Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 237

237. The New Semester (4)

While some commoners eagerly sought education, even resorting to illegal address registrations, others did not.

Jukyohyeon, near Boryeong in Chungcheong Province.

Teacher Lee Chungho, who took attendance every morning, frowned in confusion.

“Still absent…”

Lee Chungho, reviewing the student roster provided by the Ministry of Taxation, looked concerned.

“It’s been five days since the semester began, and they’re still absent…”

Sensing something was wrong, Lee Chungho made a note in his notebook and led the children into the school.

That evening, during a teachers’ meeting after class, Lee Chungho brought up the issue.

“…So, three students haven’t come to school for five days.”

“How many?”

“Three. They’re siblings.”

The teachers’ faces turned serious at Lee Chungho’s answer. It was certainly odd for all the siblings to be absent.

“Could they be ill?”

“Are only those siblings sick? That doesn’t seem likely.”

“That’s true, but…”

As everyone hesitated, the oldest teacher, Ahn Sukhee, spoke.

“Their parents must have kept them home.”

“…”

The teachers fell silent at Ahn Sukhee’s words. The most undesirable situation had occurred.

“Fortunately, we have no classes tomorrow. Teacher Lee, let’s visit the siblings’ house together then.”

“Understood, Teacher.”

The next day, Ahn Sukhee and Lee Chungho visited the family and received the answer they expected.

“What good is learning to read for those who will only be digging in the dirt? It’s enough if they can write their own names!”

“But to do that, they need to come to school…”

“If they go to the village magistrate [local administrator], he’ll teach them everything. Why go to school? It’s much better to feed the cows and plow the fields!”

“Who knows? The children might achieve something greater…”

“Tsk, tsk. Just because you say it doesn’t make it true! Don’t fill them with false hope!”

In the end, their persuasion failed.

On the way back to school, Ahn Sukhee sighed deeply.

“I think I’ll have to write a memorial to the King [a formal petition to the monarch].”

“A memorial?”

“Did you see the children’s eyes earlier? They were full of longing to learn, even though they couldn’t.”

“Ah…”

Lee Chungho looked sympathetic at Ahn Sukhee’s words. However, he also knew the reality.

“Even if we submit a memorial, will we get a royal reply? And even if we do, it will probably just say, ‘Encourage them.’ Would those commoners even listen?”

Ahn Sukhee’s voice rose at Lee Chungho’s words.

“Are you going to give up because of that? Are we going to abandon those children?”

“That’s not what I mean, but…”

“Then, there’s no other way but to write a memorial.”

And so, a memorial co-signed by Ahn Sukhee, Lee Chungho, and the other teachers was sent to Hanseong [the capital city of Joseon, now Seoul].

* * *

Ten days later, as the sun slowly set in the west,

A group of cavalrymen rushed into the village where Ahn Sukhee and Lee Chungho’s Samin School [a school for commoners] was located.

The cavalrymen headed straight for the Samin School.

As soon as word spread that ‘cavalrymen entered the village and headed for the Samin School!’, the villagers flocked to the school.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.”

The villagers watched the Samin School with worried eyes.

There were only two reasons why troops would rush into a village.

Either there was a rebellion, or there was treason.

“But aren’t the people at the Samin School chosen by the country?”

“That’s right…”

“Then, is there a rebellion?”

“Watch your mouth!”

As the residents whispered, the teachers came out of the Samin School.

“Where are you from?”

Ahn Sukhee, the oldest of the teachers, stepped forward.

“The children are in class. Who are you?”

One of the men who dismounted in response to Ahn Sukhee’s question stepped forward and answered.

“We have come with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Yes?”

The surprised teachers immediately knelt and shouted loudly.

“We greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

“We greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

As the teachers bowed deeply in unison, the children and residents who had gathered were thrown into chaos.

“Oh my!”

“Goodness!”

“Oh my!”

Various exclamations erupted as the children and villagers prostrated themselves on the ground.

“We greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

Among those bowing was the magistrate, who had rushed from the Dongheon (東軒) [government office] after hearing about the cavalry.

Hyang [the Crown Prince] gestured to the eunuch standing next to him, acknowledging the people’s bows.

“Tell them to rise.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Rise!”

At the eunuch’s cry, those who had been prostrating themselves got up.

“Your Highness, I am Lim Jaeseok, the magistrate of this Jukyohyeon.”

Hyang nodded slightly at the magistrate’s hurried greeting.

“Is that so? Pleased to meet you.”

“I am honored to meet Your Highness as well. But, what brings you here…”

“I’ve come to meet someone. Which one is Teacher Ahn Sukhee?”

Ahn Sukhee stepped forward at Hyang’s question.

“It is I.”

“I have read the memorial that Teacher Ahn and the other teachers co-signed. I came because I was curious while reading it.”

“Is that so? You could have just sent a written inquiry…”

“Sometimes there are things that need to be seen with one’s own eyes rather than in documents.”

“But, I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

Hyang smiled and replied to Ahn Sukhee’s words.

“Hahaha! I came instead of my father, who was going to come in person.”

“Such an overwhelming honor…”

While Ahn Sukhee was flustered, Lim Jaeseok was rolling his eyes and falling backward.

‘H-His Majesty the King was going to come in person!’

“M-Magistrate!”

“Call a doctor!”

As the officials fussed over Lim Jaeseok, Hyang gave an order, watching the scene.

“The magistrate seems to be ill. The officials and doctors should take good care of him.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Amidst the commotion, Ahn Sukhee, still flustered, said to Hyang.

