Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 205

205. Dilemma – Odori (2)

Thus, King Sejong’s decree was issued to the entire Joseon army.

-Military etiquette is about showing respect for rank! Therefore, if anyone, regardless of whether they are Joseon citizens or not, does not perform military salutes, they should be held accountable for violating military regulations!

Because the solemn royal decree was issued, the Joseon army showed unwavering respect to superiors, regardless of their nationality.

In this process, some people unexpectedly benefited: the Japanese who had surrendered (降倭, *gangwae*).

Since the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, a small number of Japanese had surrendered, and most of them served in the military.

The problem was that most of them faced discrimination as Japanese, often equated with the *Wokou* pirates, regardless of their rank.

Even Japanese individuals who had risen to the rank of military officers through their achievements were still subject to prejudice.

However, with the issuance of King Sejong’s decree, they were finally able to receive treatment befitting their rank.

* * *

However, their integration into the Joseon army wasn’t without its challenges.

Like the Jurchen clansmen who went to Hanseong [modern-day Seoul], they also had to engage in fierce competition.

“Now that we’ve joined the military, we should aim to become generals, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Then you’ll have to work hard. Ranks have initially been assigned based on the size of your tribe or origin, but those privileges end there. After that, it’s all on you.”

The Jurchen military officers swallowed hard at the words of the Joseon *Cheonchong* (千摠, Battalion Commander) in charge.

“Which of you will succeed? Those who are good at commanding will rise faster than those who are simply good at fighting. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, sir!”

When accepting the Jurchens, the Joseon army imposed two conditions:

-Proficiency in Chinese characters was mandatory.

-The ability to speak the Joseon language was essential.

The first condition was due to the paperwork that commanders naturally had to handle, and the second condition was equally crucial for communication.

Thanks to this, the Jurchens started with the Thousand Character Classic, but ‘military strategy (兵法, *byeongbeop*)’ was not an easy subject, so they had to rack their brains.

“Studying at this age!”

The Jurchens lamented among themselves, but they also had to study diligently.

This was because the Joseon military officers working alongside them were studying just as hard.

And they had to face a frustrating reality.

The reality they faced was that they had to respectfully salute and treat superiors who were, in their eyes, ‘greenhorns.’

The decree that ‘military etiquette is about showing respect for rank, not the person’ applied to everyone, not just Joseon citizens.

The Jurchens and the Japanese who surrendered also had to respectfully salute their Joseon superiors.

* * *

Traditionally, and for most of the Joseon army, superiors were generally older.

Therefore, showing respect came more naturally.

Even the Jurchens, sometimes labeled as ‘barbarians,’ had a basic understanding of respecting elders.

However, the *Gyeongjang* (Great Reform) was gradually making the Joseon army younger.

Therefore, while high-ranking officers were still often middle-aged and elderly with white beards, mid-level and low-level officers were increasingly younger.

Because of this, many Joseon officers desperately studied military strategy and worked hard to achieve results to avoid the unpleasantness of serving under less experienced superiors.

And this atmosphere quickly spread to the Jurchens and the Japanese who surrendered.

* * *

The influence of Hyang [Crown Prince] was also behind this shift in the Joseon military’s composition.

The saying circulating among officials, ‘Behind every change is the Crown Prince,’ held true for the Joseon army.

Hyang played a major role in supplying new weapons and establishing tactics to maximize their effectiveness.

This was because Hyang was not only a military enthusiast but also possessed knowledge and experience gained from his past life serving in the military in the 21st century – though his knowledge was somewhat superficial, and his experience was at the level of a private.

Military knowledge that had been constantly developing for a long time, spanning over 500 to almost 600 years, was not something whose value could be easily dismissed.

While reforming the Joseon army to the point of disassembling and reassembling it, Hyang, the Ministry of War, and the highest-ranking officers of the military focused on the problem of ‘training commanders to lead the new generation.’

“There are already many young military officers in the military. And, through the Military Academy (軍學院, *Gunhakdang*) created through the *Gyeongjang* that Father is carrying out, more and more military officers will enter.”

“That’s right.”

The old generals and old ministers nodded at Hyang’s words. They also seemed to be looking forward to King Sejong’s policies.

Confirming the favorable response from the elders, Hyang continued.

“However, the most important thing is to select talented people from among them, isn’t it? Looking at the history of our Haedong [Korea] and China, there have been more than a few wars where great losses were suffered due to missing talented people, right?”

“That’s right!”

“You’re right!”

The elders nodded vigorously at Hyang’s words.

This was because Hyang’s words resonated with them, who had experienced all kinds of hardships.

“I myself am very interested in the military and military science (兵學, *byeonghak*), so I have read many books. I have also obtained and read all the war histories that I could find. After reading and contemplating in that way, I came to the following conclusion. Eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuch hung up the *Gwaedo* (괘도, a type of map or chart). Hyang continued, pointing to the *pyoji* (표지, a marker or indicator) with a pointer.

“So, I have classified the types of military commanders as follows.”

What Hyang had written down was the famous ‘four types of officers.’

The paper on the *Gwaedo* listed four main types:

– *Chonggeun* (聰勤, intelligent and diligent), *Chongtae* (聰怠, intelligent but lazy), *Ugeun* (愚勤, foolish but diligent), *Utae* (愚怠, foolish and lazy).

Hyang continued the explanation.

