Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 621

621. Their Choice (1)

Anpyeong played a total of three songs, starting with ‘Cavalry of the Front Lines.’

The songs, named ‘Soldiers of the Wilderness’ and ‘Battle Hymn,’ were themes from famous movies called the ‘Dollar Trilogy.’

“There’s definitely something heart-pounding about this that’s different from Tang or Hyang music.”

“Indeed.”

The percussion, resembling a heartbeat, and the piercing sound of the Taepyeongso [a Korean double-reed wind instrument], like a scream, were intensely stimulating and addictive.

Unlike the officials who simply reacted with novelty or curiosity, the military officers, especially those who had participated in the previous war, wore strange expressions.

“The sound of the Taepyeongso feels like the screams of the Jurchen bastards.”

“I agree.”

“It’s similar to the screams of the Wokou [Japanese pirates] too.”

This was something Anpyeong had also said while refining the song with Hyang’s advice. At the time, Hyang nodded in agreement with Anpyeong’s point.

“That sound is modeled after it. Isn’t that the sound the Jurchens and Wokou make to announce war?”

“Ah….”

Anpyeong nodded at Hyang’s words.

Like Hyang said, the Jurchens and Wokou would shout loudly as they began their attacks. Those who had suffered great damage and mental shock from such attacks would immediately lose their spirit upon hearing those screams, and the Jurchens and Wokou exploited that.

The Joseon cavalry was similar. They had been constantly fighting the Jurchens, and as more Jurchens joined the Joseon cavalry, they changed similarly. Thanks to this, during the last war with the Ming, Ming soldiers would throw down their weapons and run away as soon as they heard the Joseon cavalry’s war cries.

Regardless of the background, Anpyeong’s new music was well-received.

“Excellent. I look forward to the next piece!”

“I will do my best!”

Anpyeong, having answered that way, glanced at Hyang. Hyang, noticing Anpyeong’s gaze, looked away.

‘Good luck! Wait… should I go with the Imperial March? To do that properly, I’d need to import brass instruments from Europe… Huh? Were the brass instruments I know even made during this time? If not, I’ll make them… Ah! I don’t know the structure of instruments! Then should I exploit the artisans?’

Hyang, who had gone that far, quickly came to his senses and hastily concluded,

‘First, let’s find out if they exist and then think about the next step!’

However, as the banquet continued, Hyang’s thoughts strayed down another path.

‘If the Imperial March comes out properly, will our empire become an evil empire? Is that it?’

* * *

Time passed, and finally, the day arrived for Sejong to return to Shinji.

Hyang traveled with Sejong as far as Wonsan Port.

Sejong, seated in a specially arranged imperial carriage, looked at Hyang, who had accompanied him, and spoke with a smile.

“Haha! There are so many things the Emperor should be doing; there’s really no need for you to do this.”

“This is also one of my duties.”

“Thank you.”

Sejong, looking at Hyang moving to see him off despite setting aside his work, watched the scenery visible through the train window with a pleased expression.

“I can see prosperity in the faces of the people, which is truly good.”

“It is all thanks to your Majesty laying a good foundation.”

“Haha! Thank you for saying so.”

Sejong, answering with an expression mixed with shyness and pride, noticed the scribes and recorders diligently recording the current conversation.

“Hmm… Emperor.”

“Yes?”

“Why aren’t you using typewriters?”

“Pardon?”

“I actively encouraged the use of typewriters in Shinji, and they were very effective.”

“Haha. I also encourage the use of typewriters for general tasks.”

“Aren’t scribes and recorders the ones who need them the most? I believe typewriters are very useful for recording the words and events coming from the court quickly and accurately.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s words.

“I will consider it positively.”

At Hyang’s reply, Sejong leaned towards Hyang and whispered.

“It’s especially perfect for catching the bad habits of the scribes.”

“Bad habits, you say?”

“The bad habit of writing their own opinions when they should be recording the facts.”

“Ah….”

“If the typing continues for a long time after I’ve finished speaking, it’s most likely their own opinions, so it’s very good for scolding them. After scolding them a few times in Shinji, that bad habit disappeared.”

“Ah….”

Hyang nodded greatly at Sejong’s words.

Meanwhile, the scribes recording the conversation between the father and son recorded this with gloomy expressions.

-…Therefore, His Majesty strongly recommended the use of typewriters, and His Imperial Majesty accepted this.

The scribe says.

It is the right of the scribes to write their opinions in the historical records. This is also one of the many avenues of speech.

The scribes who returned from Shinji said that His Majesty’s tone was very blunt. I can well imagine what they heard.

Anyway, I need to practice typing again. I need to increase my typing speed even more.

As the saying goes, a person must say what needs to be said to avoid problems.

* * *

Having seen Sejong safely depart from Wonsan, Hyang returned and began to manage the state affairs in earnest.

The fact that Sejong had departed meant that from now on, Hyang would manage the state affairs independently without being mindful of Sejong.

The first thing Hyang did after starting independent state affairs was to prepare for the election to select the Simsa-won (審事院, Reviewing Council).

“You can’t be full on the first spoonful, so let’s first implement it according to the initially established rules and then identify and improve any shortcomings.”

“We obey your command!”

As they processed the agenda items one by one, Hwang Hee submitted his resignation.

“Resignation?”

