their departure and asked.

“How many units should we bring back?”

The head craftsmen who were asked the question put their heads together and exchanged opinions. After a long discussion and murmuring, the craftsmen suggested an appropriate number.

“About 70 units would be suitable. We can divide them into 20 units each for research, and the remaining 10 units can be used for performance comparison.”

“70 units, you say? Understood.”

* * *

Although he had heard from Ming’s craftsmen, the chief envoy couldn’t resist his greed upon actually witnessing the performance.

‘Let’s take as much as possible! Since our Ming is the superior country, Joseon will give as much as we ask! That’s how it has been so far! If Joseon pleads that it’s too much, we can pretend to be lenient while minimizing the time as much as possible! It’s a strategy that kills two birds with one stone!’

However, Hyang’s reaction was beyond the chief envoy’s expectations.

Instead of pleading, he directly confronted the Emperor.

“Say it clearly! Is that number of 1,000 units definitely the intention of His Majesty the Emperor? Can the Chief Envoy stake his life on it? We didn’t even pay that many horses as tribute! If this is truly the Emperor’s command, I will personally go to Beijing and discuss it!”

At Hyang’s rough voice, the deputy envoy sitting next to the chief envoy became anxious. As Hyang said, if they were to provide the quantity the chief envoy mentioned, it was a foregone conclusion that Joseon’s national defense would be greatly weakened. If it took 10 years to produce 5,000 units, that meant 500 units per year. It was only natural to be angry when asked to present two years’ worth of production.

In the end, the deputy envoy intervened on behalf of the chief envoy, who was half out of his mind.

“Your Highness, please calm down for a moment. His Majesty only ordered an appropriate quantity.”

“Then why was the number 1,000 units mentioned?”

“We simply didn’t know that Joseon only had 5,000 units of small firearms. We thought there would be at least 20,000 to 30,000 units.”

“Is our Joseon as large as Ming? Do you know how much copper goes into making one of these long guns? Ming is well aware that copper is scarce in our Joseon!”

“We apologize for that part.”

While the deputy envoy was trying to resolve the situation, the chief envoy, who had regained his senses, bowed his head to Hyang.

“I am truly sorry. I misspoke. We do not need as many as 1,000 units.”

“Then how many do you want?”

“How many can you provide us?”

“50 units.”

“That’s too few. Please give us 200 units.”

“Are you trying to bargain when our Joseon’s national defense is at stake? Even the soldiers guarding this palace where my father resides are only assigned a mere 100 units!”

The heated debate continued back and forth.

However, Hyang held the upper hand in the conversation.

‘In diplomacy, sometimes the loudest one wins.’

As a result of the ongoing debate, it was decided that the Ming envoys would take the 100 units assigned to the palace.

“You can provide them right away, right?”

“If His Majesty the Emperor desires it, shouldn’t we endure at least this much?”

As Hyang answered in a voice full of dissatisfaction, the Ming envoys immediately bowed their heads.

“We are truly grateful!”

‘Done! With this, we have taken away Joseon’s time to play tricks! It’s regrettable, but let’s be satisfied with this!’

“It’s all for the friendly relations between our Joseon and the superior country.”

‘Caught them! Fortunately, we can end this with the 100 units we had prepared in advance, just in case!’

Congratulating themselves on their respective gains, the negotiation came to an end.

Two days later, in the presence of the Ming envoys, the muskets were collected from the Royal Guard soldiers.

The Ming envoys, who had moved the wooden boxes containing the muskets and accessories to Jemulpo, immediately departed for Shandong.

Chapter 280
Chug-Chug, Puff-Puff! (1)

A month had passed since the commotion with the guns.

In the 3rd Workshop of Area 51, Hyang and the key figures from the research institute and Area 51 had gathered in front of the workshop that primarily produced large equipment.

Although it was the sweltering midday of midsummer, the heat radiating from the assembled people was even more intense.

“It’s coming out!”

As the workshop door opened, the artisan’s cry drew everyone’s gaze to the open door.

Click! Clank! Chug-chug, puff-puff!

Accompanied by the clamorous sound of escaping steam, a cart equipped with a steam engine began to emerge from the workshop.

“Ooh! It’s moving! It moves!”

“Wow!”

Seeing the cart in motion, the researchers and artisans cheered and rejoiced.

Even the soldiers standing guard nearby stared at the cart’s movement with wide eyes, witnessing a machine they had never seen before.

“Hyung-nim! Hyung-nim! It’s finally moving!”

While everyone present was delighted, the most elated was Prince Jinpyeong.

Utterly excited, Jinpyeong forgot all decorum, grabbed Hyang’s arm, and hopped up and down.

“Now we just need to lay railroad tracks across Joseon and have that self-propelled cart run on them!”

“Not yet.”

“Pardon?”

Hyang pointed at the cart and continued.

“We’ve only confirmed that it moves. We haven’t even verified if it performs as expected, have we?”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong nodded with a face full of disappointment. However, he quickly regained his spirit and shouted with a confident expression.

“The performance will surely be excellent! I’m confident!”

“Really? Considering what happened not long ago, I don’t think so.”

As Hyang narrowed his eyes and spoke in a doubtful tone, Jinpyeong’s face reddened as he yelled.

“Ah, Hyung-nim! I told you that was a mistake!”

* * *

A few days before the prototype of the steam locomotive was completed, Hyang and Jinpyeong had been conversing in the Eastern Palace.

The topic was, of course, the steam locomotive.

“The self-propelled cart equipped with a steam engine will be finished soon. We must prepare and execute the railroad construction in advance.”

“The actual product hasn’t even come out yet. And its performance hasn’t been confirmed either. It’s not too late to think about railroad construction after that.”

“Your Highness!”

“Do you want to persuade His Majesty and Lord Kim of the Ministry of Finance?”

At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong’s mouth clamped shut like a clam.

“By the way, it’s terribly hot today. Eunuch, could you fetch some ice water?”

“I’ll bring it to you!”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, Jinpyeong left the room. Seeing this, Hyang burst into laughter.

“The kid must be afraid to face His Majesty.”

Jinpyeong was no match for King Sejong and Lord Kim of the Ministry of Finance. Jinpyeong knew this well and was trying to get Hyang on his side.

Shortly after, Jinpyeong returned with a glass filled with ice water and handed it to Hyang.

“Your Highness! The water is very cold! Drink it quickly! The ice will melt and overflow the glass!”

“Than-“

As Hyang received the glass from Jinpyeong and began to express his gratitude, he suddenly stopped and stared at Jinpyeong.

“What’s the matter?”

“Go to the research institute right now and study physics again.”

“Pardon?”

“Figure out what was wrong with what you just said and report back to me. Go!”

“Huh? What?”

“Tsk!”

As Hyang’s expression turned grim, Jinpyeong scurried out of Hyang’s room with his tail between his legs.

Placing the glass with beads of condensation on the desk, Hyang rested his hand on his forehead and muttered.

“Even if it kills him, that guy is a science student… Even I, a liberal arts student, know this… I’m worried if the locomotive will turn out properly. No, putting that aside, is this why Joseon ended up in such a state after that guy staged a coup? Well, I suppose such a thing won’t happen this time? Oh dear, should I start worrying about this too?”

Hyang began to worry about various things because of Jinpyeong, who had forgotten the most basic knowledge about volume.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, the evaluation of Jinpyeong – who later changed his military title to Prince Suyang – was that his literary talent was lacking, but his military talent was excellent.

However, Teacher Samcheonpo had a different assessment.

“A noble who lacks literary talent participates in creating Seokbosangjeol[1]? That evaluation came from comparing him to his father and brother!”

That evening, Jinpyeong submitted a written reflection to Hyang, proving Teacher Samcheonpo’s assessment correct.

* * *

While Hyang teased Jinpyeong about the incident, the steam locomotive that had emerged from the workshop slowly moved back and forth along the pre-installed railroad track. Before placing it on the test track installed along the boundary of Area 51, they were checking its condition.

“How is it?”

In response to Hyang’s question, the artisan operating the locomotive promptly answered.

“No issues!”

“Is that so? Then let’s proceed with the formal testing.”

With Hyang’s permission, the steam locomotive ascended onto the test track.

The official testing had begun.

* * *

As the ongoing tests yielded positive results, Hyang formally reported to King Sejong.

“A self-propelled cart utilizing a steam engine has been completed?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Upon Hyang’s report, King Sejong immediately descended from the council hall.

“Then let’s go and see it.”

“Your Majesty! The state affairs…”

The ministers rose in surprise, trying to stop King Sejong, but he simply replied.

“I can attend to them after I return, can’t I? It’s not the first time I’ve come home a little late, is it?”

“That is true…”

The ministers answered in a subdued voice and hastily rose from their seats to follow King Sejong.

* * *

As they approached Area 51, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“It seems to be expanding.”

At King Sejong’s observation, Hyang’s expression turned troubled.

As the reform progressed and the types, quantities, and sizes of items manufactured and tested in Area 51 grew, the district itself was steadily increasing in size.

Initially, it occupied about half of the southern district of Hanseong, but now its territory had expanded beyond the city walls to cover approximately half of Yongsan Plain.

From an aerial view, Area 51 encompassed everything except the eastern slope of Namsan (South Mountain).

“As the size of the equipment we make and test grew larger, it became inevitable.”

“Have you considered establishing additional sites elsewhere?”

“Communication and confidentiality would be difficult.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Nothing is ever easy.”

* * *

Arriving at Area 51, King Sejong and the ministers observed the Iron Horse and exclaimed in admiration.

“Seeing it clad in iron armor all over, it truly looks sturdy!”

“The sound of the escaping steam is like the breathing of a ferocious beast!”

Against the backdrop of the ministers’ exclamations, King Sejong, who had been examining the steam locomotive, asked Hyang.

“How much does it weigh?”

“900 gwan (approximately 3.4 tons).”

“It’s heavier than it looks!”

As King Sejong marveled at the weight, which was far heavier than its appearance suggested, Hyang explained the reason.

“That’s because everything is made of iron.”

“Is that so? Then how much can it carry?”

“Including the weight of the connected carts, it can carry 2,500 gwan (approximately 9.4 tons).”

“It’s quite powerful! And how fast can it travel?”

“With a load of 2,500 gwan, it can travel 90 ri (approximately 36 km) in half a shichen.”

“The speed is impressive too!”

King Sejong showered Hyang with exclamations of admiration as he listened to his explanations. Meanwhile, Kim Jeom’s eyes, who had been listening to Hyang’s explanations from behind, began to gleam fiercely.

‘Hmm? If we do this right, it could be profitable.’

As King Sejong meticulously inspected the freight and passenger cars connected to the steam locomotive, he turned to Hyang.

“Can it move now?”

“Yes. Would you like to take a ride?”

“Certainly!”

King Sejong answered as if he had been waiting for this, and Hyang guided him and the ministers to the passenger car.

“The interior is quite plain.”

Seeing the passenger compartment with two rows of wooden bench seats, King Sejong commented in a matter-of-fact tone.

“We plan to divide the passenger section into different classes later.”

“Divide into classes? Like thatched and tiled houses? Then you’ll also differentiate the fares?”

“Yes.”

As Hyang answered, King Sejong, who had been nodding his head, turned to Kim Jeom.

“Minister of Finance.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“When this machine eventually travels throughout Joseon, study how we should handle it.”

“I shall obey your command.”

Kim Jeom answered with enthusiasm. His mind had already been racing furiously from the moment Hyang mentioned “dividing into classes.”

‘I hear the sound of money coming in!’

* * *

The train carrying King Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers completed two laps around the test track in Area 51.

“Bleurgh!”

As they disembarked from the train after the test run, many of the ministers began to vomit as soon as their feet touched the ground.

And the scribes recorded all of this.

It was ‘officially recorded motion sickness.’

King Sejong, who had disembarked from the passenger car with a slightly pale face, turned to Hyang.

“It’s a bit dizzying. This aspect needs improvement.”

“We are currently researching it.”

“Make sure to improve it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After repeatedly urging Hyang, King Sejong moved on to the next matter.

“So, has an official name been chosen for this self-propelled cart?”

“Not yet. Please bestow a name, Your Majesty.”

At Hyang’s request, King Sejong pondered for a moment and soon found a suitable name.

“Since it carries many people and cargo and moves swiftly, ‘Iron Horse’ would be fitting.”

“A truly excellent name.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

As King Sejong named it the ‘Iron Horse,’ Hyang and the ministers all bowed their heads, echoing that it was a fine name.

‘They say people think alike… ’

Hyang, who had been the first to respond, muttered inwardly.

* * *

After the test ride of the Iron Horse, King Sejong and the ministers returned to the palace and soon exchanged opinions on how to utilize it.

“I certainly believe it’s a useful machine. What do you think?”

“Although the Crown Prince said it needs some improvements, I believe it will be sufficiently useful even in its current state.”

“I agree, Your Majesty. Traveling 90 ri in half a shichen means it can cover 180 ri (approximately 72 km) in one shichen. Considering the cargo capacity of the Iron Horse, this can bring tremendous benefits!”

While all the ministers provided positive responses, the one who stepped forward most actively was Jo Mal-saeng.

“We must adopt it as soon as possible! Imagine using the Iron Horse for troop transportation. The soldiers can travel long distances without getting tired!”

As most of the ministers showed favorable reactions, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“How long will it take to have the Iron Horse running throughout Joseon?”

“It’s impossible in a short period. We should expect at least ten years.”

“Why is that?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Hyang explained the reasons.

“First, the ironworks in Anju alone cannot supply the necessary amount of iron. Not only is the quantity required to build the Iron Horse substantial, but the amount of iron needed to lay the railroad tracks is also considerable.”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

As King Sejong nodded, Hyang explained the next reason.

“The second reason is even more problematic. It’s the rivers that run through Joseon’s territory. As a simple example, even the Han River that flows south of Hanseong must be crossed by boat.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s point, the atmosphere in the council hall grew heavy.

‘These gentlemen! What are they, teenagers? Why are their mood swings so extreme?’

Grumbling inwardly, Hyang promptly proposed a solution.

“The issue of bridges will be solved as soon as we gain experience through the ongoing road construction.

As we build bridges one by one over the large and small rivers across Joseon, we will gain the experience to construct bridges even over large rivers like the Han River and the Daedong River.”

Hyang’s explanation somewhat brightened the mood of King Sejong and the ministers. Hyang continued his explanation.

“The most crucial aspect is training those who will operate the Iron Horse. Therefore, I humbly suggest replacing the horse-drawn carriages moving within Hanseong with the Iron Horse.”

“Oh?”

“Pardon?”

1. Seokbosangjeol is a collection of Buddhist hymns and chants compiled during the reign of King Sejong in the Joseon Dynasty. It contains musical notations and lyrics for various Buddhist rituals and ceremonies. The term literally means “Detailed Explanations of the Musical Notations for Buddhist Chants.[↩]

Chapter 281
Chug-Chug, Puff-Puff! (2)

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers, who had been uttering questions, soon nodded their heads.

“That would work.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“In that case, it’s rather fortunate that the plan was postponed.”

“As they say, ‘The old man lost his horse, but who knows if it might be a blessing in disguise?'”

Following King Sejong’s positive response, the ministers also showed similar reactions and added their remarks.

* * *

Based on Im Sun-wook and Hyang’s proposal, a plan was devised to prioritize operating horse-drawn carriages connecting the east, west, south, and north of Hanseong.

The plan was promptly prepared. However, the actual implementation was pushed back due to the issue of horses to pull the carriages.

For the small carriages ridden by the nobles of Ming and Goryeo, there were no significant problems even with the small-sized Joseon or Jurchen horses.

However, the horse-drawn carriages to be operated within Hanseong were much larger in size.

“The carriages we’ve used so far cannot ensure profitability.”

At Hyang’s words, Im Sun-wook also nodded.

“That’s right. To generate proper profits, we need to carry at least 30 to 40 people at a time.”

“The problem is that the current Joseon or Jurchen horses are not up to the task if we do that.”

Calculations showed that if small Joseon or Jurchen horses were used, at least six horses would need to be harnessed to each carriage, prompting the officials to seek new measures.

Consequently, it was decided to use horses from the Western Regions, especially extra-large horses, imported through Mansur, to pull the horse-drawn carriages.

The issue was that although they continued to import stallions and mares through Mansur, they could only bring in 20 to 30 horses at a time, and the extra-large horses were particularly limited to just 2 to 4.

To intensively manage the imported horses, horse pastures were established near Hanseong and Gyeonggi.(Note 1)

The purpose of these horse pastures was to breed and manage the horses from the Western Regions imported through Mansur and to crossbreed them with Joseon and Jurchen horses to raise superior breeds.

Although foals were born in the horse pastures established in Hanseong and Gyeonggi, it took at least 4 to 5 years for those horses to mature, so the operation of Hanseong’s horse-drawn carriages had to be postponed until then.

However, when the first-generation horses born in the horse pastures reached maturity, a war broke out in Liaodong.

To pursue Yi Manchu and Montemu and block their path for interception, not only the cavalry but also the infantry needed to move swiftly.

As a result, all the mature horses in the horse pastures, except for the stallions, were requisitioned by the military, and the operation of Hanseong’s horse-drawn carriages was pushed back again.

And with Hyang completing the Iron Horse, it was decided that the Iron Horse would pull the horse-drawn carriages instead of horses.

* * *

Seeing the positive reactions from King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang gestured to the eunuch.

Noticing Hyang’s gesture, the eunuch brought a large diagram.

Hyang turned the cover and continued.

“This is the Hanseong circular train utilizing the Iron Horse, as proposed by the research institute and Area 51.”

The picture revealed after turning the cover depicted Hyang’s Iron Horse, small freight cars supplying the necessary coal and water for the Iron Horse, and two connected passenger cars.

Hyang pointed at the passenger cars with a pointer and explained.

“Each passenger car can carry 60 passengers. Since we will be operating with two connected cars, it can carry a total of 120 passengers.”

“What’s the basis for that calculation?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang turned the page of the diagram.

The next page showed a top-down view of the passenger car.

“By creating seats along the left and right walls of the passenger car, 15 people can sit on each side. And by attaching poles to the ceiling in front of those seats and hanging loops on the poles, we can create standing spaces for an additional 30 people. That’s how we arrive at 60 people. Of course, if we disregard proper spacing and maximize the capacity, it can carry up to 130 people.”

“130 people? Are you certain?”

As King Sejong asked, unable to believe it, Hyang promptly answered.

“We conducted experiments in Area 51. The Iron Horse successfully pulled and moved two fully-loaded passenger cars, each carrying 130 people, for a total of 260 passengers.”

“Impressive.”

“Of course, if we carry that many, comfort is out of the question.”

‘At least in this era, I won’t create a hell train!’

Hyang inwardly made a firm resolution while explaining to King Sejong.

At Hyang’s explanation, the ministers exchanged opinions among themselves.

“If we combine two cars, it’s 120 people… Will it be profitable?”

The ministers’ questions were directed at Kim Jeom. Receiving the gazes of King Sejong and the ministers, Kim Jeom immediately answered.

“Wouldn’t that depend on the route, the distance between stations, and the operating frequency?”

As Kim Jeom replied, the gazes of King Sejong and the ministers turned back to Hyang.

Hyang once again turned the page of the diagram. The newly revealed page featured a route map based on the map of Hanseong.

“It resembles the Chinese character for ‘Jeong’ (丁). Anyway… Based on that route, it seems we would need to pass through Sungnyemun Gate or reconstruct the city walls. Am I right?”

“That’s correct.”

Hyang traced the route map with the pointer and explained.

“The most basic axis is the east-west axis that runs back and forth across Hanseong. The largest station will be built in front of Six Ministries Street.”

“I understand that, but the issue is the route that goes out through Sungnyemun Gate. Why was that route created?”

“The Iron Horse and passenger cars require constant maintenance. However, Hanseong is already filled with houses and people, so there’s no space to build maintenance facilities. Therefore, we will create maintenance areas in the west of Area 51 and the north of Maponaru. And on the land between Sungnyemun Gate and these maintenance depots, I’d like to construct a housing complex for officials without homes.”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, the eyes of young officials, including scribes and clerks, began to sparkle.

As the saying “Send people to Hanyang and horses to Jeju” proves, from this time, Hanseong was showing signs of population concentration.

Families of nobles who passed the civil service examination and became central government officials, those who came to the capital in search of potential opportunities, and others with various reasons gathered in Hanseong. As a result, the number of people making money by renting out houses increased, and so did the number of people struggling with the hardships of living in rented rooms.

Especially for newly appointed officials from impoverished families who could not receive support from their parents or clans, they had to live in rented rooms.

And this rented life was by no means easy.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, the 15th-century Joseon scholar-official Kim Jong-jik (1431-1492) wrote the following poem:

“The few houses in the city, I’ve stayed in all of them. At times, I’ve been driven out, Wandering frequently east and west.” (Note 2)

Therefore, the eyes of the young officials began to gleam fiercely.

Hyang pointed to the southern route with the pointer and continued his explanation.

“When officials or government workers seek rented rooms, the first thing they consider is ‘easy commute to and from work.’ Due to this issue, the rents for rooms near Six Ministries Street and Gyeongbokgung Palace are very high. However, if we build a housing complex on the outskirts of Hanseong like this and assign train routes, we can solve the housing problem for officials and also lower the high rents in Hanseong to some extent.”

“Hmm… I see. What does the Minister of Finance think?”

At King Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom promptly answered.

“It’s worth considering!”

“Is that so?”

Listening to Kim Jeom’s answer, King Sejong slightly raised his head and surveyed the inside of Geunjeongjeon Hall.

The officials, scribes, and clerks present to assist the ministers were concentrating on the meeting like never before.

‘It seems fine, but something feels off.’

Feeling somewhat uneasy, King Sejong reviewed Hyang’s explanation.

After pondering for a moment, King Sejong realized what he had overlooked.

“Hyang, about the train operation you mentioned earlier.”

“Please ask, Your Majesty.”

“When will you start and end the train service?”

“We will start operating when the sun rises and end when the sun sets.”

“In that case, won’t the southern route be problematic? Even now, officials often work late into the night. If they leave work after sunset, won’t they have to walk a long distance to get home?”

At King Sejong’s question, all the officials in Geunjeongjeon Hall simultaneously shouted in their minds.

‘Then please reduce our workload!’

However, as the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Hyang immediately provided an answer to King Sejong.

“We can arrange special schedules for that part. In the morning, we will operate at 2-gak (approximately 30-minute) intervals. Around the time of leaving work, we will also operate at 1-gak intervals for 1 shichen (2 hours). And after the sun has completely set, we will operate at 1-shichen intervals until haejeongssi (10 PM or 10:30 PM). We chose haejeongssi as the standard because it’s the time when Sungnyemun Gate closes.”

King Sejong nodded after briefly calculating based on Hyang’s explanation.

“That sounds good. Most officials already sleep in their lodgings if they work past that time anyway.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Listening to the conversation between the father and son, the mid and low-level officials had to hold back their tears.

‘Ugh!’

‘Why don’t you just tell us not to go home at all?’

Afterward, there was a discussion about the train frequency on the east-west route of Hanseong, but there were no significant objections, so they quickly moved on.

However, what drew the ministers’ attention was the space that the railroad tracks for the train would occupy.

“The Iron Horse and passenger cars are quite large. Will the turning space at the end of the route be sufficient?”

In response to the question from the Minister of Construction (formerly the Minister of Public Works), Hyang promptly answered.

“Based on the experiments conducted in Area 51, it’s sufficient.”

The Iron Horse, which made its first appearance this time, was slightly larger in size than George Stephenson’s Rocket. Therefore, it did not require much turning space at the end of the route to change the train’s direction.

After various opinions were coordinated, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Then, proceed with operating the Iron Horse instead of the horse-drawn carriages.”

“We shall obey your command.”

Having settled the agenda, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Hyang, about the housing complex for officials without homes that you mentioned earlier.”

“Please ask, Your Majesty.”

“It’s a good idea, but wouldn’t it be insufficient to have just houses?”

“I have considered that as well. As a significant number of houses will be built, we will also establish stores, markets, and clinics. The same goes for police stations and fire stations. Furthermore, we will establish a marketplace, a commoner’s school, and a middle school together.”

King Sejong, who had been imagining it in his mind for a moment based on Hyang’s explanation, nodded.

“The families of the officials will be delighted.”

“Indeed, they will.”

“What do you think, ministers?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, the ministers immediately bowed their heads.

“We, too, have suffered greatly from the hardships of living in rented rooms in our youth. If such a housing complex is built for officials without homes and their families to reside in, their praise will resound to the heavens.”

“Is that so? Then let’s study it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Thus, the second ‘planned city’ in Joseon’s history was created.

The first was led by Hyang during the process of restoring the district that was lost in the Great Fire of Hanseong, and this was the second.

In later years, this housing complex led by Hyang became the most valuable land in Joseon.

The fact that various amenities were established from the beginning, making life convenient, played a part, but the biggest reason was the commoner’s school and middle school located in this housing complex.

As they were the children of officials working in the government, the educational level of the commoner’s school and middle school also exceeded the average.

Moreover, since all the neighbors were officials, they boasted an immense network. Eventually, wealthy merchants or landowners built houses near this housing complex and enrolled their children and grandchildren in the commoner’s school of the housing complex.

* * *

Note 1: Research on horse pastures in the Joseon Dynasty. Lee Hong-doo, Professor at Hongik University. Northeast Asian History Journal, Issue 55.

Note 2: Joseon Dynasty scholar-officials Yi Hwang and Kim Jong-jik also lived in ‘rented rooms.’ Ju Young-jae, Reporter. Kyunghyang Shinmun. 2015.03.09.

http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?art_id=201503080851491

Chapter 282
Chug-Chug, Puff-Puff! (3)

The agenda regarding the ‘Hanseong Circular Train’ and the ‘Officials’ Housing Complex’ was decided. However, the agenda related to the railroad did not end there.

A week later, a state council meeting was held at Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Then, the next agenda is about the ‘Establishment of the Third Ironworks.'”

As the ‘Third Ironworks’ was brought up as an agenda item, the atmosphere of King Sejong and the ministers became heavy.

“Didn’t the Second Ironworks in Musan begin producing iron not long ago?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Jeong Yeok, the Minister of National Development, promptly answered.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. However, the amount of iron required by the people of Joseon is continuously increasing, and it’s becoming difficult for the First Ironworks in Anju and the Second Ironworks in Cheongjin to meet that demand.”

“Is it that severe?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Jeong Yeok’s gesture, a lower-ranking official who had been waiting in the back stepped forward with a diagram. After bowing to King Sejong, the lower-ranking official hung the diagram on a screen and stepped back.

Jeong Yeok turned the cover of the diagram with a pointer.

As the cover was turned, a large line graph with various colors was revealed.

“This line represents the monthly production of the First Ironworks. The next line represents the monthly production of the Second Ironworks. And this line is the total sum of the production from both ironworks, and the last one is the consumption of iron throughout Joseon.”

King Sejong examined the graph while listening to Jeong Yeok’s explanation, showing an intrigued expression.

“The people are consuming a lot of iron?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Looking at the graph hung by Jeong Yeok, the graph recording the amount of iron consumed in Joseon showed a steep upward trend.

Meanwhile, Hyang, who was looking at the graph, had a different thought.

‘These gentlemen are using graphs to the fullest extent, aren’t they?’

When they first learned about graphs, the ministers and officials had reacted with “What is this item used for?” But now, graphs and charts were appearing like licorice in a pharmacy.

“What is the reason for the people using so much iron?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom answered on behalf of Jeong Yeok.

“There is an increasing trend of replacing items previously made of wood or earthenware with iron. The most famous example is the ‘water bucket.'”

* * *

As the reform progressed, individuals who became wealthy emerged. While there were merchants, surprisingly, blacksmiths also accounted for a significant number.

The blacksmiths were able to acquire wealth thanks to the ‘Intellectual Property Office.’

The blacksmiths immediately registered the new products they devised at the Intellectual Property Office. The registered items were then introduced throughout Joseon through the official gazette.

Among the products introduced this way, the useful ones were immediately sought after by merchants who either made production contracts or paid royalties to mass-produce them in their own guild workshops.

Through this process, various items experienced what was called a ‘big hit.’

The most famous among them was the ‘water bucket.’

Previously, people used buckets made of wood or suitable-sized earthenware to draw and carry water, but the water bucket took their place.

As soon as it was released in the market, the water bucket monopolized the love of housewives. It was light and sturdy, making it convenient to draw and carry water, and it was also useful for boiling laundry or cooking glue in the kitchen.

Thanks to this, the blacksmith who created the water bucket became wealthy enough for ‘three generations to live in luxury.’

* * *

Kim Jeom, who had been explaining using the ‘water bucket’ as an example, continued.

“With the mass supply of well-refined wrought iron from the ironworks at low prices, many of these items are being produced. In particular, the mass production of sturdy farming tools is greatly benefiting agriculture.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, thanks to that, tax revenue is steadily increasing.”

“That’s excellent news.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, King Sejong’s face brightened.

Seeing this, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘Indeed, the rice of industry.’

* * *

As a large quantity of iron materials – guaranteeing above-average quality – were supplied at low prices from the two ironworks, Joseon’s iron culture flourished.

It was thanks to the state taking responsibility for the iron smelting process, which consumed the most resources in the production of iron products.

Blacksmiths across Joseon could obtain the iron materials they needed through the state-run stores to create their products. This was a blessing for the blacksmiths. Less skilled blacksmiths acquired superior materials compared to when they made them themselves, and skilled blacksmiths could easily and quickly produce even higher-quality iron materials with a little extra effort.

The items made with this supplied iron, especially farming tools, demonstrated superior efficiency.

When reclaiming agricultural land or plowing furrows in fields, the newly made farming tools did not easily break and could plow deeper furrows compared to before.

As proper deep plowing methods were utilized, agricultural productivity increased.

* * *

“I understand, but wouldn’t it be better to expand the two existing ironworks instead?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom moved to stand beside Jeong Yeok and began explaining.

“That’s one method, but it also has problems, Your Majesty. In the case of Anju, expansion construction has already been carried out, and the location itself is difficult to expand further.”

“What about the Second Ironworks in Cheongjin?”

“The Second Ironworks has limitations in the materials themselves, making it difficult to ensure profitability.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, King Sejong’s expression became serious.

“What is the issue with the materials?”

“Firstly, regarding the iron ore, the quality of the iron ore mined in Musan is somewhat inferior. Additionally, the quality of the coal mined in Aoji is also significantly poor.”

As Kim Jeom mentioned, the iron ore mined in Musan and the coal produced in Aoji had quality issues.

* * *

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, the iron mine discovered in Musan had problems.

The Musan iron mine was discovered during the colonial period. Although it was an open-pit mine, making extraction easy, the iron content was only 37-40%, so Japan did not pay much attention to it.

However, as Japan’s imperialistic behavior intensified, the Musan mine began to be fully developed.

The coal from Aoji was the same. The coal mined from the Aoji coal mine was lignite. It ignited easily but produced a large amount of ash and had lower calorific value.

This was the fundamental problem that prevented the production of the Second Ironworks from easily increasing.

* * *

“So, we need to build the Third Ironworks?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is the funding sufficient? No, seeing that the Minister is taking the lead, it seems there is ample funding.”

At King Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom answered with a small smile.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. Although we will need to be frugal for a while, completing the ironworks will allow us to solve even greater difficulties, so it is something we must do.”

“So, are there any suitable candidate sites?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Jeong Yeok stepped forward again and answered.

“Yeonil County, Your Majesty.”

“Yeonil County?”

At King Sejong’s question, Jeong Yeok immediately turned the page on the screen. The new page depicted a map of Yeonil County and the nearby Ulsan and Dalcheon County.

“This is Yeonil County.”

“Why that location?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Jeong Yeok pointed to Dalcheon County and explained.

“Here, in Dalcheon County, there is a large iron mine. Although it is difficult to obtain fuel for the blast furnaces, and the surrounding areas are all farmland and urban areas, making it challenging to locate, considering the size of the iron mine alone, it has sufficient profitability.”

“Isn’t the fuel issue still a problem?”

At King Sejong’s point, Jeong Yeok immediately turned the page.

The next page depicted a map of the entire Joseon. Jeong Yeok traced the eastern coast with the pointer and continued his explanation.

“If we lay railroad tracks along the flat land of this eastern coast and transport coal mined from Gangwon Province, it will be resolved immediately.”

“What about the means of transportation?”

“The Iron Horse, Your Majesty.”

“The Iron Horse?”

At the mention of the ‘Iron Horse,’ King Sejong briefly analyzed the situation.

‘They came up with this plan in less than a week after seeing the Iron Horse?’

King Sejong soon glared at Hyang.

‘It was you, wasn’t it?’

In response to King Sejong’s unspoken question in his gaze, Hyang answered with a slight smile. Seeing this, King Sejong let out a small sigh.

“Phew~.”

‘Now he’s even manipulating the ministers to move as he wishes. He must be afraid of getting scolded if he speaks directly. But you know what? Thanks to him, my work seems to be getting easier.’

King Sejong looked at Hyang with a meaningful smile.

‘What I’m currently researching seems like it will yield results in about two years, so let’s see then.’

At King Sejong’s enigmatic smile, Hyang suddenly felt a chill run through his body.

‘What’s this? Suddenly feeling chilly?’

Anyway, King Sejong soon focused on the agenda.

“If we use the Iron Horse like that, there’s no need to build it specifically in Yeonil County, is there?”

At King Sejong’s point, Jeong Yeok answered while pointing to Dongnae.

“It’s right in front of the Japanese settlement.”

“If the Japanese pirates are the problem, then Yeonil County is even more…”

King Sejong stopped speaking while examining the map and nodded.

“Janggi County and Heunghae County will block them from both sides. I understand.”

Having heard the explanation, King Sejong turned to the other ministers.

“What are your opinions?”

At King Sejong’s question, the ministers took a moment to organize their thoughts and began to speak one by one.

“I believe it is reasonable.”

“As the people of Joseon increasingly require iron, it is something we must do.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. If the demand increases but the supply is insufficient, there may be a resurgence of illegal mining to seek unjust profits.”

Before the ironworks were established, illegal mining was prevalent in Joseon. However, as the ironworks began supplying iron materials with guaranteed performance, illegal mining had become outdated. Nevertheless, if a situation of supply shortage occurred, illegal mining could flourish again.

Seeing that most of the ministers were in agreement, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Very well. I approve the construction of the Third Ironworks. I ask all of you to work together to ensure that the necessary tasks can be carried out smoothly.”

“We shall obey your command!”

* * *

After the meeting, Kim Jeom, who had returned to the Ministry of Finance and Taxation building, quickly assessed the situation.

“Have you finished compiling the list of items and quantities to bring back from Ming? Surely it’s not still incomplete, is it?”

“Here it is!”

As Kim Jeom’s voice became sharp, a subordinate official quickly ran over and submitted a thick report.

Kim Jeom turned the cover of the report and swiftly checked the items and quantities.

“Hmm…”

Flipping through the pages and verifying the numbers, Kim Jeom handed the report back to the official standing in front of him.

“The quantities are too small. Adjust them and come back.”

“It’s already more than double, though?”

“You fool! Is doubling something to boast about? In my days, let me tell you! If you paid tribute to Beijing and brought back double, they would scold you, saying, ‘Did you just go and play around?’ Tripling was the bare minimum, quadrupling would get you a ‘You did some work, huh?’ and quintupling was needed to be evaluated as ‘You’ll be successful!'” Where do you get off whining about doubling?”

“If we’re not careful, it could cause diplomatic issues…”

“You fool! Why are you worrying about that? That’s for those fellows in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to worry about!”

“Still…”

“Do you want to take the antler medicine bestowed by His Majesty instead of me?”

“I’ll revise it right away!”

As soon as Kim Jeom finished speaking, the official grabbed the report and disappeared. Seeing this, Kim Jeom clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! These days, the lads only know the tricks and not the essence!”

Kim Jeom’s voice resounded throughout the building.

The problem was that the administrative buildings located in the area called “Six Ministries Street (Six Ministries Street)” were tightly packed together, and right next to the Ministry of Finance was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As a result, the officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building had to grit their teeth while trembling as they held their brushes.

“Grrr!”

* * *

Note 1) Jeong Yeok, a civil official during the reign of King Sejong of Joseon, from the Haeju Jeong clan, holding the position of Chanseong. Comprehensive Information System of Korean Historical Figures.

Chapter 283
An Ordinary Day in Hanseong. (1)

A few days after the decision to build the ‘Third Ironworks,’ the ministers of each department, including Lee Jik and Maeng Sa-seong, gathered at a gisaeng house.

“It’s been a long time since we left work on time…”

“Indeed, it is.”

“At least these days, the lower-ranking officials are handling the workload well, so we can catch a breath.”

“Thanks to that, we can leave work on time like this. Hohoho!”

“That’s right. Hahaha!”

The ministers laughed cheerfully and exchanged their cups.

As the gisaengs entered the room and livened up the atmosphere with singing and dancing, one cup turned into two, one bottle turned into two, and the ministers’ faces gradually became flushed with intoxication.

Observing this, Maeng Sa-seong spoke to Lee Jik.

“Minister, how about we wrap things up soon?”

However, the tipsy Lee Jik waved his hand at Maeng Sa-seong’s suggestion.

“Ay! We’re just getting started, and you’re already thinking of ending it? Who knows when we’ll be able to leave work on time again? Let’s drink properly for once! Don’t you agree, ministers?”

In response to Lee Jik’s words, the ministers replied loudly.

“Aye! That’s right! Indeed!”

“Minister Maeng, are you showing weakness already?”

Seeing the ministers’ reactions, Maeng Sa-seong quietly stepped outside and discreetly called for the head gisaeng.

“Did you call for me?”

“After half a shichen (about 1 hour), dismiss all the gisaengs. And the rooms to the left and right of this room are all empty, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, until this gathering ends, don’t accept any guests in those rooms. And leave all the doors open. Except for the doors facing outside.”

“Pardon? For what reason are you requesting this?”

“There shouldn’t be any ears listening.”

There was not a hint of intoxication in Maeng Sa-seong’s eyes as he answered. At Maeng Sa-seong’s sharp command, the head gisaeng immediately bowed her head and replied.

“Yes, Minister. I will do as you say right away.”

“And bring in about three jars of the strongest soju. We need to get them dead drunk and send them off before any trouble occurs.”

“Yes, Minister.”

Maeng Sa-seong’s orders were swiftly carried out. As the doors of the rooms adjacent to the room where the ministers were gathered were all opened, the ministers clapped their knees in delight.

“Haha! It feels so refreshing and spacious!”

“Indeed! The breeze is truly refreshing!”

“Haha! With my chest feeling so open, it seems the alcohol is going down well! I’m not even getting drunk despite drinking?”

“Isn’t that thanks to the tonic you took, Minister?”

As soon as one of the intoxicated ministers mentioned the word ‘tonic,’ the atmosphere instantly froze.

At that moment, when the atmosphere had turned icy, Lee Jik filled his cup with soju, rinsed his mouth, and spat the alcohol into an empty bowl.

Seeing Lee Jik’s action, the ministers also rinsed their mouths with alcohol and spat it out, glaring at the one who made the problematic remark.

“There are things you shouldn’t say, even if you’re drunk…”

“I, I’m sorry!”

“Anyway, let’s drink again!”

“Yes!”

And so, the ministers continued their drinking. As half a shichen passed, the gisaengs left one by one as per Maeng Sa-seong’s order, but none of the ministers paid attention to it.

Because they had reached the stage where the alcohol was consuming them.

And as they reached that stage, arguments began to break out here and there.

The incident started with Kim Jeom and Lee Maeng-gyun.

“Minister! Isn’t this too much?”

“What are you talking about? If you suddenly say that, how am I supposed to know?”

As Kim Jeom questioned back, Lee Maeng-gyun raised his voice even more.

“The reciprocal gifts we’ll receive from Ming this time! Five times the cost of manufacturing a hundred guns! Is that even possible?”

“Well, it’s not that much. Why are you making such a fuss?”

“Not that much? Why don’t you go and receive them yourself, Minister? You have no idea how stingy the Ming officials are!”

“Even if they’re stingy, if the Emperor allows it, they have no choice but to hand it over, don’t they? If it’s the Emperor we know, it should be easy, right?”

As Kim Jeom asked back with an expression of incomprehension, Lee Maeng-gyun beat his chest and vented his frustration.

“That was before we crushed Yi Manchu and Mentemu!”

“So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“Don’t put unnecessary pressure on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I’m telling you!”

“Unnecessary?”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, Kim Jeom’s expression turned fierce.

“If you’re that unconfident, submit your resignation to His Majesty! Don’t whine about this trivial matter!”

“Trivial matter? This guy, seriously!”

“If you’re going to whine about such a trivial matter, then why do you keep asking for so much budget? Do you think the government’s budget is abundant? Should I make you start peddling goods like in the old days to cover your travel expenses for this upcoming envoy mission, huh?”

“Why, you little…!”

“Whoa! Ministers! Please calm down!”

As the atmosphere between the two men intensified, Maeng Sa-seong intervened to try and defuse the overheated situation.

“Now, now. How can we help it if the country’s situation is not good and work is difficult? The hardship is the same for everyone, so let’s forget about it with a drink. Come on! Have a cup each.”

Stepping in between them, Maeng Sa-seong repeatedly offered drinks to the two men. Finding it difficult to refuse the drinks offered by Maeng Sa-seong, the two men continued drinking until they became heavily intoxicated, and before they knew it, they had reconciled.

“All of this is because there’s so much work to do. There’s a lot of work, but we still lack people!”

“You’re right! Our kids are already traveling around the provinces! They need to check the crop yield in advance to know how much tax revenue we’ll have this year! Already!”

“Being an official is not a job for humans!”

“That’s right! Come on, let’s have a drink to that!”

“Let’s drink, Minister!”

“Phew~.”

As the atmosphere between the two men improved, Maeng Sa-seong let out a long sigh of relief.

“Now I can relax a bit…”

They say words become seeds, don’t they? Before Maeng Sa-seong’s muttering could even finish, shouts erupted from another side.

“Minister! Why are you doing this?”

“I did what I was supposed to do!”

Seeing where the shouting came from, Maeng Sa-seong hung his head. There, Jo Mal-saeng and Jeong Inji, the new head of the Censorate, were engaged in a verbal dispute.

* * *

The reason for the heated debate between Jeong Inji and Jo Mal-saeng was because of Lee Soon-mong.

When his ‘false sick leave due to an affair’ was exposed,Lee Soon-mong had to be confined in the Office of Records along with the perpetrator, Hwang Sang, receiving the punishment of ‘document organizing.’

However, as the military reform progressed, Lee Soon-mong and Hwang Sang were released from the Office of Records and began commanding the military in Pyeongan Province and Mureung Province.

Not long after Lee Soon-mong took command of the Joseon army in the Pyeongan Province region, Yi Manchu and Mentemu caused trouble.

In the process of suppressing Yi Manchu and Mentemu, Lee Soon-mong achieved decent results, and Jo Mal-saeng naturally recommended to King Sejong the rewards to be given to Lee Soon-mong.

However, Jeong Inji objected to this.

“While it cannot be said that Lee Soon-mong’s contributions in suppressing this rebellion were small, they are not significant enough to warrant praise. Above all, his sins are too grave.”

“His sins are too grave?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, Jeong Inji immediately answered.

“The one who holds the critical responsibility of protecting Your Majesty from danger while being by Your Majesty’s side not only engaged in an affair, causing a disturbance, but also falsely took sick leave and abandoned his post! This is an unforgivable great sin that cannot be washed away by anything! Promotion and rank advancement are absolutely unacceptable!”

As many ministers agreed with Jeong Inji’s protest,Lee Soon-mong only received a medal through the newly established system of ‘awarding meritorious service’ based on the grade of meritorious deeds.

* * *

Jo Mal-saeng objected to this very point.

“Considering the meritorious deeds he achieved in the process of suppressing this rebellion, his past sins can be overlooked!”

“They cannot be overlooked! He neglected his duty of protecting Your Majesty’s well-being while being by Your Majesty’s side!”

“But nothing happened, did it?”

“Nothing happened? Have you already forgotten about that incident, Minister? The palace intrusion in the Gyeyu year!”

“That was afterLee Soon-mong was punished! Don’t force the connection!”

“Don’t force the connection? Such incidents can happen at any time! Yet, the one who should always be vigilant in his position forgot his duty! I don’t think what I did was wrong!”

“This guy…!”

“Whoa! Ministers, why are you doing this in a good place? Please calm down!”

As the atmosphere on this side also became overheated, Maeng Sa-seong hurriedly intervened to try and extinguish the flames.

It took nearly half a jar of alcohol to quell the heated debate between Jeong Inji and Jo Mal-saeng.

It was thanks to Maeng Sa-seong’s efforts, a large amount of strong alcohol, and finally, using the ‘common enemy of heavy workload’ that he succeeded in extinguishing the flames.

* * *

As the drinking continued, similar incidents kept occurring.

The reason for these heated debates was that most of the policies implemented by the government were not the sole responsibility of a single department but required the collaboration of multiple departments.

In the process of gathering and coordinating, the participating departments repeatedly clashed and cooperated according to their own interests, and as a result, resentment accumulated.

Moreover, the ministers who took charge of the newly established departments were burning with the ambition to make their departments’ presence firm by successfully carrying out their assigned tasks.

Naturally, competition intensified between departments.

And whenever such competition intensified, there was a common phrase uttered by the heads of each department.

“You think I don’t know about that?”

Before the reform, the government was small in size. In order to operate state affairs with such a small size, officials of a certain rank not only held concurrent positions but also moved between central and local posts, experiencing various duties. As a result, by the time they reached the rank of Dangsangwan[1], they could quickly adapt to any department they were assigned to.

Because the ministers had been trained through that process, they were also well-versed in the affairs of other departments. And they used that knowledge to gain an upper hand in the competition.

* * *

The resentment that had sprouted amidst such competition was now erupting at this drinking party. As a result, heated debates broke out here and there, with voices being raised, and Maeng Sa-seong had to diligently move around to extinguish them.

The method Maeng Sa-seong chose to extinguish the debates was alcohol, more alcohol, and a ‘common enemy.’

He kept making them drink until they were heavily intoxicated and made the topic of ‘heavy workload’ the focus, directing the ministers’ anger towards their working conditions rather than their fellow ministers.

Perhaps Maeng Sa-seong’s desperate efforts were successful, as the heated debates that had been rampant at the drinking party were replaced by songs sung in heavily slurred voices. In the midst of this, four more jars of soju were brought in, in addition to the initial three jars.

Assessing the situation, Maeng Sa-seong sent word to the ministers’ residences through the head gisaeng. Before long, servants from the ministers’ residences came and carried the ministers away on their backs.

“Phew~. This is why I don’t attend drinking parties these days…”

Maeng Sa-seong sighed and grumbled.

“Why don’t you wet your throat a bit?”

“What is it?”

“It’s cold water with honey.”

“Thank you.”

Receiving the bowl of water handed to him by the head gisaeng, Maeng Sa-seong gulped down the honeyed water. After returning the bowl, Maeng Sa-seong put on his shoes and turned to the head gisaeng.

“How much is the bill?”

“It has already been paid.”

“Huh?”

At the head gisaeng’s words, Maeng Sa-seong tried to recall.

“No matter how much I try to remember, I don’t recall settling the bill. Which minister paid for it?”

“It wasn’t paid by the ministers but by the person in the west annex.”

When told that someone else had paid on their behalf, Maeng Sa-seong’s expression turned serious.

“Take me there.”

“Pardon?”

“Despite my appearance, I am a person who serves the country. Even if it’s just the cost of drinks, I cannot carelessly accept it from someone I don’t know. Take me there.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, the head gisaeng’s expression became troubled. As the head gisaeng hesitated, Maeng Sa-seong urged her.

“Hurry!”

“Yes. Yes…”

The head gisaeng led Maeng Sa-seong to the west annex. Although it was called an annex, it was not far away, just around the corner.

Confirming the location of the annex, Maeng Sa-seong’s expression became slightly troubled.

“They must have heard everything…”

It was a matter that could potentially lead to a scandal if mishandled, so Maeng Sa-seong pondered to find a solution. Leaving the contemplating Maeng Sa-seong behind, the head gisaeng arrived at the annex and entered.

“Please come in.”

“Alright.”

Entering the annex with a serious face, Maeng Sa-seong saw the person who had settled the bill and prostrated himself with a pale face.

“Your, Your Majesty!”

1. Dangsangwan refers to high-ranking government officials in the Joseon Dynasty who were allowed to sit in the upper hall (dangshang) during court meetings. These officials held positions such as ministers, vice-ministers, and other high-level posts. The term literally means “officials of the upper hall.[↩]

Chapter 284
An Ordinary Day in Hanseong. (2)

‘Why is Your Majesty here?’

Prostrating on the floor, Maeng Sa-seong muttered to himself while breaking out in a cold sweat. Although he had drunk less than the other ministers, Maeng Sa-seong had also consumed a considerable amount.

However, the intoxication had somehow disappeared.

“Come here. This is perfect. I was feeling a bit lonely drinking alone anyway. Come and have another drink with me.”

“Yes. Yes…”

Approaching on his knees, Maeng Sa-seong respectfully received the cup King Sejong offered. Maeng Sa-seong’s hand trembled slightly as he held the cup.

Seeing Maeng Sa-seong’s appearance, King Sejong continued with a slight smile.

“Hearing the ministers enjoying a banquet together without formality truly put me at ease.”

“Pfft! Cough! Hiccup!”

At King Sejong’s words, Maeng Sa-seong spat out the drink he was sipping and immediately prostrated on the floor, bowing his head.

“Please forgive me for my unseemly behavior!”

“Unseemly behavior? On the contrary, hearing the ministers enjoying a banquet without worries put me at ease.”

“I am unworthy!”

“That aside… Is the work that burdensome?”

“N-No, Your Majesty! We are the ones who stepped forward to serve Your Majesty and Joseon with utmost dedication!”

Although Maeng Sa-seong answered with a raised voice, he was inwardly lamenting his predicament.

‘Why? Why only me? Why? Why! Why do I have to be here? Why! Why!’

Seeing this, King Sejong continued with a smile.

“As expected of Minister Maeng. If Minister Hwang were here, he would have started complaining right away.”

“Surely not, Your Majesty.”

Despite his answer, Maeng Sa-seong inwardly agreed with King Sejong’s words.

‘Minister Hwang would certainly do that. Indeed.’

Hwang Hui, who had received the punishment of ‘lifetime service’ due to various scandals, was known for his increasingly sharp tongue after the punishment. When Maeng Sa-seong expressed concern about Hwang Hui’s behavior of pointing out issues even to King Sejong, Hwang Hui simply replied.

“Why should I worry about the future when I’ve already thrown myself away?”

“Minister!”

* * *

Continuing to offer drinks to the trembling Maeng Sa-seong, King Sejong continued.

“Today, as the state affairs ended early and I had some free time, I decided to go on a secret outing to observe the lives of the people for a while. However, when I heard that the ministers had gathered to drink, I came to see. Thanks to that, I was able to hear various inner thoughts.”

“P-Please spare my life!”

“Why would I kill you, Minister? It is I who should reflect.”

“N-No, Your Majesty! It is our sin.”

“It’s not a sin. Now that I have learned of my ministers’ hardships, I will contemplate a solution.”

“I am unworthy, Your Majesty.”

“Then, let’s have another drink.”

“Yes, yes. Your Majesty.”

* * *

After a few more rounds of drinks, Maeng Sa-seong was finally able to leave.

“Hmm, the night is deep, so let’s meet tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Be careful on your way back.”

Seeing Maeng Sa-seong’s back as he politely bowed and left, King Sejong stroked his beard while making a small nasal sound.

“Hmm…”

* * *

King Taejong’s evaluation of Maeng Sa-seong could be summed up in two characters.

-Like water (如水, yeo-su)

“Maeng Sa-seong is like water. Just as water does not discriminate between containers, he does not discriminate between positions. And just as water always maintains its level, he is always impartial. Being like water, that is Maeng Sa-seong’s greatest strength and weakness.”

After King Taejong’s passing, King Sejong, who had fully grasped power, came to understand what ‘the greatest strength and weakness’ meant.

Compared to the Crown Prince Hyang, all the talents recommended by King Taejong, such as Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong, had shortcomings, but they were not so noticeable as to be unacceptable.

Therefore, King Sejong appointed Maeng Sa-seong to important positions, and Maeng Sa-seong fulfilled his duties sufficiently.

Especially after becoming the Left State Councilor, he had been truly living up to his reputation by coordinating disputes between various departments and handling affairs impartially.

However, King Sejong clearly saw Maeng Sa-seong’s weakness.

Maeng Sa-seong’s greatest weakness was his indecisiveness. His unpretentious personality and lack of discrimination between people led to his indecisiveness.

Just as Maeng Sa-seong did not like to say unpleasant things to others, he also disliked hearing unpleasant things from others. Therefore, when a dispute arose, he tried his best to reach a conclusion impartially and reasonably. That way, there would be no gossip afterward.

Moreover, he always paid attention to coordination to prevent disruption of work due to conflicts among officials in charge of state affairs.

As a result, he rarely took the lead in expressing his opinions. While Hwang Hui would openly point out issues even to King Sejong if necessary, Maeng Sa-seong’s nature was to provide solutions only after problems were discovered.

Even at the drinking party earlier, when debates broke out, Maeng Sa-seong diligently moved between the ministers to defuse the overheated atmosphere.

* * *

“Even if not as the Prime Minister, he is the optimal candidate for the Deputy Prime Minister position. Anyway… Now that the ministers are struggling with overtime work, how should I solve this? Is it best to increase work concentration and handle as much as possible in the shortest time?”

King Sejong was contemplating a solution to the ‘harsh working environment.’ However, most of the methods would make the ministers or officials beg for their lives if they heard them. The reason for this was the gossip about King Sejong that had emerged from the ministers’ drinking party earlier.

Although King Sejong himself was not well aware of it, he was a person with a strong sense of lingering resentment.

* * *

“Your Majesty, shall I bring the Secret Police Unit Heads back in?”

Brought back to reality by the question of the Imperial Guard Commander, King Sejong straightened his posture and answered.

“Send them in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After a short while, three Secret Police Unit Heads entered the room again. Composing himself, King Sejong continued the conversation with the Secret Police Unit Heads.

“Last time, I ordered you to observe the surroundings of the artisans closely. So, have there been any changes?”

“Not yet, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief. Well, are there any inconveniences in carrying out the work?”

At King Sejong’s question, the faces of the Secret Police Unit Heads brightened, and they immediately answered.

“We lack manpower. Please allow us to increase the number of members.”

“Increase the personnel?”

At the request of the Secret Police Unit Heads, King Sejong stroked his beard and organized his thoughts.

‘Come to think of it, the Geomgye suffered heavy losses during the suppression of the palace intrusion in the Giyu year. However, although they are currently obeying my orders, they are essentially ruffians… If we’re not careful, the public order in Hanseong could become a problem.’

In the end, King Sejong bluntly asked the Secret Police Unit Heads.

“It’s not that I distrust you, but I am concerned about the public order in Hanseong, and I cannot shake off the worry that your existence may be exposed due to imprudent individuals.”

“We will stake our lives to maintain that, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so? But you know, as far as I know, the time when you lost a significant number of people was in the Giyu year. However, why are you making this request now, when there has been no request to increase personnel until now?”

King Sejong’s point was valid. In response to King Sejong’s question, the Secret Police Unit Heads of the Bukchon Geomgye explained the reason.

“Although we lost many in the Giyu year incident, the remaining members were sufficient to handle the affairs within the four gates. However, to properly handle the current task, we need people to go as far as Jemulpo. But we are severely short-staffed to do that.”

“I see.”

King Sejong nodded at the Secret Police Unit Heads’s answer. With the establishment of a branch office in Shandong and the maritime trade routes taking shape, Jemulpo was bustling with Chinese merchants from Ming. Not only merchants but also Chinese warriors who came to escort them were not few. The moment they set foot in Jemulpo, their weapons were confiscated, but they could not be trusted.

As King Sejong nodded at the Secret Police Unit Heads’s words, another thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘Wait, Jemulpo is not the only place where external spies are a concern. There’s also the Japanese settlement in Dongnae and Gaeseong, which is still a bit unstable. In that case… ’

Just as King Sejong was about to speak, he suddenly stopped.

‘But if their power expands, can it be properly controlled?’

After considering various possibilities, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Alright. I will allow it. However, I will add an additional order to it.”

“An additional order, you say…”

The Secret Police Unit Heads swallowed their saliva and looked at King Sejong. It was because King Sejong’s orders were rarely easy.

“Since you’re increasing personnel and expanding your power anyway, expand your surveillance network as well. Start with Jemulpo, Dongnae, and Gaeseong. Ultimately, it should cover the entire Joseon.”

“Jemulpo, Dongnae, Gaeseong…”

The Secret Police Unit Heads, who had been mulling over the areas King Sejong had pointed out first, nodded slightly.

Jemulpo and Dongnae were places full of Chinese and Japanese merchants. Therefore, there was no way there were no spies. Finally, Gaeseong was the royal capital of Goryeo. Although it had mostly disappeared now, in the early days of Joseon’s founding, it was a place where the spirit of ‘anti-Joseon’ was rampant.

‘It’s not an easy task, but if we do it well, we can dominate the nights of Joseon!’

Having finished their calculations, the Secret Police Unit Heads immediately bowed their heads.

“We shall obey your command!”

“And one more thing.”

At King Sejong’s words ‘one more thing,’ the Secret Police Unit Heads of the Geomgye became alert. Looking at the faces of the Secret Police Unit Heads, King Sejong continued.

“You are a secret organization that follows my orders. However, looking at the current situation, it’s in disarray. Properly organize the organization.”

At King Sejong’s command, the Secret Police Unit Heads looked at each other’s faces. Sensing the suddenly grim atmosphere, the Imperial Guard Commander sitting next to King Sejong quietly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“What? Is it a difficult task?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, the Secret Police Unit Heads looked at each other and answered.

“No, Your Majesty.”

However, the atmosphere among the Secret Police Unit Heads remained grim, and seeing this, King Sejong asked a question.

“Come to think of it, how is the Secret Police Unit Heads of the Geomgye selected?”

“The previous Secret Police Unit Heads nominates a successor before retirement, but ultimately, the Secret Police Unit Heads is determined through a duel between the nominee and the challenger.”

“So, in other words, the strongest one becomes the Secret Police Unit Heads, right?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Then, if you integrate into a single organization according to my order, the three of you will have to duel for the position of the leader, right?”

“Most likely, that will be the case.”

“It won’t be a duel to the death, right? If a duel to the death is necessary, it would be a great loss…”

“Yes, duels to the death rarely occur. It is a loss to lose a skilled fighter who would step forward as a challenger.”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

King Sejong, who had been observing the Secret Police Unit Heads eyeing each other, spoke again.

“Would it be alright if I recommend a candidate?”

“If Your Majesty nominates someone, we will follow.”

“No, the rules must be followed. That’s how you prevent discord. I’m thinking of putting forward a suitable candidate to compete with you.”

“A suitable candidate, you say?”

When the Secret Police Unit Heads of Unjongga cautiously asked, King Sejong turned his head and looked at the Imperial Guard Commander.

“Imperial Guard Commander. You will be the candidate.”

“I shall obey your command.”

As soon as the Imperial Guard Commander’s answer came out, the Secret Police Unit Heads simultaneously shouted.

“Oh, for f***’s sake!”

“Huh?”

As the Imperial Guard Commander’s face turned fierce upon hearing the Secret Police Unit Heads’s profanity, the Secret Police Unit Heads immediately bowed their heads.

“We, the lowly ones, have misspoken! Please forgive us!”

“Please forgive us!”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

“We are unworthy!”

Although they expressed gratitude, the Secret Police Unit Heads inwardly screamed.

‘Isn’t this too much?’

The nickname of the Imperial Guard Commander sitting next to King Sejong was known to every child in Joseon.

The Imperial Guard Commander’s nickname was ‘Joseon’s Best Swordsman.’

In the end, the Secret Police Unit Heads of Dadong waved the white flag to King Sejong.

“We will accept the Imperial Guard Commander as the leader here and now.”

At the words of the Secret Police Unit Heads of Dadong, King Sejong shook his head.

“No, rules are rules! Shouldn’t we follow the established practice?”

“If the Imperial Guard Commander becomes the leader, there will be no one to oppose it.”

Even the Secret Police Unit Heads of Bukchon stepped forward, but this time, the Imperial Guard Commander spoke up.

“Who knows about that? It’s best to decisively settle it. And I’m not the same as before, so who knows?”

“No way…”

At the Imperial Guard Commander’s exaggeration, the Secret Police Unit Heads shook their heads and inwardly shouted.

‘Like hell you’re not the same as before!’

Chapter 285
An Ordinary Day in Hanseong. (3)

“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.”[↩]

Chapter 286
An Ordinary Day in Hanseong. (4)

The ‘issue of talent recruitment’ was immediately reported to King Sejong.

Upon receiving the report, King Sejong had a secret meeting with Hyang that night. Sending out not only the scribes and clerks but also the eunuchs, King Sejong vented his frustration.

“Even when I want to have a conversation between father and son, I have to be so cautious…”

At King Sejong’s complaint, Hyang gave a wry smile.

“We have no choice since that’s the protocol. If we recklessly change the protocol, it could be abused by later generations.”

“That’s the problem… Let’s stop the complaints here and get to the main point.”

“Yes.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang straightened his posture once again and paid attention to King Sejong’s words.

“The Geomgye, no, the Milwi reported an issue. It’s about the recruitment of personnel.”

King Sejong told Hyang about the issue of talent recruitment that had been reported through the Imperial Guard Commander.

After explaining in detail, King Sejong threw a question at Hyang.

“Hyang, what was your reason for choosing the Geomgye? Was it simply because you wanted them to serve as ‘hidden ears’?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“I thought the Geomgye would be capable of sustaining themselves, so they would be useful. And I thought it would significantly reduce time and cost.”

“Time and cost?”

King Sejong briefly asked back and soon nodded.

Indeed, it would take a lot of time and cost to formally train individuals with the same level of skill as the Geomgye members.

Seeing King Sejong nodding, Hyang inwardly added.

‘If it were the 21st century, we would have recruited personnel through a rigorous selection process from special military units, but now Joseon is struggling just to fill the military with people… ’

The task of creating a real, usable military, not the 300,000-strong army that existed only on paper, was still ongoing.

“As you said, choosing the Geomgye can definitely save time and cost. But the future is the problem. Should we continue to recruit Milwi members from the Geomgye?”

King Sejong’s question was also a concern for Hyang.

‘Selecting individuals with capabilities but social constraints to create a royal guard force.’

This was the most common method used when creating a loyal guard group for the monarch, regardless of East or West.

Among the groups organized in this way, the most famous ones were the Janissaries.

However, there was also a problem that over time, these groups would come to control and shake the kings they were supposed to protect.

‘Besides the issue with the Janissaries, didn’t we also have political thugs in our history? Wait, is it appropriate to include political thugs in this category?’

After contemplating back and forth, Hyang honestly answered King Sejong.

“To be frank, although their merits are great, it is an undeniable fact that the Geomgye is a criminal organization. Therefore, we cannot continue to recruit members solely from the Geomgye. However, recruiting members through the civil service examination or talent selection also has problems. It’s not simply a matter of time and cost, but they may transform into another bureaucratic group and lose their original purpose.”

“My thoughts are the same as yours. Everything has its pros and cons.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

‘If you already knew, why did you ask?’

While grumbling inwardly at King Sejong’s words, Hyang outwardly kept nodding.

The father and son, who had pondered to find the best solution, inevitably reached a conclusion.

-Looking at those currently involved in the Geomgye, some entered the Geomgye due to their evil nature, but many others gave up their dreams and joined the Geomgye due to various circumstances. For now, we will focus on recruiting the latter and gradually shift towards finding and recruiting upright individuals.

“It feels like a makeshift plan, but this is the best we can do.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Alright. Let’s end it here for today.”

“Yes, Father. Then, please have a peaceful rest.”

After sending Hyang out, King Sejong sighed.

“Phew~. It’s not an easy task.”

* * *

Two days later, while working at the research institute, a eunuch came to Hyang.

“What is it?”

“Yes. Prince Jinpyeong requested permission to enter with the young princes to see the railroad model.”

“Jinpyeong?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Is it because of the princes?”

The research institute and Area 51 were areas where entry was prohibited except for those with permission. Jinpyeong had permission, but the princes did not yet.

“Let them in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The eunuch who received Hyang’s permission withdrew. After sending the eunuch out, Hyang grumbled softly.

“Is this guy really planning to do multi-level marketing or something?”

* * *

Unable to contain his worries, Hyang eventually rose from his seat and headed to the room with the railroad model.

Stopping the eunuch who was about to announce his arrival, Hyang carefully listened to the voices coming from inside.

“Did you see it well? Isn’t it amazing?”

“Yes, Prince.”

“What do you mean ‘Prince’…Call me brother. Brother.”

“Yes, brother!”

“So, study diligently and join the research institute to dedicate yourself to railroad research with me. Understood?”

“Yes!”

“Huh? Why isn’t Lim responding?”

“I, I prefer music more.”

“Oh my! How can a prince say such a thing!”

As Jinpyeong’s voice rose, Hyang immediately opened the door and entered.

“Stop right there!”

At Hyang’s intrusion, the room froze. Hyang looked at Lim, his seventh younger brother. Seeing the child, still full of baby fat, looking at him with teary eyes, Hyang looked at Jinpyeong with a stiff face.

“Jinpyeong, let’s have a little talk.”

Sensing the unusual tone in Hyang’s voice, Jinpyeong answered in a timid voice.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Moving to a place slightly away from the research institute with Jinpyeong, Hyang began to ask questions.

“Jinpyeong.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Did I ever pressure you to study railroads?”

“No, you did not.”

“Then, when you said you would study railroads, did I stop you?”

“No, you did not.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“I simply thought that railroads would become the core of Joseon in the future, and as a member of the royal family, it is natural to work hard for it.”

“It’s not a bad thought, but let me ask you this. If you force them, will it yield good results?”

“But the railroad is…”

“Is the railroad the only important thing for Joseon’s peace and prosperity?”

“That’s not the case.”

“The railroad is important, but everything else is important too. The music that Lim likes is also important.”

“Music is low-class, and for women…”

“What about the musicians and trainees of the Royal Music Institute?”

“…”

“And what about the task His Majesty assigned to Baek-yeon?”

“…I apologize.”

“As long as you understand. Jinpyeong, I am well aware of your dedication to the railroad. And I am proud of you too. But you know, you are so passionate about it because you like it, right?”

“Yes.”

“And because you like it, you want to recommend it to your younger siblings too?”

“Yes!”

“But you see, there is a saying, ‘ten people, ten colors.’ People have different preferences, so how can you recommend it thoughtlessly? Isn’t that right?”

“That is true. I was foolish.”

“You’re not foolish. You were just too eager. So reflect on this and don’t do it again in the future. Understood?”

“Yes!”

After giving advice to Jinpyeong, Hyang returned to the research institute with him.

“Lim, let’s have a little talk.”

“Huh? Yes…”

At Hyang’s words, Lim timidly left the room.

Unlike the princes who were not much younger than Hyang, such as Jinpyeong or Anpyeong, for the younger princes, princesses, and ladies below them, Hyang was as intimidating a figure as their father. It was not simply because he was the Crown Prince, but because whenever they were lacking or made mistakes, the teachers in charge of their education would mention Hyang’s name.

“When His Highness the Crown Prince was your age, he had already mastered not only the Four Books and Three Classics but also all kinds of Confucian scriptures…”

As they heard the teachers’ words, in the eyes of the young siblings, Hyang was someone who resided in a place far out of reach.

“So, I think it’s a bit too early for you to decide your path now. What you should do now is to diligently learn the teachings of your teachers and keep your body healthy. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Good. Then let’s go back.”

Comforting the timid Lim and giving him career counseling, Hyang returned to the research institute.

After the princes and Jinpyeong left, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. Suddenly doing child psychology counseling… By the way…”

Pausing for a moment, Hyang opened the window and looked at Jinpyeong disappearing into the distance.

“What should I do with that guy? Well, he had that kind of personality… Later on, he would overturn everything, but…”

Jinpyeong’s personality was one that focused solely on one thing once he set his mind to it. It was the same now. Studying and practicing martial arts were all for the railroad.

If ‘king’ replaced the position of ‘railroad,’ the ‘Sejo’ from the history before Hyang’s intervention would emerge.

“I have so much to do, and I have to worry about that guy too… Damn it! What a life I have!”

Hyang found himself uttering a curse without realizing it.

* * *

Hyang’s concerns did not end there.

“Your Highness, Princess Jeong-ui has arrived.”

“Jeong-ui? Let her in.”

A moment later, Princess Jeong-ui, who entered the room, politely greeted Hyang.

“Jeong-ui greets the Crown Prince.”

“Yes. It’s been a while. I’m glad to see you healthy. Please have a seat.”

Sitting on the chair opposite Jeong-ui, Hyang asked about her purpose with a gentle expression.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Your Highness, please make a request to His Majesty on my behalf.”

“A request? What request?”

“I want to study mathematics and astronomy and participate in research.”

“Huh?”

Hyang froze at the completely unexpected request.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, it was recorded in the annals that Princess Jeong-ui showed exceptional talent in mathematics and astronomy.

“Hmm… I heard about it. Jeong-ui, they say you are good at mathematics and astronomy.”

“You praise me too much. I have only had a taste of it.”

“His Majesty is well aware of your talent, so can’t you make the request directly?”

“It’s not easy for a woman to pursue academics, is it? Especially since I haven’t even had my wedding ceremony yet, I may be the subject of gossip.”

“Ah…”

At Jeong-ui’s words, Hyang nodded. Jeong-ui was 16 years old this year. Considering the current trend in Joseon, it was the perfect marriageable age, or rather, a bit late. If an unmarried woman were to study mathematics and astronomy and participate in research at a research institute filled with men, it would certainly be the subject of gossip.

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Hyang soon made a decision.

“Alright. I will make the request to His Majesty. However, there is a high possibility that you may have to have your wedding ceremony first.”

“If necessary, I will have my wedding ceremony first.”

“Do you like mathematics and astronomy that much?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. Well, there is a suitable reason, so let’s give it a try.”

* * *

In the end, Hyang made the request to King Sejong on behalf of Jeong-ui.

“Jeong-ui said she wants to learn mathematics and astronomy and participate in research?”

“That’s right.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong’s expression turned troubled.

“The ministers won’t stay still.”

“Many of the current teachers at the commoners’ school are women, aren’t they? What’s the problem?”

“That may be true, but they may take issue with a child who hasn’t even had her wedding ceremony working among men.”

“Jeong-ui said she is willing to have her wedding ceremony first if she must do it.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong sighed.

“Having exceptional talent is also a problem.”

“Isn’t it thanks to inheriting your blood, Father? Since you are outstanding, your children are all outstanding.”

“Flattery won’t work after causing trouble.”

Despite his words, King Sejong seemed to have softened a lot. After pondering for a moment, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“We’ll have to give an order to the Milwi (Secret Guards). Tell them to find a humble but well-respected family.”

Chapter 287
An Ordinary Day in Hanseong. (5)

“Princess Jeong-ui has shown interest in mathematics and astronomy and wishes to learn them. I am considering having her study at the research institute. What are your opinions on this matter?”

As soon as the morning court session began, King Sejong brought up this agenda item, and the ministers’ gazes unanimously turned to the head of the Censorate. Although his current nameplate read ‘Head of the Censorate,’ the one he had worn until recently was ‘Inspector General.’

Jeong Inji, who received the gazes of King Sejong and the ministers, organized his thoughts for a moment and immediately answered.

“Although they are considered miscellaneous studies, it is praiseworthy that she has set her mind on learning. However, since she is still unmarried, it would be better to assign a separate teacher for her to study.”

“Father, may I interject?”

“You may.”

As Hyang interjected after hearing Jeong Inji’s remarks, King Sejong immediately granted permission. With Hyang’s participation, Jeong Inji became tense.

“I am grateful that the head of the Censorate regards Jeong-ui’s studies favorably. However, assigning a separate teacher is not possible.”

“Why is that, Your Highness? If an unmarried princess studies among men, it may lead to a scandal.”

“Currently, all those who can teach mathematics and astronomy in the palace and the research institute are men. And you suggest leaving just two of them in a room? It will lead to an even greater scandal. It would be more helpful in preventing scandals to have her study in a public place.”

At Hyang’s point, Jeong Inji had nothing to say. After pondering for a moment, Jeong Inji immediately withdrew his opinion.

“I believe the opinion presented by the Crown Prince is correct. It would be better for her to study confidently in a situation where many people are watching.”

“Is that so? Hmm… I will ask the Crown Prince.”

“Please ask, Your Majesty.”

“I heard that the level of mathematics and astronomy taught at the research institute is very high. Will Jeong-ui be able to keep up?”

“I’ve heard that Jeong-ui’s skills are quite remarkable. And since it’s something she wants to do, she will do her best.”

“Won’t it be a hindrance to others?”

When King Sejong expressed doubt, Hyang answered with a wry smile.

“What could be more embarrassing than having inferior skills compared to a mere woman?”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong and the ministers simultaneously had the same thought.

‘This fearsome fellow! He never does anything that would put him at a disadvantage!’

‘Scary, so scary! When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, there will be endless lamentations!’

Regardless, Hyang continued his explanation.

“In our Joseon, the research institute is the only place that intensively studies and educates mathematics and astronomy. Since there are no competitors, the atmosphere has become somewhat lax these days, so there is a need to instill a sense of urgency.”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

After pondering while stroking his beard, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Very well. Listen, ministers. I think it would be best to follow the Crown Prince’s opinion regarding Jeong-ui’s studies. Diligent study and refinement… If it can serve as a good stimulus for those studying mathematics and astronomy, that alone is a good thing.”

“We shall obey your command!”

And so, it was decided that Princess Jeong-ui would learn mathematics and astronomy at the research institute.

* * *

When the news about Princess Jeong-ui reached the research institute, Jinpyeong muttered with a worried face.

“The path of hardship lies ahead.”

“Pardon?”

When a nearby researcher tilted his head, Jinpyeong continued.

“I know my sister Jeong-ui well. Jeong-ui will persist until she understands.”

“Ah, is that so…”

Jinpyeong gathered his reports and concluded.

“The person teaching Jeong-ui will probably sweat quite a bit.”

After Jinpyeong left, the remaining researchers whispered in a small voice.

“Is this what they mean by ‘the bloodline of His Highness’?”

* * *

A few days later, while Hyang was organizing his work in his study at the Eastern Palace, a eunuch came to inform him of a visitor.

“Your Highness, Princess Jeongso has arrived.”

“My sister?”

Hyang pushed the documents aside and ordered the eunuch.

“Let her in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A moment later, seeing Princess Jeongso enter with the eunuch’s guidance, Hyang welcomed her with a delighted face.

“Sister, welcome.”

“Greetings to Your Highness.”

“Haha! Why are you being so formal? We’re all family here.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeongso smiled and replied.

“That’s true.”

“Indeed. Come, have a seat!”

After offering a seat to Jeongso, Hyang sat across from her and looked at her.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor?”

When Princess Jeongso mentioned a ‘favor,’ Hyang’s face turned troubled.

Even after his rebirth, Hyang had maintained a psychological boundary with his family for a while. King Sejong and Queen Soheon felt a sense of disappointment, whether they realized it or not, when they saw the young Hyang, who had just started speaking naturally and learning characters, paying respectful courtesies to them.

The first to break through this psychological boundary was Princess Jeongso – initially granted the title of Princess Jeonghye, but due to the overlap with her aunt, Princess Jeonghye, she was re-titled as Princess Jeongso.

As a result, among King Sejong’s biological children, Jeongso was the closest to Hyang.

Seeing Hyang’s troubled expression, Princess Jeongso continued.

“Oh my. It’s been a while since I’ve seen our little brother make that face. Is it the first time since my hunger strike back then? Don’t worry, it’s not a dangerous favor.”

“What would you like to ask of me?”

“I want to try being a physician.”

“Pardon?”

At the sudden remark, Hyang’s face turned blank.

Seeing Hyang’s expression, Princess Jeongso explained the reason.

“A while ago, our child suddenly developed a high fever at night, and it was a big fuss. Fortunately, we were able to send servants to bring a physician and provide treatment, but there’s no guarantee that we can always time it well like that every time, right?”

“So you want to provide treatment yourself?”

“That’s part of it, but when I look at the maidservants in the household or the women in the neighborhood, quite a few of them have minor illnesses that turn into major ones because they don’t receive proper treatment. I wondered why and realized it’s probably because the physicians are all men.”

“Ah…”

At Princess Jeongso’s words, Hyang unknowingly nodded.

The main diagnostic methods used in traditional Korean medicine were observation (望, wang), auscultation and olfaction (聞, mun), inquiry (問, mun), and palpation (切, cheol).

These methods included observing the patient’s condition or changes in excreta (望, wang), examining the patient’s cough sound, speech, or the smell of excreta (聞, mun), inquiring the patient or caregiver about various things to identify the illness (問, mun), or taking the pulse (脈診, maekjin) or pressing on the affected area (按診, anjin) as part of palpation (切, cheol).

However, when examining female patients, it was mostly limited to asking the patient about her symptoms or taking her pulse. Carelessly touching a woman’s body was a grave discourtesy.

Of course, there was a solution to that.

“Aren’t there female physicians?”

“How many female physicians do you think are assigned to the Welfare Bureau, Hyeminguk (惠民局) and the Dongseohwarinyeon (東西活人院)?”

“…”

At Princess Jeongso’s question, Hyang fell silent.

The number of female physicians assigned to the Hyeminguk or Dongseohwarinyeon was not large.

Seeing Hyang’s expression, Princess Jeongso repeatedly emphasized the need for her to learn medicine.

“As a child of Father and a member of the royal family of this nation, shouldn’t I at least take care of the health of the women in the village where I live?”

As Hyang was making a blank expression at Jeongso’s words, he unknowingly muttered.

“Noblesse oblige?”

“What did you say?”

“Ah, no… I understand. Since your intention is good, I will speak to Father… No, if it’s such a good intention, Father would immediately approve of it, so why did you come to me?”

At Hyang’s question, Princess Jeongso gave a playful smile.

“Do you think I don’t know? If I tell Father, everyone from Father to the ministers will object, but if you say it, that won’t happen, right? It usually just passes without much issue. Why make things complicated? It’s troublesome…”

“Troublesome…”

At Hyang’s deflated expression, Princess Jeongso delivered the final blow.

“Isn’t that why Jeong-ui did the same thing?”

In the end, Hyang waved the white flag.

“I understand. I will speak to Father about it. Since your intention is not bad, I think we will get a good result.”

“Really? Please do.”

Having achieved her purpose, Princess Jeongso quickly disappeared to meet Queen Soheon and chat.

Seeing Princess Jeongso disappear into the distance, Hyang grumbled softly.

“I mistook it for the same case as mine… By the way, have I been deceived by both my older sister and younger sister? Then, am I the royal family’s pushover?”

Anyway, although it was Princess Jeongso’s request, Hyang also thought it was a necessary task.

“Since we’re doing it anyway…”

Hyang began to spread out a sheet of paper and draft a proposal.

* * *

Two days later, Hyang submitted a memorial to King Sejong.

“Producing female physicians for women?”

Upon seeing the title of the memorial, King Sejong immediately looked down at Hyang.

“Crown Prince, please explain it yourself.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang began by telling the story of Princess Jeongso’s visit to him.

“…So, she wants to learn medicine. Isn’t this a beautiful thing?”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers nodded.

“Indeed, it’s truly a beautiful thing that Jeongso had such a thought.”

“It is, Your Majesty. It is truly a beautiful thing for someone in a noble position to come down to a lower place and work for the people.”

As the ministers unanimously praised it as a ‘beautiful thing,’ King Sejong got to the main point.

“But why has that story developed into a memorial like this?”

“Aren’t there countless women throughout Joseon who suffer from illnesses?”

At Hyang’s question, Heo Jo, the Minister of General Affairs, immediately raised an objection.

“Female physicians are already being dispatched.”

“How many of those assigned female physicians are there?”

Looking at the history before Hyang’s intervention, the female physician system was established during the reign of King Taejong as medical personnel for women living in the palace. Later, during the reign of King Sejong, two female slaves were sent from Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang Provinces to receive medical education and then sent back. However, this was literally a ‘drop in the bucket.’

At Hyang’s point, Heo Jo fell silent. After silencing Heo Jo, Hyang explained to King Sejong why it was necessary.

“Looking at the situation in Joseon, the number of physicians is not large, and there are virtually no physicians who can treat only women. To properly diagnose and treat a patient’s illness, it is crucial to accurately identify the symptoms first, but no matter how much of a physician one is, they cannot carelessly lay hands on a woman’s body outside of their family. Therefore, I believe the best solution is to select women and train them as physicians. Moreover, the status of female physicians is also a problem.”

Hyang continued to point out the problems with the current female physician system.

The girls selected as female physicians were mostly government slaves. Selecting female physician candidates from among government slaves was because it was easy to fill the positions. However, due to their low status, they were often subjected to contempt and mobilized for tasks other than medical activities.

After pointing out the problems with the female physician system, Hyang presented his conclusion.

“Through the commoners’ school, even women of the commoner class have been able to acquire knowledge. Among them, we must select bright girls who wish to learn medicine and teach them medical skills.”

Thereafter, this issue was debated back and forth for several days. As the issue remained unresolved and only arguments were being made, King Sejong stepped in, and a decision was immediately reached.

“After continuous deliberation, I believe the Crown Prince’s opinion is reasonable. I hope you will establish policies accordingly. Any objections?”

As soon as King Sejong’s question ended, all the ministers answered.

“None, Your Majesty!”

“Huh?”

King Sejong tilted his head for a moment and then smiled enigmatically, reaching a definite conclusion.

“Since the ministers have no objections, establish the policies as quickly as possible.”

“We shall obey your command!”

The scribe who recorded all of this added the following:

-Thus, when His Majesty reached a conclusion, the ministers began to create policies to train female physicians for women.

The scribe comments:

Compared to the arguments that went on for several days, the conclusion was reached too easily. This is not limited to this case alone. Previously, issues that would have been quite sensitive are now being passed immediately once His Majesty makes a decision. Have the ministers been caught with some weakness?

* * *

That night, in Gangnyeongjeon, where the scribes had been dismissed, King Sejong and Hyang had a conversation.

“Women are increasingly making their presence felt.”

“As you said, Father, Joseon lacks people. We don’t have the luxury to discriminate between men and women.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong nodded.

“By the way, I’m looking forward to 10 or even 20 years from now. There will be individuals breaking through barriers and emerging from various places, starting with the commoners’ school.”

“I only hope they don’t become another barrier themselves.”

“We’ll have to prevent that.”

Chapter 288
The Nine Provinces (1)

While Yi Manchu and Mentemu were engaged in a bloody battle of cat and mouse in the north, operations targeting Tsushima and the Nine Provinces were steadily progressing in the south.

As Sejong personally oversaw matters in the north from the Hamheung temporary palace, Hyang took charge of the southern front from Eastern Palace in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“The operations against Tsushima and the Nine Provinces must never stop.”

“However, most of our military strength is currently focused on the north, and a significant portion of our finances has been consumed by war expenditures, with uncertainty about how much more will be spent. Might it be wise to postpone our plans?”

As Kim Jeom argued for a delay, Jo Mal-saeng immediately objected.

“Absolutely not! The Japanese merchants near trading posts are aware of the unfolding war in the north. They will meticulously gauge the extent of Joseon’s capabilities! If we show weakness now, the Japanese pirates may wreak havoc once again!”

Hyang nodded gravely at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“It’s a possibility.”

“But all our challenger-class warships have been deployed to the north!”

Kim Jeom remained skeptical, citing the absence of their challenger-class vessels.

Although few in number, the challenger-class warships had become the backbone of the Joseon Navy. They boasted far superior firepower, transport capacity, and operational endurance compared to the existing panokseon and other vessels.

In response to Kim Jeom’s remark, Jo Mal-saeng countered again.

“Wasn’t it already decided that the panokseon would take over their duties? Why do you keep mentioning the challenger-class warships? Are you genuinely concerned, or are you opposing for the sake of opposition?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s pointed question, Kim Jeom raised his voice.

“It’s because of our finances! Our finances!”

“Enough.”

Hyang interjected, having observed their heated exchange.

“I understand the Finance Minister’s concerns, but in this case, I believe it would be wise to proceed as the Minister of Defense suggests. Now that the eyes and ears of Japan are fixated on us, we must display confidence, even if it’s a mere show of force. Although it may be akin to ‘pissing with a morning erection,’ we shall allocate funds from the Insubu, the Crown Prince’s personal treasury, if necessary.”

With Hyang’s strong push, Kim Jeom fell silent.

Thus, the series of policies targeting Japan were able to continue unimpeded.

* * *

Tsushima was the first to undergo the operation.

Joseon first dispatched an envoy to the Lord of Tsushima.

“As promised, we will begin constructing our base in Asō Bay.”

“Understood.”

“We look forward to your cooperation.”

After informing the Lord of Tsushima about the base construction, Joseon promptly transported laborers and materials to commence the project.

The first areas where Joseon broke ground were Mizusaki and Toyotama.

“Ideally, we would transform this entire Asō Bay region into a Joseon naval base in one fell swoop, but that would make Lord So of Tsushima exceedingly wary. Let us gradually encroach upon it instead.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where should we begin first?”

“The Mizusaki and Toyotama areas seem suitable. They are not too deep into the island, and there is ample space to establish a naval station.”

“Then let us proceed accordingly.”

Following Hyang’s decision, a fleet of panokseon laden with vast quantities of materials and a large contingent of laborers entered Asō Bay.

News of Joseon’s movements in Asō Bay reached the Lord of Tsushima almost in real-time.

“Mizusaki and Toyotama…”

Upon receiving the report, So Sadamori, the Lord of Tsushima, stroked his beard as he examined a map. His retainers, who were studying the map alongside him, began to speak one by one.

“They have an eye for strategic locations.”

“Indeed, my lord. Those areas provide easy access to the outer sea.”

As Sadamori listened to his retainers’ explanations while observing the map, he lifted his head and glared at them.

“What about their approach to Izuhara?”

The retainers promptly responded after re-examining the map.

“The terrain is most unfavorable.”

“If they come by ship, they will have to circumnavigate the island, making their approach visible. If they come by land, they must cross Asō Bay and then traverse the mountains, which is not ideal.”

At the end of his retainers’ responses, Hatoyama, the most senior among them, pointed to a specific location on the map and spoke.

“The only concerning factor is Komoda. They could land troops there and then advance. Therefore, it would be wise to construct a mountain fortress at Shimobaru to block that route.”

Sadamori nodded at Hatoyama’s suggestion.

“That would be best. Make it so.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Having issued his orders, Sadamori reminded his retainers once more.

“Although Joseon speaks of peace now, we must never trust them.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Following the turbulent period of the late Goryeo Dynasty, when the Japanese pirates invaded Joseon, and the Tsushima conquest led by Yi Jong-mu[1] in the first year of Sejong’s reign, Joseon and Tsushima harbored mutual distrust.

* * *

As Joseon and Tsushima maintained their vigilance, the Joseon military began constructing the naval station.

The first task undertaken by the Joseon forces was to build a mountain fortress surrounding Mizusaki and Toyotama.

A mountain fortress with a radius of approximately 300 jang (990 meters), centered on Mizusaki, began to take shape along the ridgeline encircling Mizusaki and Toyotama.

Naturally, this process did not escape the watchful eyes of the scouts dispatched by the Lord of Tsushima.

Upon receiving reports from his scouts, Sadamori could not conceal his bewilderment.

“They are constructing a mountain fortress first? What are they thinking? Building a mountain fortress is no simple feat!”

Sadamori’s retainers nodded in agreement, wearing similar expressions.

Joseon-style mountain fortresses were not unfamiliar to Sadamori and the people of Tsushima.

Through their interactions with Goryeo and later Joseon, Sadamori and the Japanese had gained some knowledge of Joseon-style mountain fortresses. Moreover, an actual example of a Korean-style mountain fortress called Kanataki existed atop Mount Kurosei in Mitsushima.

As a result, following the Tsushima conquest, Sadamori and his retainers had built Joseon-style mountain fortresses at key defensive points. During that process, they had come to understand that constructing a Joseon-style mountain fortress was no easy task, leading to their current puzzlement over the Joseon Navy’s actions.

“Wouldn’t it be logical to first establish a dock and then build defensive structures?”

“Indeed. I cannot fathom what the Joseon military is scheming.”

Unable to find an answer despite their contemplation, Sadamori had no choice but to issue a fundamental order.

“Send more scouts.”

“Yes, my lord!”

The additionally deployed scouts continued to report on the movements of the Joseon forces.

As the scouts’ reports poured in, Sadamori grew increasingly perplexed.

“They are dredging sand?”

“Yes, my lord!”

The Joseon military was not only extracting sand from the rivers flowing into Mizusaki but also haphazardly excavating sand from the nearby white sandy beaches.

Upon receiving the report, Sadamori’s head began to ache.

“I have no idea what they are up to.”

* * *

While Sadamori writhed in frustration, unable to solve the mystery, the Joseon forces were busily at work.

“The mountain fortress will be built from here to there.”

An official from the Construction Department, who had accompanied the navy, examined the map and turned his head to survey the ridgeline where the fortress would be built. After roughly estimating the scale with his eyes, the official soon spoke.

“We will need a lot of sand. As soon as the water-lifting machines arrive, we must begin work.”

“The water-lifting machines will arrive with the next shipment in three days.”

“Then we should inspect the actual site where the mountain fortress will be constructed.”

As the official rose from his chair, Kim Gyeong-sik, the commander of the Tsushima garrison, added.

“I will assign an escort for you.”

“Thank you.”

Three days later, with the arrival of the water-lifting machines, laborers, and materials, the work began in earnest.

“Start by dredging the sand accumulated in the rivers first.”

“Yes, sir.”

Following the official’s orders, the foremen led the laborers to commence work.

While one group of laborers scooped sand from the rivers and transported it, another group began digging along the ridgeline.

Soon, combat engineers dispatched from Joseon arrived, accelerating the pace of the work.

As trenches of considerable depth were dug, resembling defensive trenches, a large quantity of steel reinforcement bars was transported.

Upon the arrival of the steel bars, skilled workers wove them together using wire. Once the steel bars were properly positioned, wooden molds coated with pitch were used to create formwork.

After the entire process was completed, well-mixed concrete was poured into the formwork.

Five days later, when the wooden molds used for the formwork were removed, sturdy fortress walls were revealed.

Naturally, the sand dredged from the rivers alone could not meet the required volume.

Therefore, the laborers began extracting sand from the white sandy beaches.

During this process, the water-lifting machines brought along played a crucial role.

Chug-chug-chug!

As the steam engines moved with a loud roar, freshwater from the rivers was sprinkled over the sea sand piled up in the filtration area.

After being rinsed with freshwater for several days to remove the salt, the sand was promptly loaded onto carts and transported to the construction site. Upon the sand’s arrival, the laborers in charge of mixing combined the sand, gravel, slaked lime, and water in a mixer and began the mixing process.

The properly mixed concrete was then poured into large containers and loaded onto carts using a crane. When the carts arrived at the formwork location, sturdy steel pulleys lifted the containers above the formwork, and the workers poured the concrete into the formwork.

Both the crane and pulleys were Hyang’s creations. The ministers, who had doubted the utility of the crane and pulleys, applauded enthusiastically when they witnessed their remarkable performance at the reconstruction sites of Bukhansan Fortress and Namhansan Fortress.

“We must immediately distribute these to all construction sites across the country!”

As the ministers chorused in unison, Sejong glanced sideways at Hyang and muttered.

“Indeed… I should seize him and shake him down thoroughly someday… He only releases bits and pieces when he needs something…”

Unaware of Sejong’s thoughts, Hyang grumbled to himself.

“Once the miniaturization and high-output of the steam engine are achieved, I must immediately create a power crane. A single scoop would suffice…”

* * *

After two months, a mountain fortress made of sturdy stone walls following the ridgeline was revealed.

“Unbelievable!”

Upon receiving the report, Sadamori jumped up from his seat.

Sadamori and his retainers left Izuhara and visited the Joseon military garrison.

“Welcome.”

“Thank you for the warm welcome. I should have visited sooner, but I was delayed due to pressing matters.”

“Not at all…”

After a formal exchange of greetings, Sadamori broached the main topic.

“I heard that a mountain fortress was completed in a short time since the arrival of the Joseon Navy. It is truly remarkable.”

In response to Sadamori’s remark, Commander Kim Gyeong-sik replied nonchalantly.

“It was a small mountain fortress, so the work progressed quickly.”

“Constructing a fortress is no easy feat, is it not?”

“Everything becomes easy with determination and a clear path.”

“May I take a brief tour of it?”

“By all means.”

With a frank response, Commander Kim personally guided Sadamori to show him the fortress walls.

‘How can this be!’

Upon examining the walls, Sadamori was rendered speechless. Although they were clearly made of stone, there were no visible seams.

Returning with a deflated expression, Sadamori stammered as he shared his impression with Commander Kim.

“It is truly astonishing.”

“This is merely ordinary. In Joseon, there are numerous fortresses larger and sturdier than this one.”

“Is that so?”

* * *

On the way back to Izuhara, Sadamori muttered, still wearing a dumbfounded expression.

“How on earth… Is such a thing truly possible?”

* * *

Footnote 1: Joseon-style mountain fortress on Tsushima. Lee Deok-il. The Chosun Ilbo. July 22, 2008.

https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/07/22/2008072201622.html

1. was a Korean general who led the Oei Invasion of Tsushima Island in 1419[↩]

Chapter 289
The Nine Provinces (2)

Sadamori was not the only one who was dumbfounded. His retainers also wore deflated expressions.

“To erect an impregnable fortress wall in just two months… This is no mere sorcery…”

As one of the retainers muttered with a dazed look, the surrounding retainers nodded in agreement.

Amidst the collective astonishment, the first to regain his senses was Hatoyama, the eldest among the retainers.

“If we were to attempt to breach that Joseon fortress wall, fire arrows would be utterly useless.”

Sadamori nodded at Hatoyama’s words.

“Indeed. Such a stone wall would render fire arrows ineffective.”

“The stone wall itself is not the issue. Did you observe the surroundings of the fortress wall?”

“I was so focused on the stone wall that I failed to take a proper look. What other tricks have those Joseon bastards employed?”

“They have cleared all the trees within a width of 10 jang (approx. 33 meters) inside the fortress wall and 30 jang (approx. 100 meters) outside. Even if we fire countless fire arrows, they will be rendered useless.”

“I see.”

With Hatoyama’s explanation, Sadamori finally nodded in understanding.

“And there’s more.”

Another retainer chimed in, following Hatoyama’s explanation.

“If you look at the fortress wall, there are no protrusions on the side facing the enemy. However, on the inside, there are protrusions at various points. These spots are undoubtedly where they will place their cannons.”

“Cannons…”

Sadamori muttered with a troubled expression.

Sadamori and the other lords of Japan were not unaware of the existence of cannons. Ever since Choe Mu-seon had developed them, Goryeo and Joseon had been steadily employing cannons.

Among the Ming Dynasty, Joseon, and Japan, only Japan lacked cannons. To overcome this situation, the Japanese lords had approached Ming merchants in an attempt to acquire cannons.

However, even the Ming merchants, renowned for their willingness to overlook anything for money, adamantly refused to provide cannons.

In the end, Sadamori had no choice but to accept the situation.

“Since those Joseon bastards are building a fortress, it means they intend to focus on defense. I suppose that’s a small consolation.”

* * *

Not long after, Sadamori received an absurd report.

“There are bizarre rumors circulating among the people?”

“Yes, my lord. They are whispering that the Joseon people are employing oni (demons).”

“Oni?”

The retainer relayed the rumors spreading among the Tsushima residents to Sadamori.

Joseon had not conducted the fortress construction in secrecy.

Simultaneously with digging the foundations for the fortress walls, they had cleared all the surrounding trees. This served not only to improve visibility but also to use the felled trees as construction materials.

As the work progressed in the open space created by the logging, numerous Tsushima residents witnessed the fortress construction.

Moreover, a considerable number of Tsushima residents were hired as laborers to extract sea sand, remove the salt, and transport it to the construction site.

The Tsushima residents who were employed and worked at the site gossiped about what they had seen to their families and nearby neighbors.

“Those Joseon soldiers brought huge chunks of metal and assembled them in a jiffy, creating a contraption as large as a house.”

“And then what?”

“After making that contraption, they put some black rocks into what seemed like a furnace or a muzzle at the bottom and set them on fire.”

“They put rocks in and set them on fire?”

“Yes! The rocks actually caught fire!”

The neighboring men listening to the conversation waved their hands in disbelief.

“Hey! How can there be rocks that burn in this world? Didn’t you mistake them for charcoal?”

In response to the men’s remarks, the man explaining raised his voice angrily, his veins bulging on his neck.

“You fools! Do you think I can’t distinguish between charcoal and rocks? They were real rocks! The rocks caught fire!”

“Okay… So what happened next?”

“When those rocks caught fire, bluish flames shot up. And before long, a tremendous noise erupted from that contraption! I’ve never heard such a loud and terrifying sound in my entire life!”

“So? What did the Joseon bastards do with that contraption?”

“They connected pipes to both sides of the contraption. One pipe led to the nearby stream, and the other pipe was drawn to where the sea sand was located. But do you know what’s amazing? The water from the stream gushed out through those pipes onto the sea sand! And in enormous quantities!”

“Enormous? How much?”

“It seemed like the amount that would take all the people in our village half a day to scoop up if we worked together!”

“Really?”

From the next day onward, the residents who heard the rumors stealthily lurked around the construction site to catch a glimpse of the water-lifting machine.

Chug-chug-chug! Whoosh!

“Oh my goodness!”

“Dear me!”

“Namu Amitabha! Namu Amitabha!”

Whenever the loud noise and steam burst out from the steam engine powering the water-lifting machine, the Tsushima residents watching would be startled and create a commotion. However, after a short while, they would gather again to observe the machine in action.

“It’s extraordinary…”

“Forget that, what about those rocks? Rocks that emit such blue flames…”

As the Tsushima residents whispered among themselves, they were even more amazed when they witnessed the process of the fortress wall construction.

They mixed the sand, washed free of saltwater, with a never-before-seen gray powder. The mixture was poured between wooden molds erected where the fortress wall was to be built. After just five days, a seamless stone wall was revealed.

“They pour water, and when it dries, it turns into stone? Isn’t that like limestone?”

“It’s limestone, isn’t it?”

Even the Tsushima residents, who were ignorant of worldly matters, had some knowledge about limestone. Thinking it was gypsum, some residents sneaked closer to the fortress wall to investigate, only to be shocked.

“It’s stone!”

They touched it here and there, and some even secretly struck it with hammers, but the fortress wall before their eyes was indeed very hard stone. A seamless stone wall had appeared in just a few days.

As the situation unfolded, rumors began to circulate among the Tsushima residents.

– The Joseon people are employing oni!

– The contraption that draws water from the stream is a transformed oni!

– They mixed sand with a strange powder, and a stone wall appeared! This is undoubtedly the sorcery of oni!

– The rocks that burn with blue flames are magical objects that fuel the oni’s power!

As such rumors spread, the fortress wall built by the Joseon people came to be known as ‘The Fortress Wall Built by Oni.’

As the rumors snowballed, the Tsushima residents began to fear the Joseon military. Over time, this fear spread further, and those living near the fortress wall and docks built by the Joseon people left their homes, taking their families with them.

* * *

Upon receiving the report through his retainer, Sadamori muttered with an absurd expression.

“Ha! If we were to attempt to breach that Joseon fortress wall, would we need to seek the legendary Momotaro?”

Although he brushed it off with a joke, both Sadamori and his retainers understood the unspoken truth.

– As long as the people of Tsushima fear it, there is no way to conquer that fortress wall!

War was not something that could be waged with just oneself and one’s retainers. Soldiers who would serve as the hands and feet of the samurai at the lowest ranks were essential, and those soldiers had to be recruited from among the people of Tsushima.

However, it would be a guaranteed defeat to lead soldiers who were so gripped by fear.

In the end, Sadamori and his retainers reached a conclusion.

“For the time being, we should just observe.”

“Indeed, my lord.”

“With the increased wealth provided by Joseon, it would be wiser to focus on building our own strength.”

* * *

Joseon’s decision to conduct the construction openly was Hyang’s strategy.

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous to make it public? If we’re not careful, the Japanese might discern the structure of the fortress.”

As the ministers objected to Hyang’s plan, surprisingly, Jo Mal-saeng sided with Hyang.

“It’s just the construction of a simple fortress wall. It doesn’t matter if they see it. Rather than wasting time and money trying to conceal it, it’s better to do it openly and swiftly.”

When the Minister of National Defense stated that there was no issue, the ministers no longer persisted in their opposition. In particular, Kim Jeom immediately switched to agreement upon hearing that it could reduce time and costs.

Observing the ministers’ reactions, Hyang continued.

“There is another hidden scheme within this strategy.”

“Another hidden scheme, you say?”

“Yes. How did you feel when you first saw reinforced concrete or the steam engine?”

“It was astonishing. We were also envious.”

“That was even after I had explained the principles beforehand. What if you had been unaware of those principles? How did the people of Hanseong react?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Heo Jo answered.

“Hmm… Everyone was amazed. Especially the steam engine, it seemed like sorcery…”

As Heo Jo answered absentmindedly, he stopped mid-sentence and looked at Hyang with a surprised expression.

It was not just Heo Jo. The other ministers also gazed at Hyang with astonished eyes.

After a moment, Heo Jo calmed his mind and continued.

“Indeed, if one is unaware of the principles, it would appear as sorcery or magic. The Japanese people, in particular, have a great fear of various deities and demons… Upon seeing the steam engine or concrete, their fear would precede their curiosity.”

“That’s right. By nature, when fear takes precedence, people cannot fully display their own abilities. If we sow such fear in Tsushima, the Nine Provinces, and various parts of the main island, the Japanese will not dare to underestimate Joseon.”

The ministers all nodded at Hyang’s explanation. Amidst this, Lee Jik drew a conclusion.

“It is said that the greatest victory among victories is to win without fighting. Your Highness’s strategy is indeed the ultimate strategy.”

No minister objected to Lee Jik’s words. Thus, following the strategy devised in this manner, the construction was carried out openly in Tsushima.

Later, when Sejong returned from Hamheung and received the report, he glanced at Hyang.

‘This fellow’s schemes are unparalleled! Even the Martial Emperor (Cao Cao) wouldn’t be able to match your schemes!’

* * *

While the garrison was being hastily constructed in Tsushima, a fleet set sail for Japan.

There were three fleets heading towards Japan. One fleet was moving to establish trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa (Osaka), while the other two fleets were heading towards the Ouchi clan and the Navy Commander of the Nine Provinces, the Won family.

The fleet moving towards Nagato and Naniwa departed from the Gyeongsang Right Naval Station. It was a fleet that moved openly, conscious of the eyes of the Japanese merchants staying in Japan Trading Post.

However, the other two fleets were moving in secret, so they departed covertly from the Jeolla Right Naval Station and the Gyeongsang Left Naval Station.

In particular, the fleet heading to the Iwami silver mine had to employ a deceptive tactic, initially turning north and then changing course southward in the open sea.

As a result, the spies hiding in Japan Trading Post reported the following regarding the movements of the Gyeongsang Left Naval Station:

– A fleet departed from the Gyeongsang Left Naval Station to support the conflict unfolding in the Liaodong region.

* * *

After the deceptive maneuvers, when the fleet from the Gyeongsang Left Naval Station arrived in Iwami, a report was delivered to Ouchi Morimori, who had arrived in advance.

“People have come from Joseon.”

“Is that so?”

After a brief response, Morimori addressed his accompanying retainers.

“The time has come for us to move towards our clan’s long-cherished dream of becoming the ruler of the realm. Everyone, do your utmost.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Chapter 290
The Nine Provinces (3)

The secret fleet dispatched from Joseon dropped anchor at Yunotsutsu. Although it was about 20 ri (approx. 8 km) away from Iwami, where rumors of a silver mine had spread by word of mouth, the deep indent of the coastline made it an optimal location to conceal the ships.

“Welcome.”

As Ouchi Morimori, the lord of the Ouchi clan, extended his greetings, the Joseon military officer who disembarked from the ship offered a respectful military salute.

“I am Ahn Sang-taek, a commander of the Joseon Navy.”

“Thank you for your efforts in coming here. But…”

Morimori’s words trailed off as he glanced behind Ahn Sang-taek.

There were five Joseon panokseon ships anchored along the coastline.

‘The scale seems smaller than expected.’

As if sensing Morimori’s thoughts, Ahn Sang-taek promptly explained.

“We decided to move with a smaller force to avoid drawing the attention of others. A second fleet will arrive within a few days.”

Upon hearing Ahn Sang-taek’s explanation, Morimori’s face brightened slightly.

“Is that so? Then how many more will come?”

“For now, the plan is to have three waves. The first two waves will mainly consist of troops to defend this area and the mine, while the final third wave will bring the mining craftsmen. Once the craftsmen properly assess the scale of the mine, adjustments will be made accordingly.”

As Morimori nodded at Ahn Sang-taek’s words, he introduced the person who had accompanied him.

“This is my nephew, Ouchi Mochimori. He will command the defense of this place and Iwami from now on.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

“I, too, look forward to our collaboration.”

Mochimori and Ahn Sang-taek exchanged courteous greetings, bowing respectfully to each other. Both of them were well aware of the importance of the person standing before them. Following their exchange, the military officers under Ahn Sang-taek and the samurai under Mochimori greeted each other.

As the Joseon military commanders and the key figures of the Ouchi clan engaged in formal introductions, the Joseon soldiers were diligently unloading cargo from the ships.

Once the unloading of the cargo was complete, the military officers and soldiers began constructing their encampment in earnest.

The samurai observing the movements of the Joseon forces soon noticed something unusual.

The Joseon soldiers were unloading an enormous quantity of sacks from the ships and stacking them to one side.

“What are those items used for?”

As Morimori, Mochimori, and the samurai were overcome with curiosity, Ahn Sang-taek approached and inquired.

“Ah! There’s something I need to confirm. Has contact with the surrounding area been thoroughly cut off?”

Upon hearing Ahn Sang-taek’s question relayed to him, Morimori promptly replied.

“All the residents within a radius of 5 ri (approx. 2 km) from this location have been relocated. The remaining residents are those who will work in the mine.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Speaking of which, what are those sacks used for?”

In response to Morimori’s query, Ahn Sang-taek answered with a hint of pride in his voice.

“They are used to construct defensive walls.”

“Used to construct defensive walls? May I take a look?”

“By all means.”

With Ahn Sang-taek’s permission, the people of the Ouchi clan observed the Joseon soldiers utilizing the sacks.

“Oh my… Such a method…”

The Ouchi people could not conceal their astonishment. Along the defensive line surrounding the dock and the encampment, the soldiers dug soil and filled the sacks. Once a sack was fully filled with soil, they tightly tied the opening and began stacking the sacks along the defensive line.

Witnessing the scene, one of the retainers spoke up.

“If we reinforce those dug trenches a little, they will become sturdy moats.”

At the words of the retainer, known for his keen eye for defense, Morimori and the others approached closer to examine the sacks.

“My goodness…”

Morimori and his retainers, who had picked up an empty sack to examine its material, were rendered speechless. The fabric used to make the sacks was no ordinary material.

The sack cloth was slightly thick but very densely woven.

“It’s quite high-quality.”

As Morimori made that assessment, some of the middle-ranking and lower-ranking samurai trailing behind him were quietly sighing while comparing the fabric of the sacks to the cloth of their own clothes.

The higher-ups had access to silk and high-quality cotton through various channels for their attire. However, the samurai of middle rank and below, apart from one or two sets of formal attire, were in a situation where they wore clothes made of coarse quality hemp or cotton.

Yet, the fabric of the sacks used by the Joseon military to fill with soil and stack was of even better quality than the cloth of the clothes they were wearing.

“The fabric of the sacks is quite remarkable. Isn’t it too excessive to use them for mere sacks to fill with soil and stack?”

In response to Mochimori’s question, Ahn Sang-taek replied with a slight smile.

“It’s made of gwangmok, so it’s not very expensive.”

“Gwangmok?”

“It’s a fabric woven using a device created by His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Ahn Sang-taek’s face was filled with pride as he mentioned ‘the Crown Prince.’

* * *

When gwangmok first began mass production, the merchants were perplexed by the lower-than-expected sales performance.

At this time, Hyang appeared like a savior.

“The low sales performance is due to the lack of price competitiveness in the selling price. Moreover, the people are not yet well aware of the usefulness of gwangmok.”

After pointing out the reasons, Hyang immediately offered solutions.

– Cultivate cotton in Japan and import it cheaply.

– Have the government and the military use gwangmok in large quantities to demonstrate its usefulness.

Hyang’s proposals were promptly accepted. In particular, the first solution also carried the intention of economically subjugating Japan.

However, neither Sejong nor any of the ministers heard Hyang’s monologue.

“Although it’s a proposal I put forward, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The military is always the easiest solution.”

Hyang recalled the painful memories of the 21st century when, in the event of problems in pig or poultry farms, people had to consume pork and chicken meat until they were stuffed.

“If they were going to handle it like that, they should have outsourced it to proper restaurants or chicken joints. It would have stimulated the market economy and been better, right? Instead, we had to eat the hit-or-miss meals cooked by the military chefs every time…”

And so, the very first product supplied to the military and the government was those sacks.

These sacks had also been touched by Hyang’s hands. They were simply made by overlapping two pieces of cloth and stitching them firmly. Hyang had called for Jang Yeong-sil.

“Let’s try to devise a loom that can weave sacks!”

“Pardon? Yes…”

Upon receiving the order from Hyang, Jang Yeong-sil returned to his workshop and shouted.

“Everyone, gather under me! Right now!”

Thus, the development of the loom began, but it was uncertain when the prototype would be ready. As a result, although the sacks were sewn by hand, the military units that received them quickly recognized their usefulness and began using them in large quantities.

The sacks demonstrated their true value in the process of hastily constructing defensive facilities in newly acquired territories.

It wasn’t only the military that took a liking to the sacks. The government also soon recognized their usefulness and began utilizing them effectively at disaster sites, especially during floods.

As people frequently encountered gwangmok, the demand for it gradually increased among the common folk as well.

* * *

In any case, Morimori, who had become captivated by the sacks, asked Ahn Sang-taek.

“Is it difficult to obtain those sacks?”

“Not at all. If you need them, please send us a document. We will inform Hanseong through the communication line.”

“Hmm…”

After a brief contemplation, Morimori made an immediate decision.

“I will have a document prepared and delivered to you soon.”

“Understood.”

With that conversation concluded, Morimori left the dock.

Upon reaching the fork in the road that split towards Iwami and Nagato, Morimori reminded Mochimori once more.

“You haven’t forgotten why your father, my elder brother and the previous lord, had to lose his life, have you?”

“I am well aware.”

“To avenge that grudge and fulfill our family’s long-cherished desire of becoming the ‘ruler of the realm,’ that silver mine is absolutely necessary. No matter what happens, we must defend the silver mine.”

“Yes, my lord!”

At Mochimori’s resolute answer, Morimori’s face finally brightened with relief. Seeing Morimori like that, Mochimori asked.

“By the way, will you definitely place an order for the sacks?”

“What do you think?”

“I believe they will be suitable for building defensive structures at the mine. Although I would like to construct a fortress, that would be too conspicuous.”

“You have a keen eye. Also, they might be needed in Buzen as well.”

“The Shoni and Otomo clans continue to be obstacles until the end.”

The two local clans of the Kyushu region had become the biggest obstacles in the process of the Ouchi clan taking control of Kyushu.

As Mochimori mentioned the Shoni and Otomo clans, Morimori nodded.

“To become the ruler of the realm, we must put an end to those two clans first. Speaking of which… Joseon’s artifacts are remarkable.”

At Morimori’s words, everyone surrounding him nodded in agreement.

Even the fabric of the sacks used for scooping soil or sand boasted an incredible quality.

Moreover, the military equipment and the strict discipline of the Joseon soldiers who disembarked from the ships were not those of mere foot soldiers.

The lord and retainers of the Ouchi clan had unknowingly begun to feel psychologically pressured by Joseon.

* * *

As Ahn Sang-taek had mentioned, the third fleet that arrived carried the mining technicians.

Having recovered from their fatigue at Yunotsutsu, which now clearly displayed the appearance of a dock and a garrison, the craftsmen set off for the Iwami mine under the escort of Joseon soldiers and the Ouchi clan’s troops.

“This is the place.”

Guided by Mochimori and the samurai, the craftsmen who arrived at the mine set up tents and immediately began exploring the surroundings for prospecting.

The Ouchi samurai followed the Joseon craftsmen as they moved. The orders given to the samurai were simple.

– Even if you have to lay down your lives, protect the Joseon craftsmen!

After about a month had passed, the craftsmen reported to Ahn Sang-taek and Mochimori.

Spreading out the map they had drawn while traversing the mountains, the craftsmen pointed to three locations.

“We recommend these three veins.”

“There are other veins as well, but it would be best to start with these first.”

Upon hearing the craftsmen’s words through the interpreter, Mochimori’s face lit up.

“Then I will immediately deploy laborers!”

The Joseon craftsmen shook their heads at Mochimori’s words relayed to them.

“We need to bring in tools from Joseon first.”

“That’s right. We saw the pickaxes and shovels of the Japs… no, the Japanese, and they are all useless.”

“Also, we need some gunpowder.”

“Mine carts, water-lifting machines, and ventilators are also essential.”

At the craftsmen’s remarks, Ahn Sang-taek nodded and replied.

“Organize and tell us everything you need. Prepare a report and send it to Hanseong.”

“Understood.”

Mochimori, who had been listening to the conversation through a Japanese interpreter, interjected.

“What are mine carts, water-lifting machines, and ventilators?”

“They are essential for safely extracting large quantities of silver ore. I don’t know much more than that, but…”

After briefly explaining to Mochimori, Ahn Sang-taek asked the craftsmen.

“What else? And once all the equipment is ready, when can mining begin?”

“Mining can begin immediately once the equipment is properly prepared. Ah! Please send laborers as well, not just craftsmen. The Japanese are quite clumsy.”

“Got it.”

As Ahn Sang-taek nodded and responded, a military officer sitting beside him diligently recorded on a wooden tablet with paper attached.

Once all the recording was finished, Ahn Sang-taek said to Mochimori.

“Although the equipment hasn’t arrived yet, we should start constructing the necessary buildings first.”

“Pardon? Yes.”

Mochimori replied with a half-dazed expression as he observed the actions of the Joseon people.

‘I have no idea what they’re talking about… I can’t understand a single thing!’

* * *

When the equipment requested by the craftsmen arrived and the preparations for full-scale mining began, Mochimori and the samurai were dumbfounded.

They erected a frame using steel reinforcement bars and wooden boards to create formwork. Then, they poured a mixture of sand and an unknown gray powder into it. At some point, sturdy warehouses and lodgings made of stone appeared.

“This is no mere sorcery…”

Mochimori had unwittingly become ‘Mochimori in Wonderland.’

Chapter 291
The Nine Provinces (4)

“Where on earth am I? Who am I?”

As the Iwami silver mine began operating in earnest, Mochimori remained trapped in a state of confusion.

* * *

The first thing that caught his eye was the stark difference between the residential areas of the Japanese miners and the Joseon people.

Separated by a single road leading up to the mine, the two residential areas had completely different appearances.

The Japanese residential area resembled the typical sights seen in Japan.

The walls were constructed using mud and wood, with wooden planks forming the gabled roofs that shielded against rain and sun.

However, the area inhabited by the Joseon people consisted of single-story buildings and warehouses made using that mysterious gray paste.

The differences did not end with just the buildings.

What plunged Mochimori into confusion was the fact that everything, except for the houses where the Japanese laborers lived and the clothes worn by the Japanese miners, had transformed into the Joseon style.

It began with the mining tools used for excavation.

* * *

“They want us to dig the mine with these? Might as well tell us to dig with our bare hands.”

“Nigimi…”

“What a waste of iron, a fucking waste of iron…”

Upon seeing the shovels, pickaxes, and other tools brought by the Japanese laborers, the Joseon people clicked their tongues and cursed.

“What are they saying?”

“Ah, well… That is…”

When Mochimori asked the interpreter about the Joseon people’s chatter, the Japanese interpreter stammered, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Seeing his reaction, Mochimori let out a small sigh.

“I can roughly guess what they’re saying. Phew~.”

A few days later, a transport ship sent from Joseon arrived, carrying tools made in Joseon.

The Joseon craftsmen unloaded the wooden crates from the wagons and opened the lids, meticulously examining the tools inside one by one.

Not only the Japanese miners but also the samurai gathered around to inspect the ‘Made in Joseon’ tools.

“My goodness! They use such fine iron to make mere shovels and pickaxes?”

The samurai were rendered speechless upon seeing the shovels, pickaxes, saws, and other tools gleaming in the sunlight.

The quality of the iron used for the tools utilized by the lowly commoners was extraordinarily superior.

At a glance, it was evident that the iron used was similar in quality to the iron used to forge the swords cherished by the samurai.

The Japanese swords (wado) used by the samurai represented the pinnacle of Japan’s ironworking technology at the time.

The Northern Song Dynasty poet Ouyang Xiu had even composed a Chinese poem titled ‘Ode to the Japanese Sword,’ attesting to the exceptional quality of the Japanese swords.

The Japanese swords had reached their zenith through countless trials and errors, overcoming the limitations of primitive ironworking techniques.

As a result, the Japanese swords were precious items, painstakingly crafted by skilled artisans.

However, unlike Japan, where the introduction of new technologies had ceased after the Three Kingdoms period, ironworking techniques had continuously advanced on the Korean Peninsula.

With Hyang’s intervention, high-quality iron materials were being mass-produced, further enhancing their quality.

The Japanese miners, examining the tools in their hands and those held by the Joseon people, were disheartened.

“What kind of pickaxe shines brighter the more you use it?”

“Never mind the chisels. Our chisels bend, break, or become blunt after striking a rock a few times, but the Joseon chisels don’t have that problem.”

Having witnessed the difference in tools firsthand, the Japanese miners soon conveyed their demands to Mochimori through the supervisors.

“They want us to procure Joseon tools?”

“Yes. With those tools, we can increase the mining output several-fold.”

Upon hearing the supervisors’ words, Mochimori immediately approached Ahn Sang-taek.

Ahn Sang-taek, who was working at the command headquarters in Yunotsutsu, made a slightly troubled face at Mochimori’s request.

“As far as I know, the tools used for work are supposed to be supplied independently by each nation, correct?”

“Joseon’s tools are exceptionally superior…”

At Mochimori’s words, Ahn Sang-taek pondered for a moment before reaching a conclusion.

“I will send a letter to Hanseong. However, you will need to pay for the cost.”

“I will pay. And…”

“Is there something else you need?”

“I would like to import steel materials made in Joseon.”

“…I will include that in the letter as well.”

“I would appreciate it.”

Having finished his business, Mochimori stepped outside and muttered with a bewildered expression as he looked around.

“Is this Japan or Joseon…?”

The Yunotsutsu he once knew no longer existed.

As mining technicians, their families, and troops to protect them and defend the port arrived in full force from Joseon, Yunotsutsu had rapidly become Joseon-ized.

The defensive walls, previously constructed solely with sacks filled with soil and sand, had mostly been replaced by walls made of the same material used for the buildings at the mine.

Houses built by combining that unknown material with traditional materials were arranged along neatly trimmed streets resembling a Go board. And among those houses, Joseon children with braided hair ran around.

However, there were other buildings that caught Mochimori’s eye.

“Another Sesintang (public bathhouse) has been built.”

As the place name ‘Yunotsutsu’ (hot spring port) suggests, Yunotsutsu had hot springs.

The Joseon people who formed the residential complex had drawn the hot spring water to create public bathhouses called Sesintang.

Through these public bathhouses, the Joseon people, regardless of their status, enjoyed bathing.

The same applied to the Joseon people working in the mine.

Bathhouses were built in the Joseon workers’ quarters, and after finishing their daily work, the Joseon people would wash off the dust in the bathhouses, change into clean clothes, and enjoy their rest.

On their days off, they would visit their families residing in Yunotsutsu, soak in the hot spring baths of the public bathhouses to relieve fatigue, and bond with their loved ones.

However, the buildings that attracted Mochimori’s greatest interest were the Jeonmaeso, also known as Joseon government licensed store and the Joseon marketplace.

Located in the heart of Yunotsutsu, the Joseon government licensed stores and Joseon marketplace were housed in a single building.

The Joseon marketplace paid the wages of the Joseon craftsmen, while the Joseon government licensed stores sold all sorts of goods needed by the Joseon people, including craftsmen and even soldiers.

And at some point, most of the Japanese in Iwami, from Mochimori to the miners, had become patrons of this Joseon government licensed stores.

As long as they had money, even the Japanese could purchase various useful Joseon products without having to travel to Nagato.

Among the items most sought after by the Japanese who visited the Joseon government licensed stores were spices and bino (Korean distilled liquor).

As they grew accustomed to this lifestyle, even the Japanese in Iwami gradually became Joseon-ized.

With the situation unfolding in this manner, the Joseon government licensed stores in Yunotsutsu was steadily expanding in size.

As the Yunotsutsu government-licensed stores grew, an event occurred that would surprise even Hyang: the birth of the world’s first ‘cashless transaction.’

* * *

The incident began when Jang Hak-chul, a mining craftsman, visited the marketplace.

While withdrawing money from his account to purchase items for himself and his family at the Joseon government licensed stores, Hak-chul suddenly had a thought.

“Excuse me, sir.”

“What is it?”

The accountant at the marketplace, who was busy recording the withdrawal amount and balance in the account book, looked up when Hak-chul called for him.

As the accountant raised his head, Hak-chul continued his questioning.

“Sir, all the wages I receive are recorded in this marketplace’s account book, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And to buy things at the Joseon government licensed stores, I need to withdraw money from the account book, correct?”

“Indeed.”

“And the money that goes into the Joseon government licensed store eventually comes back to this marketplace, right?”

In response to Hak-chul’s questions, the accountant asked back in an irritated voice.

“My goodness! Why are you asking such obvious things?”

At the accountant’s irritated question, Hak-chul shared his idea.

“Then, wouldn’t it be much less work if we could transact using the account book at the Joseon government licensed stores’ checkout counter?”

“Huh?”

Hak-chul’s proposal was as follows:

– At the Joseon government licensed stores’ checkout counter, not only the Joseon government licensed store’s officials but also the marketplace’s accountants would be present.

– When a person who has purchased goods presents their account book, the marketplace’s accountant deducts the amount used for the purchase from the account book.

– This way, the hassle of withdrawing money from the account book, using it at the Joseon government licensed stores, and then transferring the money that entered the Joseon government licensed stores back to the marketplace would be reduced.

“What do you think?”

“Hmm…”

“Indeed.”

Before he knew it, all the employees of the marketplace had gathered around Hak-chul. Regardless of their position, the employees who heard Hak-chul’s story analyzed the feasibility with serious expressions.

“It would certainly reduce the workload. It seems like a good idea.”

“However, if not handled properly, there could be issues of unauthorized use.”

When the issue of unauthorized use was brought up, Hak-chul added.

“Come on! How many Joseon people are there in this Oncheon-jin, which is the size of a palm, and Seokgyeon-san?”

“Huh?”

“Wait a moment.”

At Hak-chul’s words, the mood of the employees who had been negative changed drastically.

“Indeed, excluding the soldiers, there aren’t many.”

“We know the faces of almost all the people dispatched to Seokgyeon-san and their families.”

Seeing the positive response from the employees, Kang So-hwi, the branch manager of the Joseon marketplace’s Oncheon-jin branch, stroked his beard and pondered deeply.

After much contemplation, Kang So-hwi soon reached a conclusion.

“Draft a plan!”

“Yes, sir!”

At Manager Kang’s order, the employees of the marketplace responded with enthusiasm. If it worked out well, their workload would be greatly reduced.

The process of giving out money and then receiving it back was also quite laborious.

Eventually, a meticulous plan was devised, and experiments were conducted based on it.

As the results were very positive, Manager Kang made a decision.

“Implement it! I will prepare the report.”

* * *

The report on the ‘cashless transaction’ implemented in Oncheon-jin quickly made its way to Hanseong.

The report soon garnered the attention of Sejong and the ministers.

The cost of producing and circulating currency was not insignificant.

“It seems like a quite useful method, but I believe it’s still premature to expand it.”

The ministers all agreed with Sejong’s assessment after reviewing the report.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. In Oncheon-jin, unauthorized use can be prevented since there are few people, but it cannot be implemented in places with large populations.”

“It is very difficult to verify identities with the identity tags currently in use. Expanding the Oncheon-jin system to other regions is unfeasible.”

The current identity tags in Joseon did not have photos like modern-day resident registration cards. Therefore, there was no way to verify identities.

Seeing the ministers’ reactions, Sejong turned to Hyang.

Receiving the unspoken question, Hyang immediately shook his head.

With even Hyang showing a negative response, Sejong smacked his lips and reached a conclusion.

“Although it’s regrettable, let’s not expand its application for now.”

“We shall obey your command.”

As the ministers bowed their heads, Hyang grumbled inwardly.

‘Photography was never my area of interest!’

* * *

As the Iwami mine began full-scale operations and the number of Joseon people staying in Yunotsutsu grew considerably, the court established a new facility in Yunotsutsu.

The new facility established by the court was the ‘School for Commoners’.

With the establishment of the ‘School for Commoners,’ the Joseon people who had settled in Yunotsutsu, both soldiers and civilians alike, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Phew~. I was worried about how to educate my children, but now I can put my mind at ease!”

“Indeed!”

While the adults were sighing with relief, the children’s faces turned gloomy.

“The good days are all gone!”

* * *

The rumors about the School for Commoners quickly reached Mochimori.

“School for Commoners?”

“Yes. It is said to be a place where they teach academics to children.”

Upon hearing the report from his subordinate, Mochimori let out a chuckle.

“Hah! As expected of the Joseon people! They provide education even after coming all the way here? But still, even though Yunotsutsu is full of Joseon people, there can’t be many of high enough status to educate their children, right?”

At Mochimori’s remark, the subordinate immediately pointed out the error.

“They teach children of all ages, regardless of their status, including girls.”

“What!”

“It is said that the name ‘School for Commoners’ was given because it is a place where the children of all the commoners come to learn.”

Upon hearing the subordinate’s report, Mochimori jumped up from his seat.

“I must inform His Lordship immediately!”

Chapter 292
The Nine Provinces (5)

Upon receiving the subordinate’s report, Mochimori immediately jumped up from his seat and headed to Yunotsutsu.

“What brings you here?”

When Ahn Sang-taek, who welcomed Mochimori’s visit, inquired about the reason for his arrival, Mochimori promptly got to the point.

“I heard an interesting story, so I came. I was told that a school for teaching children has been established.”

“A school? Ah, are you referring to the School for Commoners?”

“Yes. I heard that they teach regardless of one’s status. Is that true?”

“That is correct.”

“Is that alright?”

As Mochimori asked with concern, Ahn Sang-taek instead replied with a puzzled expression.

“What do you mean?”

“Is it possible for lowly worms to learn to read and write? No, even if they learn a little, won’t they just rebel or complain when given orders?”

At Mochimori’s question, Ahn Sang-taek scratched his mustache and answered.

“I don’t think that’s likely to happen…”

“Pardon?”

“Just talking to myself. That part is merely an unfounded concern, and I can confidently assure you of that. It is a matter that the esteemed ministers and His Majesty have examined before establishing the School for Commoners.”

“…”

Mochimori fell silent at the words implying that the King of Joseon had considered everything before making the decision.

Honestly, the previous remark was closer to criticism for the sake of criticism.

Seeing Mochimori like that, Ahn Sang-taek provided a more detailed answer.

“When the commoners acquire some level of education, the benefits far outweigh the losses. They can more quickly understand and execute the orders issued by the country, and they can more easily inform the central government about the hardships in the provinces that the central government is unaware of, thereby reducing the worries of the nation. And most importantly, it allows us to discover talented individuals hidden like gems in the dirt.”

‘This last part is the most crucial point.’

Ahn Sang-taek muttered inwardly. The biggest problem facing Joseon, which was on a path of expansion in terms of both quality and quantity, was the ‘shortage of talented individuals.’

This was also true for the military. As a result, a joke circulated among the military officers:

“The ones who most fervently wish for peace in Joseon are the military officers. Why? Because they are already overwhelmed with work, and they don’t have the capacity to wage a war on top of that.”

It was the grumbling of military officers who had made a ‘trade-off between promotion and overwork’ as Sejong began favoring military officials with literary talents after his accession to the throne.

“‘Discovering talented individuals’…”

Mochimori, who had been mulling over Ahn Sang-taek’s words, stood up from his seat.

“Thank you for the good explanation. I won’t forget the valuable lesson.”

“You flatter me.”

Having met with Ahn Sang-taek, Mochimori immediately prepared and headed to Suo, where Morimori was located.

* * *

Meeting Morimori at the lord’s castle in Suo, Mochimori reported about the School for Commoners.

“A school…”

As Morimori muttered while stroking his chin, Mochimori continued.

“My lord, you have already expressed your intention to gather talented individuals from the domain and send them to Joseon to study. However, sending them to study requires a considerable amount of wealth.”

“If it’s for the future of the domain, how could a thousand gold pieces be a waste?”

“Of course, my lord’s words are correct. However, even if we wish to send them to study, few know the Joseon language, and even fewer have learned the most basic academics.”

“That’s true…”

As Morimori nodded, Mochimori spoke with emphasis.

“Therefore, please request Joseon to support the establishment of a school. Just like Joseon, we should teach without discrimination and discover hidden talents!”

“Hmm…”

Morimori sank deep into thought for a long time. Mochimori and the other retainers looked at Morimori with tense expressions.

After much deliberation, Morimori made up his mind and spoke.

“I believe Mochimori’s words are reasonable. However, the great endeavor is at hand, so let us resolve it first and then consider this matter.”

At Morimori’s words, Mochimori hurriedly spoke up.

“My lord! When you say the great endeavor, does that mean it’s finally starting?”

“It’s finally ready. We will punish the Shoni and Otomo clans.”

At Morimori’s declaration, Mochimori hastily knelt down and bowed his head.

“My lord! I wish to participate in the battle as well!”

“You must guard Iwami.”

“My lord!”

As Mochimori raised his voice, Morimori rose from his seat and walked over to him. Crouching in front of Mochimori, Morimori gently patted his shoulder and spoke.

“Iwami is not the rear but the front. The very front line. That’s why I entrusted it to you.”

Convinced by Morimori’s words, Mochimori prostrated himself on the floor and shouted.

“I will guard it with my life!”

“Yes, I’m counting on you.”

Having finished his conversation with Mochimori, Morimori stood tall and looked around at his retainers.

“The preparations are complete! Inform Shibukawa in Hakata! It’s time to advance!”

“Yes, my lord!”

* * *

Three days later, the Ouchi army led by Morimori crossed the sea and headed towards northern Kyushu.

At the center of the fleet transporting the Ouchi clan’s forces was a large ship carrying Morimori.

On the stern deck of the ship, Morimori and his retainers sat on chairs, examining a map and exchanging opinions.

Morimori, who sat in the highest seat, had a rather peculiar attire. His helmet was that of a traditional Japanese commander, but the armor he wore underneath was not the Ō-yoroi (grand armor) but the dureonggap (Korean-style armor).

* * *

Morimori’s wearing of the dureonggap was the work of Hyang.

“Oda Nobunaga wore nanban-kote (Western-style armor), didn’t he?”

Recalling memories of his 21st-century indulgences, Hyang immediately issued an order to the craftsmen of Area 51.

“You want us to make a dureonggap? Why all of a sudden?”

“It’s a gift for someone. Ah! You are well aware that the Japanese have smaller physiques than us, right? Keep that in mind.”

“Pardon? Yes.”

“Since it will be given to a high-ranking person in Japan, please put some effort into it.”

“Yes, sir.”

The dureonggap, created in this manner, was delivered to Morimori through the hands of Kim Jong-seo, who was dispatched as a secret envoy.

“Oh! What an honor!”

Receiving the dureonggap delivered by Kim Jong-seo, Morimori was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Joseon’s dureonggap was renowned for its exceptional defensive capabilities.

Moreover, the dureonggap gifted to Morimori was a masterpiece crafted with even greater care and attention.

As Morimori was unable to conceal his joy at the unexpected gift, Kim Jong-seo conveyed Sejong’s words.

“His Majesty said, ‘The Ouchi clan originally has roots in Samhan. Upon close examination, they are like brothers to Joseon. Therefore, I wish for the head of the Ouchi clan to lead the family well and engage in mutual support with our Joseon for a long time.'”

Upon hearing the words conveyed by Kim Jong-seo, Morimori immediately responded.

“Please convey to His Majesty that the Ouchi clan will continue to maintain a friendly relationship with Joseon!”

From then on, Morimori began wearing the dureonggap. However, not long after, Morimori discovered one problem with the dureonggap.

“It’s quite hot.”

Knowing the climate of Japan, the dureonggap given to Morimori had undergone slight modifications. The neck, front flap, and sleeve ends were finished with cloth instead of fur, but it was still hot. This was a problem inherent to the structure of the dureonggap itself. Thick and sturdy outer fabric was filled with cotton, and the inner lining was made of silk or the finest cotton cloth. Finally, iron plates were fixed in layers, creating the dureonggap.

In the end, Morimori wore the traditional helmet of his clan and donned the dureonggap underneath. The Joseon-style helmet, which tightly secured the left and right sides, was too suffocating.

Pleased with the dureonggap, Morimori summoned craftsmen to have his retainers wear dureonggap as well.

However, the craftsmen all shook their heads.

“It is impossible to make armor of the same quality as Joseon’s dureonggap.”

“What is the reason?”

“It requires an enormous amount of iron, the kind of iron that would be suitable for making renowned swords.”

Following the craftsmen’s answer, the retainer in charge of finances added.

“It’s not just the iron. It also requires a lot of cotton cloth, silk, and copper.”

“Is that so…?”

In the end, only Morimori could wear the dureonggap.

* * *

Crossing the sea and entering Kyushu, Morimori joined forces with his clan’s troops stationed in the Kyushu region. And not long after, the forces of Shibukawa Yoshitoshi merged with them.

Entering the tent where Morimori was staying, Yoshitoshi raised his voice.

“It’s finally time for revenge!”

“Indeed.”

“Finally, finally!”

Yoshitoshi couldn’t hide his excitement, trembling his fists.

Succeeding his father as the Kyushu Provincial Magistrate, Yoshitoshi had lost his territory of Chikuzen a few years ago when he was attacked by the Shoni and Otomo clans.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Yoshitoshi not only lost Chikuzen but also Hakata and had to entrust his fate to Morimori. However, in this history where Hyang intervened, he was able to defend Hakata.

Nevertheless, his forces were still at a disadvantage, leaving Yoshitoshi with no choice but to rely on Morimori.

When Yoshitoshi lost Chikuzen, the Shogunate immediately declared Chikuzen as a direct domain of the Shogunate and appointed Morimori as its proxy.

Receiving the document sent by the Shogunate, Morimori exclaimed with joy.

“We have gained justification!”

Thanks to the document sent by the Shogunate, Morimori had obtained the justification to fully project military power in Kyushu.

However, the Shogunate also had its own ulterior motives. The Shoni and Otomo clans, who had attacked Yoshitoshi, were powerful local forces in the Kyushu region. And they were hostile to the Shogunate. Moreover, the Ouchi clan was steadily strengthening its power, threatening the Shogunate.

In the end, the Shogunate hoped that the Ouchi clan and the Shoni-Otomo alliance would wear down each other’s strength through mutual destruction.

However, Morimori also had his own scheme.

“If we recover Chikuzen through this subjugation, can you promise to hand it over to me?”

“I promise.”

Morimori answered Yoshitoshi’s question without hesitation.

This was a secret agreement between Yoshitoshi and Morimori.

By handing Chikuzen over to Yoshitoshi, Morimori brought Yoshitoshi under his control. With this, Yoshitoshi nominally belonged to the Shogunate, but in reality, he became a lord under Morimori’s command.

Of course, Morimori didn’t stop there. In exchange for handing Chikuzen over to Yoshitoshi, he gained control over the Kitakyushu region.

With this, if they emerged victorious in this war, the Ouchi clan would be able to exert absolute influence in the Kyushu region.

“Now, let us review the strategy once more.”

“Let’s do that!”

The commanders of the Ouchi and Shibukawa clans gathered around a map and began reviewing their strategy.

* * *

Having recovered from fatigue and completed the maintenance of their forces, the allied army of Morimori and Yoshitoshi immediately launched an attack.

Utilizing their superior forces and the advantageous situation, the allied army attacked Tachibana Castle and swiftly advanced towards Chikuzen.

Upon receiving news of the advancing Morimori-Yoshitoshi allied army, the Shoni-Otomo alliance also engaged in a defensive battle, moving forward to confront the enemy.

“The Shoni and Otomo bastards are gathering!”

“How far?”

“We will make contact in about two days!”

Receiving the report from the scout, Morimori examined the map.

“Two days…”

Pondering the timeframe while studying the map, Morimori pointed to a specific location.

“We will meet the enemy here.”

The place Morimori indicated was to the east of Chikuzen.

* * *

Three days later, a battle unfolded at the location chosen by Morimori.

Before the battle began, Shoni Mitsusada, surveying the battlefield, gritted his teeth.

“This won’t be easy.”

He didn’t know what trick that cunning Morimori had employed, but the vast plain to the east of Chikuzen, which had become the battlefield, was soaked with water.

And the battle progressed just as Mitsusada had anticipated.

Although it hadn’t turned into complete mud, the water-soaked ground made it difficult for the soldiers to move.

While his own soldiers struggled and moved sluggishly on the wet ground, Morimori and Yoshitoshi’s soldiers relied on fortifications and sacks filled with earth, erected on dry land, to strike at Mitsusada’s forces.

In the end, Chikuzen fell into the hands of Morimori and Yoshitoshi. Having lost a significant portion of their strength, the Shoni-Otomo alliance had to retreat and bide their time for another opportunity.

This was another turning point that differed from the history before Hyang’s intervention.

Chapter 293
The Nine Provinces (6)

The sacks imported from Joseon were the top contributors to the victory in the Battle of Chikuzen.

Morimori used the sacks to draw water from the Iksan River into the agricultural lands that had become the battlefield.

The farmlands, which had been plowed to dig ditches and plant rice, absorbed the water at an alarming rate, quickly turning into mud.

The role of the sacks did not end there. Defensive positions made by encircling the main points of the battlefield with sacks were established, and spearmen armed with long spears and archers struck the enemy.

It was because of these defensive lines that Mitsushida remarked, “This won’t be easy.”

However, Mitsushida could not retreat. Behind the Ouchi army’s formation, in the largest fortress, Morimori was prominently present.

Retreating from a battlefield where the enemy commander was present was an unacceptable act. If they were to retreat at this point, Mitsushida’s honor would undoubtedly be tarnished, and there was a high possibility that the small lords who followed him would abandon him and defect to the Ouchi.

As a side note, the warfare waged by the Japanese commanders of this period was quite classical.

An example was the “ikkito” (single combat), where a commander would advance alone on horseback, declare the name of his clan and himself, and engage in one-on-one combat, similar to when the Mongol-Goryeo allied forces invaded.

When a Japanese commander confronted the Mongol-Goryeo allied forces with this classical tactic—which had disappeared from the Korean Peninsula after the Battle of Gwanchang during the Hwarang era—the Mongol-Goryeo allied forces responded with a barrage of arrows.

Due to these constraints, Mitsushida had no choice but to push his troops into the muddy field.

“The Ouchi forces are fewer than expected! It’s a do-or-die situation! The fate of our clan hangs in the balance, so give it your all!”

Following Mitsushida’s outcry, Otomo Mochihisa also raised his voice.

“We must win at all costs! If we win, Kyushu will be ours once again!”

However, the soldiers and samurai, their feet stuck in the mud, could not exert their strength properly, and arrows rained down upon them as they became targets.

The soldiers who managed to cross the muddy field with all their might and reach the Ouchi army’s positions had to face multiple spears thrusting at them, two or three per person. Unlike the Shoni and Otomo soldiers, whose feet were stuck in the mud and unable to move properly, the Ouchi and Shibukawa soldiers attacked the enemy with full force.

They were able to move like that because the walls made of sacks blocked the water from entering, allowing them to fight on dry ground.

While the Shoni and Otomo armies were being held back by the defensive positions made using mud and sacks, the main force of the Ouchi army, which had departed the previous day and circled around the mountainside, struck the rear of the Shoni-Otomo alliance.

Thus, the Battle of Chikuzen Fukae ended in victory for the Ouchi-Shibukawa alliance.

* * *

This battle became a significant turning point in the subsequent history.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, this battle had also taken place. However, in that battle, the Shoni-Otomo alliance emerged victorious.

It was not a mere victory; Ouchi Morimori was killed in that battle. With Morimori’s death, a civil war erupted to determine his successor, and the Ouchi’s growth was temporarily halted.

However, with the battle ending in the Ouchi’s victory, they firmly gained control over the northern Kyushu region. And the local lords of southern Kyushu were on high alert due to the Ouchi’s movements.

* * *

The defeat in this battle put the Shoni clan in a difficult situation. While resisting the Ouchi army’s flanking attack, Mitsusada and his son Suketsugi were killed in action.

As the father and son of the Shoni clan perished, Otomo Mochihisa narrowly escaped with his retainers.

“We must return to Bungo as quickly as possible! Now that we are in a situation where we share a border with those damn Ouchi bastards, we must dedicate all our efforts to defending the castle!”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Damn it! It’s infuriating and unjust!”

Otomo Mochihisa retreated with his soldiers, shedding tears of blood.

As the alliance withdrew, the Shoni brothers, Yoshiyori and Noriyori, who had lost their father and elder brother, had to seek refuge and find a way out. The retainers of the Shoni clan agonized over how to save the young sons of their lord, but there was only one answer.

“We will escort them to Tsushima!”

“Please do.”

Thus, the brothers boarded a ship with the surviving retainers and headed to Tsushima Island.

* * *

Despite the victory in battle, Morimori did not engage in further battles.

“The southern lords must be on high alert. If we keep moving in this situation, it will be to our detriment.”

Morimori explained the situation to his retainers.

“With this, northern Kyushu is in our hands. However, our main force is still across the sea. We need to build up more strength.”

“Yes, my lord!”

As he listened to his retainers’ response, Morimori turned his gaze and surveyed the battlefield.

Examining the sacks that had been the top contributors to this battle, Morimori looked at the dureonggap he was wearing.

Touching the few torn marks on the chest area of the dureonggap with his hand, Morimori muttered softly.

“Monkey business…”

“My lord, what did you say?”

In response to the retainer’s question, Morimori sighed and answered.

“Phew~. I said it’s monkey business.”

“Suddenly mentioning monkey business, what do you mean by that?”

Pointing to the sacks, Morimori replied.

“Look at those sacks. We are sitting here, making sacks out of high-quality fabric that we would only use for formal attire. And look at this armor. The arrows couldn’t even penetrate it. If Joseon, with such capabilities, were to witness this battle, what do you think they would say? They would probably say that monkeys are playing war games.”

“Ah…”

At Morimori’s words, the retainers nodded in agreement.

They, too, had seen Joseon’s capabilities in Yunotsutsu.

The Joseon warships they saw in Yunotsutsu looked large and sturdy. Not only were they massive in size, but they also had numerous cannons.

Moreover, the physique of the soldiers operating those warships was extraordinary. They were at least half a head taller than the samurai who prided themselves on their large stature. Furthermore, their military discipline was strict, and they never wavered. Even the lowest-ranking soldiers knew what they had to do and moved proactively.

Morimori continued.

“The world is changing, and it’s clear that we are failing to see it. Now, we need to open our eyes and look outside. We must learn what we can and seek help, even if we have to beg for it. We should also properly investigate the school that Mochimori mentioned the other day.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Then let’s prepare to return.”

“Yes, my lord!”

As the retainers responded to Morimori’s order and busily cleaned up the battlefield and prepared for the return march, Morimori gazed at the setting sun and sighed.

“Phew~. There’s so much to do, but so little time…”

The victorious Morimori moved swiftly. The Shogunate’s order to ‘subjugate the Shoni and Otomo’ was both justification and shackles. Having carried out the subjugation as ordered, he had to prepare and submit a report related to it. This was akin to the Ouchi acknowledging their subordination to the Shogunate.

Gritting his teeth, Morimori wrote and sent the report. He then assisted Shibukawa Yoshitoshi, the Kyushu Provincial Magistrate, in solidifying his control over Hakata and Chikuzen before embarking on his return journey.

Crossing the strait again and returning to Suo, Morimori was greeted by Mochimori, who had come from Iwami.

“Congratulations on your great victory.”

“Thank you.”

“Here is the portion of the ore mined in Iwami that has been allocated to us.”

“Is that so? Let me see it!”

Morimori received the report related to the ‘Iwami silver mine’ with delight. As he looked at the numbers written in the report, Morimori’s expression became a mix of joy and regret.

“The amount of raw ore is considerable. This should be enough to cover the military expenses and still have some left over. However, it’s regrettable. If only our craftsmen’s refining skills were on par with Joseon and Ming, we could have reaped even greater profits…”

Smacking his lips in disappointment, Morimori issued an order to another retainer.

“Approach the Ming merchants again and ask them to procure some silversmiths for us. It doesn’t matter if they demand a large sum of wealth. As long as we acquire the technology, we can quickly make up for the loss.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Having issued the order, Morimori unfolded another report.

“Requesting cattle?”

“That’s correct.”

“Are they planning to expand the tunnels?”

At Morimori’s question, Mochimori answered with a troubled expression.

“They are for consumption.”

“Consumption?”

Hearing Mochimori’s answer, Morimori examined the report again. After confirming the numbers written in the report, Morimori looked at Mochimori.

“Do the Joseon people only eat meat instead of rice?”

“They eat rice even more.”

“Oh my…”

* * *

One of the ‘cultural shocks’ Mochimori experienced was the Joseon people’s ‘love for meat.’

The Joseon people working in the mine ate meat whenever they had the chance. It wasn’t that their rationed meals had no meat at all.

However, the Joseon people ate meat at every opportunity.

“I’ve been feeling a bit weak lately. Should I eat some meat?”

“That’s a good idea!”

When one person suggested an idea, the others would respond in agreement. Once decided, they would immediately pool their money, procure a cow, and slaughter it.

The sight of the Joseon people eating meat was unfamiliar to the Japanese. During moments when they worked together and could communicate to some extent, the Japanese would ask questions using gestures.

“Isn’t eating meat too often?”

Whenever they received such questions, the Joseon people’s response was always the same.

“You need to eat well to have strength!”

“Do you know why markets are held every five days? It’s so that you can eat meat at least once every five days!”

“Eating meat gives you the strength to have meat as a side dish the next morning! Meat begets meat!”

“Meat is the truth, and among them, chicken is common sense! Ah, damn! Speaking of chicken, I’m craving some… I wonder if there’s a chicken restaurant in Yunotsutsu?”

The Japanese couldn’t adapt to the sight of the Joseon people passionately expounding on meat.

“Sigh…”

However, it wasn’t long before some Japanese started sneaking into the Joseon people’s meat feasts.

It wasn’t that the Japanese didn’t know the taste of meat. In the distant past, after Emperor Tenmu proclaimed the ‘Meat Eating Prohibition,’ the public consumption of meat was banned. However, they ate meat by deceiving others, claiming it was ‘medicine’ or ‘birds’ or ‘fish.’

But eating in secret and eating openly were entirely different stories. The Joseon people openly ate enormous amounts of meat. That’s why some Japanese began sneaking into the feasts, carefully gauging the mood.

“Oh my, my body is shivering…”

“My goodness! Our work is our livelihood! Come over here and have some medicine with us!”

The Japanese who joined in this way never came empty-handed. They brought alcohol from who knows where, and these individuals received warm hospitality from the Joseon people and indulged in the ‘medicine.’

This large-scale consumption of meat didn’t only occur in the mines. A significant amount of meat was consumed in Yunotsutsu as well.

* * *

“Can’t they just bring it from Joseon?”

At Morimori’s question, accompanied by a troubled expression, Mochimori explained the reason.

“They need to bring other goods as well, and transporting cattle and pigs along with them is not profitable.”

“Oh my…”

After pondering for a moment, Morimori quickly reached a conclusion.

“Create pastures nearby. If we keep buying like this, we’ll end up spending all the wealth from the silver mine on meat.”

“Yes, my lord!”

That night, as he sat alone reviewing the reports, Morimori pondered with a serious expression.

“Joseon people… Meat… Hmm… Should I feed meat to the people of our country as well?”

* * *

Amusingly, the Joseon people were able to consume meat freely only after the Reformation Plan took place. With the establishment of pastures and chicken farms throughout Joseon, the supply of meat became smooth.

Of course, memorials were occasionally submitted, stating, “The people are eating too much expensive meat, so we must be cautious.” However, Sejong, a renowned meat lover, didn’t even treat them as proper memorials.

Chapter 294
Dreaming Different Dreams While Sleeping in the Same Bed

While a great commotion had erupted in Liaodong and turmoil had unfolded in the Nine Provinces of Japan, Joseon was moving towards stability.

The war that had broken out in Liaodong at the beginning of the year came to an end as a short-term battle beyond the border under Sejong’s active command, who had declared “total war.” The conflict that had occurred in Japan had not even had an impact.

However, the court was carefully observing the movements in Japan. One of the two trading posts established in Japan was located in the territory of the Ouchi clan, and there was a silver mine being mined in cooperation with the Ouchi clan.

“We must secure the silver mine, no matter what it takes!”

Kim Jeom, the Minister of Finance, emphasized the importance of the silver mine as if he were coughing up blood. At his impassioned speech, the other ministers nodded in agreement.

Although the mining had just begun, the raw ore being extracted was not to be taken lightly.

The silver content was extraordinary, and even though it had not yet reached its full potential, the output was considerable.

If the Iwami silver mine were to begin operating properly, it was certain that Joseon’s economy would soar.

“If the Ouchi clan is endangered, I believe Joseon should be prepared to dispatch troops!”

“Isn’t that too extreme?”

While Maeng Sa-seong reacted that Kim Jeom’s words were excessive, Kim Jeom shook his head.

“It is not extreme!”

Kim Jeom bowed his head to Sejong and explained the gravity of the situation.

“Your Majesty! Currently, Joseon is aiding the convenience of the people as more and more devices are being produced! The problem is that these devices must all be purchased with money, but the people’s means of earning money are limited!”

“The means of earning money are limited?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Sejong pondered the situation with a serious expression.

After silently organizing his memories, Sejong’s face turned gloomy.

“Indeed. Although we have increased the number of officials and teachers, there are not enough positions to accommodate all those who have acquired knowledge. And for those seeking work other than farming, we cannot provide sufficient jobs beyond labor at construction sites.”

“That is correct. If we fail to address this issue, it will not only destabilize the Reformation Plan but also the governance of the nation. Therefore, we must create various jobs for the people, but this requires an immense amount of wealth. Of course, we are currently mining gold and silver in various places, but the mining is not being done properly, is it not?”

At Kim Jeom’s point, Sejong and the ministers fell silent with uncomfortable expressions.

Through the prospecting conducted thus far, a considerable number of gold and silver mines had been discovered, and many of them had sufficient profitability.

In particular, gold mines were located in several places nationwide, and an enormous gold vein had been discovered in Unsan, Pyeongan region.

However, Joseon could not properly mine them. It was because of the Ming Dynasty.

The common belief among Sejong and the ministers was that the time to mine those deposits would be when Joseon became prosperous and could “proclaim an emperor and establish a reign title.”

“That is why the silver mine in Iwami is something Joseon must possess. Isn’t it fully possible with the military strength of the Joseon army that has subjugated the Jurchens?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Sejong replied with a tired expression.

“I understand your words well. However, let us not get ahead of ourselves.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Although the matter was settled for the time being, Sejong’s worries did not subside.

When Kim Jeom argued for deploying military means, a significant number of ministers seemed to agree with his opinion.

“They say victory can sometimes be poisonous…”

Even when facing the Jurchen and Mentemu, the ministers had been cautious, worrying about the possibility of an extended war. But now, they were beginning to view the use of military force in a positive light.

However, as time passed and news of the Ouchi clan’s victory arrived, the “argument for dispatching Joseon troops” sank below the surface.

Nevertheless, Sejong remained wary of the ministers’ belligerence. Hyang felt the same way.

“They’re not even the Japanese bastards during the Japanese colonial period… Why are they so warlike? I should put aside the idea of ass-blasters for the time being.”

* * *

Having decided to postpone weapons development for the time being, Hyang focused on other matters.

“Summon Jang Yeong-sil, the Ji-pyeong.”

Upon arriving at Area 51, Hyang immediately called for Jang Yeong-sil.

Jang Yeong-sil had been steadily accumulating achievements since the Reformation Plan and had been promoted to the rank of Ji-pyeong.

Shortly after, Jang Yeong-sil, who had been summoned by Hyang, entered Hyang’s office.

“Your Highness, did you call for me?”

“Yes, how is the development of the loom I mentioned before progressing? Has there been any progress?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil bowed at a 90-degree angle and answered.

“I apologize! There has been no significant progress yet! Please forgive me!”

“It’s alright. I was well aware that it was not an easy task.”

“I am ashamed.”

“I told you it’s really okay.”

Hyang’s words were sincere.

‘It was such a struggle to make the loom, so how could weaving cloth in a cylindrical shape be easy?’

Hyang comforted Jang Yeong-sil, who was bowing profusely while sweating heavily, and brought up the main topic.

“So, let’s think about this differently.”

“Think differently, you say?”

“What was the reason I asked you to create a loom that weaves cloth in a cylindrical shape? It was for sacks, right?”

“That is correct.”

“Why did I do that?”

“Because sewing thick cloth is not an easy task…”

“Exactly.”

Hyang nodded at Jang Yeong-sil’s answer.

Looking at the current process of making sacks, housewives were sewing them one by one by hand. It was simple labor, but the intensity of the work was by no means light. It was because the cloth used to make the sacks was thick.

As a result, the demand for sacks was steadily increasing, but the supply was limited.

“Therefore, I’m suggesting that we think differently and create a device that makes this sewing easier.”

“A device that makes sewing easier?”

“I’ve named it a sewing machine.”

As Hyang spread the blueprint on the desk, Jang Yeong-sil approached and began examining it.

As Jang Yeong-sil examined the blueprints of each component that made up the sewing machine, his eyes began to sparkle.

Seeing his reaction, Hyang smiled with satisfaction.

‘That cosplay craftsman can be helpful at times.’

In the 21st century, Hyang—known as Kim Jin-ho at the time—had engaged in various hobbies and had formed a diverse network of connections as wide-ranging as his hobbies.

One of those connections was a cosplay enthusiast. She mainly cosplayed as characters from games and animations and made the costumes herself.

Hyang, who had become close to her while making props for her cosplay, was captivated by the sewing machine she used.

“Hey, Kim Jin-ho! If you disassemble that, I’ll kill you!”

When she warned him, knowing Hyang’s personality well, Hyang replied with a chuckle.

“I don’t really like the latest models.”

“You’re a weird one.”

Just like his love for steampunk, Hyang’s preferences were clear.

An ultra-modern sewing machine that could perform all kinds of sewing by simply pressing a button or turning a dial was not to Hyang’s taste.

In fact, not just sewing machines, but all the machines he liked had a strong analog feel to them.

Thanks to his preferences, Hyang had scoured Hwanghak-dong and other antique markets to acquire an old sewing machine and disassembled it to examine its interior.

Through the information he had gathered from the internet and the actual machine, Hyang was able to obtain detailed knowledge about sewing machines.

Thanks to these past memories, Hyang was able to create a fairly decent design for a manual sewing machine.

The reason it could only be described as “fairly decent” was that the sewing machine depicted in the blueprint had a rather crude and bulky appearance. Although Joseon’s metal processing technology had advanced quite a bit, there was still a long way to go.

“It looks quite promising.”

Jang Yeong-sil gave a positive assessment after seeing Hyang’s blueprint.

“Isn’t it? Then let’s try making it. If this sewing machine is properly made, it will not only help in making sacks but also in making sails, don’t you think?”

“Indeed, Your Highness.”

Jang Yeong-sil nodded at Hyang’s words.

Although the cloth used for making sacks was thick and durable, the cloth used for making sails was even thicker and more resilient.

Sewing such thick and durable cloth to create a large sail was a labor-intensive task.

As Jang Yeong-sil nodded in agreement, he pointed out another issue.

“Even if the loom can be put aside, I need to focus on making the spring-driven clock right now…”

“Let’s start with the sewing machine.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, Jang Yeong-sil silently gathered the blueprints.

* * *

After finishing his day’s work by visiting the craftsmen with Jang Yeong-sil and explaining the structure and operation principles of the sewing machine, Hyang returned to the palace with a light step.

Hyang informed Sejong and Queen Soheon of his return and then went to the Eastern Palace to see the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje.

“Nothing unusual happened today as well, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje, who now had significantly swollen bellies, promptly answered Hyang’s question.

Since the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje had become pregnant, Hyang had been meticulously managing their health. From their diet to light exercise, Hyang paid close attention to every detail.

Hyang’s actions quickly became the talk of the town, and Queen Soheon and the concubines, who were envious, subtly incited Sejong.

* * *

After exchanging pleasantries with the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje, Hyang returned to his room.

Entering the study attached to his room, Hyang muttered a curse under his breath as he looked at the pile of reports on his desk.

“Damn it…”

The reports prominently placed on the desk were related to state affairs.

In the 21st century, despite barely becoming a civil servant and belonging to a core agency of the central government, Hyang had to quit due to depression.

To that extent, state affairs or administration was a source of severe stress for Hyang.

However, after being reborn and appointed as the Crown Prince, Hyang had purged the elder ministers through various means and made significant contributions to the Reformation Plan initiated by Sejong.

This was not something Hyang did because he enjoyed it.

For his own safety, his father needed to have strong power. Also, for the sake of his hobbies, Joseon had to develop.

Hyang had worked so hard for these reasons.

The problem was that in the process, Hyang was being burdened with more and more political responsibilities. And the resulting stress was considerable.

* * *

The next day, after finishing the morning court session, Hyang muttered to himself as he headed to Area 51 with a tired expression.

“I’ll probably get scolded for saying this, but I hope it’s a son…”

“Pardon? What did you say, Your Highness?”

“It’s nothing.”

Giving a brief answer to the eunuch, Hyang began making his own calculations inwardly.

‘Considering the history I learned in the 21st century plus the management program I’ve implemented so far, he should remain healthy for at least 20 more years… If my to-be-born child is a son, by that time, he would have solidified his own foundation to some extent, right? Then I would inherit the throne and do it for 3-4 years out of courtesy before abdicating… And I would immediately settle down in Area 51. If it seems a bit too much, I’ll tie my three children together, making one the king, another the Chief State Councilor, and the other one… Ah! What if it’s a daughter? No, it doesn’t matter even if it’s a daughter, right? The advancement of women has already begun, so in 20 years, it should become somewhat commonplace. If it seems a bit lacking, I can pull some strings before handing it over.’

As Hyang was writing his own scenario, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje were enjoying a conversation over a tea table.

“Oh my!”

The three ladies, who were in the midst of a lively conversation, simultaneously caressed their bellies.

“Fetal movement?”

“For the three children to move together, it seems they have a strong bond.”

“Indeed. I’m looking forward to when these children are born.”

The three ladies were delighted to feel the strong fetal movement, unlike their usual experience.

* * *

Meanwhile, Sejong was also making his own calculations.

“About 10 years, perhaps?”

“Pardon?”

“Just talking to myself.”

Giving a brief answer to Chief Eunuch, Sejong muttered inwardly.

‘There are only a few years left until the Reformation Plan is completed… In about 10 years, most of the trial and error will be ironed out. And by then, the current ministers who are accustomed to the old system will have all retired, and those familiar with the new system will fill their positions. Then, I can have the Crown Prince serve as regent or abdicate and dedicate myself to properly shaping Joseon. Changing the administration alone doesn’t change everything. And by then, the Crown Prince’s children will be 10 years old. If they inherit the Crown Prince’s bloodline, their qualities should be good, so if we cultivate them early on… ’

* * *

“Oh my! Fetal movement again?”

“Hoho! These little ones must think we’re talking about them!”

The smiles never left the faces of the three ladies.

Chapter 295
Setting Sails (1)

As the summer heat of the 13th year of Sejong’s reign (1431, the year of Sinhai) passed and autumn approached, the Jeolla Right Naval Station was busy preparing for the departure of the challenger-class warships.

“You’re going on a long journey, so inspect everything thoroughly!”

“Yes, sir!”

“If there’s even the slightest suspicious part, make sure to mark it and report it!”

“Yes, sir!”

“No, wait. If there’s even the slightest odd part, rip it out and replace it immediately!”

“Pardon?”

“It’s better to replace it in advance than to have a leak in the vast ocean! If there’s anything strange, replace it right away!”

“Yes, sir!”

According to the records thus far, Mansur’s merchant group always arrived in Joseon around the end of summer. After conducting trade and repairing their ships, Mansur’s group waited for the change of seasons and set sail when the seasonal winds shifted.

Therefore, as the time for Mansur’s group to arrive drew near, the challenger-class warships were busy preparing for departure.

Three challenger-class warships were set to depart this time. One was to head to Aden alongside Mansur’s group and then sail up the Red Sea. Afterward, it was scheduled to cross the desert and reach Alexandria. The destination of another ship was Tianzhu—India. What Joseon desired from Tianzhu was realgar.

The last ship’s mission was to take over and carry out the task in case any of the other ships were lost due to unforeseen accidents or disasters, or to deal with pirates.

The other two challenger-class ships had to carry more commodities than gunpowder and fire arrows for trade, so this final third ship had to handle most of the combat.

As it was Joseon’s first ocean voyage and they had to pass through seas and straits notorious for infamous pirates, the officers, sailors, and craftsmen inspected the ships repeatedly, making them in the best condition possible.

Meanwhile, the captains had to be busy traveling between the Jeolla Right Naval Station and Hanseong.

The research institute and Area 51 in Hanseong were creating various items for long-distance voyages or selecting existing items to present to the captains.

Among those items, the first thing the captains encountered was earthenware jars, followed by distillation pots.

With Hyang observing from behind, a researcher from the institute explained to the captains.

“The purpose of the earthenware jars and wooden barrels is to store drinking water. Through this voyage, we need to test which one, between earthenware and wooden barrels, is more suitable for storing drinking water.”

In response to the researcher’s explanation, the captains immediately voiced their opinions.

“Usually, earthenware is used…”

“No, wooden barrels are often used as well. Earthenware is fragile.”

“That’s true, that’s the problem with earthenware.”

Listening to the captains’ words, Hyang nodded slightly.

‘As expected, wooden barrels? But considering the issue of spoilage, I think earthenware would be better… ’

During the ‘Age of Exploration,’ the biggest problem that plagued sailors was the issue of drinking water. Water stored in large oak barrels spoiled quickly, and sailors had to suffer because of this spoiled water.

To solve this problem, Hyang had chosen earthenware. Traditional earthenware had good antiseptic properties.

However, earthenware had a fatal flaw: it was easily broken. In that regard, wooden barrels were far superior to earthenware.

In the end, Hyang had designed a section that could safely store earthenware from the beginning. It involved creating partitions with wood and placing earthenware in each compartment.

However, theory was theory, and reality was reality. Therefore, starting with this voyage, the plan was to find the optimal solution through several voyages.

“But when we were deployed to the war in Liaodong earlier this year, wasn’t earthenware good enough?”

Researchers, craftsmen, and even naval commanders expressed doubts, but Hyang still insisted on conducting the test.

“We can’t be certain just from moving for a few days, can we? We have to pass through vast oceans, unexpected weather, and regions with different climates than Joseon, so the circumstances are different.”

“That is true.”

Thus, the test was set to proceed.

* * *

The next items the research institute showed the captains were distillation pots and water purification frames.

With the distillation pots in front of them, the researcher explained their use to the captains.

“During a long-distance voyage, there may be situations where you lose your drinking water due to unforeseen circumstances.”

“That’s true.”

The captains nodded at the researcher’s explanation.

Those appointed as captains of the challenger-class ships were individuals whose experience and abilities were recognized by others. The issue of drinking water was something they had experienced many times as well, even though most of their voyages were in coastal waters near land.

Seeing the captains’ reactions, the researcher continued his explanation.

“In such a situation where you’ve lost your drinking water, you use seawater to produce fresh water.”

The water purification process the researcher described was as follows:

Scoop up seawater and filter it using the water purification frame. Although the purification frame cannot remove the salty taste, it eliminates any potential impurities.

Take the clean seawater obtained through filtration, put it in the distillation pot, and distill it to secure fresh water.

“How does the fresh water obtained in this way taste?”

In response to the captains’ question, the researcher answered with a slight bitter smile.

