Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 194

194. Obsession, Part 2 (2)

Anpyeong momentarily experienced cognitive dissonance at the unexpected proposal, so Hyang explained in more detail.

“It starts small, with recording the plays and sounds of the Sadangpae [traveling troupes of entertainers], then the sounds and performances of the Gisaeng [female entertainers], and even the sounds and plays of the common people.”

“For what reason?”

“How much do we know about the plays and sounds that our ancestors enjoyed?”

Anpyeong, who had been searching his memory for a moment at Hyang’s question, answered immediately.

“Almost nothing, Your Highness.”

“Right? Then, will our distant descendants, a few hundred years from now, know what we did for fun or what songs we sang?”

Anpyeong fell silent at Hyang’s question.

‘I roughly understand what His Highness is saying…’

Anpyeong, realizing the meaning of Hyang’s proposal, pondered seriously.

After a long deliberation, Anpyeong looked at Hyang.

“The ministers and Sadaebu [scholar-officials] will dislike it.”

“Why? Don’t they diligently record their poems, writings, and Haengjang (行狀, biographical sketches) and leave them in books? Are only they the people of Joseon?”

“That is not true.”

“The Sadaebu are not the only people of our Joseon. Shouldn’t we record and preserve the lives of other people as well?”

Anpyeong fell into thought again at Hyang’s words. However, unlike before, the negative energy was gradually disappearing from Anpyeong’s face.

After a long period of contemplation, Anpyeong finally made up his mind.

‘Yes! What I see and enjoy alone ends with me, but if I leave it as a record, tens, hundreds, or thousands of people will know! This is also the work of a scholar!’

Having made his decision, Anpyeong looked at Hyang.

“I will do it to the best of my ability.”

“Good!”

Hyang clapped his hands lightly and immediately moved on to the next topic.

“To properly record and organize, you need experience. Coincidentally, Park Yeon, the Bongsangsi Pangwan [official in charge of court music], is in charge of reorganizing the music used in the palace, so gain experience by helping him.”

“Pardon?”

“He is exceptionally talented in music, so he will be a great help when you do your work later. It’s good to help each other, right?”

“Yes, yes. Then I will work with him.”

“I will ask Father to create a position for you, so wait a little longer.”

“Yes.”

Anpyeong, who came out after finishing the conversation with Hyang, continued to tilt his head.

“Why do I feel so uneasy?”

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had entrusted the work to Anpyeong, went straight to Sejong.

“…So, I ask you to allow Anpyeong to learn from Park Yeon.”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, Sejong immediately answered.

“I grant it!”

As soon as Sejong’s decision was made, Minister of Personnel Heo Jo stepped forward to object.

“Your Majesty! The Grand Prince’s rank is Jeong 1 Pum [the highest rank for officials]. Park Yeon’s rank is only Jeong 5 Pum Pangwan, so how can a Jeong 1 Pum superior work under a Jeong 5 Pum subordinate?”

Sejong pondered for a moment at Heo Jo’s point, and soon came to a conclusion.

“Until Park Yeon’s work is finished, Anpyeong will maintain the Jong 5 Pum Jeongrang [a lower-level official rank]. The Ministry of Personnel shall announce the personnel changes accordingly.”

Heo Jo had no choice but to bow his head at Sejong’s order.

“I obey the command.”

This was because Sejong’s order was extremely fair in Heo Jo’s opinion as well.

In this way, in April of Gyeongsul year, Anpyeong entered Park Yeon’s command and devoted himself to organizing Aak [Korean court music].

* * *

Park Yeon had taken on the task of organizing Aak six years ago.

In the 6th year of Sejong’s reign, Sejong ordered his ministers.

“The music used in the palace needs to be reorganized. Recommend a suitable person.”

At Sejong’s order, the ministers recommended Park Yeon. Sejong, who had received the ministers’ recommendation, appointed Park Yeon to Akhakbyeoljwa [a position for music scholars].

“I order you to reorganize the music.”

“I obey the command!”

Park Yeon, who received Sejong’s order, enthusiastically devoted himself to the task.

Park Yeon examined the necessary items to reorganize the music and created a report to submit to the Ministry of Rites.

The Ministry of Rites, after reviewing Park Yeon’s report, immediately submitted the report to Sejong.

