Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 361
Episode 361: What increases when divided, work and swearing (3)
The next morning. At the entrance to Gwanghwamun, Han Myeong-hoe stood with a very nervous face.
Han Myeong-hoe, who was fiddling with the sleeve of the coat that the householder had heard, swallowed dry saliva.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “You must leave a good impression.”
Making a hint to herself, Han Myeong-hoe waited for the gates of Gwanghwamun to open.
After a while, the gates of Gwanghwamun opened and the guards were changed. When the door of Gwanghwamun was wide open, Han Myeong-hoe walked towards the door.
“Stand there! “What’s going on!”
Han Myeong-hoe stopped at the shouts of the soldiers guarding the door and announced his business.
“This is Han Myeong-hoe, who came under the order of His Majesty the Crown Prince.”
“aha! “Wait there for a moment!”
A soldier who pretended to know what Han Myeong-hoe was saying immediately entered the door.
After a while, the gatekeeper came out and walked towards Han Myeong-hoe.
“Are you that scholar?”
“That’s right.”
“Please show me your identification card.”
At the guard’s request, Han Myeong-hoe searched his chest and took out his identity card. After flipping the identity card back and forth to examine its contents, the gatekeeper returned the card to Han Myeong-hoe.
“I’ll add a message, so please wait a moment.”
“I understand.”
The gatekeeper disappeared inside the door again, and Han Myeong-hoe stepped back and waited for an answer.
After a while, an eunuch came out, approached the gatekeeper, and asked something. In response to the eunuch’s question, the guard raised his hand and pointed to Han Myeong-hoe. The eunuch who saw Han Myeong-hoe approached Han Myeong-hoe and said.
“Please follow me.”
“I understand.”
* * *
The eunuch, who took Han Myeong-hoe through Gwanghwamun and Geunjeongmun, stopped Han Myeong-hoe in front of Geunjeongjeon and spoke.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
“I understand.”
The inner hall where Han Myeonghoe was placed under the stairs going up to Geunjeongjeon moved quickly and disappeared behind Geunjeongjeon.
When the inner coffin disappeared, Han Myeong-hoe hurriedly refined the royal coffin and waited for the call.
But after that, Han Myeong-hoe had to wait for a while longer.
“Have you forgotten?”
Although she became impatient at the call that did not come even after waiting, Han Myeong-hoe waited, remembering the patience of a person who was patient.
At that time, ministers walked toward Geunjeongjeon through Geunjeongmun. The ministers who were heading to Geunjeongjeon with officials carrying a lot of reports hanging like tails stopped when they saw Han Myeong-hoe.
As the ministers approached, Han Myeong-hoe bowed politely according to etiquette. Ministers began to ask questions upon seeing Han Myeong-hoe like that.
“Are you Hangi’s son?”
“yes? yes.”
“Lift your head up for a moment.”
When Han Myeong-hoe straightened up, the ministers said a word one by one.
“You look just like that friend.”
“If you have a sturdy physique, you will be strong.”
“He must have been standing for quite a long time, but he didn’t show any signs of being tired, so his physical strength must be fine.”
“That’s right. After all, isn’t endurance the best?”
Han Myeong-hoe couldn’t come to his senses as the words continued for no reason other than the first one.
‘What is this situation? Doesn’t it feel like seeing a cow being dragged out to a cattle market?’
“ah! If this continues, I’ll be late for the meeting! “Let’s go!”
“That’s right! you! See you in a moment!”
The ministers, completely absorbed in the spirit of Han Myeonghoe, led their officials and rushed into Geunjeongjeon.
Han Myeong-hoe, who was left alone again, could not hide his bewildered expression.
“It’s not some kind of goblin play…. Oops! Come to your senses!”
While Han Myeong-hoe was gathering his confused mind, an eunuch came out of Geunjeongjeon and approached Han Myeong-hoe.
“Your Majesty wants you to come in.”
“I understand.”
