Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 193

Episode 193: Virtue. Part.2. (1)

As mentioned earlier, in the year of Gyeongsul, Yong received the title of ‘Anpyeong’ and a royal title.

He became independent from the palace and celebrated in his own residence.

“Now I can do whatever I want to do!”

What he dreamed of was to gather a group of clowns from all eight provinces of Joseon and take a tour.

When he was young, Anpyeong, who was bullied after seeing a performance by Sadangpae, made a fuss about becoming a member of Sadangpae.

To prevent this, not only Queen Soheon but also King Sejong took up the cane. But Anpyeong’s stubbornness did not break.

“I heard you can’t steal seeds… What should we do about this?”

In the end, Hyang, who could not see the concerns of Queen Soheon and King Sejong, had to come forward and persuade Anpyeong.

“If you follow the teachings of the princes and masters and achieve academic achievements, I will come out and let you see the shrine troupes!”

Hyang’s advice worked well, and Anpyeong studied hard.

Of course, it didn’t end with just the scent enticing. Every time Anpyeong finished studying the sutras one by one, he called a shrine troupe near Hanseong to perform as a sort of book performance.

Whenever there was a performance like this, the ladies of the palace, including Queen Soheon, also attended and watched the Sadangpae’s talents.

It served as one of the few refreshing things to do in the stuffy palace life with not much to see.

* * *

In any case, Anpyeong, who received the royal title and became independent, soon put into practice what he had in mind.

“You will have to see all the shrines throughout Joseon!”

However, even if Anpyeong wanted to, he could not invite shrine troupes from all over Joseon.

The road conditions in Joseon were still poor. Therefore, the sadang troupes were largely divided into Giho (Hoseo, Gyeonggi-do), Namdo (Yeonghonam, Honam), and Seodo (Pyongan-do, Hwanghae), and within them, large and small groups were divided and active in the region. (Note 1)

As a result, Anpyeong was still suffering from thirst. This was because all the famous shrine troupes in the Giho region were invited to see them, but they were not able to see other regions.

“If they can’t come, shouldn’t I just go? Haven’t we already achieved independence?”

Anpyeong, who had made up his mind, immediately packed his bags and started looking for the shrine members.

When Anpyeong moved like that, the person who felt the most pitiful was his wife, Lady Yeongil Jeong.

This was because not long after the wedding, her husband left home and she had to live the unexpected life of a widow.

* * *

Anpyeong’s antics immediately caught the ears of King Sejong.

“my. “This guy!”

As soon as he received the report, King Sejong immediately sent someone to call Anpyeong. However, when it was reported that King Sejong had gone to the South Island to see a Sadangpae performance, King Sejong immediately sent a dispatch to Jeolla Barracks.

-Send Anpyeong to Hanseong as soon as you find him!

-Send the person with a strict escort to prevent any possible danger.

The true meaning of the second order was well known to both King Sejong, who sent the dispatch, and Byeongma Jeoldosa, who received it.

– That bastard! It might leak to the side, so tie it tightly and send it away!

Jeolla Byeongmajeoldosa, who received the dispatch from King Sejong, sighed.

“Whoa~. They say that the most difficult farming in the world is child farming…”

Anyway, it was a famous name. Byeongmajeoldosa gathered his subordinate commanders and delivered a command.

“Immediately release the soldiers and find Prince Anpyeong!”

“yes!”

Ten days after receiving the order, Anpyeong’s new recruits were secured. After receiving the report, Byeongmajeoldo smiled slightly and looked at Junggun.

“They say our land in Joseon is small, but I guess that’s true.”

“That’s right.”

“As soon as the great army arrives, let’s attach an escort and have them go to the capital.”

* * *

In this way, Anpyeong had to move up to Hanseong. Of course, many cavalrymen surrounded Anpyeong and his servants in the name of ‘guard’.

