Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 376
Episode 376: Interlude skit (2)
Choi Man-ri, who was lured by King Sejong, began attending the meeting the next day.
Jeongeumcheong (正音廳) had been allocated one of the buildings added to the Record Center.
Therefore, Choi Man-ri’s face became even more gloomy as he crossed the threshold of the Record Center to go to Jeongeumcheong.
“Was there any other place than here?”
A low-level official from Jeongeumcheong answered Choi Man-ri’s question.
“Yes, as the coordination system has changed and the number of people has increased, we have run out of space.”
“Jiphyeonjeon….”
Choi Man-ri, who was trying to say ‘Jiphyeonjeon’, could not finish his sentence. Many people, including myself – to be honest, almost everyone – were laid off, but the staff was filled.
And it was in a situation where its nature had changed and it existed as a specialized policy research institute.
In the end, Choi Man-ri took a long sigh and walked away.
“Where should I go?”
“Here it comes.”
Choi Man-ri continued to mutter quietly as he followed behind the junior official who was ahead of him.
“Why… why…”
* * *
“Huh…”
Choi Man-ri sighed longingly as he entered the building with the signboard ‘Jeongeumcheong’, which clearly looked like it had just been built.
The interior of the large building, with a passageway between the outer and inner walls consisting of sliding doors and pillars covered with glass windows, wrapped around the building on all sides, was wide open with nothing blocking the view other than the pillars supporting the roof.
“It looks like it’s at least 8 feet long (approximately 24m)…”
A low-level official immediately responded to Choi Man-ri’s words.
“There are exactly 9 pieces (about 27m) from the eastern inner wall to the western inner wall. “If you add the passage and exterior walls, it is 10 pieces (about 30m).”
“Whoa~.”
Choi Man-ri sighed again and looked around the room again.
There was a large desk on the farthest side from the western entrance where I entered. And in front of it, to the west, there were several long desks, and behind the desks, bookshelves stood in rows.
There were smaller desks placed at the western entrance. And officials who appeared to be of similar rank to the low-ranking officials who guided him were standing in front of the desk and paying homage to him.
“Where is my place?”
“Here it comes.”
The place that the low-ranking official guided us to was, of course, the place that Choi Man-ri had expected.
Choi Man-ri, who sat down in the seat indicated, looked at the long row of desks in front of his desk and asked a low-ranking official.
“What is that seat?”
“This is the seat for those in charge of transcribing things written in Chinese characters into Hunminjeongeum…” The
low-ranking official paused for a moment and continued speaking carefully, observing Choi Man-ri’s gaze.
“The position is currently vacant.”
“Vacancy?”
Choi Man-ri glared at the low-ranking official at the unexpected explanation.
“So what do you guys do?”
“We belong to the General Affairs Department and assist with the work carried out by Jeongeumcheong. “If you need data and request it, we will find the necessary data from other ministries, including the Records Office, bring it to you, and provide support for the convenience of work.”
“Ha~.”
Choi Man-ri, who let out a long sigh, looked at the envelope on the desk and then looked at the low-ranking official.
“What is this again?”
“The eunuch brought this to me this morning. It is a business order given by His Majesty the Lord.”
Hearing the words of a low-ranking official, Choi Man-ri refined his clothes, straightened his posture, and opened the envelope.
* * *
“….”
Choi Man-ri opened the envelope and checked King Sejong’s work instructions and gaped.
-Recruit staff as quickly as possible. For this purpose, personnel and appointment rights are granted temporarily.
However, when exercising personnel rights, personnel transfers can only be made with the consent of the head of the original ministry. This does not apply to appointments.
-First of all, the law codes, including the Joseon Gyeonggukjeon, will be transferred to Hunminjeongeum.
However, sentences that have been interpreted (translating Chinese characters into Korean) should be easy. The level of ease should be such that even those who have barely learned Hunminjeongeum can understand it without difficulty.