* * *
Han Myeong-hoe, who entered Geunjeongjeon, prostrated himself on the floor and bowed deeply to King Sejong.
“Please bring me a chair.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Sejong asked a question while looking at Han Myeong-hoe sitting on the chair brought by the eunuch.
“Okay… let’s start with compliments. You deserve praise for stepping forward to protect your people yesterday. “You have truly done what is right.”
“No. “It was something any scholar would naturally do.”
“It seems like I learned from a good teacher. So, under whom did you study?”
“I used to be a student of Mr. Taejae.”
Sejong’s eyes sparkled at Han Myeong-hoe’s answer.
“Taejae? “Is he well?”
“I sent you letters every now and then to ask how you were doing, and you seemed to be doing well.”
“Is that so?”
Sejong’s eyes sparkled.
* * *
Taejae Liu Bang-seon lived a turbulent life. While he passed the civil service examination and studied at Sungkyunkwan, his father was implicated in Min Moo-gu’s prison and was sentenced to exile. He was released from exile in 1415 and raised his students in Wonju, but was exiled again to Yeongcheon due to accusations and was released only in the 9th year of King Sejong’s reign.
He was praised for not neglecting his studies even during his exile and was recommended to a government position as soon as his exile was lifted. However, because he experienced the filth of politics with his whole body before he even took on a proper official position, Liu Bang-seon complained of illness and declined the official position.
However, it was confirmed that he was fine through the words of Han Myeong-hoe just moments ago.
* * *
“Hmm… Anyway, I’ll ask you a question. “Listen to the situations I give as examples and tell me your thoughts.”
“yes.”
After that, King Sejong presented various situations and asked Han Myeonghoe for his thoughts. If there was even the slightest gap in the answer, Sejong dug into it fiercely.
It wasn’t just Sejong. The ministers also took turns asking questions to Han Myeong-hoe and listening to him.
Once the pressure interview was over, Han Myeong-hoe was completely exhausted.
Sejong, who was looking at Han Myeong-hoe’s half-fazed face, smiled and came to a conclusion.
“Taejae raised you well. Hmm… I have the ability to understand the before and after of an event and the ability to improvise, so try to get a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first.”
“I am devastated!”
Lee Maeng-gyun smiled broadly and bowed his head at Sejong’s decision. As the other ministers tried to step forward, King Sejong spoke first.
“‘First of all’. First of all…”
The ministers fell silent at Sejong’s further explanation. Sejong muttered without realizing it.
“No matter what, his greed for talent is…”
Hearing Sejong’s words, the ministers quietly raised their heads and looked at Sejong. Although they didn’t open their mouths, they were all shouting the same thing inside.
‘Look in the mirror and speak! ‘Who’s watching who!’
King Sejong, whether aware of the feelings of the ministers or not, proceeded with his work.
“You should first learn practical skills at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs starting today. “After one month, your abilities will be evaluated and an appropriate grade will be given, so do your best.”
Han Myeong-hoe, who quickly came to his senses after hearing King Sejong’s words, bowed down on the floor and shouted.
“I will do my best!”
“Look forward to it. “You can go out.”
Han Myeong-hoe, who again bowed to King Sejong’s words, took a step back. King Sejong, who saw Han Myeong-hoe retreating, called him.
“for a moment. “I’m missing something.”
At King Sejong’s words, Han Myeong-hoe came forward again.
“Do you have any close friends who studied under Taejae?”
Han Myeong-hoe answered King Sejong’s question right away.
“Yes, there are a few.”
“okay? someone?”
“There is Kwon Ram, the grandson of Mr. Yangchon Kwon Geun, and although he is still young, I have a friend named Seo Geo-jeong who is an outstanding literary talent.”
“okay? To submit their details in writing. Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
“yep! “I will definitely receive it!”
“I understand. “You can go out now.”
“yes? yes.”
After hearing the story from the eunuchs, the scent whetted my appetite.