“It has no taste. Compared to actual fresh water, it’s still salty. However, in an emergency, it will definitely serve its purpose.”

The captains nodded at the researcher’s words.

“Well, it’s certainly better than having nothing.”

“Indeed. It’s definitely better than just drinking seawater.”

Seeing the captains’ reactions, the researcher continued.

“These water purification frames and distillation pots are also good for fresh water. When using fresh water from other regions as drinking water, filtering it through the purification frame and then processing it with the distillation pot can prevent stomach ailments caused by changes in water. There have been many experiences of suffering after drinking water that looked clear, haven’t there?”

The captains nodded once again.

* * *

Before Hyang created the water purification frame, Joseon people suffered from various waterborne diseases. During droughts, they drank dirty water from dried-up ponds or wells and fell ill. After floods, they drank muddy water from damaged wells or rivers and became sick.

Hyang’s water purification frame solved that problem. Using the purification frame, even muddy water became clear.

In addition, through Hyang’s repeated admonitions, people were required to boil the water they had purified before drinking it. As a result, the frequency of waterborne illnesses in Joseon greatly decreased.

* * *

Since the captains also sympathized with the necessity, the water purification frames and distillation pots were loaded onto the ships without much resistance. Of course, there were sailors who curiously lit up their eyes and smacked their lips while looking at those distillation pots.

“I should procure some yeast in advance…”

The tradition of making secret alcohol, common among sailors across the East and West, was something even Joseon could not escape.

* * *

Having confirmed the issue of drinking water, the captains now had to discuss the food items with the researchers.

“It’s a given that we’ll carry soy sauce and soybean paste, so let’s move on. I also understand loading dried grain, salted meat, and jerky. But why are we loading dried radish greens? We’re already loading pickled vegetables of various types, aren’t we?”

“Soy sauce and other ingredients also contain a lot of salt. The physicians say that not eating salt at all is problematic, but consuming too much salt is also troublesome. They say that using dried vegetables to remove the saltiness will allow us to endure long voyages.”

“Hmm… I understand.”

“Well, if the physicians say so, we should follow their advice.”

The captains had no choice but to nod at the researcher’s answer. They didn’t immediately accept it, but they had to comply.

“If the physicians say so, we should follow.”

“Also, if we enter a port or have to stay somewhere, make sure the sailors can consume plenty of fresh fruits. Especially fruits with a sour taste should be stored on the ship so that they can be consumed during the voyage.”

“Fruits with a sour taste?”

“I mean things like immature citrons (jisil).”

“Immature citrons?”

When one captain tilted his head, the captain next to him added an explanation in a small voice.

“Citrons.”

“Ah…”

“Is there any benefit to fruits with a sour taste?”

“The component that gives fruits their sour taste is said to have an awakening effect, dispelling fatigue and maintaining health.”

The captains all nodded at the researcher’s explanation.

“I see.”

“They say there’s nothing useless in this world…”

“Fruits with a sour taste…”

* * *

The parts about dried radish greens and fruits were where Hyang actively stepped in.

“If we continue to suffer casualties from scurvy or plague, they might insist on closing the doors like before.”

While preparing for long-distance voyages, this was Hyang’s biggest concern. Of course, officials who had tasted the benefits of trade through the ongoing exchanges would not revert to seclusion, but there was still a high probability that they would insist on passive trade, only accepting those who came, rather than actively engaging in trade.

Such passive trade was absolutely not what Hyang wanted.

“In the past or present, no, no… In the present or future, information is the most important. Just sitting and receiving information brought by others will only leave us behind. We need to actively engage. To do that, we need to actively trade.”

So, Hyang paid attention to the ingredients to maintain the health of the sailors who embarked on long-distance voyages.

“Did you say to include dried radish greens?”

“Yes. Looking at the ingredients we’ve prepared so far, they’re all salty and meat-based. For a person to maintain vitality for a long time, shouldn’t the food also balance the harmony of yin and yang?”

At Hyang’s point, the physicians all nodded. “Medicine and food have the same origin” and “Harmony of yin and yang” were the most emphasized concepts in traditional Korean medicine.

Thanks to that, it was easy to include dried vegetables in the ingredients.

“How did you solve the vegetable issue, but what about vitamin C?”

While searching through medical books to solve the problem, Hyang soon found the best answer.

“Immature citrons are very effective as a qi-regulating medicine when one’s qi is deficient and easily fatigued. They are also effective for stomach ailments and food poisoning.”

“The symptoms match perfectly.”

Having found the optimal answer, Hyang informed the physicians. The physicians, who were nodding their heads, asked Hyang a question.

“It’s true that citrons have such effects, but do other sour fruits have the same effects?”

“What is the most distinctive feature of citrons compared to other fruits? Isn’t it the sourness? Wouldn’t that sourness be caused by the component that has those medicinal effects?”

At Hyang’s answer, the physicians put their heads together and discussed. Among them, the physicians well-versed in medicinal ingredients soon voiced their agreement with Hyang’s words.

“We believe Your Highness’s opinion is reasonable.”

Thus, the issue of vitamin C was also resolved.

As a side note, through this decision, a new tradition emerged among the Joseon Navy and sailors.

It involved starting the day with a cup of citron tea during long voyages. It was also a rite of passage for new recruits and sailors, as it was one of the hardest things to get used to the bitter and astringent taste.

However, thanks to the tradition of eating a balanced diet of grains, meat, and vegetables—if not possible, there was a royal order to pick and consume seaweed—and consistently consuming citrons, lemons, and limes, the Joseon Navy and sailors were able to reduce the damage from scurvy and plague even during ocean voyages.

Ship owners in the West, who suffered great losses from scurvy and plague, took note of this aspect and adopted the Joseon-style shipboard menu. Of course, the sailors who had to eat it vehemently protested, saying, “Are we cows?”

Chapter 296
Setting Sails (2)

As the ship’s hull was being thoroughly maintained and the equipment necessary for a safe voyage was being finalized, Mansur’s merchant ships arrived.

As always, they arrived at the Jeolla Right Naval Station, underwent a simple inspection, and took a rest. During this time, the challenger-class warships caught Mansur’s eye.

“Have the Catholics finally reached Joseon?”

Startled, Mansur sought out the captain of his fleet’s flagship.

“Hey! We have a big problem!”

“A big problem, you say? There were no issues with the ships or cargo, though.”

“That’s not the issue! The Catholics are here! The Catholics!”

“Pardon?”

“Come over here! Let’s go and check together! You guys come too!”

Mansur led the captains to the location where the problematic ‘Catholic ships’ were visible.

“Hmm…”

“Oh my…”

Observing the expressions of the captains as they looked at the ships in question, Mansur spoke again.

“It’s them, right? They’re definitely the Catholics’ ships, aren’t they?”

“It does seem that way…”

“Hmm…”

As they were examining the ships with grave expressions, the flagship’s captain spoke up.

“They’re not the Catholics’ ships. I’m certain of it.”

“Huh?”

The flagship’s captain explained in detail to Mansur.

“They may look similar, but there are slight differences in many aspects. The biggest difference is the number of gun ports. Among the Catholics’ ships I’ve seen, none had as many gun ports as these. In my experience, there’s only one insane country that would load such a crazy amount of cannons.”

“And where is that?”

The flagship’s captain answered briefly to Mansur’s question.

“Right here, Joseon.”

“Huh?”

Hearing the answer, Mansur tried to recall his memories.

‘Indeed!’

The Joseon warships he had encountered when he first came to Joseon were also equipped with more than 20 cannons.

Seeing Mansur’s face as he pondered whether it was possible or not, the captain added.

“And look at the bow. The shape of the bow is sloped, right? If you look at the ships of those Spanish or Portuguese bastards, it’s almost vertical. And judging by the shape, the bow and stern are not as high as the Iberian bastards’ ships. Considering these various characteristics…”

The captain paused for a moment and carefully examined the ship in question once more. Convinced that his conclusion was correct even after a second look, the captain shared his conclusion with Mansur.

“It’s definitely a ship made by Joseon.”

At that answer, Mansur looked at the ships in question with eyes full of doubt.

“The country at the eastern end is making ships similar in shape to the countries at the western end? Without any exchange? How?”

As Mansur pondered over the unsolvable question, the words of Hassan, who worked as an official in Joseon, came to his mind.

‘The Crown Prince of Joseon is no ordinary person. Since he stepped forward, Joseon has been changing in unbelievable ways. The King of Joseon is a fearsome individual, but the Crown Prince is even more terrifying.’

Recalling Hassan’s words, Mansur shook his head.

“No matter how much of a genius he is…”

* * *

Having completed their maintenance at the Jeolla Right Naval Station, Mansur’s fleet headed north towards Jemulpo.

“It would be nice if we could just go straight up.”

In response to Mansur’s complaint, the captain immediately replied.

“If we were moving with just one ship like when we first came to Joseon, we could go straight. But moving as a fleet like this and going straight? We’d become fish food halfway through.”

“…”

At the captain’s words, Mansur fell silent.

* * *

As Mansur continued to trade with Joseon, he made efforts to gather information about Joseon and its neighboring countries.

“Among various businesses, the most profitable one is the weapons trade. Not only are the weapons themselves profitable, but brokering weapon craftsmen also yields significant profits.”

In search of profitable items, Mansur diligently collected information.

Among them, he stumbled upon the ‘Japanese pirates’ and ‘Jurchen.’ He learned that these two entities had caused Kitai (China) and Joseon to develop a paranoid wariness towards foreigners.

“The problem is that there are no weapons to sell.”

During this period, Kitai and Joseon possessed the world’s best weapon-making technologies. Especially in the case of Joseon, they had given up on any attempts at replication.

“Should I try selling to Cipangu (Japan)?”

When Mansur brought this up, Hassan was startled and dissuaded him.

“Cipangu is full of damn thieves! The moment you sell weapons or craftsmen to Cipangu, our trade with Joseon will be over!”

Due to this situation, Mansur had no choice but to focus on trade with Joseon. And to maintain a good relationship, he repeatedly went through the Jeolla Right Naval Station and up to Jemulpo.

* * *

Upon arriving at Jemulpo, Mansur handed over the goods ordered by Joseon to the officials from the Ministry of Finance and settled the payment.

“In three days, enter the palace at Gyeongbokgung.”

“Understood.”

Mansur politely replied to the official’s message.

As promised, three days later, Mansur entered Gyeongbokgung Palace.

After a simple inspection and guided by a eunuch, Mansur entered Geunjeongjeon Hall and, upon seeing Sejong, offered a deep bow according to Joseon etiquette.

“The humble merchant Mansur is honored to be in Your Majesty’s presence.”

“You must have had a tiring journey. Seeing you safe and sound is truly reassuring.”

“I am unworthy of Your Majesty’s concern and benevolence.”

With the formal greetings concluded, they finally moved on to the main topic.

* * *

The reason Sejong summoned Mansur was to gather information about Tianzhu (India). Therefore, in principle, only the ministers of foreign affairs, national defense, and finance needed to stay, but all the ministers and even Hyang remained present.

“As you may have heard last time, this year, our Joseon will also dispatch a fleet. Your homeland is one of the destinations, but Tianzhu is also an important destination for our Joseon. Therefore, if there’s anything you know about Tianzhu, I’d like you to tell us everything.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Responding to Sejong’s order, Mansur cleared his throat and waited for questions.

The first to ask a question was Hyang.

“Based on the knowledge I’ve gained from books, I’ve heard that Tianzhu is a country with a vast territory. So, who is the ruler currently governing Tianzhu?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Mansur promptly answered.

“Currently, Indi… Tianzhu is in a state of division. Various large and small dynasties have emerged.”

At Mansur’s answer, Sejong and the ministers simultaneously muttered.

“Is it like the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period?”

Following Mansur’s answer, Hyang immediately asked another question.

“Then, among the numerous rulers who have emerged, which ruler’s country is suitable for our Joseon to trade with?”

Mansur pondered for a moment, trying to recall, and soon selected a suitable kingdom.

“In my humble opinion, I believe the Bengal Sultanate is the best choice. They have a good relationship with the Ming Dynasty, and they have a famous trading port called Chittagong.”

“Is that so? What about the route to get there?”

“The Malacca Sultanate (present-day Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of Indonesia) in the middle is making great efforts to ensure the safety of the sea routes.”

At Mansur’s answer, Jo Mal-saeng intervened.

“Is the rampancy of pirates severe?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Mansur fell silent for a moment to organize his thoughts. Once he had sorted them out to some extent, Mansur answered Jo Mal-saeng’s question.

“When encountering a fleet on the ocean, the types of fleets you usually come across are mostly one of two. One is the ships of Chinese merchants, and the other is pirates.”

When ‘pirates’ were mentioned, the atmosphere inside Geunjeongjeon Hall turned grave. Jo Mal-saeng hurriedly asked a follow-up question.

“How well-armed are the pirates? Are there pirates armed with firearms?”

“I have yet to encounter pirates armed with firearms. As for their military strength… Since receiving Your Majesty’s grace and equipping my ships with firearms, I haven’t encountered any threatening pirates.”

“Oh!”

At Mansur’s answer, the atmosphere inside Geunjeongjeon Hall brightened again.

As Jo Mal-saeng’s questions ended, Kim Jeom stepped forward and asked.

“What are the products favored by the rulers and people of Tianzhu?”

“Recently, mirrors made by the Catholics have been gaining popularity.”

At Mansur’s answer, Sejong and the ministers simultaneously had the same thought.

‘Is this the beginning of the competition the Crown Prince mentioned?’

* * *

Until recently, mirrors were always among the items Mansur purchased in large quantities. He used to buy mirrors of various price ranges and types, but during his last visit, he only purchased high-end products.

When Kim Jeom summoned Mansur and asked for the reason after receiving the report, Mansur provided the explanation.

“The Catholics have started producing mirrors. Of course, the quality is incomparably crude compared to Joseon’s mirrors, but the price is cheap.”

* * *

The question-and-answer session continued on various topics. The meeting finally ended in the evening. As the meeting was coming to a close, Sejong instructed Mansur.

“As I mentioned before, we desire to trade with Tianzhu. For this endeavor to succeed, your assistance is crucial. Therefore, I ask that you do your utmost. This is a matter that must succeed for the future of our Joseon and yours.”

At Sejong’s request, Mansur bowed his head.

“I will do my best.”

* * *

With the departure approaching, Mansur began selecting the goods to take and sell in Alexandria. However, Mansur was filled with worries.

“Joseon will also start trading in Alexandria from now on, right?”

“Most likely. Why? Are you worried that your trading group will go bankrupt?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mansur nodded. Seeing Mansur’s face full of concern, Kim Jeom promptly replied.

“In that case, focus on purchasing small and expensive items. We will take care of ceramics, cotton cloth, and gold leaf.”

“As for ceramics…”

When Mansur expressed his regret, as ceramics were one of the items the ‘damn Catholics’ bought on sight, Kim Jeom smiled slightly and answered.

“We also need to make a profit, don’t we?”

“That’s true, but…”

“If you’re that worried, go outside and take a look. There are many items sold in the market that aren’t available here.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed.”

“I understand.”

Taking Kim Jeom’s advice, Mansur went to the market with an interpreter.

Coincidentally, construction was in full swing on the streets to lay tracks for trains to run on.

“What are the iron pillars laid in the ground used for?”

“They’re the tracks for trains to run on.”

“And what are trains?”

“They use water and fire to pull the wagons.”

Tilting his head at the interpreter’s explanation, Mansur asked again.

“They use water and fire? How do they do that?”

In response to Mansur’s question, the interpreter chuckled and replied.

“If I knew that, I’d be in Area 51, not here.”

“Area 51…”

Hearing the interpreter’s answer, an old memory resurfaced in Mansur’s mind. When he was told that a considerable number of devices made and used by Joseon came from Area 51, Mansur asked Hassan.

“Can I take a tour of Area 51?”

At Mansur’s question, Hassan’s face instantly turned pale. Hassan, even breaking out in a cold sweat, dissuaded Mansur.

“Don’t even mention the word ‘Area 51’!”

Beside him, Syed was also pale and sweating profusely.

* * *

As he walked through the market streets, browsing various items, Mansur’s gaze became fixated on one particular item.

What captivated Mansur’s attention was a folding fan.

“Welcome! Oh? You’re a Muslim?”

As the shop assistant looked at Mansur with a curious expression, the interpreter intervened.

“You know the ships that arrived at Jemulpo? He’s the owner of those ships.”

“Is that so? Then how may I assist you?”

Hearing the interpreter’s words, the shop assistant immediately responded with a business smile.

As he walked through the market streets, Mansur was able to reap a more fruitful harvest than expected. There were numerous items with good marketability.

“You must keep the deadline.”

Hearing Mansur’s request through the interpreter, the merchants replied while tapping their chests.

“Don’t worry! ‘Meeting the delivery date is a merchant’s lifeblood’ is our motto!”

And the Joseon merchants kept their promise.

Thus, having completed all the preparations, Mansur’s merchant group departed from Jemulpo.

Chapter 297
Setting Sails (3)

Departing from Jemulpo, Mansur’s fleet once again dropped anchor at the Jeolla Right Naval Station.

The reason for visiting the Jeolla Right Naval Station was because of the Joseon fleet accompanying them this time.

Once they set out into the open sea, proper communication would be difficult until they entered a port, so they had to discuss issues that might arise in advance, starting with setting the route.

“These are the captains of the warships that will be moving with you this time. From here, we have Commander Oh Ha-seok, Commander Kim Sang-il, and Commander Kang Nam-gil.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

After a simple introduction, a discussion took place between Mansur and the naval commanders with a nautical chart in the center.

Quite a large number of people attended the meeting.

Mansur and the interpreter, the captains of the challenger-class warships, the naval commissioner and key officers of the Jeolla Right Naval Station, and lastly, an official who had come down from Hanseong were all present.

The official was accompanying them to take on the task of writing a travelogue during this voyage. And he began his duties by recording this meeting.

The document recording the proceedings of this meeting was to be sent straight to Hanseong.

“This is a remarkably detailed nautical chart.”

When Mansur expressed his admiration upon seeing the map spread out on the table in the center of the conference room, the Joseon naval commanders responded with a bitter smile.

The map Mansur was looking at was a copy of the map included in the records of Zheng He’s voyages.

“First, what are the dangerous areas on the route to Tianzhu?”

In response to the naval commissioner’s question, Mansur pointed out three locations.

“If we talk about it in order of proximity to Joseon, first there’s Dongfan (Taiwan), next is the Qiongya (Hainan) region. Lastly, it’s the strait around Malacca.”

The naval commanders, examining the places Mansur pointed to, all nodded their heads.

“They’re places where pirates are likely to run rampant.”

“Especially the strait near the place called Malacca reminds me of our Joseon’s South Sea.”

All three locations Mansur identified were straits where the distance between the mainland and islands narrowed.

“What about the Penghu Islands here?”

Mansur, after confirming the location in response to the naval commissioner’s question, promptly answered.

“The Penghu Islands are patrolled by the Kitai… no, the Ming navy.”

“Then what about the Dongfan next to it?”

“There are rumors that the Chinese population in Dongfan is gradually increasing, but it’s still dangerous. It’s known as a den of pirates.”

“Is that so? It’s an area the Ming Dynasty is paying attention to, I suppose.”

“There are rumors that the Ming is trying to establish dominance over Dongfan, Penghu, and Qiongya, but it won’t be easy except for Penghu. Because both islands are very large and are known as dens of pirates of considerable scale. Especially Qiongya, which is also close to Dai Viet (Vietnam).”

“I see. Then going straight to Malacca would be the safest?”

Mansur nodded at the naval commissioner’s question.

“That’s the most common route. Do you have plans to visit places like the Jiangnan region of the Ming, Dai Viet, or Siam (Ayutthaya Kingdom, Thailand)?”

“Not this time. If we go straight like that, how long would it take? According to Commander Oh Ha-seok’s report last time, it seems to take about a month?”

“It usually takes that long. With favorable winds and currents, it can be shortened, but that’s not an easy feat.”

Mansur provided additional explanations about the monsoon winds and ocean currents.

Since all the commanders attending the meeting were experienced veterans, they immediately understood and added their own remarks.

“They will be helpful on the way there, but they will hinder us on the way back.”

“Indeed.”

“We will definitely need a stopover on the way back.”

“Considering the carrying capacity of our ships, won’t a stopover be unnecessary even on the return trip?”

The commanders engaged in a debate following Mansur’s explanation.

The captains commanding the challenger-class warships argued that a stopover was unnecessary, while the other commanders argued that a stopover was needed.

“Enough.”

At the naval commissioner’s order, the commanders who were raising their voices fell silent. As the commanders fell silent, the naval commissioner reached a conclusion.

“Everyone’s opinions have valid points, but I believe it’s premature. We will make a judgment based on the results we obtain from the upcoming voyage.”

“Yes, sir.”

Having sorted out the situation, the naval commissioner turned to Mansur.

“By the way, you mentioned earlier that the Ming navy patrols the Penghu Islands. Is there a Ming naval station on the Penghu Islands?”

“As far as I know, there isn’t. According to rumors, they tried to establish one several times but gave up due to harassment from pirates.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing Mansur’s answer, the naval commissioner smacked his lips and muttered inwardly.

‘The issue of the Penghu Islands seems to be a matter of politics rather than military. It won’t be easy.’

* * *

Looking at the nautical chart created through Zheng He’s voyages, the Penghu Islands appeared to be a very desirable location.

According to Zheng He’s records, the archipelago consisted of dozens of large and small islands, with four large islands clustered in the northern part of the archipelago.

The naval commanders who saw the nautical chart unanimously exclaimed to Sejong.

“It’s the perfect location for a shelter harbor!”

The four large islands clustered together could serve as a barrier to block large waves or winds.

Moreover, there were large passages to the north and south, making it convenient for ships to enter and exit.

“It’s not just the best as a shelter harbor. If we can secure this place, we can gain control over the southern trade routes!”

As the naval commanders made their arguments, Sejong, who was examining the nautical chart, asked them.

“Your opinions seem to be correct. Then, could it be that the Ming is unaware of it?”

“…”

“Isn’t this nautical chart itself made by the Ming?”

“…”

At Sejong’s point, the naval commanders became as silent as clams. Seeing the commanders like that, Sejong reached a conclusion.

“We will gather more detailed information through this voyage and then make a decision.”

“We shall obey your command!”

It was because of this incident that the naval commissioner of the Jeolla Right Naval Station asked Mansur just in case.

And having heard Mansur’s answer, the naval commissioner concluded that this issue was a matter of ‘politics.’

* * *

Two days later, the combined fleet of Mansur’s merchant group and the Joseon Navy left the Jeolla Right Naval Station and headed out to the open sea.

The voyage was smooth until they passed Jeju Island and entered the East China Sea. The wind was favorable, and the waves were calm. Thanks to that, Mansur had the leisure to let his mind wander.

Mansur smacked his lips as he looked at the challenger-class ship no. 1 sailing at a slight distance.

“What a desirable ship. Tsk.”

After smacking his lips several times, Mansur struck up a conversation with the captain.

“What do you think of that Joseon ship, Captain?”

“It’s the best.”

“Isn’t it?”

* * *

Before departure, Mansur had the opportunity to properly observe the challenger-class warships.

Upon seeing the ships, Mansur exclaimed in admiration.

“Amazing! Truly amazing!”

Not only Mansur but also the captains of the merchant ships who had joined him in observing exclaimed in admiration.

“What a magnificent ship!”

“To think such a massive thing floats on water!”

“Its armament and sturdiness are top-notch!”

As he exclaimed in admiration, Mansur asked the naval commissioner.

“This may be a presumptuous question, but how much would I have to pay to purchase this ship?”

“That’s quite a presumptuous question, isn’t it? However, since you’re the head of a merchant group with deep ties to our Joseon, I’ll answer. 100,000 nyang of gold. And that’s the lowest price.”

“Hiccup!”

Mansur hiccupped at the enormous amount.

One nyang of gold was equivalent to 10 Venetian gold ducats.

In simple terms, it meant that one ship cost 1 million ducats. To sum it up, it was more than half of the profits earned from selling the goods brought from Joseon.

It was the entire year’s profit when considering the portion to be shared with the Azram family.

“Oh, that excludes the price of the loaded firearms.”

“Hiccup! Hiccup!”

In the end, Mansur, who had retreated while only smacking his lips, muttered as he looked back at the challenger-class ship from a distance.

“It will be slow because of its large size. It will also require a large crew. Then it won’t be profitable.”

Mansur was comforting himself by forcibly presenting negative opinions.

* * *

Whether he knew Mansur’s inner thoughts or not, the captain added.

“Do you know? Those ships haven’t even fully unfurled their sails. Yet they are moving at the same speed as our ships. Our ships are also known for their speed, but those ships are remarkable.”

“Is, is that so… Ha, hahaha…”

The more Mansur listened to the captain’s words, the more bitter he felt.

“They are truly amazing ships. Our ships are also quite large, but next to those ships, they look like toy boats.”

“That, that’s true…”

“If the Iberian bastards saw them, their eyes would roll back in their heads.”

“…”

“Not only the ships but we should definitely acquire and install those navigation lights.”

Mansur nodded at the captain’s words.

* * *

During the route between Joseon and Cipangu (Japan), the Joseon ships took the lead.

It was a route well-known to the Joseon Navy, and it was also to prevent any possible attacks from the Japanese pirates.

Mansur and the captains were able to observe the challenger-class warships sailing ahead of them in detail from behind.

In the process, they discovered something peculiar: the navigation lights that were lit when the sun went down.

As the sun began to set, the Joseon sailors lit the four large lanterns attached to the front and back of the ship.

The two lanterns attached to the left and right of the bow were simple oil lamps, but the two lanterns attached to the rear were very unusual.

When viewed from behind, the lantern on the left had blue glass, while the lantern on the right had red glass.

Not only the colors but also the shapes were unusual. The elongated rectangular lanterns were divided into two compartments, top and bottom.

Using the shape of these lanterns, the Joseon sailors determined the distance from their companion ships.

If they saw just round red and blue lights, it meant the ships were far apart. In this case, they could avoid falling behind by following those lights.

If the red and blue lights appeared as rectangles, it meant they were maintaining an appropriate distance.

And if the divided shape was clearly visible, it meant they had gotten too close and needed to quickly increase the distance.

It was an ingenious method to maintain the distance between ships using a simple and easy approach.

This was also Hyang’s creation.

“The most important thing to avoid is a traffic accident…”

While searching for a way to prevent collision accidents between ships, Hyang adapted a method used by the German military on their armored vehicles during World War II.

At that time, the tail lights attached to German military vehicles, especially tanks, consisted of two square red lights as a set.

If it was just a red light, it meant the distance was far. If it was two square red lights, it meant an appropriate distance. If it was four red lights, it meant they were in close proximity.

Of course, the shapes were different, but other countries also used similar methods.

Having created the signal lights by adapting the German military’s method, Hyang immediately installed them on the panokseon for field evaluation.

Before conducting the field evaluation, the naval commanders all tilted their heads.

“Is it really necessary when we stay in the port at night?”

However, as the range of activities of the Joseon Navy expanded and they began voyages lasting several days, the commanders had to apologize to Hyang right away.

“Please forgive our foolishness, Your Highness!”

* * *

Thus, the voyage continued peacefully. It was a peaceful voyage, except for Mansur, who was struggling to soothe his bitter heart.

However, as the fleet approached Taiwan, uninvited guests appeared.

Poooo~.

A loud trumpet sound rang out from the merchant ship belonging to Mansur’s group, which was moving at the front of the fleet.

At the sound of the trumpet signaling an emergency, Mansur, who was in his cabin, rushed out onto the deck and sought out the captain.

“Captain! What’s going on!”

“Pirates!”

The captain answered briefly and shouted at the sailors.

“Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!”

At the captain’s command, the sailors removed the coverings on the cannons and brought up gunpowder, cannonballs, and fire arrows from the hold.

“Captain! Over there!”

At the sailor’s shout, who was observing the sea, the captain and Mansur turned their heads in the direction the sailor was pointing.

There, the Joseon warships were unfurling all the remaining sails that had been folded until then.

As all the sails were fully unfurled, the Joseon military ships slowly increased their speed and began to advance forward.

It was the beginning of the first battle where the challenger-class warships, boasting all sorts of ominous nicknames and infamy such as ‘The Nightmare of Pirates,’ ‘The Terror of Pirates,’ and ‘The Tyrant of the Seas,’ would publicly showcase their combat capabilities.

Chapter 298
Setting Sails (4)

“All sails have been unfurled!”

“We’re at maximum speed!”

“Indeed! Well done!”

In response to the reports from his subordinates, Kang Nam-gil, the captain of the challenger-class ship no. 3 ‘Maengjin’ (also known as Brave Advance), clenched his fist and cheered. Beside Nam-gil, who was cheering, the lieutenant directing the marines raised his voice.

“It seems faster than the top speed we reached during training!”

“Good! Good!”

Nam-gil, who had been nodding continuously, raised his voice.

“The name of our ship is Maengjin! Crush those pirates in a manner befitting the ship’s name!”

“Aye!”

The marines responded loudly to Nam-gil’s command.

The morale of the marines and commanders was sky-high. However, there were two individuals who weren’t.

“Bleurgh!”

“Ugh!”

The ones retching through the open window of the cabin at the stern were the physicians who had boarded this ship for the first time.

The physicians, who had taken the seasickness medicine prepared just in case, sighed.

“The ship and the crew…”

“Even the name was ominous.”

* * *

After the challenger-class ship no. 1 was named ‘Challenger,’ the subsequent challenger-class warships continued to be given challenging names.

The name of ship no. 2 was ‘Invincible,’ followed by ‘Maengjin’ for ship no. 3, and ‘Jinchwi’ (Taking Initiative) for ship no. 5.

It was the same for the Haeung-class ships. Starting from ship no. 2, they were named after fast raptors or beasts of prey.

As a result, those who had to come up with the ship names and present them to Sejong had to wrestle with dictionaries.

“They could just use place names like before!”

Although there were those who cried out like that, it was difficult to do so because the panokseon had already claimed those names.

* * *

When the Joseon Navy selected the captains for the challenger-class and Haeung-class warships, there was only one criterion.

“Since they will be experiencing unknown regions they have never encountered before, we should choose those with a strong sense of adventure and excellent adaptability.”

Based on this criterion, the Navy began selecting suitable captains.

“Aren’t they getting ahead of themselves?”

Senior officers from the General Staff and the Army expressed concerns when they saw the Navy’s movements. It was because the Navy had already started selecting commanders when the design plans for the challenger-class ships had just been completed.

However, the Navy scoffed at such concerns.

“Hah! If we select people after the ships are built, it will be too late! We need to screen them leisurely in advance and then choose from among them to select the right ones in a timely manner!”

In the end, this issue was brought to Sejong, and Sejong sided with the Navy.

“The Navy’s argument is reasonable.”

Those chosen through this process were individuals like Oh Ha-seok. The reason Oh Ha-seok’s group accompanied Mansur to Aden was not merely to educate them on the use of firearms. It was for them to see and experience the reality of the open sea, which was different from the familiar coastal waters of Joseon, as future commanders of the ocean-going fleet.

As a side note, as the challenger-class warships were steadily launched, Hyang also had the opportunity to meet the captains. After meeting with the captains, Hyang was inwardly astounded.

‘What, what are these lunatics?’

Hyang was unaware that he himself was also quite a lunatic.

* * *

In many aspects, Kang Nam-gil was a symbol of such lunatics.

“He will either become a famous general or a notorious bandit.”

This was the assessment of the elders of his family and the village elders who had seen Nam-gil in his childhood.

Although he was from a civil official family, due to his personality, Nam-gil entered the civil service through the military examination.

After becoming a military officer, Nam-gil steadily built his career in the Army and the Navy. He served as a cavalry commander, engaging in pursuits with the Jurchen tribes, and also commanded warships in the Tsushima conquest force led by Yi Jong-mu.

While typical military officers preferred either land or sea assignments, Nam-gil enjoyed both.

On land, he enjoyed galloping on horseback across the plains of Liaodong as a cavalry commander, and after transferring to the Navy, he loved firing the cannons mounted on warships. What Nam-gil disliked was being cooped up in a fortress or camp.

As time passed and the separation of military branches progressed through Sejong’s Reformation Plan, Joseon’s military officers had to decide on their career paths. From then on, those in the Navy would continue to serve in the Navy, and those in the Army would continue to live as Army personnel. Therefore, officers like Nam-gil had to decide on their future paths.

While pondering over this, an interesting rumor reached Nam-gil’s ears.

– The Crown Prince argued before the King and the ministers, “For Joseon to expand, we must gain control of the sea!”

– It is said that the King also acknowledged the validity of the Crown Prince’s words!

Upon hearing the rumor, Nam-gil felt as if the hazy fog in his mind had cleared up.

“That’s right! It has always been said that ‘a man should play in the great waters!’ Isn’t the sea the true great water? Hahaha!”

The colleagues who heard Nam-gil’s words beside him whispered softly.

“Is that the ‘great water’ he’s referring to?”

“Probably not.”

In any case, because Nam-gil’s abilities, experience, and achievements were quite good, he was able to become the captain of a newly constructed challenger-class warship.

“Good! Very good!”

Nam-gil was very satisfied when he saw the new warship. It was fast and had many cannons.

* * *

Since most of the captains of the new warships were “capable lunatics” similar to Nam-gil, the marines under their command were also not to be taken lightly.

The recruitment of marines for the new warships was based on “volunteers first.”

When the marines saw the recruitment notices posted at the naval bases across Joseon, their initial reaction was negative.

“Why would I join a voyage to an unknown place, not knowing when I’ll return? It’s not like I have a spare life.”

However, the marines who had accompanied Mansur’s merchant ships and traveled to Aden and Alexandria with Oh Ha-seok immediately volunteered to become crew members of the new warships.

The crew members who had been to unfamiliar foreign countries shared their experiences with their colleagues.

“The courtesans in the brothels of Alexandria have hair like flowing gold, and their breasts and buttocks are as large as wooden bowls!”

“Just by taking a common wooden bowl from Joseon and selling it there, you can easily earn several nyang of gold!”

“In that place, they sell spices like pepper as if they were selling rice in the market!”

Influenced by those tales mixed with tremendous exaggeration and a bit of truth, the marines gradually began to waver.

Furthermore, Mansur’s fleet, which regularly visited Joseon, also swayed the hearts of the marines. As the Oeguija (black ghost, referring to black people) sailors, who had distinctly different skin colors and appearances from Joseon, Japanese, or Chinese people, became familiar, curiosity began to overpower fear.

And at the right moment, the court posted a new recruitment notice.

– Additional reward money will be provided.

“Let’s go!”

“Hooray!”

The recruitment notice worked like magic, and the application reception desk was overflowing.

Interestingly, this was not limited to within the Navy. Many young men who heard this rumor knocked on the doors of the naval bases. It was a different situation from the past when people avoided the Navy, saying, “The body is noble, but the work is lowly.”

* * *

Because the ship was filled with such individuals, the atmosphere on the Maengjin was not one of fear but of excitement.

However, the soldiers and commanders handling the cannons did not lose their last bit of reason.

“Handle them carefully! If you make a mistake, it’s not those pirates who will become fish food, but you!”

“Yes, sir!”

Once the preparations were complete, the gunnery officers commanding the cannons on the first and second decks shouted, gripping the speaking trumpets.

“Preparations complete!”

“The cannons are reported to be ready.”

Upon receiving the lieutenant’s report, Kang Nam-gil checked other aspects.

“What about the deployment of the grapeshot cannons and musketeers on the first deck?”

“Completed, sir!”

“Are the musketeers all positioned in the crow’s nest?”

“Completed, sir!”

After receiving the lieutenant’s report, Kang Nam-gil turned his head back.

The other two sister ships were following the Maengjin he was on, maintaining an appropriate distance and forming a single-column formation.

“Indeed…”

Satisfied with the swift and precise movements of the companion ships, befitting the notorious reputation of the Joseon Navy in the coastal waters of Joseon after the Reformation Plan, Nam-gil took out his telescope, fully extended it, and observed the pirate ships.

“Their size is about the same as the grain transport ships… The number is roughly twenty or so? And they’re clustered together appropriately. How grateful can I be?”

Having assessed the situation, Nam-gil handed the telescope to the lieutenant, opened the door to the wheelhouse, and shouted.

“Proceed straight ahead!”

“Straight ahead!”

After issuing the command, Nam-gil envisioned the upcoming situation while looking at the pirate ships.

The Joseon fleet, forming a single-column formation, would charge into the center of the clustered pirate group and tear the concentrated pirate fleet apart.

“Hah! They’re probably experiencing this kind of battle for the first time.”

The expression on Nam-gil’s face as he gazed at the pirate ships resembled that of a beast of prey facing its prey.

* * *

If Kang Nam-gil had the expression of a beast of prey facing its prey, Zhao, the leader of the pirate fleet, had a similar expression.

“Single-column formation? They intend to push through?”

Having discerned the formation arranged by the Joseon fleet, Zhao slightly nodded his head.

“With that size, it’s understandable for them to have such thoughts. I don’t know which country made them, but their size is substantial.”

The gray large warships approaching from the front were of considerable size. They were as large as the supply ships he had last seen in Zheng He’s fleet a few years ago. The problem was that he had never seen such ships before. He had never seen similar-looking ships in the Ming, Japan, or even Joseon in the corner.

“However, they have underestimated us too much.”

His own fleet was also composed of individuals who had been pirating for generations on this rough sea. If they were relying solely on their size to penetrate through, it would be a fatal misjudgment.

“And…”

Zhao glanced at the deck of the ship he was on. On the deck were six cannons. They were the Ming army’s cannons he had secretly obtained through contact with a Ming black market dealer not long ago.

* * *

They were fearsome things that could fire heavy iron balls weighing nearly 30 geun (approx. 18 kg) up to a distance of about 200 bo (approx. 240 m).

The black market dealer who had handed over the cannons boasted confidently.

“These are the best cannons of the Ming army! There’s nothing that can beat them!”

In response to Zhao’s words, the black market dealer shook his head.

“Joseon? Ah, Joseon also uses cannons a lot. But how good can the performance of cannons made by such a small country be? These cannons are made in the Ming, the Ming!”

Pondering the black market dealer’s words, Zhao snapped out of his thoughts and assessed the situation.

“Are the cannons ready?”

“Yes, leader!”

“Are the fire arrows properly prepared as well?”

“Yes, leader!”

“This time, make sure to aim only at the sails. Don’t hit useless spots like last time and make us struggle to put out the fire.”

“Yes, leader!”

Fire arrows were one of the favored attack methods used by pirates. Fire was the greatest enemy of wooden ships. Of course, the hull that had been floating on the sea for a long time and had absorbed moisture did not easily catch fire. However, the moment those fire arrows hit their target, the attention of the crew on the opposing side would be diverted, creating an opening.

In addition to that purpose, fire arrows were also useful because the first thing they aimed at when shooting fire arrows was the sails of the enemy ship. The moment the sails caught fire, the enemy would become like a fish on a cutting board.

Having confirmed the readiness of his subordinate pirates, Zhao surveyed the other pirate ships. As the enemy ships approached in a single-column formation, the companion ships were slowly gathering around.

The moment the enemies in the single-column formation charged into the center, the pirate ships that had gathered around would all pounce on them.

Those unfamiliar ships might intend to rely solely on their size and break through, but the situation would become like a wild boar trapped in a net.

Chapter 299
Setting Sails (5)

“It appears the pirate ships are gathering.”

In response to the lieutenant’s report, Kang Nam-gil replied with a sneer.

“Are they trying to weave a net in the sky and on the ground? Foolish bastards.”

* * *

Constructing multiple layers of defensive lines with a large number of troops to defend against an enemy charging in with a single-point attack was one of the common defensive tactics.

Among the Joseon military commanders, it was known by the nickname “the net in the sky and on the ground.”

No matter how strong the attacking force of the enemy attempting the charge was, if they had to break through two or three defensive lines, their strength would rapidly decrease, and they would eventually collapse and be counterattacked.

The most famous large-scale application of this tactic was the renowned “Battle of Kursk.”

That was why Kang Nam-gil scoffed at the pirates’ movements.

If this were on land, choosing the “net in the sky and on the ground” could be considered a fairly good method.

On land, even hastily constructed defensive structures could be firmly fixed, making it possible to bind the enemy’s feet.

However, the place where they and the pirates were currently located was the sea.

Unless they rammed their ships into the bow of the Maengjin, they could not stop the Maengjin’s advance.

With the size and sturdiness of the Maengjin, the pirate ships, whose largest ships were only about the size of grain transport ships, would bounce off unless they collided head-on.

Moreover, if their feet were bound according to the pirates’ intentions, it would be problematic for the pirates themselves. The Maengjin was much larger than their ships and was heavily armed with cannons and muskets.

* * *

“The most important thing is…”

As Kang Nam-gil watched the approaching pirate fleet, he turned his head back and looked at the sister ships following behind.

“The opponent we have to fight is not just the Maengjin, and I have no intention of becoming a sacrificial lamb.”

The movements of the pirate fleet were similar to a pack of wolves hunting a herd of deer.

They would choose a suitable target and attack it as a group.

They might miss the rest, but they would surely capture the prey they targeted to fill their bellies.

* * *

Kang Nam-gil raised his voice toward the marines.

“Listen up, soldiers!”

After gathering the attention of the marines on the first deck, Nam-gil continued.

“We are the first Joseon fleet to set foot in this sea! Generally, when moving to a new neighborhood, it is our custom to offer at least a piece of barley cake! Therefore, treat them with utmost sincerity! Do your best to send those bastards to the Dragon Palace! That is the highest form of hospitality!”

The marines on the first deck and those on the second deck, who heard his words through the speaking trumpet, simultaneously raised their fists and shouted.

“Hooray!”

At that moment, a marine observing the pirates from the crow’s nest sent a signal.

“The enemy ships have entered firing range!”

Upon receiving the lieutenant’s report, Kang Nam-gil stretched the command baton he was holding upward.

“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!”

After taking deep breaths, Nam-gil swung the command baton downward.

“Fire!”

“Fire!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Instantly, with a thunderous roar of cannons, both sides of the Maengjin’s massive hull were shrouded in smoke.

* * *

The pirate ships that approached the Maengjin and were hit by the barrage were in utter chaos.

“What kind of cannonball flies 200 jang (approx. 600 meters)!”

Captain Wang Yi, who had approached the ship of an unfamiliar design as a target and unexpectedly received a barrage, shouted with a half-dazed expression.

“Damage report?”

“None!”

“Chief! Over there! Over there!”

At the subordinate’s shout, Wang Yi looked in the direction the subordinate was pointing and gritted his teeth.

“Damn it!”

In the direction the subordinate pointed, the ships of his fellow pirates, which had been racing across the sea alongside his ship, were tilting to one side. It was evident at a glance that they had suffered serious damage and were in a life-threatening situation.

The problem was that it wasn’t just one or two ships in such a state.

“Chief! Should we retreat?”

“Don’t say such ridiculous things! If we tuck our tails and run now, do you think the other bastards will leave us alone?”

“But…”

“Keep rowing! We need to get within 50 jang (approx. 160 meters) to fire the iron pellets! Move! We can only survive if we move!”

“Yes, Chief! Row!”

At Wang Yi’s command, the pirates gripping the oars began rowing, gritting their teeth.

* * *

“Hurry and plug the hole!”

“If you don’t want to become fish food, hurry and plug the hole!”

Jang Hak-su, who was leading one of the pirate ships approaching to attack the Maengjin, desperately shouted while holding onto the railing.

The pirate ship he was steering was slowly sinking from the stern.

Jang Hak-su’s pirate ship was aiming for the left side of the Maengjin and approaching.

However, unfortunately, the direction in which his pirate ship was approaching precisely overlapped with the line of fire of one of the cannons installed on the second deck of the Maengjin.

And the Joseon Navy was not one to miss such luck.

The cannonball fired by the Joseon Navy grazed right next to the second mast of the pirate ship, penetrated the deck, and punched a hole in the bottom of the stern.

As water flowed in through that hole, Jang Hak-su’s ship began sinking from the stern.

Although a considerable number of pirate ships suffered fatal injuries from the initial barrage, the pirates persistently approached the Maengjin. And as if waiting for them, the Maengjin’s second barrage followed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Once again, the Joseon military’s cannonballs pounded the pirate ships.

The second barrage inflicted even more severe losses on the pirates. While the cannonballs used in the first barrage were solid cannonballs, simple iron balls, the second cannonballs were explosive shells designed to fit the “Type B General Cannon” exclusively made for the challenger-class and Haeung-class ships.

* * *

The intention was to configure the explosive shell cannons and regular cannons separately, similar to the operation method of the Land Forces and panokseon, but due to efficiency issues, Hyang developed the Type B General Cannon.

To be precise, it was more of Hyang’s indulgence in his hobbies under the pretext of efficiency.

Regardless of how it started, the Type B General Cannon boasted even better performance than the Type A General Cannon and increased efficiency by using only two types of shells: the Type B Iron Bullet and the Type B Explosive Shell.

* * *

The explosive shells that were fired exploded above the pirate ships, on their decks, or after penetrating the decks and reaching the rowers’ area.

This was a method devised while dealing with the Japanese pirates and the fake Japanese pirates in the West Sea.

The purpose was to inflict more serious damage to the hull and the Japanese pirates or fake Japanese pirates on board by exploding in multiple locations.

And the pirates who were hit by those shells were experiencing a living hell.

“Ugh…”

The pirate Oh Ah-sam held his bloodied left arm and surveyed the surrounding deck.

Around him, blood from his fellow pirates was flowing profusely.

Arms and legs of unknown ownership were scattered everywhere, and his fellow pirates who had escaped instant death but were seriously injured were writhing and screaming in agony amidst the sea of blood.

Oh Ah-sam looked at the mast he was leaning against.

Thanks to the thick mast, as thick as the waist of an adult man, shielding his body, Oh Ah-sam ended up only losing his left arm.

Barely getting up, Oh Ah-sam approached a hole pierced in the deck.

“Bleurgh!”

Looking down through the pierced hole, Oh Ah-sam immediately vomited.

The sunlight streaming through the hole and a few other pierced holes revealed the gruesome scene below.

Below the deck, none of his fellow pirates and slaves who were rowing had survived.

Such a tragedy did not occur only on Oh Ah-sam’s ship.

Thud!

With a loud noise, a black iron ball lodged into the mast, and the gazes of Gong Sam-nam and his fellow pirates all turned toward the mast.

And at that very moment, the iron ball lodged in the mast exploded.

Bang!

Simultaneously with the explosion, the iron pellets inside the shell, the fragmented pieces of the shell’s casing, and the shattered wooden fragments of the mast mercilessly tore through the bodies of the pirates nearby.

The explosive shells demonstrated even more terrifying power at sea than on land.

Considering the possibility of falling into the sea, most pirates were not wearing armor.

Even those wearing armor only had small metal plates covering important vital points, such as a heart protector.

Moreover, they were crammed together on the narrow deck of a ship, which was at best the size of a grain transport ship.

Therefore, when an explosive shell detonated in the middle of the pirates gathered in this manner, it was not uncommon for a single fragment to kill two or three pirates simultaneously.

* * *

The pirate fleet, which had been hit by the explosive shells in such a way, was facing a catastrophe.

Kang Nam-gil, who was watching the pirate fleet that had turned into a complete mess, pointed to a large ship visible in the distance and turned to the lieutenant.

“No matter how you look at it, that one seems to be the flagship, right?”

“Indeed, sir!”

“Then, we should go and greet them! Steer to port!”

“Steer to port!”

At Nam-gil’s command, the helmsman vigorously turned the steering wheel.

“There are still quite a few of them left, though.”

In response to the lieutenant’s question, Nam-gil pointed behind him with his chin and answered.

“We’re not the only ones here, are we?”

The lieutenant, who immediately understood Nam-gil’s words, replied with a grin.

“Understood!”

The Maengjin, which had torn apart the pirate fleet, turned its bow toward the large ship that appeared to be the flagship to finish the job.

* * *

“Damn it!”

Zhao, the pirate leader, cursed as he faced a situation completely different from his expectations.

The ships of his subordinates, who had charged in like a pack of sharks targeting a whale, numbered 27 in total. However, with just two barrages, more than half of the ships had vanished.

The ship they had targeted was not a whale but a killer whale.

The killer whale, which had bitten off the smaller sharks, was now charging toward him.

“Leader, should we flee?”

“With this slow-as-hell ship?”

“…”

At Zhao’s retort, the subordinate’s mouth shut tightly.

To accommodate the cannons purchased from the Ming merchant, Zhao’s ship had to undergo extensive reinforcement work. As a result, the weight-increased ship had become much slower.

“We can’t even flee with this slow-as-hell ship. Even if we could flee, the leaders of the other fleets wouldn’t stand still. Therefore, there’s only one answer. We have no choice but to trust the cannons. The Ming army uses these cannons, so we have to trust them!”

Having made up his mind, Zhao shouted to his subordinates.

“Prepare the cannons! We’re going to capture that damn bastard!”

“Yes, sir!”

“At maximum speed! Tell the rowers! Row until their arms fall off!”

“Aye! Uaaah!”

The subordinates responded to Zhao’s command with a battle cry.

Both Zhao and his subordinates were pirates to the core.

As befitting those for whom death was a common occurrence, their fighting spirit was instead rising.

Thus, the ship Zhao was on began increasing its speed while directly facing the Maengjin.

* * *

As the Maengjin drew closer, Zhao shouted.

“80 bo! 80 bo! 80 bo (approx. 100 meters)! Light the fuse when it’s within 80 bo!”

“Yes, sir!”

Hearing his subordinates’ response, Zhao gripped the railing and muttered.

“Damn cannons…”

As the Ming merchant had said, the cannons Zhao had acquired could fire 30-geun (approx. 18 kg) iron balls up to a distance of 200 bo (approx. 240 meters).

However, this was limited to land. This distance was possible when the gun carriage was firmly fixed on solid ground.

But the place where the cannons would be mounted was a ship. Pirate ships, in particular, which prioritized speed, lacked sturdiness, so Zhao had to carry out extensive reinforcement work on his ship.

Nevertheless, problems persisted.

The ship could not withstand it if the cannons were fired with the maximum amount of gunpowder.

Therefore, Zhao had to repair the ship again and reduce the amount of gunpowder loaded into the cannons.

Due to the reduced gunpowder, to ensure the fired cannonballs had a proper effect, they had to approach the target within 100 bo (approx. 120 meters).

* * *

The two ships, charging toward each other, finally crossed paths.

The distance between the two ships was about 40 jang (approx. 120 meters). In a situation where each other’s sides were clearly visible, Kang Nam-gil and Zhao shouted simultaneously.

“Fire!”

“Shoot!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

‘Missing at this distance is only possible for a blind person!’

‘100 bo! This is enough!’

As Kang Nam-gil and Zhao’s thoughts intersected, the iron balls from both sides crossed in the sky.

And the fortunes were divided.

Thud! Bang!

The ship Zhao was on was pounded by the iron balls and explosive shells fired from the Maengjin, turning into a hole-ridden wreck and beginning to sink.

Zhao, whose chest had been pierced by a wooden fragment thrown by the explosion of the shell, looked at the Maengjin with an unbelieving expression.

The cannonballs fired from Zhao’s ship had accurately struck the hull of the Maengjin. However, the Maengjin’s hull easily deflected the 30-geun iron balls.

“Unbelievable…”

These were Zhao’s last words.

* * *

“Damage report?”

“None, sir!”

As soon as the cannonballs from the pirate ship struck the hull, Kang Nam-gil immediately checked for damage.

Upon receiving the report of no damage, Nam-gil unconsciously raised both arms and shouted.

“Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!”

It was because he remembered what Hyang had said when he first received the ship.

– A hole in the hull of a challenger-class warship? Unless it hits a reef, there’s no way a hole will be made by any ordinary bombardment.

* * *

The reason the Maengjin was able to withstand the 30-geun iron balls was that the plates constituting the sides of the hull were double-layered, and not just a simple double layer.

The method introduced by Hyang was the same method employed by the United States on frigates like the Constitution.

It was a form of plywood without adhesive, simply put, crossing two sheets of plating.

Thanks to this trick, the challenger-class warships gained their notorious reputation.

Chapter 300
The Land of Tianzhu-India (1)

The battle with the pirates ended in complete victory for the Joseon Navy.

After the Maengjin tore through and passed, the Challenger and the Invincible took care of the cleanup.

During this cleanup process, the busiest ones were the marines in charge of the grapeshot cannons and the musketeers.

Disassembling the single-column formation and splitting into two, the Challenger and the Invincible wiped out the remaining 11 pirate ships.

In this process, the grapeshot cannons demonstrated their true value. Unlike the ship’s cannons, the grapeshot cannons, which could be reloaded quickly, cleaned the decks of the pirate ships that entered their range with the pirates’ blood.

The musketeers were the same. Looking down from the high parts of the deck’s stern and the crow’s nest, the musketeers sniped the resisting pirates one by one.

After the Challenger and the Invincible swept through, all that remained were 8 drifting pirate ships. On the decks of those drifting pirate ships, there were no living beings.

And in the surrounding sea, sharks were gathering, attracted by the scent of blood.

Having dealt with the pirate ships, the Challenger, the Invincible, and the Maengjin regrouped with Mansur’s fleet. To be precise, they reduced their speed by folding some of the sails they had unfurled and waited for Mansur’s fleet.

As a result, Mansur’s fleet had to pass through the sea where sharks were rampaging and roaming around.

Seeing the drifting pirate ships and the dorsal fins of the sharks moving in all directions, Mansur and the sailors shuddered.

“How horrifying…”

“I’m scared to see it again…”

As the sailors muttered while rubbing their goosebump-covered arms, Mansur muttered with a serious expression.

“Should I just strip them bare and buy one?”

After contemplating, Mansur casually spoke to the captain.

“Hey, Captain. Joseon’s new ships are quite remarkable, aren’t they?”

“They are indeed remarkable.”

“Should we acquire one?”

“We’ll go bankrupt.”

“Huh?”

The captain calmly explained to Mansur.

“The ships are certainly good. As good as their enormous price. But you see, what’s the point of just buying the ship? We also need to purchase the cannons. When I observed them last time, compared to the size of the cannons mounted on those ships, the cannons loaded on our ships are like twigs.”

“We could buy fewer cannons…”

“What about the gunpowder and ammunition? And how will you handle the crew?”

“That’s…”

As Mansur mumbled and tried to evade the question, the captain continued.

“Even if we put everything else aside, the timber used to construct those ships is from Joseon. If the ship needs repairs, we’ll have no choice but to take it to Joseon.”

“Wouldn’t it be fine to use the trees from our homeland?”

“The problem is that not all trees are the same. To conclude, it is indeed worth the price. However, considering the maintenance aspect, it will lead to bankruptcy. To properly operate those ships, it would only be possible for a country like Joseon to manage them or a merchant group receiving support from the state.”

“Ugh, my stomach is churning again.”

Mansur’s stomach was churning once more.

* * *

The combined fleet of Joseon and Mansur continued their smooth voyage thereafter.

As they entered the Strait of Malacca, known for its pirates, the Joseon Navy became tense again, but there were no large-scale pirate raids like the one near Taiwan.

It was because the pirates, upon seeing the size of the challenger-class warships, wisely kept their distance.

Of course, there were pirates who, whether out of confidence or arrogance, attacked, but those who did so immediately disappeared into the sea.

The pirates hiding in various parts of the Strait of Malacca could all witness that scene. Seeing their competitors and comrades disappear into the sea like that, the pirates never dared to touch the combined fleet of Joseon and Mansur.

As a result, the combined fleet was able to safely arrive in Malacca.

* * *

As they approached the port of Malacca, the challenger-class warships began to furl their sails simultaneously. At the same time, they lowered small boats using pulleys.

Once the small boats were safely lowered, ropes were thrown from the mothership. The small boats, tied with the ropes, began pulling the ships in unison.

Thus, the challenger-class warships and Mansur’s fleet’s ships docked at the pier, and gangways were connected.

As the enormous ships of an unfamiliar design—covered entirely in gray from the sails to the hull—docked, people from the port flocked to observe.

The captains of the Challenger, the Invincible, and the Maengjin, neatly dressed in battle robes and battle hats, with their swords at their sides, descended the gangways. Following the captains, interpreters who could speak Chinese and officials from the Ministry of Finance descended the gangways.

Shortly after, when Mansur joined the group, a group of soldiers appeared, pushing through the crowd. As the soldiers raised their voices, the people who had flocked to the pier made way, and well-dressed men revealed themselves.

Seeing this, Oh Ha-seok gestured to the interpreter. Oh Ha-seok, who had previously visited this place while sailing with Mansur, had discovered that among those managing this port, there was a Chinese person. Therefore, an interpreter was brought along for this voyage.

While instructing to prepare the interpreter in this manner, Sejong could not hide his bitterness.

“According to the reports I’ve read, the merchants and people of the Ming have reached as far as Tianzhu. All this time, our Joseon has been living in such a small world.”

The interpreter, who stepped forward, announced their identity in fluent Chinese.

“We are on our way from Joseon to Tianzhu. We wish to stay briefly to replenish our food and water and take a rest.”

At the interpreter’s words, the Chinese official’s face brightened.

“Oh! Joseon! You must have had a long journey! As long as you don’t disturb the peace and conduct proper trade, you are welcome to stay as long as you like!”

“Thank you, sir.”

As permission was easily granted, Kang Nam-gil showed a surprised expression.

“I didn’t expect permission to be granted so easily. It’s unexpected.”

At Nam-gil’s words, Oh Ha-seok explained the reason.

“This port itself is a port for trade, so that’s why. I heard that the Muslim ruler called the Sultan, who governs this port and the surrounding area, accumulates wealth through trade.”

“Oh~.”

At Ha-seok’s explanation, Nam-gil lightly nodded his head.

“Anyway, since the situation has been resolved easily, let’s move quickly. Let’s start the replenishment in earnest from tomorrow, and in the meantime, let’s have our men take turns going ashore to get a whiff of the land.”

“More like the scent of alcohol. Speaking of which, I hope the interpreter properly made arrangements with the officials.”

“He said to follow the soldiers who will come shortly.”

“Then we should prepare some tonics.”

The captain of the Invincible gave an order to the lieutenant in a low voice.

Shortly after, the crew of the Invincible descended with small boxes.

Not long after, a group of soldiers reappeared. A new Chinese person who came with the soldiers spoke to the interpreter. The interpreter conveyed the Chinese person’s words to the captains.

“The place is ready, so please come with us.”

“Then, we’ll be in your care.”

* * *

Thanks to the medicine—genuine high-quality ginseng and deer antlers—delivered at the banquet held on the evening of the first day of entry, the replenishment that began the following day proceeded smoothly. In fact, the officials of Malacca had no choice but to show goodwill. The captains and officials from the Ministry of Finance had mentioned that there would be regular visits in the future, and moreover, upon hearing that tin was Malacca’s main export item, they showed deep interest. It was absolutely unacceptable to mistreat those who could potentially become major customers.

Chinese merchants at the port stepped forward to conduct the trade of rice and other vegetable varieties.

“Ask them if it’s okay to pay with Joseon’s silver banknotes.”

Upon hearing Oh Ha-seok’s words through the interpreter, the Chinese merchants laughed heartily and replied.

“They say it’s fine. In fact, they prefer banknotes.”

“That’s a relief. Then, since we’re buying so much, ask them to give us a discount.”

* * *

The marines, who had been busy with replenishment work during the day, waited for the sun to set. As the sun set, the marines whose turn it was to go out prepared to disembark from the ship with excitement.

The captains stepped forward in front of the marines who had completed the head count at the gangway.

“It’s fine to go out and take a break, but don’t overdo it. As you all know, there are many people curious about this ship. You know what I mean, right?”

“Yes, Captain!”

After the captain’s admonition, the physicians on board stepped forward.

“It’s fine to go out and drink, but keep a tight grip on your waist. There’s no medicine for venereal diseases.”

“Yes, Physician.”

With the physicians’ advice, the crew members disembarked from the ship and left the pier, but soon had puzzled expressions on their faces.

“Where should we go?”

“Right…”

“Should we ask the Muslim crew members who came with us?”

“Do you know the Muslim language?”

As they pondered how to escape the tricky situation, the crew members soon reached a conclusion.

“Damn it! Let’s trust our noses!”

“We have no choice…”

The crew members, who had been unable to touch alcohol for nearly a month, were that desperate.

* * *

The Joseon marines, who had flocked out in groups, indeed roamed the alleys of the port of Malacca in droves.

Seeing the Joseon marines who had flocked out, the residents of the port of Malacca observed them as if watching a curious spectacle, and the Joseon marines also observed the residents of Malacca with similar expressions.

“What kind of clothes are those… It’s like wrapping a single layer of a blanket around oneself.”

“Hmm, it’s indecent… The curves of the body are fully exposed.”

The Joseon marines experienced culture shock upon seeing the sarongs and kains worn by the Malays living in Malacca. The clothes made of thin fabric for ventilation fully revealed the lines of the body.

“Is that important right now?”

“Don’t you know what’s important?”

However, the Joseon marines immediately shifted their gazes. They were accustomed to the etiquette of not carelessly looking at other women, but the biggest reason was that they were too desperate for alcohol.

* * *

“Sniff! Sniff, sniff! Sniff! It’s the smell of alcohol!”

As they roamed the alleys, the marines soon caught the scent of alcohol and began moving in the direction of the smell.

The Joseon marines, who had found a tavern by following the scent, had a hollow expression on their faces.

“It’s right in front of us!”

“That damn smell of fermented fish…”

The Joseon marines, blaming the pungent smell of fish sauce, a traditional Southeast Asian condiment, flocked to the tavern.

The Joseon marines, who had flocked to the tavern, saw the signboard written in Chinese characters and nodded their heads.

“We found the right place!”

Although the signboard was scribbled and fancily written, they clearly recognized the Chinese character ‘酒’ (alcohol).

“Owner, alcohol!”

“Give us some alcohol!”

Seeing the Joseon marines who had flocked in and filled the first and second floors, the owner, who had been standing in a daze, soon came to his senses and kicked the waiter’s buttocks.

“What are you doing! Serve tea immediately!”

“Yes, yes!”

As the waiters served tea, the marines also regained some of their senses and began to converse.

“By the way, what should we use to pay?”

“We received our salary, didn’t we?”

“That’s Joseon money. Is this Joseon?”

“Ah…”

When the issue of money arose, the most senior soldiers stepped forward.

The senior soldiers walked up to the owner, took out their wallets, showed the silver banknotes, and used their fingers dipped in tea to write on the counter.

可 (Possible) 否 (No)

Seeing the characters written by the soldiers and the silver banknotes, the owner soon understood the meaning and nodded his head vigorously, writing with his finger as well.

可 (Possible)

Confirming the owner’s answer, the senior soldiers’ faces brightened, and they wrote again.

酒 (Alcohol) 多 (Plenty) 急 (Urgent)

Seeing the characters, the owner smiled brightly and nodded.

The senior soldiers who returned to their seats informed the other soldiers of the result.

“They accept silver banknotes.”

“Hurray!”

Shortly after, alcohol and snacks began to be served on the soldiers’ tables, and the soldiers cheerfully began to enjoy their drinks.

As the drinking session unfolded, the low-ranking officers with the rank of Jinmu and the senior soldiers became curious about something other than alcohol.

“I heard that our country’s silver banknotes are widely used, but I didn’t expect them to be accepted here as well.”

“Indeed, you’re right.”

Surprised by the wider-than-expected influence of Joseon’s banknotes, the Joseon marines simultaneously felt astonishment and pride.

Chapter 301
The Land of Tianzhu-India (2)

During the drinking session at the tavern, the Joseon marines were greatly surprised by two things.

The first surprise was the variety of alcohol served. All kinds of fruit wine, followed by Arabian grape wine, and even strong distilled liquor—bottles filled with various types of alcohol were lined up on the marines’ tables.

“Wow! This place is heaven!”

“If Yi Taebak were here, he would have settled down and lived here!”

The marines enjoyed drinking all sorts of alcohol, each with its own unique character.

The second surprise was the astronomical bar tab.

“We should head back soon.”

“Ugh! We should.”

As the mood gradually shifted towards wrapping up, the owner, who had become acquainted with the marines through the earlier written conversation, approached them and handed them a paper with the amount written on it.

The marines, who received the paper with slightly intoxicated faces, checked the number written on it and rubbed their eyes.

“What? Is this real?”

“Whoa! The alcohol is wearing off quickly.”

After checking the amount several times, the marines’ first thought was “rip-off.”

“Could they be ripping us off? Those bastards, I’ll just…”

“Hold on! We haven’t confirmed anything yet!”

As the atmosphere turned hostile over the bar tab, Jo Seok-bong, the most senior among the Jinmu, came to a conclusion.

“For now, let’s pay the bill and come back tomorrow with the interpreter to confront them.”

“Brother Jo!”

“Seok-bong!”

“Everyone is drunk right now. If things escalate further here, what do you think will happen? We can’t even communicate properly. What more can we do besides using our fists?”

“Ugh…”

“Even if it turns out to be a rip-off, we can simply stop coming to this tavern from now on. Surely, this can’t be the only tavern in this port, right?”

In the end, the marines collected money and paid the bar tab. As each person paid 1 nyang of silver, the marines grumbled.

“Spending half of a month’s salary in one night… Damn it…”

* * *

At that time, the monthly salary of Joseon Navy soldiers was 2 nyang of silver. The marines participating in this voyage were paid 3 nyang of silver per month, including special bonuses, with 1 nyang being paid to their families in Joseon.

As the Reformation Plan progressed, the soldiers’ salaries were no longer paid through grain provisions but directly by the state. As a result, the soldiers were able to receive their salaries stably. Moreover, the salary of 2 nyang of silver for the lowest-ranking soldiers was considered a high income in Joseon’s economic situation at the time. Therefore, the number of people enlisting in the military was gradually increasing.

* * *

Having paid the bar tab, the marines continued to grumble as they left.

“Ugh! The alcohol is wearing off!”

“How many jars of takju (rice wine) can you get with 1 nyang of silver?”

“Damn it! I’ll never come here to drink again!”

The marines, who had returned to the ship while spewing all sorts of complaints, kicked their blankets and vented their frustration.

“Argh! I’m so annoyed!”

The next morning, as soon as the day broke, the Jinmu and senior soldiers rushed to their captains to report what had happened the previous day.

Upon receiving the report, the captains gathered in one place to discuss countermeasures.

“In such cases, we need to resolve it promptly.”

“Indeed. If we’re not careful, we might continue to be taken advantage of.”

The captains, who had reached a consensus, gave orders to the interpreters.

The three interpreters who received the order discussed among themselves and soon made a decision.

“You guys continue with your assigned tasks. I’ll go to the tavern.”

“We’re counting on you.”

The interpreter in charge led the Jinmu and senior soldiers to the problematic tavern.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Got it.”

The interpreter, with the soldiers behind him, entered the tavern and sought out the owner.

After conversing with the owner for a while, the interpreter turned to the soldiers with a troubled expression.

“What did you guys write here yesterday?”

“We asked if we could use silver banknotes.”

“And then?”

At the interpreter’s words, the Jinmu who had written the characters immediately replied.

“It was ‘酒’ (alcohol), ‘多’ (plenty), and ‘急’ (urgent).”

“Phew~.”

The interpreter, sighing deeply at the Jinmu’s answer, spoke.

“According to the owner, he thought you wanted various types of alcohol because you wrote ‘多’ (many), so he brought out all the types of alcohol available in the tavern.”

“What?”

At the interpreter’s explanation, the soldiers also had troubled expressions.

The Chinese character ‘多’ (da) meant “many” but also “various.”

Seeing the soldiers’ expressions, the interpreter continued.

“Yes. According to the owner, since you wrote the character ‘急’ (urgent) after ‘多’ (many), he brought out all the alcohol that was prepared in bottles. You know that even for the same alcohol, it’s more expensive when transferred from a jar to a bottle, right?”

“Yes.”

“Because of that character ‘多’ (many), the owner has no fault.”

“Ugh…”

The soldiers could only groan at the interpreter’s explanation.

“Although it’s bitter, you must have had a luxurious experience. You even drank alcohol that I’ve only heard the names of.”

At the interpreter’s words, the soldiers grumbled.

“We mixed everything together and drank it, so we didn’t even know what it tasted like.”

“Oh dear…”

In the end, the soldiers had no choice but to retreat, smacking their lips.

The captains, who received the report from the interpreter upon returning to the ship, discussed and immediately summoned the interpreters.

“Although I want to prohibit shore leave, considering the morale of the soldiers, I’d like you to put in a little effort.”

“Understood.”

Thus, whenever the marines went out, interpreters accompanied them. The interpreters’ reactions were not bad. They, too, were desperate for alcohol.

* * *

Having completed the replenishment while experiencing such incidents, the combined fleet departed from Malacca.

The destination of the fleet, sailing northward along the strait, was Chittagong.

With the help of the ocean currents, the combined fleet reached Chittagong in 12 days.

Following behind Mansur’s merchant ship, the Joseon fleet sailed up the Karnaphuli River and arrived at the port of Chittagong.

“Wow! It’s even larger than Malacca!”

Kang Nam-gil exclaimed in admiration as he gazed at the port of Chittagong.

The port was bustling with ships of all types and sizes, from Chinese ships to Arab dhows.

* * *

As the Joseon warships approached the port of Chittagong, the port was in an uproar. It was because gray ships with a huge size, comparable to the ships ridden by the Ming’s Zheng He, were approaching the port.

While the soldiers in charge of defending the port rushed to the pier, Mansur, who had docked his ship first, disembarked and sought out the official managing the port.

“Greetings! I have come to inform you about those ships!”

“You know those ships?”

“I do! Those ships are from Joseon! They want to engage in trade!”

* * *

Mansur’s report was immediately conveyed to the magistrate governing Chittagong.

“Joseon? Where is that country located?”

At the magistrate’s question, the officials all tried to recall.

“The name sounds familiar…”

“I think so…”

As one official was trying to remember about the country called ‘Joseon,’ his expression suddenly brightened, and he answered the magistrate.

“Ah! Magistrate! It’s the ‘Land of Flowers’!”

“Land of Flowers?”

The magistrate, who had been tilting his head, suddenly widened his eyes.

“That ‘Land of Flowers’?”

“Yes! I heard that the name of that country is Joseon!”

At the official’s answer, the magistrate abruptly stood up from his seat and ordered.

“Immediately grant them permission to enter the port! If the ‘Land of Flowers’ has come to engage in trade, we must welcome them at once!”

* * *

The magistrate’s order was swiftly conveyed, and the three warships docked at the pier of the Chittagong port.

During the docking process, not only the small boats loaded on the warships but also the small boats in the port rushed to assist the massive hulls of the challenger-class warships in safely docking.

Once the warships had safely docked, the captains, led by Oh Ha-seok, were the first to disembark via the connected gangways. As the interpreters and officials from the Ministry of Finance followed, Mansur introduced them to the official.

The official, who had been introduced by Mansur, walked up to the captains and officials from the Ministry of Finance, politely bowed, and delivered a greeting.

“We welcome those who have come from the ‘Land of Flowers’.”

Upon hearing Mansur’s interpretation, Oh Ha-seok’s group simultaneously expressed their curiosity.

“Land of Flowers?”

Seeing the group’s expressions, Mansur quickly added an explanation.

“Ah! Countries far from Joseon refer to Joseon as the ‘Land of Flowers.’ The reason is due to the flower pattern imprinted on the products sold by Joseon.”

“Ah…”

At Mansur’s explanation, the group members all nodded their heads.

* * *

Among the goods exported from Joseon, all the items shipped through the royal workshops or the exhibition halls under the Ministry of Finance had a plum blossom pattern engraved on them.

In fact, not only the goods released overseas but also the goods traded internally used the plum blossom pattern as a standard for quality assurance.

Everyone knew very well that the color and number of flowers imprinted in gold, silver, and copper were the most definite guarantee.

As a result, both the craftsmen who made the goods and the merchant groups strived to receive better evaluations.

Of course, there were occasionally those who attempted counterfeiting, but they merely became good prey for those seeking rewards and the officials from the Ministry of Finance aiming for fines and asset seizures.

* * *

Understanding the meaning of the ‘Land of Flowers,’ Oh Ha-seok, representing the group, responded.

“Please convey our gratitude for the warm welcome.”

The official, having heard Mansur’s interpretation, continued, and Mansur conveyed his words.

“The magistrate wishes to meet you.”

“Right away?”

“The ‘Land of Flowers’ is an object of curiosity.”

At Mansur’s words, Oh Ha-seok looked around at his group. As they all nodded, Ha-seok spoke to Mansur.

“I apologize, but we need a moment to prepare. Please ask them to wait a little.”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Mansur’s response, the official immediately agreed to wait, and wooden boxes were once again brought down from the Invincible, which had been loaded with goods to trade with Tianzhu.

Meanwhile, Oh Ha-seok turned to the interpreters who had learned Arabic.

“Will you be able to interpret?”

“The Arabic we learned is different.”

“Oh dear…”

As Ha-seok showed a dejected expression, Mansur intervened.

“Captain, the language they use is Persian. Of course, being Muslims, they know some Arabic. And if necessary, I can step in, just like now.”

“You need to depart with us, don’t you? If the trade is successful, we should find someone to teach the language.”

At Ha-seok’s words, the official from the Ministry of Finance interjected.

“As we entered the port, I noticed quite a few people from the Ming. If needed, can’t we converse in Chinese?”

At the official’s words, Ha-seok’s face brightened.

“That’s another possibility. Indeed, among the court officials, those from the Ministry of Finance are the best, as they say.”

“You flatter me.”

In such a warm atmosphere, the process of checking for any damage to the contents of the wooden boxes was completed. Upon receiving the report that the gifts in the boxes were intact, Oh Ha-seok’s group began to follow the officials towards the magistrate’s residence.

* * *

The meeting that followed in the magistrate’s residence started with a bright atmosphere from the beginning.

“I have long been aware of the exceptional quality of the goods from the ‘Land of Flowers.’ I am truly delighted to engage in trade with such a country.”

The magistrate’s words were not mere flattery.

Not only in the Bengal Sultanate but also in various countries of India, Joseon’s goods were not unfamiliar. Chinese merchants, or Arab merchants who had acquired goods from Alexandria, came to India and sold Joseon’s products.

Although the prices were not cheap due to the multiple intermediaries, the Indian nobles, regardless of being Hindus or Muslims, purchased Joseon’s goods for their superior quality.

Therefore, the magistrate of Chittagong welcomed those who had come from Joseon. The goods coming directly without intermediary merchants would naturally be cheaper, and Chittagong could even make money through transit trade.

Chapter 302
The Land of Tianzhu-India (3)

Seeing the magistrate’s welcoming demeanor, Oh Ha-seok and his entourage pressed their advantage.

“For our Joseon and your esteemed nation to continue our amicable relations, we will require your assistance, Magistrate. As such, we have prepared a modest gift.”

“A gift?”

The magistrate’s eyes sparkled upon hearing those words through the interpreter. It wasn’t just the magistrate. The officials near him also had their eyes light up.

Nothing from the ‘Land of Flowers’ was ever ordinary. And this was a gift they had deliberately brought from the ‘Land of Flowers’. It must have been carefully selected, guaranteed to be a magnificent masterpiece.

Shortly after, the magistrate’s servants brought in large and small wooden boxes and placed them before the magistrate.

“Oh my… Even the boxes…”

The magistrate and officials exclaimed in admiration upon seeing the wooden boxes. Coated with the finest lacquer and trimmed with thin bronze decorations at the corners, the boxes were clearly extraordinary at first glance.

* * *

When Joseon began exporting in earnest, Hyang emphasized the importance of packaging.

“There’s a reason why they say ‘even a monk’s robe should be red if possible’ and ‘food that looks good also tastes good’!”

After stressing the significance of packaging, Hyang went as far as to separately gather painters and carpenters to exclusively research packaging design.

To satisfy the eyes of Hyang, who had experience in the highly developed 21st century capitalist society, the painters and carpenters had to endure unspeakable hardships. However, the results were unquestionable.

The products of the royal workshops, which used packaging created under Hyang’s orders, clearly conveyed that they were expensive items at first glance. Thanks to this, not only the royal family members like Sejong and Queen Soheon, but also the eyes of the ministers were elevated. And due to the trickle-down effect, the standards of mid to low-ranking officials also rose, and gradually, even the eyes of the common people became more discerning and began to grow picky about the level of packaging.

As a result, the royal workshops reached the point of launching wooden boxes exclusively for packaging as products. Private merchant guilds also started to pay attention to packaging.

As things progressed this way, some indulgent individuals even began collecting these wooden boxes.

As a side note, in the distant future, the wooden boxes that endured and survived from this era were traded at high prices in auction houses.

* * *

In any case, while stroking the smooth wooden boxes with his hands and enjoying their texture, the magistrate opened the lid.

As the lid opened, an inner cover wrapped in red silk was revealed. Seeing the inner cover, the magistrate checked the upper left part inside the outer lid.

Traditionally, Joseon products had a flower attached to the upper left part inside the box lid.

And on this box as well, a flower pattern was engraved in the same location.

The magistrate couldn’t hide his joy after confirming the flowers.

Because there were five golden plum blossom flowers engraved.

“Hm? The center of the flowers is…”

The magistrate tilted his head slightly. In the center of the golden flowers engraved on the box, there were small, gleaming pieces of glass attached. It was a pattern he had never seen before in his life.

“Pardon me, but what are those embedded in the center of the flowers? It’s my first time seeing such a thing.”

At the magistrate’s question, an official from the Ministry of Finance stepped forward to explain.

“A new superior grade has been created this time. What the magistrate is seeing is the mark of the newly established highest grade.”

“Is that so!”

“Yes.”

The magistrate’s face brightened even more upon hearing the explanation, and the officials’ curiosity deepened further.

The magistrate’s fingers trembled slightly with excitement as he tore off the seal connecting the inner cover and the box.

“Ooh!”

The magistrate immediately let out an exclamation after opening the inner cover and examining the contents. Inside were a glass pitcher with a long neck and cups with handles.

What made the magistrate exclaim was the glass used for the pitcher and cups. Glass products were not unfamiliar to the magistrate. Not only Joseon’s, but also many glass products from distant Italy and Arabia had been imported.

However, by Allah, this was the first time seeing glass that emitted such a brilliant luster.

With trembling hands, the magistrate took out a cup and raised it upward. The flower pattern engraved on the cup received the light coming through the window and shimmered splendidly.

“Oooh~.”

The officials also let out exclamations of admiration upon seeing the cup radiating a brilliant light.

The boxes opened subsequently contained plates and bowls made of crystal.

“Indeed, it is the ‘Land of Flowers’! I will do my utmost to ensure that your esteemed nation can trade with us! I swear by Allah that I will definitely make it a success!”

The magistrate’s words were not simply out of infatuation with the gifts. If such precious items entered Chittagong, all the merchants of India would flock here, which meant an immense influx of money.

The magistrate could not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The magistrate proceeded with lightning speed.

“I will also need some time to prepare, so in three days! In three days, come with me to Pandua! The Shah will surely grant permission for trade with the ‘Land of Flowers’!”

“We are sincerely grateful!”

Oh Ha-seok and his group paid their respects with joyful hearts.

* * *

Returning from the magistrate’s residence to the port, the entourage’s steps were lighter than ever before.

“This seems to be going better than expected.”

“Indeed.”

The Joseon group all had bright faces, but Mansur’s expression was not so cheerful. Seeing Mansur’s face, the Ministry of Finance official approached him.

“What worries burden you so heavily?”

Hearing the question through the interpreter, Mansur immediately lamented.

“If Joseon directly sells such products, I fear I am left with nothing but ruin.”

The Ministry of Finance official smiled and replied after hearing Mansur’s lament through the interpreter.

“Hahaha! You exaggerate, my friend! How many people could afford to buy such expensive items? And in our Joseon, there is no shortage of goods for you to take and make money from, so do not fret!”

Hearing the words through the interpreter, Mansur grumbled softly.

“That fellow said the same thing. Damn it! Just when I thought I could earn money comfortably… I’ll have to diligently run around again.”

* * *

As promised, after three days passed, the magistrate, ready for the journey, appeared at the port.

“He says to follow his ship closely.”

“Understood.”

Following the ship carrying the magistrate, the joint fleet of Joseon and Mansur left Chittagong and headed for Pandua.

After crossing the sea through three days of sailing, the fleet began to ascend a large river.

And so, the fleet that sailed up the river soon moored at a port.

“Is this Pandua?”

Mansur shook his head at the question from Oh Ha-seok’s group as they disembarked.

“No. This is near Kolkata. Pandua is still several days away by land from here.”

While listening to Mansur’s explanation and surveying the surroundings, Kang Nam-gil asked Mansur.

“It’s an enormously large river, but we can’t go further? Chittagong is also a riverside location, but didn’t we enter it?”

“Chittagong is a trading port, so successive magistrates have paid attention to dredging. However, not here.”

“Is that so? That’s a pity.”

Kang Nam-gil couldn’t hide his disappointment upon hearing Mansur’s answer.

Confirming that they couldn’t proceed further by boat, Oh Ha-seok turned to the Ministry of Finance official.

“It seems it’s time for you to put in some effort, Chamui.”

[TL/N: Chamui is a high-ranking government official position]

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, Park Hyun-soo, the Chamui of the Ministry of Finance, smiled and replied.

“I should make up for the tonic I’ve been taking all this time. First, could you arrange for wagons?”

“Of course.”

With the help of Mansur and the magistrate, large wagons appeared at the dock.

“Careful! Be careful!”

As the wagons were prepared, the crane installed on the ships wheeled out a large box from the hold and lowered it onto the dock. When the box, large enough to fit two or three people, was lowered, the magistrate showed interest.

“The box is quite large.”

“It is a gift for the Shah.”

The dock workers rushed over to load the box onto the wagon, and the soldiers escorting official Park armed themselves and disembarked from the ship.

“How long will it take?”

“If things go well, we can return in half a month.”

“I see. Then I pray for your safe return. Captain Jang, have a good trip.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, the captain of the ship smiled and nodded.

“Then I’ll be off.”

Thanks to the magistrate’s consideration, Captain Jang, Park Hyun-soo, the interpreter, and Mansur left the dock together with the magistrate.

* * *

After five days of marching, the Joseon group arrived at Pandua. In front of the earthen wall surrounding Pandua, the procession briefly halted. While taking a short break to wait for the messenger sent by the magistrate, the magistrate approached and struck up a conversation.

“The quality of the soldiers is truly excellent.”

“They are fine soldiers indeed. Thank you.”

Jang Gwang-seok, the captain of the ship, replied with a smile to the magistrate’s praise.

The magistrate’s assessment was sincere. Since departing from the port near Kolkata, the discipline of the Joseon soldiers had been strict.

During that brief respite, the messenger sent by the magistrate returned and reported to him.

After hearing the messenger’s reply, the magistrate conveyed the answer to the Joseon group.

“Permission to enter the city has been granted. Let us go.”

* * *

And so, the Joseon group that entered Pandua was able to enter the Shah’s palace.

“So, you have come from the Land of Flowers?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“For what reason?”

“For the purpose of trade, Your Majesty.”

“Trade, you say…”

Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Shah, the ruler of the Bengal Sultanate, tapped the armrest with his fingers while observing the Joseon group.

‘Trade, not tribute… ’

As the Shah remained silent, gauging the intentions of the Joseon people, the magistrate interjected.

“Your Majesty, it is the ‘Land of Flowers’ where all sorts of precious items are produced. I believe it will not be a losing venture.”

“Is that so…?”

Seeing the Shah’s expression, Park Hyun-soo slightly bowed his head and spoke.

“Grateful for granting us entry, we have prepared a gift, Your Majesty.”

At Park Hyun-soo’s words, the Shah’s eyes sparkled.

“A gift, you say… Coming from the ‘Land of Flowers’, it piques my interest. Bring it in.”

With the Shah’s permission, the palace servants brought in a large wooden box. The servants, who carried the box by inserting wooden poles through the rings along both sides of the box, carefully placed it in front of the Shah.

“Open it.”

At the Shah’s command, the servants carefully disassembled the wooden box. As they pried open the front of the wooden box using levers, the gift, covered with high-quality blue cotton cloth, was revealed.

“Remove the cloth.”

At the Shah’s order, soldiers rushed over and surrounded the gift. Once precautions were taken against any potential danger, a soldier stepped forward and pulled off the cloth.

“Ooh!”

As the cloth was removed, the great hall was filled with exclamations of admiration. Even the Shah, who had been sitting on his chair with a cold expression until just now, stood up from his seat and walked forward.

What astonished everyone in the Shah’s palace was a large crystal chandelier.

“This is…”

“If candles are lit on the candlesticks and hung from the ceiling, it will brilliantly illuminate this great hall.”

At Park Hyun-soo’s explanation, the Shah immediately commanded.

“Bring candles and lanterns at once!”

The chandelier, with lit candles and lanterns placed on the candlesticks, was soon suspended from the ceiling using ropes. The crystals shimmered splendidly in the candlelight and lantern flames, and the ceiling of the great hall glittered with light.

Seeing that sight, the Shah unconsciously muttered.

“Truly the ‘Land of Flowers’…As if the stars of heaven have been brought down.”

The chandelier radiating a brilliant light from the ceiling was not merely astonishing, but even evoked a sense of awe.

Blankly gazing at the chandelier on the ceiling, the Shah turned to Park Hyun-soo and the Joseon group.

“To think that such an object can be created by human hands… Just what kind of place is this ‘Land of Flowers’?”

To the Shah’s question, Park Hyun-soo replied with a smile.

“It is not the Land of Flowers, but Joseon, Your Majesty.”

Chapter 303
The Land of Tianzhu-India (4)

The gifts brought from Joseon included a few more items in addition to the chandelier. They were crystal products similar to those given to the magistrate and ginseng.

“Ginseng! I heard from Qitai merchants that the ginseng from the East is an extraordinary medicinal ingredient!”

Seeing the Shah’s positive response, Park Hyun-soo smiled and bowed his head.

“It is truly fortunate that Your Majesty is pleased.”

“However…”

As if he had never been pleased, the Shah’s face turned serious.

“You said the official name of the ‘Land of Flowers’ is Joseon?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“And Joseon wishes to trade?”

“That is so, Your Majesty.”

Upon Park Hyun-soo’s answer, the Shah asked with a grave expression.

“Trading means exchanging each other’s products. It’s embarrassing to say this, but my country doesn’t have anything like the goods made by Joseon. Doesn’t that mean you people will come, sell your wares, and only take our wealth? Come now! Speak honestly! Is what Joseon desires genuine trade or extortion?”

* * *

Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Shah, who currently ruled the Bengal Sultanate, was a man of extremely quick judgment.

The Shah’s father, Raja Ganesha, was a traditional Indian nobleman and a Hindu. However, Jalal-ud-Din converted to Islam, securing the safety and power of the nation. As a result, he was once driven from the throne by his father’s hand and had to convert back to Hinduism.

Thanks to this, after regaining the throne, he showed a tolerant attitude towards Hindus and Buddhists. However, as time passed, to prove that he was a devout Muslim, he converted the Hindu subjects to Islam and supported the construction of Islamic educational institutions called Madrasas in Mecca and Medina.(Note 1)

Through this, he was able to maintain friendly relations with the surrounding Islamic countries while being evaluated as a ‘true follower of Islam’, and he could protect the country from the pressure of the Delhi Sultanate.

It was because he had protected the nation through such precarious tightrope walking that he discerned the potential dangers brought by trade with Joseon.

* * *

To the Shah’s blunt question, Park Hyeong-seok still replied with a smile.

“Joseon enjoys sharing with its neighbors, not unilaterally taking from them, Your Majesty.”

“Everyone says that.”

“Your Majesty mentioned that there is little produced in this land, but how could there be nothing that benefits both sides?”

“Hmm…”

As the Shah still wore a doubtful expression, Park Hyeong-seok continued.

“And as I mentioned before, while our Joseon enjoys sharing with neighbors, we do not easily make neighbors, Your Majesty.”

“Oh?”

The Shah’s eyes shone at Park Hyeong-seok’s words.

‘There is some hidden meaning!’

Quietly mulling over Park Hyeong-seok’s words, the Shah smiled and asked again.

“In this India, we would be the only neighbors, correct?”

“Joseon does not recklessly make neighbors, Your Majesty.”

“Hahaha!”

The Shah laughed heartily at Park Hyeong-seok’s answer.

What Park Hyeong-seok was saying now was that in this Indian subcontinent, the only place where Joseon’s goods would enter was the Bengal Sultanate he governed.

In other words, it meant that they could make enormous profits by intermediating Joseon’s goods to the surrounding countries.

In the end, the Shah reached a conclusion.

“Very well! I shall become a close neighbor to Joseon!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty! Joseon will be a good neighbor to the Shah!”

While Park Hyeong-seok responded to the Shah’s words, he added something else in his mind.

‘As long as your reign is prosperous.’

According to Mansur’s explanation heard in Hanseong, the situation in India was literally a Warring States period.

Countries ruled by traditional Hindu nobles and those governed by Muslims repeatedly engaged in alliances and divisions, with their rise and fall repeating.

It was common for nations to perish as soon as the monarch who declared their founding passed away.

Such countries couldn’t even properly leave their names in history.

* * *

“The envoy said there must be things that benefit both sides. What does Joseon seek?”

To the Shah’s question, Park Hyeong-seok immediately replied.

“Medicinal ingredients, spices, and saltpeter, Your Majesty.”

“Medicinal ingredients?”

“Some of the medicinal ingredients used by our Joseon’s physicians come from here.”

“Hmm… Spices are welcomed everywhere, so let’s move on. What is saltpeter?”

Mansur quickly provided additional explanation to the Shah’s question. Upon hearing Mansur’s explanation, the Shah finally nodded as if he understood.

“Saltpeter is essential for making gunpowder. Does Joseon lack saltpeter?”

“It is produced, Your Majesty, but we wish to procure it in large quantities at a low price if possible.”

“Hmm…”

Mulling over Park Hyeong-seok’s words, the Shah gestured to an official beside him.

Seeing the gesture, the official immediately approached, and the Shah asked something in a low voice.

Upon receiving the Shah’s question, the official thought for a moment and then replied, also in a low voice.

After hearing the official’s answer, the Shah pondered for a while and then spoke to Park Hyeong-seok.

“100 maunds for 1 maund of silver.”

At the Shah’s words, Park Hyeong-seok turned to Mansur.

“Is maund a unit of weight here? How much is it in geun?”

“Converting to Chinese units, 1 maund is about 10 guan (37.5kg). 100 maunds would be around 1000 guan (approx. 3.75 tons).”

“1000 guan of saltpeter for 10 guan (990 nyang) of silver…”

After doing some calculations, Park Hyeong-seok looked at Jang Gwang-seok standing beside him, approached closely, and asked softly.

“How much gunpowder does the military need?”

“The more, the better.”

“At the minimum.”

“Each camp and garrison should have at least 10,000 geun (approx. 6 tons). Only then can we train without worry and prepare for war. Currently, even our navy, known for using a lot of gunpowder, barely holds 2,000 geun (approx. 1.2 tons) at each naval station.”

“How much saltpeter is used in gunpowder?”

“It varies depending on the type, but for the most commonly used Eul-sik gunpowder, it’s a little over 80 percent.”

In the case of the Eul-sik gunpowder developed by Hyang, the proportion of saltpeter relatively increased as sulfur was removed.

Removing sulfur reduced the amount of smoke and allowed for safer storage, but it had the drawback of raising the ignition point as sulfur, a catalyst that lowers the ignition point, was removed.(Note 2) However, Hyang solved this problem by using lead tetroxide.

After hearing Jang Gwang-seok’s explanation, Park Hyeong-seok made some calculations.

Currently, in Joseon, lawsuits and petitions related to the nitrate field issue were endless.

It was due to the issue of manure spread on the nitrate fields.

Human and livestock manure was an important raw material for creating nitrate fields, but it was also a crucial ingredient for making fertilizer.

1000 guan of saltpeter for 990 nyang of silver was by no means a small amount, but compared to the lawsuits currently occurring in Joseon and the resulting time and financial losses, it was a profitable deal with plenty to spare.

‘The Shah must have added a premium, but even considering that, it’s a profitable deal.’

Having reached a conclusion, Park Hyeong-seok immediately replied to the Shah.

“We will purchase at that price, Your Majesty.”

The Shah was delighted at Park Hyeong-seok’s answer. The amount he quoted was the price he had sold to the surroundings, including Malacca, with an additional 20 percent added. However, this Joseon envoy accepted that amount.

But the Joseon envoy was not to be taken lightly.

“However, we will only accept if you make a written agreement to maintain that unit price in the future, Your Majesty.”

“I swear by Allah to keep the agreement.”

“There is an old saying in Joseon that goes, ‘Words spoken from the mouth ride the wind and vanish, but words left in writing last a lifetime,’ Your Majesty.”

At the Joseon envoy’s resolute answer, the Shah replied while licking his lips.

“I understand, I will have it written. So how much will you purchase?”

“We will buy as much as we can load on the ships with the proceeds from selling goods here.”

“I see. Then let’s do the writing tomorrow, and today, let’s enjoy a banquet. A grand guest has arrived, so a banquet must be held.”

And so, after enjoying the banquet hosted by the Shah, Park Hyeong-seok’s group rested at the lodging provided by the Shah.

Later, while writing the report to be submitted upon returning to Joseon, Jang Gwang-seok let out a long sigh.

“Even if my child dies, I won’t make them a civil official…”

Jang Gwang-seok made a firm resolution while watching Park Hyeong-seok engage in conversation, twisting this way and that.

* * *

After completing the drafting of the agreement, Park Hyeong-seok’s group retraced their steps and returned to Kolkata.

Upon returning to the port near Kolkata, the group sorted out the situation.

“Then this ship and Maengjin ship will return to Chittagong, and the Challenger will go to Aden.”

“Will it be alright with just the Challenger?”

To Kang Nam-gil’s question, Oh Ha-seok answered confidently.

“It will be fine.”

“Then let’s do that. Since we’ve procured saltpeter, it’s best to return as quickly as possible.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s assurance, the group swiftly decided on the next route.

After staying one more day to recover from fatigue, the group left the port at the break of dawn.

The ships that sailed out to sea along the river parted ways toward their respective destinations.

“Have a safe journey!”

“May you have good luck!”

“Be careful!”

“See you in Joseon!”

The captains and sailors waved to each other and loudly wished for each other’s safety.

* * *

And so, Mansur’s fleet and the Challenger, having left the Bay of Bengal, diligently sailed toward Aden.

Although it was a voyage of about 14,000 ri (approx. 5,700 km), fortunately, thanks to the good weather that continued, the fleet safely arrived at Aden.

At the port of Aden, the Challenger also became a spectacle for the people.

It was because it was the first time seeing a ship as massive as the Challenger since the ships of the Zheng He fleet that had visited before.

Additionally, what caught people’s attention was the gray hull and sails of the Challenger.

Seeing the gray hull and sails, the people of the Azram family and other families stroked their chins and muttered.

“Painting it like that, it doesn’t catch the eye well from a distance. Should we try painting ours like that too?”

“That’s true, but the ship looks large and sturdy, which is very good. If the price is reasonable, why don’t we consider purchasing it?”

Thanks to their long experience of sailing and trading, they immediately coveted the Challenger upon seeing it.

Moreover, Mansur’s account of his experiences, which he shared with the heads of the families allied with him, fueled their desire to purchase.

“Should we really buy one?”

However, their desire to purchase was extinguished by Mansur’s following words.

“The price of the ship alone is 100,000 nyang of gold. That’s the price of the ship excluding the cannons. And the repair costs are separate…”

“Damn it…”

* * *

The fleet, which rested in Aden for five days, raised anchor once again.

The fleet’s destination was Suez, located at the far end of the Red Sea.

From Suez, using land routes to reach Alexandria was their final journey.

During the voyage through the Red Sea, the fleet once again faced attacks from pirates.

It was because the Challenger had stimulated their greed.

“Guests have arrived at the entrance of this neighborhood! Boys! Treat them well!”

“Yes!”

The sailors who received Oh Ha-seok’s order treated the swarming pirates well.

The pirates who were hit by cannonballs and bullets filled with sincerity sank into the Red Sea along with their ships.

Seeing this naval battle that took place between Djibouti and Eritrea, the other pirates did not touch the fleet at all.

No, they couldn’t touch it.

* * *

And so, the fleet that arrived at Suez moored at the dock and unloaded their cargo.

As the troops who would escort the cargo to Alexandria also armed themselves and disembarked, Oh Ha-seok turned to the commander.

“I entrust the ship to you.”

“Don’t worry, sir. We will guard it tightly.”

“I trust only you.”

“Have a safe trip, sir.”

The group, with their cargo fully loaded on the camels and horses procured by the Mansur merchant group, began their journey to Alexandria.

(Note 1)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalaluddin_Muhammad_Shah

(Note 2)

http://usmsori.com/agora24/42501

Chapter 304
The Road to the Land of Flowers (1)

Around the time Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group, who had anchored in Suez, embarked on their journey to Alexandria, the entire city of Alexandria was gradually stirring.

“Isn’t it about time for the merchant group to arrive from Aden?”

“They’re a bit late this year, aren’t they?”

The residents of Alexandria muttered while looking at the southern gate.

“What will they bring from the Land of Flowers this time?”

Meanwhile, the Arab and European merchants with bases in Alexandria anxiously awaited Mansur’s merchant group.

“Did you properly prepare the funds?”

“Yes!”

“Is the vault sturdy?”

“Yes! We even stationed reliable guards!”

“I’ll say it again, this is war! Don’t forget that the number of digits in our annual profit depends on how many products we procure from the ‘Land of Flowers’!”

“Aye!”

As the Arab and European merchants prepared for the ‘war of money’, thieves and swindlers flocked to Alexandria, targeting the piles of money they had accumulated.

With the public order becoming chaotic due to these thieves and swindlers, the officials of Alexandria had mixed feelings.

Merchants from nearby Arab regions, from across the Mediterranean, and even from the distant Hanseatic League gathered to procure goods from the ‘Land of Flowers’.

As these merchants and their entourages flocked and stayed, Alexandria’s economy began to experience a tremendous boom.

However, they also had to exert immense efforts to maintain public security as thieves, swindlers, and other vicious criminals flocked to target the wealth possessed by these merchants.

Nevertheless, since the profits clearly outweighed the losses, Alexandria’s officials also eagerly counted the days until the merchant group returning from the ‘Land of Flowers’ would arrive.

But this year, the situation was a bit unusual.

Even though more than a month had passed since the time they should have arrived according to the norm, they still hadn’t come.

Compared to the past when they were never more than half a month late even in the worst cases, this was definitely strange.

“Did some accident occur?”

“Maybe…”

Sailing the great ocean meant always risking one’s life.

Therefore, as more than a month passed, the excitement gradually subsided.

“Should we prepare to return?”

Just as the merchants from other regions were getting restless, carrier pigeons flocked in from Suez.

The staff untied the notes attached to the carrier pigeons’ legs, checked the contents, and immediately rushed to the heads of the merchant groups.

“They’ve arrived! They’re here! The merchant ships have reached Suez!”

“Oh! Yes!”

“And a ship from the ‘Land of Flowers’ has come with them!”

“What!”

The news delivered by the carrier pigeons rapidly spread throughout Alexandria.

“The ships have arrived at Suez!”

“They’re finally here!”

Small merchants who were waiting for the goods personally brought and sold by the sailors or small traders of the merchant group, and the merchants who had prepared to sell the items needed by Joseon all cheered with brightened faces.

The citizens, excited once again, became even more thrilled by the following news.

“A ship from the Land of Flowers has come along!”

“I heard the cargo unloaded from the ship of the Land of Flowers is enormous!”

With the rumor spreading in an instant, the citizens of Alexandria were literally ‘boiling’.

The country in the East, where the legendary ‘Qitai’ was located.

A nation that produced all sorts of goods, from rare and expensive items used only by kings and nobles to incredibly useful items loved by everyone.

People had come directly from the country in the East, further known as the ‘Land of Flowers’ due to the flower patterns stamped on the boxes packaging the goods.

This was a huge topic of conversation.

Upon hearing the news that Joseon people were coming along, the influential figures of Alexandria met.

“We must protect those who have come from afar!”

“Indeed! It would be a big problem if they suffer harm from thieves! It could ruin our future prospects!”

Worried that giving a bad impression due to thieves might cause them to lose a great opportunity, the influential figures visited the city hall to persuade the mayor.

“We must dispatch troops to protect them!”

“Send the troops at once!”

Pressured by the influential figures, the mayor shook his head and replied.

“Alright, alright. I will immediately select troops and send them.”

The next morning, as soon as the day dawned, a sizable cavalry unit left through the gates and rode southward.

Some worried that they might miss each other on the way, but the learned individuals did not have such concerns.

It was because a considerable portion of the road network created during the ancient Roman Empire still remained, and in the desert, the locations of oases or villages to stop by along the way were mostly fixed.

* * *

While this commotion was taking place in Alexandria, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group were steadily moving toward Alexandria.

“We will arrive in about seven days.”

As Mansur explained the route while looking at the map, Oh Ha-seok nodded and spoke.

“Whenever I look at the map, I feel that digging a canal would reduce the hardship…”

Hearing Oh Ha-seok’s words through the interpreter, Mansur smiled and replied.

“According to what I’ve heard, there used to be a canal in the old days. However, it disappeared because it was too difficult to maintain. As you can see, there is an abundance of soil and sand.”

Oh Ha-seok, who heard Mansur’s explanation through the interpreter, nodded.

“Indeed, a canal is not an easy thing to maintain.”

* * *

As Mansur explained, the Suez region had been optimal for building a canal since ancient times.

Attempts to construct a canal had been made since the ancient Egyptian period, but they were repeatedly frustrated until it was completed and began operation during the reign of Darius I of Persia. And it continued to operate through the Ptolemaic dynasty and the Roman Empire.

However, due to the characteristics of the region where the canal was located, the sedimentation phenomenon was severe, and it was difficult to operate without national management.

In the end, this ancient canal became an existence only in stories.

* * *

Leaving behind the regret over the absence of a canal, the procession set out on the road again.

Watching Oh Ha-seok and the Joseon people moving like this, Mansur asked the interpreter.

“Is that hat truly cool?”

“It is cool.”

Upon the interpreter’s answer, Mansur fell into a minor dilemma.

“It does look useful, but should I formally request one?”

Oh Ha-seok and all the Joseon people were wearing a variation of the pith helmet.

* * *

Oh Ha-seok, who had traveled to Aden and Alexandria with Mansur, formally raised the necessity of hats for use in hot regions through a report.

Joseon had also been a country of hats since ancient times. Even in the old Three Kingdoms period, men wore ‘munrgeon’ (文羅巾) regardless of their status.

Those of high status wore silk ‘geon’ with gold decorations, while commoners wore plain ones made of hemp, the only difference being the presence or absence of decorations.

Thus, those who did not wear ‘munrgeon’ or ‘ogeon’ (烏巾) were solely prisoners.

Therefore, even in the Joseon Dynasty, Joseon men did not walk around bareheaded.

They either wore a headband like in the old days or wore a ‘jungnim’ (竹笠) or ‘chorim’ (草笠) made of bamboo.

[TL/N: Both are a type of round triangular-cone shaped hats.)

Hence, Oh Ha-seok had raised the necessity of hats for use in hot regions.

The ministers who received this report all showed lukewarm reactions.

“Can’t they just wear a battle helmet?”

However, Hyang had a different thought.

“No! There’s a reason why the saying ‘T.P.O. (Time, Place, Occasion)’ exists!”

Hyang summoned the craftsmen in the Clothing Arsenal and began the production of the ‘bangseomo’.

The ‘bangseomo’, made by weaving a frame from split bamboo and applying cotton cloth, was quite decent and was provided to the sailors heading to Alexandria and Tianzhu.

During the journey to Alexandria, the ‘bangseomo’ made by Hyang received praise from the Joseon soldiers.

The ‘bangseomo’ made of bamboo and cotton cloth was lightweight.

Through the holes made on the sides and top, air circulated and heat was well expelled.

The best part was the long brim extending front and back.

The brim extending forward protected the eyes from strong sunlight, and the rear brim, descending in an elegant curve, shielded the back of the head and neck from the sun.

“Ah! Keep in mind that it provides no protection whatsoever.”

Following Hyang’s warning, the sailors moved with their helmets at their waists.

However, after departing from Suez and experiencing two battles, the sailors gathered all the helmets at their waists and the armor they were wearing and stuffed them into boxes.

It was because there were no thieves who approached close enough to shoot arrows at them.

Before they could get that close, the sailors’ rifles would knock down the thieves first.

* * *

Four days away from Alexandria, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group encountered the cavalry unit that had departed from Alexandria.

In a situation on the brink of conflict, Mansur, who had confirmed the identity of the cavalry unit, spoke to Oh Ha-seok.

“It’s a cavalry unit from Alexandria. They say they will escort us.”

Oh Ha-seok, who heard Mansur’s words through the interpreter, asked Mansur with eyes full of suspicion.

“Has there ever been an escort until now?”

“No, there hasn’t been.”

“Then why this time?”

As Oh Ha-seok and the Joseon soldiers remained on guard, the messenger of the cavalry unit explained the reason.

Hearing the explanation, Mansur chuckled and explained the reason to Oh Ha-seok.

“Because we were a bit late this time, there was a commotion in Alexandria. And they sent them because people from the ‘Land of Flowers’, in other words, Joseon, had come directly.”

“Is that so?”

Oh Ha-seok nodded at Mansur’s explanation.

He remembered that when they had arrived at Aden and Suez, numerous carrier pigeons had flown into the sky.

Having a rough understanding, Oh Ha-seok issued an order to the soldiers.

“Maintain alert status.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, the sailors lowered their rifles that were aimed but continued to watch the cavalry unit with eyes full of vigilance.

* * *

Escorted by the cavalry unit, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group arrived at Alexandria.

Seeing the gates of Alexandria, Oh Ha-seok finally ordered the sailors.

“Engage the safety.”

Receiving Oh Ha-seok’s order, the sailors engaged the safety on their rifles and only then did they show relieved expressions.

“Wow~!”

“It’s people from the Land of Flowers!”

The enthusiastic welcome from the residents of Alexandria left Oh Ha-seok and the Joseon people, no, even Mansur, stunned.

“This is the first time I’ve ever experienced such a welcome.”

“You too? Why on earth?”

Unable to fathom the reason, the bewildered group unloaded their luggage at the mansion prepared by Mansur’s merchant group.

* * *

While moving the luggage unloaded in the mansion’s courtyard to the warehouse, Mansur asked the mansion’s managers the reason for this grandiose welcome.

Hearing the managers’ answer, Mansur explained the reason to Oh Ha-seok with an absurd expression.

“It’s the same as what the cavalry said earlier. They thought we had met with a big problem because we were a bit late, but we arrived safely, and on top of that, people from the ‘Land of Flowers’, in other words, Joseon, had come along, so they are acting like this.”

“Why us?”

At Oh Ha-seok’s question, Mansur provided a more detailed explanation.

“To the people of Alexandria, Joseon is like a ‘land of fantasy’. Just like that Qitai, or the Ming Empire. There was brief interaction through the Yuan Empire, but that was only for a short time, and after that, there was no contact until the Zheng He fleet arrived. Even the Zheng He fleet only briefly visited. But now, Joseon has appeared. For real.”

“Is that so…”

As Oh Ha-seok stroked his beard and sorted out the situation based on Mansur’s explanation, he grumbled inwardly.

‘The Crown Prince was right!’

-If you go this time, you should find a place to establish our Joseon’s trading post.

‘Prepare a base for trading that happens once a year? Seems like a waste.’

Although Oh Ha-seok had thought negatively upon hearing Hyang’s words, seeing the enthusiastic welcome from the citizens of Alexandria, he had to reconsider.

Chapter 305
The Road to the Land of Flowers (2)

As the Joseon people unloaded their luggage at Mansur’s mansion, the interest of Alexandria’s residents and merchants converged on one thing.

‘When will the goods be released at the auction house and marketplace?’

This interest heightened even more as the Joseon people remained still for more than two days.

Meanwhile, a rumor spread throughout the city of Alexandria.

-Soon, the Joseon people, known as the ‘Land of Flowers’, will meet with the mayor of Alexandria!

And on the third day.

As the sun slowly set in the west, the gate of Mansur’s mansion opened, and Mansur and the Joseon entourage stepped out.

Led by Mansur, the Joseon people in unfamiliar attire headed towards the Alexandria City Hall with two camels carrying large boxes on their backs.

“The Joseon people have come out!”

“The people from the Land of Flowers have come out!”

“Where? Where!”

At people’s shouts, Alexandrian citizens and merchants from Europe gathered around.

Under the strict escort of sailors carrying flintlock muskets on their shoulders, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group made their way to the Alexandria City Hall.

“What are those things on their shoulders?”

“They’re not spears, are they?”

Those unfamiliar with weapons merely showed curiosity, but those who had come from Europe and the Middle Eastern soldiers’ eyes sparkled.

“Is it a new gunpowder weapon?”

Receiving all sorts of attention from various types of people, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group headed to the Alexandria City Hall.

As the entourage arrived at the city hall, an official who had been waiting in advance warmly welcomed them.

“Come in, everyone! We welcome those who have come from the distant East!”

Oh Ha-seok stepped forward upon hearing the official’s words through the interpreter, bowed his head slightly, and replied.

“Thank you for the welcome.”

“Please come in.”

At the official’s words, Oh Ha-seok turned around and gestured.

Following Oh Ha-seok’s gesture, his subordinates unloaded the large boxes carried on the camels’ backs and inserted poles to carry them.

As Oh Ha-seok’s subordinates carefully moved the wooden boxes, the official in charge of guiding them showed interest.

“What are those boxes?”

“One is a gift for the one who governs Alexandria, and the slightly larger one is a gift for the monarch who rules this land.”

“Ah! Is that so!”

The official, whose curiosity grew more and more, hurriedly guided the group inside.

* * *

Upon entering the city hall, Oh Ha-seok’s group soon headed to the mayor’s office.

“This place also seems busier in the evening.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s remark, Mansur smiled slightly and replied.

“The day in Arabia truly begins in the evening. Because it’s too hot during the day.”

Oh Ha-seok nodded at Mansur’s words. The daytime in this neighborhood was too hot. No, it was too scorching.

* * *

Shortly after, Oh Ha-seok’s group was able to meet the mayor of Alexandria in the audience chamber.

“By Allah’s blessing, we have the honor of welcoming the esteemed guests from the East. Welcome. I am Abdul Hamad Sakum, the mayor of Alexandria.”

In response to the mayor’s welcoming speech, Oh Ha-seok politely bowed his head and replied.

“Thank you very much for such hospitality. We hope that the good relationship between our Joseon and your city will continue. I am Oh Ha-seok, the captain commanding the Challenger that arrived this time.”

“I also pray for the same. By the way, was your journey here pleasant?”

“Fortunately, we had good weather and traveled comfortably. On the way by land, we were attacked by bandits, but we were able to repel them safely.”

“Oh my!”

When Oh Ha-seok mentioned the bandits, Mayor Abdul widened his eyes and expressed surprise.

“You repelled them safely, that is indeed fortunate. It is something to thank Allah for.”

Oh Ha-seok nodded slightly in response to Abdul’s words.

“Hmm… To continue traveling between Alexandria and Joseon in the future, securing the safety of the land route is essential.”

Oh Ha-seok immediately replied to Abdul’s remark.

“That is true, Your Excellency. I heard on the way that there used to be a canal in the past. What do you think about redeveloping it?”

When Oh Ha-seok mentioned the canal, Abdul pondered for a moment and replied with a face full of regret.

“Constructing a canal between Suez and Alexandria requires a lot of labor. Even after construction, managing it is not easy. Therefore, building a canal is unreasonable.”

Oh Ha-seok readily agreed with Abdul’s answer.

“Indeed, managing a canal is not an easy task.”

Having finished the conversation about the canal, both sides continued discussing tax matters.

“As the captain may or may not know, Joseon’s goods are very popular among merchants. Therefore, with the hope that Joseon will maintain a long-lasting relationship with our Alexandria, I will reduce the taxes. We will only collect half the customs duties for Joseon.”

“Thank you very much!”

Oh Ha-seok expressed sincere gratitude for Abdul’s goodwill. In response to Oh Ha-seok’s reaction, Abdul lightly waved his hand and replied.

“As I said before, this is decided with the hope that Joseon will maintain a long-lasting relationship with our Alexandria.”

“Our Joseon will not betray Your Excellency’s generosity. In that sense, we will gladly present the gifts brought from Joseon.”

“Thank you.”

As Abdul expressed his gratitude, Oh Ha-seok gestured to his subordinates.

As the subordinates placed two boxes, Oh Ha-seok explained the boxes to Abdul.

“This is a gift for Your Excellency, and this slightly larger one is a gift for the monarch who rules this land. Normally, it would be proper for an envoy to personally have an audience with the monarch and present the gifts. However, since this voyage is our first attempt, we were not confident about the envoy’s safety, so we only brought the gifts. We apologize for this.”

As Oh Ha-seok apologized for the discourtesy, Abdul replied with a smile.

“Hahaha! Coming here from the distant East is not an easy task. Don’t worry! I will inform the Sultan in Cairo well!”

“Thank you.”

“Then, if it’s not rude, may I ask what it is? If it’s an item that violates the law, it would be troublesome.”

To Abdul’s question, Oh Ha-seok replied briefly.

“It is a lamp shade made of crystal glass.”

“Crystal glass?”

As Abdul showed interest in the unfamiliar term, Oh Ha-seok confidently replied.

“It is a new type of glass made in Joseon this time, as beautiful as crystal.”

“Oh?”

Abdul’s curiosity grew even more at Oh Ha-seok’s confident answer. Seeing that the accompanying officials also had curious faces, Oh Ha-seok chuckled and ordered the soldiers.

“Open the box.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s command, the soldiers used deer antler pry bars to remove the nails from the box. As the box was opened, the soldier who had been standing by took out the warranty inside the box and delivered it to Oh Ha-seok.

Abdul, who received the warranty through Mansur, beamed at the copper plate attached to the warranty. Five golden flowers that had earned Joseon the name ‘Land of Flowers’ were engraved on the copper plate.

“The shape of those flowers is the newly created highest grade this time.”

“Is that so?”

At Mansur’s explanation, Abdul looked at the gift covered with cloth with an expectant face.

* * *

The crystal chandelier Joseon had sent as a gift rendered not only Abdul but also the accompanying officials speechless.

As the largest trading city in the Mediterranean, both Abdul and the officials possessed precious jeweled ornaments.

“I swear by Allah, I have never seen such a treasure!”

However, as Abdul exclaimed, they had never seen such a splendid item in their lives.

With the chandelier as the climax, the conversation with the mayor ended in a friendly atmosphere.

“If it is such a gift, the Sultan will be very satisfied!”

“Thank you!”

* * *

Having sent off Oh Ha-seok and Mansur’s group, Abdul repeatedly exclaimed in admiration while looking at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

“It is truly a remarkable item. The title ‘Land of Flowers’ is not wasted on them.”

“According to the subordinates, there are a few more boxes like that.”

At the subordinate official’s words, Abdul shook his head.

“A war will break out at the auction house. A tremendous war will unfold.”

The subordinate officials all showed expressions of agreement with Abdul’s words. They, too, had been unable to take their eyes off the chandelier since it had been lit.

“Prepare to send it to Cairo. Don’t forget to prepare thoroughly, as there will be many coveting it.”

“Yes, sir.”

One of the officials answering Abdul’s order made a suggestion to him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to review the waterway? If the waterway is completed, won’t more goods come in from the ‘Land of Flowers’?”

At the official’s proposal, Abdul firmly shook his head.

“No to the waterway. The moment the waterway is dug, Alexandria will perish.”

“Pardon?”

Abdul explained why the waterway should not be built.

“I once found and read records about the waterway in the past. Do you know where the waterway is connected to? It’s the easternmost tributary of the great Nile River. Transporting goods from there to here, Alexandria? If it’s the remarkable items from Joseon, wouldn’t it be faster for a city to be established there? If that happens, our Alexandria is finished.”

“Ah…”

The officials all nodded at Abdul’s words. Considering the meager means of transportation in this period, it would be more cost-effective for a city to be established there instead.

“And if I were to give another reason, it’s because of those wicked Timurids. Do you think they will sit still if such a profitable trading city is within reach?”

The officials fell silent at Abdul’s point.

Although greatly weakened by the civil war after Timur’s death, the Timurids were regaining strength as Shah Rukh ascended to the throne.

In that process, what they needed most was capital.

If there was a trading city where enormous sums of money were exchanged at a close distance, it was certain that they would not overlook it.

“So, don’t even think about the canal.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then go and work.”

“Yes, sir.”

After sending the officials away, Abdul gazed at the chandelier and then turned his head to the south.

“I’m anxious about whether sending it to Cairo is the right thing to do.”

Abdul’s monologue was filled with worry.

Currently, Alexandria was part of the Mamluk Sultanate’s territory.

Cairo, where the Burji dynasty resided after succeeding the Bahri dynasty, was the largest city in the world during this period.

As the world’s largest city, its splendor was beyond compare. And intoxicated by the city’s splendor, the sultans of the Burji dynasty were also gradually indulging in extravagance.

Therefore, Abdul was worried.

The moment that item, possessing a splendor deserving of the epithet ‘exquisite’, arrived, the Sultan might lose his self-control.

“Should I break it?”

Abdul, who had been contemplating breaking it during transportation due to an inevitable accident—for example, a bandit attack—soon shook his head.

“If I do that, I’ll have to send the item hanging there. And Joseon won’t send it just this once. It’s a futile effort.”

With the unceasing surge of anxiety, Abdul muttered in a pleading tone.

“Inshallah (As Allah wills).”

* * *

Through the mouths of those working at the city hall, a rumor soon spread throughout the city of Alexandria.

-Incredible items have come from the Land of Flowers!

As the rumor circulated, influential figures of the city, whose curiosity was piqued, visited the city hall using various excuses. And the moment they saw the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, they couldn’t close their gaping mouths.

“It’s an incredible item!”

“I’ve never seen such an incredible item in my life!”

“If there’s a merchant who acquires that item, they can make a tremendous profit!”

Those who had seen the chandelier chattered about their impressions to their acquaintances, and those words quickly spread throughout the city.

As rumors bred more rumors, the merchants burned with determination.

“If it’s such a remarkable item, we must acquire it at all costs!”

“Halt unnecessary transactions! We need to gather funds!”

Just as Abdul had predicted, a war was about to unfold.

Chapter 306
The Road to the Land of Flowers (3)

While merchants in Alexandria were preparing for the ‘war of money’, Hanseong—more precisely, Area 51—was still busy.

From the areas producing weapons to the royal workshops selling to the royal family and private merchant groups, craftsmen and researchers in all districts were working tirelessly.

In one corner, taking a brief break, Pietro struck up a conversation with Raphael.

“I think Joseon’s Crown Prince would have been amazing if he were a merchant. As a Crown Prince, he could have stripped those Jews and Arabs bare, don’t you think?”

“Why are you suddenly talking about the Crown Prince?”

To Raphael’s question, Pietro answered while scratching his head.

“Ah… Thinking about crystal glass, I got that feeling…”

Raphael nodded at Pietro’s answer.

“This time, I agree with you.”

* * *

Since the end of last summer in the year of Gyeongsul (1430), Pietro and Raphael had sensed a strange atmosphere.

The glass workshop was running without any issues, but the atmosphere was a bit unusual.

“It seems like there are fewer people…”

Raphael, who had been examining the surroundings at Pietro’s keen observation, nodded.

“You’re right.”

As Raphael nodded, Pietro rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.

“I can’t hold back my curiosity again. Hey! Mr. Kim!”

“Why are you calling me, Mr. P?”

“There are fewer people here. Is there some kind of illness going around?”

“No illness… It’s just that His Highness the Crown Prince ordered something, so they are absent.”

“What did he order?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Ah, come on! Don’t be like that!”

Pietro persistently pestered him, but Mr. Kim’s mouth didn’t open any further.

“Oh! So that’s how it’s going to be?”

Feeling defiant at Mr. Kim’s reaction, Pietro continued to grab other craftsmen and question them. However, the other craftsmen also gave answers similar to Mr. Kim’s.

“Damn it! In times like this, there’s no choice but to ask the person directly!”

At Pietro’s words, Raphael panicked and grabbed him.

“Hey, you bastard! Just when I thought you were quiet these days, you’re going crazy again! Do you have spare lives?”

“We need to know what we need to know!”

“Hey! You son of a bitch! Just stay quiet!”

“What the hell, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”

“Why are you saying that now!”

As Pietro and Raphael were arguing, they even started fighting with their fists, and the surrounding craftsmen rushed in to break them up.

“They’re fighting again!”

“Stop them! Stop them!”

In the end, the situation was roughly resolved only after Hyang, who had heard the news, arrived.

‘This guy was living decently these days, but is he getting cocky?’

Looking at Pietro, who was bowing his head to one side, Hyang spoke.

“Pietro, I thought you had become a bit more well-behaved these days, but did you get itchy?”

“That’s not it.”

True to his Italian nature, Pietro had been involved in all sorts of incidents related to women.

As a result, he had spent several days in jail and had taken sick leave several times after being beaten up by the neighborhood men. However, after being beaten up a few times like that, he was living a relatively well-behaved life.

“Then why did you fight with your companion?”

Taking a deep breath at Hyang’s question, Pietro opened his mouth.

“I will ask Your Highness.”

“You son of a bitch, shut up!”

Raphael hurriedly tried to stop him, but it was too late.

“Yes, what are you curious about?”

As Pietro asked bluntly, Raphael turned pale and began to pray to the Virgin Mary in a small voice.

However, contrary to Raphael’s worries, Hyang answered with an expression as if it were nothing.

“Ah, is that why you fought? It’s nothing much. They are just researching ways to further improve the quality of glass.”

“No! How can you exclude me from such an interesting task?”

As Pietro confronted him, Hyang simply replied.

“Because you are foreigners.”

“Pardon?”

“What do you mean by that?”

As not only Pietro but also Raphael failed to fully understand, Hyang explained in more detail.

“It’s been over 5 years since you came to our Joseon, and it will soon be the 6th year. That means, before long, you will have to return. How can we reveal secrets to such people?”

Pietro immediately asked back to Hyang’s explanation.

“Will you really let us go?”

“Isn’t it written in the contract? After completing 10 years of service, if you wish to return home, we will send you back. Our Joseon keeps its promises well.”

Pietro and Raphael fell silent at Hyang’s answer.

As Hyang said, Joseon definitely kept its promises.

There was no restraint on their freedom, and their salaries were paid accurately every month.

However, they had secretly given up on returning to their hometown.

Because they were precious glass craftsmen.

Even when they were in Venice, they lived almost like prisoners on the island of Murano.

Of course, when they were recognized as proper craftsmen after completing their apprenticeship, exchanges with guilds in other cities resumed under the name of journeyman travel, but the accomplished craftsmen could not leave the island of Murano.

The reason the two of them were able to embark on journeyman travel was because they were novice craftsmen.

Although they were novices, they were craftsmen recognized by the guild, so they were sent out with the calculation of being able to take care of both justification and practical interests.

Of course, they were kidnapped by pirates and ended up in Joseon.

When Hyang mentioned the possibility of returning home, not only Raphael but also Pietro fell silent. It was because the homesickness they had been forcibly suppressing was revived.

As their silence prolonged, Hyang stood up, dusting off his seat.

“Was that a sufficient explanation? Then, go and take care of your work.”

“Your Highness! Then what about our intellectual property royalties if we return home?”

Pietro asked about the intellectual property royalties they had been receiving.

The new techniques Pietro and Raphael had created in the process of producing glass in the glass workshop were registered with the Intellectual Property Office. And the amount generated from it was quite substantial, which was why Pietro asked.

To Pietro’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“That? If you want, we will regularly send it to you. However, we will take responsibility up to Alexandria, but beyond that… Well…”

Trailing off like that, Hyang continued with a grin.

“The same goes for your return home. We will take responsibility and send you up to Alexandria. However, what comes next is not within our jurisdiction.”

“That’s a bit…”

When the two men looked troubled at Hyang’s words, Hyang added.

“Ah! Come to think of it, I remember what Mansur, the head of the merchant group, said. He mentioned that there are many people over there who are interested in our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the two men’s faces turned pale.

If what Hyang said was true, it meant that their journey home would be extremely dangerous.

“You’ll probably have to decide quickly. Just as the 6th year is approaching, the 10th year will come soon.”

“…”

Having finished speaking, Hyang returned to his office, while Pietro and Raphael stood frozen like statues.

* * *

While Pietro and Raphael were pondering their future, Master Craftsman Park and the other craftsmen were sweating to develop a new type of glass.

As always, it began with Hyang.

“Your Highness, did you summon me?”

“Have a seat.”

Hyang, who had secretly summoned Master Craftsman Park, brought up the matter at hand.

“It’s about the glass you’re making now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It’s made with the knowledge of Pietro and Raphael, right? That means there must be many glasses of similar quality to what Joseon makes in those western countries.”

Master Craftsman Park nodded at Hyang’s point.

“That is true.”

“So, I called you here to make glass of even better quality. I read books from the West and found that adding minerals to glass could produce something of higher quality.”

“Is that so?”

Master Craftsman Park’s eyes lit up at Hyang’s words. He, too, was a craftsman and had the ambition to create works that were ahead of others.

Moreover, it was something the Crown Prince said.

Based on the experience so far, there was hardly anything the Crown Prince had initiated that ended in failure.

Of course, the process in between was no joke.

And so, the development of crystal glass began.

Amidst the trial and error of Master Craftsman Park and the craftsmen, Hyang quietly added MSG. And gradually, results that met Hyang’s desired level began to emerge.

Looking at such results, Hyang muttered softly.

“The incident of breaking grandmother’s crystal tableware set and getting beaten up is proving to be helpful like this… Ah! Come to think of it… There was something else I broke and got beaten up for. Bone china…”

Recalling the painful memories created by fandom activities in the 21st century, Hyang felt his back aching for no reason.

* * *

After nearly four months of such trial and error and improvements through the addition of MSG, crystal glass was born.

“The quality has reached this level, and what remains is for the health of the craftsmen?”

Since a large amount of lead was used as a raw material for crystal glass, traditional blowpipes were fatal to the craftsmen.

Therefore, Hyang created a blowing system using a steam engine. The steam engine powered the blower, and the exhalation pipe connected to the blower was used to make objects such as bottles and bowls.

Of course, it couldn’t be stronger than human breath, so there was also a process of trial and error to adjust the appropriate air volume.

Next, Hyang instructed all the craftsmen involved in the production of crystal glass to wear masks.

As it was a strict order from the Crown Prince, no one dared to disobey.

* * *

The crystal glass created through this process was the best material for glass craftsmen.

Its luster and transparency were far superior to the existing ones, and what they liked the most was that it was easier to process—polishing, cutting, engraving—as the surface was smoother than the existing glass.

This characteristic stimulated the creative desire of the glass craftsmen, most of whom were originally potters or earthenware artisans, and soon, excellent products began to emerge.

Pietro and Raphael, who had examined the crystal glass on the side, began to agonize even more over whether to stay or return home. As long as the Crown Prince was there, it was certain that newer types of glass would continue to emerge. If they stayed, they could take part in the process of developing such glass and gain another opportunity. However, to return home, they had to risk their lives, and they were also worried about their life after returning.

In the end, Pietro and Raphael were gradually leaning towards staying. It was just that Pietro, who didn’t like being dragged into this situation, evaluated Hyang as a person who could even strip Jewish and Arab merchants bare.

And so, under Hyang’s guidance, the chandelier was born.

* * *

On the day when the chandelier that had passed Hyang’s eyes after several failures was hung from the ceiling of Geunjeongjeon, King Sejong and the ministers exclaimed in admiration.

“Truly remarkable! The Crown Prince has created something extraordinary again! Well done!”

“I have done little. All the credit goes to the craftsmen.”

To King Sejong’s praise, Hyang attributed the accomplishment to the craftsmen. Seeing Hyang like that, King Sejong showed a satisfied expression.

“Indeed. Crown Prince. You must not forget the merits of those who do their best for you.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“By the way. How long would it take to produce goods of this level?”

“Once the craftsmen’s hands become accustomed, it will be possible to make 1 to 2 per month. Of course, if we put in more manpower, we can make more, but there are many other things to make, so it’s unreasonable to go beyond that. Also, we need to produce in small quantities to maintain the value.”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, Minister of Finance Kim Jeom interjected into the conversation.

“How much does the production cost?”

“It’s 20% more than the production cost of existing glass.”

“Then the selling price…”

As Kim Jeom began to calculate, Hyang immediately replied.

“We should charge as much as we can. That’s why we’re adjusting the quantity. Therefore, I have a request for you, Father.”

“Speak.”

“We should sell the minimum to Ming and refrain from selling to Japan for the time being.”

“What is the reason?”

“If we release a large quantity to Ming, the Emperor will intervene, and we should fatten up Japan a bit more before devouring them.”

“Then, where will you sell the ones you make?”

As if he had already thought about it, Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“We will sell them to the far West. They are already familiar with glass and love to show off, so we will obtain great wealth. And since we’re selling far away from Ming, it will be difficult for them to notice.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words.

King Sejong tapped the armrest and muttered.

“Ming always stands in the way.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who had been listening to Hyang’s explanation, asked Hyang a question.

“You said we will sell the minimum to Ming, but how many do you expect?”

“I’m thinking about 3 per year. But before that…”

Hyang paused for a moment to gather attention and continued.

“I ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance. If we present this item to the Emperor, how many pillars of the Forbidden City can you bring back?”

To Hyang’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun and Kim Jeom smiled wryly and asked back.

“How many do you want?”

Chapter 307
The Road to the Land of Flowers (4)

“Truly remarkable!”

Emperor Xuande, who received the chandelier as tribute, exclaimed in admiration and said to Lee Maeng-gyun, who had gone as an envoy.

“The skills of Joseon’s craftsmen are indeed extraordinary!”

“Moved by the grace Your Majesty has bestowed upon Joseon, the craftsmen have done their utmost. I heard that it is difficult to make even 3 of such works in a year.”

“3 in a year…”

Emperor Xuande, who fell into thought while trailing off, pondered for a while and then spoke.

“Listen, envoy. Joseon shall offer those 3 products as tribute for the next 5 years. Of course! I will generously reciprocate.”

At Emperor Xuande’s words, a small commotion arose among the Ming officials present. Emperor Xuande, who had raised his hand to stop the Privy Council from speaking, continued.

“This is a precious item that can be proudly passed down through generations. Therefore, when we receive the tribute, we will hang 1 in the palaces and halls of the Forbidden City, and the rest will be bestowed upon loyal subjects. It will be my reward for those who strive for me and the empire.”

At Emperor Xuande’s order, Lee Maeng-gyun bowed and replied.

“I shall follow your command!”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who received an enormous amount of sulfur and copper—half of what Joseon imported in a year—as a reciprocal gift, reported the Emperor’s words to King Sejong. Hyang, who was listening to Lee Maeng-gyun’s words beside him, muttered softly.

“That fellow is not easy either. There will be a fierce competition for loyalty, won’t there?”

* * *

The crystal chandelier, which sparked a loyalty competition in the Ming court, also became a topic of utmost interest in Alexandria.

Many merchants and people were paying attention to the products that would be released at the auction house and market, but there were also quite a few who were interested in other aspects.

And representing such individuals was Prince Enrique.

When the merchants from Aden were about to come to Alexandria, Enrique, disguised as a merchant, entered Alexandria with his subordinates.

Enrique’s goal was not trade.

– First, negotiate with the merchants from Aden and have one or two of them join the voyage. Through them, confirm the existence of Joseon, the ‘Land of Flowers’.

However, even after more than a month in Aden, the merchants did not come, and Enrique began to prepare to abandon the plan.

Right at that moment, a subordinate who had gone out to the city returned and reported to Enrique.

“Merchants from Aden are coming! But it’s not just the merchants from Aden! People from the ‘Land of Flowers’ are also coming along!”

At the subordinate’s report, Enrique immediately ordered him.

“Tell the innkeeper that we will continue to stay!”

“Yes, sir!”

“And dispatch people! We need to gather as much information as possible!”

“Understood!”

* * *

After half a month had passed, all of Alexandria was abuzz.

“Merchants from Aden have arrived!”

“People from the ‘Land of Flowers’ have also come!”

“Wow!”

Amidst the Alexandrians’ clamorous chatter, Enrique, who had climbed to the rooftop of the inn, could see Oh Ha-seok’s group passing through the city gate.

“Amazing, truly amazing!”

Enrique exclaimed in admiration as he watched Oh Ha-seok’s group’s procession.

There were nearly 100 camels carrying large and small wooden boxes. Considering that the number of camels carrying luggage was only around 30 to 40 during the last visit, it was an astonishing number.

Enrique, who had been estimating the number of camels, made a calculation.

“How many ships have come? At least 3, perhaps?”

Among the dhows favored by Arab merchants, the cargo capacity of the largest ships was equivalent to what 10 camels could carry on average.

If it were a short distance, they would move with a cargo load requiring about 15 camels, but for long-distance travel, the maximum was about 10 camels’ worth. It was due to the space occupied by the food and water to be loaded on the ship.

In fact, the merchant named Mansur was said to always lead 3 ships when traveling to and from Joseon. And the average number of camels carrying cargo when he came to Alexandria was 30.

So Enrique calculated that there were at least 3 ships from Joseon.

* * *

When Oh Ha-seok presented the chandeliers to the mayor of Alexandria and the Sultan, this news immediately spread throughout the city of Alexandria.

The influential figures who had visited the city hall upon hearing the rumors and the servants who had accompanied them chatted with their acquaintances about the incredible item they had seen, and that story quickly flowed into the city of Alexandria.

While Italian, European, and Arab merchants were focusing their attention on the products brought by Joseon, Enrique issued orders to his subordinates.

“After visiting the Alexandria City Hall, did the Joseon people go out?”

“No, they did not.”

“Hmm…”

Enrique, who pondered for a moment at the subordinate’s report, spoke.

“Try to make contact with the people from the Aden merchant group who came with the Joseon people.”

“Are you thinking of meeting the Joseon people?”

“First, obtaining information about the Joseon people is the priority. We need to secure information such as the customs of the Joseon people and the ships they came on.”

“Understood.”

Following Prince Enrique’s orders, the subordinates cautiously approached the people of the Mansur merchant group. However, they were able to obtain information from an unexpected place.

The place where they obtained the information was a tavern.

Not all of those employed on Mansur’s merchant ships were Muslims.

A considerable number of Copts (Coptic Christians of Egypt) were working as sailors, and they were relieving the fatigue of the long voyage by drinking at the tavern.

Interestingly, even the sailors of Muslim origin were enjoying alcohol beside them.

The occupation of a sailor was that arduous.

For the sailors of the Mansur merchant group, there was nothing more delightful than coming to Alexandria.

Because after sharing a few stories about distant Joseon, free drinks would pour in.

For the people of Alexandria, stories from the far East were not a waste of the price of a drink.

Thanks to this, the sailors could go from one tavern to another, drinking for free.

“Who will buy a drink for me and my companions? I shall tell you the tales of Joseon!”

At the shout of a sailor with a bushy beard, Enrique’s subordinate, José, immediately stepped forward.

“I will buy you a drink!”

“Oh! You are someone who has crossed the Mediterranean! May the Virgin protect your voyage!”

Expressing gratitude with exaggerated gestures, the sailor chugged the mug of beer as soon as it was handed to him.

As he and his companions emptied their mugs, José ordered more beer.

“Ooh! Thank you, good sir! What shall I tell you about?”

“I’m curious about the ship made in the ‘Land of Flowers’. How many have come here?”

To José’s question, the sailor raised his right index finger and answered.

“One.”

The sailor’s answer caused a commotion among the onlookers nearby.

“Only one, you say?”

“No way, that’s impossible!”

Almost everyone living in the port city of Alexandria knew about ships.

Therefore, all the onlookers showed negative reactions.

However, the sailors of the Mansur merchant group chuckled and mocked the onlookers.

“You don’t know much about the East! Don’t you know how big the ships that came from Qitai were?”

When ‘Qitai’ was mentioned, the onlookers recalled the rumors they had heard about the Zheng He fleet and muttered.

“It seems the countries in the East have the technology to build such large ships.”

“The East is amazing…”

As the onlookers quieted down, José asked again.

“How big is the ship?”

To José’s question, the bushy-bearded sailor looked at his companions.

“It looked to be at least 120 cubits (approx. 58m), didn’t it?”

“It should be around 120 to 140 cubits (approx. 62m). Probably.”

At the sailors’ words, not only José but also all the onlookers nearby gaped in astonishment.

None of them had ever seen ships that large.

“Is it really that big?”

To José’s question, the bushy-bearded sailor nodded and replied.

“It has to be that big to carry so many cannons, don’t you think?”

“Cannons? How many did they load?”

As José hastily asked, the sailor waved his empty mug. José shouted to a passing employee.

“Bring a whole barrel here!”

“Oh, how grateful!”

As a barrel full of beer was placed on the table, the sailors readily answered.

“There seemed to be at least several dozen.”

“Several dozen? Even for a 120-cubit ship, isn’t that too many?”

“Nah! They’re not as big as the cannons used in sieges. But they were more than enough to sweep away the pirates we encountered on the way from Joseon to Suez. Hey! How many pirate ships did we sink on the way here?”

“At least over 40.”

“To add, about 30 ships attacked us in the southern seas of Qitai, but they were all sunk by 3 Joseon ships.”

“Wow…”

José, who had been uttering only exclamations at the sailors’ stories, asked again.

“If it’s that big and powerful, it must be slow, right?”

“Damn fast.”

“Really?”

“If you don’t believe me, go to Suez and see for yourself. I don’t lie while getting free drinks.”

At the sailor’s words, José shook his head.

“According to your description, it’s an incredible ship.”

“It’s incredible. Even our merchant leader was tempted to buy one but gave up because of the cost.”

“Wow…”

* * *

Returning to the inn, José reported to Enrique what he had heard from the sailors.

“Can we trust their words?”

“There may be some exaggeration, but I think it’s true to some extent.”

“Hmm…”

At José’s report, Enrique leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh that was either admiration or lamentation.

“A ship over 120 cubits?”

The most advanced ship currently built in his homeland, Portugal, was the caravel, which had a length of 48 cubits (approx. 21m). Of course, there were larger ships among the galleys, but there were no ships of 120 cubits.

However, the ship that had come from the East was at least 120 cubits.

‘But it’s too large a quantity to be a lie.’

If the quantity brought by over 100 camels really came from a single ship, then those words were likely to be true.

After pondering for a long time, Enrique put down his pen and muttered.

“Is the technology of the East ahead of ours? If so, by how much?”

While he was pondering over this unresolved question, another subordinate entered the room and reported.

“Tomorrow, goods from Joseon will be exhibited at the auction house.”

“Understood. Good work. Go and rest. You too, José.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After sending the subordinates away, Enrique took a deep breath and sorted out the situation.

“We’ll be able to tell to some extent by looking at the items that come out tomorrow.”

* * *

The next day, people gathered at the largest auction house in Alexandria.

Those who exuded wealth at a glance entered first and took the front seats, while those who had come to view the Joseon goods to be auctioned off took seats on the second floor.

“Then let’s start the auction!”

The auction began with the auctioneer announcing the start.

The auction proceeded, starting with the auction of slaves brought from Africa and Europe, but people’s attention was focused on the Joseon goods that would come out last.

“Uh… Finally, here is an item from Joseon, the ‘Land of Flowers’, located in the far East. It is a ‘hanging candelabrum’ made of ‘crystal glass’.”

As the auctioneer’s introduction ended, 8 sturdy men came up carrying the chandelier covered with cloth.

As the men carefully put down the chandelier, the auctioneer explained.

“This item is of the highest grade even by Joseon’s certification standards. Only 3 of them are available at this auction. We will start the auction for the first one.”

Having finished the explanation, the auctioneer removed the cloth covering the chandelier.

In an instant, the auction house was filled with exclamations.

“Ooh!”

“Amazing!”

Amidst the exclamations erupting from all directions, the auctioneer called out the starting price.

“Then we will start at 20,000 gold ducats!”

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, hands rose from all directions.

The competition to obtain the chandelier was fierce.

The auction, which started at 20,000 gold ducats, had surpassed 60,000 ducats at one point and was approaching 70,000 ducats.

Oh Ha-seok, who was watching the proceedings from the back of the auction house while listening to Mansur’s interpreter, muttered with a dumbfounded expression.

“They quoted 20,000 nyang of gold to the Emperor of Ming… Here, they might make enough money to build a Challenger-class warship if they do well.”

Chapter 308
Road to the Land of Flowers (1)

The atmosphere of the auction was intense.

After the first chandelier sold for 82,000 ducats and the second for 97,000 ducats, the male auctioneer said to the merchants regarding the last remaining one.

“Now! This is the last one. If you don’t get it this time, you’ll have to wait until next year. One year… Some of you may be willing to wait, but please consider this. It means coming through the distant sea.”

The meaning of the auctioneer’s words was simple.

-If there’s an accident at sea, you won’t even be able to see it for at least 2 years!

The mood of the participants who understood the auctioneer’s words turned hot.

“Now! To proceed quickly, we’ll start at 80,000 ducats!”

“90,000!”

“92,000!”

The auction house was burning with excitement.

Oh Ha-seok, who was watching the scene from behind, turned to Mansur.

“I must apologize to the head of my merchant group. I didn’t believe the saying ‘the competition among merchants is as hot as war’, but it’s as fierce as any battle.”

Mansur replied to Oh Ha-seok’s words with a smile.

“It is fierce. And in fact, they do wage wars.”

As Mansur said, a significant portion of the wars and battles taking place in the Mediterranean region outwardly bore the signboard of nations, but in reality, they were clashes between merchant forces.

* * *

After fierce competition, the final chandelier went to a merchant from Florence.

The amount he bid was a whopping 124,000 gold ducats.

“Let’s see… The total amount sold at the auction is 303,000 ducats. Deducting the commission, it comes to 270,000 ducats?”

“That’s correct.”

At Mansur’s answer, Oh Ha-seok muttered to himself.

‘His Highness kept shouting about trade to the point of death, so I thought he was being excessive without considering dignity, but he had his reasons. With one auction, enough money to build two Challenger-class warships and the necessary cannons is coming in… ’

Oh Ha-seok was pleased but making a fatal mistake. He didn’t realize that a ducat and a nyang had a value difference of 10:1. In simple terms, 10 ducats equaled 1 nyang.

Although Oh Ha-seok’s calculation was excessive, the amount secured through the auction was still an enormous sum. Seeing the immense amount of money coming in and feeling the necessity of trade, Oh Ha-seok turned to Mansur.

“By the way, we’ll have many night visitors from now on.”

“Indeed.”

“We need to prepare thoroughly.”

* * *

Meanwhile, those gathered at the auction house were muttering while looking at the Florentine merchant who had won the last chandelier.

“He took 2 out of the 3, he must have a tremendous amount of money.”

“With that much money, he could buy several decent castles or large manors with good yields…”

Those watching from the back and on the second floor simply regarded him as a ‘wealthy Italian merchant’, but those who had been competing at the very front were looking at the merchant in question with eyes full of astonishment.

‘It’s him! It’s definitely him!’

‘Cosimo de’ Medici! Why is the ruler of Florence here!’

‘Why is the one who should be counting gold coins in Florence here!’

The owner of a bank with branches in 16 European countries and a behind-the-scenes powerhouse who used his vast capital to build political power.

Cosimo de’ Medici, one of the most powerful figures in Europe, couldn’t hide his regret as he watched the chandelier being repackaged.

“I should have gotten all 3…”

Cosimo, who was deeply disappointed that the last chandelier was snatched away by a merchant from the Ottoman Empire, clicked his tongue.

Cosimo and the merchant from the Ottoman Empire had engaged in a fierce competition.

Through that process, 2 of the chandeliers ended up in Cosimo’s hands, but he had no choice but to hand over the last one to the Ottoman merchant due to lack of funds.

“Well, I could have gotten it even if I had to write a promissory note, but…”

Cosimo didn’t linger on it any further.

Seeing the packaged chandeliers being transported under strict security, Cosimo turned away.

“I’ll send one to the Vatican and the other to the Habsburgs. I should send one to France next year. They’ll still be in a state of disarray. The expenditure was quite large, but I can extract more than that value by using those items, so it’s not a losing business.”

The Pope resided in the Vatican, and Albrecht V, who would inherit the title of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, was in the Habsburg dynasty.

France was still at war with England. However, Cosimo already knew that the war had ended.

The ongoing war was a war to gain the upper hand in negotiations.

“Therefore, there’s still time.”

It was with such calculations that Cosimo had turned his back on France.

It had been a long war spanning nearly 100 years.

Even if the war were to stop right now, it would take considerable time to regain strength.

Cosimo did not underestimate France. It was one of the countries with the largest territory within Europe.

If they ended the war and began to regain power, it was certain that they would grow into a nation that could influence the balance of power in Europe.

“It might be worth pursuing a marriage later…”

The House of Habsburg had also been steadily gaining power in central Europe, and Albrecht V, the Duke of Austria, was currently the son-in-law of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Considering Italy’s position, it was necessary to show respect.

The Vatican? There was nothing good about ignoring the Pope.

“Speaking of which, Joseon…”

Cosimo, who was returning to his lodging surrounded by bodyguards, became interested in ‘Joseon’.

* * *

Initially, Cosimo had no plans to come to Alexandria.

As before, he intended to send merchants from his family and only confirm the incoming news.

Upon receiving a report that merchants from Aden had not arrived for over a month, Cosimo immediately sent a reply.

-Wait for 10 days, and if they don’t come, withdraw.

However, after a few days, those in charge of carrier pigeons rushed to Cosimo.

“Urgent news from Alexandria! Joseon people are coming along with the merchants from Aden!”

Receiving the urgent news, Cosimo instantly had a strong feeling.

‘This is an opportunity!’

Trusting his instincts, Cosimo had crossed the Mediterranean with a large amount of funds and come to Alexandria.

And he had discovered the chandeliers at the auction house. Although he had paid a hefty sum, they were items that would be well worth it if given to the rulers of Europe.

* * *

Now Cosimo’s interest was shifting towards Joseon.

“The glass products sent from Joseon have flattened the noses of those Venetians.”

During this period, the highest-quality glass products circulating in Europe all came from the island of Murano in Venice. However, as glass products made in Joseon began to circulate, Venice’s glass industry suffered a severe blow.

Mid to low-priced products had to compete with products from other European countries, while high-priced products used by the nobility were gradually being encroached upon by Joseon’s products.

Of course, Venetian craftsmen also showcased their skills and produced items comparable to Joseon’s for circulation, but the power of the golden flowers that had earned Joseon the name ‘Land of Flowers’ was formidable.

European nobles and their servants ended up purchasing Joseon’s products with golden flowers engraved on them, even if they had to pay a little more, rather than Venetian products.

The reason for this was simple.

The golden flower was a symbol of trust.

Moreover, the ingenious product called ‘glass mirror’ made in Joseon was a must-have for noble ladies.

Glass mirrors existed in Europe and the Middle East as well, but Joseon’s mirrors boasted a quality that was simply incomparable.

It wasn’t just glass products that came from Joseon.

Ceramics coated with gold leaf stimulated the vanity of the nobility.

To put it simply, to be considered a nobleman and carry oneself with pride in the European continent, one needed to possess at least one or two items from Joseon.

Cosimo muttered while looking at the wooden boxes.

“If Joseon has the ability to mass-distribute items of the same quality as those…”

Cosimo paused for a moment and imagined what would happen next.

Stopping in his tracks and imagining the future, Cosimo sighed.

“Phew~. Whoever establishes a connection with Joseon will dominate the European market.”

Having reached a conclusion, Cosimo beckoned the merchant following behind him with a gesture.

“Did you call for me?”

“You said there are more items from Joseon? Where can I see those items?”

“They will be available at Mansur’s store starting tomorrow.”

“Mansur?”

“He is the merchant who first established trade with Joseon.”

“Is that so? Tomorrow… Then, you…”

Cosimo, who was about to give an order to the merchant, paused for a moment. After sorting out his thoughts, Cosimo continued.

“It would be better for me to see them in person. You try to find a way to make contact with the Joseon people.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

Cosimo wasn’t the only one who had reached such a conclusion.

Among those who had seen the items sent from Joseon and the chandeliers at the auction, anyone with even a little discernment had reached a similar conclusion.

“Whoever can establish a connection with Joseon will be the winner!”

Those who had reached that conclusion had their eyes sparkling, trying to find an opportunity to make contact with the Joseon people, especially Oh Ha-seok.

Among those seeking this opportunity was Prince Enrique.

* * *

“Argh!”

Seeing Cosimo win the bid for the chandeliers at the auction house, Enrique writhed in frustration.

As soon as he saw the chandeliers, Enrique thought of his father’s palace in Lisbon.

“If only those could be hung in Father’s palace!”

However, Enrique couldn’t participate in the auction.

He didn’t have the money.

Although he had support from his father, constructing ships and hiring experienced captains and sailors was a costly endeavor.

Therefore, despite manipulating the books to conceal it, Enrique was suffering from considerable debt pressure.

If it weren’t for the deals made through the slave traders he had contacted while exploring the western coast of Africa, he would have been bankrupt long ago.

That was why Enrique had to writhe in frustration while watching the fierce auction.

“I can’t just stay like this!”

Quickly composing himself, Enrique assessed the situation.

-The items made in Joseon are not just high-priced goods. There are various grades of items, but they commonly boast the highest quality in their respective grades.

-That means they can be sold to everyone from the nobility to the commoners.

-If a sea route to Joseon is connected and a trade route can be established, it means tremendous profits can be gained.

-In the East, there is India, the land of spices, but competition is fierce. Joseon can be a sufficient alternative.

Having assessed the situation, Enrique tapped the table with his finger and muttered.

“The first thing to solve is the issue of 26 degrees north latitude. It’s about passing Cape Bojador.”

Cape Bojador, which Prince Enrique mentioned, was a forbidden place among European sailors.

There was a widespread belief that if one went beyond that point, the sea would boil and everyone would die.

Although they had advanced to nearby areas through previous explorations, no one had yet challenged that cape.

“I should offer a reward.”

Enrique planned the next steps. If it could be proven that Cape Bojador could be safely passed, they would continue sailing south and circumnavigate Africa.

If that process succeeds, the next step would be to secure Suez by sailing along the eastern coast of Africa.

Having thought that far, Enrique clenched his fist.

“Once Suez is secured, the Arabs won’t be able to move a muscle!”

Thereafter, it would be a matter of securing the sea routes to India and Joseon.

That part seemed surprisingly easy to solve.

There were many Copts who knew those routes well, and there were quite a few Italian sailors as well.

“José!”

Having sorted out the situation, Enrique called his subordinate.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Try to find a way to make contact with the Joseon people.”

“Understood.”

Chapter 309
Road to the Land of Flowers (2)

The morning after the auction ended.

People flocked to Mansur’s mansion located in Alexandria.

To be precise, they gathered in front of the store that had been renovated from one side of the mansion.

What caused this massive crowd of people was yesterday’s auction. Small and medium-sized merchants who had seen or heard rumors about yesterday’s auction had gathered.

“There might be things we can afford at the store!”

“There must be! Even if the number of flowers is lower!”

“What does it matter if it’s lower! As long as there are flowers attached, we can at least double our business!”

Small and medium-sized merchants, filled with the hope of making a profit and carrying pouches filled with gold coins, gold dust, and gold pieces in their chests, waited for the store’s door to open.

After a while, the store’s door opened. However, the merchants couldn’t easily enter.

It was because Joseon soldiers came out through the open door and stood guard in front of the store.

It wasn’t simply because foreigners were guarding the store that they couldn’t enter.

The soldiers guarding the store were wearing “sunglasses” (sunglasses).

The appearance of the Joseon soldiers, whose eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses, emitted a strange sense of intimidation, making the merchants hesitate.

Shortly after, the store manager, who had come out, shouted to the merchants.

“For smooth business, we will serve three people at a time! So please line up!”

Discouraged by the manager’s shout and the appearance of the Joseon soldiers, the merchants hurriedly began to form a line.

Once a line was formed to some extent, the manager started letting merchants into the store in groups of three.

The merchants entering the store all glanced at the Joseon soldiers as they went inside.

Everyone was curious about what was covering their eyes, but no one had the courage to ask.

However, one merchant who couldn’t overcome his curiosity asked the manager.

“Those people are indeed from the ‘Land of Flowers’, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“What are those things covering their eyes?”

“They call it sunglasses.”

“Sunglasses?”

“They say it’s an item that shields the sunlight.”

“Oho?”

At the manager’s words, the merchant who had asked the question and the surrounding merchants began to show interest.

Many people living in Egypt and Arabia had poor eyesight or suffered from eye diseases. It was due to the intense sunlight in the desert.

The merchant, who was looking at the Joseon soldiers with eyes full of curiosity, asked the manager.

“Are those also for sale?”

* * *

After Pietro and Master Craftsman Go created the sunglasses, Hyang ordered other craftsmen to make ones for them to wear as well.

“We are immensely grateful that you think of us lowly craftsmen to such an extent!”

As Master Craftsman Go prostrated himself on the spot and expressed his gratitude, Hyang replied with a smile.

“Aren’t your eyes your life? Rather, I apologize for not taking care of it earlier.”

And so, the sunglasses was made and also presented to King Sejong.

“My eyes feel refreshed!”

King Sejong, who used the sunglasses, was very satisfied, and it was subsequently bestowed upon the ministers as well.

However, as time passed, Hyang began to feel uneasy.

“I remember hearing that wearing poorly made sunglasses can be harmful, and there was a solution, but what was it…”

After pondering for several days, Hyang abruptly woke up from his sleep.

“Ultraviolet rays! I remembered it! Well done, my brain!”

“Your Highness, what’s the matter!”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Hyang stopped the eunuch who was about to enter the room and muttered softly.

“I can’t believe I forgot about this…”

* * *

When Hyang lived as a fanatic in the 21st century, he frequented websites with “wiki” in their names on a daily basis. It was because they were the easiest places to find information when he wanted to indulge in something.

Of course, sometimes there was no information on domestic wiki sites, so he had to search foreign—especially American—wiki sites.

Then, when he entered university, Hyang—known as Kim Jin-ho at the time—who wanted to show off his fashion sense, began searching the internet.

“When it comes to fashion, it’s definitely sunglasses!”

Having chosen the item, Hyang automatically entered a wiki site and felt a contradiction there.

-Sunglasses must be selected with high UV protection performance. (Note 1)

“I see.”

Nodding his head, Hyang continued his search. As he searched for terms like “lens” and “glass,” Hyang tilted his head.

“Huh?”

-Glass blocks ultraviolet rays.

“Aren’t the lenses of sunglasses made of glass? What’s going on?”

Curious, Hyang continued his search and reached his own conclusion.

-Glass blocks ultraviolet rays. However, this refers to UVB. UVA passes through.

-The lenses of sunglasses are made of polycarbonate, acrylic, or CR39. Glass is rarely used.

-The reason ordinary soda-lime glass blocks ultraviolet rays is due to iron oxide, which exists as a common impurity. (Note 2)

-Green provides a comfortable view, and shades of gray are good for prolonged outdoor activities. (Note 1)

* * *

Recalling his past memories, Hyang muttered while sitting with his arms crossed.

“Is that so? Then I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

From then on, Master Craftsman Go, Pietro, and Raphael had to suffer under Hyang’s demands.

“Iron oxide… In simple terms, it’s rusted iron.”

Hyang collected the rust scraped off from iron, ground it into the finest powder possible, and threw it into the glass furnace.

Trial and error continued to determine the optimal amount to mix in to obtain the best results, and eventually, they were able to find the appropriate ratio.

“Gray is good, they said? And to be precise, it’s not gray but a light black.”

And so, this time, trial and error continued to find the appropriate shade.

* * *

Having found the optimal results at the current level through such trial and error, Hyang now challenged—or more precisely, plagiarized—the design.

“When it comes to sunglasses, it’s definitely Ray-Ban!”

Ray-Ban, a mispronunciation of the brand name.

However, in the 21st century, the words spoken by his father and the older men in the family were also engraved in Hyang’s mind.

Using these memories, Hyang finalized the design.

The newly created sunglasses was an item that even Hyang was satisfied with.

Looking at the sunglasses made this way, Master Craftsman Go, Pietro, and Raphael nodded their heads and had a conversation.

“When the Crown Prince takes the lead, a properly made item definitely comes out.”

“The subordinates work themselves to death, though.”

“But the performance is definitely better than just smearing soot on glass, right?”

“That’s why we don’t say anything.”

* * *

King Sejong, who wore the newly made sunglasses, was very pleased.

“This is even better than the one made last time! Especially the texture of the frame surrounding the colored glass of the sunglasses is very much to my liking!”

Highly satisfied, King Sejong once again placed a large order and bestowed them upon his subjects.

Not long after, Hyang received a summons from Queen Soheon.

“Your Majesty the Queen, did you call for me?”

“Yes. I apologize for summoning the busy Crown Prince, but I have a request.”

“How could being busy be an issue if it’s a request from Your Majesty the Queen? What is your request?”

“The sunglasses that His Majesty is wearing…”

Before Queen Soheon could finish her sentence, Hyang replied.

“I will have it made as quickly as possible!”

And Hyang not only made one for Queen Soheon but also distributed them to the concubines, the Crown Princess, the two royal academies, and the two princes.

This was not a mere act of goodwill.

“Now that I’ve distributed them to the influencers, the response should come soon.”

* * *

And after some time had passed, Hyang noticed a well-dressed young nobleman wearing a sunglasses as he was heading to Area 51.

“The trend is already spreading…”

As Hyang was muttering with a satisfied expression, he stopped.

“Something’s strange?”

Rushing to Area 51, Hyang summoned Master Craftsman Go and assessed the situation.

“…So, you’re certain that no sunglasses other than the ones I ordered have left here?”

“That is correct, Your Highness.”

“I see. Go and take care of your work.”

After sending Master Craftsman Go away, Hyang tapped the desk with his finger and muttered.

“So, there’s someone who tried to deceive me? In that case… There’s a suitable person.”

Hyang immediately sought out Kim Jeom and explained the situation. Upon hearing Hyang’s explanation, Kim Jeom raised his voice.

“What? Someone committed such a despicable crime? I will take care of it! These bastards!”

Watching Kim Jeom hurriedly disappear outside, Hyang muttered softly.

“He’s so excited. A few more will be stripped clean.”

* * *

And so, after those who had attempted illegal reproduction were completely ruined, merchants formally ordered sunglasses from the royal workshops in Area 51.

The merchants’ orders were of two types. Some ordered the finished product, while others ordered only the lenses.

And before long, sunglasses with various lens shapes—from simple round to oval—and price ranges—from mid to low-priced ones with a basic frame made of iron and tin plating to high-priced ones plated with silver or gold—were released into the market.

Seeing the sunglasses released in such diverse ways, Hyang sincerely exclaimed.

“The power of capitalism!”

* * *

As the sunglasses became an everyday item, a new demand arose.

The military.

The first units to be supplied with sunglasses were the guards protecting the palace. It was because it reduced eye fatigue from staring under the strong sunlight while on guard duty, and the intimidation and rejection that came from not being able to see their eyes made their tasks easier.

The next place to receive the supply was the cavalry.

The cavalry, who had been struggling with the strong sunlight beating down in the summer and the problem of snow reflecting the sunlight on the Yodong Plains in the winter, used a windshield incorporating the lenses of sunglasses.

The last place where sunglasses was supplied was the navy.

The navy, who had been suffering from the sunlight beating down on the vast sea that made the Yodong Plains look trivial and the light reflected on the sea surface, welcomed the sunglasses.

And before long, it became common for sailors to neatly store away the military-issued sunglasses and purchase ones that suited their preferences from the market.

When the ministers and high-ranking commanders received the report and discussed punishment, Hyang opposed it.

“Why are you seeking to punish them when they haven’t discarded the items bestowed by His Majesty?”

When Hyang strongly opposed and King Sejong also stepped in, saying he would not seek to punish the soldiers, the ministers and high-ranking commanders fell silent.

Seeing that, Hyang grumbled inwardly.

‘They were like this even when the spearmen customized their swords. Why are they being such stubborn old fools? What are they, the Imperial Army?’

* * *

To the merchants’ question of whether the sunglasses worn by Joseon soldiers was also for sale, the manager replied with a troubled expression.

“Well… I haven’t checked. Please wait a moment.”

After telling the merchant to wait, the manager immediately went inside the main building to find Mansur and Oh Ha-seok.

Upon hearing the manager’s words, Mansur smiled with satisfaction.

“Tell them it’s for sale. The price is 6 ducats of silver for 3 silver flowers and 1 ducat of gold for 1 gold flower. The items are in the boxes that were kept closed, right? They’re in there.”

At Mansur’s answer, the manager replied with a delighted expression.

“Is that so? I will bring them out right away!”

After sending the manager away, Mansur explained the situation to Oh Ha-seok. Hearing the story through the interpreter, Oh Ha-seok finally nodded as if he understood.

“No wonder… So that’s why you asked our soldiers to guard the front of the store?”

“You call it ‘gyeomsagyeomsa’ in Korean, right? It’s both showcasing the sunglasses and guarding the store.”

Mansur replied with a grin.

As the types of products that could be procured decreased with Joseon’s direct involvement, Mansur had to work hard.

While working hard, what caught his eye was the sunglasses. After hearing the explanation and even trying it on himself, Mansur immediately judged that it would be profitable and purchased a large quantity.

And he mobilized the Joseon soldiers for the purpose of promotion and security.

Mansur was also a seasoned merchant.

* * *

Note 1: https://namu.wiki/w/선글라스

Note 2: https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/유리

Chapter 310
Road to the Land of Flowers (3)

Upon hearing Mansur’s answer, the manager rummaged through the box in question, took out the wooden boxes containing the sunglasses, and moved them to the store.

“Please wait a moment!”

The manager shouted to the merchants and began displaying the sunglasses by type along with the employees.

Having displayed the sunglasses in a total of 4 grades, from 3 silver flowers to 1 gold flower, the manager informed the merchants of the prices.

“From 3 to 5 silver flowers, it’s 6, 7, and 8 ducats of silver, and 1 gold flower is 1 ducat of gold.”

“The prices are a bit high…”

“These are items from the Land of Flowers.”

At the higher-than-expected prices, the merchants grumbled softly and examined the sunglasses.

However, the merchants soon lost interest.

“No matter how you look at it, the prices are a bit high.”

The merchants, who had lost interest in the sunglasses, quickly turned their attention elsewhere.

What caught the merchants’ attention were the crystal products.

The crystal products, which started from a base of 4 gold flowers, boasted astronomical prices, but the merchants immediately flocked to them.

“Give me one bundle of these wine glasses!”

“I’ll take two!”

“I’ll take two bundles of the plates.”

“Yes! Yes! Please wait a moment!”

“Do you deliver as well?”

“We do!”

Although they were expensive items starting from a base of 50 ducats of gold, the merchants purchased as much as their funds allowed.

They felt that the sunglasses, which merely covered the eyes, was definitely overpriced, but the shimmering crystal tableware seemed cheap even at that price.

‘With this level of quality, we can easily charge at least 3 times the price!’

Thinking about the profits they would make from selling the crystal products, the merchants emptied their pouches.

Merchants continued to come in and out, but the sunglasses barely sold.

In this situation, the manager began to feel slightly impatient.

“This rarely happens… Did the head of the merchant group set the prices too high?”

Until now, nearly 30 merchants had come in and purchased goods, but only 3 of the cheapest sunglasses had been sold.

“It’s not just the sunglasses that’s the problem…”

The manager let out a small sigh.

There was another item that was expected to become dead stock.

It was the folding fan.

The folding fan, which had caught Mansur’s eye in Joseon, was being neglected in a corner.

“Why on earth did the head of the merchant group buy such an item…”

The manager sighed softly.

* * *

While the merchants were bustling, Cosimo appeared with his entourage.

“There are many merchants.”

At Cosimo’s words, the merchant dispatched from the Medici family to work in Alexandria replied.

“They are small and medium-sized merchants. They are the ones who travel with one or two camels and do business.”

“Oh? Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Usually, they pay a fee and move together with a large merchant’s caravan.”

“I see.”

As Cosimo tried to enter the store with a brief reply, the Joseon soldiers guarding the store blocked their way.

“What is the meaning of this! Do you know who this person is!”

The merchant shouted at the Joseon soldier’s obstruction, but the Joseon soldier didn’t budge. It was natural. The Joseon soldiers couldn’t understand the language here. Therefore, the soldiers only acted according to orders.

“Hey, these fellows!”

As the merchant’s voice grew louder, the guards escorting Cosimo silently placed their hands on their swords. Seeing that, the Joseon soldiers also placed their hands on the horse pistols at their waists.

‘Should I watch a little longer?’

In a situation on the brink of conflict, Cosimo chose to observe. He was curious about the level of those foreign soldiers, and his pride wouldn’t allow him to back down first.

‘I am Cosimo de’ Medici!’

As the situation was becoming increasingly tense, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok, who had received the report, made their appearance.

