Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 207

Sejong 12th year (Gyeongseul Year, 1430), April.

Byeon Gye-ryang passed away.

Born in the 18th year of King Gongmin (1369), Byeon Gye-ryang quickly rose to prominence and was favored for his exceptional literary talent.

However, during his successful career, he was falsely accused of treason because of his sister and niece. He also suffered from gossip and slander due to accusations of murder.

Fortunately, Taejong valued his talent and conducted a thorough investigation, acquitting him after acknowledging his defense. However, his reputation was greatly damaged, and Taejong had to actively work to restore his position.

Even after that, Byeon Gye-ryang’s life was not easy.

He was sued by his father-in-law for abusing his wife. According to the complaint, the mental and physical abuse Byeon Gye-ryang inflicted on his wife was severe.

Eventually, Byeon Gye-ryang wrote a lengthy letter to Taejong defending himself.

However, only a small portion of the letter contained self-reflection; the majority showcased his literary prowess.

In the end, Taejong, who highly valued Byeon Gye-ryang’s exceptional literary talent, halted the impeachment proceedings against him. (Note 1)

* * *

Due to these incidents, Byeon Gye-ryang was ridiculed by some in the educated class. However, he was also recognized for his academic achievements and literary talent and was highly valued by Taejong and Sejong.

However, as Hyang intervened, his life began to gradually go awry.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, he was highly valued by Sejong until his death and was treated as the head of the Jiphyeonjeon (Hall of Worthies, a royal research institute) and the Daesaseong (Chief Director) of the Seonggyunkwan (Royal Academy, the highest educational institution of Joseon).

Even though his personal life was a topic of gossip, his academic standing never wavered.

However, the great purge of powerful officials triggered by Hyang’s intervention, followed by the drastic implementation of the Gyeongjang (New Administration), significantly reduced Byeon Gye-ryang’s standing.

* * *

It began when Sejong handed over the draft of the Gyeongjang.

“Review this strategy.”

Upon Sejong’s command, Byeon Gye-ryang and the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon gathered to examine the draft.

“This is the Crown Prince’s…”

“Indeed.”

The strategy, named ‘Gyeongjang (New Administration),’ represented the Crown Prince’s vision.

To be precise, Sejong’s ideas were heavily incorporated, but it was clear that the foundation was the Crown Prince’s vision that had been announced recently.

“Since we are instructed to review it, we must review it carefully.”

At Byeon Gye-ryang’s words, the scholars began to review the contents of the Gyeongjang.

However, it wasn’t long before the scholars all showed the same negative reaction.

“This is absurd!”

“This is not in line with the principles of Confucianism!”

The scholars, for whom Neo-Confucianism was the center of everything, vehemently protested.

At that sight, Byeon Gye-ryang sighed.

“Keep in mind that His Majesty’s will is contained within it.”

“Even if it is His Majesty’s will…”

“If you dislike it so much, find the specific problems! Do you think I’m doing this because I enjoy it?”

At Byeon Gye-ryang’s words, the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon immediately began to find problems.

As mentioned before, the Joseon court was a terribly small court.

Most of the officials held two or three positions concurrently.

However, the stipends were not doubled or tripled, and bribery became commonplace among officials due to the drastically reduced stipends compared to the Goryeo Dynasty [previous Korean dynasty, 918-1392].

Therefore, the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon were also familiar with practical matters, and finding problems was an easy task.

Each time they found a problem, the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon created and submitted lengthy reports.

The conclusions of those reports were almost identical.

“…Considering these problems, it is better not to implement the Gyeongjang.”

Each time such a report was submitted, Sejong would soon come up with a solution to the problem.

“This problem can be solved in this way, so consider this and supplement it.”

The king provided an answer, and because that answer was a definite solution, the Jiphyeonjeon scholars delved deeper and pointed out more problems.

From that point on, it began to take longer for Sejong’s answer to come.

“Finally!”

The scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon, thinking that they had finally gotten through to Sejong, dug even deeper into the Gyeongjang and reported the problems they found.

“With a little more effort, His Majesty will give up! If that happens, this absurd and unreasonable plan will be nullified!”

However, these attempts by the Jiphyeonjeon scholars ended in failure.

Although it took a little longer than before, an answer came back.

And that answer was clear and decisive.

In the end, the Jiphyeonjeon scholars had no choice but to point out and move on to more fundamental aspects.

-This is a plan that does not align with the teachings of the sages. ‘Gyeongsechiyong (practical application of knowledge to govern the world)’ is important, but it should not be the sole foundation.

They argued that Sejong’s Gyeongjang policy was straying from the Neo-Confucianism they had learned and practiced.

In response, Sejong delivered a reply filled with anger.

-Have you not seen the plight of the people?

The poor people of our Joseon are living a life of simply trying to survive each day.

Before discussing righteousness and heresy, we are facing a state of utter lawlessness!

Isn’t addressing the difficulties of these people the first thing that should be resolved!

Your arguments are empty and detached from reality!

It didn’t end with just delivering the reply. Sejong summoned Byeon Gye-ryang and sternly rebuked him.

“What kind of person are you! You are Byeon Gye-ryang, known as the best in literature in Haedong [historical name for Korea]! And yet, you have not properly understood the Gyeongjang policy I have issued?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

At Byeon Gye-ryang’s answer, Sejong pounded the desk with his hand and raised his voice.

“Then why am I receiving these writings that are nothing more than a waste of paper! What good is beautiful writing if the content within is nonsense! Go and do it properly right away!”

