Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 365

Hearing Lee Maeng-gyun’s reaction, Heo Jo interjected.

“Isn’t it inevitable to use an independent script? That means the spirit becomes independent. In other words, it’s like breaking free from mental shackles. If that happens, one can view the relationship between oneself and others more objectively.”

Following Heo Jo’s words, Maeng Sa-seong continued.

“Looking at it so objectively, one can reverse the relationship at any time. And that reminds me…”

Maeng Sa-seong paused and looked at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister, what is the current military strength of our Joseon?”

“Military strength… Wouldn’t the answer vary depending on the objective?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Maeng Sa-seong paused to organize his thoughts before speaking.

“Specifically, in the case of advancing towards Beijing, and in the case of blocking an advance from Beijing.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, the faces of the ministers around him turned serious. Maeng Sa-seong was essentially asking if it was possible to attack the Ming Dynasty, their suzerain [a state or country that controls another state or country] state.

The ministers swallowed hard and waited for Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

After a moment of thought, Jo Mal-saeng gave his answer.

“In both cases, the one who initiates the offensive is destined to lose.”

“Why?”

“There are many reasons, but if I were to name the most important one, it would be supply.”

When Jo Mal-saeng mentioned supply, the ministers nodded slightly. Seeing this, Jo Mal-saeng elaborated.

“The problem is that whether we go to Beijing or they come to Joseon, we have to go through Liaodong. The supply line will naturally lengthen, and cutting off that supply line is the most effective tactic. Everyone in both Joseon and Ming knows this. Naturally, the troops will be dispersed, and the attacking force will be further reduced.”

“What if we requisition supplies on-site?”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s point, Jo Mal-saeng shook his head.

“If they see any signs of on-site requisition, they will immediately employ a scorched-earth tactic [destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy when withdrawing from an area].”

Kim Jeom interjected at Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

“What if we only take food and use the Ming army’s gunpowder?”

“The Ming army’s gunpowder not only has weak explosive power but also severely corrodes rifles and cannons. Of course, the gunpowder used by our Joseon army also corrodes firearms and cannons, but the Ming’s is worse.”

“How do you know that?”

“If you just give them money, the Ming merchants will find it for you. Thanks to that, we were able to experiment sufficiently in Area 51.”

Jo Mal-saeng, who had been kindly explaining to the ministers’ questions, suddenly turned fierce and asked back.

“Anyway… How did we end up here while discussing the Hunminjeongeum [the original name of the Korean alphabet] issue? And why are you acting like people who are eager to fight the Ming?”

Lee Jik explained the reason for Jo Mal-saeng’s question.

“It’s because of what Minister Heo said earlier. Even if we just talk about it, if we even become independent in terms of script, the relationship with Ming will definitely change from what it used to be.”

Jo Mal-saeng sighed at Lee Jik’s words.

“Hoo… Let’s talk about that when the time comes. Either way, we are continuing to expand our military strength, and we are still maintaining friendly relations with Ming. The young ones in the army and navy are already causing headaches, so there’s no need for you ministers to fan the flames, is there?”

“Huh? Are the young military officers causing some trouble?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, the ministers’ faces turned serious. They were worried that some might be dreaming of a military regime like the one in Goryeo.

At the ministers’ questions, Jo Mal-saeng sighed again and continued.

“Hoo… They’re clamoring to remove the ‘守’ (su, defend) from 육수군(陸守軍, Yuksugun, Army garrison). They say the navy is just the navy, so why is the army called 육수군? If that’s the case, they’re making a fuss that the navy should also be renamed 해방군(海防軍, Haebanggun, Coast Guard).”

“Oh dear… Tsk!”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, the ministers all clicked their tongues. The removal of ‘守’ from 육수군 meant that Joseon’s strategy could shift from defense-oriented to offense-oriented.

If that happened, many troublesome things could occur.

In the end, Lee Jik had no choice but to ask Jo Mal-saeng.

“Tell the young fellows to restrain themselves.”

“I already am. So, you ministers, don’t say strange things.”

“Understood.”

* * *

After settling the situation, Lee Jik looked back at the ministers.

“We digressed for a moment, but let’s come to a conclusion first. We said we would make a decision after seeing the report submitted by Grand Prince Jinpyeong, but it would be better to conclude by accepting the use of Hunminjeongeum, right?”

At Lee Jik’s question, the ministers all nodded.

“His Majesty strongly desires it, and it seems useful in its own way, so wouldn’t it be good to accept it?”

At Kim Jeom’s assessment, the ministers nodded. Amidst this, Lee Maeng-gyun muttered to himself.

“If Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the others were still here like before, there would have been a huge uproar…”

“Shh! Why are you bringing up that old man again!”

Lee Maeng-gyun closed his mouth with an ‘oops’ expression at Maeng Sa-seong’s rebuke.

Heo Jo, who was watching the scene, stroked his beard and muttered.

“Now that I think about it, isn’t it a bit strange?”

“What is it?”

“When those stubborn people from Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies, a royal research institute] submitted their resignations. Don’t you get the feeling that His Majesty was more angry than necessary and handled the matter excessively?”

“Huh? Now that you mention it…”

At Heo Jo’s point, the ministers all had the same question.

* * *

Speaking of now, King Sejong’s response to the collective resignation of the Jiphyeonjeon scholars was quite radical.

If it were the usual Sejong, who cherished talent, he would have tried to persuade them further, or he would have accepted their resignations first and then called them back shortly after. However, Sejong approved all of their petitions and even prohibited their grandchildren and great-grandchildren from submitting petitions or entering government service.

