Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 612

612. Inauguration, and Abdication (5)

Despite various preceding events, the long-awaited Imperial Proclamation Day and Sejong’s coronation day finally arrived.

A grand altar to Heaven was erected in Jongmyo [a Confucian shrine dedicated to deceased kings and queens of the Joseon dynasty], located east of Gyeongbok Palace.

However, the altar to Heaven built by Joseon was significantly different from that of Ming. It was engraved with the tablets of Hwanin, Hwanung, and Dangun [mythical figures in Korean history], the stellar deities of the Five Stars and Twenty-Eight Mansions [Chinese constellations], and the deities of Wind Master, Rain Master, and Cloud Master.

* * *

The best master carpenter in Joseon was summoned to build the altar to Heaven.

“I will do my best with everything I have!”

Master carpenter Park Gi-ju devoted himself to the construction with all his heart, knowing that he would create a historical building and his name would be remembered as the master carpenter who built it. The court also supplied all the materials and personnel the master carpenter wanted.

With the mobilization of numerous carpenters, stonemasons, and laborers, the altar to Heaven was completed in just one month.

It was a record-breaking feat to complete the large foundation, the altar on top of it, the golden roof covering the altar, the Hwanggungwoo (Imperial Vault of Heaven) [a building for storing spirit tablets], an auxiliary building of the altar to Heaven, and finally the stone gate leading to the altar to Heaven and Hwanggungwoo in just one month.

And all these processes were recorded in documents without exception. The dimensions of the buildings, the methods of joining the structures, the shapes, dimensions, and materials of the necessary parts, as well as the construction techniques, were meticulously recorded, and the list of those who participated in this construction was also recorded without omission.

These records were copied in large quantities and stored in the archives and the historical repositories throughout the country.

All this was done under Hyang’s direction.

‘In the future, there will definitely be guys who will nitpick, claiming the origin is this and that. Proper documentation must be left to shut their mouths!’

Following that decision, all records regarding the construction of the altar to Heaven were copied in large quantities and preserved in various places.

* * *

The combination of the habit of the Confucian scholars, who were addicted to leaving everything in documentary records, and Hyang, who remembered the nonsense of 21st-century China and Japan, made Joseon a ‘country of records.’

If the archives located in Hanseong [old name for Seoul] had a strong character of a ‘database’ with a search function, the historical repositories throughout Joseon were literally backup storage devices.

As Gyeongjang [agricultural land reform] progressed and Shinji [newly claimed territories] was expanded, the number of Joseon’s historical repositories increased from the existing 5 to 7. One was created on Daeseol Island, and a place was designated for the installation of a historical repository in Shinji, and construction was underway.

And as the Liaodong region became Joseon’s land, another one was scheduled to be added.

This was not only for safety.

It was the basis for arguing that ‘Where there is a historical repository, it is the land of Joseon. No, because it is the territory of Joseon, there is a historical repository.’

* * *

The historical repositories did not only store the Veritable Records [official annals of the Joseon Dynasty]. Records of all the events that the Joseon court had performed, such as the records of the altar to Heaven, were stored. In addition, copies of all the historical books that could be secured in Joseon at the time were stored.

Ironically, this was proposed by Hwang Hee before Hyang said anything.

Copying and storing even the historical books kept in private hands was something Hyang had only thought about. The reason why he should have ended with just thinking was not only economic problems but also political problems.

One was because Goryeo [previous Korean dynasty] was involved, and the other was because of the issue of serving the great [referring to Ming China].

In the former case, there was a risk that the founding of Joseon would be downgraded to a usurpation of the throne, and in the latter case, there could be trouble with Ming over Liaodong.

Fortunately, the latter case could be resolved by winning against Ming, but the former case was still an awkward situation.

That’s why Hyang was only thinking about it, but Hwang Hee stepped forward.

When the revision of the Chobeop [legal code] was completed and mass printing began, Hwang Hee suggested to Sejong.

“Looking at the beginning of the Chobeop, to be exact, Article 1, Paragraph 3, Your Majesty has used the remaining historical books as the basis.”

“That’s right.”

“The problem is that many people value these historical books less than the classics. In other words, if we are careless even a little, they can be lost. If that happens, even if future generations want to re-examine the basis of this Chobeop, they will not be able to achieve their purpose, so a countermeasure is needed. Therefore, it seems right to print several copies of these historical books and store them in the archives and historical repositories.”

“Hmm….”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong glanced at Hyang. Hyang had done a lot of work on his behalf, so he was where he was now. Therefore, Sejong handed over the decision-making power to Hyang.

Having received a silent order, Hyang asked Hwang Hee.

“How will you solve the problem of the previous dynasty?”

At Hyang’s question, Hwang Hee answered in a voice that it was nothing.

“What is the problem? If the previous dynasty had gone the right way, how could our Joseon have been created?”

Hyang nodded at Hwang Hee’s words, but he could not make a decision right away. Seeing that, Hwang Hee added.

“This will be of great help to future generations. It is not just about looking at the basis of the Chobeop, but it is a way to prevent those who manipulate history from inside and outside to deceive the people.”

As soon as Hwang Hee finished speaking, Hyang looked at Sejong.

“I think the Prime Minister’s words are very reasonable. I think it is good to carry it out as it is.”

“I think so too.”

In that way, not only the historical books that were the basis of the Chobeop but also the historical books circulating in private houses were collected, organized, printed, and entered into the archives and historical repositories in large quantities.

In particular, even a book was created that recorded which books were collected when and where, and the possibility of backtalk was blocked by returning the original to those who wanted the return of their books.

* * *

As an aside, whenever historical disputes arose in the three Northeast Asian countries in the future, the historians of Korea – although the official name was the Federal Empire of Korea, it was shortened to Korea or the Federation because it was long – would smirk and subdue the opponent.

