Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 958

958. South and North, and the Middle (5)

“Hoo~. Hoo~.”

Hyeon, taking deep breaths to barely calm his anger, asked Woo,

“You said you would study music, is it *aak* [court music] or *hyangak* [Korean folk music]?”

“*Sogak* [folk songs], Your Majesty!”

“Folk… You little rascal! You are the son of the Emperor!”

Hyeon shouted, but Woo didn’t back down.

“Why do you look down on folk songs! Are only *aak* and *hyangak* precious music? The folk songs sung by the people contain the hearts of the people, so how can they not be precious!”

“Still, folk songs! Unthinkable!”

“The Supreme Emperor also composed folk songs, and Duke Anpyeong is collecting and recording not only folk songs passed down but also newly emerging folk songs! How can you say it’s unthinkable!”

“Ugh……”

Hyeon, hit by Woo’s words, groaned and grumbled inwardly.

‘Is it the Supreme Emperor again… That’s why such rumors are circulating….’

* * *

Recently, such rumors were circulating among families with some power, regardless of whether they were in the capital or the northern territories.

‘The Supreme Emperor and his brothers are the root of all evil!’

It was a statement that could easily lead to charges of blasphemy and treason. However, neither the Milwi [secret intelligence agency] who collected and reported this nor Hyeon who received the report took it very seriously. Rather, both the head of the Milwi who first received the report and Hyeon who received it repeated similar words.

“It’s because of their children, so it’s understandable……”

The capital and the northern territories were the first to be influenced by Hyang and Gyeongjang. Thanks to this, the capital and the northern territories were also the first to experience the prosperity of the Empire. Because of this, the upper class, who had secured economic comfort, were also the first to become conservative. As a result, these families believed that the best path for their children was to advance into the government or the military—where they could have both power and honor.

“No, it would be better if they advanced into the business world! At least they would earn money!”

The reason why the upper-class parents were lamenting was that many of their children were going astray.

“I want to become a craftsman!”

“I want to become an artist!”

“I want to manage railroads and trains……”

“You rascal! How dare you tarnish the family name!”

Whenever they heard such stories, not only the parents but also the elders of the family stepped forward to get angry, but the children did not back down either.

“How is this tarnishing the family name? The Supreme Emperor did the same, and there are examples of Duke Jinpyeong and Duke Anpyeong, aren’t there?”

“……”

Among Sejong’s children, Hyang, Jinpyeong, and Anpyeong showed the most prominence. Other siblings and sisters, regardless of whether they were concubines’ children, were overshadowed by the three. Because of the children who wanted to follow the path taken by those at the highest levels of power, the saying ‘Hyang and his brothers are the root of all evil’ was circulating.

* * *

‘I was watching a fire in someone else’s house, but it seems like a fire broke out in my house too.’

“Tsk tsk…….”

Hyeon, clicking his tongue, began the task of persuading Woo.

‘First, you need to know the root cause to find the answer.’

“What made you interested in folk songs?”

“It was when I was young, listening to ‘Soyang River Maiden’ and ‘Maiden Boatman’ at the imperial banquets, Your Majesty.”

‘As expected……’

Hyeon, shaking his head while thinking of someone, grabbed the tail and clung to it.

“Are you talking about new folk songs?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Many people are already creating melodies and lyrics for new folk songs. Therefore, many new folk songs are coming out, and there are those who have made their names widely known. But you want to study new folk songs?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. As Your Majesty said, there are those who have made their names widely known, but I feel something is lacking.”

“What is lacking?”

“Not just one or two things.”

“Not just one or two things?”

To Hyeon’s question, Woo explained the ‘shortcomings’ he had thought of.

-The shadow of the two new folk songs created by the Supreme Emperor is too strong. Many new folk songs cannot escape the melody of the two new folk songs.

-Since the melody cannot escape, there is also a limit to the lyrics attached.

-Since the melody and lyrics do not match, the newly released new folk songs have a weak power to move the heart.

After explaining this far, Woo bowed his head to Hyeon and insisted.

“Why did the two new folk songs created by the Supreme Emperor spread widely among the people? Because they moved and comforted the hearts of the people! However, the new folk songs that are ringing in the marketplace now have a weak resonance and comfort. Therefore, the saying ‘It’s not as good as the old songs’ continues to circulate! Your Majesty! That is why I am trying to study new folk songs! Since Emperor Won organized *aak* and *hyangak*, only military music has developed! Just as the government should have a balance of civil and military affairs, so should the people’s livelihood have a balance of civil and military affairs!”

“So, you mean that if military music is martial, then new folk songs are civil?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What about *hyangak* and *aak*?”

“*Hyangak* and *aak* are nothing more than a fairy tale to the people in the marketplace.”

At Woo’s answer, Hyeon nodded.

‘There is that aspect……’

*Hyangak* and *aak* were played at imperial banquets and ‘high-ranking people’s’ parties. Therefore, military music was more popular in the marketplace these days than *hyangak* and *aak*.

This was also Hyang’s ‘butterfly effect.’

