Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 195

Episode 195: Virtue. Part.2. (3)

“Phew~ Today is the end of the day.”

After stretching for a long time, Hyang organized the documents in the office and went outside.

Hyang climbed onto the horse that the eunuch had already dragged and motioned to the cavalry and eunuchs waiting in front.

“Then let’s go back.”

“ancient! depart!”

* * *

“Hmm… It’s quiet and peaceful.”

Hyang, who felt bored thanks to the already familiar horse navigating the road on its own, looked at the surrounding scenery and muttered.

As Hyang said, returning from Area 51 to Gyeongbokgung Palace was peaceful.

* * *

After the Malboki incident, there were several fights (complaining of grievances by hitting gongs or gongs). However, as ministers pointed out that there could be a safety problem if something like that were to happen when King Sejong was out of town, a new window to receive complaints was created.

As a new window for receiving complaints was created, the thing that had the greatest impact was the ‘Prohibition of Complaints by Citizens’ Complaints Act’.

‘The people cannot sue the local magistrate who governs them.’ There have been a series of appeals petitioning for the abolition of the Citizens’ Complaint Prohibition Act.

‘Even if the inspectors are at fault, they cannot be made aware of it, so please abolish the law!’

Appeals with similar content continued to come up, but Sejong never accepted those opinions.

“The sage said, “The military unit is one!” Local officials are people who go out to carry out the will of the Gwain! “Just as it is wrong for children to criticize their parents, it is also wrong to criticize them!”

Every time an appeal came up, King Sejong refused, saying the above.

The reason King Sejong strongly opposed this was because he believed that allowing residents to sue was a weakening of royal power.

The vast majority of those who could write such records were local noblemen.

The biggest reason why local noblemen used cattle was to protect their own interests by weakening the power of local officials.

In this way, the ‘Prohibition of Civil Complaints Act’, which was protected by King Sejong’s strong will, gradually became less effective as the reform progressed.

Hojo’s monopoly office, which was deployed at least to the military level, was a major institution that kept local officials in check in addition to its assigned duties.

Copies of the family register and land register assigned to local government offices had to be made and stored in the monopoly office.

In addition, regular inspections were conducted every year to check whether the contents of the family register and land register held by the two organizations were the same.

Another reason was that the power of the local noblemen greatly declined due to the Giyu Rebellion that took place last year.

In the end, in the year of Gyeongsul, King Sejong officially abolished the ‘Act on Prohibition of Complaints’.

“It is the king’s duty to listen carefully to the people’s appeals, and it is natural to do so. However, I will definitely hold you guilty of deceiving the king by falsely accusing local officials for your own gain.”

King Sejong, who posted a proclamation throughout Joseon, established an independent department to receive civil complaints at the official residence of each governor.

When this department received a civil complaint, its mission was to immediately copy it into two copies and send one copy to the provincial governor and the other to Hanseong.

Additionally, those who filed complaints were always given a receipt with the date recorded.

The inspector who received the complaint in this way reviewed the contents of the complaint, made an appropriate ruling, and reported the results to the complainant and Hansung.

If the complainant could not accept this result, he or she could come directly to Hanseong and appeal.

At this time, the first thing that those who received this appeal in Hanseong checked was the receipt brought by the appellant.

Officials at the reception desk checked reports from local areas using the date and civil complaint number recorded on the receipt.

If there was an omission during this process, it was a serious crime that could cost the observer his or her head.

If everything was in order, the appellant’s appeal was immediately sent to King Sejong and the ministers.

Then, the opinions of King Sejong and the ministers were coordinated and an answer was reached.

And once it got to this point, the appellant accepted whatever the outcome was.

It was a ruling made by the king.

It was natural that the breath of incense touched this entire process.

In the 21st century, the possibility of fraud was greatly reduced by adding the most basic double check process.

Of course, when the county first presented the agenda, the ministers opposed it, saying it would place a burden on officials.

