Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1183

1183. The Task He Left Behind (3)

With the major issues involving England and France resolved smoothly, Woo’s attention turned to Sugang Palace.

“How is Taetaesanghwang [Great King Father] today?”

At Woo’s question, the eunuch bowed his head and replied,

“He had a good breakfast this morning and headed to the research institute with a lively complexion.”

“Is that so? How is Taesanghwang [King Father]?”

“Fortunately, his cold has improved, and he is regaining his strength.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Taesanghwang is also worried about Taetaesanghwang.”

“He would be.”

Currently, everyone in Gyeongbok Palace and Sugang Palace was focusing all their attention on Hyang’s every move.

It was because of Hyang’s age.

Hyang was already over 100 years old, approaching 110.

Since the beginning of the Old Dangun Record [ancient Korean history], after history was recorded in writing, Hyang was the longest-reigning monarch.

Therefore, Wan, Woo, and the people of the Imperial Family and the Empire were both preparing for Hyang’s end and hoping that he would continue to live long.

However, looking at Hyang’s current situation, their worries were deepening.

The way he was moving more actively than ever and issuing various tasks seemed as if he was preparing for his own end.

“The candle burns brightest just before it goes out, and the flower is most splendid just before it withers…”

Woo, worried about Hyang’s condition, muttered to himself, his thoughts wandering off track.

“Ah! Didn’t Emperor Won say, ‘Meat is most delicious just before it goes bad?’…”

* * *

Sejong was an expert when it came to ‘meat.’

‘Delicious food is food that contains meat.’

‘Making delicious meat even more delicious, that’s the reason for cooking.’

This was Sejong’s philosophy on ‘cooking.’

Moreover, technologies like ‘refrigeration’ were virtually nonexistent until now.

Naturally, techniques such as salting and smoking were developed, and European cooking methods such as ‘charcuterie’ were also introduced through exchanges with Europe.

Among them, the technique of ‘aging’ was also introduced, and Sejong greatly favored cooking methods that utilized aging.

Ironically, Hyang was largely responsible for this.

Sejong became more obsessed with taste after being unable to eat his fill of meat due to Hyang’s strict diet control.

As he became obsessed with taste rather than quantity, Sejong came to enjoy dishes using aged meat.

That’s why he said such things.

However, Hyang never looked upon this favorably.

“The aging process deepens the umami [savory flavor], so it is delicious. But at this time, you should see that you are addicted to the chewy taste of worrying about whether you will die or live after eating it, rather than that umami.”

As I wrote earlier, it was a time when proper refrigeration facilities were virtually nonexistent. Aging and decay were truly only a hair’s breadth apart.

No, on one hand, it was closer to a dish where only the edible parts were cut out from meat that was already starting to decay.

This was a very wasteful technique, and naturally, it was bound to be an expensive dish.

And, no matter how skilled a chef with a long career was, the possibility of eating spoiled meat was high.

Even though the Empire had more developed medical skills than other countries, diseases such as food poisoning still had high mortality rates.

Therefore, in Hyang’s view, enjoying aged dishes at this time was similar to a 21st-century unlicensed chef eating thinly sliced pufferfish, a ‘gamble.’

Therefore, as soon as Hyang heard that aged meat was served on Sejong’s table, he had to immediately turn the royal kitchen upside down and scold Sejong.

“No! How could you try to serve such dangerous food to Abamama [Father]! If even the slightest problem arises with Abamama’s health, I swear I won’t let you off!”

“Abamama! Why are you trying to eat such dangerous and extravagant food! Are you trying to see the noblemen rise up again, talking about ‘Sangjeookbae’ [excessive extravagance] again? Or is this a political conspiracy to reorganize the noblemen once again?”

“Come on! Let’s just eat some meat deliciously!”

“Isn’t this not eating deliciously but eating with your life on the line!”

“You brat! You’ll choke while eating! Get out!”

As an aside, there was a rumor that the reason Sejong abdicated the throne and moved to Shinji as soon as Joseon changed its name to the Empire was to escape Hyang’s overbearing presence.

“Ah! That’s not it right now…”

Woo, regaining his thoughts that had wandered off track, tapped the desk with his fingers and pondered.

“Hmm… somehow… this won’t do…”

After much deliberation, Woo finally jumped up from his seat.

“I must go see Taetaesanghwang! Prepare!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

In Sugang Palace, Hyang greeted Woo with a warm smile.

“Welcome.”

“I greet Taetaesanghwang. I am truly happy to see you in good health.”

“Thank you.”

After a light exchange of greetings and taking their seats, Hyang asked Woo.

“So… what brings you to this old man today?”

“I have come to seek guidance on the future of the Empire.”

“The future of the Empire?”

“That is correct.”

Woo told Hyang the reason he had come to see him.

-Looking at the current state of the Empire, it is fitting to call it a time of great peace.

-However, no one knows how long this situation will last.

-The world is still changing, and the Empire is at the heart of that change.

-The problem is the future.

-Until my generation, there was no great difficulty because there was an unparalleled talent like Taetaesanghwang, but what about the future?

“…Even now, I am losing sleep at night because of these concerns. Therefore, I have come to ask for guidance.”

After listening to Woo’s explanation, Hyang replied immediately.

“Wouldn’t it be enough to be faithful to the Empire’s national policy of ‘Hongik Ingan’ [benefit all mankind]?”