Not only that, but he also held Choe Man-ri, the Deputy Head of Jiphyeonjeon, who was known for his integrity and outstanding talent, responsible and dismissed him from his position.

* * *

“Certainly, at the time, I only thought that those stubborn people had provoked His Majesty’s wrath, but thinking about it now, it was excessive.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong turned to Heo Jo.

“What are your thoughts, Minister?”

“It may be too far-fetched to say, but I wonder if His Majesty cleared them out in advance, just in case.”

“Huh? Eh~.”

“Eh, isn’t that going a bit too far?”

Everyone waved their hands and denied Heo Jo’s words, but they all had similar thoughts in their heads.

‘It’s possible with His Majesty and the Crown Prince!’

‘It’s possible with those two!’

That’s what they were thinking in their heads. However, the ministers did not utter it. No, they couldn’t.

The moment they brought up that story, they felt like they couldn’t regard Sejong and Hyang as the same people as themselves.

* * *

While the ministers were whispering in the State Council, Sejong, who had kept the historians and scribes away, was talking with Hyang in Gangnyeongjeon [the King’s residence].

“Pushing out those stubborn people from Jiphyeonjeon like that seems like it will be a great help.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang asked with a questioning look.

“Was it a coincidence?”

“It’s a coincidence. A coincidence…”

Sejong, who was emphasizing the coincidence, burst out.

“Crown Prince! What do you take your father for?”

“You planned it in advance to smoothly proceed with this matter…”

“You son of a b*tch, get out!”

* * *

Three days later, the report written by Jinpyeong was submitted. With Jinpyeong standing on one side with a nervous face, Sejong and the ministers read the report and then shared their opinions.

“What do you think of the report written in Hunminjeongeum?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Jik stepped forward and answered.

“Although it takes time because I am not yet familiar with reading it, I think it is useful because I can understand its meaning as soon as I read it.”

“Then, do you endorse promulgating it so that all the people can use it?”

“I will follow Your Majesty’s will.”

Sejong’s voice hardened at Lee Jik’s answer.

“I am asking if you endorse it, not if you will follow it.”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Jik eventually waved the white flag.

“I endorse it.”

As Lee Jik waved the white flag, Sejong looked at the other ministers.

“What do you think? Do you endorse it?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers had no choice but to give the same answer as Lee Jik.

“I endorse it.”

Anyway, as the ministers agreed, Sejong spoke about the future plans.

“Educating the teachers of Saminhakdang [private schools] and Junghakdang [government-established schools], and organizing and creating educational books to be used in the schools will take time. Therefore, I would like to start formally promulgating it to educational institutions and informing the people from the semester starting next year. What do you think?”

“It seems appropriate.”

“Good. However, let’s use it in the court, research institute, and Jiphyeonjeon from next month to identify and fix any problems.”

The ministers’ faces turned pale at Sejong’s words.

“But there are many things going on right now.”

“So, didn’t we adjust it last time? There’s a little more leeway, so it won’t be too difficult.”

The ministers answered with tears in their eyes at Sejong’s words.

“I will obey the order.”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following.

-Therefore, when the King asked, all the officials, high and low, endorsed it.

The historian says.

The meaning of His Majesty creating the script is truly beautiful, but the way he executes it is using expediency, which is not beautiful.

If the meaning is beautiful but the execution is not beautiful, it can often lead to tyranny.

I have been ordered to learn the newly created script, so it seems I won’t be able to go home for the time being.

Life as an official is really hard.

* * *

Although the rough schedule was set, Sejong could not abandon his greed.

“What would be good to do to ensure that Hunminjeongeum quickly takes root among the people?”

“Well… How about using Hunminjeongeum for all official documents first?”

“Wouldn’t it be slow to rely only on official documents?”

“….”

At Sejong’s point, the ministers closed their mouths and pondered other methods.

Seeing this, Hyang stepped forward.

“Father, how about using 패설(稗說, paesol, short stories circulating among the common people)?”

Sejong made a slightly troubled expression at Hyang’s suggestion.

“There are many problems with 패설 because the writing is frivolous and the content is often lewd, wouldn’t there be a problem?”

“Although the writing is frivolous, it is easy to read, so it is easy for the people to learn Hunminjeongeum. And if the content is lewd, we can just write 패설 with correct content, can’t we? In short, it is to edify [instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually] the people by borrowing the form of 패설.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who was stroking his beard and thinking at Hyang’s suggestion, looked at Jo Gye-saeng.

“What does the Minister of Education think?”

Jo Gye-saeng, who had been pondering for a moment at Sejong’s question, gave the most orthodox answer.

“It would be right to think about it a little more, but thinking about it briefly, it doesn’t seem bad. 패설 is short in length, so the people are less burdened to read it, and although there are many lewd contents, there are also those that are instructive, so it would be good to take good examples and compile them into books and distribute them.”

“That sounds good. Please think about it a little more and submit it as a report.”

“I will obey the order.”

Jo Gye-saeng, who had unexpectedly taken on an additional workload, replied in a tearful voice.

After that, Sejong shared his opinions on various agendas with the ministers.

“For the time being, we will experience a situation where there is a lot of work but few results due to a lack of people and learning to use the new script. However, we must not be negligent because we have reached this stagnation, but use this as an opportunity to carefully examine and repair the lacking and problematic parts.”

At Sejong’s request, the ministers bowed their heads in unison and answered.

“We will engrave it in our hearts!”