“Enough! One step back!”

At Oh Ha-seok’s command, the soldiers who had been blocking Cosimo’s group in front uniformly took a step back.

Seeing their disciplined movement, Cosimo’s guards felt a shudder. Although their eyes were hidden behind that strange object, they could definitely tell that they were continuously glaring at their hands and eyes.

“Their movements are excellent.”

At Cosimo’s assessment, the captain of the guards standing beside him replied softly.

“They are elites. And I’m curious about the weapons they have their hands on. No matter how you look at it, they seem like hand cannons, but there’s no matchlock.”

“Is that so?”

At the captain’s words, Cosimo began to take interest in the horse pistols the Joseon soldiers had their hands on.

At that moment, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok stepped forward in front of the soldiers.

“Where have you gentlemen come from?”

At Mansur’s question, the Medici family’s merchant raised his voice.

“We are from the Medici family! And the person here is the head of the Medici family!”

At the merchant’s words, Mansur politely paid his respects.

“It is an honor to meet the head of the great Medici family by the grace of Allah. I am Mansur Mohammed Kamal Al Otaibi, the head of the Otaibi family.”

“A pleasure to meet you. But why did they block me?”

To Cosimo’s question, Mansur calmly explained the reason.

“Since it was crowded with many people even before opening, I ordered them to maintain order.”

“Is that so? I’m sorry, but I can go in right away, can’t I? I’m not a person with ample time.”

At Cosimo’s words, Mansur walked over to the merchants who were waiting in line.

“Can you yield a little?”

“Of course!”

At Mansur’s request, the merchant who had been waiting immediately nodded. Although he was a damn Catholic, Cosimo de’ Medici was a tremendous merchant. At this moment, yielding was beneficial for a peaceful life.

* * *

“Oho!”

Cosimo, who had entered after receiving the waiting merchants’ concession, exclaimed in admiration.

All sorts of curious items from distant Joseon in the East were showing off their beauty. Cosimo, who was constantly exclaiming in admiration while examining the items, stopped walking where the sunglasses were displayed.

“Aren’t these the items the Joseon soldiers outside are wearing?”

“That’s correct.”

Upon hearing the merchant’s answer, Cosimo asked Mansur.

“What are these items used for?”

“They are used to protect the eyes from strong sunlight.”

“Oh?”

Curious, Cosimo picked up a sunglasses and held it up to the light. Seeing the scenery through the sunglasses, Cosimo nodded.

“I see.”

Putting down the sunglasses he was holding, Cosimo looked at the sunglasses with 1 gold flower and asked Mansur.

“How much is the price for this grade of sunglasses?”

“It is 1 ducat of gold.”

“How many are in stock?”

“Currently, there are 40.”

“Give them all to me.”

“Understood.”

After that, Cosimo also purchased a large quantity of various items, including crystal tableware.

As he was shopping, Cosimo stopped in front of the folding fans.

“What are these?”

“They are fans.”

“For fans…”

To Europeans like Cosimo, fans were not unfamiliar items. They were first introduced by soldiers who had participated in the Crusades in the 13th century.

“Hmm…”

Cosimo took out a fan that was neatly folded in a box and spread it open.

“Oho!”

The fully opened fan featured beautiful Oriental paintings and characters.

Cosimo examined the other fans. Some had beautiful embroidery on silk instead of hanji paper, and some had ribs made of fragrant wood, exuding a subtle scent.

“I will purchase all of these as well, as soon as they are in stock!”

“Thank you!”

As bulk purchases continued, the relationship between Mansur and Cosimo became warm.

“I have a personal interest in the ‘Land of Flowers’. Can you spare some time later?”

At Cosimo’s words, Mansur immediately agreed.

“I will gladly wait!”

At Mansur’s answer, Cosimo replied with a smile.

“Let’s find some time before I return to Italy. Together with that gentleman from the East as well.”

“Yes!”

Having made such an appointment, Cosimo left the store.

“Quickly package and deliver the items this gentleman ordered as soon as possible!”

“Yes!”

The manager, whose worries had vanished in an instant, answered with enthusiasm.

Mansur and Oh Ha-seok went back inside, and the merchants’ entry resumed while the Joseon soldiers stood guard.

However, something had changed. The merchants who had been observing the situation outside began to sweep up the sunglasses.

‘The fact that Cosimo de’ Medici purchased them in bulk alone is enough to make many people open their wallets!’

‘The items that the world-renowned Cosimo de’ Medici bought in bulk! They are definitely not useless items!’

The value of the name ‘Cosimo de’ Medici’ to the merchants of Europe and the Mediterranean region was immense.

* * *

Cosimo, who had brought a happy smile to Mansur’s manager’s face, was sitting on a horse saddle, fanning himself with a relaxed expression. Wearing a sunglasses and fanning himself leisurely, Cosimo exclaimed in admiration.

“Ah! This sunglasses is truly excellent!”

“Uh, Mr. Cosimo.”

“Yes?”

As Cosimo turned around, the merchant cautiously asked.

“I don’t think you bought the sunglasses and fans for no reason…”

“Do you think I paid a high price for items I don’t even need?”

“Yes. Although the sunglasses has the advantage of shielding from the sun, it can be replaced by a canopy. And those fans are not items that are widely used either, are they?”

The merchant pointed it out very carefully. Cosimo de’ Medici was not someone who had become a wealthy man solely through banking. He was a person of outstanding scholarship and skilled in commerce. Cosimo de’ Medici was a man who had further increased the wealth he had gained through commerce using banking.

However, the merchant also knew Cosimo de’ Medici’s weaknesses well. Cosimo de’ Medici was also someone who had learned hobbies for luxury and ostentation through frequent contact with the aristocratic French royal family in the north. As a result, it was common for him to pay a fortune to buy a painting by a famous artist like Botticelli.

Due to the atmosphere of Florence where the bourgeoisie had gained power, he couldn’t openly indulge in luxury, but Cosimo was someone who enjoyed luxury and ostentation through various methods.

At the merchant’s point, Cosimo asked with a smile.

“Which do you think is more convenient, a sunglasses that can be put in a small box and carried in a pocket, or a canopy that needs to be rolled up and carried on your back or on a horse?”

“In that aspect, the sunglasses is definitely more advantageous, but the price is too high.”

“Hey, when you saw the Joseon soldiers earlier, what impression did you get?”

“They were rude. And… an inexplicable sense of intimidation.”

“Why did you feel intimidated? It’s because you couldn’t see their eyes. When you have a conversation, you can tell. Just by looking at the other person’s eyes, you can somewhat sense their emotions, whether they fear you, are trying to deceive you, or look down on you. But what if you can’t see their eyes?”

“You wouldn’t be able to tell.”

“That’s right. Then who do you think needs to hide their emotions the most?”

“The nobles.”

When the merchant immediately answered, Cosimo nodded and continued.

“It’s the same with the fans. Noble ladies like to stand out from others. They can stand out brilliantly with jeweled accessories, but women who subtly stand out are more charming.”

“I understand.”

The merchant was genuinely impressed. Cosimo de’ Medici had recognized the value of the items in that short time.

Seeing the merchant’s reaction, Cosimo muttered inwardly.

‘Those Joseon soldiers earlier, they didn’t wear them just to block the sun. Someone knows very well. Who could it be?’

While Cosimo was thinking about the mysterious person, Hyang was eagerly rubbing his ear.

“Why is my ear so itchy? Is someone badmouthing me? Who could it be?”

Chapter 311
Road to the Land of Flowers (4)

Just five days.

That was the time it took for Mansur to open the store and sell all the goods he had procured and the ones Oh Ha-seok had brought.

“Is this even possible…”

Mansur, who was calculating the sales amount, was half dazed.

With the Challenger accompanying them, the quantity brought from Joseon was 2.5 times that of the previous shipment.

Although there were large items like chandeliers, there were also small items like sunglasses, so they had brought 2.5 times the quantity.

However, all the inventory was exhausted in just five days. Previously, even with half the quantity and the popularity of Joseon products backing them, it had taken about a week.

Pondering the reason for the faster-than-expected sellout and the tremendous sales exceeding expectations, Mansur soon thought of one individual.

“Is it because of Cosimo de’ Medici after all?”

At the auction house, he had made his presence known, and subsequently, he had also made his presence felt at the store by purchasing a large quantity of products.

After Cosimo had strongly asserted his presence, sales had skyrocketed.

The merchants who had come before Cosimo’s arrival had carefully selected and purchased items after examining the inventory here and there. However, the merchants who entered after his visit indiscriminately swept up the goods. And from the next day onwards, the merchants who flocked in were even more enthusiastic in sweeping up the items.

“These are the items he praised and bought! That alone is enough to sell them far and wide!”

“If you keep examining them, you’ll miss out on the goods! Just buy everything! If you’re unlucky, you’ll have to wait a year!”

With the premium of being goods from ‘Joseon, the Land of Flowers’ and the added premium of ‘Cosimo de’ Medici’, a frenzy of fanatical purchasing by merchants had swept in.

The merchants who had flocked in paid the asking price without bargaining and took the goods, recording record-breaking sales.

* * *

When Mansur mentioned Cosimo as the reason for the tremendous craze this time, Oh Ha-seok asked with a slightly puzzled expression.

“Are you saying that our Joseon’s goods sold well not because they were excellent, but because of that merchant?”

“Although Joseon’s goods are indeed excellent, the prices are high. Normally, merchants would have bought them after carefully examining and pondering.”

“Hmm…”

At Mansur’s words, Oh Ha-seok stroked his beard and tried to recall his memories.

‘Indeed… ’

Recalling his memories of when he had come to Alexandria with Mansur before, Oh Ha-seok gave a small nod.

At that time, merchants had also flocked to buy goods. However, once they entered the store, they would pick up and put down items, pondering for a long time before making their purchases.

This was the same even for merchants who appeared to have some money. They meticulously examined the goods while making bulk purchases and engaged in lengthy bargaining to get even a single coin off the price.

‘Considering that, it’s reasonable to say that the reason they sold quickly this time is because of that great merchant… ’

However, Oh Ha-seok’s pride was slightly hurt to acknowledge it right away.

Until now, he had seen countless times how Joseon’s products were the best in the world, not only in Ming and Japan but also in Tianzhu and here, and how merchants would create a commotion to obtain them. It didn’t sit well with Oh Ha-seok that a single merchant’s reputation surpassed that.

‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. Since he said he would visit soon, it wouldn’t hurt to find out about him beforehand.’

Having sorted out his thoughts, Oh Ha-seok asked Mansur.

“What kind of merchant is this Cosimo?”

“He is both a merchant and a ruler.”

“A ruler?”

At Mansur’s answer, Oh Ha-seok immediately thought of Hyang. Shaking his head urgently to erase the impression, Oh Ha-seok continued his questioning.

“Is it possible for a merchant to become a ruler?”

“In Italy, including Florence, a single city is a single nation. So, it is possible. How should I put it? It’s closer to a tyrannos (τυραννος, tyrant).”

“Tyrannos?”

When an unfamiliar word came up, Oh Ha-seok asked again.

Mansur provided a detailed explanation of the Greek word ‘tyrannos’. After listening to the explanation for a while, Oh Ha-seok reached a conclusion.

“Someone who is not of royal lineage wields power beyond their status… It’s similar to the military regimes of the previous dynasty (Goryeo)… What is the reason such an immoral person wields such great influence?”

“As I mentioned earlier, Italy is a city-state, so there is no one ruling the entire country. And that person has a lot of wealth. There probably isn’t a single king of those damn Catholic countries who doesn’t do business with him. Not only him but also the merchants he employs, the only ones who deal with commoners are those working on the battlefield. The rest all deal with kings or nobles.”

“So…”

Oh Ha-seok nodded as if he finally understood.

‘Goods purchased by a merchant who only deals with kings and nobles’

It was certain that those who wanted to stand out even a little would purchase such items even if they had to pay a fortune.

‘Geumpil was like that.’

Recalling the situation when Geumpil first appeared, Oh Ha-seok soon realized a fact.

‘Wait! Isn’t this the same as what His Highness has done!’

Whenever Hyang created a new item, he immediately presented it to King Sejong. And at some point, the new item was used throughout the royal family, and after a slight passage of time, it became common among the wealthy class residing in Hanseong. And after a bit more time, it spread not only throughout Joseon but also far to Ming and Japan.

‘Is it a coincidence, or was it intentional?’

Although he had a strong suspicion that it was the latter, Oh Ha-seok stopped there.

‘What’s the problem? He will eventually ascend to the throne, and there are hardly any useless items created by His Highness… ’

Having reached that conclusion, Oh Ha-seok delved deeper into Cosimo.

“How did this Cosimo amass his wealth?”

“He started with the pharmaceutical industry, but soon grew significantly through the wool trade.”

Around the time of the Renaissance, Florence was famous as a city of wool. The woolen cloth made by processing wool imported from England and Spain was Florence’s main export item. This woolen industry was the primary livelihood of the people living in Florence. Among the merchants dealing only with woolen cloth, there were even those who employed and operated more than 30,000 people.(Note 1)

“Woolen cloth? Are you saying those Catholics wear clothes made of woolen cloth?”

“That’s right. Not only those damn Catholics but we Arabs also seek woolen cloth a lot.”

“However, the cotton cloth we brought is also well-received, isn’t it?”

“It is welcomed because it is as thin and soft as muslin, yet wide and long. The price is also reasonably cheap.”

“Is that so…”

* * *

After finishing his conversation with Mansur, Oh Ha-seok began writing a report summarizing the information about Cosimo.

-A merchant and a ruler.

-A merchant who deals with rulers and nobles in the land of the Westerners, which they call Europe.

-Therefore, his influence on the rulers and nobles of the West is considerable.

As he was organizing the information about Cosimo, Oh Ha-seok stopped his brush and muttered.

“Such a remarkable person said he would visit, but is this a misfortune or a blessing…”

* * *

Two days later, Cosimo de’ Medici visited Mansur’s mansion.

Having already made an appointment the previous day, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok, who had been waiting, politely welcomed Cosimo at the entrance of the gate.

“It is an honor to meet the head of the great Medici family again.”

“Thank you for warmly welcoming me.”

After exchanging brief greetings, Mansur guided Cosimo de’ Medici inside.

As Cosimo sat on the soft cushion laid out in the reception room, servants entered with teacups and a teapot and poured tea.

Although tea was not yet familiar to Europeans, Cosimo skillfully lifted the teacup and savored the aroma.

“The aroma is very nice.”

“It is tea from Joseon. Kahwa is good, but Joseon’s tea also has its own flavor and is delightful.”

“Speaking of which…”

When Mansur mentioned ‘Joseon’, Cosimo turned to Oh Ha-seok.

“How far is Joseon from here?”

“It’s a bit farther than Ming.”

“Ming?”

As Cosimo slightly tilted his head, Mansur added.

“Qitai. It has been quite some time since the name of the country changed to Ming.”

At Mansur’s explanation, Cosimo clicked his tongue softly.

“And yet they still call it Qitai… Well, what kind of country is Joseon? Is it hot like here?”

“In the summer, it gets considerably hot, but in the winter, it’s frighteningly cold. The scenery in spring and autumn is so beautiful that it brings tears to your eyes.”

“The spring and autumn in our Italy are also beautiful.”

After that, the three of them talked about various topics, including the scenery of Joseon, for a long time.

* * *

When he thought the atmosphere had softened to some extent, Cosimo slowly entered the main topic.

“Will Joseon continue to visit Alexandria in the future?”

“I am a soldier, so I am not well-versed in that matter. However, if good results like this trade continue, I believe it is quite possible.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s answer, Cosimo’s eyes began to sparkle.

“Then, what about directly crossing the Mediterranean?”

“It is impossible for ships to cross the desert.”

“Can’t you take a detour? Sailors say there are no detours, but merchants are coming up from the south even on land routes. According to them, there is also a sea in the south, so isn’t a detour possible?”

To Cosimo’s words, Oh Ha-seok immediately replied.

“That part is not for me to decide, but for the higher-ups.”

“What do you personally think?”

To Cosimo’s question, Oh Ha-seok answered concisely.

“It’s unnecessary. I believe the trade route from our Joseon to Suez is sufficient. Securing the safety of the trade route from Joseon to Suez is the best we can do.”

“Hmm…”

At Oh Ha-seok’s answer, Cosimo stroked his chin.

‘How much of that answer is truly sincere?’

After pondering for a moment, Cosimo asked again.

“There are many lands to the west of Suez, and there are many people to enslave. Aren’t you tempted?”

“Most of those vast lands are barren, and our Joseon is in a situation where we are reducing the number of existing slaves.”

“Huh…”

At Oh Ha-seok’s answer, Cosimo’s face became troubled.

‘Reducing the number of slaves? Is that even possible?’

Confused by the unexpected answer, Cosimo unknowingly spoke his true thoughts.

“Joseon is a truly interesting country.”

“I also think so.”

“Then, Joseon’s stance is to consider only the east of Suez as its territory?”

“It’s not the stance of our Joseon, but my personal opinion. And it’s not about territory, but about securing the safety of navigation. And about territory… You don’t seem to know how many countries there are to the east of Suez.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s point, Cosimo fell silent. For Europeans of this period, knowledge about the East was limited to Arabs, India, Qitai, and Zipangu.

Joseon was a newly emerged country they had come to know only recently.

* * *

Oh Ha-seok’s thoughts were also the thoughts of the Joseon Navy.

As they produced new warships and secured naval supremacy around the Korean Peninsula, the Joseon Navy referred to the West Sea and the East Sea as the ‘Western Inner Sea’ and the ‘Eastern Inner Sea’.

The West was undoubtedly close to an inner sea, and the East Sea would become a situation where it could be called an inner sea without issue from the moment they secured the islands north of Japan, which was currently being pursued.

The Joseon court and navy were putting more effort into advancing in the northeast direction.

-In the west, many countries, including Ming, are already established.

-Excessive expansion of power can lead to armed conflicts with them.

-If that happens, an unnecessary amount of national power may be consumed.

-Therefore, we will advance to the east, where there are plenty of unclaimed territories.

-Expansion to the west will be limited to securing the safety of trade routes.

* * *

Note 1) Life Human World History – Renaissance Edition, Korea Ilbo – Time Life, 1978.

Chapter 312
Hanseong (1)

While Challenger was staying in Alexandria, the Invincible ship No.2 and Maengjin ship, fully loaded with pyrite, were leaving Chittagong in the Bengal Sultanate.

Just before departure, the captains of Invincible ship and Maengjin ship, Jang Gwang-seok and Kang Nam-gil, were strictly warning the crew.

“You know what kind of thing this pyrite is, don’t you? Be careful not to make the first anniversary of your death fall on this day next year.”

“Aye!”

The crew responded in unison to the captains’ warning.

* * *

As the Joseon army began to use gunpowder in large quantities, the first problem that arose was safety accidents due to carelessness.

Worried about this, Hyang urged the commanders to conduct regular safety training.

“This damned gunpowder, you see, it kills the enemies well, but it also kills you bastards well! Don’t forget that if you let your guard down even for a moment, you, I, and all of us will die!”

In fact, through safety training conducted while detonating gunpowder right in front of the soldiers’ noses, Joseon’s soldiers took the utmost care when handling gunpowder.

* * *

While the two warships were leaving Chittagong, Hanseong was bustling with activity.

“The iron horse is finally running!”

“The iron horse is running today!”

“Let’s go watch!”

It was the day when the East-West Circular Line, which circulated through the downtown area of Hanseong from east to west, was opening.

Today’s opening was a partial one.

The North-South Circular Line, connecting to the housing complex for the homeless officials on the southern outskirts of Hanseong, was still under construction. Many laborers were sweating at the construction site, demolishing the fortress wall next to Sungnyemun Gate to lay the railroad tracks and developing the housing complex.

A tremendous number of Hanseong residents had already gathered around Bosingak Belfry, where the opening ceremony was being held.

“Do not cross the golden line!”

“Hey! I told you not to cross the golden line!”

“Buy some taffy! Buy some taffy!”

“Buy some rice cakes! Rice cakes!”

Amid the shouts of the guards preventing people from entering inside the golden line that cordoned off the event venue and the cries of various peddlers, the nobleman and gisaeng were sitting on the second and third floors of nearby taverns, watching the event venue. In the neighboring teahouses, women from noble families had gathered to observe the ceremony.

After a while, the gate of Gwanghwamun opened, and Sejong emerged with his ministers.

“Make way! His Majesty the King is passing through! Make way!”

At the shout of the royal guard, all the residents who had gathered at the event venue prostrated themselves on the ground to the left and right.

Sejong, who was on horseback, surveying the residents of Hanseong, smiled slightly.

‘The people’s appearance looks good! The efforts so far do not seem to have been in vain!’

When he first ascended to the throne, famines had been occurring every year. Reports of people starving to death from all directions had been constantly coming in.

However, now that the economic reform was nearing its final stages, reports of famines or starving people were no longer being received.

Sejong’s eyes were filled with pride as he glanced at Hyang, who was following beside him.

‘Thanks to you, we have come this far! I am truly grateful!’

Sejong, who would have exploded with anger at Hyang, who usually made all sorts of excuses—quite appropriate ones that were hard to refute—and only sought to do what he wanted, felt proud of his son today.

* * *

The iron horse, with passenger cars already connected, was prepared at the event venue. The furnace of the iron horse was constantly burning finely crushed coal with blue flames so that it could depart at any time.

Sejong, who was looking at the engine room of the iron horse, turned to Hyang.

“Every time I see those flames, I feel that it is truly amazing.”

“They are very helpful flames.”

As he answered, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘Thanks to them, it’s a constant struggle every day, though… ’

* * *

Hyang’s choice of coal as fuel was an inevitable one.

“It’s absolutely not because I liked steampunk!”

As he had made excuses to himself, the best choice possible with Joseon’s situation and technological level was none other than coal.

To solve the problems of natural disasters caused by deforestation due to the use of wood as fuel in industrial facilities and households, and the damage caused by predators that had lost their food source as forests disappeared, an alternative fuel had to be found to replace wood.

However, with Joseon’s technological level and the knowledge Hyang possessed, using petroleum was impossible.

“I’m an fanatic, not a chemical engineer!”

As Hyang had protested to himself, he lacked specialized knowledge in the field of petrochemistry. Nuclear power? That area was not within the scope of his fanatic interests.

Moreover, petroleum did not exist on the Korean Peninsula. Of course, based on what he had learned in middle and high school, he knew that there were oil fields in Siberia and northern Manchuria, but he did not know their exact locations.

In the end, the only option left was coal.

However, the problem was that most of the coal produced in Joseon was anthracite.

Anthracite was surprisingly a decent fuel.

It had a higher calorific value than lignite or bituminous coal and produced less ash and smoke. Also, since most of the coal mined on the Korean Peninsula was anthracite, it was easy to secure a supply.

However, apart from those advantages, anthracite had all the disadvantages.

Although it had a high calorific value, it was equally difficult to ignite. Moreover, if the combustion conditions—mainly temperature—were not met, it caused incomplete combustion, producing a tremendous amount of ash. While the supply was said to be easy, mining required digging deep into coal mines.

Using anthracite, which was difficult to ignite, as fuel meant a “war with temperature.” To raise the temperature to the point where ignition was possible and maintain that temperature, Hyang and the craftsmen of Area 51 had to create and experiment with all sorts of materials and devices.

However, what was fortunate for Hyang was that Joseon’s ironworkers and potters were already accustomed to the “war with temperature.”

The charcoal used to produce the highest quality iron products, especially white charcoal, was as difficult to ignite as coal.

The same was true for ceramics. To create high-quality porcelain, the temperature had to be raised to around 1,500 degrees Celsius. In a situation where there were no precise temperature measuring devices, Joseon’s potters were displaying the miraculous ability to match this temperature based solely on experience.

Thanks to these craftsmen, Hyang was able to build a large-scale ironworks using coal in such a short time.

Therefore, Hyang sometimes muttered to himself.

“Fortunately, I was born in Joseon and as the Crown Prince!”

It was possible because there were craftsmen with a considerable level of skill, and he was in a position to mobilize such craftsmen immediately.

Of course, the researchers and craftsmen under him had a hellish time.

However, it was not as if Hyang only gave orders. Hyang also had to endure a lot of hardship.

Hyang’s hardship came from the process of miniaturizing these devices and improving them to have higher performance.

It was a grueling time of trial and error, creating compounds with all sorts of natural materials that could be obtained together with the craftsmen and conducting demonstrations.

Ironically, this process was the part that maximally satisfied Hyang’s fanatic spirit.

Not the cutting-edge machines designed with computers and covered with all sorts of electronic devices, but these classical and oldie tasks were Hyang’s specialty.

In other words, the excuse Hyang made to himself was an unconvincing persuasion.

* * *

“I shall bestow rewards upon the craftsmen who created such devices!”

Although he was unaware of the various grueling struggles behind the scenes, Sejong did not forget to praise the craftsmen who participated in the production.

When they first saw the iron horse in Area 51, the craftsmen had already received rewards. However, receiving them now in front of many people had a different meaning.

This was because Hyang had strongly insisted on it.

“It must be done publicly to prevent the disregard for craftsmen and to continue producing more and more exceptional craftsmen in the future!”

At Hyang’s insistence, Sejong and the ministers nodded their heads.

“The Crown Prince’s words seem to be correct.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Having witnessed the results brought about by the development of Joseon’s technological prowess, Sejong and the ministers readily accepted Hyang’s argument.

As a result, Sejong publicly praised and rewarded the craftsmen and researchers who participated in the development in front of many residents of Hanseong.

Those involved and the craftsmen received promotions along with becoming the second beneficiaries of the newly established honors system.

Although the honors were more symbolic than material, it was a tremendous honor for the king himself to pin the medals in front of the public.

Seeing many young children’s eyes shining, Hyang prayed inwardly.

‘Just keep growing like that! It’s still not enough!’

With the honors ceremony concluding in that manner, a ritual was conducted under Sejong’s supervision.

After the reading of the prayer for the safe operation of the iron horse and the bowing were finished, Sejong burned the prayer text.

As the burning prayer paper soared into the sky following Sejong’s hand gesture, the people cheered.

“It’s an auspicious sign!”

“An auspicious sign indeed!”

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

“Long live!”

* * *

With the ritual also completed, preparations for the test run began.

In the presence of Sejong and the ministers, the invited people—residents of Hanseong and elderly individuals over the age of 60 from nearby Gyeonggi Province—boarded the passenger cars.

Originally, King Sejong should have been the first to board, followed by the ministers and the elderly, but Sejong changed this.

“Even though I am the king, how can I disregard the elderly? It is inappropriate.”

Following Sejong’s decision, the elderly began boarding the passenger cars first, and Sejong spoke to them as they did so.

“Longevity is a blessing bestowed by heaven, so I pray that you live a long life free from illness.”

As the elderly started boarding the passenger cars, Sejong held each of their hands and offered words of blessing.

The elderly who heard Sejong’s blessings bowed deeply and responded.

“Your grace is immeasurable!”

“Such an honor! Your grace is immeasurable!”

Watching the scene from the side, the families of the elderly became filled with pride.

‘I want to see the face of Mr. Park, the scholar from our village!’

‘People of the village! Our mother had an audience with the king! Have you ever had such an experience?’

The families of the elderly suppressed their desire to immediately return to the village and hold a feast, watching the scene unfold.

After having the elderly board, Sejong approached those who would operate the iron horse and manage the passenger cars.

“Huh? Jinpyeong, why are you here?”

As Sejong wondered at the sight of Jinpyeong standing together with the locomotive engineers, Jinpyeong answered with a grin.

“How could I remain still when the king is boarding, Your Majesty?”

“Is that so? Then I shall entrust it to you.”

“Yes!”

Seeing Jinpyeong responding with a loud voice, Hyang grumbled inwardly.

‘This rail fanatic bastard.’

* * *

Upon hearing that Sejong had ridden the iron horse in Area 51, Jinpyeong had rushed straight to Hyang and confronted him.

“Your Highness! Why did you exclude me from such an occasion?”

“It was a sudden decision…”

“Even so, that’s not right! It was an event where the king himself witnessed the iron horse directly!”

Jinpyeong, who had been confronting Hyang, literally rolled on the ground, expressing his dissatisfaction with his entire body.

Hyang, who watched this scene with his hand on his forehead, finally shouted.

“Alright, alright! I’ll let you operate the train when the official opening ceremony is held in Hanseong!”

“Do you really mean it?”

“I really mean it!”

“Is that a promise?”

“I promise!”

“In writing…”

“Get out, you bastard!”

After chasing Jinpyeong away, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Whew~. They say rail fanatics are severe cases…”

Hyang did not even consider that compared to his own fanatic antics, Jinpyeong’s were quite tame.

* * *

Peep!

With a loud whistle, the iron horse began to move, recording the unprecedented event of a “grand prince” personally operating it.

It was the first time in Joseon, no, in the world, that a steam locomotive officially began operation.

Chapter 313
Hanseong (2)

After the ‘Hanseong Circular Railway’ officially opened, it recorded full capacity for a while every day.

“It’s truly amazing!”

“Isn’t it? A carriage that moves without cattle or horses in this world!”

“Look at the windows on that wall! They’re all covered with glass!”

“Wow! Look out the window! Everything is passing by so quickly!”

The residents of Hanseong who boarded the passenger cars marveled at the interior and exterior of the train and the movement of the scenery visible outside.

In the midst of this, it was natural for various problems to occur.

“Hey, you! Come over here! There’s a seat here!”

“Hey, you! I came first!”

“Oh my! Did you have a drink in broad daylight? Anyone can see that I arrived first!”

Occasionally, when an empty seat appeared, a dispute would break out to claim that seat. At that moment, the car attendant who was on board intervened.

“Choose. Will you go quietly, or will you get off? Or would you rather go to the authorities?”

“Ahem! Harrumph!”

At the attendant’s warning, those who had started the seat fight sat down, clearing their throats.

“Listen here! How can I, a nobleman, sit with these commoners?”

From time to time, some people would show off their nobleman status and demand a separate seat. Each time, the attendant would raise a finger and point to the plaque hung at the front top of the passenger car.

-Seats are to be taken regardless of social class. By the King of Joseon.

Next to the sentence, which was written large enough to be clearly read from the opposite end, the royal seal was prominently stamped.

“If you’re really dissatisfied, why don’t you write a petition? Who knows? You might even be specially recruited.”

“Ahem! Harrumph!”

“Pfft!”

At the attendant’s words, the nobleman who had raised the issue sat back down, clearing their throats. And those around them burst into small laughter.

-When writing a petition, be prepared. Will you face shame throughout Joseon, or will you be summoned to the Gyeongbokgung Palace?

This was a well-known fact not only to the residents of Hanseong but also to the people of Joseon.

And the residents of Hanseong knew one more fact.

-The truly wealthy and powerful nobles ride horses and carriages or at least palanquins.

In a situation where even the renowned incorruptible official Maeng Sa-seong rode a donkey or an ox, those who paid 1 won in copper coins to ride the train were insignificant noblemen.

* * *

After about a month, the initial fervor subsided.

Many people still used it frequently, but they were the ones who rode the train out of genuine necessity, not curiosity.

As autumn passed and winter approached, the train began to fill to capacity again.

It was because people from the provinces, who had gained economic and time flexibility after the harvest season ended, flocked to see the train in Hanseong that they had only heard rumors about.

“Wow~.”

“Oh my! Just look at this thing running! It’s amazing!”

“Incredible!”

Seeing people exclaiming in all sorts of dialects, the residents of Hanseong muttered softly.

“Country bumpkins…”

* * *

Meanwhile, in Daejeon, a heated debate was taking place regarding the expansion of train operations.

“Even if it’s impossible for all the urban areas in Joseon, at least the dohobu (provincial capitals) should have them installed!”

“That’s right! Petitions are already pouring in, requesting for trains to be laid in the counties where they live! Hasn’t it been proven that sufficient profits can be made based on the operating performance over the past few months?”

“It is also necessary for the balanced development of the entire Joseon! The saying ‘If you want to live like a human being, go to Hanseong’ is already common among the people living in the provinces!”

The ministers and vice ministers of the Ministry of General Affairs and the Ministry of Land and Transport strongly advocated for the expansion of the train system.

It was a natural argument for those in charge of the administration of the entire country at the Ministry of General Affairs and those responsible for the development of the land and transportation policies.

However, starting with the Ministry of Finance, there were quite a few who opposed this.

“Although you say it has made a profit, the initial construction costs haven’t even been recovered yet! That profit is merely the result of comparing the monthly fuel costs, maintenance costs, salaries, and the fares collected! It’s still a long way from getting out of the real deficit!”

“Think about the production costs, transportation costs, and installation costs of the railroad tracks, as well as the production and transportation costs of the locomotives and passenger cars! Those aren’t just a penny or two! Consider the expenses that will go into training the locomotive engineers to operate the trains and the car attendants to manage the passenger cars! And you say the tracks should be laid up to the provincial capitals? Talk some sense!”

“The production capacity of the 1st and 2nd Ironworks is already at its limit! The demand for iron keeps increasing, but the supply is limited! Should we go back to using bows and arrows instead of guns and cannons?”

The forces and arguments of those who opposed, centered around the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Defense, were not to be underestimated.

As the debate intensified, the conversation began to flow back into personal attacks.

“How did he pass the civil service exam with that brain of his?”

“What? If it weren’t for the hereditary civil service, he wouldn’t even be a local clerk!”

“What did you say? You bastard!”

“Hey!”

As the level of personal attacks went too far, mentioning not only the civil service exam scores achieved to become an official but also whether they entered through the hereditary civil service system, Sejong slammed his armrest.

Bang!

“Enough! Be quiet!”

At Sejong’s rebuke, the Daejeon Hall fell silent in an instant.

Sejong reprimanded the ministers without hiding his anger.

“There can be differences of opinion in determining the nation’s policies! This is natural! When such differences arise, it is only logical to persuade the other party with reasonable grounds! Why are you engaging in personal attacks? There are mountains of tasks to be dealt with, so how can we proceed if there is no cooperation like this? And you call yourselves the ministers leading this Joseon?”

“Please forgive our unseemly behavior, Your Majesty!”

“Forgive us, Your Majesty!”

Although the ministers bowed their heads and sought forgiveness, Sejong’s reprimand did not stop.

“Is the only time you unite when you gather for a drink and gossip about someone? Is that it?”

The faces of the ministers, which had already turned pale at Sejong’s words, became even paler.

“That is an unbecoming remark, Your Majesty.”

“How could we engage in such an outrageous act?”

The ministers vehemently denied it, but Sejong, who had seized the opportunity, fiercely pushed them.

“If you passed the civil service exam with such outstanding scores, why can’t you speak properly in the royal lectures attended by myself and the Crown Prince? Even though we reduced the daily lectures to once a week to give you ample time to prepare, why is that?”

At Sejong’s point, the ministers who had been boasting about their civil service exam scores were left deflated.

Sejong’s words were true.

The royal lectures held for the king were a set protocol. Therefore, Sejong had to conduct the lectures twice a day, every single day.

This was a system designed to ensure that even an ordinary and unexceptional monarch, or one worse than that, could operate state affairs with a minimum level of cultivation and administrative knowledge. However, the other party was Sejong. As the lectures continued, the ministers were increasingly pushed back.

In this situation, when Hyang, who had been appointed as the Crown Prince, joined the lectures, the scale completely tipped in Sejong’s favor. It became a situation where the ministers were quickly defeated by Sejong and Hyang whenever a debate broke out.

Eventually, after the purge of senior ministers led by Ryu Jeong-hyeon, the frequency of the royal lectures gradually decreased.

“Since there are mountains of state affairs to be handled, I suggest reducing the frequency of the royal lectures. What do you think?”

“I believe it is a very appropriate measure.”

“Then let’s do that.”

As an agreement was reached, it was decided to hold the royal lectures once a week.

* * *

Sejong also remarked to the other side.

“And as for the issue of being unqualified due to obtaining an official position through the hereditary civil service system? Then what am I, who became king thanks to my father being the previous king? If you think about it, haven’t I also benefited from the hereditary civil service system?”

“Gasp!”

At Sejong’s point, the faces of the ministers turned completely pale.

If they were to argue, it was indeed a remark that could be problematic.

Seeing the faces of the ministers that had turned ashen, Sejong continued to press them.

“I overlooked the incident at the drinking party as well, considering it to be the grumblings of ministers exhausted from the heavy workload. However, this kind of unseemly behavior! Do you really want me to thoroughly investigate and pursue this matter?”

At Sejong’s threat, the ministers collectively prostrated themselves on the floor of the Daejeon Hall.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive our unseemly behavior!”

“Forgive us, Your Majesty!”

“Forgive our unseemly behavior, Your Majesty!”

After silently glaring at the ministers pleading for forgiveness, Sejong spoke.

“Very well, I will let it slide this time. However! If you ever again slander someone’s parents or engage in personal attacks, I will never overlook it! I will severely punish you, taking into account all the incidents up until now! Understood?”

“We will engrave it in our minds, Your Majesty!”

“Rise. Let’s get to work.”

“Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty!”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers hurriedly rose and sat back in their chairs.

* * *

Hyang, who had been watching the scene from the side, looked at Sejong with a face full of curiosity.

‘Is this a double whammy? It’s totally that, right? By the way, it seems like the old men caused trouble at a drinking party… When? Where? There hasn’t been any official or unofficial banquet recently.’

While Hyang was racking his brain over the unresolved questions, the court historians who recorded all of this added a remark.

-… Thus, His Majesty sternly rebuked and admonished them, and the ministers sincerely reflected on their actions.

The historian states:

As His Majesty pointed out, opinions can differ, and it is proper to persuade the other party with reasonable grounds. However, it is not right to engage in personal attacks instead of doing so.

This is not something I say because I entered through the hereditary civil service system.

That aside, when and where did the ministers cause trouble to be rebuked by His Majesty?

As he was recording this, the historian sitting across from him glanced at him and diligently moved his gold brush.

-The historian states:

I believe that the position of a high-ranking official is attained through one’s scholarship and ability to handle state affairs, not determined by family background or the scores achieved during the civil service exam.

This is not because I passed the civil service exam with a byeongga (third-class) score.

That aside, it seems that the rumors circulating in the past were true.

* * *

Thanks to Sejong’s outburst, the meeting proceeded quite calmly.

“So, what are your thoughts on operating railroads and trains in the urban areas of the provinces?”

At Sejong’s words, Maeng Sa-seong stepped forward and summarized the situation.

“It is true that if railroads and trains are laid in the urban areas of the provinces, it can prevent the concentration of people in Hanseong and achieve a balance between Hanseong and the provinces. However, considering the costs and time required to manufacture, transport, and install the railroads and trains, as well as the time and expenses needed to train the personnel to operate them, this is not an easy task either.”

“Hmm…”

After hearing Maeng Sa-seong’s explanation, Sejong stroked his beard, deep in thought.

‘It seems like the answer is vaguely visible… What was it?’

Sejong, who was trying to recall the vaguely visible answer, felt suffocated.

‘The ministers must be suffocated too. It would be good to take a short recess. I should go for a ride after a long time… A ride? A horse!’

Bang!

“Crown Prince!”

As Sejong, who had been pondering, slammed his armrest and called for the Crown Prince, not only Hyang but also the ministers were startled and looked at Sejong.

“Yes, Your Majesty! Did you call for me?”

“Yes! What do you think about operating the horse-drawn trams that we had only planned before?”

After briefly deliberating on Sejong’s proposal, Hyang immediately answered.

“It is entirely possible, Your Majesty! Although the urban areas in the provinces are sizable, they are inferior compared to Hanseong. Horse-drawn trams can sufficiently handle them!”

At Hyang’s positive response, Sejong turned to the ministers.

“What do you think, ministers?”

“I believe it is a suitable plan, Your Majesty!”

“It is the optimal solution, Your Majesty!”

“Then let’s first allocate horse-drawn trams to the bu (prefecture) and daedohobu (grand provincial capitals) among the urban areas in the provinces. When the trains and railroads are ready, we can replace them. After the replacement is completed, the mok (county) and provincial capitals (protectorate) will operate the horse-drawn trams. Ultimately, let’s plan to have the gun (district) operate the horse-drawn trams as well.”

“We will proceed accordingly, Your Majesty!”

In this way, one of the various policies for the balanced development of Hanseong and the provinces was decided.

Chapter 314
Hanseong (3)

Once it was decided to prioritize the deployment of horse-drawn trams that would circulate and operate in the large urban areas of the provinces, such as districts and grand provincial capitals, official notices were posted in government offices throughout Joseon.

The people who saw the notices stating that horse-drawn trams would be operated in bu—Jeonju, Gyeongju, Pyeongyang, Yeongheung—and grand provincial capitals—Changwon, Andong, Gangneung, Gilju, Yeongbyeon—each had something to say.

“Horse-drawn trams… At least it’s better than nothing, right?”

“Hanseong has iron horses, while we get live horses?”

“They say it will gradually expand, but when will it be our turn?”

“At least they’re laying roads, so we should be grateful for that.”

The people, with a mix of anticipation for the new transportation system of horse-drawn trams and disappointment that it would not be installed in their own towns, engaged in quiet conversations.

As they were discussing, the people tilted their heads upon seeing the name of one urban area on the list.

“Why Wonsan?”

* * *

The situation had already begun to show significant differences from the history before Hyang’s intervention, and there were also considerable changes in the administrative districts.

The first thing that stood out was the addition of Gilju to grand provincial capitals.

As the population and area greatly expanded with the submission of the Jurchen tribes, Gilju was promoted to grand provincial capitals for administrative convenience. And Anbyeon, which was a grand provincial capitals in the history before the intervention, was demoted to mok (county).

This occurred as the administrative center of Hamgyeong Province shifted northward with the expansion of the administrative districts to the north.

Next was the rapid rise of Wonsan. Originally, it was a small fishing village called Wonsanjin (ferry dock) that belonged to Anbyeon.

However, as a large shipyard was established, people flocked in, and it became the starting point for goods heading to Hamgyeong Province, causing its size to grow rapidly.

Eventually, Wonsan was promoted from Wonsanjin to Wonsanmok, skipping several stages at once.

The decision to operate horse-drawn trams was made due to the crowded situation caused by the influx of goods and people.

* * *

With the decision to operate horse-drawn trams, Sejong’s royal decree was delivered to Hyang’s Area 51.

-Create carriages that can carry a large number of passengers.

Upon receiving the decree, Hyang and the craftsmen maintained a calm expression. No, some craftsmen even showed a pleased look.

“I thought we wouldn’t be able to use what we had worked hard to create…”

Seeing the craftsmen’s reactions, Hyang smiled slightly and muttered.

“As expected, human nature is the same everywhere…”

No one would simply let go of something they had put in so much effort to create only to have it buried. And this tendency was especially strong among craftsmen.

* * *

The horse-drawn tram plan, based on Lim Sun-wook’s proposal, was progressing smoothly.

The design, trial production, and verification were carried out to coincide with the time when the foals born from breeding strong and large horses from the Western Regions had fully grown.

“The results of all tests are positive!”

“Now, we just need to mass-produce and deploy them!”

However, just as the mass production of horse-drawn trams was about to begin, chaos erupted in Yodong.

As the southern army urgently moved northward, a large number of horses were needed, and even the horses allocated for the horse-drawn trams were all transferred to the military, putting the plan on hold.

After the war ended, the military was reluctant to release the horses they had gathered.

-It takes a lot of time to get them accustomed to the noise of the battlefield, especially the sounds of firearms and the explosions of cannons.

-A considerable number of horses die unable to endure that noise, so the horses in the royal army are the ones that have gone through that process and survived.

-Therefore, can’t we just assign them to the military?

It was an argument with obvious ulterior motives. However, since it was a somewhat valid reason, the horse-drawn tram plan was postponed again until the horses came out of the pastures.

And during that time, the iron horse was completed.

* * *

As a result, the passenger cars deployed on the Hanseong Circular Railway were different from the ones initially created, incorporating the experience gained from making the horse-drawn trams and undergoing improvements.

The most notable feature added to the passenger cars was the suspension system.

The passenger cars and horse-drawn trams made in Area 51 were equipped with the world’s first suspension system.

Although it was called a suspension system, it was not the coil spring and hydraulic type familiar from 21st-century trains.

It was simply a curved iron plate joined together like a clam shell and inserted between the wheels and the frame of the passenger compartment.

“It’s a bit concerning that it’s wrought iron instead of steel, but…”

Hyang couldn’t hide his disappointment, but he had to accept the limitations of reality.

The ironworks were mass-producing steel, but the demand still exceeded the supply.

As a result, Hyang had no choice but to maximize the performance of wrought iron.

“Fortunately, wrought iron is still iron.”

Although wrought iron was perceived as very soft compared to steel, iron was still iron.

Wrought iron products processed to an appropriate thickness could not be deformed by human strength.

Therefore, even in the 21st century, most of the iron structures used for residential fences were made of wrought iron.

Moreover, until steel was mass-produced as the Industrial Revolution reached its mature stage, the rails on which steam locomotives ran were made of wrought iron.

Lastly, it was a well-known fact that the famous Eiffel Tower was also made of wrought iron.

The plate spring suspension system made of wrought iron was far from satisfying Hyang’s fanatic spirit, but it exhibited quite good performance.

At this time, from the lavish carriages ridden by European nobles to the carts used in the rural areas of the Ming Dynasty, suspension systems did not exist.

Therefore, the passengers in carriages had to feel the condition of the roads with their entire bodies.

However, the horse-drawn trams that came out of Area 51 significantly reduced such shocks and vibrations.

On properly paved roads or well-maintained unpaved roads, passengers could travel quite comfortably.

* * *

The horse-drawn trams created by Hyang and the craftsmen had more than just a suspension system.

A braking system using the principle of leverage was also added.

When the coachman driving the horse-drawn tram pressed the pedal, the braking system pressed large wooden brake pads against the iron rim surrounding the outside of the wheels.

The resulting friction force was used to stop the horse-drawn tram.

Of course, it wasn’t a high-performance system like the one used in automobiles that could stop a moving vehicle.

It was just enough to prevent the horse-drawn tram’s inertia from moving forward when the horses stopped at a station. However, even that level of performance was remarkable.

Lastly, the four carriage wheels rotated independently.

Between the axle and the carriage wheels, a lubrication device made of cylindrical bearings was inserted.

The flawless, perfectly round spherical shape that immediately comes to mind when thinking of bearings was impossible to mass-produce due to technical limitations—even making them at the level of 21st-century BB bullets required individual hand-finishing—so cylindrical ones were used instead.

However, due to the presence of these bearings, the wheels of the horse-drawn tram naturally adjusted the number of rotations on both sides whenever the direction was turned left or right, which helped extend the lifespan of the wheels and axles.

As a side note, this issue became a point of contention again as automobiles began to be mass-produced. When a car turned left or right, the distance traveled by the inner wheel and the outer wheel differed.

And the device that emerged to solve this problem was the differential gear.

* * *

In this way, the horse-drawn tram became another entity that gave historians headaches by incorporating technologies that were not visible but transcended the era.

In other regions around the same time—at least 30 years behind—there were technologies such as independent wheels and a three-dimensional structure of the front axle that rotated according to the direction of travel. (Note 1)

However, most of these only remained as a small number of artifacts. There were no records of who made them, when, or how.

In contrast, Joseon had not only the artifacts but also the development records, the list of those involved, and even the design drawings.

And in those records, there was a common opening phrase.

-By the order of the Crown Prince…

Every time foreign historians studying Joseon history saw this phrase, they would pull their hair and suffer.

“Again…”

“Seriously! Instead of learning the art of ruling, what are you making and running around for!”

“Ah, damn it! Should I quit studying Joseon history?”

* * *

Since the preparations were already in place, the mass production of horse-drawn trams began.

While the craftsmen at the Area 51 workshop were busy making horse-drawn trams, the officials in the urban areas designated for horse-drawn tram installation were also moving busily.

-The routes on which the horse-drawn trams would operate.

-The dispatch interval of the horse-drawn trams.

-Measures to maintain security at stations where large amounts of cash would accumulate.

And so on.

To handle the suddenly assigned tasks related to horse-drawn trams, the officials of the relevant urban areas had to run here and there until they were out of breath.

There was no time to spare.

-The people earnestly desire it, so take all necessary measures to complete the installation before next spring.

“I never wanted this!”

The officials, overwhelmed by the sudden workload, had to constantly scream and curse.

“Why did they even submit the petition in the first place!”

“What horse-drawn trams in a palm-sized urban area!”

“Just walk! It’s good for your health, isn’t it!”

By cursing like that, the officials could at least relieve their frustration.

The operation plans, which were prepared with all sorts of hardships, were sent to Hanseong via express courier.

Watching the express courier horses disappear into the distance towards Hanseong, the officials, starting with the governors and magistrates, fervently prayed.

“Please let it pass in one go… Please…”

However, the express couriers that returned from Hanseong submitted thick scrolls to the governors and magistrates.

“Judging by the thickness, it’s been rejected.”

‘I’m not going to read it! I’m not going to read it!’

The governors and magistrates, who immediately guessed the contents based on the thick scrolls, wanted to just hand them over to their subordinates, but they couldn’t do that due to procedures.

“Ugh…”

Groaning, the governors and magistrates unrolled the scrolls and unknowingly cursed with their eyes tightly closed.

“Damn it!”

-Please review and improve the following items.

And below that, dozens of items that needed to be revised were listed, along with the reasons why they needed to be revised for each item.

The governors and magistrates, staring blankly at the scrolls, immediately summoned the person in charge.

“Did you summon me?”

“Do you not want to do your job properly? If this is wrong and I get criticized, you’ll be responsible! If I get criticized, you’ll get criticized too! Do you think I’ll die alone?”

The person in charge, who was thoroughly joint-checked along with all sorts of curses, returned to their department and shouted.

“Everyone under me, gather round!”

The person in charge, who had gathered the lower-ranking officials, shouted at the top of their lungs.

“You can’t do your job properly! If I get criticized, you’ll all be destroyed too! Do you think I’ll die alone?”

After a round of outbursts passed, the officials revised the plans and submitted them again, and the governors and magistrates meticulously reviewed them, scrutinizing every letter and number.

The reports that passed the exhausting review were sent to Hanseong again, and while waiting for a response, the officials’ lips became parched.

After a few nerve-wracking days passed, the returning express couriers submitted thin sealed letters.

-Proceed as planned.

“Phew~.”

Only then could the governors and magistrates breathe a sigh of relief and relax.

And the officials in charge of the practical work drank like crazy at taverns and brothels.

The next day, the officials, soothing their upset stomachs, began supervising the maintenance of the roads along the routes where the horse-drawn trams would run and the construction of buildings to be used as stations.

Unlike the officials who were in a mess, the residents were engaged in conversations with eager anticipation.

“Wow! It looks like horse-drawn trams are really going to be installed?”

“You! Did you think the king’s words were empty promises?”

“Anyway, will it be a bit more convenient to get around now?”

* * *

As public transportation emerged in Hanseong and major urban areas throughout the country, Joseon began to experience a quiet change.

From Sejong at the top to the people at the bottom, no one was aware of it, but that change was gradually penetrating deep into Joseon.

Joseon had begun to move a little faster.

* * *

Note 1) Wheel, Rolling the World – The Birth, Fall, and Revival of the Wheel.

Richard Bulliet, MID Publishing.

https://m.blog.naver.com/bookmid/220885066868

Chapter 315
Battle (1)

Starting with the economic reform, the entire Joseon was changing, and the process seemed to be mostly smooth.

However, there were quite a few areas that showed sluggish results as various problems intertwined.

The organization of music, which Park Yeon and Anpyeong were devoted to, was one of them.

* * *

Sejong felt the necessity to revise music.

In Confucianism, which Joseon had chosen as its national ideology, observing rituals was an important matter. Therefore, observing the Five Rites—auspicious rites, guest rites, military rites, festive rites, and inauspicious rites—was very crucial.

And in the ceremonies observing these Five Rites, music was rarely absent.

That was why Sejong felt the need to revise music.

“Do you know anyone who is well-versed not only in Confucianism but also in ritual studies, knowledgeable in music theory, and skilled in playing musical instruments?”

At Sejong’s request, the ministers immediately recommended Park Yeon, and Sejong entrusted the task to Park Yeon.

And in the middle, Anpyeong got involved.

* * *

Although Anpyeong joined in the middle, he also possessed remarkable talent.

Therefore, progress seemed to be going well, but before long, conflicts began to arise between Park Yeon and Anpyeong.

It was due to differences in their values regarding music.

Unlike Park Yeon, who only valued the ancient Chinese music called aak, Anpyeong argued that folk music such as hyangak and dangak also had value, causing a clash.

The conflict arising from the difference in values was quite serious, and it eventually led to a situation where Anpyeong sought out Hyang to confide in him.

“His Majesty will resolve it.”

“Pardon? How will His Majesty…”

“Trust me. They say there are blessings for those who believe.”

“Pardon?”

Although Anpyeong tilted his head at Hyang’s words, he ended up waiting for Sejong’s decision.

And Sejong did not deviate from Hyang’s expectation.

Sejong rejected Park Yeon’s opinion that only aak should be used exclusively in the royal rituals and national ceremonies.

“Aak is originally not the vocal music of our country but that of China. Chinese people would be accustomed to hearing it regularly, so it would be normal to play aak in rituals. However, our people listen to hyangak while alive, so wouldn’t it be strange for them to hear aak after death?” (Note 1)

Following Sejong’s decision, Park Yeon was tasked with organizing not only aak but also hyangak and dangak.

And Anpyeong sought out Hyang and shouted with a joyful face.

“It is as Your Highness said! His Majesty has resolved it!”

“Indeed. Then work diligently.”

“Yes!”

* * *

Park Yeon, who agreed with Sejong’s point, devoted himself to the work again. Anpyeong also put in his best effort to carry out the work.

However, the two soon encountered a pitfall, which was the issue of musical notation.

Oriental music was composed of a scale of 12 notes. In terms of Western music, it was divided into 12 notes within one octave.

The problem of musical notation that Park Yeon and Anpyeong faced was that the existing notation recorded the pitch of the notes but not the exact rhythm.

The issue of rhythm and ornamental notes used to enhance the music were transmitted through rigorous oral instruction between teacher and disciple, memorizing them through daily life practices.

“We cannot call it proper organization unless we resolve this issue.”

Park Yeon nodded in agreement with Anpyeong’s words.

“I agree.”

Even at this time, there was something similar to sheet music, but it merely recorded the scale of the music. The rhythm and ornamental notes were either orally transmitted or marked with unique symbols of their own, which had the problem of being incomprehensible to a third party.

What Park Yeon and Anpyeong were aiming for now was to create a standardized notation that anyone who could play musical instruments could instantly understand upon seeing it.

* * *

After pondering and searching for methods but failing to produce satisfactory results, Anpyeong sought out Hyang again.

“…Therefore, we need a solution to resolve this. Since Your Highness’s exceptional talent and intelligence are well-known to all the people of Joseon, I expect you to provide a good answer.”

“Oh my…”

At Anpyeong’s words, Hyang made a troubled expression.

Hyang also enjoyed music and frequenting karaoke rooms, but it wasn’t to the level of his fanatic interests. No, to be precise, music was not included in Hyang’s fanatic pursuits.

‘What should I do about this…?’

As Hyang was racking his brain with a troubled expression, he recalled one memory and his face brightened.

“Let’s go to His Majesty!”

“Pardon?”

“His Majesty will know the answer! Didn’t he provide an answer last time?”

“That is true, but…”

Hyang, who was dragging the hesitant Anpyeong towards Geunjeongjeon Hall, inwardly exclaimed.

‘I may be a cheat key, but His Majesty is an outlier! A true genius!’

* * *

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Upon hearing Hyang and Anpyeong’s words, Sejong showed an intrigued expression.

After briefly pondering, Sejong rose from his seat.

“I think the answer will come if we see an actual musical performance… Listen, everyone. Let’s take a short break.”

“But, Your Majesty…”

As Sejong declared a recess, Lee Jik, who tried to step forward and stop him, froze in place when Sejong’s expression turned fierce.

“I understand your thoughts, but organizing music is also an important matter. And having been in meetings since morning, I feel a bit tired in body and mind. Good ideas won’t come out like this, so I think it would be better to take a short break and reconvene.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers immediately bowed their heads.

“We shall obey your command!”

* * *

Sejong, who had left Geunjeongjeon Hall with Hyang and Anpyeong, turned to them.

“Which would be better, the Office of Music or the Music Institute?”

After briefly thinking about Sejong’s question, Anpyeong stepped forward and answered.

“If you wish to see the musical scores currently being organized, the Music Institute would be appropriate, and if you wish to see the musicians’ performances, the Office of Music would be suitable.”

Based on Anpyeong’s answer, Sejong determined the destination.

“Then let’s go to the Office of Music.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

When Sejong arrived at the Office of Music, Park Yeon, who had received the message, also hurriedly entered.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty!”

“Yes, you have been working hard. I heard you are putting in a lot of effort to create musical scores.”

“I am deeply sorry for causing concern to Your Majesty.”

“Well, these things can happen.”

At Sejong’s response, Park Yeon breathed a small sigh of relief. If it had not been to Sejong’s liking, he would have immediately received a rebuke like this:

“If you’re sorry, then don’t create situations to be sorry about!”

Sejong summoned the musicians and ordered them.

“Let’s see… Play some court music for me.”

At Sejong’s command, the musicians performed jeongak to the best of their abilities.

After listening to the musicians’ performance for a while, Sejong slightly nodded his head and quietly gave an order to the royal guard who accompanied him.

After a moment, the royal guard brought a long stick and respectfully handed it to Sejong. Receiving the stick, Sejong spoke to the musicians.

“One tap on the ground by me represents one syllable of on-bak (full beat). Remember this well and keep the rhythm, and when I signal with my hand, start playing again…”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

Sejong raised the stick and tapped the ground rhythmically.

The musicians, who were nodding their heads and gauging the rhythm, immediately began playing when Sejong signaled.

The expressions of Park Yeon and Anpyeong, who were listening to the performance near Sejong, changed drastically.

‘The performance has changed!’

‘The discrepancies have decreased!’

“Hmm…”

After confirming the result, Sejong rose from his seat.

“You have worked hard. I hope you will strive for more improvement.”

“We shall obey your command!”

Having finished his business with the musicians, Sejong entered the building of the Music Institute with Park Yeon, Anpyeong, and Hyang.

Entering the meeting room, Sejong spread out a piece of paper and continued.

“If we divide a square into a well (井) shape like this and write the notes, wouldn’t it be possible to visually understand the rhythm? If you fill one square with one character, it’s an on-bak (full beat), and if you write two characters, it’s a ban-bak (half beat). In this manner.”

“Ah!”

At Sejong’s explanation, Hyang, Park Yeon, and Anpyeong all let out exclamations of admiration.

Park Yeon shouted in a trembling voice.

“That is correct! With this, it can be instantly recognized!”

“Then, is it a good answer?”

At Sejong’s question, Park Yeon and Anpyeong answered simultaneously.

“It is more than sufficient as an answer! We are immensely grateful!”

“Is that so? That’s fortunate. Then work hard. You too, Anpyeong.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sejong’s face was full of energy as he left the Music Institute.

“As expected, taking a short break to refresh the mind brings back the energy. Today’s work will go well.”

“It is truly fortunate.”

Hyang’s face was slightly pale as he agreed with Sejong’s words.

‘It wasn’t a bluff but the truth! He’s truly an outlier!’

It was Hyang’s attempt based on his memory of the unofficial historical record that Sejong created jeongganbo (a type of musical notation) in a single evening, but an unbelievable result had emerged. (Note 1)

* * *

Although Sejong had provided the framework, it wasn’t the end. The composition of the musical scores continued to be pondered upon.

“Shall I give it a try?”

When Hyang stepped forward, Anpyeong and Park Yeon were delighted.

“Will you really help us?”

“I’ll make a draft first and bring it to you.”

Hyang, who had made a promise in front of the two, came up with a draft of jeongganbo after various deliberations.

Whether by coincidence or intentionally, the jeongganbo created by Hyang was closer to the improved version of jeongganbo created in the late 20th century than the orthodox jeongganbo used by Joseon in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

“I divided the measures into 6 columns and 1 section, and each column is divided into 9 squares. To avoid confusion, I made the outer columns thick black lines and the inner squares divided by thin blue lines. And I left spaces between sections to write lyrics or make other markings. How is it, Anpyeong? What do you think, Chief Park?”

At Hyang’s question, Anpyeong, who was examining the jeongganbo, answered with a wide smile.

“It’s perfect!”

However, Park Yeon replied with a slightly worried voice.

“It’s convenient to read and good for recording, but won’t it be difficult to print?”

At Park Yeon’s concern, Hyang laughed loudly and answered.

“Hahaha! For the craftsmen of Area 51 and the Royal Printing Office, this is a piece of cake!”

* * *

While mass-printing textbooks for Saminhakdang and currency, the craftsmen of Area 51 and the Royal Printing Office had become masters of creating movable type, woodblocks, and printing.

Not only the intaglio technique learned from Pietro and Raphael but also the multi-color printing introduced while producing currency was no longer a problem.

For such craftsmen, printing jeongganbo was an easy task.

And by using hwangji (a type of paper), mass printing was possible at a low cost.

Until the organization of aak and hyangak scores was completed and officially published, jeongganbo printed on hwangji was sufficient.

* * *

With the mass supply of jeongganbo paper, the organization of musical scores gained even more speed.

By selecting the most experienced and skilled musicians to participate in the work, the creation of symbols indicating ornamental notes and playing techniques also proceeded smoothly.

Thanks to this, the organization of aak, hyangak, and dangak was soon to bear fruit.

In such a situation, Park Yeon and Anpyeong clashed once again.

The folk songs sung among the people brought about the conflict.

“The songs of the people are also music. They should be transcribed and recorded as well!”

“The folk songs sung by the people are merely sounds, not music!”

The two collided fiercely once more.

* * *

Note 1) Reading the Annals of King Sejong in One Volume. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.

Chapter 316
Battle (2)

The difference in musical values between Park Yeon and Anpyeong was the most important factor in their clash, but what created the process of their conflict was something else.

The reason they ended up clashing was, amusingly, because things were going too well.

* * *

After the jeongganbo was created, Park Yeon and Anpyeong joined forces to create an even more perfect musical notation.

They went on a forced march, systematically organizing and creating performance symbols by bringing in older and skilled musicians.

As a result of the tireless work of Park Yeon, considered the most outstanding musician in Joseon history, and Anpyeong, who was intelligent and passionate about music, a highly effective musical notation was created.

Once a satisfactory level of musical notation was created, most of the next steps were left to the lower-ranking officials and musicians.

They re-transcribed orally transmitted music, compared and reviewed it with existing scores, and recorded the jeongganbo using the newly learned notation methods and performance symbols.

The process didn’t end with just creating the scores. They would then play the music using those scores to check for discrepancies.

Park Yeon and Anpyeong were most involved in that inspection process. And that inspection process went smoothly.

The free time that arose as work progressed smoothly led Park Yeon and Anpyeong to clash again.

* * *

“The reorganization of aak is near completion, and the organization of hyangak and dangak is progressing smoothly.”

“Isn’t it all thanks to the efforts of the Grand Prince?”

“What have I done? I merely joined in the work initiated by the Chief.”

The warm atmosphere that continued as they complimented each other began to change slightly before long.

“Among the two musical bureaus, the left bureau (aak) is almost finished, and the right bureau (hyangak, dangak) is also on track. What shall we proceed with next?”

At Anpyeong’s question, Park Yeon stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and answered.

“We should revise the musical instruments. Do you have any other thoughts in mind?”

At Park Yeon’s question, Anpyeong immediately answered.

“How about organizing the songs and music enjoyed by the common people?”

At Anpyeong’s words, Park Yeon answered firmly.

“It cannot be done.”

“Why is that?”

“They lack class. Not just breaking conventions, but having no conventions at all, they are not worth organizing.”

Upon hearing Park Yeon’s words, veins popped on Anpyeong’s forehead.

“They have been passed down from the previous dynasty, Goryeo, and even from the ancient Three Kingdoms period. They are sufficiently worthy of being transcribed and organized!”

“Most of the popular songs from the previous dynasty deal with love affairs between men and women. What value do they have?”

“That love doesn’t only refer to lewd acts, does it? How many songs are there that sing of loyalty to one’s beloved? And isn’t that love the most primitive emotion?”

“Music is meant to assist propriety. However, the songs that the Grand Prince wants to organize now are rather defiling propriety!”

“Music should not end as a mere assistant to propriety. Music itself is also noble!”

“If it’s so noble, we should properly select them!”

“What is the criterion for that selection? To be honest, don’t the literati also enjoy songs?”

“That is merely for entertainment!”

“Don’t make excuses for excuses!”

And so, the two of them ended up clashing fiercely.

* * *

As the clash between the two intensified, it led to an emotional conflict as well.

‘A young lad whose head hasn’t even dried yet, acting all high and mighty as a Grand Prince!’

‘The nerve of him, acting arrogant just because he receives the king’s favor for knowing a bit about music!’

The two, who had become as twisted as possible, growled at each other whenever they had the chance.

Park Yeon was slightly worse in this regard, due to his dissatisfaction with the young Anpyeong intervening because of his position as Grand Prince, and his frustration at not being able to do side jobs because of Anpyeong.

* * *

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Park Yeon was dismissed from office and exiled three times.

One was in his later years when his son Park Gye-u was involved in the incident of restoring King Danjong to the throne. Normally, he would have been implicated and executed under the guilt-by-association system, but due to his age of 81 and his contributions to music, it ended with dismissal from office.

Another was due to an incident that occurred on his way back from Ming China after being appointed as an envoy on festive occasions in the 28th year of Sejong’s reign (1446).

It was discovered that he had concealed the incident of leaving their credentials as an envoy delegation at the Huidong Office in Beijing and only hurriedly retrieving them upon arriving at the border.

As a result, Park Yeon was unable to serve in office for a year.

However, his dismissal in the 30th year of Sejong’s reign (1448) was disgraceful.

While serving as the Chief of the Music Institute, it was revealed that he had privately exploited the court musicians to make money and accumulate wealth.

The enraged Sejong dismissed him, but due to the lack of a replacement, he had to recall him as the Chief of the Music Institute slightly over a year later.

* * *

Therefore, Anpyeong was a thorn in Park Yeon’s side.

Although his dismissal for the private use of musicians occurred much later—about 17 years—he had already been reaping benefits before Anpyeong’s involvement. However, with Anpyeong’s intervention, he couldn’t even think about side jobs.

There was no one bold enough to engage in side jobs while the king’s legitimate third son was keeping a watchful eye.

Along with the difference in musical values, economic issues also compounded, worsening Park Yeon’s perception of Anpyeong.

It was the same for Anpyeong.

While participating in the aak reorganization project, Anpyeong found himself in a situation where musicians were readily available right in front of him, and he couldn’t just let it pass.

Whenever there was a slight opportunity, Anpyeong would immediately go to Sejong and ask to be allowed to bring musicians to his residence.

“Hmm… This would be better than chasing troupe performers around the country.”

Sejong, well aware of Anpyeong’s fanatic tendencies, accepted his request, and Anpyeong summoned the musicians to his residence to perform music.

The music mainly performed by the musicians at Anpyeong’s residence was mostly popular songs.

The music played at royal banquets could potentially embroil him in political disputes if he wasn’t careful.

-Listening to music that can only be heard in the presence of the king, he must have intentions of usurping the throne!

It was a claim full of absurdity, and given Sejong and Hyang’s personalities, they would have scoffed at it, but it was a claim that could easily cause problems in the political arena. Anyone with political ambitions could stir up trouble.

Of course, this was the perspective of an outsider, and court music was definitely not to Anpyeong’s taste.

When Anpyeong summoned the musicians and listened to their performances, he would reward them. It wasn’t an enormous amount, but it was enough for them to walk around with their heads held high as breadwinners for a few days.

As this became frequent, the musicians and Anpyeong became close, and through those close musicians, Anpyeong was able to hear stories about Park Yeon.

“What a shameless bastard…”

After hearing the stories from the musicians, Anpyeong couldn’t look at Park Yeon favorably.

As a result, the relationship between the two sides worsened further.

* * *

When the No. 1 and No. 2 of an organization have a poor relationship, it is the subordinates who suffer.

This was the same for the officials and musicians working under Park Yeon and Anpyeong.

Those who were caught between the two, who growled at each other whenever they had the chance, complained and lamented whenever they were alone.

“At this rate, we’ll die first!”

“You’re right. Every day is like walking a tightrope…”

“Fortunately, they handle official duties properly, but…”

“But we can’t live like this forever, can we?”

“That’s true, but we can’t submit a petition, can we? There’s no one to replace Chief Park and the Grand Prince right now! If we’re not careful, we’ll be the ones to suffer!”

“That’s the problem…”

No matter how much they looked here and there, no clear answer emerged. In this situation, one official suggested.

“Shall we try telling the Crown Prince?”

“The Crown Prince?”

“If we submit a petition to His Majesty and something goes wrong, it could be a big problem, but wouldn’t it be alright if we confide in the Crown Prince?”

“Hmm…”

The surrounding officials all showed intrigued expressions.

Not the king, but the Crown Prince. And not a petition, but a personal appeal.

The officials, who had calculated this and that, muttered in unison.

“That sounds plausible.”

* * *

“Oh my…”

A few days later, Hyang, who had secretly met with the officials from the Office of Music and the Music Institute and heard their grievances, muttered with a troubled expression.

“I have listened well to your words. You must be going through a lot. I will think about it, so please return to your duties.”

“Understood. We will only trust in Your Highness.”

As the officials trudged away, Hyang muttered, still with a troubled expression.

“It’s a difficult problem…”

Hyang, who had heard the officials’ grievances, was just as perplexed. According to what he had learned in middle and high school in the 21st century, numerous popular songs, including Goryeo gayo (Goryeo songs), had disappeared intensively during the early Joseon period.

The factor that led to the disappearance of those popular songs was the judgment of the literati who founded Joseon that they were harmful to customs.

“Should I consider it fortunate that Anpyeong is obsessed with popular songs? No, His Majesty also doesn’t look down on the right bureau… The problem is that even His Majesty has a high hurdle when it comes to popular songs. He’s unexpectedly a conservative nobleman…”

Although Sejong was progressive enough to legally guarantee maternity leave and parental leave even for government slaves, he was quite conservative in some aspects.

This was due to a kind of inferiority complex that Sejong had.

-Although he was the legitimate son of the previous king, he was not the eldest legitimate son who became king.

-The reason he was able to become king was not only because of his outstanding scholarship and intelligence but also because his conduct was upright.

It was precisely because of the second point that Prince Yangnyeong was pushed aside and Sejong became the Crown Prince.

Therefore, Sejong had to adhere to Confucian moralism more than anyone else.

Hyang, who had vaguely grasped this situation, judged negatively regarding Sejong.

In the end, Hyang chose the method that came to his mind first.

“That’s right! The best way to solve this kind of problem is alcohol!”

* * *

A few days later, Hyang took Anpyeong and Park Yeon to a gisaeng house.

“The reason I have brought you here today is to express my gratitude. Thanks to your efforts, the organization of music is progressing smoothly. I am truly grateful.”

At Hyang’s flattery, Park Yeon and Anpyeong bowed their heads and replied.

“You praise us too much.”

Hyang raised his cup and announced the start of the banquet.

“Now! Let’s get thoroughly drunk today!”

As the wine cups circulated, the atmosphere gradually softened. Amid the singing and dancing of the gisaeng, which heightened the mood of the banquet, the laughter of Park Yeon and Anpyeong began to grow louder.

“Hahaha!”

“Your Highness! Please have a drink.”

“Anpyeong, you have one too! Chief! Chief, have a drink too!”

As Hyang kept offering drinks to Anpyeong and Park Yeon, he was waiting for the right timing.

‘They’ve become appropriately soft. Then, slowly… ’

“By the way, Chief.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Being in the palace, I hear many rumors. And I heard a rumor that you and Anpyeong are in discord. What happened?”

At Hyang’s words, the drunkenness disappeared from the faces of Park Yeon and Anpyeong. Seeing their expressions, Hyang began to coax them.

“Ah! I don’t mean to say anything. It’s just that I’m worried because I hear unfavorable rumors while you are doing work that His Majesty has high hopes for.”

“It’s because we have slightly differing opinions on music…”

“Differing opinions?”

As Hyang casually threw a question, Anpyeong immediately responded.

“It’s about the issue of recording popular songs.”

“Grand Prince!”

Park Yeon cried out in surprise, but Anpyeong didn’t back down either.

“Chief! Isn’t this the perfect opportunity? Let’s settle it here and now!”

Just as the third round of ‘Anpyeong VS Park Yeon’ was about to unfold, a new guest was entering the room separated from Hyang’s party by a small corridor.

“The Crown Prince suddenly visiting a gisaeng house, I wonder what’s going on. Shall we listen in?”

The person who entered the room was Sejong.

Chapter 317
Battle (3)

The debate that unfolded at the gisaeng house continued in the same direction as before.

“Popular songs lack class and have lewd content, so they have no value!”

“The lack of class is due to the lack of learning! That’s all! And not all popular songs are indecent!”

Tired of listening to the debate that seemed to be going around in circles, Hyang quietly emptied the wine cup poured by the gisaeng.

As the empty kettle was taken away and a new one brought in, Hyang suddenly felt a sense of injustice.

‘Damn it! Why do I have to drink alone? And while listening to such old-fashioned talk instead of enjoyable songs!’

As the alcohol kicked in, Hyang had completely forgotten that he had arranged this gathering and suddenly felt aggrieved.

“Wait a moment!”

Hyang, who had stopped the two from arguing, ordered in a slightly relaxed voice.

“From now on, anyone who wants to express an opinion must empty their cup before speaking. And if the opponent empties two cups while you haven’t emptied yours, you’ll have to drink three cups as a penalty.”

As this rule was established, both Anpyeong and Park Yeon started to get drunk. And the words that came out began to become a little more honest.

“Listen here, old man! I heard that when you were young, you came to Hanyang and learned the flute from a clown. Is that the kind of nobleman who talks about the lack of class?”

At Anpyeong’s point, Park Yeon hurriedly emptied his cup and offered an excuse.

“That clown at the time was truly skilled!”

* * *

When Park Yeon was living in his hometown of Yeongdong, Chungcheong Province, in his youth, he had the opportunity to learn the flute by chance. With his talent for music, his flute skills amazed the people of the town.

“He’s a master, a master!”

Praised by the people of his hometown, he went up to Hanyang to learn more deeply about music.

And hearing rumors of a clown with extraordinary musical talent, he sought him out.

“Would you listen to my flute playing?”

“Yes.”

Park Yeon confidently showcased his flute skills.

“How is it?”

The clown, who had quietly listened to Park Yeon’s flute playing, shook his head and answered.

“The sound of the scholar’s flute is vulgar and does not match the melody.”

Shocked by the clown’s harsh criticism, Park Yeon asked for correction, but the clown refused his request.

“The habit has already become ingrained and cannot be fixed.”

However, Park Yeon, forgetting that he was a nobleman, earnestly pleaded.

Eventually, the clown began to teach Park Yeon. However, he thought Park Yeon would give up soon. The habit was already deeply ingrained, and because of his nobleman pride.

However, Park Yeon corrected his bad habits within a few days, and before a month had passed, he became skilled enough for the clown to ask to learn from him. (Note 1)

* * *

Despite Park Yeon’s excuse, Anpyeong continued to press him.

“Even if the clown’s skills were excellent, would he have learned the music of the left and right bureaus? You only learned the melodies that you said lacked class! Popular songs and music may lack class, but they are worth recording because they move people’s hearts!”

“Emotion is important, but without propriety, it is useless! Useless is unused!”

“Propriety can be taught! What’s important is the sincerity of the people contained within them!”

“Don’t make childish remarks with absurd words! Sincerity alone cannot express class!”

“Sincerity is more important than class!”

“Music should be grave and majestic!”

“Lightness and simplicity also have their own charm!”

The debate flared up fiercely once again. However, unlike the previous debate, they clashed while revealing more of their true feelings.

Seeing this, Hyang smiled slightly.

‘Now it’s getting interesting to listen to! A real fight should be fought with everything laid bare!’

At the same time, Sejong, who was listening to the conversation in the neighboring room, also smiled and raised his wine cup.

“Now it’s becoming interesting to listen to.”

* * *

The debate that continued in this manner gradually tilted in Anpyeong’s favor. Anpyeong was also worthy of being Sejong’s son. As soon as he secured a slight advantage by using the anecdote of Park Yeon’s youth, Anpyeong fiercely pushed Park Yeon. With the added influence of alcohol, Park Yeon was completely overwhelmed. To block Anpyeong’s intensified offensive, Park Yeon had to sweat profusely.

‘Is it true that the son of a tiger is also a tiger? Today’s gathering was a tiger’s den!’

* * *

‘The situation has been roughly resolved.’

“Then I will draw a conclusion.”

As Hyang opened his mouth after assessing the situation, the two stopped their debate and looked at Hyang. Anpyeong had an expectant face as he looked at Hyang, while Park Yeon had a face full of defeat.

Seeing the expressions of the two, Hyang reached a conclusion.

“It would be good to transcribe and organize popular songs as well.”

“Your Highness!”

Park Yeon raised his voice, but Hyang calmly explained the reason.

“As the Chief asserts, popular songs lack class and are frivolous. Many of them are also indecent. However, they contain the sincere feelings of the people, so that alone makes them valuable.”

“Phew~.”

At Hyang’s decision, Park Yeon let out a long sigh. He had objections, but it was his way of showing that he accepted it.

Seeing Park Yeon’s reaction, Hyang continued.

“Of course, it is true that popular songs are lacking in artistic merit. However, this is for the sake of His Majesty, or more precisely, for the rulers.”

“What does it mean to be for the sake of the rulers?”

At Hyang’s remark, Anpyeong immediately asked a question. Park Yeon also had a face that showed interest, although he didn’t speak.

At Anpyeong’s question, Hyang promptly explained the reason.

“As you said, popular songs contain the sincere feelings of the people. Therefore, the rulers can know what the people are thinking. Even if a song was composed long ago, if it resonates well among the people now, it means they sympathize with the sincerity melted into that song, doesn’t it? That’s why it is helpful to the rulers.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Anpyeong and Park Yeon unknowingly nodded their heads.

Meanwhile, Sejong, who was listening attentively in the neighboring room, was also nodding his head.

“‘Although they are popular songs, the sincerity melted into those songs is the heart of the people’…It’s something to think about.”

Savoring Hyang’s words with a pleased expression, Sejong turned to the commander of the Royal Guards and the royal attendant who were seated with him.

“What do you think? Even though he’s my son, isn’t he a child who will make a truly good monarch?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Your words are truly pertinent, Your Majesty.”

At the responses of the royal attendant and the commander of the Royal Guards, Sejong emptied his wine cup and muttered with a pleased expression.

“Since he seems to be already accomplished, should I slowly start having him act as regent?”

* * *

“Eek!”

As Sejong mentioned having Hyang act as regent, Hyang, who was raising his wine cup, suddenly shivered as a chill ran through his entire body.

“Your Highness, what’s the matter?”

“Ah, I just felt a sudden chill…”

“Shall we end the gathering?”

At Anpyeong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“No, it’s not easy to arrange a gathering like this, so let’s enjoy it a bit more today. What are you doing? The mood has died down!”

“Yes~!”

At Hyang’s order, the gisaeng responded in a coquettish voice, filled the empty cups with wine, and began singing and dancing.

* * *

With the matter settled by Hyang, Anpyeong and Park Yeon began to enjoy the drinking party with a light heart.

As they became more intoxicated, Anpyeong and Park Yeon started to make all sorts of comments on the gisaeng’s singing and dancing. Both Park Yeon and Anpyeong had keen eyes for singing and dancing.

Anpyeong started first.

“Your Highness! The gisaeng’s singing is not good!”

At Anpyeong’s words, the gisaeng made a sullen expression. However, they couldn’t refute it because Park Yeon and Anpyeong were the ones who held positions in music at the palace.

“The Grand Prince is right! The singing is…”

As Park Yeon joined in, Anpyeong stepped forward.

“Your Highness! Although it’s a popular song, I will sing one for you!”

“Oh! Let’s hear it then!”

At Hyang’s words, Anpyeong sang a Goryeo gayo (Goryeo song) in a stylish manner.

Clap clap clap!

As Anpyeong’s song ended, Hyang, Park Yeon, and the gisaeng applauded.

“It was a good song! You girls, try singing again!”

“Yes~!”

At Hyang’s words, the gisaeng who was rumored to be the best singer among them stepped forward and began to sing a melody.

“Stop!”

As the gisaeng was in the middle of singing, Park Yeon shouted. Startled by Park Yeon’s shout, the gisaeng stopped singing, and Park Yeon cleared his throat and spoke.

“Singing, you see… This is how it should be done.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Park Yeon sang a love song in a sonorous voice.

Clap clap clap!

“Wow!”

“As expected of the Chief!”

When Park Yeon’s song ended, everyone in the room exclaimed in admiration and applauded. As the applause subsided, Hyang lightly reprimanded him.

“If you can sing so well, why did you oppose it?”

“Because there are proper words but no proper characters.”

“Ah…”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

At Park Yeon’s answer, Hyang had an understanding expression, while Anpyeong asked with a puzzled look.

At Anpyeong’s question, Park Yeon explained the reason.

“With Chinese characters, the meaning can be recorded. However, even for the same meaning, there are multiple words to express it. If future generations see the musical scores, they will have to ponder over which words fit the song, even if they don’t need to. If they choose the wrong lyrics, the melody will also be affected, and the original song will be distorted.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Anpyeong nod his head in understanding.

However, Hyang smiled brightly and answered.

“Still, please record it. If it’s that problem, His Majesty will provide a solution.”

“Pardon? Your Highness, what does that mean?”

“I’m curious too, brother.”

However, Hyang omitted further explanation.

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

According to Hyang’s memory, Sejong had secretly developed Hunminjeongeum (the Korean alphabet). So he thought there was no need for him to step forward and provide excessive explanation, and he stopped speaking.

At Hyang’s meaningful words, Sejong, who was bringing the wine cup to his mouth, froze in place.

‘No way! Has this kid figured it out?’

Putting down the wine cup, Sejong turned to the royal attendant.

“Do you think the Crown Prince has figured it out?”

At Sejong’s question, the royal attendant immediately answered.

“According to the report from the children in the Eastern Palace, there was no sign of it at all, Your Majesty.”

“Then how?”

As Sejong expressed his doubt, the royal attendant, who was trying to recall, answered.

“I believe he has made a guess based on Your Majesty’s frequent questions about writing.”

At the royal attendant’s answer, Sejong nodded his head. It was because of the things he had done.

“That’s the most likely possibility. Should I just have him act as regent and officially start working on it this time?”

At that moment, Hyang, whose spine had turned cold, ordered the gisaeng.

“The day is a bit chilly. Bring a brazier.”

“Yes~.”

* * *

As the brazier was brought in and the room became warm, the alcohol started to kick in faster. The excitement in the room overflowed as much as the room had become warm.

“Your Highness! I have a request!”

“What is it?”

“I want to hear Your Highness sing!”

Anpyeong, who was quite intoxicated, asked Hyang to sing a song. In an instant, not only Park Yeon but also the gisaeng focused their attention on Hyang.

It was widely rumored in the capital that the Crown Prince excelled in various fields, but there were no such stories about singing or music.

Hesitating for a moment at Anpyeong’s request, Hyang made a decision right away. Hyang was also quite drunk. The stress that had accumulated from suppressing everything except his fanatic pursuits in Area 51 exploded through the influence of alcohol.

“This is also a cliché! Clichés should be followed! But I can’t do it the same way!”

“Cli… what?”

Anpyeong tilted his head at the unfamiliar word, but Hyang immediately started singing.

“On the wind of Nakdong River~”

* * *

While living in a small rural village near Yangsan in the 21st century, Hyang had to do various jobs besides blacksmithing, which included performing for the elderly in the village.

With an average age of 70s and many in their 80s, and the ‘youth association members’ of the village having an average age of 50s, Hyang was literally a ‘baby’. As a result, whenever there was a celebration in the village, Hyang had to diligently show off his talents.

As he kept showing off his talents, it was natural for him to become familiar with trot songs, which were renamed as adult songs. However, they were not the new generation trot songs that were familiar to young people, but the trot songs that were popular in the 60s and 70s when the elderly were young.

After returning to Joseon, Hyang, who had hummed a song absentmindedly and then looked around in surprise several times, made a decision.

“Damn it! It’s a cliché! Then I should prepare for it!”

Determined, Hyang selected a few songs that he remembered and that would be suitable for this period, rewrote them with Joseon-era words and sentences, and memorized them.

* * *

Hyang’s passionate singing of ‘The Virgin Boatman’ ended, but the room at the gisaeng house was quiet.

“It’s a song I’ve never heard before.”

Following Park Yeon’s words, Anpyeong immediately responded.

“I feel the same. Could it be a song that Your Highness composed?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have such talent. This is something I learned from a singer in a clown troupe that I had sing for you when you were young.”

“But why don’t I remember it?”

“Because you were young then.”

“Still…”

“Isn’t my memory exceptionally good?”

At Hyang’s words, Anpyeong nodded in agreement. Hyang’s memory was renowned. Even if he had forgotten, it was certain that Hyang would remember.

“Anyway, was it a good song?”

At Hyang’s question, Park Yeon expressed his thoughts.

“The form of the song was unfamiliar. However, it somehow captures the heart. And the lyrics are so poignant that they captivate the soul.”

“I feel the same. I was deeply moved by the filial piety of the maiden who supports her elderly mother in place of her brother who has gone to the military.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

At the praise from Park Yeon and Anpyeong, Hyang had a relieved expression.

“Your Highness…”

At that moment, the gisaeng who had been scolded by Park Yeon while singing came in front of Hyang and suddenly prostrated herself.

“What’s the matter?”

At Hyang’s question, the gisaeng immediately got to the point.

“Please teach this lowly woman that song! I desperately want to learn the sorrowful and heart-wrenching lyrics and melody.”

At the gisaeng’s request, Hyang thought for a moment and then answered.

“I will sing it 3 times. Memorize it.”

“I am eternally grateful, Your Highness!”

As befitting a gisaeng skilled in singing, when Hyang sang it 3 times, she completely memorized the lyrics and most of the melody as well.

“I’ll sing it 2 more times.”

And so, when he repeated it a total of 5 times, the gisaeng had perfectly memorized the lyrics and melody.

* * *

A few days later, at the Music Institute.

While inspecting the musical scores sent up from below, Park Yeon unknowingly began to hum.

“On the wind of Nakdong River~.”

At Park Yeon’s humming, Anpyeong, who was sitting at the desk across from him, also hummed along.

“Ehheya deh…”

Suddenly, realizing their actions, Park Yeon and Anpyeong simultaneously cursed.

“Damn it!”

At a similar moment, Sejong, who had been humming through his nose without realizing it, was startled, came to his senses, and muttered.

“This is incredibly addictive.”

* * *

After some time had passed, ‘The Virgin Boatman’ was heard in the brothels within Hanseong. And after a bit more time, even the housewives wielding laundry bats at the side palace’s washing place began to sing it.

In this situation, the most perplexed people were the residents living near the Nakdong River.

“Why are they mentioning the Nakdong River in Hanseong?”

Chapter 318
Hero? Or a Demon? (1)

As the 13th year of Sejong’s reign (Year 1431) was drawing to a close, the ships that had gone to Tianzhu returned.

The captains of the 5th and 6th Haeung ships, who discovered the returning ships while patrolling the coast near Jeju Island, tensely raised their telescopes to examine the approaching vessels.

The first thing they checked was the signal flag fluttering at the very top of the masts.

‘Please, anything but black.’

After observing the approaching ships with tense expressions, the captains sighed in relief.

“Fortunately, it’s green. Signal the 6th ship to provide an escort.”

“The 6th ship has already sent a signal.”

Upon receiving the report from his lieutenant, the captain of the 5th ship lightly shook his head and muttered.

“His personality… It’s gotten even more impatient since boarding the Haeung.”

* * *

As the number of Challenger-class battleships increased to nine, the court hastened to organize an ocean-going fleet to head towards the Western Regions.

While the court and military focused on organizing the fleet, what Hyang was concerned about was the issue of diseases that could enter through the ships.

“If there’s one fortunate thing, it’s the incredibly slow speed of travel compared to the 21st century.”

Considering the incubation periods of all sorts of infectious diseases Hyang could remember, even if an outbreak were to occur among the crew, there was little chance of it causing damage to Joseon.

They would all die on the way.

It might seem inhumane, but that was the reality.

“However, there’s always the possibility of the unexpected…”

Due to the issue of variables, Hyang intervened in the process of creating operating regulations for the ocean-going fleet and established strict quarantine rules.

– Ships returning from ocean voyages are prohibited from directly entering the naval bases.

– The Naval Commander of the base where the ocean-going fleet is stationed shall establish a primary port of call on a nearby island and have the returning ships dock there first. The docking period shall be at least five days.

– Afterward, doctors will board the ships to check for the presence of infectious disease patients and review any records of outbreaks.

– If an infectious disease patient appears during the voyage and the situation becomes severe, the ship’s doctor has the duty and right to urge the ship’s captain or the highest-ranking commander to abandon the voyage.

– The captain or highest-ranking commander, upon receiving such urging from the ship’s doctor, shall dock at the nearest Joseon naval base or port.

– If the infection is severe, making it difficult to operate the ship and likely to spread externally, the captain or highest-ranking commander must have the crew disembark and scuttle the ship. This is to prevent further spread from the contaminated vessel.

– To enable quick and easy assessment of the situation from the outside, the captain or highest-ranking commander shall hoist a large signal flag at the highest point of the ship.

The color of the signal flag is… (omitted)

“Scuttling the ship is too extreme a measure, in my opinion. Considering the construction costs and the value of the cannons and cargo on board…”

The military officials and the Ministry of Finance and Economy administrators expressed disapproval upon seeing the rules proposed by Hyang, but Hyang was adamant.

“If there is a way to perfectly disinfect a ship where a plague has spread, I will gladly make an exception. While the value of the battleships and the goods they carry is immense, I believe it is a price worth paying when considering the loss of life and property that would result if an epidemic were to spread in Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the military and the Ministry of Finance and Economy representatives fell silent. Although the number of outbreaks had significantly decreased due to Hyang’s active public health and water resource management, whenever an epidemic did occur, it caused the entire Joseon to stagger.

In particular, smallpox, which was now treated like a toothless tiger thanks to Hyang’s cowpox vaccination program, had still been severe enough that the king himself would hold rituals whenever an outbreak occurred.

And Sejong, upon receiving the proposal, immediately stamped his seal on it.

“If a great calamity can be prevented with a bit of effort, I believe the Crown Prince’s words are reasonable. Proceed as proposed.”

“I shall obey your command!”

“That reminds me. It mentions ‘the nearest Joseon naval base’ here. Surely it doesn’t mean the navy and garrisons on Joseon soil, and it doesn’t seem to be Japan either… Could it be that you intend to build naval bases in distant foreign lands?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang and Jo Mal-saeng answered simultaneously.

“Yes.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. It is something that must be done.”

“Hmm… Discuss it thoroughly with the Ministry of Finance and Economy.”

Sejong was slyly pushing the task onto Hyang and Jo Mal-saeng.

And it was the moment the notorious reputation of Joseon’s navy, which would make the European powers advancing into Asia starting from the east coast of Africa tremble with fear, was born.

As soon as Sejong’s order was given, the military and the court moved swiftly.

Yeongjong Island in the West Sea, Dalli Island in the South Sea, and Mureung Island (Ulleung Island) in the East Sea were designated as the primary ports of call for ships returning from ocean voyages, and port construction began.

* * *

The ships that arrived at Mokpo Naval Base under the escort of the Haeung-class battleships entered the temporary port of call being built on Dalli Island.

“It’s desolate.”

Gazing at the desolate sight of the pier, where construction had been halted in full swing, Kang Nam-gil muttered softly.

“However, military law is strict…”

Accepting the situation, Kang Nam-gil shouted to the marines.

“Endure it for just five more days! Five days will do! You wouldn’t want to see your families fall ill, would you?”

“Yes, sir!”

Forcibly suppressing their desire to disembark immediately, the marines responded. They, too, were well aware of the terror of epidemics. They all had family members or relatives who had lost their lives to plagues just a few degrees of separation away.

* * *

Only after safely enduring the isolation period and confirming that there were no abnormalities were the two battleships able to dock at Mokpo Naval Base.

With the help of the tugboats belonging to Mokpo Naval Base—the name was grandiose, but they were slightly larger than rowboats and slightly smaller than narrow boats—the two ships that had safely moored at the pier soon opened the deck covers leading to the cargo hold and operated the hoists.

“Be careful! This is all saltpeter! Saltpeter!”

“The hold is full of saltpeter! Bring all the carts you have!”

At the shouts of the marines on the ship, the soldiers receiving the cargo on the pier with carts all looked at the draft of the docked ships at once.

Seeing the draft almost touching the shimmering sea surface, the soldiers simultaneously gaped.

“Just how much did you bring?”

“Hmm…”

Based on their past experiences, even when fully loaded, the draft line, which usually remained at least one ja (about 30 cm) above the water surface, was now firmly touching the water surface.

* * *

The report on the cargo and goods unloaded from the two ships was immediately delivered to Hanseong via express messenger.

“A report from Mokpo Naval Base! It’s an inventory of the quantities and goods brought this time!”

“Let me see!”

Kim Jeom quickly examined the inventory he had snatched from his subordinate.

“Huh? This…”

Rubbing his eyes, Kim Jeom examined the inventory again.

After scrutinizing the inventory several times, Kim Jeom turned to his subordinate.

“Are these numbers accurate?”

“There are no discrepancies.”

“Send someone to Mokpo Naval Base immediately to conduct an on-site inspection! Right now!”

“Yes, sir!”

After hurriedly issuing orders to his subordinate, Kim Jeom examined the inventory once more. His eyes were fixed on the ‘saltpeter’ item.

Saltpeter total: 27,000 gwan (approximately 100 tons)

27,000 gwan was nearly 170,000 geun in terms of weight.

To calculate the amount of saltpeter produced in Joseon at the time, it was a situation where it fell slightly short of 30,000 geun.

This was achieved by establishing pastures all around and creating saltpeter fields nearby as the Reformation Plan progressed. The problem was that this was just a number. To obtain proper saltpeter, the saltpeter made by baking had to be aged for three years. Considering that process, the actual amount supplied to the military was at best half.

Yet with a single voyage, an amount of saltpeter that could be used for five years had come into their hands.

Kim Jeom double-checked the special notes written next to it.

– Top-grade, ready for immediate use.

After confirming the contents, Kim Jeom muttered softly.

“Minister Jo will have to treat us to a grand feast. No, should I be the one treating?”

* * *

After reviewing the reports from the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the military, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“So there was a reason you kept advocating for Tianzhu. Well done.”

“You flatter me.”

Hyang bowed his head in response to Sejong’s praise.

With a proud expression, Sejong turned to his ministers.

“Now that we have procured a large quantity of saltpeter through Tianzhu, the military should focus even more on thorough training. However, one thing to keep in mind is that just because it can be abundantly obtained, it should not be used extravagantly.”

At Sejong’s point, Jo Mal-saeng immediately bowed his head and replied.

“I will engrave it in my bones.”

As soon as Jo Mal-saeng’s reply ended, Heo Jo stepped forward.

“This is Heo Jo, the Minister of General Affairs. Now that the issue of saltpeter for military use has been resolved, I believe it would be beneficial to channel the saltpeter and manure produced at the pastures to the civilians.”

“To channel the saltpeter and manure from the pastures to the civilians?”

As Sejong showed interest, Heo Jo explained the reason.

“Saltpeter fields have long been a source of grievance. The reason is that saltpeter and manure are essential items for fertilization when farming. Therefore, now that the military’s problem has been resolved, I believe it would be good to allow the quantities produced at the pastures to be used by the civilians.”

At Heo Jo’s words, Sejong immediately nodded.

“I agree with Minister Heo’s opinion. However, as fertilizer is crucial for farming, there may be greed or corruption. Ministers, gather your opinions and devise a solution to address this.”

“We shall obey your command!”

* * *

After concluding the agenda regarding saltpeter, Sejong moved on to the next item.

“Petitions keep coming in to extend the semesters at School for Commoners until before summer. What are your thoughts on this?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Gye-saeng bowed and replied.

“This is due to the education process at School for Commoners. To explain in detail…”

According to Jo Gye-saeng’s explanation, the problem was due to the completion process at School for Commoners.

School for Commoners did not have a fixed education period—in 21st-century terms, there were no set school years or completion periods.

For children attending School for Commoners to advance to the next course, they had to satisfy a single condition. That condition was to fully understand the current course. Until they achieved that condition, they were absolutely forbidden from moving on to the next course.

What added fuel to the fire was the ‘age restriction.’

Usually, children aged 5 to 15—for the aristocracy, before coming of age, and for commoners, before lifting a stone to receive adult certification—enrolled in School for Commoners. However, this was an ‘unspoken’ rule, and there was officially no age restriction.

Just as there was no age restriction for enrollment, there was no age restriction for completion either.

This was where competition arose among the parents.

“My child must complete the courses faster than the neighbor’s children!”

In the early days of School for Commoners, the situation was the opposite.

“They teach for free and even provide meals? Son! Endure it for as long as possible!”

Parents who were enticed by the prospect of being able to feed their children fully at least once a day were instead worried that their children might complete the courses too quickly.

However, as the Reformation Plan progressed and the economic situation improved, the parents’ mindset gradually began to change.

“Oh my! That family’s son is still on the Thousand Character Classic? My son has already moved on to the next level… Hmm…”

After being embarrassed by her rival at the laundry site, Dolsoe’s mother immediately searched for Dolsoe as soon as she returned home.

“Dolsoe! Dolsoe!”

“Yes, Mother.”

“What are you doing now?”

“I just brought back some fodder to feed the cow.”

At Dolsoe’s reply, Dolsoe’s mother shouted angrily.

“Forget about the cow’s fodder! It’s your own fodder that’s the problem! Go inside and study right now!”

Similar situations unfolded here and there throughout Joseon.

“Honey! Don’t you know what’s more important right now? I became a laughingstock to that damn Yongpal! Jangsoe, you brat! Go inside and study immediately!”

Chapter 319
Hero? Or a Demon? (2)

The thoughts of most parents with children attending School for Commoners were more or less the same.

‘My child may not be outstanding, but they are not inferior to other children!’

Therefore, when the school year ended and the pass/fail decisions were made, it caused an uproar.

Parents who saw other children advancing to the next level while their own children could not sought out the school’s teachers and caused a commotion.

“What’s wrong with my child?”

“They still haven’t properly learned the Thousand Character Classic.”

“They can learn that in just a few more days!”

“The problem is that the school year has already ended. Unfortunately, I hope they will definitely pass next semester. It’s not that the child lacks aptitude, so they should be able to pass next semester.”

After concluding their meetings with the teachers, the parents rolled up their sleeves in frustration.

“How dare they treat my precious child like that!”

That day, the cries of children echoed throughout the villages.

And when School for Commoners reopened in the fall of the Year 1431, a significant number of children had to relearn much of the material.

“Why is this happening?”

Surprised by the regression in the children’s academic achievement, the teachers investigated the reason.

After asking the children, the teachers learned that the cause lay in the busy farming season.

– During the busy farming season, the children were unable to properly review and catch up while working in the fields, leading to a regression in achievement.

This wasn’t just an issue in rural areas. In cities and fishing villages as well, most children had to lend a hand in their families’ livelihoods. And while working like that, it was impossible to properly review and catch up.

The only children who could maintain or even improve their achievements during the break through review and supplementary lessons were the children of well-off independent farmers and the offspring of noble families.

To bring the regressed children’s achievements back up and advance to the next level, the children had to diligently study as busily as during the farming season.

Especially, as mentioned before, with competition heating up among parents, children had to struggle with books and blackboards late into the night. And parents spared no support they could provide.

“What’s the cost of lamp oil when my child is studying!”

However, as the Year 1431 was nearing its end and the Year of the 1432 was approaching, it became clear that a similar situation would repeat, and the teachers of School for Commoners began to petition the Ministry of Education.

* * *

After hearing the reason from Jo Gye-saeng, Sejong asked with a serious expression.

“So the opinion to extend the class period has emerged?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And by how much do they propose to extend it?”

“Looking at the class periods so far, school starts five days after Chuseok and lasts until the spring equinox (March 20-21). However, according to the petitions, while starting school five days after Chuseok remains the same, it would be better to set the end of the school term to Haji (June 21-22). If Haji is too long, they argue that it should be extended at least until Ipha (May 5-6).”

After quietly calculating based on Jo Gye-saeng’s words, Sejong asked again.

“They want to extend it by at least a month and a half, and at most three months?”

“That is correct.”

“Will parents whose livelihoods depend on farming readily agree? Even now, there is a shortage of hands, and children who should be learning are being put to work.”

At Sejong’s point, Jo Gye-saeng promptly replied.

“That is true. Therefore, the Ministry of Education plans to set the regular semester until Goku (April 20-21) and instead officially establish the supplementary lesson days proposed by the teachers.”

“Officially establish… Will children be able to easily attend during the busiest times?”

“We plan to schedule the supplementary lesson days on market days.”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s answer, Sejong slapped his knee.

“What an ingenious idea!”

* * *

One noticeable change in Joseon society after the establishment of the Jeonmaeso (markets), the “star of Reformation Plan,” nationwide was that markets began to be held regularly.

In a way, it was a contradictory situation.

However, upon closer examination, it was a natural change. With the Jeonmaeso ensuring a stable supply of daily necessities like salt and sugar, the people of Joseon no longer needed to buy large quantities at once and store them in their pantries.

Moreover, as the Reformation Plan progressed and households gained more financial leeway, commoners also began to indulge in small luxuries. Those who previously would have been satisfied with wooden bowls and spoons now sought out ceramic pots, earthenware, and brass spoons.

However, the Jeonmaeso did not sell everything. The simplest example was paper. As the government-run paper mills were abolished, the papermaking artisans who were released from government service began producing paper all over the country, and merchants traveled nationwide to sell that paper.

As paper became more readily available, even ordinary commoners started papering their floors. Those who previously would have laid out straw mats began to use paper.

By papering the floors, the living environment became cleaner, and people started paying more attention to hygiene. As a result, the incidence of diseases gradually decreased, which was an added benefit.

The story has veered off-topic, but in this way, as the expectations of ordinary people rose and the habit of hoarding goods disappeared, market days became active nationwide.

As a result, by now, as the Year 1431 was coming to an end, five-day markets had taken root nationwide, and the plan was to utilize these market days for supplementary lessons.

* * *

Upon hearing the Ministry of Education’s plan as described by Jo Gye-saeng, Sejong immediately authorized its implementation.

“The importance of education in nurturing talent need not be restated! However, the issue of livelihoods tied to constant production cannot be overlooked either! Therefore, set the semester for School for Commoners until Goku, but designate market days as supplementary lesson days to ensure no interruption in learning!”

“We shall obey your command!”

At Sejong’s order, the ministers bowed their heads in unison.

Watching the scene from the side, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘I wonder if this is really a good thing… ’

* * *

When the plan for compulsory education, symbolized by School for Commoners, was first established, Hyang had proposed setting an education period of five or six years.

However, upon hearing this proposal, Sejong and the ministers all reacted negatively.

“Crown Prince, are you suggesting setting the education period to five or six years?”

“Yes. One year would be considered a semester, and in each semester, the necessary courses would be taught before moving on to the next semester.”

“What happens if a student fails to fully grasp the designated courses in that semester?”

“Since a semester is nearly six months long, how many would fail to pass? Even if there are, I believe they should be allowed to pass if they reach a certain level.”

“What if someone excels and achieves faster than others?”

“If they achieve it within half of the semester, they can immediately advance to the next level. If not, they can move on to the next semester together with their peers.”

Based on his experience in the 21st century, Hyang answered Sejong’s questions.

After pondering Hyang’s answers, Sejong shook his head.

“Crown Prince, your proposal is not reasonable. If we allow students to advance to the next level even if they have not properly learned and only reached a certain level, they may fall into complacency. On the other hand, if those with better aptitude and effort achieve much faster than others but must move at the same pace as others, they may lose enthusiasm for learning. Therefore, it is appropriate for the criteria for advancing to the next level to be determined by achievement, not the time spent on studying.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers all nodded their heads as if it were obvious.

Seeing Sejong and the ministers like that, Hyang withdrew his proposal.

“My thinking was short-sighted.”

Sejong and the ministers’ thoughts were based on tradition.

Until then, when it came to learning, advancing to the next level only occurred when there were results showing that the current material had been fully mastered. That was why the custom of completing a book before moving on emerged in seodang (traditional village schools).

For those accustomed to such traditions, the 21st-century method Hyang described—naturally advancing grades as time passed—was not reasonable.

Even to Hyang, this method of advancing based on results seemed rational at first glance. However, the curriculum in the 21st century was also the result of accumulated experience over more than a hundred years.

Therefore, Hyang lamented, ‘I don’t know which one is right.’

As an aside, this system where advancement and retention were determined by results became a unique tradition of Joseon.

And it gained notoriety worldwide.

Students who were smart and hardworking advanced to higher educational institutions faster than others. As a result, it was common for some to continue their studies at the highest educational institutions in their early to mid-teens. On the other hand, there were also countless individuals who had to study with children several years younger than them at intermediate educational institutions even in their late teens.

Some made extreme choices due to this pressure.

Many foreign media outlets raised this as an issue, but Joseon’s response was always the same.

“Competition is essential to obtain the best talent!”

“Compared to the competition in society, this is child’s play!”

In the end, Joseon had to endure tremendous time and pain before devising an improvement plan for this aspect.

* * *

While the court in Hanseong was busy moving, the crew members who had completed the isolation period at the Mokpo Naval Base were leaving the base on vacation.

It was a long vacation of fifteen days.

Carrying bundles containing various exotic statues and foreign objects they had personally acquired in Tianzhu—the Bengal Sultanate—the marines headed out of the base in groups of three or five, heading home where their families awaited.

“Honey, I’m home!”

“Makdong, Dad’s here!”

“Oh my, dear!”

“Father!”

Families who hadn’t seen their long-awaited heads of household in a long time had a joyful reunion filled with delight.

As they exchanged greetings and a commotion ensued, neighbors slowly gathered to watch.

As the commotion died down, the crew members untied the bundles they had brought.

“Honey, take a look at this. Dolsoe, come here too.”

“What is it?”

As the crew member sitting on the wooden bench untied the bundle, not only his family but also the neighbors beyond the fence craned their necks in interest.

“This~ is cloth made in Tianzhu.”

“Oh my! How can cloth be so thin! It’s so light and airy!”

The woman who picked up the sari used to make Tianzhun women’s clothing made a fuss.

It wasn’t just the sari. Whenever items full of exotic charm appeared, the crew members’ families let out exclamations of admiration.

After spending a pleasant time with their families and taking a break, the crew members soon gathered with the neighboring men for a drink.

“When I was crossing that vast ocean…”

While boasting about their experiences sailing the open seas, not just Joseon’s coastal waters, and the exotic sights of foreign lands they visited along the way, mixed with tremendous exaggeration, the surrounding men’s eyes all sparkled. Since it was a military village located near the naval base, most of the neighboring men were marines. Therefore, they were also expected to embark on similar voyages soon or had a high probability of doing so, so they listened to the stories with shining eyes.

As drinks were poured with foreign sights as the side dishes, the topic of conversation drifted to foreign women.

“Hey, what were the women in Tianzhu like?”

“Perhaps because it’s a country with strong sunlight, they all have dark skin, but you know… If you look closely, they’re just like cows.”

“Cows?”

“Their eyes are so big! Half of their face is eyes! And they pierce their noses, wearing gold ornaments, and hang gold threads from them! Just like cows! And…”

The crew member, glancing around to gauge the reaction, placed his hands on his chest and shook them.

“They’re as big as cows.”

“Oh my~”

The men let their imaginations run wild as they listened to the description.

Chapter 320
Hero? Or a Demon? (3)

The soldiers returned from their two-week leave and immediately set to work on maintaining the warships.

“Whoa~. How’d these barnacles get so thick in just the few months we were gone?”

“Stay focused and do it properly!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the officers’ shouts, the soldiers quickly clung to the ships and began removing all sorts of foreign substances.

The ships that had gone all the way to Suez and back required a lot of maintenance work. Thanks to the efforts put in from the design stage to maximize maintenance efficiency, tasks requiring complex processes were rare.

However, such work was inevitably tedious and tiring. In the end, the soldiers and shipyard workers unconsciously began humming tunes.

“On the winds of the Nakdong River~.”

A soldier overheard the carpenter working next to him humming the melody and spoke up.

“I’ve never heard that tune before.”

“Ah! Of course you wouldn’t have heard it before! It’s a tune that started spreading from Hanseong a few months ago. It’s so catchy and addictive, it’s absolutely amazing!”

“But why are they mentioning the Nakdong River in Hanseong?”

The carpenter laughed heartily at the soldier’s question.

“Hahaha! That’s the charm of this song!”

* * *

While the maintenance of the ships was in full swing at the dry dock attached to the Suyeong Naval Base, the next schedule was being discussed at the Suyeong headquarters.

“As soon as the maintenance is completed, Mujeokeun will embark on a northern expedition. Here are the orders. Maengjin and Jinchwi will head to Tianzhu together.”

After receiving the commander’s orders and the written orders, Kang Nam-gil immediately asked.

“Then, will the Major continue to be in charge of the route between Tianzhu?”

“No, that won’t be the case. The challenger-class ships will alternate between the northern and southern routes in the future as well.”

Kang Nam-gil pointed out an issue with the commander’s answer.

“The crew will not become familiar with the routes.”

Kang Nam-gil’s point had a valid reason.

This was the first time the Joseon Navy had sailed to such distant foreign waters. Expecting the navy personnel operating the ships to become accustomed to it after just a single voyage was a thief’s mindset.

The commander nodded at Kang Nam-gil’s point, but explained why it had to be that way.

“Your words do have some merit, but the Joseon Navy is still short on manpower. Therefore, we cannot create a situation where they become familiar with only one side of the route. If necessary, they must be trained to be able to operate comfortably on either the southern or northern routes.”

“That’s true, but they will not become accustomed with just a single voyage.”

“Even so, it can’t be helped. There’s also the issue of fairness.”

“Fairness, you say?”

When the commander mentioned fairness, both Kang Nam-gil and Kim Sang-il seemed to understand to a certain extent.

“Seeing your faces, it seems you’ve grasped it to some degree, but there were quite a few soldiers who earned extra income through this voyage. If such incidents become frequent, discontent may arise among the soldiers. That is why the rotation system has been established this time.”

At the commander’s point, the ship captains, including Kang Nam-gil and Kim Sang-il, all nodded in agreement.

* * *

Joseon also had gossip enthusiasts. Upon hearing rumors that the soldiers returning from Tianzhu had intriguing items, the gossip enthusiasts immediately approached the soldiers, and the soldiers were able to earn a decent side income.

Naturally, other soldiers who witnessed this envied them.

Soldiers boarding the panokjeon and joun ships in coastal waters envied the crew members of the panokjeon ships traveling to Japan and the Challenger-class warships, while the soldiers aboard the Challenger-class warships envied those on the challenger-class ships.

The military commanders, already struggling to prevent the movement to avoid the navy due to the saying “one’s status is that of a commoner but the work is that of the lowest class,” immediately recognized the problem and pondered a solution.

“Those bastards who stubbornly refused even when given the opportunity…”

The initial reaction of the high-ranking commanders upon receiving the report was one of complaint.

-Sailing to distant seas, with a voyage duration of at least several months, and up to several years at most.

When the challenger-class warships first emerged and the soldiers heard about the missions, they all shied away from them. In the end, the higher-ups had to offer more pay to receive applications from the soldiers.

However, upon seeing the substantial side income earned by the soldiers who had been to Tianzhu, complaints emerged.

“Isn’t that how human nature always is? Let’s find a solution.”

“Still, for them to change so drastically from before to after…”

“The ship captains were the same, weren’t they?”

“Ugh…”

And so, the most traditional and orthodox solution that came out was “rotation of duties.”

The first step was to expand the naval training facility established in Wonsan and create training facilities in other naval bases to provide basic operational skills.

Then, based on the performance of those who passed through the training facilities, they were assigned to either the ocean-going fleet or the coastal fleet. If they fulfilled the required service period and achievements, they would be rotated to a different position.

* * *

While preparations, including ship maintenance, were steadily progressing at the Mokpo Naval Base, the Joseon court in Hanseong was also devising various plans and adjusting existing plans and policies in preparation for the upcoming year of Imja (1432, the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign).

During this process, Hyang was engaged in verbal disputes with the ministers, especially with Heo Jo, who was in charge of general affairs.

“Why? Why were the researchers excluded from the personnel supply again this time?”

“It is because the staffing of other departments has not yet been completed. I apologize.”

Hyang’s voice rose at Heo Jo’s answer.

“It will be the second year when Imja arrives! Even the students attending the Research Institute’s affiliated school only have Jung-ui left. I’m telling you, there is a lack of personnel to conduct research at the institute and in Area 51!”

“For the time being, you should maintain with the existing personnel…”

“You should consider the personnel taken away to the Military Academy and the Administrative Training Institute from the existing staff!”

Despite Hyang raising his voice, Heo Jo only bowed his head.

“I apologize.”

* * *

As the year-end personnel changes progressed, the issue that troubled the court the most was the supply of manpower.

To be precise, it was the “supply of personnel educated to the level desired by the court.”

On the surface, Joseon’s population was increasing rapidly.

Not only Kim Jeom but also King Sejong’s desired “10 million population” was within reach.

However, this meant that the average age of the entire Joseon population was becoming very low, and in other words, while the number of people requiring government management was increasing, there were few who had received sufficient education and could be deployed for work.

The biggest cause of this situation was the Confucian scholars, or more precisely, the local Confucian scholars who participated in the Giyu Rebellion.

At least half of the local Confucian scholars in the Samnam region participated in the rebellion and were swept away, and at least one-third of the remaining half suffered the tragedy of their entire family being exterminated for opposing the rebellion.

As a result, the only regions that could supply personnel to the government organization were Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and the northwestern regions.

Demand continued to increase, but supply had drastically decreased.

To solve this, King Sejong and the court presented all sorts of solutions.

The first thing they implemented was lifting the ban on government service for the northwestern regions, followed by lifting the ban on government service for those born out of wedlock.

However, most of them had given up on learning after being barred from government service for over 30 years, so the thirst for manpower persisted.

As a result, King Sejong and the court had no choice but to draw from the nearest sources.

To address the anemic state of the administrative organization, the places that were drained were the Hall of Worthies and the research institute established by Hyang.

The Hall of Worthies, which was under King Sejong’s control, had no choice but to provide personnel without saying a word, but the research institute was different.

Hyang stood his ground and prevented it.

“How can you ask for the personnel we’ve nurtured? I won’t give them! I refuse! Over my dead body!”

Not only Hyang but even Prince Jinpyeong expressed his opposition.

“We’re already short on personnel to lay railroads across Joseon, and you’re asking us to give them up? I’d rather have my head cut off!”

With Hyang and Jinpyeong physically resisting, King Sejong summoned them.

“The country is in a difficult situation right now, so you two should follow my orders.”

“We don’t have enough personnel to conduct research for developing the country and making it prosperous! Moreover, they have only focused on mathematics until now and know nothing about administration.”

In response to Hyang’s answer, the gathered ministers simultaneously muttered to themselves.

‘Judging by the reports they submit, they write better than our own kids… ’

As Hyang continued to resist, King Sejong explained again.

“That mathematical ability is what we need. Not only the court but also the military and various other places require mathematics.”

“However…”

“Your Majesty! It is not possible!”

With both Hyang and Jinpyeong continuing to oppose, King Sejong, whose expression had turned fierce, looked at Chief Eunuch.

“Chief Eunuch, go place some stone blocks and canes in Gangnyeongjeon.”

As King Sejong showed his intention to use force, Hyang immediately responded.

“10 percent! I will send 10 percent of the research institute’s personnel as support.”

“30 percent.”

“20 percent is possible.”

“Tsk…”

“25 percent! This is the maximum!”

“Tsk… Fine. 25 percent. In return, I will replenish the personnel as quickly as possible.”

“Yes.”

And so, personnel were taken from the research institute and assigned to the newly established Military Academy and Administrative Training Institute.

And even after a year had passed, Hyang continued to appeal.

‘If I just let it go, it will be buried! I have to keep reminding them like this!’

However, as the year of Imja approached, Hyang was not just appealing but genuinely advocating for the necessity of replenishing personnel.

* * *

“Very well! In that case, our research institute will directly recruit personnel!”

Hyang’s declaration made both Heo Jo and Kim Jeom look troubled.

“As you are well aware, preparing for the civil service examination requires a lot of effort and expense. Therefore, I believe preparing separately would be a waste.”

“He is right about that. Hyang, I think we will be able to allocate personnel starting from the year of Haechuk, so why don’t you wait a little longer?”

Even King Sejong intervened, but Hyang made a proposal to him.

“If we can replenish personnel with minimal cost and effort, will you allow it?”

“Do you have a way?”

“Yes, I do.”

Intrigued by those words, King Sejong nodded.

“I permit it. Let’s see your skills.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

* * *

Having obtained King Sejong’s permission, Hyang returned to the research institute and summoned Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji.

“…So, I obtained His Majesty’s permission.”

Jeong-cho nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“This turned out well. Considering the commotion of pulling personnel from among those who passed the civil service examination.”

Jeong Inji also nodded at Jeong-cho’s words.

Until now, the method of replenishing personnel was to bring in those with excellent mathematical skills from among those who passed the civil service examination.

The problem was that since they were successful candidates, their performance in other areas was also outstanding, so they had to engage in tiresome power struggles with other departments.

Nodding at Jeong-cho’s words, Jeong Inji asked Hyang.

“By the way, you mentioned replenishing talent with minimal cost and effort, so how do you plan to do it?”

Hyang answered simply.

“We will spread extremely difficult math problems nationwide. We will bring in those who solve them.”

“Aha!”

“If we entrust it to Byeoljong, he will create the best problems!”

And so, Lee Soonji was summoned.

“…So, Manager Lee Soonji, I’d like you to create the problems.”

“What level of difficulty should I aim for?”

In response to Lee Soonji’s question, Hyang turned to Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji.

“Upper-intermediate would be appropriate, right?”

“Upper-intermediate is a bit too much. I think upper-beginner would be suitable.”

“I also believe upper-beginner is appropriate.”

Nodding at Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji’s answers, Hyang turned to Lee Soonji.

“Set the difficulty at upper-beginner and create a total of five problems. When can you have them ready?”

“Just give me five days.”

“Very well.”

Chapter 321
Hero? Or a Demon? (4)

Five days passed, and Lee Soonji submitted a total of eight problems to Hyang, Jeong Inji, and Jeong-cho.

“Please select five problems from among these.”

Upon receiving Lee Soonji’s report, Hyang turned to Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji.

“Gather all the researchers.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After assembling the researchers of the institute and even the student studying mathematics—Princess Jung-ui—Hyang wrote the problems on the chalkboard and ordered.

“Try to solve them. The time is… Manager Lee?”

At Hyang’s call, Lee Soonji immediately replied.

“Considering their level, even half a shijin (1 hour) would be more than enough.”

At Lee Soonji’s answer, everyone who had to solve the problems—even Princess Jung-ui—cursed inwardly.

‘Ugh! Look at him! Setting the standard based on himself!’

‘Our level? More like his level!’

‘That’s definitely intentional! It’s clearly intentional!’

‘Ugh! Damn it! If it weren’t for the manager!’

‘I’m going to tell! I’m going to tell Abeomama!’

As if sensing that atmosphere, Hyang immediately ordered.

“Then, one shijin. Do your best to solve them. Begin.”

At Hyang’s command, people took out papers and began solving the problems.

After two shijins of problem-solving and submission, Hyang, Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, and Lee Soonji began grading the papers.

“Here are the results.”

“Let’s see.”

Hyang reviewed the grading results submitted by Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji and was able to select five problems.

Hyang chose the two problems with the most correct answers, the two problems with the next highest number of correct answers, and the one problem with the least correct answers. He then discussed the next steps with Jeong-cho.

“Let’s print these selected problems on large posters and have them posted on the walls of government offices nationwide.”

“When you say nationwide government offices, does that include the regional offices?”

“Yes. How long should we set the deadline?”

“Hmm…”

Pondering for a moment while stroking his beard at Hyang’s question, Jeong-cho immediately answered.

“Considering the time required for printing, distribution nationwide, and the return of answer sheets, I believe one month would be more than sufficient.”

“One month… Then we should have an outline by the winter solstice?”

“That would be the case.”

Hyang nodded at Jeong-cho’s words.

“Very well. Then proceed with it immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Thus, the research institute’s new researcher recruitment exam, boasting a history, tradition, and notoriety—brought about by the last problem with the worst level of difficulty—was born.

* * *

As soon as Hyang’s order was given, the research institute and Area 51 moved busily.

The reason for this was the various mathematical symbols included in the problems.

“Good heavens! There are only five problems, but the annotations to be written beside them are three pages long!”

“If we make a mistake in printing, we’ll have to re-engrave the printing blocks from scratch! Why did they include this function?”

The craftsmen and managers of the printing office were perplexed, putting their hands on their foreheads.

The mathematical symbols were familiar to Hyang, who had experienced the 21st century, but they were unfamiliar symbols to the Joseon people of this period.

“Why are we using these in the first place?”

“It’s to make the expression of equations and calculations a bit more convenient.”

“Then, what is the principle behind the creation of these symbols?”

In response to Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji’s questions, Hyang recited a plausible background starting with the arithmetic operation symbols.

Examining the symbols while listening to Hyang’s explanation, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji showed skeptical reactions.

“Your Highness’s explanation is somewhat understandable, but frankly, I don’t quite see the usefulness.”

“You’ll know once you use them.”

“Is that so?”

Just as Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji were skeptical, the researchers of the institute and the craftsmen of Area 51 were also full of complaints at first.

“Why not just write the characters for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division?”

“Calculation is already confusing enough!”

However, before long, the researchers and craftsmen completely reversed their initial assessments.

“This is actually convenient.”

As the unfamiliar symbols became familiar, calculations started to become faster compared to before. It wasn’t simply that time was saved by writing simple symbols instead of characters, but the equations themselves began to be understood at a glance.

Two years after Hyang introduced mathematical symbols, the researchers of the institute and the craftsmen of Area 51 couldn’t even imagine writing equations without mathematical symbols.

‘The crazy bastards at the research institute and Area 51 are using strange symbols!’

Rumors about mathematical symbols soon spread to the court and the military.

Upon hearing the rumors, King Sejong immediately asked the ministers.

“Is it the Crown Prince again?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Chief Eunuch, summon the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

And before long, the court and the military—supply and artillery—began to distribute and use mathematical symbols.

The military, in particular, welcomed it enthusiastically because many officers still didn’t know Chinese characters well.

Receiving a report related to this, King Sejong muttered alone in the secret room he had created in Gangnyeongjeon.

“As expected, the form of characters should be as simple and concise as possible. Only then can the people learn them easily. I need to make some more adjustments.”

Anyway, the arithmetic operation symbols, which first appeared around 1300 AD—except for the addition symbol—and only fully established themselves in the 18th century—the division symbol—began to fully take root in Joseon in the 1430s.

* * *

The test papers and annotation books created in this way were loaded onto express messengers and headed to government offices nationwide.

Receiving the test papers and annotation books delivered by the express messengers, the local officials muttered with perplexed faces.

“Is it the Crown Prince again?”

“What bizarre thing is he trying to do this time…”

The local officials had intuitively sensed through their experiences so far that this matter would also be extraordinary, but the problem was the separately attached order from King Sejong.

-Act according to the Crown Prince’s orders.

“Well, since all we have to do is post them and collect the answer sheets…”

Displaying the typical characteristics of a government official, the local official issued the order.

* * *

When the news spread that a new poster had been posted on the bulletin board created next to the main gate of the government office, the curious residents of the county gathered in front of the office.

“Is that writing or a drawing?”

“You ignorant person! Those are Tianzhu numbers. Tianzhu numbers!”

As the residents were discussing the poster filled with numbers, someone with a good voice read aloud the official document posted next to it.

“The Joseon Institute for Science and Technology Development is recruiting researchers to conduct research. Those who wish to become researchers should solve and submit the following problems. Those who pass the test will be selected and appointed. There are no distinctions based on social status or gender, but those who have committed grave crimes or have become government slaves due to collective punishment are excluded!”

As the test papers were posted on the government gazette, those who were confident in their mathematical skills began to scrutinize the test papers intently.

The eyes of those staring at the test papers as if they were going to devour them were burning with ambition.

‘The research institute is an organization directly managed by the Crown Prince! This is another opportunity!’

* * *

Yeongju, Gyeongsang Province.

A boy with a topknot and a black hat, upon seeing the test paper, unconsciously clenched his fist.

“This is it!”

Rummaging through his sleeve, the boy took out a paper, a gold brush, and an ink container and diligently began to copy the test problems.

After finishing the transcription and checking several times to ensure he had copied it correctly, the boy muttered with a confident face.

“It’s doable.”

“Young Master! The master asks you to come in!”

“I’m coming!”

The place the boy entered after responding to the servant’s call was the official residence attached to the regional office.

* * *

A few days later, the regional magistrate’s wife, who greeted her husband returning from official duties, spoke with a face full of worry.

“My lord, our third son Damyi has been secluding himself in his room for several days.”

“Our third son, you say? I understand. I will check on him.”

The regional magistrate, who responded to his wife’s words, headed straight to his third son’s room as soon as he changed his clothes.

Seeing the brightly lit room and the meal tray left untouched in front of it, the regional magistrate clicked his tongue softly.

“This child, what is he obsessing over this time…”

Knowing his son’s habit of forgetting to eat and sleep when he became engrossed in something, the regional magistrate stepped on the stone step and opened his son’s room.

“This is…”

Seeing the papers filled with all sorts of numbers scattered throughout the room, the regional magistrate called out to his son in a loud voice.

“You rascal! It is said that a person of learning should not lose his composure, but what kind of behavior is this?”

The boy, who had been crouching on the floor and engrossed in calculations, was startled by the shout and immediately stood up.

“Fa-Father. You’re here?”

“What is all this?”

In response to his father’s question, the boy hastily replied.

“These are the solutions to the test problems that came down from Hanseong this time.”

“Test problems… Do you mean the one recruiting researchers for the research institute?”

“That’s right. It’s perfect timing. I think I will have finished solving them by tomorrow, so please send them to Hanseong once I’m done organizing them.”

“Do you wish to become a researcher?”

“Don’t you know that I have a talent for mathematics? I will surely be of great use to the country.”

At the boy’s words, the regional magistrate shook his head.

“Alas! Although you have a talent for mathematics, you haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony yet. Moreover, mathematics is merely a pastime for a gentleman. It is not befitting for a gentleman to make it his profession! Have your coming-of-age ceremony next year and focus on studying for the civil service examination!”

“Father!”

“Ahem! Clean up these papers at once and open up the classics!”

The regional magistrate, who had firmly crushed the boy’s intentions, closed the door and left.

Left alone in the room, the boy gritted his teeth.

“Mathematics is also a great field of study! I will prove it without fail! I, Kim Dam, although I haven’t had my coming-of-age ceremony, am a proper man! Having set my intention, I will surely carry it out!”

It was the boy Kim Dam, who was harshly rebelling against his father’s orders.

Although he claimed to be a proper man himself, his current behavior was a typical teenage rebellion.

Three days later, the official residence was in an uproar.

“My lord! Young Master! Young Master!”

“What about Damyi?”

The servant, panting, answered the question thrown by Kim Dam’s father, Kim So-ryang.

“The Young Master has left home!”

“What?”

Startled by the news that his son had run away from home, Kim So-ryang abruptly stood up. The desk was knocked over by the force, but Kim So-ryang paid no heed.

“Damyi ran away from home? Are you certain?”

“Yes. In the Young Master’s room, this letter…”

Kim So-ryang snatched the letter handed over by the servant and saw the words written on the envelope, his expression turning exasperated.

“Letter of Departure? That rascal!”

* * *

At that moment, Kim Dam, riding on a donkey, was heading towards Hanseong with a servant.

“Young Master, let’s just go back. If we get caught, you’ll be in big trouble with the master.”

“Hah. It will be fine once I enter the research institute. So don’t be so frightened.”

“You may say that, Young Master, but I will be punished.”

“Hah! Even if you’re a slave, it is prohibited by national law to arbitrarily use violence. Moreover, my father is a government official, so how could he violate the national law?”

At Kim Dam’s nonchalant answer, the dimwitted servant was frustrated, beating his chest.

“Oh, dear mother!”

“You rascal! You should always think positively for everything to go well!”

* * *

Ten days passed, and Kim Dam arrived in Hanseong. Thanks to King Sejong’s strong policies, the bandits had been eradicated, and many parts of the roads were well-paved, allowing him to arrive faster than before.

The one most excited upon arriving in Hanseong was the servant who had come with him.

The servant, who had a face like he was about to die until passing through Sungnyemun, was now distracted by all sorts of wondrous sights and objects in Hanseong, his head turning in all directions.

“Wow! Young Master! Is that a rickshaw?”

Screech!

“Oh, dear mother! The metal chunk is moving on its own!”

“You rascal! Stop acting like a country bumpkin and let’s go to Gyeongbokgung!”

Dragging the servant, who was lost in admiration of Hanseong’s sights, Kim Dam headed towards Gyeongbokgung.

As Kim Dam arrived at Gwanghwamun, the guard guarding the gate spoke.

“For what reason have you come, young master?”

“I have come to enter the research institute! Let me in!”

Chapter 322
Hero? Or a Demon? (5)

When the dimwitted boy, who hadn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet, raised his voice demanding to be let into the research institute, the guard at Gwanghwamun became perplexed.

“Listen, young master. Do you know where this is? This is Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where His Majesty the King resides. It’s a place where you’ll be in big trouble if you make reckless remarks. Now, go back home.”

At the guard’s words telling him to leave, Kim Dam took out bundles of papers from the load carried by his servant and held them out.

“These are the solutions to the problems presented by the research institute! And this is a letter of recommendation! Since the talent the Crown Prince desires has come on his own, please let me in!”

“Oh, my…”

As the guard stood there, unable to do anything in response to Kim Dam’s bold answer, the gate captain, who had been watching, stepped forward.

“Listen, young master. What do you think you’re doing, causing such a commotion in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where His Majesty the King resides?”

“A talented person who has solved the problems presented by the research institute to recruit people has come, but isn’t it causing a commotion by blocking him? Let me in at once!”

“Well…”

Even the gate captain had a dumbfounded expression at Kim Dam’s remark. He wanted to kick Kim Dam’s behind and chase him away, but he couldn’t do that since the research institute was mentioned. He was afraid of the repercussions if Kim Dam was truly a necessary talent for the research institute.

After all, the research institute and Area 51 were organizations directly under the Crown Prince.

However, he couldn’t just let Kim Dam in either. The palace was not a place where just anyone could come and go.

“What should I do…”

As the gate captain pondered to find an answer, he saw the bundle of papers Kim Dam was holding and reached a conclusion.

“The young master says he is a talent who will work at the research institute and asks to be let in, but not just anyone can enter the palace. However, things may change if the research institute makes a decision. Did you say that bundle of papers contains the problem solutions?”

“That’s right!”

“Give them to me. I’ll take them to the research institute. Can you wait quietly next to here until the research institute makes a judgment?”

In response to the gate captain’s question, Kim Dam licked his lips and answered.

“It seems like a formality, but I will follow those words.”

“Then give me the solutions and the recommendation letter.”

“Here they are.”

The gate captain, receiving the thick bundle of papers and the recommendation letter from Kim Dam, opened the bundle to examine the contents just in case, but immediately closed them.

The numbers and symbols filling the papers made his eyes dizzy.

Quickly folding the bundle of papers again, the gate captain looked at the recommendation letter and gave a wry smile. On the envelope containing the recommendation letter, the words “Self-Recommendation Letter” were written in large characters.

‘Indeed, his boldness is unmatched in the world!’

Forcibly suppressing his laughter that was slowly leaking out, the gate captain spoke to Kim Dam.

“I will relay this to the research institute, so wait here.”

“I understand.”

* * *

As the gate captain entered with Kim Dam’s solution book and self-recommendation letter in hand, the ministers who had finished the morning meeting were heading towards Gwanghwamun.

When the gate captain politely saluted upon seeing the ministers, the ministers lightly responded and asked a question while looking at the bundle of papers in the gate captain’s hand.

“Did someone come again with a petition?”

“No, sir. There is a young master who came wanting to enter the research institute.”

“A young master?”

“He did boast that he was a talent absolutely necessary for the research institute, but… The judgment will be up to the research institute.”

At the gate captain’s words, the ministers nodded.

“That’s right. It’s a shame. Good work.”

“Thank you.”

The gate captain, who saluted again, walked with a swaying gait towards Eastern Palace.

Watching the gate captain’s back as he headed towards Eastern Palace, the ministers clicked their tongues and grumbled.

“What kind of lunatic is trying so hard to enter such a den of demons…”

“Indeed. The friends who used to be normal when I saw them before have all gone crazy over numbers these days… Tsk tsk tsk!”

“They were all talented people…”

Grumbling like that, the ministers crossed the threshold of Gwanghwamun and saw Kim Dam standing on one side.

“I suppose that’s the boy.”

“Oh my, at such a young age before even having his coming-of-age ceremony…”

As the ministers took turns clicking their tongues at the sight of Kim Dam wearing a black hat and looking at them, Kim Jeom walked up to Kim Dam.

“Are you the one responsible for making the gate captain take action?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh my. It seems you haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony yet, so wouldn’t it be better to have the ceremony first and then challenge the civil service examination?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s advice, Kim Dam answered firmly.

“They say, ‘Don’t miss a good opportunity.’ When a good opportunity has come, how can I miss it because of a mere coming-of-age ceremony?”

At Kim Dam’s unwavering answer, Kim Jeom looked at Kim Dam again.

‘His eyes are full of intelligence, he seems to be a talent… ’

“I have something I’d like to ask the young master. Will you answer?”

“Please ask. If it’s an answer I can give, I will try.”

“Then, looking at the chapter on self-cultivation in the Great Learning…”

Kim Jeom asked Kim Dam various passages from the Four Books and Five Classics.

As Kim Dam answered without hesitation whenever he asked, Kim Jeom received the financial report held by his subordinate who had been following behind him and opened it to a certain part.

“Now, calculate the income and expenditure for this part.”

At Kim Jeom’s request, thrown while covering the answer with his finger, Kim Dam looked at the numbers written in the table and performed mental calculations while flicking his fingers, immediately providing the answer.

“Oh!”

Kim Jeom, who checked Kim Dam’s answer against the actual answer, involuntarily let out an exclamation.

‘It’s correct! Even senior officials in the Ministry of Finance had to lay out an abacus and double-check several times for what he solved through mental calculation! He’s a genius!’

Seeing Kim Dam’s genius, Kim Jeom’s desire began to stir.

“So, who is your honored father?”

“He is currently serving as the magistrate of Yeongju.”

“Is that so? Then you could have submitted it in writing, so why did you come all the way to Hanseong in person?”

“That’s…”

As Kim Dam, who had been answering confidently until now, hesitated, Kim Jeom inwardly exclaimed with joy.

‘I knew it! He ran away from home! What a find!’

Kim Jeom began to gently persuade Kim Dam with a subtle expression and voice.

“I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal, you say?”

“Yes, why don’t you come to the Ministry of Finance instead of the research institute? I’ll hire you through a special appointment. The Ministry of Finance is also a place where mathematics is important, so you can freely show off your skills. Moreover, it’s the most important national affair, dealing with the country’s finances, so it’s the most important position among important positions. If you work in such a ministry, how pleased would your honored father be? You can boast about your talent and also fulfill your filial duty, so how wonderful is that?”

“I prefer not just doing calculations but seeking the truth hidden within mathematics.”

“Haha! That’s important too. However, isn’t thoroughly managing the country’s finances also a truly important task? What do you think? How much longer until your coming-of-age ceremony?”

“It’s in February next year.”

At Kim Dam’s answer, Kim Jeom’s face brightened even more.

“Not much time left! First, go back home. Come back up after having your coming-of-age ceremony, and I’ll immediately appoint you through a special appointment! How about it?”

“But I…”

“You sneaked up here this time too, right?”

“…”

As Kim Dam couldn’t answer, Kim Jeom began to cast the bait again.

“What is the foremost of filial acts? It is to put your parents’ minds at ease…”

“Stop right there!”

At the sudden shout, Kim Jeom closed his mouth and looked to where the voice came from. There, Jeong-cho was glaring at him with a red face.

“Minister! Do you know what gets the most curses in the world? Secretly snatching away someone else’s possession! A gentleman should not do such a thing and should not even think of doing it!”

“I haven’t even stamped the seal yet, so how is it snatching?”

As Kim Jeom joked, Jeong-cho, who had walked over with big strides, pulled Kim Dam firmly to his side and retorted.

“I stamped the seal! Satisfied?”

“Tsk… If the young master changes his mind, come find me anytime. The door to the Ministry of Finance is always wide open.”

“Minister!”

At Jeong-cho’s shout, Kim Jeom immediately turned his body and disappeared into the Ministry of Finance building.

“That greedy bastard… Tsk!”

Clicking his tongue, Jeong-cho turned to Kim Dam.

“Are you the one who wrote and submitted the answers?”

“That’s right. I am Kim Dam from Yeongju.”

“Nice to meet you. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

Jeong-cho took Kim Dam and headed to the research institute located in Eastern Palace.

* * *

Those who greeted Kim Dam upon his arrival at the research institute were the researchers, starting with Hyang.

“His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At Jeong-cho’s introduction, Kim Dam immediately prostrated and bowed deeply.

After the brief introduction, Hyang got straight to the point.

“I reviewed the problem solutions you submitted. Out of the five problems, you got the correct method and answer for three, got both the method and answer wrong for one, and got the method right but the answer wrong for one. Take a look.”

At Hyang’s gesture, an eunuch returned the bundle of papers Kim Dam had submitted. The bundle had red writing pointing out the incorrect parts.

Examining the corrections and recalculating, Kim Dam turned to Hyang.

“I think the corrections to the solutions are wrong.”

“The corrections are wrong?”

“Yes.”

“Manager Lee.”

“Yes!”

At Hyang’s call, Lee Soonji stepped forward with a rough breath and answered.

After that, Lee Soonji and Kim Dam engaged in a heated discussion for a while regarding the problems and solutions.

Watching them, Jeong-cho turned to Hyang with a pleased face.

“It seems a quite decent talent has entered.”

At Jeong-cho’s words, Hyang also nodded with a smile.

“It seems so.”

Jeong Inji, who overheard their conversation next to them, muttered to himself.

‘Not a talent, but another eccentric just like Manager Lee has entered, hasn’t it?’

In the midst of that, the heated discussion came to an end.

“I had been thinking incorrectly. Thank you for pointing it out.”

“It’s a mistake that immediately occurs when one’s mindset becomes lax. Therefore, when pursuing a solution, one must always maintain a firm mindset.”

“Thank you for the profound teaching.”

Kim Dam, who expressed his gratitude to Lee Soonji, bowed his head to Hyang.

“Please forgive my rude behavior towards Your Highness.”

“It’s alright.”

“Then, have I failed?”

At Kim Dam’s question, Hyang shook his head with a slight smile.

“You are ranked first among those who have passed so far.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Dam’s face brightened. With a wide smile, Kim Dam hurriedly bowed deeply to Hyang.

“I am deeply grateful! I will serve with all my heart and soul!”

At Kim Dam’s words, Hyang corrected one fact.

“You won’t immediately start practical work. First, you need to receive education.”

“Education, you say?”

“If you learn and pass a higher level of mathematics, you will be assigned to practical work.”

At the words ‘a higher level of mathematics,’ Kim Dam’s face brightened even more.

“I will do my best!”

“Then first, follow Manager Yi and take a look around the research institute’s facilities. In the meantime, I need to write your certificate of acceptance.”

“Yes!”

At Hyang’s order, Kim Dam excitedly followed behind Lee Soonji. After sending Kim Dam out like that, Hyang turned to Jeong-cho.

“No matter how you look at it, it seems he ran away from home, doesn’t it?”

“It seems so.”

“I should write the certificate of acceptance myself. At least to lessen the scolding he will receive.”

“That would be the best indeed.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Kim Dam, who was following behind Lee Soonji and observing various things in the research institute, continuously let out exclamations of admiration and asked questions.

“Wow! What is the principle behind this device?”

“What is the equation that becomes the principle of the pressure gauge?”

Whenever Kim Dam asked a question, Lee Soonji answered without hesitation.

“The principle of this… If expressed in an equation…”

While explaining to Kim Dam like that, Lee Soonji opened the door to the last room.

“This is where we are currently putting the most effort.”

“Wow!”

Seeing the scene inside the room, Kim Dam involuntarily let out an exclamation of joy.

On one wall of the room, created by opening up two large rooms, a huge chalkboard stretched from end to end, and all sorts of equations were written all over it.

As if enchanted, Kim Dam stared at the equations and turned to Lee Soonji.

“What is it calculating?”

“They are equations for designing a bridge to be laid across a river.”

“A bridge, you say?”

“Yes. Stone bridges or moon bridges cannot be built over large rivers. So we plan to build bridges using steel and concrete. Those equations are the calculation formulas necessary for its success. If these equations are properly completed, we will be able to build bridges over all the famous large rivers in Joseon, including the Hansu (Han River). That is the current goal of our research institute. If you successfully complete the education, you will also be immediately assigned to this project.”

At Lee Soonji’s words, Kim Dam immediately replied.

“I will do my best!”

Chapter 323
Hero? Or a Demon? (6)

While various commotions, big and small, were occurring over the issue of replenishing the personnel of the research institute, a significant event was unfolding in Eastern Palace.

“Aaargh!”

“Aargh!”

“Argh!”

Screams were erupting from the Crown Princess and the two concubines, Yangwon and Yangje, in the hastily set up delivery room, and the royal physicians, senior court ladies, and palace maids were busily entering and exiting the room.

It was the moment when the children who would carry on the next generation of Joseon were being born.

Hyang stood in the courtyard of Eastern Palace, unable to do anything, pacing back and forth, waiting for the childbirth to end quickly.

“Aaargh!”

“Aargh!”

“Argh!”

Whenever screams erupted from the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje, Hyang flinched and urged the eunuchs and royal physicians.

“Are the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje alright?”

“They will be fine.”

“Are they truly alright?”

“Experienced senior court ladies and royal physicians have entered, so do not worry.”

Whenever Hyang urged, the royal physicians and eunuchs answered that everything was fine, but Hyang couldn’t hide his anxiety.

“Isn’t the labor taking too long? It started before sunrise, and it’s already o-jeong (午正, noon).”

“Sometimes, there are mothers whose labor is long.”

“Sigh~.”

At the royal physician’s words, Hyang let out a long sigh and grumbled.

“These rascals took longer to come out than other children, and now they’re being sluggish even during childbirth…”

* * *

As Hyang said, the pregnancy periods of the three women had exceeded the average duration by about a month and a half.

“Isn’t the pregnancy period too long?”

“Sometimes, there are cases where it’s this long.”

At the royal physician’s explanation, Hyang immediately asked again.

“Have there been cases where all three had long pregnancy periods?”

“…It’s the first time. However, both the mothers and the fetuses are healthy.”

“…I understand. Please do your best.”

“We will do our utmost.”

Listening to the royal physician’s answer, Hyang let out another sigh and muttered.

“Sigh~. It’s as if they’re stubbornly refusing to come out…”

* * *

“Aaargh!”

“Argh!”

“Argh!”

The time had now passed o-jeong and even mi-sijung (未時正, around 2 p.m.), but the labor continued.

Hyang, who had been fidgeting outside, began to change his expression at the hoarse voices of the mothers and their screams that were becoming weaker as their energy drained.

“It’s taking too long… Are these rascals really refusing to come out…”

It was a thought that Hyang would have normally dismissed as nonsense, but given the situation, he began to seriously ponder.

After pondering for a moment, Hyang soon made a decision.

“It’s now or never! Eunuch!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Who is the eunuch with the loudest voice?”

“Pardon?”

* * *

“Ugh…”

“Please gather your strength. Just a little more, and you will make it!”

As the mothers, exhausted from the long and arduous labor, groaned, the senior court ladies and midwives next to them cheered on the Crown Princess.

“Huff… Huff…”

While the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje were gasping for breath, holding onto the white cotton cloth hung on the beam, a resounding voice was heard from outside.

“Informing the babies! His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered, ‘Your fates have already been determined! Do not cause any more filial impiety and come out at once!'”

“Pfft!”

“Haha!”

At the eunuch’s shout, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje burst into laughter, forgetting the pain. No, it wasn’t just the mothers. Even those who had been anxiously waiting nearby involuntarily let out small laughs.

Another resounding shout was heard from outside.

“His Highness has ordered again! ‘If you continue to resist, I will speak to His Majesty the King and even receive a royal decree! Will you come out now and receive special treatment, or will you become the worst criminals for disobeying the royal command? I will count to 30. Come out at once!'”

As soon as the shout ended, the royal guards nearby began to chant loudly, following Hyang’s gesture.

“Thirty!”

“Twenty-nine!”

At that moment, the mothers began to scream in pain once again.

“Aaargh!”

“The head is visible! Just a little more, just a little more strength!”

At the shouts of the senior court ladies acting as midwives, the mothers gathered their remaining strength once more.

“Aaah!”

“Just a little more, just a little more!”

* * *

“Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!”

After a while, boisterous baby cries erupted from the delivery room.

As the prolonged cries of the babies subsided, a royal physician walked out of the delivery room.

The exhausted-looking royal physician saw Hyang and immediately bowed his head and reported.

“Congratulations. All three babies are boys.”

“How are the mothers?”

“They are very exhausted but not in grave danger.”

“That’s a relief. Please take good care of them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Can I see the mothers now?”

At Hyang’s question, the royal physician answered with a slightly troubled expression.

“Not yet. Please wait a little longer.”

“I understand.”

As soon as entry was permitted, Hyang, who had been waiting outside, immediately entered the delivery room.

Following the procedure he had established, Hyang thoroughly disinfected his hands and approached the mothers lying on the bed.

Seeing the pale and haggard faces of the mothers, Hyang spoke in a gentle voice.

“You have truly worked hard.”

“Not at all, Your Highness.”

“As the labor was long, your bodies must be very exhausted, so don’t forget that you need to rest sufficiently.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang held the hands of the mothers one by one and spoke to them, then turned to the senior court ladies and midwives.

“Please pay special attention to the care of the mothers.”

“We will do our utmost.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“We will obey your command.”

After checking the condition of the mothers, Hyang finally looked at the babies. Seeing the babies wrapped in swaddling clothes, Hyang brought his face close and muttered.

“It’s you rascals, isn’t it? You’re prepared to pay the price for making your mothers suffer, right?”

As if understanding Hyang’s growl, the babies’ faces scrunched up, and Hyang immediately continued.

“The one who cries will receive special attention and be thoroughly disciplined.”

As soon as those words ended, the babies’ faces relaxed again.

After patting the mothers once more and coming out, Hyang tilted his head.

“I said it out of anger, but… They couldn’t have really understood, right?”

* * *

The news that the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje had safely given birth and that all three babies were boys was immediately delivered to Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Congratulations!”

“The birth of the legitimate grandson is a great fortune for the royal family and the country!”

“Congratulations!”

Amid the congratulations from the ministers and officials, King Sejong replied with a pleased face.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

After responding to the ministers’ words, King Sejong turned to the eunuch and asked.

“I heard the labor was long. Are the mothers safe?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Tell me in detail.”

King Sejong, who was in a good mood upon hearing the auspicious news of the birth of the legitimate grandson who would succeed the throne, wanted to hear about the childbirth process.

At King Sejong’s command, the eunuch recounted the childbirth process in detail. King Sejong and the ministers, who already had much experience with childbirth, all listened with fascinated expressions.

Especially when the eunuch mentioned that Hyang was restless every time the mothers screamed, King Sejong and the ministers burst into laughter.

“Haha! It seems even the Crown Prince can’t help being an anxious father!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

The eunuch’s story reached its climax at the part about Hyang’s threat.

“Hahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

King Sejong and the ministers, who had only been smiling or laughing softly until then, roared with laughter, forgetting the time and place.

“Haha! A royal command!”

After laughing heartily like that, King Sejong looked at the ministers.

“Doesn’t it seem like the sprouts are already visible, as expected of the Crown Prince’s children?”

At King Sejong’s question, Maeng Sa-seong immediately answered.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Even though they haven’t properly opened their eyes yet, the fact that they know the weight of the royal command shows that they are extraordinary.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, the ministers nodded.

King Sejong, who had been pondering the situation while listening to the ministers’ words, looked at the ministers with a grin.

“Doesn’t it seem like it will be enjoyable to raise them? I’m already worried about who to entrust as their tutor.”

“Isn’t it too early for that, Your Majesty?”

At Lee Jik’s question, King Sejong answered with a smile.

“That’s true, but I’m getting impatient. Seeing such an outstanding appearance already.”

At King Sejong’s words showing his doting grandfather side, the ministers muttered inwardly.

‘Why do I feel sorry for the babies?’

* * *

After some time had passed, the story of what had happened during the childbirth process also became known to the people of Hanseong.

“…So, when the Crown Prince said, ‘If you don’t want to be punished by the royal command, come out at once!’ the babies immediately came out, isn’t that right?”

At the words of Jang Seobang, known for his eloquence in the neighborhood, the men gathered around all nodded their heads with amazed expressions.

“Oh my~. Does it mean they already understand words?”

At the neighboring man’s remark, Jang Seobang rebuked the speaker.

“You fool! Whose seed are those babies? Aren’t they the Crown Prince’s? The one who creates all sorts of wondrous devices and solves difficult problems without hesitation? How can the offspring of such a man be ordinary?”

At Jang Seobang’s words, the gathered people all nodded their heads. Even among the common people—at least the residents of Hanseong—Hyang’s extraordinariness was widely known.

“And didn’t he mention the royal command? No matter how young the babies are, how could they not know the fearfulness of the royal command?”

At Jang Seobang’s words, the gathered people all nodded their heads.

* * *

One of the most emphasized aspects when Joseon was founded was the rule of law. The first thing created when Joseon was founded was the legal code, and even the magistrates couldn’t handle judicial matters as they pleased. Even if it was a formality, it had to be based on the legal code, and all such actions were written in reports and submitted to the king.

Therefore, most of the Joseon people’s actions had to follow the statutes and ordinances, and the most fearsome and heavy among these statutes and ordinances was the royal command.

The weight of this royal command was also effective in folk beliefs.

The simplest example was when the people moved or dug a new toilet in each household, to avoid the wrath of the toilet god (believed to protect the toilet), the people shouted the following:

“It’s a royal command!”

In other words, it meant that the toilet was being moved or newly dug by the king’s order, so do not be angry. This was the idea that even a powerful god had to follow the king’s order.

* * *

However, there were always skeptics among the people.

“Eh~. Isn’t that too exaggerated? No matter how extraordinary they are, they are still babies who haven’t even opened their eyes yet, so how can they understand words? It must be a coincidence.”

At the skeptic Kang Seobang’s point, Jang Seobang became furious.

“You fool! Have you already forgotten what I said earlier? Whose seed are those babies? The Crown Prince’s! The Crown~ Prince! The one who recited the Four Books and Three Classics at the age of four and made the tutors’ noses flat before turning six! With such a father, how can the babies be ordinary?”

“No matter how good the seed is, there is a limit to human capability… The babies aren’t Buddha or anything…”

At Kang Seobang’s rebuttal, a vein popped on Jang Seobang’s forehead.

“Are you saying I’m talking nonsense?”

“It’s not that, but the exaggeration is a bit much.”

“You fool! There are dozens of people who witnessed it! I also heard it from someone working in the palace!”

“Who is it that works in the palace?”

“That doesn’t matter!”

“Tell me who it is!”

“I said it doesn’t matter!”

Kang Seobang kept asking, but Jang Seobang firmly kept his mouth shut about that part.

The reason Jang Seobang had no choice but to do so was that the source of the story was a widow named Hong, who worked as a seamstress in the palace. Jang Seobang and Hong were in a flirtatious relationship. The problem was that Jang Seobang was a married man. If the truth were revealed, it would be a disastrous situation, so Jang Seobang kept his mouth tightly shut.

Anyway, the story about the childbirth spread throughout Joseon, beyond the capital city.

Many people who heard the story congratulated Hyang on having sons and anticipated what would follow next.

“Will there be a discount event at the tobacco shops this time too?”

Chapter 324
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (1)

Two months before the biggest event in Joseon in the 13th year of King Sejong’s reign (1431, Sinhaenyeon), Hyang’s birth of a son.

In the Forbidden City of Beijing, the capital of Ming, an envoy who had returned from Joseon was reporting to Emperor Xuande.

“…That is all.”

As the report on the coordination of diplomatic issues between Ming and Joseon and other administrative tasks concluded, Emperor Xuande praised the envoy.

“Well done. The king and officials of Joseon are extremely fastidious and never accept losses, but you have obtained sufficiently good results. I say again, you have truly worked hard.”

“I am unworthy of such excessive praise. It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s benevolence. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor for ten thousand years!”

In response to Emperor Xuande’s compliment, the envoy instead chanted “Long live the Emperor” three times, praising Emperor Xuande.

Emperor Xuande, seemingly not displeased with the envoy’s behavior, smiled slightly and asked the envoy a question.

“I heard that many things are changing in Joseon. Have you seen anything?”

“Yes, I have, Your Majesty.”

At the envoy’s answer, Emperor Xuande’s eyes lit up.

“Oh? So, what was it?”

“There was a device called ‘iron horse’ roaming around Hanseong.”

“Iron horse?”

“Yes. According to the interpreter…”

The envoy who had been to Joseon began to chatter on and on about the train.

“Hmm…”

Emperor Xuande listened to the envoy’s explanation with a face full of curiosity, immediately asking questions whenever he had any.

“I see, it’s truly intriguing. Since it’s called an iron horse, is it really as fast as a real horse?”

“It’s not that fast, but it’s slightly faster than a person running at full speed.”

“Is that so? You mentioned that it carries people, so how many people can it transport?”

“It pulls two large carriages and carries about 100 people while moving.”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

As Emperor Xuande, who had heard the envoy’s explanation, let out a light snort and became lost in thought, the Chief Counselor intervened in the conversation.

“Your Majesty. Based on the envoy’s words, it seems to be a quite useful device. Wouldn’t it be good to order the King of Joseon to present it as a tribute?”

Emperor Xuande lightly nodded at the Chief Counselor’s words but did not make a decision immediately.

After pondering alone for a moment, Emperor Xuande reached a conclusion.

“It’s not the right time yet. I believe it would be more appropriate to deploy such iron horses not in the city but to connect cities and towns. However, according to the envoy’s current report, it’s only slightly faster than a person running, and the number of people it can carry at once is around 100. Even if we adopt this, it would be of little use to our empire.”

Having reached a negative conclusion, Emperor Xuande asked the envoy again.

“Hmm… The Crown Prince of Joseon must have been involved in the development of this as well, right?”

“That’s what I heard. Praises for the Crown Prince were erupting from all directions.”

“Of course. The Crown Prince of Joseon is like a needle in a bag, a crane among chickens.”

Emperor Xuande, recalling the image of Hyang in his memory, nodded and reached a definite conclusion.

“If it’s the Crown Prince of Joseon, he won’t be satisfied with that iron horse. He will naturally create an even more excellent iron horse and actually use it. We’ll wait for that time.”

At Emperor Xuande’s words, the Chief Counselor raised an objection.

“Based on the report, the iron horse seems to be a device that incorporates a considerably high level of technology. When an even more advanced iron horse comes out, will Joseon comply?”

In response to the Chief Counselor’s point, Emperor Xuande explained the reason.

“Joseon has no choice but to comply. Our Ming can cut off Joseon, but Joseon cannot cut off Ming.”

“Joseon is constantly looking for opportunities.”

“It is the natural principle that countries that have become vassal states always strive to break free from that position. However, Joseon’s current situation makes that impossible. Chief Counselor, I ask you.”

“Please ask, Your Majesty.”

“Isn’t the trade between our Ming and Joseon thriving these days?”

“Yes, it is. Ah!”

The Chief Counselor, who was answering Emperor Xuande’s question, let out an exclamation and looked at Emperor Xuande. Seeing the Chief Counselor’s reaction, Emperor Xuande smiled.

“It seems you’ve realized it. The fact that trade between our Ming and Joseon is gradually increasing means that wealth is accumulating among the people of Joseon. The people who have experienced the joy brought by wealth will gradually desire more wealth. This means that Joseon’s situation is like riding a tiger. If the means to obtain wealth disappear, Joseon will immediately collapse. And we, Ming, hold the hilt of that sword.”

Emperor Xuande, who took a sip of tea from the cup next to him, continued.

“As the simplest example, the Chief Counselor must have also received reports on the grains sold from Jiangnan to Joseon, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Emperor Xuande’s question, the Chief Counselor immediately nodded.

* * *

Although the yield had been steadily increasing as King Sejong’s land reform progressed, Joseon had not achieved self-sufficiency in food production.

To be precise, it was a situation where Joseon had to continue importing large quantities of rice as food consumption had increased significantly due to the people’s increased wealth—the Koreans’ love for eating was almost genetic.

As a result, a considerable number of landowners in the Jiangnan region were cultivating rice that suited the tastes of Joseon people to make profits.

* * *

“As the people of Joseon who have gained wealth seek white rice, and they need grains to give to the Jurchen people who have submitted, Joseon has to keep importing grains. If we block this trade right now, Joseon will face a crisis like a flickering lamp in the wind. Isn’t that right?”

At Emperor Xuande’s question, the Chief Counselor bowed his head and answered.

“That’s right. Not only the people’s discontent but also the Jurchen people will not sit still.”

“Indeed.”

Emperor Xuande, who took another sip of tea, continued with a relaxed face.

“These days, Joseon seems to be trading through the Western Regions and the sea, but Ming is still their biggest trading partner. As long as we, Ming, hold Joseon’s leash, Joseon has no choice but to follow our words.”

“That is true, Your Majesty.”

The Chief Counselor also agreed with Emperor Xuande’s conclusion.

At that moment, one of the officials who had been listening attentively to the conversation between Emperor Xuande and the Chief Counselor stepped forward, bowed his head, and spoke.

“Your Majesty. Forgive me for my presumption, but I have something to report to you.”

“Speak.”

“Your Majesty’s words are truly correct. However, what I am concerned about is Joseon’s involvement in such devices. If it is a device of that level of ingenuity, the technology involved must also be advanced. Of course, we can summon not only the device but also the artisans, but there is a high possibility that we won’t know if the artisans harbor ill intentions. Therefore, I believe we should bring in the current moving iron horse, even if it is unsatisfactory. I think it is right to bring it in, have our artisans examine and study it, and create an even more advanced iron horse.”

In response to the official’s words, Emperor Xuande immediately replied.

“Your words also have merit. However, most of the excellent artisans of Ming are now in the hands of merchants. It’s truly embarrassing for me, the owner of Ming, to say this. I can trust Joseon’s merchants, but I cannot trust our Ming’s merchants. How much wealth will they extort under the pretense of creating a high-level iron horse, and how much will we have to pay after its completion? It would be more appropriate to receive it as a tribute from Joseon or negotiate and purchase it.”

“Ah…”

The Chief Counselor and the officials, who were sighing in disappointment at Emperor Xuande’s words, immediately prostrated themselves and shouted.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive our disloyalty!”

“Please forgive our great sins!”

At the shouts of the officials and eunuchs, Emperor Xuande lightly waved his hand.

“Get up. I have no intention of holding you accountable for any crimes yet.”

“Your benevolence is immeasurable!”

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor for ten thousand years!”

Those who got up from their positions unanimously expressed their gratitude and chanted “Long live the Emperor” three times.

As the cheers subsided, Emperor Xuande summarized the situation.

“Let’s conclude the matter of the iron horse by waiting.”

“We obey your command.”

“Then, moving on to the next issue, has the problem of counterfeit banknotes still not been resolved?”

“We are currently tracking down the group that plotted this matter.”

At the Chief Counselor’s answer, Emperor Xuande’s expression turned fierce.

“Eradicate them thoroughly. Make sure they can’t even dream of doing this again.”

“We obey your command!”

“Especially those who leaked the design, regardless of their position, exterminate their families to the tenth degree. They are traitors who were blinded by personal gain and tried to undermine the foundation of the country.”

At Emperor Xuande’s cruel punishment, the Chief Counselor answered while sweating coldly.

“We, we obey your command.”

“Hmm… By the way, has a solution still not been found for the printing plate issue?”

“Forgive me, but not yet…”

“How disappointing.”

At Emperor Xuande’s words, the Chief Counselor immediately prostrated himself and shouted.

“Please forgive me! I will do my best to present an answer as quickly as possible.”

At the Chief Counselor’s desperate answer, Emperor Xuande ordered in an indifferent voice.

“I will give you half a month. If you can’t bring me an answer by then, I will hold not only you but also all those involved accountable.”

“I will do my utmost!”

Hearing the Chief Counselor’s desperate answer, Emperor Xuande rose from his throne.

“Let’s end it here for today.”

* * *

As the meeting attended by the Emperor ended, the officials and eunuchs left Wenhuan Hall.

Returning to their respective offices, they discussed Emperor Xuande’s orders.

“The most urgent issue is the printing plate for banknotes. Has a solution been found?”

At the Chief Counselor’s question, the scholars answered with gloomy faces.

“We urged the artisans belonging to the palace and the government to create printing plates as precisely as possible, but the artisans employed by the merchants were able to replicate them immediately.”

“Oh no…”

At the scholars’ answer, the Chief Counselor muttered with a perplexed face.

* * *

Impressed by Joseon’s banknote system, Ming also diligently began preparations for a new banknote system.

The practitioners of Ming referred to the process carried out in Joseon and diligently proceeded with the preparations, and the preparation process was smooth.

However, this smoothly progressing preparation process soon encountered a huge obstacle and faced the risk of running aground.

What put them in crisis was the issue of printing the currency.

Compared to the debate over the number of dragons to include on the currency when the initial design was decided, this was a problem that made that seem trivial.

The officials in charge, upon seeing the printing plates and the resulting products created by gathering the artisans working in the imperial palace and government offices, all frowned.

“Why does it feel lacking?”

“Right? It looks a bit crude compared to Joseon’s, doesn’t it?”

“Let’s make some improvements.”

Dissatisfied with the results, the officials in charge began the process of improvement. After repeating several trials and errors, when a somewhat satisfactory result was obtained, the officials in charge let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew~. This should be usable!”

“Let’s prepare to report to His Majesty!”

Just as they were feeling relieved, a counterfeiting incident occurred. Counterfeit bills of the currency that had not even been distributed yet, and at a high level that could pass as genuine, began to circulate in the market.

“This is impossible without an internal leak! Find those involved! Also, arrest all those who printed the counterfeit bills!”

Following the furious Emperor Xuande’s order, the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards were mobilized in large numbers to conduct a massive investigation.

As a result, a renowned merchant in Beijing and the officials who received bribes from him were caught one after another.

However, Emperor Xuande’s anger did not easily subside.

“How poorly did you make the genuine printing plates that you can’t even distinguish between counterfeit and genuine bills! Find an alternative immediately! If you can’t, I will hold you accountable!”

At Emperor Xuande’s terrifying order, the officials in charge once again urged the artisans to create printing plates. However, the result was not good, as reported to the Chief Counselor.

No matter how hard the artisans of the imperial palace and government offices tried, the artisans employed by private merchants were able to replicate them immediately.

* * *

“Sigh~.”

The Chief Counselor, who received the report from the officials in charge, let out a sigh.

“We need to find an answer within half a month, but at this rate…”

In response to the Chief Counselor’s lament, another official spoke up.

“We have no choice now. I think we need to request Joseon’s help.”

“Joseon? Is that really necessary?”

At the Chief Counselor’s words, the speaker answered firmly.

“It’s Joseon’s currency, which has not had any counterfeits so far, no, which hasn’t been able to have any. The answer lies only with Joseon. This is not the time to be concerned about pride.”

“Damn it…”

The Chief Counselor involuntarily uttered a curse.

Chapter 325
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (2)

Having reached a conclusion, the official in charge reported to Emperor Xuande together with the Chief Counselor.

“Borrow Joseon’s help? Is this the only answer?”

“For now, it seems so, Your Majesty.”

At the Chief Counselor’s answer, Emperor Xuande let out a long sigh and stamped the imperial seal.

“Sigh~. Select an envoy to send to Joseon as quickly as possible.”

“We obey your command!”

* * *

As soon as Emperor Xuande’s permission was granted, the officials in charge picked up the pace.

“An envoy came and went not long ago, and now another envoy? What’s the matter?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, the envoy answered with proper etiquette.

“There is a matter for which we need Joseon’s help, so I have come. Here is His Majesty’s imperial edict.”

