Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 357

357. The Problem is People. In Many Ways. (3)

After listening to Heo Jo’s explanation and doing some quick calculations, Lee Maeng-gyun stepped forward to ask a question.

“Hmm… Minister Heo, aren’t the numbers a bit off? Out of 6.8 million, 1.8 million are under the age of seven… People aren’t livestock, you know? Even cows can’t produce offspring in just two years. If you subtract 1.8 million from 6.8 million, you get 5 million, and even if all 5 million are paired up… having children isn’t as simple as just wanting them.”

Lee Maeng-gyun was subtly questioning whether there was an error, and Heo Jo immediately responded.

“Why are you calculating based on 5 million? You need to calculate properly. Slaves can also have children, and do you think Jurchens give birth to foals instead of people?”

“…”

Lee Maeng-gyun fell silent at Heo Jo’s pointed remark. Seeing this, Heo Jo continued.

“Although there’s been a lot of unfortunate history in between, the Jurchens have lived like brothers since the ancient Three Han era [ancient Korean kingdoms]. They have decided to return and live as Joseon people, so shouldn’t we count them as Joseon people?”

Sejong made a decision based on Heo Jo’s words.

“The Minister of General Affairs is right. They have come into our Joseon and will live as our people, so how can we discriminate against them? We must ensure they can live comfortably and allow them to live according to their natural talents.”

The officials bowed their heads in unison at Sejong’s decision and replied.

“Your Majesty is so virtuous, our Joseon’s future is truly bright!”

The historian who recorded all of this added a note later.

-…And so, when the King spoke, all the high and low officials were impressed and praised the King’s virtue.

The historian says:

It has been almost 10 years since the Jurchens returned, and the number of slaves is gradually decreasing.

I believe that in the future, those who remain as slaves will only be those implicated in treason and subject to a form of punishment.

Just as the saying goes, ‘There is no person below a person, and no person above a person,’ it is extremely unfair to despise slaves, as they are also people.

More importantly, there is a shortage of people! We are already lamenting the lack of manpower, so is this the time to nitpick about origins?

Those who make such carefree remarks should all be dragged to the Record Office… (omitted).

* * *

The meeting that followed continued with a discussion on solutions to the various problems caused by the lack of talent.

The first to speak was, of course, the Minister of General Affairs, Heo Jo.

“First, we must prioritize the policies and projects that are currently underway or will be newly launched.”

“Are you referring to the ‘selection and concentration’ that the Crown Prince often mentions?”

“That is correct.”

Sejong stroked his beard and pondered before making a decision.

“Each and every policy and project is incomparably important, but we have no choice given the circumstances. Then, let’s proceed in that direction and deliberate.”

Following Sejong’s decision, the officials began a fierce debate over the policies and projects they had been working on and those they would be starting in the future.

Kim Jeom was particularly active in this debate.

“We must pay special attention to policies related to economics! If anything goes wrong, it will cause major problems for the people’s livelihoods and the country’s finances! In particular, do not even think about touching anything related to the Entertainment Industry Control Office! Keep in mind that there are already many people who are ruining their families by gambling!”

Jo Gye-saeng grumbled at Kim Jeom’s words.

“It’s not the people’s problems that matter, but the wealth you can extract from them.”

“So what? Do you think the salary you receive falls from the sky?”

Jo Gye-saeng immediately shut his mouth at Kim Jeom’s rebuke. However, inwardly, he was showering Kim Jeom with a torrent of curses.

‘How can a person be so self-centered!’

‘That person has changed!’

‘Why did that bastard’s parents have to give birth to such a son….’

‘This is why those from the Eumseo system [privilege-based appointment system] are no good!’

Sejong strictly forbade personal attacks, so the officials couldn’t say anything outwardly, but inwardly, they started by asking about Kim Jeom’s parents’ well-being and hurled all sorts of insults at him.

* * *

The process of adjusting the priority of various policies and coordinating personnel assignments continued for almost half a month.

Most of the policies that had been implemented so far were born out of strong necessity. And as the policies progressed, they were showing tangible results, so it was inevitable that they would experience growing pains.

Therefore, the debates were fierce, and for the first time in a long time, officials even dared to challenge Sejong.

Thanks to this, the historians were recording at least three drafts a day, and several kettles of tea had to be prepared for the officials, whose throats were parched in between.

Amid such fierce debates, the outlines gradually began to take shape.

“First, let’s proceed with the General Affairs Department maintaining its current pace. And the Ministry of Finance and Economy should create a candidate pool of projects that the court is undertaking or newly implementing that can be safely transferred to the private sector.”

“We shall obey your command.”

Listening to Kim Jeom and Heo Jo’s responses, Sejong moved on to the next agenda item.

“The problem is the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Defense. They continue to need more and more personnel, so have you considered ways to supply these personnel?”

As the birth rate increased, more and more children were entering the Samin Schools [local schools for commoners]. As a result, there was an additional demand for teachers to teach them.

Jo Gye-saeng immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“First, we will temporarily recruit retired officials with high reputations, and we will add women with great knowledge and virtue as teachers.”

“There must be many unruly children among those who are at the age of learning. Will women be able to control those children?”

“That’s why I thought of this: if there are children who are so unruly that they are difficult to control, we will officially summon their parents to the school.”

Jo Gye-saeng’s answer made Sejong mutter to himself.

“If we’re not careful, there will be wailing.”

The officials added words in their minds to Sejong’s muttering.

