Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 809

809. The Fall of Stars (3)

The Grand Princes and Princesses—later Dukes and Marquises after the Empire declared itself—tasked with reviewing Sejong’s plans, initially focused on Gyeok-bang.

Specifically, they examined a game similar to modern golf called Shin Gyeok-bang, or Shinji Gyeok-bang.

“Hmm…. ‘Including the Shinji Gyeok-bang course in the comprehensive entertainment complex,’ huh….”

The Dukes and Marquises, having confirmed the agenda item, simultaneously looked at Anpyeong.

This was because the comprehensive entertainment complex fell under the jurisdiction of the Entertainment Bureau, and Anpyeong had been the head of the Entertainment Bureau from its inception to the present.

Anpyeong, meeting his brothers’ gazes, shook his head with a troubled expression.

“It’s not easy. You all know how large a Shinji Gyeok-bang course needs to be, right?”

At Anpyeong’s words, the Dukes and Marquises all nodded.

* * *

Not long after returning from Shinji, Sejong felt restless.

“Ah… I want to play Gyeok-bang….”

Even before going to Shinji, Gyeok-bang was Sejong’s favorite sport.

-Whenever Gyeongshin Day returned, His Majesty would gather the royal family and central officials to enjoy Bonghee (棒戲) [a traditional stick game] all night long.

Sejong loved Gyeok-bang so much that it was recorded in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty before Hyang intervened.

Since he had become the Retired Emperor and retreated to the back room anyway, Sejong enjoyed Gyeok-bang without hesitation.

However, not long after, Sejong shook his head.

“This isn’t it!”

Dissatisfied with traditional Gyeok-bang, Sejong immediately sought out Wan.

“I have a request for the Emperor.”

“Just say the word.”

“Give me some land.”

“Pardon?”

According to the Imperial Law, all the Empire’s territory belonged to the Emperor. The people were borrowing this land from the Emperor to live on. Therefore, the most basic of the taxes that the people paid to the country was this land lease fee.

Of course, Sejong and Hyang did not forget to put in place a restriction that prevented them from raising this land lease fee at will.

This law prevented landlords from arbitrarily charging high rents to tenant farmers or those who rented land.

It was a kind of land public ownership concept.

And, because the law was like that, Sejong asked Wan to give him land.

Having received suitable land in Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheong Province, and the southern regions, Sejong created Gyeok-bang courses and enjoyed playing.

Of course, he didn’t enjoy it alone.

First, the royal family members were called, and soon after, influential figures from the area where the Gyeok-bang course was located were invited to play together.

Being invited to the Gyeok-bang course was a family honor that would be passed down for generations among local figures.

And, the Gyeok-bang course that started in that way soon began to emerge as a new form of entertainment.

The exhilaration of hitting the ball powerfully in an open space was highly addictive. And the simple but quite clever rules of determining the winner with the fewest strokes also provided fun.

Eventually, those who had fun with Shinji Gyeok-bang submitted a petition to open the Gyeok-bang course to the public.

And the Ministry of Finance, sensing a potential revenue stream, made a proposal to Wan. Wan, thinking this proposal was reasonable, asked Sejong, and Sejong readily nodded.

“Even when I’m not there, wouldn’t it be good to allow those who want to enjoy Gyeok-bang to use it by paying a suitable fee? Like the hot springs.”

In this way, the Gyeok-bang course was opened to the public. When Sejong was not using it, anyone who wanted to use it, regardless of their status, could do so.

As Shinji Gyeok-bang gained popularity, new Shinji Gyeok-bang courses began to open up all over the Empire—not only in the mainland and Shinji but also in Bukji, Daeseoldo, and Seonamdo.

* * *

With this background, Sejong created a plan to include the Shinji Gyeok-bang course in the comprehensive entertainment complex managed by the Entertainment Bureau.

However, Anpyeong, who was in charge of the practical work, was expressing his difficulty, saying that this problem was not easy.

The biggest problem was the size of the Shinji Gyeok-bang course, which Anpyeong had already mentioned.

Perhaps because it started in Shinji, where land was plentiful, a large area of land was needed to enjoy Shinji Gyeok-bang.

It had to be not just a simple empty flatland but also include suitable hills or mountains.

It was impossible to install such Gyeok-bang courses in every place where there was an entertainment complex.

“It might be possible in Bukji, Daeseoldo, or Shinji… but it’s impossible in the mainland. Space is also a problem, but so are the wild animals. If we’re not careful, we’ll have to bring not only Gyeok-bang clubs and balls but also bows and arrows to enjoy Gyeok-bang.”

Although the Tiger Hunt Unit was working hard, ferocious animals such as tigers, leopards, and bears still occupied the rugged mountains of the mainland.

This was because of the prevailing sentiment that ‘wild animals are also part of this world, so don’t catch them unless they harm the people.’

Seeing Anpyeong making a difficult expression, Duke Imyeong added to the conversation.

“That’s right. And it costs a lot of money to prepare the necessary equipment.”

* * *

Like Gyeok-bang enjoyed in the mainland, Shinji Gyeok-bang also required carrying several types of clubs. This was because clubs with different heads were needed depending on the location.

And this Gyeok-bang club was a monster that devoured wealth.

If the mainland’s Gyeok-bang club was made by bending wood or bamboo to form a frame, covering it with cloth or leather, and attaching a handle to the head, the Shinji Gyeok-bang club was made by attaching a handle made of elastic and tough wood to a head made of wood, iron, or copper.

The problem was that the woodworking shops that made and sold the clubs boasted their skills and made the handles of the clubs fancy in order to receive more money.

In the case of mainland Gyeok-bang, all they did was paint the five colors symbolizing the five elements on the handle. However, the handles of Shinji Gyeok-bang clubs were made fancy by applying vermilion lacquer or lacquer as a base and inlaying gold or silver thread.

