Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 17

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

17. Sprouting… Cancer?

‘If I want to be comfortable, Sejong needs to live a long life, and a healthy one at that!’

With that decision, Hyang persistently persuaded Sejong.

“According to the medical texts from the Yuan Dynasty [1271-1368] obtained through envoys…”

Based on medical evidence, Hyang convinced Sejong.

“I am well aware that Father favors meat. However, a diet that is too biased disrupts the harmony of yin, yang, and the five elements [fundamental concepts in traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine]…”

“Excessive consumption of grains along with meat thickens the blood…”

Hyang would quote passages from medical texts or even spread them out, actively adjusting Sejong’s diet.

He was so proactive that he practically lived in the royal kitchen for a month, pushing the cooks and court ladies to their limits.

“Too salty! Again!”

“Rather than binge eating at once, it is better to eat small portions frequently. Make sure to offer fruits and light snacks to His Majesty in between meals!”

Hyang didn’t just turn the royal kitchen upside down.

“You call yourself a royal physician, yet you’re still only looking at medical texts from the Tang Dynasty [618-907]! Several new medical books have been published since then. Go and get them immediately!”

“If you’ve read the medical texts, you must put them into practice! What are you doing!”

“The medicinal herbs mentioned in Chinese medical texts don’t exist in Joseon [1392-1897]? Then go and find them, or find herbs in Joseon that have the same effect! Isn’t that the duty of a royal physician, or any physician? If you just sit around, will the herbs appear on their own? Go out of the palace right now and find medicinal herbs!”

Under Hyang’s nagging, the royal physicians of the Royal Clinic had to obtain the latest medical books, research herbs, and break a sweat.

“No matter what anyone says, exercise is the best!”

Hyang carefully observed what kind of exercise Sejong enjoyed. Sejong liked Gyeokgu [a traditional Korean ball game similar to polo].

“Gyeokgu? Similar to golf? Golf… it’s a pretty good exercise, but…”

After contemplating, Hyang chose ‘jump rope’.

“It’s funny, but the job of a king doesn’t allow for much free time or space, so jump rope is suitable.”

Holding a jump rope made by the artisans of the Military Supplies Office, Hyang sighed softly.

“Even making a simple jump rope is this difficult…”

From making a light and tough rope to use for the jump rope to creating light and sturdy rings, Hyang had to go through quite a few trials and errors.

“The problem isn’t the technology, but the lack of concept… Should I just keep pushing?”

In Hyang’s mind—for reasons of confidentiality—the only unchanging item in the constantly upgrading so-called ‘tech tree’ was:

‘Yeah, just keep pushing.’

It was an item that would cause groans from countless people as Hyang grew and his chemistry with Sejong improved.

* * *

Holding the jump rope and bells in one hand, and a book written in Latin in the other, Hyang went straight to Sejong.

“What is that?”

“While searching for medical texts for Your Majesty’s health, I found it in a book from the Western barbarians. According to the translation, it is a form of exercise that involves jumping over a rope.”

“Jumping over a rope?”

“Yes. May I demonstrate it here?”

“You may.”

As soon as Sejong’s permission was granted, Hyang came to the center of the throne room, grabbed the rope with both hands, and began to jump rope.

Swish, swish, swish, swish! Jingle! Jingle! Jingle! Jingle!

Every time Hyang lightly jumped over the rope, the bells on his ankles rang cheerfully. After jumping about ten times, Hyang took a light breath and politely handed the rope to Sejong.

Sejong took the rope and looked at Hyang.

“It doesn’t seem too difficult. But does this really benefit me?”

“Yes, it does. According to what the Western barbarians wrote, ‘If you jump it 100 times a day without rest, your lower body will become strong, and minor illnesses will disappear. If a man continues to do it 100 times every day for several years, his foundation will become strong…’ The following was difficult to interpret, so I re-translated what the Chinese had translated: ‘There will be no retreat in the relationship between husband and wife.'”

“Huh?”

In that instant, not only Sejong but everyone in the throne room—except for the eunuchs—had their eyes wide open.