In addition, language and interpretation must not only interpret the law, but also interpret precedents.
-At the same time as the interpretation of the law code, the interpretation of the ‘Samgyanghaengsildo’ used in the Social Democratic Institute is carried out. The period for teaching Hunminjeongeum at Social Minhakdang begins in the fall semester of next year, so language comprehension must be completed at least two months in advance.
-After completing the above process, proceed with the interpretation of the Four Thirteen Classics.
However, in the case of the Four Thirteen Classics, the private sector will be ordered to prepare a copy of the translation starting 5 years after the promulgation of Hangul. Afterwards, the Jeongeumcheong and private translations will be compared and the one evaluated as superior will be adopted as the official version.
-At the same time as the interpretation of the Four Books and Thirteen Classics, the interpretation of military law books such as Nongsa Direct Commentary, Hyangyakjipseongbang, and Sun Tzu’s Art of War is conducted.
-Once the progress of the above-mentioned work exceeds the majority, production of the translated version of the autobiography begins.
-An autobiography is not simply a translation of Chinese characters, but also records dialects from all over the country and writes them together. This is so that anyone throughout Joseon can easily understand.
-If necessary, you can start with the translation of the Chinese dictionary as soon as you finish interpreting the law code and textbook.
At the end of the instruction sheet, which contained a huge number of instructions, it was written as follows.
I (余) believe in Gyeong’s ability and reputation and expect good results. I hope that your name will be honored in the history of Joseon.
* * *
Choi Man-ri, who was blankly studying the work instructions with his mouth open, let out a long sigh.
“Whoa~. “Can I finish it before I die?”
It was a volume that made me feel dizzy just reading it.
Choi Man-ri, who was looking at the work orders and empty seats, asked the junior official who was still standing next to him.
“I said it was to assist with work, but is it possible to be dispatched?”
“You can use it if you need it.”
“I understand. Let’s go back to our seats. “Call me if you need anything.”
“yes.”
Choi Man-ri, who sent the low-ranking official away, crossed his arms and glared at the work instructions. Choi Man-ri, who had been staring at the paper for a long time with his lips tightly bitten, shook his head and uncrossed his arms.
“I can’t help it…”
Choi Man-ri muttered softly as he placed the papers on one side in front of him and stamped ink with a gold pen.
“I’m sorry… but I can’t be the only one who dies, can I?”
* * *
A few days later, dispatchers arrived at the homes of Jiphyeonjeon bachelors who had been dismissed and had left their homes.
“This is from Commissioner Jeongeumcheong.”
“Director Jeongeumcheong? “Who is that?”
“Captain Choi Man-ri.”
“Daejehak sent you? “No, when did you become the head of the Jeongeum Office?”
The bachelors who received the letters from Pabal entered the room and opened the envelopes.
The contents of the letter contained in the envelope were simple.
-Please come back to Hanseong and help me.
“huh?”
* * *
After Choi Man-ri received a rescue request, a significant number of bachelors packed their bags and came to Hanseong.
“Daejehak is asking for help, so we should go! cancer! “I have the loyalty of a nobleman!”
However, there were many people who did not respond even after receiving Choi Man-ri’s letter.
“joy! “I will not listen to the words of the person who defeated the noble family’s faithfulness!”
Those who were so stubborn soon had to receive the royal decree sent by King Sejong.
“What a shame!”
The bachelors who rushed out at the shout of the propaganda officer refined their clothes and received King Sejong’s orders.
The content of King Sejong’s message was as concise as Choi Man-ri’s.
Immediately respond to Choi Man-ri’s request. The favor ends here.
In the end, even the bachelors who refused until the end had to get their heavy butts off the floor and move.
* * *
The first task of the Jiphyeonjeon scholars who gathered again at Jeongeumcheong was to learn Hunminjeongeum. As expected, he did not just get the title of Master of Jiphyeonjeon, but he was able to use Hunminjeongeum fluently within three days of receiving training.