Following the protocol, King Sejong knelt down in the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall, and the envoy tore open the seal of the imperial edict sent by Emperor Xuande and read its contents aloud.

“…Therefore. The King of Joseon is requested to discuss with the envoy and resolve the issue.”

Having finished reading it aloud, the envoy carefully rolled up the scroll containing the imperial edict and politely handed it to King Sejong.

Receiving the scroll of the imperial edict from the envoy, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Is it possible?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“It’s not possible. Although Your Majesty’s command must be strictly followed, currency plates are not something that can be easily made. To explain in detail, it’s not just a matter of having skilled artisans, but dedicated facilities are also necessary.”

The envoy, who heard Hyang’s words through the interpreter, intervened in the conversation.

“If you just tell us, we will build the facilities in Beijing.”

At the envoy’s words, Hyang’s expression sharpened.

“Are you asking us to leak the secret technique of making currency plates? Even if you are the superior country, isn’t this too much?”

As Hyang questioned them, King Sejong also chimed in from the side.

“The envoy’s words went too far. Creating plates that make counterfeiting impossible is a secret technique, so how can you recklessly ask us to hand it over? Even if our Joseon is in a position to call you our superior, this is an excessive request.”

“I, I apologize!”

As even King Sejong questioned them, the envoy immediately bowed his head.

Joseon was not a country to be taken lightly. If Joseon were to make an issue out of this, it was certain that the Emperor would resolve the situation by beheading the envoy.

“Please forgive my rudeness. However, the matter is so grave…”

Seeing the envoy’s deflated demeanor, King Sejong began to appease the envoy.

“I am not unaware of His Majesty’s concerns. So I would like to propose a compromise. Please consider it.”

“A compromise, you say?”

“Send us the design. Then we will make the plates and printing facilities and offer them as tribute.”

“Ah!”

The envoy, who had been delighted at King Sejong’s words, soon became troubled.

“Your Majesty’s proposal is good, but entrusting the manufacture of the plates is a security issue…”

The envoy trailed off, but the meaning was clear.

-I’m grateful that you’ll make them, but it will be a bigger problem if you create counterfeit bills.

King Sejong, who understood the unspoken part, promised to guarantee that aspect.

“I am well aware of what the envoy is concerned about. However, I hope you understand that we have nothing to gain by doing such a thing.”

After pondering for a moment at King Sejong’s words, the envoy eventually chose the most uncontroversial solution.

“This is beyond my discretion. Therefore, I will report it to His Majesty.”

“Please do so.”

With that conversation, the envoy immediately packed his bags and returned to Beijing.

* * *

“…Thus, the King of Joseon came to propose a compromise.”

“Well done.”

“Your benevolence is immeasurable.”

After giving a brief compliment to the envoy, Emperor Xuande stroked his beard and muttered.

“Tribute… Tribute, he says…”

Emperor Xuande, who had been tapping the armrest of the throne with his fingers while muttering, burst into laughter. Joseon and its king, who never moved without payment.

“Hah! Even merchants would cry in front of the King of Joseon. What remarkable skill.”

“Your Majesty, how about immediately sending an envoy to the King of Joseon to point out his rudeness?”

At the Chief Counselor’s words, Emperor Xuande shook his head.

“No, let’s accept the King of Joseon’s proposal. This is because the King of Joseon’s words are reasonable. Even if we are the superior country, it goes against protocol to recklessly order a vassal state to hand over a secret technique.”

“However…”

As the Chief Counselor tried to say something, Emperor Xuande lightly raised his hand to stop the Chief Counselor’s words.

“Of course, there is a tendency for Joseon’s argument to take lightly the authority of the superior country. However, pressuring Joseon or forcing them to obey my command would bring more loss than gain. It would increase Joseon’s discontent. Chief Counselor, don’t we have many things to gain from Joseon in the future? It’s better to listen to their wishes now in preparation for that time. Therefore, hand over the currency designs to Joseon.”

At Emperor Xuande’s conclusion, the Chief Counselor bowed and answered.

“We obey your command.”

* * *

Returning to his office, the Chief Counselor summoned the scholars and practitioners to begin executing Emperor Xuande’s order.

After various reports and orders were exchanged and the situation was somewhat organized, the Chief Counselor, holding a teacup, asked the envoy.

“Come to think of it… Did you also see the iron horse?”

“Yes, Chief Counselor.”

“How was it?”

At the Chief Counselor’s words, the envoy carefully chose his words and answered.

“As His Majesty said, it seemed to be lacking a lot for now. However, its ingenious structure appeared to be of a considerably high level of difficulty.”

“Does that mean it doesn’t seem easy to replicate?”

“That’s right. I think we should bring it in and study it even now.”

At the envoy’s report, the faces of the Chief Counselor and the scholars became grave. A scholar who had been listening to the conversation from the side asked the envoy in an interrogative tone.

“Then, shouldn’t you have remonstrated with His Majesty? As a subject…”

As a principled point was raised, the envoy interrupted the scholar’s words and protested.

“Hasn’t His Majesty already reached a conclusion? Are you telling me to go against His Majesty’s will now?”

“As a subject…”

“Then why don’t you step up and do it yourself?”

At the envoy’s sharp retort, the scholar who was about to speak closed his mouth.

* * *

For a subject to recklessly request the emperor to reverse his decision was a grave crime close to treason. No, the moment one said such a thing, they were creating a situation for their own death.

If the emperor made a decision based on the opinions of his subjects and then tried to overturn it again, the subjects had no choice but to face bloody consequences. The reason was that they had failed to properly assist the emperor.

On the contrary, if the emperor tried to reverse a decision he had made based on his own judgment, he would be punished on the grounds of intimidating the emperor.

Therefore, unless a subject had the emperor’s utmost favor, making the emperor reverse his decision was unthinkable.

* * *

“Scholar Oh. You made a mistake.”

“However. As a subject…”

“Ahem!”

The scholar, who tried to speak again in response to the envoy’s rebuttal, immediately closed his mouth at the Chief Counselor’s shout.

The Chief Counselor, with a contemptuous expression, glared at Scholar Oh.

“To think such a petty person is a member of the cabinet…”

“Chief Counselor! I…”

“I told you to shut your mouth! Get out right now!”

At the Chief Counselor’s shout, Scholar Oh left the room with a pale face. Now that he had been marked by the Chief Counselor, his career advancement was over.

The Chief Counselor, who had thrown out Scholar Oh who had been running his mouth, looked around at the envoy and scholars and continued.

“We cannot recklessly overturn a decision made by His Majesty. However, whether it becomes a wise waiting like Jiang Ziya’s waiting or a foolish farmer’s waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump is up to us. Therefore, we must prepare well.”

Jiang Ziya, a general of King Wu of Zhou who later became the founder of the State of Qi, was known for spending 80 years fishing with an empty hook while waiting for an opportunity, which is referred to as “Taigongwang.” The foolishness of a farmer who, after accidentally obtaining a rabbit that had died by running into a tree stump, only stared at the tree stump is ridiculed as “Shouzhu Daitu.”

Emperor Xuande’s decision to “wait until a useful iron horse appears” was certain to bring one of those two results. However, if they waited without any preparation, it would be the latter case.

This was the thought of not only the Chief Counselor but all the scholars and officials.

“Then, shall we bring in artisans from the private sector?”

As a scholar who heard the discussion proposed an alternative, the Chief Counselor shook his head.

“Do you think those damn merchants will give up their artisans? Even if they do, they will eventually seize the fruits of our hard work.”

* * *

After the Ming firmly established its foundation, commerce in the Central Plains greatly developed.

It was thanks to the vast land, large population, and the continuously developing water transportation since the ancient Sui Dynasty.

As a result, the technology for producing goods needed by the common people rapidly advanced.

As a result, at some point, the skill level of the artisans employed by the merchants surpassed that of the artisans employed by the imperial palace and the government.

What added fuel to this was the trade with Joseon. As various goods made in Joseon became hugely popular, the artisans of the Ming nation also began to hone their skills to catch up.

However, Joseon still maintained a lead of at least one step ahead.

Aware of this, the Ming imperial court and the government tried to absorb the private artisans, but their attempts were repeatedly blocked by the wall created by the merchants.

Most of the skilled artisans were employed by large merchant associations and provided with high salaries and benefits. The merchants of the large associations were “splurging money” to protect their own artisans and to poach skilled artisans from other associations.

The imperial court and the government also joined this competition, but they repeatedly failed. Ridiculously, the financial power of the merchants was stronger than that of the imperial court and the government.

It sounded absurd, but it was inevitable. The Ming imperial court and the government had enormous tax revenues collected from the entire empire, but their expenditures were also enormous. Moreover, there was a huge hole in the finances due to the northern expeditions and the great voyages carried out during the reign of the late Emperor Yongle.

After Emperor Xuande ascended to the throne, thanks to the tireless efforts of Emperor Xuande and the officials down to the lowest level to fill this hole, it was somewhat patched up, but there was still a sizable hole. And as long as that hole existed, the imperial court and the government had limitations.

Of course, if the Emperor had the will, he could easily suppress the merchant forces by force.

However, the Ming merchants were known as the “descendants of Lü Buwei.” Before they knew it, a considerable number of officials were entangled with the merchants. If they thought the Emperor’s pressure had crossed the line, the Emperor himself could be in danger. There would certainly be those who dreamed of becoming Lü Buwei, who had supported Prince Zheng of Qin to become the First Emperor.

* * *

This was why the Chief Counselor reacted negatively to bringing in artisans from private merchant associations.

“Ridiculously, our biggest competitor regarding the iron horse is our own merchants. They will also know about the existence of the iron horse and will have realized its usefulness. So, we have two things to do. One is the proper way, and the other is the irregular way.”

At the Chief Counselor’s explanation, a scholar pretended to know.

“By the proper way, do you mean sending artisans to Joseon?”

“It’s as Scholar Wang says.”

As the Chief Counselor nodded in agreement, Scholar Wang expressed his concern.

“Joseon is a country that doesn’t even hand over the secret technique of making printing plates. Will they really accept it?”

“It won’t be easy. But we have to try, don’t we? That’s the only way to establish justification. In politics, the most necessary thing is justification. And…”

The Chief Counselor, who took a sip of tea, continued.

“We should also consider the irregular way. Try to find someone who is from Joseon or speaks Korean as well as Koreans. If necessary, even reach out to the Eastern Depot.”

The scholars and officials, who understood what the Chief Counselor meant, immediately bowed their heads.

“We will look into it right away.”

Chapter 326
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (3)

As the new year turned to the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign (1432, the year of Imja), in February.

The Challenger, which had sailed for Alexandria, returned. Like its sister ships that had arrived earlier, the Challenger was quarantined at the isolation facility set up in Dali-do. On its deck, an elderly foreigner and a young man, both thickly dressed, were gazing at the sea beyond the harbor.

“My disciple, do you truly have no regrets?”

“I have no regrets.”

“Life in an unfamiliar place will not be easy.”

The disciple smiled and replied to the old man’s words.

“Hahaha! I’m already used to wandering! Don’t worry about me!”

Hearing his disciple’s answer, the old man looked at the young man with a face full of guilt and gratitude.

“I’m sorry and thankful.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, there are quite a few others besides us who are interested in Joseon.”

The old man nodded slightly at his disciple’s words.

On the deck of the Challenger where they stood, there were other Westerners dressed similarly. They too were looking at the scenery of Joseon with expressions mixed with anticipation and concern.

* * *

In Alexandria, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok had done more than just sell goods.

Oh Ha-seok and Mansur had searched for suitable stallions and mares to be used as breeding horses, visiting the nobles and merchants of Alexandria.

The upper class of Alexandria showed sincerity in their dealings with Oh Ha-seok and Mansur, as they were certain to profit from the continued trade with Joseon.

As the transactions went well thanks to the goodwill shown by Alexandria’s upper class, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok set out to fulfill the orders given by Hyang.

“You want me to find people? Do you mean slaves?”

“No. Please find us alchemists.”

“Alchemists?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Let me look into it.”

“While you’re at it, if you could also find some mathematicians…”

“Urgh…”

Thus, they began searching for alchemists and mathematicians through the connections of Alexandria’s upper class, but the results were not good.

“Go to Joseon? Are you mad?”

“I don’t want to abandon where I live and go to some unknown foreign land.”

“I’m receiving sufficient support here.”

All the alchemists and scholars who were invited to go to Joseon shook their heads.

Faced with this situation, Oh Ha-seok and Mansur looked troubled.

“Oh my… This won’t do…”

“His Highness did say ‘if possible’, but still, he’ll be greatly disappointed if we bring back nothing. Why on earth won’t they go? The conditions are quite good…”

In response to Oh Ha-seok’s grumbling, Mansur shared his thoughts.

“I think it’s because they’re already receiving sufficient support from the nobles and great merchants here. The conditions offered by the Crown Prince aren’t enough to motivate them to move.”

“Why do the nobles support them? Is it because of that alchemy?”

Oh Ha-seok, who had heard about alchemists from Mansur on their way to Alexandria, asked with a face still full of disbelief.

‘No matter how many times I think about it, how can human hands create gold? It’s truly an absurd notion!’

To Oh Ha-seok’s question, Mansur shook his head lightly and answered.

“It’s not just about the gold, but also because of the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ or ‘Elixir’, which are said to be the most important catalysts in making that gold.”

“Philosopher’s Stone? Elixir? You haven’t explained these before. What are they?”

“They say that when an alchemist reaches the highest level of their craft, they can create these. They’re catalysts that can turn lead into gold when used in alchemy, but it’s said that if a person consumes them, they can achieve immortality.”

At Mansur’s explanation, Oh Ha-seok asked in a cynical tone.

“Immortality… It seems there are plenty of people like Qin Shi Huang here too. So, has anyone actually made these things?”

“There are lots of rumors, but that’s all.”

At Mansur’s answer, Oh Ha-seok smirked and muttered.

“If we only listened to rumors, gold would be rolling around like pebbles on the streets of our Joseon…”

As Oh Ha-seok muttered, recalling the rumors circulating on the streets of Alexandria, Mansur perked up his ears.

“Pardon?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Anyway, isn’t there any way to find even one person?”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a while, Mansur looked at Oh Ha-seok with a reluctant face.

“I think we’ll have to meet with the Italian merchants.”

“Italy? You mean those merchants working for that Medici person?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm… Medici…”

Oh Ha-seok considered Mansur’s suggestion.

“Wouldn’t he want immortality too?”

“That’s true, but the Pope in Vatican doesn’t like alchemy. He says it misleads people.”

“Is that so?”

Oh Ha-seok’s face brightened at Mansur’s words, and he immediately made a decision.

“Then let’s go meet the Italian merchants!”

* * *

“I’ll inquire with Cosimo.”

The Medici merchant who heard Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s request answered immediately and added:

“I’ll do my best to achieve a good result.”

“Please do.”

“I’ll do my utmost.”

The merchant responded to Oh Ha-seok’s request, promising to do his best.

As a merchant, he had no choice but to do his best. It was because of the order Cosimo had given before returning to Florence.

“Do your utmost to establish a solid relationship network with Joseon!”

Although they had forged a relationship through a personal meeting at Mansur’s house, it was still a relationship that could be severed at any time.

That’s why Cosimo had given such an order to the merchant.

To the merchant who had been looking for opportunities to carry out the order he had received, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s request was a gift from God.

After sending Mansur and Oh Ha-seok away, the merchant hurriedly wrote a letter and sent it to Florence.

Using the fastest ship among those owned by the Medici family, Cosimo, upon receiving the merchant’s letter, immediately made a decision.

“Find people who can go to Joseon!”

The people now pacing on the deck of the Challenger were those who had come through this process.

* * *

Most of those who came to Joseon were from the territories of the Eastern Roman Empire that had fallen to the Ottoman Turks.

These people, who had fled to Italy to escape the war, were still in difficult circumstances.

Although quite a few nobles and merchants supported them, the church didn’t leave them alone.

The fact that they believed in Greek Orthodoxy rather than Catholicism, that they studied alchemy tainted with mysticism, that they delved more into philosophy and mathematics than faith in God, and so on.

Seeing these people with so many things they disliked, the Vatican continued to judge them as heretics.

Although there were rarely incidents of burning at the stake like during the Black Death, the alchemists and scholars still had to endure criticism from the Vatican.

Therefore, when they were offered the chance to go to Joseon through the Medici merchants, they left Italy without hesitation.

* * *

While they were in quarantine in Dali-do, a messenger carrying a report written by Oh Ha-seok rushed to Hanseong.

After reading the report sent by Oh Ha-seok, King Sejong turned to Hyang and said:

“It says they’ve brought mathematicians and alchemists as per your order. Read it.”

“Yes, Father.”

As Hyang began to read the report handed to his through the merchant ship, Kim Jeom asked him:

“Is it truly possible to create gold through alchemy?”

“As I explained last time, I’ve never heard that it’s possible.”

“Yet they keep trying?”

“They believe that the challenge itself is a form of training towards a higher state.”

“A higher state…”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom’s face showed a slight disappointment.

Seeing Kim Jeom’s face, the ministers inwardly muttered:

‘That man has been handling money since his days at the Ministry of Finance, he’s lost his humanity, truly lost it… ’

“Some problematic individuals have arrived.”

Hyang reported to King Sejong with a voice full of concern as he checked the report.

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong immediately asked:

“Are you referring to the Western monks?”

“Yes.”

Hyang answered promptly.

There were worrisome individuals listed in the report submitted by Oh Ha-seok.

-Five Western monks.

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s point.

“Monks… Indeed… We must consider the possibility that they might cause the same harm as the Buddhist monks.”

At King Sejong’s remark, the ministers’ faces also grew serious.

The harmful effects of Buddhism played a significant role in Joseon’s decision to adopt ‘Neo-Confucianism’ as its national ideology.

As a result, under King Sejong’s rule, there were only two Buddhist sects remaining. Only 36 main temples remained.

In this situation, monks who believed in the Western God had entered the country.

‘If this were the 21st century, there would be no problem due to religious freedom, but this is the Joseon era. If we’re not careful, the Catholic persecution that occurred in the 19th century could happen now. Of all things to bring back, why such a bomb… ’

Hyang, grumbling inwardly at Oh Ha-seok who was far away in Dali-do, said to King Sejong:

“We brought them because we need them, but we must prevent any problems they might cause. Therefore, if they come to Hanseong, we must make them promise ‘not to proselytize.’ If they can’t make that promise, we should send them back immediately.”

King Sejong reacted negatively to Hyang’s words.

“Those who believe in God are willing to risk their lives for proselytizing. Will they really make such a promise? No, even if they promise upfront, they might easily break it behind our backs.”

“If they do that, it would be sullying the name of the God they believe in. If they act in such a way, we must immediately charge them with the crime of deceiving the world and the people, and punish them severely. Of course, we should inform them of this in advance.”

“That’s good…”

As King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s suggestion, he turned to the ministers.

“What do you think, gentlemen?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just send them back?”

“Sending them back would be fine, but their knowledge is also valuable, so I think the Crown Prince’s suggestion is appropriate.”

After a continued debate on how to handle the monks, the ministers concluded to adopt Hyang’s plan.

With the decision on how to deal with the monks settled, Hyang brought up the next agenda.

“We should move the research institute out of the palace on this occasion.”

“That’s right. Having many outsiders wandering around the palace would surely cause problems. Then where should we move it? Should we move it to Area 51? Wouldn’t that be the best?”

When King Sejong mentioned Area 51, Hyang shook his head.

“That won’t do. There are too many confidential facilities there. If any of them later decide to return to their homeland, we could suffer losses.”

“Aren’t there already two Western craftsmen in Area 51?”

As King Sejong refuted, referring to Raphael and Pietro, Hyang explained the reason.

“Those craftsmen only know about glass and nothing else. But the people coming now are scholars. They’ll quickly figure things out with just a little thought.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Lee Jik stepped forward.

“However, looking at the current situation, there’s frequent traffic between the research institute and Area 51. If Western scholars work at the research institute, they’ll inevitably travel to Area 51, and naturally, they’ll learn about confidential matters, won’t they?”

“If such a situation occurs, we can restrict their access to only the parts related to their work. But if they’re inside Area 51, they can naturally see everything.”

After continued exchange of opinions, policies regarding the location of the research institute and access to Area 51 were established.

Thus, preparations began for the emergence of the world’s first academic institution, and the world’s first ‘international graveyard of engineering nerds’.

Chapter 327
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (4)

As soon as King Sejong’s approval came down, construction began quickly despite the harsh winter.

The main reason for starting construction in winter was that they couldn’t keep the “uncivilized” Western men in the palace, which was full of the king, queen, and court ladies.

The location chosen for the research institute was between Area 51 and Mapo Port, which would be around present-day Wonhyo-dong in the 21st century.

After selecting the site for the research institute, Hyang muttered with a regretful expression:

“If I had my way, I’d build it right at the foot of Gwanak Mountain… But transportation is still a mess…”

Hyang, who had only been licking his lips in anticipation, soon put on a determined expression and made a firm resolution:

“Just wait until we build a bridge over the Han River! We’ll move the research institute to Gwanak Mountain right away!”

Hyang still harbored resentment from the college entrance exam stress he had endured in the 21st century for supposedly having a “damn good brain”.

* * *

Around the time construction began in Hanseong, the Challenger, which had been staying in Dali-do, moved to the naval base in Mokpo.

The sailors who had been confined to Dali-do during the quarantine period grumbled as they disembarked.

“Can’t believe we were cooped up longer than those horse foals!”

“Those little colts had it better than us!”

The horses acquired in Alexandria had already been unloaded and moved as soon as the veterinarians finished their checks.

The sailors who grumbled with protruding lower lips underwent another health check, then quickly left the base after receiving their leave papers and bonuses.

“Shall we grab a drink?”

“Is booze really the issue now? Our kids probably don’t even remember what their fathers look like!”

“Let’s drink later!”

After saying goodbye to their colleagues, the sailors hurriedly made their way to their homes where their families were waiting.

With the sailors gone, only the alchemists and mathematicians remained.

The interpreters from Mansur’s merchant group who had come on the Challenger, along with Joseon’s interpreters, informed them of the upcoming schedule.

“You will take a ship from here to Hanseong. After arriving in Hanseong and having an audience with His Majesty, you will be assigned your work locations.”

The alchemists and scholars nodded at the interpreter’s explanation.

Seeing this, the interpreter spoke again.

“Any questions?”

At the interpreter’s inquiry, one of the monks gathered in one place raised his hand.

“What do you want to know?”

To the interpreter’s question, the monk asked with a troubled expression:

“Do we have to bathe again when we arrive in Hanseong?”

Without even asking the Joseon interpreter, the interpreter immediately answered the monk’s question.

“Of course!”

At the interpreter’s response, the monks muttered with embarrassed faces:

“Oh Lord…”

Unlike the alchemists and mathematicians from the Eastern Roman Empire who were accustomed to bathing culture, for the monks from Western Europe, the act of bathing itself was very uncomfortable.

Because of this, the monks had to struggle with the sailors every time they stopped at ports for supplies and rest, from before departing Suez and at each stop along the way.

“If disease spreads because you don’t bathe, we’ll throw you into the sea right away!”

The monks had refused to bathe until Oh Ha-seok’s threat.

* * *

Thus, the ship carrying the alchemists, scholars, and monks departed from Mokpo and headed for Jemulpo.

Upon arriving at Jemulpo, the alchemist group traveled up the Han River towards Mapo.

Arriving in Mapo, the group rested at lodgings prepared by the government to recover from their journey.

While they were resting, the female servants assigned to the lodgings had to endure a difficult task.

It was because of the enormous amount of laundry produced by the alchemist group.

The female servants wielded their laundry bats against the filthy clothes, spewing curses.

“Damn it! Even the rags worn by beggars under Cheonggyecheon Bridge would be cleaner than this!”

* * *

The alchemists and scholars, now dressed in clothes prepared in advance by the government, had already taken out paper and pens to record their experiences.

-The Joseon people are very particular about bathing. Even the sailors who navigate ships bathe immediately upon docking at a port.

It is certain that the Joseon people’s obsession with bathing is not for religious reasons.

Through conversations via the Arab interpreter, we confirmed that Joseon people believe that keeping the body clean through bathing prevents infectious diseases.

-The Joseon people’s belief that bathing prevents disease is not a mere custom.

If the interpreter has translated correctly, this is knowledge acquired through experience.

Therefore, it seems necessary to verify this.

There are several peculiarities in the Joseon people’s way of life, one of which is the toilet.

Unless they are truly impoverished lower-class citizens, they install toilets made of iron or porcelain in their bathrooms.

These toilets are very unique. After using them, when you pull a string, water from a tank flushes down and washes away the excrement.

In the lodgings where we are staying, there is a slave dedicated to filling these toilet tanks with water.

According to the interpreter, in households that cannot afford to keep a slave, they keep a large jar filled with water and fill the tank before or after using the toilet.

The alchemists and scholars meticulously recorded what they had seen and experienced during those few short days.

In the future, the records left by these individuals would become important historical materials for understanding the lifestyle of Joseon during this period.

* * *

It was only after five days that the alchemist group was able to have an audience with King Sejong.

The reason it took five days was, amusingly, because their washed clothes hadn’t dried yet.

They couldn’t meet King Sejong wearing only undergarments, so they had to stay at the lodgings until their clothes were completely dry.

On the morning of the fifth day, the alchemist group, dressed in their well-dried clothes, boarded carriages sent by the government and headed for Hanseong.

The group in the carriages looked out the windows with keen interest at the scenery outside.

As they entered Hanseong through Sungnyemun Gate, where railway construction was still in full swing, the alchemist group suddenly burst out with exclamations that were almost like screams.

“Oh my God!”

“Heavens!”

Seeing the group’s commotion at the sight of trains moving along the railway, the carriage drivers and the soldiers escorting them smirked and muttered:

“Country bumpkins…”

Whether aware of this reaction or not, the alchemist group couldn’t take their eyes off the ‘iron horse’. As they watched the iron horse disappear into the distance, the group soon began to have a doubt.

“Why would a country capable of producing such things need us?”

“Will they really need us at all?”

“Shouldn’t we be the ones learning from them instead?”

* * *

With a mix of anticipation and worry, the alchemist group passed through Gwanghwamun and took their places in the front courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“His Majesty the King approaches!”

At the herald’s announcement, the interpreter hurriedly said to the group:

“The King of Joseon is coming! Pay your respects immediately!”

At the interpreter’s words, the alchemist group bowed deeply in respect.

King Sejong, seated on a chair that had been prepared in advance, gave an order to the group bowing before him.

“You may rise.”

The group, hearing King Sejong’s order through the interpreter, looked up at him. Seeing the foreigners with unfamiliar appearances, King Sejong slowly began to speak.

“Welcome to Joseon. I am the King of Joseon.”

The group, hearing King Sejong’s words through the interpreter, bowed deeply again.

“It is an honor to meet the monarch of the Kingdom of Joseon!”

In this complex situation requiring communication through interpreters, King Sejong addressed the group:

“Our Joseon needs your scholarship. We do not take the value of knowledge lightly. However, we also do not favor those who are idle. Therefore, I hope you will do your utmost.”

The group, hearing King Sejong’s request through the interpreter, bowed politely.

“We will do our best, Your Majesty.”

Hearing the group’s response, King Sejong turned to look at Hyang standing behind him.

“The Crown Prince is responsible for managing them, so let the Crown Prince proceed from now on.”

“Yes, Father.”

Receiving King Sejong’s order, Hyang stepped forward and addressed the group.

“I am the prince of Joseon and the one who will be managing you.”

At Hyang’s words, spoken clearly in Latin, albeit not perfectly natural, the group looked at Hyang with wide eyes.

‘You know Latin?’

‘It’s Latin, even if the sentences aren’t perfect!’

Seeing the group’s surprised expressions, the interpreter hurriedly spoke up.

“What are you doing! This is the Crown Prince of Joseon! Pay your respects immediately!”

Snapping back to their senses at the interpreter’s words, the group hastily bowed.

“We greet you, Your Highness!”

“I’m glad to meet you too. As my father said, Joseon needs your knowledge, so I hope you will do your best.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hearing the group’s response, Hyang moved on to the most important issue.

“I hear there are Catholic monks among you. Who are they?”

At Hyang’s question, five monks gathered in one corner stepped forward.

“We are, Your Highness.”

As the monks came forward, Hyang immediately got to the point.

“What will you do in our Joseon? Academic research, or proselytizing?”

To Hyang’s question, the one who appeared to be the eldest answered.

“We have come primarily for academic research, Your Highness.”

“Primarily, you say… What is your name?”

“I am called Angelo, Your Highness.”

“I see, Angelo. So you’re saying it’s primarily for academic research, and then proselytizing?”

“…”

Seeing Angelo’s silence in response, Hyang gave a bitter smile.

“I see. According to your scriptures, your God commanded to ‘spread the gospel to the ends of the earth,’ so you can’t give up on proselytizing, can you?”

‘Mom, I’m sorry!’

Hyang was inwardly apologizing, remembering his 21st-century mother who had been active as a deaconess in the church.

Meanwhile, not only the monks but also the alchemists and mathematicians who were Orthodox Christians looked surprised at Hyang’s words.

‘He knows the Bible?’

‘I thought people in the East believed in Buddhism, how does he know the Bible?’

Seeing the people frozen in a situation they had never expected, Hyang continued:

“According to the commandments given by your God, it says ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ And another commandment says ‘Honor your father and mother.’ Is this correct?”

“It is, Your Highness.”

“Then let me ask you this. In our Joseon, not only do we practice filial piety towards our parents, but it is also fundamental to respect our ancestors, who are our parents’ parents. Therefore, we prepare food with sincerity according to set dates to express our gratitude to our ancestors. Does this align with or contradict your commandments?”

“Uh…”

Angelo was at a loss for words at Hyang’s question.

Hyang’s question was exquisite.

If he said it contradicted, he would be criticized for why it was wrong when they were following the commandment to honor parents. If he said it aligned, he would be pointed out for worshipping dead ancestors as gods, violating the commandment to ‘have no other gods.’

Seeing Angelo struggling to find a proper answer, Hyang concluded:

“Proselytizing is forbidden until your Pope makes a decision on this matter. Any objections?”

“No, Your Highness.”

Angelo answered with a face of complete resignation.

In fact, not just Angelo, but all the accompanying monks had the same expression.

The monks who came to Joseon had a complicated background.

They were monks belonging to the Franciscan order. But at the same time, they were followers of Roger Bacon’s teachings.

Because of this, like Roger Bacon who had been exiled, they were also in a state of semi-excommunication.

That’s why they had come to Joseon to safely study philosophy and mathematics.

Therefore, even if they sent the issue Hyang pointed out to the Vatican, the chances of it properly reaching the Pope were almost nil, and the chances of getting a good answer were even lower.

In the end, Angelo and his group had to completely give up on proselytizing.

Hyang’s trick to buy even a little time to prevent the explosive collision between East and West had unexpectedly succeeded in an unforeseen direction.

Chapter 328
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (5)

After securing the promise from the Franciscan monks, Hyang led them to the research institute.

“Wow…”

“Oh my…”

The alchemists, scholars, and monks exclaimed in admiration at the various artifacts and models displayed in the institute’s exhibition hall.

As they looked at the displayed items, the alchemists began to feel uneasy.

Finally, unable to suppress his anxiety, one alchemist asked Hyang:

“We are not blacksmiths. Is there work for us to do?”

As all the other alchemists nodded in agreement, Hyang explained why he had called for alchemists.

“To be honest, I don’t believe alchemy is possible. The same goes for the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ or ‘Elixir’. What I want is not knowledge about alchemy, but knowledge about minerals.”

“Knowledge about minerals, you say?”

“Yes. Follow me.”

Hyang led the alchemists to a separate room. As the alchemists followed Hyang, the scholars and monks also trailed behind.

The room Hyang entered with the alchemists was filled with rows of cabinets.

“Currently, only about 20% of these cabinets are filled.”

As he explained, Hyang pulled out several drawers from the cabinets. Each compartment of the opened drawers contained a different type of mineral.

“As you can see, these minerals were collected by our Joseon prospectors during their explorations. While some are well-known from before, there are quite a few we don’t know about. That’s why we need your expertise. Your job will be to classify and analyze not only the minerals currently in these drawers but also those that will come in the future.”

The alchemists nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

-Through the process of creating gold by alchemy, one reaches enlightenment and attains a higher state.

This was the goal of alchemists. For this purpose, they had accumulated and passed down knowledge through generations.

However, there seemed to be something lacking in Hyang’s explanation. No, it wasn’t lacking, it was dissatisfaction.

‘Are you saying we were called here just for such classification work? Just for such a task?’

Not realizing how much time and manpower the ‘classification and analysis’ Hyang mentioned would consume, the alchemists’ faces began to show signs of discontent.

“If it’s just for such classification and analysis, you wouldn’t have needed to gather alchemists like us from far away, would you?”

Hyang chuckled at this statement, which implied, ‘We’re too high-level for such menial work.’

‘These fellows are thinking the job is too easy, aren’t they?’

“Hah! If you think it’s simple classification and analysis, you’re mistaken. The classification and analysis of these minerals must be based on very specialized work. For example, you need to analyze and classify whether they react to acids or bases, and if they do react, whether they react to all acids and bases or only to specific ones, and so on.”

As they listened to Hyang’s explanation, the alchemists looked up and around. The room, large enough to host a royal or noble banquet, was filled with rows of cabinets.

He had said that only 20% of those many cabinets were filled, but even that was an enormous quantity.

And experimenting and analyzing with acids and bases was something that only professionally trained individuals, such as alchemists, could do.

As the alchemists realized the enormous scale of the work they had to do, their faces began to turn pale.

Watching the alchemists’ faces grow increasingly pale, Hyang continued with a mischievous smile.

“Ah! And while we won’t be doing alchemy, we’ll be doing similar work. You’ll also be in charge of that related work.”

“When you say similar work, do you mean creating gold?”

“No, the goal is to create better quality steel. Making stronger and tougher steel. Creating rust-resistant iron, and so on. Ah! Talking about making gold reminds me of something I forgot. We also need to research methods to extract gold from ore more efficiently.”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists stood with blank expressions, their mouths opening and closing.

Like carps, the alchemists gaped for a moment before coming to their senses and asking Hyang:

“Rust-resistant iron? We’ve never heard of or seen such a thing.”

“I’ve never seen gold made through alchemy either. But wouldn’t iron be easier than gold? I believe that rust-resistant iron can be made.”

‘I’ve seen plenty of stainless steel, you know!’

The alchemists who were about to argue back closed their mouths when they saw Hyang’s face.

Hyang’s face, as he looked at the alchemists, showed strong conviction.

‘Someone who doesn’t believe in alchemy believes that rust-resistant iron can be made! And with such certainty!’

* * *

After informing the alchemists of their tasks, Hyang turned to the mathematicians.

“I have many tasks for you as well.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars swallowed hard and asked:

“What kind of work, Your Highness?”

“Of course, you’ll be researching mathematics, but you’ll also need to accurately quantify all the work done by the government and all the information they need, and analyze the hidden meanings within.”

“I’m not sure I understand…”

“That’s too abstract, Your Highness.”

At the mathematicians’ words, Hyang immediately provided a more detailed explanation.

“Let me give you a simple example. If we investigate how much fertilizer is used just before planting each year in all the rural areas of Joseon and submit that data, you’ll create a table from it. And then you’ll create another table for the amount of grain harvested when harvest time comes. If these records accumulate over several years, couldn’t you analyze the correlation between the amount of fertilizer used and the harvest yield? Of course, there would be natural variables like droughts or floods in between, but these factors could also be converted into numerical data and applied. If we analyze all these correlations, couldn’t we predict the harvest yield to some extent before the harvest season? Not a rough estimate like ‘The weather was good this year, so the yield will be high,’ but a prediction like ‘We can harvest at least this much.’ And if such predictions are possible, couldn’t we use them as a basis to calculate next year’s expenditure in advance?”

After hearing this explanation, which was supposed to be simple but came out all at once, everyone looked at Hyang with dumbfounded expressions before coming to their senses and answering.

“Y-yes, that’s true.”

“It’s possible.”

The mathematicians nodded at Hyang’s explanation. However, their faces also turned pale like the alchemists’ at Hyang’s next words.

“Ah! The agricultural sector I just used as an example is already nearing completion in terms of quantification. You’ll need to do similar quantification work in other areas. It doesn’t end with just quantification; you’ll also need to create relational equations, develop methods for creating statistics, and methods for analyzing those statistics.”

“Even analysis methods?”

“Isn’t it those analysis methods that become valuable when expressed as mathematical formulas?”

“That’s true.”

“First, follow me.”

As the mathematicians nodded, Hyang led them to another room.

* * *

The room Hyang took the mathematicians to was the very same room that had once sent Kim Dam into ecstasy.

“This is…!”

“Oh my!”

The mathematicians exclaimed in admiration at the blackboard that filled one entire wall and the numbers that covered that blackboard.

Among the symbols interspersed between the numbers, the only recognizable one was the addition sign, but the profundity of those equations was immediately apparent.

Standing with his back to the blackboard, Hyang continued his explanation to the mathematicians.

“Do you remember the river you came up when traveling here from Jemulpo?”

“Yes, we do.”

“These are the calculations being done to design a bridge that will span that river.”

At Hyang’s explanation, the mathematicians recalled the vast expanse of the Han River.

“The river is indeed very wide, but is such complex calculation really necessary?”

Hyang immediately answered the mathematicians’ question.

“The reason for such calculations is to aim for supporting the maximum weight with the minimum number of piers. Therefore, a large amount of iron will be used. You’ll learn more details about this part when you formally join the work later.”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians muttered simultaneously.

“So that’s why the research on iron…”

“Correct. The better the iron we produce, the fewer piers we’ll need.”

“If that happens, we’ll have to change the entire equation…”

As one of the mathematicians muttered, another mathematician beside him pointed out the error.

“The equation itself won’t change much. We can set the quality of iron as a variable.”

“Correct.”

The mathematicians nodded at Hyang’s affirmation.

Angelo, who had been quietly examining the blackboard, posed a question to Hyang.

“If you’ve already developed equations to this extent, aren’t we unnecessary?”

To Angelo’s point, Hyang explained why he had called them.

“Unfortunately, our Joseon lacks people. We’re continuously nurturing talent, but it will still take a lot of time to meet all the demand. That’s why we called you. You, who have mastered the essence of mathematics studied since ancient times, should be able to quench Joseon’s current thirst.”

At Hyang’s words, the eyes of the mathematicians and alchemists began to shine.

Although Islamic countries were said to treat mathematicians and alchemists well, there were religious issues.

On the other hand, continuing academic activities in Italy and Western Europe meant facing disdain at best, and in severe cases, being accused of heresy and facing punishment.

Lastly, the conflict with the Ottomans was a problem for staying in their homeland.

The nobles and emperors who could support them wanted technology that could be immediately used in war and substances that could be used as weapons, rather than pure academic achievements.

But Joseon was different.

Of course, it was equally distant from the pursuit of pure knowledge, but the tasks were sufficient to give a sense of intellectual achievement.

* * *

Feeling the positive change in the reactions of the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang dangled one last tempting bait.

“Ah! I forgot something… If someone develops a substance or knowledge with sufficient commercial value, they will receive ample compensation.”

“When you say compensation…”

“Have you heard of patents?”

After hearing Hyang’s explanation about patents and royalties, the eyes of the alchemists and mathematicians began to shine fiercely.

They needed money too. To them, for whom finding a sponsor for more comfortable and stable research was most important, what Hyang said was like sweet honey.

‘It’s like they’re shooting lasers from their eyes! Indeed, the power of capitalism!’

Seeing the gleaming, almost sparkling eyes and once again feeling the power of money, Hyang asked one last question.

“Well? Will you work in Joseon? Will you sign the contract?”

To Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians answered in unison.

“We’ll sign!”

In the distant future, the records they left all contained the same words.

‘We shouldn’t have signed the contract.’

* * *

After finalizing the contract with the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang explained the next steps.

“The first thing you need to do is learn the language and writing system used in our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars nodded and looked at the Chinese characters. Some nodded as if they were slightly familiar.

To them, these were known as Kitai characters.

“Even if you don’t become familiar with the writing, you need to be able to converse in the language to be assigned to work, and to receive your salary normally.”

“Understood.”

As they responded to Hyang, the alchemists and mathematicians simultaneously had similar doubts.

‘Why do these people, who have such advanced technology and use their own language, use Kitai characters?’

But they soon found the answer to their question.

‘Well… We use Latin characters too, after all… ’

Although they were born and raised in various places from Greece to France and England, it was common for them to use Latin when recording research results or writing papers.

Therefore, they took this issue lightly.

* * *

Contrary to Hyang’s expectations, the alchemists and mathematicians were able to converse in Korean after about two months.

When reports came in that they had not only mastered conversation but also acquired Joseon’s unique mathematical knowledge, including mathematical symbols, Hyang called for Jeong-cho.

“Can we assign them to practical work now?”

“It seems more than possible, Your Highness.”

“Then let’s assign them.”

Upon Hyang’s decision based on the report, Jeong-cho assigned the alchemists and mathematicians to practical work.

“These are the Western scholars who will be working with you from now on. Don’t cause any discord, work in harmony to produce good results.”

“Yes, sir.”

Three days later, after a brief introductory meeting, the researchers began working with the foreigners.

“Alright! Before we start working, let’s shout our motto!”

“Only Mathematics Can Answer[1]!”

After shouting the motto loudly, the researchers immediately got to work.

As more time passed, the Western scholars and Joseon researchers became close enough to laugh and chat together.

When this happened, a mathematician who couldn’t suppress his curiosity asked a researcher he had become friendly with:

“What’s the meaning of the motto we shout every morning?”

“Oh, that? It means ‘Only mathematics can answer.'”

“That’s amazing!”

“It’s profound, isn’t it? But it’s been true so far, and it will continue to be!”

Chapter 329
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (6)

“Only mathematics can answer!”

The lower-ranking officials heading towards Geunjeongjeon Hall frowned at the loud shout coming from the research institute.

“Those, those…”

“How can they be so outrageous…”

“Tsk! It’s nothing but a trivial field of study…”

“They don’t read the classics of the sages and cultivate virtue, that’s why they make such noise…”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

The lower-ranking officials who were badmouthing the institute’s researchers stopped talking when they heard a cough from behind, and slowly turned their heads.

“Eep!”

“Your Excellency…”

Jeong-cho was glaring at them with a fierce expression.

‘We’re doomed!’

The faces of the lower-ranking officials who had been enthusiastically gossiping turned pale.

* * *

To those unfamiliar with him, Jeong-cho might appear to be a sidelined old man in terms of power, being the deputy director of the politically less prominent “Joseon Institute of Science and Technology Development”.

However, those who knew even a little about the movement of power within Gyeongbokgung Palace never dared to underestimate Jeong-cho.

Although he was the deputy director, his rank was that of Jeonghun Daebu, the Senior Second Rank. While that was already a considerable position, what was more important was that his superior, the director of the institute, was the Crown Prince.

King Sejong, who had gained absolute power after purging the elder ministers just before the reformation, and his eldest son, the Crown Prince.

Assisting such a Crown Prince was certainly not a task for a sidelined old man.

That’s why the lower-ranking officials who were caught gossiping by Jeong-cho turned pale.

* * *

Jeong-cho, glaring at the pale and flustered lower-ranking officials, began to growl at them.

“What, trivial study? What are you, who can’t even do your jobs properly without the help of those who have mastered this ‘trivial study’?”

“We are deeply sorry.”

“We have behaved shamefully…”

“You petty men. Even children just learning etiquette at the Commoner’s School wouldn’t behave as shamefully as you are now. Be ashamed of yourselves! Tsk! How on earth are those ministers managing their subordinates! I need to have a word with them! Tsk!”

Watching Jeong-cho’s retreating figure heading towards the research institute located in Eastern Palace while expressing his displeasure, the lower-ranking officials muttered with gloomy faces.

“We’re really done for…”

* * *

Around the time when the weather started to warm up as March began, a message arrived from the Jeolla Right Naval Station.

“An envoy from the Ōuchi clan has arrived?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chief State Councillor, immediately answering King Sejong’s question, presented the official report to him.

“Hmm…”

After reading the report with a hum, King Sejong looked at the ministers.

“Have the Ministers of National Defense and Foreign Affairs read it too?”

“Yes, we have confirmed the copy, Your Majesty.”

“If the contents of the report are accurate, the envoy had no choice but to come to the Jeolla Right Naval Station instead of the Japanese trading post.”

King Sejong nodded at the Foreign Minister’s words.

* * *

As Joseon began trading with foreign countries, the Jeolla Right Naval Station, especially the Mokpo Naval Base, was turning into an unofficial international trading port. To prevent infectious diseases, even Mansur’s merchant fleet had to first dock at Mokpo Naval Base, and the Challenger-class warships traveling to and from India were officially affiliated with the Jeolla Right Naval Station.

The same was true for ships traveling to and from Japan. Ships carrying raw ore mined from the silver mines jointly operated with the Ōuchi clan entered Mokpo Naval Base.

Ore wasn’t the only thing being secretly brought from Japan.

Thanks to the Minamoto clan, the Governor of Kyushu, properly regaining their territory, large quantities of cotton cultivated on consignment were scheduled to be imported from the latter half of this year, the year of Imja (the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign, 1432).

To conceal the alliance with the Ōuchi clan, Joseon also actively operated the route connecting the Japanese trading post – Dongnae – Tsushima – Honshu.

The biggest factor enabling the active operation of this route was the trading posts established in Nagato and Naniwa (present-day Osaka).

Merchants from small territories inland or lacking large ships capable of sea navigation sought out the Joseon trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa.

The scale of transactions made through these merchants visiting the trading posts was considerable, leading to a gradual increase in the number of ships deployed for regular voyages between Dongnae and Nagato/Naniwa.

As the volume of goods moving between Joseon and Japan continued to grow, significant changes began to occur between the two countries.

* * *

For Joseon, the biggest change, apart from economic benefits, was that they could comfortably conceal a substantial portion of their dealings with the Ōuchi clan.

As the volume of fleets traveling between Joseon and Japan increased, and the size of the Joseon navy stationed in Tsushima grew to protect them, the Japanese pirates lost their foothold. This inadvertently helped prevent the joint operations of the Ōuchi clan and Joseon from being exposed.

In Japan, the internal situation that had been gradually changing was increasingly coming to the surface.

The most significant change was that Joseon’s products had deeply penetrated into the inner parts of Honshu and Kyushu. These Joseon goods were becoming the spark that was changing Japan.

The problem was that this change was not in a good direction for Japan.

* * *

Merchants from various large and small territories flocked to the Joseon trading posts to purchase Joseon goods and return to sell them in their own territories.

Among these goods were many high-end products for use by the lords or high-ranking samurai, but there were also many items for use by ordinary people.

For example, while lords or high-ranking samurai would purchase dishes and tea sets made of high-quality white porcelain and celadon, ordinary people would buy earthenware pots.

Joseon merchants, whether they were official merchants or general merchants, adopted the same sales strategy.

-Sell expensive items that are costly even in Joseon at high prices, and sell low-priced items with small profit margins but in large volumes.

Because of this, even ordinary people in Japan could purchase items like earthenware pots.

In addition, there were products that ordinary Japanese people would definitely buy, which were steel agricultural tools and kitchen knives made in Joseon.

While Japanese swords (Watoū) made by skilled craftsmen with great care were recognized as masterpieces even in China since ancient times, the quality of iron agricultural tools and kitchen knives used by ordinary people was poor.

Therefore, if Japanese people had even a little surplus, they would definitely seek out Joseon-made agricultural tools and household items.

As Japanese society changed in this way, even though only about two years had passed since the establishment of trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa, the number of blacksmiths and potters going out of business began to increase. Except for a very small number of famous master craftsmen, they couldn’t compete with Joseon.

After reading the related report, Hyang muttered with a cynical expression:

“Has the situation of Japanese screwdrivers and American screws been reversed?”

* * *

In the 21st century, Korea had caught up with or surpassed developed countries, especially the United States and Japan, in many areas. However, in some aspects, it still lagged behind.

The most tangible examples of this were general tools and consumable parts symbolized by ‘Japanese screwdrivers and American screws’.

Many technicians would mutter the same thing when they saw Japanese screwdrivers with excellent quality at reasonable prices, or American screws that wouldn’t get stripped even after being loosened and tightened multiple times:

“This is why damn domestic products just don’t cut it…”

Korean tools with similar quality to Japanese ones but more expensive, or cheaper but poor quality, and screws that would immediately get stripped with just a little force, symbolized Korea’s technological capabilities until the very end of the 20th century.

Of course, Korean companies making such tools and parts were aware of this and invested a lot of money and effort into improving quality. However, by the time the results were about to emerge, Chinese products had already taken over the market.

* * *

One of the changes that the spread of Joseon products brought about in Japanese society was that an arms race had begun, knowingly or unknowingly, and this competition was gradually accelerating.

The journey back to one’s territory after visiting a Joseon trading post was always fraught with danger. As the Joseon navy gained control of the seas, the Japanese pirates who were pushed onto land quickly transformed into bandits.

And although it had been quite some time since the Muromachi shogunate was established, bandits formed by those who were defeated and pushed out during the disputes of the Northern and Southern Courts period still existed.

As the number of these bandits increased, armed force became necessary to protect merchant groups engaged in trade. Therefore, lords mobilized soldiers to protect the merchant groups.

The problem arose when these armed merchant groups passed through other territories. It goes without saying that they were tense in hostile territories, but even in friendly territories, they couldn’t relax their guard whenever soldiers entered.

As a result, all lords not only strengthened their military power but also carried out status laundering by designating their soldiers as escort guards for merchant groups. The reasons for status laundering were, firstly, to avoid provoking other territories, and secondly, to conceal the strengthening of their own military power.

However, no matter how much effort was made to hide it, it was natural that at some point, all these movements would become noticeable. And the moment that happened, the surrounding lords began to openly engage in an arms race.

This arms race, occurring knowingly or unknowingly, stimulated the vigilance of Ashikaga Yoshinori, the shogun of the bakufu.

Yoshinori, who was so cruel that he created the term “terror of ten thousand people,” reacted nervously. While strengthening the military power directly under the bakufu, he would punish or confiscate territories at the slightest sign of suspicion.

All these movements were immediately reported to Hanseong through the official merchants at the trading posts.

After reading the report, Hyang muttered with a strange expression:

“At this rate, won’t the Sengoku period start earlier?”

* * *

Similar discussions were also taking place between King Sejong and his ministers.

“Won’t this lead to another conflict among the Japanese?”

To King Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately replied:

“There’s a high probability of that, Your Majesty.”

Following Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun added:

“While a conflict may not break out immediately, it will certainly occur.”

“It will certainly occur?”

“Yes, considering the nature of the Japanese people, it will certainly happen.”

“Hmm…”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought.

After pondering for a moment, King Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of National Defense, if a conflict breaks out among the Japanese, Japanese pirates will surely appear and cause trouble. How are our defenses against this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We are strengthening our naval forces and reinforcing the communication network in the three southern provinces.”

“When the military is properly prepared, the country is at peace. I trust you.”

At King Sejong’s exhortation, Jo Mal-saeng bowed his head deeply and responded loudly:

“I will do my utmost, keeping Your Majesty’s words etched in my bones!”

After finishing his conversation with Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong turned to Heo Jo.

“If a conflict breaks out in Japan, what should we do about the Japanese trading posts in our Joseon?”

“We should mobilize the army and confiscate all weapons within the trading posts.”

“It could become a diplomatic issue.”

To King Sejong’s point, Foreign Minister Lee Maeng-gyun immediately replied:

“If a conflict breaks out, it means there’s no Japanese government for us to deal with.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Until someone appears to quell the chaos and stabilize the situation, we must strictly control the trading posts.”

Nodding slightly at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of National Defense.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Prepare and submit a plan to control the Japanese trading posts in the event of a conflict in Japan.”

“I will obey Your Majesty’s command!”

After giving the order to Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong looked at the ministers and complained:

“Sigh~ This Japan is truly like a thorn in our side. When it’s peaceful, it creates problems because of its peace, and when it’s in chaos, it creates worries because of its chaos…”

All the ministers nodded at King Sejong’s assessment.

* * *

It was in this situation that an envoy sent by the Ōuchi clan arrived.

Chapter 330
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (7)

“I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter brought by the envoy from the Ōuchi clan.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers recollected the contents of the copy they had read.

After organizing their thoughts based on what they recalled, the ministers soon began to express their opinions.

“They wish to gather talented individuals from their territory to learn the way of the sages. How could this not be admirable? It seems appropriate that we should support this.”

“Indeed. I believe we should accept the Ōuchi clan’s request and provide them with teachers. If we teach them the virtue and etiquette of our Joseon, educating these Japanese, it would be killing two birds with one stone as we could also protect our own safety.”

What the Ōuchi envoy had requested was for Joseon to send teachers to educate the talented individuals they had selected from their territory.

-We have currently selected 50 individuals in the first round. We plan to select a similar number of talented individuals every year in the future.

-Therefore, we request that Joseon provide teachers to educate these individuals. Joseon has been renowned for its literature and etiquette since ancient times, and we wish to learn these.

The contents of the handwritten letter from Ōuchi Morimi brought by the envoy were roughly as above.

The ministers’ opinions were generally leaning towards accepting Ōuchi’s proposal.

“I have heard your opinions well. However, the Ministry of Education, which would have the most to say about this matter, has not yet spoken. What is the opinion of the Minister of Education?”

At King Sejong’s question, Jo Gye-saeng, the Minister of Education, bowed his head.

“I, Minister of Education Jo Gye-saeng, answer Your Majesty’s inquiry. It is truly a good thing that the Ōuchi clan has recognized their shortcomings and asked our Joseon for teachings. However, from this letter alone, we cannot know to what extent Ōuchi desires. If we proceed with assumptions without properly understanding what the other party wants, it would be worse than not doing anything at all.”

“Your words are correct.”

King Sejong nodded at Jo Gye-saeng’s answer. Seeing that the King’s reaction was not unfavorable, Jo Gye-saeng continued a bit further.

“There is also a problem with dispatching teachers to the Ōuchi clan’s territory. We cannot know the level of the 50 talented individuals they have selected. We cannot determine whether their level is that of the former Sungkyunkwan students or that of the current students attending middle schools. To be more precise, we currently lack the teaching talent to dispatch teachers above the middle school level.”

King Sejong’s expression darkened at Jo Gye-saeng’s statement.

“Is ‘lack of talent’ hindering us again?”

“We are deeply sorry. It is due to our incompetence…”

At King Sejong’s complaint, Lee Jik bowed his head as a representative.

“It is not a matter of blaming you.”

King Sejong briefly responded to the ministers’ words and summarized the situation.

This was because if they were to assign blame for the current lack of talent in Joseon, it would result in placing responsibility on the previous kings – especially Taejong.

Upon hearing the words ‘lack of talent’, Heo Jo posed a question to Jo Gye-saeng.

“With so many nobles throughout Joseon, how can there be a lack of talent?”

In response to Heo Jo’s criticism, Jo Gye-saeng sharply retorted.

“Doesn’t the Minister of General Affairs himself go around every day saying ‘lack of talent’?”

“…”

Heo Jo’s mouth shut tightly at Jo Gye-saeng’s rebuke.

Kim Jeom, who had been listening to Heo Jo and Jo Gye-saeng’s conversation from the side, presented his dissenting opinion.

“How about selecting suitable individuals from among those working in the mines who committed crimes in the past year of Gyu?”

As soon as Kim Jeom finished speaking, shouts erupted from all directions.

“Speak sense!”

“Minister! Have you lost your mind?”

“You’re about to cause a great mishap!”

After the commotion died down, King Sejong asked Kim Jeom.

“Why does the Minister of Finance suggest selecting from among the criminals? The minister must be well aware that they are criminals. I would like to hear your explanation.”

King Sejong’s stern voice revealed that he was quite angry at the moment.

Swallowing hard, Kim Jeom carefully explained his reasoning.

“Among those who committed heinous acts in the past year of Gyu, those who deserved death have already been executed. Most of those working in the mines now are being punished by association. Therefore, I thought that if we select suitable individuals from among them and send them to Japan, we could save face with Ōuchi and at the same time widely proclaim Your Majesty’s benevolence.”

As soon as Kim Jeom finished speaking, Maeng Sa-seong opened his mouth.

“According to the Great Ming Code, even those punished by association would not have escaped death. However, our Joseon law states that even those punished by association should be spared execution depending on the extent of their blood relations. That is why they were made into slaves and forced to labor. This alone is enough to demonstrate Your Majesty’s benevolence. Any further leniency could harm Your Majesty’s authority.”

The ministers nodded at Maeng Sa-seong’s words.

Following Maeng Sa-seong, Lee Maeng-gyun spoke up.

“Although the Ōuchi clan claims to be friendly with our Joseon, they are still of the same ilk as those Japanese. They are the kind who would immediately turn their swords on our Joseon if they sense even a slight disadvantage. Moreover, those who committed crimes in the year of Gyu are traitors to Your Majesty. Even if they were not the main instigators, they agreed with those intentions. If such disloyal individuals were to teach the Japanese, would the Japanese who learn from them show goodwill towards our Joseon? Absolutely not.”

As Lee Maeng-gyun finished speaking, Jo Gye-saeng, the head of the relevant department, took over.

“The Foreign Minister’s words are correct. The current shortage of teaching talent is not a matter of knowledge, but a matter of character. No matter how excellent one’s learning and skills may be, if their character does not match, they must never become teachers.”

In the end, the proposal suggested by Kim Jeom was heading towards being deemed ‘absolutely impossible’.

“Your humble son has something he wishes to ask Father.”

“Oh! Yes! Ask away!”

As Hyang, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, opened his mouth, King Sejong brightened up, while the ministers grumbled inwardly.

‘I wondered why he was so quiet!’

‘What kind of talk is he going to use to turn things upside down this time!’

* * *

Hyang observed the situation from a third-party perspective before presenting his opinion, and each time, King Sejong and the ministers were able to find what they had been missing in the matter at hand.

Up to this point, it was a very grateful thing, and King Sejong took pride in his son’s intelligence. However, it was something that caused stress to the ministers, knowingly or unknowingly.

‘To think we couldn’t find such issues! Are we lacking in ability as ministers who assist the king?’

It was because of such rumors that would emerge, knowingly or unknowingly.

* * *

Having received permission from King Sejong, Hyang immediately posed his question.

“It is a good thing that the Japanese of the Ōuchi clan are asking us for teachings. How could learning the way of the sages and understanding principles be a bad thing? However, what I am curious about is why they are asking our Joseon for teachings.”

“Are you saying you don’t understand why they are asking our Joseon for teachings?”

At King Sejong’s point, Hyang nodded and continued.

“Yes. I’ve heard that in Japan, besides the Japanese king who rules the shogunate, there is also an entity called the Emperor, and there are also civil officials called kuge who work under the Emperor. Why doesn’t the Ōuchi clan ask them for help?”

“Hmm… You have a point.”

King Sejong nodded, stroking his beard at Hyang’s observation.

Hyang continued to speak.

“It has been hundreds of years since Buddha’s teachings entered that Japan, and although it’s not Neo-Confucianism, it has also been hundreds of years since the words of the sages entered. Even if those Japanese are uncivilized people who only rely on swords, there should be no small number of people who know the principles of the sages, so it doesn’t make sense for them to ask our Joseon for teachings.”

“That’s true.”

King Sejong kept nodding at Hyang’s points.

* * *

“What do you think, ministers?”

‘As expected… ’

‘Here it comes!’

The ministers, having received the issue thrown by Hyang and tossed by King Sejong, grumbled inwardly. However, since there was nothing wrong with Hyang’s points, the ministers racked their brains hard.

While piecing together various scenarios based on the information they had acquired about Japan, Lee Maeng-gyun was the first to speak.

“It is already well known that the Ōuchi clan and the Japanese king are in a relationship of mutual checks and balances. Especially considering that they are keeping the silver mine developed in collaboration with our Joseon a secret, it seems that the Ōuchi clan also has ambitions. The Japanese kuge are based in Kyoto and are on good terms with the Japanese king. Therefore, it appears they are worried that if they invite them as teachers, secrets might leak to the Japanese king.”

“The Foreign Minister’s words have merit.”

“Then what does the Foreign Minister think about us sending teachers?”

At King Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun closed his mouth and pondered deeply. After considering various scenarios, Lee Maeng-gyun finally spoke.

“I think it is not good for our Joseon to send teachers.”

“Why?”

“First, since our Joseon is in diplomatic relations with the Japanese shogunate, there is still deep mutual distrust. If we send teachers in this situation and it becomes known, the Japanese king might think we are instigating the Ōuchi clan.

Second, if the Ōuchi clan starts something, the dispatched teachers could become hostages. With the silver mine, we have Joseon soldiers present and a naval port nearby, so we could attempt a forceful escape, but the teachers cannot do that. If we’re not careful, they might use the teachers as hostages and demand our participation in war.”

King Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s words.

“That’s right. It might seem like just a few hostages, but it would create issues of justification and problems with the people’s trust…”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Lee Maeng-gyun and the ministers all nodded. If teachers were taken hostage by Ōuchi, it would be a headache deciding whether to rescue them or not. If they helped Ōuchi under the pretext of rescuing these hostages, they would be criticized for interfering in another country’s internal affairs using a few hostages as an excuse, exaggerating a small matter.

Conversely, if they attacked Ōuchi in alliance with the shogunate for this reason, there would be no small number of people accusing them of betraying trust.

Lastly, if they disregarded the lives of the hostages, King Sejong would be criticized as a ‘tyrant who regards the lives of his people as trivial’.

“Then do you think it is right not to accept the Ōuchi clan’s request?”

To King Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun stepped forward again.

“Not necessarily, Your Majesty. Since these are individuals carefully selected by the Ōuchi clan, they will likely hold important positions in the Ōuchi clan’s affairs in the future. If we can make such individuals admire our Joseon, it could be an extremely good thing for our Joseon. Considering the position the Ōuchi clan holds.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, King Sejong and the ministers recalled the geopolitical position of Ōuchi.

The territories that Ōuchi had seized through the battle in Kyushu last year were, whether by coincidence or necessity, regions facing Joseon. Therefore, the more firmly Ōuchi’s control was established, the safer Joseon’s coasts would become.

* * *

After hearing Lee Maeng-gyun’s explanation, King Sejong summarized the situation.

“Summarizing your opinions, it is as follows:

One. It is beneficial for our Joseon to teach the talented individuals of the Ōuchi clan.

Two. However, sending our teachers to the Ōuchi clan’s territory is dangerous.

Is this correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then there is only one answer. Tell the Ōuchi clan to send their talented individuals to Joseon.”

At King Sejong’s decision, the ministers immediately bowed their heads.

“Your Majesty’s words are truly wise.”

“It is the best solution given the current situation.”

“It is a truly wise decision.”

King Sejong smiled bashfully at the shower of praise from the ministers.

“You’re gilding my face, ministers.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty!”

In reality, the ministers had already been thinking along similar lines. However, they had not voiced these thoughts because the subjects in question were Japanese.

They hadn’t proposed bringing in the Japanese, who were symbols of ferocity as much as the Jurchen tribes to the north, because if the Japanese who entered caused trouble, they couldn’t escape the issue of responsibility.

There had already been more than a few instances of similar problems causing headaches in the Japanese trading posts, so the ministers had been keeping their mouths shut as much as possible.

However, since it was King Sejong who brought it up, even if something happened, they could avoid the primary blame.

Watching this scene from the side, Hyang inwardly muttered.

‘The evasive actions of government officials are the same now as in the 21st century… ’

Chapter 331
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (8)

April of the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign. (1432. The year of Imja)

Ōuchi Morimi, who had been to Kyoto, returned to his homeland of Suō.

“Welcome back, my lord!”

As the retainers lined up from the entrance of the castle shouted their welcome in unison, Morimi responded with a slight nod.

“Hmm… Good work. Let’s go in.”

With Ōuchi on horseback at the lead, the retainers who had returned from Kyoto and those who had been guarding the territory entered Suō Castle.

Thud!

As everyone entered, the gates of Suō Castle closed firmly with a dull sound.

* * *

As soon as Morimi, who had briefly washed up and changed clothes, sat in the seat of honor in the main hall, the meeting began immediately.

The first to speak was Mochiyo, Ōuchi’s nephew.

“You look quite unwell. Wouldn’t it be better to take some rest?”

Morimi shook his head with a grave expression at Mochiyo’s words.

“In peaceful times, I would rest and then work, but unfortunately, the times are not good.”

At Morimi’s words, the faces of the retainers who had remained in the territory, including Mochiyo, also became serious.

“We heard through messages and merchant rumors that the atmosphere in Kyoto was not good, but is it that serious?”

“It’s very serious. The phrase ‘terror of ten thousand people’ is not an exaggeration. Sigh…”

Ōuchi let out a long sigh.

Since Ashikaga Yoshinori, the current shogun, had taken power, the air in Kyoto had frozen solid.

Whether they were from ancient noble families serving the Emperor or beggars living day to day on the streets, everyone residing in Kyoto was only watching Ashikaga Yoshinori’s mood.

If anyone caught the shogun’s eye even slightly, it was not uncommon for the person to receive a terrible punishment or lose their life.

The simplest example was the ‘Chicken Expulsion Incident’ that occurred just before Ōuchi’s return.

A cockfight had taken place at Ichijō Kaneyoshi’s residence, and many people had gathered to watch it. The problem was that these gathered people had blocked Yoshinori’s procession. Enraged, Yoshinori banned cockfighting and expelled all chickens from Kyoto. (Note 1)

Moreover, there were more than a few gardeners and cooks who were punished for reasons such as “breaking a gifted plum branch” or “the food doesn’t taste good.” (Note 1)

If only the lower-ranking people had been punished like this, they might have just sneered at it as “petty,” but as mentioned earlier, among those punished by Yoshinori were not a few high-ranking nobles and samurai.

“…So I had no choice but to leave Kyoto using ‘illness’ as an excuse. The previous shogun already saw our Ōuchi clan as a thorn in his side, and the current shogun is a madman on top of that. We should consider ourselves fortunate to have escaped. Sigh…”

Morimi let out a sigh of relief.

* * *

After confirming Yoshinori’s violent and sadistic nature, Morimi gradually increased his guard.

However, before long, Yoshinori warned Morimi.

“Why is the head of the Ōuchi family increasing his troops?”

“…The night air in Kyoto has been unsettling lately.”

“Isn’t it the lord’s troops that are making it more unsettling? Surely you’re not distrusting me, who is responsible for the safety of Kyoto?”

At Yoshinori’s point, Morimi answered with an expression that suggested it was absurd.

“How could that be!”

“Is that so? Then don’t increase your guard any further. It’s frightening.”

“Yes…”

After ending the conversation with Yoshinori like this, Morimi called together the retainers who had come to Kyoto with him.

“We need to go back. Come up with a suitable excuse. If we remove our guards here, we’ll be in immediate danger. No, we might be in danger even if we don’t remove them.”

Morimi had an intuition that this was a critical moment.

The scale of troops Morimi had stationed in Kyoto was considerable. With the current stationed scale, even Yoshinori would have to accept significant losses.

But this was a double-edged sword. While it was a device to prevent Yoshinori from easily using force, it could also provide Yoshinori with a justification to use force.

It would provide the pretext of “Stationing such a large number of troops! They must surely harbor treacherous intentions!”

However, if he reduced his troops at Yoshinori’s request, his life would be forfeit at any time. With Yoshinori holding his lifeline like this, it was certain that he would pressure Morimi to extort various things, starting with economic benefits.

If Morimi couldn’t endure this and raised an army, it would provide Yoshinori with the perfect justification to wipe out the Ōuchi family and take everything.

Therefore, Morimi had to become an untimely patient.

“Illness? What illness?”

“Suddenly, my pulse became unstable and I’m having difficulty breathing. These symptoms started appearing during the conflict with the Shōni, but they’ve worsened recently.”

Seeing Morimi’s pale face as he answered, Yoshinori responded with a seemingly reluctant expression.

“That’s unfortunate. I’ll grant your request. Return to your homeland and recuperate.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

And so, Morimi had to ride in a palanquin until he reached Naniwa (present-day Osaka) and boarded a ship.

* * *

After briefly explaining the process of escaping from Kyoto like this, Morimi continued speaking to his retainers.

“It was the help of the kami. Offer tributes to the shrine.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“And how is the military expansion progressing?”

“We are steadily increasing our forces, my lord.”

“What about the financial issues?”

“Thanks to the steady silver production from the mine, there are no particular problems.”

Morimi nodded at Mochiyo’s answer.

“We’re benefiting from Joseon’s help. Speaking of which… How is the search for craftsmen from Ming going? I received an urgent message that there was good news?”

At Morimi’s inquiry, the retainer in charge of that matter answered with a proud face.

“We were able to secure two through Ming merchants!”

“Are they capable of proper smelting?”

“Yes, they are!”

“It must have cost quite a bit?”

To Morimi’s question, the retainer immediately replied.

“We agreed to give the merchant exclusive trading rights with Ming. For now, we’ve agreed to import steel produced in Ming.”

“Well done!”

Morimi’s face brightened at the retainer’s answer.

While Japanese swords were prized items even in China, fetching high prices, mass production was difficult. Since wars weren’t fought with swords alone, purchasing high-quality steel in large quantities was essential. Therefore, the news of importing steel in large quantities from Ming was excellent.

Of course, there was one regrettable point.

“It’s a bit disappointing that it’s not Joseon-made.”

At Mochiyo’s words, Morimi nodded and responded.

“That’s true. But even Ming-made is a godsend in our situation, so we can’t help it.”

* * *

During the joint development of the silver mine, the quality of Joseon-made steel products drew admiration from the Japanese.

The quality of steel used to make tools like pickaxes, shovels, axes, and saws was superior to that of expensive Japanese swords.

Because of this, Morimi immediately sent an envoy to Joseon expressing his desire to purchase large quantities of steel materials.

However, the answer from Joseon was a refusal.

“Our Joseon is also short on steel materials now. Trading is difficult.”

Morimi was dumbfounded when he heard Joseon’s answer.

“Huh! They’re short on iron? Yet they make pickaxes and shovels out of steel?”

* * *

Setting aside his disappointment about Joseon-made products, Morimi checked on the information about the surrounding territories.

“How is the situation in the surrounding areas these days? Especially the situation of those Shōni bastards who fled to Tsushima?”

“They seem to be steadily aiming for a comeback, but it doesn’t look easy. After all, the environment in Tsushima isn’t good.”

At the retainer’s answer, Morimi snorted.

“Hmph! Stupid fools! To think they fled to a tiger’s den!”

The survivors of the Shōni family, defeated in the Battle of Chikuzen, had to flee to Tsushima. Their plan was to stay in Tsushima, regain their strength, and make a comeback.

However, upon arriving in Tsushima, they faced the great wall of the Joseon army. With the establishment of a Joseon naval base in Tsushima, they could no longer engage in piracy.

Therefore, they had to turn to commerce, using the wealth they had brought as capital.

“Who knows how long it will take…”

Unlike piracy, which could bring great profits if done properly, commerce, which was already saturated, couldn’t bring large profits.

* * *

“That’s the situation with the Shōni, what about other territories?”

“They are continuously expanding their forces to escort merchants.”

Morimi tilted his head at the retainer’s answer and asked again.

“Continuously?”

“Yes.”

“Those fellows shouldn’t have much financial leeway, should they?”

“Indeed, the discontent among the peasants is growing.”

At the retainer’s answer, Morimi nodded with a face that finally understood.

“I see, that makes sense.”

Seeing Morimi’s reaction, the retainer carefully took out a letter from his breast and handed it to Morimi.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a letter sent by village heads from other territories surrounding our domain. They are declaring independence and asking for our protection. They also wrote that if we apply the same tax rate as our territory, they would like to come under your lordship’s shadow.”

“Really?”

Morimi received the letter with a disbelieving face.

As he unfolded the letter and confirmed its contents, Morimi let out a sigh.

“Sigh… This might happen faster than we thought…”

* * *

Since the fall of the Kamakura shogunate, through the Nanboku-chō period, and now in the Muromachi shogunate era, Japan’s economy was growing increasingly rapidly.

Port cities began to develop, monopolizing trade with Ming through tally trade. Additionally, with the opening of Joseon trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa, commerce began to grow nationwide.

What accelerated this situation even further was the shogunate. Unlike the Kamakura shogunate, which relied solely on the produce from the land, the Muromachi shogunate made the profits gained through trade the foundation of its finances. Following this policy, the shogunate engaged in trade not only with Ming and Joseon but also expanded to Ryukyu and Southeast Asia.

Agriculture was the same. Although later than Joseon, ox-drawn plowing began to spread gradually in Japan, and the number of farms cultivating cotton started to increase.

Based on this growing economic power, the ruling class, symbolized by shugō and daimyō, began to expand their military power.

To fund this military expansion and purchase luxury goods coming from Joseon, the ruling class had no choice but to squeeze the peasants and merchants.

The peasants and merchants began to resist. Traditionally, taxes were determined through consultation between village heads and officials of each village. However, the daimyō and shugō had destroyed this tradition, and the peasants and merchants had no choice but to resist.

(Note 2)

* * *

“Will you accept it?”

After pondering for a long time at the retainer’s question, Morimi reached a conclusion.

“No, we won’t accept it. If we accept now, we’ll only be giving them justification. Tell them it’s not the right time yet.”

At Morimi’s words, the retainer immediately bowed his head.

“Yes, my lord!”

Morimi looked around at his retainers.

“Now is the time to wait and strengthen our internal affairs. As long as that madman in Kyoto continues his crazy actions, something will happen soon. So, we wait until then.”

“Yes, my lord!”

After giving orders to his retainers, Morimi muttered with his arms folded.

“I never knew that imitating Joseon would be this helpful.”

Morimi had applied Joseon’s tax policy to his own territory.

It was a very challenging policy, but it had brought even greater results than expected.

* * *

Note 1) https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/아시카가_요시노리

Note 2) https://빅데이터협회.com/2349

Chapter 332
Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (9)

As spring arrived in the year of Imja, Joseon once again began its full-scale foreign activities.

Trading ships departed for Cheonchuk-guk – more precisely, the Bengal Sultanate – and ships also busily traveled back and forth to Japan.

Ships from Dongnae and Mokpo bustled to and from the Joseon trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa, and to the silver mine in Iwami. It wasn’t just between Joseon and Japan. With large-scale cotton cultivation commissioned in the territory of the Governor of Kyushu in Kyushu, the number of Joseon ships traveling between Ming and Japan also increased. The main cargo these ships carried between Ming and Japan was rice. Since large areas of farmland that should have been used for rice and other grains were being used for cotton cultivation, Joseon procured rice and miscellaneous grains from Ming’s Jiangnan region to supply the farmers in those areas and for consumption in Iwami, shipping them directly to Japan.

As a result, Joseon ships were always present in the seas between Ming, Joseon, and Japan.

In the related records of Ming and Japan at that time, phrases like “The sea has become like it was in the days of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla” were commonly found.

When supplying the grains procured from Ming’s Jiangnan region to Japan, Joseon used a clever tactic.

The trick Joseon used was not to distribute directly to the farmers and workers of the Governor of Kyushu and Ōuchi, but to hand them over to the Governor of Kyushu and Ōuchi themselves.

Joseon acted this way because of Hyang’s suggestion.

* * *

When Hyang first proposed this, not only King Sejong but also the ministers expressed doubts.

“Must we do it this way? It seems like we’re doing the work twice, which contradicts what you usually say.”

“Moreover, if we hand it over like that, there could be leakage in the middle.”

While the ministers were pointing out various issues with faces of incomprehension, King Sejong, who had been pondering Hyang’s proposal, spoke up.

“Is it for the sake of justification?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately nodded.

“That’s right. We should avoid unnecessary conflicts.”

At Hyang and King Sejong’s words, the ministers bowed their heads and muttered inwardly.

‘Again! Here we go again! A Zen dialogue only they understand!’

‘I’ve never been called stupid anywhere, but this really makes me feel inadequate… ’

“Ah!”

While the ministers were grumbling inwardly, Hwang Hui – who had returned for a regular report – exclaimed.

Naturally, not only the ministers but also King Sejong and Hyang fixed their gazes on Hwang Hui.

“Do you understand the reason, Minister?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui immediately answered.

“It might be my foolish thought, but isn’t it because of the Ōuchi clan and the Governor of Kyushu?”

“Ah!”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Lee Jik and Maeng Sa-seong simultaneously exclaimed. Following them, starting with Lee Maeng-gyun, the ministers nodded one after another.

Lee Maeng-gyun, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, immediately bowed his head to King Sejong and reported.

“I, who bear the title of Minister of Foreign Affairs, failed to consider that aspect. Please forgive my stupidity!”

“Please forgive our foolishness!”

The ministers all bowed their heads in unison, asking for forgiveness.

‘Aren’t we about to hear that tongue-clicking sound after a long time?’

‘Aren’t we about to hear that we shouldn’t do things that require asking for forgiveness?’

‘I thought I was going to live without hearing that tongue-clicking sound lately… ’

As if aware of the ministers’ thoughts, King Sejong asked a question instead of clicking his tongue.

“It seems you all have understood the reason. Would you care to explain?”

At King Sejong’s order, Lee Maeng-gyun, who could be considered the head of the relevant department, immediately answered.

“The reason is that there are rulers in those places. If our Joseon were to distribute directly, we could be accused of disrespecting them.”

King Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer.

“That’s right. Perhaps that’s why the Crown Prince said such things. Is that correct?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang bowed his head and answered.

“That is the main reason, but there are other reasons as well.”

“Other reasons?”

At the words ‘other reasons,’ King Sejong and the ministers’ ears perked up.

“Explain them.”

“Yes, Father.”

After moistening his throat briefly, Hyang immediately began his explanation.

Even if our Joseon pays wages or provides grains in return, it is certain that the Ōuchi clan and the Governor of Kyushu will take taxes. If our Joseon deducts those taxes before distribution, the Japanese farmers and workers will curse our Joseon.

Therefore, our Joseon should give to the Ōuchi clan and the Governor of Kyushu, and let them distribute to the farmers and workers.

This way, we can prepare for the case where dissatisfaction arises among the Japanese farmers and workers.

“As we know, those Japanese lords impose harsh taxes. Naturally, the Japanese farmers and workers must have many complaints. And if we’re not careful, those complaints might burst out. When that happens, we don’t need to be the ones taking the blame.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation. The ministers, in particular, had expressions of strong agreement.

The explosion of farmers due to severe taxes was something they had already experienced at the end of the previous dynasty (Goryeo).

Observing the ministers’ reactions, Hyang continued.

“The reason we must do this is because we need to sell our Joseon’s products to those Japanese farmers and workers.”

Hyang’s method applied the concept of “Global value chain” that was popular in the 21st century.

It was a more sophisticated version of the “imperialistic economic policy” that was common until the 19th and mid-20th centuries, and it was the modus operandi of ancient multinational corporations that were considered to have power even greater than nations.

‘Make the government of the country where the factory is located take the blame, while we appear as benevolent merchants as much as possible.’

Thanks to acting this way, multinational corporations that had been symbols of “imperialist capitalists” until the 20th century were able to avoid criticism and grow even stronger.

* * *

As the ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation, Hwang Hui opened his mouth.

“The Crown Prince’s words are good, but there could be problems. Among the sayings in the market, there’s one that goes, ‘A meddling sister-in-law is more hateful than a beating mother-in-law.’ If we’re not careful, our Joseon could become that meddling sister-in-law.”

Hyang immediately responded to Hwang Hui’s point.

“If we only pretend to mediate, that’s what will happen. We need to mediate properly.”

“You said mediate properly? Is that possible?”

At Hwang Hui’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun interjected.

“I think it’s possible. With the Ōuchi clan and the Governor of Kyushu, that is. Especially the Ōuchi clan, after the joint silver mine venture and their victory in the conflict with the former Shōni clan, they’ve been busy adopting our Joseon’s culture. Moreover, I’ve heard that they’re already getting information about taxes through our people working in the silver mine.”

“Is that so? Then…”

After hearing Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, Hwang Hui closed his mouth for a moment, pondering various things, and then reported to King Sejong.

“If we plan carefully and execute it, it seems possible.”

“Is that so? What do others think?”

At King Sejong’s question, the ministers immediately answered.

“Inspector Hwang’s words seem appropriate.”

“It seems possible with the current Ōuchi clan.”

* * *

Through this process, Joseon did not directly distribute the grains purchased from Ming, but handed them over to Ōuchi and the Governor of Kyushu.

Having received the grains this way, Ōuchi and the Governor of Kyushu, especially the latter, actively strengthened their control over the farmers.

And in the meantime, Ōuchi introduced Joseon’s tax system. This was not a passive decision made by accepting Joseon’s recommendation, but was closer to Ōuchi’s active choice.

As Lee Maeng-gyun said, the influence of the silver mine played a big role in Ōuchi’s choice. The discontent of Japanese miners grew as they directly saw how their situation differed from that of the Joseon miners working in the mine.

“Even if we say the Joseon miners’ wages come from Joseon, why are the taxes like this! Those who earn more pay less!”

“We want to receive bonuses too!”

Upon confirming the discontent of the Japanese miners, Mochiyo immediately called his subordinates.

“We need to teach those insolent fellows a lesson!”

“That’s right. If we cut off the heads of a few of the most insolent ones, they’ll quiet down!”

As the atmosphere turned violent, as if they were about to go out and start slashing immediately, Ahn Sang-taek interjected.

“Wouldn’t it be better to listen to what they’re saying?”

“What?”

“Shut your mouth!”

At Ahn Sang-taek’s interference, Mochiyo’s subordinates bristled and raised their voices.

“Enough!”

Stopping his subordinates, Mochiyo glared at Ahn Sang-taek and opened his mouth.

“Why?”

Mochiyo asked Ahn Sang-taek for the reason, suppressing his anger. He remembered Morimi’s words when he had entrusted him with the task.

‘Don’t take lightly even passing jokes made by the Joseon people! If there’s anything to be gained from them, you must take it! Whatever the cost!’

At Mochiyo’s question, Ahn Sang-taek immediately answered.

“Because our Joseon has experienced this too.”

“Huh?”

“Do you think our Joseon has good harvests every year and people live well just because there are no droughts or floods?”

At Ahn Sang-taek’s point, Mochiyo’s face turned serious.

He too had heard rumors. When he was very young, there were frequent rumors that across the sea in Joseon, there were continuous bad harvests and nothing left to take.

But from about 10 years ago, the rumors coming from Joseon began to change.

‘Joseon is changing!’

‘Wealth is increasing in Joseon!’

And now, although it was together with his lord, Joseon was leading the Iwami silver mine.

Finally, Mochiyo reached a conclusion.

“I will report to my lord.”

Thus, upon receiving the report, Morimi immediately sent an envoy to Joseon requesting advice on tax policy.

“Lower the tax rate, but encourage motivation to ultimately collect more taxes…”

Muttering about the aim of Joseon’s tax policy, Morimi made a decision.

“We will introduce Joseon’s tax system!”

As a result, the Ōuchi territory came to have a distinctly different tax policy from other territories.

Overall tax rates were significantly lowered, and various miscellaneous taxes were abolished. Instead, progressive taxation based on income and property was applied, and the concept of value-added tax was introduced.

And the concept of ‘bonuses’ began to be applied in various places, including the silver mine.

Later, Japanese historians would come to call this decision by Morimi “the decision that changed Japanese history.”

* * *

As maritime traffic between Joseon, Ming, and Japan became more active, a common phenomenon began to occur in all three countries.

-There’s a shortage of ships!

Although pirates had decreased due to the active operations of the Joseon navy, pirates still swarmed just outside the areas protected by the Joseon navy.

The situation arose where the number of ships lost to pirates, ships lost to storms or running aground, and ships that had to be dismantled due to severe aging from constant use, exceeded the supply.

As a result, shipyards in the three countries were busily building ships.

* * *

“To solve the problem of ship shortage, we must establish a shipyard in the bay in the north discovered during the last exploratory voyage!”

When not only the Ministry of National Defense but also the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of General Affairs made the same claim, King Sejong summarized the situation.

“The port in that bay, which we named Dongbinghang (Winter Ice Port), freezes over in winter. Is it suitable for building a shipyard?”

“It is more than suitable, Your Majesty!”

“There are dense forests nearby, making it easy to obtain timber needed for shipbuilding. Even if we work only during the thawing period, it can sufficiently serve its purpose!”

After hearing the ministers’ words, King Sejong finally accepted their proposal.

Chapter 333
Fashion Revolution (1)

As spring arrived in the year of Imja and the weather warmed up, the clothes of those working in the palace became lighter and more colorful.

No, it wasn’t just those working in the palace. Even outside, those with some means began to wear clothes with bright colors as they went about their business.

At this time, Hyang in Eastern Palace was burning with fighting spirit.

“The time has finally come!”

* * *

When Hyang first started his serious fandom activities, there was one thing he decided on first.

“No matter what, I’m going to make flush toilets and reform clothing!”

For Hyang, these two things were issues that had to be resolved.

In the 21st century, except when in the military, flush toilets were like air. Life without flush toilets was unimaginable.

The clothing reform issue was also connected to this. The long, flowing Dragon’s Robe worn as the outermost layer was always an obstacle.

Of the two, the flush toilet weighed more heavily, so Hyang used all sorts of clever tricks to create a toilet at the time.

These flush toilets quickly began to take root not only in the palace but also in the homes of nobles and well-off commoners.

Although there was the inconvenience of having to fill the water tank before and after use, it was definitely more comfortable compared to the previous outhouses.

As flush toilets became commonplace, they were upgraded from iron toilets to ceramic ones when pottery kilns were built in Area 51.

In the process of making ceramic toilets, something happened that made Hyang unable to laugh or cry.

“Why are these toilets broken?”

“Even if it’s something that goes into the privy, it’s for use by His Majesty. How could we present such low-quality items that don’t even meet my standards?”

At the head potter’s answer, Hyang examined the broken toilets.

“There’s nothing particularly wrong with them… Is this a cliché?”

Tilting his head, Hyang asked the head potter again.

“Do you break other pottery like this too if you’re not satisfied with it, not just toilets?”

“No, Your Highness. If it comes out of the kiln without cracking, even low-quality items can serve their purpose. So, we use them for the servants or give them as gifts to neighbors.”

“I see…”

Muttering softly, Hyang ordered the head potter.

“Even if it doesn’t fully meet your standards, if it comes out of the kiln without cracking and serves its function, just present it as is.”

“That cannot be! How can we commit such an insolent act for something His Majesty will use!”

“There are no eyes on one’s behind. As long as it’s not too bad, send it to the palace.”

“But…”

“It’s an order.”

At Hyang’s firm command, the head craftsman had to take a step back.

“I understand, Your Highness.”

As ceramic toilets were placed in all palaces in Hanseong starting with Gyeongbokgung Palace, and in provincial temporary palaces, ceramic toilets began to slowly spread outside the palace walls as well.

Before long, as word spread to Ming and Japan, merchants began to quietly place orders.

As soon as merchants started placing orders, it was natural for the royal workshop to immediately engrave plum blossoms on the toilets.

* * *

Unlike the development and distribution of toilets, which received a lot of attention, clothing reform had barely been touched.

There were several reasons why clothing reform hadn’t been done, but the two main reasons were:

One was that people had become accustomed to it. Although the Dragon’s Robe was cumbersome, they solved the problem by taking it off completely when using the toilet. Without the Dragon’s Robe, the baji and jeogori were surprisingly wearable.

Whenever he thought about clothing, Hyang would mutter habitually:

“It’s wearable, but not comfortable… That’s the problem…”

The other reason was the issue with Ming. This was because Ming had designated the clothing for the king’s Dragon’s Robe and the ministers’ court official’s daily uniform.

Because of this history, Hyang couldn’t speed up clothing reform and only waited for the right time.

However, every time he saw the officials coming in and out of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Hyang kept grumbling.

“They’re not little Teletubbies or anything… Green, pink, blue, orange… Their individuality is overflowing.”

Because they wore colorful court official’s daily uniform following Ming’s example, the colors of the officials’ uniforms varied. At least yellow was omitted as it was the emperor’s color, and only the red of the dragon robes worn by the king and crown prince was missing.

In this situation, the only way to confirm the officials’ ranks was the belt worn at the waist.

Although they distinguished officials’ ranks by wearing belts made of different materials according to their grade, it wasn’t an easy task.

Because of this, there was talk of slowly looking for other methods.

As such talk began to emerge, Hyang started to burn with fighting spirit.

* * *

Although he had made up his mind, there were many obstacles to putting it into action.

“Every time I think about it, there are too many types of clothes that need to be properly prepared…”

Hyang licked his lips as he went through the types of clothes that not only King Sejong but also he himself had to change into at certain times.

First, there was the gold crown ceremonial attire (geumgwan jobok) worn on festive days or major events,

And the sacrificial attire (jebok) worn by officiating priests and attendants during ancestral rites at Jongmyo and Sajik shrines.

Starting with these, there was the official uniform worn for general duties, the official uniform worn for events that weren’t significant enough for the gold crown ceremonial attire but still required attendance, clothes worn when escorting the king on official outings, and so on.

If one were to dress properly, at least 4-5 types of official uniforms had to be prepared.

“Is this why even kings wore hand-me-downs?”

In any case, it was certain that changing all these official outfits at once would face enormous resistance.

In the end, Hyang had no choice but to choose the next best option.

“Let’s start with the place where I can’t be criticized even if I make changes!”

The place Hyang decided to start with was the military.

* * *

As the reforms progressed, and after experiencing the Gyu Rebellion and Yi Manchu’s Rebellion, as well as dealing with pirates at sea, the military came to trust Hyang absolutely.

To put it exaggeratedly, they came to worship him almost to the level of a religion.

Based on this trust from the military, Hyang began to work on military uniforms and boots first.

“Did you say military uniform, Your Highness? Do you mean the battle robe (jeonpo)?”

“Similar, but a bit different.”

At a meeting attended by all the top commanders of the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including Jo Mal-saeng, Hyang began to explain the new concept of military uniforms.

“Until now, if we look at the attire of our Joseon soldiers, it’s exactly the same as the commoners outside the military camp. They wear the same baji and jeogori. What distinguishes soldiers from commoners is that military officers wear battle robes, and enlisted men wear kwaejas (another type of garment). Of course, they put on armor over this when battle breaks out.”

At Hyang’s explanation, everyone in the military nodded. Seeing that the response wasn’t bad, Hyang gradually put more strength into his voice.

“Military spirit is the lifeblood of the army. The way to boost this military spirit is through thorough training, adequate compensation, and pride. Pride in protecting this Joseon!”

At Hyang’s words, Jo Mal-saeng immediately asked a question.

“Your Highness’s words are correct, but what does this have to do with military uniforms?”

“It does. If their attire is indistinguishable from commoners outside the military camp, will anyone look at soldiers as special?”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s point, all those attending the meeting fell into deep thought.

‘It does make sense… ’

“Do you perhaps have a physical sample, Your Highness?”

“I have prepared one.”

Hyang, who answered immediately, gestured to a court eunuch.

A moment later, a group of military officers and soldiers in unfamiliar attire entered.

“Oh~.”

Jo Mal-saeng and the high-ranking commanders let out small exclamations as they saw the outfits worn by the officers and soldiers.

It was vastly different from the clothing they had worn until now, but it exuded a different kind of charm.

The military uniform designed by Hyang was based on the infantry and cavalry uniforms of the Korean Empire army.

However, not everything was the same. While the Korean Empire army infantry uniform was black, Hyang’s was dark green.

“The green is for infantry, and the reddish-brown is for cavalry.”

“Hmm…”

Jo Mal-saeng, who had approached to examine the uniforms closely, turned to Hyang.

“Did you completely cover the chest, Your Highness?”

Hyang nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“Yes. We need to block the cold wind that enters through the front opening.”

“That’s right!”

Jo Mal-saeng nodded vigorously at Hyang’s words. The winter wind, not only in this land of Joseon but also in that cursed Manchuria, was terrifying. No matter how well one closed the front of their baji and jeogori or battle robe, the cold wind that slowly crept in was a monster that killed people.

“This is for spring and autumn, and this is the summer uniform.”

The summer uniform was based on a safari jacket.

After the introduction of the winter uniform – including coat and padded jacket – was finished, Jo Mal-saeng and the high-ranking officers fell into deep thought.

“It does look quite good…”

“But it’s too different.”

“That’s the problem.”

Falling into choice paralysis, the military eventually made the most orthodox choice.

-First, select a small number of units to test it out.

Hearing the military’s conclusion, Hyang licked his lips slightly and muttered.

“Tsk… Even if you can’t fill your stomach with the first spoonful…”

“Um, Your Highness…”

“Yes?”

Hyang, who had been licking his lips, turned his body at the sound of someone calling him. There, the naval commanders were gathered, looking at him.

“Is there no uniform for the navy?”

“Ah! There is! I’ve prepared it!”

What Hyang showed them was the sailor uniform with a proud history and tradition, along with blue jeans and a blue shirt.

* * *

Following the military’s decision, several units were selected to enter the trial.

The first reaction of the soldiers and officers who received the newly made uniforms and boots designed by Hyang was fierce criticism.

“Damn it! The baji and jeogori that you just need to tie with a string are more comfortable!”

“That’s right! That’s right! Why are there so many buttons!”

Complaints targeting the buttons that replaced the tie strings largely disappeared as time passed and people got used to them.

What followed was a sense of superiority: “I am different from others.”

What gave them this sense of superiority were the villagers around the unit’s stationed area.

* * *

“Oh my! That must be the new military uniform!”

“Indeed! It’s really unique!”

At first, they only felt it was unique, but before long, the residents felt something else.

“Somehow… It feels a bit different, doesn’t it?”

“You’re right. It feels a bit overwhelming…”

“Is he a great general?”

The residents were gradually becoming intimidated by the inexplicable pressure emanating from the soldiers wearing the uniforms.

In contrast, the young maidens nearby glanced at the soldiers and whispered.

“Doesn’t it look manly?”

“Yes, yes!”

“And they look so tall!”

The girls whispered as they looked at the soldiers who exuded a strange charm, unlike the boys of the same age watching nearby.

* * *

Unlike the loose designs that the people of Joseon had been accustomed to seeing until then, the military uniform designed by Hyang emphasized the shoulder and waist lines.

As a result, the soldiers wearing these uniforms emphasized a stronger masculine charm.

And the “tall stature” mentioned by the girls was also partly due to the military boots worn by the soldiers.

Chapter 334
Fashion Revolution (2)

As ranches increased throughout Joseon and more Jurchen people submitted to Joseon, the number of people engaged in animal husbandry gradually began to increase.

In addition, as Joseon’s economy grew, the consumption of meat among Joseon’s people also began to increase rapidly.

As this active interaction continued, private ranches operated by individuals began to increase in addition to the state-run ranches.

With the increase in ranches, there were some who became busier as a result: the tiger-catching troops (chakhogoon) and hunters who hunted predators like tigers.

* * *

As the amount of consumed meat increased, it was natural that the byproducts – organs, leather, horns, and others. – also increased.

The people of Joseon were also adept at using such byproducts.

Throughout Joseon, new meat dishes were created, starting with regional specialty sundae dishes tailored to local tastes, and accessories and household items were made using horns and leather.

Of course, Area 51 and its affiliated royal workshops were playing a pioneering role in making these accessories and household items.

Starting with belt decorations using ox horns, various types of products were made, but recently, the most popular item was gloves.

Finger gloves lined with well-tanned pigskin and cotton or silk lining were popular among the wealthy for their excellent comfort.

As they made and sold such popular products, the ledgers of the royal workshop recorded enormous income and expenditure.

“By the way… The amount of cowhide consumed is much less than the amount purchased?”

King Sejong, checking the ledger, called Hyang and pointed out the issue.

Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s observation.

“We are collecting materials to make shoes.”

“Shoes? Even so, the amount seems too large?”

“We need to make a large quantity. They’re for military boots.”

“Military boots? Are these shoes for the soldiers to wear?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong pondered for a moment and then asked Hyang.

“What do these shoes look like?”

“They’re similar to wooden boots or water boots.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought.

After thinking for a while, King Sejong asked Hyang.

“Would it be better for me to change the law, or for you to change the form?”

To King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“It may be disrespectful to say, but changing the law might be better. There are several reasons…”

“Hmm…”

As Hyang was about to explain the reasons, King Sejong let out a groan.

‘This son of mine… ’

Grumbling inwardly, King Sejong summarized the situation.

“Even if I listen to your intentions, the ministers won’t let it pass easily. Therefore, you should explain directly to the ministers yourself.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Hyang bowed his head and answered to King Sejong’s words, but inwardly he grumbled.

‘Ah, damn! I thought it might pass easily!’

A few days later, King Sejong brought up the issue of military boots at a meeting.

“…Therefore, the Crown Prince wishes to make leather boots for soldiers and military officers. Discuss this matter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Under King Sejong’s watch, the ministers and Hyang exchanged opinions.

“The biggest issues are the budget and the design. Although it’s easier to obtain cowhide and pigskin these days thanks to people eating more meat, it’s still not a cheap material. Supplying this to tens of thousands of military officers and soldiers could be problematic for the budget.”

To Kim Jeom’s point, Hyang immediately responded.

“Shoes made of leather are durable and can be worn for a long time. Moreover, they can protect the legs of soldiers and military officers.”

“But the cost…”

As Kim Jeom continued to press on the budget issue, Hyang interrupted.

“Don’t soldiers wear darogi when they go into training or battle anyway? It’s easier if you think of it as the state providing those.”

At the time, Joseon soldiers wore thick leather socks called darogi along with mituri (traditional Korean woven shoes) shoes to protect their feet during training or battle.

“I understand.”

At Hyang’s point, Kim Jeom waved the white flag.

As Kim Jeom retreated, this time Heo Jo stepped forward.

“According to what you’ve said, these military boots seem similar to wooden boots or water boots. However, according to established laws, wooden boots and water boots are not items that soldiers can wear freely.”

According to a law added in the 2nd year of King Sejong’s reign, boot-style wooden boots and water boots were not something anyone could wear. Those shoes were the exclusive property of the upper class. That’s why King Sejong had mentioned changing the law in the previous conversation.

To Heo Jo’s point, Hyang immediately responded.

“Regarding that point, firstly, while they are similar to wooden boots and water boots, the material and design are completely different. No! From the start, they are not wooden boots or water boots, but military boots. They do not violate the law.”

“That may be true, but…”

At Hyang’s point, Heo Jo licked his lips and trailed off. As Hyang pointed out, arguing about similarity in shape when they were entirely different shoes was close to forcing the issue.

Seeing Heo Jo’s reaction, Hyang continued.

“Secondly, when people have some leeway, they always seek better and more comfortable things. It’s human nature. But if we say ours are legal while theirs are illegal, will the people comply? We need to change what needs to be changed. If the nobles want to be respected, they should earn respect through their conduct and virtue, not through their attire. Is earning respect through appearance following the way of the sages?”

“…”

At Hyang’s words, Heo Jo closed his mouth. With no further objections, King Sejong concluded.

“We will test these new military boots that the Crown Prince has made and then decide whether to apply them to the entire army.”

“We obey Your Majesty’s command!”

The scribe who recorded all of this added the following:

…Thus, when His Majesty decided, all the ministers, great and small, followed.

The historian says:

The Crown Prince’s eloquence is sharper than any famous sword in the world. I fear for the future. Even now, I get goosebumps all over my body just hearing the sound of tongue-clicking.

* * *

Having thus received King Sejong’s permission, Hyang gathered not only the leather workers belonging to the royal workshop, but also leather workers from Hanseong and its vicinity.

“So… We need to make military boots. You’ll have to work hard. In return, I’ll ensure the payment is certain.”

At Hyang’s words, the leather workers who had come from outside bowed and answered.

“How could we doubt Your Highness’s words? We will do our best to make them.”

“I’m counting on you. Then… Court eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s gesture, a waiting court eunuch entered with a chart and hung it up.

Hyang turned the pages with a pointer and continued speaking to the leather workers.

“These are the shoes you’ll be making. Come closer, examine them, and if you have any questions, ask.”

At Hyang’s words, the leather workers approached and examined the drawings. After carefully studying the drawings, the leather workers asked Hyang a question.

“Your Highness. The shape is similar to wooden boots, but is the bottom like jinshin?”

Hyang nodded at the leather workers’ question.

“That’s right. The shape is similar, but we use oil-soaked leather, and studs are nailed to the bottom like jinshin. Will it be difficult to make?”

At Hyang’s question, the leather workers shook their heads.

“No, it’s not difficult at all.”

“Is that so?”

At the leather workers’ answer, Hyang turned the page to show the next design. The leather workers’ eyes suddenly widened at the new design.

“What’s this?”

“These are boots for cavalry.”

“The shape is very unique.”

“But they’ll be the best shoes for cavalry. Will it be difficult?”

“The shape is a bit unfamiliar, but I think we can make them with a little effort.”

* * *

Hyang had three types of military boots made. Two types of tall boots and one type of short boot. The tall boots were for infantry and cavalry, and the short boots were for the navy.

All three types were designed to have basic waterproofing by using oil-soaked leather.

And studs were nailed to the front sole, while iron plates similar to horseshoes were nailed to the heel to ensure durability and prevent slipping.

Using oil-soaked leather and nailing studs to the bottom was not unfamiliar to the leather workers.

Not only the nobles but also commoners with some means were already accustomed to wearing leather shoes in their daily lives.

And due to Joseon’s rainy season, as well as the roads that turn into mud during the thawing period, nobles, regardless of gender, wore jinshin during those times.

Jinshin – also sometimes called jingshin – made of leather soaked in perilla oil for over a month and with studs nailed to the bottom, did not slip in mud and mud did not stick to them.

Of the two types of tall boots made this way, the ones worn by sword and spear infantry and artillery were in the style of the Soviet army during World War II.

“The German ones look cooler, but they’re terrible in winter.”

Knowing the winter of Joseon and Liaodong, which was second to none in terms of harshness, Hyang decided on the Soviet-style boot design. The roomy Soviet-style boots were very convenient for inserting insulation.

However, the masterpiece among these boots was the one to be supplied to the cavalry.

Both the infantry boots and the cavalry boots had heels.

And at this point, the leather workers had to face some difficulties for a while. Until then, the shoes people wore had a single-piece bottom. To be precise, it was a flat, single board. Whether it was ordinary shoes or wooden boots, there was no heel.

But all the new shoes Hyang created had heels. The infantry boots and short boots had heels made of hard wood about 2.5cm thick, and the cavalry boots had heels as high as 5cm.

The cavalry boots Hyang created were the Joseon version of cowboy boots.

* * *

In the 21st century, when Hyang ran away to build a ship with some foreign enthusiasts, he met many American enthusiasts. While learning about fandom from these enthusiasts, Hyang was also able to learn about cowboy boots.

“Hey, Jinho! People often call these cowboy boots or western boots, but to be precise, they should be called Spanish boots. And these Spanish boots are the ultimate cavalry boots.”

Just before returning to Korea, as Hyang was choosing cowboy boots as a souvenir, the American enthusiast explained in detail about the functionality of cowboy boots.

-The pointed toe, sharp like a blade, makes it easy to insert the foot into the stirrup.

-The space created by the high heel firmly fixes the foot on the crossbar of the stirrup. When the foot is firmly supported, it reduces unnecessary loss of power during a charge.

“The reason high heels became popular in Europe was to avoid the dung scattered on the streets, but men’s high heels should be seen as a continuation of the knight and cavalry tradition!”

“Is that official?”

“…No.”

* * *

As soldiers began to wear these newly made military boots, they attracted the attention of ordinary people.

The shiny boots soaked in oil and the body-fitting uniforms drew attention regardless of gender.

“Those look pretty good, don’t they?”

This favorable reaction from the people strongly boosted the soldiers’ pride.

Not only pride, but functionally, the newly issued uniforms and boots were quite good. When walking long distances, it was necessary to put some straw or cotton-padded cloth in the soles of the shoes, but it provided psychological comfort in protecting the feet compared to just wearing mituri.

In fact, there was an iron plate in the toe of the boot in preparation for any contingency. The purpose was to minimize damage from accidents that could occur while carrying heavy objects, including artillery shells.

However, what caught everyone’s attention was the cavalry boots worn by the cavalry. As the heel got higher, the back naturally straightened, and the chest had to be pushed out. As a result, it naturally created a tall stature and confident posture.

Before long, new orders flooded in to leather workers across Joseon.

“Um… Can you make shoes similar to those cavalry boots?”

Chapter 335
Fashion Revolution (3)

At some point, high-heeled shoes began to become fashionable in Joseon.

At first, boot-style shoes were the mainstream, but before long, low-cut shoe styles also began to appear.

The people of Joseon, who had certainly become more affluent than before the reforms began, started to pay more attention to adorning themselves.

Moreover, starting with King Sejong, the mindset of the court ministers who ran Joseon became considerably more flexible.

No, it wasn’t just that their mindset had become more flexible.

Through the purge just before the reforms, the elder ministers who even the king had to be wary of were swept away, and as the number of nitpicking nobles decreased sharply due to the Gyu Rebellion, there was less need to be cautious.

-Neo-Confucianism is the national ideology of Joseon.

-According to Neo-Confucian teachings, extravagance is the shortcut to national ruin and should be eradicated as an evil.

-However, the nobles must maintain a certain appearance as nobles, so it can’t be helped.

As those with this mindset, which could be called ‘the epitome of double standards,’ were expelled from the power structure, King Sejong and the ministers were able to respond flexibly to changes.

* * *

As these ‘height-increasing shoes’ became fashionable, changes began to blow through men’s attire as well.

It started, of course, with the military.

Because the response was good, the new military uniform proposed by Hyang began to be distributed to the entire army immediately.

Soldiers and military officers who had become accustomed to the new uniforms and new military boots soon began to make alterations to their uniforms.

“Hey, who did they say was the best at sewing in the village?”

“Sewing? Did something tear? If it’s that, I can…”

Chunshim, who was answering her husband Il-sik’s question with an indifferent face, soon glared at Il-sik with sharp eyes.

“What? Are you saying I can’t sew? Is that it? This guy really…”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Il-sik hurriedly tried to explain, but it was too late.

That day, Il-sik and Chunshim had to have a tremendous marital quarrel.

Soldiers who received the uniforms either entrusted their uniform pants to their wives’ hands or to houses rumored to be good at sewing for alterations.

The uniform pants altered this way had their width greatly reduced.

Although the new uniform designed by Hyang already had a much narrower width compared to traditional Korean pants, the pants that were altered again had their width reduced even further.

The combination of these tightly fitted pants and military boots boasted sleek leg lines.

The soldiers’ pursuit of style didn’t end there.

Unless they were replacing worn-out items, boots had to be purchased with money from the military-exclusive stores in each camp and garrison – equivalent to PX or veterans’ stores in the 21st century.

At these stores, soldiers purchased extra pairs of boots, and a strange phenomenon occurred where cavalry boots sold tremendously well.

Non-cavalry military officers and soldiers wore their designated boots when entering training and duties, but when going out on leave or outings, they invariably wore their narrowed pants and cavalry boots.

This was the same for the navy as well.

This phenomenon was immediately reported up the chain of command.

“Not only are they arbitrarily altering the clothes bestowed by His Majesty, but they’re also wearing boots other than the designated military boots… Shouldn’t we punish them?”

When high-ranking commanders who read the report argued for punishment, Hyang stepped forward to oppose.

“No. You should check the words properly. They are state-issued supplies, not bestowed items. They are not gifts. And they’ve only narrowed the pants width and worn different military boots. It’s the same as sword and spear troops maintaining their swords and gun troops maintaining their rifles.”

“…I understand.”

Having experienced this once before, Hyang had created a category called ‘state-issued supplies’ and put the military uniforms and boots in that category.

By making them ‘supplies’ rather than ‘bestowed items,’ he prevented the same issue from repeating.

And as time passed, something amusing happened.

Even the high-ranking commanders of the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff began walking around in narrowed pants and cavalry boots.

* * *

In this way, new attire imitating the stylish clothing of soldiers began to become fashionable among civilians as well.

Those who still lacked economic leeway and whose work clothes doubled as their outing clothes still wore loose-fitting baji and jeogori as before.

However, men from families with enough means to have separate outing clothes strode the streets wearing jeogori and durumagi (a type of an overcoat) that emphasized the shoulder and waist lines, narrowed pants, and high-heeled shoes.

Interestingly, this fashion did not start in Hanseong but was occurring almost simultaneously across the country. However, Hanseong was indeed the most radical.

A durumagi emphasizing the fit, high-heeled shoes, and a black hat made of horsehair that had been fashionable since the middle of King Taejong’s reign.

Add to that spectacles on the eyes and a folding fan in hand.

Seeing a young nobles walking leisurely while dressed stylishly and then paying respects, Hyang muttered softly:

“Hipster in Hanseong?”

Smiling slightly at the sight, Hyang continued:

“When winter comes and trench coats appear, it’ll be another upheaval.”

Imagining various future fashion changes, Hyang arrived at Area 51 and, seeing the pants of soldiers who were just going out and paying respects, muttered softly:

“Let’s not go as far as joggers or cropped pants…”

While Hyang was proceeding with this fashion revolution through such bold attempts, there was one area where he couldn’t easily make progress.

The wall blocking Hyang’s steps was the ‘sangtu’ (topknot).

* * *

“For hygiene’s sake, we need to get rid of the sangtu.”

If the ‘cutting hair edict’ implemented by King Gojong in the history before Hyang’s intervention was a symbol of Westernization and modernization, for Hyang, it was for the purpose of hygiene.

“It’s not just about hygiene, it’s such a hassle!”

With 21st-century thinking and hygiene concepts ingrained in him, Hyang frequently bathed and washed his hair.

Of course, court ladies rushed to help him every time, but the long hair was always inconvenient.

Therefore, Hyang began to prepare thoroughly.

“Bring the statistics on all kinds of infectious diseases that have occurred so far from the Royal Clinic.”

“Pardon? All of them?”

“All of them.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The court eunuch who received Hyang’s order returned to Eastern Palace with a cart full of statistical data from the Royal Clinic.

A few days later, Hyang ordered the court eunuch again.

“This is a bit insufficient. Go to the ho-, no, the Ministry of Finance and bring all the statistics on infectious diseases.”

“…Yes.”

Hyang carried out the entire process of organizing and analyzing the data all by himself.

“It would be easier to entrust it to someone else, but this is certainly something that will face strong opposition from within. If I’m not careful, it might be blocked before it even properly begins.”

Worried about unforeseen circumstances, Hyang proceeded with everything by himself for the first time in a long while.

However, it didn’t take long for rumors to spread through the court eunuchs and research institute researchers.

-The Crown Prince is doing something with statistics on infectious diseases!

-He’s proceeding with everything alone, not entrusting the work to anyone!

At the rumors flowing out of Eastern Palace and the research institute, everyone in the government was on high alert.

Among the things Hyang had taken the lead in proceeding with so far, there were no light matters. However, the things Hyang had proceeded with entirely alone had enormous ripple effects.

The smallpox vaccination that started with the self-harm incident and led to the expulsion of elder ministers including Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

The policy statement that disrupted the balance between King Sejong and the elder ministers.

The tax reform that pressured the local nobles and eventually led to rebellion, and so on.

The ministers, well aware of the tremendous ripple effects brought about by the things Hyang had proceeded with entirely alone, looked at Eastern Palace with tense expressions.

King Sejong was equally tense.

“You won’t even tell your father what you’re doing now?”

“I’m sorry, Father. Please wait just a little longer.”

“I do trust you, but I’m worried.”

“…I humbly apologize.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong’s face hardened.

“Seeing that you keep apologizing, it seems this is no ordinary matter. I understand. I’ll wait for now.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

Ten days later, Hyang began his presentation at a gathering of King Sejong and all the ministers.

Hyang hung the chart brought by the court eunuch on a hanger, paid respects to King Sejong, and then lightly bowed to the ministers.

“For the past fortnight, I have analyzed based on statistics from the Royal Clinic and the Ministry of Finance. So, to state the conclusion first…”

Pausing for a moment, Hyang took a deep breath and continued.

“I petition to implement a hair-cutting edict for the men of our Joseon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Hyang turned over the cover of the chart. On the newly revealed paper, the characters for “Hair-Cutting Edict” (단발령) were written in large letters.

“Hair-Cutting Edict?”

King Sejong and the ministers looked at the Chinese characters for “Hair-Cutting Edict” written on the first page of the chart and racked their brains to grasp its meaning.

The first to speak was King Sejong.

“A hair-cutting edict targeting the men of Joseon… Are you saying we should get rid of the sangtu?”

“Yes.”

“It’s impossible!”

“That’s right, it’s impossible.”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers unanimously shouted that it was impossible.

Lee Jik stepped forward as a representative of such ministers.

“We have been tying the sangtu since ancient Gojoseon. The sangtu is not just about tying hair, but widely announcing that one has become an adult. To get rid of this is to eliminate a deeply rooted tradition that has continued for thousands of years, so it is absolutely impossible.”

The ministers nodded at Lee Jik’s words.

Hyang also immediately responded to Lee Jik’s words.

“How could I not know the weight of that long-standing tradition? However, the benefits gained by changing that tradition are greater than what is gained by keeping it.”

Turning the page with his pointer, Hyang continued his explanation.

“The table and graph you see now record the number of infectious disease occurrences and infected people across Joseon from the first year of Your Majesty’s reign until last year. As you can see, it’s gradually decreasing.”

“It’s all thanks to His Majesty’s deep virtue.”

“Indeed, indeed.”

Hyang nodded at the ministers’ response.

“That’s right. Because Your Majesty’s virtue is high, the people have followed your orders well. As you can see, as water management has been thorough and hygiene management including bathing has been carried out meticulously, the number of occurrences and infected people has decreased a lot. However, infectious diseases of considerable scale are still continuously occurring.”

“Well, shouldn’t that be seen as an unavoidable force majeure?”

Hyang shook his head at Lee Jik’s point.

“No. During this analysis process, there’s something I found out by asking the people residing in Hanseong. A considerable number of people bathe more frequently than before, but not their hair. The reason was that it was troublesome to untie and retie the sangtu.”

“It seems forced to say that the sangtu is the source of infectious diseases, doesn’t it?”

“No. When I asked those who came from the West, they said that in the case of the terrible Black Death, it spread as fleas parasitic on rats became parasitic on humans. Minister, where on the human body do lice and fleas thrive the most?”

“The head…”

“That’s right! It’s the head! The way to get rid of head lice and fleas is cleanliness, and the easiest way to maintain cleanliness is to wash the hair frequently. But if the sangtu is preventing people from washing their hair, shouldn’t we get rid of the sangtu?”

King Sejong interjected at Hyang’s words.

“Then wouldn’t it be enough to order people to wash their hair frequently?”

“If it were a matter that could be solved by an order, they would have already been washing frequently. And we can’t assign people to monitor whether the people are properly washing their hair, can we?”

The debate continued for a long time after that, but King Sejong and the ministers still did not bend their opposition.

King Sejong and the ministers’ arguments were as follows:

-It’s a tradition that has come down for thousands of years. No matter how much of a hygiene issue it is, the people will strongly resist.

-The people think that those without a sangtu are uncivilized like bandits. They will absolutely not accept the hair-cutting edict.

Finally, after a fierce debate, King Sejong concluded as follows:

“The sangtu is a tradition that has come down over thousands of years, so we cannot recklessly get rid of it. However, the hygiene issue is certain, so we encourage washing hair more frequently.”

“We receive your command.”

‘If it were the imperialist era, there might be a bit more justification to use. We could at least insist that all the prosperous countries have cut their hair short, but now that’s not possible… What a pity. Tsk!’

Hyang acquiesced, licking his lips.

Chapter 336
Fashion Revolution (4)

Hyang’s “Hair-Cutting Edict” ultimately ended up being canceled.

As a result, Hyang had to redesign the military hat.

“Because the sangtu exists, the hat needs to be tall… But the Napoleonic era military hat is too excessive, and the Special Skills Corps hat looks a bit outdated… The Korean Empire military hat feels too Japanese…”

Of course, if we were to be more precise, both Japan and the Korean Empire had modeled their hats after European military hats.

They were modifications of the kepi, which was itself a simplified design with a lowered height of the famous Shako hat from the Napoleonic Wars era.

However, for Hyang from the 21st century, what he was familiar with was the “damn Japanese military hat,” which caused him to feel aversion.

After pondering various options and searching his memories, Hyang was able to choose a design he liked.

It was the hat worn by Australian soldiers during ceremonies.

It was similar in shape to the ‘Anzac army slouch hat’, which resembled a cowboy hat. Or, from another perspective, it was a more modernized version of the hat worn by the Three Musketeers.

Hyang, who had acquired the technology to make felt cloth through the Jurchen people who had submitted to Joseon, used this to create military hats.

“This is pretty good, isn’t it?”

The hat made of dark green felt cloth – red for cavalry – was well-received by the soldiers. Especially popular was the right brim folded up and attached to the body, with a pheasant tail feather inserted.

After finalizing the attire for the land defense forces in this way, Hyang had to ponder over the hat for the navy.

“That Popeye hat I know is impossible because of the sangtu… Then…”

Hyang once again diligently searched his memories of military enthusiast knowledge.

“This time it’s Russia!”

What Hyang chose was the sailor cap used by the Russian Navy during the Imperial Russian era – similar to what Donald Duck wore.

Of course, this sailor cap was for enlisted sailors, and naval officers were issued a brimmed hat similar to those worn by captains of civilian ships including yachts in the 21st century.

“The crown part of the naval officer’s hat is too low… Damn sangtu! There are too few options!”

Hyang didn’t stop complaining, but when the actual recipients received the newly designed uniforms, boots, and hats, they were very satisfied.

This positive reception was especially prevalent in the navy, as the complete separation of land defense forces and navy through military system reform necessitated differentiation.

And while Hyang grumbled that it lacked style, the soldiers who received the hats had a very positive reaction.

“The response is very good!”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

Hyang let out a sigh of relief upon receiving the report that the soldiers’ reaction was very positive.

* * *

As new styles of military uniforms, boots, and hats were distributed through Hyang’s work, civilian attire also began to change gradually.

As mentioned before, the loose-fitting hanbok began to reveal more of the body’s lines, and shoes with high heels started to become fashionable.

And as the final point of this male fashion, hats began to change.

Replacing the black-dyed bamboo hats that had been mainstream until recently, light and sleek black hats made of horsehair began to become fashionable nearly 100 years earlier. While nobles favored hats made of horsehair, ordinary commoners began to make and wear various shapes of hats using felt cloth.

As Western visitors to Joseon during the 19th century imperialist era described it as “the country of hats,” the people of Joseon had a knack for hats. These people of Joseon wouldn’t miss the opportunity, and before long, hats of all shapes overflowed throughout Joseon.

* * *

It wasn’t just men’s attire that was changing.

Women’s clothing also began to change little by little.

Starting with the Queen, the shape of the wonsam (a female ceremonial topcoat in hanbok) worn by the women of the inner court began to change gradually.

Like men’s hanbok, the wonsam, which boasted a generous fit, began to cling to the body little by little. In particular, strings were attached to the open sides, starting to reveal the waistline.

It wasn’t just the wonsam that changed. The skirt and jeogori worn underneath also began to change gradually.

Like the wonsam, the jeogori, which was made in a free size and boasted tremendous looseness and length, began to shrink.

The bottom of the jeogori, which used to come down almost to the hip line, rose to the waist line, and the sleeves, which not only covered the back of the hand but also had nearly a span left over after covering the entire hand, were reduced to a level that just barely covered the back of the hand while also becoming narrower.

The skirt was the same. The width and length were greatly reduced. Not only did it shrink, but horizontal pleats were added to the front, causing the front hem to lift slightly.

Between the lifted front hems, the mujigi skirt – named so because the colors of the layered skirt hems were all different, resembling a rainbow – began to be worn peeking out slightly.

If men had hats, women had (a hat) and neoul (a veil used by ladies while going out in the Joseon Dynasty).

Of course, there was a separate true ultimate item.

As the economy improved, the neoul of wealthy nobles families began to become more and more luxurious.

At first, silk or mesh was placed over the jeonmo, but soon silk or mesh was attached to the edge of the jeonmo. The jeonmo thus revealed was painted with elaborate flower patterns.

Changes also occurred in the silk and mesh attached to the edge.

Those of high status attached black silk or mesh, while those of lower status attached blue silk or mesh, but the colors of this silk and mesh began to diversify little by little.

When a woman fully equipped following this changing fashion went out on the street, she drew the attention of all the surrounding men.

A tall woman wearing shoes with high heels like men’s shoes, such as suhye (flower shoes) or danghye, walks in clothes that slightly reveal his figure. The sight of a woman with the mujigi (undergarment skirt) skirt peeking out between the slightly lifted front hem and the suhye or danghye glimpsing with each step was very attractive.

Of course, it cost a considerable amount to be fully equipped like this. Therefore, petitions were submitted saying that women’s extravagance was severe and should be regulated, but King Sejong did not accept them.

-It is a woman’s nature to pursue beauty. It is not appropriate to force this. We should only teach and learn the way of frugality.

Although he gave such an answer to the petition, King Sejong glared at Hyang and asked:

“Was it you?”

“Absolutely not!”

Hyang strongly denied King Sejong’s question. However, disbelief filled the eyes of King Sejong and the ministers.

Seeing their expressions, Hyang inwardly cried out:

‘This damn world where trust has disappeared! Women’s clothing is not my area of fandom! I’m being wronged!’

The one thing Hyang had challenged related to women’s clothing culture, while protesting his innocence, was just one thing.

It was the gache (wig).

* * *

After the babies born after an excruciatingly long labor had passed their hundredth day and things had become somewhat peaceful, Hyang returned from Area 51 and entered Eastern Palace. Seeing the Royal Clinic doctors and female physicians paying their respects to him, his face became serious.

“What’s the matter? Has something happened to the children?”

“Ah, no. The Crown Princess and the mothers said their necks were hurting, so we gave them some acupuncture.”

“Their necks hurt? I see. Well, are they better now?”

“Yes.”

“Good work.”

After sending away the doctors and female physicians, Hyang headed to where the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje were.

Although it was slightly against protocol, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje were practicing co-parenting.

It was thanks to the three of them giving birth on the same day, at the same hour.

Although most of the childcare was handled by the court ladies and maids, the three women still gathered in one place to look after the babies and strengthen their friendship.

Watching this scene, Hyang had muttered softly:

“With Jinpyeong and Anpyeong also there, Eastern Palace will soon become noisy.”

Jinpyeong and Anpyeong had also recently given birth to sons one after another. As Hyang had called them the “Eastern Palace Mafia,” the Crown Princess, Yangwon, Yangje, and the wives of Jinpyeong and Anpyeong got along well. Therefore, it was certain that once the babies safely passed their first birthday and were able to go outside, they would flock to the Eastern Palace.

* * *

“I heard you received acupuncture. Are you alright now?”

To Hyang’s question, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje bowed their heads and answered.

“We are fine now.”

“That’s good. But why did your necks suddenly hurt?”

To Hyang’s question, the Crown Princess answered as a representative.

“We recently got new gache, and they seem to have been a bit heavy.”

“The gache was heavy? Surely not Yangwon and Yangje too?”

To Hyang’s question, Yangwon and Yangje answered in small voices.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hearing the women’s answers, Hyang muttered without realizing:

“Why spend money on something that’s not even good for your neck…”

Instantly, the expressions of all the women in the room changed. Seeing those expressions, Hyang inwardly cried out:

‘I, I! I’ve seen that expression before! Really, I have!’

* * *

When Hyang was living in the 21st century, his mother once spent a large sum of money to acquire a new luxury brand bag. While his mother was showing off the new bag, Hyang’s father made a comment:

“It doesn’t even look that expensive, why bother…”

In that instant, Hyang’s mother’s face turned fierce. And for two weeks, Hyang’s mother went on strike, and Hyang’s father and Hyang had to prepare their own meals and do their own laundry.

And now, the expressions of the women sitting in the room in Eastern Palace were the same as his mother’s expression at that time.

* * *

Thanks to Hyang immediately apologizing after detecting the danger signal, the situation ended there.

However, Hyang couldn’t just let it go.

“If what I’ve heard is correct, they say that gache has many problems, so it seems we need to do something about it.”

Rumors about gache were so prevalent that they even appeared on TV. The most famous among them was that a young bride, unable to bear the weight of the gache, broke his neck and died.

The reason this was believed to be more than just a joke was that the gache worn by Queen Soheon and the women of the palace now had a height approaching one ja (about 30cm). And it wasn’t just rising upwards, but encompassing the entire head, with various decorations added on top.

Considering that weight, it was entirely possible for someone’s neck to break and die.

Eventually, Hyang went to see King Sejong.

“You want to ban gache? It’s surprising to hear you suggest banning something.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang inwardly muttered:

‘There are many! I said we should ban discrimination against the Northwest, I said we should ban discrimination against illegitimate children, I said we should ban discrimination based on the four occupations, et cetera, et cetera… ’

“Anyway, what’s the reason for suddenly bringing up the idea of banning gache?”

Hyang, who had been grumbling inwardly, stopped complaining and immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“Recently, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje received acupuncture due to gache.”

“I heard about that too. When I looked into it, many women in the inner court receive acupuncture for similar reasons.”

“That’s exactly why. It’s human nature, especially for women, to pursue beauty, but it shouldn’t harm their health. And while moderate luxury can help in life, excessive luxury ruins life. Gache is excessive luxury, so it should be banned.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong, stroking his beard thoughtfully, turned to the ministers.

“I’ve heard that gache is expensive, but how expensive is it?”

To King Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately answered.

“Even the cheapest one costs enough to buy 7-8 slaves.”

“Indeed, it has gone too far. Then should we ban it?”

At King Sejong’s words, all the ministers’ faces became troubled.

“Simply thinking about it, banning it would be appropriate, but…”

“But…”

The ministers and King Sejong all trailed off. As Hyang was about to open his mouth at this sight, Lee Jik looked at Hyang and said:

“There’s a saying that ‘domestic harmony brings success in all things.'”

In that moment, Hyang’s mouth firmly closed.

‘Whether it’s the 21st century or now!’

In the end, the attempt to ban gache ended in failure.

Chapter 337
Fashion Revolution (5)

“Ugh… This is so frustrating…”

Hyang grumbled in his room after repeated failed attempts with not just the topknot but also the gache (wig).

While everyone acknowledged Hyang’s reputation and abilities, the wall of tradition proved too formidable even for him to break down.

“I muttered it jokingly back then, but the age of imperialist powers might have been more convenient.”

Hyang sat with his arms crossed, glaring at a blank piece of paper.

* * *

In the 19th century, during the era of Western imperialism, removing the topknot was a symbol of modernization.

“Let’s break free from our long-standing isolation and move forward like the Western barbarians!”

“Look at the culture and clothing of those barbarians! Look at the skyscrapers where they live! Shouldn’t we live like that too?”

“To live like them, we must break away from old customs and bad habits of the past! There’s no time to waste!”

For those who called for rapid and active opening of borders and modernization, the topknot was a symbol of old customs that needed to be destroyed.

Thus, after announcing the Hair-Cutting Edict for ‘hygiene’ reasons, they chose force instead of enlightenment.

The problem was that by choosing force over enlightenment, the people’s discontent grew. On top of that, the Japanese, who were steadily swallowing up Joseon, all had short hair and wore Western suits.

As a result, Joseon people came to view ‘short hair = pro-Japanese,’ leading to fierce resistance.

However, through the reconstruction period after independence, the notion deeply ingrained in Koreans was ‘topknot = uncivilized & conservative.’

* * *

“The problem is that now the West is actually lagging behind. Even being generous, they’re two or three steps behind.”

Hyang muttered, tapping his fingers on the desk.

As Hyang said, Europe at this time was far behind Joseon and China in many aspects.

“In this situation, we can’t possibly say we should emulate the Westerners. Besides, that damn hairstyle…”

Based on the information gathered so far through Pietro, Raphael, Mansur, and the recently arrived alchemists and mathematicians, Europe was just at the end of the Middle Ages and on the brink of the Renaissance.

* * *

France, considered the most powerful country in Europe, was engaged in the Hundred Years’ War with England. Although it was said that battles were mainly fought for negotiation purposes, war was war.

Remembering the hairstyles from 21st-century movies, Hyang referred to it as a “shitty hairstyle.”

The hairstyles of men in movies featuring Joan of Arc, an icon of the Hundred Years’ War, were mostly either the “ho-seop-i” style (note 1) or a bob cut with a straight fringe (note 2).

For Hyang, these were hairstyles he could never consider attractive, even if his life depended on it. Especially the “ho-seop-i” style, which required as much maintenance as a topknot to look stylish with its two-block cut.

Shaking his head to dispel the memories, Hyang continued to grumble.

“The next period is problematic too.”

The popular hairstyle for European men during the Renaissance period was long hair reaching the shoulders. Most wore this long hair loose or trimmed the ends inward in a rounded style. To Joseon people, it would have looked like a ‘disheveled style only beggars would wear.’

The hairstyle of the 17th-18th centuries that followed involved gathering the long hair at the back and braiding it. Those in official positions and nobles wore white wigs over this styled hair or powdered it white. Again, if Joseon people saw this, they would have clicked their tongues saying, ‘Just tie a topknot instead! And why is a man putting powder on his head?’

* * *

After pondering for a while, Hyang scratched his head irritably and muttered.

“Dammit! Should I just go ahead and do it like I did with the smallpox vaccine back then? Now, there’s probably no one who would make a fuss even if I just went ahead…”

Hyang considered the possibility, thinking of the court officials who had become accustomed to change during the reforms.

“If the noble of the past or the Confucian Taliban I knew saw the current mindset of the court officials, they’d say, ‘You Confucian traitors! Stay right there! I’ll bring the poison!’ So there’s a possibility… but it’s still uncertain…”

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, when the Hair-Cutting Edict was proclaimed, those who opposed cried out, ‘The body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents, and not daring to damage them is the beginning of filial piety.’ Therefore, while preparing arguments for the Hair-Cutting Edict, Hyang had prepared counterarguments – such as trimming nails and cutting hair – to use if this phrase was brought up. However, the ministers only argued about tradition and the existence of alternatives.

Thus, Hyang saw a possibility but was still uneasy. The topknot was a tradition dating back to the Gojoseon era. Even for Hyang, a misstep could bring about a critical political controversy, and in the worst case, lead to his being deposed as Crown Prince.

Hyang continued to scratch his head and mutter.

“Also, going completely Western style doesn’t feel right either… But considering hygiene issues, it’s necessary…”

After contemplating for a long time, Hyang smacked his lips.

“I guess I’ll have to go with two tracks. We’ll have to gradually make people get used to short hair over time and expand the range of choices.”

Having decided on a direction, Hyang soon chose an appropriate target.

“It has to be the military…”

* * *

The main reason Sejong and the ministers opposed was, ‘If head hygiene is the problem, frequent washing is the solution.’

“But the problem is that the military, especially the cavalry stationed in the north doing long-distance patrols and the navy embarking on long voyages, can’t wash frequently. If we argue for short hair based on non-combat losses due to disease, the possibility is high. And if we use it as a substitute for keepsakes, it would have symbolic meaning too. Phew~.”

Sighing, Hyang came to a conclusion.

“This should work out fine.”

* * *

Although he had found a way to proceed on two tracks, Hyang felt something was lacking.

“I’ve advised frequent hair washing, but there probably won’t be much of a response. It’s not easy to untie and retie a topknot, after all.”

While scratching his head and pointing out the problem, Hyang spat out a curse filled with irritation.

“Ah, shit! Why is my head so itchy? It’s only been two days since I bathed and washed my hair! Bath…”

Hyang, who was about to call for a eunuch, suddenly stopped.

After a moment of contemplation, he immediately snapped his fingers.

“This is it!”

* * *

The next day, the deputy ministers of the Ministry of Finance headed to the Eastern Palace at Hyang’s summons.

“Your Highness! The deputy ministers of the Ministry of Finance have arrived.”

“Let them in.”

“Yes. Come in.”

Guided by the eunuch, the deputy ministers entered and bowed politely to Hyang.

“Welcome, everyone. It’s good to see you. Oh?”

While returning the greeting to the deputy ministers, Hyang’s face brightened upon seeing a familiar face.

“Isn’t this Scholar Im? It’s been a long time! Have you been promoted to deputy minister? Congratulations!”

Im Soon-wook, who had entered office through Sejong’s special appointment disguised as forced recruitment, had already been promoted to deputy minister.

Seeing Hyang’s face full of delight, Im Soon-wook replied with an embarrassed expression.

“Thanks to His Majesty’s great grace, this unworthy one has been promoted rapidly.”

“Hahaha! Father is always fair in these matters, so I can see Scholar Im’s, no, Deputy Minister Im’s abilities. By the way, which department are you in charge of?”

“Currently, I’m in charge of the 3rd Deputy Minister position in the Ministry of Finance.”

Hyang’s face brightened even more at Im Soon-wook’s answer.

The 1st Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance was in charge of national finance, the 2nd Deputy Minister handled foreign trade, and the 3rd Deputy Minister was responsible for domestic prices and market trends.

‘Minister Kim has placed him perfectly! This will make things much easier! It’s a good start!’

“Why have you summoned us?”

At the 1st Deputy Minister’s question, Hyang began to slowly unfold his story.

“Do you know that I recently proposed the Hair-Cutting Edict to Father?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know why I advocated for the Hair-Cutting Edict?”

“Yes, we heard it was for the purpose of disease prevention. But we also heard that His Majesty rejected it.”

Hyang nodded at the 1st Deputy Minister’s answer.

“Yes, the reason was that frequent washing would suffice. But honestly, isn’t it difficult for ordinary people to wash their hair frequently?”

The deputy ministers nodded at Hyang’s point. As Hyang emphasized public hygiene and saw actual effects, people washed more frequently than before. Even if they couldn’t bathe for various reasons, washing their face daily had become common.

However, this wasn’t the case with hair. Untying and retying a topknot was quite cumbersome. More than that, washing long, tangled, and matted hair was a real hassle.

After confirming the deputy ministers’ reactions, Hyang got to the main point.

“So, I have thought of a job opportunity.”

“A job opportunity, you say?”

“Yes. Something that will improve people’s hair hygiene and create new jobs to help their livelihood.”

Finishing his words, Hyang picked up a paper from the desk and showed it to the deputy ministers.

The deputy ministers tilted their heads upon seeing the words written on the paper.

“Hair-washing house?”

Hyang explained about the hair-washing house to the deputy ministers.

“You can wash your hair while bathing, but it’s not easy. So, we create a place that specializes in just washing hair. They untie the topknot, wash the hair, and then retie the topknot. Basic hair washing costs 1 won, hair washing plus lice and flea removal costs 2 won, and if you add trimming like cutting split ends, it’s 3 won. What do you think?”

Hyang’s idea was based on his 21st-century experience. Hair washing was a basic service at barbershops or beauty salons. However, it provided a much more refreshing experience than washing at home, and some barbershops or beauty salons even offered hair washing and blow-drying as a separate service.

From Hyang’s memory, it was quite an addictive service.

* * *

After hearing Hyang’s explanation, the deputy ministers began to analyze with serious faces.

When they first heard the term ‘hair-washing house,’ it seemed like grasping at straws. But after hearing the detailed explanation, all the deputy ministers came to the same conclusion.

‘This has potential!’

Amidst their contemplation, Im Soon-wook was the first to speak.

“There have been a few similar reports among those coming to me…”

Im Soon-wook paused for a moment to recall his memory. After a brief moment, he answered more precisely.

“There were three in total. It was reported that some bathhouses in Suwon, Gaeseong, and Pyongyang offer hair washing services.”

Hyang’s face lit up with interest at Im Soon-wook’s answer.

“How was the response?”

“I heard it was quite good. Many people don’t understand paying money to have their hair washed, but those who’ve experienced it once become regulars.”

“That’s exactly it! So, let’s implement this nationwide. It can be set up inside bathhouses, or as separate shops. No, since it’s just washing hair, separate shops would be better!”

And so, Hyang and the deputy ministers had a serious discussion about the hair-washing houses.

Three days later, an official document was created and immediately submitted to Sejong.

“Will the people pay money to have their hair washed?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang answered immediately.

“They will!”

‘It’s not just cats that enjoy grooming!’

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong reviewed the proposal once more. Seeing that not only Hyang but also the names of the three deputy ministers of the Ministry of Finance were included, Sejong came to a conclusion.

“Seeing that not just the Crown Prince but all three deputy ministers of the Ministry of Finance are involved, it seems to have potential. I approve.”

And thus, the ‘hair-washing house,’ one of Joseon’s specialties, was born.

* * *

At first, everyone was puzzled by the hair-washing houses, but soon they were never short of customers. The refreshing feeling of having your hair washed by someone experienced in hair washing was highly addictive.

Of course, there were occasional incidents that were neither laughable nor pitiable.

“I hardly have any hair left, shouldn’t you be cutting it instead?”

“Are you not considering the effort it takes to tie that little hair you have into a decent topknot?”

* * *

Note 1) http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=altnrdl1&logNo=221273522170
https://brunch.co.kr/@peopletoday/3

Note 2) https://news.joins.com/article/8161619

Please look at the hairstyle of the man standing behind Joan of Arc.

Chapter 338
Fashion Revolution (6)

As hair-washing houses for men gained popularity, those for women began to spring up like bamboo shoots after rain.

While wealthy noble women could have their maidservants wash their hair, it was inconvenient for women from less affluent households to do so.

Hair-washing houses were exactly what these women desperately wanted. What made them so desirable was the gache (wig).

Gache wasn’t exclusively for wealthy noble.

* * *

Not only common women but also gisaeng and women from moderately well-off households all considered gache essential.

The only differences were in size, what ornaments were attached, and how it was placed on their own hair.

Women of the royal family and wealthy noble wore eogeomeori adorned with lavish binyeo (ornamental hairpins). Women from moderately well-off commoner households wore gaesumerori or teuremori.

First-class and second-class gisaeng wore voluminous teuremori like hats. These teuremori were adorned with precious ornaments made of gold, silver, and jewels.

Even tavern owners selling alcohol and food at inns and women from poor households styled their hair in komori, decorating it with daenggi (hair ribbons) to look fashionable.

(Note 1)

* * *

In this situation where gache was commonplace, hygiene issues were more serious for women of lower classes than for upper-class women wearing eogeomeori.

While eogeomeori was a separate piece placed on top of one’s natural hair, teuremori and komori were created by interweaving one’s own hair with hair pieces.

As a result, women with teuremori and komori could only wash their hair while it was styled or wash and dry it in a long braid after removing the binyeo. (Note 2)

Due to these circumstances, hair-washing houses for women became popular.

One difference between women’s and men’s hair-washing houses was that baskets to hold the untied gache were essential for women.

* * *

“I don’t understand why they can’t give up something so inconvenient…”

Whenever Hyang saw this situation, he grumbled with a pout. However, he never uttered such comments in the presence of women.

It was because of the memory of being frozen by the murderous aura emitted by women when he had spoken thoughtlessly last time.

“Both gache and topknots… What’s with that pride…”

Just as women competed over the size of gache and the ornaments attached to it, well-to-do men competed over things related to their topknots.

Even excluding the gwan (hat) used to prevent the topknot from coming undone, which was only allowed for the royal family, the manggeon (headband) that had recently become fashionable was an expensive item.

This was because manggeon was made from horsehair.

Men without money either wore headbands made of cotton or hemp around their topknots or went around with bare topknots.

The competition among men started with manggeon.

They competed over the material of the gwanja (ornament) that fastened the manggeon’s string, the size and material of the pungjam (hat string ornament) that acted as a chin strap to prevent the hat from flying away in the wind, the material of the donggot (men’s hairpin), and the material of the saljeongmiri used to push back the sideburns that peeked out from under the manggeon.

[TL/N: https://www.dellacivetta.org/lorenzo/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/IMG_0277-768×1024.jpeg (Manggeon. Sort of a head cap before putting on a hat]

For the noble, the competition extended to the material of the decorative string attached to their hats.

Those without money used bamboo or wood pieces, but the wealthier they were, the more they used expensive jewels like jade or coral, starting with gold and silver.

Of course, Hyang, being the Crown Prince, wore a splendid gwan and manggeon that had quite a bit of money invested in them.

Looking at his own topknot decorated with gold, silver, and various precious gems, Hyang chuckled and muttered,

“Whether it’s the 21st century or now, it’s all about looking ‘effortlessly chic’…”

* * *

People showing off with various accessories was the same whether it was now or in the 21st century.

If men and women in Joseon now showed off with topknots and gache, in the 21st century, it was watches and luxury bags.

Especially for men in the 21st century, to boast about their success, they had to own at least a few expensive mechanical wristwatches.

It was the 21st century where reasonably priced, incredibly accurate quartz watches and digital watches were abundant, and hipsters showing off their individuality with various types of smartwatches were everywhere.

However, on the wrists of men universally acknowledged as successful were mechanical wristwatches boasting history and tradition.

Even if they didn’t wear them usually or wore smartwatches, it was an unwritten rule to wear mechanical wristwatches at formal occasions or places where they needed to show off.

The rule for showing off these things was to appear ‘effortlessly chic’ rather than blatantly boasting.

For men, the proper way to show off was to casually reveal the watch while running their hand through their hair or stroking their chin with a contemplative look. For women, it was to nonchalantly place their bag on the table or carry it while walking.

The same was true in Joseon.

For women, the basic etiquette was to greet visitors with a nonchalant face without showing off their gache adorned with lavish ornaments. For men, it was to subtly show off by lightly lifting their hat to look into the distance.

* * *

While Hyang was grumbling about gache and topknots that seemed like they would never change, Joseon society continued to evolve.

The biggest change was that fabric shops across Joseon began to distribute a wide variety of colored fabrics in large quantities.

* * *

For generations, the Korean people were known for their preference for white clothes. This preference was recorded even in the Dongyi section of the Records of the Three Kingdoms.

However, contrary to this, the murals in Goguryeo tombs and the Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang show people wearing clothes of vibrant colors.

But in Joseon, from the time of King Taejo, there were numerous royal edicts saying ‘Do not wear white clothes,’ yet the people insisted on wearing white.

However, recently, dyed fabrics began to be distributed in large quantities.

Upon receiving the report, Hyang tilted his head.

“Why?”

Unable to contain his curiosity, Hyang investigated to find the reason.

After searching through an enormous amount of records and pondering deeply, Hyang came to the most plausible conclusion.

“As expected… Because they can afford to eat better now?”

That was the most likely reason.

Mulling over his conclusion, Hyang turned his gaze to the distance and muttered,

“It’s been a while since I thought of Teacher Samcheonpo…”

* * *

In the middle of his lecture, Teacher Samcheonpo went off on another tangent.

“Our people are called the ‘white-clad folk,’ but if you look at related records, they also wore colorful clothes well. So why are we called the ‘white-clad folk’? Records show that from the time of Joseon’s King Taejo, there were continuous royal edicts saying ‘Do not wear white clothes,’ but if you look at the writings and photos taken by foreigners at the end of the Joseon period, everyone is wearing white. Looking at this alone, you’d have to conclude that our people were addicted to white clothes.

But let’s think about it from a different angle.

The main reason kings forbade white clothes was based on the Five Elements theory.

Since Joseon was east of China, according to the Five Elements, wearing blue clothes was proper. But why did the people wear white?

The officially recorded times were the late Goryeo to early Joseon period, and the late Joseon period. What’s the common factor? They were times when everything was in shambles due to war and barely recovering.

When you’re struggling to make ends meet, who has time to dye clothes? Look at the end of the Joseon period too.

What happened right before that?

There was the era of in-law politics. It was a time when life was so hard that there were even peasant rebellions.

And during the subsequent Japanese colonial period, people wore only white clothes out of spite, not wanting to please the Japanese who told them to wear colorful clothes.

So, my conclusion is this:

Our people aren’t some perverts who go crazy at the sight of white.

It’s just that when they lacked economic resources, they wore white clothes because they were the easiest to maintain.

They say dyeing clothes white is expensive, but if you boil them in lye water a few times, you get a nice white color. (Note 3) If you doubt it, just look at Shin Yun-bok’s paintings. See if the women in the paintings are only wearing white clothes…”

As he was explaining his own theory, Teacher Samcheonpo digressed even further.

“Ah, shit! Talking about colors reminds me of another infuriating memory. When I was in college, I read an article by a Japanese sociologist in the library. While criticizing the ‘body-con’ (Body Conscious, a skin-tight mini dress) fashion that was popular in Japan at the time, he rambled on like this:

‘As can be seen from the elegant lines of the roofs of Joseon palaces and temples, and hanbok, Joseon had lines, while Japan had vibrant colors as seen in kimono. But now it seems to be the opposite, which is regrettable.’

Do you know what my first thought was when I read this?

‘Are this bastard’s eyes just for decoration? You saw the roofs of palaces and temples, but missed the dancheong (colorful paintwork) underneath? What nonsense is this from people who couldn’t even wear proper clothes until the Tang Dynasty? If you’re curious, Google ‘Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang.'”

* * *

After confirming that Joseon’s clothing was gradually changing, Hyang immediately went to see Sejong.

“…You want to create a ‘Joseon Clothing Illustration’ that records the current clothing of Joseon? Why?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately explained the reason.

“The clothes worn by our Joseon people embody traditions passed down from the ancient Samhan, or even further back, from ancient Joseon. However, just as the clothes from those times are not exactly the same as the clothes now, clothing continues to change. Therefore, we need to record this so that our descendants in the distant future can properly understand the principles behind how these clothes came to be.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong stroked his beard, deep in thought.

Heo Jo, who was listening to Hyang’s proposal, expressed doubt about his words.

“Even a three-year-old child knows that our clothing contains traditions from ancient times. Isn’t it unnecessary to record this?”

Hyang immediately responded to Heo Jo’s point.

“As time passes, there will be those who will insist that our things are theirs.”

“Pardon?”

While Heo Jo and the ministers were expressing doubt at Hyang’s words, Sejong interjected.

“Could it be that you’re worried about the Goryeo style?”

‘As expected, Father! Sejong the Greater!’

Hyang brightened and immediately nodded.

“That’s right! Since the Yuan Dynasty, many of our clothing styles have spread to China. Therefore, we need to clearly establish this! In the distant future, they will use the fact that we were their vassal state as a basis to claim that they transmitted our clothing styles to us.”

Heo Jo again refuted Hyang’s words.

“But the term ‘Goryeo style’ itself…”

“What if they insist that even those Goryeo things originally came from China?”

Hyang’s interrupting question silenced Heo Jo.

Hyang continued to emphasize that this was absolutely necessary.

“From the Yuan Dynasty until now, the Goryeo style has been spreading in China, and even in Japan, our clothing and culture are gradually spreading through the Dae family! Ming and Japan won’t acknowledge this due to their pride. Therefore, we need to create definitive evidence by leaving documents and illustrations in advance. We need to clearly record and distinguish what came from Ming as having come from Ming to prevent future false claims.”

In the end, Sejong accepted Hyang’s argument.

“It’s clear that this will take a lot of time and effort, but it’s appropriate to leave a definite record. Considering the nature of the task, it seems best for the Ministry of Education to take the lead. Other departments should also provide assistance for smooth progress.”

At Sejong’s order, the ministers bowed their heads and replied.

“We receive your command.”

And the court historians were recording all of this.

Bowing his head along with the ministers, Hyang glanced at the historians and clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve.

‘Yes! It’s now in the official record!’

* * *

“Phew~.”

After the meeting ended, Jo Gye-saeng sighed while looking at the distant sky as he left Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Seeing this, Maeng Sa-seong, who was passing by, comforted him.

“Cheer up, Minister. It will be arduous work, but with support from other departments, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Jo Gye-saeng’s face turned gloomy.

“I have a feeling that this won’t end with just clothing, but that it’s only the beginning.”

“Ah…”

* * *

(Note 1)

https://m.blog.naver.com/nadakik/221060642371

(Note 2)

You can see how women bathe in Shin Yun-bok’s painting “Dano Festival”.

(Note 3)

http://pub.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?cate=C03&nNewsNumb=20150417129&nidx=17167

Chapter 339
Land of Fantasy, Land of Madness (1)

In May of the year Imja (the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign, 1432).

The 100-day celebration for Hyeondong, the first son, was held at Myeongnye Palace, the private residence of Prince Jinpyeong.

The 7th day (choil-re) and 21st day (seil-re) celebrations, combining the numbers 3 and 7 traditionally favored by our people, were quietly observed by just the Jinpyeong family, but the 100-day celebration was held on a larger scale. While heading to Myeongnye Palace to celebrate this, Hyang muttered softly.

“The word ‘baek’ (hundred) itself means having everything in proper order…”

In fact, in ancient Korean, the word meaning ‘100’ was ‘on’.

“But why are these kids so fast? Are their hormones different? Or is there some other factor? Did they secretly take something without me knowing?”

Hyang counted on his fingers and shook his head.

Jinpyeong was now thirteen years old when he had his first son. And Anpyeong, who would have his 100-day celebration next month, was 12 years old. Of course, counting by years, they were 15 and 14 respectively, but it was still early.

“Even though it’s an era where early marriage is common…”

While Hyang grumbled about the situation he couldn’t easily adapt to, there was something he kept forgetting.

That his father, Sejong, was fourteen when he had his first child.

* * *

When Hyang arrived in front of Myeongnye Palace, the front gate was crowded with people.

“Make way! His Highness the Crown Prince is arriving!”

At the eunuch’s shout, the gathered people parted to the left and right and prostrated themselves on the ground.

Hyang dismounted and approached the people prostrating themselves in front of the gate, asking,

“There are many people here, what’s the matter?”

“We’ve come to receive the 100-day rice cakes, Your Highness.”

“100-day rice cakes? Ah…”

Hyang nodded at the commoner’s answer. Distributing rice cakes to pray for the long and healthy life of a child reaching 100 days was a custom regardless of social status.

“Your Highness! I’m truly grateful that you’ve come!”

Hearing that Hyang had arrived, Jinpyeong rushed out to greet him.

“How could I not come when my younger brother’s first son has reached 100 days? Congratulations.”

“Thank you!”

Guided personally by Jinpyeong, Hyang entered Myeongnye Palace and widened his eyes as he stepped into the inner courtyard.

There stood an iron horse made at half the size of a real one.

“What’s this?”

“Yes! I made it to do more research!”

‘What a fanatic! They say true railroad enthusiasts are hopeless, and it’s true!’

At Jinpyeong’s answer, Hyang inwardly clicked his tongue. Jinpyeong was proving exactly what happens when a fanatic with money and power indulges in their passion.

While the eunuch was handing over the congratulatory gifts to the steward, Hyang ascended to the main hall and met the protagonist of the celebration.

“The child looks very bright. I look forward to his future.”

“Thank you.”

Jinpyeong’s wife, Lady Yun of the Samhan Guk rank, bowed his head in gratitude at Hyang’s words of blessing.

Seeing the appearance of the lady and Jinpyeong, Hyang inwardly muttered,

‘A child and a child had a child.’

Hyang was making a comment that others would have criticized as ‘look who’s talking!’ if they had heard it.

With a table set with rice cakes and tea for the 100-day celebration in front of him, Hyang conversed with Jinpyeong.

“The child looks intelligent, I expect a bright future for him.”

At Hyang’s words of blessing, Jinpyeong replied with a broad grin.

“Isn’t that right? Isn’t it? I too am praying for this child to grow up quickly! My dream is for him to grow up soon and help me lay railroad tracks all over Joseon along with his siblings.”

“That dream is really…”

Hyang, who was trying to hold back from saying something, glanced sideways at Lady Yun and his face became troubled.

Lady Yun, holding the child and listening to Jinpyeong’s conversation, was placing his hand on his forehead and sighing softly.

Seeing this, Hyang asked Jinpyeong,

“This is just your firstborn, and you’re already talking about siblings?”

“Haha! We must prepare early! My dream is that in this Joseon, when people think of railroads, my name and my children’s names will come to mind first, and when my name and my children’s names are mentioned, people will immediately think of railroads, hahaha!”

As Jinpyeong laughed heartily, Hyang quietly lifted his cup to his lips.

‘I’m a fanatic too, but you… I have no words… ’

Anyway, the atmosphere continued to be cheerful. Jinpyeong, facing Hyang, freely expressed his love for railroads and emphasized their importance.

“…Therefore, railroads are absolutely essential for the development of Joseon.”

To Jinpyeong’s statement, Hyang replied briefly.

“You fool, I’m the one who made that iron horse and railroad.”

“Ah…”

Jinpyeong was momentarily silent, but soon opened his mouth again.

“Your Highness. I’ve heard about the ‘Eastern Expansion’, but isn’t it progressing too slowly?”

“Joseon’s capabilities are not yet strong, so it only appears that way. But seeing that even you know about it, I suppose there’s no one in Hanseong who doesn’t know?”

“Haha! Little brother, I came to know about it while preparing in advance to lay railroad tracks. However, Father and Your Highness should urge the ministers. Joseon’s lacking capabilities can be sufficiently secured by expanding our territory! We must expand our territory as quickly as possible and lay railroad tracks!”

“You fool! I…”

Hyang, who almost shouted “You fool, get out!” in that moment, forcibly held back and inwardly screamed.

‘Tit for tat! Tit for tat! Hey, you madman!’

‘Tit for tat’, an abbreviation of ‘if they hit us, we hit back’. Japan’s strategy that provided the biggest cause for America’s entry into World War II was the most famous example of ‘tit for tat’.

On the way back to the palace after attending such a tumultuous 100-day celebration, Hyang inwardly muttered.

“I must prevent that fool from getting involved with the military at all costs. Sigh~. To think he wants to grab land just to lay railroad tracks…”

* * *

Rumble! Crash!

On a night with loud thunder and lightning. A middle-aged Jinpyeong walked towards the young king sitting in Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

Putting down an iron hammer covered in blood and flesh, Jinpyeong sat down. The young king asked in a trembling voice,

“Uncle, did you really have to do this?”

“They deserved to die! They tried to decide the railroad routes, the most important thing for the country’s transportation, for their own selfish interests! This is a crime worthy of death!”

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud thunder struck. Whether startled by the thunder or frightened by Jinpyeong’s ferocity, the young king, trembling, opened his mouth.

“Un-Uncle, do as you wish.”

“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace!”

Having achieved what he wanted, Jinpyeong bowed and then abruptly stood up, turning to leave.

As Jinpyeong strode out, throwing open the doors of Gangnyeongjeon Hall, a familiar voice from historical dramas flowed:

-Thus, Jinpyeong was able to do everything related to railroads according to his will. Historians referred to this incident as the ‘Gyeyu Railroad Incident’.

At that moment, the Haetae statue erected in front of Gwanghwamun roared loudly.

[https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/UO3Q8sVxucxMv8MIcxMtrnOZXggw77tKGN7JmIhdIqPuVxHJqlWNknz8kHEbWBDAM2CW5nfN52Q5Hoo9Cw8TOghEutz9WfbZBI5oMFr3pyAz7our90HL *Haetae statue]

“Woof woof woof!”

* * *

“Gasp!”

With a short scream, Hyang sat up, startling the Crown Princess who was sleeping next to him.

“Your Highness! What’s the matter?”

Surprised by the Crown Princess’s question, Hyang waved his hand lightly and replied,

“Ah, it’s nothing. I just had a bad dream.”

However, seeing Hyang still breathing heavily, the worried Crown Princess continued to ask,

“I’ll call for the royal physician.”

“It’s fine.”

“Your breathing is rough. You there, Lady Yang! Are you there?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Call for the royal physician immediately!”

“Yes, my lady.”

After giving orders to the court lady, the Crown Princess, seeing Hyang’s face covered in cold sweat, began wiping it with the strings of her jeogori.

“Oh dear…”

Shortly after, the royal physician who rushed in examined Hyang’s pulse and prescribed treatment.

“It seems Your Highness’s energy is slightly depleted due to overwork recently. I will prescribe a decoction to boost your energy.”

At the physician’s answer, the Crown Princess didn’t forget to make a request.

“Please take good care of him.”

“Yes, my lady.”

* * *

When day broke, Sejong and Queen Soheon, receiving the morning greetings from Hyang and his wife, all mentioned the night’s incident and didn’t forget to express their concern.

“I was just a bit tired, that’s all. I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

“How about taking a day off from work today?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately shook his head.

“It would be unfilial of me to rest when you, Father, govern the nation without rest. I’ve taken the medicine prescribed by the royal physician and feel better now, so please don’t worry.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong cautioned again.

“Be careful, very careful. You are this country’s Crown Prince.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

* * *

Sitting alone in the office of Area 51, Hyang crossed his arms, glared at a blank piece of paper, and muttered,

“Is it just a dream or a prophetic dream…”

Recalling the night’s dream, Hyang touched his stomach and muttered,

“Should I implement a ‘long life and health project’ not just for Father but for myself too? Haven’t I neglected martial arts training for a while?”

Taking off the long robe he was wearing and hanging it on a coat rack, Hyang looked at the mirror on the wall and struck a few poses.

Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Hyang turned his head towards the window and grumbled.

“Damn beansprout-like bastard.”

Hyang was grumbling while thinking of Jinpyeong.

* * *

Although Joseon strictly based its court etiquette on Neo-Confucianism, the process of educating the Crown Prince, the next generation’s monarch, was not focused solely on Confucian studies.

Martial arts education was as essential as the education in Confucian classics. Therefore, a properly trained Crown Prince was a being well-suited to the phrase “proficient in both literary and martial arts”.

“The problem is that teaching martial arts and building physical strength seems to be meant for planting good seeds and preventing the king from dying easily after ascending to the throne…”

While grumbling like this, Hyang diligently practiced martial arts and developed his body in accordance with his growth period.

‘I can’t lose to Jinpyeong! If I lose, my child will suffer!’

For Hyang, there was a critical reason why he had to maintain his health.

However, after Jinpyeong had his fanatical accident with the railroad, Hyang’s vigilance towards him had greatly relaxed. With this relaxed vigilance and focus on various hobbies, he had neglected martial arts training for a while.

But Jinpyeong’s obsession with railroads at the recent 100-day celebration was enough to be wary of.

In the end, Hyang had to readjust his schedule with a sigh.

“Sigh~. Life is really not easy…”

As he was readjusting his schedule, Hyang suddenly had a question.

“How much has history changed since I intervened? There was a saying that ‘history has constancy’…What are the chances of returning to the history I knew?”

Since Hyang’s intervention, Joseon’s history had changed astonishingly. Among these changes were things Hyang knew about and intervened in, but there were also things he didn’t know about.

Among the changes that occurred without Hyang’s knowledge was the birth of Jinpyeong’s first son this time.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Jinpyeong’s, or rather Suyang’s, first son was born 6 years later. If the child born this time doesn’t die before turning one, history would change again.

And the history that Hyang knowingly changed was his own marriage and the birth of his son. If the child born now grows up without issues, even if Hyang dies early as in the history before his intervention, he would be of an age and have the capacity to have sufficient foundation.

Chapter 340
Land of Fantasy, Land of Madness (2)

August 1432.

A small Franciscan monastery on the outskirts of Florence.

“Brother Giovanni. A letter has arrived from Brother Angelo.”

Giovanni received the letter from his close friend who had nearly been excommunicated for studying knowledge inherited from Roger Bacon, considered a heretic. He returned to his room and examined the letter.

“Brother… You’ve arrived safely. Lord, thank you.”

Giovanni gave thanks to God while holding the letter in his hand.

* * *

The number of scholars and alchemists fleeing from the Eastern Roman Empire to Italy to escape the threat to their lives during the Ottoman expansion was gradually increasing.

As the economic power of the city-states in northern Italy greatly increased, wealthy individuals who had amassed great fortunes began supporting these scholars and alchemists who had taken refuge in Italy.

The foundation for the great transformation later known as the “Renaissance” was slowly beginning to take shape.

Riding this wave, Angelo actively engaged in academic activities. He sought out those who had come from the Eastern Roman Empire to debate whenever he had the chance, and also selected disciples from among the newly ordained young monks.

However, it was still premature.

It started with a bishop who had been watching Angelo’s activities giving him a first warning.

‘Exercise restraint.’

But Angelo’s activities continued, and finally, a warning letter arrived from the Vatican.

It was then that a lifeline was lowered to Angelo and his disciples, who were at a crossroads between excommunication and being burned at the stake.

“A country called Joseon in the far East is seeking mathematicians and alchemists. How about going there?”

Angelo and his disciples had no choice but to accept the suggestion from the messenger sent by Cosimo de’ Medici.

The bishop readily granted permission when he received a letter from Angelo and the abbot requesting permission to leave, citing the reason of ‘spreading the gospel to a far Eastern country.’

Thus, a letter had arrived from his friend who had set out on an indefinite journey, one that risked his life traversing an unknown sea route.

* * *

After saying a prayer of thanks, Giovanni composed himself and examined the envelope.

On the wax seal preventing the envelope from being opened carelessly was a flower pattern.

“So it really is the ‘Land of Flowers’?”

As Giovanni was examining the unfamiliar flower shape, he read the Latin sentence written next to it.

“Inspected to prevent confidential information leakage. This is a legal measure based on Joseon law?”

After reading the sentence, Giovanni broke the seal and opened the envelope. Inside were several sheets of paper filled with writing.

Giovanni quietly began to read the letter.

* * *

‘To my dear friend and spiritual brother, Giovanni.

With your prayers and the Lord’s protection, my disciples and I have safely arrived in Joseon.

Of course, pirates did swarm us on our way back to Joseon. However, when the cannons mounted on the Joseon ships spewed fire, they crumbled like the walls of Jericho falling to the sound of trumpets.

After a comfortable voyage following that, my disciples and I, along with others, were able to arrive in Joseon.

The first impression of Joseon upon arrival was…

…that it’s a very cautious country. Even though we arrived, we weren’t allowed to enter the port immediately, but had to spend five days in a quarantine facility built on a nearby island.

After that, there were several inspections and quarantine procedures, but no actions that threatened our lives.

Having thus set foot on Joseon soil, we traveled north using smaller boats.

After arriving at a trading port called ‘Jemulpo’ located west of the capital, we changed boats again and were able to reach the capital of Joseon by traveling up a large river called the Hansu.

My disciples and I were finally able to enter Hanseong – also called Hanyang or Gyeongseong – after passing through the large and beautiful city gate protecting Joseon’s capital.

Brother, don’t be surprised. Many of Joseon’s roads are paved with cementum. And unbelievably, no human or animal waste could be seen on these roads.

The oxen and horses pulling carriages loaded with people and goods all had large baskets attached to their backsides, preventing cow and horse dung from falling onto the road.

But what surprised me the most was the iron horse (Ferrum Equus) and railroad.

Oh, my brother. Have you ever seen a beast made of iron, not a living horse or ox, pulling carriages? Joseon is transporting people with such things.

The iron horse that moves with water and fire… ’

+++

“Oh my…”

The following sections describing the basic operating principles and sketches of the external appearance were completely blacked out, and Giovanni couldn’t hide his disappointment as he smacked his lips.

After smacking his lips several times, Giovanni continued reading the letter.

‘Thus, we were able to have an audience with the king of Joseon. He was a young king who appeared to be in his 20s, though he had a beard. But I later heard that he was 33 years old.

Let me add briefly that it’s difficult to guess the age of Joseon people just by looking at their faces. They all have younger-looking faces compared to their actual age.

Anyway, the king of Joseon we met seemed to be highly respected by his subjects and people. Even to me, his eyes looked clear yet filled with wisdom.

However, his son and heir to the throne was a shock. He was able to speak Latin, albeit somewhat awkwardly. I later found out that he had taught himself using books obtained through Kitai and a Kitai language dictionary.

And this Crown Prince was the one who had called people like me to Joseon.

My first impression of this young prince, who had recently turned 16, or rather, this prince who was closer to being called a child, was that of Plato’s ‘philosopher king’ (Philosophus regem).

Although the path to spreading the Lord’s gospel was blocked by the prince’s cunning method – I’ll write about this separately – other aspects were truly admirable.

Most of those many objects that surprised us were created through this prince’s teachings and orders.

The prince who called us here told us what we were to do. Fortunately, it wasn’t to create gold through alchemy, but to research and develop various necessary technologies and mathematical knowledge.

For example… ’

After that, an enormous amount of text was completely blacked out.

“Damn it all!”

Giovanni, who had unknowingly cursed out loud, startled himself and quickly made the sign of the cross.

“Lord…”

After reflecting on his momentary lapse of emotion that led him to curse, Giovanni focused on the letter again.

Angelo’s letter had already moved on to the latter part.

‘While performing these tasks, my disciples and I are engaging in many discussions with alchemists and mathematicians from Greece, as well as Joseon scholars.

Although we’re still in a situation where we can’t communicate well verbally, we’re having written discussions using formulas and numbers, but compared to the frustration we experienced in Italy, it’s heaven.

Every day feels like paradise because these Joseon intellectuals’ mathematical knowledge and abilities are excellent.

I thank the Lord every day for guiding me and my disciples to this Joseon.

I pray that you always enjoy peaceful days under the Lord’s protection.

From your spiritual brother, Angelo.’

“Hmm…”

After finishing Angelo’s letter, Giovanni fell into deep thought.

