Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 780

780. A Self-Inflicted Disaster… (15)

“Who has the loudest voice?”

“Park from the Gyejak house has the loudest voice!”

Since the promulgation of Jeongeum [the Korean alphabet], there were hardly any illiterate people among the citizens of the Empire, especially in the mainland. However, waiting in line to read the proclamation took time. Therefore, someone with a loud voice among the nearby people would read the proclamation aloud to inform those around them.

“Ugh~ Why call a busy person!”

“Please read the proclamation!”

“Without a little something?”

“I’ll buy you a *Gyejak* [a type of Korean pancake] later!”

“Heh heh, alright then. Ahem! Cough!”

Park from the Gyejak house, having cleared his throat, soon began to read the proclamation in a loud voice.

* * *

The contents of the proclamation posted on the government office wall were as follows:

-It has been a long time since our Empire discovered a new territory called Shinji.

During that time, we have put much effort into developing Shinji and finding and civilizing the natives.

The Supreme Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus have put in no small amount of effort into all of this, so how can we not be grateful?

After that, sentences praising Sejong and Hyang continued at length, and the people reading the proclamation unknowingly grumbled.

“Damn it! Those in high places… don’t know brevity!”

“Do they have to show off how much they’ve read like this!”

“My taxes are paying for printing that proclamation!”

The people’s grumbling continued as long as the lengthy text.

“Alright! Enough grumbling! Let’s get to the main point!”

“Let’s do it!”

However, the people who heard the main point that followed were all enraged.

“Are there still such damned bastards!”

“That there are still such beasts!”

-While exploring the undeveloped areas of Shinji, we encountered a group of natives.

As they seemed to have some semblance of a nation, the Emperor Emeritus sent a delegation as a matter of courtesy.

However, what the Empire’s delegation saw in their capital was a sight too horrible to put into words.

They were a cannibalistic tribe.

According to the natives who were captured by them and barely escaped with the help of the delegation, they were people who had abandoned human morality.

They attacked neighboring tribes, captured people, performed sacrifices, and ate the corpses.

I will state firmly.

Sacrificing humans because they do not know morality can be overlooked as they have not had the opportunity to learn it.

However, if such sacrifices occur daily and the victims number in the thousands, it is not a matter of not knowing morality but of abandoning it.

Therefore, a native who escaped with the help of the delegation pleaded with tears in his eyes for the Emperor to punish them.

Alas!

The Emperor Emeritus also requested assistance in punishing them, but the Empire’s strength is not yet sufficient, so how can we not be indignant!

The Empire’s army and navy are strong, but they are already at their limit just protecting the Empire!

Therefore, I am asking for the help of the people!

Among those who are on the military register as reservists, those who wish to punish them and teach them morality should report to the government office!

We need those who will punish those who have abandoned morality on behalf of Heaven and those who will teach morality to those who still live like beasts because they do not know it!

Of course, this is not an easy task.

It is a dangerous task where you may lose your life or become disabled in battle.

As compensation for this, the following rewards will be given to volunteers.

Clause A. Those who die or become disabled during battle will receive the same veteran treatment as the Imperial Army.

Clause B. Among the volunteers with an education of at least the level of a *Junghakdang* [a type of traditional Korean school], those who wish to can later work as teachers at *Saminhakdangs* [another type of traditional Korean school] in the Shinji region. In this case, they will be guaranteed the same qualifications as regular teachers.

Clause C. Among the volunteers, those who wish can receive cultivation rights in Shinji. In this case, they will be given cultivation rights to land at least three times larger than the land they could receive in the mainland and Bukji.

“Oho~.”

The people, who had been enraged, now had their eyes sparkling at the compensation measures that followed.

Those who died or became disabled in the Imperial Army during wars and other situations, as well as those who were injured, received compensation according to their rank. And this compensation was by no means light.

The same was true for teachers at *Saminhakdangs*. Thanks to the strict selection of teachers since the early days of the establishment of *Saminhakdangs*, teachers at *Saminhakdangs* or *Junghakdangs* were highly respected professions.

Cultivation rights were also a tempting reward.

As the Empire’s economy developed day by day, the number of people earning money as merchants, artisans, and workshop laborers increased. However, there were still many who considered agriculture to be the best.

“As long as it’s not a famine year, you’ll never starve if you farm!”

Moreover, post horses and farm cattle could be obtained if one set their mind to it, and steam-powered agricultural tractors could also be obtained.

Thanks to this, the amount of labor required for farming was no longer as great as before.

This meant that the larger the cultivated land, the more profitable it became, and the prospect of receiving cultivation rights to land at least three times larger was a tempting reward.

* * *

Before long, men from all over the Empire’s mainland began to flock to the government offices to volunteer.

The first to volunteer were people from *Sadaebu* [scholar-official] families.

“As those who have learned the doctrines of the sages, how can we overlook this!”

“It is the duty of a gentleman to strictly question and civilize those who have abandoned morality!”

Some volunteered to practice what they had learned and believed in, but others were pushed into it.

“You’ve been wasting your days relying on the family’s wealth, and I can’t stand to watch it any longer! Volunteer immediately!”

“A golden opportunity to raise the family’s name has come! Volunteer immediately!”

Those who had been living idly, relying on their family’s wealth, and those who had no choice but to step forward to enhance their family’s honor came to the government office to volunteer.

However, most of the volunteers from *Sadaebu* backgrounds were voluntary.