“I don’t know what to do, knowing His Majesty the King was going to come in person because of our memorial. Please forgive our presumption.”

“I didn’t come to punish the teachers. I was just curious.”

“Yes?”

The teachers looked puzzled at Hyang’s answer. Seeing their expressions, Hyang spoke.

“Where is the house of the person who made you write the memorial? Take me there.”

“Yes?”

* * *

Shortly after, Hyang and his party arrived at a small thatched-roof house on the outskirts of Jukyohyeon.

“It is here.”

At Ahn Sukhee’s words, Hyang turned to the eunuch. At Hyang’s gesture, the eunuch stepped forward and called out.

“Come here! Come here!”

At the eunuch’s call, a woman came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Who are you?”

The eunuch replied to the woman’s wary question.

“Is this the house of Chu Ga?”

“It’s true my husband’s surname is Chu, but who are you?”

Ahn Sukhee stepped forward.

“Do you remember me?”

“Oh my, aren’t you the teacher?”

“Where did Jangsoe’s father go?”

“He’s still in the field.”

“Tell him to come quickly; a distinguished guest has arrived.”

“Yes? Yes…. Maksoe!”

Chu’s wife called the youngest child inside.

“Go and tell your father…”

“Huh? Father!”

However, before the wife could finish speaking, Maksoe called his father with a happy face.

“Huh?”

Chu came running breathlessly over the low wattle fence.

As soon as Chu saw Hyang, he immediately prostrated himself and shouted.

“The lowly Chu greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

Hyang looked surprised.

“How did you know I was coming?”

“The neighbors told me…”

“Is that so? Get up.”

“Yes.”

Chu, getting up clumsily, looked at Hyang cautiously. Hyang smiled slightly and spoke.

“Are you going to keep me standing outside?”

“Yes? Ah! This way!”

Chu tried to lead Hyang to the main room, but Hyang shook his head and moved to the platform in the yard.

“It’s still hot, so let’s talk here.”

“Yes? Yes.”

As Hyang sat on the platform, Chu knelt on the ground next to it.

Seeing this, Hyang pointed to the empty space on the platform.

“Come up here.”

“Oh my! How can I do that!”

Hyang smiled.

“Haha! I came to find you today not as the Crown Prince, but as a guest who has something to ask you, so come up here.”

“It’s not right.”

As Chu continued to refuse, Hyang made a stern expression.

“Then, that’s an order.”

At that, Chu quickly climbed onto the platform and knelt down.

“Teacher Ahn, come and sit here too.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Once the situation was settled, Hyang got to the point.

“I heard you said you wouldn’t send your children to Samin School?”

At Hyang’s words, Chu immediately slammed his head on the platform floor.

“I will send them right away! I will send them right away!”

“Oh, I’m not trying to blame you. Of course, sending the children is something you should do.”

Chu, raising his head, sat kneeling obediently.

“First, sit comfortably.”

“This is comfortable!”

Hyang, making a helpless face at Chu’s rigid kneeling posture, continued.

“But I’m curious about what you were thinking. To be honest, my father was very disappointed. He worked hard to prepare this for the people, but the people said they didn’t want it.”

Hyang spoke casually, but Chu and Ahn Sukhee were listening intently. They immediately turned pale and slammed their heads on the platform floor.

“I have committed a crime worthy of death!”

“I am sorry! Our teachers’ abilities are poor, and we have caused His Majesty the King to worry!”

“I’ll say it again, I didn’t come to blame you, so don’t worry and sit comfortably. Please.”

At Hyang’s order, the two straightened their posture, but they were sweating with pale faces.

“Yes. What was the reason? There was something written in the memorial, but I want to hear it in more detail.”

“That’s…. That’s….”

Hyang, seeing Chu unable to answer, glanced at the sky and ordered the eunuch.

“Is it already evening? I’m hungry. Go and buy some snacks and alcohol.”

“I will tell the Dongheon to prepare it right away.”

“To burden people who are already overwhelmed by our arrival? I saw a fried chicken (鷄炸) [Korean-style fried chicken] place on the way. Buy a few fried chickens and some alcohol.”

“Are you talking about alcohol?”

“Is there a place next to a fried chicken place that doesn’t have a brewery?”

“Would they sell soju [Korean distilled liquor] in a place like this?”

“Makgeolli [Korean rice wine] is fine too. Buy a jug of makgeolli.”

“Ah, yes….”

“Buy enough for you to eat too.”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s order, the eunuch selected a few soldiers and disappeared.

Hyang smiled at Chu.

“It seems like the story will be long, so let’s talk while having a drink.”

As this was the situation, Hyang, who sent Ahn Sukhee away, set up a simple table with alcohol on the platform after the eunuch bought fried chicken and makgeolli. Hyang and Chu sat facing each other across the table with well-fried chicken and pickled cucumbers made by Chu’s wife.

“Well…. Now that it’s just us men, let’s drink and talk openly.”

As this was the situation, Hyang, who sent Ahn Sukhee away, filled Chu’s and his own bowls with makgeolli using a gourd dipper.

“Then let’s drink.”

“Yes, yes!”

At the same time as the words, the two raised their bowls.

“Kya! Heok!”

Chu, who emptied the makgeolli in one go, exclaimed without realizing it and then flinched. Hyang smiled and refilled his glass.

“Indeed! You drink so refreshingly!”

In this way, the first civil administration inspection in Joseon history was held, with the Crown Prince and a commoner sharing a drink.