Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 522

522. Rolling, Rolling… (3)

Through this process, the Wan-Du-Seul brothers received their higher education at the Military Academy.

This differed significantly from the higher education Hyang had received through the Crown Prince’s Lecture Hall.

* * *

According to the system established by Jeong Do-jeon, a key figure in the early Joseon Dynasty, the Crown Prince’s education was exclusively managed by officials from the Crown Prince’s Lecture Hall.

The aim was to ensure that even a future monarch lacking inherent qualities could attain above-average governing abilities through rigorous education.

Ideally, this would prevent the rise of a ‘dark sovereign’ [an incompetent or malevolent ruler], historically a common starting point for national decline.

– The goal was a system where even if the monarch lacked exceptional qualities, they would possess at least average abilities, and ministers thoroughly versed in Neo-Confucianism would cooperate effectively, even on a small scale.

This was the ideal system envisioned by the founders of Joseon.

However, ideals often clash with reality. While they dreamed of harmony between royal and ministerial authority, numerous disputes arose between the king and his ministers over control of state affairs. Many, starting with Jeong Do-jeon, ultimately lost their lives.

* * *

However, Sejong and Hyang subtly altered this system.

Instead of entrusting the king’s children to the families of favored retainers [close, trusted officials] at a young age, as was the existing practice, they raised the children within Donggung Palace [the Crown Prince’s residence].

They ensured the children achieved academic proficiency equivalent to Samin Academy and Junghak Academy levels through the Royal Education Institute (講學官) [a dedicated educational institution for the royal family].

Subsequently, higher education was outsourced to the Military Academy, an external institution.

Of course, ministers could have objected to this arrangement, but they didn’t.

The first reason was Sejong’s strong support, backed by his consolidated power. The second was the sheer workload involved.

“I’m already swamped! You want me to take on a side job? Are you insane?”

However, the third reason, never publicly acknowledged, was the most compelling.

“When you educate someone, you often have to be strict. Thinking about the future, that could become a problem.”

They feared potential retaliation if they strictly educated the future ruler. Considering that those responsible for educating Prince Yeonsan before Hyang’s intervention were later targeted by the prince, their concerns were valid.

By having the princes educated at an external higher education institution, they could mitigate such risks. Furthermore, they believed that competition with others would foster a stronger drive for improvement.

“Royal virtue (Royal之道) and virtuous rule (德治) are important, but to truly understand the changing world, one must broaden one’s horizons.”

* * *

After completing four years of classes at the Military Academy, Wan returned to Gyeongbok Palace [the main royal palace in Seoul].

-As the grandson, Wan now needed to gain practical experience.

This was why Wan had returned to Gyeongbok Palace. His half-brothers, Du and Seul, wished to remain at the Military Academy to pursue advanced courses, so they stayed behind.

“But I still feel uneasy.”

Wan, back in his room at Donggung Palace, recalled recent events and frowned.

His unease stemmed from a visit by Grand Prince Pyeongwon a few days before his return.

* * *

“So, you’ve decided to stay at the Military Academy? Will you continue to serve in the military?”

Du and Seul nodded at Grand Prince Pyeongwon’s question.

“Yes, Uncle Pyeongwon. I want to join the navy and sail the wide seas.”

“I want to learn how to annihilate enemies with a single shot and create the best cannons.”

Grand Prince Pyeongwon nodded at their answers.

“Yes. Those are truly great dreams. Do your best.”

As Grand Prince Pyeongwon praised Du and Seul’s decisions, a strange melancholy filled his face.

* * *

Wan, recalling his meeting with Grand Prince Pyeongwon, muttered with regret.

“Even though the studies were tough, it was a fun time…”

Among the Military Academy classmates, the Wan-Du-Seul brothers were the youngest. The age range of the other students was diverse, from 15-year-old boys who had just undergone the coming-of-age ceremony (冠禮, Seonginshik) to young men in their late 20s.

On the first day of admission, the academy directors declared to the students:

“Once you enter the Military Academy, you are all classmates! You must learn together, eat, sleep, and live together! Your performance at the Military Academy is the only thing that determines where you start after graduation!”

The director’s declaration was not mere words. There was no discrimination between the Wan-Du-Seul brothers and the other classmates. Consequently, the Wan-Du-Seul brothers and their classmates competed fiercely.

However, fierce competition wasn’t the only aspect of life among the Military Academy students. On outings granted once every ten days, the Wan-Du-Seul brothers followed their classmates and enjoyed sights and entertainment unavailable within the palace walls.

Except for one thing: the gibang [traditional Korean courtesan houses].

No matter how egalitarian the classmates were, no one dared to take the young boys, who hadn’t even undergone their coming-of-age ceremonies, especially the royal grandson and his brothers, to a gibang.

* * *

The next day, Wan visited Seunghwa Hall and had a private meeting with Hyang.

“You’ve worked hard studying at the Military Academy.”

“Not at all.”

“Yes. Did you enjoy your time at the Military Academy?”

Wan smiled and replied to Hyang’s question.

“The studies were tough, but it was a truly enjoyable time.”

Hyang’s face momentarily clouded over, as memories of the 21st century flashed through his mind. Quickly regaining his composure, Hyang smiled and said,

“Then I’m truly relieved. That’s a good thing.”

“Thank you very much.”

After discussing Wan’s school days, Hyang immediately got to the point.