Sejong and Hyang were also responsible for this.

This was because the artisans put their heart and soul into making them since Sejong and Hyang were the first to start it.

The same was true of the club’s head. Since the person who put the ball into the waa (窩兒) [hole] with fewer strokes won, a club with a head that was advantageous for hitting long shots was essential.

And to make such a head, the blacksmiths racked their brains and repeated research.

A club that produced good long shots could be sold at a high price.

In less than 10 years, artisans who were famous for making excellent clubs appeared in the mainland. Thanks to registering the heads of the clubs they developed with the Intellectual Property Management Office, the artisans’ reputation gradually increased.

It wasn’t just the clubs that became expensive.

The balls were also becoming expensive.

In the case of mainland Gyeok-bang, they were simply made by carving wood or agate.

However, in the case of Shinji Gyeok-bang, where the ball flew dozens of yards with a single hit, wooden balls painted in bright colors or agate gemstones with colorful stripes were selected to make it easier to find.

In addition, as it became known that the more perfect the sphere (球形) [spherical shape], the better it flew and the straighter it flew, the artisans who made the balls tried to make a more perfect sphere.

This naturally led to an increase in price, and a well-made ball cost at least 2 to 3 silver coins per box containing 5 balls.

Even though prices had risen a lot, this was enough for a family of four to live on for half a month.

* * *

Anpyeong sighed and continued.

“Even now, there are frequent petitions saying that Shinji Gyeok-bang is the main culprit of extravagance and moral corruption. Like someone who doesn’t swing Gyeok-bang clubs at the Gyeok-bang course but swings something else.”

As he spoke, Anpyeong’s gaze was fixed on Duke Imyeong. Duke Imyeong, who received Anpyeong’s glare, made an expression as if it were absurd.

“Me, what did I do!”

“You son of a b*tch, the rumors have already spread throughout the mainland.”

“Am I the only one like that!”

“That’s why it’s a problem… Haa~.”

As you can see from the Gyeok-bang clubs and balls, Shinji Gyeok-bang was a game that cost a lot of money. Of course, you could enjoy it with cheap clubs and wooden balls, but most of those who enjoyed Shinji Gyeok-bang were local wealthy people.

Naturally, they called in courtesans to enjoy Gyeok-bang, and naturally, scandals could not help but arise.

Since Duke Imyeong was known as a womanizer, he naturally featured prominently in these scandals.

* * *

Unable to find an answer even after 고민 [agonizing] for several days, Anpyeong made a decision.

“There’s only one person who can solve this problem.”

Anpyeong turned his head. In Anpyeong’s gaze, Hyang, who was racking his brains and staring at the books, was sitting.

“Your Majesty, no, 형님 (older brother) [term of endearment used between close male friends and family].”

“Why!”

At Hyang’s prickly voice, which was full of annoyance, Anpyeong froze.

“Why? What’s wrong!”

“That, that’s….”

Barely regaining his 정신 [composure], Anpyeong explained the problem to Hyang.

“Hmm….”

After listening to Anpyeong’s story, Hyang crossed his arms and pondered. After briefly recalling his memories, Hyang soon remembered the existence of ‘golf driving ranges.’

‘There was at least one in every neighborhood. There were even more screen driving ranges.…’

Having found the answer, Hyang soon replied to Anpyeong.

-Most comprehensive entertainment complexes are located in places with good scenery. Places with good scenery mostly have large rivers or streams.

-Most of those who enjoy Shinji Gyeok-bang enjoy the thrill of long shots.

-Therefore, create a 대 (platform) [raised platform] on one side of the comprehensive entertainment complex and create a place where you can hit the ball towards the river or stream.

-In places where there are no rivers or streams, put up a barrier at a suitable distance and have them hit the ball towards it. Draw a target on the barrier to practice hitting the 정타 (center hit) [sweet spot].

-Those who enjoy Gyeok-bang at the comprehensive entertainment complex can use their own clubs, but they must only use the Gyeok-bang course’s balls. And the Gyeok-bang course’s balls must only be made of wood.

-Install nets in the streams and rivers where the hit balls fall to prevent the balls from flowing downstream and make it easier to recover them.

-The Gyeok-bang course installed in the entertainment complex can only be used in units of 반 시진 (about 1 hour) [half a shijin], and 1 basket of balls is provided free of charge. To add time and balls, you must pay extra.

“Of course, the number of balls to put in the basket should be slightly, very slightly, less than the amount needed to hit for 반 시진, right?”

“Ah! That’s right!”

Seeing Anpyeong’s face gradually brightening, Hyang continued.

-The number of Shinji Gyeok-bang courses should be increased appropriately while looking at the people’s livelihoods. This also applies to the Gyeok-bang courses to be installed in the comprehensive entertainment complex.

-Anyone entering the Shinji Gyeok-bang course is prohibited from accompanying courtesans, regardless of the reason. Of course, it is allowed for courtesans or women to gather and enter. However, in this case, a separate date is 지정 (designated) [appointed] and only allowed on that day.

Having explained this far, Hyang looked at Anpyeong.

“What do you think?”

At Hyang’s question, Anpyeong bowed his head with a bright face.

“You are 형님 (older brother) [term of respect and affection] indeed!”

“It would be better to improve it a little more.”

“Yes!”

Watching Anpyeong, who was excited and returning to his seat, Hyang turned his head and glared at the book in front of him.

“What on earth is 아바마마 (father) [formal term for father used in royal family] doing….”

Hyang’s expression as he examined the contents written in the book was literally shock and horror.

‘Why is nuclear physics popping out here!’

Sejong’s thoughts written in a book titled ‘Miscellaneous Thoughts (雜想錄)’—literally miscellaneous thoughts—brought shock to Hyang.