Although quite a lot had been redacted, Angelo’s letter was full of hope. It was a completely different atmosphere from the gloom that had filled him before departing for Joseon.

After staring at the letter for a long time, Giovanni unconsciously muttered,

“Should I go to Joseon too?”

He too had unknowingly accumulated considerable expertise in mathematics and alchemy.

A few days later, the bishop, having heard rumors that a letter had arrived from Angelo, summoned Giovanni.

“I heard that Brother Angelo, who left for Joseon, sent a letter. Did he arrive safely?”

“Yes. He says that by the Lord’s grace, he and his disciples arrived safely in Joseon.”

“Is that so? Nothing else?”

“He wrote about the customs and scenes of Joseon that he saw upon arrival.”

At Giovanni’s answer, the bishop’s face brightened.

With a brightened face, the bishop soon got to the main point.

“Actually, since Cosimo de’ Medici gifted a candelabrum to His Holiness the Pope, interest in Joseon has been growing day by day. Although he didn’t go to Korea for a good reason, Brother Angelo went to Joseon, and his letter has arrived. Naturally, not only His Holiness the Pope but many others are curious about Joseon.”

“Is that so? Should I give you the letter then?”

To Giovanni’s question, the bishop shook his head.

“That can’t be. It came to you, after all. Instead, you should read it in front of His Holiness.”

After pondering for a moment, Giovanni nodded.

“I will do so.”

“Thank you! Truly thank you!”

* * *

Ten days later, in the large reception room of the Vatican.

The reception room was filled with the Pope, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, their wealthy sponsors, and finally, nobles from various European countries.

The reason for the gathering of the wealthy and nobles, besides the Pope and Catholic figures, was simple.

It was due to interest in the ‘Land of Flowers,’ which was emerging as an increasingly important trading partner.

The chandelier gifted by Cosimo de’ Medici had turned all of Europe into a crucible of excitement.

For them, the East was a mix of mystery and terror. If the various stories transmitted through the Silk Road since ancient times – the Roman Empire – represented mystery, then the Mongols, who had turned the east of Europe into a complete wasteland, represented terror.

In this process, Joseon’s culture and artifacts, which had entered through Alexandria and Italy, greatly increased economic interest in the East.

Amidst this, the crystal chandelier hung in the Vatican and Habsburg blinded the eyes of Europeans.

Venetian merchants who saw the chandelier in the Vatican urged their glassmakers, but the products that came out were far from matching Joseon’s.

“Venice was known for glass, but even Venice failed?”

“How on earth was it made?”

“What kind of country is this Joseon?”

From merchants to nobles and kings, everyone’s interest in Joseon began to boil hot.

* * *

In this situation, Angelo’s letter read in the Vatican’s reception room was a spark.

It was a spark thrown into oil heated to just before the ignition point.

“…That concludes the letter.”

As Giovanni finished reading, the reception room was filled with murmurs.

“Roads paved with cementum? Wouldn’t that be difficult to maintain?”

“Maintenance aside, is it even possible to lay such a large amount of cementum?”

“Carriages that move without horses or oxen?”

“How can they move with water and fire?”

The interest of those in the reception room immediately focused on the ‘iron horse’. While various opinions were being voiced about the phrase ‘moves with water and fire’, one cardinal spoke up.

“There’s a record that in ancient Greece, a man named Heron rotated an iron ball by boiling water. Wouldn’t it be similar?”

“By boiling water? Just with steam? Wouldn’t the furnace need to be as big as a house to pull a carriage with steam?”

“Well…”

As all sorts of conversations like this were taking place, the power holders and merchants all came to the same conclusion.

‘We must open a path to Joseon!’

The ‘race towards Joseon’ was slowly beginning to surface.

Unlike the nobles and merchants, scholars dreamed of going to Joseon for different reasons.

“A philosopher king…”

“A research institute where one can study mathematics…”

“It’s a land of fantasy.”

At that time, in Hanseong.

Angelo was unknowingly grumbling to himself.

“This is maddening…”

Chapter 341
Land of Fantasy, Land of Madness (3)

“Phew! Shi…”

Angelo, who unknowingly almost let a curse slip out, quickly made the sign of the cross and looked around. Confirming that none of his disciples were nearby, Angelo heaved a long sigh of relief.

“Phew~ Thank goodness. Lord…”

Angelo reflected on his momentary loss of self-control. However, feeling the weight of the stack of papers in his hand, he frowned.

* * *

Even by the time the alchemists and mathematicians arrived from the West, the research institute and auxiliary buildings being constructed between Mapo and Area 51 had not been completed.

As a result, the alchemists and mathematicians ended up using Bukpyeonggwan, which had become virtually obsolete, as their lodgings.

“They say every cloud has a silver lining…”

As he designated Bukpyeonggwan as lodgings, Lee Maeng-gyun joked lightly with his subordinates. The subordinate officials also nodded with small smiles at Lee Maeng-gyun’s jest.

* * *

Bukpyeonggwan was originally lodgings for Jurchen envoys. However, most of the tribes large and close enough to send envoys to Joseon had already submitted to Joseon. The remaining large tribes were either located far from Joseon or, like Imanju, had been completely wiped out or greatly diminished in power after resisting Joseon, barely surviving.

As a result, Bukpyeonggwan had lost its reason for existence. Maintaining a building that was rarely used was wasteful, so officials – especially those in the Ministry of Finance – were considering demolition or conversion to other uses.

* * *

The alchemists and mathematicians who temporarily unpacked at Bukpyeonggwan soon began learning the Joseon language.

“Learning the language is important, but it’s not very efficient to spend the entire day just on that.”

Hyang wrote mathematical formulas, calculation problems, and mineral analysis tasks to be carried out in Latin and distributed them to the alchemists and mathematicians.

“I hope you’ll study languages in the morning and research these problems in the afternoon.”

The alchemists who received the papers filled with problems and tasks looked at Hyang with troubled expressions.

“Our Latin skills aren’t very good.”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Hyang turned to Angelo’s group.

“Do you know Greek?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Then translate and deliver these to them.”

“Yes…”

And so, the alchemists and mathematicians were officially put to work.

* * *

With this full-scale deployment, Angelo’s group became the busiest.

Thanks to inheriting Roger Bacon’s legacy, they possessed knowledge in various fields including not only mathematics but also philosophy, alchemy, astronomy, and astrology.

Additionally, being fluent in Greek, Angelo’s group had to move around the most busily.

“Last week we were busy with formula calculations, this week it’s mineral analysis, next week…”

“We have to go to Seouungwan for astronomical problems.”

“Oh, Lord…”

Angelo’s disciples, dividing their tasks according to the work schedule created by combining the Joseon officials’ practice of resting one day every seven days with the concept of the Sabbath, lamented the tightly packed schedule.

* * *

“Hey! Western monks! Why do your faces look so gloomy?”

Seeing their deeply furrowed faces, one of the institute’s researchers meddled. Angelo’s disciples had become quite familiar with the researchers, and conversation was somewhat possible – of course, mixed with gestures, and additionally, the researchers had learned Latin.

The researcher who approached after seeing the monks’ expressions looked at the work schedule hung on one side and shook his head lightly.

“You’re busy. Why don’t you divide the personnel and move separately?”

“We don’t have the capacity to handle things by dividing up the tasks…”

“Oh dear. Tsk tsk tsk…”

As the researcher clicked his tongue, the monks complained to him.

“In the mornings we have language studies, in the afternoons research, and at night we even have to study doctrine. There’s just not enough time.”

“That’s right. There’s not enough time.”

At the monks’ words, the researcher’s eyes took on a strange light.

“So, you’re not worried because it’s hard, but because there’s not enough time?”

“That’s right.”

“It is tiring, but we can endure this much.”

“Shh!”

At those words, the researcher’s expression changed, and he hastily cautioned them while looking around.

“Why?”

To the monk’s questioning, the researcher warned,

“There are a few things you should never say in the research institute and the court, and one of them is ‘We can endure this much.’ Don’t ever let it out of your mouth.”

“Oh? Alright…”

As the monks nodded, the researcher continued with a slight smile.

“By the way, it’s peculiar that you regret the lack of time more than physical exhaustion.”

“We’ve rarely had the chance to do research so comfortably before.”

“Ah…”

The researcher nodded at the monks’ words. He had similar experiences and was still experiencing them.

Even now, for Joseon’s noble, fields like mathematics and chemistry were considered miscellaneous studies to be used as pastimes when tired of studying the classics.

-As a noble, one should naturally learn the classics and enter office, how can one think of wearing an official hat through miscellaneous studies!

There were quite a few researchers living almost estranged from their families due to conflicts with elders who had this mindset.

Even this was a much-improved situation compared to before.

* * *

“Well then, keep up the good work. I have something to submit, so I’ll go ahead.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The researcher who had parted from the monks stopped walking and looked back at them.

“They’re oddballs too…”

‘There are three types of people in the research institute.’

This was a saying that circulated among the researchers.

-The first type are those whose work is their very being. Those who can’t live without work. These are called ‘incomprehensibles’.

The Crown Prince and Prince Jinpyeong belonged to these incomprehensibles.

-The second type are those who enjoy work. They like easy problems because they’re easy, and they like difficult problems even more because they’re difficult.

Typical examples were the ‘original oddball’ Yi Sunji and the ‘young oddball’ Kim Dam.

-The last type are ‘perverts addicted to pain’. They suffer from the tasks given by the incomprehensibles and oddballs, later come to enjoy the pain, and rejoice in the results created within that pain.

Starting with Minister Jeong-cho, the rest of the researchers and craftsmen belonged here.

And if one lived as a pervert for a long time, they would evolve, with Jang Yeong-sil being a symbolic figure. Jang Yeong-sil had suffered from the tasks given by the Crown Prince but had somehow risen to the realm of the incomprehensibles.

It was a self-deprecating statement, but from the outside, all the researchers and craftsmen were oddballs.

Whenever they heard such grumbling words, their acquaintances all chided them like this:

“If it’s so hard, why don’t you quit and take the civil service exam again!”

“You could just leave and open a blacksmith shop!”

And the alchemists and mathematicians had become accustomed to this atmosphere of the research institute. Those who had become accustomed named this research institute.

-Academia (Ἀκαδημ(ε)ια, Akadēm(e)íā)

For them, this research institute was an ideal they had only dreamed of. Of course, they couldn’t even dream of conducting research of their own choice yet, but they were very satisfied with the current situation.

This was because they could taste tremendous progress just by carrying out the tasks Hyang instructed.

The problem was that every time they received a task, the difficulty level would increase or the amount would increase to the point of making them gasp.

As a result, the first thing most people, including Angelo, became familiar with was cursing.

* * *

With the addition of alchemists and mathematicians, there were unexpected victims: the interpreters.

“They can speak to some extent, but the writing is the problem…”

Hyang fell into contemplation as he checked the language acquisition status of the alchemists and mathematicians. Their conversation skills were improving, but their writing skills remained at rock bottom.

“Well, those damn Chinese characters are certainly murderous…”

As he pondered for a solution, Hyang soon found an appropriate one. The solution was to mobilize the interpreters.

As the regions for trade expanded, Sejong had been increasing the scale of interpreters.

In addition to the existing Chinese, Japanese, and Jurchen languages, the range of education expanded to include Arabic, Sanskrit, and Latin, and Hassan’s relatives were employed as instructors for their education.

Having found a suitable solution, Hyang immediately ran to Sejong to request support from the interpreters.

Receiving Hyang’s request, Sejong pondered for a moment before making a decision.

“Foreign languages improve quickly with frequent use. I approve.”

“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace!”

* * *

Thus, the interpreters in charge of Latin were dragged to the research institute.

“…So, your job will be to translate the Latin writings of the Western scholars into Chinese characters.”

“We understand.”

“I’m counting on you.”

At Hyang’s request, the interpreters all bowed their heads and replied in unison.

“We will do our best!”

However, not even a week had passed before Hyang gathered the interpreters.

“You’ll need to learn mathematics too.”

“Us as well? We’re merely transcribing, aren’t we?”

To the interpreters’ protest, Hyang replied firmly.

“Even if you’re just copying, don’t you need to understand what you’re copying to do it properly!”

“Ah…”

* * *

While things were progressing like this in Joseon, Europe was also busy moving below the surface.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.

Prince Henry (Henrique), who had been busy traveling between Ceuta and Sagres, returned to Lisbon at the summons of his father, the king.

After lightly kissing the ring on the hand extended by the king, Henry looked at his father.

“You called for me?”

“Yes. It’s about the work you’re doing.”

At his father’s words, Henry’s face hardened.

‘Could it be about the debt problem?’

Exploring unknown lands and seas was an expensive endeavor. As a result, Henry had to incur a considerable amount of debt from various sources. To repay these debts, Henry engaged in the slave trade as diligently as he explored.

Although the slave trade brought considerable profits, Henry’s current situation was such that there was little left after repaying debts or paying interest.

Looking at Henry’s face, King João I continued speaking.

“Recently, our ambassador staying at the Vatican sent news. There was a reading of a letter sent by a priest who went to Joseon in the East.”

“I’ve heard rumors.”

“Because of that, several countries have started moving busily.”

At João I’s words, Henry’s eyes turned fierce.

“When you say several countries, does that include those Spanish bastards?”

To Henry’s question, João I nodded.

“That’s right. I hear you’ve achieved quite some results in Africa. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

Henry answered briefly to his father’s question. Hearing this answer, João I gave an order.

“I’ll provide more support for your work. Secure a sea route to India through Africa, and further to Joseon, as quickly as possible. The land route is blocked by those Islamic bastards and Italian misers, so the only way we can go is by sea. We must preempt it before the Spanish bastards make a move.”

“I will do so!”

Chapter 342
Invisible War (1)

Returning to Sagres from Lisbon, Henry summoned his subordinate, José.

“You called for me?”

“Have you found out where the missing craftsmen went?”

To Henry’s question, José answered with a serious face.

“We have. It’s Valencia.”

Bang!

At José’s answer, Henry slammed his fist on the desk in anger.

“Those damn Aragonese!”

* * *

At this time, the relationship between Portugal and Spain – more accurately, the united kingdom of Castile and Aragon – was not good.

Starting as the Roman province of Hispania, after Rome’s fall, the Visigothic Kingdom took its place. However, the nobles’ antagonism brought down the kingdom and allowed the invasion of Islamic forces.

Even as the Iberian Peninsula was being occupied by Islamic forces, the Visigothic nobles were at each other’s throats.

Even during the Reconquista process that began after being ruled by Islamic forces, the antagonism between them did not cease.

From the beginning, it was unlikely for Portugal, Castile, and Aragon to work together.

Although they were settled in the same Iberian Peninsula and believed in the same Catholicism, the situation was different from the start, to the extent that the Reconquista was called “Reconquista” by Castile and “Reconquista” by Portugal.

In the end, Afonso I declared independence during the Reconquista.

Unlike Castile and Aragon, which were gradually moving towards integration, Portugal had declared independence, which was why relations were not good.

* * *

Henry, who had slammed his fist on the desk in anger, tried to calm himself down while taking deep breaths.

Standing up abruptly and pacing back and forth to cool his anger, Henry assessed the situation.

“The situation has become difficult…”

“Indeed. The immediate problem is the supply of sailors.”

Aragon had long boasted a powerful naval force. As a result, it was a country that produced many excellent sailors.

Although relations between countries were not good, they were not mortal enemies like the Islamic forces. Therefore, a considerable number of Aragonese sailors had come to work in Portugal.

However, the united kingdom of Castile and Aragon had begun to show movements to advance towards western Africa. It was natural that there would be problems with sailor recruitment soon, if not immediately.

As José pointed out the problem of sailor recruitment, Henry nodded and gave an order.

“Call Iago.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A moment later, Iago, Henry’s finance manager, came running at the summons.

After hearing the situation from Henry, Iago stroked his beard and spoke.

“It’s certainly a problem. A considerable number of craftsmen have gone over to their side, and the recruitment of sailors will also be an issue.”

“Is there any way we can change the situation to our advantage?”

“Hmm…”

Still stroking his beard in thought, Iago looked at Henry.

“As you know, Your Highness, exploration voyages require a vast amount of capital. Although Castile and Aragon are larger and more powerful than our Portugal, they don’t have that level of capital yet.”

At Iago’s words, Henry’s eyes began to sparkle.

“So it’s those Genoese bastards after all?”

“It’s the most likely possibility. Those Castilian and Aragonese fools are hopeless when it comes to money calculations.”

“That’s right.”

Henry nodded at Iago’s words.

* * *

During the Reconquista, Portugal had been considerably more conciliatory towards Jews and Muslims compared to the united kingdom of Castile and Aragon (hereafter referred to as Espania). Unlike Espania, where it was unconditional expulsion or death, in Portugal, they could reside if they nominally converted to Catholicism.

As a result, with the annihilation of the capable economic class and the destruction of economic infrastructure, Espania had to entrust its economic management to Genoese merchants.

This was turning the relationship between Espania and Genoa into one of mutual symbiosis.

* * *

“Shall we strike at Genoa?”

Henry looked at Iago and proposed attacking Genoa. At Henry’s words, Iago shook his head.

“The losses would outweigh the gains. It’s better for us to find allies to unite with.”

“Allies to unite with… Venice?”

At Henry’s words, Iago nodded and added more.

“It would be even better if we could bring in Florence as well.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment at Iago’s words, Henry soon made a decision.

“Prepare people to send to Venice and Florence.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

* * *

Florence. The Medici estate.

“My lord. Prince Henry has sent a messenger.”

“Show him in.”

A moment later, the messenger sent by Henry entered the room and paid his respects to Cosimo.

“It is an honor to meet the great Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici.”

“You must be tired from your long journey.”

Cosimo responded lightly and went straight to the point.

“So~ What message has Prince Henry sent? I think it’s because of Espania, isn’t it?”

“Yes. He wishes to have an urgent discussion with you about that matter.”

The messenger took out a letter written by Henry from his breast and held it out.

Cosimo received the letter through a servant standing between them, broke the seal, and began to read the contents carefully.

Although it was filled with all sorts of flowery phrases, the content of the letter was simple.

-Invest in me!

“Hmm…”

Putting down the letter, Cosimo quietly calculated the profits and losses.

‘According to information sent by spies, Henry has also sent people to Venice. Venice would be a pretty good choice since they build ships well. Especially since everyone from the Doge to the council members would grind their teeth at the mention of Genoa, it would be even better. Plus, they’re probably thinking of sending or bringing back a large number of glassmakers to Joseon. The question is whether Henry can safely find a new sea route. And while he’s still alive. If not, we might not even recover the principal of our investment.’

The reason Cosimo was hesitating was that Joseon goods were already steadily coming in through Alexandria.

* * *

After the Joseon people themselves found Alexandria, ships regularly traveled between Joseon and Alexandria.

With ships coming and going at intervals of 6-8 months, merchants thought they would be able to obtain goods made in the “Land of Flowers” cheaply.

However, all the merchants’ expectations were off the mark.

Although ships were coming and going regularly, demand still far exceeded supply.

In simple terms, goods from Joseon were steadily coming in, but nobles who had not yet obtained Joseon-made items – especially high-priced crystal products – were swarming both in Islamic territories and Europe.

Not only crystal products but other glass products and porcelain products also emptied the nobles’ wallets with their superior quality. No, it wasn’t just the nobles’ wallets. Because even the mid-to-low-priced products were of quite good quality, there was steady demand.

Looking at the current situation, not only the Italian city-states but even middle-class households in cities belonging to the Hanseatic League had at least one or two decent Joseon products.

It was a situation where if you didn’t have at least one or two Joseon-made items in your home or on your person, you were treated like a country bumpkin.

Especially for a man who wanted to be stylish, a chailgyeong was essential, and for women, it was fashionable to wear an (ear-muff) in winter and a jeonmo (a triangular cone hat) in other seasons.

Of course, as Joseon products became fashionable, many imitations circulated. However, due to the quality guarantee that made Joseon known as the ‘Land of Flowers’, those who used imitations were treated even worse than those who had nothing.

To keep up with this trend, Venetian glassmakers produced Joseon-style glassware, and some people imported porcelain products from Ming. However, all these imported products were recognized as one grade below Joseon products.

This was because they lacked the quality guarantee that was always attached to Joseon products. Even Venice had its own quality assurance from the craftsmen’s guild, but it was falling behind because it wasn’t state-certified.

* * *

‘With goods steadily coming in through Alexandria like this, would a detour that will certainly take more time be profitable?’

As he continued to ponder, Cosimo looked at the map and muttered softly.

“I see…”

‘Alexandria will become a powder keg.’

Alexandria was where goods from Joseon were first released. Only after goods were released in Alexandria could they spread to Islamic territories or Europe.

As a result, Alexandria was enjoying an enormous boom. It was said that every time Joseon goods came in and out, rivers of gold flowed through the streets of Alexandria.

This Alexandria was a mouthwatering city for anyone to see. Even the Mamluk Sultanate, which currently ruled Alexandria, knew this and was strengthening its defenses, but the Ottoman Empire in the east was regaining its strength.

Even a three-year-old child would know that the Ottoman Empire wouldn’t just sit back and watch Alexandria.

‘Of course, such a thing probably won’t happen within 10-20 years, but you never know. It’s too late to look for a solution after things have already happened.’

Thinking about the recent political situation in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Cosimo slowly began to lean towards accepting Henry’s proposal.

After pondering for a long time, Cosimo said to the messenger.

“It’s difficult to give an answer right away. I’ll send a messenger as soon as a decision is made. Tell the Prince that I deeply appreciate his good proposal.”

“I understand.”

After sending the messenger away, Medici immediately summoned the merchants of his family.

The merchants debated over Henry’s proposal. After quite a long time of heated arguments, Cosimo finally concluded.

“We accept Henry’s proposal!”

* * *

As Cosimo accepted Henry’s proposal, Henry’s movements also accelerated.

The state-owned shipyards in Venice began building carracks to explore the west coast of Africa.

The carracks built this way were manned by sailors hired in Venice, and they headed towards Henry with funds supported by Cosimo.

Thus, Henry’s exploration began to progress at a faster pace than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

* * *

If Portugal was stimulated by Espania’s movements and showed radical steps, the opposite was also true.

“Those Portuguese bastards are moving faster than expected!”

“We need to move quickly too!”

A ship-building competition had broken out between Portugal and Espania.

And the movements of these two countries caused a chain reaction.

“Now is not the time to waste time on negotiations!”

“It’s time to end negotiations for the sake of negotiation!”

England and France began to speed up negotiations on ending the war.

They too had eyes and ears, and thinking heads, so they couldn’t miss the value of the sea route to Joseon.

Meanwhile, another movement began to appear in the Middle East.

“It’s not like we have to go by ship, right?”

“That’s right!”

People began to dream of reviving the “Silk Road” that had disappeared into history.

* * *

While they were moving so busily in the west, far from Joseon, there were also people moving busily within Joseon.

Chapter 343
Invisible War (2)

Namchon, Hanseong.

Previously, this area was inhabited by ordinary citizens of Hanseong – mostly farmers – and poor noble. However, the composition of residents changed significantly due to the reconstruction process after the great fire in Hanseong and the creation of Area 51.

It transformed into a residential area connected to Jungchon – the area around Jongno and Cheonggyecheon – where large numbers of middle-class families, artisans, and researchers settled.

* * *

“Simply put, it’s become Joseon’s largest science and technology town.”

Hyang, standing atop Namsan, muttered softly while looking down at the ever-expanding Area 51.

“By the way…”

As he surveyed the scenery below, Hyang turned to look at the peak of Namsan behind him.

“To think Namsan was a tourist attraction even in this period…”

Before Area 51 was established, Namsan had a close relationship with the residents of Hanseong.

In the 4th year of King Taejo’s reign (1395), the mountain god of Namsan was enshrined as Mokmyeok Daewang to pray for the nation’s peace and prosperity. On Dano, young people from Hanseong gathered at the foot of the mountain for wrestling competitions, and on Jungyangjeol (the 9th day of the 9th lunar month), people of all ages climbed the mountain to enjoy the autumn foliage. (Note 1)

However, as Area 51 took its place, Namsan became a restricted area. At first, there were no particular complaints, but as the reforms progressed and more people gained leisure time, problems began to arise.

Those who couldn’t forget the nostalgia of the past began submitting petitions to lift the restrictions and allow access to Namsan.

“Compared to the 21st century, Area 51 is like a rolling stone, but…”

Hyang considered relocation, but considering the costs already invested in facility construction, the expenses that would be incurred in relocation, and the usefulness of maintaining secrecy, moving to another location was practically impossible.

“But we need to consider the people’s wishes too… How about this?”

In the end, Sejong found a middle ground.

-Every year, the southern part of Namsan will be opened on Dano and Jungyangjeol. The people of Hanseong are permitted to hike in the outer southern area of the wall that crosses Namsan. (Note 2)

* * *

In one of the residential areas of Namchon that had settled through this process, a commotion was taking place.

Crash! Clang!

“Oh my, honey! Please calm down, calm down!”

With the loud sound of dishes breaking and a woman’s scream, a man was thrown from the room into the courtyard.

Another man who came out of the room after him growled at the man thrown to the ground.

“You damn bastard! How dare you say such nonsense!”

“Ptui!”

The man thrown to the ground spat out blood-tinged saliva and raised his voice.

“Brother-in-law! What nonsense did I speak! It’s good for my sister and good for you! And good for me too!”

“You bastard!”

The man called brother-in-law shouted angrily and leaped down into the courtyard.

“You haven’t had enough beating, have you! Where’s the stick, where’s the stick!”

Looking around, the brother-in-law grabbed a laundry bat from a corner of the courtyard.

“Alright, you! Today I’m going to beat some sense into you, you crazy son of a bitch!”

“Oh no, honey!”

The wife, who had hurriedly followed, saw the situation where someone might end up dead and quickly blocked his husband’s path while shouting at his brother.

“Dae-su! Hurry up and apologize! Quickly!”

But Dae-su, the brother, shouted back vehemently.

“What did I do wrong! I’m not just saying this for my own good! We could have wealth and glory just by crossing the sea, but you’re being so narrow-minded here!”

At Dae-su’s words, the brother-in-law tried to push past his wife, but he desperately held him back.

“This bastard, really!”

“Honey!”

In the end, Dae-su had to flee the house from his brother-in-law’s fury. But until the last moment, Dae-su didn’t give up.

“Think about it carefully! Don’t you have to think about the children too! It’s Beijing, Beijing!”

“This bastard, really! Let go of me!”

“Oh no, honey!”

As this commotion unfolded, neighbors also gathered to watch.

“Khaak! Ptui!”

Dae-su’s brother-in-law spat with all his might, threw the laundry bat, and went back into the room.

Following him, Dae-su’s wife entered the room, and a second round of fighting broke out.

“What! You believe that nonsense too?”

“No, I’m just saying we should think about Hansu and his wife. If we just had money…”

“Shut up!”

Crash!

“This guy, really! We’ve just started to live a bit more comfortably these days! How dare you! You think you’re the only one who can turn the table upside down?”

Clang!

The neighbors flinched at the shouts and sounds of breaking dishes coming from behind the door, but they continued to watch the marital dispute.

Behind the gathered crowd, three suspicious men stood watching the scene. They were dressed all in black from their bamboo hats down, carrying long bamboo staves.

“We came after hearing the story, but something smells fishy, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. Gwangseok has made a breakthrough.”

The one who seemed to be the leader gave orders to his subordinates.

“You, follow the guy who just ran away. You, take Gwangseok and the others and search the surroundings. I’ll report to the superiors.”

The subordinate who received the order to track Dae-su asked a question.

“Wouldn’t it be faster to catch and interrogate that guy right now?”

The leader shook his head at the subordinate’s question.

“That guy is just a minnow. The real mastermind wouldn’t move so openly. According to Gwangseok’s report, this artisan is Level 3. It could be a ploy to divert our attention.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Understanding the leader’s orders, the subordinates bowed slightly and immediately disappeared into the darkness.

The leader, having sent his subordinates away, muttered while looking at the house where the marital dispute was still in full swing.

“My, that woman. She fights well… Should we try to recruit her to our side?”

As he muttered, suddenly feeling the desire for talent, the leader’s eyes turned to the iris sword in his hand.

“To think I have to entrust my life to such a low-quality weapon when there are good swords out there…”

* * *

The sword organizations of Hanseong, unified by Sejong’s hand – or more accurately, initiated by Hyang and finalized by Sejong – were renamed as Milwi (Secret Guard).

After this reorganization, Secret Guard integrated forces not only in Hanseong but also in Jemulpo, and was in the process of expanding its organization nationwide.

And for those operating on the frontlines of this reorganized Secret Guard, modified rapiers personally inspected by Hyang – called Cheonsugeom (Heaven-bestowed Sword) by the Secret Guard agents – were issued.

The Heaven-bestowed Sword, with the characters “In Shadow, Protect the Nation” engraved on its blade, was truly worthy of being called a famous sword. It became the pride and honor of the agents.

However, they could never carry these swords near Area 51. This was because the artisans of Area 51 were the ones who had forged these swords.

Therefore, around Area 51, they had no choice but to carry the iris swords or bamboo swords they used to use before.

* * *

The incident that occurred in Area 51 was immediately reported upwards.

A detailed report on the incident was given in the presence of the captain of the Inner Palace Guard who had rushed over upon receiving the urgent report.

“The artisan in question is a man named craftsman Seong who works in Area 51. He is Level 3.”

“Level 3… That’s ambiguous.”

As Area 51 grew larger, Hyang systematized the organization. In this process, artisans were also classified into 5 levels. Level 1 was given to the master artisans who led workshops belonging to the former Military Weapons Office or royal workshops like the Office of Clothing. Level 5 was for those who had just reached the level of being treated as artisans.

That’s why the captain of the Inner Palace Guard said it was ambiguous. Level 3 was a position where one would be in charge of core practical work, but wouldn’t know the overall picture.

This was also Hyang’s intention. Hyang applied maximum division of labor and modularization to all processes. Therefore, unless one was a Level 1 artisan who oversaw and coordinated all processes, it was impossible to know the entire process.

“So is it really a diversionary tactic?”

To the question from the 1st Division Chief, who was formerly the head of the North Village sword organization, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard pondered for a moment before answering.

“The probability is fifty-fifty. Half playing the role of diversion, half hoping for some unexpected luck. As you all know, it’s the research institute and Area 51 created by His Highness the Crown Prince. You know how great the pride, self-esteem, and skills of those working there are, don’t you?”

At the captain’s point, everyone nodded in agreement.

* * *

As Hyang personally organized and operated it, and as it produced incredible results, the status of the research institute and Area 51 skyrocketed. Of course, many nobles still looked down on mathematics and other sciences as miscellaneous studies, but the researchers working at the institute were proving themselves through results.

The case of the artisans was different. Being able to enter Area 51 or supply to it meant being an ‘artisan with the highest skills’. This situation brought both honor and wealth simultaneously.

Therefore, artisans in Joseon who were known for their craftsmanship honed their skills to establish connections with Area 51.

And as a butterfly effect, the development of various technologies in Joseon was accelerating.

* * *

The Secret Guards empathized even more strongly with the captain of the Inner Palace Guard’s words. This was because the Secret Guard had gone through a similar process.

If it weren’t for Hyang and Sejong, their lives would have ended as mere criminals.

“For now, plant people around craftsman Seong’s house to strengthen surveillance. If craftsman Seong happens to turn, the person who moved Im Dae-su might show themselves.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Continue tracking and monitoring Im Dae-su as well. Fortunately, if craftsman Seong holds out, Im Dae-su is the only lead to catch those behind this.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And, is there anything new from Jemulpo?”

At the captain’s words, the 4th Division Chief, who had been caught while growing the sword organization in the Jemulpo area, answered.

“There was an attempt to set up a tavern outside of Junghwatong, so I sent some men to stop it. After causing a few disturbances, they gave up on their own.”

The captain of the Inner Palace Guard’s face brightened at the 4th Division Chief’s report.

“Well done. You weren’t discovered, were you?”

“We caused disturbances citing seat fees as the reason, and they gave up on their own.”

“Well done, well done.”

As many Chinese merchants began to stay in Jemulpo, Sejong created ‘Junghwatong’, a Chinese-only residential area in Jemulpo. Chinese people, including merchants, could move freely within Junghwatong except for carrying swords. However, outside Junghwatong, everything from owning and operating buildings was prohibited.

In this situation, rumors spread about a tavern being set up with a Joseon person as a front, and the Jemulpo sword organization belonging to the Secret Guard returned to their original job and demonstrated their skills after a long time.

* * *

Five days later, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard visited the secret headquarters of the Secret Guard again.

“You’ve caught onto Im Dae-su’s trail?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Who is it?”

“Jo Han-tae, the manager of the West Sea Trading Group, was in charge of the execution, and it seems a man named Jang Seok-il was behind it.”

“West Sea Trading Group?”

“It’s a small trading group that’s just entering its third year. They mainly travel between Ming and Jemulpo selling goods. There are rumors that they’ve been having serious financial problems.”

“So this Jang Seok-il person gave them money and instigated this, is that it?”

“That’s correct.”

The captain of the Inner Palace Guard, who had been examining the report while listening to the explanation, asked another question.

“You’ve written that a deep investigation into Jang Seok-il is necessary. Why is that?”

To the captain’s question, the 2nd Division Chief answered.

“No matter how we look at it, he seems to be a Joseon person who is not really Joseon.”

* * *

Note 1) https://younghwan12.tistory.com/4350

Note 2) https://korean.visitseoul.net/walking-tour/남산성곽_/1096

Chapter 344
Invisible War (3)

“What do you mean by someone who is Korean but not Korean?”

The captain of the Inner Palace Guard, unable to grasp the meaning of the 2nd Division Chief’s words, asked for a more detailed explanation.

“Jo Han-tae and Jang Seok-il once had a drinking session at a gisaeng house. The gisaengs who attended said that this Jang Seok-il fellow was quite peculiar.”

“Peculiar?”

“They said he looks Korean, dresses Korean, and speaks Korean, but there’s something subtly unfamiliar about him.”

Upon hearing the 2nd Division Chief’s explanation, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard stroked his beard, deep in thought.

“Subtly unfamiliar…”

After pondering for a moment, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard ordered the 2nd Division Chief.

“As you said, we need a thorough investigation. Do it properly.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.”

The captain of the Inner Palace Guard then turned to the other bureau chiefs and commanded.

“Take a good look at the Western Sea Trading Company as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And remember, those approaching the craftsmen in Area 51 might not be the only ones. Keep a close eye on the situation.”

“Understood, sir.”

* * *

After the meeting, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard returned to the palace and reported the situation to King Sejong.

“Someone who is Korean but not Korean…”

Having received the report, King Sejong muttered while stroking his beard with a serious expression. He then turned to the captain of the Inner Palace Guard.

“Who do you think it could be?”

“The most likely possibility is that they are either individuals who fled to Ming or Japan during the turmoil at the end of the previous dynasty or during the founding of our kingdom, or their descendants.”

King Sejong nodded at the Captain’s response.

From the time when the previous dynasty began showing signs of collapse, a considerable number of people had left Joseon, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The Captain was suggesting that these individuals could be one of those people or their descendants.

King Sejong carefully analyzed the Captain’s reasoning.

‘Japan, huh… ’

* * *

Since the time of the previous king, they had been cultivating relationships with Japanese lords to resolve the issues with Japanese pirates. According to the information obtained through this process, Japan’s land was larger than Joseon’s, and its population was greater. However, despite having an Emperor and a shogunate, the political situation was chaotic. Their technology, except for the Japanese sword and a few other things, was also quite backward.

By opening trade offices with the Ouchi clan and the shogunate, King Sejong and the court were able to obtain more detailed information more quickly and easily.

According to the information acquired, the financial power of Japanese merchants was larger than imagined. Moreover, as the current ruling Muromachi shogunate focused on overseas trade, the number of merchant forces venturing into foreign trade was increasing.

Japanese trading companies were emerging one by one, reaching not only the Ryukyu Kingdom but also as far as Siam (Thailand).

Synthesizing the information coming through the trade offices, it appeared that Japan’s economic power, including commerce, was in a state of growth.

* * *

After reviewing the situation in Japan, King Sejong soon had to cross Japan off the list of suspects.

‘If we only consider commerce, they’re certainly suspicious, but when it comes to technology, it’s impossible.’

Although they were constantly trying to get their hands on craftsmen from Ming and Joseon whenever possible, Japan’s overall technological level was inferior. Even if they somehow managed to take the craftsmen from Area 51, they lacked the ability to digest that technology.

Having removed Japan from the list of suspects, King Sejong’s face grew even more gloomy.

‘Then, in the end, is it Ming?’

The merchants of Ming were certainly capable.

They had economic power several times that of Joseon, and a long history of foreign trade dating back to the Yuan Dynasty.

Moreover, although their technological prowess had fallen behind Joseon’s, which had rapidly developed through the Reformation—or more accurately, the Crown Prince’s crazy actions—it was still competitive enough.

If they were to take the craftsmen from Area 51, the commercial sector of Ming had a sufficient foundation to absorb their skills.

‘It’s not just the merchants… ’

The Ming imperial family and court couldn’t be ruled out as suspects either. They were just as competitive as the Ming commercial sector.

“Haah~. How frustrating…”

After analyzing various situations, King Sejong expressed his frustration.

Having somewhat relieved his frustration with a long sigh, King Sejong asked the captain of the Inner Palace Guard.

“You said the Secret Police would investigate this more thoroughly, right?”

“Yes, I ordered them to do so.”

“Tell them to find out as quickly and as thoroughly as possible, and report back. We’ll decide on all responses after that.”

“I receive your command!”

“Also, pay attention to the surveillance and protection of the craftsmen in Area 15, no, Area 51. How far has the organization of the Secret Royal Guard[1] that I ordered to be formed within the Royal Guards progressed?”

Although he had created the Secret Police, King Sejong was concerned about its predecessor and the potential for tyranny through information monopoly. So, he organized a secret unit within the Royal Guards. It was the birth of a special force named ‘Secret Royal Guard,’ meaning ‘secretly guarding the foundation of the royal family and the country.’

* * *

“I decided to create something called the Secret Royal Guard.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang’s mouth opened automatically.

“Emergency Response Committee?”

“Where did that come from?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. It just came out unconsciously.”

“It’s similar but different.”

After explaining the meaning of Secret Royal Guard to Hyang, King Sejong gave him an order.

“You will make weapons for this Secret Royal Guard to use.”

“Wouldn’t the firearms and swords currently used by the Royal Guards be sufficient?”

“We need more covert weapons.”

“How should I handle the funding?”

“It will come from the Royal Treasury.”

At King Sejong’s answer, Hyang immediately bowed his head.

‘He’s made up his mind.’

“I’ll proceed as quickly as possible.”

After finishing the conversation and leaving Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Hyang muttered quietly.

“Should I go the 007 route, or more towards the Dev Group…”

Meanwhile, inside Gangnyeongjeon Hall, King Sejong, staring at the door, mulled over what had just happened.

‘He asked about the cost without even asking what I wanted. That bastard! It means he’s already made some plans to some extent!’

“I really need to set aside a day to shake that guy down thoroughly… The problem is that if he’s gone, Area 15, no, Area 51 won’t function properly…”

Grumbling about the guy who seemed to have a dozen or so snakes in his belly, King Sejong soon complained about something else.

“By the way, why did they name it Area 51… I keep calling it Area 15. Suddenly attaching the number 51…”

King Sejong was grumbling about the name of Area 51, which became confusing whenever he let his guard down a little.

* * *

In response to King Sejong’s question about the progress of the ‘Secret Royal Guard,’ the captain of the Inner Palace Guard bowed his head and answered.

“We’ve mostly finished selecting the personnel. As you instructed, we’ve kept the size at about 30 people.”

“I assume you’ve chosen those who can keep their mouths shut?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Nodding at the Captain’s answer, King Sejong gave additional orders.

“First, assign them to Area 15, no, Area 51. I’ll draft an order for the Secret Police. Tell them to work alongside the Secret Police for now and absorb their knowledge and skills.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“However, tell them it’s additional support from the Royal Guards due to insufficient personnel. Keep the identity of the Secret Royal Guard concealed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Having given these orders to the captain of the Inner Palace Guard, King Sejong let out a long sigh.

“Whew~. They say a tree with many branches doesn’t sway in the wind, but…”

Sighing deeply at the situation where any slight relaxation could lead to fatal consequences, King Sejong suddenly stood up from his seat.

“Ah, screw it! At times like this, focusing on research is the best!”

It might have been a side effect, but one of the butterfly effects brought about by Hyang was King Sejong’s night work.

Whether stimulated by Hyang’s enthusiasm or due to the strengthened absolute royal authority, King Sejong’s research on Hangul began much earlier than expected.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, King Sejong was praised as “intelligent and fond of learning and contemplation.” This King Sejong quickly began the work of creating Joseon’s own writing system.

As a result, the most significant impact was on King Sejong’s aforementioned night work.

As King Sejong became engrossed in character research, the number of women he took to bed sharply decreased.

The situation with Royal Consort Hye of the Yang clan proceeded the same as in the history before Hyang’s intervention, but other concubines, except for Royal Consort Song, did not exist.

Hyang also pondered over this issue.

“Huh? What’s going on here? Why? For what reason?”

Pondering over the change in King Sejong, who was famous for having many concubines and children, Hyang came up with the most plausible hypothesis.

“Has he already started researching Hunminjeongeum[2]? Did he bite on one of the various hints I’ve been dropping?”

Hyang was considering the possibilities, recalling the hints he had been subtly dropping all this time.

* * *

Meanwhile, with King Sejong’s official order, the Secret Police began a full-scale investigation.

“No matter how you look at it, he’s not a Korean who has been living in Joseon continuously.”

The Secret Police agents who compiled the reports from the gisaengs who had attended Jo Han-tae and Jang Seok-il’s drinking sessions came to this conclusion.

“Then where do you think he’s from?”

“Judging by his speech patterns and tones, he’s of Ming descent. It’s certain he’s from Ming.”

“Ming, huh…”

At the agents’ report, the 2nd Division Chief stroked his chin and trailed off.

“Ming… Did the Ming merchants send him?”

One of the agents picked up on the 2nd Division Chief’s speculation.

“According to the opinion of the head gisaeng, there’s a very high possibility that he’s a eunuch.”

“A eunuch? Why?”

“She says he uses a lot of perfume with an overwhelmingly strong scent. According to the head gisaeng, the eunuchs who come as envoys from Ming have such an intense scent emanating from their bodies, just like him.”

“Hmm… That makes sense.”

The 2nd Division Chief nodded at the agent’s words.

According to rumors, unlike Joseon’s eunuchs, Chinese eunuchs had their entire external genitalia removed. In such cases, they often leaked urine, so they wore diapers made of thick cotton or cotton pants, and used strong-scented perfumes to mask the smell. (Note 1)

Moreover, as the Reformation progressed and Joseon’s national power strengthened, it had decreased significantly, but Joseon used to send female tribute and eunuchs to Ming. If someone who had become a eunuch after going to Ming in this way had come, it all added up.

Having reached a conclusion, the 2nd Division Chief’s face turned serious.

“This is no ordinary problem.”

The fact that someone had approached the craftsmen in Area 51 was not a light matter in itself, but if a eunuch belonging to the Ming imperial household was involved, it was a “very serious” problem.

In the end, the 2nd Division Chief gave an order to his subordinate.

“This is beyond my level to handle. Write up a report.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

The report thus prepared was immediately sent up to King Sejong through the captain of the Inner Palace Guard.

“This is serious…”

King Sejong muttered in a stiff voice after receiving and reading the report.

It was a matter involving a eunuch, a servant of the Emperor.

Whether this was done with the Emperor’s approval or not was crucial.

As King Sejong pondered solutions with a serious face, one thought occurred to him.

‘The fact that they sent a eunuch secretly means this is unofficial. If we secretly deal with the eunuch, even the Emperor will have nothing to say!’

“Officially, it means nothing happened…”

Having reached a conclusion, King Sejong ordered the captain of the Inner Palace Guard.

“Pass on a license to the Secret Police.”

“A license, you say?”

To the Captain’s question, King Sejong answered briefly.

“Extermination. However, limit the targets to only those who came from Ming.”

At King Sejong’s answer, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard immediately bowed his head.

“I receive your command!”

After dismissing the captain of the Inner Palace Guard, King Sejong called for his Chief Royal Secretary.

“Summon the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Note 1) https://namu.wiki/w/환관#s-4.1

1. 秘臺衛[↩]

2. is a 15th-century manuscript that introduced the Korean script Hangul.[↩]

Chapter 345
Invisible War (4)

“Did you call for me?”

“Yes, there’s something you must do.”

Sensing something unusual from Sejong’s expression and tone, which were more serious than usual, Hyang immediately lowered his voice.

“What must I do, Father?”

“We need an informant.”

“Pardon?”

Sejong handed Hyang a report. After receiving and grasping the situation, Hyang asked Sejong:

“Do you intend to arrest and interrogate this person who appears to be a former Ming eunuch?”

“No, I plan to silence him. With Joseon’s current strength, we’d only lose if we confronted Ming. Moreover, we must prevent the existence of the Secret Police from being revealed.”

“In that case, why do we need an informant?”

Sejong explained the reason for Hyang’s observation.

“It’s for dealing with the collaborators. While we can quietly dispose of the spies who’ve infiltrated from outside, we must set a precedent of judging internal collaborators strictly according to the law.”

“Ah…”

Hyang let out a small exclamation at Sejong’s words before asking another question.

“Is it because of dictatorship?”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s question.

“Although we have the court and ministers, all decisions are ultimately made by the king. Even if we hide the Secret Police, the ministers will vaguely sense its existence. They’ll become cautious, and what do you think will happen then?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“Even if a tyrant like Jie or Zhou were to appear and run amok, they couldn’t be controlled.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer.

“Exactly. That’s why we must maintain at least the rule of law as the final barrier. The rule of law is the last defense for the ministers who should check the monarch’s unilateral actions.”

Understanding Sejong’s intention, Hyang prostrated himself before Sejong.

“I will absolutely carry out your orders, Father!”

“Thank you.”

As the atmosphere between father and son warmed, Hyang, remembering something, asked Sejong:

“But what if the ministers try to oppress the monarch using the law as a weapon?”

“Like Ryu Jeong-hyeon in the past?”

“…Yes.”

Sejong answered firmly to Hyang’s response.

“A monarch so incompetent as to be pushed around by his ministers is unfit to be a ruler. Since ancient times, a proper monarch should overwhelm his ministers with intellect and eloquence, not force.”

“…Yes…”

Hyang suddenly felt pity for their descendants.

* * *

The next day, Hyang, who had arrived at Area 51, summoned Seong Pan-sul.

“Your Highness, did you call for me?”

Pan-sul appeared very tense at being summoned by someone he rarely met face-to-face.

Hyang’s face was unprecedentedly cold as he looked at Pan-sul.

“Chief Seong Pan-sul.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Pardon? What…”

Seeing Pan-sul’s unconcealed bewilderment, Hyang briefly added:

“Im Dae-su.”

“Gasp!”

When Hyang mentioned his brother-in-law’s name, Pan-sul immediately fell to his knees.

“P-p-please spare my life!”

“You should know well that those working in Area 51 have an obligation to maintain secrecy, right?”

“I have committed a mortal sin! It was just that the alcohol was to blame!”

* * *

Those working in Area 51 were under strict obligation to maintain confidentiality. However, as Area 51 grew larger and the families of the workers gathered in one place, this clause had become somewhat faded.

It was customary for those coming to Area 51 from other regions to hold a feast when leaving their hometowns.

“I’m going to Area 51 in Hanseong!”

Even after entering Area 51, it was hard to fully grasp the gravity of maintaining confidentiality.

This was because as soon as they stepped out of their gates, their neighbors were people who commuted to and from Area 51 together.

As they became neighborly, drinking sessions became frequent, and it became routine to share all sorts of stories—from personal matters to work assignments.

Upon receiving related reports, Hyang muttered with a resigned expression:

“Didn’t they say that even in Los Alamos, maintaining confidentiality went to the moon? Is this unavoidable? No, is it better than the situation where a pub owner does the coding?”

Eventually, Hyang and other high-ranking officials of Area 51 began to turn a blind eye to some extent.

– It was allowed to reveal that one worked in Area 51.

However, Pan-sul found himself in crisis because he had blabbed while drinking with his brother-in-law, Im Dae-su.

“Brother-in-law! You know those iron horses in Hanseong? I made those!”

* * *

Looking at Pan-sul, who had turned pale, Hyang continued:

“We said it was okay to mention that you work in Area 51. But we didn’t say you could talk about what you do there. You know that well, don’t you?”

“P-p-please spare my life! It was just that the alcohol was to blame, and he was my brother-in-law…”

“Even if he was your brother-in-law, shouldn’t you have stopped his nonsense talk, and reported it if he spoke or plotted against the country?”

Hyang’s voice was ice-cold. At Hyang’s words, Pan-sul begged, banging his head on the floor.

“Oh, Your Highness! That fellow, my brother-in-law, is known for his frivolous talk, so I just ignored it! He’s a man who frequents gambling dens every day, so I thought it was just nonsense!”

“If he came to spout this nonsense four times, wouldn’t a normal person become suspicious?”

“Y-yes, that’s true. But…”

“But what?”

“He’s known for his wild talk, and although we’re not blood-related, he became my in-law…”

Hyang replied briefly to Pan-sul’s words.

“I don’t know how much nonsense he used to talk before, but this time, he was right on the mark.”

“What?”

“There was a merchant with foreign connections backing him.”

“Oh no!”

Only then realizing he was truly in a life-or-death crisis, Pan-sul prostrated himself so low he nearly stuck to the floor, begging for his life.

“P-please spare my life! Even if I heard those words, I would never have agreed to them! I swear by heaven and earth! I never harbored any wicked thoughts!”

“Is that so…”

Having confirmed Pan-sul’s reaction, Hyang immediately threw out bait.

“Then you have a job to do.”

“What must I do, sir?”

Pan-sul lifted his head and looked at Hyang, seeing a sliver of hope. Looking at Pan-sul’s desperate face, Hyang informed him of his task.

“Go to the State Tribunal and report this.”

“What? But then my brother-in-law…”

“Would you rather you, your brother-in-law, and even your family face dire consequences—you’d be lucky to end up as government slaves—or would you rather at least you and your family survive? Make your choice. I’ll tell you in advance, His Majesty already knows everything.”

At Hyang’s words, Pan-sul fell into deep contemplation. But he had no choice. Finally, Pan-sul gritted his teeth and answered.

“I will go to the State Tribunal and report this treason.”

Upon hearing Pan-sul’s choice, Hyang immediately stood up.

“You’ve chosen wisely. Hey there! Gather the soldiers at once! We must go to the State Tribunal!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuch waiting outside immediately responded.

* * *

When Hyang arrived at the State Tribunal with Pan-sul, the Chief State Tribunal Officer came rushing out.

“We greet the Crown Prince!”

“You must be busy with official duties, but given the nature of this matter, I had to come here.”

“What brings you here…”

At Hyang’s words, the faces of the Chief State Tribunal Officer and the officials who followed him behind stiffened. If it was a matter that brought the Crown Prince himself, it couldn’t be an ordinary issue.

To the Chief State Tribunal Officer’s question, Hyang turned to look at Pan-sul standing behind him and answered.

“I learned through this man’s report that there are individuals trying to smuggle craftsmen from Area 51 to a foreign country.”

“What! There are such treasonous individuals?!”

Alarmed, the Chief State Tribunal Officer commanded the bailiffs of the State Tribunal standing behind him.

“Bring that man in!”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Shortly after, an interrogation scene unfolded in the courtyard of the State Tribunal.

“Since he reported this trusting me, I should be present.”

With Hyang insisting strongly on being present, the interrogation began.

“You, speak in detail!”

At the Chief State Tribunal Officer’s order, Pan-sul began to speak, trembling.

“I-I am Seong Pan-sul, working in Area 51…”

* * *

“…That is all.”

When Pan-sul finished speaking, the courtyard of the State Tribunal was silent. All the officials present at the interrogation had serious expressions.

‘We could dismiss this as nonsense from a delusional person seeking instant riches… But one wouldn’t dare say such things without a solid connection.’

‘Given that he’s a craftsman from Area 51, we can’t ignore this.’

After pondering for a moment, the Chief State Tribunal Officer reached a conclusion.

“Your Highness, it seems we must arrest this Im Dae-su.”

“Indeed. And shouldn’t we inform Father immediately?”

“I will report this at once!”

The Chief State Tribunal Officer immediately took action.

“Seong Pan-sul, listen. Where is the gambling den that Im Dae-su frequently visits?”

“South of Cheonggyecheon…”

After confirming the likely whereabouts of Im Dae-su through Pan-sul’s testimony, the Chief State Tribunal Officer immediately ordered the investigators and bailiffs.

“Arrest this Im Dae-su immediately! Search his house, the gambling den, and Seong Pan-sul’s house where his sister lives!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Inspector, report this to His Majesty the King at once!”

“Understood!”

With the Chief State Tribunal Officer’s words, everyone at the State Tribunal began to move busily. As armed forces left the State Tribunal and the inspector with an urgent expression ran towards Gyeongbok Palace, Hyang muttered quietly.

“Finally, the show has begun.”

* * *

Meanwhile, the ministers gathered in Geunjeongjeon Hall were shocked by the urgent news delivered by the inspector who had entered.

“How can such a treasonous act occur! Your Majesty! We must immediately verify the truth of this matter!”

“We must arrest all those involved without exception!”

Sejong, with a serious expression, nodded each time the ministers made their stern statements. After listening to the ministers, Sejong turned to the inspector and asked.

“So, what is the State Tribunal doing now?”

“First, they have gone out to arrest a man named Im Dae-su. As soon as he is arrested, they will interrogate him to verify the truth of the matter and investigate his backers.”

“If we’re not careful, those behind this might escape. Handle this as swiftly as possible.”

“I receive your command!”

“And bring all reports directly to me immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then, I shall expect good news.”

“Yes, sir.”

The inspector who received Sejong’s orders immediately bowed and left Geunjeongjeon Hall.

After dismissing the inspector, Sejong asked the ministers.

“Who do you think is behind this?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers kept their mouths shut. They were all certain that Ming was behind this. However, Ming was Joseon’s suzerain state. If a minister of a vassal state publicly suspected or slandered the suzerain state in an official setting, it could become a political issue. Hence, they all maintained silence.

Finally, the first to speak was Sejong.

“I cannot understand why our suzerain would resort to such a petty method.”

Alarmed by Sejong’s statement, Yi Maeng-gyun immediately spoke up.

“Your Majesty, the backers have not yet been revealed.”

Sejong snorted at Yi Maeng-gyun’s words.

“Hmph! Do you think Japan could utilize the technology possessed by the craftsmen of Area 51? Apart from our suzerain, who else could possibly do this?”

“While that may be true…”

Sejong’s words were the prevailing opinion. As a result, Yi Maeng-gyun trailed off with an awkward expression.

At that moment, Maeng Sa-seong opened his mouth.

“People tend to pursue convenience. In pursuing convenience, people often abandon principles.”

“Are you saying our suzerain has abandoned principles for this reason?”

To Sejong’s question, Maeng Sa-seong immediately replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty. To proceed formally in accordance with principles would take much time and cost. However, they likely thought that by abandoning principles, they could save both time and cost.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, both Sejong and the ministers nodded. As he nodded, Sejong asked Maeng Sa-seong.

“Then, what should our Joseon do?”

“We must show that we are not to be trifled with. We must demonstrate that following principles is actually more beneficial.”

Chapter 346
Invisible War (5)

Near Hyogyeong Bridge in Cheonggyecheon (currently near Sewoon Plaza).

Around the bridge, also called the Blind Bridge due to the many blind people living nearby, small and large thatched houses were clustered together. It was one of the few remaining lower-class residential areas that had survived a previous great fire and avoided reconstruction.

But now, many soldiers were flocking to this place. They were bailiffs and constables from the State Tribunal and the Hanseong Police Bureau.

“We must completely seal off the perimeter.”

The investigator from the State Tribunal commanded, and the bailiffs from the Police Bureau bowed their heads and answered.

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t forget that His Majesty and the ministers are all watching. If we let even one slip through, we’ll have to face His Majesty’s wrath.”

Sweating profusely at the investigator’s warning, the Police Bureau bailiffs responded.

“We won’t let even a mouse escape!”

After thoroughly surrounding the neighborhood’s perimeter, the State Tribunal bailiffs began raiding and searching the houses.

Bailiffs wielding clubs and iron whips formed groups of four or five and started ransacking the thatched houses.

Bang!

Crash!

“Mother!”

“Oh my goodness!”

The sounds of doors breaking and women screaming began to erupt from all directions, and soon after, men’s shouts started to burst out here and there.

“Hey, run!”

“Catch him!”

“Halt!”

“Stop right there! Stop!”

“Would you stop if you were me?”

“Shit! Catch that bastard who just ran by no matter what!”

After this chaotic scene, it wasn’t long before men who had been beaten by the bailiffs and constables were dragged out with their faces in a mess.

The men, tied up with ropes like dried croaker fish, trudged along under the strict surveillance of the bailiffs and constables.

Among these men being marched along, one looked around and tilted his head in confusion.

“This… isn’t the direction of the Police Bureau? Excuse me, sir. Where are we going?”

“The State Tribunal.”

“Gasp!”

At the bailiff’s nonchalant answer, all the men being dragged along turned pale.

“Sir! We only played some dice and domino games. The State Tribunal is too much! Isn’t this excessive?”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

As the voices of those being dragged away grew louder, a bailiff shouted angrily.

“You lot who set up gambling dens forbidden by the state have a lot to say! Shut your mouths and walk!”

* * *

Thus, all those who were dragged away were imprisoned in the State Tribunal’s jail.

The moment they entered the State Tribunal’s jail, most were extremely intimidated and only darted their eyes left and right, but there were a few who seemed bold.

Whether they were truly brave or just putting on a front to hide their fear was unclear, but these few addressed the jailer with half-joking, half-serious words.

“Even in the State Tribunal’s jail where high-ranking officials are imprisoned, there’s nothing special, is there?”

Hearing this, the jailer smirked and replied.

“What, did you expect silk bedding instead of straw, and gisaengs serving you instead of hairy jailers?”

“It’s just a jail, but why does it feel so chilly?”

“This is a place where more people come out crippled than those who leave unscathed, and even becoming crippled is considered lucky. Isn’t that natural? When various serious crimes occur, hundreds enter and leave as corpses. Did you think it would be pleasant? When I’m on night duty, it’s not once or twice that chills run down my spine.”

At the jailer’s words, those imprisoned in the jail looked around unconsciously with terrified expressions.

The stains scattered on the floor and walls of the jail suddenly seemed suspicious.

As the imprisoned men were feeling scared, an investigator from the State Tribunal entered the jail.

The investigator, observing the imprisoned men through the bars, spoke softly.

“Who is Im Dae-su?”

At the investigator’s question, the imprisoned men looked at each other in confusion.

“Im Dae-su? Who’s that?”

“I don’t know either. Who could it be?”

While most of those who heard the name ‘Im Dae-su’ were tilting their heads in confusion, a commotion broke out in one corner.

“This fucking idiot! I thought his spending habits were strange lately!”

“This moron has brought doom upon us all!”

“Ugh! Argh!”

In the area where the commotion occurred, a group of men were collectively beating one man.

Seeing this, the State Tribunal investigator ordered the jailers.

“Bring those men out!”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Thus, Im Dae-su and those who were beating him were dragged out of the jail and moved to the front yard of the State Tribunal.

“You damn fool!”

“I thought you were acting suspiciously, and sure enough, you’ve caused trouble!”

“Damn idiot!”

Even during the move, the men continued to hurl insults at Im Dae-su. Not just insults, they kicked him whenever they got the chance.

“Ugh! Argh!”

“Can’t you walk properly!”

As they arrived at the front yard of the State Tribunal, battered and bruised, they were greeted by various torture instruments.

“Hmm… What should we start with?”

Seeing Im Dae-su’s terrified expression, the State Tribunal investigator shouted loudly with exaggerated gestures and intonation.

“Should we start with the Juripul? Or should we begin with pressing the legs? Or perhaps we should start with branding with hot irons?”

“Hic! Hic!”

Each time the investigator mentioned a type of torture, Im Dae-su turned pale and hiccupped.

“I think it’s best to start with pressing the legs. Hey! Tie the criminal Im Dae-su to the torture frame!”

“Yes, sir!”

As the constables on both sides grabbed Im Dae-su at the command, Im Dae-su wet himself and shouted.

“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

* * *

Terrified, Im Dae-su spilled everything he knew fluently. After recording all of Im Dae-su’s confession, the investigator reported to the Chief State Tribunal Officer.

“We have identified the person who instigated Im Dae-su.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Jo Han-tae, the manager of the Western Sea Trading Company.”

“Where is this Western Sea Trading Company located?”

“They have a warehouse in Jemulpo and their main office is at Mapo Port.”

“Send people to Mapo Port and Jemulpo immediately! Tell them to bring in Jo Han-tae, all the employees, and all the documents! Word might have already spread in Mapo Port! Acting first and reporting later is the best course of action!”

“Yes, sir!”

“And throw those men back in jail!”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon, a large cavalry force departed from the State Tribunal. Their destinations were Mapo Port and Jemulpo.

* * *

The State Tribunal investigator and bailiffs who arrived at Mapo Port rode their horses in all directions to find the Western Sea Trading Company.

“Your Excellency, sir Investigator! That’s the Western Sea Trading Company!”

At the bailiff’s shout, who had found the main office of the Western Sea Trading Company a little distance from the port, the investigator pulled on his horse’s reins.

“Charge in immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

Neigh!

With a loud horse neigh, the investigator and bailiffs, along with their horses, jumped over the main gate of the Western Sea Trading Company.

Crash! Clang!

“Ugh!”

“What’s all this commotion!”

Amidst the chaos as people dodged the horses suddenly leaping over the gate’s threshold, investigator Oh Ji-ho, who led the bailiffs, shouted.

“Arrest the traitors!”

“Yes, sir!”

“You may execute them if they resist!”

“Yes, sir!”

At Oh Ji-ho’s orders, the bailiffs drew their heavy iron clubs and swords, herding the employees of the main office into one place.

Overwhelmed by the imposing presence of the bailiffs mounted on huge horses bred from Western stock, and cowed by the word ‘traitor’, the people of the Western Sea Trading Company scattered and were driven into one place.

Meanwhile, Jo Han-tae, hearing the commotion from the inner quarters, let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~. So it ends like this after all.”

“Manager.”

At Jo Han-tae’s words, the clerk standing beside him called out with a gloomy face. He was one of the few who knew about this affair along with Jo Han-tae.

Looking at the clerk calling him, Jo Han-tae’s expression turned sorrowful.

“I’m sorry. I should have listened to you.”

“It was my mistake. Even though it was to grow our company, it was too dangerous.”

* * *

Jo Han-tae and the Western Sea Trading Company were one of the new companies that had benefited from the Reformation.

Jo Han-tae, who had learned his trade from river merchants, thought this was the perfect time to grow his company. After leaving the river merchant business, he invested all his assets to open a trading company.

Since he hadn’t parted ways badly with the river merchants, the Western Sea Trading Company grew slowly but steadily with some help from them.

“This isn’t enough! At this rate, we can’t grow quickly!”

Judging that it was impossible to grow rapidly with the profits from transporting and selling goods by boat throughout Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces, Jo Han-tae sold his existing transport ships and mobilized all available funds to purchase one large cargo ship capable of crossing the West Sea, venturing into trade with Ming.

However, the trade between Jemulpo and Shandong basically required a lot of capital.

It was a challenging task for the Western Sea Trading Company, which had been established just over two years ago and had only one large cargo ship.

Eventually, as Jo Han-tae and the Western Sea Trading Company fell into crisis due to financial strain, the Eastern Depot approached them.

“If you can provide craftsmen related to the iron horses, we’ll give you the right to supply goods to the imperial household.”

“How many, and what’s the deadline? And for how long can we supply?”

“The more people, the better, and the sooner, the better. We’ll give you 3 years of supply rights for each craftsman.”

The Eastern Depot’s offer was dangerous but sweet.

The clerk of the Western Sea Trading Company strongly opposed, but Jo Han-tae accepted the Eastern Depot’s proposal.

“It’s all or nothing! At this rate, we’ll go bankrupt due to financial issues anyway! Just one person will do! If we can supply to the Ming imperial household for 3 years, we can rise greatly! 3 years is enough! Let’s do it!”

But the result turned out to be nothing rather than all.

* * *

As the noise from outside the door grew closer, Jo Han-tae pulled out a small dagger from his breast.

After staring at the dagger in his hand for a moment, Jo Han-tae unsheathed it and brought it to his neck.

Just then, the door was violently torn off, and Oh Ji-ho and the bailiffs rushed in.

Oh Ji-ho struck Jo Han-tae’s hand with the back of his sword, knocking away the dagger, and then kicked Jo Han-tae down.

Placing his foot on the fallen Jo Han-tae’s chest, Oh Ji-ho pointed his sword and shouted.

“That’s enough!”

* * *

On the night that Im Dae-su and Jo Han-tae were arrested by the State Tribunal, a group was hurriedly walking along the night road towards Jemulpo.

As they were walking by moonlight, their steps were very cautious.

In the middle of the group, Jang Seok-il was sweating profusely as he spoke to an old man in Chinese.

“Sir, I’m sorry.”

“As they say, man proposes, God disposes. It was close to gambling, so we must accept the consequences.”

At the old man’s words, Jang Seok-il’s expression showed some relief.

‘Thank goodness. How did we even make it this far!’

However, his face stiffened at the old man’s next words.

“Of course, you should be prepared to face the Chief Eunuch’s displeasure. The costs incurred were not insignificant.”

“I will create another opportunity.”

“You’d better.”

As Jang Seok-il and the old man were having this conversation, the man at the very front scouting the road suddenly raised his hand to stop the movement.

“What’s the matter?”

“There’s a man blocking the road ahead, sir.”

“Huh?”

Hearing the answer, the old man raised his head to look ahead.

A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat stood blocking the road, holding a long staff in his arms.

“Who goes there!”

To the question asking for identification in broken Korean, the man blocking the road muttered quietly and pulled out a horn from his breast.

“Found them properly.”

Tweet!

As the loud noise echoed through the night sky, the men guarding the old man and Jang Seok-il all looked around and drew their weapons.

Clang! Click!

As sword-canes were drawn from their waists and spear tips popped out from the ends of staffs, the guards prepared for battle and watched their surroundings.

Soon after, dozens of men appeared from the surroundings. Men dressed all in black from their wide-brimmed hats to their boots surrounded Jang Seok-il’s group.

“Who are you!”

As they asked for identification once again, the man blocking the road answered briefly.

“Grim reaper.”

“What?”

“If they ask who sent you in the afterlife, tell them the Secret Police sent you.”

“What?”

Slash!

In an instant, the Secret Police members drew their swords and began attacking the guard unit.

* * *

The battle that broke out between the Eastern Depot’s guards and the Secret Police was fierce, but soon the Secret Police began to gain the upper hand.

They were superior in numbers, and their combat ability was also better. It was a moment when all the training they had endured under the captain of the Inner Palace Guard was paying off.

“Ugh!”

The battle ended as the last warrior fell to the ground with his heart pierced.

The only ones left from Jang Seok-il’s group were Jang Seok-il himself and the old man.

In this situation, the old man stepped forward and began to speak in broken Korean.

“I am from the Eastern Dep—”

Before he could finish revealing his affiliation, a Secret Police sword pierced the old man’s heart. Then, the Secret Police sword turned towards Jang Seok-il.

“P-please spa—”

After killing the old man and Jang Seok-il, the Secret Police agents soon brought carriages and loaded their wounded comrades and the bodies of their fallen comrades. Then, loading the bodies of Jang Seok-il’s group into another carriage, the Secret Police agents quietly disappeared.

Chapter 347
Let's Make a Playground! (1)

Late at night, Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

It was deep into the night, and even the court historians had withdrawn. King Sejong, dressed in his sleeping attire, sat waiting for someone.

After some time had passed, a eunuch quietly entered and reported to Sejong.

“Your Majesty. The captain of the Inner Palace Guard has returned.”

“Send him in immediately.”

“Yes, sire.”

As the Chief Royal Secretary withdrew, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard, dressed all in black, entered and knelt down.

“What’s the result?”

“It’s been completed.”

At the Captain’s answer, Sejong’s face brightened. Looking at Sejong’s expression, the Captain added:

“None of the Ming nationals identified by the Secret Police have escaped. There might be some left in the Chinatown of Jemulpo, but all those involved in this affair who came out have been silenced.”

“Well done! Truly well done!”

“The Secret Police agents worked very hard.”

“How many casualties were there among the Secret Police?”

“Two dead, and three permanently disabled.”

“That’s quite a significant loss.”

“The skills of those we faced were not to be underestimated. Given that they were all eunuchs, it’s certain they were from the Eastern Depot’s armed forces.”

At the Captain’s report, Sejong asked with a serious expression:

“So it wasn’t just empty threats after all?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Opening a trade office in Shandong was not just for trade purposes, but also to obtain faster and more diverse information about Ming’s political situation and various other matters.

Among the information that came through the trade office was information about the ‘Eastern Depot’.

– There is an organization created by the Ming imperial household using eunuchs for surveillance.

– The organization called the Eastern Depot has a unit composed of highly skilled warriors.

The ‘Eastern Depot’ itself was already well-known and thus not of much value, but the problem was the armed group said to be within the Eastern Depot. This group, unknown in both size and skill, was an ‘invisible terror’ to the Ming people.

‘Why on earth would eunuchs create an armed group? Are they dreaming of becoming the Ten Attendants again?’

While many were concerned about the armed group within the Eastern Depot, the Eastern Depot itself had its own justification.

– When conducting secret investigations, life-threatening situations are frequent. In such cases, guards are needed to protect those in charge of the investigations. However, due to the nature of the work, the exact size cannot be disclosed.

Those who heard this statement from the Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot all had the same question.

“Then, what about their skills?”

And there were two answers to this:

– They must have carefully selected and trained their personnel, so they’re certainly a significant threat.

– Talented individuals wouldn’t voluntarily become eunuchs, so it’s just an empty show of force.

However, the Secret Police agents deployed in this battle were also acknowledged by the captain of the Inner Palace Guard. The fact that these agents were killed or disabled was evidence that the Eastern Depot’s armed forces possessed formidable skills.

* * *

After reassessing the evaluation of the Eastern Depot’s armed forces, Sejong moved on to the next topic.

“Do you think those dealt with this time are all of them?”

At Sejong’s question, the captain of the Inner Palace Guard shook his head.

“I don’t believe so. There must be more in Jemulpo. Would you like us to search Jemulpo?”

“No, let’s end it here. Seeing that their comrades haven’t returned, the remaining ones will likely guess the situation. This should be sufficient warning. If we proceed further, it might put our people in Shandong at risk.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

“Handle the treatment of those who died or were injured according to the pre-established regulations, and award them the Black Star. Also, make sure to properly compile the ‘Secret Mission Records’.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

As the matter that began in darkness concluded in darkness, the incident on the brighter side was also gradually coming to an end.

Geunjeongjeon Hall.

In the presence of Sejong and all the ministers, the Chief State Tribunal Officer reported on the progress of the case.

“…Thus, Im Dae-su, Seong Pan-sul’s brother-in-law, has admitted to his crimes. Also, Jo Han-tae, who instigated Im Dae-su, and Park Eun-su, the trading company’s clerk, have confessed to their own crimes.”

“Are those three the only ones involved?”

To Sejong’s question, the Chief State Tribunal Officer immediately answered.

“We interrogated all the employees of the trading company, but there were no others.”

“I see…”

As Sejong closed his mouth, Yi Jik immediately joined the conversation.

“Have you found the backers who instigated Jo Han-tae?”

To Yi Jik’s question, the Chief State Tribunal Officer answered with an awkward expression.

“We are still tracking them, sir.”

“Is it a complete mystery?”

“To be frank, we can’t find any traces at all.”

At the Chief State Tribunal Officer’s answer, Yi Jik sighed.

“Huh…”

As the whereabouts of the most important backers remained a mystery, the atmosphere in Geunjeongjeon Hall grew increasingly heavy.

When the mood had sunk to its lowest, Sejong, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“Tell the Chief State Tribunal Officer to limit the search for the backers to the vicinity of Jemulpo for one more day, then stop.”

“Pardon?”

“Not only I, but everyone gathered here can more or less guess who the backers are. And if it’s them, they would have already erased all traces by now. Therefore, any further pursuit is just a waste. If we limit the search to the Jemulpo area for about one more day, they will immediately understand that it’s meant as a warning. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the Chief State Tribunal Officer bowed his head and answered, Sejong turned to the other ministers. On behalf of the ministers who received this silent question, Yi Jik stepped forward.

“I believe it’s a truly appropriate measure. It’s just a shame that our Joseon lacks the strength to do more against such unbecoming behavior from our suzerain state.”

“I agree.”

When Sejong used the word ‘I’, the ministers tensed up. This was because Sejong rarely used the word ‘I’. Sejong looked at the ministers and spoke emphatically.

“We must not forget this incident and be negligent in building up our nation’s capabilities.”

At Sejong’s words, all the ministers bowed their heads and answered.

“We will engrave it in our bones and hearts!”

The court historian who recorded all of this added the following:

– The historian says: It is not a recent development that the actions of our suzerain state are unbecoming of a suzerain. They oppress surrounding countries, relying solely on their own strength. How can this be called a great nation? I can understand the indignation of the Duke of Jinsan who, during the reign of King Taejong, suggested joining forces with Japan to confront Ming in a decisive battle.

* * *

During Taejong’s reign, the Yongle Emperor of Ming, troubled by Japanese pirates, advocated for a “Conquest of Japan” and demanded military cooperation from Joseon.

However, Taejong and his ministers at the time couldn’t trust Ming’s intentions.

‘Aren’t they using the conquest of Japan as an excuse to station Ming troops in our Joseon, and further, to infringe upon Joseon’s sovereignty?’

In the end, Joseon refused Ming’s demands with various excuses, and at the same time, sent word to Japan through Tsushima Island, requesting them to restrain the pirates.

In this process, Ming began to pressure Joseon by bringing up the “Northern Expedition” against the Jurchens, following the “Conquest of Japan” rhetoric.

Eventually, in response to this pressure, the then Left State Councilor Ha Ryun proposed the “Decisive Battle Against Ming” theory, suggesting an alliance with Japan to confront Ming.

(Note 1)

However, this proposal was rejected by Taejong. And in the first year of Sejong’s reign, Joseon independently subjugated Tsushima Island.

* * *

After changing the mood by criticizing the suzerain state, Sejong soon moved on to the next topic.

“Let’s handle the backers that way… How should we punish the criminals Jo Han-tae, Park Eun-su, and Im Dae-su?”

To Sejong’s question, the Minister of Justice stepped forward and answered.

“According to the Six Codes of Governance and the Great Ming Code, these criminals have committed treasonous acts harmful to the state. Therefore, the three criminals should be sentenced to beheading, and their families should be made into government slaves.”

After briefly considering the Minister of Justice’s statement, Sejong made his decision.

“As the Minister of Justice says, the three criminals shall be beheaded, and their families shall be made into government slaves and sent to Aoji.”

“We receive your command!”

As Sejong’s judgment was made, the Minister of Justice stepped forward again.

“Also, those who were caught in the process of arresting Im Dae-su should be punished as well. They have engaged in gambling, which is forbidden by the state, so they should receive heavy punishment.”

“The Minister of Justice’s words are correct. Distinguish between those who organized the gambling and those who participated. Sentence those who organized to 10 years of labor in the mines, and those who participated to 5 years. However, pay them for their labor, but only 70% of what regular mine workers receive. Furthermore, only give them 10% of that 70% directly, and give the rest to their families. This is because they are also heads of households. This is to provide minimal support for the families who have lost their breadwinners due to crime, while at the same time allowing the criminals to reflect on their crimes through labor.”

At Sejong’s judgment, all the ministers answered in unison.

“It is truly a wise judgment!”

“Your consideration even for the hardships that the criminals’ families will face will be praised by all the people for Your Majesty’s virtue.”

As praise for Sejong’s wise judgment echoed through Geunjeongjeon Hall, the court historian recorded this.

–… Thus, His Majesty made his judgment, and all the ministers, great and small, praised it as a truly beautiful judgment.

The historian says:

The ministers’ words are not wrong. All those caught gambling are heads of households. If the head of the household disappears, the family’s poverty is indescribable. The virtue and mercy of His Majesty, who pities this, is truly beautiful.

The problem is, why is that virtue and mercy so sparingly bestowed upon us officials?

We don’t want free dinners or night duty rooms anymore.

We want to leave work on time. We want to see our wives awake.

* * *

Three days later, Jemulpo.

Honghualu, the largest tavern among those located in Jemulpo’s Chinatown.

A man approached the VIP room on the third floor and carefully made his presence known.

“Sir, it’s Zhang Long.”

“Come in.”

Having received permission, Zhang Long entered and paid his respects with a cupped-hand salute to the old man sitting at the table.

The old man, receiving Zhang Long’s greeting, asked in a languid voice.

“So… have you found any traces of Middle Supervisor Na and his party?”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“Hmm…”

The old man, making a light nasal sound, picked up a teacup and took a small sip.

“Let’s see… The Joseon trading company that Junior Supervisor Zhang connected with has been crushed by the State Tribunal, and the whereabouts of Middle Supervisor Na and Junior Supervisor Zhang are a complete mystery…”

After summarizing the situation, the old man asked Zhang Long another question.

“Is the State Tribunal still searching around Jemulpo?”

“No, sir. They all withdrew after the large-scale search two days ago.”

Two days ago, people from the State Tribunal and soldiers from nearby army and navy camps had thoroughly searched the Jemulpo area. For a while, the atmosphere was tense as they searched the surrounding villages and mountains without giving a proper explanation of what they were looking for.

“Hmm…”

The old man, holding the teacup and pondering Zhang Long’s report, spoke.

“We’re withdrawing.”

“Pardon?”

“Middle Supervisor Na and Junior Supervisor Zhang are probably already dead. That commotion two days ago was a warning from the Joseon king. This matter is something that no one can speak of. So, we’ll quietly return.”

At the old man’s decision, Zhang Long bowed his head with a cupped-hand salute.

“I’ll start preparations right away.”

After Zhang Long left, the old man muttered quietly.

“The kings of Joseon have always been formidable individuals, generation after generation.”

* * *

While this situation was unfolding, Hyang was preoccupied with another problem.

“80 people caught gambling? In that small neighborhood? And during the busy farming season?”

Hyang was shocked at the number of gamblers caught in the process of pursuing Im Dae-su.

“It’s not a gambling republic, it’s a gambling kingdom! This won’t do! I need to find a solution!”

* * *

Note 1) Military Strategy of the Joseon Dynasty. P.64. Military History Compilation Committee, Ministry of National Defense.

Chapter 348
Let's Make a Playground! (2)

While Hyang was realizing the seriousness of the issue, King Sejong in Geunjeongjeon Hall was pointing out the same problem.

“Minister of Justice.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Was it 80 people who were arrested in connection with Im Dae-su last time?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How many households are there in total in the neighborhood where they were caught?”

“About 30 households, Your Majesty.”

At the Minister of Justice’s answer, Sejong’s face grew even more serious.

“Are you saying that 80 people were gambling in a small neighborhood of just 30 households?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“During this busy farming season?”

At Sejong’s words, the Minister of Justice bowed his head.

“I apologize. My abilities are lacking…”

“It’s not your fault. There must be some problem in our Joseon right now. Hmm…”

As Sejong trailed off with a serious expression, the Chief Royal Secretary informed him of Hyang’s arrival.

Shortly after, having received Sejong’s permission to enter Geunjeongjeon Hall, Hyang paid his respects to Sejong.

“Yes. What’s the matter?”

“I have something to say regarding the recent attempt to smuggle craftsmen.”

“I’m planning to discuss measures to protect the craftsmen with the ministers now.”

“That’s an important issue, but what I’m worried about is a different problem.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s eyes sparkled.

“A different problem? Well, what is it?”

“The problem of gambling.”

“Gambling?”

After briefly echoing the word, Sejong glared at the ministers and clicked his tongue shortly.

“Tsk!”

Hearing Sejong click his tongue for the first time in a while, the ministers shrank their necks.

Though it was a small sound, to the ministers it was as loud as thunder.

– Are you in your right minds? No one mentioned this problem until I brought it up, even though the Crown Prince, who’s always cooped up in Area 51 doing who-knows-what, noticed it.

Though he clicked his tongue only once, the ministers who grasped the long rebuke contained within it began to sweat profusely.

‘Why didn’t I notice this?’

‘By the way, why did the Crown Prince, who’s always doing who-knows-what in Area 51, have to butt in? Why always at times like this!’

‘Even if he inherited His Majesty’s intelligence, this is too much! Having the same thought on the same day? This is a conspiracy!’

‘No matter how you look at it, this seems staged!’

While the ministers, alarmed by Sejong’s tongue click, were letting their thoughts drift towards conspiracy theories, Hyang continued his explanation.

“Yes, I heard that those who were gambling with Im Dae-su were also arrested in the process of apprehending him. I’m not sure how large the gambling site was, but the fact that 80 people were caught at once is problematic. During the busy farming season, and in broad daylight, 80 able-bodied men were gambling. How can this be a small issue? Would such gamblers only be in that neighborhood? If we consider all of Hanseong, no, the entire Joseon, how many people are neglecting their livelihoods to gamble?”

At Hyang’s point, the Minister of Justice stepped forward.

“The Crown Prince’s words are truly appropriate. The vice of gambling ruins the individuals involved, destroys families, and ultimately ruins the country. The best course of action is to prevent it through severe punishment.”

At the Minister of Justice’s words, Hyang immediately posed a question.

“Is prohibition and severe punishment really the best solution, and is that the only way?”

“Pardon?”

As the Minister of Justice, not fully understanding Hyang’s question, blinked and asked back, Sejong stepped in on Hyang’s behalf.

“Since ancient times, gambling has been considered a disease that ruins countries, and many wise rulers and ministers have strived to prevent gambling. However, despite these efforts, gambling has not been eradicated. Do you think it can be stopped simply by prohibition and severe punishment?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Justice began to stammer.

“That… in my opinion… it’s…”

“Tsk! Think about it more carefully!”

After rebuking the Minister of Justice, Sejong turned to the other ministers.

“What do you all think?”

“…”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers fell silent. Sejong, with a dejected expression, turned to Hyang.

“Do you have any thoughts, Crown Prince?”

“Yes. First, we need to understand how deeply the people are immersed in gambling. Then, we need to know the reasons for this. Countermeasures come after that. The most urgent matter is understanding the cause.”

“Your words are reasonable. Minister of Justice, immediately…”

“We’ll need the help of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.”

“Even the Ministry of Finance and Economy?”

“Gambling dens need stakes. People might start with their own money, but when that runs out, they’ll borrow. There must be people who use gambling debts for money lending. And would such individuals pay their taxes properly?”

“That’s right! If we’re not careful, we might see another surge of people selling themselves into slavery! Minister of Finance and Economy!”

At Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom immediately bowed and answered.

“I will do my utmost to investigate together with the Minister of Justice! We will root out all those who evade taxes without exception!”

As Kim Jeom answered with great enthusiasm, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘That man has changed since he got a taste of money… ’

* * *

In the end, a nationwide crackdown was implemented jointly by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

In the midst of this, Hyang requested other information from the Ministry of Finance and Economy:

– The total population of Hanseong.

– The amount of rice consumed in Hanseong.

– The estimated amount of rice and grains consumed by Hanseong residents for food and the difference with the actual rice consumption.

– Based on this, the estimated rice consumption for alcohol production in Hanseong.

– The amount of cloth sold in Hanseong.

– Among the cloth sold, the quantity of high-priced silk.

The faces of the Ministry of Finance and Economy officials who received Hyang’s request turned pale.

“We’re already swamped with the crackdown…”

“We’d better stock up on medicine.”

“…Bring some black bean tea too.”

After analyzing the report prepared by the Ministry of Finance and Economy officials, Hyang sighed.

“Sigh~. As they say, where there’s light, there’s also darkness…”

The report from the Ministry of Finance and Economy showed the dark side of the Reformation.

As the Reformation progressed, the consumption activities of people who gained economic leeway increased.

This was a natural phenomenon. Knowing this, Hyang had been producing and selling various luxury goods and high-end necessities through Area 51 and the Royal Workshop. Private trading companies also participated in this trend.

The problem was that this consumption was starting to overheat.

Not only silk produced within Joseon but also expensive silks imported from Ming were being sold in large quantities, and high-quality soju was being sold commonly even in rural inns.

* * *

This had also occurred in history before Hyang’s intervention.

In the 8th year of King Jungjong’s reign, Jungjong issued the following royal edict:

“From the nobility to the commoners in the capital, they are competing in luxury in various aspects such as houses, clothing, carriages, and weddings, causing the order of noble and base, superior and inferior to collapse.”

While it might seem like he was annoyed at prosperous commoners living more lavishly than the nobility, money was overflowing throughout Hanseong.

This was because Hanseong itself had a population of over 200,000, and it was the center of trade with Ming, the Jurchens, and Japan.

All sorts of extravagance prevailed with this increased economic leeway. For example, according to a survey by the Relief Office (an government office that aided people during famines) in the 36th year of Jungjong’s reign (1541), the amount of rice consumed daily for brewing alcohol was about 1,000 seok. (Note 1)

The report Hyang was looking at now contained similar content. Of course, in absolute terms, it was smaller in scale compared to the situation nearly 100 years later before Hyang’s intervention, but it was still a scale that couldn’t be left unchecked.

“In simple terms… the entire Joseon has become like the nouveau riche of Gangnam in the 20th century.”

After finishing the analysis of the report, Hyang drew a simple conclusion.

* * *

From the 20th century, specifically from the 1980s, the development of Gangnam produced an enormous number of nouveau riche. And these newly produced wealthy individuals distorted consumer culture.

People who were ordinary, or even poor, before the development suddenly found themselves with huge sums of money. However, these individuals who hadn’t learned how to consume properly were unlikely to engage in healthy consumption. As a result, luxurious goods circulated in large quantities through these people, and all sorts of decadent culture began to emerge.

Of course, portraying these nouveau riche as the root of all evil might be simply creating scapegoats, but it was a fact that they had too many negative influences.

* * *

“The common point between the nouveau riche and these gentlemen is that they have money but don’t know how to use it… To be precise, they don’t know how to enjoy themselves. Without proper entertainment, it’s either alcohol or gambling.”

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang began to draft a report on blank paper.

After writing down various measures for the people’s leisure, Hyang looked at the list he had written and said just one thing.

“Anpyeong would like this. Minister Kim Jeom would hate it…”

Looking at the list of policies that would clearly involve enormous expenditures, Hyang smiled wickedly.

“If money is overflowing, isn’t it human nature to stick in a straw?”

* * *

While Hyang was plotting such a wicked scheme, Sejong was receiving a report from the captain of the Inner Palace Guard.

“I’ve looked into the matter you commanded, Your Majesty. The Secret Police had also noticed unusual movements and was about to start an investigation.”

“Then why wasn’t there a report?”

“Because the Im Dae-su incident broke out in the middle, and they didn’t have enough manpower…”

“Oh dear…”

At the Captain’s answer, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“It seems the Secret Police is also struggling with a shortage of talent.”

“If we expand the organization as Your Majesty commanded, the talent issue will be somewhat resolved.”

“I’ll say it again, do your utmost in selection.”

Sejong repeatedly cautioned the Captain in response to his answer. He was worried because the members composing the Secret Police were from the sword-bearing class.

“Anyway, let’s look at the report first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong took the report and carefully read through its contents.

After concentrating on the report for a while, Sejong looked at the captain of the Inner Palace Guard with surprised eyes.

“The gambling debts circulating in gambling dens amount to almost 10,000 nyang of gold? And that’s just in Hanseong? Is this certain?”

“That’s just what’s visible on the surface, Your Majesty. The directors of the Secret Police believe that if we dig deeper, it could be several times that amount.”

“Wow… That’s enormous…”

Sejong was speechless with shock. Gambling debts were mostly high-interest private loans. If the amount circulating as gambling debts was 10,000 nyang of gold, as it circulated, several times that amount in interest would go into the pockets of the moneylenders.

After examining the report several times, Sejong ordered the captain of the Inner Palace Guard.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“If you give the order, we’ll immediately deal with the moneylenders.”

“It’s too big for that. If we’re not careful, the Secret Police might be exposed. Stand by for now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After dismissing the captain of the Inner Palace Guard, Sejong muttered while looking at the report.

“How can we absorb this money…”

* * *

While Hyang was plotting and Sejong was pondering how to stick in a straw, the first results of the joint operation by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance and Economy were compiled into a report.

“First, we’ve identified the types of gambling circulating among the people. The most common is yut (a traditional board game), followed by ssangnyuk (a dice game) and golpae (a domino-like game). However, the games where large amounts of money change hands are baduk (Go) and janggi (Korean chess).”

“Baduk, you say…”

At the mention of ‘baduk’, Sejong’s face filled with regret.

It was when Yangnyeong, who was later forced to commit suicide, was still the Crown Prince. Yangnyeong had invited baduk players to Heungdeoksa Temple, where the memorial service for his grandmother, Queen Sinui, was being held, and played gambling baduk. This issue had caused a conflict with Sejong.

Following the Minister of Justice, Kim Jeom stepped forward to report.

“As a result of investigating those arrested in this crackdown, we’ve found the individuals who lent them private loans. The assets seized from these individuals amount to 17,000 nyang of gold. The problem is that those caught in this detection are likely not all of them.”

At Kim Jeom’s answer, Sejong and the ministers sank into deep thought.

* * *

Note 1) Segye Ilbo, August 28, 2007.

https://m.segye.com/view/20070827001639

Chapter 349
Let's Make a Playground! (3)

“Is all of that 17,000 nyang of gold in gold banknotes?”

“2,000 nyang is in gold banknotes, Your Majesty.”

“Two thousand in gold banknotes… Sigh~.”

Sejong let out a long sigh.

* * *

From the moment they were first printed, gold banknotes were treated differently. On the battlefield, the identity of the person exchanging them and the banknote’s issue number were meticulously recorded before handing over the gold banknote. When that banknote circulated and returned to the battlefield, the counter clerk recorded the identity of the person bringing the gold banknote and its serial number.

Only after confirming that the serial number wasn’t stolen could it be deposited into an account or exchanged for silver or copper coins. This process was identical at government monopoly stores. When gold was presented at these stores, they recorded the person’s identity and the serial number to verify it wasn’t stolen.

Although this whole process was complex and time-consuming, both the battlefield and monopoly stores strictly adhered to these rules.

This was possible because the amount of gold currency issued was absolutely and relatively less compared to other currencies.

In the process of reattempting currency circulation after previous failures, all involved were certain that gold banknotes would be used for storage rather than circulation. Therefore, they suppressed the issuance of gold banknotes as much as possible while making the management procedures more stringent. This prediction proved to be accurate.

As the Reformation progressed, Joseon’s improved economic power led to an increase in currency circulation. Thanks to the fixed exchange rate of 1:10 between gold and silver, the issuance of gold coins also increased, but as expected, the amount of gold banknotes circulating in the market didn’t increase much.

As a result, when the police officers and constables of the Capital Police Bureau responded to a report of a burglary at a wealthy household, the first things they checked were the victim’s survival and whether gold banknotes were stolen.

If gold banknotes were stolen, the local police immediately notified the situation to the local battlefield treasury. Upon receiving the police report, the battlefield treasury checked their records to confirm the serial numbers of the gold banknotes issued to the victim and reported to the central office. The main office in Hanseong immediately printed large quantities of papers recording these numbers and distributed them to battlefield treasuries and monopoly stores across Joseon, as well as to those established in Japan and Shandong.

Because of this complex process, Sejong sighed at the discovery of 2,000 nyang in gold banknotes, which rarely circulated in the market and were nicknamed “one-way tickets” (meaning once they go out, they don’t come back).

* * *

“Minister of Finance and Economy. Do you think those caught in this crackdown are all of them?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom shook his head with a gloomy expression.

“While it may not be just a drop in the bucket, it’s certainly not all of them, Your Majesty.”

“I suppose so… Sigh~.”

Feeling like he had suddenly been handed a massive homework assignment, Sejong let out a long sigh.

“The amount of money and assets circulating in gambling dens… Sigh~.”

At Sejong’s lament, the ministers bowed their heads uneasily.

“This is due to our lack of oversight, Your Majesty! Please withdraw your royal concerns! We will do our utmost to devise countermeasures!”

“Please withdraw your concerns, Your Majesty!”

“We will do our best to establish measures!”

Despite the ministers’ responses, Sejong’s face remained dark.

“While I don’t doubt your words, gambling has deep roots…”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers couldn’t immediately respond. Gambling, called the “nation-ruining disease,” was an incurable illness. It was easy to say they would make efforts, but it was absolutely forbidden to say they would eradicate it.

As Sejong and the ministers were sighing in front of this enormous wall, the Chief Royal Secretary announced Hyang’s arrival.

“The Crown Prince? Let him in.”

Hyang entered Geunjeongjeon Hall and paid his respects to Sejong. Receiving his greeting, Sejong asked Hyang:

“So, what brings you here today?”

Hearing Sejong’s question tinged with irritation, Hyang quickly looked around.

‘What’s this… The atmosphere is like ants preparing for a Han River meeting? Why?’

“Well, what do you want to say?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang came to his senses and went straight to the point.

“Yes, as Joseon’s economy, or rather, national prosperity improves, the number of people wasting their wealth on gambling is increasing.”

“We’re currently racking our brains to find a solution to that very problem. We need to divert the wealth going into gambling, this nation-ruining disease, towards more constructive directions, but it’s not easy to find an answer.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers nodded. Hyang picked up on Sejong’s words.

“Isn’t that because gambling takes place in the shadows? Therefore, I propose to bring it out into the open.”

“Bring it into the open? How?”

As Sejong and the ministers’ eyes sparkled, Hyang gestured to the eunuch who had followed him. Seeing Hyang’s gesture, the eunuch hung a chart on a nearby screen.

“Comprehensive Entertainment Venue?”

Seeing the title written on the banner, Sejong and the ministers simultaneously expressed their curiosity.

“That’s right. The reason people in Joseon today are falling into gambling is that there’s little entertainment available. When taking a break from their livelihoods, even if they want to enjoy some amusement, there’s no suitable pastime. Therefore, most people end up indulging in alcohol and gambling.”

Pausing his explanation briefly, Hyang turned the page. The next page contained tables with all sorts of figures.

“The table at the top shows the amount of alcohol sold over the past three years. As you can see, it’s recording more than twice the sales volume compared to the previous year, every year. If we consider not only the officially licensed breweries but also the amount of alcohol brewed privately in households, this volume would increase even more. Would only men have drunk all this alcohol?”

“I suppose not…”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong muttered softly. Women in the inner court were also enjoying alcohol not infrequently.

Hyang continued his explanation.

“Next is the sales volume of luxury goods. Not only luxury items sold by the Royal Workshop and other trading companies, but also silk imported from Ming is increasing at an enormous rate. Fortunately, high-quality cotton cloth above 10-ply is being replaced by calico, but this part can’t be ignored either. If we examine the cause of this situation, it’s because wealth is overflowing but there’s nothing to enjoy. Because there’s nothing to enjoy, people compete in luxury and squander their wealth on alcohol and gambling. That’s why I’m proposing the construction of a Comprehensive Entertainment Venue.”

After explaining why he came up with this plan, Hyang turned the page.

The next page showed a bird’s-eye view drawing of a building that looked like a combination of a circular arena and a large pavilion.

“This is the Comprehensive Entertainment Venue.”

Hyang explained, pointing to various parts of the bird’s-eye view with a pointer.

“This circular arena can be used for multiple purposes. From spring to fall, we’ll hold wrestling tournaments and bull fighting competitions according to the seasons.”

“Bull fighting? You mean cow fighting?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang nodded.

“Yes. And we’ll use these competitions to run betting, allowing the government to recoup funds that would otherwise go into gambling dens.”

Hyang explained about betting on wrestling tournaments and bull fights.

– Create competition by introducing weight classes.

– Provide sufficient differentiated prize money to top performers.

– Establish Comprehensive Entertainment Venues down to the county level. This is for future nationwide competitions.

– Gather winners from the counties to hold competitions at the prefecture level, and repeat this process to hold a national competition in Hanseong once a year.

– Oversee betting on the outcomes during this process. Limit the amount that can be bet to 1 nyang of silver.

“We need to do it this way to justify it as ‘healthy betting in the open, not underground gambling.'”

“Not bad. Not bad at all.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers kept nodding.

Seeing the positive reactions from Sejong and the ministers, Hyang continued his explanation.

– If the money placed in the betting pool, facility maintenance costs, and entertainment taxes are the primary absorption methods, we’ll also create a secondary absorption method.

– The secondary absorption method will be called ‘information papers.’

“Information papers?”

“These are papers recording information about the participating wrestlers or bulls. From basic information like height and weight to their win-loss records so far. At first, it might simply record names, height, and weight, but as matches accumulate, win rates will become important. Those who want to win their bets will certainly pay money to buy these.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded. Kim Jeom, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, muttered softly.

“He should be in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, not Area 51…”

Meanwhile, Sejong, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, pointed out a problem.

“It sounds good, but if you’re just setting up betting like this, is there really a need to build such a building?

First, aren’t wrestling and bull fighting usually held on sandy areas near rivers?

Second, you can’t hold competitions in winter, so some people might turn back to gambling.

Lastly, this kind of betting is mainly done and enjoyed by young men. Wouldn’t its effectiveness be reduced since it’s not for women?”

“Your points are valid, Your Majesty.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s critique.

“That’s why we need this Comprehensive Entertainment Venue to solve these problems.”

Hyang turned the page. The next page had a new title written on it.

“Regular events and competitive tournaments using entertainers and gisaengs?”

“Yes, allow me to explain. If we look at the current situation of entertainers…”

Hyang’s explanation was as follows:

– Looking at the current situation of entertainers, each troupe has a set area they travel. Simply put, troupes responsible for the northern part of Jeolla Province never go down to southern Jeolla or to Gyeongsang or Chungcheong provinces.

– Create an office for these entertainers and register all of them. Through this office, entertainers receive appropriate wages. At the same time, prohibit prostitution by women, young boys, or young girls belonging to the entertainment troupes.

– The office adjusts the size and schedule of the troupes so they can perform at the Comprehensive Entertainment Venue whenever markets are held nationwide.

– At this time, the Comprehensive Entertainment Venue collects admission fees for revenue.

– Every three years, gather entertainment troupes from across the country to compete in skills. The winning troupe receives prize money and the title of “Joseon’s Best Entertainment Troupe.” Not only the title, but when they perform, charge higher admission fees and increase their salaries.

“Oh ho…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s face began to brighten. Stroking his beard while listening to Hyang’s plan, Sejong spoke.

“Entertainment troupes from all over the country traveling nationwide without boundaries, showing off their skills… Anpyeong would have a stomachache if he heard this.”

At Sejong’s joke, Hyang smiled and bowed his head slightly. Anpyeong had traveled the country following entertainment troupes, squandering his wealth.

Seeing Sejong’s favorable reaction, Hyang added:

“To circulate these entertainment troupes nationwide, officials for management and supervision must be essential.”

“That would be necessary.”

“And since most of those who enjoy the performances of these troupes are ordinary people, the officials can grasp the public sentiment more quickly and accurately.”

“Exactly!”

At Hyang’s additional explanation, Sejong clapped his knee and beamed.

No matter what anyone said, what a king cared about most was public sentiment. And by operating the entertainment troupes in this way, they could naturally check the trends in public opinion.

Of course, reports gauging public sentiment were already coming in through various channels, but it was clear that the more diverse the sources, the more accurate information could be obtained.

Chapter 350
Let's Make a Playground! (4)

“It’s a good idea, but Joseon’s land is wider than you might think. While wrestling and bull fighting can be conducted independently in towns where entertainment venues are established, it’s not the same for entertainers. Even if we register and have all the entertainers in Joseon perform, there will still be many areas with gaps in the schedule. We can’t hold wrestling tournaments and bull fights every time that happens, can we?”

Maeng Sa-seong, who had been quietly listening to Hyang’s words, pointed out a potential problem.

Hyang immediately nodded at Maeng Sa-seong’s observation.

“Of course, that problem exists. That’s why I’m thinking of mobilizing gisaengs as an alternative.”

“Gisaengs, you say?”

“Yes, mainly government gisaengs, but we’ll select those skilled in singing or dancing among them for performances.”

As he explained, Hyang turned the page.

The next page showed a bird’s-eye view of a wooden stage to be installed in the circular arena.

“The floor of the circular arena is covered with sand. Therefore, when entertainment troupes or these gisaengs perform, we install this wooden stage for their performances.”

Maeng Sa-seong, listening to Hyang’s explanation, pointed out an issue.

“It’s certainly a good method, but gisaengs are known for their sky-high pride and strong personalities. Moreover, gisaengs are known to chase profits, as the saying goes, ‘No one leaves credit at a gisaeng house.’ Will they really agree to perform?”

“Of course, it’s not for free. Those who want to see the performance must buy tickets with money. We can then pay the gisaengs an appropriate proportion of the admission fees as compensation. As for the pride issue, we should make them compete.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s eyes sparkled.

“Competition? You mean to pit the gisaengs against each other too?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“As I mentioned earlier, the lower limit for establishing these Comprehensive Entertainment Venues is at the county level. We divide the government gisaengs from nearby districts into groups for performances. After some time, a hierarchy will naturally form among the gisaengs. Then, if only for their pride, the gisaengs will hone their skills, and the people won’t miss the opportunity to see increasingly impressive performances. If we officially hold competitions for these skills, even more people will flock to them.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Kim Jeom interjected.

“A national competition… Considering various competitions, it seems the expenditure will be quite significant.”

“Of course, the expenditure will be considerable, but it can be less than expected.”

“How so?”

“We give the gisaeng who wins the national competition the qualification to perform at court and royal events.”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers all exclaimed in admiration.

The royal court and government had many events. While there were many solemn rituals, like those offered to sages at Confucian shrines or ancestral rites at the royal shrine, there were also many events that needed to be lively, like the birthday celebrations for the king and queen. Gisaengs were mobilized to liven up these events.

Generally, gisaengs from Hanseong were mainly selected, but there were often cases where famous gisaengs from other regions were called. Being summoned like this was a matter of pride not only for the gisaeng herself but also for the residents of her region.

“You fools! You don’t have a Maehyang! Who’s Maehyang? She’s such an excellent entertainer that she can dance before the king! You country bumpkins!”

At Hyang’s explanation, the ministers began to nod. Seeing this, Hyang moved to seal the deal.

“If we only mobilize government gisaengs, their number is limited, so we might have to repeat the same performances. If that happens, people might easily get bored and stop visiting the entertainment venues. So I’m thinking of broadening the scope of these competitions and performances.”

“Broadening the scope?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of allowing household gisaengs to participate as well. If we expand further, even private gisaengs could be included, but it’s too difficult to distinguish private gisaengs from prostitutes. I’m considering measures for this.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers pondered the possibilities.

* * *

Even to Sejong and the ministers, household gisaengs seemed quite a good option. Household gisaengs were female slaves selected by high-ranking aristocratic families for their beauty and trained in dance and song. They were responsible for livening up family events like banquets. Also, when important guests came from outside, they would entertain at welcoming feasts and even provide sexual services.

Because they were showcased not only within the family but also to outside guests, families that kept household gisaengs put considerable effort into their selection and training.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, during King Munjong’s reign, Jung Bal had his female slaves learn song and dance, and it was rumored that their skills surpassed those of gisaengs. Even during King Seongjong’s time, Hong Yun-seong and An Bin-se taught their slaves to play the flute and geomungo. (Note 1)

Of course, there was the issue that they weren’t official gisaengs but slaves, but since gisaengs were also of the lower class, it didn’t seem to be a significant problem.

However, Sejong pointed out a different issue.

“The noble families are not to be underestimated when it comes to pride. Will they easily allow their household gisaengs to perform on stage?”

“Would they give up the opportunity to show off their household gisaengs’ skills before you, Father? Moreover, those who place in the top ranks at the national competition will be given the opportunity for a nationwide tour. Everyone across the country will know the family’s name, and the profits gained in the process won’t be small, will they?”

“Hmm…”

“Of course, there’s a very high possibility that issues of exploitation will arise. Therefore, government and household gisaengs who place in the top ranks will sign contracts regarding the distribution of performance profits created by the court, and all profits will be transacted only through the battlefield treasury.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong thought it plausible, but he still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was lacking.

“But even with nationwide tours, would that really generate significant profits?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“There’s a saying in the marketplace, ‘Row when the tide comes in.’ Of course, we should create additional revenue.”

“Additional revenue?”

“We’ll make and sell portraits and dolls of the most famous gisaengs and household gisaengs during their performances. We’ll gather artists from the Royal Academy of Painting and famous private painters to create portraits and dolls for sale. Of course, we shouldn’t forget to sell high-priced limited editions or original versions directly painted by the artists, not mass-produced through printing.”

“Would portraits or dolls really make money?”

At Sejong’s question, Yi Jik, who had been listening silently, spoke up.

“It seems they would. According to rumors in the marketplace, there are many men who want to obtain portraits of famous gisaengs out of admiration and keep them.”

“They should just get married instead…”

At Sejong’s words that came out unconsciously, Yi Jik replied with a bitter smile.

“If one lacks wealth, it’s difficult even to form marital ties, Your Majesty.”

Even in this period, marriage was an expensive affair. Of course, it was common to start a household with just a bowl of cold water, but if one wanted to follow proper etiquette, it cost a considerable amount of money.

Clicking his tongue at Yi Jik’s explanation, Sejong asked Hyang again.

“But you mentioned selling limited editions. Would limited editions really make money?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang nodded firmly.

“They will! For example, have you forgotten the case of the Tripitaka Koreana sold to Japanese lords?”

“Ah!”

‘Based on my experience of being devoted to fandom for a while, it definitely works!’

* * *

“If their name becomes known throughout Joseon, there will be families willing to participate.”

“Wouldn’t there be more families that object, saying it lowers their status?”

“If they’re so concerned about status, they shouldn’t raise household gisaengs in the first place!”

As Sejong and the ministers pondered the possibilities while listening to Hyang’s explanation, their opinions were gradually converging towards accepting Hyang’s proposal.

Watching this from the side, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Isn’t this how entertainment agencies are created? Wow… Are we creating entertainment agencies with over 500 years of history?’

As expected of a disciple of Master Samcheonpo, Hyang’s imagination was wandering off course.

* * *

Hundreds of years later, one day.

A pretty-faced girl excitedly sought out her mother.

“Mom! Mom! I got a scouting offer!”

At her daughter’s words, the girl’s mother, who was in the kitchen, immediately approached her. Her face was full of expectation.

“Really? From where?”

“HH Enter!”

“HH Enter? Where’s that?”

“Hanseong Hong Entertainment! They say it has over 150 years of history!”

At the girl’s words, her mother muttered in a disappointed voice.

“Only 150 years? With our daughter’s beauty, she should go to an agency like PY (Papyeong Yun) Agency or KC (Gyeongju Choi) Agency with about 300 or 400 years of history…”

“Mom! Do you know how fierce the competition is at those places? And 150 years is no small history! Do you know how many agencies are out there with only about 50 years of history?”

* * *

“Crown Prince?”

“Yes, Father!”

Hyang, who had been lost in his Samcheonpo-like imagination, startled back to reality when Sejong called him.

“Where did your mind wander off to suddenly?”

“I apologize. I stayed up all night working on this plan, so I’m a bit tired…”

“Don’t be overconfident about your health just because you’re young. Take care. I’ll call the royal physician for you.”

“I’m overwhelmed by your grace.”

After this brief exchange, Sejong posed a more serious question.

“What’s the purpose of the pavilion in the Comprehensive Entertainment Venue we saw earlier?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“That pavilion is a place to attract those addicted to gambling.”

Hyang turned the page.

After turning a few pages, a bird’s-eye view of the pavilion and a page with brief explanations appeared.

“As you can see…”

According to Hyang’s explanation, the structure and purpose of the pavilion were as follows:

– The pavilion is built with a minimum of 3 floors.

– The ground floor, which is the first floor, is used for performances by entertainers and gisaengs during rainy days or winter.

– The second floor is a general gambling hall, a place for playing dominos and dice games. The entire second floor is divided into about 10 spaces, each for playing dice or domino gambling.

– Access to the second floor is limited to adult men and women.

– As men and women are segregated, a certain area of the second floor is designated for women.

– Only dominoes, dice, and game boards provided by the gambling hall can be used for gambling. If anyone is found using unauthorized dice or dominoes, their identity is immediately recorded and they are expelled. If this is repeated 4 times, they are immediately reported to the authorities and charged with illegal gambling.

– Only colored wooden coins that can only be used in the gambling hall are allowed for betting in the gambling games.

– Those who want to participate in gambling must exchange their money at the exchange booth created at the entrance of the gambling hall.

– The amount that can be exchanged varies according to social status. Commoners can exchange up to 50 copper coins at a time and can exchange three times a day. Nobles can exchange up to 10 nyang of silver at a time and can exchange five times a day.

– When exchanging real money for colored wooden coins, a fee of 5 pun is deducted, and when exchanging colored wooden coins back to real money, 5 pun is deducted. However, no fee is charged for amounts of 5 copper coins or less.

“The purpose of charging this fee and limiting the number of exchanges is not only to generate revenue through exchanges but also to prevent excessive immersion and squandering of wealth.”

“That’s good. Then what about the third floor?”

“It’s for those who play baduk and janggi.”

“Oh?”

Sejong and the ministers’ eyes sparkled at the idea of creating a separate space, and the highest one at that, for playing baduk and janggi.

Although it had degenerated into gambling, baduk was a game that all educated people were expected to master.

* * *

Note 1) The Reality of Gisaeng Roles in the Joseon Dynasty. Jung Yeon-sik (Professor of History at Seoul Women’s University). Collection of Papers from the National Institute of Korean History, Vol. 107. National Institute of Korean History. August 10, 2005.

Chapter 351
Let's Make a Playground! (5)

1Hyang turned the page. The next page showed a floor plan of the third floor. Hyang pointed to various parts of the floor plan with his pointer and continued his explanation.

“As you can see, the space is divided around a central stage.”

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and then asked a question.

“You’re planning to hold competitions for baduk and janggi too, aren’t you?”

“That’s correct.”

Hyang continued to explain about the rankings he had in mind.

“…Thus, we’ll call the person who occupies the highest rank among these divisions the ‘National Hand’. Those who reach this National Hand position will not only receive prize money but also the privilege of teaching baduk in the royal court.”

“Those who play baduk would become desperate for that.”

“Indeed.”

As Hyang affirmed, Jo Gye-saeng, who had been listening, interjected.

“There are two problems. First, as the story of King Gaero of Baekje from the ancient Three Han period shows, becoming obsessed with baduk could lead to the collapse of state affairs.”

* * *

King Jangsu, who was pursuing a southern expansion policy, devised various methods to attack the Han River basin occupied by Baekje. Upon learning that King Gaero was fond of baduk, King Jangsu sent the monk Dorim to Baekje.

Dorim, who entered Baekje under the guise of defection, used baduk as a means to approach King Gaero and gain his trust.

Subsequently, King Gaero, deceived by Dorim, was made to enforce excessive construction projects. As Baekje weakened through this process, King Jangsu immediately began his southern advance and was able to occupy the Han River.

* * *

To Jo Gye-saeng’s point, Hyang immediately replied.

“Have you ever seen Father having leisure time?”

“…”

At Hyang’s words, not only Jo Gye-saeng but all the ministers fell silent.

Although officials of the court, regardless of rank, often complained, “There’s so much work, I’m dying. I want to leave work on time,” Sejong’s workload was no less intense.

Once, when Hyang saw some mid-level officials complaining about their workload without noticing him, he had made a remark:

“At least you have homes to return to and rest, don’t you? For Father, the palace is his home.”

“We, we are sorry!”

Therefore, the implication of Hyang’s question was simple:

‘Does the King of Joseon have enough spare time to become addicted to baduk?’

The ministers, well aware of the king’s enormous workload, could only keep their mouths shut.

While that answered the first problem, Jo Gye-saeng pointed out the second issue.

“Secondly, to reach the level of skill to be called a National Hand in baduk would require considerable time and effort. If so, someone with good skills but lacking in character or learning might become the National Hand and form ties with the royal family. We must certainly find a solution for this aspect.”

Hyang had to nod at Jo Gye-saeng’s point.

“I acknowledge that this could be a problem.”

‘Even in the 21st century, there were quite a few professional players with character issues… No, not just professional players. From celebrities to BJs… ’

Recalling examples of celebrities causing scandals due to various character issues even in the 21st century, Hyang immediately continued.

“Therefore, if those who reach high levels through these competitions commit crimes related to character, we will strip them of all their positions and expel them from the field.”

“That’s not enough…”

“That’s sufficient!”

As Jo Gye-saeng tried to raise more objections, Maeng Sa-seong quickly intervened.

“Even ministers and nobles are dismissed or removed from the local register when they cause problems.”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Indeed it is!”

Strongly affirming Hyang’s words, Maeng Sa-seong glared at Jo Gye-saeng and the other ministers.

‘These people are digging their own graves! If His Majesty decides to crack down, quite a few of them would be in trouble!’

Seeing Maeng Sa-seong’s glare, Jo Gye-saeng and the ministers immediately bowed their heads and replied.

“That seems appropriate!”

At the ministers’ reaction, Hyang turned to look at Sejong. Sejong, who had been observing the ministers’ reactions from his elevated position, muttered quietly.

“I should conduct an audit sometime. For now, Crown Prince, is your explanation finished?”

“Not yet. We’ll sell food because people will get hungry while enjoying gambling in this ‘Siunru’ (Hall of Fortune Testing).”

“Siunru? Hall of Fortune Testing… What a poetic name.”

“Thank you. To continue my explanation, we’ll sell food but prohibit alcohol.”

“Why?”

“We don’t know what people excited by gambling might do under the pretext of alcohol.”

“Your words are right!”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong slapped his knee and strongly agreed.

* * *

Even in this period, there were criminals who used alcohol as an excuse.

‘It’s the alcohol that’s bad, not the person.’

This was a common belief.

Contrary to this, Sejong was making decisions to deal more severely with alcohol-related crimes.

– It’s true that alcohol tends to cloud people’s minds. However, if a person who committed a crime initially had no intention of doing so, they wouldn’t commit a crime even if they were extremely drunk! Moreover, if one gets so drunk as to forget conscience and morality, they can barely move properly! Therefore, saying alcohol is the cause is absurd! No, it’s a cunning trick to avoid punishment using alcohol as an excuse, so it should be punished more severely!

Regarding this, Hyang fully supported Sejong’s decision.

“If nothing else, we must eradicate the practice of giving lenient punishments using ‘diminished capacity due to intoxication’ as an excuse!”

* * *

By now, Hyang’s presentation was almost over. Judging from the reactions of Sejong and the ministers, the establishment of the ‘Comprehensive Entertainment Venue’ seemed almost certain.

Therefore, the direction shifted from Hyang actively explaining the plan to a question-and-answer session.

“But you know, isn’t just bull fighting and wrestling a bit lacking? Of course, there are performances by entertainers and gisaengs, but it still feels insufficient.”

At Sejong’s point, Hyang provided an answer as if he had been waiting for it. Turning the page, Hyang pointed out possible items with his pointer.

“We can add as much as we want in that area. The easiest addition would be hand-to-hand combat tournaments. Participants in these tournaments will also be divided into ranks, and the final winner will be recommended as a hand-to-hand combat instructor for the army and navy.”

“That’s good.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded, and Jo Mal-saeng’s face brightened.

* * *

Although Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer, he still felt it was a bit lacking.

“While we’re at it, wouldn’t it be good to include polo? It seems quite good to create two polo teams in each of Joseon’s eight provinces and have them compete. Or if polo on horseback is difficult, isn’t there also stick ball that can be played on foot?”

“We’re thinking of creating separate facilities for polo along with horse racing.”

As he answered, Hyang turned the page. The next page showed an oval-shaped stadium.

“This is the racecourse. We’re thinking of building it when both the people and the government have more financial leeway than now.”

“Why?”

“Horses are animals that incur a lot of financial burden. Moreover, to please the spectators in horse racing or polo, large horses imported from the West are more advantageous than ponies. Horses are already economically burdensome animals, and if they’re large, that burden will be even greater. Another reason is that the number of horses bred from these imported stallions is still insufficient. This requires both time and funds, so we must postpone it for later. That’s why we chose bull fighting first. Many households already raise cattle, and it’s a familiar form of gambling for civilians.”

“That’s true. Then explain about the racecourse.”

“Yes, Father.”

After lightly clearing his throat, Hyang soon continued his explanation.

– The racetrack for horse racing is modeled after the battlefield environment.

– Multiple obstacles 2 to 3 feet high are installed, and a pond with appropriate depth and width is also installed.

– The overall shape of the track is not just a combination of simple curves and straight lines, but includes multiple low hills and bends.

– Such a track makes not only the superiority of the horse important, but also the horsemanship of the jockey and the skills of those managing the racehorses.

– Therefore, if this type of horse racing becomes established, it can provide jobs for cavalry who retire after completing their minimum service period or for Jurchens.

– And the horse that achieves the best performance in nationwide touring races can be acquired by the state as a breeding stallion.

“…In this way, the court can consistently acquire stallions with excellent qualities at minimal cost.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong unconsciously muttered.

“You never let anything slide… You’re my child, but you’re ruthless. Hup!”

Startled by his own muttering, Sejong was about to say something to the court historian but closed his mouth.

It was already too late, judging by how busily the historian was writing.

“Tsk…”

Clicking his tongue briefly, Sejong looked at the bird’s-eye view and said.

“It’s quite a large facility, so it would require quite a lot of funds.”

“That’s why we’re thinking of building it when finances are more abundant.”

‘In reality, wasn’t it during the Victorian era, when money was overflowing due to the Industrial Revolution and imperial management, that horse racing became popular in the West?’

“Hmm…”

While Sejong was doing his own calculations, Hyang added:

“Additionally, we’ll greatly increase the betting limit for this horse racing. We’ll allow bets from a minimum of 50 copper coins to a maximum of 5 nyang of gold per race.”

“I think that’s too excessive.”

Kim Jeom immediately interjected at Hyang’s words. Hyang immediately responded to Kim Jeom’s objection.

“If you consider the profit distribution, it’s not. Aren’t horses quite expensive animals? If the distribution rate isn’t reasonable, there won’t be any horse owners willing to participate.”

“That’s true, but… still…”

As Kim Jeom continued to object, Hyang added:

“Minister, who do you think will mainly enter the third floor of Siunru?”

“Well, wealthy nobles…”

Kim Jeom, answering unconsciously, suddenly exclaimed.

“Ah! Only those with wealth can be horse owners, and they’ll gamble too, so setting a large amount is indeed more certain!”

“That’s right.”

Hyang pointed to the bird’s-eye view with his pointer.

“We’ll divide the spectator seats into levels. The lower section will have an entrance fee of 10 copper coins for ordinary people, while the upper section will charge 3 nyang of silver. In exchange, all food will be provided free of charge, and during breaks, they can enjoy singing and dancing performances by gisaengs.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Yi Jik interjected.

“Those who consider themselves wealthy would naturally go to the upper level and bet larger amounts.”

“That’s what we’re aiming for. We expect to have 6 to 8 horses compete in each race. So the probability is 1/6 to 1/8. It’s a profitable business even after deducting the profits for the horse owners.”

In the end, Sejong and the ministers agreed to create the Comprehensive Entertainment Venue.

“We should build the racecourse before the Comprehensive Entertainment Venue!”

Of course, there were some extremists like Kim Jeom shouting “Racecourse first, no matter what!”

* * *

Sejong and the court’s decision was soon announced nationwide through the government gazette.

–… Therefore, ‘Comprehensive Entertainment Venues’ will be built across the country. After these venues are constructed, those caught gambling or betting outside these venues will receive severe punishment.

The public’s reaction to the gazette was half welcoming, half curious. And a very small number of individuals pounded the ground in frustration.

“The country is promoting gambling! We’re headed for ruin!”

While some wrote petitions in indignation at the existence of gambling halls called ‘Comprehensive Entertainment Venues’, others were frustrated for different reasons.

“Dammit! If the country takes over even the gambling dens, what are we supposed to live on!”

Chapter 352
Battle of Strait of Gilbratar (1)

Northern Morocco, Ceuta.

Here stood a Portuguese naval fortress established by Prince Henry.

On the watchtower of the fortress’s northern wall, soldiers and knights in full armor and helmets were keeping watch over the sea, despite the sweltering heat.

“Those fucking Spanish bastards…”

Ricardo, the knight commanding the watchmen, gritted his teeth as he gazed at the northern horizon.

About 5 leagues (roughly 21km) north of Ceuta lay Gibraltar, home to a naval base of the United Kingdom of Castile-Aragon.

This naval base was the source of Ricardo and his soldiers’ fury.

Those arrogant pricks who called themselves “Hispania” instead of the United Kingdom, using that ancient name from Roman times as they pleased, acting like the entire Iberian Peninsula was their territory, were now eyeing Portuguese waters – or more precisely, the west coast of Africa.

* * *

Since Prince Henry had begun actively supporting exploration, the west coast of Africa was gradually revealing its secrets.

As Prince Henry’s expeditions pioneered new routes, scholars and merchants followed in their wake.

While scholars gathered and compiled geographical information, merchants collected anything of value – mostly slaves.

As the profits from the west African coast became substantial, Portugal – or more accurately, Prince Henry – increased their support.

Moreover, with the emergence of Joseon, the so-called “Land of Flowers,” the importance of the west African coast became increasingly apparent.

The current situation was that Islamic forces controlled the routes to Joseon and India. If Africa could be circumnavigated, the profits that had been going to Islamic powers could be seized.

Prince Henry gathered ship captains, geographers, and cartographers at Vila do Infante (Prince’s Town) in Sagres to discuss the situation.

“We already know the routes from India to Kitai and Joseon to some extent. Therefore, all we need to do is find a route around Africa! Don’t forget! Once we find the route to India and Joseon, immense wealth will fall into our hands!”

As Prince Henry showed even more enthusiasm, Portugal’s African exploration accelerated.

Thanks to this, they broke through Cape Bojador at the end of 1431, almost three years earlier than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

Until then, it had been known as the “Cape of No Return,” with rumors that passing it meant certain death.

Once it was proven that one could survive beyond Cape Bojador, exploration gained even more momentum.

It was in this situation that those detestable Spain mongrels had stuck their noses in.

* * *

Ricardo, who had been grinding his teeth while glaring at Gibraltar beyond the horizon, now turned his anger towards other targets.

“Those stupid Venetian bastards. They say they build good ships…”

The ones Ricardo was calling stupid were the Venetian shipbuilders.

Venetian shipbuilding had a good reputation. True to the rumors, the ships built in Venice performed well, and the pride of the shipbuilders was sky-high.

The problem was that the ships they built were mainly galleys, and they were primarily used in the Mediterranean.

Because of this, Portugal and Venice were at odds from the very beginning of the shipbuilding process.

“We don’t need rowers! Make storage spaces instead, enlarge the hull, and reinforce its strength!”

“I understand the issue with rowers, but enlarging the hull and reinforcing its strength will take some time.”

“Can’t we just increase the size of our caracks and caravels a bit?”

“The hull expansion you’re talking about isn’t just a simple ‘little’ increase! 120 to 140 cubits (about 62m)? That’s more than twice the size of the caravels you’re currently using! And you want to reinforce the strength to carry more cannons? Do you think building ships is like baking bread in an oven? Ships are ships!”

“The Land of Flowers, I mean Joseon, built them that way!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’ve never heard of or seen such large ships being built!”

In reality, the galleys built in Venice weren’t weak. Florence, which mainly processed wool, was importing wool from England and France using galleys and caravels built in Venice.

However, the performance Portugal demanded was the issue.

– Hull size nearly twice that of existing ships. Hull strength capable of withstanding cannon fire.

– This is the minimum requirement. Faster speed would be even better.

The Venetian craftsmen were so agitated because of these conditions set by Portugal.

Despite Venice’s protests, Portugal remained adamant.

“I’ll say it again, Joseon’s ships are that big!”

Venice countered Portugal’s claim.

“Are you sure about that? Show us the evidence!”

“Islamic merchant sailors who traveled with Joseon ships said so. And our knights reported the same!”

“You want us to believe the words of sailors? Don’t you know how much sailors exaggerate?”

“Why are you ignoring the fact that knights reported the same thing? Are you going to say the knights are exaggerating too?”

“…”

“Thinking about future needs, we need large ships! Build the ships according to the conditions we’ve presented!”

“It takes too much time and money! No way!”

While Portugal and Venice were at an impasse, Cosimo of Florence stepped in to mediate.

“Both sides have valid points. Would you listen to this merchant’s words for a moment?”

“Very well.”

“Alright.”

The representatives of Portugal and Venice had to close their mouths.

Although he referred to himself as a merchant, Cosimo de’ Medici was one of the absolute power holders in Europe at the time. He couldn’t be ignored.

“It’s reasonable for Portugal to need large and sturdy ships. Of course, I also had my merchants observe Joseon’s ships, and they say they are indeed large.

However, Venice’s claim that it’s impossible also has merit. No matter how good you are at building ships, it’s a dangerous gamble to build large ships without experience. Considering the costs and time wasted on trial and error, it’s not the situation to insist on large ships unconditionally. So let’s do this. Venice, how much larger can you build compared to the ships you’re currently building and operating?”

“For now, about 20 cubits (about 9m) is the maximum.”

“And how many cannons can you mount on that?”

“Fourteen.”

“Hmm…”

Cosimo briefly recalled his memories at the Venetian representative’s words. Even transport ships carrying wool and other goods mounted cannons for self-defense. The outermost ships responsible for escorting the fleet carried 10 cannons.

‘Not bad.’

“Hmm…”

Although he had reached a conclusion to some extent, Cosimo pretended to ponder a bit more with a serious face.

As the tense-faced representatives of Venice and Portugal waited, Cosimo, who had maintained silence for a while, opened his mouth.

“For now, I think it’s best to be satisfied with the largest ship Venice can build. I believe that size will be sufficient to operate until a route completely circumnavigating Africa is discovered. It would be a huge loss if we were to build large ships without proper verification and then lose them. What do you think?”

Though it was phrased as a suggestion, it was actually a notification of the decision. Although Portugal, Venice, and Florence had joined hands, Florence held the largest financial stake.

The reason Florence was heavily investing in this venture was simple.

‘The more ways to get goods from India and Joseon, the better.’

* * *

Thus, accepting Florence’s mediation proposal, shipyards in Portugal and Venice began building ships.

However, contrary to Henry’s wishes, the new ships weren’t produced quickly.

In Venice’s case, they had to go through trial and error from the design stage because it was a new type of ship – a sailing ship relying 100% on wind power, not the existing galley.

The Portuguese shipyards were no faster. Although they were already familiar with sailing ships from building caravels and caracks, they couldn’t avoid the trial and error involved in increasing the size.

Furthermore, with those Spain rascals poaching a significant number of skilled craftsmen, the mass operation of new sailing ships was being pushed further and further back.

Given this situation, curses against Spain were overflowing not only in Ceuta but also in Sagres and Lisbon.

* * *

While the Portuguese were cursing like this, in Gibraltar (Gibralter in Spanish), the Spaniards were spewing profanities.

“Damn Ceuta! Damn Portuguese bastards!”

If Gibraltar was the northern pillar of the famous “Pillars of Hercules,” Ceuta was the southern pillar.

Those Portuguese bastards who had gotten their hands on Ceuta would launch a large number of warships to monitor Spanish ships whenever they sailed out of Gibraltar into the Atlantic.

It would be understandable if they reacted this way when Spanish ships headed north. After all, going north would lead directly into Portuguese territory.

But what infuriated the Spaniards most was when they headed south. Portugal was now claiming that the ports where they occasionally stopped along the way were their territory.

To avoid this, Spain had to create new stopover points for themselves, but Portugal had already occupied the optimal locations.

As a result, Spain had to find somewhat usable places and build ports themselves. However, finding such places wasn’t easy, and building ports was even more difficult.

In the end, while Portugal had broken through Cape Bojador and was gradually moving south, Spain was just rounding the northwest corner of Africa.

Despite this gloomy situation, Spain couldn’t give up on exploring West Africa. The considerable amount of wealth Portugal was gaining from the West African region was tempting, but what was even more enticing was the detour route to India and Joseon.

If they could find and secure that detour route, they could get their hands on enormous wealth, which is why Spain was sending ships southward in partnership with Genoa.

Given this situation, the Portuguese bastards entrenched in Ceuta didn’t look good to Spain. In fact, unless they encountered a critical crisis while sailing along the west coast of Africa, they couldn’t even enter ports built by Portugal.

On top of this situation, the resentment created by the history of separation from the Kingdom of Castile during the Reconquista was added. Portugal and Spain were in a situation where they cursed each other as “vile traitors” and “greedy ruffians.” With this historical background and economic issues overlapping, Gibraltar and Ceuta were in a situation where they were glaring at each other with swords drawn.

Chapter 353
Battle of Strait of Gilbratar (2)

While both sides were glaring at each other and growling, rumors about the new ships Portugal was building reached Genoa.

“They’re building a new type of ship?”

The governor asked, and the person in charge immediately explained.

“Yes. It appears to be an improved version of the carrack[1], but overall it’s a bit larger.”

“How much larger?”

“The length has increased by about 20 cubits (about 9m), and the deck height is about 3 cubits (about 1.35m) taller. It also seems to be equipped with about 14 cannons.”

“Hmm…”

Upon receiving the report, the governor of Genoa wore a serious expression.

* * *

Increasing the size of a ship was advantageous in many ways. It immediately increased cargo capacity and could accommodate more crew members.

Especially for sailing ships like carracks or caravels that didn’t have rowers, the number of crew members directly translated to the number of combatants. Moreover, the increased size of the ship meant an increase in the ship’s combat power itself.

Although mounting cannons on ships had become somewhat commonplace, most battles still involved ships fighting in close quarters with hand-to-hand combat.

In such situations, having a higher position was an enormous advantage.

* * *

The governor of Genoa, well aware of these points through the tiresome maritime disputes with Venice, asked another question.

“Can we obtain the blueprints or craftsmen?”

“Well, since we poached craftsmen last time, surveillance has intensified. The blueprints are also said to be kept in the most strictly managed vault.”

“Damn…”

Displeased with the answer, the governor of Genoa clicked his tongue. After pondering for a while, leaning back in his chair, he soon reached a conclusion.

“Contact Madrid and Valencia. First, we need to confirm if the craftsmen in Valencia can build similar ships. After that’s confirmed, we’ll consider our next move.”

“Understood.”

Ten days later, representatives from Genoa and Spain met in Madrid.

After brief greetings, the attendees from both sides sat around the table and got straight to the point.

“Have you seen the report on Portugal’s new ships?”

In response to the Spanish official’s question, the Genoese representative immediately answered.

“Yes, I’ve confirmed it. It’s not good news.”

“Indeed. If we’re not careful, Portugal might monopolize the West African route.”

“That is the problem. So, have you checked with the craftsmen in Valencia?”

In response to the Genoese official’s question, the Spanish official handed over a thick report.

“To cut to the chase, ‘It’s possible in principle. However, it’s impossible in the short term.'”

“‘Impossible in the short term’?”

“Unfortunately, that’s the case.”

“That’s disappointing.”

The Genoese officials couldn’t hide their disappointment at the Spanish officials’ response.

Seeing the Genoese officials’ reaction, the Spanish officials added:

“They say they can shorten the time because they’ve been researching hull expansion even before coming to Valencia. The problem is the time consumed by trial and error. So… Could Genoa dispatch more craftsmen from its shipyards?”

At the Spanish officials’ request, this time the Genoese officials wore troubled expressions.

“Well, because we need to continue building warships to deal with Venice, additional dispatches are difficult.”

Now it was the Spanish officials’ turn to be unable to hide their disappointment at the Genoese officials’ response.

“That’s quite unfortunate.”

* * *

With no easy solution in sight, time was slipping away uselessly.

“Ah!”

Lost in thought during this frustrating situation, one of the Spanish officials suddenly exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Do you have a good idea?”

At the Genoese official’s question, the official in question cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um… What about bringing craftsmen from France?”

“From France?”

“Doesn’t France build pretty good ships too?”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing the suggestion to ‘recruit French craftsmen,’ the Genoese and Spanish officials all started calculating the pros and cons with serious expressions.

After a while of deliberation, the officials soon spoke up.

“It seems like it could work.”

“Indeed. It seems like quite a good idea.”

While favorable responses were continuing, one Genoese official raised an objection.

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“Dangerous?”

“Yes. Although they’ve weakened considerably due to nearly a hundred years of war with England, France is still a large country. If we’re not careful, we might create a powerful competitor with our own hands.”

“Ah…”

“That’s right. Come to think of it, the very fact that they could wage war for nearly a hundred years implies that they have considerable national power…”

In the end, the ‘recruitment of French craftsmen’ was scrapped.

“In the end, we have no choice but to minimize trial and error as much as possible.”

“We’ll have to thoroughly utilize the ships that come out of the trial and error process.”

“There’s no other answer, is there?”

In the end, they had no choice but to choose the most fundamental method.

* * *

Thus, a shipbuilding competition broke out between the Portugal-Venice-Florence alliance and the Spain-Genoa alliance.

In the shipyards of Sagres, Valencia, and Venice, craftsmen and designers had to rack their brains to build even slightly larger ships.

In this process, an unexpected butterfly effect occurred.

“We can’t properly build these new ships with just our current experience. We need assistance.”

“Assistance? Explain in more detail.”

At the request of the designers and craftsmen, the superiors demanded a more detailed explanation. The craftsmen and designers responded in detail.

“The ships we’re designing and building now need to leap several steps at once. This process can’t be solved by experience alone. For example, even things like the thickness and spacing of the ribs attached to the keel need to be recalculated. We need mathematicians skilled in calculations.”

“Mathematicians…”

At the craftsmen and designers’ request, the superiors trailed off with troubled expressions.

The problem wasn’t finding mathematicians, but the mathematicians themselves. Most renowned mathematicians were at odds with the Vatican.

Last year, a considerable number of monks had to leave for Joseon, and even now, not a few were quietly moving towards Alexandria, liquidating their assets.

After a long deliberation, the superior sighed deeply and concluded.

“Sigh~ We should leave political issues to the politicians.”

“They need mathematicians?”

“Yes. The reason is…”

Upon receiving the report, the kings of Spain and the governor of Genoa were lost in thought, holding their heads.

A wrong decision could lead to a situation where they’d be at odds with the Pope.

This was a particularly serious political burden for the kings of Spain – the King of Castile and the King of Aragon.

If they were to fall out with the Pope, they would have to make many concessions to the nobles. No, there was a considerable possibility of second and third Portugals emerging.

In the end, the Spanish kings passed the ball to the governor of Genoa. After much deliberation, the governor of Genoa made a decision.

“Tch! There’s no choice!”

The governor of Genoa passed an appropriate gift to the Pope and received permission to recruit mathematicians.

– It is not against doctrine as it is necessary for building safe ships.

Holding the document with the Pope’s decree, the governor of Genoa smiled bitterly and muttered.

“The amount spent to get this single sheet of paper…”

Of course, upon hearing the rumor, Portugal also bribed the Pope and obtained the same decree.

Thus, a not insignificant number of scholars flowed into Venice, Florence, and Genoa – which was religiously safer than Spain.

The mathematicians, tasked with researching the formulas needed for design and calculating answers according to those formulas, carried out their work while also conducting their own research.

Thanks to this, the Renaissance began a bit earlier compared to the history before Hyang’s intervention.

* * *

As the shipbuilding competition between the two forces progressed, experimental ships began to be launched steadily, one or two at a time.

The launched ships completed simple test voyages and were immediately put into actual service.

“You can only know if a newly built ship is properly made by actually moving it!”

“Verify through actual navigation!”

That’s what they said, but the inner thoughts of the higher-ups were simple.

‘Do you know how much money we’ve spent on this!’

* * *

The fact that these launched ships were continuously deployed for voyages meant that more and more ships were traveling the routes.

Of course, the number of ships drastically decreased past Cape Bojador, but to the north of it, many ships passed each other, fluttering large flags emblazoned with the coats of arms of Spain and Portugal.

The sea is vast, but the safe space of the sea routes was a limited area. Therefore, although it would be a long distance on land, at sea, they frequently passed each other at what was practically point-blank range.

As these encounters became more frequent, the atmosphere began to grow increasingly ominous.

As mentioned before, Portugal and Spain had been at odds since the founding of Portugal, and after Spain’s expansion into Africa began in earnest, relations had worsened further due to issues with stopover points.

Therefore, captains from both sides tried to keep as much distance as possible when they spotted ships from the opposing country.

They didn’t want to see blood spilled over trivial matters.

However, when they inevitably had to pass close to each other, crude curses were exchanged between the crews of both ships.

But the situation continued to deteriorate at an increasingly rapid pace.

The main culprit that triggered the worsening of the situation was the African continent.

The ships exploring the west coast of Africa had two main missions.

One was to find a detour to India and Joseon, and the other was to trade with local Africans – mainly Arab chiefs or kings.

They exchanged various goods produced in Europe – tableware, weapons, and other luxury items – in return for various underground resources or slaves, which was a pretty good business.

However, with Spain joining in after Portugal, the situation became one where demand increased for a limited supply.

* * *

The atmosphere on the ‘Vendaval’ (strong wind) returning to Ceuta was gloomy.

This was because they hadn’t achieved much in this trade.

They had sailed down with the hold full of weapons, cloth, and other luxury items, but the Spanish bastards had already finished trading and left.

“I’m sorry. I had an urgent matter and couldn’t help it. Let’s make sure to have a good trade next time. I’m really sorry.”

The Arab local magnate who had broken off the deal repeated his apologies with a face that didn’t look sorry at all.

In the end, the Vendaval had to set sail for home, hoping for better luck next time.

If worst came to worst, there was always the option of landing in a nearby unexplored area and raiding indigenous tribes, but there were no such places left in the vicinity.

They had all been completely wiped out by slave-desiring local magnates, by Portugal, by Spain.

In the end, they needed to venture deeper inland, but that was too much for just the crew of the Vendaval.

* * *

“Damn it all! And I’ve got a lot of credit built up too!”

“Tell me about it!”

“The thought of my wife’s nagging is terrifying enough!”

The crew of the Vendaval complained with gloomy faces.

It had been the norm until now that when they returned from a voyage, they would receive a considerable bonus in addition to their wages. They had heard that many fellow sailors had missed out on bonuses lately, but they had dismissed it as someone else’s problem.

But now that misfortune had befallen them.

Ding ding ding!

As they were lamenting like this, the sailor watching the sea from the crow’s nest urgently rang the bell.

“Ship ahead!”

Far in the distance, a transport ship flying the Spanish coat of arms was heading north.

1. is a three- or four-masted ocean-going sailing ship that was developed in the 14th to 15th centuries in Europe, most notably in Portugal and Spain.[↩]

Chapter 354
Battle of Strait of Gilbratar (3)

sailing ship, the sailors chatted amongst themselves.

“The more I look at it, the more it looks like our carrack.”

“Similar? At that point, it’s just the same damn thing!”

“Fucking Spanish thieves!”

Looking at ships that were almost identical to their own, the sailors spat out curses.

It was already widely known that Spain and Genoa were poaching craftsmen to build ships.

And this wasn’t the first time they had seen Spanish ships; it had happened many times before.

Despite this situation, the reason the sailors were cursing now was because they were returning empty-handed due to those Spanish bastards.

As they were venting their frustrations with a stream of curses, some sailors noticed something they had forgotten.

“Wait… If it has the same performance as our ship, there’s no way it should be moving that slowly. Why is it going so slowly?”

“Yeah, you’re right?”

As they watched the approaching Spanish ship with curiosity, the sailors soon realized one thing.

“Looks like they’re loaded to the gills!”

“Are they so loaded that the ship can’t pick up speed?”

“That’s why we’re empty-handed!”

The sailors were getting fired up again, but they immediately fell silent at the words of the most senior sailor.

“I’m really curious about what they’ve loaded and how much.”

“Ah!”

The sailors who let out exclamations immediately rushed to the navigator.

“Navigator!”

“Navigator!”

At the sailors’ clamor, the navigator waved both hands and shouted.

“I get it! I get it! I know what you bastards want to say, so shut up!”

After calming the sailors, the navigator immediately approached the captain.

“Captain.”

“I know what the navigator wants to say. But not now.”

“Are you saying we should just let go of those bastards who definitely intercepted our trade?”

At the navigator’s words, the captain explained, pointing at the sea chart with his finger.

“Half a day more and we’ll reach Santa Anna port, built by those Spanish bastards. If we’re not careful, we could be the ones in trouble. Let’s ambush them after they leave the port.”

The navigator’s face brightened at the captain’s explanation.

“That’s a great idea! As expected of you, Captain!”

Seeing that the navigator, who could move the sailors, seemed to understand, the captain rechecked the ship’s situation.

“Navigator, do we have enough food and water?”

“Plenty!”

“What about the amount and condition of gunpowder? The cannons?”

“They’re fine! But I’ll order an immediate inspection!”

“Do it now!”

“Aye!”

At the captain’s order, the navigator excitedly rushed to the sailors.

Watching the navigator’s back, the captain muttered softly.

“Piracy, huh…”

* * *

The situation for the officers, including the captain and navigator, was even more urgent than for the sailors.

The sailors basically had fixed wages, with some additional rewards from the profits. However, officers like the captain, first mate, and navigator received a certain share of the profits. If the voyage ended successfully, they could pocket a large sum, but if it went wrong, they wouldn’t receive a single penny. And if this happened repeatedly, they would be kicked out of their positions as captain or first mate.

Therefore, even if the sailors didn’t like it, they had to take the lead in this situation.

* * *

Meanwhile, tension was high on the Spanish ship San Jose, which was sailing ahead.

“The Portuguese bastards aren’t showing any unusual behavior.”

Upon hearing the first mate’s report confirming the crow’s nest’s observation, the captain of the San Jose still wore a worried expression.

“We can’t let our guard down. That fucking Arab must have had a deal with that ship. If so, they must be boiling with anger. We absolutely can’t relax until we enter Santa Anna. Explain the situation properly to the crew and prepare them for battle.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Having heard the captain’s orders, the first mate headed towards the crew along with the navigator.

Standing on the stern deck and watching the Vendaval chasing them, the captain’s eyes were full of concern.

* * *

Around sunset, the San Jose was able to enter Santa Anna port.

From the captain to the lowest-ranking sailor, all crew members of the San Jose, having safely entered the port, let out sighs of relief.

“Phew~”

“Now I can breathe a bit easier.”

While the sailors sighed in relief, the captain and officers held a meeting with serious faces.

“Check immediately if we can rent warehouse space or a place to hold slaves. No, check if we can rent a place to hold slaves.”

“Are you going to unload the slaves here?”

The captain nodded at the navigator’s question.

“I’m still worried about those Portuguese bastards.”

“But they didn’t do anything until we entered the port, did they?”

To the first mate’s objection, the captain explained in more detail.

“Unless their eyes are knotholes, they couldn’t have ignored this Santa Anna.”

At the captain’s explanation, the officers finally nodded.

In preparation for the increasingly hostile Portugal, Santa Anna had been built with sturdy coastal walls. And on those walls, large cannons were glaring at the sea.

The captain summarized the situation.

“I’d like to unload all the cargo here and go up, but if I did that, the shipowners would hang me from the mast. So, let’s unload the bulky slaves first and move. Have the crew prepare to be ready for battle as soon as we set sail.”

“Understood.”

* * *

Two days later, the San Jose left Santa Anna port.

“Stay sharp!”

“Yes!”

“One moment of carelessness and you’ll be shark food! Stay alert!”

“Yes!”

At the shouts of the navigator and boatswain, the sailors responded with tense faces.

The captain, positioned on the stern deck much higher than the main deck, checked the situation.

“Are the cannons ready?”

“All ready!”

“I’ll say it again, don’t open the gun ports until the order is given! It’d be a disaster if the gunpowder gets wet from the waves and misfires!”

“We’re well aware!”

The first mate and navigator immediately responded to the captain’s warning.

A total of 14 cannons were positioned on the upper deck and the two decks directly below. Four on the upper deck, two on each side, and five on each side of the two decks below, totaling 14.

The sailors in charge of operating the cannons were gathered around the loaded guns. All they had to do was open the gun ports, push the muzzles out, and light the fuses when the order was given.

“Come from port or starboard, it doesn’t matter…”

Most of the sailors were hardened veterans from battles with Barbary pirates, so there were hardly any who feared combat.

As the tense moments ticked by, the sailor watching the sea from the mast rang the bell while shouting.

Ding ding ding!

“Portuguese bastards on the port side! Distance about 1 league (about 4.2km)!”

At the lookout’s cry, the captain drew his sword and shouted.

“Battle stations! Wait for my order to fire!”

* * *

Just as the San Jose was preparing for the upcoming battle, the Vendaval was also closing the distance, ready for combat.

Like the San Jose, the sailors were ready to push out the loaded cannons, with the captain’s shouts continuing behind their backs.

“Don’t fire until the order is given! We can’t give them time to retaliate!”

“Yes!”

“Gunners at the bow and stern, properly manage the fuses and powder pans of the gonnes!”

“Yes!”

At the captain’s order, the soldiers in charge of the matchlock guns responded loudly and rechecked their fuses and powder pans.

The hand cannons used by soldiers at this time had evolved one step further.

They still used a long pole tucked under the armpit instead of a stock. However, they had a primitive firing mechanism using springs and triggers, as well as aiming devices.

After giving orders to the hand cannon gunners, the captain muttered with a face full of regret.

“We should have persuaded the shipowners to get new gonnes…”

Matchlock guns imitating the breech-loading guns carried by Joseon soldiers frequenting Alexandria were just starting to appear here and there. However, matchlock guns weren’t cheap items, so the argument to buy unproven equipment didn’t fly.

“Half a league ahead (about 2.1km)!”

Snapped out of his thoughts by the lookout’s cry, the captain shouted again.

“Don’t fire until we’re right up against the side of the Spanish ship! Wait for my order!”

At the captain’s shout, the sailors swallowed dry saliva as they watched the enemy ship drawing closer.

As the chase continued and the distance between the two ships narrowed to just about 20 cubits (about 9m), both captains shouted simultaneously.

“Fire!”

“Shoot!”

Boom boom boom!

Ratatat!

In an instant, the space between the two ships was filled with gunpowder smoke.

* * *

The Vendaval and San Jose engaged in a fierce exchange of fire.

Boom!

Ratatat!

The surviving gunners and musketeers desperately reloaded and spewed fire at the enemy.

Every time the cannons blazed, wooden splinters and the broken bodies of unfortunate sailors fell into the sea from the opponent’s ship.

“Die!”

“Kill them!”

The surviving sailors moved desperately, cursing and snarling, to kill their opponents and to survive.

Ratatat!

Bang!

“Reload! Reload!”

“Water’s coming in! Water’s coming in!”

“Go down and plug it!”

“Plug it! I said plug it!”

They fired cannonballs at each other to deliver a fatal blow, but the solid shot cannonballs couldn’t deliver a killing blow.

In the end, in this ongoing battle, it was only the sailors who were dying.

* * *

The situation became even more intense as ships from both sides, passing nearby and discovering the battle, approached.

“Our comrades are under attack!”

“Kill them!”

As it turned into a 2:2 battle, the fight became even fiercer, ultimately ending in a draw.

The four battered ships nursed their wounds as they headed north.

As the ships arrived at Ceuta and Gibraltar, an intense diplomatic battle broke out between Spain and Portugal.

“This incident absolutely cannot be overlooked!”

“Piracy! How dare they engage in piracy!”

As both sides accused each other of provocation, ships from both countries gathered in the Strait of Gibraltar.

In this tense situation, with ships facing off across the strait and envoys from both countries engaging in verbal battles in the Vatican, things finally came to a head.

The ‘Battle of Gibraltar’ had begun.

The naval battle, which involved about 60 ships from both sides mixed together, ended with both sides losing more than 10 ships each.

As the ships returned to Ceuta and Gibraltar for repairs, both sides claimed victory.

While both sides claimed victory and demanded ‘compensation’, naval commanders and shipbuilders analyzed the battle.

The result of their analysis was simple.

‘Bigger ships with more cannons.’

The technicians reviewing their analysis results tilted their heads.

“Where have I heard this before?”

“Right?”

Chapter 355
People are the Problem, In Many Ways (1)

While shipbuilding officials in the Mediterranean region were tilting their heads and muttering, Hyang was picking his ear and mumbling in Area 51.

“Who’s talking about me? Why is my ear so itchy?”

“Your Highness.”

Hyang, who was picking his ear with her pinky, straightened his posture when he sensed the presence of a eunuch outside.

“What is it?”

“Prince Anpyeong has arrived.”

At the eunuch’s announcement, Hyang frowned deeply.

“This bastard again…”

Though he kept grumbling, Hyang soon had no choice but to allow him entry.

“Let him in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A moment later, Anpyeong entered and paid his respects to Hyang.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“We just saw each other yesterday, what’s this… If it’s about the Entertainment Industry Inspection Office, I have nothing to say.”

As Hyang jumped to a conclusion, Anpyeong immediately raised his voice.

“Brother, I mean, Your Highness! The Inspection Office is indeed my divine calling!”

Hyang nodded at Anpyeong’s words.

“Considering the things you’ve done since childhood, I suppose it is.”

Anpyeong had been spanked at age four for saying he wanted to become a traveling performer, and as an adult, he had traveled around the country to see all the troupes, making King Sejong hold the back of his neck in exasperation.

At Hyang’s words, Anpyeong put strength into his voice.

“Your Highness just acknowledged it! Indeed, a person can achieve the best results when doing their divine calling! So, please allow me to transfer to the Inspection Office!”

“Personnel matters are decided by His Majesty.”

“That’s the problem! His Majesty won’t allow it! So if Your Highness could help a little…”

“Have you not considered why our Father refused?”

“…”

Anpyeong suddenly fell silent at Hyang’s question.

* * *

As soon as he heard rumors about the establishment of the ‘Entertainment Industry Inspection Office,’ Anpyeong had jumped up.

“The Inspection Office is where I should dedicate my life!”

Sejong briefly asked Anpyeong, who had come to Geunjeongjeon Hall, jumping for joy:

“Have you finished organizing the Korean music and folk songs?”

“There’s still a bit left.”

“Stay in your position until you finish that work. Once it’s done, I’ll arrange a place for you in the Entertainment Industry Inspection Office.”

“Father!”

“I won’t say it twice. It’s not allowed until you properly finish the task you’ve been given.”

Thus rejected by Sejong, Anpyeong had been pestering Hyang for days.

* * *

“If you properly finish the task you’ve been given, Father would transfer you without you even asking. When it comes to personnel matters, Father is more certain than anyone else.”

At Hyang’s words, Anpyeong presented his own compromise proposal.

“Then how about a concurrent position…”

“Hey, you bastard!”

Before Anpyeong could finish, Hyang burst out shouting.

“What was the first principle Father established when starting the reforms? No concurrent positions! And you want to break down a principle that’s just barely being established because of you alone? Get out now! If you really want to move to the Inspection Office, finish your assigned task as quickly and properly as possible!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Are you not leaving right now? I’ll…!”

“I’m going!”

Pressed by Hyang’s intensity, Anpyeong left the room as he answered.

Watching Anpyeong’s retreating figure, running away as if his tail was on fire, Hyang sighed deeply and grumbled.

“Sigh~ We’re already in a stagnant period because we’re so short on people…”

* * *

As Hyang said, the first principle Sejong established when starting the reforms was ‘no concurrent positions.’

Until then, concurrent positions had been the norm for government officials, especially those of senior rank. Even junior officials often handled work from multiple departments simultaneously due to the shortage of people.

This was also related to Joseon’s founding ideology.

‘If the king follows the way of the sages and realizes benevolent governance, a large government is unnecessary. The king’s virtue will shine in all directions, so the people will follow that virtue and live righteously and beautifully. If disputes arise among the people, learned and virtuous scholars will educate them.’

* * *

After removing the elder ministers through the Great Purge, Sejong immediately began to expand the size of the government.

“When one person handles work in multiple fields, progress is slow and lacks depth.”

Under this justification, Sejong began prohibiting concurrent positions and increasing personnel.

Moreover, the incident of document forgery and embezzlement by Hwang Hui’s sons provided further justification for the ban on concurrent positions.

Of course, for smooth governance, there had to be people who could oversee the overall framework, coordinate policies, and advise the king, and senior officials took on this role.

However, as the size of the government greatly increased, the first problem to solve was the shortage of talented individuals.

* * *

Although they revised the civil service examination system to broaden access and attract more talented individuals, the workload Sejong was delegating easily surpassed the supply.

As the situation became like this, the pace of reforms began to slow down little by little. Therefore, the thing ministers, prime ministers, and Sejong worried about most was adjusting the priority of policies.

And all sorts of methods were employed to secure talented individuals.

* * *

Among these methods, the most useful was the ‘petition.’

Whenever Sejong implemented a radical policy, petitions would be submitted. And every time these petitions came in, officials became rather excited.

“We need to catch a big fish this time…”

“It’s about statecraft, so it should be good, right?”

Interestingly, even among those submitting petitions, there seemed to be areas of expertise. The volume of petitions varied depending on which field Sejong’s radical policy was related to.

And among those who had been in seclusion and submitted petitions out of indignation, officials immediately rushed to those who presented useful opinions, carrying Sejong’s royal command.

“Your opinion is pretty good. Why don’t you come and see how different theory and practice are!”

* * *

As people steadily entered official positions through petitions, some began to aim for official positions through petitions.

Among those who submitted petitions, there were some who genuinely had exceptional insights but were in seclusion for various reasons. However, there were also many who tried to use tricks.

Those who were summoned because their petition content was good engaged in debates with Sejong in front of the ministers at Geunjeongjeon Hall. Observing the debate, Sejong and the ministers took note of the petitioner’s character and abilities, and soon placed them in an appropriate department. And many of those who entered this way started at a slightly higher position than those who entered through the lower civil service examination. Seeing this, people who tried to use tricks appeared.

“One well-written petition is better than the lower civil service exam!”

People began to use petitions for faster promotion than others.

* * *

When talent was recruited through petitions, the government announced the content of the petition nationwide through the official gazette.

“We hope you will ponder this content and compare it with the policies implemented by the government to come up with better opinions.”

Although it was published with good intentions, some people began to abuse it.

They carefully copied the petitions written in the gazette, and then submitted petition letters when new policies in similar fields were announced in the future. They didn’t just copy one petition, but combined the contents of several petitions to create a plausible one.

Because the volume of petitions submitted each year was enormous, these recombined petitions easily passed through the officials’ filters.

However, what these tricksters didn’t consider was that the final gatekeeper was Sejong, and that Hyang, second to none in memory, was by his side.

“Doesn’t this seem familiar?”

“It seems to be a mix of several.”

With Hyang’s confirmation added, Sejong wrote the answer in red and returned it to the officials.

‘Re-examination required.’

The moment a petition came back with this written on it, hell unfolded for the officials. They had to go through all the petitions published in the gazette for the past few years.

“This fucking bastard! Just wait till I catch you!”

Officials who were unexpectedly saddled with this task had to engage in ‘furious searching.’

And those caught ‘copy-pasting’ were severely punished.

‘Banned from official positions and submitting petitions for 10 years.’

And Hyang, upon receiving a report of the situation, chuckled and muttered.

“As expected of the ‘nation of tricks’…”

However, even in this situation where ‘copy-pasting’ was prohibited, there were some who actually advanced their careers through ‘copy-pasting.’

-Looking at the petition published in the gazette on ** month, ** year… (omitted)… However, the content of the petition published in the gazette on ## month, ## year regarding the same policy… (omitted)… As shown, the contents of these two selected petitions conflict, and the original intention of the policy… (omitted).

Officials who saw petition letters that openly cited sources and made point-by-point arguments all exclaimed in admiration.

“That’s innovative!”

And Sejong, upon seeing such a petition, immediately concluded:

“This is exactly the kind of person we need in a position to review and coordinate policies implemented so far. Bring him here immediately!”

“We obey your command!”

* * *

Although they used all sorts of methods like this to gather talented individuals, it became increasingly difficult to find talent.

The rate at which talented individuals were leaving the stagnant talent pool far exceeded the rate at which they were being supplied.

As a result, whenever Sejong discussed state affairs with Hyang, he always complained about this problem.

“People are all Joseon has, yet how can there be such a lack of talent?”

“There must still be many in seclusion.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~ Those still in seclusion should be considered as having no intention of entering official service, shouldn’t they? Shouldn’t they be seen as no different from those ruthless ones who rebelled in the year of Giyu?”

“Well, that could be the case.”

Hyang responded with a bitter smile to Sejong’s complaint.

One of the biggest causes of the current talent shortage was the Giyu Rebellion. Not only was the number of scholars who participated in the rebellion problematic, but the number of scholars who died for refusing to participate or for trying to stop it was also enormous.

In simple terms, the Giyu Rebellion was a critical event that resulted in the loss of a significant portion of properly educated human resources.

“It will still take some more time for talent to emerge from the Commoner’s School and the Middle School…”

“Yes. It’s a bit regrettable, but it can’t be helped.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s lament. Looking at Hyang, Sejong continued.

“Scholars came from the Western Regions, but you took them all…”

“Hahaha! They’re only useful for mathematics and natural sciences, aren’t they? And although they can communicate to some extent verbally, they’re still useless when it comes to writing.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong stroked his beard and muttered.

“Writing is indeed the problem…”

Hyang’s eyes sparkled at Sejong’s muttering.

‘The tide has come in! Let’s row!’

“Father, honestly speaking, why wouldn’t there be people in this Joseon? Even looking at the example of the ‘Straight Talk on Farming,’ weren’t there many wise people?”

“That’s true.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words.

In the early stages of the reforms, Sejong had ordered officials to create an agricultural manual.

“The Ming’s agricultural manuals are tailored to the climate of the Central Plains, so they don’t suit us well! Find wisdom from elderly farmers in each province and record it!”

That’s how the ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ came to be after years of effort.

And this ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ soon became an essential book that had to be in every rural village across Joseon.

Chapter 356
People are the Problem, In Many Ways (2)

The ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ didn’t become essential reading only in Joseon’s rural areas.

Hearing the rumors, envoys from various domains in Japan rushed to Joseon.

In Japan’s situation, where they hadn’t strayed far from the agricultural techniques passed down from the old Three Kingdoms period on the Korean peninsula, the ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ that Joseon began to distribute was a textbook of advanced farming methods that had to be introduced.

* * *

Citing the example of the ‘Straight Talk on Farming,’ Hyang continued speaking.

“I don’t think there’s a lack of people in Joseon right now. It’s not that there aren’t people, but that those who have learned to write are rare. Ah! To explain this part again, there are many who can read sentences. If we include those who can read characters even sporadically, I can guarantee that those who don’t know characters in Joseon are extremely few. The problem is…”

“The problem is that those who can write sentences are extremely limited. Sigh~”

Interrupting Hyang’s words and summarizing the situation, Sejong let out a long sigh.

* * *

As Sejong and Hyang said, among those living in Joseon, the number of people unable to read and understand text was very small.

As mentioned before, even the so-called ‘ignorant’ farmers could read several hundred Chinese characters necessary for daily life.

This was to read the official gazettes or various proclamations posted on the walls of government offices, or to check the contents of debt certificates when borrowing goods and to write their own names on them.

The problem was writing. Among those who could read, the number of people who could compose sentences even in Idu script dropped sharply. If we narrow the range to those who could write sentences according to grammar and etiquette, it shrank drastically to a very small number of scholars.

* * *

“Sigh~ In this situation, can we truly understand the people’s sentiments? No, even putting that aside, can we find proper talent?”

Hyang responded to Sejong’s complaint.

“In about 2-3 years, those educated in the Commoner’s School will emerge, won’t that quench our thirst to some extent?”

However, Sejong’s face didn’t brighten much.

“It seems like it will only make us more thirsty rather than quenching our thirst. The characters are the problem, the characters… Instead of helping talented individuals express their intentions correctly, it’s become a situation where it’s holding them back…”

‘Yes! Accurate situation awareness! Let’s add just a bit more MSG here!’

Inwardly cheering, Hyang suggested to Sejong.

“Then, why don’t we create our own characters for Joseon? Not something that requires knowledge of Chinese characters like Idu, but characters that can be easily written even without knowing Chinese characters.”

‘We’re already on a new historical path anyway! Don’t make it later, make it now! If you create it now when you’re in your prime, I’ll have less trouble later!’

Whether knowing Hyang’s thoughts or not, Sejong slightly shook his head.

“Creating our own characters… The intention is truly good. But it’s not an easy task.”

“The brilliant scholars of Hall of Worthies…”

Hyang, who was about to mention ‘Hall of Worthies,’ quickly closed his mouth. As soon as the word Hall of Worthies came out, Sejong’s face turned fierce.

“Don’t even mention those stubborn fools!”

* * *

As Sejong’s reforms progressed and Hyang established research institutes, the nature of Hall of Worthies also changed significantly.

Hall of Worthies, which initially was responsible for advising the king and academic research, changed its character to a specialized policy research institution as the reforms progressed.

Their work changed, or rather, was limited to analyzing policies proposed by the king and ministers and presenting improvement plans, or planning appropriate policies based on materials submitted by each department.

However, as things progressed this way, resistance from the Hall of Worthies scholars began to emerge.

“It’s true that the physics research conducted in Area 51 and the research institute is important! However, studying the writings of sages, contemplating them, and clarifying morality is also important!”

“Most of the policies currently implemented by the court deviate from Confucian academic traditions! These policies must be abolished immediately and Confucian academic traditions must be preserved! Practical studies are important, but preserving and studying ancient traditions is even more important!”

The Hall of Worthies scholars who irritated Sejong by advocating for a return to the past went a step further.

“For the people to be comfortable, their food, clothing, and shelter must be stable! For this, we must implement equal distribution of wealth!”

As the argument for equal distribution of wealth emerged again, Sejong pointed out the facts to the Hall of Worthies scholars.

“It was already decided that equal distribution of wealth is unrealistic and empty. So why are you advocating for it again?”

“Practical difficulties are naturally encountered in the process of realizing theory! Although there may be sacrifices, if we continue to implement it, it will eventually take root properly! We must not fear sacrifice!”

At the words of the Hall of Worthies scholars, Sejong became greatly angered.

“Saying not to fear sacrifice is nothing but empty talk! Look at reality when you speak!”

Greatly angered, Sejong conducted a large-scale personnel reshuffle in the year of Sinhae (13th year of Sejong’s reign, 1431) and assigned Hall of Worthies scholars to practical positions.

However, the Hall of Worthies scholars strongly resisted this decision of Sejong’s.

“This is tyranny that blocks the path of speech!”

Most of the Hall of Worthies scholars who resisted like this submitted letters of resignation.

“This is a big problem!”

“Indeed it is!”

Surprised by the mass resignation of Hall of Worthies scholars, the ministers busily went back and forth between Sejong and the scholars, trying to calm the situation.

“Your Majesty, they are still young. It’s something they did unable to overcome their youthful passion, they will soon reflect on their actions. Please give them some time.”

“Listen, you all! Why are you so hasty? Isn’t it good to refine your theories while seeing practical matters?”

The ministers went back and forth busily, but Sejong and the Hall of Worthies scholars remained at a standstill.

“Youthful passion? What they’ve done is trying to coerce me based on their meager knowledge!”

“Hmph! I cannot just overlook such tyranny!”

“Watch your mouth! Have you forgotten whose bloodline His Majesty carries?”

In the end, Sejong approved all the resignation letters submitted by the scholars. And then he issued a royal command.

“Those whose resignations have been processed this time will never be allowed to enter official service again, and they are also forbidden from submitting petitions for life! This measure applies to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as well!”

If the strict regulations related to scholars that had been implemented through the reforms and the Giyu Rebellion were applied, they would not be called scholars for at least 100 years.

After this commotion, Hall of Worthies completely established itself as a ‘specialized policy research institution.’ The law was even changed so that those assigned to the Hall of Worthies were not selected from among those who passed the highest level of the civil service examination, but rather those who had at least 10 years of practical experience.

And another aftershock was a wave of divorces that hit the families of the scholars.

* * *

Feeling that Sejong’s mood had turned sour over the Hall of Worthies issue, Hyang hurried to defuse the situation.

“Yes. Even without those stubborn fools, there are many talented individuals in the court. So, if Father makes up his mind, you will find excellent talent.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong stared at him blankly.

“I heard you’re having a lot of trouble with document preparation with the scholars from the Western Regions. Is that why?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang gave a bitter smile and nodded slightly.

* * *

The early appearance of Hunmin Jeongeum[1] was also what Hyang wanted. Initially, it was just because he found it annoying to write documents in Chinese characters. But now, it was for his hobbies.

“Shit! Is my job from clock-in to clock-out just translating documents?”

