Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 392

392. Small Changes (4)

The past, which had begun in such a way, progressed smoothly.

The supervisors, having torn open the sealed envelopes, began distributing the test papers and answer sheets.

A peculiar sight occurred during this process, as the supervisors distributed the test papers and answer sheets along the rows.

This was also Hyang’s trick.

* * *

“To prevent any possible cheating…”

Following Hyang’s suggestion, the test papers were divided into two types, A and B. And here, Hyang’s trickery was fiercely activated.

Although there were two types, A and B, they both had the same questions and the same answers. However, the order of the questions was different, and the position of the correct answers was also different.

For example, if question 1 on test paper A was question 4 on test paper B, and the correct answer to question 1 on test paper A was number 2, then the correct answer to question 4 on test paper B was number 4.

In addition, the seating arrangement in the examination hall had narrow intervals between the front and back, but the intervals between the left and right were maximized.

* * *

The first examination, which began in this way, ended after about two *shijin* [approximately four hours].

Ding~.

“Everyone, stop! Submit your answer sheets!”

“Wait! Just a moment! Please give us a little more time!”

Some examinees pleaded for a little more time, but the supervisors showed no mercy and collected the answer sheets.

“This can’t be!”

“People should have some flexibility!”

Those who had to submit their answer sheets despite their pleas gathered in one place and expressed their frustration.

“This won’t do! Let’s protest to the Inspector General!”

“That’s right!”

The examinees, having gathered their resolve, immediately ran to the Inspector General and raised their voices.

The Inspector General, with a nonchalant expression, asked the protesting examinees.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“We could have written all the answers if we had been given a little more time, but we couldn’t, so please allow us to take the re-examination! With plenty of time, of course!”

“Hmm….”

The Inspector General, as if dumbfounded by the examinees’ protest, let out a short sigh and answered firmly.

“Impossible.”

“Sir!”

“The civil service examination is also official business! How can I use those who cannot properly perform their duties within the given time as officials! There is no position for incompetent people who need two days to do what other officials can do in one day!”

“Sir!”

“It may only be a day later for people like you, but for someone, it could be a day that determines life or death! Get out of here immediately!”

At the Inspector General’s stern rebuke, the examinees had to retreat with dismayed faces.

While the examinees and the Inspector General were arguing outside, the supervisors were matching the collected answer sheets with the correct answers.

The process by which they matched the correct answers was also very peculiar, and this was also Hyang’s trick.

* * *

“No matter how objective, no, multiple-choice it is, matching them one by one will take time and increase errors….”

Hyang, looking for a useful method, searched his memories from when he lived as Jin-ho in the 21st century.

It wasn’t just the military where all kinds of people gathered, but also houses with many siblings. During holidays, such houses were crowded with siblings and their families, and there were plenty of experiences from all fields.

This was also the case for Hyang, or rather, Jin-ho’s family. And among the relatives he met in that way, there was a retired teacher, and his anecdotes provided a lot of fun.

“These days, OMR [Optical Mark Recognition] is standard even in regular schools, but before the 1988 Olympics, unless it was a national mock exam, we checked the answers manually. What did we do then….”

Hyang, recalling the method the relative had told him, applied it immediately.

First, he glued the papers that were about to be discarded in layers with glue. Then, after attaching the answer sheets and adjusting the size, he punched holes in the number *kan* [spaces] corresponding to the correct answers.

By overlapping this paper frame with the answer sheets submitted by the examinees, the correctness could be immediately confirmed.

* * *

In this way, the results of the first examination were mostly known by the next morning.

The examinees who had taken the exam the day before paced anxiously in front of the government office bulletin board.

As time passed and it became noon (*午正*), an official came out and began posting papers on the bulletin board.

“The list of successful candidates!”

Those who had taken the civil service examination clung to the bulletin board and compared their application numbers with the numbers posted on the bulletin board.

It was a moment of joy and sorrow.

Those who passed the first round met the supervisors again and received their examination numbers for the second examination. Of course, they had to pay another 80 *won* for the revenue stamp.

“The second examination is in five days, so don’t be late!”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind!”

* * *

Five days later, the second examination was held.

Generally, about 70% of the total applicants passed the first round. And about half of them were eliminated again in the second round.

In this way, those who passed the first and second rounds were about 35% to 40% of the total examinees.

“It seems that the number of successful candidates will increase a bit more this year….”

“Is it because the results of the first round were good?”

Even while having this conversation, the supervisors remained constantly tense.

The second examination was an essay. It was an examination where the subjectivity of the examinees and supervisors clashed, and it was the examination where the most disputes arose.

Therefore, when the second examination began, officials of at least rank *Jong* 4 or higher from the Hanseong court were additionally dispatched to determine the outcome through a three-person agreement system.

* * *

The eventful civil service examination ended, and all the successful candidates gathered in Hanseong.

In the meantime, a new government office building had been built in Hanseong, and it was a training institute.

The building was created because it was not good to use the palace for the residential exam, one of the teacher employment exam processes – a process of housing teacher candidates and identifying and filtering their personality and abilities. However, after its completion, it was one of the buildings that was used in many useful ways.

* * *

The successful candidates who gathered at the training institute in Hanseong were given official robes and hats – in the case of female successful candidates, a *garima* [a type of Korean traditional headgear] with a gold stripe on a blue cloth – was provided. The successful candidates, dressed as officials, had to pass the ‘Demon’s Third Examination.’

