Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 356

356. The Problem is People, in Many Ways. (2)

Principles of Farming wasn’t just a must-read in Joseon’s rural villages.

Envoys from various domains of Waeguk (Japan) rushed to Joseon upon hearing the rumors.

In Waeguk, where agricultural technology hadn’t advanced much beyond what was transmitted from the Korean Peninsula during the ancient Three Kingdoms period, Principles of Farming, which Joseon had begun to disseminate, was a textbook of advanced farming methods that they absolutely had to adopt.

* * *

Using Principles of Farming as an example, Hyang continued.

“I don’t believe Joseon lacks people right now. It’s not that we lack people, but that those who have learned to read are scarce. Ah! To explain this again, there are many who can read sentences. If we include those who can read even sporadically, I can confidently say that there are very few in Joseon who cannot read at all, but the problem is….”

“The problem is that the number of people who can write sentences is extremely limited. Hooo~.”

Cutting off 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 incapable of comprehension (reading and understanding text) was very small.

As mentioned before, even the so-called ‘illiterate’ farmers could read several hundred Chinese characters necessary for their daily lives.

This was to read the *jobo* (official gazettes) and various proclamations posted on the walls of government offices, or to check the contents of debt certificates written when borrowing property and write their names on them.

The problem was writing. Among those who could read, the number of those who could write sentences using even *Idu* (a system of writing Korean using Chinese characters) was greatly reduced. If you narrow the scope to those who could write sentences according to grammar and etiquette, it would be reduced to a very small number of *Sadaebu* (scholar-officials).

* * *

“Hooo~. Given this situation, how can we truly know the hearts of the people? No, even putting that aside, how can we find truly capable individuals?”

Hyang responded to Sejong’s complaint.

“In just about 2-3 years, those educated at the Samin Academy will emerge, so wouldn’t that alleviate the problem to some extent?”

However, Sejong’s face did not brighten much.

“It seems it will only create more thirst, not quench it. The letters are the problem, the letters…. Instead of helping talented people express their intentions correctly, it has become a situation where it hinders them….”

‘Awesome! Accurate perception of the situation! Let’s add a little more MSG here!’

Cheering inwardly, Hyang suggested to Sejong.

“Then, shouldn’t we create our own letters unique to Joseon? Not something that requires knowing Chinese characters like *Idu*, but letters that can be easily written even if one doesn’t know Chinese characters.”

‘It’s a history that’s going in a new direction anyway! Don’t create it later, create it now! You have to create it while you’re still energetic so that I don’t suffer as much later!’

Whether he knew Hyang’s heart or not, Sejong shook his head slightly.

“Creating our own letters…. The intention is truly good. But it is not an easy task.”

“The brilliant scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon….”

Hyang, who was mentioning ‘Jiphyeonjeon,’ quickly closed his mouth. Sejong’s face turned fierce at the mention of the word Jiphyeonjeon.

“Don’t even mention those stubborn fools!”

* * *

As Sejong’s reforms progressed and Hyang established the research institute, the nature of Jiphyeonjeon also changed a lot.

Initially, Jiphyeonjeon, which was in charge of the king’s advisory and academic research, changed its character to a professional policy research institute as the reforms progressed.

Its duties changed, or rather, were limited to analyzing policies proposed by the king and ministers to come up with improvement plans, or planning appropriate policies based on data coming from each ministry.

However, as things progressed this way, the Jiphyeonjeon scholars began to rebel.

“It is true that the research of physics (物理) conducted in Area 51 and the research institute is important! However, the study of literature (文理), which savors and contemplates the writings of the sages to illuminate morality, is also important!”

“Most of the policies currently being implemented by the court deviate from the Confucian (儒家) school of thought! We must immediately abolish these policies and uphold the Confucian school of thought! Practicality (實事求是) is important, but studying the past (修學好古) is even more important!”

The Jiphyeonjeon scholars, who insisted on restoration (復古) and irritated Sejong, went one step further.

“For the people to be comfortable, their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter must be stable! To do so, we must have communal distribution (共産分均)!”

As the argument for communal distribution emerged once again, Sejong pointed out the facts to the Jiphyeonjeon scholars.

“It has already been decided that communal distribution is not realistic and is empty. So why are you arguing for communal distribution again?”

“Practical difficulties are something that must be experienced in the process of embodying theory! Even if there are sacrifices, if we continue to do it, it will eventually take its proper place! We must not be afraid of sacrifice!”

Sejong was greatly angered by the words of the Jiphyeonjeon scholars.

“Saying not to be afraid of sacrifice is just armchair theory (卓上空論)! Look at reality and speak!”

Greatly angered, Sejong, in the year of Sinhae (Sejong 13, 1431), reassigned the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon to practical positions through a major personnel reshuffle.

However, the Jiphyeonjeon scholars strongly protested against this decision of Sejong.

“This is tyranny (暴政) that blocks the channels of speech (言路)!”

Most of the Jiphyeonjeon scholars who protested in this way submitted their resignations (辭職疏).

“This is a big problem!”

“That is right!”

The ministers, surprised by the collective resignation of the Jiphyeonjeon scholars, rushed back and forth between Sejong and the scholars, trying to calm the situation.

