Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 812

812. The Star Falls (6)

Sejong’s funeral lasted for fifteen days.

“Isn’t this funeral period too short?”

Most people reacted to the fifteen-day funeral with, “It’s too short.”

Just considering Sejong’s father, Taejong, it took almost four months to inform the people of Taejong’s death and later bury him in the tomb.

Of course, during this period, the people suffered considerably.

Marriages and slaughter were prohibited until the end of the Jogok [a ritual performed after a death], which was held on Jeongil (丁日) or Haeil (亥日) three months after death.

That wasn’t all. Listening to music was prohibited for three years. Music could only be used for large-scale ancestral rites.

In response, Sejong and Hyang established a new law to fix the emperor’s funeral period at fifteen days.

It wasn’t just the emperor’s funeral period that was shortened.

Everyone except the emperor, regardless of their status, was unconditionally limited to a three-day funeral.

Naturally, there was opposition to the funeral provisions written in the new law.

In response, Sejong immediately posted the following proclamation throughout the country to refute it.

-The most important thing in holding a funeral is to commemorate the deceased and soothe the sad hearts of the bereaved family.

-But what is the situation now? A Daebu’s [high-ranking official] funeral lasts six months, and a Sa’s [scholar-official] funeral lasts over a month.

-The problem is that the original beautiful meaning of ‘holding a funeral as a rite’ is gone, and it has become a means to show off the family’s power and wealth.

-Based on the laws and teachings of the sages from the past, what was the meaning of Confucius criticizing Zilu?

* * *

When Confucius fell ill and was in critical condition, Zilu, the eldest of his disciples, appointed a man of letters as Confucius’s retainer to prepare for the funeral.

However, Confucius, who got up from his seat, learned of the matter and criticized Zilu. According to the laws of the time, only those who held a position in the country and sat as a Daebu could have retainers. However, Confucius had retired from his official position at the time, so he could not have retainers.

Therefore, Confucius criticized Zilu.

“I shouldn’t have retainers in the first place, but since I have retainers, who am I deceiving? (omitted) Also, even if I can’t have a grand funeral when I die, would I die on the street without anyone to take care of me?”

* * *

Sejong, mentioning Confucius’s case, continued his criticism.

-Confucius’s criticism of Zilu was not simply a matter of questioning the abuse of power. He was worried about a funeral that was so extravagant that it exceeded his means.

-The old sages have repeatedly emphasized not to boast of wealth and power. Looking at the current situation, it is common to exceed one’s means in holding coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and ancestral rites, and there are many people whose livelihoods are ruined, so it is right to prohibit this by law.

Because Sejong’s will was so strong and the reason was valid, the three-day funeral soon took hold.

However, this time, there were those who nitpicked about the emperor’s funeral period.

“But why only fifteen days for the emperor?”

“Hey, is the emperor’s funeral the same as the funeral of commoners like us? For an emperor, even the funeral is politics.”

“Ah… but what is a commoner?”

“You idiot… ask your son!”

As the people said, Sejong’s funeral was an extension of politics, especially international politics.

As soon as rumors spread that Sejong was in critical condition, not only Ming [China] and Japan, but also small Asian countries including Ryukyu, the Bengal Sultanate, Portugal, Ottoman, France, and Florence immediately selected envoys and sent them to the Empire.

Of course, they couldn’t say that they came to pay their respects to someone who wasn’t dead yet, so the envoys claimed that it was for ‘Sejong’s recovery.’

“I heard that the Emperor Emeritus’s energy has weakened a lot. Therefore, my lord wishes for a speedy recovery and sent me. I hope the medicine I brought will be of great help.”

“Thank you.”

The envoys, who presented valuable medicines while having an audience with Emperor Wan, soon took up lodging and began to stay.

Ming and Japan went even further.

Not only did they send envoys, but they also prepared the fastest ships at their ports and Jemulpo [modern-day Incheon], and even finished selecting proper condolence delegations.

Meanwhile, the envoys from various countries staying in Seoul were busy moving around.

They visited the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Economy and Finance to discuss pending issues related to trade, and met with envoys from other countries to discuss diplomatic matters.

Thanks to this, the gibangs [traditional Korean houses of entertainment] in Seoul were overflowing with people every day.

The envoys did not only use the gibangs for diplomatic meetings.

* * *

Countries with their scholars working in the research institute called the scholars to the gibangs.

-It is to comfort fellow countrymen who are working tirelessly in a distant foreign land.

The envoys, who called scholars and monks under this pretext, subtly brought up the main point.

“About the Challenge Records. Is it still impossible to obtain those records?”

“Haven’t I told you before? The Challenge Records are the most heavily guarded items in the Empire. It is impossible to extract the grade that your home country wants.”

“Is it really impossible? Really? It doesn’t have to be a high grade among the things recorded in the Challenge Records.”

At the envoy’s words, the scholars all asked with puzzled expressions.

“Haven’t you inquired with the Empire’s Ministry of Education?”

“Huh?”

“Huh? The Ministry of Education?”

At the scholars’ questions, the envoys looked puzzled.

The scholars, in turn, asked back with an incomprehensible expression.

