Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 71

Clangra

Helo Night

71. The People (4)

The new researchers, including Lee Soon-ji, and the existing researchers were doing their best to grapple with numbers to solve the tasks assigned by Hyang.

While some tasks were easily resolved with the increased personnel, many others were not.

Among the challenges that remained difficult, the most representative was the correction of the calendar.

Late at night.

“Hmm… I don’t understand…”

Lee Soon-ji tilted his head, a book full of formulas open before him.

His current concern was that the formula for correcting the calendar contained too many variables.

“Leap years… leap months, leap days, and the seasons…”

He could simply add leap months according to existing customs and adjust the seasons based on the calendar imported from China, but that would defeat the purpose of revising the calendar now.

“No. If I adjust the formula based on the data I’ve gathered, the accuracy will increase even more. But… Ugh!”

Lee Soon-ji stretched with a strange groan and continued to mutter to himself.

“It needs to be corrected every year, and every two or three years, another correction for the correction is needed…. This doesn’t make sense. The teachings of the sages and the teachings of the Buddha were truly simple.”

In Lee Soon-ji’s opinion, the teachings of the sages and Buddha were truly concise.

As a result, Lee Soon-ji held the following value:

‘Truth must be simple and concise!’

According to that value, the formula he was currently creating was a complete mess.

It had to be corrected every year, and every two or three years, a leap month was added, and even those two and three years were variables.

In other words, an absurd situation was occurring where corrections were being made for the sake of corrections.

Because of this unresolved challenge, Lee Soon-ji postponed leaving the office and continued to ponder.

Lee Soon-ji moved the teacups that were next to him, muttering.

“This is the earth… The sun, moon, and stars revolve around this earth, creating day and night…”

Lee Soon-ji, who was placing the teapot in the center and spinning the teacups around it, suddenly stopped spinning the teacups.

“Wait! What if the center of this rotation isn’t the earth we live on?”

Lee Soon-ji raised his finger, drawing a virtual orbit and began to calculate.

Like a madman, Lee Soon-ji gestured with both hands, muttering, and came to a conclusion.

“If the center of rotation is the sun, the equation works! Put the sun in the center!”

Lee Soon-ji grabbed the empty papers piled up on one side and began to write down the formulas quickly.

As if possessed by a god, Lee Soon-ji wrote down the formulas frantically, and at some point, he put down the pen and clenched his fist.

“Yes! The variable for the variable is gone! Hahaha! Woo-ah!”

Lee Soon-ji burst into laughter like a madman and screamed.

A pleasure greater than the first experience of sexual bliss was striking his entire body.

Lee Soon-ji got up from his seat, opened the window, and shouted.

“The center of the world is not this earth! This earth is just one subordinate variable!”

* * *

Having found a solution through a sudden enlightenment the night before, Lee Soon-ji devoted himself to organizing the formulas he had found.

Forgoing leaving the office was basic, and rumors began to circulate among the researchers as he often skipped meals.

“The weirdo has gone crazy!”

Jung Cho and Jung In-ji, who had heard the rumors and came to check on Lee Soon-ji, gaped at the piles of paper next to Lee Soon-ji.

“What is this…”

Jung Cho and Jung In-ji, with surprised faces, examined the situation unfolding before them and soon looked at the contents written on the paper.

“Hmm… Huh?”

“Oh?”

As Jung Cho and Jung In-ji were knowledgeable in arithmetic, they soon realized the value of the formulas Lee Soon-ji was writing.

Jung Cho, with a tense expression, turned to Jung In-ji.

“I will report to His Highness immediately, so you take good care of this friend here.”

“Understood, Lord.”

After some time, Hyang, who had rushed from District 51 after receiving an urgent report, examined the papers in question.

Hyang’s face was severely distorted as he examined the contents written on the paper.

‘Damn it! This level is too much for me too!’

Others didn’t know, but Hyang had chosen liberal arts in the 21st century because of mathematics. What he was most confident in was the classic method of solving problems by tackling them head-on.

Although he didn’t fully understand it, Hyang, having grasped the general content, ordered Jung Cho and Jung In-ji.

“Have the royal physician on standby immediately!”

“Understood!”

“And keep this matter confidential until this Assistant Scholar finishes his work and formally reports to His Majesty.”