“Your Majesty, they are still young. They are doing this because they cannot overcome the vigor (血氣) of youth, so they will soon reflect. Please give them some time.”

“Hey! Why are you so hasty! Isn’t it a good thing to refine your theories while doing practical work?”

The ministers were busy going back and forth, but Sejong and the Jiphyeonjeon scholars were on parallel lines.

“Vigor? What they are doing is threatening (劫縛) me, believing only in their shallow knowledge!”

“Humph! I cannot simply overlook such tyranny!”

“Be careful with your words! Have you forgotten what kind of bloodline His Majesty has!”

In the end, Sejong approved all the resignations submitted by the scholars. And then he issued a royal decree.

“Those who have been dismissed this time will never be able to serve again, and they are forbidden from submitting memorials for the rest of their lives! This measure applies to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren!”

If the regulations related to the Sadaebu, which had become stricter through the reforms and the Giyu Rebellion, were applied, they would not be called Sadaebu for at least 100 years.

After this commotion, Jiphyeonjeon was completely established as a ‘specialized policy research institute.’ The law was even changed so that those who belonged to Jiphyeonjeon were not selected from among the excellent ones who passed the higher civil service examination, but those who had at least 10 years of practical experience.

And, as another aftereffect, divorce winds blew through the families of the scholars.

* * *

Feeling that Sejong’s mood had soured due to the Jiphyeonjeon issue, Hyang hurried to put out the fire.

“Yes. Even without those stubborn fools, there are many talented people in the court. Therefore, if *Abamama* (father) makes up his mind, he will find excellent talents.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong stared at Hyang intently.

“I heard that you are having a lot of trouble with the scholars from the West and the document creation issue. Is that why?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang smiled bitterly and nodded slightly.

* * *

The rapid appearance of *Hunminjeongeum* (Korean alphabet) was also what Hyang wanted. Initially, it was simply because he was too lazy to create documents in Chinese characters. But now, it was for his *deokjil* (fangirling).

“Damn it! Is translating documents all I do from the time I get to work until I leave!”

Looking at the mountains of Latin documents piled up in the Area 51 office, Hyang gritted his teeth and translated them, which was his daily routine these days.

“For a peaceful *deokjil* life, *Hangul* (Korean alphabet) is absolutely necessary!”

* * *

At Hyang’s appearance, Sejong smiled and continued.

“I see. They have now become the people of Joseon, so we must alleviate their difficulties as well. Hmmm…. But even if there are many talented people in the court, there are so many things that the court is doing right now that it is not easy to spare them. Creating letters is not something that can be done with the power of one or two people, so it is impossible for me alone. Will you help me?”

“Yes?”

“Your excellence has been famous since you were young, hasn’t it? If you help me, I think we will get good results. How about it? Will you help this father?”

At Sejong’s request disguised as an order, Hyang had no choice but to nod.

“If even my meager abilities can be of help, I will do my best.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong was greatly delighted.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

Coming out after finishing the secret talk (密談) between father and son, Hyang muttered softly.

“No matter how I think about it, I feel like I’ve been caught. Of course…. I had heard the theory that royal family members were mobilized…. But still, I feel like I’ve been caught.”

Unable to shake off the feeling that he had been caught, Hyang soon came to a conclusion.

“Damn it! Now that it’s come to this, I’ll just do it! I’ll carve my name into history!”

Meanwhile, inside Gangnyeongjeon (Sejong’s residence), Sejong was looking towards Donggungjeon (Crown Prince’s residence) with a pleased 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 general public were moving busily, the economy was growing day by day, and the people’s pockets were becoming more and more comfortable, but stagnation was stagnation.

The court was moving busily, but it was struggling just to maintain and improve existing policies. At best, 2-3 out of 10 new policies or systems were progressing.

This was the same for the people. Those engaged in the rapidly growing commercial and industrial sectors were all screaming the same thing.

“There are no people to work!”

* * *

Since this problem could not be avoided, Sejong and the ministers put their heads together.

“How many people are there in our Joseon right now?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of General Affairs, Heo Jo, immediately answered.

“According to the population survey conducted last year, it has exceeded 7.5 million.”

“Does that include the slaves?”

“Yes.”

At Heo Jo’s answer, Sejong stroked his beard.

“So, the actual number of commoners is about 6.8 million?”

“That is correct.”

Taxes were being levied on slaves, so private slaves were decreasing. Most of the remaining 700,000 slaves were government slaves, and most of them were those who had committed serious crimes and were serving labor sentences in the mines.

“6.8 million is not a small number, so why….”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s point, Heo Jo immediately answered.

“Among that population, 800,000 are Jurchens who have pledged allegiance, and almost 1.8 million are children under the age of 7.”

“Ah….”

“Oh….”

At Heo Jo’s answer, the ministers all smacked their lips.

By suppressing smallpox through cowpox vaccination and implementing various sanitation policies semi-compulsorily, the survival rate of children greatly increased.

Thanks to this, the population of Joseon greatly increased, but this was just a numbers game.

Even if the population increased, it was not an increase until those children grew up and did their part.

Rather, the burden on adults increased due to the rapidly increasing number of children.