* * *

Most of the military music that Hyang made Anpyeong create, including ‘Jaeguk March,’ were OSTs [original sound tracks] from famous movies. Since the music directly stimulated the senses of the moviegoers, it was more popular with ordinary people than *hyangak* or *aak*. As an aside,

There were also a few military songs that Hyang and Anpyeong made that were not OSTs, which were variations of the British ‘The British Grenadiers’ and the German ‘Panzer-Lied.’ These two songs were the most famous music among ‘military enthusiasts.’ Through Hyang’s touch, the former was changed to ‘Infantry March’ and the latter to ‘Assault Song’ and adopted by the Imperial Army. Later, French people who heard ‘Infantry March’ in Italy tilted their heads and muttered.

“This strangely feels like those England guys?”

English soldiers hired as mercenaries also tilted their heads and muttered.

“This is strangely catchy?”

Meanwhile, ‘Assault Song’ changed from the cavalry’s favorite song to the assault squad’s favorite song. As time passed, it spread widely in the German region through captured Landsknecht mercenaries and Habsburg soldiers.

* * *

“Hmm……”

Hyeon’s face became serious at Woo’s words.

“Do you think it’s a problem that the people of the Empire are indulging in military music?”

At Hyeon’s question, Woo immediately bowed his head and answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Generally, military music is music used in the military to boost the morale of soldiers and make them soldiers. The marketplace is not a barracks, so how can it not be a problem that military music is familiar?”

“So you’re going to step up?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm……”

Hyeon, after pondering for a while, asked Woo again.

“Then how about working under Duke Anpyeong? Duke Anpyeong has requested resignation due to his age. How about learning from him until he retires and then taking over his work?”

“After being appointed as Crown Prince?”

“That’s right.”

At Hyeon’s answer, Woo immediately shook his head.

“It is against the law. As Your Majesty said, the most important of the Crown Prince’s duties is ‘the management of Area 51 and the research institute.’ It is against the law for the person appointed as Crown Prince not to take on this role.”

“Isn’t it something that I, the Emperor, can decide?”

Woo raised his voice at Hyeon’s words.

“Absolutely not! Please consider the work handled in the research institute and Area 51 and the value of that work! It is absolutely not something that should be entrusted to someone else!”

“A guy who knows that……”

Before Hyeon could finish speaking, Woo raised his hand and pointed to his younger brothers.

“Therefore, I believe that it is best to appoint a suitable one among my younger brothers as Crown Prince. How about Min? He entered the Engineering Academy as soon as he finished Gihakdang [school for practical studies], and he is still working in Area 51, so I think he is the most suitable!”

As soon as Woo finished speaking, the third son, Min, vehemently refused.

“Impossible! I just like making and studying instruments! I am confident that I have some talent in refining skills and studying the principles! However, I have no talent in administration! This is also recognized by the teachers and artisans of the academy and Area 51! And I am the third son! How can the third son take over, leaving the eldest and second sons aside?”

At this, the second son, Gu, flared up.

“Impossible! I have already entered the Military Academy! I am confident that I have the talent to handle soldiers and horses, but I do not have the talent to see to all the affairs!”

“Is that what they say?”

At Hyeon’s words, Woo turned his head and looked at his other brothers. At that moment, the Bongbok brothers standing behind Woo took two steps back in unison, and the half-brothers took three more steps back from there and knelt down in unison.

“It is impossible for us to be appointed as Crown Prince when the legitimate eldest son has no flaws!”

“It should not be the case that someone who is not legitimate is appointed as Crown Prince! This will be a seed of chaos in the Empire, so it should never happen!”

At the sight of his brothers refusing with all their might, Woo shouted.

“To think these are my brothers!”

At the sight of such Woo, Hyeon slyly threw bait. It was the traditional bait that had been passed down since Wan’s first birthday.

“You know that the Crown Prince can exercise the right to 인사 [personnel appointment] regarding the imperial family, right?”

‘You don’t like your brothers? If you become the Crown Prince, you can control those guys as you please.’

Woo answered with a resolute face to the bait thrown by Hyeon.

“I know, but this is something that should never be done. All 인사, especially 인사 related to the imperial family and the Empire, must be fair based on ability and skill. It is absolutely impossible to determine 인사 based on personal feelings.”

As soon as Woo finished speaking, Hyeon and the other princes shouted.

“Why is a guy who is qualified enough to be the Crown Prince because he knows the weight of 인사 refusing!”

“Why is someone who knows that well acting like this!”

“Just be the Crown Prince!”

“Why are you throwing sparks at us! Let’s live comfortably! Please!”

“Ah, damn it! I don’t want to!”

* * *

Hyang, who lost the letter with all these details written on it, unknowingly uttered profanity.

“Hoo~.”

Hyang, sighing, sorted out the situation.

“Let’s see… Me, Wan, Hyeon… Hmm… It’s about time someone started to jump sideways.”

Hyang, sorting things out while counting on his fingers, came up with his own solution.

‘In this case, it seems like it would be okay to just give them a dual position and attach people who are good at practical work below… Wait?’

Hyang, who was finding his own answer, suddenly stopped.

‘Wan or Hyeon are not guys who wouldn’t know this, so why?’