Translating while grinding his teeth at the mountain of Latin documents piled up in the Area 51 office was Hyang’s daily routine these days.

“For a peaceful life of indulgence in my interests, Hangul is absolutely necessary!”

* * *

Seeing Hyang like this, Sejong smiled and continued speaking.

“I see. They have now become people of Joseon, so we should solve their difficulties too. Hmm… But even if there’s a lot of talent in the court, there’s so much work being done in the court now that we can’t easily spare anyone. Creating characters isn’t something that can be done by one or two people’s efforts, so it’s impossible for me alone. Would you help me a bit?”

“Pardon?”

“Your brilliance has been famous since you were young, hasn’t it? I think we could achieve good results if you help. What do you say? Will you help this father of yours?”

At Sejong’s request disguised as an order, Hyang finally had to nod.

“If my meager abilities can be of help, I will do my best.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong’s face brightened greatly.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

After ending this secret talk between father and son, Hyang muttered softly as he left.

“No matter how I think about it, I feel like I’ve been tricked. Of course… I had heard theories that the royal family was involved… But still, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been tricked.”

Unable to shake off the feeling that he had been tricked, Hyang soon came to a conclusion.

“Fuck it! Might as well do it now that it’s come to this! I’ll carve my name firmly in history!”

Meanwhile, inside Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Sejong looked towards Eastern Palace with a satisfied face.

“I’ve finally caught a big fish. Let’s see… The parts I’ve organized and researched so far…”

* * *

However, as Hyang and Sejong worried, Joseon was now entering a period of stagnation.

Not only the court but also the common people were moving busily, the economic scale was growing day by day, and people’s pockets were becoming more comfortable, but stagnation was stagnation.

The court was moving busily, but it was overwhelmed just maintaining and improving existing policies. At best, only 2-3 out of 10 new policies or systems were being implemented.

The same was true for the people. Those working in the rapidly growing commerce and industry sectors were all screaming the same thing.

“We don’t have enough people to work!”

* * *

As this problem was unavoidable, Sejong and his ministers put their heads together.

“What exactly is the current population of our Joseon?”

At Sejong’s question, Minister of General Affairs Heo Jo immediately answered.

“According to last year’s population survey, it exceeded 7.5 million.”

“Does that include slaves?”

“Yes.”

At Heo Jo’s answer, Sejong stroked his beard.

“Then the actual number of free people is about 6.8 million?”

“That’s correct.”

As taxes were being imposed on slaves, the number of private slaves was gradually decreasing. Most of the remaining 700,000 or so slaves were government slaves, and most of them were those serving labor sentences in mines for serious crimes.

“6.8 million isn’t a small number, so why…”

To Lee Maeng-gyun’s point, Heo Jo immediately responded.

“Of that population, 800,000 are Jurchen who have submitted to us, and nearly 1.8 million are children under 7 years old.”

“Ah…”

“Oh no…”

At Heo Jo’s answer, all the ministers clicked their tongues.

Through smallpox vaccination and the semi-forced implementation of various hygiene policies, the survival rate of children had greatly increased.

As a result, Joseon’s population had grown significantly, but this was just a numbers game.

Even if the population increased, it wasn’t really an increase until those children grew up and could pull their own weight.

Rather, because of the rapidly increasing number of children, the burden on adults had increased.

1. Hunmin Jeongeum is a 15th-century manuscript that introduced the Korean script Hangul.[↩]

Chapter 357
People are the Problem, In Many Ways (3)

After briefly calculating based on Heo Jo’s explanation, Lee Maeng-gyun stepped forward and asked a question.

“Hmm… Minister Heo, don’t the numbers seem a bit off? 1.8 million out of 6.8 million are under 7 years old… People aren’t cows, are they? Even cows that can give birth after about two years… If we subtract 1.8 million from 6.8 million, it’s 5 million, and even if all 5 million paired up… Having children isn’t something that happens just because you want it to…”

To Lee Maeng-gyun’s roundabout way of asking if there was some error, Heo Jo immediately responded.

“Why are you calculating with 5 million? We need to calculate properly. It’s not like slaves can’t have children, and are you saying the Jurchens give birth to foals instead of people?”

“…”

At Heo Jo’s point, Lee Maeng-gyun closed his mouth. Looking at Lee Maeng-gyun, Heo Jo continued.

“There’s a lot of unpleasant history in between, but in any case, the Jurchens have lived like brothers since the ancient Three Han period. They’ve decided to submit and live as Joseon people, so shouldn’t we count them as Joseon people?”

At Heo Jo’s words, Sejong concluded.

“The Minister of General Affairs is right. They’ve come into the embrace of our Joseon and become our people, so how could we treat them differently? We must enable them to live comfortably and allow them to live using their innate qualities.”

At Sejong’s decision, the ministers all bowed their heads and responded.

“Your Majesty is so benevolent, the future of our Joseon is truly bright!”

The court historian who recorded all this added a note afterward:

-Thus, when His Majesty spoke, all the ministers, great and small, were in awe and praised His Majesty’s benevolence.

The historian says:

It’s been almost 10 years since the Jurchens submitted, and the number of slaves is gradually decreasing.

I think that in the future, only those who have committed high treason and those implicated with them will remain as slaves, becoming a kind of punishment.

As the saying goes, ‘There is no person below a person, and no person above a person,’ slaves are also people, so it’s extremely unjust to despise them.

Above all, the most important thing is that there aren’t enough people! In a situation where we’re already short-handed and wailing, is this the time to be picky about origins?

Those who say such carefree things should all be dragged to the Office of Records and… (omitted).

* * *

The meeting that continued afterward proceeded with discussions on solutions to various problems caused by the shortage of talent.

The first to speak was, of course, the Minister of General Affairs, Heo Jo.

“First, we need to prioritize the policies and projects that are currently in progress or about to start.”

“Are you talking about the ‘selection and concentration’ that the Crown Prince often mentions?”

“That’s correct.”

At Heo Jo’s answer, Sejong, who had been stroking his beard in deep thought, came to a conclusion.

“Each and every policy and project is incomparably important, but given the situation, we have no choice. Let’s think about it along those lines.”

Following Sejong’s decision, the ministers began a fierce verbal battle over the policies and projects they had been pursuing and were about to start.

Kim Jeom went crazy in this verbal battle.

“We must pay special attention to policies related to statecraft! If even a little goes wrong, it will cause big problems for the people’s lives and the nation’s finances! Especially, don’t even think about touching anything related to the Entertainment Industry Inspection Office! Keep in mind that even now, there are not just one or two people squandering their family fortunes on gambling!”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Jo Gye-saeng grumbled.

“It’s not about the people’s problems, but about the wealth you can suck out of there, isn’t it?”

“So what? Do you think the salary you receive just falls from the sky?”

At Kim Jeom’s rebuke, Jo Gye-saeng immediately shut his mouth. But inwardly, he was heaping a barrelful of curses on Kim Jeom.

‘Damn! How can a person be so self-centered!’

‘People change!’

‘What were his parents thinking when they gave birth to such a son… ’

‘This is why those who enter through nepotism are no good!’

Because Sejong had strictly forbidden personal attacks, the ministers could not speak outwardly but were inwardly cursing Kim Jeom in every way possible, starting with inquiring about the well-being of his parents.

* * *

The process of adjusting the priorities of various policies and coordinating personnel assignments continued for more than two weeks.

Most of the policies that had been implemented so far were born out of strong necessity. And as the policies progressed and showed visible results, it was inevitable that there would be some pain.

Therefore, the verbal battles were fierce, and for the first time in a while, there were even ministers who dared to oppose Sejong.

As a result, the historical records written by court historians amounted to at least three volumes per day, and several pots of tea had to be prepared for the ministers whose throats dried up in between.

Amidst such fierce verbal battles, the outline began to take shape gradually.

“First, let’s have the General Affairs Department maintain its current pace. And I want the Ministry of Finance to create a list of candidates for projects that can be handed over to the private sector among the projects currently being carried out by the government and newly implemented projects.”

“We obey your command.”

Hearing the responses of Kim Jeom and Heo Jo, Sejong moved on to the next agenda.

“The problem is with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Defense. They need more and more personnel continuously, have you thought about ways to supply these personnel?”

With the rising birth rate, more and more children were entering the Commoner’s School. As a result, there was an additional demand for teachers to educate them.

To Sejong’s question, Jo Gye-saeng immediately answered.

“First, we will temporarily recruit retired officials with high reputations, and we will add women with high learning and virtue as teachers.”

“There will be many rambunctious children at the prime age for learning, will women be able to control these children?”

“That’s why we thought of this: if there are children who are too unruly to control, we will officially summon their parents to the school.”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s answer, Sejong unconsciously muttered.

“If we’re not careful, there will be wailing.”

At Sejong’s muttering, the ministers inwardly added.

‘Just wailing? If we’re not careful, there will be a bloodbath.’

To ‘officially’ summon meant a warning that they would spread rumors all over the neighborhood. In current Joseon, this was a more certain and harsh honorary punishment than simply using the rod.

Hyang, who attended the meeting worried that sparks might fly to Area 51 and the research institute, threw a question at Jo Gye-saeng.

“But when teachers and parents meet like that, there could be scandalous rumors. Do you have a solution?”

‘Even in the 21st century, when teachers and parents met, rumors about bribes circulated, right?’

To Hyang’s question, recalling memories of the 21st century, Jo Gye-saeng immediately answered.

“Yes. Honestly, since such things could happen, we’ve thought about it. First, before summoning the parents, four or more teachers will have an official discussion to decide whether to do so and record it. Then, when summoning the parents, three or more teachers will be present, and we will record the entire process and submit a report.”

“I see. That’s all.”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s answer, Hyang nodded and stepped back.

‘Indeed, Joseon, the country of records!’

* * *

“The Ministry of Education’s opinion seems fine. Has the Ministry of National Defense thought of any measures?”

To Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered.

“After the administrators of the Ministry of National Defense and the commanders of the Joint Chiefs of Staff put their heads together, the first option is to reduce the ratio of bayonet soldiers and increase the ratio of gunners and artillery soldiers.

The second option is to select talented individuals from among the submitted Jurchens and bring them into the military.”

“Do you mean to increase the cavalry?”

To Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng added.

“No, it’s the navy.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Lee Maeng-gyun interrupted.

“Do you think the Jurchens know how to operate ships? It’s good to fill the manpower, but won’t it consume a lot of time and cost in the training process?”

The ministers nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s question. Instead of Jo Mal-saeng, Maeng Sa-seong stepped forward to answer Lee Maeng-gyun’s question.

“Looking at the records of the previous dynasty, there are many records of Jurchens engaging in piracy.”

“Are you saying the Jurchens were pirates?”

To Lee Maeng-gyun’s incredulous reaction, Jo Mal-saeng added.

“There are records that even the Japanese, famous for their Wokou pirates, trembled at them.”

* * *

Records in the Goryeo History and Goryeo History Abridged stated that from the 11th to the early 12th century, Jurchens boarded ships and plundered the east coast regions of the Korean Peninsula.

At this time, Jurchens who departed from Hamhung, which was Jurchen territory, advanced as far as Gyeongju to plunder. (Note 1)

These Jurchen pirate attacks extended their range even to Japan.

During the Heian period, there was an incident where Jurchen pirates invaded and plundered Iki, Tsushima, and Chikuzen.

In Japan, this was called the “Toi Invasion” or “Toi Incursion.”

Records remained that at the time, Jurchen pirates used tactics of loading horses onto ships, landing, immediately transforming into cavalry, quickly plundering inland areas, and retreating. (Note 2)

* * *

“Jurchens… That’s fine. Try implementing it.”

“We obey your command! We will do our best!”

As soon as Sejong’s decision was made, Jo Mal-saeng immediately bowed his head and answered.

Watching this scene from the side, Heo Jo presented an opinion to Sejong.

“Your Majesty, what do you think about mobilizing Japanese people for administrative work?”

“Mobilize Japanese people for administrative work?”

“Yes.”

At Heo Jo’s words, Sejong, who had been pondering for a moment, asked Heo Jo again.

“Do you mean to use the Japanese people sent by the Ouchi clan?”

“That’s correct.”

* * *

Ouchi, who had been keeping an eye on Joseon’s prosperity, had sent envoys to Joseon.

– We want to create educational institutions like the Commoner’s School in Ouchi’s domain, so please send teachers.

After discussing the request brought by the envoys, Sejong and the ministers delivered the following answer to Ouchi:

– Due to diplomatic relations with the shogunate, we cannot dispatch teachers without the shogunate’s permission. However, we are willing to accept up to 100 people who have at least learned Elementary Learning and mastered the Korean language, and educate them.

Afterward, envoys busily went back and forth between Ouchi and Joseon for coordination. After such coordination, the following matters were decided:

– At minimum, know the Thousand Character Classic. Even better if they’ve learned Elementary Learning.

– Must be able to converse in Korean. This is essential.

– The number of people that can be taught at one time should not exceed 120.

* * *

The Japanese people Heo Jo mentioned were these 120 Japanese from Ouchi who were currently studying in Hanseong.

At Heo Jo’s suggestion, Sejong immediately asked about their achievements.

“Are they usable?”

“It seems they will be capable of lower-level practical work in about 2-3 years.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been pondering for a moment while stroking his beard, turned to Lee Maeng-gyun.

“It’s somewhat tempting, but won’t there be problems with Lord Ouchi?”

To Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately answered.

“If we bring them in unconditionally and indefinitely, there might be problems, but if we set an appropriate period, say about 5 years, it should be fine. If we say we’ll ‘teach them practical work and send them back,’ Lord Ouchi probably won’t dislike it.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Sejong soon came to a conclusion.

“Send an envoy to Lord Ouchi.”

“We obey your command!”

* * *

Note 1) http://www.atlasnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=409

Note 2) https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toi_Invasion

Chapter 358
People are the Problem, In Many Ways (4)

After deciding on the plan to educate Japanese exchange students and use them as apprentice officials, Sejong, who had been observing the situation, proposed a radical measure.

“What about appointing women as officials?”

At Sejong’s proposal, Lee Jik asked Sejong with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Surely not?’

“Are you talking about formal officials, not teachers?”

“That’s right.”

At Sejong’s answer, the ministers’ faces turned pale.5

It was the early Joseon period, which guaranteed stronger women’s rights both absolutely and relatively compared to the mid and late Joseon periods. However, it fell short compared to the previous Goryeo dynasty, and women’s rights had weakened enormously compared to the ancient Three Kingdoms period.

Therefore, the ministers immediately expressed negative opinions.

“Women’s learning is shallow…”

“Those women with shallow learning are teaching children in the Commoner’s School.”

“Aren’t women inherently petty and lack the capacity to discuss state affairs?”

“There was Wu Zetian who led the country during the period called ‘Wu Zhou’s Rule,’ though opinions are divided on her.”

“Wu Zetian is a bit…”

“Fine. Let’s say Wu Zetian was extreme and think about this. No matter how good the seed, if the field is bad, you can’t get a good harvest. Can talented individuals be born if the mother’s innate qualities are poor?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Half the world is women, do you think it’s right that talent only comes from men?”

“…”

As Sejong’s words were reasonable, the ministers raised objections in a different direction.

“Even now, government officials work overtime and night duties as if it’s their daily bread. No head of household would like his wife or daughter wandering the streets late at night or spending the night outside.”

“Even now, women are walking the streets of Hanseong at night. Legally, at that.”

“…”

At Sejong’s point, the ministers had to close their mouths.

* * *

Joseon had legally designated a nighttime curfew.

The Annals of King Taejong’s first year, in May, had the following record:

– Those who violate the curfew after the third point of the first watch and before the third point of the fifth watch shall all be arrested.

In simple terms, it prohibited movement from 8 PM to 4:30 AM.

However, as this caused tremendous damage to people’s lives, the curfew hours gradually decreased.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, during King Sejo’s era, the nighttime curfew was relaxed to the second to fourth watches – from 10 PM to 3 AM – and was finalized in the Great Code of Administration as from after the second watch to before the fifth watch.

Interestingly, those subject to this nighttime curfew were limited to men – a gender-differentiated curfew system.

Joseon, which adopted Neo-Confucianism as its national ideology, applied strict gender segregation laws.

According to these laws, women of the nobility and merchant classes could only stay at home during the day and go out at night, while men couldn’t go outside at night. (Note 1)

That’s why the ministers fell silent at Sejong’s words.

* * *

After refuting the ministers’ objections, Sejong dangled the bait.

“Let’s think about it the other way around. Isn’t it because we’re short on people that officials are working overtime and night duties as if it’s their daily bread? But if we have enough personnel, won’t there be no need for overtime and night duties? Then women won’t have to work late or spend nights outside, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

Although logically overwhelmed by Sejong’s words, the ministers continued to oppose.

“Your Majesty’s intention is lofty and beautiful, but there will be strong resistance.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s point, Sejong scoffed.

“Hmph! If they don’t like seeing women wearing official hats, tell them to sit at home and take the civil service exam instead of just quoting Confucius and Mencius! Don’t just sit at home with buttocks heavier than those of stone Buddhas in mountain temples! We can’t even do our work properly because we’re short on people, what nonsense are you talking! Don’t you all know the current situation of the court! Right now, I feel like dragging in even those monks worshipping Buddha in the temples. But I’m holding back for fear of someone like the evil monk Sin Don from the end of the previous dynasty emerging!”

Sejong’s last words were a strong warning.

‘Should I open the way for women? Or should I give power back to the monks? Choose.’

In the end, the ministers had to make a choice.

“We will contemplate methods to carry out Your Majesty’s intentions.”

“I look forward to it. This is an important period to prepare for 10 years from now. Although it’s not voluntary, since it’s come to this, think of it as catching our breath. Don’t forget that we must forge ahead even more from 10 years on, building our foundations as if catching our urgent breath.”

At Sejong’s admonition, the ministers bowed their heads and answered.

“We will engrave it in our bones and hearts.”

The court historian who recorded all this added:

-Thus, when His Majesty admonished, the ministers answered that they would engrave it in their bones and hearts.

The historian says:

It’s true that there’s a shortage of people to work in this court right now. However, appointing women to official positions is something that should be decided only after careful consideration many times over.

This situation has come about, as His Majesty said, because of those who waste their time sitting idle at home.

If their insight is so bright, it’s natural that they should enter official service, but they’re petty individuals who just move their mouths while holed up in their rooms.

Right now, they should all be thrown into the Office of Records…

“What is the historian writing so diligently? My words ended a while ago.”

The historian who was writing, criticizing the ‘scholars who just make noise while holed up in their rooms,’ immediately bowed his head at Sejong’s words.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“A historian’s job is to record the affairs of the court, not to record private feelings. It seems the historians have been too leisurely lately. It wouldn’t be bad to adjust the personnel allocation.”

“Please show mercy!”

At Sejong’s words, the historian with a tearful face immediately bowed his head.

Seeing this, another historian busily moved his brush.

-Thus, when His Majesty mentioned personnel adjustment, the historian who became the subject quickly begged for forgiveness.

The historian says:

Threatening someone with their weaknesses is not befitting of a great person.

How could His Majesty do something like a petty person…

“Are you now doing something else too? Perhaps we should adjust the personnel…”

“Please spare us!”

The two historians with tearful faces had to keep bowing their heads.

Watching this scene from the side, Hyang smiled bitterly and muttered inwardly.

‘Father won’t be getting any good words from the historians. Even with cross-verification, it’ll be full of criticism.’

* * *

During the Joseon Dynasty, whenever the king and ministers discussed state affairs, two historians always attended.

This was not only to prevent interruptions in recording due to toilet issues or other urgent situations but also to prevent malicious manipulation.

Two historians recorded the same event so that when compiling the Annals later, they could cross-verify.

* * *

Thus, after the tumultuous meeting ended, the ministers and Hyang who were in Geunjeongjeon Hall came out.

Hyang, who was heading towards the Crown Prince’s Palace, stopped walking and looked at Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Advancing women is one thing, but how are you going to solve the problems of parental leave and career breaks…”

Hyang, who was worrying about the solution to a problem that was an important controversy even in the 21st century, burst into laughter.

“Hah! Oh my, oh my…”

‘I forgot! What kind of person he is… ’

Sejong was the first to institutionalize maternity leave for female government slaves and paternity leave for their husbands.

As Hyang was chuckling and turning around, he suddenly turned back to look at Geunjeongjeon Hall again.

“Wait, something’s strange…”

“Your Highness?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”

At the words of the eunuch who was accompanying him, Hyang hurriedly waved his hand and turned around, but the smile had disappeared from his face.

‘Why? He opened the doors even to women? Why? If he was so worried about the shortage of talent, wouldn’t it have been easier to abolish slavery? There would have been less resistance than opening up to women? Why?’

Hyang was heading towards the Crown Prince’s Palace, tilting his head at the sudden curiosity.

* * *

The next day, Lee Jik visited Maeng Sa-seong’s house.

Thanks to it being an official holiday set by law, Lee Jik’s face was full of relaxation he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Hearing of Lee Jik’s visit, Maeng Sa-seong came out to the yard to welcome him.

“How did you come to this humble place on such a precious holiday?”

“I was at home, but I sensed they wanted me to pay for medicine…”

At Lee Jik’s joke, Maeng Sa-seong burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! You’re still in good harmony! Please drink!”

As they settled in the guest room, a modest drinking table with wild vegetables was soon brought in.

“Let’s have a game of Go after a long time.”

“That sounds good!”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong brightened and brought the Go board that had been placed in one corner of the room.

The two exchanged drinks while playing Go.

Carefully placing a Go stone, Lee Jik spoke to Maeng Sa-seong.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“About His Majesty’s intention to open the door of appointment even to women.”

“Hmm…”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong put down a Go stone and fell into thought with his arms folded. As Maeng Sa-seong was lost in thought, Lee Jik continued.

“His Majesty must have anticipated that those noisy fellows wouldn’t stay quiet. Don’t you think?”

“He probably did.”

“Even though their numbers have drastically decreased due to that unspeakable incident in the year of Giyu, there are still those who keep making noise. I don’t understand why he created something for those guys to make noise about.”

Seemingly frustrated, Lee Jik filled the cup beside him with alcohol and drained it in one gulp before continuing.

“There was an easier way to go. Namely, abolishing slavery.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong silently nodded.

Maeng Sa-seong didn’t open his mouth after that. After pondering for a long time, Maeng Sa-seong slowly opened his mouth.

“Minister, do you know the situation of the slaves in Joseon now?”

“I know roughly. They’re gradually decreasing after taxing slaves as property.”

“That’s the case for private slaves, but government slaves haven’t decreased much. To be precise, the number of those who were government slaves from before has decreased, but the number of those who have newly become government slaves has exploded.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Lee Jik’s eyes widened as he briefly recalled his memories.

“No way! From the year of Giyu?”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong nodded.

“Those implicated in the rebellion of the year of Giyu. As long as they exist alive, His Majesty will never mention abolishing slavery.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s assertion, Lee Jik’s expression turned bitter.

“I see.”

Looking at Lee Jik’s expression, Maeng Sa-seong continued.

“I still remember what the previous king said about His Majesty. ‘Chungyeong may seem weak, but when he makes a decision, he’s more resolute than anyone else.’ Seeing how His Majesty thinks about the royal ancestral shrine, the state, and the people, he would be worthy of being recorded as more than a wise king, even a sage king. But there’s something we must not forget.”

“He’s an absolute monarch and a dictator.”

“That’s right. If you think about the cases of Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon and other ministers in the past, it’s certain. As long as there are beings that could make the royal authority unstable, His Majesty will never abolish the slave system. The same goes for the system of guilt by association.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Lee Jik, with a bitter taste in his mouth, filled his cup with alcohol and drained it in one gulp. But the bitter taste still remained in his mouth.

* * *

At the same time, Hyang, sitting alone in the Crown Prince’s Palace organizing his thoughts, also had a bitter expression.

“Unless it’s a constitutional monarchy, the essence is an absolute monarchy…”

Those who masterminded and carried out the Giyu Rebellion were all killed.

Those who are now working in mines as government slaves are their children or relatives who were punished by association.

In a way, they could be victims of the inhumane system of guilt by association, but in the context of this era, they were potential traitors who directly inherited the ideology of the rebellion leaders.

As long as there are those who plotted national rebellion and those who directly inherited that thinking, the abolition of slavery would never be implemented.

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Entry on Nighttime Curfew.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0035247

Chapter 359
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (1)

As the situation settled, the court moved swiftly. Following the agreed-upon results, they reassigned personnel and checked the situation. Amidst this busy activity, a secret envoy carrying King Sejong’s handwritten letter crossed the sea.

Morimi, upon receiving King Sejong’s handwritten letter, checked its contents and spoke.

“This doesn’t seem to be something we can decide right away. Please wait a moment.”

“Certainly.”

After asking the envoy to wait, Morimi put his heads together with his retainers.

“You’ve all heard the contents, so there’s no need to repeat them. What do you think we should do?”

“Including the planned education period, they’ll be staying in Joseon for nearly ten years. They might even end up naturalizing in Joseon.”

“Joseon’s governance is completely different from ours. What use would it be to learn their ways of ruling?”

Initially, those opposing the idea were in the majority. However, as they noticed Morimi’s unfavorable expression, opinions started to shift towards accepting Joseon’s proposal.

Mochiyo, recognized as the next lord, was the first to speak up.

“We should accept it. Our domain is growing more powerful by the day. The old ways will surely reach their limits. Therefore, we must learn the governance of Joseon, which is becoming stronger day by day. We must learn Joseon’s ways of ruling to overcome the limitations of our domain.”

* * *

While managing the Iwami silver mine together with Joseon, Mochiyo was gradually becoming addicted to Joseon.

To be precise, he was captivated by Joseon’s policies. And it all started with a labor dispute at the silver mine.

While Mochiyo was considering forceful suppression as his subordinates suggested, Ahn Sang-taek proposed Joseon’s method, which Mochiyo accepted.

The results were good, so Mochiyo began to gather information about various policies implemented by Joseon.

As he researched the information he gathered, Mochiyo became addicted to Joseon.

“This is what governance should be! Our domain must change like this too! No, not just our domain, but the entire world should change to be like Joseon!”

To clarify, when the Japanese spoke of “the world,” they meant the entirety of Japan, not the whole world.

Because of this, when Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang sent an envoy regarding the wokou (Japanese pirate) problem, the relationship between Ming and Japan soured due to a single phrase in the reply sent by Ashikaga Takauji, the shogun at the time.

“The world does not belong to any one individual.”

In Takauji’s case, he meant “The Japanese realm doesn’t belong to me alone,” but from Zhu Yuanzhang’s perspective, it was understood as “The entire world doesn’t belong to the Ming Emperor alone.” (Note 1)

* * *

After Mochiyo expressed his agreement, other retainers who concurred with his opinion began to raise their voices.

“That’s right! When our Ouchi clan takes control of the realm, we must govern with a broader perspective. For this, we need people who know well how to rule like great and advanced nations. This is a great opportunity!”

“The bakufu and other lords are still like frogs in a well. To surpass them, we must first surpass them in governance!”

“Exactly!”

“Those despicable Sō clan are still waiting for opportunities in Tsushima. We must learn everything we can from Joseon and gain control of the realm to completely subjugate the Sō clan. Governance is just the beginning!”

The situation had completely turned in favor of acceptance. Seeing the retainers’ reactions, Morimi smiled broadly and made his decision.

“Good! We accept Joseon’s proposal! Let’s learn everything we can and take this realm into our Ouchi clan’s hands!”

“Ha!”

At Morimi’s declaration, the retainers prostrated themselves and responded loudly.

* * *

Morimi put all his efforts into realizing his dream of overthrowing the Muromachi bakufu ruled by the Ashikaga clan and taking control of the realm.

Using the tally trade with the Ming, he sent people to Ming, and also sent envoys to Joseon to establish friendly relations and adopt their culture.

In this process, Morimi, like Mochiyo, gradually became addicted to Joseon.

The splendor of the great empire described by those who returned from Ming was admirable, but the dazzling development of Joseon reported by those who visited there was close to miraculous.

Whether official or unofficial, the Joseon envoys who came to Ouchi were all highly learned and full of wisdom. Every time these envoys came and went, Morimi sighed at the backwardness of the domain he ruled.

Especially when he heard about the iron horse, Morimi was shocked as if struck by lightning.

‘A cart that moves without cattle or horses! This is it! Joseon is the future I dream of! Our Japan is neither a great nation like Ming, nor do we have much! The only path we should follow is the path Joseon is taking!’

‘I will grasp the realm (of Japan) in my hands!’

The long-standing aspiration of the family was now transforming from political ambition to religious conviction.

“It is the supreme heavenly mandate given to me and our family to transform this backward realm into an advanced nation like Joseon!”

“We must change everything from what we wear, eat, and use! Abandoning our Japanese ways and following Joseon’s path is the only way for our family and the realm!”

This marked the beginning of what historians would later call “De-Japanization Theory” or “Abandoning Japan for Joseon.”

* * *

Whatever the background, the envoy who obtained Morimi’s acceptance immediately returned and reported to King Sejong.

“Is that so? Ouchi Morimi accepted?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He only asked that we teach them well, as they are valuable talents who will manage their domain.”

King Sejong smiled at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer and replied.

“As it’s a request from those who are friendly with us, do your best. And remember that we can’t keep such important talents indefinitely.”

“I will engrave it on my bones and heart!”

Soon after King Sejong’s order, the Japanese students studying in Hanseong suspended their classes to hear an announcement from the court.

“…so, once you complete the course, you’ll be immediately assigned to duties to learn practical skills.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“I should add that the intensity of your classes will increase a bit from now on.”

At the words of the Chief Education Officer, the color drained from the students’ faces.

“Pardon?”

“Your lord requested to His Majesty, ‘They are valuable talents who will manage the domain, so please teach them well.’ How could we be negligent?”

“Hai…”

“So, brace yourselves and follow along well.”

“Hai…”

The students responded with half-dazed faces to the Chief Education Officer’s words.

The classes had been tough so far, but now they were being told that future classes would be even tougher.

Later, when the students who completed the course and were assigned to practical duties, they all screamed.

“The classes were easier in comparison!”

And when those who returned to Ouchi and took charge of practical duties, they badgered their subordinates.

“What! You call this work? When I worked in Hanseong…”

* * *

While things ended well with Ouchi, the internal affairs of Joseon were once again in an uproar.

It was because of the court’s proclamation announcing ‘partial revision of the civil service examination system.’

“Opening the doors to women? What nonsense is this!”

“It’s the end of times! The end of times!”

Local nobles men, indignant at the news that women would also be given the right to take the civil service exam, took action.

“Write a petition! A petition!”

“No! We must go to Hanseong! Meoksoe! Bring the axe! I’m going to submit a petition with an axe!”

“I’ll go with you!”

And so, once again, petitions flooded into Gyeongbok Palace. The royal secretaries and lower-ranking officials of the Privy Council who received the petitions sighed deeply at the mountain of petitions piled up.

“Huu~ We expected this, but…”

However, it was their job to pre-screen and categorize the petitions, so the royal secretaries and lower-ranking officials began to open the envelopes and read the contents.

The royal secretaries and lower-ranking officials reviewing the petitions showed unusual behavior: they inserted yellow papers into most of the opened petitions and set them aside.

“We should contact the Typography Bureau and ask them to print more of these.”

“Right? How many copies do you think would be appropriate?”

“Let’s start with about 100 sheets.”

“That sounds about right. You go and deliver the message, then take a short break.”

“Yes.”

King Sejong and his ministers, anticipating this flood of petitions, had prepared and printed appropriate responses in advance.

* * *

“Please reconsider!”

“Your Majesty~. Please reconsider!”

“Hm?”

Hyang, who was returning to the Crown Prince’s palace after working in Area 51, stopped his horse at the sound of shouting in front of Gwanghwamun Gate.

“What’s going on? Asking for reconsideration?”

“I’ll go check and report back, Your Highness.”

In response to Hyang’s question, an accompanying eunuch ran forward to assess the situation.

Shortly after, the returned eunuch reported the situation to Hyang.

“They say it’s a petition with axes, Your Highness.”

“A petition with axes? For what reason? Don’t tell me it’s because of the recent civil service exam system revision?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Oh my… tsk!”

Hyang clicked his tongue briefly and rode his horse towards the shouting crowd.

“Your Highness! It’s dangerous!”

“Your Highness!”

The Royal Guard guards in charge of protection were startled. A petition with axes meant that the protesters were demonstrating with dangerous blades placed beside them. As the Royal Guard tried to stop him, Hyang smiled and replied.

“I trust you all.”

At Hyang’s words, the Royal Guard wore expressions of resignation as they rode their horses to the front of Hyang.

“We’ll go ahead, Your Highness.”

* * *

As Hyang approached the vicinity of the protesters, he dismounted and walked. The Royal Guard, who had also dismounted, surrounded him in layers as Hyang drew near, and the protesters raised their voices.

“Your Highness! You are not only the Crown Prince but also a subject! It is the duty of a subject to speak frankly to the king and prevent foolish policies, so why have you neglected this duty!”

“That’s right! Why are you neglecting your duty?”

In response to the protesters’ outcry, Hyang muttered quietly.

“They have loud voices and big guts.”

“Pfft!”

“Kup!”

At Hyang’s words, the surrounding Royal Guard soldiers gritted their teeth to forcibly hold back their laughter.

“Captain Jang.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang pointed at the protesters with his finger and ordered.

“Start with the one sitting on the right, and bring them one by one with their axes and petitions.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A moment later, after reading the petition brought by the captain, Hyang examined the axe.

“Hmm…”

Making a nasal sound, Hyang took out a golden brush from his sleeve, scribbled something on the petition, and returned it to the captain.

“Return it, and tell them to read aloud what I’ve written.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Shortly after, the scholar who received the message through the captain unfolded the petition. The scholar’s arms trembled like aspen leaves as he confirmed what Hyang had written.

“What are you doing?”

At Hyang’s urging, the scholar gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.

“Axe blade equals penmanship!”

At the scholar’s shout, the surrounding people murmured.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know?”

Amidst the murmuring, a somewhat literate commoner clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk tsk… He got insulted outright.”

“What did the Crown Prince say to make you say that?”

“He said the axe blade and the writing skill are the same.”

“Huh?”

The commoner who heard the explanation looked at the axe held by the scholar in question and burst into laughter.

“Puhah!”

The scholar’s axe was covered in bright red rust.

Similar evaluations followed. One scholar who received the evaluation that “the axe blade is sharper than his writing skills” burst into tears on the spot.

Looking at these scholars, Hyang raised his voice.

“If you can’t stand the sight of women wearing official robes, then you take the civil service exam and pass it yourselves! How dare you have so much to say when you can’t even pass the exam!”

* * *

Note 1) Joseon Dynasty Military Strategy. P.61. Ministry of National Defense Military History Compilation Research Institute.

Chapter 360
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (2)

The nobles, having been thoroughly scolded by Hyang, had to retreat with dejected faces, gathering their mats and axes. Watching their departure, Hyang turned away.

“Tsk! And yet…”

The nobles gritted their teeth at Hyang’s blatant rebuke.

The faces of the commoners watching these nobles were full of mockery.

“I bet they strut around in their hometowns, puffing up their chests and saying they’re nobles.”

“Just their chests? I bet they puff up their lower halves too whenever they see female servants!”

“Puhahaha!”

“You insolent bastards!”

At the mockery of the watching commoners, one of the axe-wielding nobles shouted angrily and approached.

“Eek!”

A few of the mockers screamed and stepped back as the nobles approached with a fierce expression, looking ready to swing his axe at any moment.

However, others stepped forward, rolling up their sleeves.

“What? Did His Highness the Crown Prince say anything wrong? Or is it because your stinking parts have been exposed? Go ahead, try swinging that axe! But be prepared to have something broken or lose your life.”

“You lowly creatures!”

As the scholar’s face turned bright red and he raised his axe high, the men who had been arguing also clenched their fists and lowered their stance.

At this critical moment, a young nobles who had been watching nearby intervened.

“Stop! What shameful behavior is this! How can someone who calls himself a nobles resort to violence! Aren’t you ashamed!”

“Step aside! Are you saying we should tolerate such lowly creatures insulting the nobles?”

“If they are wrong, we should convince them of their error through reason! Why resort to violence?”

“A beating is the only medicine for those who insult nobles!”

As the axe-wielding nobles shouted furiously, Hyang’s voice was heard from behind.

“Then, I insulted you too. Will you raise your axe against me as well?”

“Gasp!”

At these words, the face of the nobles who had been radiating murderous intent turned pale white.

‘I forgot! No, hasn’t he entered the palace?’

The pale-faced nobles forcibly turned his trembling body around.

There stood Hyang, arms crossed, glaring at him. And the other nobles who had been participating in the petition with axes were prostrated on the ground, watching the situation nervously.

Finally, the scholar in question threw his axe aside and prostrated himself, begging for forgiveness.

“I have committed a crime punishable by death! Please, just spare my life!”

“Why? Why don’t you come at me with your axe?”

“I lost control of my anger and showed unseemly behavior! Please forgive me!”

But Hyang’s rebuke did not stop.

“A true gentleman becomes more composed the more he studies and cultivates himself. Yet you couldn’t control your anger over a few taunts and tried to resort to violence. How can you call yourself a gentleman!”

“I’m deeply sorry! Please forgive me!”

Seeing the scholar’s state, Hyang turned his head and ordered the Royal Guard captain.

“Take this man to the State Tribunal and report him. The charge is attempting to harm people by recklessly wielding a deadly weapon in public view. And I was among his targets.”

“Your Highness! That’s absolutely not true! Your Highness! Please spare me!”

The scholar, turning pale at Hyang’s words, desperately raised his voice, but Hyang simply replied.

“The iron horse has already departed. Take him away.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

The scholar called out to Hyang as he was dragged away by the Royal Guard soldiers, but Hyang completely ignored him.

“Do you all want to visit the State Tribunal too?”

“N-no, Your Highness!”

The prostrated nobles hurriedly gathered their mats and axes and disappeared.

Watching the nobles vanish into the distance as if fleeing, Hyang moved towards the other protagonists of the incident.

As Hyang approached, the gathered commoners quickly prostrated themselves.

“You may stand.”

“Oh my, how could we lowly ones…”

Seeing the commoners prostrated on the ground as they answered, Hyang smirked and continued.

“You were quite bold earlier, weren’t you?”

“How can Your Highness be compared to nobles whose faces we don’t even know?”

Hyang burst into laughter at the honest answer.

“Hahaha! That’s the right answer! It’s alright! I permit you, so stand up!”

At Hyang’s permission, the prostrated commoners slowly rose from the ground.

Looking over the faces of the standing commoners, Hyang addressed the men who had been arguing with the scholar earlier.

“Are your bodies made of iron? What were you thinking, provoking a man holding an axe?”

The men sheepishly smiled and answered Hyang’s words.

“It was clear at a glance that he had never wielded an axe before, so what was there to fear?”

“His arms were trembling as he held the axe, he probably couldn’t have swung it properly!”

Hyang chuckled at the commoners’ answers but didn’t forget to admonish them.

“Still, life is precious, so in such situations, call for the constables.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Now, return to your business.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Having finished his conversation with the commoners, Hyang turned his gaze to the scholar who had tried to mediate earlier.

Was he about Hyang’s age? The scholar looked to be in his mid to late teens, tall with a sturdy build. (Note 1) However, he didn’t seem to be from a well-off family, as his durumagi (outerwear) showed signs of patching in many places.

Hyang stared at him for a moment before asking a question.

“Were you not afraid?”

“I was afraid, Your Highness, but how could I stand by and watch a so-called nobles intimidate people with violence? As one who studies the way of the sages, I could not let this pass.”

“That’s a noble spirit. So, what’s your name?”

“This lowly one is called Han Myeong-hoe, Your Highness.”

The moment he heard the name, Hyang’s body froze for an instant.

‘Here!’

He had just met the man known as “Joseon’s greatest traitor” and “a legendary opportunist” among various other evaluations.

‘This is an opportunity! I can prevent him from getting involved with Jinpyeong altogether!’

Though Hyang made an instant judgment, he proceeded with additional verification.

“What is your father’s name?”

“My late father used the character ‘Gi’ and served as an inspector in the Office of the Inspector-General, Your Highness.”

“Is that so? How old are you?”

“I will turn seventeen in October, Your Highness.”

‘Let’s see… According to the records I’ve glimpsed, Han Myeong-hoe lost his parents early, right? Given that he referred to his “late father,” it seems to match. Anyway… ’

As he analyzed the person and the situation, Hyang looked at Han Myeong-hoe with a slight smile.

“It was truly a good opportunity, wasn’t it?”

Momentarily confused by Hyang’s words, Han Myeong-hoe immediately bowed his head as he grasped the meaning.

As he bowed his head, Han Myeong-hoe felt cold sweat running down his back.

‘As expected of the Crown Prince, the rumors were true!’

The impulsive action he had just taken was part of Han Myeong-hoe’s calculation.

* * *

Han Myeong-hoe was born as the grandson of Han Sang-jil, a founding contributor who had served as the Chief Scholar of the Hall of Worthies. His family’s downfall came with the deaths of his parents, Han Gi and Lady Yi of Yeoju.

As the saying goes, “When a dog from a minister’s house dies, mourners flock, but when the minister dies, no one comes,” the family’s fortunes took a sharp downturn with the premature death of his father, Han Gi. Of course, they weren’t desperately poor, but they had been pushed to the outskirts of power since King Taejong’s era, and Han Gi’s untimely death inevitably led to the decline of their family fortunes.

Fortunately, with the help of his great-uncles, Han Myeong-hoe was able to study Chinese classics and pursue his education under Ryu Tae-jae in Gangwon Province.

While studying under Ryu Tae-jae, Han Myeong-hoe formed friendships with Gwon Ram and Seo Geo-jeong, and had recently returned to Hanseong.

“I must revive our fallen family!”

With this firm resolve, he prepared for the civil service examination, but the situation was not easy.

Hoping against hope, he wrote petitions whenever various issues arose, but because his answers were not what the court, changed by the great reforms, wanted, he had to face rejection each time.

Still, Han Myeong-hoe didn’t give up. He made efforts to understand what the current court wanted by networking extensively, and pondered how to apply this to what he had learned.

In the midst of this process, the “partial revision of the civil service examination system” was announced, causing an uproar.

“Should I support or oppose…”

As Han Myeong-hoe was contemplating not based on his own standards but on how to stand out, he immediately rose from his seat when he heard about the petition with axes.

“This is an opportunity!”

Those currently submitting petitions with axes were clearly fools who didn’t understand the current trends.

Such fools would certainly cause an incident. And if he used that incident well, he could get a chance to reveal himself.

Certain of the opportunity, Han Myeong-hoe ran to the front of Gyeongbok Palace to observe the situation. As he waited, Hyang arrived and rebuked the nobles who were submitting petitions with axes.

‘Will something happen? Or will it end like this? It can’t end like this… ’

As if his earnest wish was granted, one nobles, angered by the mocking commoners, raised his axe to intimidate them.

‘This is the chance! If I miss this, I’ll regret it for a thousand years!’

Though scared of the axe, Han Myeong-hoe jumped in front of the commoners to create a confrontation.

Thanks to this, he thought he had caught the Crown Prince’s eye, but the Crown Prince had already seen through Han Myeong-hoe’s intentions.

As he bowed his head, Han Myeong-hoe remembered what his father had told him when he was young.

‘His Majesty is extraordinary, but the Crown Prince is even more so. If you ever enter officialdom, you must think two or three times before acting.’

* * *

As Han Myeong-hoe was feeling dejected, thinking he had failed at a golden opportunity, Hyang’s voice reached his ears.

“Yes. Sometimes silence is a good answer too. And… the ability to seize a good opportunity is also a valuable skill. You, come to this place tomorrow morning before Gwanghwamun opens. Ah! Make sure to bring your household register as well.”

At Hyang’s words, Han Myeong-hoe unconsciously raised his head to look at Hyang. Still smiling, Hyang continued.

“Whether your ability is limited to seizing opportunities or if you’re truly capable will be proven in practical work. Do you understand what this means?”

To Hyang’s question, Han Myeong-hoe immediately prostrated himself and answered.

“I will do my utmost best!”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Han Myeong-hoe remained prostrated until Hyang disappeared inside Gwanghwamun.

After Hyang’s figure vanished and Gwanghwamun closed, Han Myeong-hoe rose from his position. The commoners who had been watching the scene applauded and congratulated him.

“Congratulations, sir!”

“Congratulations!”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Bowing his head in response to the congratulations, Han Myeong-hoe quickly left the place.

After turning into an alley and escaping from people’s sight, Han Myeong-hoe clenched his fist.

“I did it! This is the beginning!”

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had entered Geunjeongjeon to report his return, paused at an unexpected situation.

“Huh?”

Starting with King Sejong, all the ministers were looking at Hyang with sparkling eyes.

“This son reports his return.”

“Yes, good work.”

King Sejong, after a brief response, immediately got to the point.

“I hear you caused another incident on your way back?”

“Yes, there were those who didn’t properly understand the will of Father and the court, insisting only on their narrow views, so I gave them a piece of my mind.”

“Well done. But that wasn’t the end of it, was it?”

‘At any rate, the news network in Gyeongbok Palace is as fast as 5G… ’

With a wry smile, Hyang continued immediately.

“Yes, among them, one foolish individual tried to intimidate the people with violence, so I sent him to the State Tribunal. And in the process, I came to know a quite promising individual.”

“Oh? What kind of person?”

“He said his name was Han Myeong-hoe, the son of Han Gi who served as an inspector in the Office of the Inspector-General.”

At Hyang’s introduction, the ministers soon began to search their memories.

“Ah!”

Having recalled information about Han Gi, the ministers immediately reported to King Sejong.

After listening to the ministers’ words, King Sejong stroked his beard and nodded.

“I’ve heard of him too. I remember thinking it was a pity that such a capable person died prematurely. So, how did Han Gi’s son seem to you?”

“I couldn’t fully gauge his character, but his ability to respond to unexpected situations seemed top-notch. He appeared to be someone who could avoid the worst outcomes, if not achieve the best, in any sudden situation.”

“Is that so?”

As Hyang continued speaking, King Sejong and the ministers’ eyes grew increasingly brighter.

* * *

Note 1) https://www.mk.co.kr/news/culture/view/2015/10/959590/

Chapter 361
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (3)

The next morning, Han Myeong-hoe stood at the entrance of Gwanghwamun with a tense expression.

Fidgeting with the sleeve of his dobo containing his household register, Han Myeong-hoe swallowed hard.

“This is the chance of a lifetime. I must leave a good impression.”

Giving himself this pep talk, Han Myeong-hoe waited for Gwanghwamun to open.

Shortly after, Gwanghwamun opened and the gate guards changed shifts. As the gate opened wide, Han Myeong-hoe stepped towards it.

“Halt! What’s your business?”

Han Myeong-hoe stopped at the guards’ shout and stated his purpose.

“I am Han Myeong-hoe, here by order of His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ah! Wait there for a moment!”

At Han Myeong-hoe’s words, a guard who seemed to recognize the situation quickly went inside.

Soon after, the head guard came out and approached Han Myeong-hoe.

“Are you that scholar?”

“I am.”

“Please show me your identification tag.”

At the head guard’s request, Han Myeong-hoe searched his clothes and produced his identification tag. The head guard examined it front and back before returning it.

“I’ll send word in. Please wait a moment.”

“Understood.”

The head guard disappeared back inside, and Han Myeong-hoe stepped back to wait for a response.

Shortly after, a eunuch scurried out and approached the gate guards, asking something. The guard pointed at Han Myeong-hoe in response. Seeing Han Myeong-hoe, the eunuch approached and said,

“Please follow me.”

“Understood.”

* * *

After leading Han Myeong-hoe through Gwanghwamun and Geunjeongmun, the eunuch positioned him in front of Geunjeongjeon and said,

“Please wait here for a moment.”

“Understood.”

Leaving Han Myeong-hoe at the bottom of the stairs leading up to Geunjeongjeon, the eunuch scurried away and disappeared behind the hall.

As the eunuch vanished, Han Myeong-hoe hurriedly adjusted his attire and waited to be called.

However, Han Myeong-hoe had to wait for quite a while longer.

“Have they forgotten about me?”

Though growing impatient at the long wait, Han Myeong-hoe recalled the character for patience and continued to wait.

Just then, ministers walked through Geunjeongmun towards Geunjeongjeon. The ministers, trailed by officials carrying stacks of reports, stopped in their tracks when they saw Han Myeong-hoe.

As the ministers approached, Han Myeong-hoe bowed politely according to etiquette. Seeing this, the ministers began to ask questions.

“Are you Han Gi’s son?”

“Eh? Yes.”

“Raise your head for a moment.”

As Han Myeong-hoe straightened up, the ministers each made a comment.

“He’s the spitting image of his friend.”

“He has a sturdy build. He must be strong.”

“He’s been standing for quite a while without showing signs of fatigue. His stamina must be good.”

“Indeed. After all, isn’t endurance the most important thing?”

Except for the first comment, Han Myeong-hoe was bewildered by the stream of seemingly irrelevant remarks.

‘What’s going on here? It’s like they’re inspecting a cow at a cattle market.’

“Ah! We’ll be late for the court session at this rate! Let’s hurry!”

“Indeed! We’ll see you later, young man!”

The ministers, having thoroughly confused Han Myeong-hoe, rushed into Geunjeongjeon with their officials in tow.

Left alone again, Han Myeong-hoe couldn’t hide his perplexed expression.

“What kind of goblin play is this… Oh! I must pull myself together!”

As Han Myeong-hoe was trying to gather his scattered wits, a eunuch emerged from Geunjeongjeon and approached him.

“His Majesty summons you.”

“Understood.”

* * *

Entering Geunjeongjeon, Han Myeong-hoe prostrated himself and made a deep bow to King Sejong.

“Eunuch, bring a chair.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Han Myeong-hoe sat in the chair brought by the eunuch, King Sejong began to question him.

“Well… Let’s start with praise. Your action yesterday in stepping forward to protect the people is praiseworthy. You did the right thing.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. It was merely what any scholar should do.”

“You seem to have learned from a good teacher. So, under whose tutelage did you study?”

“I studied under Master Taejae, Your Majesty.”

At Han Myeong-hoe’s answer, King Sejong’s eyes sparkled.

“Taejae? Is he well?”

“I occasionally sent letters inquiring after his well-being, and he seemed to be doing well.”

“Is that so?”

King Sejong’s eyes sparkled.

* * *

Taejae Ryu Bang-seon had lived a tumultuous life. After passing the civil service examination and studying at Sungkyunkwan, he was implicated in Min Mu-gu’s case due to his father’s involvement and was exiled. Released from exile in 1415, he taught students in Wonju, but was exiled again to Yeongcheon due to false accusations. He was only released in the 9th year of King Sejong’s reign.

He was highly regarded for not neglecting his studies and conduct even during exile, and was recommended for an official position immediately upon his release. However, having experienced the filth of politics firsthand before even properly taking office, Ryu Bang-seon declined the position, citing illness.

But now, through Han Myeong-hoe’s words, it was confirmed that he was perfectly fine.

* * *

“Hmm… That aside, I have a question for you. Listen to the situations I present and share your thoughts.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

From then on, King Sejong presented various scenarios and asked for Han Myeong-hoe’s opinions. If there was even a slight gap in his answers, King Sejong ruthlessly probed that point.

It wasn’t just King Sejong. The ministers also took turns questioning Han Myeong-hoe and pressing him for answers.

After this intense round of pressure interviews, Han Myeong-hoe was completely exhausted.

Looking at Han Myeong-hoe’s half-dazed face, King Sejong smiled and made his conclusion.

“Taejae has taught him well. Hmm… His ability to grasp the context of situations and his quick-wittedness are quite good. For now, let him work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty!”

At King Sejong’s decision, Lee Maeng-gyun smiled broadly and bowed his head. As other ministers were about to speak up, King Sejong spoke first.

“‘For now,’ I said. For now…”

At King Sejong’s additional explanation, the ministers closed their mouths. Seeing this, King Sejong muttered to himself without realizing it.

“This insatiable appetite for talent…”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers quietly raised their heads to look at him. Though they didn’t speak, they were all inwardly shouting the same thing:

‘Look who’s talking! Who’s the one with the real appetite here!’

Whether aware of the ministers’ feelings or not, King Sejong proceeded with business.

“You will start learning practical skills at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from today. We will evaluate your abilities after one month and grant you an appropriate rank, so do your best.”

Hurriedly coming to his senses at King Sejong’s words, Han Myeong-hoe prostrated himself and exclaimed,

“I will do my utmost best, Your Majesty!”

“I look forward to it. You may go.”

At King Sejong’s words, Han Myeong-hoe bowed again and began to back away. As he was retreating, King Sejong called out to him.

“Wait. I forgot something.”

At King Sejong’s words, Han Myeong-hoe came forward again.

“Do you have any friends who studied with you under Taejae?”

Han Myeong-hoe immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“Yes, there are a few, Your Majesty.”

“Oh? Who are they?”

“There’s Gwon Ram, the grandson of Master Yangchon (Gwon Geun), and though still young, a friend named Seo Geo-jeong who has exceptional literary talent.”

“Is that so? Submit their personal information in writing. Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“Yes, Your Majesty! I will make sure to receive and submit it!”

“Very well. You may go now.”

“Eh? Yes, Your Majesty.”

Later, when Hyang heard the story through the eunuchs, he smacked his lips.

“It’s not some multi-level marketing scheme… Anyway, splitting them up like this should put my mind at ease.”

* * *

Thus, the “Han Myeong-hoe multilevel recruitment” that unfolded disrupted the lives of several people.

First, officials carrying documents with King Sejong’s royal command rushed to Yeongcheon. The officials who found Ryu Bang-seon’s house shouted loudly.

“Royal command!”

Next were Gwon Ram and Seo Geo-jeong.

“This child called Seo Geo-jeong might be a problem.”

“What’s the problem?”

“He’s only twelve years old. He hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet.”

At Heo Jo’s words, the ministers’ faces became troubled. However, Kim Jeom resolved their dilemma in one stroke.

“What’s the problem? We already have a child named Kim Dam in the research institute.”

“He’s younger than Kim Dam, so it’s not an issue.”

“Let’s use Kim Dam as a precedent and move past this point. Can’t we just bring him in and raise him like they do at the research institute? Isn’t it better that he’s not fully mature yet?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers unconsciously nodded their heads.

* * *

Despite abolishing the ban on government service for children of concubines and people from the northwestern provinces, and automatically placing those who passed the lower civil service exam into local and central administrative organizations, there was still a shortage of talent.

The reasons for the talent shortage in Joseon’s government were complex.

First, it occurred during the process of changing the low-level officials in central and local administrative organizations from unpaid volunteer positions to paid full-time positions. One cause was the vacancy created by weeding out incompetent or corrupt individuals after investigating their past work.

Secondly, although the door to the lower civil service exam had been widened, passing through it was not easy. Despite the expansion, the pass rate did not exceed 25% of applicants.

Third, with the flourishing of commerce and industry, more nobles and commoners began to dedicate their lives to these fields rather than seeking official positions.

Lastly, even among those who entered through the lower civil service exam, not all were talented. There were many with academic knowledge but little practical ability. As a result, senior officials in local and central governments had to go through great trouble to identify the truly capable individuals.

This was also why the ministers agreed to establish the Samin Hakdang and Junghak Dang. However, since these institutions had not yet produced results, Joseon was still facing a talent shortage.

* * *

In any case, caught up in this multi-level recruitment, Gwon Ram and Seo Geo-jeong were brought to the court and received practical training.

After performing well in the evaluation following their training, they were immediately dragged to the Ministry of General Affairs and the Ministry of Education to take on practical duties.

The officials who were initially pleased to have bright talents join them soon had to put on long faces.

“Why is the workload increasing!”

As work progressed faster, all the tasks that had been put off came flooding back.

And one day, as they were living under the flood of work that had poured in, Gwon Ram turned at the sound of someone calling him.

“Who is it? Isn’t it Sohan-dang?”

Turning around, Gwon Ram brightened at the sight of the voice’s owner.

“Who do we have here, isn’t it Jajun!”

Seeing Han Myeong-hoe, Gwon Ram’s face lit up and he started running towards him.

The two hadn’t met even once since being suddenly recruited into the government. This was due to the practical training followed by evaluations, and then the tremendous amount of overtime work that followed. Of course, they could have met on holidays, but when holidays came, they were in a situation where they did their best to rest.

Seeing Gwon Ram running towards him with a bright face, Han Myeong-hoe smiled and opened his arms wide. Gwon Ram, who had sprinted at full speed to reach Han Myeong-hoe, immediately executed a flying side kick.

Crash!

“Ouch!”

As Han Myeong-hoe, suddenly kicked in the chest, fell to the ground, Gwon Ram sat on top of him and shouted,

“Good to see you, you damn bastard!”

* * *

While the daily life of the court was passing uneventfully like this, Hyang received a summons from King Sejong.

Late at night, Hyang entered Gangyeongjeon and was guided by a eunuch into King Sejong’s room.

“You called for me, Father?”

“Yes. Sit down over there.”

“Yes, Father.”

As Hyang sat down, King Sejong got to the point.

“Crown Prince, I will give you a choice.”

Chapter 362
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (4)

At the words “I will give you a choice,” Hyang’s mind raced furiously.

‘A choice? Of what?’

Quickly reviewing the various events that had transpired, unexpected incidents that had occurred, and conversations he had shared with King Sejong, Hyang immediately realized.

‘It’s you! Hunminjeongeum!’

“This son chooses to create the writing system, Father.”

“Huh?”

King Sejong, who was about to continue speaking with a very serious expression, momentarily gaped at Hyang’s immediate response.

After a moment, King Sejong regained his composure and asked Hyang.

“How did you know I was going to talk about creating a writing system?”

“There haven’t been many important matters recently, and the few significant issues all require a long time. Additionally, I made a promise to you before, Father, so I thought there could only be one answer.”

At Hyang’s reply, King Sejong turned his head and muttered softly.

“He’s sickeningly clever, as always.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing, nothing at all. Hmm… Well, since you’ve guessed this much, I’ll be frank. Wouldn’t it be better to serve as regent instead?”

“Absolutely not!”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang expressed his refusal with his whole body. Seeing Hyang’s reaction, King Sejong began to worry instead.

“Do you dislike it that much? You’ll have to take over when I die anyway, won’t you?”

“Father, you are still in your prime. How could I serve as regent? People will surely misinterpret it.”

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words.

“That’s true, but… Wouldn’t being regent be easier than creating a writing system?”

“This son has always enjoyed pondering since childhood. Also, I’ve keenly felt the need for our own writing system for Joseon since I was young.”

At Hyang’s lengthy answer, King Sejong briefly pointed out the core issue.

“So, you don’t want to be regent, but you’ll only create the writing system?”

“Yes!”

“This consistently stubborn fellow… Tsk!”

Clicking his tongue, King Sejong rose from his seat.

“Wait here for a moment.”

“Eh? Yes.”

As King Sejong swiftly disappeared, Hyang, left alone in the room, let out a long sigh.

“Phew~. That was close.”

* * *

Having experienced depression in the 21st century, Hyang found government affairs burdensome.

‘Announcing political views or various policies is one thing since it ends with the announcement, but practical work is really not for me!’

Although Hyang was making excuses to himself, there was a fact he was overlooking.

The amount of administrative work that needed to be processed in Area 51 and the research institute was not insignificant. Of course, Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, and Lee Chun shared much of the workload, but Hyang was still handling more than half of it.

In the end, it was a matter of aptitude related to his interests.

* * *

A moment later, King Sejong returned carrying two large bundles in his hands.

“Hup!”

With a small grunt, King Sejong placed the two bundles on the desk and sat down. Hyang asked,

“What’s in these bundles, Father?”

“Open them and see.”

“Yes…”

As Hyang opened the bundles at King Sejong’s command, his eyes widened.

Inside were an enormous number of books, easily exceeding 40 volumes.

“This is…”

Hyang opened the book on top and looked at King Sejong with surprised eyes.

“Have you already finished creating the writing system?”

“To some extent, yes.”

“Then is there nothing left for me to do?”

“You have much to do. First…”

King Sejong tapped the books with his hand as he continued speaking.

“I’ve created the letters and written down their principles, but there might be errors in my thinking. Also, there’s a high possibility of conflicts between the explanations at the beginning and end. So you need to cross-verify those parts.”

“…Yes.”

As King Sejong’s explanation continued, Hyang’s face gradually turned pale.

“…And when that organization is complete, you must also arrange the examples related to pronunciation. And when that’s done, you need to create vernacular explanations based on those examples. Do you know why?”

“It’s to understand more quickly by comparing the example book and the vernacular explanation book.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong nodded with a smile.

“Hahaha! Correct! As expected of the Crown Prince!”

“I’m worried whether I can do it properly.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong pulled out a few sheets of paper from his sleeve and handed them to Hyang.

“This is… Oh!”

Hyang, who had thoughtlessly taken the papers, checked them and looked at King Sejong with surprised eyes.

The papers King Sejong handed over were the ones on which Hyang had written Hangul. They were clearly some of the papers he had scribbled on, crossed out lines, and even inked over. As Hyang stared open-mouthed at the papers still bearing stains here and there, King Sejong spoke.

“Was it concrete? Ever since I heard from the court historian that you had scribbled something and erased it, I had some suspicions. So I investigated just in case, and it confirmed my thoughts. You must already have some ideas, so the work shouldn’t be too difficult.”

In the end, Hyang had to wave the white flag.

“I will do my best, Father.”

“I’d like to see results as soon as possible.”

At King Sejong’s request, Hyang made one last attempt at resistance.

“May I bring in Anpyeong and Jinpyeong to help?”

“Those children have their own tasks. Once you’ve properly completed this, we’ll test how easy it is to learn through those children and others. And if we get satisfactory results from that, Anpyeong will organize vernacular songs, and Jinpyeong…”

Suddenly stopping mid-sentence, King Sejong let out a long sigh.

“Ah~. Jinpyeong is a problem. That boy is obsessed only with the iron horse…”

At King Sejong’s complaint, an idea flashed in Hyang’s mind.

“Then how about having him write the research records related to that iron horse using this writing system? If this writing system is properly completed, all the records from the research institute and Area 51 should be rewritten as well. This would be a test to see if the writing system can fulfill its role in such cases too.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

* * *

Having thus taken on the assignment from King Sejong, Hyang left Gangyeongjeon carrying the bundles in both hands.

“Your Highness, let me carry those.”

“It’s fine. By the way…”

Hyang glared at the eunuchs following him.

“Was it you all?”

At Hyang’s question loaded with meaning, the eunuchs bowed their heads.

“Please forgive us.”

Seeing this, Hyang let out a long sigh and muttered.

“Huu! What fault is there in you? It must have all been by royal command… I need to make a shredder first thing…”

Grumbling like this as he walked, Hyang suddenly stopped.

“Wait…”

Hyang’s expression, as he stood still looking at the bundles, was more serious than ever before.

‘What I wrote on those papers were all just random words, weren’t they? And I scribbled them haphazardly… Could this end up different from the Hangul I know?’

The Hangul Hyang had scribbled on the papers were written randomly, following the flow of consciousness. They weren’t written in neat rows and columns, but scrawled wherever there was empty space as thoughts came to mind. Of course, there were some characters transcribed from Chinese while writing reports and petitions, but mixed with those random scribbles, it would surely only add to the confusion.

‘If I’m not careful, this could… I made a mistake not checking properly earlier!’

Hyang began to break out in a cold sweat.

For a simple example, he might have written ‘ㄱ’ but pronounced it as ‘ㄴ’ or ‘ㄷ’.

If Hyang’s worries turned out to be true, it meant he would have to either revise everything or learn it all anew himself.

‘No, it would be better to learn it anew than to revise everything.’

“Phew~.”

Having made his decision, Hyang sighed and continued walking.

“Why are these bundles so heavy!”

“Your Highness, let us…”

“It’s fine!”

Hyang’s voice was sharp with irritation that rose unconsciously, and the eunuchs had to remain on edge.

* * *

Upon returning to the Crown Prince’s palace, Hyang immediately opened the bundles and began checking the contents. It was urgent to confirm whether it was the worst-case scenario or not.

After checking about half of the books in the bundles, Hyang let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew~. Fortunately, nothing’s off…”

Having confirmed that the principles, consonant and vowel forms, and pronunciations were not different from what he had learned in the 21st century, Hyang soon became curious about something else.

“But why is there so much content?”

The half he had already checked contained most of the related information he knew.

As he looked through the contents of the remaining books out of curiosity, Hyang’s expression turned bewildered.

“My goodness… You’ve even created pronunciation notations for Chinese, Latin, Greek, and Arabic? That means… if this part hadn’t been done, the results could have come out faster?”

After examining several times the sections that organized not only the books that had entered Joseon but also the languages used by foreigners, Hyang muttered with a dejected face.

“It’s not ‘The sounds of our country’s language differ from Chinese,’ but ‘The sounds of our country’s language differ from the four seas (the world)’…You want me to organize all this and create example and vernacular explanation books?”

Faced with an unexpectedly enormous difficulty and volume, Hyang wore a dejected expression but soon shook his head with a wry smile.

“Really… I may be a cheat key, but that man is beyond standards…”

* * *

The time when he had acted as a purchasing agent was when the research institute and Area 51 were being established. It had been nearly 10 years.

Even though King Sejong had spent nearly 10 years, self-studying Chinese and Western phonology books to create an independent writing system was a miracle that made the impossible possible.

Of course, there were the papers he had scribbled on.

But even if the papers he had scribbled Hangul on were helpful, it was certain they couldn’t have been of great help. This was because ‘reverse engineering’ is impossible to even attempt without a similar level of technology or knowledge in the person attempting it.

Rather, without exceptional analytical and judgment skills, Hyang’s papers would surely have become a trap.

Therefore, Hyang couldn’t help but recall his habitual evaluation of “beyond standards” once again.

* * *

“Anyway, since I’ve taken it on, I have to do it… Tsk!”

Smacking his lips, Hyang reopened the books and began reading through them again.

As he read through the books again, Hyang chuckled when he reached the part explaining how to give examples related to pronunciation.

“Heh!”

The part that made Hyang laugh was as follows:

For explaining the pronunciation of ‘ㄱ’, it used ‘군(君)’ [gun, meaning ‘monarch’], and for explaining ‘ㄲ’, it used ‘규(虯)’ [gyu, meaning ‘baby dragon’].

If all the relevant parts were connected in this way, it would become ‘군규쾌업(君虯快業)’ [gun-gyu-kwae-eop, meaning “The king and the baby dragon worked joyfully.”]

Since ‘baby dragon’ usually referred to the Crown Prince, it could be paraphrased as follows:

-The king and the Crown Prince worked joyfully.

(Note 1)

In other words, King Sejong was telling Hyang this:

‘I’ve gilded it for you, so work hard!’

“Yes~. Yes~. I’ll work hard.”

Continually chuckling and muttering to himself, Hyang spread out blank papers and began his work.

* * *

A month later, Hyang visited Gangyeongjeon carrying two large bundles.

“Please review these.”

King Sejong, who had been silently looking at the bundles Hyang handed over, turned to Hyang.

“Well, the volume seems to have increased?”

“Ah, as I was organizing, I found some conflicting parts in the usage examples section, so I separately organized those parts and added suggestions for resolution. Also, I organized words that are good for composition but are rarely pronounced in reality. Please judge whether to remove or keep them after reviewing.”

As he listened to Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong opened the bundles and picked up a book to examine its contents.

After examining the dense red annotations – impertinently written in the script King Sejong had created – in both the original manuscript written by King Sejong and the newly transcribed copy, King Sejong glared at Hyang.

‘Is this deliberate? It’s definitely deliberate, right?’

“As you said, Father, I worked joyfully, so the volume increased a bit.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong sighed.

“I understand. I’ll check and let you know the results.”

“Yes, Father.”

* * *

Note 1) https://namu.wiki/w/훈민정음

Chapter 363
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (5)

With each exchange between King Sejong and Hyang, the bundles grew larger and larger.

This wasn’t just because of the petty vengeance mixed into the work process.

The main reason for this gradual increase in volume was the problem of mindset and communication.

* * *

As Hyang became fully involved in the creation of Hangul, he introduced a large portion of 21st-century grammar and notation systems.

The use of the term “large portion” here was due to the unavoidable issues caused by the time gap between the 21st century and the mid-15th century.

In other words, it was a problem of mindset.

Another obstacle, the communication problem, was an unavoidable issue that arose from conducting everything through written correspondence rather than real-time conversation.

Even when looking at the same sentence, their understanding couldn’t be exactly the same, leading to continuous conflicts. As related points, rebuttals, and counter-rebuttals continued, the volume gradually increased.

* * *

“This won’t do! At this rate, we’ll need to move it by cart!”

In the end, Hyang had no choice but to appeal this issue directly to King Sejong.

Putting down the bundle that had grown as large as his own body, Hyang immediately got to the point with King Sejong.

“Father, at this rate, we absolutely cannot produce proper results quickly.”

King Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words.

“That’s true. By now, we should have finished organizing and started creating the example book…”

“The work keeps getting delayed because there’s a communication problem between you and me, Father. To be more specific, it’s because misunderstandings arise as we exchange written messages like this.”

“Misunderstandings…”

As King Sejong stroked his beard and pondered Hyang’s words, he nodded.

“That’s probably the most accurate description. Well, even with the writings of ancient sages, people often come up with different interpretations…”

Recalling incidents from the royal lectures that he hardly held anymore, King Sejong nodded and turned to Hyang.

“Your words are correct. But there’s a problem. Creating a writing system unique to our Joseon will be more than groundbreaking; it will be close to revolutionary. Even the ministers who are currently obedient might be likely to rise up. Therefore, we need to keep it secret until it’s fully completed. But won’t meeting every night at Gangyeongjeon or the Crown Prince’s palace draw the ministers’ attention?”

While eunuchs and court ladies were not supposed to disclose what happened inside the palace to outsiders, there were always those with ‘slightly’ loose lips everywhere. So far, they had entrusted the work to carefully selected individuals, but they couldn’t guarantee how long the secret would be kept.

As King Sejong’s point was valid, Hyang racked his brain to think of a suitable method.

After a moment of consideration, Hyang soon recalled a useful entity.

“Father, how about using the secret guards?”

“The secret guards?”

“Yes, order the secret guards to find a suitable secret location.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s suggestion, King Sejong stroked his beard and calculated the pros and cons. After weighing various possibilities, King Sejong soon made his decision.

“That seems good. I should tell them to find a suitable house within 2 gak (about 30 minutes) of Gyeongbok Palace.”

“Yes, if you and I can work without misunderstandings for even 2 shijin, no, 1 shijin (2 hours), the work will become much easier. Working outside might draw attention, but in exchange, we can greatly increase the speed and shorten the time.”

“I understand. I’ll summon the captain of the Royal Guards tomorrow and have him proceed with this.”

* * *

The captain of the Royal Guards, having received King Sejong’s order, immediately relayed the command to the secret guards.

“His Majesty commanded that a tiled house might draw attention, so find a suitable thatched house.”

At the captain’s words, the directors of the secret guards stared at him blankly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Do you think there’s a thatched house suitable for His Majesty within 2 gak of Gyeongbok Palace?”

“Ah… Tsk!”

The captain of the Royal Guards smacked his lips and amended his order.

“Just find a suitable house. One where the inside isn’t easily visible from the outside, and easy to guard. Also, a place where we can return to Gyeongbok Palace as quickly as possible in case of emergency.”

“Yes, understood. But why are we suddenly looking for a house? Could it be…?”

At the second director’s question with a strange look in his eyes, the captain’s face turned fierce.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. Don’t make such baseless assumptions. If you do…”

The captain’s eyes were full of killing intent as he trailed off, glaring. Seeing this, the second director immediately bowed his head.

“I won’t even think about it!”

The secret guards lived up to their name. Within three days, they found a suitable house and acquired it through appropriate negotiations.

After cleaning the interior and furnishing it with the necessary furniture for work, the secret guards immediately reported to King Sejong.

From the night after receiving the report, Hyang and King Sejong put their heads together in that house to exchange opinions about the writing system.

The writing system born through this process ended up quite different from the Hunminjeongeum in the history Hyang had learned in the 21st century.

The first noticeable thing was that the writing system was divided into two parts.

Hyang completely separated the letters used to write the language commonly used by Joseon’s people and those created to represent foreign language pronunciations – ᄼ, ᄽ, ᅎ, ᅏ, ᅔ, ᄾ, ᄿ, ᅐ, ᅑ, ᅕ, etc. (Note 1) – and explained the reason to King Sejong.

“These modified letters are for recording foreign sounds, so ordinary people don’t need to know them. Therefore, it would be better to separate this part and have only interpreters or those learning foreign languages study them.”

“Wouldn’t it be good for all people to be able to speak one or two foreign languages?”

At King Sejong’s point, Hyang shook his head.

“If that were easy, you wouldn’t have needed to create letters to replace Chinese characters, Father.”

‘Does he want to turn Joseon into the Netherlands?’

The Netherlands and nearby Northern European countries used English as fluently as their native languages. However, this was possible because their languages were all like branches spreading from the great root of the Roman Empire.

Hyang’s argument continued.

“Why did you create a new writing system, Father? Wasn’t it to make it easy for the people to learn and use? Is there any need to make them put in unnecessary effort? And…”

Pausing briefly to wet his throat, Hyang continued.

“When our Joseon becomes strong, it won’t be us learning foreign languages, but foreigners learning our Joseon language and writing.”

King Sejong immediately responded to Hyang’s words.

“How wonderful would that be? No, we should make it so.”

“You will make our Joseon like that, Father.”

At Hyang’s words, King Sejong replied with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

“You’re gilding your father’s face.”

* * *

As Hyang and King Sejong directly put their heads together and exchanged opinions in real-time, the work progressed at an incredible speed. The work that had been dragging on for nearly three months since Hyang first took on the task was nearing its final stages after about two weeks.

Despite spending only an average of 1.5 shijin (about 3 hours) on the work each day, the speed was dazzling.

The last hurdles of the rapidly progressing work were three things.

The issue of spacing between words, the choice between vertical or horizontal writing, and the naming of this new writing system.

“Spacing between words… It looks good, but haven’t we been writing well without spacing until now?”

To King Sejong’s point, Hyang immediately replied.

“The same was said when punctuation marks were first introduced, but how is it now? Aren’t we using them so well that it would feel strange without them?”

* * *

From the time he first began to stand out, Hyang strongly advocated for the introduction of punctuation marks. In fact, he didn’t just advocate for them, but actively used them.

Although he was young, with the Crown Prince actively pushing and King Sejong’s support continuing, punctuation marks soon became established.

And these established punctuation marks quickly proved their usefulness, becoming a part of not only official documents but also letters and private documents among the people.

The ones who suffered the most in this process were those dragged into the Records Office. They had to use punctuation marks in the process of organizing, categorizing, and rewriting past records. This meant that they couldn’t simply transcribe old records, but had to examine each sentence and word carefully.

* * *

“That’s true, but won’t people say it’s a waste of paper?”

At King Sejong’s point, Hyang replied with an incredulous expression.

“With cheap paper already overflowing, who would say such nonsense?”

Hyang had transferred the technology for mass-producing yellow paper using pulp to the private sector. Of course, it wasn’t free. He collected a tidy sum in technology usage fees and sales of papermaking machinery.

This pulp papermaking technology released to the private sector led to mass distribution of paper and polarization.

Traditional Korean paper (Hanji) was sold as a luxury item, while yellow paper and bleached white paper made from yellow paper became established as low-cost products.

With their decent quality and low prices as weapons, yellow and white papers soon began to gradually dominate the paper markets in Ming and Japan.

In the end, after several rounds of debate, King Sejong accepted word spacing.

“The benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and it’s especially useful for understanding sentences, so it would be good to use it.”

* * *

After adopting word spacing, King Sejong and Hyang engaged in another heated debate over the issue of horizontal versus vertical writing.

“If we use metal pens, left-to-right horizontal writing wouldn’t be much of a problem. But this is only for metal pens. When writing with a brush, left-to-right horizontal writing is very inconvenient. For the simplest example, when dipping the brush in ink from the inkstone and moving to the paper, what if the ink drips? Also, we’ve been using right-to-left vertical writing all this time, so changing to left-to-right horizontal writing will face strong resistance.”

Hyang nodded at King Sejong’s point.

“You’re right. However, using left-to-right horizontal writing will make many things easier. For the simplest example, if you look at the reports created in the court, they contain many tables, formulas, and graphs. If we use left-to-right horizontal writing, it will be much more useful when using these. Of course, as you said, Father, if we force the government and people to use left-to-right horizontal writing right now, there will be strong resistance. We can start by having the government use left-to-right horizontal writing for documents created from now on.”

“There will still be considerable resistance. Do you have any good strategies or tools to persuade them?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang’s expression momentarily became enigmatic.

“Why that expression?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang quickly composed his expression and answered.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I just happened to think of a tool.”

King Sejong’s eyes sparkled at Hyang’s words.

“Oh? What is it?”

“It’s called a typewriter.”

After hearing Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong was very pleased.

“If it’s made properly, it will be very useful! Especially for those with poor handwriting!”

King Sejong really liked the idea of the typewriter. He often had headaches when reports or petitions written in poor handwriting were submitted.

* * *

Thanks to the hidden card of the typewriter, left-to-right horizontal writing was easily approved.

The last remaining issue was what to name this newly born writing system.

“Do you have a name in mind, Father?”

“At first, I thought of ‘Ija (易字)’ meaning ‘easy characters’, but I put it aside because it might be seen as the ‘Yi (易)’ of change and cause unsavory rumors. So now I want to call it ‘Jeongeum (正音)’, meaning ‘correct sounds’. Because the people can correctly record their speech.”

As Hyang nodded at King Sejong’s words, he opened his mouth.

“How about adding ‘Hunmin (訓民)’ to that? Because the people can correctly understand your intentions, Father.”

“Hunmin… Hunminjeongeum…”

After repeating it a few times, King Sejong soon nodded.

“That’s good.”

* * *

Note 1) https://namu.wiki/w/훈민정음’s dental and palatal sounds

Chapter 364
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (6)

With the naming of the writing system, the collaborative work of the father and son was completed.

The project, which started with over 40 volumes and grew to 70, ended with five slightly thick books. Of these five, three were for professionals dealing with foreign language pronunciation and recording – interpreters and translators for merchant groups. The remaining two were for the general public, with just over half a volume dedicated to the rules of the letters – spelling and pronunciation. The rest recorded examples of how to use them.

King Sejong looked at the pile of books on one side and the five volumes before him, then turned to Hyang.

“Somehow we’ve ended up completing the example book too, haven’t we?”

“It seems that’s how it turned out.”

Seeing Hyang’s smirking response, King Sejong asked briefly.

“You planned this, didn’t you?”

“How could I, Father?”

“You did plan it.”

More convinced by Hyang’s serious expression, King Sejong continued.

“I look forward to the vernacular translation. About five days should do, right?”

“…Yes.”

Having set a deadline, King Sejong looked again at the books on the desk.

“I wonder if it will really be used well.”

To King Sejong’s somewhat pessimistic words, Hyang immediately replied.

“It will be used well. It’s a writing system created for Joseon’s language, after all.”

“That’s exactly where there will be opposition. There will be those who object to using the same letters as the commoners. Saying it’s low class and such.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if more of them come out?”

“Huh?”

When King Sejong expressed doubt at this unexpected statement, Hyang continued with a smile.

“We’ll need many people to reorganize the records in the Records Office.”

“That’s true.”

“Father, you created Hunminjeongeum not only out of love for the people but also to break free from Ming’s shadow, didn’t you?”

King Sejong paused briefly at Hyang’s point, then smiled slightly as he responded.

“Your perceptiveness… Yes, that’s right. The shadow of the Central Plains is large and dense, but if we can’t break free from it, Joseon can’t grow. And these days, I’m as eager for the yellow dragon robe as you are.”

“So we need to stuff those who oppose it into the Records Office and make them work. We need to forcibly drill Hunminjeongeum into their bones to break their outdated thinking. Their skills are softer than an axe blade anyway. We should improve their constitution this way and make use of them.”

As Hyang mentioned the recent petition with axes incident, King Sejong nodded.

“That’s true. Although their skills are dull, we could use them in the Records Office.”

“Indeed.”

King Sejong and Hyang continued their conversation with smiles. However, the smiles on their faces looked more wicked than anyone else’s.

Though they seemed confident of success, King Sejong’s feelings were half worry and half expectation.

“I hope this writing system survives well.”

“It will survive.”

‘History proves it!’

Hyang asserted with a face full of conviction, then added his wish.

“If I have one wish, it’s that these words would be used for a long time without changing. When people’s lives become difficult, language is the first thing to become harsh.”

* * *

When Hyang lived as Jinho in the 21st century, his Korean language teacher had explained this aspect while teaching about the evolution of Hangul.

“As these old Hangul consonants and vowels disappeared, our language gradually became stronger and harder. So why did they disappear? The most plausible theory is that it was because people’s lives became harder. The period when old Hangul started to disappear was the latter half of Joseon, after experiencing two wars and suffering from famines. When survival itself became an issue, people’s temperaments sharpened, and as their temperaments sharpened, their language became sharper too.”

The students nodded at the teacher’s explanation. Similar content was recorded in their reference books.

The teacher, who had paused briefly, continued.

“And we actually experienced such a change. When? The most recent period would be that damned ‘IMF’ era. Until then, only rockers would say ‘ssarang’ instead of ‘sarang’ (love), but after the IMF crisis ended, even ballad singers started singing ‘ssarang’. Another example is the second-person pronoun ‘ne’. Subtitles clearly wrote ‘nega’, but people started saying ‘niga’, and before we knew it, even subtitles started writing ‘niga’.”

* * *

Hyang, briefly recalling the 21st century memory, repeated again.

“I only hope that the language of our Joseon will not become harsh for a long time to come.”

“That’s certainly true.”

Nodding strongly in agreement with Hyang’s words, King Sejong soon rose from his seat.

“Well! Now that we’ve finished, let’s get up.”

“Yes.”

Rising from his seat and slightly stretching his stiff back, King Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Five days. Don’t forget.”

“…Yes.”

* * *

A week later, King Sejong made a shocking revelation in a gathering of ministers.

“Today, I have something to tell you ministers.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers wore expressions that suggested the moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived.

They had known for months that King Sejong and Hyang had been busy coming and going, secretly planning something.

‘What on earth are they up to?’

Officials whose curiosity had built up over the months of secret activities had approached eunuchs they had befriended to casually ask questions.

However, the eunuchs who were questioned all consistently feigned ignorance.

This reaction from the eunuchs only piqued the ministers’ curiosity further.

“What on earth are they planning to do…”

Although all sorts of speculations were rampant, no one had the courage to ask King Sejong directly.

“Maybe Minister Hwang Hui could have done it.”

And today, King Sejong was revealing that secret himself.

* * *

With not only the ministers but also the court historians and scribes focused on King Sejong, he slowly continued speaking.

“For the past few years, I have been researching something alone. And today, I want to show you the results.”

“Gulp!”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers swallowed dryly and stared at his mouth.

“Summon the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, Hyang entered Geunjeongjeon with eunuchs. After paying respects to King Sejong, Hyang stood at the podium while the following eunuchs hung large charts on the hanging frames.

As Hyang’s preparations finished, King Sejong spoke again.

“What I want to show you today is a writing system unique to our Joseon.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers’ eyes widened as much as they could.

“Crown Prince, explain.”

“Yes, Father.”

Responding to King Sejong’s command, Hyang began speaking while turning over the cover of the chart with a pointer.

“I will now explain ‘Hunminjeongeum (訓民正音)’.”

* * *

Having somewhat recovered from their initial shock, the ministers soon focused on Hyang’s explanation.

Hyang explained to the ministers the pronunciation of consonants and vowels, how they combine, and even simple examples.

“That concludes the explanation.”

As Hyang’s explanation ended, King Sejong asked the ministers.

“What do you think?”

Though King Sejong asked, no ministers answered immediately. Eventually, Lee Jik stepped forward and addressed King Sejong.

“It seems we need to think about it a bit more, Your Majesty.”

“But surely you must have a first impression?”

At King Sejong’s question, Maeng Sa-seong stepped forward.

“At first glance, it seems easy to write and read, but it’s difficult to give a definitive answer before actually using it.”

King Sejong immediately responded to Maeng Sa-seong’s answer.

“That’s why Jinpyeong and Anpyeong started working on it yesterday. We should be able to see some results soon. For your reference, it took Jinpyeong and Anpyeong only about 1 shijin (about 2 hours) to learn this Hunminjeongeum.”

The ministers considered the meaning of the “1 shijin” King Sejong mentioned.

‘Is he bragging about his children? No… He’s saying it’s that easy.’

‘Is he emphasizing that it’s easy to understand and use?’

* * *

While the ministers were struggling to find the hidden meaning in the words, the Chief Royal Secretary informed King Sejong that Anpyeong had arrived.

“Let him in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, Anpyeong entered Geunjeongjeon and paid his respects to King Sejong.

“Well, what is it?”

“Following your command from yesterday, Father, I have recorded five vernacular songs and brought them.”

“Let me see.”

Receiving the papers through the Chief Royal Secretary, King Sejong carefully examined the contents. At the top of the papers were lyrics in Chinese characters, and at the bottom were lyrics written in Hunminjeongeum.

“Hmm…”

After comparing the lyrics written on the paper, King Sejong put down the papers and asked Anpyeong.

“So, how was it?”

“Hunminjeongeum was overwhelmingly useful for writing lyrics. Since I could write as it sounds, it greatly reduced the effort of finding the right Chinese characters for those words. Also, because I wrote the sounds directly, there was less risk of misrecording.”

“Is that so? I see. Ministers, please read it as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The ministers read the lyrics Anpyeong had brought. Having just seen Hunminjeongeum, the unfamiliar ministers looked back and forth between the charts hanging on the frames and the papers to understand the sentences.

“G… Ga… Gat… Gasi… Gasiri…”

However, as they were unmatched in literary talent, they soon became accustomed and began to read the sentences.

“Gasiri gasiri itgo…”

“Nima nima…”

After confirming that the ministers had finished reading, King Sejong asked again.

“What do the ministers think?”

To King Sejong’s question, Lee Jik was the first to speak.

“Honestly, we could understand the meaning just from the sounds we read. It seemed somewhat useful, but it seems right to decide after testing it more in practice.”

At Lee Jik’s answer, King Sejong’s expression became unfavorable. Seeing that expression, Lee Jik’s heart sank, but he couldn’t agree right away.

‘I might end up like Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon, but we’re talking about a writing system! A writing system! We need to examine it more carefully!’

Lee Jik continued speaking while repeatedly bowing his head.

“Is writing lyrics the only use for a writing system? I think it’s right to verify it in more applications and then decide.”

“If the results of Jinpyeong’s Hunminjeongeum report are good, will you concede?”

At King Sejong’s question, Lee Jik became very tense.

‘This is the final warning!’

Feeling his life was in danger, Lee Jik calculated as quickly as possible.

‘Prince Jinpyeong is in charge of official documents! If there are no particular problems with official documents… ’

After calculating, Lee Jik made his decision.

“If so, this subject will concede, Your Majesty.”

“Then, let’s talk again at that time. Let’s end today’s court session here. I’m tired and need to rest.”

* * *

As King Sejong declared the end of the session, the ministers who left Geunjeongjeon all flocked to the Prime Minister’s Office (formerly the State Council).

Gathered in the meeting room of the Prime Minister’s Office, the ministers began to debate about Hunminjeongeum.

“His Majesty seems determined, so shouldn’t we follow?”

“That’s true, but a writing system unique to Joseon out of nowhere…”

“Still, it seems quite useful, what do you all think?”

Amidst various comments being exchanged, Kim Jeom showed a very positive reaction.

“I think it looks very useful. It’s not easy to transcribe our thoughts using someone else’s writing, is it? It seems like we might even be able to find hidden talents if we use it well.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Maeng Sa-seong let out a long sigh.

“Huu~. Why wouldn’t I know that? The problem is that there’s an even bigger issue.”

“What issue?”

“A historical issue.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Kim Jeom thought for a moment, then nodded and looked at Lee Maeng-gyun.

“You’re going to be busy, Minister.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, most of the ministers except Lee Maeng-gyun nodded, and Lee Maeng-gyun grumbled with a very annoyed face.

“Ah! History is really…!”

It might be speculation to say so, but among the countries surrounding the Central Plains, there weren’t many countries with their own writing systems that had good relations with the Central Plains countries.

The Khitan Empire (Khitan script) was like that, the Jin Dynasty (Jurchen script) was like that, and the Yuan Dynasty (Mongolian script) was like that too.

If Joseon were to create and use its own writing system, there was a very high possibility that Ming would react nervously.

Chapter 365
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (7)

Seeing Lee Maeng-gyun’s reaction, Heo Jo interjected.

“Isn’t it unavoidable? Using an independent writing system? In other words, it means the mind becomes independent. To put it another way, isn’t it breaking the shackles of the mind? When that happens, one can look at the relationship between oneself and others more objectively.”

Following Heo Jo’s words, Maeng Sa-seong continued.

“When you look at it objectively, you can reverse the relationship at any time. So about that…”

Pausing briefly, Maeng Sa-seong looked at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister, how is our Joseon’s military power at present?”55

“Military power… Doesn’t the answer depend on what the goal is?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s counter-question, Maeng Sa-seong thought for a moment and said,

“In the case of marching towards Beijing, or in the case of defending against an invasion from Beijing.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, the faces of the surrounding ministers became serious. Maeng Sa-seong was now asking if it was possible to attack Ming, the suzerain state.

The ministers swallowed dryly as they waited for Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Jo Mal-saeng gave his answer.

“In both cases, whoever initiates the offensive is destined to fail.”

“Why?”

“There are several reasons, but if I were to give the most important one, it’s supply.”

As Jo Mal-saeng mentioned supply, the ministers nodded slightly. Seeing this, Jo Mal-saeng added more.

“Whether we go to Beijing or they come to our Joseon, the problem is that we have to pass through Liaodong. The supply line will naturally be lengthened, and cutting off that supply line would be the best tactic. There’s no one in our Joseon or in Ming who doesn’t know this. Naturally, forces will be dispersed, and the power participating in the attack will be further reduced.”

“What if we requisition locally?”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s point, Jo Mal-saeng shook his head.

“If we show signs of local requisition, they will immediately use scorched earth tactics.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Kim Jeom interjected.

“What if we only bring food and use Ming’s gunpowder?”

“The gunpowder used by Ming troops not only has lower potency, but it also severely corrodes muskets and cannons. Of course, the gunpowder used by our Joseon troops also corrodes firearms and cannons, but Ming’s is worse.”

“How do you know that?”

“If you pay money, Ming merchants will find out everything for you. Thanks to that, we were able to experiment sufficiently in Area 51.”

Jo Mal-saeng, who had been kindly explaining to the ministers’ questions, suddenly asked with a fierce expression.

“By the way… We were discussing the Hunminjeongeum issue, so why did we diverge to this topic? And why are you all acting like people desperate to fight Ming?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Lee Jik explained the reason.

“It’s because of what Minister Heo said earlier. Even if we say it’s just language, if we become independent even in writing, it’s certain that our relationship with Ming will change from before.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Jo Mal-saeng sighed.

“Huu~. Let’s talk about that when the time comes. We’re continuously expanding our military power anyway, and we’re still maintaining friendly relations with Ming. The young ones in the army and navy are already causing headaches with their excitement, so there’s no need for the ministers to fan the flames, is there?”

“Huh? Are the young officers up to something?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, the ministers’ faces became serious. They were worried that some might be dreaming of a military regime like Goryeo’s.

To the ministers’ questions, Jo Mal-saeng sighed again and continued.

“Huu~. The Land Defense Army is pestering me to remove the ‘defense’ from their name. They’re saying if the navy is just called the navy, why should they be called the Land Defense Army. If that’s the case, they argue, the navy should also be renamed to the Maritime Defense Force.”

“Oh my… tsk!”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, all the ministers clicked their tongues. Removing ‘defense’ from the Land Defense Army’s name could mean that Joseon’s strategy might shift from defense-centered to offense-centered.

If that happened, many troublesome issues could arise.

In the end, Lee Jik had to urge Jo Mal-saeng.

“Tell the young ones to exercise restraint.”

“I’m already doing that. So, ministers, please don’t say strange things.”

“Understood.”

* * *

After sorting out the situation, Lee Jik looked around at the ministers.

“We’ve digressed a bit, but let’s reach a conclusion first. We said we’d decide after seeing Prince Jinpyeong’s report, but wouldn’t it be better to conclude in favor of accepting the use of Hunminjeongeum?”

At Lee Jik’s question, all the ministers nodded.

“His Majesty strongly desires it, and it seems useful in its own way, so wouldn’t it be good to accept it?”

The ministers nodded at Kim Jeom’s assessment. Amidst this, Lee Maeng-gyun muttered without realizing it.

“If Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon and others were still here like before, there would have been quite an uproar…”

“Shh! Why are you mentioning that person again!”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s rebuke, Lee Maeng-gyun closed his mouth with an ‘oops’ expression.

Watching this, Heo Jo stroked his beard and muttered.

“Come to think of it, isn’t it a bit strange?”

“What is?”

“When those stubborn ones from the Hall of Worthies submitted their resignation… Doesn’t it feel like His Majesty dealt with the matter angrily, more than necessary?”

“Hm? Now that you mention it…”

At Heo Jo’s point, all the ministers began to have the same doubt.

* * *

To say it now, King Sejong’s response to the mass resignation incident of the Hall of Worthies scholars was quite extreme.

If it had been the usual King Sejong who cherished talent, he would have tried to persuade them more, or accepted their resignations but called them back not long after. However, King Sejong approved all their petitions and then banned not only their grandchildren but even their great-grandchildren from submitting petitions or entering government service.

Not only that, but he also dismissed Choi Man-ri, the Chief Scholar of the Hall of Worthies, who was recognized as an incorruptible official with outstanding abilities, holding him responsible.

* * *

“Certainly, at the time, we only thought those stubborn ones had provoked His Majesty’s wrath, but thinking about it now, it does seem excessive.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong turned to Heo Jo.

“What do you think, Minister?”

“We could say it went too far, but I think His Majesty might have cleared them out in advance, just in case.”

“Huh? Nah~.”

“Come on, isn’t that going too far?”

At Heo Jo’s words, everyone waved their hands in denial, but in their minds, they were all thinking similarly.

‘It’s possible if it’s His Majesty and the Crown Prince!’

‘Those two could do it!’

That’s what they were thinking in their minds. However, the ministers didn’t voice these thoughts aloud. No, they couldn’t.

The moment they uttered those words, it felt like they wouldn’t be able to consider King Sejong and Hyang as people like themselves anymore.

* * *

While the ministers were murmuring in the State Council, King Sejong, having sent the court historians and scribes far away, was talking with Hyang in Gangyeongjeon.

“Pushing out those stubborn ones from the Hall of Worthies like that seems to have been a great help.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang asked with an expression that seemed to say, “Really?”

“Was it a coincidence?”

“It was a coincidence. A coincidence…”

King Sejong, who had been emphasizing that it was a coincidence, suddenly shouted.

“Crown Prince! What do you take your father for?”

“You planned it in advance to proceed smoothly with this matter…”

“You brat, get out!”

* * *

Three days later, Jinpyeong’s report was submitted. With Jinpyeong standing to one side with a very tense face, King Sejong and the ministers read the report and then shared their opinions.

“How do the ministers find the report written in Hunminjeongeum?”

To King Sejong’s question, Lee Jik stepped forward to answer.

“Although it takes time because we’re not yet familiar with how to read it, we can understand its meaning as soon as we read it, so I think it’s useful.”

“Then, do you agree to promulgate this and have all the people use it?”

“We will follow Your Majesty’s will.”

At Lee Jik’s answer, King Sejong’s voice hardened.

“I’m not asking if you’ll follow, but if you agree.”

At King Sejong’s question, Lee Jik finally waved the white flag.

“We agree, Your Majesty.”

As Lee Jik waved the white flag, King Sejong turned to the other ministers.

“What do you think, ministers? Do you agree?”

To King Sejong’s question, the ministers had no choice but to give the same answer as Lee Jik.

“We agree, Your Majesty.”

Once the ministers agreed, one way or another, King Sejong talked about future plans.

“It will take time to educate the teachers of the public and secondary schools, and to compose and create educational books for use in schools. So, I would like to set the formal promulgation to educational institutions and announcement to the people to start from the school term beginning next year. What do you think?”

“It seems appropriate, Your Majesty.”

“Good. However, let’s have the court, research institute, and Hall of Worthies start using it from next month to identify and fix any problems.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers’ faces turned pale.

“But we have many ongoing tasks, Your Majesty.”

“That’s why we adjusted things last time, isn’t it? Now that we have a bit more leeway, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers answered with tears in their eyes.

“We receive your command.”

The court historian who recorded all this added the following:

-Thus, when His Majesty asked, all the ministers, great and small, agreed.

The historian says:

The intention of His Majesty in creating the writing system is truly beautiful, but the way of implementing it uses expedient measures, which is not beautiful.

If the intention is beautiful but the action is not beautiful too often, it can lead to tyranny.

As he has ordered us to learn the newly created writing system, it seems we won’t be able to go home for a while.

The life of an official is really hard.

* * *

Although a rough schedule was set like this, King Sejong couldn’t give up his ambition.

“How can we best ensure that Hunminjeongeum quickly takes root among the people?”

“Well… How about having all official documents use Hunminjeongeum first?”

“Wouldn’t it be too slow if we rely only on official documents?”

“…”

At King Sejong’s point, the ministers closed their mouths and pondered other methods.

Seeing this, Hyang stepped forward.

“Father, how about using popular tales?”

At Hyang’s suggestion, King Sejong made a slightly troubled expression.

“Aren’t there problems with popular tales, as many have frivolous language and disorderly content?”

“Although the language is said to be frivolous, it’s that much easier to read, so it will be easy for people to learn Hunminjeongeum. And if the content is disorderly, can’t we just write popular tales with proper content? In simple terms, it’s using the form of popular tales to educate the people.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s suggestion, King Sejong stroked his beard in thought and then looked at Jo Gye-saeng.

“What does the Minister of Education think?”

At King Sejong’s question, Jo Gye-saeng thought for a moment and gave the most orthodox answer.

“It would be right to consider it more, but thinking briefly, it doesn’t seem bad. Popular tales are short, so people won’t be burdened reading them, and while many have disorderly content, there are also those with moral lessons, so it might be good to select ones that serve as good examples, compile them into a book, and distribute it.”

“It seems good. Please think about it more and submit a report.”

“I receive your command.”

Jo Gye-saeng, who had unexpectedly been given additional work, answered with a voice full of moisture.

After exchanging opinions on various proposals, King Sejong instructed the ministers.

“For a while, we will experience a situation where there’s a lot of work but little result, due to lack of people and the need to learn and use the new writing system. However, don’t become negligent because we’ve reached this stagnant period. Instead, use this as an opportunity to closely examine and fix deficient and problematic areas.”

At King Sejong’s admonition, the ministers all bowed their heads and answered in unison.

“We will engrave it on our bones and hearts!”

Chapter 366
Things That Multiply When Divided: Work and Curses (8)

After finishing the morning assembly at Geunjeongjeon Hall, the ministers hurried en masse to the State Council meeting room.

As soon as they settled in their seats, Minister Jung Yeok of the National Land Development Department let out a long sigh.

“Phew… His Majesty emphasizes that it’s a period of stagnation, but is it really so?”

* * *

As the Reformation Plan were nearing their end, Joseon’s development was starting to become strained. As a result, most departments were adjusting the priorities of their ongoing policies, giving the impression of stagnation. However, the National Land Development Department was the only one without a single such policy.

In fact, King Sejong went as far as to urge:

“The ongoing transportation network improvement project is crucial in determining Joseon’s future. Therefore, do your utmost to ensure there are no delays.”

Jung Yeok could only bow his head and reply to King Sejong’s request.

“I will engrave it on my bones and keep it in my heart.”

* * *

In response to Jung Yeok’s lament, Jo Gye-saeng burst out:

“At least Your Excellency is maintaining the status quo! For me, it’s not just maintaining, but the work has increased!”

“Ah…”

“I can see that Hunminjeongeum is useful, but to prepare to teach it from next year… What is this…”

“Still, isn’t it generous that they’ve given you a year? In other times, they would have ordered immediate implementation. Surely His Majesty has taken that into consideration?”

At Kim Jeom’s colorless words, Jo Gye-saeng’s eyes blazed with anger.

“No, this man is really…!”

“Hmph! You complain about being swamped with work, but would you like to take over the Minister of Finance’s duties instead?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the fire in Jo Gye-saeng’s eyes slowly subsided.

In the process of adjusting policy priorities, King Sejong had not mentioned the Minister of Finance even once.

“Your Majesty, shouldn’t our Minister of Finance also adjust the priorities of some policies?”

Kim Jeom, unable to stand by, stepped forward, but Sejong firmly refused.

“The Minister of Finance manages the nation’s finances and is primarily responsible for the people’s livelihoods. How can there be any order of priority or relative importance in such crucial matters? Rather, it would be right to find and review issues before the people petition for them.”

Sejong’s order was simple:

‘Find work to do, even if you have to search for it.’

“I will do my best, Your Majesty.”

If anything, Kim Jeom had taken on more homework before withdrawing.

Watching Kim Jeom, Jung Yeok, and Jo Gye-saeng express their frustrations, Lee Jik turned to Maeng Sae-seong.

“The bar tab is going to be hefty today.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sae-seong muttered quietly with a pale face.

“Your Excellency! Have you forgotten what happened last time?”

“We’ll have to sneak out as quietly as possible.”

* * *

As the grumbling of the three ministers subsided somewhat, the officials resumed their discussion.

“His Majesty calls it a period of stagnation, but I truly wonder if it’s accurate to call it so.”

As Jung Yeok questioned again, Maeng Sae-seong picked up the conversation.

“On the surface, it might seem like stagnation, right? New policies were being created and implemented almost daily, but now such cases have decreased for the time being.”

“Ugh…”

As Jung Yeok groaned in response to Maeng Sae-seong’s answer, Heo Jo continued the conversation.

“To be precise, ‘period of reorganization’ would be a more fitting term than ‘period of stagnation’.”

The ministers nodded at Heo Jo’s observation.

The current situation was indeed closer to a period of reorganization, as Heo Jo had said, rather than stagnation.

And the biggest reason for this reorganization period was the explosive population growth.

The population, which had drastically decreased during the chaotic period from the end of Goryeo to the early days of Joseon’s founding, had exploded as the Reformation Plan progressed.

Although Joseon’s government organization had continuously expanded until now, it was clear that if the population continued to grow at the current rate, it would be difficult to manage properly.

Therefore, both King Sejong and the ministers had chosen to take a moment to catch their breath.

* * *

Nodding at Heo Jo’s response, Jung Yeok asked again.

“Then how long do Your Excellencies think this period of stagnation will last? I’m expecting at least 10 years.”

At Jung Yeok’s statement, the ministers calculated and estimated in various ways. After a long deliberation, Heo Jo spoke up.

“Five years at the shortest, ten years at the longest?”

“That seems the most likely.”

“Indeed.”

Jung Yeok sighed at the ministers’ comments.

“Phew… Five years, huh… As expected, the Hansu Bridge will determine everything.”

The ministers all nodded at Jung Yeok’s words.

* * *

Everyone agreed that the very last part of the Reformation Plan was the land transportation network currently being reorganized. And the crown jewel of this land transportation network reorganization was the bridge to be built over the Hansu River.

During this transportation network reorganization, bridges were being built over large and small rivers across Joseon. The process of building bridges using reinforced bamboo concrete was a new challenge.

Therefore, the trading company in charge of construction started by gaining experience with smaller streams. All the trial and error that occurred in the process was documented and transferred to the research institute and Area 51. Through this process, construction technology was continuously improving, and newly improved techniques were immediately applied to new sites.

As a result of this process, bridges built later had wider spans between piers and were built more sturdily.

And at the end of this chain reaction, bridges began to be built over other large rivers, excluding the Hansu, two years ago.

These bridges had a significant characteristic: two bridges were always built simultaneously over large rivers that were crucial for transportation.

One was a bridge for people and ox carts to pass, and the other was a bridge for iron horses to cross.

“The iron horse will become the core of Joseon’s land transportation in the future!”

Agreeing with Hyang’s assertion, King Sejong’s decision led to ongoing intensive improvement work on the iron horses. As a result, larger and more powerful iron horses were being researched in Area 51.

And following Sejong’s decision after observing this progress, the construction of bridges for iron horses was implemented first.

“It will be too late if we build the bridges after a suitable iron horse is completed! We must build them in advance!”

At Sejong’s instruction, Jung Yeok immediately opposed.

“Building bridges is not difficult, Your Majesty. The difficult part is deciding how sturdy to design the bridges. The size and weight of the iron horses are increasing. In a situation where we can’t predict that aspect, building in advance could lead to waste.”

“Your words are right.”

Eventually, this homework was passed on to the research institute and Area 51. After Hyang, along with Jeong Cho, Jeong Inji, Lee Soonji, and others put their heads together and calculated, the conclusion was as follows:

-Initially, 12,000 gwan (approximately 45 tons) would be commercially viable. However, it will eventually increase to 24,000 gwan (about 90 tons). (Note 1)

However, this figure is for the iron horse alone. When loaded with coal and water, it could increase up to 37,900 gwan (about 140 tons).

“This is calculated for the iron horse alone? Then what if passenger cars or freight cars are attached?”

“At least double that.”

At Hyang’s answer, Jung Yeok’s face, who was listening nearby, turned pale.

Seeing Jung Yeok’s face, Sejong gave an order to Hyang.

“Design the bridge based on the final expected product.”

“I receive your command.”

Thus, the design for the railway bridges to be built over the four major rivers was completed.

And as a result of this continued challenge, calculation formulas for designing bridges to be built over the Hansu—which excited Kim Dam and Western scholars—were created.

Because it was an enormous symbol connecting Joseon’s capital, Hanseong, with other regions, those in charge of designing the bridge over the Hansu poured their hearts and souls into it.

And according to the design thus created, construction was scheduled to begin from this dry season.

As an aside, while this bridge, going through such a process, should have been a masterpiece for the designers, the parties involved were full of complaints.

“Ah! We could have reduced the number of piers!”

By order of Hyang, who received the initial draft, they had to reduce the spacing between piers slightly and increase the number of piers.

“I understand you’ve put your heart and soul into it, but reduce the spacing between the piers here a bit and increase the number of piers. Make it a little safer.”

“The current design already guarantees sufficient safety, Your Majesty.”

“I’m sure it does. But isn’t this the bridge over the Hansu? Let’s make it a little safer.”

* * *

“Minimum five years to maximum ten years… If we consider the time until those who have learned Hunminjeongeum are deployed in practical work, the amount of work will increase tremendously.”

The other ministers looked at Jung Yeok with peculiar expressions at his words.

“Why are you all looking at me like that?”

In response to Jung Yeok’s question, Heo Jo asked back.

“Your Excellency, do you plan to live and work until then? Haha… It seems we should diligently prepare some medicine for you.”

“Ah…”

Jung Yeok, who let out a small exclamation at Heo Jo’s words, muttered with a mixed expression.

“Our age has already come to this.”

Most of the ministers in the meeting room now were those who had been active in politics since the late Goryeo period.

Now, more than 30 years after Joseon’s founding, they had reached an age where it wouldn’t be strange if they held their funeral tomorrow.

Maeng Sae-seong also continued with a similar expression.

“Our job is to prepare for the future using this period of stagnation. The next generation will take care of what comes after. The regrettable points are that we’ve become old just as we’ve been blessed with work, and it’s certain that we won’t be able to properly see the results before we go.”

The ministers nodded quietly.

* * *

This is how the period later called the “Period of Stagnation” came to be.

Scholars studying Joseon’s history evaluated this period as follows:

‘A novice historian would simply evaluate it as a period of stagnation, but a proper historian despairs when looking at this period of stagnation.’

The Joseon government, which confirmed the explosive population growth evaluated as ‘the world’s first officially recorded baby boom,’ entered into a large-scale reorganization. This was an effort to minimize the shock when the baby boom generation became adults and entered society.

Therefore, on the surface, the period of stagnation seemed quiet. It appeared even more so when compared to the periods before and after, which were full of all sorts of new policies, events, and incidents.

However, scholars who studied this period of stagnation firmly denied such thoughts.

They were convinced that this period of stagnation was the most important period that determined the era of great leap forward.

As a result, there were even scholars who devoted their entire lives to studying just this ‘period of stagnation.’

And there were no scholars who denied that the most important event in this period of stagnation was the creation and dissemination of Hunminjeongeum.

The point that the power dynamics among the three Northeast Asian countries began to change greatly as the first generation familiar with Hunminjeongeum was produced, breaking away from the Hanja culture.

No, the creation and dissemination of Hunminjeongeum was a mega-event that caused even Western countries to be greatly shaken by the butterfly effect caused by the changes in Northeast Asia.

As a result, scholars studying Joseon during this period had to examine not only the history of Ming and Wa (Japan) but also European history, and the intensity of their labor was beyond imagination.

This led to the following joke circulating among historians:

“Recommend studying post-stagnation Joseon history to someone you dislike.”

* * *

Note 1) Based on the Korean National Railroad 900 series steam locomotive.

Chapter 367
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (1)

Thus, Joseon entered a period of stagnation, rolling busily along in its own tranquility.

Many merchant ships were diligently traveling between Shandong in Ming and Jemulpo. In Dongnae, merchant ships were busily traveling to and from the Joseon trading posts in Tsushima Island and mainland Japan.

And from Mokpo, merchant ships were traveling to and from the territories of Ouchi and Gendojin (Shibukawa Mitsuyori). The ships coming from Ouchi were loaded with silver ore, while those from Gendojin’s territory were full of cotton.

Gendojin, who had attacked the Shoni clan in alliance with Ouchi, was able to recover his lost territory.

After recovering his territory, Gendojin began cultivating cotton, accepting Joseon’s proposal to cover the war expenses he had incurred and to secure funds to rebuild his territory.

And from this year, cotton in commercially significant quantities began to enter Joseon.

This cotton from Japan was transformed into plain cotton cloth through the hands of merchant groups in Joseon and was being sold not only to Ming, Jurchen, and Japan, but also as far as Arabia and Europe.

This became the occasion for the phrase “Florence’s wool, Joseon’s cotton” to be born in Europe.

* * *

In this process, Mokpo Naval Base began to develop from a simple naval port into a trading port.

Challenger-class warships regularly traveled between Alexandria and Mokpo, and merchant ships belonging to the Mansur merchant group also frequented busily.

Moreover, merchant ships from Ryukyu and Siam (Thailand), having heard the rumors, also visited Mokpo Naval Base.

In this process, the merchant ships from Siam, or more precisely, the Siamese Kingdom of Ayutthaya, stood out.

It was a country that had visited once during King Taejo’s era, but had not maintained diplomatic relations as it was thought there would be no particular benefit.

Thailand’s main products were raw logs and resin of sappanwood and agarwood.

Sappanwood was used as a raw material for red or purple dye, agarwood logs were used to make incense, and its resin was a material used in fragrances and medicines.

Until now, these were mainly obtained through intermediary trade via Ming merchants, but direct trade was established as Siam sent merchant ships directly.

These foreign merchant ships visiting Joseon were good prey for pirates. However, there were no pirates who dared to approach within two days’ distance from Joseon and Kyushu.

That inner area was the domain of the Haeung-class high-speed warships.

Therefore, pirates waited for opportunities on the outskirts of this domain. However, the captains operating the merchant ships were not to be underestimated.

They moved in sync with the departure times of Joseon’s Challenger-class ships.

As long as the Challenger-class warships were holding the line, pirates could not recklessly touch the merchant ships.

* * *

While Joseon’s West Sea and South Sea were bustling with activity, the East Sea region of Joseon was relatively quiet.

At Dongbinghang – the place that would have been called Vladivostok before Hyang’s intervention – Challenger-class warships and Haeung-class warships were being built using timber harvested from nearby coniferous forests.

The nearby conifers had hard and dense wood, making them optimal materials for shipbuilding.

Moreover, as most of them grew straight, they were also excellent as building materials.

Soon, the newly built Challenger-class and Haeung-class warships’ first mission became heading to Wonsan, fully loaded with timber.

In this process, Joseon recorded another ‘world first’.

-The first country in the world to start a ‘systematic’ afforestation project.

“Although the scale of those coniferous forests is enormous, if we log indiscriminately, we will soon see their end. Therefore, we must raise healthy saplings to fill the places where trees have been cut down. This is for our future generations, so it must never be done carelessly.”

Following King Sejong’s order – of course, with Hyang laying the groundwork – a systematic afforestation project was initiated.

It wasn’t that there were no afforestation projects before Sejong.

Efforts had been made to preserve forestry resources since the Three Kingdoms period. These were artificial afforestation areas called Imsu.

However, Sejong’s policy received the title of ‘world’s first’ because it was the first to publicly declare that its purpose was the preservation of resources.

* * *

Apart from the active movement between Dongbinghang and Wonsan, the East Sea had become quite quiet.

Other than Haeung-class warships patrolling up to the vicinity of Mureungdo (Ulleungdo) and Usando (Dokdo) to prevent the entry of Japanese fishermen or pirates, there was only the regular ship traveling to and from Daeseoldo (Hokkaido in the history before Hyang’s intervention).

Exploration of the north and east beyond that had been temporarily suspended due to manpower shortage.

“For now, let’s focus on fully incorporating Daeseoldo into Joseon’s territory.”

King Sejong concluded with a face full of regret, and there were no ministers opposing this.

* * *

There was considerable difficulty in naming Daeseoldo.

The first candidate name was ‘Apwaedo’ (Island Suppressing the Japanese), proposed by Heo Jo.

It was a name given with the meaning of ‘pressing down on the heads of the Japanese’, but soon other ministers expressed their disapproval.

“It’s a name that feels satisfying, but it’s problematic diplomatically. Let’s choose another name.”

“Do we have to consider the feelings of those Japanese bastards?”

“It’s because those bastards won’t just sit quietly!”

“Huh~. Now we even have to consider the feelings of those Japanese bastards!”

“We should teach them a lesson when the time comes, but let’s not give them an excuse!”

After such a heated debate, King Sejong made the decision.

“I don’t like the Japanese either, but there are many Japanese who maintain good relations with our Joseon, so I think it’s better to avoid too aggressive a name.”

Following Sejong’s decision, the island was named ‘Daeseoldo’ (Great Snow Island) as a kind of conciliatory measure.

* * *

To fully incorporate Daeseoldo into Joseon’s territory, what Joseon chose was the ‘government monopoly store’.

The Ainu people, the native inhabitants of Daeseoldo, were in a situation where everything was lacking.

Hunting, gathering, and primitive agriculture alone could not meet all their needs.

Therefore, the government monopoly store located in the Joseon residential area was a dream place for the Ainu people.

An official dispatched from Joseon told an Ainu who could communicate through writing about the conditions for using the government monopoly store.

-You can use it if you become a subject of Joseon.

-What does it mean to become a subject of Joseon?

-You need to obey the orders of His Majesty and follow Joseon’s laws.

-Are there any other conditions besides that?

-Customs that violate etiquette are prohibited.

-I will discuss this with my clan.

Through this process, a small number of Ainu gradually pledged allegiance to Joseon.

Ainu who pledged allegiance to Joseon were issued identity tags, and in this process, many laughable incidents occurred.

It was in the process of recording the names of the Ainu.

It was not an easy task to transcribe names created in the native Ainu language into Chinese characters phonetically.

* * *

In any case, the absorption of the Ainu through the medium of the government monopoly store proceeded smoothly.

This was because not only did the Ainu who had pledged allegiance suffer no particular harm, but other Ainu also began to pledge allegiance to Joseon after seeing them freely use the government monopoly store.

Hyang, who had been listening to the report beside Sejong, muttered with an evil smile in his own room.

“Rule by virtue is good, but rule by money is even better… It’s no wonder the Chinese called it ‘the capitalism of all evils’.”

* * *

What the Ainu bought at the government monopoly store were not luxury items, but necessities such as cloth, grains, salt, and sugar.

In the process of obtaining these necessities, the Ainu experienced a powerful culture shock, and the item that caused this shock was salt.

“I’d like to buy some of that salt…”

When an Ainu visiting the government monopoly store stated his business in halting Korean, the store official asked a question.

“You want salt? What kind of salt?”

At the official’s question, the Ainu asked back with a puzzled expression.

“What kind of salt?”

Seeing the Ainu’s expression, the official guided him to one side.

Moving to a counter on one side, the official stretched out his arm and asked again.

“What kind of salt do you want?”

“Eh?”

The Ainu blinked his wide-open eyes and looked again at the scene before him.

There were at least 10 different types of salt of various colors displayed. Looking at the Ainu, the official continued speaking.

“If you’re simply looking for a salty taste, you can buy the cheapest sun-dried salt over there, and if you want a more sophisticated taste, you can buy this boiled salt here. We have everything from the most basic clear roasted salt to medicinal salt used in porridge for patients with stomach aches or colds. Which one do you want?”

The Ainu could only open and close his mouth at the official’s explanation and the spectacle before his eyes.

* * *

The diversification of Joseon’s boiled salt was, of course, due to Hyang’s obsession.

In the early days of his reign, Sejong had decided to convert all private salt production to government salt production and was strongly pushing for this.

This was because the profits that salt makers were making from selling salt, one of the necessities for human life, were enormous.

Therefore, it was to secure finances while converting private salt to government salt.

Naturally, the resistance from salt makers was fierce.

Many salt makers fled from their designated workplaces and frequently made and sold salt secretly.

However, Sejong consistently pushed for government salt production.

Watching this scene from the side, Hyang had to ponder with a troubled face.

“It’s a cliché, but you know… I’m reluctant about sun-dried salt too.”

When living as Jinho in the 21st century, Jinho’s family used refined salt and rock salt.

They used refined salt for making kimchi and rock salt for other cooking.

When Jinho asked the reason, his mother had said with an embarrassed smile:

“Well? These days, I just don’t feel attached to sun-dried salt. There was a lot of talk about salt farm slaves and such for a while, wasn’t there?”

Perhaps because of that, Hyang felt considerable aversion to sun-dried salt, both when living as Jinho and now as Hyang.

“But boiled salt has many problems too…”

According to Hyang’s research, boiled salt was being made all along the coast of Joseon.

In the West Sea and South Sea, they made it by trapping seawater in tidal flats, then evaporating it, and then mixing the mudflat soil with seawater again to increase the salt concentration before boiling the brine. In the East Sea, they simply mixed seawater fetched from the sea with soil or sand, went through a similar process, and then boiled it.

The problem was that the method using mudflat soil was difficult to escape from the issue of impurities.

Especially in the case of the West Sea, with the influx of water from the Yellow River, there were many impurities and the salt concentration was low, making it a product that required a lot of work.

However, the East Sea was more free from the impurity problem.

If you went out on a boat for just 15 minutes, you could fill it with as much clear seawater as you wanted.

Even without going out on a boat, if you went out just a little, you could obtain clear, high-salinity seawater in abundance.

The biggest problem with boiled salt from the East Sea was that to be sold in large markets, it had to cross the Baekdudaegan mountain range.

Naturally, it could only be expensive with added transportation costs, and in other regions, only those with means could obtain and use boiled salt from the East Sea.

“There are many problems here and there, but still, boiled salt suits my taste better. If we use coal, the fuel problem can be solved too. Of course, if we consider cost-effectiveness, sun-dried salt would be the clear winner, but…”

Hyang trailed off, seemingly unsatisfied with something.

“This cost-effectiveness is bothering me… Should we go for a two-track approach with this too? Oh! We could entrust sun-dried salt production to suitable people, make it an ultra-low-price product for really struggling people, and sell it abroad to Japan or other places to make money. Then we could use that money for boiled salt… as a mid-to-high-end product. Yes… This would be good.”

Hyang smiled contentedly, having planned to sell sun-dried salt abroad and focus on boiled salt with the money earned.

The truth was that Hyang preferred boiled salt because there were more things to obsess over compared to sun-dried salt.

* * *

Note 1) Historical study on the exchange with Thailand around the founding of the Joseon Dynasty. Jo Heung-guk. Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies, Pusan National University.

Note 2) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Forestry entry.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0047546

Note 3) The basis for referring to Usando as Dokdo is referenced from this material.

The Truth about Dokdo. Sejong University Dokdo Research Institute.

http://www.dokdoandeastasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/독도의-진실-1_우산국과-우산도.pdf

Chapter 368
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (2)

Having made his decision, Hyang immediately drafted a proposal and submitted it to King Sejong.

After reading Hyang’s proposal, Sejong began to question him.

“Sun-dried salt? Judging by the name and content, it seems to be making salt using the sun’s rays, but is this possible?”

“I believe it’s entirely possible. As I’ve written in the latter part, I’ve even conducted experiments.”

To convince not only Sejong but also the ministers, Hyang had attached records of the experimental process and its results.

“‘When paper soaked in brine was dried in the sun, salt remained on the paper’…How did you come up with such an idea?”

“When cleaning the research institute and Area 51, I thought of it while watching water sprinkled on the ground dry up.”

“Hmm…”

After carefully examining the report once more, Sejong looked at Hyang.

“While it could be beneficial in reducing the effort of making brine in tidal flats and cutting fuel costs, the costs of constructing facilities and labor are considerable. Weighing these pros and cons, do you really think sun-dried salt will be useful?”

“We’ll need to verify it in practice, but I believe it’s entirely possible.”

At Hyang’s assertion, Sejong brought this up at the morning assembly.

“Indeed, boiled salt requires a lot of labor and fuel. It seems there would be no loss in trying to verify this in practice.”

At Lee Jik’s statement, summarizing the ministers’ opinions, Sejong firmed his resolve.

“Since you all think so, let’s give it a try.”

* * *

Thus, an experimental sun-dried salt field was created on Ganghwa Island.

About two weeks after the salt field was created and seawater was drawn into the primary reservoir, the first results arrived at Gyeongbok Palace along with a report.

“I will taste it, so bring it here.”

Following Sejong’s order, a porcelain plate heaped with white salt was brought into Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Tasting a bit with his fingertip, Sejong’s expression soured.

“It’s salty, but the bitter taste is even stronger. You all taste it too.”

Following Sejong’s order, the ministers who tasted the sun-dried salt all made similar expressions to Sejong.

“Hmm…”

Having read the report that came with the sun-dried salt, Sejong fell into contemplation. No, not just Sejong, but all the ministers had similar expressions.

To their palates, accustomed to boiled salt all this time, sun-dried salt was not a good product.

The report also pointed out this issue as the most serious problem. Of course, there was a sentence following stating “It is said that the taste improves after aging for a few years to remove the bitterness,” but somehow it didn’t resonate. It was because of the bitter taste that had left such a strong first impression.

However, sun-dried salt had a powerful advantage that offset this drawback.

It was its overwhelming cost-effectiveness.

The process of producing boiled salt required skilled artisans to be involved from start to finish. Due to the wages of these artisans and fuel costs, boiled salt was quite an expensive item.

However, sun-dried salt didn’t require as many of these artisans. Sun-dried salt was a product that could be produced without any issues even with a composition of a few artisans and many unskilled workers.

“Call the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eventually, Sejong called for Hyang.

Entering Geunjeongjeon Hall at Sejong’s summons, Hyang tasted the sun-dried salt and slightly furrowed his brow. Seeing this, Sejong spoke.

“As you can tell from tasting it, its flavor is much inferior to boiled salt. No, the saltiness isn’t less, but the bitterness is too strong. Do you still insist that we should produce and sell this?”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s firm answer, Sejong couldn’t hide his curiosity.

“Why? No matter how precious salt is, the people will complain.”

To Sejong’s point, Hyang explained the reason.

“The very fact that salt is precious is the reason why we should produce and sell sun-dried salt. Isn’t the name ‘salt’ itself meant to mean ‘white (素) gold (金)’? Although the people’s livelihoods are gradually improving through the Reformation Plan that Your Majesty is implementing, there are still many struggling people. To allow even such people to taste salt, sun-dried salt is absolutely necessary. And this sun-dried salt will stimulate people’s desire for improvement.”

“Stimulate desire for improvement?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang answered with a slight smile.

“Yes. What is the biggest reason people accumulate wealth? Isn’t it to live in luxury? Even if it’s just to eat better salt, people will work hard.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers unknowingly nodded.

‘That might be true!’

Hyang continued to emphasize the necessity of sun-dried salt.

“This sun-dried salt is not only for the struggling people who can’t even afford to buy salt properly, but we should also target those Japanese.”

“The Japanese…”

As Hyang mentioned ‘the Japanese’, Sejong pondered for a moment and then nodded.

“I see. The Japanese need to eat salt too.”

“Yes. We can’t compete with Ming, which already overflows with all kinds of salt including rock salt, but it’s not the same with the Japanese, is it? It will be a sufficient market.”

“I see.”

Nodding, Sejong asked Hyang again.

“Then we should go with a dual system of sun-dried salt and boiled salt?”

“Yes. It seems good to guide consumption so that the struggling people use sun-dried salt, while those who are somewhat better off use boiled salt.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong turned to Kim Jeom.

“What do you think?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately answered.

“I think it’s an excellent method, Your Majesty!”

Thus, it was concluded to produce both sun-dried salt and boiled salt.

* * *

As soon as one agenda was decided, Hyang, as if he had been waiting, presented another agenda.

“Since we’re on the topic of boiled salt, there’s something I’d like Your Majesty’s approval for.”

“What is it?”

As soon as Hyang’s words came out, Sejong and the ministers tensed up but soon resigned themselves.

As with the case of sun-dried salt, none of the policies Hyang presented were easy. They wanted to refuse because of this, but they had experienced that they eventually had to accept them because their effectiveness was certain.

“Salt can only be obtained through government monopoly stores anyway. Then, how about gathering salt makers from all over Joseon in one area?”

“Gather them in one area?”

“Yes, if we gather salt makers in one area and have them produce, it will be easier to manage production, storage, and transportation. Also, we can create jobs for people by creating a salt production complex in areas where people are struggling due to harsher environments compared to other regions.”

“Hmm…”

Mulling over Hyang’s words, Sejong asked him.

“Gangwon Province would be good, wouldn’t it?”

“I recommend Gangwon Province and Hamgil Province. Both regions have harsh environments, making people’s livelihoods difficult. Moreover, they are close to coal mines, making fuel supply easy.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong started to make various calculations.

‘Not bad.’

When it came to harshness, Gangwon Province was second to none.

Gangwon Province was the first place where news of starvation deaths was heard when there was a bad harvest.

Hamgil Province was in a similar situation.

Finally, Sejong made a decision.

“The Crown Prince’s plan seems good, so devise policies based on this.”

“I receive your command!”

* * *

Following Sejong’s decision, salt makers from all over Joseon moved to Gangwon Province and Hamgil Province.

“There’s no space to make salt fields…”

The salt makers were perplexed by the East Sea’s environment, different from the West Sea and South Sea with their wide tidal flats, but they soon adapted.

It wasn’t unfamiliar to make salt by directly boiling seawater.

In addition, Hyang created and distributed new tools for roasting salt.

The new tools Hyang created were a wide, flat pot made of steel and a rake powered by animal strength.

When large jars filled with clear seawater from the East Sea were poured into the pot, the artisans lit fires in the furnace. The fuel used to boil the seawater in the pot was anthracite coal. Although it was difficult to light at first, once properly lit, anthracite provided strong heat. And true to its name of “smokeless”, it produced little smoke.

When the seawater began to boil in the wide, flat pot with a diameter of almost 3 meters, the artisans tied an ox, horse, or donkey to a large cogwheel in the yard to move it.

As the cogwheel turned, the power transmitted through the connected axis began to slowly turn the rake.

Salt crystals gathered along the slowly turning rake, and the artisans collected this salt and moved it to the drying room.

Through these tools created and distributed by Hyang, the productivity of boiled salt also began to increase greatly.

* * *

While monopolizing salt through government monopoly stores, Sejong abolished the public salt system. Although sales were through a single channel of government monopoly stores, the salt makers held the right to set prices. And to prevent misunderstandings between the monopoly stores and salt makers, trademark registration followed.

Salt makers registered trademarks individually or in groups, set prices, and then supplied to the monopoly stores.

Although there were various trademarks, all products were the same clear boiled salt, so the quality was similar, and the prices were also similar.

Therefore, after some time passed, salt makers who were pondering how to gain more profit began to appear.

“No matter how much I, an ignorant person, think…”

Unable to find a suitable answer no matter how much they thought, the salt makers blamed their own hard heads and sought out officials – connections made during the supply process – with whom they had built friendships.

“You want to earn more money?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hmm…”

Most of the officials who received inquiries from the salt makers gave similar answers.

“Wouldn’t the orthodox way be to make the salt pans a bit bigger?”

“Aren’t salt pans money-eating monsters, sir? And if everyone increases their size, the price of salt will become cheaper.”

“It’s not easy…”

The officials, who were contemplating with troubled faces, soon found a method.

“I’ll ask His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At the officials’ words, the salt makers turned pale.

“What? His Highness the Crown Prince? Won’t we be punished for being presumptuous, us lowly people? No! It’s fine!”

At the salt makers’ reaction, the officials smiled slightly and soothed them.

“If it’s His Highness, he’ll probably be pleased and find it interesting.”

“Really?”

When the salt makers asked with dubious faces, the officials trailed off.

“Probably…?”

* * *

Receiving the salt makers’ petition through the officials, Hyang smiled with satisfaction.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for!”

Hyang immediately wrote an answer and sent it back with the officials.

The officials who received the answer from Hyang gathered the artisans.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has given an answer. Let’s see… His Highness wrote, ‘Give boiled salt a unique character.’ “

“A unique character?”

“That’s right. He said you could mix things that are good for people or that help with flavor into the salt. He even gave an example. Pine flower salt?”

“Aha!”

The artisans immediately understood the official’s words.

When salt was roasted while pine pollen was flying, the pollen mixed in. This created a salt with a sweet flavor, which could be sold at a higher price than ordinary boiled salt.

“That’s right! Thank you, sir!”

“Don’t thank me, thank His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Yes. Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

* * *

Thus, the salt makers began to make all sorts of attempts to increase added value.

They added pine pollen collected when pine flowers were flying, or added mugwort or minced garlic when boiling seawater.

The salt made this way began to sell at higher prices due to its unique flavor.

Encouraged by these positive results, the salt makers made even bolder attempts, such as roasting salt with water boiled with medicinal ingredients prescribed for common ailments like stomachaches or colds.

The boiled salts released into the market through this process became popular. It became commonplace for even the poorest households to have at least a little of this functional salt.

As a result, by the end of the Reformation Plan, there were over 10 different types of boiled salt.

And these functional salts became a big hit not only in Joseon but also in Ming and Japan.

“Bravo!”

It was such a big hit that Kim Jeom, upon receiving the report, unknowingly shouted “Bravo!”

* * *

Note 1) The etymology of ‘salt’ (소금). Jungbu Maeil Newspaper. 2003.12.01.

http://www.jbnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=95305

Chapter 369
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (3)

Although it was decided to officially use Hunminjeongeum from the fall semester of the following year, there were quite a few who started using it early.

Those who pioneered the early use of Hunminjeongeum were officials from the General Affairs and Education Departments, as well as those working in the research institute and Area 51.

The reason officials from the General Affairs and Education Departments learned and used Hunminjeongeum was to prepare for its official promulgation, education, and use next year.

“We need to prepare personnel to educate officials in local government offices, and identify and supplement potential problems that may arise from early use…”

“The problem is that we now have more work to do because of this…”

“Living on a government salary is really…”

“At least it’s fortunate that learning and using it is easy. If it were difficult, I would have submitted my resignation. Really…”

While grumbling and complaining like this, the officials worked on supplementing issues that arose from using Hunminjeongeum.

Of course, it was inevitable that both exclamations of admiration and curses would slip out during this process.

The admiration came from the fact that Sejong had already predicted such problems would occur, and the curses came from the fact that he had left the choice of solutions to the officials.

The easiest example was the problem of ‘homonyms’ (words that sound the same but have different meanings).

When drafting official documents, there were often cases where words with the same pronunciation but different meanings came together. Or, there were cases where the meaning of a sentence could change completely depending on how a word was interpreted.

“How should we solve this problem…”

To find a solution, officials either flipped through the Haerye edition or racked their brains.

Just in case, officials who were flipping through the Haerye edition cursed when they saw the table of contents – something that hadn’t been in books until then – on the page right after the cover.

“Damn it!”

‘Chapter 4. Problems of Composition and Comprehension’

And right below that, ‘Homonyms’ was clearly written as an item.

The officials who hurriedly found the relevant section had to frown once again.

-Hunminjeongeum, being a phonetic script, has the problem of homonyms. A simple example is that even if it’s written as ‘jeonjinhada’, the meaning of the entire sentence changes depending on whether it means ‘前進 (moving forward)’ or ‘轉進 (changing course and advancing)’.

There are several ways to solve this.

One, always write in Hanja.

Two, write both Hunminjeongeum and Hanja together.

Three, use only Hunminjeongeum as the meaning can be understood from the context of the sentence.

Choose one of these three options or consider if there is a better option. Those who come up with a better option, I (余) will remember.

Seeing the last sentence, the officials shouted simultaneously.

“What the hell!”

They were flabbergasted by the words so casually written by a king who didn’t even seem to be the same kind of human as them.

‘He found all the potential problems, even made choices, and now he’s telling us to come up with new solutions?’

The deflated officials unknowingly muttered.

“What sin did I commit in my past life…”

The officials who were grumbling with lost energy suddenly lit up their eyes and started transcribing documents.

‘If by any chance! If I get it right, it could be a life-changing opportunity!’

* * *

However, no matter how hard they tried, this was a situation where King Sejong – with Hyang as an option – had deliberately created it and prepared for expected problems with appropriate choices.

The officials who encountered Hunminjeongeum desperately racked their brains, but they couldn’t get out of the range Sejong had envisioned.

“So in the end, we have to choose one of the alternatives His Majesty suggested?”

“Probably…”

Although they reached a conclusion, the officials couldn’t easily make a choice.

This was because they couldn’t be confident that the alternative they chose would be the ‘correct answer’ Sejong had in mind.

It was the same for the ministers. If they made a wrong judgment and chose the wrong answer, they were sure to hear that unpleasant tongue-clicking sound.

Eventually, the ministers sought out Hyang.

When he heard the ministers’ business, Hyang unknowingly clicked his tongue.

“Tsk!”

At Hyang’s tongue-clicking, the ministers momentarily felt upset, but there was nothing they could do.

‘Ah! That damn tongue-clicking sound!’

‘This father and son really… I might really quit!’

Although they were cursing all sorts of things inside, outwardly the ministers were bowing their heads.

“No matter how much we think about it, they all seem like correct answers.”

“They are all correct answers, though?”

“Pardon?”

Hearing Hyang’s answer, all the ministers looked at him with wide eyes.

Seeing the ministers like this, Hyang continued.

“Hunminjeongeum is a newly created writing system. So we can’t know what’s right and what’s wrong. The various ministers and officials need to use it, the people need to use it, and we need to revise it as we go. The problems His Majesty pointed out are what he expected to occur in the process of moving away from the familiar Hanja, and those are just alternatives. So how could there be a correct answer?”

“Ah…”

“If we apply and use all the given alternatives, the most suitable method will naturally be selected. Or a completely unexpected new alternative might appear. His Majesty wrote that way because he wants the officials to do their best in learning and using Hunminjeongeum.”

“Ah…”

‘Was it bait? Were we hooked?’

As if knowing the ministers’ thoughts, Hyang immediately added.

“Of course, if someone actually comes up with a new alternative or finds a problem, His Majesty would take a deep interest.”

Finally, having learned through Hyang what Sejong wanted, the ministers bowed and retreated.

“Wait, it might be presumptuous of me, still young, to say this, but there’s a saying among those Westerners: ‘The only real failure is the failure to learn from failure.'”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers bowed their heads and replied.

“We are grateful for such valuable advice.”

After leaving Hyang’s office, all the ministers sighed.

“Hah~. That father and son…”

Anyway, the ministers informed their subordinate officials of Hyang’s advice. The officials who heard the advice began to use Hunminjeongeum more actively. As they used Hunminjeongeum more actively, their understanding rapidly increased, and they gradually found solutions to problems arising from transcribing Chinese texts.

* * *

As the system of Hunminjeongeum was settling in this way, places began to appear where Hunminjeongeum was used more actively than Hanja.

One was the military, another was among the Jurchen people and in Daeseoldo, and the last was the research institute.

All three had reasons why this had to be the case.

First, in the case of the military, it was the place with the lowest level of humanities education. Of course, there were people like Choi Hae-san or Lee Chun who had considerable humanities knowledge – with science or engineering knowledge as an option – in addition to military capabilities, but excluding those who had transferred from civil service – typically Jo Mal-saeng – the level of humanities education was poor.

Of course, high-ranking military officers who had passed the military service examination were somewhat okay as they had to read military books, but the humanities education of mid to low-ranking officers like Gapsa, who had entered through talent selection, was terrible.

Therefore, Hunminjeongeum was very welcome to these people. There was almost no inconvenience in writing reports, drafting orders, or reading received orders.

In the end, those who had suffered various grievances – especially in terms of promotion – due to character problems raised both arms towards Hanseong and shouted “Long live!”

“Long live His Majesty! Long live! Long live!”

Besides easing the grievances of these less educated military officers, Hunminjeongeum showed its power in another area, which was communication.

The combination of the light communication network installed thanks to Hyang’s obsession and Hunminjeongeum was like “giving wings to a heavenly horse”.

With the existing number code, the amount of information that could be transmitted was limited.

However, as soon as Hunminjeongeum appeared, Hyang created a Hangul code. By assigning 4 digits each to initial consonants, vowels, and final consonants, the combined light signals could transmit slightly more detailed information faster than before.

Of course, it was still the same that truly detailed and accurate information was handled by relay runners, but still, they could receive urgent news in more detail compared to before.

* * *

The case of the Jurchen people was a bit unusual. The Jurchen people had Jurchen script created during the old Jin dynasty era.

However, as it was a script based on Chinese characters, it wasn’t a script that could be used comfortably. In the end, by the present day, only a few Jurchen nobles were learning it.

In this situation, ordinary Jurchen people found Hunminjeongeum easier to use and had no reluctance in accepting it.

“We’re Joseon people anyway, so what!”

In the process of using Hunminjeongeum to record the Jurchen language, a chain reaction occurred: the Jurchen people who had submitted to Joseon learned the Korean language more quickly.

It was a chain effect brought about by the advantage of being able to read with their eyes, not just hear and speak.

* * *

The same was true in Daeseoldo.

The situation was even worse for the Ainu people of Daeseoldo, as their history and myths had all been passed down orally.

Of course, there were attempts to record documents using hiragana, katakana, or Chinese characters used by the Japanese, but most ended in failure.

It was impossible to accurately record Ainu pronunciations with hiragana or katakana. Using Chinese characters failed because there weren’t people with good enough Chinese character skills to that degree.

In this context, Hunminjeongeum, which Joseon people had been using recently, was the best script for recording their traditions in writing.

It could transcribe their language almost without error, and Ainu people who knew Hunminjeongeum could understand properly just by reading those sentences.

As a result, Ainu people who had submitted to Joseon couldn’t help but show more favor towards Joseon.

* * *

“What interesting people.”

Hakumakkuru, who had bought salt and some medicinal ingredients from the government monopoly store and came out, muttered as he watched Joseon people passing in front of him.

Since Joseon set foot on Daeseoldo, the number of Joseon people had been gradually increasing.

Most of these were soldiers and miners, and their families.

Having learned that the natural environment of Daeseoldo was not easy to deal with, Joseon was cautious about population relocation.

After observing the Ainu people, the Joseon court learned that agriculture was possible and recruited those who would serve their military service as garrison farmers in Daeseoldo.

‘Income from garrison farms cultivated while serving in Daeseoldo will be recognized as additional income, not as part of the salary.’

At the court’s announcement, many soldiers volunteered for service in Daeseoldo. Since military deployment was essential now that Daeseoldo had become Joseon territory, they aimed for additional income.

These people could live as garrison farmers in Daeseoldo during their mandatory military service period and then return home, or they could settle in Daeseoldo. If they settled, they could receive tax benefits and rent – after the Giyou Rebellion, Joseon nationalized most of its land based on the concept of royal land – overwhelmingly larger lands than those who had relocated to Jurchen areas.

While these dispatched soldiers and their families formed one axis, the other axis was the miners.

The miners who entered Daeseoldo were extracting sulfur and coal.

Among the information obtained from the Ainu people of Daeseoldo, Hyang immediately ran to Sejong when he confirmed information about sulfur hot springs.

The survey team, which began investigation by Sejong’s order, was able to find a large sulfur hot spring in a place the Ainu people called Hell Valley.

Seeing the sulfur heavily coagulated on the rocks near the hot spring, the survey team hurriedly wrote a report and returned to Joseon.

After confirming the survey team’s report, Sejong sent miners to Daeseoldo without a second word.

This was because they could solve the sulfur shortage problem that had remained unsolved until then.

Chapter 370
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (4)

Coal was discovered by chance during these investigations.

Prospectors were dispatched to Daeseoldo to determine if there were any economically viable sulfur hot springs or sulfur mines other than Hell Valley.

The prospectors, accompanied by a considerable escort force to guard against predators and hostile Ainu tribes, began to search various parts of Daeseoldo.

Among these, a coal vein was discovered near a place called Otaornai (Otaru) in the Ainu language.

‘The quality is excellent, and coal extraction is somewhat easier compared to Gangwon Province.’

Upon receiving the report, Sejong immediately summoned his ministers to gather opinions.

“As more and more coal is needed for various industries, including iron manufacturing, and coal is used in large quantities for heating homes, I think it’s right to mine it.”

As the ministers’ opinions converged on development, Sejong ordered the development of the mine.

Consequently, many miners began crossing the sea to Daeseoldo. Although the perception was poor due to most serious criminals serving labor in mines, the salary that properly employed miners received was quite high, so the number of people who left for Daeseoldo was considerable.

Before long, a significant number of Ainu people began working in the mines of Daeseoldo. This was because working in the mines provided a steady income compared to dangerous hunting or low-yield farming. And since the pay was not meager but equal to that of Joseon people, the families of miners could live much more abundantly compared to other Ainu people.

In this process, the relationship between the Ainu people and Joseon people began to grow closer little by little.

The Ainu people and Joseon people observed each other with curious eyes.

In this process, Joseon people evaluated the Ainu people like this:

“They’re innocent and kind, but not very interesting.”

On the other hand, the Ainu people’s evaluation of Joseon people was almost identical to Hakumakkuru’s.

“What interesting humans.”

The Joseon people that the Ainu saw were truly interesting.

When working, they worked truly diligently, but when playing, they played wildly and excitedly. When necessary, they were politely respectful, but when they became close, they were rudely disrespectful to the point of almost provoking anger.

Joseon soldiers were the same. Usually, they lived gently, but when Japanese pirates invaded or hostile Ainu tribes attacked, they fought with ghost-like faces.

Every time the iron clubs, seemingly imbued with the energy of lightning struck by Kandakorokamui (the sky god), spewed fire, the blood of enemies formed streams.

The Joseon soldiers with these terrifying iron clubs and ghost-like faces drove the enemies until they all died or surrendered.

Watching the behavior of these Joseon people, all the Ainu people came to a similar conclusion.

“They’re just like bears.”

The Joseon people were like bears, seemingly gentle and docile usually, but once they turned ferocious, they transformed into messengers of death.

To add, among the reasons they were seen as bear-like was also the Joseon people’s big appetite and crazy preference for meat.

“They eat like bears too.”

* * *

The government monopoly store official burst into laughter when he heard this story from an Ainu person he had become friendly with.

“Hahaha! That sounds plausible? Maybe we are bears. We have the blood of Ungnyeo (Bear Woman) mixed in, after all!”

“Ungnyeo?”

The government monopoly store official explained the Dangun myth to the Ainu person.

After hearing the official’s story, the Ainu person nodded.

“That really does sound plausible.”

At that very moment, a loud bell rang from the watchtower on the bamboo-reinforced concrete wall surrounding the village.

Ding ding ding!

“It’s here~!”

At the shout of the sentry in the watchtower, soldiers standing guard around the gate grabbed their muskets and ran out.

A moment later.

Bang! Ratatang! Bang!

Loud gunshots rang out. And not long after, a large cart went out.

Soon after, a bear carcass with an enormous body was brought in on the cart.

The body was so big that only the trunk was on the cart, with the head and legs drooping outside the cart. Around the bear carcass, soldiers with muskets slung over their shoulders were walking along with grinning faces.

* * *

The most common and dangerous predator in Daeseoldo was the bear. Therefore, since setting foot on Daeseoldo, Joseon troops had to hunt many bears.

When the number of bears caught like this quickly approached a hundred, Sejong issued a royal order.

-Bear hunting is prohibited except for bears coming down to civilian houses!

For Joseon people, living in harmony was not just about humans. Just as they left persimmons at the top of persimmon trees as “magpie food,” wild animals and plants were also included in the category of this harmony.

Therefore, the policy regarding predators was not to actively hunt them unless they came down to civilian houses and caused harm. However, if harm was received, they hunted the predators with full force.

This is why the saying arose that “For half the year in Joseon, tigers hunt people, and for the other half, people hunt tigers.”

Of course, Sejong issued this order not only out of concern for indiscriminate overhunting but also to prevent negligence in defense due to being preoccupied with hunting.

Anyway, because of this order, an implicit rule was created that in cases like this where a bear appeared, it was handled by the soldiers on duty at the entrance of the village.

And it was also an implicit rule that if money was made in this way, a certain reward was given to the soldiers who alerted the situation from the watchtower.

* * *

“Wow! Look at the size!”

“With that size, the gallbladder must be huge too!”

“Is the gallbladder the only issue? For bears or tigers, everything from the skin to the claws is money, money!”

“Those guys are going to make a fortune!”

The Joseon people and soldiers watching from around all looked at the lucky protagonists with envious eyes.

The Ainu person, who had been watching the bear carcass moving on the cart and the Joseon soldiers, turned to look at the government monopoly store official.

“Didn’t you say they were descendants of bears?”

* * *

Lastly, the research institute, where Hunminjeongeum was also welcomed, had unavoidable circumstances as well.

The most internationalized place in current Joseon was the research institute.

Not only were there Joseon researchers, but also people from Arab countries, Italy, and Greece gathered there, so it was natural that communication problems arose due to language.

In the case of Arab people, like Hassan, they had resided in Joseon for a long time, so there wasn’t much problem with language communication, but the researchers from Italy and Greece who had most recently entered Joseon were the problem.

“First, learn Joseon’s language and Chinese characters.”

Because of Hyang’s order, they started learning Korean and Chinese characters, but it wasn’t easy to learn a foreign language where everything was different, starting from the grammar book.

Therefore, Hyang had to propose a compromise to lower the hurdle a bit.

“Learn only the minimum etiquette necessary for conversation. And for writing… do your best.”

Due to Hyang’s measure, the monks and alchemists could work with only minimal etiquette learned, pushing back etiquette related to honorifics and titles starting with the rule of respecting superiors.

However, Chinese characters, which were essential for document writing, couldn’t be like that. The number of advanced Chinese characters that go into theses and reports, not just simple letters, was no joke. For reference, even the Arab people who were said to be familiar with Korean and Chinese characters were having difficulties in this area.

Therefore, even though monks and alchemists had arrived, progress was inevitably slow.

When a discussion on some mathematical point was held, the discussion could proceed with formulas and dialogue. However, proper discussion couldn’t proceed with just scattered words and formulas, and a well-expressed thesis organizing thoughts was absolutely necessary.

Because of this, at first, Hyang had to translate theses organized in Latin.

“Damn! I have so many things to obsess over, but I have to keep translating!”

Annoyed, Hyang mobilized newly trained interpreters for translation.

However, the translations by interpreters with shallow mathematical knowledge were full of errors.

Therefore, this kind of saying circulated among Joseon people in the research institute and Area 51.

“Which would be faster, for them to learn Korean and Chinese characters, or for us to learn Latin?”

It was in this situation that Hunminjeongeum appeared.

* * *

Joseon researchers who encountered Hunminjeongeum through Hyang and Jinpyeong cheered greatly!

“Now we can escape the trouble of looking up dictionaries!”

Even for those accustomed to writing, it wasn’t easy to find accurate Chinese characters and write with them. Hunminjeongeum, which allowed them to record their familiar words as they were, was the best gift that could prevent unnecessary mental exhaustion.

This Hunminjeongeum was also welcomed by monks and alchemists. First of all, they were accustomed to phonetic writing systems. Although the arrangement of words composing sentences was different, they could soon adapt to that part. Being able to record the Korean language they had become quite familiar with, although still awkward, directly, and being able to read and immediately understand documents written by others was also welcome to them.

As both sides became familiar with Hunminjeongeum, the work of interpreters gradually decreased. And finally, the interpreters were able to leave the research institute.

On the day they heard the order that ‘You no longer need to come to the research institute,’ the interpreters rushed to a gisaeng house as a group and held a feast.

As a postscript, these trained interpreters later played active roles in Alexandria and Europe.

And they became notorious old fogies.

“Listen! In my day! We had to translate mathematical theses! Don’t whine about mere contracts!”

Thus, it seemed that peace had come to the research institute and Area 51, but not long after, a major accident occurred where the entire research institute was split in two and collided.

* * *

It started with ‘time difference’.

In the process of sailing to Alexandria, measuring the position of the ship was a very important task. Various measuring devices were needed to measure the exact position, but the most important was the clock.

Well aware of this, Hyang instructed Jang Yeong-sil to develop a precision clock – chronometer – that moved with a spring. Until then, the clocks used by Joseon used weights and pendulums, and these types of clocks had errors due to the rocking of waves and such. That’s why he ordered the creation of a spring-driven clock.

Jang Yeong-sil, who had been deeply versed in precision technology to the extent of creating a water clock where dolls struck drums and bells to tell time and a self-moving royal palanquin – with a spring as the power source, no less – in the history before Hyang’s intervention, was able to create clocks at the level Hyang wanted by working through his subordinate craftsmen.

And these precision clocks thus created began to be loaded onto Challenger-class and Haeung-class warships.

And it was in the sailing records of these Challenger-class warships that embarked on ocean voyages with these clocks that the time difference problem began to be officially recorded.

Hyang, who confirmed the time difference problem through the sailing records, smiled wickedly.

“Shall we start setting up the board? There’s a lot more to do besides this, but if we don’t sort this out properly, there’s a high chance of problems when crossing the Pacific in the future. We need to change the seat from religion to science.”

Having made up his mind, Hyang gathered the researchers and proceeded with the work.

“Looking at the records of sailing to Alexandria, there’s a common mention that ‘the time indicated by the clock on the ship is different from the local time.'”

“Are you referring to time difference, Your Highness?”

Hyang nodded at Jeong Cho’s words.

“Yes. From what I’ve observed, if we divide the route from our Joseon to Alexandria at appropriate intervals, it seems we can calculate the time difference.”

Thinking for a moment at Hyang’s words, Jeong Cho soon nodded and continued.

“It seems possible.”

And so the research proceeded.

And as Hyang wanted, a fire pit was created.

‘Spherical Earth Theory vs. Flat Earth Theory’

‘Heliocentric Theory vs. Geocentric Theory’

It was the start of a war.

“We need popcorn, popcorn!”

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. ‘Ungnyeo’

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0040541

Chapter 371
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (5)

In the debate that ensued, the first to be eliminated were those who advocated the ‘Flat Earth Theory’.

Those who had recently entered the research institute and a group of alchemists argued for the ‘Flat Earth Theory’.

“Since ancient times, it has been said that ‘the sky is round and the earth is square.’ Isn’t the world naturally flat?”

Lee Soonji stepped forward to refute their claim.

“Don’t you remember the words of Zengzi recorded in the ‘Da Dai Liji’? Don’t tell me you haven’t read it yet?”

“Well…”

“Oh dear…”

Shaking his head, Lee Soonji continued as if admonishing them.

“The ‘Da Dai Liji’ says, ‘If the sky were truly round and the earth square, the sky would not be able to cover the four corners of the earth.’ And didn’t the Huntian theory already emerge during the Later Han dynasty?”

“That…”

“Why do you think the armillary sphere is called the Huntian Yi?”

“But didn’t the Huntian theory also state that the earth is flat?”

To the researcher’s point who argued for the flat earth theory, Lee Soonji briefly went out and came back in with dozens of books.

“These are the records we made when we first climbed the Baekdudaegan mountain range for astronomical observations. We confirmed it while observing the arc-shaped horizon of the East Sea, and not satisfied with just that, we recorded and examined the shape while documenting solar and lunar eclipses.”

As Lee Soonji’s rebuttal silenced the Joseon researchers, Marcos, an alchemist, countered.

“The ancient Greek philosopher Thales said that this world is like a round disc in the shape of a shield.”

In response to Marcos’ words, Angelo stepped forward to object.

“Thales? Have you forgotten that the great Aristotle refuted that theory? What about the illustrious Pythagoras? Didn’t those great men already prove that the earth is spherical?”

“It’s not empirical evidence!”

“Empirical evidence? Didn’t Eratosthenes already calculate the diameter of the earth? Shouldn’t we consider that empirical evidence has already been completed?”

After such an exchange, Hyang intervened.

“Then why don’t we empirically verify it ourselves?”

“Pardon?”

And so, the empirical verification proceeded. The verification was nothing more than reviewing the data accumulated so far – data from observing the horizon when climbing high mountains for astronomical observations, observational data obtained during civil engineering works such as road construction, and so on. However, the researchers debated and calculated fiercely. And as a result, a conclusion was reached.

“This world is spherical!”

* * *

Once those arguing for the ‘Flat Earth Theory’ were eliminated, now the fight between the ‘Geocentric Theory’ faction and the ‘Heliocentric Theory’ faction began.

It started, of course, with the time difference issue.

“In my opinion, the time difference problem seems to be because this world rotates.”

At Hyang’s opening statement, all researchers, both Joseon and foreign, nodded.

“That’s the most likely explanation.”

“Based on calculations centered on navigation records, if we divide the time zones at regular intervals, it will be easier to grasp the time of the corresponding regions. Of course, there will be some margin of error.”

The researchers put forward their opinions one after another based on the research results they had conducted so far.

‘Now the stage is set, and I need to throw in the spark!’

Hiding his dark intentions deep inside, Hyang continued his act nonchalantly.

“But you know, doesn’t rotation require a center?”

“Y-yes, that’s right?”

The researchers stammered in response to Hyang’s question. As they answered, the same question arose in all the researchers’ minds.

‘Why suddenly bring up the center?’

Knowing the researchers’ doubts, Hyang pointed out the main problem.

“Then where is that center? Is it this world? Or is it somewhere else?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

At Hyang’s question, the researchers momentarily fell into confusion. Shortly after, Angelo and Lee Soonji, who had escaped from the momentary cognitive dissonance, answered simultaneously.

“Of course, isn’t this world the center?”

“Of course, isn’t the sun the center?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

The two who answered looked at each other.

“Did you say the world is the center?”

“Did you say the sun is the center?”

Hearing the other’s statement that differed from their own, both shouted simultaneously.

“You’re wrong!”

And Hyang, who had caused this commotion, was doing his best to hold back his laughter.

‘It’s finally exploded!’

* * *

Thus began a fierce debate as the researchers split into factions supporting the geocentric theory and those supporting the heliocentric theory.

The researchers at the institute were divided into two factions engaged in a heated argument.

Of course, they weren’t exactly divided into just two factions. Besides the two large factions, there were also minority factions.

One was the observing faction represented by Jeong Cho and Jeong Inji.

“If we support one side, it will become a political issue, so we’ll just observe until the results come out.”

Another was the fence-sitting faction. These people moved between the two factions whenever they thought one side sounded plausible.

Another was the indifferent faction. The main proponent of this faction was Jinpyeong.

“What does it matter whether the earth rotates or the sky rotates? Just shut up and lay down railroads and research iron horses!”

Hyang gave a bitter smile at Jinpyeong’s reaction.

“This consistently single-minded guy…”

Lastly, there was Hyang.

The researchers from all factions gave Hyang a nickname.

‘The Arsonist.’

This was because he calmly observed the situation and occasionally threw in controversial topics, and each time, the two factions flared up more fiercely.

* * *

In this fierce debate between the two factions, the central focus was the ‘orbit of the sun’s movement’.

“When comparing the winter solstice and summer solstice, the sun’s altitude is extremely different. If the sun revolves around this world, this orbit cannot be explained. It’s too unreasonable.”

To Lee Soonji’s argument, Angelo immediately responded.

“According to the law discovered by the great Ptolemy, the orbit in which the stars move is…”

Angelo explained Ptolemy’s theory.

Thanks to being refined for nearly 1,300 years since Ptolemy systematized it, it showed considerable completeness.

As Lee Soonji’s side seemed to be pushed back by Angelo’s explanation, Hyang subtly intervened.

“I’ve heard your explanation well. But as I was listening, I became curious about something.”

“What are you curious about?”

To Angelo’s question, Hyang threw in another spark.

“Looking at not only the records of our Joseon’s Bureau of Astronomy but also the records of the previous dynasty…”

Hyang posed a question about ‘apparent retrograde motion’.

To Hyang’s question, Angelo answered without delay.

“Ah! That is… According to Ptolemy’s research…”

Angelo explained using the concept of epicycles. After hearing Angelo’s explanation, Hyang still wore an expression of incomprehension.

“Why is it so complicated?”

“Pardon?”

At Hyang’s question, Angelo felt confusion and wariness.

The reason Angelo became wary was that Hyang’s tone had changed.

The king and crown prince of this country called Joseon had a very peculiar speech habit.

They maintained polite manners when their subjects were working properly. However, when work wasn’t done properly, the politeness in their speech disappeared.

To be precise, they maintained basic courtesy, but respect disappeared.

As a result, it was customary for the officials of this country to immediately turn pale and check their assigned tasks when the tone of the king and crown prince changed.

For this reason, looking at Angelo’s tense face, Hyang continued.

“As far as I know, I’ve heard that truth and providence are never complicated. The ancient sages said the same thing. But the theory you’re talking about now is too complex. Isn’t this rather moving away from providence?”

‘E=mc², how simple and nice!’

To Hyang’s point, Angelo stammered in response.

“But, Ptolemy’s theory is like that, and the doctrine is also…”

“As far as I know, this Ptolemy was a person from more than 1,000 years ago. How much has the world changed since then, and how much has knowledge increased? Isn’t it right to examine everything from the beginning again?”

Feeling rather rebellious at Hyang’s point, Angelo said to Hyang.

“If that’s the case, what is Your Highness’s thought?”

At Angelo’s words, Hyang looked at Lee Soonji and continued.

“It’s a thought I had while watching the discussions so far, it’s not an exact theory but more like a concept.”

Hyang erased one side of the blackboard and picked up a chalk.

“Instead of complicating things with eccentric circles and epicycles, what if the orbit isn’t a perfect circle but an ellipse, and we place the sun at one of the two foci of this ellipse…”

As Hyang quickly drew the diagram, Lee Soonji jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“Then the problem is solved! We can create a very simple formula without epicycles or eccentric circles!”

True to his character who had argued for the spherical earth theory and heliocentric theory even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Lee Soonji immediately grasped the core.

However, Angelo couldn’t easily agree.

“But if it orbits in an elliptical path, the orbital speed must constantly change. This means that even the same 1 hour should keep changing.”

To Angelo’s point, who still couldn’t let go of the classical uniform circular motion orbit, Lee Soonji interjected.

“What if this orbit doesn’t revolve once a day, but once a year, and instead this world itself rotates once a day?”

“Then…”

At that moment, Angelo closed his mouth. If the concept of rotation was introduced, the problem of uniform motion could be solved. Looking at Angelo who suddenly closed his mouth, Lee Soonji turned to Hyang and shouted.

“This world rotates while revolving! Then everything falls into place! And if it’s an elliptical orbit! Even the parts that were difficult to explain when revising the calendar before become possible to explain and calculate!”

Lee Soonji excitedly wrote his theoretical formula all over the blackboard.

As numbers, formulas, and diagrams filled the blackboard, Lee Soonji continued his explanation with an extremely excited voice.

“…and this is how we place the sun at one of the two foci of the elliptical orbit, and this world revolves around that elliptical orbit!”

Having finished his explanation, Lee Soonji looked at Angelo.

Angelo, analyzing the formula, felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

Rationally, Hyang’s concept and Lee Soonji’s theory were more reasonable. However, emotionally, it was hard to accept.

The moment he accepted it, he felt like his belief in God that he had held until now would crumble.

In the end, Angelo had to keep finding fault.

“It’s difficult to explain the occurrence of seasons and solar terms with that theory.”

To Angelo’s point, Hyang intervened.

“What if the axis of rotation of this world isn’t standing straight but is tilted?”

“Pardon?”

To Angelo’s question, Hyang rolled a paper into a cylinder and pierced it with a gold needle.

“It’s a bit crude, but let’s say this paper is the world and this gold needle is the axis. And let’s say my left fist is the sun. If this axis rotates like this…”

Hyang explained while spinning the gold needle around his left fist.

In the end, Angelo had to concede.

“The opinion that this world revolves around the sun seems more reasonable, but according to the doctrine…”

As Angelo mentioned the doctrine, Hyang cut him off.

“Can you be certain that the providence of the God you believe in aligns with the doctrine?”

“Pardon?”

“From the scriptures and books of yours that I’ve read, it seems that what was originally passed down orally was recorded in the language of a different race, and then transcribed into Latin. Can you be confident that there wasn’t a single mistranslation in that process?”

“That…”

Angelo couldn’t answer Hyang’s question with certainty.

Seeing Angelo like this, Hyang drove the final nail.

“Let’s say the providence of the God you believe in is infallible. Can you be confident that your scriptures and doctrines are also infallible?”

In the end, Angelo and the monks had no choice but to answer that they would positively review the heliocentric theory.

* * *

Note 1) A story about ‘Round Heaven, Square Earth’ and money. Seoul Today. 2019.01.11.

http://www.sultoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=55970

Chapter 372
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (6)

A small Franciscan monastery on the outskirts of Florence.

“Brother Giovanni. A letter has arrived from Brother Angelo.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

Giovanni, taking the letter, returned to his room and sat at his desk.

Seeing the thick envelope, Giovanni sighed softly and muttered.

“I wonder how much has been redacted this time…”

* * *

The letters his friend Angelo consistently sent from Joseon gave him both joy and pain.

The stories of daily life in Joseon and its people written in the letters were full of the strangeness of a foreign land he couldn’t visit himself.

This strangeness and the academic stories obtained while researching at the institute gave him joy.

However, any sentences that might have contained even slightly important formulas or information were mercilessly blacked out.

And these blackouts gave him a thirst.

“What on earth could have been written in these hidden sentences?”

This wasn’t just Giovanni’s curiosity. The intellectuals residing in nearby Florence were the same.

After Angelo’s first letter was read at the Vatican, the intellectuals of Florence awaited Angelo’s letters as much as Giovanni did.

The letters sent by Angelo crossed the sea from Alexandria, passed through Florence, and then arrived at the monastery.

Therefore, the intellectuals of Florence knew well when a letter had arrived. As a result, about three days after the letter came into Giovanni’s hands, scholars would flock from Florence and the monastery would become bustling.

“I’m sorry for disturbing the monastery that should be quiet.”

To Giovanni’s apology, the abbot shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Aren’t they at least courteous enough not to open the seal of the letter first? We should endure this much. And… I’m curious about the contents of the letter too.”

* * *

Sighing softly, Giovanni broke the wax seal and opened the envelope.

“My dear friend Giovanni. I am still doing well, receiving the Lord’s protection…”

The front part of the letter was densely filled with content about how he was wrestling fiercely with numbers and formulas every day at the research institute in Joseon.

Reading the content full of complaints, Giovanni smiled slightly.

“This friend, he’s enjoying it.”

However, as soon as he turned to the next page, Giovanni’s eyes widened.

“They created their own script?”

-A script unique to this Joseon has been created. It’s a script that the king himself created, the crown prince assisted, and the second and third princes verified for ease of use.

I have tried using it myself, and its convenience is such that Latin cannot keep up.

This Joseon alphabet and its usage method are…

However, after that, it was densely blacked out, and the reason was written in red ink.

-The alphabet named ‘Hunminjeongeum’ has not yet been officially promulgated. Therefore, it is planned to declassify after official promulgation.

“This damn…!”

Giovanni, who unknowingly blurted out a curse, hurriedly made the sign of the cross.

After calming his mind, Giovanni examined the next page of the letter. The entire next page was blacked out.

Seeing the paper that had become completely ink-stained, Giovanni sighed and grumbled.

“Huh~. If they’re going to do this, they might as well remove it entirely… It’s not like they’re mocking people… Really, these Joseon people are diligent even in unnecessary parts…”

Grumbling, Giovanni flipped through the ink-stained papers and focused again when text reappeared.

-Ah! And we had a debate about the time difference issue confirmed as Joseon’s ships frequently traveled to Alexandria and various other countries.

