Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 695

695. Sixtieth Birthday (2)

“Pardon? This humble subject finds it difficult to fathom Your Majesty’s profound intentions.”

At Wan’s response, Hyang smiled faintly and began to speak.

“Europe has also started to create steam engines now. And they’ve even begun to make ‘iron horses’ [early locomotives], though comparing them to those of our Empire is absurd. What one person thinks, everyone else thinks, you see. If they’ve made iron horses, it’s only natural they’ll think of putting steam engines on ships.”

At Hyang’s words, Wan’s eyes widened as much as they could.

“In that case, are you trying to lead them down a roundabout path?”

“Not a roundabout path, just a slightly longer one.”

At Hyang’s answer, Wan muttered inwardly.

‘How cunning! It wasn’t a lie that you volunteered to go to Ming and bewitched the Ming Emperor with your eloquent and flattering words!’

In any case, it was a solemn imperial order, so Wan bowed his head and replied.

“I shall obey the imperial command.”

“Ah, but you mustn’t make it carelessly. It must demonstrate the best possible performance so that they will follow that path.”

“I will do my best.”

Bowing his head in response, Wan took the order and left Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Meanwhile, the historian who recorded all these facts added the following:

-… Thus, when the Emperor commanded, the Crown Prince wept and accepted the order.

The historian says:

The sages taught to civilize the world with virtue, but now the Emperor does not do this.

However, for some reason, I don’t think what the Emperor is doing is bad, so I must be a petty person.

* * *

Imperial Era 8 (1456), January.

Kim Jong-seo, who had gone to Suez, finally returned to Seoul.

It was a longer voyage than usual because he had to face headwinds as the season changed.

After completing the mandatory quarantine period, Kim Jong-seo immediately took a special train to Seoul and paid his respects to Hyang.

“This subject, Minister of General Affairs Kim Jong-seo, has completed his mission as the plenipotentiary ambassador for the Suez Railroad negotiations and has returned.”

“You have worked hard. What was the result?”

At Hyang’s question, Kim Jong-seo replied in a confident voice.

“I have secured everything that needed securing. Here are the documents regarding the agreement and its supplementary provisions.”

After receiving the agreement through a court attendant, Hyang carefully checked its contents. As he checked the clauses written in the agreement, Hyang’s face gradually brightened.

“You have worked hard!”

After reading the agreement, Hyang praised Kim Jong-seo with a bright face full of joy. Following this, the ministers who read the agreement also praised Kim Jong-seo with bright faces.

“Your Excellency’s contribution is great!”

“This is a contribution that will remain in history!”

“If Goryeo [previous Korean dynasty] had Seo Hui [famous diplomat], the Empire can be said to have you, Your Excellency!”

As words of praise for Kim Jong-seo continued from all directions, Kim Jeom reported to Hyang.

“The Minister of General Affairs has made a great contribution, so it is believed that there should be a decoration.”

“The Prime Minister is right. Order the Office of Decorations to prepare it.”

“I shall obey the command.”

After giving the order, Hyang commanded Kim Jong-seo with a smiling face.

“You must be very tired from going to the distant Suez in your old age and making such a great contribution. Take three days to relieve your fatigue and return to your duties. I would like to give you a month’s vacation, but there are many things waiting for you, Your Excellency.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jong-seo bowed his head and replied.

“No! Three days is already too much! Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

At Kim Jong-seo’s sincere expression of gratitude, Hyang smiled and gave an order.

“Let’s stop here for today. Ministers, leave the court. Shouldn’t we hold a congratulatory banquet for Minister Jeoljae [Kim Jong-seo’s title]? By the way, now that Minister Jeoljae has returned, the courtesan houses in Seoul must be happy.”

“Hahaha!”

At Hyang’s joke, the ministers burst into laughter without realizing it. That was how famous Kim Jong-seo’s ‘love for Seoul, love for courtesan houses’ was.

Kim Jong-seo also smiled brightly and bowed his head.

“Your Majesty knows this subject so well, Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

* * *

Having received Hyang’s permission and leaving work on time for the first time in a while, the ministers immediately flocked to Kim Jong-seo’s favorite courtesan house.

“Now! Let’s all raise our glasses! Today is truly a precious day!”

“That’s right! To have such a good thing happen from the beginning of the year, we will be lucky this year!”

At Kim Jeom’s lead, the ministers all raised their glasses high. It had been a long time since they had left work on time like this.

As a few rounds of drinks went around and the excitement of the banquet gradually deepened, the head courtesan entered the room.

“I apologize for interrupting when you are having such a good time, but there is something I need to ask Minister Jeoljae.”

“What is it?”

“Some girls were sent, saying that Minister Jeoljae sent them, but do you know anything about it?”

At the head courtesan’s question, Kim Jong-seo nodded greatly.

“That’s right! I have something to ask of you!”

“You have something to ask of this lowly one?”

At the head courtesan’s curious question, Kim Jong-seo immediately got to the point.

“Make those girls the best entertainers.”

“Pardon?”

The ministers put down their drinks and listened to Kim Jong-seo and the head courtesan’s conversation.

Kim Jong-seo explained the whole story to the head courtesan.

“I stopped by the slave market just before returning from Suez.”

As the word ‘slave market’ came out of Kim Jong-seo’s mouth, the ministers’ expressions slightly crumpled.

After the reforms, slaves had almost disappeared. Only those who had committed crimes and became government slaves, those who were too old and needed help, or a small number of private slaves who remained due to long relationships with their masters remained, barely continuing the lineage. Thanks to this, acquiring slaves could become a scandal.

Sensing that atmosphere, Kim Jong-seo quickly added.