‘Will there only be wailing? If we’re not careful, there will be a bloodbath.’

‘Officially’ summoning them was a warning that they would spread the rumors throughout the neighborhood. In Joseon at the time, this was a more certain and harsh punishment of honor than simply wielding a whip.

Hwang, who was attending the meeting because he was worried that the sparks might fly to Area 51 [a secret research facility, likely a modern anachronism] and the research institute, asked Jo Gye-saeng a question.

“However, if teachers and parents meet like that, there may be scandals. Is there a solution?”

‘Even in the 21st century, the rumors that circulated when teachers and parents met were about bribes, right?’

Recalling his memories of the 21st century, Hwang asked the question, and Jo Gye-saeng immediately answered.

“Yes. Frankly, there’s no guarantee that such a thing won’t happen, so I’ve been thinking about it. First, before summoning the parents, at least four teachers will hold an official discussion to determine whether it is appropriate and leave a record. After that, at least three teachers will be present when the parents are summoned, and all processes will be recorded and a report will be submitted.”

“I see. That’s all.”

Jo Gye-saeng nodded and stepped back at Jo Gye-saeng’s answer.

‘Indeed, the nation of records, Joseon!’

* * *

“The Ministry of Education’s opinion seems good. Has the Ministry of National Defense considered any measures?”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“As a result of the Ministry of National Defense’s officials and the Joint Chiefs of Staff gathering their heads, the first alternative is to reduce the proportion of bayonet soldiers and increase the proportion of riflemen and artillerymen.

The second alternative is to select talented people from among the Jurchens who have returned and bring them into the military.”

“Are you suggesting increasing the number of cavalry?”

Jo Mal-saeng added to Sejong’s question.

“No, it’s the navy.”

Lee Maeng-gyun interjected at Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

“Do you think the Jurchens know how to sail? It’s good to fill the manpower, but won’t the training process consume a lot of time and money?”

The officials nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s question. Instead of Jo Mal-saeng, Maeng Sa-seong stepped forward to answer Lee Maeng-gyun’s question.

“According to the records of the previous dynasty, there are many records of Jurchens engaging in piracy.”

“Are you saying the Jurchens engaged in piracy?”

Jo Mal-saeng added to Lee Maeng-gyun’s reaction, who couldn’t believe it.

“There are records that even the Wokou [Japanese pirates], who are famous for being pirates, were terrified.”

* * *

From the 11th century to the first half of the 12th century, records of Jurchens sailing and plundering the east coast of the Korean Peninsula were recorded in the History of Goryeo and the Abridged History of Goryeo.

At this time, Jurchens who started from Hamheung, which was Jurchen territory, advanced to Gyeongju and plundered.(Note 1)

The attacks of these Jurchen pirates expanded to Japan.

In the Heian period [Japanese historical period], Jurchen pirates invaded and plundered Iki, Tsushima, and Chikuzen.

In Japan, this was called the ‘Toi invasion’ or the ‘Toi raid’.

At the time, there were records that Jurchen pirates loaded horses onto ships, landed, and immediately turned into cavalry, using tactics to quickly raid the inland areas and retreat.(Note 2)

* * *

“Jurchens… That’s good. Give it a try.”

“We shall obey your command! We will do our best!”

As soon as Sejong’s decision was made, Jo Mal-saeng immediately bowed his head and answered.

Heo Jo, who was watching the scene from the side, expressed his opinion to Sejong.

“Your Majesty, how about mobilizing the Japanese for administrative work?”

“Mobilizing the Japanese for administrative work?”

“Yes.”

Sejong pondered for a moment at Heo Jo’s words and asked Heo Jo again.

“Are you suggesting using the Japanese that Daenei [Ōuchi clan] sent?”

“That is correct.”

* * *

Ōuchi, who had been watching Joseon’s revival, sent an envoy to Joseon.

-We would like to create educational institutions like the Samin Schools in Ōuchi’s territory, so please send teachers.

After discussing the request brought by the envoy, Sejong and the officials conveyed the following answer to Ōuchi.

-Since we have diplomatic relations with the shogunate, we cannot dispatch teachers without the shogunate’s permission. However, we are willing to accept and educate up to 100 people who have learned at least the Elementary Learning [Confucian primer] and have learned Korean.

After that, envoys traveled busily between Ōuchi and Joseon for coordination. The following was decided as a result of the coordination.

-Must know at least the Thousand Character Classic [basic Chinese primer]. It would be even better if they have learned up to the Elementary Learning.

-Those who can speak Korean. This is a must.

-The maximum number of people that can be taught at one time does not exceed 120.

* * *

The Japanese that Heo Jo mentioned were the 120 Ōuchi Japanese who were studying in Hanseong [Joseon capital].

At Heo Jo’s suggestion, Sejong immediately asked about their achievements.

“Are they useful?”

“In about 2-3 years, they will be able to handle lower-level tasks.”

“Hmm….”

Sejong stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before turning to Lee Maeng-gyun.

“It’s tempting, but won’t there be problems with Daenei?”

Lee Maeng-gyun immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“If we bring them in and use them unconditionally and indefinitely, there will be problems, but if we agree on a reasonable period, about 5 years, it should be fine. If we say, ‘We will teach them practical skills and send them back,’ Daenei will not dislike it.”

“Hmm….”

Sejong pondered for a moment before making a decision.

“Send a messenger to Daenei.”

“We shall obey your command!”

* * *

Note 1) http://www.atlasnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=409

Note 2) https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/도이의 입구