“We obey your command!”

“And… I think I won the argument, right?”

“Ugh…”

Jung Cho and Jung In-ji groaned at Hyang’s question.

* * *

As the research institute was established and the calendar revision progressed, a debate arose between Hyang, Jung Cho, and Jung In-ji.

The topic of the debate was ‘The Earth is round’ and ‘The Earth revolves around the Sun.’

Astronomical observation was essential for revising the calendar, and in the process, a clash of concepts occurred.

The debate over ‘The Earth is round’ easily led to Hyang’s victory.

This was due to the observation report that ‘the horizon seen from a high mountain facing the sea forms an arc’ and the help of the Huihui Muslims.

However, the heliocentric theory sparked a rather long debate because Hyang, whose knowledge was only superficial due to entrance exam education, was unable to make a perfect rebuttal.

And as that debate led to a draw, the armillary sphere was unable to take its place in the exhibition of the research institute.

“Ugh! The evils of entrance exam education that only knows Galileo, Copernicus, and annual parallax!”

Hyang, who only knew the names but didn’t know the contents, looked at the sky and lamented the evils of entrance exam education.

* * *

A month later, Hyang gathered Sejong and his ministers and held a presentation on ‘Calendar Correction.’

Lee Soon-ji was in charge of the presentation. Having taken a calming pill to ease his tension, Lee Soon-ji calmly proceeded with the presentation.

“…That’s all.”

As Lee Soon-ji finished his presentation, Sejong, who had been listening intently until the end, praised Lee Soon-ji.

“You have worked hard. It was a truly good theory. Crown Prince, what do you think of this Assistant Scholar’s theory?”

“I compared it with the existing calendars and the records of solar and lunar eclipses, and there were no discrepancies.”

“Then, can we finally say that our own calendar has been created?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang corrected the word.

“It’s a correction method, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, a ‘correction method.’”

Sejong, nodding with a bitter face, turned to the ministers.

“What do you think, gentlemen?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hee answered as the representative.

“It seems appropriate to apply the calendar correction immediately. However, the problem is after making it into a book and using it for education. The book will surely be released to the outside, and there will be parts that will cause problems. It is necessary to remove some sentences.”

“Remove sentences?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hee answered.

“The parts that say ‘This world is spherical’ and ‘The world revolves around the sun.’ If we are not careful, the suzerain state [a dominant state that controls the foreign policy of a subordinate state] will take issue with it.”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

Sejong nodded at Hwang Hee’s point.

Until now, the worldview was ‘The world is flat. And the center of the world is China.’

However, the theory that came out of the research institute now was denying this.

However, removing sentences was not to Sejong’s liking.

Of course, Ming was the suzerain state, and due to the difference in national power, he had to be mindful of Ming, but he didn’t like the fact that his pride was being hurt.

“Is there no other way?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hee answered again.

“We can emphasize that it is simply a principle of nature.”

“A simple principle of nature? Hmm… That’s true.”

As Sejong nodded, Hwang Hee added.

“In order to make that claim, we need solid physical evidence to prove it. The evidence presented by the research institute now is insufficient.”

“That’s true. I order the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You know what you need to do, right?”

“Yes, I will gather more evidence to prove the theory and make the theory more solid.”

“You know well. Then, what should you gentlemen do?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Jik stepped forward and answered.

“We must make them understand that this is simply a principle of nature and does not deviate from the rites of serving the great.”

“You know well. Minister of Rites, your responsibility is heavy.”

At Sejong’s words, the Minister of Rites bowed his head and answered.

“I will devote myself to obeying your command!”

“Then, let’s stop here.”

As Sejong declared the end of the presentation, the ministers shook off their seats and came out.

“Haa~.”

“Minister of Rites, please take care.”

“Minister of Rites, your path of suffering has opened too.”

As the other ministers who came out together said a word each, the Minister of Rites burst out.

“Seriously! Why is the Crown Prince doing unnecessary things…”

“Minister of Rites!”

The Minister of Rites, who was about to say something about the Crown Prince and the research institute, immediately closed his mouth at Hwang Hee’s rebuke.

“Unnecessary? Do you really think so?”