“It’s not some kind of pyramid scheme… Anyway, it would be a relief to break things down like that.”
* * *
The ‘Multi-Level Han Myeonghoe’ that took place in this way changed the lives of many people.
First, officials with documents containing King Sejong’s name rushed to Yeongcheon. The officials who visited Liu Bangshen’s house raised their voices and shouted.
“What a shame!”
Next were Kwon Ram and Seo Geojeong.
“This is going to be a problem for Seo Geo-jeong.”
“What’s the problem??”
“I’m twelve now. “The ceremony hasn’t even taken place yet.”
Heo Jo’s words made the ministers look perplexed. However, Kim Jeom solved their difficulties at once.
“What’s the problem? “Is there already a child named Kim Dam in the lab?”
“I’m younger than Kim Dam, so it’s not a problem.”
“Let’s use Kim Dam as a precedent and skip that part. Can’t we just take them in first and raise them like in a research lab? Wouldn’t it be better if it wasn’t ripe yet?”
At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers nodded without realizing it.
* * *
Those who broke the ban on government officials and those who passed the civil service exam in the northwest region were unconditionally put into local and central administrative organizations, but there was still a lack of talent.
The reasons why the Joseon Dynasty suffered from a lack of talent were complex.
First of all, it occurred in the process of changing subordinates at the bottom of central and local administrative organizations from unpaid volunteer positions to paid unemployment. One of the causes was the vacuum created by investigating past events and weeding out those who were incompetent or corrupt.
Next, although the door to Sogwa was widened, it was not easy to get through that door. Despite the expansion, the passing rate did not exceed 20% of test takers.
Third, as commerce and industry flourished, the number of noblemen and noblemen who devoted their lives to commerce and industry instead of holding government positions began to increase.
Lastly, even those who came through the small department did not all have talent. There were many people who had academic knowledge but poor practical skills. Thanks to this, local and central high-ranking officials had to go through all kinds of trouble to track down smart people.
This was the reason why ministers supported the creation of social democratic schools and middle schools. However, since the Social Democratic Institute and the Middle School had not yet produced results, Joseon still had a talent shortage.
* * *
In any case, Kwon Ram and Seo Geo-jeong were caught in such a multi-step process and were taken to the royal court and received practical training.
The two who received good grades in the evaluation following the training were immediately taken to the General Affairs Department and the Ministry of Education to take charge of practical work.
The officials who were excited about the arrival of a bright talent soon had to cry.
“Why is work increasing!”
As work progressed faster, tasks that had been put off came flooding back.
And one day, when Kwon Ram was living under a flood of work, he turned around when he heard a voice calling him.
“Who is this? “Isn’t it a small hall?”
Kwon Ram turned around and was delighted to see the person whose voice was being spoken.
“Who is this? Isn’t it Jajun?”
Kwon Ram, who saw Han Myeong-hoe, started running with a bright face.
These were two people who had never met since they were suddenly specially appointed to the government. This was due to the enormous overtime that followed the practical training and evaluation. Of course, we were able to meet on holidays, but it was because when it was a holiday, we did our best to rest.
Han Myeong-hoe opened his arms wide with a smile as he saw Kwon Ram running towards him with a bright face. Kwon Ram, who sprinted at full speed and got close to Han Myeong-hoe, immediately performed a double side kick.
Wadangtang!
“Oh my!”
When Han Myeong-hoe fell to the floor after being accidentally kicked in the chest, Kwon Ram sat down on him and shouted.
“Well met, you damn bastard!”
* * *
As the daily life of the royal court was passing smoothly, Hyang received a call from King Sejong.
Entering Gangnyeongjeon in the middle of the night, Hyang entered King Sejong’s room under the guidance of an eunuch.
“Did you call me?”
“Okay, just sit there.”
“yes.”
As Hyang sat down, Sejong got to the point.
“I will give you a choice, Crown Prince.”