“Huh? Didn’t you know? About four years ago, the contents of the Challenge Records and Response Records, up to the Go Gun Bun Tu [Lower Military], Joong Joong Ha [Middle-Middle-Lower] grades, were opened to higher education institutions throughout the Empire, such as the Gihakwon [School of Technology], Gonghakwon [School of Engineering], and Sanhakwon [School of Mathematics]. Among those who learn or teach at the school, those who are interested are told to find answers through their own devices.”

“So, are there any results?”

“Yes. Quite a few of the research institute’s scholars have passed the review process and been listed in the Response Records. Not only that, but even better responses than the existing Response Records have come out. Thanks to that, the scholars’ reactions are also good. They can come into contact with very fresh ideas.”

“I see… Then what rewards did those who found the answers listed in the Response Records receive?”

“They were immediately specially recruited into the research institute.”

“Why are you telling me this now!”

“I wrote it in a letter and sent it?”

At the scholars’ answers, the envoys gritted their teeth and burst into anger.

“That damn ink smearing!”

* * *

Letters sent to their home countries by scholars and monks working at the research institute had to be censored.

Initially, those in charge of censorship were Muslims who had settled in Joseon, such as Hyang and Hassan.

In the early days of the research institute’s establishment, most of the letters were to Islamic countries and Europe.

Hassan was in charge of letters to Islamic countries, and Hyang was in charge of letters to Europe.

At the time, Latin was the common language in Europe – especially in the academic field – so Hyang alone was able to handle it.

However, as Hyang’s workload gradually increased and translators who had learned Latin and the languages of European countries were produced, the censorship work was handed over to the translators.

This is where the problem arose.

The translators were fluent in languages, but they did not know much about the studies handled by the research institute.

“Which one should I erase and which one should I save?”

“I can’t ask His Highness every time….”

“It’s hard to ask Hassan and his friends too. Those friends are overworked right now….”

After much deliberation, the translators found the easiest and most reliable method.

-Sentences with even one word related to academics are unconditionally erased!

It was a very reliable method, but it missed a lot.

Even the parts that Hyang would have left alone, saying ‘popcorn time’ or ‘setting up the grill,’ were all erased and sent.

* * *

The envoys from each country, who heard the story through the scholars, immediately went to the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Education, who listened to the envoys’ requests, hesitated with a troubled expression and replied.

“I will inform His Majesty and give you an answer.”

Wan, who heard the situation through the Minister of Education, immediately discussed it with Hyang.

“I want to allow it, but what does the Emperor Emeritus think?”

At Wan’s answer, Hyang immediately nodded.

“I think the Emperor’s decision is reasonable. However, considering the value of the ‘Challenge Records,’ I think there will be a lot of opposition. What kind of answer will you give?”

At Hyang’s question, Wan smiled and replied.

“If the bait is good, the chances of catching a big fish will increase, won’t they?”

At Wan’s answer, Hyang also smiled and nodded.

The historians and scribes who were watching this scene recorded it like this.

-… So, when the Emperor made a decision, the Emperor Emeritus also agreed that it was reasonable.

The historian says.

I think the strategy of attracting talent by releasing a little knowledge is more orthodox than a trick. The more talent there is in the country….

“Historian, you’re not writing bad things about me, are you?”

“Ah, no, I’m not!”

-… Like father, like son….

* * *

In this way, the envoys who made a request to the Ministry of Education received copies of the Challenge Records and Response Records.

“Due to the Empire’s policy, these are copies up to the Go Gun Bun Tu [Lower Military], Joong Joong Ha [Middle-Middle-Lower] grades.”

“I am truly grateful for His Majesty’s decision.”

That’s what they said, but the envoys’ faces were pale.

‘Why is there so much!’

The envoys shouted inwardly as they looked at the cart full of books.

‘You said it was only up to the Go Gun Bun Tu, Joong Joong Ha grades!’

Anyway, the envoys who received the Challenge Records called the scholars again.

The scholars who came at the envoys’ call examined the Challenge Records and Response Records related to their fields and nodded.

“It’s definitely up to the Go Gun Bun Tu, Joong Joong Ha grades.”

At the answers of the scholars from the research institute, not only the envoys but also the scholars who came with the envoys turned pale.

“Is this large amount only a part of it?”

“These are not easy problems at a glance, and this is only the Go Gun Bun Tu, Joong Joong Ha grade?”

At their reactions, the scholars working at the research institute replied with a nonchalant face.

“It’s not much compared to the grades above this.”

“Even Mabujakchim [an incredibly difficult task] will take a lifetime. No, it will take not only my lifetime but also my children’s lifetimes.”

“Wow….”

The scholars who followed the envoys began to change their expressions little by little after hearing that answer.

‘I want to see the higher-grade Challenge Records!’

‘How profound would the contents of the higher grades be?’

‘If I can solve the higher grades, my name will remain in history!’

Meanwhile, the envoys began to become greedy for other reasons.

‘If we can get the higher-grade Challenge Records! And if we can get the results of that research! There will be no one to harass our country!’

The envoys from Europe began to write reports related to this.

‘We must take the hegemony of Europe!’

In the future, a sure opportunity was created for a bloody war between foreign intelligence agencies, industrial spies, and secret societies over the Challenge Records.