“That is, until now, it was just *jeokdanghi* [doing things moderately/appropriately, but without full commitment]…”

“What an *dapdaphan* [frustrating/dense] person! Have you forgotten that many people were harmed because we couldn’t *matchwoseo* [adjust/align] the seasons because of that *jeokdangham*? And you’re still a minister!”

“I am sorry.”

The Minister of Rites had to bow his head at Hwang Hee’s criticism.

In Joseon, where agriculture was everything to the economy, *matchwoseo* the seasons was a very important task.

If they couldn’t *jaedaero matchwoseo* [properly adjust/align] these seasons, the people’s criticism would all be directed at the king, and the king would have to respond by reprimanding those involved.

“I know that the burden on you and the Ministry of Rites has increased! But it is the duty of the Ministry of Rites to solve that! How can you only look for what is convenient for you! If you want to live so comfortably, submit your resignation and leave! I’m sick of being *yok cheomeongneun* [cursed/sworn at] too! I’m sick of it!”

Hwang Hee was showing his sincerity in the last sentence.

Thus, for the purpose of avoiding conflict with the Ming Dynasty, the problematic sentences were removed from the books distributed to the Seowoongwan [royal library and academy]. And the original was treated as a top secret and kept in a vault.

* * *

Since the declaration of Gyeongjang [political reform], the ministers have changed a lot.

No, they had no choice but to change.

They had no choice but to change due to Sejong’s scolding that came out if the work was not done to his liking even a little bit.

At the forefront of those changing ministers were the Chief State Councilors.

This was because the Chief State Councilors were the first to be *yok meongneun* [cursed/sworn at] if the work done by the ministers of the Six Ministries or their subordinates was not satisfactory.

Thanks to this, the personalities of the Chief State Councilors also became very *kkachilhaejyeotda* [prickly/sensitive].

Lee Jik and Hwang Hee, as well as Maeng Sa-seong, who was known for being a nice person, had become basic to *nallineun dokseol* [unleashing harsh words] if the work was not done properly.

“Hey! He’s changed since he became a Chief State Councilor! He’s become a very *motseul yangban* [terrible nobleman]!”

This was the common assessment of the *kkachilhaejin* [prickly/sensitive] three.

However, the Chief State Councilors also had something to say.

“Then do your job well!”

“Why should I be *yok meongneun* [cursed/sworn at] by His Majesty? Am I a *aekbaji* [scapegoat]?”

“If you don’t want to be *yokmeokgi* [cursed/sworn at], don’t create things that will make you *yokmeogeul* [cursed/sworn at]!”

“If you feel wronged, write a *sangso* [memorial/petition to the king] or submit your *sajikso* [letter of resignation]! Submit your *sajikso*!”

Thanks to being forced to change in that way, the Chief State Councilors’ work became faster.

The representative example of this was when they returned after completing the audit of District 51.

Hwang Hee, sensing that Sejong wanted mass production, told the Minister of Taxation in advance to prepare records on the production of iron and was able to present them to Sejong.

As a reward for such changes, the Chief State Councilors were less likely to hear the words they hated the most.

“Compared to what I’ve heard, it’s not…”

It was these words.

* * *

Such Hwang Hee and the Chief State Councilors were recently *gominhago* [worrying/agonizing] with one problem.

The problem they were *gominhago* [worrying/agonizing] was ‘supply and demand of iron.’

As the mass production of Gapsikjang Chongtong [type of cannon] and Bigeokjincheonleoi [type of bomb] was decided, the court needed a large amount of iron, especially Siu iron (mild steel).

Until the Goryeo Dynasty and the early Joseon Dynasty, the Yeomcheol system was in place, where iron was directly *sanggong* [tribute/levy] from the people, but the system had to be changed due to strong opposition from the farmers.

The alternative to the Yeomcheol system was to create ironworks near the iron mines and mobilize farmers during the off-season to produce iron.

However, this system also had many problems, as the forced mobilization of farmers caused problems such as opposition from the farmers and a decrease in motivation.

In the end, the answer that Sejong came up with was simple.

“Purchase those that meet the specified standards and quality!”

However, the Chief State Councilors and ministers in charge of the work had a headache.

“There’s no budget! No budget!”

In the end, the Chief State Councilors, who could not find a good answer even after *gominhago* [worrying/agonizing], informed Sejong that there was a problem.