“This is Won…”

Anpyeong clicked his tongue in disappointment, but there was nothing he could do. The servant who was moving next to him turned white and was trembling as Hanseong got closer.

“Have you suffered from malnutrition? “Why are you shaking so much?”

“Captain Nari! “Aren’t you even afraid?”

“Why are you so scared… just…”

Anpyeong’s face, which had seemed like it was nothing at the servant’s words, became serious.

‘Wait… did you say it was a nickname?’

Anpyeong, whom Byeongma Jeoldo had called his name, realized that it was a crisis situation.

‘I think I walked around a bit too much.’

Anpyeong, who sensed that King Sejong would be greatly disturbed if he returned to Hanseong, looked at the servant.

“Seeing how your body is shaking, it looks like you have an illness.”

“yes? “Are you okay?”

“Shh!”

Anpyeong, who urgently told the servant to be quiet, whispered softly.

“You are suffering from malnutrition. Do you understand? “It’s definitely a case of academic malnutrition.”

“yes? Yes…”

At Anpyeong’s words, the servant had no choice but to nod his head.

As soon as he entered Hanseong, Anpyeong selected one of the cavalry guards and sent him to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

-The servant who accompanied him suffered from malnutrition. Since there is a risk of infection, I will check the situation for a few days before entering the palace.

Anpyeong, who sent the above message through the cavalry, turned his horse toward his residence.

“You worked hard to get here, so I’ll treat you to a treat. “Let’s go to my house together.”

“yes? If that’s the case…”

The cavalry commander nodded with a bright smile on his face.

Because of the command to come to Seoul as quickly as possible, I had to sleep on the street and eat dry food on my way up.

However, in name and appearance it was a great treat. Even if it wasn’t all delicacies, I would be treated to a pretty decent meal.

When Anpyeong and the cavalry were heading to Prince Anpyeong, Pabalma, who had been sent to Gyeongbokgung Palace, returned.

“This is an order issued directly by His Majesty the Lord!”

Anpyeong, who received the seal politely presented by the cavalryman, broke the seal and took out the seal inside.

After reading the contents of the letter, Anpyeong let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~. “I have no choice but to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace.”

The brief summary of the contents of the letter was simple.

-Stop talking nonsense and come out right away!

“Tsk. “It doesn’t work…”

Anpyeong clicked his tongue and grumbled, ordering his servant.

“You take them back and serve them a meal.”

“What about Nari?”

“I must enter the palace.”

“yes.”

After giving orders to his servants, Anpyeong bowed lightly to the cavalry commander and said goodbye.

“Follow the servant, eat first, and then move on. “Thank you for everything.”

“no. thank you.”

* * *

“You bastard!”

As soon as he saw Anpyeong, King Sejong shouted.

“What is this guy who became independent and started a family doing around?”

“I apologize.”

“As the great king of Joseon, you waste your time and money chasing shrines when you don’t have enough time to think about how to help the country! “Such a noble bastard!”

“I’m sorry!”

In response to King Sejong’s scolding, Anpyeong had to bow his head and ask for forgiveness.

After scolding Anpyeong for a while, King Sejong came to a conclusion.

“I would have been caned before I received the reward, but it is a pity that I cannot do so now that I have already received the reward and become independent! Order to the merchant marine! “Immediately issue an order to Naesu Byeoljwa (內需別坐) and Gungbang (宮房) to cut the wealth paid to Anpyeong Gungbang by half!”

“Abama!”

When the cost of his virtue was lost, Anpyeong called Sejong in a desperate voice. But Sejong was adamant.

“All the wealth you spent like that is taxes made with the blood and sweat of the people! What a waste of something so precious! It is unforgivable! Go back and reflect and reflect!”

“Yes…”

Anpyeong had to step down in tears at King Sejong’s order.

A few months later, Geomgye reported new news about Anpyeong. Sejong grabbed the back of his neck after receiving the report.

“Oh my! “You damn bastard!”