The training course involved receiving practical training while living in the dormitory and being in charge of basic practical work in government offices.

And supervisors and *담당* [in-charge] staff were watching all the processes with hawk eyes.

Because they passed the civil service examination, their official positions were guaranteed. However, it was this training course that determined whether they would continue to rise through the ranks or retire at the rank of *Jeong* 8 or *Jong* 7.

Therefore, it was called the ‘Demon’s Third Examination.’

* * *

After about a month, the career paths of the applicants began to be decided.

Those who had excellent scores in the first and second examinations and also received good scores in practical skills – especially *sanhak* [mathematical studies] – were mostly dragged to the General Affairs Department and the Ministry of Finance.

And those who were selected in that way were the object of envy.

No matter what anyone said, the most powerful departments in the current court were General Affairs and Finance. Of course, the officials already working in those departments cursed every time they heard such things.

“Damn it! We’re just pretty but useless!”

“What’s good about coming here? Only that you can eat all the tonic medicine you want!”

As an aside, the Joseon Dynasty’s medicinal herb industry developed dramatically at the time of Gyeongjang, and later became the cornerstone of the bio-medical industry.

* * *

And the remaining people had their departments to work in determined based on their identified aptitudes and practical skills.

The next step after the department was decided was the determination of the place of assignment.

“Those who wish to apply to the Hamgil-do, Daeseol-do, and Eonwolbando areas, please come forward.”

At the words of the Director of the General Affairs Department, who was in charge of the assignment process, the successful candidates cautiously looked to the left and right. At the sight, the Director of the General Affairs Department continued.

“As you already know, there are additional points for those who apply to the area.”

However, no one came forward easily.

The additional points were tempting. However, unlike Hamgil-do, which was somewhat stable, Daeseol-do and Eonwolbando were still risky.

In addition, if they went out immediately, they might hear the *뒷말* [gossip] that they were ‘guys who were blinded by additional points.’

“No one? Then, arbitrary designation….”

“I will go!”

As the Director of the General Affairs Department was about to move on to the next step, one of the female successful candidates *벌떡* [suddenly] stood up from her seat. Following her, several men and women stood up from their seats and came forward.

The Director of the General Affairs Department gestured as he moved his steps.

“Follow me.”

* * *

The Director of the General Affairs Department, who had moved to the next office, asked the applicants, especially the women.

“Hamgil-do is one thing, but Daeseol-do and Eonwolbando are dangerous places. It will be difficult for a woman’s body, so how about withdrawing now?”

“I have *출사* [entered public service] with the determination of *위국헌신* [dedicating my body and mind to the country], so what is the problem with physical hardship?”

“That’s right!”

At the answer of the female successful candidates, the Director of the General Affairs Department stepped forward first and explained the situation to the female applicant who had answered first.

“To be honest, we can solve the problem of food, clothing, and shelter, but there is still no room to make separate preparations for your safety.”

At the words of the Director of the General Affairs Department, who was worried about the safety of the female successful candidates, the female successful candidate answered firmly.

“I know that officials going to *외방* [rural areas] must learn *마술* [martial arts] and *총통* [a type of cannon] shooting skills. I am lacking in *마술* and do not know how to use *총통*, but if I learn, I am confident that I will do better than anyone else, and I also know some *궁술* [archery], so I am confident that I can protect myself.”

“Hmm…. Do others think the same?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

After confirming the spirit of the other successful candidates, especially the married women, the Director of the General Affairs Department looked at the record of the female applicant who had moved first.

‘Ahn Mun-hye…. Her grades are *차상* [second best], but her adaptability and practical skills are *최상* [best]. She has already been assigned to the General Affairs Department…. If she survives safely in *외방*, I will look forward to the future….’

The Director of the General Affairs Department, who had marked it slightly in his head, stood up from his seat.

“Follow me.”

The place that was moved once again had a large disc hanging on the pillar. And the disc was divided into *칸* [sections] of various sizes, and the divided *칸* [sections] had the names of *외방* [rural areas] such as ‘Hamgil-do’, ‘Daeseol-do’, ‘Dongbinghang’, and ‘Eonwolbando’ written on them.

“What is this?”

At Ahn Mun-hye’s question, the Director of the General Affairs Department answered calmly.

“It is for you to choose the area where you will be assigned with your own hands. We call it *뺑뺑이* [a lottery system].”

“*뺑뺑이* [a lottery system]?”

“It is the fairest and most impartial method without any external pressure.”

* * *

In this way, the *외방* [rural areas] appointees were decided through *뺑뺑이* [a lottery system].

“We’ll have to pick the vacancies from outside. Check and execute.”

“Yes.”

As the vacancies for those who would be assigned to *외방* [rural areas] were added, the sections of the *뺑뺑이* [lottery system] on the outside were readjusted.

There were a total of eight *뺑뺑이* [lottery systems], which were the eight provinces of Joseon. The applicants stood in eight rows according to their province of origin.

“As you can see, your province of origin is missing from these *뺑뺑이* [lottery systems] here. It’s because we’re applying the *상피제* [a system to avoid conflicts of interest by preventing officials from working in their home province].”

“Ah….”

The successful candidates in front of the *뺑뺑이* [lottery system] nodded at the official’s explanation.

“Then good luck. Turn it!”

At the official’s command, the successful candidate vigorously turned the disc.

‘Please Hanseong! Please Hanseong! Land on Hanseong!’

* * *

Note 1) *Garima* (加里亇)

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