“This humble servant’s age has already passed eighty and is nearing ninety. I have grown old, my thoughts are slow, and my actions are slow, like an old ox. Therefore, it is deemed good for this humble servant to step down and for a new person to fill the position.”

“Hmm….”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Hyang stared at Hwang Hee.

‘He’s definitely getting old. But, not yet.’

Although he had been involved in various bad incidents, he was still the most senior elder. Moreover, an elder who was cooperative with the Imperial family. Of course, other elder statesmen, including Kim Jeom, could also be said to be pro-Imperial, but Hyang could not forget the matter of Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

In the end, Hyang came to a conclusion.

“Denied.”

“Your Majesty! A new sky has opened! It is the natural order that there should be new people under the new sky!”

“Listen here, Prime Minister. I once read a Western scripture, and it contained this story. When Rehoboam, the son of the wise King Solomon, became king, he sided with the young men, and the country was ruined. New people are needed in the new sky, but old people are also needed. Therefore, it is denied.”

“But, Your Majesty!”

Hwang Hee tried to object urgently, but Hyang cut him off.

“I clearly remember the promise you made to His Majesty in the past. You haven’t forgotten what you promised then, have you?”

“I have not forgotten….”

“Then, do you have anything more to say?”

“…No.”

In the end, Hwang Hee had to back down in tears.

Hyang, having rejected Hwang Hee’s resignation, looked at the high and low officials seated in the main hall and continued.

“I know that there are a few more people in this place who made similar promises to His Majesty besides Minister Bangchon. The same goes for them. And besides those people, those who want to resign should bring someone to fill the vacant position. However, there is a criterion. They must be able to make me not click my tongue more than three times.”

At Hyang’s words, the elder statesmen closed their eyes tightly and bowed their heads deeply.

Hyang and Sejong had the same habit of clicking their tongues when they were displeased. First of all, their tone changed.

In Hyang’s case, he usually ended his sentences with ‘da’ or ‘kka?’ to treat the elder statesmen with respect, but when he was displeased, he immediately switched to the ‘hao’ style, like now. In Sejong’s case, he switched from the ‘hao’ style to the ‘hara’ style. Beyond that, the famous tongue-clicking sound would come out.

‘I’d rather die than suffer!’

‘Damn it! I’d rather work until I die than endure this!’

Hyang’s words continued over their heads.

“If that’s too difficult, feel free to tell me anytime. I’ll give you a position in the Records Office. How about it?”

“We will do our best!”

“I am very reassured that you answer that way.”

* * *

After that, the coordination on various agenda items was completed, and the officials left the Geunjeongjeon (근정전, Throne Hall) one by one.

Hwang Hee, who came out of the Geunjeongmun (근정문, Geunjeong Gate), looked at the sky with a dismal expression and sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. Goddamn it.”

Hwang Hee, who naturally uttered profanity, discovered Kim Jong-seo heading towards the General Affairs Department and ran up and kicked him in the butt.

“Ack! Why did you kick me!”

“You son of a bitch! If you had done your job properly!”

“What else did I do wrong?”

“Look at this son of a bitch? Don’t you lower your eyes!”

“So why did you kick me!”

As Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Hee’s voices grew louder, the officials around them stepped in to stop them.

“Stop them! Stop them!”

“Oh my, ministers! What kind of disgrace is this! The Geunjeongjeon is right in front of you!”

And all this chaos was immediately heard by Hyang, and the officials were all called back into the Geunjeongjeon.

“Hoo~.”

Hyang, who sighed, called Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo.

“Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Spend ten days cooling your heads in the Records Office….”

Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo bowed and answered at Hyang’s judgment.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

This was sincere. If the Board of Audit and Inspection had stepped in, it would have been at least dismissal, and at best, exile. However, because Hyang, as the Emperor, had stepped in and made a decision in advance, the Board of Audit and Inspection could not step in.

* * *

After that one-act play ended, Hyang, who was reviewing documents in the Geunjeongjeon, sighed.

“Hoo~. As expected, things that are in the way should be cleared away in advance.”

Hyang, who muttered to himself, called a eunuch.

“Go and tell Duke Jinpyeong to come.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Before long, Jinpyeong entered the Geunjeongjeon.

“This humble servant, Duke Jinpyeong Lee Yu, greets Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry to call you when you’re busy.”

“Not at all.”

“May I speak comfortably?”

“As you wish.”

As Jinpyeong’s words ended, Hyang relaxed his posture and opened his mouth.

“Jinpyeong, you’ll have to go to Bukji (北地, Northern Territory).”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong raised his voice with a bright face.

“Your Majesty! Is it finally starting?”

“Yes, it’s starting. Now there’s no need to be mindful of the Ming. Spread out as much as you want.”

“Yes!”

“I’ll tell you in advance, it won’t be easy. Looking at the current situation, the exploration team has advanced as far as the Outer Hinggan Mountains (外興安嶺山脈, present-day Stanovoy Range) in the north. However, they have only advanced. To properly integrate this into our land and expand from there, solid support is needed. What would be a way to make that support possible?”

At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong immediately answered.

“Railroads and iron horses!”

“That’s right! To firmly make Bukji ours so that others cannot covet it, and at the same time, to allow our feet to go outside, iron horses and railroads are essential. Therefore, do it properly for the thousand-year glory of the Empire!”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong prostrated himself on the floor and answered.

“I will do it at the risk of my life!”

“I trust only you!”

“Leave it to me!”