“Who doesn’t know the deep and noble meaning of ‘Hongik Ingan’? However, ‘Hongik Ingan’ is like that sky and like the high peaks of the Himalayas in India. There are many who do not know how wide the sky is because it is in such a high place, and there are few who know how high the high peaks of the Himalayas are because they are in that distant India. No, there is no need to go all the way to the Himalayas. There are many who do not know the height of Mount Baekdu, and they do not know the high peaks in Shinji.”

“I see.”

As Hyang understood, Woo put a little more strength into his voice.

“Even now, the Empire is walking ahead of other countries, but the strides of the countries following behind are also getting bigger and the speed is getting faster. It is certain that someday they will be side by side with the Empire. At that time, a clear guiding star (指路羅將) is needed.”

“Are you saying that the national policy is too difficult because its meaning is too great?”

“That is correct. If we are not careful, we will make the mistake of falling while looking only at the sky.”

“Hmm…”

At Woo’s words, Hyang closed his mouth and fell into thought.

After a long time of deliberation, Hyang finally nodded.

“I understand what the Emperor is worried about. And I admit that it is difficult to see that worry as unfounded. I understand. I will try to unravel this old man’s thoughts.”

At Hyang’s acceptance, Woo’s face brightened, and he bowed his head.

“I am truly grateful!”

“Oh! The Emperor should not bow his head carelessly.”

“No, this is something that I should definitely bow my head for!”

Hyang, who had seen Woo off with a bright face filled with the joy of solving a big problem, sat down in his seat, spread out a blank sheet of paper, and sat with his arms crossed.

“Hmm… where should I start writing? Let’s see… should I start with the population first? How should I unravel the story so that it will be rumored to be well-unraveled?”

Hyang, who was worried about which part to start with, soon picked up a writing brush and began to fill the blank paper.

‘The Emperor asked Taetaesanghwang for guidance on the future of the Empire, and Taetaesanghwang is writing an answer to this!’

The rumors about what happened that day spread quickly in all directions, and people gossiped about it.

“Since it’s Taetaesanghwang, expectations are high.”

“Right? It’s Taetaesanghwang.”

To the people of the Empire, Hyang’s every word was worth a thousand gold, no, ten thousand gold.

Therefore, soon posters (壁書) [public notices] were put up here and there, and memorials began to be submitted.

-We beseech Your Majesty the Emperor. We beseech you to widely publicize the teachings that Taetaesanghwang will bestow.

With the walls of Seoul covered with posters with similar content and memorials piled up like mountains, Woo clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! Geez… their ears are so sharp.”

Soon, Woo, who had organized his expression, ordered the ministers.

“I, too, have not yet received an answer from Taetaesanghwang, so I am curious as well. However, if I receive it, I will not hide it. Inform the people of this.”

“But other countries will also find out.”

At the Minister of National Defense’s concern, the Prime Minister stepped forward and rebuked him.

“It’s just about state affairs, so what if they find out? And if there is anything that could be a problem, we can filter it out in advance, can’t we? Why worry in advance?”

“……”

In the end, it was decided to make Hyang’s answer public, and a notice informing of this was posted on the bulletin boards of all government offices in the mainland and the northern region, and in the official gazette.

Ten days later, the written answer prepared by Hyang was delivered to Woo.

“Huh…”

Woo, who saw the answer, which boasted an extraordinary thickness at a glance, made a dismayed expression and turned the cover.

“The paper is also the finest Seonikji (蟬翼紙, paper as thin as a dragonfly’s wing)…”

Woo, who was daunted by the amount even before starting, soon steeled his heart and began to read the contents of the answer.

“Since Taetaesanghwang wrote it with great care, not even one character should be taken lightly.”

Woo, who was carefully reading the contents of the answer, soon called the eunuch and ordered.

“Go to the Prime Minister and tell him to take care of the morning assembly on his own for the time being. If he asks for the reason, he will know if you say that I am reading the answer now.”

“I obey your command, Your Majesty.”

And, the Prime Minister, who heard Woo’s order from the eunuch, asked the expected question.

“It is His Majesty’s task to personally review all documents, but what is the reason? Is there something wrong with his health?”

“He is currently reading the answer given by Taetaesanghwang.”

“Ah! Then of course I must follow! I will do that. Isn’t this also the Prime Minister’s job!”

“Yes, I will report that.”

“Thank you. But how much is the amount of the answer?”

At the Prime Minister’s question, the eunuch pointed to a pile of reports stacked on one side.

“Ah, is it the thickness of the report on the very top? As expected of Taetaesanghwang. It seems he examined it meticulously.”

When the Prime Minister was nodding his head, looking at the thickest report on the very top, the eunuch’s finger pointed downwards.

“It is the thickness from there to there.”

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

At that moment, the Prime Minister was gasping for breath, suffocating.

“The paper was also the finest Seonikji.”

“…I understand. Go and do your work.”

As the eunuch left, the Prime Minister buried his head and muttered a small curse.

“Damn it…”

When Woo finished reading the answer, the next in line was himself, the Prime Minister, and the ministers.

“This is… from now on, I won’t even be able to use Ganjis (簡紙, paper used for writing letters) [thin paper].”

One of the tacitly accepted malpractices among officials was to write reports on slightly thicker paper if possible.

That way, the thickness of the report became relatively thicker, and it looked like they had worked hard.

However, due to what Hyang had done this time, this malpractice was certain to become a symbol of ‘incompetence.’