This was because, as Hyang had said, the number of *’꼰대’*s (*Kkondae*, a Korean slang term referring to older people who are often condescending or patronizing) had increased.

As the Empire’s economy grew, it was not only commoners who benefited.

Many of the *Sadaebu*, who were the ‘haves,’ jumped into the capital market and gained even greater wealth. Of course, they had to pay more taxes accordingly, but even after paying those taxes, they enjoyed a life several times richer than that of commoners.

The *Sadaebu*, who enjoyed affluence without having to work all day like commoners, delved deeper into *Seongnihak* (Neo-Confucianism), which could be said to be their main occupation.

And through this, the ‘Empire’s Era of Hundred Schools of Thought’ was born.

The doctrinaire Yihak faction, which insisted on following Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism to the letter.

The Simhak faction, which argued that Zhu Xi’s Yihak (理學, Study of Principle) was important, but that the mind (心) of a gentleman, as emphasized by Lu Jiuyuan and Wang Yangming’s Simhak (心學, Study of the Mind), was also valuable.

The Hungohak faction, which argued that Neo-Confucianism had been embellished too much over time and should be re-examined based on the ‘Five Classics of Justice’ that came out at that time.

The Gojeunghak faction and Silhak faction, which advocated ‘*Gyeongsechiyong* (經世致用, practical learning)’ after seeing the success of Gyeongjang.

The Bowan faction, which analyzed the Bible brought by European monks and sought to supplement the deficiencies of Confucianism.

Major mainstream factions and minor collateral factions engaged in debates and polemics.

And the battlefield was the *Yihakwon* (理學院, Academy of Principles). This was because, while the research institute and the 51st and 52nd districts established by Hyang dealt with science and technology, the *Yihakwon* was a place for studying thought and philosophy.

Thus, the stubborn scholars who had been engaged in debates and polemics rushed to volunteer.

This was also to overwhelm rival factions.

“While those loudmouths are spouting Confucius and Mencius in their rooms, we will demonstrate the doctrines of the sages through action!”

In addition to this justification, they were aiming for ‘meritorious deeds earned on the battlefield.’

It was difficult to determine the winner through polemics at the *Yihakwon*. However, if the value of the medals and decorations earned on the battlefield were added, it would be possible to determine the winner.

The Empire’s people had great respect for the medals awarded by the Emperor, especially the military merit medals.

‘Medal earned for military merit on the battlefield = loyalty to the nation = loyal subject.’

Therefore, the words of those who received medals carried a different weight.

“It’s what an elder who received a medal is saying, so how could it be wrong!”

Because of this perception among the people, many *Sadaebu* volunteered for the faction they supported.

* * *

As an aside, because of this perception among the people, the Empire meticulously examined the subsequent actions of those who received medals.

If even the slightest scandal arose, it was thoroughly investigated to determine its veracity. If the investigation revealed the truth, the medals, decorations, and various rewards that had been awarded to the person were all recovered, and this was announced nationwide. This was a great disgrace, and many of those who received this punishment even took their own lives.

However, even when such things happened, the people’s reaction was cold.

“What kind of thing is a medal! If you did such a thing, you have to pay the price! Hmph!”

* * *

As the *Sadaebu* flocked in, the government officials faced unexpected hardships.

“Oh, Elder! You’re old, how can you go to such a dangerous place?”

“Hey! What problem is age in spreading the doctrines of the sages? Write down my name right now!”

“Hey, young master. It seems you haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony yet, so go back quickly.”

“I haven’t had my coming-of-age ceremony, but I’m already doing the work of one person!”

“Didn’t you see His Majesty’s official document? It said those who are on the military register as reservists! Young master is too young! Go back quickly!”

“Hoo-eeng~”

“Why are you making the child cry!”

Although the work increased as even those who were too old or too young came forward as volunteers, the officials breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s fortunate that His Majesty set the criteria.”

-Those who are on the military register as reservists.

Thanks to Wan setting the age criteria, they could sort out those who were too old or too young without hesitation.

* * *

About three months later, the number of volunteers from the mainland exceeded 30,000.

Wan, having received the report, reviewed the situation with his ministers.

“It seems we have gathered the necessary troops.”

“That is correct.”

Kim Jongseo continued after Hwangboin.

“It would have been a big problem if we had drawn them from the Imperial Army, but we have been able to form the troops smoothly.”

Wan, nodding at Kim Jongseo’s words, turned to the Minister of National Defense.

“What is the schedule going forward?”

Lee Jing-ok, the newly appointed Minister of National Defense, answered Wan’s question.

“As we have already entered autumn, they will undergo training during the winter. And as soon as the sea route opens next spring, we will send the troops. If the transportation proceeds smoothly, all troops and supplies will arrive in Shinji in the summer of the year after next.”

“It’s taking longer than expected?”

Lee Jing-ok immediately replied to Wan’s remark.

“It is because it is a sea route, not a land route.”

The Empire’s ships, especially the transport ships traveling the Shinji route, were constantly increasing in size, but there was a limit to how quickly they could handle 30,000 troops and the weapons and supplies they would use.

“Hmm. I see….”

As Wan was nodding, Lee Jing-ok took out a letter from his pocket.

“What is that letter?”

“It is my letter of resignation.”

“Letter of resignation?”

“This one cannot be left out of punishing those bastards in human skin.”