Sejong gripped the rope in his hand and looked at Hyang.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. That’s what the Western barbarians’ writings say. The Western barbarians added, ‘Those in high positions or those who sail for a long time tend to have weak lower bodies. The best way to strengthen a man’s lower body is to ride a horse or run, but those in high positions don’t have time, and those who sail don’t have enough space to do so. That’s why this was developed.'”

“Indeed! Exactly!”

Sejong clapped his knees in admiration at Hyang’s additional explanation. His father, as well as Taejo [founder of the Joseon Dynasty], had always told him that a man should be good at riding or running to have a strong lower body.

“You want me to jump this 100 times?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It shouldn’t be too difficult. But what are these bells for?”

“They are worn on the ankles. If you do it properly, they make a nice sound, and if you trip, they make a light sound, which helps you concentrate. Especially, Chief Eunuch,”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“When Father does this jump rope, make sure to count the bell sounds carefully and make sure he does it 100 times. The Westerner wrote, ‘Too much is as bad as too little. When starting, aim to jump 30 times without stopping, and then gradually increase the number to 100.'”

“I will keep Your Highness’s instructions in mind.”

After conveying the precautions to the Chief Eunuch, Hyang advised Sejong.

“Your son’s greatest wish is for Your Majesty to live a long and healthy life. Please take diet and exercise seriously.”

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, the ministers chimed in. For the ministers, it was a rare opportunity to score points with the king.

“What His Highness the Crown Prince says is correct! His Majesty’s well-being is the most important thing!”

In the end, Sejong began his morning routine by getting up, drinking water, and then jumping rope.

“This isn’t easy!”

At first, he kept tripping, but gradually Sejong began to jump the rope with ease.

* * *

After starting to jump rope, positive changes began to occur in Sejong. The biggest change was that he began to have proper bowel movements. Seeing Sejong’s complexion improve as he had proper bowel movements, Hyang smiled with satisfaction.

“He’s eating a lot of fiber and stimulating his organs through jump rope. It would be strange if he didn’t have good bowel movements!”

As rumors spread that jump rope was effective for constipation, the Queen and concubines also began to show interest in jump rope.

“Crown Prince, I hear that jump rope is very good. Would it be good for this mother as well?”

Soheon Wanghu [Queen Soheon], taking the lead, asked a question that was also an order, and Hyang immediately replied.

“Oh dear! Please forgive my lack of consideration!”

Hyang readily agreed and immediately made jump ropes for the Queen and concubines and presented them as gifts. Soheon Wanghu and the concubines, who received the jump ropes with colorful ropes made of five-colored silk, faced another problem.

“The skirts are uncomfortable!”

“Should we tell this to the Crown Prince?”

After much deliberation, Soheon Wanghu took the lead once again.

“Crown Prince, it’s good to do this jump rope, but there’s a problem. The clothes are a bit…”

“I will consider it.”

Although he answered that way, it was not an easy task for Hyang.

“Did I get too ahead of myself?”

In any case, having given an answer, Hyang pondered to create a result and found the answer. Borrowing the design of riding pants that Western aristocratic women and upper-class women enjoyed wearing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hyang created a design and sent it to the Sanguiwon (Royal Tailor’s Office).

Soheon Wanghu and the concubines, who received the unfamiliar design of the clothes, were slightly taken aback, but soon began to enjoy wearing them not only when exercising but also on a regular basis because they were more comfortable to move around in than the clothes they used to wear.

Accordingly, a butterfly effect that Hyang had not anticipated occurred: Sejong’s nightlife became busier. This was due to the design, which slightly emphasized the waist and hips, unlike traditional designs.

* * *

The jump rope that Hyang made for Sejong’s health quickly spread throughout the country. Ironically, its speed far surpassed the speed at which Geumpil spread.

“Even if you can’t get the rope, you can use a straw rope… but the biggest reason was ‘stamina’!”

Hyang burst into laughter as he read the documents sent by the merchants, who had become Hyang’s personal information network in the process of supplying Geumpil, through the eunuch.