When preparations were completed, Choi Man-ri spoke to the students.
“Let’s begin now.”
No sooner had Choi Man-ri finished speaking than lower-level officials in charge of work support came in carrying a huge amount of books.
Choi Man-ri, who saw the huge amount of books that kept coming in, was surprised and said to the lower-ranking officials.
“For now, I only plan to explain the law! So, please bring only those related to the law!”
The official who first guided Choi Man-ri came forward and responded to Choi Man-ri’s words.
“All the things coming in now are related to the law code. Joseon Gyeongguk Jeon (朝鮮六典) National Constitution (國憲) Economic Literature (經濟文鑑) Gyeongguk Yukjeon (經國六典) Economic Yukjeon (經濟六典) Quick Yuk Jeon (續六典) Economic Yuk Jeon (經濟六典) “The legal codes of the 續集詳節, the rapid training of the six books, the registration of the training of the six books, and the new economic training of the six books, as well as records of rulings recorded after the founding of the country.”
In response to the official’s explanation, Choi Man-ri and the students swore profanity without realizing it.
“Damn it….”
“Damn it….”
* * *
In this way, Choi Man-ri and the bachelors worked fiercely on the language.
The linguistic work carried out by Choi Man-ri and his scholars was a war. Fierce arguments often broke out over how to interpret sentences written in Chinese characters.
It was so intense that yesterday’s friends became today’s enemies and tomorrow they became friends again.
However, as time went by, the bachelors reached the stage of being human translators, as Hyang put it, who enjoyed their work.
While they were working on the language, the bachelors began to slowly become worried.
“Chief Inspector.”
“why?”
“Didn’t you say that the Hunminjeongeum will be promulgated next fall?”
“It did.”
“There will be quite a few people who will rise up.”
“so?”
“If we are all in good hands and a new person comes in, won’t things become difficult?”
Choi Man-ri smiled at the students’ concerns and raised his hand to point in the direction of the records office.
“There’s more to discuss over there. Don’t be so fussy and just do your work. “Shouldn’t we also try something called regular retirement?”
“yes.”
* * *
Autumn in the year of Imja. Lee Jik died.
He was 70 years old.
His last words before his death were:
“It’s a pity that I didn’t get to see the completion of the palace, but it’s nice to be able to rest in peace now.”
Hyang came to pay his respects on behalf of King Sejong, and the eldest son of the merchant, Lee Sa-hu, was greatly moved by Hyang’s visit.
The ministers who had gathered to pay their respects were immersed in their sentiments and talked.
“It’s starting to go slowly now.”
“That’s right.”
The ministers had mixed feelings at the news of the passing of the person who had been with them since the founding of Joseon.
However, they could not know that in the history before Hyang intervened, Lee Jik died a year ago, in the year of the New Year.
It was a butterfly effect created by the intervention of scent.
The ministers who were so lost in sentiment soon returned to reality.
“Now that the prime minister has passed away, who would you like to recommend for that position?”
The ministers, who pondered for a moment about Maeng Sa-seong’s question, unanimously pointed out one person.
“Captain Hwang Hee is the best.”
* * *
15 days later, the entrance to Heunginmun (興仁門 Dongdaemun).
Looking at the wide open Heunginmun, Kim Jong-seo shouted with great emotion.
“It’s finally back! Hanseong! I’m back!”
“Be loud, you bastard! “Follow me now!”
In response to Hwang Hee’s scolding, Kim Jong Seo grumbled with a sullen expression on his face.
“Mr…. You always keep talking about me… I think I’m going to resign.”
“That sounds like resignation. mind! “The moment you hand in your resignation, I will send you to either Hamgil Island or Daeseol Island.”
“Captain. Only His Majesty the Prime Minister can make personnel decisions!”
“Have you forgotten that Your Majesty hears me?”
At Hwang Hee’s point, Kim Jong-seo protruded his mouth and followed Hwang Hee.