“*Chonggeun* refers to those who are intelligent and diligent. Because they are intelligent, they know military strategy well, and because they are diligent, they do their job well. However, these people have their own set of rules, so if something happens that deviates from those rules, they cannot easily find a solution. Also, because they are smart and do their job well, they can cause great harm if they have wicked intentions. Therefore, they should be assigned to staff or administrative positions, and rewards and punishments (信賞必罰, *sin sang pil beol*) must be firmly established.”

“Indeed….”

The elders nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“Next, *Chongtae* refers to those who are intelligent but lazy. The characteristic of these people is….”

While listening to the explanation of ‘those who are intelligent but lazy,’ the elders looked at Hyang with strange eyes.

‘Isn’t this his own story?’

Based on what they had seen and heard so far, Hyang was the prime example of ‘intelligent but lazy.’

Looking at the development of new weapons and various instruments, there was no one who could compete with his excellence. However, Hyang was also unparalleled in delegating work to others.

‘Is this self-praise?’

‘However, based on my experience, *Chongtae* is also the most suitable person for the top commander.’

The elders were listening to Hyang’s explanation while contemplating this and that.

“…That’s all.”

As soon as Hyang’s explanation ended, the elders all nodded.

“It is a truly clear classification. Certainly, if you look at the commanders of the military, they are divided in that way.”

“It reminds me of someone who used to be my superior. He was the epitome of someone who was foolish but diligent. I almost died several times because of him….”

The elders, who had experienced all kinds of hardships, strongly agreed with Hyang’s classification. As the elders agreed, Hyang moved on.

“Therefore, I think the evaluation of commanders should be conducted according to the above four criteria. Of course, it shouldn’t just be about the evaluation. I think the tactics should also be adjusted accordingly.”

Hyang began to explain the ‘mission-type command system’ to the elders.

* * *

The military elders, who strongly agreed with Hyang’s proposal, immediately began to apply it to the military.

Accordingly, not only the military officers but also the soldiers began to move busily.

In particular, the *Jinmu* (鎭撫, Pacification Commissioners) who had *pumgye* (品階, rank) from *mupumgwan* (無品官, officials without rank) to *Jeong* (正, Senior), *Jong 9 pum* (9th rank) and the soldiers who were scheduled to be promoted to *Jinmu* had to suffer to pass the new standards.

* * *

Hyang’s story of the ‘four types of military officers’ clearly showed what ‘one wave, ten thousand waves (一波萬波, *ilpa manpa*)’ meant.

Sejong, who received the report, asked a question in a meeting of ministers.

“Have you heard about the ‘four criteria’ that the Crown Prince spoke of?”

“Yes.”

“Even though the Crown Prince is still young, he shows that level of insight, which is the blessing (洪福, *hongbok*) of Joseon.”

As the ministers praised Hyang’s insight, Sejong smiled contentedly.

No parent dislikes praising their child.

Soon, Sejong, who had composed himself, brought up the main point.

“I think that the ‘four criteria’ that the Crown Prince divided should not end with being applied only to military officers. Where else is there a fierce struggle for survival and victory other than war? Everyday life is as fierce as war, so how about applying these criteria to all departments of the court to evaluate the rise and fall (昇降, *seunggang*, promotion and demotion) of officials?”

“….”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers closed their mouths and began to ponder.

‘There is no mistake in what His Majesty says.’

‘But… why do I have a feeling that I’m going to be exhausted? Why?’

‘It’s certain that personnel evaluations will become even more difficult!’

As if knowing the minds of such ministers, Sejong continued.

“Of course, the work related to personnel (人事, *insa*) will become a little more difficult, but there is also the saying that ‘personnel is everything,’ and if we think about the future of our Joseon, I think we must apply it.”

The ministers, who had already realized that Sejong had made up his mind, had no choice but to wave the white flag.

“As you wish!”

In this way, the criteria for evaluating the officials of the court changed.

The reactions of the officials who heard the news were largely divided into two categories.

One was those who worked even harder, and the other was the group that just worked hard on their assigned tasks.

“I know my limits well, so I can’t even dream of becoming a Prime Minister, so I’ll just get promoted appropriately and receive a pension later.”

The ministers smacked their lips at the reactions of the officials.

“Rather, it’s becoming easier to distinguish. Is this also a good thing?”

* * *

Because of this situation, the Jurchens had to suffer so much at the northern border and in the Six Ministries of Hanseong that their mouths were dry.

“Live a normal life!”

“Don’t even dream of getting a government job!”

The heads of households who had suffered so much and returned home said that to their children, but the wives’ eyes flashed every time they said that.

“Say something that makes sense!”

“Are you telling him to farm!”

No matter what anyone said, in the situation of Joseon at that time, the fastest way to rise in status was to become a civil servant who ate government rice.

Therefore, in the families of the Jurchens who had *Gibu* (귀부, naturalized), they began to urge their children to study.

The same was true for the neighboring Joseon villages.

* * *

As an afterword, as *Samin Hakdang* (사민학당, Four People’s School) was created and Jurchen and Joseon children began to learn at the school, the competition became even fiercer.

In particular, in order to go into government service or become a regular employee of a large merchant group, a graduation certificate from a higher education institution was required, so fierce entrance exam competition broke out.

The mothers of Joseon and Jurchen began to run around fluttering their skirts for their children’s education.

Thanks to this, the prestigious educational institutions in Joseon were located in Hanseong or the northeastern region.

A nightmarish period for Joseon and Jurchen children had begun a whopping 500 years earlier.

* * *

Leaving the afterword behind, as Joseon accelerated the absorption of the Jurchens who had *Gibu* (귀부, naturalized), there were also those who fell into a difficult situation.

Those who became troubled were those symbolized by Odori, who had chosen Ming instead of Joseon.