According to the report posted by Geomgye, Anpyeong was still wandering around looking for the shrine plaque. As the amount of wealth provided decreased, it was natural for people to become poor. In the end, Anpyeong’s wife, Lady Yeongil Jeong, spoke to her in-laws’ family and managed to maintain the household by providing food and wealth.

“You bastard! “Bring it to me right now!”

Hyang, who heard the rumor while working at Area 51, shook her head.

“This is serious…”

Hyang, who was shaking his head, had to get up from his seat.

“It’s been a while since I’ll step out. Still, if you look at the history before his return, he will be a strong shield for my child, so I need to raise him…”

“Soja will solve Anpyeong’s problem.”

Sejong was pleased with Hyang’s words.

“yes! There was a crown prince! “The Crown Prince solved it that time too, so trust me this time too!”

“I will do my best.”

* * *

Hyang, who obtained permission from King Sejong, immediately intercepted Anpyeong at the Donggungjeon as soon as he was dragged in.

“It looks good~.”

Anpyeong immediately bowed his head at Hyang’s short but powerful words.

“Sir…”

“Do you think you know what you did wrong?”

“I apologize.”

“What do you have to apologize to me for? I’m sorry about your wife. I heard that you had to borrow money from your in-laws because you had to pay for the household expenses. “What shame is this great general of Joseon?”

Anpyeong’s head gradually fell to the floor due to Hyang’s reprimand.

“Tsk!”

Hyang, who clicked his tongue slightly at the sight of Anpyeong like that, continued speaking.

“I know very well that you have loved playing sadangpae since you were young. But that’s it. “After watching the sadangpae play, what is left?”

“yes? “What do you mean, what is left?”

“What else is there other than what you remember?”

“That’s right…”

Anpyeong, who was trying to answer, was speechless. While the Sadangpae was having fun and laughing and having fun watching it, all my worries disappeared. But after the performance ended, I was filled with emptiness. Of course, my mind was filled with all the talents and sounds of the Sadang gang, but that was the end of it.

“You are well aware that there are various rumors going around about your behavior, right?”

“Yes, Soje said he would shave his head and enter the mountain….”

“I know.”

Anpyeong just bowed his head in response to Hyang’s rebuke.

* * *

Until the early Joseon Dynasty, shrine plaques had a strong Buddhist flavor.

The word ‘Sadang (社堂)’ in the Sadangpae itself refers to a ritual performed by shamans for the country since the Goryeo Dynasty. Such shrines became steeped in Buddhism after the Goryeo Dynasty

, so if you look at the shrine tablets, the chief priest or chief priest was the center, reciting Buddhist prayers and holding Suryukje. However, as time passed and talent and sound were added to it, its character changed into a traveling play.

Therefore, there were rumors going around not only among the general public but also among ministers that Anpyeong, who was still absorbed in the game of sadangpae, which had a strong Buddhist flavor, might convert to Buddhism.

The ministers’ concerns were also grounded because there was an example of Prince Hyoryeong, the older brother of King Sejong.

Although Grand Prince Hyoryeong did not completely register, it was serious in the eyes of the ministers, who were Confucian scholars, that a member of the royal family, the country’s core leadership, was immersed in Buddhism.

* * *

“I have absolutely no intention of being a part of the grain offering!”

In response to Anpyeong’s protest, Hyang lightly nodded and continued speaking.

“I guess so. Because I don’t know your personality. I’m not worried about that. So…”

Hyang paused for a moment and looked straight at Anpyeong. When Hyang stopped talking, Anpyeong looked at his brother.

‘Your Majesty will give you some answer! ‘

Recalling not only his own experience but also what Hyang had done so far, Anpyeong looked at Hyang with eyes full of expectation.

Looking at Anpyeong, Hyang got to the point.

“Would you like to take on the task of recording and organizing the games and sounds of the sadangpae?”

“yes?”

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore, shrine plaque entry.