In the end, after a heated debate, it was concluded that ‘the earth is round.’

“Of course it’s round. Why state the obvious…”

As Giovanni had a similar level of knowledge as Angelo, he made an expression that suggested this part was nothing special, or rather, “Only now?”

“They say Joseon’s scientific level is considerable, but it doesn’t seem like much.”

With a slightly deflated expression, Giovanni continued reading, but his face turned pale.

The following content was shocking and terrifying in itself.

-However, a heated argument broke out over the question the Crown Prince of Joseon posed next.

‘The fact that there is a time difference means that this world rotates. But what is it rotating around? Is this world the center? Or is the sun in the sky the center?’

Due to this problem, the people in the research institute were almost evenly divided, and a debate broke out.

To tell you the result first, based on astronomical records observed in Joseon, the astronomical records we brought, and data on the occurrence of solar terms and seasons, etc., after calculations…

We had to conclude that the earth rotates on its own while orbiting around the sun.

“This is insane!”

He blurted out a curse unconsciously, but Giovanni couldn’t even think of making the sign of the cross.

The content written in the letter was that shocking.

Gathering his thoughts, Giovanni carefully read the following content.

The following content detailed the process of verifying the heliocentric theory based on recorded astronomical knowledge, related formulas, and the process of debate.

After reading the contents of the letter, Giovanni picked up the pen and paper placed beside him and began to calculate the formulas.

After two days of calculation, forgetting to eat or sleep, Giovanni finally put down his pen and let out a long sigh.

“Huh~. It’s hard to refute.”

Having barely escaped from the shock of the concepts he had known until then crumbling, Giovanni tried to continue reading the letter.

Knock knock!

At that moment, the sound of knocking on the door broke Giovanni’s concentration, and he got up from his seat with an unpleasant face to open the door.

“What is it?”

Seeing Giovanni’s unpleasant expression, the young monk hurriedly stated his business.

“The abbot is worried because you’ve been skipping meals and prayer times.”

“Ah… I had something to think deeply about. Tell the abbot I’m sorry.”

“And guests have also come from Florence.”

“Tell them I’m not feeling well now and to come back in a few days. Also, convey my apologies.”

“Yes…”

After telling the young monk what to say, Giovanni immediately closed the door and sat at his desk to continue reading the letter.

* * *

Two days after that commotion, Giovanni sought out the abbot.

“Are you feeling better? I hope it’s not an illness that requires long-term treatment?”

To the abbot’s meaningful words, Giovanni also gave a meaningful answer.

“Well… I need your opinion, Father Abbot.”

“Is it that serious?”

At the abbot’s question, Giovanni took out Angelo’s letter from his bosom and held it out.

“Please read it and prescribe a treatment.”

At Giovanni’s request, the abbot’s face became serious.

Giovanni was as well-versed in the philosophy and scientific knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome as Angelo. However, there was a difference from Angelo, who had to leave Florence almost forcibly: Giovanni had political sense that Angelo lacked. That’s why Giovanni could remain in Italy.

As he read through the letter left by Angelo, the abbot’s face gradually turned pale.

The abbot, who put down the letter with slightly trembling hands, let out a long sigh.

“Huh~.”

Seeing this, Giovanni spoke up.

“The unique script of Joseon itself is not much of a problem. The problem is the theory that follows, stating ‘the earth revolves around the sun.'”

At Giovanni’s words, the abbot shook his head.

“No, that might not be a big problem either. We can just say it’s a theory from a different perspective. The problem is the sentence attached to the very last part.”

The abbot tapped his finger on the very last page of the letter.

-What the Crown Prince of Joseon said to me was shocking.

‘Are you certain that your God said the orbits of stars must be perfect circles? I’ve read your scriptures, but I couldn’t find the part where God said so.’

‘Are you confident that there isn’t a single error in the records of your God’s words during the process of oral transmission, then writing it down, and then translating it into Latin?’

‘The providence of God you believe in might be infallible, but can you be confident that the doctrine is also infallible?’

-When the Crown Prince of Joseon asked me this, I couldn’t answer confidently even once.

And neither Giovanni nor the abbot who read the letter could answer this confidently either.

“Huh~.”

Sighing deeply once again, the abbot burst out in frustration while looking at the letter.

“They blacked out other things so well! Why didn’t they black this out!”

In the letter Angelo sent this time, there were also points he felt while observing Hyang during the verification process.

-Now that I think about it, the Crown Prince of Joseon is…

And after that, nearly half a page was blacked out. That’s what the abbot was grumbling about.

* * *

With the problematic letter sent from Joseon placed between them, Giovanni and the abbot pondered a solution.

“The biggest problem is the scholars who will flock from Florence. If they know about this, there will be an uproar.”

“We can block those people with the excuse of illness, but the problem is the Vatican.”

Every time a letter from Angelo arrived, Giovanni would go to the Vatican to read it aloud.

This reading session was a mandatory event for the Pope, high-ranking priests, and leaders of nearby city-states to attend.

This was because there was tremendous interest in Joseon, which was said to be even further away than India, not to mention the Islamic countries across the sea.

“If we’re not careful, it could be seen as a serious challenge to traditional doctrine.”

“That’s right. But we can’t just skip the reading session either.”

“Should we black it out?”

“That would be a good method, but what if it’s found out?”

It would have been best if they blacked it out and kept quiet on their own, but if it was discovered, they could be put on the stake for trying to hide heresy.

The reason they couldn’t rule out the possibility of discovery was because of the scholars in Florence and the Vatican.

They were as curious about the blacked-out parts as Giovanni was. To solve this curiosity, they made every effort to erase the blacked-out parts. In the process, they had become the best forgery detectors when it came to letters sent from Joseon.

In the end, after much deliberation, the abbot had no choice but to choose the next best option.

“Let’s consult with the Bishop.”

* * *

The next day, the abbot and Giovanni immediately sought out the Bishop of Florence.

“Welcome. So, a letter has come from the country of flowers?”

The abbot and Giovanni, who paid their respects to the Bishop welcoming them, immediately got to the point.

“Yes, we have something to consult with you about that matter.”

“Hm?”

After hearing the whole story from the abbot and Giovanni, the Cardinal’s face became troubled.

“This issue is beyond my ability to decide.”

And so, the letter sent by Angelo gradually went up to higher-ranking officials, and finally reached the Pope.

* * *

In the conference room of the Vatican Papal Office.

Pope Eugene IV and the cardinals were sitting around with serious faces.

In the middle of the conference table they were sitting around was the letter sent by Angelo.

“There certainly is a problem.”

At Eugene IV’s words, the cardinals all nodded.

“Should we incinerate it?”

One cardinal suggested incineration, but another cardinal came forward to object.

“Half of Italy already knows that the letter has arrived. And we’re going to incinerate it? The matter will only grow bigger.”

No sooner had those words ended than another cardinal expressed support for the opposing opinion.

“If we handle it that way, the council won’t stay quiet. Aren’t they already making a fuss at every little thing they can find fault with?”

Since last year, the Council of Basel and the Pope had been in serious conflict. The point of contention was which was superior between the council and the Pope.

Eugene IV, who had been pondering for an appropriate solution, finally reached a conclusion.

“Let’s incinerate it.”

“Yes.”

Bang!

“Wait!”

At that moment, with a loud noise, a group of men entered the conference room.

“The council orders the letter to be made public!”

“The professors of the University of Florence petition for the letter to be made public!”

“The professors of Venice also…”

“The professors of Genoa also…”

Not only the council, but professors from universities located in major Italian cities flocked to request the letter be made public.

Under this pressure, Eugene IV finally decided to make Angelo’s letter public.

It was the beginning of ‘Angelo’s Letter Incident’, which caused an earthquake in 15th century European humanities and science, and became the spark for the Renaissance.

And Hyang, who heard the story through Mansur and others traveling to and from Alexandria, expressed slight regret.

“It’s more fun to watch the fire pit in real-time…”

Chapter 373
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (7)

The impact of Angelo’s letter spread like wildfire as it was made public.

Among renowned Italian university professors, a process of verification and recalculation based on Angelo’s records was underway.

After an intense verification process, the scholars all sighed.

“It checks out.”

“There are a few parts that don’t quite fit, but compared to existing theories, they’re very few. We’ll need to review these parts again when more precise celestial observations become possible.”

“Above all… the words attributed to Joseon’s First Prince resonate: ‘Truth must be simple.’ Honestly, hasn’t Ptolemy’s law long since lost its original simplicity?”

The academic community was moving towards accepting the theory from Joseon.

What followed was the ‘Revival Movement’.

‘Let’s return to our roots and revive the scholarship of ancient Greece and Rome!’

‘Truth is simple!’

Under these claims, the ‘Revival Movement’ began to unfold, which would soon lead to the ‘Renaissance’.

It was at least a generation earlier than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

* * *

While the academic world was experiencing a revival movement, the religious world was in great turmoil.

Since the ‘Great Schism’ of the 11th century that split the church into Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, the Western Catholic Church had been experiencing discord, knowingly or unknowingly.

This discord in Catholicism had already caused quite a stir with the ‘Western Schism’ during the ‘Avignon Papacy’.

It was finally resolved through the Council of Constance from 1414 to 1418. However, barely a generation later, discord erupted again.

But it wouldn’t be accurate to say that Hyang’s observations, conveyed through Angelo’s letter, were the sole cause of this.

The situation had already been on the brink of explosion before that.

When Eugene IV ascended to the papacy in 1431, he had made a written agreement with the cardinals to secure his position.

-Half of all church revenues would be shared with the cardinals.

-Spiritual and secular matters would be discussed with the cardinals.

In other words, Eugene IV’s reign began as a form of oligarchy.

Eugene IV worked to weaken the power of the Colonna family, which had produced his predecessor, Pope Martin V.

It was only natural that the Colonna family, who had secured many castles and territories through the influence of the previous pope, would resist this.

However, the two opposing forces soon reached a truce.

This was due to the emergence of a powerful enemy: the ‘Council’.

* * *

To be precise, the ‘Ecumenical Council’ (Concilium Oecumenicum) was a grand assembly where clergy and theologians gathered to discuss matters of doctrine, ritual, and norms.

The previous pope, Martin V, had convened the council for church reform. However, shortly after Martin V’s death, the council endorsed by Eugene IV showed hostility towards the papal faction.

This was because the council advocated for ‘Conciliarism’, while the papal side asserted the ‘Papal Primacy’.

In this situation, a single remark from Hyang ignited the fire.

‘While divine providence is infallible, can one be certain that doctrine is infallible?’

This question sparked numerous debates, bloodshed, and alliances and divisions among the young and old factions, conciliarists and papalists, progressives and conservatives.

Of course, Hyang had somewhat foreseen this situation.

“From what I remember, the Reformation was almost a century later, but that was when it exploded after reaching a critical point. There must be many dissatisfied factions even now. Historically, the most persistent groups are found in religion and politics. If things go well, they’ll be too busy with internal strife for a while. That will buy time for Joseon.”

Though he had his plans, Hyang couldn’t help but worry a little.

“Could this be a controlled burn to prevent a larger fire?”

But Hyang soon dismissed the thought.

“Que Sera, Sera. (Whatever will be, will be.) When you start a fire, you don’t think about the aftermath. Are they going to come all the way to Joseon to argue?”

With this very irresponsible statement, Hyang finished smearing ink on Angelo’s letter.

* * *

However, this statement caused unrest in an area Hyang hadn’t even anticipated.

That area was the Islamic region.

Hyang’s words, transmitted through merchants trading with European merchants and politicians keeping a close eye on the movements of European countries, stimulated many Islamic imams (إمام, religious leaders).

“Are we truly living according to the teachings of Muhammad and the Quran?”

As a result of this self-reflection movement, many sects emerged besides the representative Sunni and Shia denominations.

Naturally, the ruling Sunni and Shia factions suppressed these new sects.

Consequently, countries within the Islamic sphere of influence had to endure serious internal strife.

In this process, some unexpected beneficiaries emerged, most notably the Eastern Roman Empire. The Ottoman Empire, on the verge of destroying the empire, halted due to internal strife, giving the Eastern Roman Empire time to catch its breath.

* * *

Later, historians studying this period made the following remarks about Angelo’s letter:

‘The fact that just a few lines of text caused such events is evidence of how much discontent had accumulated among the people of that era.’

Even as they wrote these papers, scholars ground their teeth.

“This Hyang, couldn’t he just have stayed put in Joseon! Why did he have to run his mouth! Should we limit this to Korean history, or should we include it in world history?”

“The one who wrote it down and sent it as a letter is worse than the one who spoke!”

“The worst one is the guy who didn’t censor that part!”

Although Hyang personally censored most of these letters due to issues with the interpreters’ qualifications, this wasn’t officially recorded. As a result, historians could only blame the innocent interpreters.

And regarding this matter, many European historians commented:

There have been several instances where movements from the East greatly influenced the West.

Famous examples include the migration of the Huns, the large-scale Mongol expeditions, and the Black Death.

However, considering the events triggered by ‘Angelo’s letter’, Lee Hyang, who was the First Prince of Joseon at the time, should be viewed as the most significant. Due to this single individual, Europe and the Islamic regions had to endure nearly a generation of tremendous chaos.

Because of this, some extreme historians described Hyang as:

“The greatest villain in history.”

And when such statements were officially made, the Korean government would respond with their usual:

“Do you want to die? Do you want to perish? Do you want to kick the bucket?”

* * *

While Hyang was observing the commotion happening outside, an unexpected place was brewing its own storm.

Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.

“My lord. Someone has come from Hanseong.”

Choi Man-ri, who was studying scriptures in the guest room, rose from his seat and went outside at his servant’s words.

As Choi Man-ri stepped out, a man carrying a bundle bowed deeply and spoke.

“How do you do, my lord?”

“Yes, I don’t recognize you. Who are you?”

“I’ve come from Ilhyangdang in Bukchon.”

At the man’s words, Choi Man-ri’s face lit up with joy.

“You were sent by that friend? How is he doing?”

“Yes, the master works late every day, but he’s doing well.”

“I see, I see…”

Smiling at the news of his acquaintance’s well-being, Choi Man-ri got to the point.

“So, what brings you here?”

At Choi Man-ri’s question, the man untied his bundle and took out a large package and a letter.

“I was ordered to deliver these.”

“Is that so? Bring them here.”

The man respectfully placed the package and letter on the floor of the guest room porch. Holding the letter, Choi Man-ri ordered the man:

“I’ll provide a room and meals, so rest for the night before you leave.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

* * *

Returning to the guest room with the package and letter, Choi Man-ri opened the envelope.

“To the Wanderer of Rivers and Lakes…”

Choi Man-ri began reading the letter, humming. However, as he read further down, his voice grew quieter, and his expression became serious.

-His Majesty has created a writing system unique to our Joseon. Although it seemed unfamiliar at first, it’s easy to learn and convenient to write, making it incomparably useful.

So, I’ve sent you a handwritten copy. Please take a look.

With your excellence, I’m sure you’ll understand its utility without me explaining at length. Please use this well and return to Hanseong.

Isn’t your age and literary talent too precious to be spent living in seclusion in the countryside?

To summarize the contents of the letter:

-The writing system created by the king is very good. So praise it, earn some points, and come back.

“Huh~. Are you asking me to act like a sycophant? I must have misjudged you.”

Choi Man-ri put down the letter irritably and glared at the package. He wanted to order a servant to burn it in the fireplace right away. But he was curious too. And although he had retired to the countryside, he still had ambitions.

“Well, let’s see how well it’s made.”

Choi Man-ri untied the package and placed the books on the writing desk.

* * *

Two hours later.

“What a terrifying writing system!”

Choi Man-ri stared at the books with eyes that had moved beyond surprise to fear.

The writing desk and its surroundings were covered with papers full of sentences written in Hunminjeongeum.

It took less than an hour after turning the cover of the first book to learn how to read and write, and in just over an hour, he could compose sentences freely.

That’s why Choi Man-ri was not just surprised, but terrified.

“Although I was stuck in Hall of Worthies rather than Geunjeongcheon, I wasn’t unaware of the palace’s movements. But I never heard news of something like this being created. Which means…”

As Choi Man-ri searched his memories, he lamented:

“As I thought! His Majesty and the Crown Prince did everything themselves!”

He remembered the Crown Prince acquiring phonology books and foreign books through envoys.

He and the other scholars of Hall of Worthies, along with other officials, had dismissed them as useless miscellaneous books, but it was clear that His Majesty was involved in this matter.

“That means this started simultaneously with the reforms. They created a writing system of this level of completion in nearly 10 years, not just one person, but two?”

After reviewing his conclusion, Choi Man-ri shook his head.

“Are those two even human?”

However, there was something Choi Man-ri couldn’t have predicted – that Hyang was a reincarnator.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, the Hunminjeongeum created by King Sejong was an excellent writing system from its inception, but it was still in its raw state. It was refined over time to become the Hangul of the 21st century.

However, with Hyang’s intervention, the modified Hunminjeongeum achieved a high level of completion.

Examining the papers with terrified eyes, Choi Man-ri soon bit his lip.

“We must stop this! This mustn’t be used!”

Chapter 374
The Period of Stagnation - Motion in Stillness (8)

While Sejong and his ministers were in the midst of a meeting in Geunjeongjeon, a group of eunuchs and officials entered.

“What is the matter?”

At Sejong’s question, the Chief Secretary approached a eunuch. After receiving a whispered report, he carefully relayed the situation to Sejong.

“Choi Man-ri is now outside Gwanghwamun, kneeling on straw mats and presenting a petition? For what reason?”

“It’s because of the Hunminjeongeum you’ve created, Your Majesty.”

Sejong’s face momentarily turned fierce upon hearing the Chief Secretary’s report. However, a sneer soon took its place.

“Hah! Choi Man-ri… His insight and integrity are indeed admirable. Yes, indeed they are.”

After uttering words that could be either praise or sarcasm, Sejong rose from his seat.

“I should go out to see. Let’s all go together. We should at least hear what he has to bark about, shouldn’t we?”

At Sejong’s use of “bark,” the ministers momentarily hesitated and looked at him.

“Why are you all acting like that?”

“Your Majesty, that expression doesn’t befit your status…”

As Lee Jik trailed off, Sejong instead looked back with an expression of incomprehension.

“I said ‘speak’ (曰) for someone with lofty insight. What’s the problem?”

“Ah… It’s nothing! It’s nothing!”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers hurriedly rose from their seats. Seeing this, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“I wonder what they were thinking… Tsk!”

The court historian who recorded all of this quickly added a note as he stood up:

-The historian says:

It doesn’t seem right…

* * *

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider! The promulgation of Hunminjeongeum must never happen!”

As they approached Gwanghwamun, Choi Man-ri’s shouts could be heard. Hearing these cries, Sejong chuckled and muttered.

“What a good set of lungs he has.”

“Loyalty!”

“Well done, all of you.”

Receiving the salutes of the soldiers guarding Gwanghwamun, Sejong crossed the threshold and surveyed the scene spread out before Gwanghwamun.

Choi Man-ri was prostrated on a straw mat, continuing to raise his voice, while the residents of Hanseong were gathered thickly around.

Although many had gathered during the previous petition incident, even more had gathered now.

The reason for this difference was Choi Man-ri’s reputation.

-Former Chief Scholar of Hall of Worthies and a renowned man of integrity.

People had gathered because someone of a completely different caliber from the previous rabble was presenting a petition.

“Your Majesty! I, Choi Man-ri, former Chief Scholar of Hall of Worthies, risk my life to inform you! The promulgation of Hunminjeongeum must never happen! Please reconsider!”

Seeing Sejong, Choi Man-ri raised his voice even more.

Observing this, Sejong glanced around subtly.

Not only were the ministers who had followed him out visible, but also Hyang, who had rushed over from working in Area 51.

Seeing Hyang’s slightly worried expression, Sejong muttered quietly.

“With my child watching, I can’t show an unseemly appearance as a father.”

After taking a small breath, Sejong ordered the Chief Secretary.

“Go and bring a desk and chair.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A moment later, when the eunuchs brought a desk and chair, Sejong pointed with his finger to the area in front of Choi Man-ri.

“Place them there.”

After the eunuchs placed the desk and chair and withdrew, Sejong sat down. With his elbows on the desk and his chin resting lightly on his interlocked hands, Sejong asked Choi Man-ri.

“Why shouldn’t Hunminjeongeum be used? It’s not such a poor creation, is it?”

Choi Man-ri immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“Not at all. The Hunminjeongeum Your Majesty has created contains extremely profound principles. Therefore, anyone who can think and act like a human being should be able to learn it easily and use it proficiently.”

“Then why do you say it shouldn’t be used?”

“That is precisely why it must not be used. If I may explain the reasons…”

“Wait.”

Interrupting Choi Man-ri, Sejong ordered the ministers.

“This seems like it will be quite a long story. You are all elderly, so bring chairs and sit down.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

“The Crown Prince should do the same.”

“Your grace is boundless, Father.”

“The people may sit comfortably on the ground if they’re tired, or leave if they wish.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

The residents of Hanseong, who had been lying flat on the ground according to etiquette and law, responded loudly to Sejong’s order.

After settling the situation thus, Sejong turned back to Choi Man-ri.

“Where were we in the conversation?”

“Well… Ahem! Ahem!”

Choi Man-ri, who had been sitting dazed, soon gathered his wits, cleared his throat, and continued speaking.

Seeing this, all the ministers muttered inwardly.

‘He’s already mastered the art of handling people!’

Choi Man-ri explained to Sejong why Hunminjeongeum should not be used. It was an incredibly long explanation, but summarized, it was roughly as follows:

-The Hunminjeongeum created by Sejong is a writing system that is very easy to learn and use.

However, it will cause many significant problems, so it is right not to use it.

-Since its founding, Joseon has followed Ming and adhered to Chinese systems. Although the newly created writing system is said to have derived its form from ancient seal script, its sounds and usage differ, which may cause issues with Ming.

-Throughout history, only barbarians have created and used their own languages instead of Chinese characters. Given that our Joseon’s culture and rituals are comparable to those of China, how can we take the path of barbarians?

-Although Idu, created by Seol Chong of Silla, is vulgar vernacular, it requires the use of Chinese characters, so one must learn Chinese characters. The new writing system doesn’t require Chinese characters at all, which will cause problems in learning scholarship. If an official becomes proficient in Hunminjeongeum without Chinese characters, future generations will think they can achieve success with Hunminjeongeum alone and abandon Chinese characters. There will be no one to learn the teachings of the sages.

-It was said that Hunminjeongeum could be used to resolve injustices in criminal cases, but this is not a matter of writing systems. This is a separate issue that depends on the fairness of the prison officials.

-In the case of Hunminjeongeum, it suddenly appeared and was decided to be used without discussion with the ministers, which is not right. Although the current trend is to make quick decisions and see quick results, it is absolutely unacceptable to do so with such a crucial matter as a writing system.

-Looking at the creation process of Hunminjeongeum, we can see that even the Crown Prince participated. Who is the Crown Prince? He is the future leader of Joseon. He has been exceptionally intelligent from a young age, but it is regrettable that he is now immersed in miscellaneous studies and not diligent in his main studies. In this situation, it is not right to continue assigning Hunminjeongeum-related tasks to the Crown Prince.

-If Hunminjeongeum is used, the people will be able to learn and write sentences easily. However, being able to read and write sentences easily is a separate issue from having deep knowledge.

If someone with evil intentions uses deceptive words and sentences to mislead the people, it will cause even greater harm than when only Chinese characters were used.

“…Therefore, the promulgation and use of Hunminjeongeum must never happen! Please reconsider!”

Even after Choi Man-ri’s explanation ended, Sejong did not immediately open his mouth.

“Hmm…”

Making a small nasal sound as he organized his thoughts, Sejong soon spoke.

“It seems right at first glance, but it is not.”

Sejong refuted Choi Man-ri’s opinions point by point.

-Respecting Ming is not an etiquette that must be followed, but a diplomatic choice. To act as you say is not to show respect, but to submit. This very act blurs the intent of respecting Ming that has continued since King Taejo.

-As you say, our Joseon’s culture and rituals are comparable to those of China. What is the meaning of ‘comparable’? It is to weigh the merits of two different things. In other words, isn’t it natural that Joseon’s writing system should be different since its culture and rituals are different from China’s? Isn’t that why Idu came about in the first place? Wasn’t Idu used because we had different language and culture but no proper writing system?

-Your statement that the fairness of criminal cases depends on prison officials is not wrong. However, if laws are written in simple text, and the people can easily read and understand them, wouldn’t it be easier to avoid injustices?

-You say there was no discussion with the ministers, but after its creation, all the ministers gave positive evaluations. It was also evaluated as convenient for writing official documents. Moreover, have you forgotten the existence of the remonstrators? Do you think they would have remained silent if I had done something wrong?

-You also mentioned the Crown Prince, but his participation is almost over. Even if you point out past events, can’t they be revisited? Isn’t this criticism for the sake of criticism? And you said the Crown Prince is only focusing on miscellaneous studies and neglecting his main studies, but the Crown Prince has already mastered them long ago. And many people are enjoying the results of the Crown Prince’s miscellaneous studies, so what is your arrogance in taking this lightly?

“…And you said that Chinese characters would be abandoned, neglecting the teachings of the sages, and that people would be deceived, causing harm. Let me ask you this.”

Choi Man-ri, thoroughly refuted by Sejong point by point, answered in a tired voice.

“Please ask, Your Majesty.”

“Are Chinese characters the only vessel that can contain the profound meanings of the sages? What do you value more: the meanings of the sages, or the Chinese characters that are merely the vessel containing those meanings?”

“That, that is…”

“What is the problem with changing the vessel so that more people can easily understand the meanings of the sages? And about deception? Looking back at history, there have always been those who cause trouble by deceiving people. Was that because people didn’t use Chinese characters then?”

“That’s not it…”

Sejong persistently tore into Choi Man-ri.

“Yes, it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other… The uneducated and those with shallow knowledge are equally susceptible to being deceived. But let me ask you this. Do you think those who have discovered the joy of learning through simple writing will be satisfied with shallow knowledge?”

“But the people are naturally reluctant to learn…”

At Choi Man-ri’s words, Sejong shouted angrily.

“Are your eyes blind? Can you say that even after seeing the children flocking to the Commoner’s School right now? Nine out of ten children discovering the joy of learning at the Commoner’s School are commoners!”

At Sejong’s rebuke, Choi Man-ri’s head dropped to the ground.

Sejong’s reprimand continued to fall on Choi Man-ri’s ears.

“Wasn’t the greatest duty of the scholar-officials to educate the people? If there were difficulties in educating the people due to the lack of a writing system, it was only natural to devise all sorts of methods to solve this! And now that a solution to this problem has emerged, what nonsense is it to block it!”

In the end, Choi Man-ri had to surrender.

“My thinking was short-sighted. Please forgive my sin.”

At Choi Man-ri’s response, the ministers breathed sighs of relief.

‘Choi Man-ri, that stubborn man has waved the white flag. What a relief.’

‘That was close. If he had gone a little further, His Majesty would have had his head.’

Whether aware of the ministers’ thoughts or not, Sejong glared at Choi Man-ri silently for a long time.

“What should I do with someone as obtuse as you?”

At the word ‘obtuse’, Choi Man-ri gritted his teeth. However, he was in no position to argue against such an assessment now.

After staring at Choi Man-ri for a long time, Sejong turned his head.

“Prime Minister”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I think I need to reverse one of my previous decisions. Would that be alright?”

“It depends on the matter, but Your Majesty’s will takes precedence.”

“Is that so? Hmm… Choi Man-ri, listen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Office of Correct Sounds will soon be established. You will take charge as its head and be responsible for transcribing this country’s law books into Hunminjeongeum. And not just simply transcribing, but rewriting them in a way that anyone can easily understand their meaning! You, who recognized the advantages of Hunminjeongeum in just a few days, should be capable of this, right?”

“My abilities are insufficient…”

Choi Man-ri, terrified, tried to back out, but Sejong didn’t let him.

“You have no right of refusal. And…”

Pausing briefly, Sejong approached Choi Man-ri and whispered so that only he could hear.

“Thank you. Thanks to your reputation, many people of Joseon will become even more interested in Hunminjeongeum.”

Chapter 375
A Brief Interlude (1)

Late in the evening of the day Choi Man-ri was appointed as the head of the Office of Correct Sounds.

In a gisaeng house in Dadong, Sejong and Hyang were having a private drinking session between father and son.

“It’s truly surprising to have a drinking session with Father outside of the palace or hunting grounds.”

Sejong smiled at Hyang’s words and responded.

“It gets tiresome to always eat in the palace, and going out hunting is bothersome.”

Hyang’s face changed slightly at Sejong’s words.

‘Oh! This man, really!’

Whether aware of Hyang’s thoughts or not, Sejong immediately continued.

“If you’re going to start with that ‘not rising’ nonsense again, I’ll make you regent right away. Don’t worry, this father of yours is still doing everything he needs to do.”

“…Yes.”

Having silenced Hyang, Sejong ordered the gisaengs.

“The cups are empty. Fill them up.”

“Yes.”

As the cups were filled, Sejong raised his cup and ordered Hyang.

“Come, let’s drink.”

“Yes.”

After several rounds of drinks, Hyang asked Sejong.

“By the way, what’s the occasion for this drinking session today?”

“Didn’t we catch a big fish today?”

At Sejong’s words, which mixed jest and seriousness, Hyang asked with slightly surprised eyes.

“Was it planned?”

“A bigger fish than expected was caught.”

“How did you anticipate it?”

“What’s the most lacking thing in the court right now?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“People.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer.

“That’s right. We’re short on people. Aren’t the current court officials those who are accustomed to working late nights and overnight? I expected they would spread bait here and there just to survive.”

Hyang nodded unconsciously at Sejong’s explanation.

“Ah… So that’s why you didn’t issue an order prohibiting handwritten copies?”

“They would do it even if told not to. And don’t they know capable people through various academic and regional connections, like that Han Myeong-hoe boy from before? I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch those who slipped through my net, and it was successful. A bigger fish than expected was caught.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang muttered unconsciously.

“Are you the Fishing King of the East Sea?”

“Ha, that’s a good nickname. Hahaha!”

Sejong, who burst into laughter at Hyang’s words, continued speaking with a grin.

“Thanks to catching this big fish, it seems we’ll be able to see those stubborn fellows again soon.”

As Hyang searched his memories at Sejong’s words, he asked Sejong.

“By stubborn fellows, do you mean the dismissed scholars from Hall of Worthies?”

“That’s right. They’re stubborn, but they’re talents too good to be left idle. We should put them to use.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang thought for a moment and asked with a worried expression.

“Will they return? No, is it possible given Your Majesty’s previous royal decree? If we’re not careful, some impudent fellows might call it a flaw in Your Majesty.”

Sejong drained his cup lightly and answered Hyang’s words.

“That’s why I asked the Prime Minister earlier, wasn’t it? Since the Prime Minister answered like that, even if some nonsense comes out, he’ll step up to block it first.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s words, but he hadn’t completely erased his worries.

In the end, Hyang continued his questions.

“But will those stubborn fellows really come back? Weren’t they the stubborn ones who threw in their resignations even before they were dismissed?”

Sejong’s smile deepened at Hyang’s observation.

“I’m thinking of giving Choi Man-ri temporary authority over personnel and appointments. However, with the condition that for officials already working in the court, permission must be obtained from the head of the relevant department. What do you think will happen then?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“It will be impossible to secure those already working as officials. The ministers will absolutely not let them go. In the end, he’ll have no choice but to exercise his appointment authority… So, to properly run the Office of Correct Sounds, he’ll have no choice but to bring in the dismissed scholars. But will Chief Choi Man-ri be able to easily bring in those stubborn fellows?”

Sejong emptied his cup and answered Hyang’s question.

“One of the things that scholar-officials must absolutely uphold is loyalty. They have loyalty built up from Hall of Worthies, so they’ll have no choice but to come.”

“Ah…”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang momentarily recalled a variation of a movie scene.

‘We Hall of Worthies scholars! Eui!’

“Thanks to this, we’ll be able to put those stubborn fellows to good use under Choi Man-ri’s responsibility. This is all thanks to you.”

Hyang’s eyes widened at Sejong’s words.

“Pardon? What did I…”

“Have you forgotten what you said before? The words that the king of the Western barbarians said to the prince who would inherit the throne. ‘Become the bee that sucks the sweetest nectar from all flowers.’ Wasn’t that a good saying?”

“Ah…”

Nodding at Sejong’s words, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘It’s a thousand blessings that there’s no court historian here. If there had been, I might have been recorded as some kind of shadowy figure… By the way, this man is really out of the ordinary… How can he apply things so terrifyingly well?’

* * *

While the drinking session continued like this, the head gisaeng entered.

“What is it?”

“Some of the girls from the gisaeng house say they have a request for His Majesty and the Crown Prince, so this lowly woman has come in.”

“A request, you say?”

At the head gisaeng’s words, Sejong’s expression filled with curiosity.

“A request from the gisaengs… Well, let’s hear what kind of request it is.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Sejong’s permission was given, the door to the room adjacent to where Sejong and his son were seated opened.

As the door opened, the waiting gisaengs made a deep bow to Sejong with nimble movements.

Seeing this, Sejong nodded his head with a constant smile.

“Hahaha! Truly swallow-like swift movements. Well, what is your request?”

At Sejong’s question, the gisaeng sitting at the front carefully opened her mouth.

“Please teach us lowly women a new song.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

At this unexpected request, Sejong and Hyang tilted their heads. After observing the gisaengs for a moment, Hyang exclaimed when he saw the gisaeng sitting at the front.

“Ah! You’re that girl from before!”

The gisaeng sitting at the front was the one who had previously asked Hyang to teach her “The Virgin Boatman.”

When Hyang recognized her, the gisaeng raised her head gently and answered with a seductive smile.

“Yes, this lowly woman is that gisaeng from before.”

Seeing this, Sejong opened his mouth with a slightly regretful expression.

“Oh my, it was the Crown Prince, not me. Anyway, a new song… You, tell me more about it.”

At Sejong’s command, the gisaeng elaborated more on her story.

* * *

“The Virgin Boatman,” which Hyang had taught while shouting “A cliché is a cliché,” spread throughout the eight provinces of Joseon in an instant. The trend was so fierce that even the residents of the Nakdong River were bewildered.

However, like any popular song, the craze cooled down quickly. But the cooling of the trend meant that people were tired of “The Virgin Boatman,” not of adult songs in general.

As a result, as time passed, songs with different lyrics set to the tune of “The Virgin Boatman” circulated, but none of them achieved the same hit status as “The Virgin Boatman.” It felt like wearing ill-fitting clothes.

In the end, the gisaeng who had first learned the song from Hyang desperately wished to meet him again.

‘If all else fails, I’ll have to enter the palace! Sheesh! Those stuck-up Ming envoys never come at times like this!’

While she was waiting for an opportunity like this, Sejong and Hyang happened to visit the gisaeng house.

* * *

At the gisaeng’s request, Sejong looked at Hyang with eyes full of expectation.

“I’d like to hear a new song too.”

“Yes…”

Hyang, who answered briefly, racked his brains hard.

‘What would be good… ’

As Hyang searched through the songs he had memorized while diligently serving as a source of joy for the elderly in 21st century Yangsan, and songs he had heard and memorized from various places, he soon chose one.

‘We started with a river, so let’s continue with a river!’

The new song Hyang chose was “The Maiden of Soyang River.”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

After clearing his throat for a moment, Hyang soon began to sing.

“As the sun sets~”

After the song ended, Hyang asked Sejong for his opinion.

“How was it?”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s question and answered.

“The sorrowful emotions of a young woman anxiously waiting for her departed lover were well conveyed. It was a good song.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, you must never become like that bad fellow in the song. One must not give affection carelessly, and if affection is given, one must take responsibility, whether man or woman.”

Grasping the hidden meaning in Sejong’s words, Hyang answered with a bitter smile.

“Even three is difficult for me.”

“Huh? Already? Should I call for a royal physician…”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang waved his hands.

“I’m still in top shape!”

After ending this brief interlude, Hyang asked the gisaeng.

“How was it?”

“Please, you must teach us! We will do our best to learn it!”

And so, a new popular song began to spread, starting from Hanseong.

And the residents of Chuncheon began to grumble.

“Is it Soyang River this time?” (Note 1)

* * *

Meanwhile, at the public debate between Sejong and Choi Man-ri, there were also some merchants from Ming.

Through them, information about Hunminjeongeum and the content of the debate was transmitted to Beijing.

Upon receiving the report, the Cabinet Secretary immediately rushed to the Xuande Emperor to report and add his opinion.

“I believe we must immediately send an envoy to Joseon to question them!”

“What is there to question?”

At the Xuande Emperor’s question, the Cabinet Secretary immediately answered.

“There are two things, Your Majesty. One is the creation of an independent writing system. The other is about their respect towards the superior country.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment at the Cabinet Secretary’s words, the Xuande Emperor reached a conclusion.

“Not permitted.”

“Your Majesty! You must strongly question them! Right now, there are unspeakable words circulating in both the court and among the people. To quell this…”

“Enough.”

Raising his hand to stop the speech, the Xuande Emperor looked at the Cabinet Secretary and ministers and opened his mouth.

“Unspeakable words, you say… They’re saying I’m not the Emperor of Ming, but the Emperor of Joseon? Who would spread such words? The common people naturally like to talk, so that’s understandable, but who in this court has spread such treasonous words?”

The Xuande Emperor spoke in a leisurely tone, but as soon as his words ended, the interior of the Wénhuà Palace froze solid.

“Hmm… I wonder who it could be… Cabinet Secretary, you said both the court and the people, so you must know who in the court has been talking. Would you tell me?”

As soon as the Xuande Emperor’s words ended, the Cabinet Secretary prostrated himself on the ground and shouted.

“Your Majesty! It was not me! My loyalty remains unwavering!”

“I’m not doubting your loyalty, I’m just curious about who has been talking.”

“I do not know, Your Majesty!”

At the Cabinet Secretary’s cry, the Xuande Emperor muttered softly.

“Well, we’ll find out if we investigate.”

The Xuande Emperor spoke in a calm voice, but the officials and eunuchs turned pale. Since the Emperor had spoken, the Eastern Depot would investigate the officials, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard would investigate the eunuchs. And a bloodbath would ensue.

“I’m not unaware of what the Cabinet Secretary is worried about. Most of those with independent writing systems are indeed barbarians. But can we view Joseon as barbarians? The relationship between Joseon and Ming is one of lips and teeth. And the current king of Joseon said, ‘Respecting the superior country is a diplomatic method.’ Is that statement wrong? And when I send envoys to Joseon or when Joseon’s envoys come here, have they ever been disrespectful? Have they shown any selfishness in performing rituals? Why do you keep trying to worsen relations with Joseon? Etiquette should not be forced, but should come from the heart. Have you forgotten that emphasizing etiquette only breeds resistance? Is that your loyalty?”

At the Xuande Emperor’s rebuke, all those led by the Cabinet Secretary prostrated themselves on the ground.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive our oversight!”

“Please forgive our narrow-mindedness!”

Looking down at such ministers, the Xuande Emperor continued.

“My empire is like a roc. Just as a roc does not move carelessly, the movements of the empire should have weight. So why are you trying to make the empire move like a mere sparrow? Don’t you know that the more you act like this, the more countries will raise flags against the empire?”

“We are deeply sorry!”

Hearing such answers from the ministers, the Xuande Emperor concluded.

“I had been turning a blind eye to the sudden disappearance of some eunuchs recently. But if you act like this, I can no longer ignore it. Keep that in mind.”

“We will engrave it on our bones and hearts!”

“Therefore, regarding the recent events in Joseon, it is not permissible as it could be seen as interference in internal affairs. This is an imperial decree.”

“We receive your command!”

* * *

Note 1) It is not known exactly when the name Soyang River began to be used. However, given that Soyang River Granary was established on Soyang River during King Sejo’s reign, it is assumed to have been used from the late Goryeo or early Joseon period for the purpose of this writing.

Soyang River Granary. Korea Creative Content Agency.

http://www.culturecontent.com/content/contentView.do?search_div=CP_THE&search_div_id=CP_THE010&cp_code=cp0616&index_id=cp06160041&content_id=cp061600410001&search_left_menu=2

Chapter 376
A Brief Interlude (2)

Choi Man-ri, who had been caught by Sejong, reported for duty from the next day.

The Office of Correct Sounds had been assigned one of the newly constructed buildings added to the Records Office.

Therefore, as Choi Man-ri crossed the threshold of the Records Office to go to the Office of Correct Sounds, his face became even more gloomy.

“Was there no other place available?”

A lower-ranking official from the Office of Correct Sounds answered Choi Man-ri’s question.

“Yes, as the government structure changed and personnel increased, there was no space left.”

“Hall of Worthies…”

Choi Man-ri couldn’t finish saying ‘Hall of Worthies’. Although he and many others—to be honest, almost all—had been dismissed, the positions had been filled.

And now it existed as a specialized agency for policy research.

In the end, Choi Man-ri sighed deeply and moved on.

“Where should I go?”

“This way, sir.”

Following the lower-ranking official who went ahead, Choi Man-ri continued to mutter softly.

“Of all places… Of all places…”

* * *

“Hah…”

Choi Man-ri let out a long sigh as he entered the building with the sign ‘Office of Correct Sounds’, which clearly looked newly made.

The interior of the large building, surrounded on all sides by a corridor between the outer and inner walls composed of glass-paned sliding doors and pillars, was completely open with nothing blocking the view except the pillars supporting the roof.

“It seems to be over 8 jang (about 24m) at least…”

The lower-ranking official immediately answered Choi Man-ri’s observation.

“It’s exactly 9 jang (about 27m) from the eastern inner wall to the western inner wall. Including the corridor and outer walls, it’s 10 jang (about 30m).”

“Whew~.”

Sighing again, Choi Man-ri surveyed the interior once more.

At the farthest end from the western entrance where he stood, there was a separate large desk. In front of it, towards the west, several long desks were placed, and behind these desks, bookshelves stood in rows.

At the western entrance, smaller desks were placed. And officials who seemed to be of similar rank to the lower-ranking official who had guided him were standing in front of these desks, paying their respects to him.

“Where is my seat?”

“This way, sir.”

The seat the lower-ranking official guided him to was, as expected, the one Choi Man-ri had anticipated.

After sitting in the guided seat, Choi Man-ri looked at the long desks stretching out in front of his desk and asked the lower-ranking official.

“What are those seats for?”

“They are seats for those tasked with transcribing Chinese texts into Hunminjeongeum, but…”

The lower-ranking official paused briefly, then carefully continued while gauging Choi Man-ri’s reaction.

“Currently, they are vacant.”

“Vacant?”

Surprised by the unexpected explanation, Choi Man-ri glared at the lower-ranking official.

“Then what do you all do?”

“We belong to the General Affairs Department and assist with the work carried out in the Office of Correct Sounds. If you need documents, we find and bring them from other departments, including the Records Office, and provide support for the convenience of your work.”

“Hah.”

Choi Man-ri, letting out a long sigh, noticed an envelope on the desk and looked at the lower-ranking official.

“What is this?”

“It was brought by a eunuch this morning. It contains work instructions from His Majesty.”

At the lower-ranking official’s words, Choi Man-ri adjusted his official attire, straightened his posture, and opened the envelope.

* * *

“…”

After opening the envelope and confirming Sejong’s work instructions, Choi Man-ri could only open and close his mouth.

-Fill the positions as quickly as possible. For this purpose, personnel and appointment authority is temporarily granted.

However, when exercising personnel authority, the head of the original department must agree for personnel transfers to be possible. This does not apply to new appointments.

-The priority for translation into Hunminjeongeum is the law books, including the Joseon Gyeongguk-jeon.

However, the vernacular translation must be simple. The level of simplicity should be such that even someone who has barely learned Hunminjeongeum can understand without difficulty.

Also, the vernacular translation should not only cover the law books but also include case precedents.

-Along with the vernacular translation of law books, proceed with the vernacular translation of ‘Samgang Haengsildo’ used in the Commoner’s School. As Hunminjeongeum will be taught in the Commoner’s School from the fall semester of next year, Gyechuk year, the translation must be completed at least two months before that.

-After completing the above process, proceed with the vernacular translation of the Four Books and Five Classics.

However, for the Four Books and Five Classics, from the 5th year after the promulgation of Hangul, orders will be given for private vernacular translations as well. Afterwards, the translations from the Office of Correct Sounds and private translations will be compared, and the one judged superior will be adopted as the official version.

-Along with the vernacular translation of the Four Books and Five Classics, proceed with the vernacular translation of agricultural texts, medical texts, and military texts like Sun Tzu’s Art of War.

-When the progress of the above tasks exceeds halfway, begin the production of a vernacular dictionary.

-The dictionary should not only provide vernacular translations of Chinese characters but also record and include dialects from across the country. This is to ensure that anyone from any part of Joseon can easily understand.

-If necessary, you may start with the dictionary translation as soon as the translation of law books and textbooks is completed.

At the end of the instruction document listing these enormous tasks, it was written:

I (the king) trust in your ability and reputation, and expect good results. I hope that your name will be honorably recorded in the annals of Joseon’s history.

* * *

Choi Man-ri, who had been staring blankly at the work instructions, let out a long sigh.

“Whew~. Will I be able to finish this before I die?”

It was an overwhelming amount just to read.

After examining the work instructions and the empty seats, Choi Man-ri asked the lower-ranking official who was still standing beside him.

“You said you assist with work. Is sending urgent messages also possible?”

“If you need it, it’s available, sir.”

“I see. Return to your post. I’ll call if I need anything.”

“Yes, sir.”

After sending the lower-ranking official back, Choi Man-ri crossed his arms and glared at the work instructions. After staring at the paper for a long time with tightly clenched lips, Choi Man-ri shook his head and uncrossed his arms.

“There’s no choice…”

Placing some paper in front of him and dipping his brush in ink, Choi Man-ri muttered softly.

“I’m sorry… But I can’t die alone, can I?”

* * *

A few days later, urgent messengers arrived at the homes of the dismissed Hall of Worthies scholars who had returned to their hometowns.

“This is from the head of the Office of Correct Sounds.”

“The head of the Office of Correct Sounds? Who’s that?”

“It’s Lord Choi Man-ri.”

“The Chief Scholar sent it? No, when did he become the head of the Office of Correct Sounds?”

The scholars who received the letters from the messengers went into their rooms and opened the envelopes.

The content of the letter inside the envelope was simple.

-Return to Hanseong and help me a bit.

“Huh?”

* * *

Upon receiving Choi Man-ri’s request for help, a considerable number of scholars packed their bags and came up to Hanseong.

“If the Chief Scholar asks for help, I must go! Yes! There’s the loyalty of scholar-officials!”

However, there were not a few who didn’t respond even after receiving Choi Man-ri’s letter.

“Hmph! I won’t listen to someone who has bent the principles of a scholar-official!”

Those who stubbornly refused like this soon had to receive a royal order sent by Sejong.

“Royal order!”

The scholars who hurriedly rushed out at the herald’s cry adjusted their official attire and received Sejong’s royal order.

The content of Sejong’s royal order was as concise as Choi Man-ri’s.

Respond immediately to Choi Man-ri’s request. This is the extent of my goodwill.

In the end, even the scholars who had refused until the end had to lift their heavy bottoms off the ground and move.

* * *

The first task of the Hall of Worthies scholars who gathered again at the Office of Correct Sounds was to learn Hunminjeongeum. Indeed, it seemed they hadn’t earned the name of Hall of Worthies scholars for nothing, as they were using Hunminjeongeum proficiently within three days of education.

When the preparations were complete, Choi Man-ri said to the scholars.

“Now, let’s begin.”

As soon as Choi Man-ri’s words ended, the lower-ranking officials in charge of work support entered carrying an enormous amount of books.

Seeing the tremendous amount of books that kept coming in, Choi Man-ri said in surprise to the lower-ranking officials.

“I’m only planning to do the vernacular translation of law books now! So bring only those related to law books!”

The official who had first guided Choi Man-ri stepped forward and answered.

“Everything coming in now is related to law books, sir. These are the law books: Joseon Gyeongguk-jeon, Gukheon, Gyeongje Mungam, Gyeongguk Yukjeon, Gyeongje Yukjeon, Sok Yukjeon, Gyeongje Yukjeon Sokjip Sangjeol, Sin Sok Yukjeon, Yukjeon Deungrok, Sinchan Gyeongje Sok Yukjeon, and the records of judgments since the founding of the country.”

At the official’s explanation, Choi Man-ri and the scholars unconsciously let out curses.

“Oh, fuck…”

“Bloody hell…”

* * *

And so, Choi Man-ri and the scholars fiercely proceeded with the vernacular translation work.

The vernacular translation work carried out by Choi Man-ri and the scholars was a war. Heated debates often broke out over how to interpret sentences written in Chinese characters.

It was so intense that it was not uncommon for yesterday’s friend to become today’s enemy, and then become a friend again tomorrow.

However, as time passed, the scholars reached the state of enlightened beings—or in Hyang’s words, human translation machines—who enjoyed their work.

While doing the vernacular translation work like this, the scholars began to worry gradually.

“Chief.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you say Hunminjeongeum would be promulgated next autumn?”

“That’s right.”

“There will be not a few who will rise up against it.”

“So?”

“We’re just getting our hands and feet to work together, won’t it become difficult if newcomers join?”

At the scholars’ worry, Choi Man-ri smiled and pointed his hand towards the Records Office.

“There’s more to translate over there. Don’t unnecessarily meddle and just do your work. Shouldn’t we try leaving work on time for once?”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

In the autumn of the Imja year, Lee Jik passed away.

He was 70 years old.

The last words he spoke before dying were as follows:

“Although it’s regrettable that I couldn’t see the completion of the reforms, it’s good that I can now rest in peace.”

Hyang came to pay condolences on behalf of Sejong, and the chief mourner, Lee Jik’s eldest son Lee Sa-hu, was deeply moved by Hyang’s visit.

The ministers who gathered for the condolence were immersed in emotion and talked.

“Now they’re starting to go, one by one.”

“Indeed.”

The ministers felt mixed emotions as a person who had been bustling about together since the founding of Joseon had passed away.

However, they couldn’t know that in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Lee Jik had died a year earlier, in the Sinhai year.

It was the butterfly effect created by Hyang’s intervention.

The ministers who were immersed in such emotions soon returned to reality.

“Now that the Prime Minister has passed away, who would you recommend for that position?”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s question, the ministers thought for a moment and unanimously pointed to one person.

“Lord Hwang Hui would be the most suitable.”

* * *

Two weeks later, at the entrance of Heunginjimun (current Dongdaemun).

Looking at the wide-open Heunginjimun, Kim Jong-seo shouted with overwhelming emotion.

“I’m finally back! Hanseong! I’m back!”

“Shut up, you fool! Come here right now!”

At Hwang Hui’s scolding, Kim Jong-seo made a sulky face and grumbled.

“Tch… Always picking on me… Maybe I should just resign.”

“Talking about resigning. Listen, you, the moment you submit a resignation letter, I’ll send you to either Hamgil Province or Daeseol Island.”

“My lord, only His Majesty can make personnel decisions!”

“Have you forgotten that His Majesty listens to my words?”

At Hwang Hui’s point, Kim Jong-seo pursed his lips and followed behind Hwang Hui.

Chapter 377
A Brief Interlude (3)

Upon returning to Hanseong, Hwang Hui reported his return to Sejong. At that meeting, Sejong appointed Hwang Hui as Prime Minister.

“Now, I’m entrusting you with a great responsibility. I hope you’ll do your best as the Prime Minister of the court.”

At Sejong’s request, Hwang Hui bowed his head and answered.

“I will devote my life to it.”

After leaving the court that day, the ministers took Hwang Hui to a gisaeng house.

“Congratulations, my lord!”

“Congratulations, my lord.”

“Prime Minister, what a great promotion!”

Hwang Hui, receiving congratulations from his fellow ministers, looked at them with a strange expression.

“Why are you looking at us like that?”

“No matter how I think about it, it feels like I’ve been set up as a scapegoat…”

“Ahem!”

“Cough!”

As the ministers cleared their throats and turned their heads at Hwang Hui’s words, Maeng Sa-seong intervened.

“How could that be? It’s simply that your capabilities best suit that position, which is why we recommended you.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Hwang Hui let out a small sigh and raised his cup.

“Let’s believe that.”

* * *

With Hwang Hui becoming Prime Minister, Sejong’s “Second Cabinet” began to move.

Some historians dismissed it as “just a change of one Prime Minister,” but most historians disagreed with this opinion.

This was because Hwang Hui’s capabilities were so outstanding.

Looking at those who served as ministers and cabinet members during Sejong’s reign, it was an unprecedented gathering of brilliant individuals in Joseon’s history.

It was evaluated that Hwang Hui’s merit should be recognized for coordinating policies between these individuals and Sejong, and for stably advancing Joseon’s expansion, and that it was natural to recognize it as the “Second Cabinet”.

“You’re right, and you’re right too.”

There was much talk about Hwang Hui’s way of handling affairs, expressed by the above sentence, but Hwang Hui was also someone who would stand up to Sejong when necessary.

And Hwang Hui also garnered a lot of sympathy votes.

This was because, due to his and his children’s “unseemly incidents,” he was one of the “few people whose day of death was the day of resignation,” and in fact, the first such person.

With Hwang Hui becoming Prime Minister like this, many people, including Sejong, were satisfied.

But there was one person who couldn’t be happy.

His name was Kim Jong-seo.

“Why can’t I be happy!”

* * *

Kim Jong-seo, who returned to Hanseong with Hwang Hui, was assigned to the “Office of State Affairs Coordination” directly under the Prime Minister.

And not just as a regular official of the coordination office, but as the head of the office.

There were numerous policies that the court established and implemented, and policies that divided interests between departments were not uncommon. In such cases, the final decision was Sejong’s, but it was the job of the Office of State Affairs Coordination to set some framework before that.

Naturally, all kinds of pleas and appeals from the involved departments flooded into the coordination office. But because coordination had to be fair, officials from the coordination office had to run here and there to visit work sites.

Among them, the one who had to run around the most was, of course, Kim Jong-seo.

“I hear there’s been a big flood in the Jeolla region. Go and conduct a field investigation.”

“Are there still bold ones who skim off the middle these days?”

“That’s why I’m telling you to go check. And while you’re at it, take a look at the progress of the road construction from Hanseong to Jeolla…”

“My lord, I’m the office head, aren’t I? Do I have to go out myself?”

“Then should I go? Can’t you see we’re short on people?”

“Still…”

As Kim Jong-seo hesitated, Hwang Hui grabbed the nameplate on the desk.

“Do you want to go back to Hamgil Province? Or should I make you see nothing but snow for 30 years on Daeseol Island?”

“I’m going, I’m going!”

Even as he turned to leave, Kim Jong-seo kept grumbling.

Seeing Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo like this, the officials of the coordination office whispered softly.

“They’re really something, both the office head who always tries to wriggle out and the Prime Minister who manages such an office head…”

“Even though he tries to wriggle out like that, he does the assigned work perfectly, which is also amazing.”

“Who’s chattering over there? If you’re so idle, should I send you on a business trip to Gaema Plateau?”

“Eek!”

At Hwang Hui’s words, the officials became turtle-necked and buried their heads in documents.

* * *

In such a peaceful, daily life that flowed like a calm river, a small whirlpool occurred in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

‘Princess Jeongui is meeting a man!’

A scandal had broken out.

Upon hearing the rumor, Sejong immediately mobilized eunuchs and court ladies to investigate the truth.

As it involved his younger sister, Hyang also took a deep interest in the investigation.

And as a result of the investigation, the scandal turned out to be true.

Receiving the facts, Sejong called Hyang separately and lamented.

“An unmarried young woman meeting an outside man… How could such an unsavory thing happen…”

Hyang responded to Sejong’s lament.

“Wouldn’t it be a bigger problem if a married woman met an outside man? Isn’t this rather a good opportunity? Haven’t you been worried that Jeongui hasn’t gotten married?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong squinted his eyes and glared at Hyang.

“Are you covering for him because that man belongs to the research institute?”

“Of course not! Absolutely not!”

“Sigh~.”

Sejong, who let out a long sigh, seemed to have given up.

“Since it’s already happened… Alright. Tell me about this Kim Dam fellow’s background.”

“Yes.”

The culprit who caused the scandal with Princess Jeongui was Kim Dam.

* * *

The time when Princess Jeongui entered the research institute saying she would learn mathematics and work there, and the time when Kim Dam entered the research institute were almost the same.

Although Kim Dam had outstanding mathematical skills, he was lacking for practical work. Therefore, Hyang and Jeong-cho put him in the research institute’s affiliated educational facility.

At that time, only a very small number of people were receiving education at the educational facility. Therefore, those who needed to receive intermediate and advanced education were gathered in one place for education. And that’s where he met Princess Jeongui.

* * *

“Hmm… His family background seems appropriate, and his character doesn’t seem likely to stray elsewhere… He seems fine.”

“He seems to be a very good match for Jeongui.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! What does compatibility matter when they’ve already done the deed! And aren’t you thinking about the repercussions this scandal will bring!”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang’s face also became serious.

“It will certainly have some impact on women entering government service.”

* * *

After confirming the scandal, Hyang immediately summoned Jeongui and Kim Dam.

“How did you two end up like this?”

At Hyang’s question, Jeongui kept her head down and only fidgeted with her fingers, while Kim Dam turned his head towards the window.

“Speak up now!”

At Hyang’s shout, Kim Dam hurriedly opened his mouth.

“While putting our heads together to solve mathematical problems and exchanging opinions, we ended up…”

At Kim Dam’s answer, Hyang put his hand on his forehead.

“You should have stopped at putting your heads together. Why did you have to put your lips together too…”

The scandal started when they were caught kissing in a secluded corner of the research institute by the eyes of court ladies.

“Sigh~.”

Hyang, who let out a long sigh, continued.

“Now that it’s happened, you know what will happen next, right?”

“Yes.”

The faces of Jeongui and Kim Dam, who answered, had turned red.

“It seems you don’t dislike it. Well, that’s why you caused such an accident…”

As Hyang poked at them, the heads of the two gradually dropped lower.

Smiling slightly while watching the two, Hyang thought about what was to come and became serious.

“Probably, to erase your scandal, the wedding will proceed quickly. This is not only a matter of royal dignity, but also because the success or failure of the policies implemented by the court is at stake.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeongui and Kim Dam raised their heads.

“Is it because of women entering government service?”

Hyang nodded at Jeongui’s question.

“You know well.”

* * *

Although it was decided to allow women to enter government service to solve the shortage of talent, the court had a separate concern.

“Will educated women really respond properly?”

Most of those with enough education to work as officials at this time were daughters of noble families.

The question was whether the scholar-officials of these noble families would accept women entering government service.

In the worst case, a disaster could occur where it would become nominal until women who had gone through the Commoner’s School and middle schools came out.

* * *

“You two caused trouble in such a situation. That’s why the wedding needs to be held before your scandal spreads. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“We’re sorry.”

At Hyang’s point, Jeongui and Kim Dam looked genuinely sorry.

It was certain that not a few scholar-officials would completely block women’s attempts to take the civil service examination using their scandal as a reason.

Seeing the two like this, Hyang leaned back in his chair and gestured.

“Go and do your work. You know well that work here means the research you’re in charge of, right?”

“Yes.”

After sending the two out like this, Hyang’s face became troubled.

“How should I solve this problem…”

After pondering to find the best solution, he had to come to a conclusion.

“Is there no choice but lightning speed and making noise in the east while attacking in the west? Damn it…”

Hyang’s face was full of bitterness as he mentioned “making noise in the east while attacking in the west”.

It was because he remembered a common saying from the 21st century.

-When a political scandal breaks out, the entertainment industry gets turned upside down.

* * *

“It will certainly have some impact on women entering government service. Therefore…”

Answering Sejong’s point, Hyang explained the method he had thought of.

“I think the best method is lightning speed and making noise in the east while attacking in the west.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong immediately asked back.

“Lightning speed would mean holding the wedding as soon as possible, and making noise in the east while attacking in the west… Don’t tell me you’re suggesting fabricating a treason plot? That’s not possible.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang continued his explanation.

“In the current stable political situation, treason would be even more suspicious. Isn’t making noise in the east while attacking in the west about diverting the enemy’s attention? Then doesn’t Father have the best means?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s face brightened as he searched his memory for a moment.

“You mean to use the state monopoly stores!”

“Yes. It’s almost time for the first birthdays of the royal grandchildren and great-grandchildren anyway. Add to that celebrating Jeongui’s wedding and hold a large-scale discount event at the state monopoly stores.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded and summarized the situation.

“I see. While everyone’s attention is focused on that, it will be time to hold the civil service examination. That’s good.”

Seemingly satisfied with Hyang’s proposal, Sejong, with a brighter expression, chewed over Hyang’s plan once more and called the Chief Secretary.

“Give the summons to the Royal Secretariat, and tell them to call Lord Jeong-cho.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After giving orders to the Chief Secretary, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“It seems better to add one more thing to that.”

“What is it?”

“Three men make a tiger (a lie becomes truth if many people repeat it).”

“Ah!”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately exclaimed.

When time passed and Jeong-cho arrived, Sejong immediately got to the point.

“You need to become the old man under the moon.”

“Pardon?”

Jeong-cho only blinked his eyes at Sejong’s sudden words.

However, with Sejong’s following explanation, Jeong-cho immediately nodded.

“I will gladly become the old man under the moon.”1

Chapter 378
A Brief Interlude (4)

After that, Sejong proceeded with the matter at lightning speed.

Kim So-ryang, Kim Dam’s father, received the royal order through a messenger who had ridden all night, and rushed up from Wonpyeong County – now Paju – in one breath.

Upon arriving, Kim So-ryang heard a rough outline of the story from Jeong-cho, who was with Sejong.

“So, Deputy Director Jeong-cho here learned that the two children had affection for each other and became the matchmaker. I also think he’s suitable as Jeongui’s partner. What do you think?”

“It’s an honor for our family!”

Kim So-ryang had no choice but to accept immediately at Sejong’s question.

To be honest, Kim So-ryang had no other option but to accept.

This was because of the example of Yi Sok, whose family was ruined after refusing to accept the previous king Taejong’s illegitimate daughter as a daughter-in-law. (Note 1)

No, in Yi Sok’s case, there was at least the excuse that he refused because the prospective daughter-in-law was an illegitimate princess. But Princess Jeongui was Sejong’s legitimate daughter.

As Kim So-ryang gave permission, half willingly and half unwillingly, Sejong continued with a satisfied face.

“Ah, and come up to Hanseong with your family. Now that you’ve become part of the royal family, you can’t remain as a county magistrate, can you?”

At Sejong’s words, Kim So-ryang prostrated himself and answered.

“Your grace is boundless!”

“A position has been prepared in the Ministry of National Defense, so you should come up as soon as possible.”

“I receive your command!”

The position Sejong had assigned for Kim So-ryang was the head of the Second Administrative Office in the Ministry of National Defense. It was quite a high position, but not so high as to cause gossip.

Of course, Sejong hadn’t just randomly chosen the position. It was the result of examining Kim So-ryang’s performance evaluations and reviews.

“He’s skilled in administration, so this position should be perfect. The Minister of National Defense had been complaining about the lack of people skilled in administrative work anyway.”

Both in the history before Hyang’s intervention and in the history after his intervention, Kim So-ryang ended up benefiting from his son’s influence.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, as Kim Dam rose to the position of Minister of Personnel, Kim So-ryang was posthumously promoted to Minister of Military Affairs with the rank of Jaheon Daebu.

And in the history after Hyang’s intervention, he became a high-ranking official while still alive.

As the situation was settled, soon the government gazette was posted on bulletin boards in government offices across the country.

-To commemorate the Crown Prince and Princes safely reaching their first birthdays, and to celebrate Princess Jeongui’s wedding, a discount event will be held at state monopoly stores for five days. The dates are…

“It’s out!”

The people checking the contents of the gazette clenched their fists and focused on it. What the people were most interested in was the event dates and discount rates.

“What’s the discount rate? What does it say?”

“Let’s see… Uni… uniform… Uniform 50%!”

“50%, it says!”

“And it’s uniform!”

“Long live His Majesty!”

At the content of “50% discount on all items,” all the people reading the gazette shouted “Long live!”

Meanwhile, veteran officials watching the scene at the entrance of the state monopoly stores warned the new officials.

“It’ll be quiet for a while, so rest and build up your strength. Once the event starts, there’ll be wailing.”

“Is it that bad?”

“You’ll be able to feel what it means to say ‘people flood in like a tidal wave.'”

At the veteran official’s words, the faces of the new officials turned pale.

However, the veteran officials who had already gained some experience had researched and shared appropriate methods.

‘Only let in a manageable number of people at a time.’

‘Set up zigzag queues with ropes to prevent people from rushing in all at once.’

‘Make sure to request solid support from the police bureau.’

At the same time, ships and carts loaded with goods to be sold rushed to state monopoly stores across the country.

* * *

While the whole of Joseon was buzzing with anticipation for the discount event, another matter was progressing.

At a gisaeng house in Bukchon.

The ministers were having a drinking party together after a long time.

“How long has it been since we had a drink together?”

“Haha! Indeed!”

The ministers enjoyed the feast, laughing constantly.

As the ministers said, it really had been a long time since they had a drinking party.

Under the pretext of “slowing down the pace but ensuring substance,” they had been reviewing and coordinating policies, leading to a life of “home-office-palace-office-night duty room-palace-(repeat)-occasionally home.”

There was a break in between when Lee Jik passed away, but they had to endure more than a day at the funeral home paying condolences.

Amidst this, “Princess Jeongui’s marriage” was decided. As Sejong’s workload decreased due to focusing on his daughter’s marriage, the ministers finally had some free time after a long while.

As drinks were exchanged, the ministers asked Jeong-cho, who was attending the drinking party:

“How did you end up becoming the matchmaker?”

“Yes, tell us.”

At the ministers’ questions, Jeong-cho emptied his cup with an embarrassed expression and opened his mouth.

“Well, you see… Weren’t both of them receiving education at the research institute? When I took a peek, I saw that love was budding between the two. So, I stepped forward to be the matchmaker. They’re both in the prime of youth, wouldn’t there be a scandal if something went wrong?”

After saying that much, Jeong-cho emptied his cup and sighed.

“Sigh~. I thought it had worked out well, but…”

As Jeong-cho trailed off, the ministers nodded. They had heard the rumors that had been circulating in the palace for a while.

Seeing the ministers’ reactions, Jeong-cho concluded his explanation.

“Because of that, things progressed urgently. If not for that, we could have chosen an auspicious date and proceeded according to proper procedures.”

“Well, they’re both in the prime of youth…”

“Still, since it happened after permission was given, isn’t it rather fortunate?”

The ministers summarized the situation, speaking like this.

* * *

As the drinking party broke up, the ministers left the gisaeng house one by one.

“Lord Hwang.”

“What is it, Lord Maeng?”

Maeng Sa-seong, who had called out to Hwang Hui, looked around and asked in a low voice.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“Princess Jeongui’s marriage. Do you really think that sequence is correct?”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s question, Hwang Hui immediately answered.

“There’s a saying in the market: ‘Pretend not to know even if you know, and don’t try to know if you don’t know.’ Do you think the other ministers just let it pass because they didn’t know?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Maeng Sa-seong nodded slightly. Seeing Maeng Sa-seong’s reaction, Hwang Hui continued.

“Now that we’ve talked about it like this, rumors will soon spread. With that, we’ve done our job well.”

“Hmm… I suppose so.”

Maeng Sa-seong nodded at Hwang Hui’s words.

As Hwang Hui said, the “love story” that Jeong-cho had talked about at the gisaeng house spread throughout Hanseong in an instant. And soon after, it spread throughout Joseon. The secret royal guards also played a part in spreading the rumors so quickly.

* * *

While rumors were spreading like this, Princess Jeongui’s wedding took place.

Sejong had prepared a house in Bukchon for Princess Jeongui. Hyang, attending on behalf of Sejong at the wedding held in the courtyard of the house that exuded a fresh feeling, muttered inwardly while looking at Princess Jeongui and her husband.

‘Isn’t this how Joseon’s Curie couple is born?’

Both Princess Jeongui and Kim Dam belonged to the research institute and were devoted to its work. Therefore, it wasn’t an impossible thing.

‘No, since this is earlier, instead of being Joseon’s Curie couple, are they becoming France’s Jeongui couple?’

As he continued this train of thought, Hyang burst into laughter.

‘And one of their children will say they’re the family’s shame.’

* * *

The second daughter of the Curie couple, unlike her parents and older sister, entered the cultural field instead of the scientific field.

And when her parents, older sister, and even her husband received Nobel Prizes – in her husband’s case, he received the Nobel Peace Prize as a UNICEF representative – she often joked like this:

“I’m the family’s shame.”

However, she received the Legion of Honor instead of a Nobel Prize.

* * *

Shortly after Princess Jeongui’s wedding took place, the first birthday celebration for Hyang’s three sons was held.

The first birthday party held at the Crown Prince’s palace was attended by Sejong, the royal family members, and ministers, all celebrating the first birthdays of the three children.

“Now! It’s time for the doljanchi!”

On the feast table, various objects were placed for the doljanchi. Besides traditional items like thread, rice, brush, and money, even a compass and a sword were placed, while the Crown Princess and the wet nurses sat the babies in front of the table.

“Now! Quickly, grab something.”

As soon as the words fell, the other two children, except for the Royal Grandson, grabbed the compass and sword like lightning.

“Sigh~.”

Seeing this, the Royal Grandson let out a small sigh with an expression of unfairness.

‘I’m not seeing things, right? That was a sigh?’

‘A baby sighing?’

While everyone was bewildered by the unexpected situation, Hyang whispered softly to the Royal Grandson.

“Wan, no matter what Du and Seul do, you have the authority over personnel appointments.”

As if understanding something from Hyang’s words, the Royal Grandson grinned and grasped the thread and brush in both hands.

“Thread and brush… He’ll have a long life and be accomplished in scholarship. That’s good. Du grabbed the sword, so he’ll become a military official, and Seul grabbed the compass, so he’ll travel far seas and expand Joseon’s territory.”

At Sejong’s words of blessing, Hyang smiled and bowed his head.

“I only hope they’ll grow up as Father wishes.”

“You’ll have to educate them diligently. By the way, I always feel this, but you’ve really given them good names. Jade… Yes, a person should become like jade.”

As Sejong said, the names of all three children meant fine jade.

At Sejong’s high praise, Hyang bowed his head and replied.

“I hope they’ll become precious treasures like jade.”

However, there was something Hyang didn’t mention.

It was etiquette to choose rarely used Chinese characters for the names of royalty, especially princes. This etiquette, called ‘pihwi’, was to prevent the disrespect of commoners using the same characters as the names of ancestors or kings.

Because of this, most princes’ names were given as single characters chosen from rarely used Chinese characters.

And Hyang had volunteered to take on this naming task.

“If they’re given names with difficult-to-pronounce Chinese characters, it’ll be troublesome for me.”

Although he took on the task to avoid trouble, Hyang realized that naming was not an easy task.

“Tch… This is frustrating…”

While pondering for suitable names, Hyang soon found an appropriate method.

“This is annoying! Let’s go with one, two, three!”

After deciding on the pronunciation first, he then searched the dictionary for Chinese characters with appropriate good meanings, which resulted in Wan (琓, name of a jade), Du (㺶, jade), and Seul (璱, blue bead).

* * *

After the first birthday party ended, in the deep night when everyone was asleep, Hyang sat alone in his study, reflecting on the day’s events and tilting his head.

“No matter how I think about it, aren’t those kids on their second round? It seems like their second round… No matter how smart they are, it doesn’t make sense that they already understand words, right?”

Suspecting that they might be reincarnators like himself, Hyang soon shook his head.

“But that’s a bit strange too… They’re showing it too obviously? Don’t they think they’ll be suspected right away?”

After pondering for a long time, Hyang finally reached a conclusion.

“Whether they’re reincarnators or not, what’s the problem? If they’re reincarnators, it’s good because they’ll do well on their own, and if they’re not reincarnators, it means they’re that smart, which is also good. In other words, no matter what, the fact that they’ll be rolled by me doesn’t change, so why worry?”

And so, the brief interlude was coming to an end.

Chapter 379
Eastern Archipelego (1)

Late December of the Imja year. Otaornai Port on Daeseol Island. (Now Otaru)

There was quite a complicated story behind the name ‘Otaornai Port’.

At first, it was named ‘Sajangcheon (沙場川)’, meaning ‘river in the middle of a sandy beach’, taking the meaning of Otaornai.

However, the Ainu people’s reaction was not favorable, and thanks to Hunminjeongeum being introduced earlier than in other places, the name was settled as Otaornai Port, its original name.

And a Challenger-class warship was docking at the pier of Otaornai Port, where snow was piled high.

On the side of the ship’s bow and stern, a nameplate with the Chinese characters ‘길림 (Kirin)’ was attached.

It was the 10th ship of the Challenger-class, ‘Kirin’, named to commemorate the ‘Battle of Kirin’ where the Joseon army crushed the Jurchen tribes led by Yi Manchu and Mengtemu.

* * *

Go Il-nam, the captain of the Kirin ship docked at the pier, shouted to the sailors.

“Rest for a day, and complete resupply and maintenance as quickly as possible! We’ll return to Wonsan as soon as maintenance is finished!”

“Yes, sir!”

The sailors responded energetically to Go Il-nam’s order.

After Go Il-nam’s instruction ended, the sailors who rushed off the ship soon scattered in groups of threes and fives.

Go Il-nam, who disembarked last, sought out the port’s defense command headquarters.

After receiving a brief report from Go Il-nam, Commander Kang Ho-jun asked Il-nam:

“What’s happening that you’re moving so urgently?”

“Yes. We discovered something while investigating the northeast direction, and I think we should report it immediately.”

“What is it?”

At Ho-jun’s interested question, Il-nam answered simply.

“We seem to have found an archipelago extending eastward.”

At Il-nam’s answer, Ho-jun jumped up from his seat.

“Is that true!”

* * *

It was before the debate between the geocentric and heliocentric theories broke out in the research institute, but the navy’s captains and high-ranking officers were already accepting the spherical Earth theory.

This was due to the accumulated experiences from various natural phenomena they were familiar with during navigation – such as time differences and the curved appearance of the horizon – and the ‘hypotheses’ presented by the research institute.

Among the navy officers who had physically experienced this, one question emerged.

“Then what’s in the east?”

The reason the navy officers came to have this question was due to the traditionally passed down ‘theory of harmony’.

-Yin and yang harmonize with each other, and the five elements also harmonize through mutual generation and overcoming.

According to this theory of harmony, various natural disasters and epidemics occurred when this harmony was broken.

And the main reason for this harmony breaking was people becoming unvirtuous.

Therefore, when various natural disasters and epidemics occurred, the king would first come forward to offer sacrifices to heaven and compose himself.

* * *

Hyang, who had obtained Zheng He’s navigation records and observational data, mobilized researchers from the institute to create maps. These completed maps were supplemented with Islamic maps that came through Mansur, and as navigation records obtained during voyages to Suez – or more precisely, Alexandria – were added, the maps became increasingly detailed.

As the existence of an ocean discovered while investigating the surroundings of Daeseol Island was added, the navy began to have questions.

“If all the land in the world is gathered in one place like this, it’s not balanced, is it?”

“Right? It doesn’t seem harmonious.”

“The harmony of yin-yang and the five elements is not harmonious at all. There’s too much water energy like this.”

Although the question started from the traditional ‘theory of harmony’, the navy gradually began to harbor doubts and possibilities.

‘There must be land in the east!’

These doubts and possibilities were immediately written into documents and sent up to Geunjeongjeon.

“Review this once.”

“Yes, Father.”

After reading the report handed over by Sejong, Hyang’s face became incredulous.

“Does it work out like this? Well, if we were to nitpick, there’d be no end…”

Hyang reported to Sejong as follows:

“It seems worth trying.”

And after hearing about the debates that took place in the research institute and their results – which included even an estimate of this Earth’s diameter, although it was just an estimate – the navy’s atmosphere changed from possibility to certainty.

“If this world is that big, there must be land in the east!”

Although they were convinced that there was definitely land in the east, the navy couldn’t immediately act on it.

* * *

There were several obstacles that prevented the Joseon navy from taking action, but broadly speaking, there were two.

The first obstacle was the chronic problem of manpower shortage, which affected not only the navy but all of Joseon.

Due to the manpower shortage problem, the Joseon navy had to make a choice. They concluded to prioritize the deployment of Haeung-class warships to secure control of the seas near Joseon.

As Haeung-class warships were prioritized for deployment, the production and deployment of Challenger-class warships were pushed back.

Although Challenger-class warships had the strongest combat power and long-distance navigation ability among the warships possessed by the Joseon navy, they also required considerable human resources.

“Of course, if you think about it, Haeung-class isn’t easy either…”

While examining the related reports, Hyang put his hand on his throbbing forehead.

In absolute numbers, it had fewer crew members than the Challenger-class, but relatively, the Haeung-class carried more crew members compared to its size.

The reason for this was the sails that supported the Haeung-class’s fast maneuverability. Although it was smaller in size, the number of sails attached to the Haeung was just two fewer than those on the Challenger-class.

Therefore, not only the Ministry of National Defense but also Sejong and the ministers had to ponder over the Challenger and Haeung.

“We must prioritize Challenger-class warships! Considering Joseon’s increasing trade volume, we must unconditionally prioritize Challenger-class warships!”

Although Kim Jeom, the Minister of Finance and Economy, strongly argued that Challenger-class warships should be prioritized, a decision was made to give priority to Haeung-class warships for the time being.

Ironically, the background for this decision was due to the Challenger-class’s excellent long-distance navigation ability. Long-distance navigation meant that many sailors would be away from their posts for that long.

Even so, the construction and deployment of Challenger-class warships were not completely halted. Construction and deployment proceeded slowly but steadily, and the launching of the 11th ship had been completed.

* * *

The second obstacle was the enormous size of the ocean located east of Daeseol Island.

Joseon confirmed that the ocean east of Daeseol Island was literally a vast sea through the distress of the Challenger-class 6th ship ‘Jinpo’.

After finishing the coastline survey of Daeseol Island, the Joseon navy decided to explore the ocean located east of Daeseol Island once.

The Jinpo, chosen for the exploratory voyage, was loaded with minimal armament – just enough for one battle – and the rest was filled with food and water.

“With the food and water currently loaded, a three-month voyage without resupply is possible. Of course, if we ration well, it might be possible for up to four months. But anything beyond that is absolutely impossible.”

Kim Eok-su, the captain of the Jinpo, nodded at the caution from the supply officer who had completed the ship’s provisioning.

“I understand. We’ll be careful.”

The Jinpo, which set sail after such preparation, was confident from the captain down to the lowest-ranking sailors.

This was because since its commissioning, they had made several trips to Alexandria and Chittagong, and had experienced the rough seas of the northeastern region of Daeseol Island.

The Jinpo, which headed east like this, didn’t encounter land for a month and a half.

“Should we turn back, or should we go a bit further?”

“How about going a bit further, sir?”

“If we remember the times we went to Chittagong or Alexandria, didn’t we encounter islands or land at every critical moment? It will be the same this time.”

At Kim Eok-su’s question, most of his subordinate officers argued to go further east.

This was because, as they said, they had similar experiences when going to Alexandria or Chittagong.

They thought it was an endless sea with nothing, but if they went just a little further, Malacca appeared.

Despite the officers’ answers, Kim Eok-su, wanting to confirm more solid support, called even the sailors and asked for their opinions.

The sailors, after hearing the situation explanation from Kim Eok-su, agreed with the officers’ opinions. The sailors also expected it to be similar to the long-distance voyages they had experienced so far.

However, even after two months and ten days, no island or land appeared.

“We can’t go any further.”

Having confirmed that it was impossible, Kim Eok-su finally had to turn the ship around.

But from then on, the Jinpo faced a series of hardships. This was because they had to move against both the ocean currents and the wind.

As a result, it was almost half a year after setting sail when the Jinpo returned to Daeseol Island.

Thanks to the distillation apparatus and dried vegetables and meat that Hyang had deployed just in case, there were no starvation deaths, but from Captain Kim Eok-su to the lowest-ranking crew members, everyone was in a serious state of malnutrition. Upon receiving the report that it would take about two months for them to regain their strength, the navy and the Ministry of National Defense concluded:

“For the time being, exploration of the due east route is suspended. Instead, focus on exploring the northeast direction.”

It was in this state of decision that the Kirin ship found the possibility of discovering an archipelago extending eastward.

* * *

Given the situation, the Kirin ship headed towards Wonsan at maximum speed.

Unlike the usual case where they would rest for about three days and resupply after returning to Daeseol Island from northeastern region exploration before heading to Wonsan, the sailors had no particular complaints.

This was because the sailors were also excited with anticipation.

For those living on warships, from captains to sailors, the ‘distress of the Jinpo’ was a kind of shame.

“The world’s best warship manned by the world’s best sailors, and yet a distress? This is shameful!”

They had suffered a great blow to their pride, which had risen to the sky after experiencing situations where even the fierce Wokou and pirates would tuck their tails and flee at the sight of a Challenger-class warship.

“You shouldn’t underestimate the sea!”

Of course, experienced veterans warned, but the current Joseon navy was young from captains to sailors.

* * *

The report written by the captain of the Kirin ship that arrived in Wonsan was immediately sent up to Hanseong.

“This must be reported to His Majesty as quickly as possible!”

Jo Mal-saeng, who confirmed the report, grabbed the scroll and ran to Geunjeongjeon.

After confirming the report from the Kirin ship’s captain submitted by Jo Mal-saeng, Sejong, with an excited face, issued an order.

“Summon the captain of the Kirin ship immediately to write a more detailed report!”

“I receive your command!”

“No, to know properly, we need the memories of more people, so summon all the people from the Kirin ship to Hanseong!”

“I receive your command!”

* * *

According to Sejong’s order, Go Il-nam and his officers, as well as the sailors who were staying in Wonsan, had to come to Hanseong.

The officials from the Ministry of National Defense began to dig deeply into those who came to Hanseong like this.

Based on the information secured from not only the oral reports of the captain, officers, and crew, but also navigation records and personal records, the officials of the Ministry of National Defense began to meticulously examine the possibilities.

After examining like this, the officials soon reached similar conclusions.

“There seems to be a possibility?”

And that conclusion soon transformed into a thick report and was submitted to Jo Mal-saeng.

After confirming the report, Jo Mal-saeng ordered his subordinates.

“Prepare to report properly in Geunjeongjeon. Who was that guy with the good voice?”

Chapter 380
Eastern Archipelago (2)

Three days later, a presentation led by the Ministry of National Defense was held in Geunjeongjeon.

After paying respects to Sejong, the presenter soon began the presentation.

“First, please look at the map.”

With the presenter’s words, the waiting military officers turned over the chart’s cover.

The paper of the chart, more than twice the size of a typical chart, was a large map showing the Korean Peninsula and the regions to its east.

“First, I will report on the geographical information we have confirmed so far. These are the information confirmed through cross-verification and actual measurements based on the information secured after confirming its existence in the Sinhai year (1431).”

Starting with a summary of the content to be presented, the presenter pointed here and there with a long pointer while reading the paper on the podium.

“This is Dongbinghang (Winter Ice Port). And this island to the east of Joseon is Daeseol Island. And these two places in the north, which we couldn’t properly confirm whether they were islands or land in the Sinhai year, have been confirmed through continued exploration that the one closer to this coastline is an island, and the one outside is a peninsula.”

The presenter pointed to Sakhalin Island and the Kamchatka Peninsula and continued the explanation. (Note 1)

“According to our examination of records, there is a record of Yuan invading this island in the 8th year of King Chungryeol of the previous dynasty (1282). According to information collected by the previous dynasty at the time, there is a record that Yuan’s military conquered this region at the request of the indigenous tribes of the area tentatively named Yeonhaeju (Coastal Province). We have confirmed records up to the point where, after the conquest was completed, people from Southern Song were relocated to operate military farms near the Heilongjiang region facing the island.”

Sejong’s interest grew even more at the report that Yuan had mobilized Southern Song people to cultivate military farms.

“Are those military farms and Southern Song people still there now?”

The reason Sejong asked this was because of the military farms.

-If the military farms are still usable, couldn’t we send the Chinese people in that region back to Ming and use them for Joseon?

However, the presenter’s answer was negative.

“After investigation, we could only confirm traces.”

“Chinese people also have strong attachments to land. Of course, it’s 200 years ago, but it’s not easy to understand why only traces remain.”

At Sejong’s point, the presenter flipped through his papers and found an answer.

“In the 13th year of King Chungryeol, Nayan’s rebellion seems to be the biggest cause.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong nodded at the presenter’s answer.

Military farms were the easiest way to secure military control over newly acquired territories.

However, military farms required as much careful attention as farming itself.

They had to provide reliable supplies until crops could be harvested from the secured farmland, and they also needed reliable defense facilities and support troops that could rush in immediately if fighting broke out.

But if these elements were not properly in place, military farms would collapse immediately.

‘If a rebellion broke out, they would have taken away proper military force first, so it would inevitably collapse. And it’s already more than 200 years ago… But it’s a bit regrettable.’

Having reached his own conclusion, Sejong continued his questions.

“Then, since that time, has the Yeonhaeju region been cut off from other places?”

“Regrettably, no.”

The presenter answered Sejong, openly showing his regret.

“In the 11th year of Yongle, we confirmed from the indigenous tribes that an expedition led by Yi Shiha, a eunuch from Ming, visited. Also, we were able to discover a stone stele called ‘Chiksunoagan Yeongnyeongsa Bigi’ at the site of a temple called Yeongnyeongsa.”

After finishing his explanation, the presenter gestured to the military officers standing next to the hanging chart. Seeing the hand signal, the officers hung another chart on a separate hanger.

“This is a rubbing of the inscription on that stele. As you can see from the content, it says ‘By the Emperor’s order, Noagando-sa was established, and Yi Shiha’s expedition team erects this stele.'”

At the presenter’s report, the faces of Sejong and the ministers became unprecedentedly serious.

If Ming was still exerting influence in that region, there was a high possibility that Joseon’s expansion attempt would be frustrated.

Sejong continued his questions with a serious face.

“Is Ming still exerting influence in that region?”

“According to the military’s investigation, they haven’t visited again since erecting that stele.”

“Why?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers also nodded. To go to the trouble of erecting a stele and then not visit again? It was incomprehensible.

The presenter immediately answered Sejong’s doubt.

“The natural environment is not good, the population is small, and productivity is not very good. The military’s judgment is that it’s closer to giving symbolic meaning, just like Yuan did.”

“Symbolic meaning…”

Nodding at the presenter’s answer, Sejong soon had a question.

“But why haven’t I heard or known about this…”

Sejong was about to continue speaking but immediately cut himself off.

He realized that if he made even a slight slip of the tongue, it would create a situation where he would be publicly criticizing his father.

* * *

The time when Ming sent an expedition to that region was during the reign of his father, King Taejong.

During Taejong’s reign, the relationship between Joseon and the northern regions was a “period of disconnection.”

Taejong, who ascended to the throne through two “Princes’ Wars,” had no time to pay attention to external affairs as he was focused on solidifying his power base.

Taking advantage of this gap, Ming began to strengthen its dominance over the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong.

Of course, Taejong also tried to maintain influence, but it was inevitable that more weight was placed on Joseon’s internal affairs.

As a result, the Jurchen tribes largely defected from Joseon’s sphere of influence, and Joseon’s eyes and ears towards the northern regions were blocked. No, not just eyes and ears, but even the roads were blocked.

To escape this situation, the “Grand Strategy of Eastern Advance” was created and implemented. And in the process, various issues became entangled and exploded in an unfavorable direction, resulting in the rebellion of Yi Manchu and Mengtemu.

* * *

Hastily cutting off his words, Sejong changed the subject.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“In your contacts with Ming and the Jurchen tribes, have you heard anything about an agency called ‘Noagando-sa’?”

At Sejong’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun bowed his head and answered.

“I am ashamed to report that I have never heard of it. Please forgive my incompetence.”

“Don’t worry about it. But what I’m curious about is whether that agency actually has substance.”

After briefly organizing his thoughts at Sejong’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun answered.

“I think it’s close to being nominal without substance.”

“What’s your reason for thinking so?”

“Although that region is far, it’s connected by land and expeditions have gone back and forth. If the Noagando-sa agency had substance, there should have been consistent communication, and if so, it would have reached even my incompetent ears. But since it hasn’t, I think this agency is closer to a symbol without substance.”

Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s explanation. Unlike the early stages of the reforms, in the latter half, the information network in the northern regions was operating well. If the agency in question had been operating normally, intelligence would certainly have come in.

However, Sejong didn’t forget to give a warning.

“But there must not be even the slightest loophole.”

“I will engrave it on my bones and heart!”

However, there was something that Sejong and the ministers didn’t know.

This was one of the butterfly effects created by Hyang.

* * *

Yi Shiha’s expedition didn’t only happen in the 11th year of Yongle.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, in the 8th year of Xuande (1433), Yi Shiha visited Yeongnyeongsa again and erected ‘Xuande Reconstruction of Yeongnyeongsa Record’, firmly establishing it as Ming territory.

At that time, Sejong had ordered Choe Yun-deok to subjugate the Jurchen tribes in the Yalu River region and strengthen control over Liaodong.

Ming, wary of Joseon’s northern advance, visited Yeonhaeju again. And by erecting the stele, they officially declared that the dominion over the Manchurian region belonged to Ming.

However, with Hyang’s intervention, this history was twisted.

What Hyang gained by persuading Emperor Xuande to establish a joint trading company was not just securing trademark rights and stable means of trade.

He resolved the Jonggyebyeonmu issue that had remained a thorn between Ming and Joseon, and gained recognition for advancement into the Tumen River region on the grounds of it being the “origin of the royal family.”

Especially with the recognition of advancement into the Tumen River region, Noagando-sa became nominal.

Of course, as this decision was close to an impromptu decision by Emperor Xuande, a flood of opposition and concern poured out from Ming’s court afterwards.

Emperor Xuande asked such ministers:

“Does that wilderness at the eastern end help the empire’s finances? Does it help defend against Northern Yuan? Or does it help defend against the Wokou?”

At Emperor Xuande’s questions, the ministers closed their mouths.

Seeing the ministers like this, Emperor Xuande concluded:

“I forbid any further mention of this decision. This is an imperial decree.”

The background for Emperor Xuande making such a decision was the staggering financial problems of Ming.

* * *

Like Taejong of Joseon, Emperor Yongle, who ascended to the throne through civil war, had to demonstrate the empire’s power to stabilize imperial authority.

Therefore, he undertook five expeditions to Northern Yuan and organized a large fleet with Zheng He as commander to go to sea.

While firmly establishing his power in this way, it was accompanied by enormous financial expenditures.

Therefore, Emperor Xuande, who succeeded Emperor Hongxi who died after just one year on the throne, had to practice economy upon economy to restore the depleted finances.

He withdrew many of the military colonies that were widely spread in the Manchurian region to inside the Great Wall, and changed from an offensive-centered military strategy to a defense-centered military strategy.

To Emperor Xuande, the Yeonhaeju region, with its small population and scarce resources, was merely “all show and no substance.” That’s why Emperor Xuande overlooked it to some extent, even while somewhat guessing Joseon’s intentions.

Later, Chinese scholars studying the history of the Ming Empire during this period counted this decision of Emperor Xuande as one of his worst policy failures.

* * *

After summarizing the discussion about Ming’s influence spread in the Yeonhaeju region, Sejong gestured to the presenter.

“Continue.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The presenter pointed to Sakhalin Island[1] on the map with his pointer and continued the explanation.

“The military has given this island the tentative name of Jongjangdo (Longitudinal Island). As you can see, it has a long north-south shape. And the peninsula next to it has been named Eonwol Peninsula. Its shape was similar to a crescent moon sword.”

The presenter moistened his throat lightly and continued.

“And between this Eonwol Peninsula and Daeseol Island, there is an archipelago like stepping stones. The usefulness of these islands will be reported later. This concludes the report on the information confirmed by the navy so far.”

“I see.”

As Sejong nodded, the presenter took a moment to catch his breath and then pointed to the eastern coast of the Eonwol Peninsula (Kamchatka Peninsula) with his pointer.

“And through this exploratory voyage of the Kirin ship, we have learned of the possible existence of an archipelago extending eastward from this Eonwol Peninsula.”

“How did you find out?”

To Sejong’s question, the presenter answered briefly.

“It was a bit of luck, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Note 1) Referenced from an Atlas News article.

‘Why did Mongolia attack Sakhalin Island?’. 2019.08.16.

http://www.atlasnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=780

1. It’s in Russia[↩]

Chapter 381
Eastern Archipelago (3)

Southeast of the Unwol Peninsula.

In history before Hyang’s intervention, it was a small port city called ‘Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky’, but now that the Joseon Navy had taken control, it was known as ‘Chohang'[1].

The reason for using the character ‘Cho'[2], meaning ‘to bore’, was due to the port’s location. It was positioned similarly to the decorative hole on the back of a crescent-shaped blade.

While there were other Chinese characters meaning ‘hole’ – such as ‘Kong’ (孔) and ‘Hyeol’ (穴) – they were often used in vulgar metaphors, so this name was chosen after searching through dictionaries.

Despite this background, Chohang’s location itself was a natural harbor. The port, situated inside a rounded bay, effectively blocked rough waves and winds.

“Even so, the problem is that it freezes over as soon as the weather gets a bit cold…”

Go Il-nam muttered softly as he looked around, watching the unloading of supplies for the government monopoly store.

* * *

Through extensive exploration utilizing all available resources, the Joseon Navy was able to bring the islands and peninsulas north of the Maritime Province and Daesuldo under Joseon’s influence.

The next step was, naturally, to subjugate the indigenous tribes.

The government monopoly stores played the most significant role in this process. Joseon hadn’t forgotten the benefits gained from using these stores to control the Jurchen tribes in the Tumen River region.

Therefore, as soon as they established garrisons in Daesuldo, the Maritime Province, Jongjangdo, and the Unwol Peninsula, they set up government monopoly stores.

These stores served the interests of both parties.

The indigenous tribes of the Maritime Province had paid tribute to and submitted to the Yuan and Ming dynasties not only because they were forced to by military power, but also to easily obtain scarce goods.

However, sending supplies to this region was not an easy task, so the indigenous tribes still faced shortages.

But the Joseon government monopoly stores consistently received supplies, barring unavoidable natural disasters like typhoons.

Because of this, the tribes in these northern regions strongly desired to trade at the government monopoly stores.

Joseon presented only one condition to these indigenous tribes:

-Submit to Joseon. Those who submit will be treated as Joseon people.

“What does it mean to be treated as Joseon people?”

“It means there will be no discrimination if you faithfully follow Joseon’s laws.”

“Ah…”

“Think about it carefully.”

The tribal leaders, having heard Joseon’s proposal through written communication, returned to their tribes with faces full of contemplation.

The indigenous tribes didn’t make an immediate decision. However, as summer and autumn of the year of Imja (1432, the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign) arrived and they saw more goods flowing into the government monopoly stores, the indigenous tribes had to make a decision.

‘Submit, or gamble with raiding?’

While they were deliberating, a small group of impatient natives launched a surprise attack on a government monopoly store near Yeolyeongsa.

“There aren’t many of those Joseon soldiers, if we hit and run, we can definitely succeed!”

Those who attacked the government monopoly store after their own hopeful calculations were torn to shreds by the crossfire of the Joseon Navy’s cannons and muskets.

The Joseon military’s response didn’t stop there. After identifying which tribe the attackers belonged to through interrogation, the Joseon Navy immediately requested cavalry support.

The cavalry, transported by naval ships, struck the problematic tribe, reducing it to complete ruins.

Having witnessed the military might of Joseon, the indigenous tribes were finally forced to make a decision.

That decision was, of course, submission.

Although there had been a bloody incident in between, Joseon faithfully kept the promise it had initially made.

And the tribes that submitted became addicted to the government monopoly stores. The stores established in the Maritime Province, Jongjangdo, and the Unwol Peninsula were bustling with people trying to sell various goods like furs and medicinal herbs to obtain necessities – salt and sugar – and luxury items – black tea and pepper.

Upon receiving the related reports, Hyang smirked and muttered,

“As expected, ‘the evil of capitalism’…”

* * *

The impact of the ‘Battle of Yeolyeongsa’ wasn’t limited to the submission of indigenous tribes.

During the process of evaluating the results of the ‘Battle of Yeolyeongsa’, Jang Hang-seon submitted a proposal.

‘On the necessity of creating a naval unit dedicated to ground combat and the discretionary power of field commanders.’

Upon seeing the title of the report, Jo Mal-saeng immediately summoned Jang Hang-seon.

“Isn’t this an unnecessary waste of budget?”

To Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Jang Hang-seon answered firmly.

“No! It has sufficient utility!”

Jang Hang-seon explained in detail to Jo Mal-saeng.

-Looking at this Battle of Yeolyeongsa, it took considerable time from stopping the raid to the cavalry’s strike.

-The reason for consuming so much time was not only the time it took to confirm the arrived report, for His Majesty to make a decision and issue orders, but even more time was spent designating the cavalry to carry out the attack, disseminating orders, and transporting them on ships.

-Joseon’s territory will continue to expand in the future. If conflicts occur in places far from the Joseon mainland and situations like this happen, it will only result in too little, too late scenarios.

-Therefore, for ports far from the mainland, it is more appropriate to station separate troops for offense in addition to troops defending the port.

-These separately stationed troops should be primarily composed of cavalry and artillery. Mobility and firepower are the most important factors.

-Depending on the size of the port, station troops ranging from about 100 to 500 men, and quickly deploy these troops by gathering them according to the intensity of the conflict.

-To achieve this, the discretionary power of field commanders must be expanded.

“…It’s more efficient to gather and deploy these divided forces than to gather and send troops from the mainland!”

Hearing Jang Hang-seon’s explanation, Jo Mal-saeng stroked his chin beard with a troubled expression.

“It seems good, but this part is the problem. The part about ‘expanding the discretionary power of field commanders’. What if we initiate conflicts first due to misjudgment by an aggressive field commander? Or what if a field commander plots a rebellion?”

To Jo Mal-saeng’s point, Jang Hang-seon replied immediately, as if he had already thought about it.

“That’s why we divide the troops! The criterion for deciding the size of these divided and deployed units is to make it just enough so that the enemy doesn’t easily decide to attack, while also ensuring that our Joseon forces can’t easily decide to attack first!”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a while at Jang Hang-seon’s words, Jo Mal-saeng seemed to reach a conclusion and spoke.

“I will submit it to His Majesty for consideration.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Jang Hang-seon bowed deeply and replied.

“Thank you!”

And after receiving the report from Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong reviewed it and reached a conclusion.

“It seems like a good idea. Review it further, refine it, and submit it again. Pay particular attention to the part about the discretionary power of field commanders.”

“I receive your command!”

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news, Hyang immediately sought out Jo Mal-saeng.

“I have some equipment ideas in mind. If the unit creation is actually decided, I request an evaluation.”

At Hyang’s words, Jo Mal-saeng replied with a broad smile.

“Is that so! Then I shall do my best to ensure its creation!”

“And please pay close attention to the issue of field commanders’ discretionary power.”

“Yes!”

As he left after cautioning Jo Mal-saeng, Hyang muttered quietly.

“At least we shouldn’t end up like the Kwantung Army…”

Anyway, based on the proposal submitted by Jang Hang-seon, a new branch was created in the navy.

‘Joseon Navy Rapid Response Mobile Force’

It was the birth of a branch that would later be evaluated as ‘one of the sharpest swords of the Joseon military’.

And like other Joseon weapons and branches, it would become an entity that made foreign armies grind their teeth in frustration.

* * *

While Go Il-nam was grumbling about the sea that would start to freeze as soon as snowflakes began to fall with the slightest drop in temperature, and how snowflakes quickly led to heavy snowfall, a light flickered from the watchtower set up at the entrance of the bay.

“Huh?”

Confirming the light from the watchtower, Go Il-nam immediately began to decode the signal.

“Multiple unidentified vessels approaching?”

Jing jing jing!

Gwang gwang gwang!

Besides Go Il-nam, others who had confirmed the signal caused gong sounds and kkwaenggwari (small gong) sounds to overflow from various parts of the port.

Amidst the clamorous gong and kkwaenggwari sounds, the port guard hurriedly gathered their weapons and began to prepare for battle, while Go Il-nam also moved busily.

“Deck officer! Is the unloading finished?”

“There’s still some left, sir!”

“Stop it immediately! Battle stations!”

“Battle stations! Stop the unloading!”

“Battle stations!”

As the sailors moved busily at Go Il-nam’s orders, the vice-captain approached and asked.

“Wouldn’t it be ships coming from Dasangdo (Bering Island), sir?”

The vice-captain mentioned an island about 580 km northeast of Chohang. Named ‘Dasangdo’ because of the frequent frost, Go Il-nam shook his head at the mention of the island.

“Would the watchtower guards not recognize ships coming from Dasangdo?”

“Ah, that’s right, sir.”

At Go Il-nam’s point, the vice-captain nodded and immediately agreed.

“Just in case, prepare to raise anchor and move away from the dock immediately. For our ship to exert its full power, it needs to move freely.”

“Understood, sir!”

At Go Il-nam’s order, the vice-captain immediately answered and moved to command his subordinates.

* * *

As the Joseon forces remained on high alert, the vessels in question entered the port.

“A bit larger than a narrow boat. We might be able to end this in one shot if we’re lucky.”

As Go Il-nam was estimating the size of the ships approaching the dock, the vessels in question docked at the pier where the natives’ boats were moored.

Those who docked their ships disembarked with very tense expressions. They were intimidated by the Joseon soldiers who had gathered around the dock.

As the natives who had landed on the dock stood still, a military officer accompanied by a native interpreter approached them.

After a brief conversation, the military officer led the natives away. And not long after, the gong and kkwaenggwari sounds rang out again.

“Emergency over!”

“Stand down!”

As the port guards who had prepared for battle stood down, Go Il-nam also issued orders.

“Stand down from battle stations. And dock the ship again.”

“Yes, sir!”

As the order was transmitted, the tense atmosphere on the Kirin ship also relaxed.

Once the Kirin ship was docked again and firmly tied to the pier, the sailors resumed the unloading of supplies that had been interrupted.

Watching this scene, Go Il-nam ordered the vice-captain.

“I’ll be going to the port command post for a moment. I leave the ship to you.”

“Understood, sir. Leave it to me!”

Having thus entrusted the ship to the vice-captain, Go Il-nam disembarked and headed towards the command post.

He too was a native Joseon person who would be a corpse if not for his curiosity and meddling nature.

* * *

Upon arriving at the port command post, Go Il-nam sought out a military officer he was friendly with and began to converse.

“Where did they say they were from?”

“They say it’s an island we’ve never heard of before. They say even those living on Dasangdo might not know about it.”

At the military officer’s answer, Go Il-nam’s eyes began to shine.

“An island we’ve never heard of?”

“They say it’s about 960 km east of here, Chohang.”

“960 km in boats like that? Wait! Did you say east?”

Go Il-nam’s eyes widened greatly.

1. 鑿港[↩]

2. 鑿[↩]

Chapter 382
Eastern Archipelago (4)

After experiencing the ‘Jinpo ship’s distress’, the Joseon Navy’s primary concern in exploring the east of the Unwol Peninsula and Daesuldo was to confirm the existence of islands that could serve as stepping stones.

In this process, the first island they confirmed was Dasangdo, but Dasangdo had a fatal problem.

The area north of Dongbinghang wasn’t ideal for ship navigation. The winter was too long.

No, it wasn’t just that the winter was long, but the sea became too dangerous for ships to travel. Come winter, not only the entrance to the port but even the sea near the port would freeze over. The freezing sea was troublesome enough, but the waves and winds also became rough.

Therefore, the Joseon Navy had to explore the possibility of islands existing further south.

However, due to these natural limitations, exploration wasn’t easy, and progress was slow.

And now, people claiming to be from an island 2,400 li (about 960 km) east of Chohang had appeared.

* * *

Upon hearing this, Go Il-nam immediately sought out the port commander.

“Naval Commander, have you heard the report?”

To Go Il-nam’s question, Yi Hong-sik, the naval commander in charge of defending Chohang, nodded and held up a bundle of papers.

“I just received it. It’s quite interesting. Read it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Go Il-nam sat down and read the report.

The content of the report was simple:

-The island that the foreigners claim to be from is said to be 2,400 li east of Chohang. This was confirmed by an interpreter from Dasangdo.

-Among the interpreters from Dasangdo, only one person can understand the language used by these foreigners. Written communication is also impossible.

-The reason only this interpreter can communicate is due to his father’s connection. His father, who had been shipwrecked at sea, lived on that island for a considerable period while returning home, learning their language. Since then, there has been exchange every 2-3 years.

-The island’s population is estimated to be around 300 people.

“Hmm…”

Putting down the report, Go Il-nam said to Yi Hong-sik:

“May I speak directly with the interpreter, sir?”

“Go ahead. I’ll issue the order.”

“Thank you, sir.”

* * *

After Yi Hong-sik’s order was conveyed, Go Il-nam was able to talk with the interpreter in question.

Entering the conference room in the command building, Go Il-nam muttered to himself without realizing:

“Talk about the tail wagging the dog…”

Inside the conference room, there were others besides the interpreter in question.

First, there was a Joseon interpreter who would convey Go Il-nam’s words. Although he was called an interpreter, only written communication was possible in this situation, but it was deemed inappropriate for a high-ranking official like Go Il-nam to engage in written communication directly.

Next was a resident of the Unwol Peninsula who could interpret the Dasangdo interpreter’s words, then another resident who could transcribe those words into Chinese characters, and finally, the Dasangdo interpreter in question.

Seeing these people sitting in a row, Go Il-nam gave a wry smile and spoke to the Joseon interpreter.

“This must be quite overwhelming work.”

“Is there any easy job among those we receive a salary for? At least, now that a public school is being established here and Hunminjeongeum is being distributed, it should become a bit easier.”

“Is that so?”

To Go Il-nam’s words, the interpreter added:

“Of course, it will be hard work for the children learning at the public school. They’ll have to learn both the tribe’s language and Korean.”

“That’s true. It would be so much easier if we could just make them use Korean.”

“If we did that, we’d be called ‘people without roots’ as the court said.”

Go Il-nam nodded at the interpreter’s words.

* * *

The ‘language unification issue’ had been raised since the Jurchen people began to submit to Joseon. However, serious discussions began when incorporating the natives of Daesuldo.

“We must not force the use of Korean! We should use both languages!”

When faced with this issue, Hyang strongly advocated for ‘the use of two languages’.

“Wouldn’t that be too cumbersome?”

“That’s right. And since they’ve become Joseon subjects, they should use Korean.”

The court ministers argued for using only Korean, citing efficiency issues, but Hyang countered with a simple example:

“Do you want to turn the submitted foreigners into ‘rootless people’? Like the Hwachek?”

“…”

Although not as much as in the late Joseon period, at this time too, Joseon society strongly emphasized ‘roots and origins’, including family genealogies.

“Even if it takes time and is less efficient, we should let them choose. Forcing it will only create resistance. For this issue, taking time is the right path.”

“But if they use a different language, it will be difficult for them to feel like Joseon people.”

“We shouldn’t make them Joseon people, but subjects of Joseon. Aren’t those who are loyal to Joseon as its subjects more valuable than Joseon people who betray their country? Think about what we experienced recently.”

At Hyang’s point, the ministers fell silent.

It was a Joseon person, whose ancestors had lived in this land for generations, who had tried to smuggle out craftsmen from Area 51 for his own and his guild’s benefit. Although the arrest failed, it was a person of Joseon origin who had manipulated the merchant for Ming.

The merchant, who was a Joseon person, became a traitor for his own benefit. And the Ming person, though of Joseon origin, was loyal to Ming.

Finally, King Sejong, who had been watching the debate between Hyang and the ministers, concluded:

“Language is one’s roots. Losing one’s language is losing one’s roots, which is like becoming duckweed. If that happens, they will move here and there following their own interests. This time, I think the Crown Prince’s words are appropriate.”

“We receive your command.”

Thus, a law was established that even though they had submitted to Joseon, they would not be forced to use only Korean.

According to the law, from the Jurchen to the Ainu people of Daesuldo, foreigners who entered Joseon’s territory had to ‘learn Korean’ but were not forced to ‘use only Korean’.

They only had to learn Korean for ‘administrative convenience’.

“Well, it might be accurate to see it as a distinction without a difference, but we’ve maintained our principles… In any case, this approach is better than the Japanese or Chinese methods in this regard.”

As Hyang checked the related reports, the coffee tasted even more bitter that day.

* * *

Having learned what he was curious about through the interpreter to some extent, Go Il-nam went back to report to Yi Hong-sik.

“I believe it would be good to confirm the location of the island these foreigners claim to have come from on this occasion.”

At Go Il-nam’s words, Yi Hong-sik nodded.

“It is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Yi Hong-sik soon made up his mind.

“Alright! I’ll have the necessary supplies provided for the voyage! And I’ll write and send the report to Hanseong on your behalf!”

“Thank you, sir!”

Go Il-nam repeatedly expressed his gratitude with a bright face.

* * *

And so, the Kirin ship set sail towards the east, carrying the natives. With the natives’ boats tied to its stern, the Kirin ship embarked on a long journey eastward.

“Will it be alright, sir?”

To the vice-captain’s question, Go Il-nam answered confidently:

“Isn’t 2,400 li manageable for our Kirin ship?”

“That may be so, but I’m worried because we’re already entering October.”

At the vice-captain’s words, Go Il-nam looked up at the sky.

After observing the increasingly gloomy sky, Go Il-nam turned to the vice-captain.

“Let’s do our best to confirm the island’s location first. Once we confirm the island, we’ll turn the ship around and return to Wonsan as quickly as possible. It’ll be close, but we should be able to avoid the dangerous period.”

And so, after confirming the location of the island to the east, the Kirin ship returned at full speed to submit a report.

* * *

The presenter, explaining how the Kirin ship had discovered the island, pointed to three red dots with his pointer.

“These three locations marked at the northeastern edge of the map are the islands confirmed this time. With proper preparation and good timing, it’s a position where round trips from Wonsan are feasible without much difficulty.”

In response to the presenter’s report, Kim Jeom immediately asked a question.

“Are those islands the eastern limit?”

To Kim Jeom’s question, the presenter immediately answered:

“No, sir. The navy speculates that there might be other islands or land east of those islands.”

“Speculates?”

At the presenter’s answer, Kim Jeom’s voice and expression sharpened.

As the atmosphere of the person in charge of the budget became ominous, Jo Mal-saeng immediately stepped in to defuse the situation.

“Although it’s a risky venture, isn’t it worth trying? This time was also a risk, but didn’t it bring results?”

“Do you think luck will strike twice in a gambling den? Do you think that makes sense? It’s impossible unless it’s a rigged game!”

“Let’s be a bit more positive!”

‘Ah! I’m dying to speak!’

Watching the heated argument between Kim Jeom and Jo Mal-saeng, Hyang was itching to speak.

‘If you go east from there, there’s an enormous continent! A continent full of riches!’

He wanted to shout that right now, but he couldn’t speak.

There was no immediate evidence to speak so confidently. As for bringing in the Western barbarians, who he often used like ginseng in medicine, the research institute was already crawling with them.

‘Come to think of it, it’s a problem even if we discover it, right? Should we completely block sending letters?’

“…Hey? Crown Prince?”

“Yes? Yes! Father, did you call for me?”

Suddenly lost in his thoughts, Hyang was startled back to reality by King Sejong’s voice calling him.

“What are you so absorbed in?”

“Ah, that…”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang frantically racked his brain for the best answer. After intense thinking, Hyang found a suitable answer and immediately replied to King Sejong.

“I was pondering whether we should disclose or keep secret the new geographical discoveries our Joseon has made.”

“Oh? Let’s see…”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong and the ministers also began to ponder.

After a moment of contemplation, King Sejong nodded slightly and spoke.

“I see… Since they say the world is round, if we keep going, we could reach the Western barbarians’ countries. Then we wouldn’t have to detour through Cheonchuk as we do now, which would be beneficial. Especially since we wouldn’t need to engage in intermediary trade in Alexandria.”

At King Sejong’s point, Kim Jeom’s face brightened. Before Kim Jeom could speak with his brightened face, Heo Jo opened his mouth first.

“It would be great if it could be so. But couldn’t the Western barbarians flock to us through the sea route we’ve discovered? Haven’t we heard through Mansur how violent the Western barbarians are? Please remember the battle between the countries called Spain and Portugal at that place called Gibraltar.”

* * *

News of the naval battle between Spain and Portugal in the Strait of Gibraltar had been conveyed to Joseon through Mansur.

At that time, King Sejong and the ministers who heard the news all clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

“To try to solve everything with force! How barbaric these people are!”

* * *

At Heo Jo’s words, Jo Mal-saeng immediately countered.

“That’s precisely why we need to secure this sea route! Knowing in advance and being prepared can rather prevent conflicts!”

“What about the budget? How will we handle the budget?”

At Heo Jo’s question, Jo Mal-saeng turned to Kim Jeom.

To the silent question, Kim Jeom answered with a troubled face.

“That’s a bit… While direct trade could bring us great benefits, there’s also the issue of military expenses…”

Amidst the ministers’ debate, Hyang had to struggle to hold back the words that were trying to burst out.

‘Ah, dammit! I’m telling you there’s a continent there! Augh! This is killing me!’

Chapter 383
Eastern Archipelago (5)

Unaware of Hyang’s desire to shout “The emperor has donkey ears!”, King Sejong and his ministers continued their heated debate on the topic of the “Eastern Sea Route”.

After various opinions were exchanged and arguments made back and forth, King Sejong reached a conclusion.

“Although I’m not entirely satisfied, we’re in a situation where we can’t draw any conclusions right now. We simply lack too much information. Therefore, the first thing we need to do is to accurately determine what exists to the east. Whether those islands are the eastern limit, or if there’s something more beyond. What do you all think?”

The ministers immediately responded to King Sejong’s question.

“It seems most appropriate, Your Majesty.”

Having summarized the situation, King Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“By the way… I forgot to ask about this part. On what grounds do the Ministry of National Defense and the Navy predict that there are other islands to the east? If my memory serves me correctly, the report clearly stated ‘archipelago’.”

To King Sejong’s question, the presenter immediately answered.

“It’s based on the conversations the Kirin ship’s crew had with the residents after arriving at the island in question.”

“The residents said so?”

“Yes, they say that occasionally when they drift far on ocean currents, they sometimes see the shadows of islands.”

“Shadows of islands… Hmm…”

After mulling over the presenter’s words, King Sejong nodded.

“Whatever the case may be, we should establish an outpost on that island, shouldn’t we?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. And we should also bring the indigenous tribes into our Joseon as subjects.”

As King Sejong nodded at the presenter’s words, he turned to Kim Jeom.

“Minister of Finance.”

At King Sejong’s call, Kim Jeom let out a small sigh and replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will proceed with the establishment of government monopoly stores in consultation with the Ministry of National Defense.”

“It will be difficult, but please do your best. If there is an archipelago, we will have secured a good position, and even if there are no islands, it could be the last resting place before reaching the Western barbarians’ countries.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”

Through King Sejong’s decision, the Navy was able to steadily pioneer the eastern sea route.

* * *

Having thus summarized the situation, King Sejong continued, looking at the presenter and Jo Mal-saeng.

“Besides the budget, is there anything else needed?”

To King Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately replied.

“We need new ships. And we need many of them.”

“Heup!”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Kim Jeom let out a choking sound, and King Sejong expressed his doubt.

“Wasn’t there a shortage of people even with the existing ships?”

“The Jurchen people, as well as the natives of Daesuldo, are good at sailing ships. And the natives of the newly secured Jongjangdo and Unwol Peninsula are accustomed to the harsh northern seas, so we plan to incorporate them into the military as soon as they properly learn Korean.”

“Hmm… So you’re saying the manpower issue will soon be resolved?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered King Sejong’s question, while Kim Jeom’s complexion began to turn increasingly pale.

They were indeed making considerable profits from long-distance trade using the Navy’s Challenger-class warships.

However, the northern sea route was a different story. Of course, the precious furs from various northern regions and the oil extracted from whales and seals were being usefully employed to light up Joseon’s nights.

Nevertheless, the northern sea route was in a situation where expenditures far outweighed the profits.

Even those sturdy Challenger-class vessels had to undergo extensive maintenance at the shipyard without fail after enduring the northern winter seas.

Noticing Kim Jeom’s pale complexion, King Sejong turned his gaze elsewhere and spoke.

“Minister of Finance, please work hard on this.”

“…I receive your command, Your Majesty.”

Just as it seemed the situation was settled, the presenter continued.

“The Navy wishes to equip the newly built Challenger-class warships with steam engines.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

At this unexpected statement, both King Sejong and Hyang simultaneously uttered exclamations of surprise.

‘Steam engines?’

‘They came up with this idea? Already? From the notoriously conservative military?’

Their exclamations contained different thoughts.

“Explain why the Navy wishes to equip them with steam engines.”

At King Sejong’s order, the presenter immediately began to explain.

-Considering the natural environment of the north, the period when ships can sail stably is extremely short.

-Since humans cannot arbitrarily change the natural environment, the conclusion is that we must make the most of this short time.

-To do this, increasing the speed of the ships is the best solution.

-To increase the ship’s speed, we could add more rowers. However, rowers tire easily, and adding more personnel increases resource consumption.

-Therefore, steam engines are the best solution. The Challenger-class warships already have space prepared for installing steam engines.

-There are several advantages to increasing the ship’s speed. First, when heading east, the combination of wind, ocean currents, and steam engines will allow for even faster movement.

-Conversely, when moving from east to west, we have to go against the currents and winds, requiring a zigzag movement. Even in this case, operating the steam engine can reduce travel time.

“…For these reasons, the Navy wishes to equip the Challenger-class ships with steam engines.”

After hearing the presenter’s explanation, King Sejong looked at Hyang.

“I also think it’s reasonable. What’s your opinion, Crown Prince?”

To King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“While it’s the best solution, it’s not feasible right now.”

“Why? Aren’t the iron horses already running well?”

“The engines we’ve completed now would likely just take up space. We need to develop engines that are smaller yet more powerful.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Jo Mal-saeng quickly interjected.

“I hear that an improved version is currently being developed?”

“Of course, we’re working on it, but it’s not sufficient.”

Hyang explained why it’s difficult right now.

-First and foremost, the weight of the object to be moved is an issue. Currently, the maximum weight that an iron horse can pull at once is about 22.5 tons. This includes the weight of the iron horse itself, water, and fuel.

However, the full load displacement of a Challenger-class warship is about 900 tons. The current iron horse cannot handle this weight.

-Of course, we could increase the output by enlarging the steam engine. But doing so would take up additional limited space on the warship. Moreover, fuel consumption would increase, and in the worst case, after loading the engine, fuel, and food, there might be no room left for other cargo.

-We could reduce the amount of fuel or armaments to make room for cargo, but this would be a poor move. On land, we can set up fuel storage depots at stations where the iron horse passes for resupply, but we can’t do that at sea, so the cruising range would be reduced. And if we reduce the armaments, it becomes a problem for combat power.

-If we want to maintain the cruising range while reducing the fuel load, we could use the method of running the engine only when necessary. However, this deviates from the Navy’s purpose for installing steam engines.

“…This is why it’s unreasonable to install steam engines right away. Of course, it’s not entirely impossible, and if we add a little more time and a bit more budget…”

Hyang trailed off, glancing at Kim Jeom’s expression.

‘If we push a little more, we might end up holding a funeral here… ’

As if understanding Hyang’s thoughts, King Sejong picked up where he left off.

“Crown Prince, although I doubt whether your ‘little’ is truly ‘little’, I hope you can complete a usable engine as quickly as possible.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang bowed his head and replied.

“I will do my best.”

“Good, I’ll trust you. But about the loading capacity issue you mentioned earlier. Couldn’t we solve it by increasing the size, even if it means sacrificing some speed?”

“That’s not feasible, Your Majesty.”

“Why not?”

To King Sejong’s question, Hyang explained why it wasn’t feasible.

“The current Challenger-class ships are already close to the limit of wooden ships. Ah! If we decide to increase the size, we could make them bigger, but it would be difficult to guarantee their durability and safety. Then they would lose their value as weapons.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong nodded with a face full of regret.

Though King Sejong and the others didn’t know, the explanation Hyang had just given wasn’t entirely factual.

‘The USS Constitution was a wooden ship, but it was 2,200 tons. However, to build something like that, we’d have to completely redesign everything from the hull shape up. The Challenger-class is already at the level of a national powerhouse for this era, but the Constitution? Are we trying to conquer the world? And I should guide them to gradually transition to iron ships. Iron steamships, that sounds good, doesn’t it?’

Even in this situation, Hyang was deceiving for the sake of his own interests.

As King Sejong listened to Hyang’s explanation, he asked again.

“Crown Prince. You just mentioned the limit of wooden ships, so then with a different material… Wait, now I remember. Would it be possible with iron ships?”

Recalling the cold noodle bowl he had seen in the Crown Prince’s palace before, King Sejong asked, and Hyang immediately nodded.

“Yes.”

“It wouldn’t be an easy task, would it?”

“It would consume considerable budget and time.”

At Hyang’s answer, Kim Jeom muttered quietly.

“Not considerable, but enormous…”

“Shh! Your Excellency!”

As Heo Jo, who was next to him, cautioned him, Kim Jeom immediately closed his mouth and watched King Sejong’s reaction.

King Sejong, giving Kim Jeom a brief glare, ordered Hyang.

“Research iron ships step by step, but focus on developing steam engines to be mounted on the Challenger-class ships.”

“I receive your command.”

And with that, all matters were settled.

* * *

After finishing his work at Gyeongbok Palace, Hyang gathered the people from the research institute and Area 51 to relay King Sejong’s orders.

“…Therefore, the order is to begin research on steam engines and propulsion devices to be mounted on Challenger-class warships. I hope you will do your best.”

“We receive your command!”

The researchers and craftsmen who answered energetically gathered in small groups and returned to their places.

Watching the enthusiastic researchers and craftsmen, Hyang muttered quietly.

“Those folks have all become enthusiasts too.”

For the researchers and craftsmen at the research institute, orders to research and create new devices were always a joy.

Researching intangible things, like the recent debate between the geocentric and heliocentric models, was mentally taxing and easily fatiguing work. Of course, there were exceptions like Yi Soonji and Kim Dam.

But creating devices was welcomed because they could immediately see the results of what they had researched and designed.

* * *

“Your Highness! I have a good idea regarding transportation in the north!”

To Jinpyeong’s energetic exclamation as he entered, Hyang briefly replied.

“If you’re going to suggest building a bridge to Jongjangdo in the north and laying down a railroad, just leave.”

“Why not? It’s a perfectly feasible plan. We can build a bridge at the narrowest point of the strait between the Maritime Province and Jongjangdo.”

“Even at its narrowest point, the width is just under 8 kilometers. We’re already struggling to build a bridge over the Han River, which is barely 1.2 kilometers wide, and you want to build a bridge over a strait?”

Despite Hyang’s rebuttal, Jinpyeong didn’t back down.

“Of course, it’s unreasonable now, but if we keep researching and challenging ourselves, won’t it become possible? If the railroad succeeds, it can solve many of the current difficulties in the north!”

“Hmm…”

At Jinpyeong’s words, Hyang fell into thought. Seeing Hyang’s contemplative look, Jinpyeong continued.

“I too understand that it’s nonsense right now! But don’t we need to set high goals to progress? Didn’t Your Highness always say, ‘Keep challenging without rest!’?”

At Jinpyeong’s words, Hyang narrowed his eyes and glared at him.

“You… You’re aiming for the Challenge Record, aren’t you?”

“I won’t deny it. But my belief that railroads are the most useful for Joseon’s expanding territory remains unchanged!”

At Jinpyeong’s words, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~ That’s not wrong either, so I’ll discuss it with Minister Jeong-cho.”

At Hyang’s decision, Jinpyeong smiled brightly and bowed his head.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

After Jinpyeong left, Hyang muttered, looking at the place where Jinpyeong had been.

“They say there’s no cure for a train enthusiast… It’s really true.”

Chapter 384
He, Jang Yeong-sil (1)

Two days later, a new official document was posted on the large bulletin boards of the research institute and Area 51.

-New Entry in the Challenge Record.

Date: 7th day of the 1st month, Year of Gyechuk (1433).

Proposer: Prince Jinpyeong.

Content:

Connect a land transportation route by building a bridge between the Maritime Province and Jongjangdo.

Grade: Moving Mountains (愚公移山) Upper Level

Proposer’s Rank: Pioneer (先驅)

Although it was a brief official notice, everyone who read its contents nodded their heads.

“As expected, it’s His Highness Prince Jinpyeong.”

“Who else but him would think of such an idea?”

“It says land transportation, but it must mean a railway, right?”

“Of course.”

As they discussed, all the researchers and craftsmen had the same thought.

“If it’s been added to the Challenge Record, doesn’t that mean they think it’s possible?”

“Even though the grade is Moving Mountains… But the fact that it’s in the Challenge Record itself means it’s possible, right?”

The researchers considered it potentially feasible simply because it had been added to the Challenge Record.

* * *

The Challenge Record was created by Hyang to inspire a spirit of challenge among the researchers and craftsmen of the research institute.

Hyang created this when he realized that the researchers and craftsmen were too passive.

Until then, the vast majority of tasks carried out in the research institute and Area 51 were based on Hyang’s instructions.

“His Highness the Crown Prince will think of something.”

“That’s right. We just need to do what His Highness tells us to do.”

Most researchers and craftsmen held this mindset while diligently carrying out their assigned tasks.

Upon confirming this situation, Hyang clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! I went through all those trial and errors to avoid seeing this sorry state…”

When first establishing the research institute and Area 51 and proceeding with weapon development, Hyang had endured numerous trials and errors and wasted time. The reason for this was to prevent the current passive situation.

However, as time passed, the researchers and craftsmen became passive.

But this couldn’t be entirely blamed on the researchers and craftsmen.

They had become passive because they were overwhelmed just by turning the various concepts and ideas Hyang had presented into proper theories and proving them.

“This won’t do! If we don’t come up with something…”

Displeased with this passive atmosphere, Hyang racked his brains to find a solution, and thus the Challenge Record was created.

“There are two things that make even a whale fly in the sky. One is incentive, the other is honor. We’re already using incentives well, so we should use honor.”

Hyang stimulated people’s desire for honor.

If an idea passed the strict review of Hyang, Jeong-cho, Jeong In-ji, Lee Chun, and other top executives and was registered in the Challenge Record, the date of registration, the proposer, and its contents were announced and accurately recorded.

As long as that record existed, everyone would know who first came up with the idea.

There were 9 grades created in this way.

First, 3 main grades:

Lone Army’s Struggle (孤軍奮鬪): Difficult, but seems solvable within one generation.

Grinding an Axe into a Needle (磨斧作針): Extremely difficult, but there’s a possibility of solving it within three generations.

Moving Mountains (愚公移山): It will take more than three generations of time and effort, but there’s a possibility.

These 3 grades were further divided into upper, middle, and lower levels, creating a total of 9 grades.

Moreover, those who solved the challenges listed in the Challenge Record would also have their names recorded in it.

After announcing this Challenge Record system, the atmosphere among the researchers and craftsmen gradually began to change according to Hyang’s intentions.

One by one, creative opinions and ideas that even Hyang hadn’t anticipated began to emerge.

* * *

Believing in the feasibility of the project due to its inclusion in the Challenge Record, the researchers flocked to the archive attached to the research institute.

After examining the relevant reports and maps sent by the Ministry of National Defense, all the researchers shook their heads.

“Even at its narrowest point, it’s said to be a full 8 kilometers…”

“Even if the grade is Moving Mountains…”

“Do His Highness the Crown Prince and Minister Jeong-cho really think this is possible?”

“They must think it’s possible, since it’s in the Challenge Record, right?”

The researchers discussing this all shook their heads.

“Even if it’s the Moving Mountains grade, and even the upper level at that, this is a bit…”

“I wonder if His Highness the Crown Prince is thinking too lightly of this…”

Even as they voiced these concerns, the researchers’ eyes were shining.

“But the fact that it’s in the Challenge Record means there’s a possibility of realization! The moment we succeed, our names will go down in history! Even though it’s more than three generations, even just creating a provable theoretical method will be recorded!”

* * *

Area 51, Engine Research Department.

“The construction folks have been busy lately, is something going on?”

To the junior researcher’s question, the senior researcher answered in a dull voice, his eyes fixed on the blueprint.

“They’re all worked up about building a bridge that’s 8 kilometers long.”

“8 kilometers? You’d start crossing after breakfast and finish by lunchtime.”

“Never mind that, did you find what I asked you to look into?”

Realizing the senior researcher’s mood wasn’t good, the junior researcher hurriedly put down the books.

“Ah, yes! I found some good material in the Wujing Zongyao[1] you mentioned.”

At the junior researcher’s answer, the senior researcher’s face brightened.

“Really? So my memory wasn’t wrong! Let me see!”

At the senior researcher’s words, the junior researcher flipped through the book, opened the relevant section, and handed it to the senior researcher.

“It’s this part!”

“Hmm…”

Taking the book, the senior researcher examined the content of the relevant section.

“Chariot Raft[2]… Inside the boat, sailors step on pedals to turn the wheels outside…”

After checking the illustration and content, the senior researcher ordered the junior researcher.

“The picture is small, so copy it onto a larger sheet of paper.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

The enlarged copy of the illustration by the junior researcher was soon posted on the wall of the Engine Research Department.

“A wheeled raft… Are they suggesting using wheels?”

To the deputy head’s question, the senior researcher nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Hmm… Not bad.”

At the deputy head’s words, the researchers and craftsmen of the department nodded.

A monk who was examining the illustration with them joined the conversation.

“I’ve seen a similar illustration before.”

“Where?”

“Please wait a moment!”

The monk, who had dashed off somewhere and returned, pulled out a thick parchment book from his chest.

“It’s a book called ‘De Rebus bellicis’. It mentions that ancient Rome used a similar boat.”

“Let me see.”

The researchers huddled around the book, putting their heads together.

After examining the contents for a while, the researchers nodded.

“Is it using oxen instead of people?”

“It should be more powerful than the wheeled raft in the Wujing Zongyao.”

“It seems to be an application of the donkey-powered millstone.”

After listening to the researchers’ opinions and organizing his thoughts, the deputy head concluded.

“Let’s try to adapt this to the steam engine.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Remember, we need to prepare a report and blueprints to submit to His Highness as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Ten days later, Hyang received the report and blueprints and examined them with a face full of curiosity.

As he looked over the records of similar ships conceived in both the East and West, Hyang chuckled.

“They say human thoughts are all alike… By the way, is this China where people are abundant? Almost everything relies on manpower…”

After making his own assessment, Hyang asked the deputy head.

“Looking at the blueprints, are you planning to build a test ship based on this?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It’s going to be quite costly, isn’t it?”

To Hyang’s question, the deputy head answered with a resigned expression.

“It can’t be helped. We must prove it empirically.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment at the deputy head’s words, Hyang stood up.

“I’ll try to find another method.”

‘If I submit this directly to Father, Minister Kim Jeom will try to eat me alive!’

“Yes, I understand.”

As Hyang left the office, he muttered while walking.

“Paddle wheels aren’t very efficient, how can I lead them to a propeller method?”

As Hyang was pondering how to find a good method, another thought occurred to him.

“Wait a minute… Mounting a steam engine on the already formidable Challenger-class warships? The Europeans would curse like mad. They’d say we have no sense of fair play.”

As Hyang let his imagination run wild about the butterfly effect that would occur with the installation of steam engines, he smirked and concluded.

“Not my problem.”

* * *

The place Hyang visited after leaving the office was Jang Yeong-sil’s workshop.

After moving to Area 51, Jang Yeong-sil had been promoted repeatedly from Byeoljwa to Jeongrang.

When the organizational structure of the research institute and Area 51 changed through reforms, he was offered the position of Head Director of the Development Department, but Jang Yeong-sil refused.

“I am a craftsman who works with objects, not a civil servant who handles documents! The position of director doesn’t fit me. My place is where I wield saws and hammers.”

Hyang gave a wry smile at the sight of Jang Yeong-sil, who, befitting someone in the realm of the ‘incomprehensible’, refused a high position.

‘That man has become a true enthusiast too.’

Thanks to this, Jang Yeong-sil received a new position.

‘Director of the Technical Verification Department’

It was a department that created physical prototypes to verify whether the blueprints or technologies produced by the research department were actually usable.

It was the perfect position for Jang Yeong-sil.

* * *

“You could have called for me, why have you come to such a humble place?”

Jang Yeong-sil couldn’t hide his embarrassment as he welcomed Hyang to his workshop.

“Haha! Sometimes moving like this is good for health! And…”

Hyang continued as he looked around Jang Yeong-sil’s workshop.

“I heard you’ve been making many interesting things lately, so I came to see.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil’s eyes lit up playfully as he offered a seat.

“Please, have a seat first. Apprentice! Bring two cups of black tea here!”

“Yes, Master!”

Seeing this, Hyang’s eyes brightened.

“I did receive a report that you had taken on an apprentice.”

“Yes. He’s a good boy.”

A moment later, a young man who looked about the same age as Hyang entered carrying a teapot.

The young man stood at the opposite end of the conference table where Jang Yeong-sil and Hyang were seated, placed two cups on a tray held by a small doll, and wound up the spring on the doll’s back.

Char-rrr~

With the sound of the spring unwinding, the doll holding the tray slowly moved towards Jang Yeong-sil. Using wheels hidden between its legs, the doll glided smoothly and stopped right in front of Jang Yeong-sil.

Seeing Hyang frozen with a surprised look on his face, Jang Yeong-sil smiled slightly and took a cup from the tray, placing it in front of Hyang.

“Your Highness, please drink.”

Click!

As the two cups were removed from the tray, with a small mechanical sound, the doll turned 180 degrees and returned to its original position.

Hyang, who had been staring blankly at the doll, turned to Jang Yeong-sil.

“What’s that?”

“Ah! It’s a spring-powered doll I made for entertainment while working on self-moving chairs and precision clocks. It’s very good for enjoying leisure time.”

As Jang Yeong-sil spoke with an expression that suggested it was nothing special, Hyang inwardly exclaimed.

‘People! There’s a monster here!’

It was the appearance of something akin to the automatons that began to be made in 17th century Europe and the karakuri (からくり) made in 19th century Japan, now in the 15th century.

A moment later, having regained his composure, Hyang looked around once more and spoke.

“Do you have any other entertainment items?”

At Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil held up a complex wooden bundle hanging on one wall.

“This is something I made after being inspired by watching the deolmi (puppet shows) performed by traveling entertainers.”

After finishing his explanation, Jang Yeong-sil slipped his arm into the wooden frame and put his hand into the attached glove. Thick threads were connected to each finger of the glove, leading into the wooden frame. And at the end of the wooden frame were model fingers mimicking human fingers.

Kki-gi-gik.

As Jang Yeong-sil moved his gloved fingers, the wooden model fingers moved in exactly the same way.

As an unexpected object revealed its existence, Hyang could only open and close his mouth in amazement.

1. 武經摠要. Also known as ‘The Complete Essentials for the Military Classics, is a Chinese military compendium written from around 1040 to 1044.[↩]

2. 車輪舸圖[↩]

Chapter 385
He, Jang Yeong-sil (2)

Seeing Hyang’s expression of open-mouthed amazement, Jang Yeong-sil instead showed a surprised look.

“I’ve been working with Your Highness for nearly 10 years, but this is the first time I’ve seen you make such an expression.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s question, Hyang quickly composed himself and answered.

“Ah, I was momentarily surprised to see a device more astonishing than I expected. But how does that work?”

“Ah, when thinking about contracting mountains or moving heavy objects, we usually have many people working together, or use cranes and windlasses, right?”

“That’s right.”

“However, there are often cases where space is too tight to install cranes or windlasses. Or sometimes, a job that would be easy with 4-5 people has to be done by just 2-3 people struggling. I’ve been pondering a bit about what to use in such cases.”

As he explained, Jang Yeong-sil carefully assembled the structures hanging on one wall.

When the assembly was complete, Hyang asked in a trembling voice.

“Could it be an exoskeleton?”

At Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil exclaimed in surprise.

“To recognize it at a glance, as expected of Your Highness! That’s correct. It’s a device that mimics the human skeleton to be worn. Right now, it’s made of wood as we’re in the process of proving the concept, but if it works properly, we’ll make it out of iron to ensure durability.”

“How will you power it?”

At Hyang’s point, Jang Yeong-sil’s expression darkened.

“That is indeed the problem. I thought of using a steam engine as the power source, but considering the size of the steam engine and the management of heat and fuel… Sigh~”

After a short sigh, Jang Yeong-sil continued with a face full of regret.

“It’s the same with the process of transmitting the user’s movements. Right now, it’s just mimicking movement, so thick and sturdy cotton threads are possible, but if we were to actually make it, we’d have to use iron ropes, and then no one would be able to move it…”

Before Jang Yeong-sil could finish speaking, Hyang interjected.

“There would also be the issue of controlling the force. Using that would allow at least 2-3 times the strength of an ordinary person, but that much force isn’t always needed.”

“That’s right!”

Jang Yeong-sil nodded strongly at Hyang’s words and continued.

“That’s correct! So I thought about adjusting it before use, but that’s too inconvenient…”

“Before that, how would you transmit the power generated by the steam engine?”

“That’s also under research…”

As Jang Yeong-sil trailed off, Hyang suddenly shouted.

“Director Jang! I’m disappointed in you! How can a person do this?”

Momentarily bewildered by Hyang’s sudden rebuke, Jang Yeong-sil immediately prostrated himself on the floor.

“Please forgive me! I’ve used time and resources privately for my personal research! And yet, I haven’t achieved proper results, which is a great sin! Please forgive me!”

Jang Yeong-sil begged for forgiveness, stating what seemed to be the most obvious reason for Hyang’s anger, but Hyang’s scolding continued.

“Why did you conduct this research alone? To do such interesting research by yourself! Don’t you know proper etiquette?”

“Pardon?”

Surprised by this unexpected reason, Jang Yeong-sil unconsciously raised his head to look at Hyang.

‘Is he joking… He’s serious!’

Seeing Hyang’s face, Jang Yeong-sil had no choice but to prostrate himself again.

“I apologize! As it was just a thought from an ignorant craftsman, I didn’t report it, thinking it would be worthless! Please forgive me!”

“Even if it seems worthless to you, it could be worth thousands or tens of thousands of gold to others! If you have any other research, bring it immediately! Right now!”

“Yes, yes!”

At Hyang’s order, Jang Yeong-sil hurriedly moved to bring concept drawings and blueprints of what he had been conceptualizing and handed them to Hyang.

As Hyang examined the blueprints Jang Yeong-sil had brought, he genuinely became angry with Jang Yeong-sil.

“You just kept these precious things tucked away? Such interesting things!”

“I’m deeply honored!”

“I’ll take these, discuss them, and then register them in the Challenge Record, so be aware of that.”

“It’s an honor!”

“Really, people should have a sense of propriety… Interesting things should be done together, not trying to have fun alone…”

* * *

After calming down from this commotion, Hyang remembered the reason he had come here.

“Ah! The reason I came here today is that I want Director Jang to make a spring mechanism.”

“A spring mechanism, you say?”

“That’s right.”

Hyang told Jang Yeong-sil about the propulsion system issue for ships equipped with steam engines.

“…so, the Development Department wants to conduct experiments with steam engines attached, but it seems premature to me. If the current method proves completely unsuitable, we’d have to start over from the beginning, which could lead to unnecessary repeated expenditures. If that happens, wouldn’t Minister Kim Jeom and all the officials from the Ministry of Finance come rushing in to cause an uproar?”

“That would indeed be the case.”

At Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil nodded unconsciously.

Even to his knowledge, the budget consumed by the research institute and Area 51 was enormous. If not for their achievements so far, it would have been reasonable to call for their immediate abolition.

Having confirmed Jang Yeong-sil’s understanding, Hyang explained the purpose for needing the spring mechanism.

“So, I think it’s better to experiment using scaled-down model ships.”

Jang Yeong-sil nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“That’s certainly true. Then, what size would be appropriate?”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s question, Hyang spread his arms to indicate a suitable size.

“About this big? About the width of my chest should be appropriate.”

At Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil immediately replied.

“I understand. Then, I’ll create both the spring mechanism and the model ship. By when should I have them ready?”

“Is five days possible?”

“It should be possible.”

“Then, let’s plan on receiving them within five days… Ah! When making the spring mechanism, it should be designed so that the direction of the power axis can be easily changed.”

“The direction, you say?”

After pondering for a moment at Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil soon nodded.

“I understand why it needs to be that way. I’ll make it accordingly.”

“Then I look forward to it.”

Having finished his business, Hyang stood up. Gathering up the blueprints that Jang Yeong-sil had neglected, Hyang cautioned him again.

“I’ll say it again, please don’t just tuck away things you’ve thought up like this.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As Hyang was about to leave Jang Yeong-sil’s office, he suddenly turned around as if something had occurred to him.

Jang Yeong-sil, who had followed to see Hyang off, tensed up when Hyang suddenly turned.

“Your Highness?”

“Ah, I just had a sudden thought about the exoskeleton and power issue we discussed earlier. Let’s go inside and talk.”

“Pardon? Yes.”

Re-entering the office and sitting down, Hyang spread a blank paper on the conference table and began to speak.

“About that exoskeleton. There’s no need to have all four limbs like a person, is there? And there’s also the issue of attaching a steam engine…”

Trailing off, Hyang began to draw on the blank paper.

The pictures Hyang drew were of construction machinery like excavators and cranes.

“If we use pulleys and iron ropes to transmit power and control movement like this…”

Listening to Hyang’s drawings and explanations, Jang Yeong-sil immediately understood and nodded.

“Ah! It would be of great use in civil engineering and construction work! I’ll think about it carefully!”

“I plan to add it to the Challenge Record as well.”

“Haha! It will be a good competition!”

Meanwhile, Jang Yeong-sil’s apprentice, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, became crestfallen.

‘I can’t understand a word of what they’re talking about! I thought I was quite smart, but am I just a frog in a well?’

While Jang Yeong-sil’s apprentice was despairing in a corner, Hyang, having finished his conversation with Jang Yeong-sil, stood up with a satisfied look.

“Then, I look forward to future developments.”

“I will do my best!”

* * *

After seeing Hyang off and returning, Jang Yeong-sil sat down in his chair, let out a light sigh, and turned to his apprentice.

“Truly an extraordinary person, isn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“I feel this every time I see him, but His Highness the Crown Prince is a divine person. He’s someone heaven has sent down for our Joseon.”

“Isn’t the person that such a great individual values highly you, Master? You are your disciple’s pride.”

At his apprentice’s words, Jang Yeong-sil shook his head.

“Compared to His Highness the Crown Prince, I am but a firefly under moonlight. Didn’t you just see? Despite seeing the blueprints and models for the first time, he immediately identified problems and even thought of applications. Who else in Joseon today could do this? As far as I know, there’s only one other person besides His Highness.”

“Who might that be?”

To his apprentice’s question, Jang Yeong-sil answered firmly.

“His Majesty the King.”

* * *

While Jang Yeong-sil was lecturing his apprentice, Hyang’s steps as he returned to his office seemed to be floating.

“Hehehehe…”

A smile as wide as a washbasin was plastered on Hyang’s face as he looked at the blueprints and various concept drawings he held in his arms.

‘With this, the chances of running out of ideas have decreased!’

As things had been progressing under Hyang’s leadership, he had been gradually feeling a sense of crisis.

‘If I’m not careful, I might run out of things to geek out about later! I might end up just being a king instead of geeking out! My dream is in danger! I’ve failed at pacing myself!’

Hyang was bitterly regretting his failure to pace himself.

But there was no help for it. The talents at the research institute and Area 51 moved passively, and he couldn’t resist the things that seemed immediately realizable rolling around before his eyes.

‘This will disrupt my life plans! I need to find a solution right away!’

And so, the Challenge Record was created.

‘But it’s still a bit lacking… ’

Even so, to Hyang, who felt a 1% deficiency, Jang Yeong-sil’s works were a gift from heaven.

Most of the concept drawings and designs drawn by Jang Yeong-sil were things that made one want to take off their official robes and enter the blacksmith’s shop right away.

Looking at the blueprints with such a happy face, Hyang quietly muttered, thinking of Jang Yeong-sil.

“That man is really out of the ordinary…”

He had felt it before when making the golden brush, but the skill level of Joseon’s craftsmen at this time was not to be underestimated.

“If only there hadn’t been the custom of looking down on craftsmen and the wars…”

It was a time when there were many craftsmen with such high skill levels that Hyang, who had first confirmed the skills of the craftsmen, would complain, but Jang Yeong-sil was in a league of his own.

Jang Yeong-sil’s skill could be seen in the anecdote of the water clock before Hyang’s intervention, and the record that no one could repair the broken water clock.

With Hyang’s intervention, Jang Yeong-sil’s fate changed greatly.

With Hyang as his backing, he would no longer be dismissed from his position later. And as he created various objects that Hyang wanted, Jang Yeong-sil crossed a kind of boundary.

No, it wasn’t just Jang Yeong-sil who had crossed this boundary.

People symbolized by the research institute and Area 51 began to emerge in droves, crossing boundaries swept up in the storm of “scientific and technological revolution”.

Yi Soonji, Kim Dam, Princess Jeong-ui, and others who had been on the verge of crossing the boundary line but were blocked by the walls of Neo-Confucianism and social conventions, began to cross the boundary line and climb even higher.

* * *

Two days later, the researchers and craftsmen who came to work at the research institute and Area 51 had to gasp when they saw the bulletin board.

“How many are there in total?”

“I’ve given up counting…”

People were left dumbfounded looking at the notices that covered not only the bulletin board but also the adjacent wall.

As people examined the items evenly distributed from “Lone Army’s Struggle – Lower” to “Moving Mountains – Upper”, they soon realized one fact.

“Is the proposer for all of these Director Jang?”

“It seems so.”

“Come on, that man should have some sense of propriety! How could he dump all of these at once!”

While people were grumbling about Jang Yeong-sil, the craftsmen from the Technical Verification Department came to his defense.

“It’s not like that…”

‘The Crown Prince squeezed everything out of Jang Yeong-sil!’

‘The Crown Prince ordered that everything must be reported from now on!’

Hearing the craftsmen’s words, people instead looked sympathetic.

“Director Jang, that man, his good days are over~”

Chapter 386
He, Jang Yeong-sil (3)

While Jang Yeong-sil and his subordinates were creating a model Challenger-class ship equipped with a spring-powered mechanism, a water tank was being built in a corner of Area 51.

“It would be best to actually float it… If that’s not possible, wouldn’t it be better to float it on the Han River at least?”

As one researcher supervising the construction of the water tank grumbled, a colleague beside him chided:

“Hey! Have you forgotten what His Highness the Crown Prince said?”

* * *

When Hyang ordered experiments using model ships and a water tank, the researchers in charge of development came forward to object.

“There’s a large margin of error between models and reality! We need to experiment with actual ships, even if they’re smaller!”

The developers’ objections were reasonable. With the reforms progressing and all sorts of devices being created, measuring instruments had also advanced. The problem was that despite this progress, there was still considerable error.

However, it was unfair to blame the measuring instruments entirely. Even the wood, which was the most commonly used main material, varied greatly in quality. The iron, which was the second most used material, was being produced exclusively by the national ironworks, but there were still variations in quality.

Of course, Hyang wasn’t one to overlook this, so continuous quality control and new methods to maintain consistency in quality were being applied, but compared to the 20th or 21st century, it was still a “tearful” situation.

* * *

For these reasons, the researchers wanted to build actual ships and engines, even if smaller, for experimentation.

However, these objections and assertions from the researchers had to be buried immediately with one word from Hyang.

“If you insist, go directly to Minister Kim Jeom and secure the budget yourself.”

“…”

Because of this incident, the researcher who was again advocating for actual ships had his mouth shut like a clam.

* * *

As promised, Jang Yeong-sil created an experimental model ship in five days and submitted it to Hyang.

“Anyone who sees this might mistake it for an immortal using magic to shrink a ship.”

At Hyang’s praise, admiring the precisely scaled-down model of the actual Challenger-class warship, Jang Yeong-sil smiled and replied.

“I put my skills to use after a long time.”

“Of course! It was Director Jang’s craftsmanship! I thought it was extraordinary!”

“Hahaha.”

As Hyang observed the model ship made by Jang Yeong-sil with fond eyes, he noticed the paddle wheels installed on both sides of the hull and turned to Jang Yeong-sil.

“Are these paddle wheels easy to attach and detach?”

“Yes, as requested by the research department, I made it easy to attach and detach paddle wheels of various sizes and shapes.”

“I see. Hmm…”

Humming, Hyang stroked his chin beard.

‘No matter how I think about it, a screw propeller would be better… How can I make them understand this?’

After pondering for a moment, Hyang asked Jang Yeong-sil.

“Can you make one more spring mechanism that produces the same power as the one attached to this model ship?”

“Pardon? It’s possible.”

“Then make a cart with the same weight as this model ship. Put the spring mechanism on it so it can move. Is that possible?”

“It’s not too difficult, but may I ask why?”

To Jang Yeong-sil’s question, Hyang pointed to the paddle wheels and explained the reason.

“When attached like that, we can’t know how efficient it is, can we?”

Jang Yeong-sil nodded at Hyang’s question.

“That’s true.”

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to have something to compare visually side by side?”

After thinking for a moment at Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil answered.

“That’s right. I’ll make it and submit it within five days.”

“That’s excellent, as the water tank should be completed by then. I’m counting on you.”

“You can rest assured.”

* * *

Shortly after Jang Yeong-sil left, Jeong-cho, Jeong In-ji, and Lee Chun entered Hyang’s office.

“We heard that the model ship has been completed.”

Hyang, who was just about to place the model ship on the conference table and wind up the spring, welcomed their visit.

“Ah! You’ve come at a good time. I was about to test run it, fresh from Director Jang’s hands.”

“Is that so?”

At Hyang’s words, the three men’s eyes lit up. Despite their age differences, they had all evolved into inevitable enthusiasts whose eyes would spin at the sight of moving machines.

Tak-tak, ta-da-dak.

As he inserted and turned the butterfly-shaped winding key, the spring wound up with the sound of gears meshing. After winding the spring to some extent, Hyang removed the key and then released the stopper attached next to the spring mechanism.

Jiii.

With the sound of the spring unwinding, the waterwheels attached to both sides of the model ship on the stand began to turn.

“Ooh~”

“Hoo~”

As they watched the turning waterwheels with various exclamations, Jeong-cho asked Hyang.

“Is it possible to adjust the speed?”

“According to Director Jang’s explanation, it should be adjustable in three stages. Just a moment.”

Hyang engaged the stopper to stop the waterwheels and then moved another lever attached to the side.

Click! Jiing!

With a louder noise, the waterwheels began to spin at a faster speed.

“Hmm…”

“Huh…”

After observing the movement of the waterwheels until the spring was fully unwound, the three men took a step back.

“What do you think?”

At Hyang’s question, the faces of the three men organizing their thoughts didn’t look very good.

Jeong-cho was the first to speak.

“It seems quite useful, but there’s an unresolved question. According to the Wujing Zongyao, such paddle wheel ships appeared as early as the Song Dynasty, so why doesn’t the current Ming navy use them?”

As soon as Jeong-cho finished speaking, Jeong In-ji continued.

“I feel the same way. If those paddle wheels were useful, they would still be in use now, but looking at the current Ming naval warships or merchant ships, none of them use paddle wheels, do they?”

To the questions from Jeong-cho and Jeong In-ji, Hyang offered a plausible reason.

“Isn’t it a matter of power? To turn those waterwheels, wouldn’t you need a lot of manpower inside the ship to turn the pedals?”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong In-ji immediately shook his head.

“Don’t warships already carry rowers anyway? Considering that…”

Pausing briefly, Jeong In-ji concluded.

“If the results using the steam engine are not better than the methods using manpower and animal power described in the Wujing Zongyao and Western books, we should look for other methods.”

At Jeong In-ji’s conclusion, Jeong-cho nodded. Seeing this, Hyang turned to Lee Chun.

“What do you think, Minister?”

To Hyang’s question, Lee Chun immediately declared.

“The navy probably won’t like it very much.”

* * *

Shortly after, the three men left Hyang’s office. After seeing them off and returning to his seat, Hyang muttered with a satisfied face.

“I think I’ve chosen people well.”

Although Jeong-cho, Jeong In-ji, and Lee Chun gave negative predictions, they didn’t say that the current plan should be overturned.

The common point among these three was that they didn’t unconditionally reject challenging projects brought forward by their subordinates.

As long as it wasn’t a truly absurd plan, these three would say the same thing to their subordinates.

“Organize it a bit more and bring it back.”

No, even if it was a truly outrageous proposal, if it was armed with reasonably sound logic, these three would accept it initially.

And after several revisions and improvements increased the completeness, they moved on to the next step.

“Then let’s try an experiment.”

And after the experiment, regardless of success or failure, they demanded mountain-high analysis reports.

Because of this, the skills of researchers and craftsmen continued to develop.

Of course, there was an exception here too, which was the project proposals put forward by Hyang. Whenever Hyang presented a project proposal, the three would allocate manpower and proceed with the work without any discussion.

* * *

The day after the water tank was completed, the public experiment finally took place.

Amidst the gathering of craftsmen from the Development and Verification Departments, researchers and craftsmen who had heard about it, and naval commanders who had come out, the model ship and cart made their appearance.

“Then let’s begin.”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s order, two researchers came forward and wound up the springs.

“Start!”

As soon as Hyang’s order fell, the stopper was released, and the model ship and cart began to move forward.

When the test that continued all day ended, the faces of the researchers were not good at all.

“Even considering the difference between land and water…”

In nearly 20 races, the model ship never once beat the cart. It failed to secure a single victory in races conducted with various types of waterwheels of different sizes and shapes.

“This is a result created by the difference between land and water. Although it may be slower than moving on land, it will be faster than anyone else in water!”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Nodding slightly at the researchers’ assertion, Hyang turned to the naval commanders.

“What do you think?”

To Hyang’s question, the naval commanders immediately replied.

“It might work for civilian use, but it’s impossible for warships!”

At the naval commanders’ negative statement, the researchers strongly objected.

“Why is that?”

As the researchers demanded an explanation, the naval commanders explained their reasons.

-The space occupied by those paddle wheels would reduce the number of cannons. This is absolutely unacceptable.

-Those paddle wheels are likely to become targets at a glance. If the paddle wheels are damaged, not only will maneuverability be lost, but they are highly likely to become obstacles hindering proper maneuvering.

-To prevent this, armor, whether wooden or iron, would need to be installed on the outside of those paddle wheels, which would unnecessarily increase the weight of the warship.

At the navy’s explanation, Hyang inwardly muttered.

‘Minister Lee Chun was right. Come to think of it, both Minister Lee Chun and the navy pointed out the reduction in the number of cannons as the first problem, as expected of the ancestors of the artillery department… ’

While Hyang was thinking this, the researchers and naval personnel were engaged in a back-and-forth argument.

“If the number of cannons decreases, can’t we just load more powerful cannons?”

“If we can load more powerful cannons, wouldn’t it be better to load many of them?”

“Although those paddle wheels are large, they can move faster! Wouldn’t that reduce the risk of being hit?”

“Warships don’t always fight in the middle of the sea.”

Finally, after the continued argument, Hyang concluded.

“The paddle wheel method isn’t bad, but it’s not suitable for military use. This seems to be the most appropriate conclusion, doesn’t it?”

At Hyang’s conclusion, Jeong-cho, Jeong In-ji, Lee Chun, and the naval commanders all nodded.

Seeing the ‘high-ranking officials’ and the ‘client’ reach the same conclusion, the researchers all became dejected.

“Although the result shows it’s not suitable for military use, I still think it’s a good method. At least we no longer need to just wait for the wind. You’ve all worked hard.”

At Hyang’s encouragement, the researchers managed to brighten their faces slightly.

“We’re truly grateful for your kind words.”

“Now that we know the shortcomings, we’re just a little bit away. Please put in a little more effort.”

“Yes.”

And so, the experiment left them with the homework of ‘developing a new propulsion method’.

* * *

While the researchers were spending several sleepless nights trying to solve the task of ‘developing a new propulsion method’, which was close to ‘heading on bare ground’, Jang Yeong-sil came to see Hyang.

“Your Highness. About that propulsion method.”

“Yes!”

‘Could it be!’

As Jang Yeong-sil mentioned the ‘new propulsion method’, Hyang’s eyes sparkled and his voice rose.

Seeing Hyang’s reaction, Jang Yeong-sil cautiously opened his mouth.

“How about modeling it after the shape of a windmill?”

‘As expected!’

Inwardly cheering, Hyang offered Jang Yeong-sil a seat.

“Let’s discuss this in detail!”

Chapter 387
He, Jang Yeong-sil (4)

The next morning.

A new notice was posted on the bulletin board.

“Another Challenge Record entry? They’ve been frequent lately.”

“What is it? What is it?”

“Hey, move your head out of the way!”

Researchers and craftsmen gathered in droves to read the contents of the new notice posted on the bulletin board.

The first thing the researchers and craftsmen checked was the grade of the entry. Checking the grade first had become a habit for everyone since the Challenge Record was established.

And the eyes of those who confirmed the grade all widened.

“Huh?”

“What kind of grade…”

The newly posted notice had two grades applied simultaneously.

Grade: Lone Army’s Struggle – Lower, Moving Mountains – Upper.

It was a simultaneous assignment of two extreme grades.

Surprised by this unexpected grade assignment, people examined the content more closely.

- New Challenge Record Entry Notice.

Date: 17th day of the 3rd month, Year of Gyechuk (1433).

Proposer: Jang Yeong-sil

Content: Create a propulsion device for ships by applying the shape of a windmill.

Grade: Lone Army’s Struggle – Lower, Moving Mountains – Upper

“Ah!”

“Oh no!”

“To think we didn’t come up with this, what fools we are!”

The researchers and craftsmen of the team tasked with developing the propulsion device read the content and blamed themselves, slapping their foreheads.

Windmills were not unfamiliar to Joseon people. It was one of the toys that every boy had played with.

Called “pallanggaebi,” “doreurami,” or “hoehoi-a” depending on the region, windmills were toys that had been passed down since before Joseon. Initially, they had a strong magical character – typically attached to rice sheaves with five grains on the first full moon – wishing for a good harvest, but later became children’s toys.

They blamed themselves for looking for answers in strange places despite having such an object that accompanied their childhood.

After this period of self-reproach, the researchers and craftsmen all had the same question.

“But why did it receive two extreme grades simultaneously?”

Unable to come up with a suitable answer no matter how much they thought about it, the researchers discussed with their colleagues.

“Do you know why it received such grades?”

“I’m not sure. Do you have any idea?”

“Should we ask His Highness?”

When one researcher mentioned Hyang, other researchers simultaneously replied.

“Would he answer?”

* * *

To the researchers and craftsmen of the research institute, Hyang was a ‘good but demanding boss’.

When they failed in their assigned tasks or missed deadlines, Hyang carefully examined the reasons. If it wasn’t due to the negligence or carelessness of those in charge, and if there were no human casualties, Hyang rarely punished them.

Instead, what Hyang wanted from those in charge was a clear lesson learned.

While Hyang seemed like a good boss in this regard, he was demanding in other areas.

There were two areas where Hyang was particularly fussy.

One was the budget, and the other was immediately asking questions about assigned tasks without even trying to figure things out.

‘Pondering why such a grade was assigned is the first step towards success.’

Because Hyang had said this, researchers had to rack their brains from the very beginning on the question of ‘why this grade?’

“His Highness always wants us to do our best.”

“Isn’t that because he trusts us so much?”

Although they had to struggle considerably from the start, the researchers believed that all of this was for their own good and did their best.

However, this was only half the truth.

“For development to continue across generations, we need to thoroughly digest and move forward.”

While one reason was the belief that what the researchers and craftsmen had learned needed to be properly digested to be passed on to the next generation, other aspects were due to Hyang’s selfishness and limitations.

“Are they trying to just piggyback? Even in group projects, you’d get cursed at for that. Is this deeply rooted piggybacking? And…”

Hyang examined the reports with a troubled face.

“I was the kind of geek who would make things first and think later, not good at using my head like this… If I was good at this, I would have gone into science, not liberal arts, right? Why was I said to have a 19th-century inventor style?”

The assessment of the doctor who consulted with Hyang in the 21st century was as follows:

‘An inventor type like Leonardo da Vinci, not a theorist type like Kepler or Einstein.’

‘Not good at advanced mathematics.’

Having reached his limit due to this limitation, Hyang gave up explaining under the pretext that ‘they need to find the answer on their own to make it their own’.

* * *

Anyway, since asking Hyang wouldn’t yield an answer, the researchers immediately began their research.

And as soon as they started researching, they could understand why it received two grades simultaneously.

Since the content already stated ‘model it after the shape of a windmill’, shaping it was very easy.

The researchers made rapid progress while making windmills using paper, bamboo, and reeds.

“As expected, four blades receive the wind better than two. Then wouldn’t four blades be better for the propeller as well?”

“That seems right.”

“Ah! Have you ever competed in flying windmills?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to make the shape of the blades similar to windmills used for high-flying competitions?”

“Oh! That’s a great idea!”

Other researchers agreed enthusiastically at one researcher’s suggestion.

There were two ways to compete with windmills.

One was to run to a designated place or stand in place facing the wind and compete to see whose windmill spun better.

The other was to carve bamboo into wing shapes, connect them to a shaft, rub them between both hands, and compete to see whose flew higher.

Progress was rapid because they had memories of windmills, a toy that both noble children and commoner or slave children had played with familiarly in their childhood.

“At this rate, we’ll have results soon, right?”

“That’s right. Indeed, Lone Army’s Struggle – Lower grade.”

While the researchers were optimistic about the results, it wasn’t long before they understood why it had received the “Moving Mountains – Upper” grade.

* * *

The first thing that blocked their progress was finding the ‘optimal blade angle’.

“Simply put, these tilted blades push the water… so the angle should be…”

While researching to find the optimal angle, another variable emerged.

‘Even with the same angle, the efficiency changes when the shape and size of the blades change.’

“Damn it! Let’s give it a try, shall we!”

As variables appeared sneakily to trip them up, the researchers and craftsmen cursed, rolled up their sleeves, and threw themselves into design and experimentation.

The researchers and craftsmen carved wooden boards in various ways to create dozens of types of screw propellers.

They made versions where the shaft connection part and blades were made separately and combined, versions where the connection part and blades were carved as one piece, versions with narrow and wide blade widths, and versions with varying numbers of blades such as 4, 6, and 8 blades, among others.

Before long, the workshop and warehouse of the Development Department were filled with so many wooden screw propellers that it was difficult to count them.

Amidst all these trials and errors, another variable tripped them up.

It was vibration.

In one corner of the Development Department’s laboratory was a spring mechanism made by Jang Yeong-sil. The researchers investigated the performance by attaching screw propellers to the shaft connected to the spring mechanism.

Wiiing!

As the screw propeller connected to the spring mechanism began to rotate at high speed, the power shaft started to vibrate slightly up and down.

“Huh? Why is the shaft shaking? Hey, everyone!”

A sharp-eyed researcher noticed the anomaly and called his colleagues.

The colleagues also confirmed the vibration, but here the researchers made a fatal mistake.

“Isn’t it vibration caused by the spring unwinding? We had something similar with the water wheel before, remember?”

“Is that so?”

“Let’s quickly attach it to a ship and experiment.”

And so, a model ship equipped with the 8-blade screw propeller that had shown the best efficiency was floated in the water tank.

“Start!”

As the experiment using the model ship began, the researchers’ faces turned pale.

“Why is the ship doing that!”

The ship began to shake back and forth, unable to move straight, and started moving diagonally while tilting to one side.

“Stop! Stop!”

The researchers urgently stopped the experiment and thoroughly examined the ship to find the cause, but they couldn’t easily find the reason.

“We have no choice. Let’s stop here for now and write up a report to submit.”

* * *

Hyang, upon receiving the report, had to forcibly restrain himself from speaking.

‘The ship’s crooked movement is clearly due to torque, and the vibration problem… Could it be because they made an even number of blades? As far as I know, ship propellers always had an odd number of blades, right?’

In fact, large ships use two screw propellers to prevent the ship from deviating from its straight course due to the reactive torque pair (Heeling torque/moment) acting between the ship and the propeller.

And ship propellers are made with an odd number of blades. The reason is that with an even number, resonance frequencies occur as many times as the number of factors, but with an odd number, only one resonance frequency occurs, creating various problems including vibration.

‘That’s why even in the 21st century, all sorts of cutting-edge technology was mobilized just to make that seemingly simple screw propeller, and in extreme cases, Japan even took a hit, right?’

During the Cold War era, Japan’s Toshiba violated COCOM (Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls) contracts and exported ultra-precision large machine tools to the Soviet Union. As a result, NATO countries, including the United States, began to have trouble tracking Soviet submarines.