However, King Sejong accepted Hyang’s opinion as is.

“Officials may say it is difficult, but it is right to implement it because it will lessen the resentment of the people.”

Thanks to this, the people commuting to and from work in the village became quiet as people who argued with each other and argued with each other disappeared.

* * *

Because I got off work late, the streets of Hanseong were quiet at night.

Hyang, who was looking at the quiet street, turned his head and spoke to the eunuch following him.

“It’s so lonely. “Wouldn’t it be fun if someone showed up and blocked the road at a time like this?”

In response to Hyang’s words, the eunuch spoke the truth without even realizing it.

“This will never happen! “Huh!”

The eunuch, who realized his mistake, looked at the incense in fear of death. Hyang burst into laughter at that sight.

“haha! yes! It wouldn’t happen if that happened! My pus was so bad! “I’m sorry!”

As Hyang smiled and passed on, not only the eunuch in question but also the other eunuchs and the soldiers of Naegeumwi who were guarding him sighed softly.

* * *

After safely returning to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Hyang immediately went to see King Sejong and informed him of her return home.

After briefly talking with King Sejong, Hyang visited Queen Soheon and repeated the same thing.

After ending the day in accordance with etiquette, Hyang headed to the East Palace with his eunuchs.

Hyang, who was walking to the East Palace, strained his eyes when he saw a young official lingering at the entrance to the East Palace. Hyang, who soon confirmed the identity of the official, tilted his head.

“huh? “Isn’t it Anpyeong?”

Anpyeong, who was wandering around the entrance to the East Palace, immediately approached and bowed his head when Hyang recognized him.

“I see you.”

“What are you doing at this late hour? “Are you sure you’re working overtime?”

“That’s not true.”

“Then I’ll resign. “Why here?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Anpyeong looked around for a moment and spoke quietly.

“There is something I would like to ask you for a moment.”

“huh?”

Hyang looked closely at Anpyeong’s words, which she couldn’t understand. Hyang, seeing Anpyeong’s serious face, immediately took a step forward.

“Let me hear what’s going on.”

* * *

Hyang and Anpyeong entered Hyang’s study and sat across from each other at the desk.

“Please bring some tea for me.”

“Yes sir.”

After a while, Hyang opened his mouth first, with the tea cup that the eunuch had brought between them.

“So what’s going on?”

When Hyang opened his mouth first, Anpyeong let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~.”

“What on earth is going on? “Tell me.”

At the urging of the scent, Anpyeong cautiously opened his mouth.

“I don’t think it’s an example of a nobleman to carelessly criticize superiors, but…” As

Anpyeong continued to hesitate, Hyang was the first to point out the problem.

“Is this Judge Park’s problem?”

“yes.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang’s face also became serious at Anpyeong’s answer.

Since Anpyeong was involved, Hyangdo looked into various rumors about Park Yeon.

According to rumors, King Sejong’s trust in Park Yeon was considerable.

Because his abilities were outstanding, he was scheduled to move from the 5th rank Pangwan to the 4th rank Soyun in the near future.

“What is Judge Park’s problem? “Is there a personality problem?”

Anpyeong, who hesitated for a moment in response to Hyang’s question, finally opened his mouth.

“The field of view is too narrow.”

“Your field of vision is too narrow? “Tell me in more detail.”

“yes. That is….”

Anpyeong told Hyang about ‘Park Yeon’s narrow vision.’

Summarizing Anpyeong’s story, Park Yeon looked down on music other than aak.

No, it wasn’t disdain, it was ignoring it as having no value.

At that time, Joseon music was divided into left and right. The left side was Aak, and the right side was Hyangak and Dangak.

Park Yeon said, ‘This is the only music!’ It is claimed that Gaak was originally music from ancient China.

This aak was introduced from Song during the reign of King Yejong of Goryeo and was used in royal events.