“So, present the evidence, not just rumors. Artifacts are good, and documents are good too. We have definite records, so let’s compare them. Which historical repository version do you want? There are 15 versions.”

And if they crossed the line there, the government stepped in.

“Do you want to die? Do you want to die? Do you want to die?”

Thanks to this kind of bullying, the word ‘Federation’ became the most used term as the alien government title that played the villain in SF video works of other countries – especially Japan.

In addition, these increased outer historical repositories contributed greatly to nature conservation.

In order to safely preserve the historical books, the establishment of villages or various industrial facilities in the area surrounding the historical repository was prohibited.

The problem was that the amount of books stored in the historical repository was beyond imagination, so an enormous amount of land was needed, and the area of the preservation area was also ridiculously large.

* * *

To see the heavenly ritual performed to heaven for the declaration of the empire, countless people from Hanseong and nearby areas, and those who came up from the provinces by iron horse [likely referring to trains], formed a long line in front of Jongmyo.

“Buy rice cakes~”

“엿! 엿! [Korean taffy]”

Amid the shouts of peddlers selling snacks to these crowds, numerous police officers were sweating to prevent them from crossing the gold rope.

“Hey! Don’t cross the gold rope there!”

“There! Don’t cross the gold rope!”

“I said don’t cross the gold rope!”

“Hey! Rope!”

While it was such a commotion, a loud music sound began to be heard.

“They’re here!”

* * *

Following the Chwita band [Korean traditional military band] playing Daechwita [traditional Korean military music], soldiers of the Naegeumwi [royal guard] guarded the royal carriage carrying Sejong, Hyang, Queen Soheon, the Crown Princess, and the concubines.

The people who saw Sejong in the royal carriage bowed their waists all at once and bowed. According to the original etiquette, they had to prostrate themselves on the floor, but Sejong replaced it with bowing instead of prostrating.

Meanwhile, the envoys who had arrived at the altar to Heaven in advance were looking at this scene with curious eyes.

“The people follow the words very well.”

Mehmet II’s assessment made Enrique and Giovanni nod. Until a little while ago, it was so noisy that their ears hurt, but now it was so quiet that only the sound of music could be heard.

“It’s not fear, but does that mean the people follow well that much?”

“It’s an enviable situation.”

The three people could not hide their envy at the high loyalty of the people.

* * *

The beginning of the ceremony was the firing of ceremonial cannons.

Bang! Pow pow!

As the seven mountain cannons mobilized as ceremonial cannons continued to fire, Enrique asked the interpreter next to him.

“Is there any meaning in firing ceremonial cannons and the number of times they are fired?”

The interpreter answered Enrique’s question right away.

“From ancient times, in order to chase away evil things, it is customary to make loud noises. And a total of 21 shots are fired, which means three sevens. From ancient times, 3 is an auspicious number in which yin and yang are first combined, and 7 is a sacred number that means the Big Dipper. The two are combined to produce 21.”

“Ah….”

While Enrique was nodding, listening to the interpreter’s explanation, Giovanni whispered to him.

“Did you see it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Those cannons. It’s a breech-loading method.”

“Huh? Was it?”

At Giovanni’s words, Enrique fixed his gaze on the ceremonial cannons firing. Enrique, who saw the process of finishing the second firing and preparing for the third firing, nodded.

“That’s right.”

“What do you think? What if those cannons are not for ceremonial use but weapons used in actual combat?”

Enrique thought for a moment at Giovanni’s question and shook his head slightly.

“Well… if it’s such a small cannon, it doesn’t seem to be of much use in siege warfare.”

“Isn’t the battle only siege warfare? Especially in the battles of the war we are fighting now, most of them are fought in open spaces, right?”

“Hmm….”

Enrique was tilting his head at Giovanni’s point, but Mehmet II’s eyes lit up.

* * *

In the meantime, the ritual continued, and it was heading towards the end before they knew it.

“With this, we declare that our Joseon has become the Federal Empire of Korea!”

Following Sejong’s shout, Choi Yun-deok, who was waiting below, shouted loudly.

“Raise the imperial flag!”

At Choi Yun-deok’s command, soldiers began to raise the imperial flag on the flagpoles installed outside the altar to Heaven and the main gate of Jongmyo.

The Hwangtaegeukgi [Imperial Flag of Korea], with the Samtaegeukgi [a variation of the Taegeuk symbol] and the Eight Trigrams [bagua] engraved on a yellow background, slowly rose upward. The Hwangtaegeukgi began to flutter vigorously in the wind that blew at the right time, and the people who saw this began to shout cheers with their throats bursting.

“Hooray!”

“Hooray!”

* * *

After finishing the heavenly ritual, Sejong and his party got back on the royal carriage and returned to Gyeongbok Palace.

“Hooray!”

“Hooray!”

“May you enjoy longevity!”

Amid the cheers and blessings overflowing from all directions, Sejong and his party, the civil and military officials, and the envoys passed through Gwanghwamun [main gate of Gyeongbok Palace] and headed to Geunjeongjeon [main hall of Gyeongbok Palace].

The coronation ceremony had begun.

While the officials of the court were in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon, the coronation ceremony of Sejong and Hyang continued.

This was not that Sejong was crowned as Emperor, but that he was crowned as Sangwang [retired king].

In other words, Hyang was officially crowned as Emperor.

“I wanted to set a separate auspicious day for the abdication ceremony, but the situation of the country is busy now. I hope you don’t feel disappointed.”

“No, I’m not.”

Seeing Hyang’s expression answering with a slight smile, Sejong continued with a stern expression.

“Wan’s wedding is not far away, right?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t even think about passing it on to Wan in a slipshod manner. There is still time left for the promise. Until then, work hard without fail.”

“Yes….”