-The style of music is scattered indiscriminately in scriptures and historical records, making it difficult to view.

-It is very difficult to study music individually because there are no owners of ‘Munheontonggo’, ‘Jinssi Akseo’, ‘Dussi Tongjeon’, and ‘Jurye Akseo’.

Therefore, there is a risk that the current Akryul (樂律, a system that theoretically organizes sounds according to the height of the musical scale) will be abolished.

-To solve this problem, assign one literary official to compile Akseo, and consult the Yuljo of Hyangak [native Korean music], Aak, and Dangak [Tang Chinese-derived Korean music] to compile the musical instruments and musical notation methods.

-Print the compiled book and keep one copy in the palace, and one copy each in the Ministry of Rites, Bongsangsi, Akhakgwanseupdogam, and Aakseo.(Note 1)

“The Ministry of Rites’ request is reasonable.”

Sejong, who read the report submitted by the Ministry of Rites, immediately accepted the Ministry of Rites’ request.

Accordingly, Park Yeon served as Akhakbyeoljwa and was given the position of Bongsangsi Pangwan to work on organizing Aak. The reason why it was Bongsangsi was because Bongsangsi was in charge of managing musical instruments.

After 6 years, in February of this year, Park Yeon suggested again.

In the proposal, Park Yeon argued that the musical instruments and music used in the ceremony should be corrected according to the old regulations.

“Pangwan Park Yeon is right.”

According to Sejong’s decision, Park Yeon began to move more actively.

In that situation, Anpyeong came to work under Park Yeon.

* * *

“I have been ordered to work with you. I look forward to working with you.”

“I have received the order. Are you sure you’ll be okay working under me?”

Park Yeon’s attitude towards Anpyeong was very rigid.

This was because he had been doing everything himself until now, but suddenly an outsider, a Grand Prince, rolled in.

“It doesn’t matter. I am just a Jeongrang now.”

Park Yeon replied immediately to Anpyeong’s answer.

“Okay. Then let’s start working right away.”

‘Huh?’

Anpyeong was momentarily stunned by Park Yeon’s sudden change in attitude.

“What are you doing! Are you going to stay up all night!”

“Ah…. I’m going, no, I’m going!”

At Park Yeon’s words, Anpyeong quickly followed Park Yeon.

* * *

After that, Park Yeon mercilessly pushed Anpyeong around.

Having received the royal order, Anpyeong was not a Grand Prince to Park Yeon. He was just a subordinate official who had to faithfully carry out his orders.

Hyang, who heard about this situation through a eunuch, muttered to himself.

“This is like a drama I saw in the 21st century? A capable executive who ruthlessly pushes around the son of a wealthy family who came in as a parachute. The difference from the drama is that in the drama, he is the successor, but here, he is far from the succession structure. Still, he’s pushing him too openly, isn’t he?”

Even though he was far from the succession structure, Anpyeong was Sejong’s legitimate son (嫡子, a son born to the legal wife).

Even if Sejong was fair and impartial, Park Yeon would fall straight down if he made even a single mistake.

However, Park Yeon fully demonstrated his abilities.

When Park Yeon made and presented a stone chime (石磬, a chime made of stone, one of the instruments of Aak), Sejong said this.

“People in the world say that Park Yeon doesn’t know anything about the world and only knows music, but that’s not true. Park Yeon is a scholar who is well-versed in the world.”(Note 1)

Park Yeon was trusted by Sejong to this extent.

In the end, all Hyang could do was call Anpyeong, who was leaving work, and comfort him.

“I heard you’ve been having a hard time lately. But don’t give up and keep trying. That way, you’ll be able to do your job properly later, right?”

At Hyang’s words, Anpyeong replied in a cheerful voice.

“You don’t have to worry, Your Highness! There hasn’t been a day lately when I haven’t learned a lot!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! I’m starting to see what I need to do!”

Hyang patted Anpyeong’s shoulder with a pleased expression at Anpyeong’s cheerful appearance.