Upon discovering that Toshiba was the culprit, the United States immediately imposed an export ban on Toshiba, and from this point, the decline of Japanese electronic products and semiconductors began.

This happened long before Hyang was born, but Hyang remembered it because when Japan excluded Korea from its whitelist and imposed trade sanctions, the internet mentioned this incident, saying, “The Japanese make even bigger mistakes!”

Therefore, Hyang had to forcibly restrain his itching mouth.

‘This is something they need to ingrain in their bodies through trial and error! Only then will they be able to use it better in the future!’

Issues like torque and resonance were applicable in various fields, so it was essential to understand them before moving on.

* * *

While they were pondering over this intractable problem, another variable tripped up the developers.

This time, it was the issue of the material used to make the screw propeller.

In the course of repeated experiments, the wooden screw propellers broke faster than expected.

“Wood won’t do! Let’s try other materials!”

And so, screw propellers were made of iron and copper.

Due to manufacturing technology issues, the prototypes made were quite large, and as a result, Jang Yeong-sil had to make a model ship 1/10 the size of an actual ship.

The model ship, made larger and even equipped with a small steam engine, was experimented with on the Han River, and similarly failed.

In addition to the basic problems of vibration and deviation, this time the blades of the screw propeller were also deformed.

Finally, the researchers could understand why this task was graded “Moving Mountains – Upper”.

* * *

While the researchers were struggling like this, Jang Yeong-sil again sought out Hyang.

“Your Highness, I have an idea.”

“Let’s hear it right away!”

Chapter 388
He, Jang Yeong-sil (5)

At Hyang’s command, Jang Yeong-sil opened the bag he had brought and took out two fist-sized objects.

“What are these?”

Seeing the objects Jang Yeong-sil had produced, Hyang inwardly exclaimed.

‘Archimedes’ screw?’

Meanwhile, Jang Yeong-sil began to explain.

“As you can see, this is a modified version of the drill used for digging wells. Since the way the windmill-type propeller pushes water is similar to how a drill bores into the ground, I thought it might work with a few adjustments, so I made this.”

“That’s true, but…”

‘Is this really something that can be done with just a few adjustments?’

Hiding the doubt creeping into his mind, Hyang nodded.

Seeing that Hyang seemed to understand properly, Jang Yeong-sil waved his outstretched hand and continued his explanation.

“As you can see, waving your hand in the air meets little resistance, but it takes much more force to move like this in water. Therefore, I thought that the problems with the windmill-type propellers we’ve been making were due to water offering more resistance than air. So I modified the drill. Since it digs into ground, which is even harder than water, I expected that using its shape and material would not cause the same problems as the propellers.”

As Jang Yeong-sil explained, Hyang kept nodding, but inwardly he was repeatedly exclaiming in admiration.

‘Even though starting from zero base allows for maximum imagination, does it really work out like this? Is such an idea even possible?’

While inwardly he was astounded by this situation that surpassed imagination, outwardly Hyang maintained a calm expression.

Hyang asked Jang Yeong-sil in a composed voice.

“Based on the explanation I’ve just heard, it seems very useful. However, considering our past experiences, no device has only advantages. What do you think are the disadvantages of this device?”

‘If this had only advantages, wouldn’t screw propellers have become the mainstream?’

Hyang’s thoughts contained a small error.

Even in the 21st century, research on ship propulsion devices similar to what Jang Yeong-sil had conceived was steadily being conducted by a minority of inventors.

To Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil immediately affirmed.

“Your Highness is correct. This spiral propeller, ah, that’s the name I’ve arbitrarily given it. If we compare this spiral propeller with the windmill propeller, the windmill propeller takes up less space.”

“In other words, you’re saying that installing the spiral propeller would require more space, right?”

“That’s correct. I’ve tried to reduce the spacing between the spirals and deepened the grooves, but it still takes up more space front to back than the windmill. Additionally, there will be changes in the center of gravity due to the propeller’s weight, and design modifications will be necessary. So, I’ve pondered a bit more…”

Pausing briefly, Jang Yeong-sil rummaged through his bag and pulled out a paper, spreading it on Hyang’s desk.

“As you can see, the idea is to connect a long pipe from the bow to the stern of the ship and install the spiral propeller inside. This way, we won’t need to greatly alter the design. Also, by positioning the propeller to match the center of gravity, we can actually improve the ship’s stability.”

As Hyang examined the concept drawing while listening to Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation, he could only open and close his mouth.

‘I, I know this! I’ve seen something similar! This is a water jet!’

Once again confronted with something unexpected, Hyang was unable to recover from the shock for a while.

“Your Highness? What do you think?”

Recovering from the shock at Jang Yeong-sil’s question, Hyang once again seriously examined the concept drawing.

“How did you come up with this idea?”

“I started thinking about it while working on improving the bellows used in ironworks and workshops.”

“Hmm…”

‘How does one’s train of thought have to flow for these things to connect and produce something like this?’

Shaking his head slightly, Hyang examined the concept drawing again.

After scrutinizing the drawing so intently it might have burned a hole in the paper, Hyang shook his head.

“There’s a big problem. Right here.”

Hyang pointed to the bow and continued.

“Sucking in water from the bow is a good idea in some ways. However, if the waves become even slightly rough, the ship will shake severely. When that happens, this bow won’t be able to suck in water properly, and then…”

“Ah! The propeller won’t function properly. Hmm…”

Immediately recognizing the problem Hyang pointed out, Jang Yeong-sil glared at the blueprint and then took out his golden brush to modify the design on the spot.

“If we suck in water from the bottom at the center of the hull like this, wouldn’t that solve the problem?”

“There’s another issue. Current warships are made of wood. Installing mechanisms of this scale would require a complete structural redesign. It’s not simple.”

“Ah…”

Realizing the problem with Hyang’s explanation, Jang Yeong-sil’s face fell. Glaring at his creation in search of an answer, Jang Yeong-sil looked at Hyang.

“It seems that iron ships are indeed the only answer.”

“Iron ships would be the best solution to properly install and operate the mechanism you’ve conceived.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s response, Jang Yeong-sil muttered with a dejected face.

“Iron ships are still far off… Should I just put these away then?”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s muttering, Hyang suddenly shouted.

“Whatever it is, bring it out right now!”

“Pardon? These are just conceptual ideas, and they’re impossible before the ones we’ve just submitted are completed…”

“Bring them out!”

At Hyang’s firm response, Jang Yeong-sil rummaged through his bag and pulled out other papers. Spreading the first paper, Jang Yeong-sil began to explain, pointing at the drawing with his finger.

“I learned this while actually making and experimenting with the designs sent from the Development Department, but the more blades we attached, the better performance we got even with a smaller size. So…”

Jang Yeong-sil spread out the second paper and continued his explanation.

“I combined this multi-blade windmill with the tubular propulsion from earlier.”

“Oh my~”

Seeing the second paper, Hyang let out a long breath.

‘It really is a water jet… ’

“Phew~ What’s on the other paper?”

At Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil brought up the paper that had been at the bottom.

“When I experimented by combining the tube and multi-blade windmill, I found that overlapping the multi-blade windmills produced even better performance.”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t increasing the size of the windmill be good too?”

“Of course, that could be one answer, but when there are space constraints, I think overlapping like this is better. Of course, when there’s ample space, increasing the diameter and overlapping would be even better, but…”

“Haa~”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation, Hyang let out a long sigh that could have been either admiration or lamentation.

‘After all this, now even a turbine pops up? Well, it’s not strange to go from a water jet to a turbine… What era is this anyway? Why are there so many extraordinary people, starting with Father?’

Shaking his head at the situation where monsters like Sejong, Yi Soonji, Kim Dam, Jang Yeong-sil, and others were popping up from all directions, Hyang soon positively summarized the situation.

‘Well, isn’t this good for me? Isn’t this the best possible situation? I have strong backing pushing me. If I’m reasonably careful, I don’t have to worry about the budget. And I have someone who will make whatever I think of. Isn’t this the best?’

With his face brightening, Hyang looked at Jang Yeong-sil.

“I’ll add everything to the Challenge Record except for the spiral propeller. You know the reason, right?”

At Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil immediately nodded.

“It’s because of the material issue, isn’t it? The same problem as with the windmill-type propeller.”

“That’s right. So, I’ll add the screw-type propeller to the Response Record, and the rest to the Challenge Record.”

“Yes. I understand. I’m truly moved to tears that you value so highly the thoughts of this humble person who has no talent other than working with metal.”

Jang Yeong-sil was sincere as he expressed his gratitude with a voice full of emotion.

Before being selected by Taejong and entering the palace, he had been nothing more than a government slave. After that, his life, which would have ended with just being grateful for being freed from slavery, blossomed after meeting Sejong and Hyang.

“I look forward to Director Jang’s abilities in the future as well.”

“Yes! I will do my best!”

After sending Jang Yeong-sil out, Hyang looked at the papers and let out a long sigh.

“Phew~ This isn’t development, it’s almost at the level of warping…”

Suddenly stopping, Hyang muttered, looking in the direction Jang Yeong-sil had left.

“That man, could he be an alien?”

* * *

In the 21st century, when a romance drama about an alien crash-landing in Joseon became a hit, some people had strange imaginings.

‘If there really was an alien who crash-landed on the Korean peninsula like that, who would be the most likely candidate?’

Various figures were considered, but one of those who received the most votes was Jang Yeong-sil.

The reasons were that his birth and death dates were unclear in the records, he had no children, and his whereabouts after being dismissed from office were unknown.

It was just a silly waste of time, but Hyang suddenly became suspicious.

“If he’s not an alien, this is too much even for him, right? Even for someone extraordinary.”

Hyang didn’t know what kind of evaluation he would receive in the future.

* * *

The screw-type propeller and various other proposals submitted by Jang Yeong-sil were immediately organized into documents and posted on the bulletin board.

“Huh? A Response Record entry has come out?”

“Response Record? In which field?”

As new notices were posted on the bulletin board, researchers and craftsmen gathered again.

Especially upon hearing rumors of an entry in the Response Record, the researchers and craftsmen read the contents carefully with intense curiosity.

“An initial solution for propellers?”

The researchers and craftsmen who had been pondering over the windmill-type propeller were excited to hear that a first answer had come out and clung to the bulletin board.

“Ah…”

“This method!”

The Development Department researchers who saw the screw-type propeller proposed by Jang Yeong-sil let out a long sigh.

“What’s this now? Both a response and a challenge?”

“Huh?”

“Is this also Director Jang?”

Reading the posts about ‘tubular propellers, multi-blade propellers, multi-layer multi-blade propellers, and tubular multi-layer multi-blade propellers’, the researchers and craftsmen were busy nodding and expressing admiration.

“Ah! This method…”

“If we continue our current research a bit more, it seems like we might see the answer.”

“By the way, how can Director Jang come up with ideas like this?”

Amidst the mixture of admiration and envy for Jang Yeong-sil, one person cried out mournfully.

“Ah! Why did heaven create me and Director Jang!”

“What are you saying?”

Faced with the incredulous reactions of those around him, the person who had spoken put on an embarrassed face and raised his voice.

“It’s a joke, a joke! Can’t I make a joke?”

After such commotion passed, the executives of the Development Department said to their subordinates.

“Come on! Let’s go back and get to work quickly. How long are we going to chase Director Jang’s shadow! Shouldn’t we try to get our names in the Challenge Record and Response Record too?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

* * *

Thus, the tradition of the Challenge Record and Response Record created by Hyang continued.

Even after hundreds of years, self-maintained Challenge Records existed in mathematics and engineering schools and graduate schools – universities and graduate schools – across the country. The faculty and research staff of these schools were required to submit research or development projects worthy of being registered in the Challenge Record at least once every two years.

And among these emerging challenge projects, those judged to be of high value were registered in the National Challenge Record directly managed by the government and received intensive support.

As this tradition continued, Korea was always able to stay at least half a step ahead in global technology and science competitions.

Because of this, the governments of other countries always growled at the Korean government.

“Korea must disclose the Challenge Record!”

“We’re not hiding anything, what are you talking about? We broadcast without fail whenever new things are registered in the National Challenge Record, don’t we?”

At the Korean government’s response, other countries snorted.

“Hmph! We’re not talking about that, show us the original Challenge Record! The Challenge Record created during the Great Leap Era!”

“Why do you want to see something from hundreds of years ago? Don’t you know how much science and technology have advanced since then?”

“Hmph! Who do you think you’re fooling? We have ears too! We’ve heard that the original Challenge Record is full of things that still haven’t been solved! Release it now!”

“Go ahead. If you’re confident you’ll be fine after ripping open your stomach, go ahead and try. How many countries have bled trying to do that?”

“Grrr!”

Every time the Korean government responded, the governments of other countries had to grind their teeth. And the Korean government launched a large-scale internal investigation.

“Which loose-lipped idiot blabbed about this?”

The ‘original Challenge Record’ created during the Great Leap Era was treated on the same level as the ‘Holy Grail’ or the ‘Ark of the Covenant’.

The early members who worked at the research institute and Area 51 created by Hyang used their imagination to the fullest to solve situations equivalent to starting from scratch. When Hyang’s MSG was added to these people’s imagination, the original Challenge Record contained tremendous challenge projects – which even Hyang evaluated as SF, or even magic.

Eventually, it was natural that intense espionage and criminal attempts occurred over this original Challenge Record.

Amidst this invisible bloody struggle, the original Challenge Record was accompanied by the following saying:

‘The original Challenge Record is stained with the blood of researchers and craftsmen who vomited blood, and the blood of secret agents who died protecting the Challenge Record.’

Chapter 389
Small Changes (1)

June, 15th year of King Sejong’s reign (1433, Year of Gyechuk).

At the threshold of summer, new notices were posted on bulletin boards in government offices across Joseon.

“Huh? A new official document?”

“I hope it’s about a discount event at the government monopoly store…”

“That would be nice! It’s been quiet lately, hasn’t it?”

As people gathered in front of the bulletin board, exchanging half-joking, half-serious conversations, they began to read the official document.

“Let’s see… Uh… ‘Notice of Civil Service Examination System Reform’? Looks like they’re changing the examination system?”

“Ah! This has nothing to do with me.”

“That’s right. I wish they’d have a discount event at the government monopoly store instead.”

Most of the commoners lost interest after checking the title and left. However, there were quite a few who remained, staring intently at the bulletin board.

Most of those focusing on the bulletin board were nobles and a few women.

“They’re changing it again?”

“It’s been about 10 years since the last change, so isn’t it about time?”

The reactions of the nobles reading the bulletin board’s contents were cynical.

On the contrary, there were also those who were indignant.

“Sigh… If education is a hundred-year plan, the civil service examination should be a five-hundred-year plan…”

“This isn’t just changing morning and evening…”

Among those discussing, apart from those showing cynical reactions, the faces of other nobles were full of desperation.

‘There’s not much time left!’

This was because in as little as two years, or at most three years, children who had finished their education at public schools and middle schools would emerge as new competitors.

* * *

As mentioned before, the nobles of Joseon – more precisely, the civil service nobles – were desperately seeking a way out at a crossroads.

Due to the Gapsin Coup, a large number of nobles were purged, reducing the number of local nobles and greatly diminishing their influence on society.

These local nobles, whose numbers and influence had significantly shrunk, were divided into three main groups.

The first was the ‘local strongmen obsessed with the civil service examination’.

Although their economic power had decreased due to the disappearance of tax exemption benefits that had been in place since the founding of Joseon and the damned system of progressive taxation, the vast amount of land they owned still guaranteed them a comfortable life.

Based on this land, they were transforming into the most radical fundamentalist conservative forces.

These were the ones showing cynical reactions to the official document.

The second group was those actively trying to participate in public office.

These were people who were economically less well-off than the first group and had chosen public service as a means of survival.

However, as mentioned before, even though the court and King Sejong were struggling with a shortage of personnel, they were still picky about selecting talented individuals, so these people had to make desperate efforts.

To enter public service, they did their best not only to take the civil service examination but also to submit petitions.

The third group was those who had chosen a ‘new path’.

These were people who, seeing the explosive growth of commerce and industry as reforms progressed, were diving into becoming capitalists or managers.

* * *

Those reading the official document with desperate faces let out deep sighs.

“Haa~ To think that even women would be allowed to take the exam…”

“I thought it would take at least a few more years…”

Their eyes were fixed on the ‘Eligibility Requirements’.

Eligibility Requirements – Commoner men and women with education level of public school or middle school or higher.

-Addendum A

Those who have not completed public school or middle school are allowed to take the exam only if they receive certification through a qualification test that will be implemented soon.

-Addendum B

The application of Addendum A is deferred for the next two years.

This item made the nobles reading the notice realize even more that they were ‘running out of time’.

‘We must pass the exam within the next two years!’

With eyes full of urgency and desperation, the nobles continued to read the next item.

Examination Procedure.

-First Round

Written test on the Four Books and Five Classics.

A total of 30 multiple-choice questions.

Must answer at least 25 out of 30 questions correctly to pass.

Mathematics test.

20 multiple-choice questions.

Must answer at least 17 out of 20 questions correctly to pass.

-Second Round

For those who passed the first round.

Choose one of three topics presented by the examiners and write an essay.

Those who pass both the first and second rounds will receive the 9th rank.

Assignment of work locations.

Application of the rule to avoid assigning to one’s home region.

- Addendum A.

Applied equally to both men and women.

- Addendum B.

Additional points for those who volunteer for outer regions such as the northern regions and Daesuldo.

- Addendum C.

For those volunteering for outer regions, priority is given to those skilled in horseback riding or archery.

“Huh?”

Those who saw the last addendum about work location assignments all tilted their heads.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be for the civil service exam?”

As they tilted their heads, some who had heard related rumors nodded.

“I heard working in the outer regions was tough…”

* * *

Among those reading the notice were a small number of women.

“I’ve finished reading. Let’s go.”

As a woman wearing a veil turned after reading the bulletin board, her maid hurriedly followed and asked.

“Young lady, are you really going to take the civil service exam?”

“Isn’t that why we came to the government office in broad daylight?”

According to Joseon law, women of the nobles or merchant class, who were not commoners, were not allowed to go out freely during the day.

However, due to livelihood issues including farming, there was some flexibility in the current situation.

“Once women start entering public service, the curfew law will probably change too.”

“Is the current law the problem? I’m worried that the master will immediately issue a stern rebuke.”

At the maid’s whining, the woman smiled slightly and replied.

“Gannan-a. The world is changing.”

* * *

“A daughter of a noble family wandering the streets in broad daylight! Are you really in your right mind?”

Officer Ahn, known as the wealthiest man in Pyeongtaek County, shouted loudly while standing on the main floor.

In response to Officer Ahn’s scolding, his eldest daughter Munhye, who had taken off her veil, answered confidently.

“I went to the government office because I heard a notice about the upcoming civil service examination had been posted.”

“As a mere woman, do you really intend to take the civil service exam? Huh! How preposterous!”

Unlike Officer Ahn, who kept repeating how preposterous it was, Munhye continued to assert her intentions in a still confident voice.

“Father. The world has been changing since His Majesty implemented the reforms.”

“Even if the world changes, there are principles that must be upheld!”

“Father, even the princesses, the precious daughters of His Majesty, are learning medicine and studying mathematics to work as officials. How can there be a distinction between men and women in using what one has learned to benefit the country?”

“Aish!”

Faced with Munhye’s articulate response, Officer Ahn, at a loss for words, turned away in irritation.

After ending this round of verbal sparring, Munhye let out a long sigh as soon as she entered her room.

“Phew~ Thanks to the princesses moving first, we can breathe a little easier.”

As the princesses who moved first showed decent results, it gradually became easier for women to enter society.

Of course, in most farming households and lower classes, women were actively engaged in outside activities. However, this was a desperate struggle for survival, and in Joseon society, it was impossible for the middle class and above.

Therefore, allowing women to take the civil service examination from this year was truly revolutionary.

Munhye, who had sat down and opened a mathematics book, suddenly stood up.

“Didn’t they say there were additional points for volunteering for outer regions? And to go to outer regions, one needs to be skilled in horseback riding or archery…”

After briefly recalling her memory, Munhye took down the quiver hanging on one side and strung the bow that had been untied.

“Gannan-a! Let’s go to the archery field! Get ready!”

“Yes, young lady!”

While the maid busily prepared some snacks, Munhye, who had readied her quiver and bow, muttered softly.

“If I’m going to enter public service anyway, shouldn’t I aim to become at least a senior official?”

* * *

“Oh my!”

Munhye was dumbfounded when she arrived at the archery field. There were more women than usual drawing bows.

And among them, a considerable number were girls around her age.

“These girls… What one does, others follow…”

Munhye seemed to understand why the girls had come to the archery field.

It was certain that they had come with thoughts similar to Munhye’s.

As she observed the girls earnestly drawing their bowstrings, Munhye took a position next to one girl. She was the daughter of a family that was in competition with her own.

“What brings you to the archery field when you’ve barely started reading the Four Books?”

At Munhye’s words, the girl smirked and replied.

“What about you? I heard you haven’t even finished the Zhou Bi Suan Jing properly? Ah! That’s why you’re here? Right. With your math skills, you can’t even dream of the Ministry of Finance or General Affairs, so it’s fitting for you to be running around in the Ministry of Land and Infrastructure. If you don’t want to fall victim to tigers while running around in dangerous areas, you should properly learn archery.”

“Hey!”

“What!”

In an instant, the two girls grabbed each other’s hair and started fighting.

That evening, the mothers of both girls were lying down with their foreheads wrapped.

“What sin did I commit in my previous life…”

On the other hand, the fathers of the two girls made a different decision from their mothers.

“Fine! I’ll support you as much as you want.”

“Thank you!”

“But there’s a condition! You must pass the exam. If that damned family’s daughter passes and you fail? I’ll either marry you off immediately or shave your head and send you off to be a Buddhist nun!”

Hearing their fathers’ stern orders, the girls answered while breaking out in a cold sweat.

“I will definitely pass the exam!”

* * *

The number of women aiming for the civil service examination was larger than expected.

The reactions of their parents or husbands to this were largely of two types.

One was active support, and the other was active opposition.

Additionally, stimulated by the unsettling movement of women, men preparing for the exam also began to prepare more intensely.

However, there was something unexpected: the number of petitions opposing women’s entry into public service was less than anticipated.

“Crown Prince, what do you think is the reason?”

To King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“Isn’t there already a precedent?”

“Precedent?”

After mulling over Hyang’s words for a moment, King Sejong immediately nodded.

“I see, there are already quite a few women who have entered public service as teachers in public schools and middle schools. Hmm… Ministers, listen.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers immediately bowed their heads and responded.

“Although it’s difficult to predict the exact number now, it’s certain that the number of women entering public service will not be small, so re-examine the measures related to this.”

“We receive your command!”

Following King Sejong’s order, the ministers re-examined the relevant policies.

-Ensure thorough provision of government housing for those who have entered public service but are from humble backgrounds and unable to prepare their own housing.

-In cases where both husband and wife enter public service simultaneously, the issue of assignment location shall be handled as follows:

1. Both husband and wife shall be assigned to the same location.

2. The assignment location shall be based on the location of the spouse with the higher rank.

-Prepare dormitories for those who are still unmarried. However, as men and women should be separate, accommodate them in separate dormitories.

As Hyang checked these alternatives, he saw the part about dormitories and gave a wry smile.

“The country feeds them, houses them, clothes them, pays them, and works them to death… Isn’t this just the military

Chapter 390
Small Changes (2)

As July arrived, a significant change occurred in Hanseong.

The housing complex for officials who had been without homes was finally completed.

This housing complex for homeless officials was constructed outside the city walls of Hanseong, between Sungnyemun (崇禮門, South Gate) and Donuimun (敦義門, West Gate).

Building this housing complex took a considerable amount of time.

One of the reasons it consumed so much time was the installation of railway tracks for the officials residing in this complex.

* * *

Since passing through the existing Sungnyemun would interfere with regular traffic, the court had to reconstruct the southern wall of Hanseong.

Two railway tracks were laid through an arch-shaped hole made in the wall.

Of course, since a large hole was made in the intact wall, measures were taken to reinforce the compromised defense.

First, sliding iron doors were installed on both sides of the hole. If enemies were to reach Hanseong, these iron doors would be closed, and thick, heavy steel bars would be put in place.

Additionally, on the inside of the wall’s iron door, a locomotive without passenger cars would be tightly placed as an additional measure.

* * *

With these railway tracks in place, it became more convenient for officials living in the housing complex to commute to and from work.

The second reason for the delay in the housing complex’s construction was the time taken to build a proper water and sewage system throughout the complex.

To be precise, it was a process that consumed both time and resources significantly.

“Is this work absolutely necessary?” Kim Jeom, the Minister of Finance, asked with eyes full of doubt.

Hyang immediately nodded. “It is absolutely necessary.”

“Ah… The cost…”

“Your Excellency, think about it. Which would cost more? The expenses incurred if all the officials fall ill from drinking contaminated water, or the costs we’re facing now?”

At Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom stamped his seal on the approval document without further argument.

Thus, a proper water and sewage system was established in this housing complex.

To properly utilize this newly constructed water and sewage system, the first standing kitchens in Joseon were built in the houses of this complex. Next to the sink was a small pump-style water pump.

Now, women doing kitchen work in these houses could use water comfortably regardless of weather or season.

As soon as these infrastructure facilities were completed, the construction of houses began.

These newly constructed houses were equipped with ondol heating systems using the newly popularized ongul method.

* * *

“The ondol is good, but…”

Hyang was lost in thought over the heating method to be applied to the housing complex.

Winters on the Korean peninsula were cold in both the 15th and 21st centuries. Unlike the 21st century, where various insulation materials and thermal insulators were abundant, the 15th century Joseon winters were even colder, with cotton wool being the only insulation material available. Not only that, but the much cleaner air in Joseon compared to the 21st century made winters even colder.

“Dammit, without that fine dust insulation…”

Having experienced the harsh cold of winter, Hyang wanted to advocate for the widespread use of ondol, but for a while, he couldn’t make that argument.

It was because of the fuel problem.

Before coal was properly supplied, wood was the only fuel for heating and cooking for both the palace and the people.

Because the Joseon court strictly enforced laws to prevent excessive logging for fuel, even the palace had to rely mostly on braziers for heating.

Of course, there were places that used gudel (floor heating). These were the places where the Queen and royal concubines of the Inner Court resided, and where court ladies lived. Naturally, the gudel installed in the court ladies’ quarters was unofficial.

The fuel problem in Hanseong and Joseon was resolved when coal began to be mined in earnest.

Even after the fuel problem was solved, Hyang hesitated to promote ondol.

“Ongul[1] is better than jjokgudel, but it’s not easy to solve the biggest obstacle of this ongul.”

The problem with ondol that tied Hyang’s hands was carbon monoxide poisoning, commonly known as ‘briquette gas poisoning’.

“A boiler would be best to block the gas, but…”

However, with Joseon’s current technology, the hot water pipes passing through the floor stones were the biggest problem. Because there was no synthetic resin, the pipes had to be made of iron or copper, and these materials had corrosion issues.

“It’s like using the CPU cooler method in reverse, but…”

Finally, after racking his brains, Hyang created a large iron heat conduction network similar to a giant grill.

This network was laid on the floor, and the thick iron rods connected to the iron network were wrapped around a large container placed on the firebox.

Then, after filling this container with water and lighting a fire underneath, the heat was transferred to the floor through the iron container.

This method prevented burns or fires caused by overheating of the iron network, and allowed for ample hot water use even in the dead of winter. Also, even after removing the fire, the heated water continued to supply heat for a considerable time.

After renovating the rooms where the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje resided in the Eastern Palace in this way, Hyang reported to King Sejong.

After inspecting the warm room and the firebox, Sejong’s expression became troubled.

“It certainly looks useful, but the cost is the problem. Iron is not something that common people can afford cheaply, is it?”

“That is true, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s think about it a bit more.”

“Yes, Father.”

Having been rejected like this, Hyang gritted his teeth and muttered.

“Ah! I miss plastic!”

* * *

However, to prevent excessive deforestation and maintain health during winter, the spread of ondol was essential.

Hyang gathered ondol craftsmen from all over the country to research economical methods of installing ondol.

It wasn’t just ondol research.

He also focused on developing affordable fuel for the people based on coal available in Joseon – all types of coal from Gangwon-do, Hamgyeong-do, Daeseol-do, and other regions.

“Of course, the answer to this part is already set…”

The answer Hyang had in mind was briquettes.

As the development of briquettes progressed smoothly, Hyang began developing combustion chambers to maximize the performance of the briquettes.

To develop combustion chambers that allowed smooth inflow of outside air and induced complete combustion by reflecting the heat generated during combustion back to the briquettes, Hyang gathered not only blacksmiths but also potters and worked up a sweat.

And the result was being applied to this newly built housing complex.

* * *

As the housing complex was completed, houses were assigned to the officials who were determined to move in.

The smallest house had 3 rooms, and the average had 5 rooms.

“One is the main room, one is the guest room, two are for male and female servants. The last one is for children or elders…”

Hyang shook his head slightly as he counted the room names on his fingers.

“Compared to the 21st century, these are all high-class houses now. Basically five rooms… And even with maid rooms…”

It was a brief farce created by differences in lifestyle and social culture.

* * *

The criteria for assigning these houses in the newly built complex were not based solely on rank.

The number of family members living together – excluding servants – was also one of the criteria. Officials with many children or living with parents or grandparents were assigned larger houses regardless of their rank.

Therefore, there were often cases where officials of different ranks were assigned houses of the same grade, or even larger houses.

Another criterion was to ensure that those working in the same department never became neighbors. This was to prevent superiors from privately employing their subordinates.

* * *

On the day of housing assignment, officials who had escaped from rented houses shouted “Long live the King!” towards Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Long live His Majesty! Long live!”

“Long live!”

And then the officials worked like mad.

“No matter what anyone says, I’m definitely resting on the next day off!”

“Of course! I have to go see my house!”

“It’s my house. It’s my house. It’s my house…”

There was even a hint of madness in the eyes of the frantically working officials.

Seeing the dazzlingly rising work efficiency, Kim Jeom stroked his chin beard and pondered.

“It seems we need to expand the housing complex?”

* * *

While housing complexes for homeless officials were being built in Hanseong, similar complexes were being constructed in major provincial cities.

As a result, around the same time as in Hanseong, homeless officials in the provinces were also able to move into official residences with their families.

This brought about several positive effects, one of which was a reduction in misconduct among officials.

With officials living together in one area, surveillance became easier, and the families of officials themselves began to be more cautious in their behavior, mindful of the eyes around them.

* * *

As autumn began, the Commoner’s School reopened for a new semester.

Especially since Hunminjeongeum, which had been in preparation until now, was becoming an official part of the curriculum from this semester, King Sejong and the court were showing extraordinary interest.

The Hunminjeongeum education that started this way began to show immediate effects.

“The speed at which children are learning Hunminjeongeum is very fast, Your Majesty!”

“The response to the Hunminjeongeum special lectures for adults is also very positive, Your Majesty!”

Satisfied with the positive reports coming from the Education Department and the General Affairs Department, Sejong asked Choi Man-ri, who had rushed in upon being summoned:

“How far has the vernacular translation of the law books progressed?”

“The translation of the law books has recently been completed, and we are now working on translating case precedents, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Listen, Ministers of General Affairs and Justice.”

“We await your command, Your Majesty.”

Nodding slightly, Sejong gave orders to the Ministers of General Affairs and Justice.

“Order the printing office immediately to print large quantities of the translated law books. And have the printed vernacular versions sent to courthouses nationwide for the judges to review.”

“By review, do you mean…?”

“Although those working in the Office of Correct Sounds are highly learned, they are not experts in law, so there may be errors in the translation. Therefore, have them compare with the original Chinese characters to find any errors.”

The two ministers bowed their heads at Sejong’s order.

“We will carry out your orders!”

“And the head of the Office of Correct Sounds, listen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Besides translating case precedents, there is much more to be translated, so you must not show even a hint of laziness. Keep this in mind.”

“I will engrave it in my bones and mind, Your Majesty.”

“Remember that the names of those who undertake the translation and those who review it will remain forever. Make sure to convey this.”

“We will carry out your orders, Your Majesty.”

After settling the matters related to Hunminjeongeum, Sejong moved on to the next agenda.

“The state examination will be held soon. Are the preparations going well?”

“Yes, they are progressing smoothly, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll say it again, there must absolutely be no cheating. Make sure to thoroughly instruct the supervisors being dispatched to examination halls across the country about this.”

“We will carry out your orders!”

After ordering to do their best to prevent cheating in the examination halls, Sejong did not forget to add an admonition.

“Joseon has finally entered a period of stability. But remember that this is precisely the time for proper maintenance. Keep in mind that the next few years could determine the course of the next few hundred years.”

The ministers responded in unison to Sejong’s admonition.

“We will engrave it in our bones and minds, Your Majesty!”

1. A type of insulation[↩]

Chapter 391
Small Changes (3)

September, the 15th year of King Sejong’s reign (1433, the year of Gyechuk).

For the first time in a long while, crowds gathered in front of government offices across the country.

Registration had begun for those intending to take the upcoming state examination.

At the government offices in the bu (府), the central cities of each province in Joseon, the General Affairs Department’s section chief in charge of the examination was cautioning his subordinates.

“Registration will be open for three days from today. Keep this in mind.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Don’t do anything stupid like accepting latecomers who come with excuses about tigers blocking the road or whatnot! You’ve all heard about what happened in Gyeongsang-do last year, right? They accepted such people and got into trouble, ending up dragged to the Records Office. You know they can’t leave there for 10 years, right?”

At the mention of the ‘Records Office’, the officials’ faces turned pale. With ashen faces, they shouted loudly.

“Yes, sir!”

“So, handle it well.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Now go out and do your work.”

“Yes, sir!”

The disciplined officials hurriedly went out to the registration area.

Watching the officials heading to the registration area, the section chief let out a long sigh.

“Huu~. Despite giving notice a month in advance, there will surely be troublemakers who come on the fourth day and cause a scene, just like every year…”

A month before the state examination, notices were posted at government offices nationwide, and a three-day registration period was given. However, there were always those who missed the registration period and demanded to be registered.

“It’s not possible this year, so please try again next year. Ah! Next year, calculate the dates well and don’t be late!”

While many people turned away in disappointment at the official’s words, there were always some who couldn’t accept this and caused a disturbance.

These individuals were all arrested, fined 10 nyang of silver, and simultaneously received the punishment of ‘prohibition from taking the state examination for 5 years’.

* * *

“It’s about time for the gates to open…”

Many people had gathered on the road in front of the government office, waiting for the gates to open.

They were all waiting to register for the state examination. Males of various ages, from boys who hadn’t even tied their topknots yet to middle-aged men, were waiting for the gates to open. A little distance away from the clustered men, women wearing veils or headdresses and long coats were huddled together, also waiting for the gates to open.

Shortly after, a side door of the government office opened, and soldiers poured out.

“Step back!”

“Move back!”

At the soldiers’ shouts, the people who had crowded right up to the main gate stepped back.

After pushing the people back, the soldiers began dividing the space using small posts and ropes. They were setting up boundaries to prevent people from rushing in all at once.

Soon after, servants from the government office came out carrying desks and chairs to set up registration booths. Following them, officials carrying application forms and stamp boxes rushed out to take their positions.

“Registration will now begin!”

Ding!

As soon as the official’s shout was followed by the ringing of a gong, people began to move with quick steps.

* * *

Thanks to the ropes, the applicants lined up in a winding queue like a moving snake, taking one step forward at a time as they waited for their turn.

“Name.”

“I am Han Yangsu.”

“Hand over your identification tag.”

At the official’s words, Yangsu searched his sleeve and took out his identification tag. The official who received the tag continued to question Yangsu.

“State your clan seat and place of residence.”

“My clan seat is Anpyeong, and I currently live in Namcheon down below.”

“Hmm…”

After confirming that there were no discrepancies with the personal information written on the identification tag, the official flipped it over and said to Yangsu:

“I’m sorry, but let’s see your face. Please remove your hat.”

“Yes, sir.”

At the official’s words, Yangsu took off his hat and showed his entire face.

* * *

In the process of creating identification tags, Hyang had referred a lot to 21st-century resident registration cards.

Therefore, similar to 21st-century resident registration cards, every time someone moved to a new place, their entry and exit records were engraved on the back of the identification tag.

Of course, this was closer to the 20th century rather than the 21st century with its computerized administrative network. In the 20th century, before proper computerization, whenever people moved and reported their relocation, the rubber coating on the back of their resident registration card was peeled off to record the relevant information.

“The problem is the photograph…”

In an era without the most reliable means of proving one’s identity, Hyang employed other methods.

He divided the back of the identification tag in half, recording entry and exit records on one side and distinctive physical features on the other.

“It might be just ‘peeing on frozen feet’, but we need to have at least some minimal measures in place…”

* * *

“Hmm…”

The official made a nasal sound as he compared the facial features recorded on the back of the identification tag with Yangsu’s face.

“It’s indeed you. You can put your hat back on now. Thank you for your patience.”

“Yes, sir.”

While Yangsu put his hat back on, the official wrote down the name and personal information on the application form, then held out his hand.

“The stamp fee is 80 won.”

“Here it is, sir.”

The official who received the stamp fee attached the stamp to the form, stamped it with the official seal, then tore the form in half and handed one half to Yangsu.

“Here’s your exam ticket. You must submit this along with your identification tag when you enter the examination hall in a fortnight. You won’t be allowed in without this, so keep it safe.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then, I wish you luck.”

“Thank you, sir.”

* * *

The idea of having examination takers submit applications and pay stamp fees was also Hyang’s suggestion.

“Is it necessary to increase the procedures like this?”

To King Sejong’s question, Hyang explained the reason:

“It’s to prevent potential fraud, Your Majesty.”

“Even with a receipt, couldn’t someone else take the exam in their place?”

“That’s why we check it against the identification tag. Isn’t it a serious crime to present someone else’s identification tag?”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

Nodding, Sejong pointed out another issue.

“But why charge a stamp fee? And 80 won in copper coins is not a small amount. We might be criticized for being merchants if we’re not careful.”

At Sejong’s point, all the ministers except Kim Jeom nodded in agreement.

But once again, Hyang answered clearly.

“It’s to ensure that people approach the exam seriously, not out of a momentary burst of enthusiasm or immaturity. It also helps cover the financial costs incurred in preparing and conducting the examination.”

“To approach the exam seriously…”

Sejong, seemingly pleased with Hyang’s words, mulled them over a few times before turning to his ministers.

“What do you think…”

“It’s truly an excellent idea, Your Majesty! Of course, most of those taking the exam would have the mindset of serving the country after passing, but there are always a few who muddy the waters! It’s not a small amount, but it’s not so much that it would discourage those truly determined to challenge themselves!”

Before Sejong could finish speaking, Kim Jeom poured out his words, to which Sejong smacked his lips slightly and concluded:

“The Crown Prince’s proposal is appropriate. Refine it a bit more and implement it.”

“We will carry out your orders!”

The scribe who recorded all this added the following words:

-… Thus, His Majesty graciously accepted the Crown Prince’s proposal, and all the ministers followed suit.

The scribe says:

Charging money from those taking the state examination could be seen as materialism in a way. But the problem is that it’s not entirely wrong. Even when I took the exam, there were quite a few people who came to the big city not for the exam itself, but to enjoy entertainment.

While some struggle desperately to take the exam to improve their poor family circumstances, others do it merely for entertainment. These good-for-nothing…

The scribe suddenly poured out nearly three pages of harsh words.

This was one of the side effects that occurred as Hunminjeongeum became more familiar.

When only Chinese characters were used, scribes wrote everything they wanted to say, whether appropriate or not. Now that they had mastered Hunminjeongeum, it was like a tiger growing wings.

* * *

The registration process, which had been progressing smoothly, became awkward when women came to submit their applications.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s not proper, but for identity verification, I need to see your face.”

“Ah…”

“Oh my…”

Faced with the awkward issue of ‘identity verification’, both the women taking the exam and the officials in charge of registration could only sigh deeply in embarrassment.

According to the customs of the time, women of the nobility were not allowed to show their faces carelessly to outsiders.

Therefore, it was customary to wear a veil or a hat with a long coat when going out.

Even gisaeng wore hats when going out on the streets.

Eventually, to resolve this awkward situation, the female applicants had to make a decision.

“It can’t be helped. However, I won’t remove it completely like the men.”

“We don’t expect that much!”

With the official’s agreement, the female applicant slightly lifted the face cloth of her veil to show her face.

As the female applicant revealed her face, the official compared it with the record on the identification tag as quickly as possible. Delaying could lead to rumors of taking advantage of the application process to dishonor women.

“That’s enough!”

At the official’s hurried confirmation, the woman swiftly lowered her face cloth.

After receiving the stamp fee and handing over the receipt to send the woman off, the official muttered quietly.

“This is a problem, isn’t it? This will happen again at the examination hall. We need an alternative.”

* * *

It seemed that many others had similar thoughts, as during and after the registration period, official documents requesting solutions to this issue flooded into the court.

“Hmm…”

After checking the report that came up through the royal secretariat, Sejong pondered for a moment and then immediately issued an order.

“Assign one female physician to each examination hall across Joseon. Have the female physicians take full charge of identity verification for female applicants.”

At Sejong’s command, Heo Jo immediately responded.

“We will carry out your orders, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Thus, after the registration ended and time passed, the state examination began.

Straw mats were laid out according to the number of applicants in the examination halls set up at the provincial offices across Joseon, and wooden writing boards and inkstones were placed for writing on paper.

With these preparations in place, examination applicants were allowed to bring in only their writing brushes from among the four treasures of the study.

After completing the identity verification process through officials and female physicians, the examinees entered while receiving instructions:

“Sit on the straw mat with the number written on your exam ticket to prepare for the test! Good luck!”

“Thank you, sir.”

Having passed the preliminary check and entered the examination hall, the applicants looked around to find the straw mat with the same number as on their exam ticket.

“Ah! Here it is!”

Seated in their assigned place, the applicants took deep breaths to calm their hearts.

* * *

Shortly after, when all examinees had entered and taken their seats, the officials in charge of supervision came in and compared the numbers on the applicants’ receipts with those on the straw mats.

After confirming that everyone was in their proper place, the provincial governor entered and took his seat.

When all those who would supervise and observe the exam were in place, a soldier with a good voice shouted loudly:

“Now, we will begin the first test!”

Thus began the first state examination of the stability period.

Chapter 392
Small Changes (4)

The state examination that began in this manner proceeded smoothly.

The supervisors who opened the sealed envelopes and took out the test papers and answer sheets began distributing them.

During this process, an unusual sight appeared: the supervisors distributed the test papers and answer sheets along horizontal rows.

This too was one of Hyang’s clever tricks.

* * *

“To prevent any potential cheating…”

Following Hyang’s suggestion, the test papers were divided into two types: A and B. And here, Hyang’s cunning plan was in full effect.

There were two types, A and B, but they all had the same questions and the same correct answers. However, the order of the questions was different, and the positions of the correct answers were the same.

For example, question 1 on type A test paper was question 4 on type B test paper, and if the correct answer for question 1 on type A was 2, the correct answer for question 4 on type B would be 4.

Additionally, in the layout of the examination hall, while the front-to-back spacing was narrow, the left-to-right spacing was maximized.

* * *

The first test that started in this way ended after about 2 shichen (approximately 4 hours).

Ding~.

“Everyone stop! Submit your answer sheets!”

“Wait! Just a moment! Please give us a little more time!”

Some applicants pleaded for a bit more time, but the supervisors showed no mercy and collected the answer sheets.

“This can’t be!”

“People should be more flexible!”

Those who had to submit their answer sheets despite their pleas gathered in one place to vent their frustration.

“This won’t do! Let’s complain to the governor!”

“That’s right!”

The applicants who had agreed on this immediately rushed to the governor and raised their voices.

Faced with the applicants’ protests, the governor asked with an indifferent face:

“So what do you want me to do?”

“If we had been given a little more time, we could have easily written all the answers, but we couldn’t. Please allow us to take the test again! With ample time, of course!”

“Huh…”

The governor, who sighed briefly as if dumbfounded by the applicants’ protest, answered firmly:

“That’s not possible.”

“Your Excellency!”

“The state examination is also official business! How can we use as officials those who can’t properly complete their assigned tasks in the given time! There are no positions available for incompetent individuals who need two days to do what other officials can do in one day!”

“Your Excellency!”

“For people like you, it might just be a delay of one more day, but for someone else, it could be a day that determines life or death in official duties! Get out immediately!”

At the governor’s stern reprimand, the applicants had to retreat with dismayed faces.

While the confrontation between the applicants and the governor was taking place outside, the supervisors inside were checking the answers on the collected answer sheets.

The process of checking the answers was also quite unique, and this too was one of Hyang’s tricks.

* * *

“Even if it’s objective, or rather, a multiple-choice format, comparing and checking one by one would take time and increase errors…”

While searching for a usable method, Hyang rummaged through his memories of living as Jinho in the 21st century.

It’s not only in the military that all sorts of people gather; homes with many siblings are the same. During holidays, such houses would be bustling with siblings and their families, overflowing with stories of experiences from various fields.

This was also true for Hyang’s, or rather Jinho’s, family. Among the relatives he met this way, there was a retired teacher whose reminiscences were quite interesting.

“Nowadays, even regular schools use OMR as standard, but until before the ’88 Olympics, unless it was a nationwide mock exam, all answers were checked manually. At that time, what we did was…”

Recalling the method that relative had shared, Hyang immediately applied it.

First, he glued together several layers of paper that were meant to be discarded. Then, he attached an answer sheet to match the specifications, and punched holes in the number boxes corresponding to the correct answers.

By overlapping this paper template with the answer sheets submitted by the applicants, the correctness could be immediately checked.

* * *

Thanks to this method, most of the results of the first test could be known by the next morning.

The applicants who had taken the test the day before nervously paced in front of the government office’s bulletin board.

As noon approached, an official came out and began to post papers on the bulletin board.

“Here’s the list of successful candidates!”

Those who had taken the exam clung to the bulletin board, comparing their application numbers with the numbers posted.

It was a moment of joy and sorrow.

Those who passed the first test then met with the supervisors again to receive their exam numbers for the second test. Of course, they had to pay another 80 won stamp fee as well.

“The second test is in five days, so don’t be late!”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind!”

* * *

Five days later, the second test was conducted.

Generally, about 70% of the total applicants passed the first test. And in the second test, about half of them were eliminated.

As a result, those who passed both the first and second tests accounted for about 35% to 40% of the total examinees.

“Well, it seems like the number of successful candidates will increase a bit more this year…”

“Because the results of the first test were quite good?”

Even while having such conversations, the supervisors remained tense throughout.

The second test was an essay. It was a test where the subjectivity of the applicants and supervisors clashed, and it was the test where the most disputes arose.

Therefore, when the second test began, additional officials of at least junior 4th rank or higher were dispatched from the court in Hanseong, and the pass or fail was determined through a three-person consensus system.

* * *

After such a tumultuous examination ended, all the successful candidates who safely passed gathered in Hanseong.

Meanwhile, a new government building had been constructed in Hanseong, which was a training institute.

It was a building created because it was seen as inappropriate to use the palace for the residential examination process – a process of evaluating personality and ability by having teacher candidates live together – which was part of the teacher recruitment examination. However, after its completion, it became one of the buildings that proved useful in various ways.

* * *

The successful candidates who gathered at the training institute in Hanseong were provided with official uniforms and hats – in the case of female successful candidates, they were given garima (Note 1) made of blue cloth with gold lines. The successful candidates, now dressed as officials, had to pass the ‘devil’s 3rd examination’.

The training process involved living together while receiving practical education and handling basic practical work at government offices.

And throughout this entire process, supervisors and senior officials were watching with eagle eyes.

Having passed the exam, a government position was guaranteed. However, this training process determined whether one would continue to rise through the ranks or retire at the 8th or 7th junior rank.

That’s why it was called the ‘devil’s 3rd examination’.

* * *

After about a month had passed, the career paths of the applicants began to be determined.

Those who had excellent scores in the first and second examinations and received good scores in practical skills – especially in mathematics – were mostly dragged into the General Affairs Department and the Finance Department.

And those who were chosen in this way became objects of envy.

No matter what anyone said, the most powerful departments in the current court were General Affairs and Finance. Of course, the officials already working in those departments would curse whenever they heard such talk.

“Shit! We’re just good-looking crab apples!”

“The only good thing about coming here? We can eat as much health tonic as we want!”

As an aside, starting from the period of major reforms, Joseon’s medicinal herb industry developed remarkably, and later became the foundation of the bio-medical industry.

* * *

The remaining individuals were assigned to departments based on their aptitudes and practical skills that had been assessed during this time.

After the departments were decided, the next step was to determine the place of appointment.

“Those who wish to volunteer for the regions of Hamgil-do, Daeseol-do, and Unwol Peninsula, step forward.”

At the words of the General Affairs Department director who was conducting the appointment process, the successful candidates furtively glanced at each other. Seeing this, the director continued:

“As you already know, those who volunteer for these regions will receive additional points.”

However, not many stepped forward easily.

The additional points were tempting. But unlike Hamgil-do, which had become somewhat stable, Daeseol-do and the Unwol Peninsula were still risky ventures.

Moreover, if one stepped forward immediately, they might be talked about as ‘someone blinded by additional points’.

“No one? Then, I’ll have to assign randomly…”

“This girl will go!”

Just as the director was about to move on, a female successful candidate suddenly stood up. Following her, several men and women stood up and came forward.

The director gestured as he moved:

“Follow me.”

* * *

After moving to the adjacent office, the director looked at the volunteers, especially the women, and asked:

“Hamgil-do is one thing, but Daeseol-do and the Unwol Peninsula are harsh places. It might be difficult for women, so how about withdrawing now?”

“I entered government service with the sole intention of dedicating myself to the country. How could physical hardships be a problem?”

“That’s right!”

Hearing the female successful candidates’ responses, the director explained the situation to the woman who had stepped forward first and spoken first:

“To be honest, we can solve the problems of food, clothing, and shelter, but we don’t have the resources yet to make special preparations for your safety.”

To the director’s words expressing concern for the safety of the female successful candidates, the woman responded firmly:

“I understand that officials going to outer regions must learn horseback riding and artillery skills. I, your humble servant, am lacking in horseback riding and don’t know how to use artillery, but I’m confident I can learn better than anyone else. I also have some skill in archery, so I’m confident I can protect myself.”

“Hmm… Do the others feel the same way?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

After confirming the spirit of the other successful candidates, especially the women, the director examined the records of the female candidate who had moved first.

‘An Munhye… Her grades are second-highest, but her adaptability and practical skills are top-notch. She’s already assigned to the General Affairs Department… If she can endure safely in the outer regions, her future looks promising… ’

The director, making a mental note, stood up.

“Follow me.”

The place they moved to next had a large circular board hanging on a pillar. The board was divided into sections of various sizes, and these sections were labeled with names of outer regions such as ‘Hamgil-do’, ‘Daeseol-do’, ‘Dongbinghang’, ‘Unwol Peninsula’, and so on.

“What is this, sir?”

To An Munhye’s question, the director answered calmly:

“This is how you’ll choose the regions you’ll be appointed to with your own hands. We call it ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’.”

“Bbaeng-bbaeng-i?”

“It’s the fairest and most impartial method, free from any external pressure.”

* * *

In this way, those to be appointed to outer regions were determined through the ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’.

“We’ll still need to fill the remaining positions from outside. Check and implement it.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the vacant positions for those to be appointed to outer regions were added, the sections of the ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’ located on the outer part were readjusted.

There were eight ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’ in total, representing the eight provinces of Joseon. The applicants were divided into eight lines according to their province of origin.

“As you can see, your province of origin is excluded from these ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’. It’s to apply the rule of avoiding conflicts of interest.”

“Ah…”

The successful candidates standing in front of the ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’ nodded at the official’s explanation.

“Then, I wish you luck. Spin it!”

At the official’s command, a successful candidate vigorously spun the circular board.

‘Please Hanseong! Please Hanseong! Land on Hanseong!’

* * *

Note 1) Garima (加里亇)

Chapter 393
Small Changes (5)

While the administrative organizations, including the royal court, were quietly and steadily improving their constitution and strengthening their foundations, the common people were also continuing to change.

As mentioned before, the growing economy through reforms led more and more people to venture into commerce and industry.

Among those who took the plunge, there were some who jumped in recklessly, but there were also those who dove in with their own calculations and prospects of success.

Fierce competition arose between these newcomers and those who had already established themselves.

In the process of this competition, quite a few were weeded out and disappeared. Many of those eliminated were the newcomers. For those who jumped in with only enthusiasm, lacking experience and capital, the world of commerce and industry was a cruel place. Of course, there were also some long-standing merchant groups from the Goryeo era that failed to read the trends and fell behind, disappearing as well.

Among those who were eliminated from the competition, some returned to farming, while others left for frontier lands like Hamgil-do and Daeseol-do in search of new opportunities. Lastly, there were those who lost all hope and made extreme choices.

* * *

According to the laws of Joseon at the time, all incidents involving casualties, such as murder cases, suicide cases, or tiger attacks (虎患), were reported to King Sejong.

“Someone has taken their own life, you say?”

“Yes, and what’s even more unfortunate is that the entire family…”

“Oh my…”

As Minister of Justice Minister Jo trailed off, King Sejong exhaled with a face full of sorrow.

Seeing Sejong’s deeply furrowed brow, Hwang Hui asked Minister Jo on Sejong’s behalf.

“Why did they make such a choice?”

“They opened a shop, but it failed and went bankrupt. The creditors’ demands were severe, it seems.”

“Creditors? You mean they used private loans?”

“That’s correct.”

“Just how high was the interest rate?”

“Upon investigation, we found that the loan period was strictly one month, and the interest was twice the principal amount.”

“Twice!”

At the news that the interest on the debt of the person who committed suicide was twice the principal, the entire hall was in an uproar.

Hwang Hui, also with a shocked expression, asked Minister Jo again.

“It’s been years since His Majesty promulgated the ‘Interest Rate Limitation Law,’ yet there are still those charging such high rates?”

“That’s right. We’re currently pursuing the group that lent money at such rates.”

Listening to the explanation, Sejong strongly commanded Minister Jo.

“Order the officials in charge of the arrest to catch every single one of them without exception! Also, confiscate all their assets and secure a list of those who owed them money! We shall return the excess interest paid above the legal limit to those poor subjects!”

Minister Jo immediately bowed his head and replied to Sejong’s words.

“I receive your command!”

After giving the order to Minister Jo, Sejong closed his mouth and fell into thought. As Sejong’s silence lengthened, the ministers began to grow tense.

“Hmm, come to think of it… Why did the entire family of the person who took their own life make such a choice?”

“It wasn’t that they all committed suicide. According to the report, it appears the head of the household killed his wife and children before taking his own life.”

“Why did this head of household make such a choice?”

“It seems he feared leaving his wife and children to suffer alone if he died by himself.”

At Minister Jo’s answer, Sejong sighed and expressed his sorrow.

“Alas… No matter how much he was the head of the household, a couple is inseparable, and children are not livestock but human beings. How could he make such an arbitrary decision! It’s truly heartbreaking! This is my oversight!”

As Sejong blamed himself, the ministers all bowed their heads and responded.

“No, Your Majesty! This is the responsibility of the one who committed the act, not at all Your Majesty’s fault!”

“That’s right! This is not something Your Majesty should blame yourself for! It was just an unfortunate subject who made a wrong choice until the end!”

“No, the fact that these incidents keep occurring means that I have not been observing matters properly. This is indeed my oversight.”

“No, Your Majesty! This is the mistake of those who took their own lives! They used high-interest private loans despite the existence of the royal treasury. This is their responsibility!”

“Sigh…”

After a long sigh, Sejong asked Kim Jeom.

“Minister of Finance.”

“I await your question, Your Majesty.”

“Why did they use private loans despite the existence of the royal treasury? As far as I know, one of the duties of the royal treasury is to provide seed money to subjects who want to start a new permanent business, isn’t it?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Answering Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom searched through the pile of documents in front of him and pulled out a relevant report.

“When we created the Business Evaluation Department, we recruited officials from the Ministry of Personnel to form the department. And as Your Majesty mentioned, we evaluated those who wanted to start new permanent businesses and lent them seed money.”

“Then why did they use high-interest private loans?”

“It seems those who were notified of rejection by the Business Evaluation Department did not give up their intentions.”

“So they borrowed from private lenders because they couldn’t borrow from the royal treasury?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering Kim Jeom’s answer for a moment, Sejong spoke.

“Then how about slightly relaxing the evaluation criteria?”

“That’s not possible, Your Majesty!”

Suddenly, Heo Jo, who had been listening quietly, shouted his objection.

“Why not?”

To Sejong’s question, Heo Jo explained the reason for his objection.

“The money lent by the royal treasury is the money that the people have entrusted to it. Even now, not a small number of those who received loans and started businesses are closing down, and the loans are not being properly recovered. If we relax the loan criteria, there will be even more loans, and the amount of unrecoverable funds will increase! If the royal treasury’s losses grow, the people will lose trust in it! Distrust in the royal treasury will lead to distrust in state affairs! Relaxing the loan criteria is absolutely not possible!”

Faced with Heo Jo’s strong opposition, Sejong turned to Hwang Hui.

“What does the Prime Minister think?”

“I also believe it’s not possible, Your Majesty.”

“Oh…”

With even Hwang Hui opposing, Sejong’s expression became troubled.

Once again closing his mouth and pondering an appropriate solution, Sejong made another proposal.

“Even if we can’t help those who attempted to start businesses and failed, as it was their own choice, their families are also a problem. The inheritance of wealth is an issue, but isn’t the inheritance of poverty also a problem?”

“That is true, Your Majesty.”

“So, isn’t it also the country’s duty to provide opportunities to escape from this cycle of inherited poverty? What do you think about relocating them to frontier lands like Daeseol-do and other areas that will be developed in the future? Of course, we would need to provide tax reductions and support for at least 3 to 5 years, but I think it could work.”

At Sejong’s proposal, the ministers calculated the pros and cons, considering various scenarios.

“It could be a good opportunity for the discouraged subjects, but it might be a burden on the finances, Your Majesty.”

To Kim Jeom’s point, Sejong immediately replied.

“Let’s release more of the gold and silver we’ve mined and stored. With Joseon’s current capacity, don’t you think we can manage even if we release a bit more of our reserved gold and silver?”

After considering various scenarios based on Sejong’s additional explanation, Kim Jeom bowed his head.

“I will soon prepare and submit a proposal, Your Majesty.”

“I look forward to it. And…”

Having resolved one problem, Sejong began to pour out various policies like a flowing river.

“Thinking about policies to help those who failed in their business ventures and their families, I’ve noticed that there are quite a few disabled people in Joseon. While many became disabled while working or fighting for the country, there are also many who became disabled due to unexpected accidents or congenital conditions. We’re already implementing veterans’ policies for the former, but the latter is the problem. Let’s think about ways for them to become self-reliant. Shouldn’t we move away from this situation where we treat those who became disabled due to accidents as ‘unlucky,’ and those with congenital disabilities as if they’re bearing ‘heaven’s punishment,’ treating them like criminals when they’re not?”

“That may be true, but…”

The ministers looked troubled at Sejong’s suggestion.

Sejong’s intention was certainly not bad. Rather, it was an idea worthy of endless praise.

After all, one of the king’s duties was to embrace the pain of his people and give them hope.

Therefore, the ministers put forth various opinions and continued their debate.

After a long discussion, Sejong’s proposal began to take shape. However, the ministers’ faces didn’t easily relax.

“For those who are disabled in only one part of their body and have sound minds, there are many options, but the problem lies with those who are not of sound mind, or those who are blind and deaf. These people need care rather than self-reliance.”

Following Hwang Hui’s point, Maeng Sa-seong immediately added.

“The problem is that because of this, they are either abandoned and die at birth, or become beggars, wandering and begging for food.”

“This is indeed a difficult issue…”

Listening to the ministers’ conversation, Sejong’s face became troubled.

“Let’s take a break for now.”

Declaring a recess, Sejong left Geunjeongjeon and took a walk around the palace. As he moved his steps to clear his stuffy mind and observed the scenery, Sejong’s eyes caught sight of monks heading towards the Queen’s quarters.

As he watched them without any particular thought, Sejong broke into a smile.

“It reminds me of the old days. Wasn’t it the Crown Prince who rushed in and said, ‘Let’s do business’?”

Smiling at the old memory, Sejong suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Wait a minute!”

Sejong suddenly halted and fell into deep thought. Standing still like a statue, he nodded his head for a while and then shook it side to side. Then, with a brightened face, he turned his steps.

“If we do it right, we might have a good solution!”

* * *

Returning to Geunjeongjeon – as the reforms progressed, the spatially limited Sajeongjeon, which was the king’s private office, was pushed back, and Geunjeongjeon became the main place for state affairs – Sejong addressed the reassembled ministers.

“I have a good idea. How about mobilizing monks to prevent congenitally disabled people from dying at birth or wandering and begging?”

“Monks, Your Majesty?”

The ministers asked with slightly skeptical expressions at Sejong’s proposal. Sejong nodded and explained his thoughts further.

“Isn’t one of the monks’ duties to help sentient beings? So, let’s entrust them with the protection of these abandoned disabled people. In return, we’ll allow them to add 12 branch temples to the current 36 main temples, and we’ll differentiate between the Seon and Gyo sects based on their performance. And if necessary, we’ll provide appropriate amounts of food and resources.”

At Sejong’s explanation, the ministers once again started calculating various scenarios in their heads.

‘Oh my, even though our national policy is to respect Confucianism and suppress Buddhism… But they are indeed suitable for this kind of work… ’

‘If we provide goods instead of farmland, it wouldn’t be bad.’

‘When I was a local official, I saw how one disabled person in a family could make the whole family suffer. No wonder they abandon them… ’

After considering all sorts of possibilities and calculating the pros and cons, the ministers soon began to nod.

“If it ends with adding 12 branch temples, it doesn’t seem to be a big problem.”

“If we provide goods instead of farmland, we can prevent the evil practices of the past.”

“Good. I hope the General Affairs Department will refine this plan and report back to me.”

At Sejong’s order, Heo Jo bowed his head.

“I receive your command, Your Majesty.”

Chapter 394
Small Changes (6)

The next morning, seated in the royal court, King Sejong addressed the ministers.

“I’ve been thinking again. I’m concerned about those who attempted to start new businesses but failed.”

Hwang Hui, understanding the meaning of Sejong’s words, immediately asked.

“Do you wish to relax the loan criteria of the royal treasury, Your Majesty?”

“Wouldn’t it be good to consider ways that won’t cause undue strain? I find it distressing to see subjects striving for a better future.”

“Since Your Majesty is concerned, we will consider it.”

As soon as Hwang Hui finished speaking, Heo Jo immediately objected.

“It’s absolutely impossible! If we make a mistake, the people might lose trust in the country!”

At Heo Jo’s words, Hwang Hui raised his voice.

“These are people who, despite being rejected by the business evaluation, still insist on pursuing their ventures even using high-interest private loans! If we leave them be, won’t they start saying, ‘What has the country done for me?’ Aren’t you worried about that?”

“We can’t undermine the trust in the royal treasury because of a few such individuals!”

“Aren’t people failing to repay loans even now? Isn’t the ratio the same whether 1 out of 10 can’t repay or 10 out of 100?”

“It’s worrying enough when one person fails, but if 10 fail, that’s a big problem!”

“Isn’t it more beneficial for our Joseon if 90 people succeed rather than just 9?”

“Even if 90 people who borrowed 10 nyang of silver succeed, if 10 people who borrowed 10 nyang of gold fail, we’re ruined! Don’t just play with numbers!”

Hyang, who had been quietly observing since the meeting began, inwardly muttered while watching the two men’s heated debate.

‘A debate between a rational optimist and a rational pessimist… ’

Both Hwang Hui and Heo Jo had the common trait of analyzing state affairs coldly. However, after such cold analysis, Heo Jo tended to produce negative results, while Hwang Hui often came up with positive ones.

This difference between them was due to their values. Both were royalists who prioritized royal authority over that of ministers, faithfully carrying out Sejong’s wishes. However, when problems arose, they showed different approaches.

-If possible, follow the king’s will even if it’s somewhat risky.

This was Hwang Hui’s stance.

-Persuade the king as much as possible to avoid risks.

This was Heo Jo’s stance. He valued the country’s survival as much as the king.

And now, these two were clashing.

* * *

“As Minister Jo said before, let’s be a bit more positive! Come on!”

“If we’re only positive, we might ruin the country! We need to face reality!”

Watching the two men’s heated argument, Hyang stepped forward and addressed Sejong.

“Father, I have something I wish to propose to you.”

As Hyang spoke up, Hwang Hui and Heo Jo stopped their debate and immediately turned their attention to the Crown Prince.

It wasn’t just them. The eyes of all the ministers present focused on Hyang.

‘What now!’

‘Judging by his stepping forward now, he’s certainly going to meddle in this matter!’

‘Huh! We might hear that tongue-clicking sound again if we’re not careful!’

While the ministers tensed up, Sejong looked at Hyang with a brightened expression.

“Go ahead! I permit it! Speak quickly!”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

Thanking Sejong for his permission, Hyang cleared his throat.

“Ahem! Ahem! As I was listening to the two gentlemen’s discussion, an idea came to mind, so I’ve taken the liberty of interrupting.”

As Hyang apologized for his interruption, Hwang Hui and Heo Jo shook their heads.

“It’s alright.”

“No problem.”

Having subtly set up his defense, Hyang began to lay the groundwork.

“First, the General Affairs Minister’s words are correct. The money coming into the royal treasury is the people’s hard-earned money, so it’s natural that it cannot be used carelessly.”

Heo Jo’s face brightened at Hyang’s words supporting his view, and he nodded.

“Of course, of course!”

Glancing at Heo Jo’s face, Hyang continued.

“However, the Prime Minister’s opinion to give more people opportunities to succeed and strengthen Joseon is also a good one.”

This time, Hwang Hui’s face brightened, while the other ministers wore puzzled expressions.

‘What’s this? Both are right? What does he mean?’

Seeing the ministers’ faces, Hyang inwardly muttered.

‘I’m sorry, Elder Hwang Hui. I’ll borrow from you first.’

“Therefore, I wish to propose to Father the establishment of a ‘Venture Capital Fund’ (冒險資本金庫).”

“Hm?”

“Eh?”

At Hyang’s proposal, Sejong and the ministers all uttered exclamations of confusion.

Among those analyzing the meaning of Hyang’s words, Sejong and Kim Jeom were the first to understand.

“Crown Prince, are you suggesting we create a separate loan department for those who don’t meet the Business Evaluation Department’s criteria but still seem to have potential?”

“That’s correct.”

“You mentioned ‘venture capital,’ so there must be differences from existing loans… Will there be a difference in interest rates?”

“Yes! You’ve understood correctly!”

Hyang explained in more detail.

-It will provide capital for starting businesses that show considerable potential, even if they didn’t pass the Business Evaluation Department’s criteria.

-However, it won’t support unconditionally. It will decide whether to provide support based on the applicant’s background and the relevance to their intended field of business. The criteria will just be more relaxed.

-As it’s a loan that assumes the risk of failure, it will charge relatively high interest rates. While the Business Evaluation Department’s loan interest rate is 35% per annum, the venture capital will apply an interest rate of 65% per annum.

-Due to the high rate, applicants will be given a choice:

1. Endure the application of the 65% annual interest rate.

2. Transfer shares of the established business. It’s a kind of partnership where the royal treasury takes 51% of the shares. If this is chosen, a 30% annual interest rate will be applied.

“‘Taking shares’…Does this mean sharing profits if it succeeds later?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang nodded.

“That’s right. That’s why we’re applying a 30% annual interest rate.”

“Hmm…”

As Sejong stroked his beard in thought, Hyang added more.

“The reason I added the term ‘fund’ is to create this as a separate department within the royal treasury.”

“A separate department?”

“From borrowing funds to operation, although it belongs to the royal treasury, it operates separately from the treasury’s main operations.”

Kim Jeom, who had been focusing on Hyang’s words as if not to miss a single one, asked a question.

“Does operating the fund-raising separately mean paying higher interest rates to those who provide the funds?”

“That’s correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, Kim Jeom muttered while calculating profits and losses.

“Hmm… If done well…”

This was the same for Sejong, who was considering various scenarios on his throne.

“Hmm… If done well, we could even absorb the wealth of those who were running high-interest private loans?”

“That’s right. On one side, we strongly crack down on illegal high-interest private loans, and on the other side, we guide them towards the Venture Capital Fund, which offers lower profits than private loans but higher than regular savings, and is legal.”

‘Of course, underground finance will never completely disappear, but we should absorb as much as possible.’

“Hmm…”

Seeming to find Hyang’s words reasonable, Sejong nodded with a slightly brightened expression.

At that moment, Heo Jo raised a question.

“As it’s literally a venture, won’t people worry about losing their wealth if the investments fail?”

To Heo Jo’s point, Hyang immediately provided an answer.

“That’s why we’ll give investors two choices as well.”

- A. Simply put money into the fund and leave investment choices to the fund.

- B. Directly choose investments for their funds based on information about businesses evaluated by the fund.

“This way, in case A, we’ll operate on a collective basis to minimize losses even if it fails. However, the profits returned to investors will be smaller even if it succeeds. In case B, while the risk increases, the potential returns for investors become overwhelmingly larger.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Hwang Hui’s eyes sparkled.

“Whichever option is chosen, it would greatly reduce the burden on the court and the royal treasury, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s what we’re aiming for.”

Following Hwang Hui, Heo Jo also nodded.

“Whichever case they choose, it would be their own decision, making it difficult to hold the court responsible. Hmm… It seems quite good.”

‘Well, if things go wrong, there might be many people wanting to experience how sturdy their house beam is, or how deep the village reservoir is, or how warm the water flowing in the Han River is.’

While Hyang was muttering this to himself, Heo Jo addressed Sejong.

“I think it’s a good plan. It reduces the burden on the court and the royal treasury, and more people can have the opportunity to start businesses.”

“You think so too?”

Sejong’s face brightened as Heo Jo, known for his strictness, showed a positive reaction.

At that moment, Jo Gye-saeng, the Minister of Education, interjected.

“Your Majesty! While it’s a good plan, implementing it as is would be absolutely unacceptable!”

“Why is that?”

When Sejong asked for the reason, Jo Gye-saeng explained.

“Humans are inherently greedy beings, not thinking about the future…”

“You mean some people might push in all their assets without considering the risks.”

As Sejong finished the thought, Jo Gye-saeng, who had paused momentarily, immediately nodded.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Crown Prince, would a fixed amount or a fixed rate be better?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“Both, Your Majesty. When wealthy individuals invest privately, we should apply a fixed rate, and when those with less wealth want to invest, we should accept only a fixed amount determined by their wealth.”

“Will those with little wealth want to participate?”

“As the Minister of Education said, humans are inherently greedy beings.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words.

“That’s right. People are greedy creatures. Minister of General Affairs.”

At Sejong’s call, Heo Jo immediately responded.

“It needs some refining, but I think it’s the best plan.”

“Prime Minister?”

“I agree with the Minister of General Affairs.”

“Then, lastly, what does the Minister of Finance, who will be at the center of this matter, think?”

To Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately replied.

“While it’s a good plan, few people will step forward immediately. Therefore, I believe we should release more of the gold and silver we’ve accumulated to create initial capital and implement it. If the performance using this initial capital is good, everything else will follow easily.”

“Let’s do that.”

Immediately accepting Kim Jeom’s words, Sejong looked around at the ministers.

“As our people’s permanent assets increase and Joseon’s economic capacity grows, our Joseon will become stronger. I hope you all will do your best for this.”

“We receive your command!”

And so, the world’s first official – as recorded in definitive official documents – venture capital financing was born.

Chapter 395
Small Changes (7)

With the establishment and operation of the ‘Venture Capital Fund’ decided, personnel transfers took place across Joseon’s royal treasuries.

Those with good persuasive skills or those who had performed well in the Business Evaluation Department were largely recruited to the Venture Capital Fund from regional treasuries.

The treasury officials summoned to Hanseong for education on fund operation and business practices, as well as practical adaptation training, eyed each other keenly.

“So that’s the guy who…”

“Oh? He’s here too. As expected…”

The court operated an incentive system while managing the treasury. Those with good performance received not only bonuses but also favorable personnel evaluations, giving them an advantage in promotions.

Whenever such bonuses or rewards were given, notices were posted on employee bulletin boards in treasuries across Joseon.

As a result, ambitious individuals applied for sales or the Business Evaluation Department.

And here, the cream of the crop among those applicants had gathered, all burning with a sense of competition towards each other.

Education and training proceeded for these carefully selected personnel.

Upon learning about the fund’s operational methods, the officials spoke with a half self-deprecating tone.

“Looks like we won’t be going to entertainment venues anymore.”

“Seems we’ll be gambling at a state-approved gambling den.”

“I feel ashamed that we studied the words of sages for this.”

* * *

Despite their words, once the work began, the fund’s employees moved swiftly.

In Naju, Jeolla Province,

“Oh my! Have you been well, Master Cha?”

“Eh? When did you return? I heard you went to Hanseong.”

Cha, a well-known wealthy man in Naju, brightened up upon seeing the treasury employee he hadn’t seen in a while.

Since opening an account at the Naju treasury, this employee had almost exclusively handled his banking affairs.

As Master Cha welcomed him, Ko Young-gu smiled broadly and responded.

“I returned from Hanseong yesterday. I have very good news.”

“Good news?”

“Well, you see…”

Having opened the conversation, Ko Young-gu began to explain about the ‘Venture Capital’ in detail.

* * *

“Hmm…”

When Ko Young-gu’s lengthy explanation ended, Master Cha, sitting with his arms folded, looked at Ko Young-gu with a serious expression.

“Hmm… So…”

Master Cha, speaking leisurely, continued.

“So, according to what you’re saying, you provide funds for businesses that, although they failed the business evaluation, seem to have some potential?”

“That’s correct, sir.”

“How much potential are we talking about?”

“On average, 43 percent.”

“43 percent?”

At Ko Young-gu’s answer, Master Cha’s expression soured.

“Simply put, if you invest in 10 places, only 4 will succeed?”

“Master Cha, even those who pass through the Business Evaluation Department have a success rate of 68 percent. And why else would it be called venture capital?”

“Even so, it’s almost gambling, isn’t it?”

To Master Cha’s words, Ko Young-gu nodded.

“That’s right. It is close to gambling. But where in this world isn’t there an element of gambling? Isn’t even farming a gamble? Although it rarely happens these days due to good water management, if there’s a drought or flood just once when the heavens are displeased, isn’t that year’s harvest a complete loss no matter how hard one has worked?”

“Well, that’s true…”

Nodding unconsciously at Ko Young-gu’s words, Master Cha pressed on another point.

“Then, if one puts money into this venture capital, what’s the interest rate?”

“We don’t call it an interest rate, but an investment success dividend.”

“Right, so how much is this investment success dividend?”

To Master Cha’s question, Ko Young-gu took out a small booklet from his breast pocket, flipped through it, and then opened to a certain page as he continued his explanation.

“It varies depending on how successful the invested business is, but on average, we expect a minimum of 20 percent.”

“A minimum of 20 percent?”

“Yes.”

“So if I put in 1,000 nyang of gold, I can receive at least 200 nyang of gold in a year?”

“To be precise, it’s 20 percent of the amount that actually goes into investments out of the 1,000 nyang of gold.”

“I don’t quite understand.”

As Master Cha tilted his head, Ko Young-gu explained in more detail.

“So… If you put in 1,000 nyang of gold, but only 200 nyang goes out as investment, we calculate the dividend based on the successful investments out of that 200 nyang.”

“So, out of the 1,000 nyang, 200 nyang is invested, but you don’t calculate based on all of that 200 nyang, just pay dividends on the successful investments?”

“That’s correct.”

“Why is it so complicated?”

To Master Cha’s grumbling, Ko Young-gu, still with a face full of smiles, placated him.

“Oh my! How could we carelessly use the precious money of our investors? We split it into small amounts and combine it with other people’s investments to minimize losses, that’s why.”

“Split into small amounts and combined?”

“Yes. For example, if 10 nyang of gold is needed for an investment, we split it into 1 nyang units and take 1 nyang each from ten different investment funds. This way, even if the startup fails, the loss is only 1 nyang of gold.”

“I see.”

Nodding his head, Master Cha frowned again.

“So, even if it succeeds, is that all the profit you get?”

“Unfortunately, yes. But doesn’t that also reduce the risk?”

“That’s certainly true.”

At Ko Young-gu’s words, Master Cha nodded as if entranced. Seeing this, Ko Young-gu inwardly muttered.

‘Whatever happens, the court is the one that loses the least, though.’

Although Master Cha had more or less understood Ko Young-gu’s explanation, there was still something unsatisfactory.

“It all sounds good, but… Isn’t the dividend too small?”

“Well, there are quite a few costs involved. Secondary evaluation fees, investment agency fees, audit agency fees, and so on. Quite a lot.”

“You evaluate again?”

“How could we carelessly use the precious money of those who decided to invest? We need to evaluate once more to select those with the highest probability of success.”

“I see.”

Master Cha nodded at Ko Young-gu’s explanation, but his face was not satisfied.

“Still, the dividend ratio is low…”

“There is a way to increase the ratio, but it’s quite risky.”

At Ko Young-gu’s words, Master Cha’s eyes sparkled.

“What is it?”

“You decide directly.”

“Directly?”

“Yes. You come to the fund next to the Naju treasury in person, check the businesses hoping for investment, and then choose what you think is best and decide how much to invest. You can invest the full amount the investment seeker wants, or you can invest a suitable proportion. However, there is a minimum ratio for direct investment; you must invest at least 20 percent.”

“Then how much does the ratio increase?”

“At least 40 percent. At least.”

“At least 40 percent…”

“However, in the case of direct investment, you must also bear the loss if the startup fails.”

At Ko Young-gu’s answer, Master Cha closed his mouth and began to weigh the possibilities.

After pondering for a while, Master Cha sighed and grumbled.

“Phew~. Oh my, this is really something!”

It was a momentary lapse of his usual dignity, but it was a complaint that revealed Master Cha’s true feelings.

After letting out this complaint and smacking his lips, Master Cha finally made up his mind.

“I’ll trust you and try investing once.”

“Thank you!”

“How much should I invest? Surely I don’t have to put in all my assets?”

“No, not at all. His Majesty the King said, ‘This should benefit both those who wish to start businesses and succeed, and those who wish to grow their wealth in the light. Therefore, let those who invest determine their investment amount according to the extent of their wealth.'”

“As expected, His Majesty is wise. So what are the criteria?”

“It’s based on the property tax payment records in the treasury. However, the maximum amount you can invest at once is between a minimum of 30 percent and a maximum of half of your total assets. And once you invest, you can’t make additional investments for a year.”

“What if I invested and suffered some losses? Can I immediately recover the remaining investment if I want to?”

“That’s also possible after a year.”

“So I have to just watch for a year?”

“Yes. Because it’s rare for the success or failure of a startup to be determined immediately.”

“Hmm…”

After calculating the pros and cons again at Ko Young-gu’s words, Master Cha finally gave in.

“I’ll visit tomorrow.”

“Thank you! Ah! When you come tomorrow, you must bring your treasury account ledger and seal. We need those to make the contract.”

“I’ll make sure to bring them.”

That evening, Master Cha’s wife, Lady An, sought out Master Cha.

“I heard that Ko from the treasury came by this afternoon. What was that about?”

“Ah! That…”

After listening to Master Cha’s explanation, Lady An thought for a moment and then turned to Master Cha.

“When you go to the treasury tomorrow, I’d like to go with you.”

“You too? Why?”

“Don’t I have some assets that I received as my portion? Shouldn’t we try to grow them a bit to distribute to our children?”

“Ah…”

Nodding lightly, Master Cha agreed to his wife’s request.

* * *

The next day, when the Cha couple visited the fund, Ko Young-gu welcomed them with a pleased face.

“Welcome!”

“Not only me, but my wife also wants to invest, so we came together.”

“Thank you! It will be a good choice!”

Ko Young-gu guided the Cha couple to a separate room in the fund and came back with another employee, carrying various types of documents.

“I’ll explain again.”

“But why is that person here with us?”

“Ah! This friend is here to make sure I explain everything accurately to you both and don’t miss anything, so you don’t misunderstand.”

“Quite cautious.”

“We can’t be careless when receiving precious investment funds, can we?”

At Ko Young-gu’s answer, the Cha couple nodded with satisfied faces.

“Indeed, it’s trustworthy since it’s a government operation!”

* * *

After the explanation was given once more, Ko Young-gu asked the Cha couple.

“I’ll ask again. Would you like to make a contract?”

“Yes, I will. How much is possible?”

“And you, madam?”

“I’ll make a contract.”

“Then…”

From there, everything proceeded smoothly. The maximum possible amount was determined based on the records they brought. When the Cha couple decided to invest the maximum limit, someone from the treasury came immediately to transfer the amount from the Cha couple’s accounts to the newly created account in the fund.

And as they stamped the document confirming that there were no issues with the entire process, the Cha couple let out tired sighs.

“Phew~. Is it finally over?”

“This is just the beginning. How would you like to invest? Would you like to invest directly? Or should we do it for you?”

At Ko Young-gu’s words, Master Cha pondered for a moment and asked.

“Is it possible to do half and half?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then, let’s do that.”

“Understood. And how would you like to proceed, madam?”

“I’d like to do half and half as well.”

“Understood. Then, this way please.”

Ko Young-gu guided the Cha couple to the largest room in the fund.

“This is the situation room. As you can see, the bulletin board on that wall lists the names of businesses in Naju that need investment, and the next column shows the current investment status for each business.”

“They’re all about half full?”

“That’s the government’s support funds.”

“I see…”

“Please, have a seat here for a moment.”

After offering seats to the couple, Ko Young-gu sat across from them and continued his explanation.

“The papers on top here are, in order, the 5-day report, the 10-day report, and the monthly report. The 5-day report is updated every five days and records information about those needing investment within a 50-li radius of Naju. The 10-day report is updated every ten days and covers investments across the entire Jeolla Province, and the monthly report covers all of Joseon.”

“Is that so?”

As they listened to Ko Young-gu’s explanation, the Cha couple examined the papers. The papers contained detailed records of people starting new businesses in all sorts of fields and their chances of success.

That day, the Cha couple decided to invest in a mix of businesses starting up in Naju and those in Jeolla Province. Of course, the investment amount was not all of their investment funds, but only a portion.

“Thank you! We’ll do our best!”

“We’re counting on you.”

Chapter 396
Small Changes (8)

The next day, Master Cha visited the fund again.

“Master Cha, what brings you here?”

“Can I see those lists again?”

“Of course, but…?”

“Let me take a look.”

That entire day, Master Cha settled in at the fund and meticulously combed through the lists.

“Ah, would you like a cup of tea?”

“Oh! Yes, please give me a cup.”

This wasn’t happening just in Naju. Across Joseon, those who had decided to invest would come to the fund daily, take a seat, and pore over the lists.

This was not only to grow their wealth but also became a new form of entertainment that satisfied their vanity.

“Why should I demean myself with lowly commerce? For someone in my position, it’s more fitting to invest.”

Sitting in the situation room, reading information sheets about newly starting businesses, enjoying the attentive service of fund employees bringing tea and snacks – this became their daily routine.

As more people started camping out like this, funds across Joseon had to print large quantities of 5-day, 10-day, and monthly reports. And the situation rooms of the funds became social gathering places for local dignitaries.

This wasn’t limited to men. Due to the strict separation of sexes, women gathered at nearby tea houses, and people would shuttle between the situation room and the tea houses every 30 minutes to relay information.

The women who gathered at these tea houses soon formed small communities called “tea meetings.” Of course, rankings were established within based on asset size, but they were still communities of women from families considered local dignitaries. Tea meetings, which sprang up at least one per tea house near the fund, soon began to engage in subtle competition with each other.

For women from families with slightly less economic power, these tea meetings became something they desperately wanted to join.

However, even the women who entered these tea meetings weren’t fully satisfied. Their ultimate goal was to enter tea meetings in larger cities, and ultimately, the famous tea meetings in Hanseong, Gaeseong, and Dongnae.

Even the smallest tea meetings in these three cities were dealing with more capital than the largest tea meetings in most provincial cities.

And among these three cities, the one that could be called the best was, of course, Hanseong.

Hanseong was able to surpass Gaeseong, which had accumulated commercial experience through a long history symbolized by the Song merchants, and Dongnae, which had accumulated capital through the Japanese trading post, because of “Area 51.”

It had the advantage of being able to see new artifacts and technologies created in Area 51 before anyone else. Being able to gauge whether these would go to the royal workshop or be released to the private sector was an absolute strength.

* * *

The formation of these tea meetings, allowing women to engage in public activities, became possible when women were able to enter official positions.

With Neo-Confucianism as the state ideology, Joseon strictly applied the law of separation between men and women.

This strict application began to loosen slightly when women started to become teachers at the public schools.

Of course, there was initially some criticism. However, since most of the female teachers at the public schools were those who had received national commendations for being filial daughters-in-law or devoted wives, such criticism became mere criticism for the sake of criticism.

Moreover, since they didn’t leave the school from the start of classes in the morning until they ended at dusk, there was no room for fault-finding.

And as women formally entered official positions, it became possible for women to move about freely in broad daylight.

Depending on the department, they had to work outside, and there was simply not enough manpower to keep women indoors just because they were women.

“I’ve finally gotten an official position, and you want me to just stay inside? And who’s going to do my work while I’m in there? Are you telling me not to go home?”

“And if only female officials are allowed to move around in broad daylight, wouldn’t that cause even more gossip?”

For these practical reasons, the law of separation was avoided when it came to movement. Thanks to this, women, regardless of status, were able to move about freely.

Another positive change occurred as women entered official positions.

The practice of “myeonshinrye” (a hazing ritual for new officials) completely disappeared.

This wasn’t just about new officials treating their seniors to a meal as a gesture of goodwill; it involved all sorts of bizarre harassment.

Since it was officially recorded during the reign of King Woo of Goryeo, there had been continuous attempts to eradicate this bad practice of myeonshinrye. Furthermore, King Sejong would immediately banish those caught to the archives, but the practice stubbornly persisted.

However, doing such things to women would no longer be simple harassment, but a crime. With more than 70% of the newly appointed female officials being daughters of noble families, doing such things would make one a serious criminal.

Thanks to this, myeonshinrye disappeared.

* * *

‘Gather small amounts of money to create large capital.’

‘Split large sums to invest in many.’

After some time, the fund’s operational methods began to show positive results.

Those who had failed the Business Evaluation Department prepared more thoroughly to seize this second chance.

As preparations became more thorough, the success rate of startups gradually increased. As people succeeded in starting businesses and growing their wealth, more people began to prepare for startups, following their example.

As this happened, Joseon’s previously passive society gradually became more active.

Local gentry also began to change little by little. While some still relied solely on their land holdings, others began to actively move their wealth as they became aware of the concept of “capital investment.”

Those who had tasted success through investment began to dive more actively into the financial market. As investment through the ‘Venture Capital Fund’ was limited, they began to look for new investment opportunities.

And as these capital holders began to move actively, existing merchant groups also started to change.

They began to grow the size of their merchant groups by receiving external capital infusions.

* * *

The ‘Park Family Merchant Group’ in Jemulpo.

“Hmm… At this rate, our profits will keep decreasing…”

The heads of various departments, chief clerks, and ship captains nodded at the assessment of Park Sang-wook, the head of the merchant group and chief manager.

“The Shandong route is too competitive.”

“It’s not just the Shandong route. The Tsushima and Kyushu routes are just as competitive.”

Listening to the words of the captains and department heads, Park Sang-wook’s expression worsened.

“The conclusion is, as always, that we need to go further…”

“The Ryukyu Kingdom is the most feasible option.”

“The problem is that the Honam merchants have already established trade relations there.”

“I hear that competition is fierce even among the Honam merchants because the Ryukyu Kingdom is small.”

After considering various rumors and facts in search of a breakthrough, they finally reached one conclusion.

“So you’re saying we need to go even further.”

“That’s right. We need to go at least as far as Siam, Dai Viet, or Malacca.”

“The further we go, the bigger the profits. We should go as far as India.”

When one of the captains mentioned India, ridicule erupted from those around.

“Why stop there? Why don’t we go all the way to Alexandria? Isn’t Alexandria where we can make the most profit?”

“You need to say something that makes sense…”

At the criticism from those around, the captain who first raised the suggestion shouted angrily.

“Why doesn’t it make sense!”

“We need ships to go there. Ships!”

“To go that far, we need large ships like the navy uses! Even the largest ship our merchant group has now is like a rowboat compared to the navy’s large ships!”

The captain who first spoke didn’t back down from the subsequent rebuttals.

“If the ships are small, can’t we just build bigger ones?”

“Where are we going to get such big ships built? Only the government can do that! Are you going to go to the government and throw a tantrum asking them to build us ships?”

“Why can’t we? Didn’t we have the example of rickshaws?”

“Are you comparing rickshaws to ships?”

“What’s the difference!”

“Talk sense!”

As voices rose among the people, Park Sang-wook shouted.

“Quiet! Quiet!”

At Park Sang-wook’s shout, the loud voices subsided. As the commotion died down, Park Sang-wook spoke.

“It seems we’ll have to go to Hanseong. Let’s send a message to the Ministry of Finance.”

At Park Sang-wook’s words, the department heads looked at him with surprised faces.

“Surely you’re not going to buy a large ship?”

“Aren’t we in a tight spot anyway? We should try everything we can.”

“That’s true…”

As the department heads acquiesced, Park Sang-wook added.

“But before we go, we should check everything we can in advance. Find as many ways as possible to bring down the price.”

* * *

A month later, Park Sang-wook visited the Ministry of Finance building in Hanseong.

“This is the fifth visit…”

Park Sang-wook’s quietly muttered words were full of desperation.

As he said, this was his fifth visit to the Ministry of Finance.

“This is beyond my level of authority. I’ll send word, so could you come back in a few days?”

With such words, Park Sang-wook had to keep visiting the Ministry of Finance. And each time he returned, he had to talk with someone higher up.

“Again, at my level…”

“Hmm… I’ve reviewed it, but it’s difficult for me to decide…”

“There’s a lot of talk, so it’s been decided to make the decision at a higher level. Come back when you’re called.”

“Follow me.”

Guided by an official, Park Sang-wook arrived at Kim Jeom’s office.

* * *

Upon seeing Kim Jeom’s face, Park Sang-wook bowed at a 90-degree angle in greeting.

“I pay my respects to you, Your Excellency. I am Park, who runs the Park Family Merchant Group.”

“Sit there.”

“Thank you.”

Kim Jeom, who had offered a seat, sat opposite Park Sang-wook and opened the relevant report.

“Hmm… Let’s see…”

After examining the report, Kim Jeom asked Park Sang-wook a question.

“So… You want to acquire a large ship used by the navy?”

“Yes.”

“Why a large ship?”

To Kim Jeom’s question, Park Sang-wook explained the reasons in detail.

After listening to Park Sang-wook’s explanation, Kim Jeom soon checked the contents of several types of reports and nodded.

“Hmm… I see… Then, what the merchant group leader wants is a challenger-class warship.”

“By challenger-class large ship, do you mean the largest warship?”

“That’s right.”

“Yes, that would be the best.”

At Park Sang-wook’s answer, Kim Jeom immediately got to the point.

“Do you know how much it costs to build one of those ships?”

“I’ve heard rumors that it costs 100,000 nyang of gold…”

“These days, it’s 68,000 nyang of gold. The production cost has decreased a bit as we’ve been able to secure large quantities of quality timber. With the cannons added, it’s about 110,000 nyang. Can you manage that?”

“110,000…”

“And that’s in gold.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Park Sang-wook continued with a pale face.

“What our merchant group wants is not a warship, but a merchant ship. We don’t need to carry cannons. Please remove that part.”

“How will you ensure safety without armaments?”

“We can move along with the regular service to Alexandria.”

“You mean to tag along? Hmm…”

As Kim Jeom trailed off, Park Sang-wook spoke more earnestly.

“What I want is a merchant ship. A ship that benefits from carrying more cargo in place of cannons. Of course, it may not look good to tag along with the navy, but as a merchant seeking profit, we have no choice.”

“I understand, but His Majesty won’t easily allow that.”

“Then please allow us to carry a minimum amount, and have the navy be in charge of operating the cannons. Isn’t it already the law that only soldiers can handle cannons?”

“That’s a good idea!”

Kim Jeom showed a positive reaction to Park Sang-wook’s proposal.

After writing something on a piece of paper next to him, Kim Jeom said to Park Sang-wook.

“I’ll contact you again soon. I’ll do my best to get a good answer.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Park Sang-wook stood up abruptly and bowed.

“I am truly grateful!”

Chapter 397
Small Changes (9)

Park Sang-wook’s proposal was immediately brought to King Sejong. After hearing the story through Kim Jeom, Sejong first summarized the issue.

“Hmm… It’s true that a merchant ship, not a warship, can’t be arbitrarily armed. However, with pirates rampant on the seas now, we can’t let them move unarmed. So, this merchant Park Sang-wook said he would move along with our navy, correct?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Stroking his beard and pondering Kim Jeom’s answer, Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of Defense, what do you think of Park Sang-wook’s proposal?”

To Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately replied.

“It’s true that arbitrarily mounting cannons on a merchant ship is not appropriate. However, the trade that this Park Sang-wook wants to do requires going long distances, and in this case, the situation is different.”

“How is it different?”

“Yes. The current trade between Ming, Japan, and Ryukyu falls within the patrol range of our Haeung-class warships, so the bows, spears, and swords that the crew equips themselves with are sufficient. However, pirates operating in deep waters often swarm in multiple ships at once, inducing chaotic battles. In such situations, it becomes difficult for our naval warships to pay attention to each one individually, so armament with cannons is essential.”

Jo Mal-saeng’s answer was a polite refusal.

“Hmm…”

As Sejong’s deliberation deepened, Kim Jeom continued.

“Park Sang-wook had considered that point, as did I. Therefore, Park Sang-wook proposed to mount a minimum number of cannons, but leave their operation to the navy.”

“The reason he wants to trade so far away even with such conditions… Is it indeed because of competition?”

To Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately nodded.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Once again considering the possibilities, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“I’ll ask the Crown Prince who designed the Challenger-class and Haeung-class warships. What do you think of this Park Sang-wook’s opinion?”

To Sejong’s question, Hyang answered without hesitation.

“It’s not a bad idea. Looking at the situation in Alexandria and India, they’re in a position where they can’t sell enough. However, simply increasing the number of Challenger-class warships is limited given our budget execution and manpower supply situation. Therefore, drawing in private funds and manpower to fill the gaps is a good method.”

“Then how should we handle the mounting of cannons?”

“As Park Sang-wook suggested, we should mount only the minimum level necessary for self-defense and have the navy operate them.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong looked at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of Defense. The one in charge of design and production has answered thus. What do you think?”

“If the self-defense armament is sufficient, I think it’s fine.”

When even Jo Mal-saeng answered positively, Sejong turned to Kim Jeom.

“I like that this Park Sang-wook thinks broadly, but I want to add one condition.”

“What condition do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“If a crisis befalls the country and we need warships, he must agree to requisition. Of course, if he agrees to this, we’ll reduce the construction cost by 10%. Tell him we’ll build the ship if he accepts this condition.”

“I receive your command!”

“Also, order the Minister of Defense to dispatch a practical officer from the Defense Ministry to inform them of the appropriate number of cannons needed for self-defense.”

“I receive your command!”

* * *

Two days later, upon receiving word, Park Sang-wook visited Kim Jeom’s office with a face full of desperation.

“Please, sit down.”

“Yes.”

After offering a seat to Park Sang-wook, Kim Jeom introduced the official sitting opposite Park Sang-wook.

“Let me introduce you. This is Im Hae-sul from the Defense Ministry.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

“Pleased to meet you too.”

After the two exchanged greetings, Kim Jeom, seated at the head, got to the point.

“I reported your request to His Majesty, and received a reply.”

“By reply, you mean…”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Park Sang-wook’s face brightened. If Sejong had refused, he wouldn’t have started like this.

“His Majesty said he would permit it if you accept the following conditions. First, mount the minimum number of cannons necessary for self-defense. The navy will be in charge of their operation. Second, agree to requisition when the country faces a crisis and needs warships.”

“By requisition, do you mean we just need to provide the ship?”

“The ship and the crew.”

“Ah…”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Park Sang-wook trailed off.

Closing his mouth, Park Sang-wook weighed the possibilities.

‘If we get requisitioned, we’ll have to give up the ship we worked hard to build and the crew we carefully trained! But wars don’t happen easily… And from what I hear, no one can match our navy… It seems unlikely it would come to the point of requisition… But… ’

Seeing Park Sang-wook’s indecision, Kim Jeom threw out a bait.

“His Majesty said that if you accept this condition, he will not only have the ship built for you but also reduce the construction cost by 10%.”

“Did you say 10%?”

“That’s right.”

At Kim Jeom’s confirmation, Park Sang-wook took the bait.

“I accept!”

‘10% of the construction cost is 6,800 nyang of gold! With that money, I can buy even more goods to depart with!’

As Park Sang-wook accepted the conditions, the conversation moved on.

“How many cannons should be mounted?”

To Park Sang-wook’s question, Im Hae-sul immediately replied.

“20 small cannons for close combat, and 40 large cannons for destroying pirate ships.”

“How many are loaded on the current warships?”

“The number of small cannons is the same, but there are 50 large cannons.”

“That’s too many! This ship is a merchant ship, not a warship. I think 10 small cannons and 10 large cannons should be enough!”

“Have you ever seen the pirates causing trouble out there in the deep sea? Do you know how vicious they are? With just 10 small cannons and 10 large cannons, half your crew will be gone by the time you return.”

“It’s still too many!”

After that, there was a long back-and-forth between Park Sang-wook and Im Hae-sul. After intense negotiation, they were able to agree on ’20 small cannons, 16 large cannons’.

“Hmm… Then… You there!”

Calling a waiting official, Kim Jeom handed over a note.

“Go calculate how much the construction cost would be with these conditions and bring it back.”

“Yes, sir.”

Half an hour later, the subordinate returned with an estimate.

“Let’s see…”

Kim Jeom took the estimate, checked its contents, and then handed it to Park Sang-wook.

“Construction cost of 68,000 nyang of gold, reduced by 10% to 61,200 nyang. Add 10,000 nyang of gold for the cost of armaments to be mounted. The total comes to 71,200 nyang.”

“Phew~.”

Taking the estimate, Park Sang-wook sighed and muttered without realizing it.

“I expected it, but it’s enormous.”

“It’s a ship worth that price. Didn’t you prepare for at least this much?”

“That’s true.”

“Then let’s draw up a contract when you’re ready.”

“If we contract, how long will I have to wait?”

At Park Sang-wook’s question, Kim Jeom turned to Im Hae-sul. At the silent question, Im Hae-sul stepped forward to answer Park Sang-wook.

“If we prioritize it from the ships currently under construction, you could receive the ship within two months.”

“Is that so? Then… let’s see…”

‘I can just barely catch up with this year’s departing merchant group.’

As Park Sang-wook unconsciously counted on his fingers and made a schedule, Im Hae-sul, who had been watching him silently, spoke up.

“This might be clumsy meddling… but if you want to do business far away, it would be better to go to Alexandria or India rather than Dai Viet or Siam.”

“Why is that?”

“Chinese merchants have already firmly established themselves in Dai Viet and Siam, so there’s not much profit to be made there. That’s why our government only goes to Alexandria or India. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Ah! Thank you!”

Understanding Im Hae-sul’s words, Park Sang-wook immediately stood up, bowed, and expressed his gratitude.

If he moved as Im Hae-sul said, he could receive strong escorts from the Joseon navy throughout the round trip, and make even more profit.

“Thank you so much for this advice, as valuable as gold and jade. Is there anything else you could tell me?”

At Park Sang-wook’s words, Im Hae-sul thought for a moment and then spoke.

“Hmm… If you make a profit from trading, definitely get another ship. No, it would be good to start with two ships from the beginning. Do your merchant group’s sailors know how to use tailwinds?”

“They’re very skilled at it.”

“Then you can make two trade voyages a year. If you have two ships, you can alternate them and consistently make profits. Not only that, but you can also more quickly notice how the tastes of those Westerners change, reducing your chances of loss. Also, ships need constant inspection, and with two ships, you won’t have to stop trading, right?”

“Ah…”

At Im Hae-sul’s explanation, Park Sang-wook showed various expressions.

* * *

As Park Sang-wook left with a face full of contemplation, Kim Jeom turned to Im Hae-sul.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. As one who receives the country’s salary, it’s only natural.”

“By the way, about those 40 large cannons you mentioned at first. Were that many really necessary?”

“Honestly, if we’re just limiting it to self-defense for a merchant ship, about 16 would be appropriate.”

“Then why did you call for so many?”

“Isn’t it a merchant’s specialty to haggle? It’s advantageous to haggle first.”

“Huh…”

Making a face of disbelief at Im Hae-sul’s answer, which seemed more merchant-like than a merchant, Kim Jeom asked again.

“Then, what about the advice on the number of ships?”

“That was genuine advice. Of course, I did add a bit of seasoning.”

“Huh…”

At Im Hae-sul’s answer, Kim Jeom continued to wear an expression of disbelief. There was nothing wrong with Im Hae-sul’s words. Therefore, Park Sang-wook would undoubtedly seriously consider it. And the conclusion he would reach was also visible.

If he had enough funds, he would immediately acquire two ships, and even if he didn’t have enough, he would do his best to get another ship as soon as possible. And the more profit he made, the more ships he would try to acquire.

If Park Sang-wook’s merchant group made big profits that way, other merchant groups would naturally follow suit.

If that happened, the navy would be able to secure spare warships and sailors that could be immediately mobilized in case of emergency without much effort.

‘They say the Crown Prince’s influence is most strongly felt among those in the military… ’

Shaking his head lightly, Kim Jeom soon asked Im Hae-sul.

“Say, would you consider working at the Ministry of Finance?”

To Kim Jeom’s words, Im Hae-sul answered firmly.

“As a military examination passer, my resolve to root myself in the military remains unchanged!”

“That’s a shame. You’ve worked hard. You may go now.”

“Yes, sir.”

After paying respects to Kim Jeom and coming out, Im Hae-sul muttered while looking at the Ministry of Finance building.

“Am I crazy? Why would I enter that overtime hell?”

Along with the Seungjeongwon, which had to assist with all duties right next to Sejong, and the Research Institute and Area 51, which had to solve all sorts of outlandish artifacts and problems presented by the Crown Prince, the Ministry of Finance was a department avoided by all officials, boasting the worst work intensity. And the General Affairs Department was right behind it.

Chapter 398
Small Changes (10)

Meanwhile, Park Sang-wook returned to the merchant group and gathered people again.

“How did it go?”

“I received conditional approval.”

Park Sang-wook explained about the ‘conditions’ and ‘discount’.

After hearing Park Sang-wook’s explanation, everyone nodded.

“Not bad conditions.”

“The requisition issue is something we should endure as citizens of Joseon.”

While everyone was showing positive reactions, Park Sang-wook mentioned Im Hae-sul’s advice. After hearing Im Hae-sul’s advice, everyone’s faces turned serious.

“It’s a good opinion, but…”

“If the government gives us a discount like now, we could manage two ships if we add a little more to the funds we’ve already prepared.”

“Where are we going to add from? Even this prepared fund is almost all the money our merchant group has saved so far!”

“Couldn’t we do something like credit or installment payments?”

“Are you suggesting we offer a promissory note to the government? As if they’d accept it!”

“Then what should we do? This is a golden opportunity when others aren’t moving! We need to surge ahead now to keep pushing forward in the future!”

“The problem is funds! Where are we going to borrow the lacking funds from? Are we going to use high-interest private loans?”

“That’s it!”

At the sudden shout, the noisy room instantly fell silent.

The captain who shouted spoke to Park Sang-wook.

“How about talking to the Venture Capital Fund?”

“The Venture Capital Fund…”

Park Sang-wook showed an intrigued expression. At that moment, one of the department heads listening to the conversation pointed out a problem.

“The Venture Capital Fund is literally for supporting startups with low chances of success. Would we qualify?”

“Huh?”

“Ah…”

At the department head’s point, people’s faces became serious again.

While they might not compare to large merchant groups like the Song merchants (Gaeseong merchants) who boasted the longest history, they were still considered a large merchant group. Thanks to that, they were able to prepare the construction costs for a Challenger-class warship to some extent. And it was this very point that was being pointed out as a disqualifying factor.

Park Sang-wook and the others gathered in the room muttered with slightly bitter faces.

“They say life is like a seesaw…”

* * *

As mentioned before, there were significant changes in the commercial sector as the reforms progressed.

Some merchant groups with histories ranging from 30 to over 100 years disappeared, while others emerged as new powers by seizing the opportunity of the reforms.

The Gyeonggang merchants (merchants of the Han River) were representative of the former case, while Park Sang-wook’s merchant group was representative of the latter.

The downfall of the Gyeonggang merchants was, in a way, an inevitable result.

The main commercial activity of the Gyeonggang merchants was transporting the government’s tax grains and the rent grains of the nobility.

While they received considerable legitimate shipping fees in this process, the profits from illegal activities during the process were not insignificant.

They grew their wealth through various fraudulent practices such as “hwasu” (mixing water with grains to match the weight after stealing some), “tusik” or “gopae” (falsely claiming that a perfectly good ship had sunk and then embezzling the goods).

It was natural that these fraudulent activities were caught by the government’s increasingly sharp eyes as the reforms progressed.

As these illegal activities were caught, many river merchants were arrested and their properties confiscated.

The final blow that brought down these critically wounded river merchants was the road improvement project carried out by the government.

With improved roads, most of the grains and goods exchanged for people’s money were transported by land.

Unable to adapt to the changes brought by the reforms, and with experienced merchants being arrested, the Gyeonggang merchants disappeared from history.

* * *

Despite this negative atmosphere, the captain who first made the proposal didn’t back down.

“Of course, it could be a disqualifying factor! But this is navigation, and ocean navigation at that! No one knows what dangers lurk in those distant seas! Why else would even the navy offer sacrifices to the Sea God before every departure?”

Hearing this, the other captains all nodded. Although the threat from pirates and Japanese raiders had greatly decreased due to the activities of the Joseon navy, natural disasters were still uncontrollable. Even now, one or two ships among those traveling to Shandong and Japan would inevitably meet with disaster and sink.

“That’s true, but… Wouldn’t the size of our merchant group be a problem? They might say we’re borrowing money to avoid our own losses.”

“Don’t we distribute profits according to how much we borrow? And even if we can’t borrow from the Venture Capital Fund, we must visit the fund.”

“Why?”

“We need to catch those idling in the situation room!”

“Ah!”

At the captain’s last words, people’s faces brightened.

“That’s right. All the richest people in Hanseong gather there.”

Nodding, Park Sang-wook turned to the department heads.

“Let’s draw up the plan again. This time, for two ships.”

“Yes, Chief Manager!”

* * *

Five days later, Park Sang-wook visited the Venture Capital Fund located at the Bell Tower.

“What brings you here?”

As Park Sang-wook sat opposite a desk with a sign reading ‘Investment Consultation’, a tired-looking official in charge asked the question.

“Yes, our merchant group is going to build ships, so I came to arrange some funds.”

“Ships?”

As soon as he heard the word ‘ships’, the official in charge quickly drank the lukewarm black bean tea placed beside him in one gulp and forcibly gathered his wits.

“Ships… The shipping industry is fiercely competitive these days, what kind of goods will you be handling?”

“We will be handling various types of goods.”

“That’s even worse… Why don’t you specialize in just one type? If you wait a moment, I can find some information and recommend suitable options.”

“We’re thinking of shipping to Alexandria, not to Shandong or Japan.”

“Wait!”

The official who stopped Park Sang-wook’s words stood up and turned around. He went into the tea preparation room set up behind the counter, poured black bean tea from a kettle, drank two cups in succession, and assessed the situation.

“This must be that merchant the rumors were talking about recently…”

Both the investment fund and the treasury belonged to the Ministry of Finance. And due to their location in Hanseong, the fund and treasury were receiving information about what was happening in the Ministry of Finance almost in real-time.

Slap!

The official slapped his own cheek and gave himself a hypnotic suggestion.

“Pull yourself together, Choi Seong-su! This is the chance of a lifetime!”

Choi Seong-su, who had sharply gathered his wits, returned to his seat and gestured to Park Sang-wook.

“This doesn’t seem like a conversation to have here, shall we move to another place?”

“Yes.”

* * *

Park Sang-wook and Choi Seong-su moved to a separate room prepared in one corner of the fund.

“You said you’re going to trade as far as Alexandria?”

“That’s right.”

“Huh… Then you’ll need quite a large ship, right?”

“That’s why we’re thinking of getting a ship like the large ships used by the navy.”

“How many ships?”

“Two ships.”

At Park Sang-wook’s answer, Choi Seong-su’s face became even more serious.

“You’ll need considerable funds, do you want to borrow the entire amount?”

To Choi Seong-su’s question, Park Sang-wook shook his head.

“No. We have our own prepared funds, so we want to borrow the lacking portion.”

“So how much do you want?”

“80,000 nyang of gold.”

“80,000 nyang of gold…”

At Park Sang-wook’s answer, Choi Seong-su calculated internally.

‘Since the fund has only been open for a few months, not many loans have gone out yet… We have about 400,000 nyang of gold left now… If we do well?’

Thinking there was some possibility, Choi Seong-su spread out a paper on one side and started asking more detailed questions.

“When you say a large ship used by the navy, you mean a Challenger-class warship, right? You know how much it costs to build one of those, don’t you?”

“Yes, the Minister of Finance explained it to me, so I know. Including the cannons to be mounted, it’s 71,200 nyang of gold. But for two ships, it’s 142,400 nyang. Our merchant group has prepared 110,000 nyang, but to build two ships and buy goods to load on them, we’re short by 80,000 nyang.”

Choi Seong-su, who was nodding while diligently writing down numbers, asked again.

“Then what type of loan do you want? A loan with 60% annual interest? Or a loan with 30% annual interest, but you have to entrust 51% of the shares?”

“A loan with 60% annual interest.”

“Ah… I see…”

‘As expected of a seasoned merchant.’

Choi Seong-su smacked his lips, feeling slightly disappointed. It was more profitable for the fund to secure shares.

However, Park Sang-wook wanted a loan that, despite the high interest rate, would allow him to keep his shares. He too had heard the rumors about Alexandria.

‘One round trip can bring at least 10 to 20 times profit!’

If he could successfully complete a few proper voyages, he could pay off not only the interest but also the principal, so he couldn’t give up the shares of his merchant group that he had built with blood, sweat, and tears.

After conducting a bit more consultation, Choi Seong-su organized the papers and stood up.

“I’ll organize what you’ve told me and proceed with the evaluation.”

“Then when can I expect to know the result?”

“You should be able to know the result within five days, I’ll send word when the result comes out.”

At Choi Seong-su’s answer, Park Sang-wook bowed and made a request.

“I’ll be counting on you.”

“I’ll do my best.”

* * *

Five days later, Choi Seong-su informed Park Sang-wook of the result.

“I’m sorry. The result came back as not possible.”

“May I know the reason?”

“The conclusion was that venture capital is meant to help those without capital start businesses, and your merchant group doesn’t fit this criteria. Especially, since you already have enough funds to build one ship but are trying to arrange funds to build two ships, the conclusion was that it’s even more impossible.”

“Ah…”

As Park Sang-wook couldn’t hide his disappointment, Choi Seong-su continued.

“I’m sorry. It seems starting with one ship would be the best option.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

Standing up, Park Sang-wook asked Choi Seong-su.

“May I stop by the situation room for a moment?”

“The situation room? Ah! You want to persuade the rich people there?”

“That’s right.”

At Park Sang-wook’s words, Choi Seong-su pondered for a moment and then nodded.

“As long as you don’t cause too much commotion, it should be fine. Again, I’m sorry about the result.”

“No, it’s alright.”

After saying goodbye to Choi Seong-su like this, Park Sang-wook entered the situation room.

‘So these are Hanseong’s greatest wealthy individuals!’

Seeing the rich people gathered in the situation room, chatting or flipping through information sheets, Park Sang-wook gathered his wits and raised his voice.

“I hope you’re all well! I am Park, leading the Park Merchant Group! I’ve been given the opportunity to speak to you all for a moment!”

At Park Sang-wook’s self-introduction, the rich people’s attention focused on him.

* * *

When Park Sang-wook’s explanation ended, the wealthy individuals started sharing opinions either alone or in groups of two or three.

“80,000 nyang of gold… That’s not a small amount, is it?”

“Indeed. With 80,000 nyang of gold, even if we’re talking about rice… and even the most expensive Icheon rice or Naju rice…”

The rich people spread out papers and did some quick calculations.

As the reforms progressed and people’s earnings improved, the price of rice continued to rise. The government was trying to prevent it from rising too much, but it was still steadily increasing.

Looking at recent market prices, ordinary white rice was about 1 nyang and 40 won of silver per seom, while the famously delicious Icheon rice or Naju rice averaged 2 nyang of silver per seom.

In that case, 80,000 nyang of gold was equivalent to 400,000 seom of Icheon or Naju rice.

400,000 seom was an amount that even a wealthy person with ten thousand seok would need to save for almost a lifetime, or rather, for about three generations including grandchildren.

“But…”

However, Park Sang-wook’s plan was too sweet in its results to immediately refuse.

-If the voyage goes well, it yields at least 10 times profit. Even if we don’t receive interest, calculating just the profit distribution leaves plenty!

In the end, the wealthy individuals gathered in the situation room accepted Park Sang-wook’s proposal. The rich people would receive shares proportional to the amount they agreed to invest.

It was the birth of a rudimentary joint-stock company.

Chapter 399
Higher Education Institutions (1)

In the late summer of the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign (Imja year, 1432), not long before Chuseok.

Hyang, who had voluntarily entered Geunjeongjeon after a long time, reported to King Sejong.

“Your son has something to report to Father.”

“If it’s about the budget, there isn’t any.”

At Sejong’s firm answer, Hyang slightly turned his head and pouted. But soon, composing his expression, Hyang reported to Sejong again.

“The first round of translations of the medical texts is complete.”

“Really!”

Sejong brightened at Hyang’s report.

Hyang gestured to the eunuch who had followed him. At Hyang’s hand signal, the eunuch handed thick books to the Chief Royal Secretary.

Receiving the books through the Chief Royal Secretary, Sejong examined their contents.

“They’re all written in Jeongeum (the vernacular form of Hunminjeongeum)?”

“Yes. Thanks to that, the work was greatly reduced.”

“Even if reduced, it wasn’t an easy task. We should reward those who did the translations.”

“They will consider it an honor.”

Listening to Hyang’s answer, Sejong looked at the books again and spoke.

“Now we can make progress in training military doctors.”

“That’s right.”

The books Hyang presented to Sejong were translations of Ibn Sina’s “Canon of Medicine” (القانون في الطب) and parts of various medical texts written by Galen (Claudius Galenus).

As the regular Alexandria route was established, Hyang imported large quantities of medical texts from the Byzantine Empire and Islamic countries.

The reason for importing these medical texts in large quantities was to train a large number of medical personnel, especially military doctors.

* * *

“We need to establish a Military Medical Department at the Military Academy.”

As the reforms began, Hyang had early on insisted on the need to establish a Military Medical Department at the Military Academy. The ministers showed a somewhat lukewarm reaction to Hyang’s assertion.

“Military doctors? Is it really necessary to create a Military Medical Department?”

“Wouldn’t it be an unnecessary expenditure?”

“If a war breaks out or there’s a conflict and soldiers need to be deployed, we can mobilize doctors from the Royal Clinic or nearby villages. That’s how it’s been done until now, and there haven’t been any particular problems.”

Seeing the ministers who thought it was ‘unnecessary expenditure’, Hyang strongly emphasized its necessity.

“If doctors are drafted when a war or conflict occurs, what will we do if an epidemic breaks out in another region?”

“Then, we could mobilize doctors from nearby areas…”

“Are you suggesting we rob Peter to pay Paul?”

“…”

“Moreover, as our naval warships increasingly venture further into distant seas, shouldn’t we assign at least one military doctor to each ship?”

“…”

The ministers fell silent at Hyang’s points.

“I’ve been thinking, and I find the Crown Prince’s proposal reasonable. The territory under our Joseon’s rule is gradually expanding, and will continue to do so. And as the Crown Prince said, our navy’s ships will be venturing increasingly farther. We need someone who can devise countermeasures if illness strikes in unfamiliar foreign lands. So, let’s establish a Military Medical Department in the Military Academy that we’re preparing to set up.”

“We receive your command!”

Though Sejong’s order was given like this, progress was not quick. It was repeatedly pushed back due to the establishment of public schools and middle schools, and then because of the Giyubangyan rebellion and the Horun (barbarian invasion) caused by Yi Manchu and Mengtemu.

* * *

However, this delay was paradoxically fortunate for the Military Medical Department.

Hyang muttered while flipping through reports.

“They say life is like a seesaw…”

Through the Giyubangyan rebellion and the Horun, limitations in mobilizing doctors were discovered. Then, as the navy advanced to Alexandria and sweeping operations against pirates and Japanese raiders occurred in Joseon’s coastal waters, the necessity for doctors was acutely felt.

Eventually, though it started as a forced measure, the ministers began to seriously review the plan.

“It would be good to focus the medical skills taught in the Military Medical Department mainly on treating external injuries.”

“That seems right, doesn’t it? Looking at the recent rebellion and Horun…”

Among the ministers reviewing the plan, Hyang voiced his opinion.

“We should add not only external injuries but also diseases and pharmacology.”

“Diseases and pharmacology, you say?”

“Isn’t the battlefield not a clean place? Isn’t the battlefield a place where even clean water, which is most important, is hard to obtain? Isn’t it naturally a place where diseases are rampant?”

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s point. Especially, military commanders like Jo Mal-saeng nodded so vigorously it seemed they might strain their necks.

“That’s right! Even in military tactics, polluting water is listed as the first method of the scorched earth tactic to break the enemy’s offensive!”

“Water can somehow be solved with purification frames, but when fighting in unfamiliar places, the spread of diseases is inevitable. To properly maintain combat power, preparation for this is certainly necessary! We’ve already experienced this in the recent Horun.”

* * *

In the process of suppressing the Horun caused by Yi Manchu and Mengtemu, a considerable number of soldiers were incapacitated by disease – according to reports, influenza was the most likely culprit.

Upon examining the reason, it was found that unlike soldiers from Pyeongan-do and Yeongan-do (Hamgil-do) who were accustomed to the harsh northern environment, soldiers who came as reinforcements from the south were overwhelmed by the harsh northern winter.

Later, after checking the related reports, Hyang muttered with a deflated expression.

“Even on this palm-sized Korean peninsula, the natural environment differs between north and south? Is that so? No, the ones who went up were from the Gyeonggi garrison, so that’s just a quarter of the way, isn’t it?”

* * *

With the strong support of the military department who had experienced this firsthand, Hyang went a step further.

“And I believe we should also teach basic military tactics in the Military Medical Department.”

“Military tactics, you say?”

At Hyang’s proposal, not only the ministers but even the military department all looked dumbfounded.

Seeing this reaction, Hyang added a more detailed explanation.

“Let’s imagine an epidemic breaks out. The doctors in the area where the epidemic first occurs will step up first, and the court will also send out doctors and female physicians from the Royal Clinic, but won’t the military doctors located closest be the first to be mobilized?”

The ministers and commanders nodded as they considered Hyang’s point from various angles.

“That’s the most likely possibility.”

“There won’t be time to wait for support from Hanseong with doctors right next door.”

“What does treating an epidemic mean? Isn’t it a war to stop and repel the existence of an epidemic that has invaded to kill our people of Joseon? Think back for a moment. How similar are the activities to prevent an epidemic and the movements to prevent the invasion of foreign enemies?”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers and commanders who briefly recalled their memories nodded once again.

When foreign enemies invade, the first step is to confirm where they’ve attacked and what their scale is.

Next, defensive lines are formed around the enemy’s occupied areas to block the enemy’s advance while simultaneously cutting off their supply lines.

By tying down the enemy’s feet like this, they are gradually annihilated.

This was the most basic defensive tactic written in military manuals. And the method of dealing with the outbreak of an epidemic was similar to this.

The ministers and commanders who understood the example Hyang gave agreed to add ‘basic military tactics’ to the curriculum.

The problem was that this ‘basic military tactics’ was “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu.

“The Art of War? Isn’t that too advanced?”

To Hyang’s point, the commanders asked back with faces that said it was nonsense.

“The Art of War is a must-read that anyone applying for the military exam should read and master, isn’t it? Isn’t it?”

“Well, that’s true, but… Well. Let’s do it that way.”

Stepping back, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘I sometimes feel that there are many things reversed when comparing the 21st century and now.’

Things that were considered basic in the 21st century were either very advanced knowledge or skills in the current Joseon, or vice versa, frequently.

‘Anyway, my condolences to the gentlemen who will study what’s considered both the beginning and the ultimate in military tactics… ’

Hyang was turning his head away after starting this himself.

* * *

After overcoming one hurdle like this, Hyang, the ministers, and the commanders moved on to the next issue.

The next problem waiting was related to the overall Military Academy – the issue of the education period.

Regarding this education period, the military insisted on 10 years, while others argued for 6 years.

“6 years? That’s too short! Military texts are just as deep as the Confucian classics if we consider their depth! 6 years is too short!”

“It took at least 10 years of study to apply for the military exam! At least!”

The ministers standing at the opposite end of the military department arguing for 10 years didn’t back down either.

“10 years? Even if you study for 20 years, not just 10, aren’t you the ones who treat them as novices if they haven’t experienced actual combat? It’s better to teach only what’s necessary and then finish in actual combat! 10 years? Are you going to earn that budget?”

“Even if it’s 10 years, doesn’t that include the time to learn basic studies like the Thousand Character Classic? Since they’ll come through public schools and middle schools anyway, can’t we subtract that time?”

“This is discriminating against the military class!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Even for selecting civil officials, it’s stated that they can apply for the civil service exam if they complete public school or middle school! What nonsense about discriminating against the military class? If you argue like that, it’s discriminating against the civil class!”

The confrontation between both sides showed no signs of backing down. However, both sides had valid reasons. The military wanted well-polished talents, while the ministers wanted to supply talents with necessary abilities within a limited budget.

As this confrontation between the two sides continued, Hyang intervened.

“How about going with a 6-year course for now? I said ‘for now’.”

“Did you say ‘for now’, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Hyang explained in more detail.

-For the first 3 years at the Military Academy, students learn the most basic military knowledge, weapon skills, and unit operation methods.

-After learning for 3 years, they take an exam, and those who fail are assigned as lower-ranking officers like military instructors or garrison commanders.

-Those who pass the exam learn advanced military knowledge and unit operation techniques for the next 3 years.

-Those who pass this total 6-year course are appointed and placed as patrol officers or acting officers according to their rank.

-Afterwards, those who have worked with excellent performance evaluations for at least 5 years are tested and promoted to high-ranking officers starting from commanders of 10,000.

-Those who start as military instructors or garrison commanders can be promoted to flag bearers or patrol officers if they record excellent performance evaluations for 3 years. Subsequently, if they record excellent performance evaluations for 5 years, they are given the opportunity to challenge the promotion exam.

“What do you think?”

The ministers immediately agreed with Hyang’s proposal.

“It’s a good plan! Since the current promotion process for civil officials also goes through a similar process, we can solve the issue of fairness!”

Having received the support of the ministers, Hyang turned to the military personnel.

“What do you think?”

“Please give us some time…”

“Of course.”

Chapter 400
Higher Education Institutions (2)

As Hyang took a step back, Jo Mal-saeng and the military personnel came out separately to discuss.

“What do you all think?”

“It’s not bad. As the civil officials said, we can reduce that time since we’re selecting those who have already learned basic studies through public schools and middle schools.”

“Even those who fail and drop out in the first 3 years can have a chance to rise if they serve properly in the military, so it’s not entirely disadvantageous.”

“However, quite a few hidden talents might be lost, unable to show their abilities due to the record of ‘failing in the 3rd year’.”

At the point that they might miss hidden talents who give up after failing in the third year, Jo Mal-saeng spoke up.

“Let’s filter them out.”

As the military personnel made uncomfortable expressions at Jo Mal-saeng’s cold words, he added more.

“If they’re truly late-blooming talents, they’ll overcome those hardships and shine. Rather, it’s more troublesome if those who give up during that process rise to the top.”

“…Understood.”

“Then the conclusion is settled.”

And so, the education period for the Military Academy was decided.

It was the birth of a brutal commander training process, called ‘The Rebirth of Sparta’, where only those who proved themselves through practical work and actual combat could rise to the top.

* * *

Through this process, the Military Academy was steadily preparing for its establishment.

However, the biggest obstacle was still the Military Medical Department.

To be precise, it was the issue of surgery that would be in charge of treating external injuries.

The issues of diseases and pharmacology could be solved with traditional Korean medicine that had been passed down until now.

The problem was that this was difficult with surgery.

Like Hua Tuo, who lost his life after telling Cao Cao he would drill a hole in his skull and perform surgery to treat him, there were techniques related to surgery in Korean medicine.

However, the level of these passed-down external injury treatment methods was very low.

“Of course, if we’re talking about levels, it’s the same on both sides…”

Hyang pouted with a face full of dissatisfaction as he summarized the situation.

Whether it was this side where specialized tools for surgical procedures barely existed, or the other side that had properly squandered things more precious than the gold accumulated since ancient Roman times. He was equally displeased with both.

“Even until the 18th century, surgeons also worked as barbers, right?”

While grumbling and recalling the origin of the three-colored advertising lights that used to spin next to barber shop signs, Hyang moved ceaselessly.

At first through bookstores in Beijing, then through Mansur, and then using the navy’s warships that regularly traveled between Alexandria and Joseon, he collected medical texts that remained in the Byzantine Empire and Islamic countries.

“It’s not just medical texts that are important.”

After securing a considerable number of medical texts – nearly 600 volumes – Hyang next collected medical instruments.

“Oh, this…”

Seeing the surgical instruments passed down from Roman times, Hyang lightly shook his head.

The surgical instruments, almost unchanged from Roman times, were quite similar to the modern ones he had seen in dramas or movies in the 21st century.

“That drama’s line really hits home now…”

It was a line spoken by a leading character in a drama about people traveling between stars through gates made by ancient civilizations.

‘If we hadn’t squandered what we accumulated in Roman times, we might be freely traveling between stars by now!’

Although there might be some exaggeration, Hyang thought there was still some possibility.

* * *

Anyway, after collecting these surgical instruments, Hyang gathered those said to be most skilled in surgical treatment from the Royal Clinic and showed them the tools obtained from the West and documents translating their usage methods.

“Do you understand how to use these?”

“We understand roughly, but…”

“Then can you use these in treatment?”

At Hyang’s question, all the doctors shook their heads.

“There’s a world of difference between guessing and actually knowing how to use them. Especially with items directly related to life, we absolutely must not use them based on guesswork.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is!”

Hearing the doctors’ firm answers, Hyang returned to the Crown Prince’s palace and shouted at the medical texts piled knee-high on the floor due to lack of bookshelves.

“When am I supposed to translate all of this!”

* * *

Hyang’s hardship was somewhat resolved when monks and alchemists came from Italy.

“These need to be translated too.”

At Hyang’s order, Angelo, who was examining the books, turned to him.

“These are medical texts. I see many of Galen’s works in particular.”

“I’ve heard he’s the most famous doctor.”

Angelo nodded at Hyang’s words.

“First, I want you to translate the books related to surgical techniques.”

“…Understood.”

After passing the work to the monks and alchemists like this, Hyang also passed work to Hassan.

“I’ve obtained a medical text left by a famous scholar named Ibn Sina.”

“Yes. He was a renowned doctor and scholar since ancient times. Which one should we translate first?”

“Start with the Canon of Medicine. The Book of Healing (کتاب الشفاء) might be politically problematic.”

“As far as I know, politics is omitted from the Book of Healing?”

“Instead, it includes religion.”

At Hyang’s words, Hassan immediately nodded.

“I understand. I will prioritize translating only the Canon of Medicine.”

“I’m counting on you. There might be rewards if the results are good.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Not long after assigning the work like this, Angelo reported to Hyang.

“There are several duplicate books.”

“Duplicate books?”

“Yes, books with the same title but written in Latin and Greek.”

At Angelo’s words, Hyang immediately gave an order.

“Cross-verify them.”

“Cross… verify?”

“Unless they’re both originals, there could be errors, right? So, cross-verify the contents with the alchemists before translating.”

“…Yes.”

“Good work. I look forward to good results.”

After quietly bowing and leaving, Angelo looked up at the sky and unconsciously muttered.

“Damn it! Shit!”

Having momentarily cursed, Angelo diligently crossed himself and asked for forgiveness.

Meanwhile, Hyang, left alone, was grumbling on his own.

“Damn it! Duplicate purchases! This isn’t some random box! ‘Don’t ask, just buy’ is the problem here! It’s not like I can go there myself!”

As he was grumbling like this, Hyang suddenly stopped talking and his eyes sparkled.

“Should I go there myself?”

His eyes sparkling like this, Hyang soon shook his head.

“Impossible. If I bring it up to Father, I’ll be hit not with a rod but with a pillar from Geunjeongjeon.”

Shaking his head like this, Hyang’s eyes sparkled again.

“But maybe? No… No…”

Hyang was wavering back and forth over an event that stimulated his collector’s heart.

* * *

The translation work, which was expected to progress well after being handed over to experts like this, was sluggish.

What made the work speed sluggish was, of course, Chinese characters. Translating Arabic, Latin, and Greek into Chinese characters was a murderous task.

Eventually, Angelo, tired of translation, went to find Hassan.

The two were in a relationship that might be as immiscible as oil and water – a Catholic priest and a Muslim. However, thanks to the common point of being ‘beings ground down by Hyang’, they were able to build a sort of friendship.

“How did the department head manage all those translations until now?”

At Angelo’s complaint, Hassan answered with a bitter smile.

“Among those translations, what I did doesn’t even amount to 1 percent.”

“Then the rest?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince did them.”

“That’s impossible! That amount would take at least 10 years!”

To Angelo’s words full of disbelief, Hassan added.

“He started translating at age 8. And that wasn’t dedicating all day to it, but in between his Crown Prince lessons and Area 51 work.”

At Hassan’s answer, Angelo let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair, muttering.

“Is he even human?”

“He was born as the first son of His Majesty. Sigh~.”

Hassan, sighing and drinking coffee, said to Angelo.

“If Europeans were to learn of His Highness the Crown Prince’s existence, they would immediately call him a ‘living wonder’.”

“To that extent?”

“Among the things made in the research institute and Area 51, there’s little that hasn’t passed through His Highness’s hands. Ah! Except for the craftsman named Jang Yeong-sil! Come to think of it… if Jang Yeong-sil’s existence were also known…”

Hassan paused for a moment, counted on his fingers, and then continued.

“There would be three living wonders in this Joseon.”

“Three?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince. Jang Yeong-sil, and…”

Hassan pointed towards Gyeongbokgung Palace as he concluded.

“Lastly, His Majesty the King.”

* * *

The translation work, which had been sluggish like this, gained speed after Hunminjeongeum was created.

Even before being publicly promulgated to the people, Hunminjeongeum began to be used in government offices and educational institutions, and the research institute and Area 51 couldn’t be left out.

No, the research institute and Area 51 were the first to use it.

This was inevitable given the characteristics of the research institute and Area 51. Just looking at the languages used by the members, there were four: Korean, Arabic, Latin, and Greek. On top of that, Chinese characters were used for documents.

“We need to use Hunminjeongeum for our own convenience!”

As the difference between using Chinese characters and using Hunminjeongeum was clearly visible, the research institute and Area 51 rather actively used Hunminjeongeum.

“For now, let’s put aside proper nouns and translate general sentences using Hunminjeongeum first.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The people who resumed translation work after receiving Hyang’s order shook their heads at the greatly increased efficiency.

“The king created such a convenient writing system alone? While handling such busy state affairs?”

“Is he human?”

“Both the king and prince are wonders.”

“Look at the craftsman called Jang Yeong-sil. Everyone in this country is a wonder.”

“I agree.”

The conversation shared like this was soon recorded in Angelo’s letter and headed to Italy.

And Hyang, who was censoring this letter, did not erase that part.

“Does this become evidence of historically and traditionally recognized national pride acknowledged by the world?”

It was Hyang, selecting here and there with a face full of mischief and blacking out parts.

* * *

The translation work, which had overcome one hurdle like this, came to have fierce debates over proper nouns related to diseases and body organs that included medical terms.

“It’s to be used by us Joseon people in our Joseon, so of course it should be in Korean!”

With Hyang’s strong insistence, everything was translated into Korean as much as possible.

While directing this entire process, Hyang inwardly muttered.

‘I absolutely refuse to hear specialists mumbling unintelligible Latin when getting a medical examination at the hospital!’

And the results of such intense work were the books that were presented to King Sejong’s hands.

* * *

“Good work. With this, the establishment of the Military Medical Department will gain speed.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

Flipping through the translations once more, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“The Royal Clinic will need surgery too, right?”

“That’s correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong pondered for a moment and soon reached a conclusion.

“Since we’re planning to establish a medical academy to train doctors anyway, we should include surgery in the medical academy as well. What do you all think?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers answered in unison.

“It’s truly a beautiful decision!”

“It’s truly a beautiful decision as the treatment of injured people will become easier!”

As the ministers agreed, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Then. Mass print these translations.”

“We’re a bit short on budget.”

“Hey!”

Sejong, who was about to shout angrily, soon let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~. Minister of Finance.”

At Sejong’s call, Kim Jeom forcibly opened his mouth.

“I will allocate the budget.”

Chapter 401
Higher Education Institutions (3)

The Medical Academy was one of the higher education institutions that King Sejong decided to establish through the reforms.

As the reforms entered their later stages, Sejong, after reviewing the process so far, once again publicly expressed his intention to establish official higher education institutions.

* * *

Until then, being “someone’s disciple” or “someone’s child” was what proved a person’s level of education and ability. However, this lacked objectivity to become an official certification standard.

Of course, people were filtered through the civil service examination, but those who entered through hereditary privilege were a problem. Simply trusting and appointing someone because they were “someone’s disciple” or “someone’s child” was becoming increasingly problematic. As the reforms progressed, the work of the government running Joseon became incomparably more difficult in both quantity and quality compared to the past.

In this process, Sejong and the ministers trained by him began to strictly evaluate the work performance of officials.

This came as an enormous burden to both those who appointed middle managers through hereditary privilege and the appointees themselves. Those who had appointed people lost points in their personnel evaluations for not properly judging people, and those who had taken on positions without proper practical experience received painful deductions along with evaluations of insufficient ability.

Being able to enter through hereditary privilege meant that one’s father was a high-ranking official. However, the ministers who had witnessed what happened to Hwang Hui because of his sons had to evaluate work more thoroughly than anyone.

Therefore, as mentioned before, cases of entering official positions through hereditary privilege gradually decreased.

* * *

As such cases arose, Sejong decided to establish higher education institutions.

“Entering as a disciple of a famous scholar is not fair from the start, and it’s not easy to say that the result is universally acknowledged. Therefore, we need a certification that anyone can recognize as proof of learning.”

According to Sejong’s strong will, higher education institutions were created.

The higher education institutions created in this way were primarily the Academy of Mathematics, the Academy of Engineering, the Medical Academy, and the Military Academy.

The Academy of Mathematics, which the ministers decided to establish first, was to meet the needs of the government.

As the reforms progressed, the government’s work broke away from old practices in both quantity and quality.

In this process, arithmetic ability was most strongly demanded from officials.

More important than that was writing ability, but Sejong and the ministers all had the same opinion on that part.

“Hah! If you can’t write properly after passing the civil service exam, you should just submit your resignation and go back to farming!”

In Hyang’s terms, writing ability was the most basic passive skill.

Therefore, the most important ability that officials had to hone was mathematics.

From the ministers at the top to the lowest officials in local government offices, mathematics became important as numbers became indispensable in all policies implemented by the government.

Even in the reports on the trends of neighboring countries submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – formerly the Ministry of Rites before the reforms – physical information expressed in various tables and numbers was never missing.

While the content of reports submitted before the reforms was written in abstract sentences like “Their power has strengthened” or “The disparity between our and their abilities is clear as day”, reports after the mid-point of the reforms had to be written precisely like “They showed * times growth compared to previous years” or “Compared to our Joseon, there is a gap in the ratio of about * : *”.

As the content of reports changed like this, officials began to be strongly required to have mathematical calculation and analytical abilities.

However, as there was a shortage of both personnel and capacity to solve this problem immediately, researchers from the research institute had to be drafted.

“We already have a mountain of work to do! And if you drag us away to work, shouldn’t you pay us! Why is the budget still the same!”

Hyang, as well as Jeong-cho, Jeong Inji, and Lee Chun, all rose up in protest. Of course, they couldn’t say such things directly to the ministers – especially Kim Jeom – but long petitions were submitted to Sejong.

“Hmm… They’re not wrong…”

Given Sejong’s opinion after reading the petitions and the ministers’ weariness of relying on others – especially the Crown Prince’s – hands, they immediately began to promote the establishment of the Academy of Mathematics.

* * *

Thus, the Academy of Mathematics, whose establishment was decided, opened its first academy in Hanseong.

The plan was to nurture mathematics specialists and faculty through this Academy of Mathematics and gradually establish more academies.

And the faculty of this first Academy of Mathematics to be established in Hanseong was initially set to be recruited from the research institute.

When the establishment of the Academy of Mathematics was announced, officials’ interest was focused.

And the official document delivered to the officials gave them confidence.

-Although mathematics is included in the civil service examination, its level is insufficient for immediate practical application.

-Therefore, mathematics education is included in the training course for successful candidates, but it is still insufficient as it is a short-term course.

-Therefore, officials with aspirations are encouraged to challenge the entrance examination conducted by the Academy of Mathematics and enter.

-For officials who take classes at the Academy of Mathematics, working hours will be adjusted from 5 half-days to 3 half-days per week.

-However, if one fails the tests given at the Academy of Mathematics more than 3 times, they will be immediately expelled.

-Officials who successfully complete the 3-year course at the Academy of Mathematics will receive additional points for promotion.

-Officials of senior 6th rank or above who have completed the Academy of Mathematics and have worked with excellent performance evaluations for more than 2 years will be granted the qualification to take the entrance examination for Sungkyunkwan.

It was at this point that the officials’ eyes began to sparkle fiercely.

Sungkyunkwan had strengthened its characteristics since the early stages of the reforms.

After passing the lower civil service examination, those who successfully passed the curriculum at Sungkyunkwan were given the qualification to take the higher civil service examination.

And those who passed that higher examination received the privilege of starting at the 6th junior rank.

As the reforms progressed, this part was greatly strengthened. First, those who could enter Sungkyunkwan were those who had received the senior 5th rank and had excellent performance evaluations.

Sungkyunkwan’s new mission was to rigorously educate and filter out those with solid practical experience to nurture the next generation of high-ranking officials.

In other words, it was an upgrade of the mission that Sungkyunkwan had been carrying out from the beginning.

Therefore, being given the qualification to enter this Sungkyunkwan meant that one could get ahead in the competition to reach the pinnacle of power, which was only a handful of high-ranking officials.

* * *

As the establishment of the Academy of Mathematics was announced like this, officials belonging to local government offices across Joseon began to submit petitions.

-Although academies of mathematics will be established in other regions besides Hanseong over time, unfair competition will occur during that empty period. An alternative is needed to solve this.

“Their words are not wrong. It’s natural for dissatisfaction to arise if one is pushed back just because they went down to the provinces despite passing the same examination. Then, what do you think would be a good alternative?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers put forward various proposals.

“How about establishing academies of mathematics across Joseon from the beginning?”

“If we do that, there won’t be a single person left in the research institute and Area 51.”

“For the provinces, how about providing intensive education using the vacation periods of the Academy of Mathematics or the officials’ holidays?”

“Are the mathematics instructors made of iron bodies? They need time to rest too!”

Whenever the ministers put forward various alternatives, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji vigorously refuted.

In the midst of this fierce debate, Hyang put forward a new proposal.

“How about printing and distributing textbooks and lecture notes?”

“Print textbooks and lecture notes?”

As Sejong showed interest, Hyang explained in more detail.

“Yes. Although it may be inferior to learning directly by seeing and hearing at the Academy of Mathematics in Hanseong. With textbooks and lecture notes, and with their own efforts added, they won’t fall far behind in the competition. Of course, it will be necessary to reduce their work schedule to alleviate excessive burden.”

“Let’s say lectures are possible that way, no, they will be possible. But how should the exams be conducted?”

“We should distribute pre-printed exam papers and conduct them. Like when taking the civil service examination. However, the grading will be done collectively in Hanseong.”

“Hmm, wouldn’t that take a lot of time?”

To Heo Jo’s point, Hyang immediately answered.

“We should use the express courier system.”

“The express courier system, you say?”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s answer, Heo Jo nodded, and Jo Mal-saeng’s face turned pale.

Seeing Jo Mal-saeng’s face, Hyang continued his explanation a bit more.

“If we actively operate the express courier system across Joseon, we can continuously monitor the condition of the road network we’ve developed so far, which will help with maintenance. Also, in the process of operating the express courier system, we can find and quickly improve any deficiencies. Lastly, while operating this express courier system, we can select horses with excellent qualities and raise even more superior breeds of horses.”

“Hmm… Are there any other objections?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers closed their mouths. It seemed clearly better than the proposals they had put forward.

“Then, I hope you will organize a plan based on the Crown Prince’s proposal and submit it.”

“We receive your command!”

After ending the meeting like this and coming out, Jo Mal-saeng looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~. Delivering court gazettes, census registers, documents from the treasury and investment funds, and now even the Academy of Mathematics… Ah~.”

Seeing Jo Mal-saeng sighing, Kim Jeom, who was passing by, lightly patted Jo Mal-saeng’s shoulder.

“You’re working hard, Your Excellency. Instead, I’ll take responsibility and pay attention to the budget, so I’m counting on you.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Jo Mal-saeng’s face brightened.

“Make sure you keep that promise!”

And so, express courier horses began to run frantically on all roads across Joseon – from newly built roads to small paths.

Later, it would reach the point where people would feel uneasy if express courier horses weren’t passing by on the roads.

And thus, the world’s first correspondence education and systematic postal service were born.

* * *

As these higher education institutions were created, the research institute and Area 51 became frantically busy.

This was because the research institute and Area 51 were where people with the highest level of knowledge – not just in Joseon, but in the world – in mathematics and engineering were gathered.

“Just endure for a few years! And by doing so, won’t your work become easier once you discover new talents?”

“Yes…”

Although the researchers responded weakly to the encouragement from Hyang, Jeong-cho, and Jeong Inji, they did their best when it came to teaching.

As one of the ‘Three Pleasures of the Gentleman’ was ‘the joy of teaching excellent disciples’, there was fulfillment in teaching students who were trying hard to learn.

Especially, the researchers who lectured at the Academy of Engineering watched for talents with burning eyes. This was because it wasn’t just the research institute and Area 51 that were aiming for those learning at the Academy of Engineering.

Merchant groups that were gradually growing in size, especially those with manufacturing industries, began to target those attending the Academy of Engineering.

Chapter 402
Higher Education Institutions (4)

To acquire those who entered the Engineering Academy, the merchant guilds implemented scholarship programs.

* * *

As the reforms progressed, Joseon’s educational institutions were advancing from the most basic institution, the Commoner’s School, to the Higher Institute and various other academies.

All children enrolled in the Commoner’s School received free education.

This was King Sejong’s decision.

“It is right that all people living in this Joseon, except for slaves, should know the minimum of learning and principles. That is why we created the Commoner’s School, and it is not right to charge tuition for it.”

Thus, the Commoner’s School was entirely free, and children attending the academy were provided with one free meal.

However, from the Higher Institute onwards, tuition had to be paid.

“This is appropriate as the people have chosen to learn more advanced knowledge, so they should pay tuition. This is not simply to make money from teaching, but to instill a sense of responsibility for their choices.”

King Sejong wanted the people to internalize the ‘responsibility that comes with choice’ early on.

Therefore, students who advanced to the Higher Institute had to pay 2 nyang of silver as tuition for each semester that lasted half a year.

Hyang quietly worried about King Sejong’s decision.

“In the past, they just learned at home. Won’t people feel reluctant to pay for education?”

However, this was Hyang’s needless worry, or more precisely, a misunderstanding that arose from not knowing the full picture.

* * *

Looking back, private educational institutions like Goguryeo’s Gyeongdang (扃堂) had continued to exist.

This tradition was recorded even in the ‘Goryeo Dogyeong’ written by Xu Jing of the Song Dynasty, as follows:

-On the streets where commoners’ houses are located, government offices and writing houses face each other in twos and threes. Here, the children of the people gather in groups to learn books [經] from teachers, and when they grow a little older, they choose friends with similar aspirations and go to temples to study. And even down to snot-nosed children, they also learn from village teachers. (Note 1)

Because of this, even in the early Joseon period, there were private academies in every village.

There were various types of private academies:

Private schools or reading halls operated by noble families or influential yangban families who invited retired officials or unsuccessful exam candidates;

Village contract academies operated by influential local families, running separate school fields to educate children of their family and clan;

Or self-operated academies established by scholars themselves for livelihood and pastime.

In addition to these representative types of academies, there were various other kinds, but as the late Joseon period approached, they transformed into power maintenance bases for the local yangban class.

However, with King Sejong’s reforms, as Commoner’s Schools and Higher Institutes replaced the academies controlled by local literati, the private academies began to disappear.

The central government’s influence started to work more strongly instead of the power of local literati in rural villages.

* * *

However, unable to shake off his worries, Hyang had no choice but to make a suggestion to King Sejong.

“There may be those who have the enthusiasm and talent to learn but are too poor to fulfill their wishes. We need measures for them.”

“Hmm…”

“If they cannot fulfill their aspirations, where will their resentment be directed?”

Understanding Hyang’s implication, King Sejong immediately nodded.

“That would be the case. Looking back at the records so far, there were not a few who achieved success through studying by day and night, using the light of fireflies and the reflection of snow. I had momentarily forgotten about that.”

Thus, King Sejong created a scholarship law.

-Those who are in the top 20% in academic performance and whose family circumstances fall in the bottom 30% shall have their tuition waived by the country.

-Those who fall under this category must submit copies of their family register and tax payment records to the school.

In this way, Joseon officially operated a scholarship system.

The ministers who were summarizing the operation status of the scholarship system soon reported positive results to King Sejong.

“Those who have benefited from the scholarship system are more actively promoting national policies and strongly supporting the court’s events.”

It was natural to be loyal to the country and the king, but the size of the royalist faction that was acting more proactively was gradually increasing.

* * *

Seeing the increase in the number of royalists, or pro-king factions, through the scholarship system, merchants quickly applied this to those who entered the Engineering Academy and the Mathematics Academy.

They approached those who had talent but were poor or not wealthy, offering to provide tuition.

If they had only offered simple tuition support, it would not have been much different from the policy implemented by the court, but the merchants’ scholarships were a bit different.

The qualification conditions were broader than those required by the state, and they not only supported tuition but also living expenses needed while living as a student.

The conditions that merchants who supported tuition and living expenses required from students were as follows:

-Maintain grades while attending the academy.

-Work for the merchant guild for at least 10 years after completing the academy.

After the 10-year contract period, they were given the option to either continue working for the merchant guild or become independent and start their own business.

The merchant guilds that presented these conditions had their own calculations.

“In 10 years, they’ll have reached quite a high position. Give that up and leave? Is that possible?”

Amid this competition between the government and the private sector, a rumor spread among those challenging various academies:

‘Just getting into an academy changes your life path.’

* * *

Most of the educational institutions created through the reforms were related to economy, technology, and practical skills, such as the Mathematics Academy, Engineering Academy, Medical Academy, or Military Academy.

As a result, petitions flooded in to King Sejong.

-In general, for a person to live as a proper human being, one must live according to the words of the ancient sages and in accordance with principles, and the basis of learning is to ponder what these principles are!

But look at the educational institutions being created now!

Looking at the educational institutions being created now, they are all teaching only the principles for profit!

This is not right!

We must create educational institutions that research the principles of the sages!

Petitions full of such content came up, but King Sejong scoffed.

“Hah! What are principles? Didn’t the words of ancient sages, Buddha, or that Christ from the West all say the same thing? How is it different from the words of Hwanung, ‘to widely benefit mankind’? And aren’t these principles already taught and learned in the Commoner’s School? Yet they say we need to research principles? What did those who only sought and pondered principles do? Wasn’t it rebellion?”

At King Sejong’s cold words, not only the ministers but even the court historians broke out in a cold sweat.

Listening to this from below, Hyang inwardly muttered.

‘That damned rebellion really gave him a big trauma. By the way… looking at the history before I intervened, he was quite a moderate person, but now he shows such a hardline response… Is this also the butterfly effect?’

At that moment, Hyang’s train of thought drifted off on a tangent.

‘Wait, hearing Father’s words reminds me of a book title? Was it “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”?’

“However, their opinion is not entirely wrong.”

Even while observing King Sejong’s cynical reaction, Hwang Hui spoke up against it.

At Hwang Hui’s remark, King Sejong’s expression turned fierce, but he forcibly suppressed his anger and asked Hwang Hui.

“For what reason?”

It was a short question full of the threat ‘I’ll crush you if I dislike it even a little!’, but Hwang Hui did not back down.

“Of course, learning from the Commoner’s School alone is enough to learn and practice the minimum principles. But this is the minimum, Your Majesty. Please compare the time before the reforms began and now. It has changed to the extent that the phrase ‘the world has turned upside down’ is fitting. If it changed that much in nearly 10 years, how much more will it change in the future? To establish the right principles in such a changing world, it is absolutely necessary to ponder principles. We must ponder principles to establish the right ones, and refine laws according to those principles. In addition, please consider the barbarians who are now submitting to Joseon. To educate them, who have different lifestyles and habits, we need to establish proper principles.”

“Hmm…”

At Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong calmed down and began to seriously consider.

“The Prime Minister’s words are not wrong. Indeed, the world is changing faster and faster, and if we don’t properly establish principles, they will become outdated and treated as relics, and eventually, it will become a world without morality. Hmm…”

As he mulled over Hwang Hui’s words, King Sejong turned to look at Hyang. As King Sejong gazed at him with thoughtful eyes, Hyang suddenly began to break out in a cold sweat.

‘Why me? What? Why? How come?’

Because of King Sejong’s sudden gaze, Hyang fell into a state of panic.

“Come to think of it, didn’t the Crown Prince say that?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Didn’t you say to those Western monks? ‘The word of God may be infallible, but can you be sure that what was written down is also infallible?’ It was quite a refreshing statement.”

At King Sejong’s words, Hyang bowed his head and replied.

“It was just the immature words of a young child.”

‘Where on earth is it leaking from?’

Grumbling at the fact that even King Sejong knew about his remarks, Hyang soon gave up.

‘Damn it! There are too many leaks!’

There were too many possible sources, from the officials present to even the eunuchs.

“It’s not wrong, so there’s no need for such excuses. It was truly a good statement.”

After positively evaluating Hyang’s words, King Sejong turned to the ministers.

“There are many in our Joseon who need to hear those words. Don’t you think?”

“There are some narrow-minded individuals, Your Majesty.”

At Hwang Hui’s answer, King Sejong revealed his true thoughts.

“As far as I know, after the burning of books and burying of scholars, weren’t they rewritten? As they were rewritten, and as they were discussed, and as those discussions were written down, and as those writings were again translated into our Joseon language, can you be confident that there wasn’t a single error in even one sentence or character?”

At King Sejong’s statement, the atmosphere in the hall froze.

King Sejong’s current statement was a shocking one that shook the foundations of Neo-Confucianism, the national ideology of Joseon.

Not only the ministers but even Hyang turned pale with shock at King Sejong’s words.

‘Wow! Wow! Wow! Father, you’ve just seriously crossed the line! In the late Joseon period, this would have caused an uproar about being a traitor to Confucianism!’

Looking at the pale expressions of the ministers, King Sejong continued.

“Even if what Zhu Xi said is not wrong, as it became sentences, was transferred into books, came to our land in the East, and was discussed orally, could there not have been a single error? What do you think, Prime Minister?”

Singled out, Hwang Hui chose his words as carefully as possible to answer.

“Of course, how could there be no errors? However, as there are many excellent scholars in our land as well, such errors would be very rare.”

“That would be the case… Hmm…”

As King Sejong trailed off and fell into thought again, the ministers swallowed dry saliva and just stared at him.

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Entry on Private Academies.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0027680

Chapter 403
Higher Education Institutions (5)

After pondering silently for a long time, King Sejong soon opened his mouth.

“I will establish specialized educational institutions and research institutes to study the words of the sages and contemplate principles. Therefore, ministers, deliberate on this plan and present it to me.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers bowed their heads and replied.

“We humbly accept your command.”

* * *

After the meeting in Geunjeongjeon Hall ended, the ministers who left moved to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Naturally, the topic of discussion among the ministers gathered in the Prime Minister’s office meeting room was the educational institution King Sejong had mentioned.

“What do you think we should do?”

To Maeng Sa-seong’s question, Jo Gye-saeng answered with a matter-of-fact expression.

“What do you mean what should we do? His Majesty has commanded it, so of course we must create it.”

“Who doesn’t know that? How exactly should we frame it, what kind of faculty should we fill it with, and who should be the target for admission? Don’t we need to decide all these things?”

“Can’t we just proceed by drawing on our previous experience?”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s reply, Hwang Hui intervened with an exasperated expression.

“Is that what His Majesty wants?”

“…”

At Hwang Hui’s point, Jo Gye-saeng fell silent. Seeing this, Hwang Hui placed his hand on his forehead and made a remark.

“Do you still not know what the result will be if we proceed so comfortably? Do you feel at ease only after hearing His Majesty’s tsk and reproach?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s answer, Hwang Hui burst out shouting.

“You sir! Then why say such things! Have you only known His Majesty for a day or two? It’s gotten easier lately! Agh! Every time you do this, my insides burn black! Do you understand?”

“Lord, Lord, please calm down…”

As Hwang Hui exploded, Maeng Sa-seong intervened to calm him down.

“There, there. Have a cup of cold water and cool down for a moment.”

“Whew~. I was just so frustrated…”

While Hwang Hui emptied several cups of cold water in succession, Maeng Sa-seong continued the ministers’ meeting in his stead.

“The Prime Minister has a point in getting angry. His Majesty ordered us to establish specialized educational institutions to study the words of the sages and contemplate principles. But don’t we all know to some extent how he thinks about the Confucian scholars who will be in charge of this important task?”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, the ministers nodded.

* * *

Unlike when he first ascended to the throne, King Sejong now viewed Confucian scholars and local gentry with a very cynical eye.

The change in King Sejong’s view was not just because of the Giyuban Rebellion.

The spark was lit by the clash between Ryu Jeong-hyeon and King Sejong, which brought a bloody wind to the court just before the reforms began. Subsequently, the corruption of officials and the problem of local gentry privatizing power that emerged as the reforms progressed added fuel to the fire.

And what turned the problem, which was at a bonfire level, into a massive conflagration was the Giyuban Rebellion.

The Giyuban Rebellion, which had turned into such a massive conflagration, reduced the local gentry society of Joseon to ashes.

And it would have been good if it had ended there, but a considerable number of the surviving local gentry were still showing conservative attitudes and rebelling against King Sejong.

Because of this, King Sejong’s gaze towards the local gentry was like ice.

Until now, the situation had been somewhat tolerated because most of those who were educated enough to be properly utilized were such gentry. However, once the educational institutions started functioning properly, the local gentry would be the first to become obsolete.

* * *

Most of the ministers who had worked alongside King Sejong for a long time and had become familiar with him knew well that he was not favorable to this matter. That’s why Jo Gye-saeng, who had spoken carelessly without grasping the situation, ended up being scolded.

“Let’s be a bit more careful, shall we? Every time we relax a little, something always goes wrong…”

“Ahem! I apologize!”

At Hwang Hui’s rebuke, Jo Gye-saeng apologized with an uncomfortable expression.

As the small commotion settled down, Jo Geuk-gwan, the Minister of Justice, opened his mouth.

“However, we do need a specialized educational institution. Looking at the cases of lawsuits that have rapidly increased since the establishment of the Judgment Office, there are many problems arising because common sense, or rather principles, are outdated while the world is changing.”

* * *

As the reforms progressed, the Ministry of Punishments was divided into the Ministry of Justice, the Public Security Office, and the Judgment Office.

With this division of ministries, the duties of litigation and public security were separated from the tasks of local officials.

Criminal cases were handled by the Public Security Office up to the level of county, and from smaller counties to villages, military police from both army and navy were dispatched to maintain public order.

Civil lawsuits and criminal trials between the people were to be handled by the Judgment Office.

The judges of the Judgment Office were first appointed from those who had worked in local administration or the Ministry of Punishments and were renowned for their fair judgments.

The plan was to establish the foundation with these individuals and then have it taken over by those who had been properly educated and trained.

* * *

All sorts of lawsuits flooded into this newly created Judgment Office like a deluge.

Most of these incoming lawsuits were related to ‘intellectual property rights infringement’.

“…Until before the reforms, there wasn’t even a concept that knowledge was property, was there? We were the same, weren’t we?”

At Minister of Justice Jo Geuk-gwan’s point, the ministers nodded.

* * *

Until before the reforms, the concept of intellectual property rights did not exist.

If there was a precious book containing the words of ancient sages, or a collection of writings by a famous scholar, people would go to borrow it or make a copy, but there was no payment of compensation. Rather, it was natural to think that receiving compensation for such things was a lowly act that would tarnish one’s reputation.

This was the same among common people.

“The good thing is good! Really! How narrow-minded!”

Most of the time, if someone demanded compensation while sharing knowledge or skills that only they possessed, they would hear words like the above.

Of course, they never dared to say such things in front of blacksmiths or pottery craftsmen.

However, while techniques could not be shared, copying the end products was a common occurrence. Therefore, when rumors spread that a certain craftsman had created something unique and popular, it was a daily occurrence for nearby craftsmen to produce items that exactly imitated that product.

Because of this, when the law regarding intellectual property rights was first promulgated, there was a lot of opposition.

“Good knowledge should be widely shared! How can you put a value on something intangible like knowledge!”

“Come on! Isn’t it good if we all live well together? Why so stingy! Ah! The world is coming to an end, I tell you!”

Complaints and dissatisfaction erupted from all directions like this, but due to strong law enforcement, these complaints gradually subsided.

However, such intellectual property rights infringements occurred in increasingly sophisticated ways, and the Judgment Office was bustling with people filing lawsuits related to this.

* * *

“As new things like intellectual property rights infringement cases that didn’t exist in the past are popping up, it’s right that people’s thinking should change too. However, it’s only proper that changing thoughts should be directed towards the right direction.”

At Jo Geuk-gwan’s point, the ministers nodded.

While the ministers were mulling over Jo Geuk-gwan’s words, Jo Mal-saeng, who had been sitting quietly, opened his mouth.

“Creating an educational institution, and having that educational institution contemplate the words of the sages to rediscuss principles suitable for changing times, are all right things to do. Of course, it’s what we should do. But isn’t the problem the teachers who will contemplate and teach at that educational institution? Setting aside the words of ancient sages, how much of Zhu Xi’s recorded sayings are out of touch with reality when applied to the present age? How much have we struggled with this problem while working all this time? Therefore, the most important thing is how to find the faculty. If we’re not careful, we might end up with people playing at being immortals up in the clouds.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s point, the ministers nodded.

Afterwards, the ministers furrowed their brows and pondered repeatedly to find a solution to this.

At that moment, Kim Jeom opened his mouth.

“Even if we struggle to find faculty, it’s clear that they will be playing at being immortals in the clouds before long. Because there are hardly any scholars who know reality among those with big names. No, the higher their reputation, the more they will try to return reality to the age of ancient sages. Then, how about we change our approach?”

At Kim Jeom’s remark, the ministers’ eyes began to sparkle.

“Change our approach?”

“Yes. Even if we find new principles to fit such changed times, it’s useless if not applied in practice, isn’t it? So, let’s establish it as a research institute rather than an educational institution. And let’s put in people who have experienced sufficient practical work in the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Finance and Economy as members of that research institute.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Hwang Hui shook his head.

“A war will break out.”

“It’s something we must endure. What else will come out of those who sat in their studies saying ‘Confucius said, Mencius said’ discussing principles other than empty words? As Jo said, how much have we struggled too?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers were lost in memories.

They remembered the times when they first entered office at the end of Goryeo and the beginning of Joseon, when they proudly proclaimed to create an ideal country according to the ideology of Neo-Confucianism, but ended up spitting blood when faced with the wall of reality.

“The problem is that there will be quite intense conflicts.”

At Hwang Hui’s point, Kim Jeom scoffed.

“Hah! Who do you think will drop out first in that conflict?”

“Probably the scholars.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s answer, Kim Jeom immediately followed up.

“Eight or nine out of ten, those so-called scholars will drop out first. They have the biggest weakness of not knowing reality well. And are there only one or two scholars in this Joseon?”

At Kim Jeom’s remark, Maeng Sa-seong pointed out a problem.

“There may not be just one or two, but have you forgotten that the majority of those scholars are rebels?”

Since the introduction of Neo-Confucianism to Goryeo, there were many scholars who studied Neo-Confucianism. However, a considerable number of them – especially those with high reputations – either went into seclusion claiming that Yi Seong-gye’s dynastic revolution was unjust, or were purged after rebelling.

Despite Maeng Sa-seong’s point, Kim Jeom did not back down.

“How many of those who went into seclusion claiming that the founding of this Joseon was unjust are still alive? And even if some are still stubbornly alive, would their disciples want to live a life of seclusion just reading classics? And would there be only one or two of such disciples? If we can get just two or three of those disciples, we can fill the scholars’ positions. After that, we just need to watch them fight fiercely and properly collect the results. Isn’t this a familiar task?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers unconsciously nodded strongly.

Pitting those with opposing opinions against each other and then reaping the results was Hyang’s specialty, and before they knew it, even King Sejong had learned and was using this method quite effectively.

“But will they really come if we call?”

Seeing Maeng Sa-seong’s continued negative reaction, Kim Jeom pointed out the reality.

“Look even now, do you think those who submit petitions whenever something happens are doing so out of true patriotism? Aren’t they just using a shallow trick to stand out and make a name for themselves? If we call them, there will be more than enough people running over in their socks. So, let’s be positive about this, shall we?”

“…”

As Maeng Sa-seong closed his mouth, Hwang Hui concluded.

“Then, let’s decide on its character as a research institute rather than an educational institution and draft a plan accordingly.”

“Which ministry are you thinking of assigning it to?”

“Everyone’s busy these days…”

Sensing the ministers’ strong reluctance to take on the task, Hwang Hui stood up and went outside.

“Jong-seo! You rascal! Come here right now!”

* * *

Five days later, Hwang Hui submitted the plan to King Sejong.

“Hmm… A research institute rather than an educational institution… This might be more appropriate.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. As it is to contemplate the principles of the sages and research new principles suited to the changing times, a research institute is more fitting than an educational institution.”

“The establishment of the research institute is three years later…”

“At least that much time is needed to find good talent, Your Majesty.”

After listening to Hwang Hui’s explanation and reviewing the plan, King Sejong soon reached a conclusion.

“I approve. Implement it as planned.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, and there’s something to add. Add the study of the philosophy of Rome and Greece that existed in the land of the Westerners called Europe, as well as Christianity and Islam.”

“The Western philosophy and religions as well, Your Majesty?”

“Our Joseon’s footsteps have reached there, so shouldn’t we know the differences? No, not just know the differences, but if there’s something good, shouldn’t we adopt it? If necessary, I’ll even bring in scholars.”

At King Sejong’s words about even bringing in scholars, Hwang Hui carefully asked.

“Is this ‘using barbarians to control barbarians’, Your Majesty?”

To Hwang Hui’s question, King Sejong silently nodded. At King Sejong’s answer, Hwang Hui quietly bowed his head.

This is how the ‘Institute of Philosophy’ was born.

This Institute of Philosophy – later renamed as the Institute of Social Sciences – along with the Military Medical Department and the Medical Academy, came to boast the most intense academic atmosphere. The heated debates between idealists and realists were literally a war. However, because of its results, Joseon was able to guide society in the healthiest direction possible.

As a side note, Hyang was most responsible for the Military Medical Department and Medical Academy having such an intense academic atmosphere as the Institute of Philosophy.

“Read widely, examine, and contemplate.”

With this brief order, he simply threw them translated medical books, so the faculty of the Medical Academy and Military Medical Department had no choice but to start their research based on the traditional Korean medicine knowledge they knew.

In the process of this research, all sorts of theories emerged to resolve the differences between Eastern and Western medicine – notably the difference between the theory of mutual generation and mutual overcoming based on yin-yang and the five elements, and the theory of the four humors. Fierce debates broke out over whose theory was correct.

And Hyang was watching with great interest while occasionally giving his input.