“Yes, yes….”

Byeon Gye-ryang, having been scolded by Sejong, had to urge the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon.

“Are you not going to do your job properly? Why do I have to be scolded by His Majesty? Leave out all the nonsense about righteousness and heresy, and do it properly!”

“But, if we do that, we will be criticized as being eoyong (government-sponsored)….”

At the scholars’ concerns about being criticized for ‘colluding with power,’ Byeon Gye-ryang raised his voice.

“As long as you are wearing official robes, you are already eoyong! If you don’t like it, quit and leave!”

In the end, some scholars who could not accept this submitted their resignations and returned to their hometowns.

‘If I do this, the king will be frightened!’

‘He is a king who values his subjects and scholars! If I do this, the king will be frightened and back down!’

However, the result was far beyond their expectations.

Sejong accepted all of their resignations.

“Why?”

While the scholars were in a daze at the result that was far beyond their expectations, an even greater shock struck them.

Sejong had purged a large number of veteran officials, symbolized by Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

As soon as the purge of the officials was over, Sejong declared to the officials.

“I will proceed with the Gyeongjang!”

In the end, the scholars who had submitted their resignations became like kites with severed strings and had to return to their hometowns.

* * *

As things progressed in this way, Byeon Gye-ryang’s position gradually narrowed.

It wasn’t just Byeon Gye-ryang’s position that narrowed. The position of the Jiphyeonjeon also began to narrow.

As soon as the Gyeongjang began, the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon lost their concurrent positions.

Their duties were limited to policy advice for Sejong and other academic research.

“Isn’t this a good thing?”

“That’s right. It was difficult to find time while handling the affairs of the court, but now we can conduct proper research.”

Initially, the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon showed a positive reaction.

However, they soon had to face a serious competitor.

Hyang had created a research institute.

* * *

When Hyang first established the research institute, the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon were not particularly worried.

“Well, he’s such a unique person….”

Many Jiphyeonjeon scholars thought of the research institute as just one of Hyang’s eccentricities.

Some even pitied those who had been drawn into the research institute as officials.

“To have to do things like mathematics and making various instruments…. How unfortunate.”

“How unfortunate for Grand Scholar Jeong Cho and Chief State Councilor Jeong In-ji.”

There were many who pitied those whose affiliations had suddenly changed to the research institute, and there were even many who felt relieved.

The representative of such people was Byeon Gye-ryang.

“It’s so refreshing to be rid of those who only nitpicked at everything!”

For him, it was extremely gratifying that Jeong Cho, who had criticized him, had been relegated to a minor position.

However, contrary to their expectations, the research institute quickly grew into the strongest competitor.

The research institute, which had built its reputation by creating amazing instruments, expanded its talent pool with the full support of Sejong and the Crown Prince.

As the number of talented individuals increased, the research institute achieved results in even more diverse fields.

It modernized the Joseon army’s weapons and subsequently produced the tremendous result of ‘revising the calendar system.’

“At best, it’s just miscellaneous learning!”

Byeon Gye-ryang and the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon comforted themselves in that way and hid their anxiety, but this was just the beginning.

In an audit of the research institute that took place under the pretext of ‘supervising the use of the budget,’ the research institute presented an unimaginable plan called ‘railroad.’

No, the problem wasn’t the railroad.

The research institute had presented something ridiculous called the ‘National Comprehensive Development Plan.’

The plan presented by the research institute attracted the attention of Sejong and the officials.

“It is full of truly good content, so refer to it for the Gyeongjang.”

“Your words are truly wise!”

As Sejong and the officials continued to praise it, the position of the research institute became increasingly solid.

Thanks to this, the frequency with which the task of creating and evaluating various policies was assigned to the research institute began to increase.

Sejong had openly initiated competition.

Thanks to Sejong’s competition, the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon had to desperately devote themselves to their work.

However, it was not easy for scholars for whom Neo-Confucianism was everything to expand their thinking. In the end, the scholars requested help from the researchers at the research institute.

Even though they were competitors, many of them had worked together for a while, and in the end, they were all Joseon subjects.

“Hoo~. It’s not easy. How did you guys broaden your horizons so much?”

At the Jiphyeonjeon scholars’ question, the researchers at the research institute replied with a bitter smile.

“It’s easier if you give up.”

“Huh?”

“It’s easier if you give up on leaving work on time, give up on seeing your wife and children, give up on this and that. If you give up on everything and do what you’re told, you’ll come to enlightenment.”

“Ah….”

However, competition was competition, and the Jiphyeonjeon was gradually being pushed back by the research institute.

Byeon Gye-ryang was doing his best to be a bulwark with his literary talent and authority, but it was clear to everyone that the status of the Jiphyeonjeon was not what it used to be.

It was in that situation that Byeon Gye-ryang died.

* * *

The scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon, who had gathered at Byeon Gye-ryang’s house for the funeral, were all in gloomy expressions as they talked.

“Now that the Grand Scholar has passed away like this, what should we do?”

“Shouldn’t we try harder?”

“Is that effort worthwhile? Isn’t that just colluding with power?”

“Then what are we going to do? Quit and leave?”

“Since we’re being criticized as eoyong anyway….”

“Are you saying that we should abandon our principles and conscience because we hear such words and become despondent?”

“Then should we return to the countryside? Do you not know what the current situation is?”

They were a group of people struggling to find their way after a great tree had fallen.

* * *

Note 1) Sejong the Great Annals Read in One Volume. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.