The highlight of the reports related to jump rope was that a rural nobleman in his 60s, who had been ailing, started jump roping as soon as he heard the rumors.

However, there was also a butterfly effect that Hyang had not anticipated at all.

“Riding pants are in fashion? No way!”

The riding pants, which were favored by the women of the court because they were comfortable to exercise and move around in, began to spread among the women of the noble class.

“Why?”

While examining the cause, Hyang identified an unexpected fact. Hyang’s riding pants, which slightly revealed the lines of the waist and hips, were the best way to bring men who were wandering outside back into the bedroom. In addition, contrary to expectations, the women of the early Joseon period were quite open and active. No, from the Goryeo Dynasty [918-1392], or even the Three Kingdoms period [57 BC – 668 AD] before that, the customs of the Korean Peninsula were quite open, and that trend continued until the early Joseon period. In such a social atmosphere, clothes that were comfortable to move around in and sexy (?) were enough to be fashionable.

“So that’s why the ‘virtuous woman gate’ was created…”

Hyang once again recalled the nonsense of Teacher Samcheonpo.

-The fact that they created a ‘virtuous woman gate’ and even gave benefits means that virtuous women were not common! It’s the same with the West, or rather, the Catholic Church, which was so busy looking for ‘saints’!-

“Come to think of it, the Tang Dynasty fashion that boldly exposed the cleavage was also taken from Silla [57 BC – 935 AD], wasn’t it?”

* * *

Time steadily passed, and the time for the Dongji envoys [winter solstice envoys] to depart for Beijing was approaching. Hyang created expected scenarios and educated the envoy party.

“…Therefore, if they come out like this, I think it is best to answer in this way.”

“That may be true, but this could lead to lying to the Emperor, and that could lead to diplomatic problems.”

“Isn’t it true? It is true that the national finances are faltering every time Ming [1368-1644] envoys come and go, it is true that little gold and silver are produced, and it is true that we want to emulate the Ming system, but we cannot because we lack gold and silver, isn’t it? It’s just not the exact truth. Just a little exaggeration.”

“If it gets caught, it could be a diplomatic problem.”

At the criticism of Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon, the chief envoy, Hyang glared at Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

“If it gets caught, it could be a diplomatic problem…”

“In addition, the nobility must always be honest…”

“Then, shouldn’t you first tell the Emperor that all the warhorses we have handed over to Ming so far were bought from the Jurchens [a Tungusic people who lived in Manchuria], and that we made a profit of almost twice the price we bought them for from the Jurchens? No, you should also tell them that it’s not that little gold and silver are produced, but that we’re not exploring and mining.”

“That’s…”

Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon was at a loss for words at Hyang’s rebuke. Hyang, glaring at such Ryu Jeong-hyeon, pressed him.

“Are you saying this out of concern for the safety of Joseon, or are you just insisting on suppressing my spirit?”

“This subject has never had such an immeasurable heart!”

“Then what is the correct answer?”

“…I will follow His Highness the Crown Prince’s plan.”

Once the Chief State Councilor yielded, the meeting proceeded more normally.

“According to the rules for envoys set by Ming, we, Daewol, and Siam are allowed once every three years. What if Ming revives this rule?”

“Why would Ming want to revive this principle?”

At Hyang’s question, the Minister of Taxation explained the reason.

“It is because they may suspect the nature of the envoy party by looking at the size of the accompanying merchant group.”

“Then ask them to create a Joseon Hall like we set up the Waegwan (Japanese trading post) [a designated area for Japanese trade and diplomacy]. It may be mutually beneficial to create a permanent establishment rather than having them accompany the envoy party. Eunuch, bring me a map.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After a while, Hyang looked at the map brought by the eunuch and pondered for a long time. After some time, Hyang continued.

“If only sea routes are allowed, it would be good to build it in Shandong [a coastal province in eastern China], and if only land routes are allowed, it would be good to build it in the Liaoha area [region in Liaoning, China]. Consult with His Majesty.”

“I understand.”

Hyang returned to his room and sighed.

“Hoo~. There’s no answer other than Shandong!”

End.