“Your Majesty, we are trying to implement the plan that Your Majesty has *naeryeosin* [bestowed/given], but there is a problem.”

“Problem? Hmm… Is the budget the problem?”

“That is correct.”

At the Chief State Councilors’ answer, Sejong clicked his tongue for the first time in a while.

“Tsk!”

However, this time the Chief State Councilors also had something to say.

“Your Majesty, in order to solve the budget problem, we are *jeonyonghago* [diverting/reappropriating] from the *mullyang* [quantity/amount] that comes in through the Dohoecheoljang system, but there is a part that must be used, so there is not much *yeoyu* [surplus/room] after *ppaemyeon* [deducting] that amount.”

“Your Majesty, the problem in *gumehame iss-eoseo* [purchasing/procuring] the *bujokhan bubun* [insufficient part] even after *jeonyonghago* [diverting/reappropriating] is the budget.”

“Your Majesty, in order to solve this budget problem, we need to solve the *jingse* [taxation] problem, but the preparation is still *mijinhaobnida* [insufficient/incomplete].”

“Taxes are not the only problem. If we *gumehamyeon* [purchase] iron, we have to *jibul* [pay] the *daegeum* [payment/price], but there is also a *hangye* [limit] to the *goksikdeulgwa myeonpo* [grains and cotton cloth] that we can use as *daegeum* [payment/price]. In order to solve this, *hwapye unyong* [currency circulation] is essential, but again, the preparation is still…”

“Seriously…”

Sejong was also *dapdaphaetda* [frustrated/stifled] at the Chief State Councilors’ answer. He wanted to *uiyokjeogeuro ireul pyeolchigo* [enthusiastically carry out work], but Joseon’s *bujokhan yeongnyang-i* [insufficient capabilities] was holding him back.

“Let’s think a little more.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who *naebonaen* [sent out/dismissed] the Chief State Councilors, sighed.

“Hoo~. What kind of country is this… It’s not even a *bit joeun gaesalgugo* [lit. good-looking dog apricot; something that looks good but is useless]…”

Hyang, who heard the rumors, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! It’s so hard to *bildeueop* [build up/develop]…”

Hyang began to find blank paper and write.

“The best thing would be a state-owned enterprise, right? POSCO [Pohang Iron and Steel Company]! How good is that?”

* * *

Sejong, who *badadeun* [received] the *sangso* [memorial/petition to the king] with the *naeyong* [content] of ‘Let’s create a state-owned enterprise to be in charge of the supply and demand of iron,’ immediately *mureupeul chyeotda* [clapped his knees; indicating sudden realization].

“That’s right!”

However, the ministers who *ilgeun* [read] Hyang’s *sangso* [memorial/petition to the king] shook their heads.

“How can the country do *sangeop-eul* [commerce/business]…”

“Even if it is a *gugyeonggieop* [state-owned enterprise], it is *chuguhaeneun iyun* [pursuing profit], so how can the court *chuguhagesssaobnikka iyun* [pursue profit]?”

“Tsk!”

As soon as Sejong *hyeoreul chaja* [clicked his tongue], the ministers *bajjak ginjanghae* [became very tense] and *jasindeul-ui bal-eon-eul doesaegyeotda* [recalled their statements].

“Why are you *gyeongdeul* [gentlemen/ministers] so *saenggagi jjalbso* [short-sighted]? If the *jojeong* [court/government] makes *soe* [iron], will only the *jojeong* [court/government] *ideug-igesso* [benefit]? It’s not like *soe* [iron] is *naneun* [produced/found] in all regions of *Joseonpaldo* [the eight provinces of Joseon], right? The regions where *soe* [iron] is *naneun* [produced/found] are *gaps-i ssago* [cheap/inexpensive], and the regions where it is not are *gaps-i bissa baekseongdeul-i himdeureohaneunde* [expensive and the people are suffering], if the *jojeong* [court/government] directly makes *soe* [iron], can’t you think that this can solve the *eoryeoum-eul* [difficulties] of this *bubun* [part]? And why don’t you know that it can also solve the *hangsan* [stable livelihood] problem?”

“Ah….”

“Think a little before *sapsida, jjom* [let’s live, please]!”

The ministers who had become *hapjug-iga* [lit. folding fans; speechless/silent] at Sejong’s *ilgal* [reprimand/scolding].