Accordingly, Park Yeon searched through Chinese classical materials to create reference materials, and created Aak music and Aak scores by referencing those materials.

Park Yeon’s goal was to return to the original Aak written in Chinese classics, that is, the Aak played during the Zhou Dynasty. (Note 1)

“Hmm…”

After hearing An Pyeong’s explanation, Hyang looked seriously worried.

‘So… to put it simply, we’re fighting over whether it’s Bu-meok or Djik-meok, but since it was originally a stir-fried muk that could only be eaten in restaurants, it’s the same as saying that neither Bu-meok nor Djik-meok are sweet and sour pork.’

Hyang, who had sorted out the situation in his own way, became even more worried.

‘By the way. This doesn’t make sense… According to what I remember memorizing from my middle school and high school Korean history class, Park Yeon’s accomplishments were that he organized Aak and created the foundation for Joseon’s unique music, right? ‘Is this also an effect of my intervention?’

Hyang, who was increasingly worried about the story being very different from the memories he had learned, raised his head and looked out the window to cool his head.

Hyang, who was looking around like that, fixed his gaze when he saw the roof of Geunjeongjeon.

After a while, a smile began to appear on Hyang’s face.

‘There was that gentleman!’

Hyang, whose face became much warmer, looked back at Anpyeong.

“Park Yeon’s narrow opinion will soon broaden.”

“yes? “Will you come forward?”

Hyang shook his head in response to Anpyeong’s question.

“No, I have no knowledge of melody. “Someone more excellent than me will come forward.”

“Better than you…”

Anpyeong’s face brightened as he pondered Hyang’s answer.

“okay! “Abama is there!”

As Anpyeong’s face brightened, Hyang continued speaking.

“So you go back and do your best.”

“yes!”

When Anpyeong, whose complexion brightened, returned, Hyang looked at Geunjeongjeon and muttered.

“It’s me… I’m a cheat, but the scary truth is that that guy is literally outside the standard.”

* * *

-The Aak from ‘Jurye (周禮)’ is perfectly restored!

Park Yeon, who set this goal and worked hard, immediately reported the results to King Sejong.

“How wonderful! “It seems like all the hard work has been done!”

Park Yeon responded to King Sejong’s compliment by bowing her head.

“I don’t know what to do with excessive praise.”

“So what’s next?”

“yes. “Only aak is used in all ceremonies and ancestral rites of the royal family and shrines.”

“Let’s just use Aak? Are you saying we shouldn’t use Hyangak and Dangak?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Park Yeon asked back with a puzzled expression.

“Isn’t it obvious? Although it has not been completely restored yet, the music of the Zhou Dynasty has been restored, so things that are lower in status, such as Hyangak and Tang music….”

“Your thinking is not right.”

Sejong cut Park Yeon off with a stern expression.

“Aak is not originally a Korean sound, but a Chinese sound. Chinese people would be familiar with hearing it on a daily basis, so it would be normal to play Aak during ancestral rites. However, people in our country always listen to Hyangak when they are alive, so wouldn’t it be strange if they heard Aak when they die?”

After pausing for a moment, King Sejong looked back at Park Yeon as well as the ministers and continued speaking.

“Park Yeon wants to correct the music of Choseu, but doing it correctly is not an easy task. ‘Yullyeosinseo (a music book written by Chae Won-jeong of the Song Dynasty)’ is only a formality. Although we cannot say that our country’s music is all good, there is no need to be ashamed of China. “Can we say that Chinese musicians have become righteous?” ( Note 1)

The ministers nodded to King Sejong’s point.

As King Sejong said, if Chinese music books such as Yulyeosinseo had been properly preserved, there would have been no need for Park Yeon to undertake restoration work.

After that, Park Yeon continued to be rejected by Sejong and had to improve her music.

In another sense, he too began to diverge.

——

(Note 1) The Annals of King Sejong, read in one volume. Park Yeon. Written by Park Young-gyu, published by Woongjin Knowledge House.