To Hyang, he was just a true fan who had suffered a Deoktong [being overly enthusiastic about something] accident, but Anpyeong was chosen as one of the best writers of the early Joseon Dynasty even in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

It was common for envoys from the Ming Dynasty to ask Anpyeong to write for them, and he was so famous as a calligrapher that the Ming Emperor was impressed. And he was also skilled in Gayageum [Korean zither], etc., and was rich in artistic talent.

As Anpyeong was being thoroughly trained by Park Yeon, his business skills were developing in earnest.

This became an opportunity to speed up the Aak reorganization work promoted by Park Yeon.

* * *

Hyang, seeing Anpyeong doing his work cheerfully, visited the Crown Princess.

“I’m sorry, but would you take care of Anpyeong’s wife?”

“Are you talking about Anpyeong Daegun’s [Grand Prince] wife?”

“That’s right. This kid is doing a good job of focusing on his work, but he’s working too hard. It hasn’t been long since he got married, but Anpyeong’s wife is always alone, so how can I not feel sorry for her? Domestic peace brings brotherly peace, so I hope the Crown Princess will do some work.”

The Crown Princess readily nodded at Hyang’s words.

“I will do so. Jinpyeong Daegun’s wife also comes often, so the two will get along well.”

“That’s right. That’s good. Let’s stop here.”

* * *

In a meeting where Jinpyeong’s wife and Anpyeong’s wife were gathered, stories about their respective husbands came out.

After talking about their husbands for a while, the Crown Princess sighed softly and grumbled.

“How can these three brothers be so alike….”

“You’re telling me.”

Not only Yangje and Yawon, who were Hyang’s concubines, but also Jinpyeong and Anpyeong’s wives nodded at the Crown Princess’s words.

Not only Hyang, but also Jinpyeong and Anpyeong were all living a life of ‘Deokeop Ilchi’ [being completely absorbed in something].

Jinpyeong’s wife, who was nodding at the Crown Princess’s words, sighed deeply and complained.

“Don’t Seja Jeoha [Crown Prince] and Anpyeong Daegun at least keep some degree of moderation? Looking at our Daegun, it seems like the railroad is the legal wife and I am the concubine.”

“Oh, dear….”

The Crown Princess was sincerely sorry for the complaint, which was mixed with tears in her voice.

* * *

Jinpyeong’s life, which had become a ‘Cheoldeok’ [railroad enthusiast], was literally a life ‘of the railroad, by the railroad, and for the railroad’.

He was spending most of his time participating in railroad-related experiments at the research institute and Area 51, and whenever he had a chance, he was searching all over Joseon to investigate ‘railroad construction sites’.

Jinpyeong’s horsemanship and martial arts skills were very excellent, but this was all because of the ‘railroad’.

In the case of horsemanship, it was to move quickly and conveniently when laying railroads or investigating planned areas.

Military skills were the same.

He had to learn martial arts according to the norms of the royal family, but Sooyang’s purpose was different.

Hyang asked Jinpyeong, who was learning not only archery, swordsmanship, and Subak (手搏) [traditional Korean martial art] that he traditionally learned, but also Chongtong [early cannons] shooting and spear techniques, for the reason.

Jinpyeong’s answer to Hyang’s question was simple.

“If you go around laying railroads, wouldn’t you encounter wild animals or bandits? It’s in preparation for that time.”

“…Is that so? Work hard.”

Hyang, who turned around after encouraging him, muttered with a troubled expression.

“If I think about my son, should I be happy about this? But why…. Do I feel like I’ve thrown away a perfectly good kid?”

* * *

Perhaps because they had similar pains of sympathy, the Crown Princess, the concubines, and Jinpyeong and Anpyeong’s wives quickly became friends.

The women who became close also enjoyed tea together, shot arrows at the archery range, or enjoyed Chongtong shooting.

And the princesses began to join the group.

Hyang, who received the report, scratched his head and muttered.

“Are they going to create a Gyeongbokgung Mafia [referring to the palace where they reside] like this?”

* * *

Anpyeong performed his task cheerfully. Thanks to this, Park Yeon also came to trust him and gradually took on more responsibility.

However, in this process, cracks slowly began to occur between Anpyeong and Park Yeon.

This was due to the difference in perspective between Park Yeon and Anpyeong on Aak, Hyangak, and Dangak.

* * *

Note 1) Sejong the Great Sillok read in one volume. Park Yeon edition. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.