“Now that you’ve completed the Military Academy, you need to gain practical experience in administration. You need to understand what administration entails to minimize errors when you ascend the throne later.”

“Yes.”

Wan, bowing his head and answering Hyang’s words, muttered inwardly.

‘Where will I be assigned? Could it be the Ministry of Economy and Finance? I’ve heard the Ministry of Economy and Finance has a bad reputation…’

“From now on, you will be responsible for the operation of the Research Institute and Area 51.”

“Hiccup!”

Wan, startled by Hyang’s words, looked at him in disbelief.

“Oh, Father! I am still a child who has not even undergone the coming-of-age ceremony! It’s too much to ask me to take charge of the operation of such important places!”

“Weren’t you first in your administrative studies at the Military Academy?”

“Theory is just theory!”

“That’s why you need practical experience. Start going to the Research Institute and Area 51 five days from now.”

“Yes…”

Seeing Wan’s frustrated appearance as he shouldered an unexpected heavy responsibility, Hyang added,

“Grand Scholar Jeong In-ji of the Research Institute and General Yi Cheon of Area 51 are very talented people. They will be of great help to you.”

“Yes…”

Seeing Wan’s completely dejected face, Hyang exclaimed,

“You son of a b*tch! I’ve been in charge of the Research Institute and Area 51 since I was much younger than you!”

Wan protested inwardly at Hyang’s words.

‘That’s because you created them, Father!’

“Starting tomorrow, until you go to work in five days, review the records of how the Research Institute and Area 51 have been operating. If you examine them properly, you will minimize trial and error in practice.”

“Yes…”

* * *

As Wan returned to his room in Donggung Palace, a mountain of reports flooded into his study.

“Are these all the records from the Research Institute and Area 51?”

The official inspecting the documents immediately answered Wan’s question.

“Yes, they are.”

“That’s a lot.”

“This is the most we could reduce it.”

“Huh…”

Wan was speechless.

However, quickly regaining his composure, Wan immediately ran to Seunghwa Hall.

“That amount is too much to digest in five days! Please extend it to a month!”

“Five days is enough time to read and analyze everything.”

“No one in the world can do that!”

“Your father and I did it?”

“Crap…”

Wan, forcibly suppressing the curse he had learned during his Military Academy days, pleaded once again.

“I will do my best, but it is impossible. If it can’t be a month, please give me twenty days!”

After a long tug-of-war, Wan managed to secure fifteen days.

* * *

“What’s done is done. There’s nothing I can do…”

Wan, accepting reality, sat down and began to examine the documents.

After reading the documents for several days, neglecting food and sleep, Wan shook his head in disbelief.

“Is this really possible with one person’s ability?”

The beginning of the reports he had read so far was almost identical.

– By order of the Crown Prince…

– At the suggestion of the Crown Prince…

– The Crown Prince pointed out the problem…

Finally, Wan sought out Hyang.

“Is this really possible?”

Hyang smiled and replied to Wan’s question.

“Because I enjoyed it.”

Wan shook his head at Hyang’s simple answer.

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’ve always been told I was bright. That’s why I had some confidence, but now I realize there’s always someone better.”

“Your grandfather is even more so.”

“Are you talking about grandfather?”

Hyang nodded and muttered inwardly.

‘I’m using a cheat code, but that old man is completely out of spec!’

Seeing Wan’s frustrated appearance, Hyang comforted him.

“You say there’s always someone better, but that’s not entirely true. In mathematics, you can’t keep up with Yi Sun-ji and Kim Dam of the Research Institute. In crafting things, you can’t keep up with Jang Yeong-sil, who is in Shinji. You can’t even match the level of the other researchers and artisans. The only thing I can confidently say I’m better at is…”

Hyang paused, tapped his head, and continued,

“Imagination and analytical skills. I imagined what they hadn’t, and I could quickly analyze the progress and results of tasks to minimize risks.”

“Ah…”

Wan nodded. Seeing this, Hyang continued with a smile.

“I still remember how much you liked looking at models of all kinds of instruments when you were young. It will be very difficult when you start working, but don’t stop imagining. Who knows? You might create instruments or discover principles that will be remembered in history?”

Wan, imagining the possibilities, smiled brightly and replied,

“I will try my best.”

“Yes, yes…”

Wan, seemingly regaining confidence from Hyang’s advice, asked with a look of sudden realization,

“Ah! I was going to ask you something, Father, but I forgot.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Mukseok. As I was looking through the report, it was written that you initially called it graphite (黑鉛) but soon renamed it Mukseok (墨石). What was the reason for this?”

At Wan’s question, Hyang lowered his head and grumbled inwardly.

‘Ugh! These record-obsessed people! They recorded everything!’

However, Hyang had forgotten that even after deciding on the word Mukseok, he had often used the word graphite, even in front of Sejong.

‘What kind of explanation should I give…’

Hyang, searching for a plausible excuse, said to Wan,

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but I’m not good at naming things. You can tell just by looking at your names, can’t you?”

Hyang, who had struggled to name the Wan-Du-Seul brothers himself, had passed on the naming of the children born after them to others.

“In general, a name should tell you what it is as soon as you hear it. The first thing that came to mind when I saw Mukseok was the word graphite (黑鉛). However, none of the characteristics of Mukseok matched the lead (鉛) character. That’s why I renamed it.”

“Is that so?”

Hyang muttered inwardly at Wan’s slightly tilted head.

‘He’s sharp in unnecessary places!’