“Ah! I didn’t go there willingly, but European nobles took me there as a gift. They said they would buy me any slave I liked. At first, I was determined to refuse, but then those girls caught my eye. So I brought them. Of course, I gave them their freedom. I have to register their family register now.”

After listening to Kim Jong-seo’s explanation, the head courtesan soon understood what she had to do.

“So, this lowly one’s job is to register those children’s family register and raise them as entertainers?”

“Raise them as excellent entertainers.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the head courtesan sighed softly and replied.

“To become excellent entertainers, appearance and talent must be supported.”

At the head courtesan’s point, Kim Jong-seo laughed loudly and replied.

“Hahaha! Do you know who I am? I’m Jeoljae, Jeoljae! Would I not have an eye for talent?”

“That may be so, but….”

As the head courtesan trailed off and became embarrassed, Kim Jeom, who had been listening to the conversation until then, interjected.

“Bring those girls here! We also have an eye for talent, so we can get a better idea, can’t we?”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

“Bring them here!”

At the ministers’ urging, the head courtesan sighed once again and stood up.

“They reek of not having been washed properly for a while. I’ll wash them a bit and bring them.”

At the head courtesan’s words, the ministers looked at Kim Jong-seo. At the unspoken question, Kim Jong-seo replied with an embarrassed face.

“The purser and interpreters are all men, so how could they have given them a bath? Especially on a ship where even drinking water is scarce, it’s even more difficult. At best, they washed their faces every two to three days.”

“Ah….”

Almost half an hour passed before the head courtesan brought in the girls in question.

Looking at the three children, who were wide-eyed with fear and only looking around, the ministers all exclaimed.

“Hoo~.”

“Europeans are said to have red hair and blue eyes, but these have golden hair and green eyes…. There’s something mysterious about them.”

“That child’s hair is closer to silver than gold. And gray eyes….”

“That girl has the typical red hair and blue eyes that I’ve only heard about….”

As the ministers examined the girls, they said to the head courtesan.

“If they grow up well, those children will be the only entertainers who can dance before His Majesty.”

“I don’t know about their talent for music and dance, but they will make a name for themselves with their appearance alone.”

“If those children grow up, the painters of the capital will be in an uproar. They will all want to paint their portraits.”

At the ministers’ positive evaluation, the head courtesan responded with a brighter face.

“This lowly one also didn’t recognize them properly until I washed them. As expected of Minister Jeoljae.”

At the head courtesan’s words, the ministers all nodded.

‘Indeed, Jeoljae!’

‘His past exploits in courtesan houses haven’t gone anywhere!’

As an aside, the ministers’ predictions came true. The children that Kim Jong-seo brought with a moment’s impulse and compassion later became the best entertainers who dominated Seoul’s social circles.

-Learn from Minister Jeoljae’s eye for talent.

This became a golden rule for those who raised entertainers.

* * *

After that interlude, the atmosphere improved again as the drinks went around.

“Your Excellency.”

Kim Jong-seo put down his glass and called out to Kim Jeom.

“What is it?”

“His Majesty said there is a lot of work to do. But there has always been a lot of work in the Empire. Is there perhaps some big event that has occurred?”

Kim Jeom was also approaching ninety years old. Therefore, Kim Jong-seo was showing him the utmost respect.

At Kim Jong-seo’s question, Kim Jeom emptied his glass and replied.

“Perhaps he is thinking of a regency.”

“A regency? His Majesty is still in his prime, but he is already preparing for a regency?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s question, Kim Jeom emptied his glass again and asked back.

“Jeoljae, have you forgotten what year it is next year? The Emperor Emeritus’s sixtieth birthday is next year.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Kim Jong-seo exclaim as if he understood. Nodding at that sight, Kim Jeom continued.

“Next year will be the 9th year of the Imperial Era, so the Emperor Emeritus dislikes the number nine, so he will return the year after next. And His Majesty will abdicate and go to Shinji [newly established territory].”

“But he is still in his prime.”

“That is why he wants to go even more. Shinji is only just establishing its foundation. To further solidify that foundation and expand Shinji’s territory, it is best for His Majesty, who is in his prime, to go and lead directly. And this is also good for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince has gained administrative experience while running the research institute and Area 51, but compared to the entire Empire, isn’t that just a drop in the bucket? He will properly learn the practical skills for two years, and when he receives the abdication, the Emperor Emeritus will return and watch over him, so the imperial power will be strengthened. It’s a good thing.”

At Kim Jeom’s explanation, Kim Jong-seo nodded and emptied his glass. Refilling his glass, Kim Jong-seo looked at the liquor sloshing in the glass and opened his mouth.

“If this kind of abdication becomes a tradition in the Empire, will it benefit the Empire?”

“If an emperor who has accumulated sufficient experience becomes the Emperor Emeritus and manages Shinji, and the retired Emperor returns to help the emperor…. Wouldn’t that be a good thing? At least, an incident like the palace invasion that occurred during the Gi-yu Rebellion [historical event] would not easily occur.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Kim Jong-seo nodded and emptied his glass.

* * *

At the same time, Hyang, who was alone in Gangnyeongjeon Hall [royal residence], was planning for the future with a satisfied smile.

“Two years from now. The Emperor Emeritus will return in two years. By then, Wan will be twenty-six years old, old enough, and the Emperor Emeritus will watch over him, so there will be no major worries. I will take Jin-pyeong with me, so I can rest assured… and if I go to Shinji, I can indulge in my hobbies to my heart’s content. Shinji is a place where ‘everything is available except people.’ While I’m there, I should go to Mexico and find rubber too.”