Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 389

Episode 389: Small changes. (1)

June, 15th year of King Sejong’s reign (1433, Gyechuk year).

On the way to summer, new posts were posted on bulletin boards in government offices throughout Joseon.

“huh? “Is this a new official document?”

“It would be nice if it was something like an official notice about a discount event from a reseller…”

“That would be great! “It’s been quiet these days, right?”

The people gathered in front of the bulletin board, talking half jokingly and half seriously, began to read the official document.

“Let’s see… eh… ‘Guide to reform of past systems’? “It looks like they are changing the old system?”

“no way! “It has nothing to do with me.”

“That’s right. “I’ll give you a discount event at the retail store.”

Most of the people who checked the title soon lost interest and left. However, there were quite a few people standing there and staring at the bulletin board.

Most of those who concentrated on the bulletin board were noblemen and a few women.

“Change again?”

“It’s been about 10 years since I changed it, so isn’t it time to change it?”

The reactions of the noblemen who read the contents of the bulletin board were cynical.

On the contrary, there were some who expressed their indignation.

“Hehe… If education is a hundred years old, the past is five hundred years old….”

“This is not Jobyeonseokgae (朝變夕改 repairing things in the morning and evening. A metaphor for the inconsistency of work). …”

Among those who spoke like this, except for those who reacted cynically, the faces of the other noblemen were filled with earnestness.

‘There’s not much time left!’

This was because children who had completed their studies at social democratic schools and middle schools within three years, which could be as long as two years at the shortest, would emerge as new competitors.

* * *

As I said before, the Joseon Dynasty’s nobility – to be more precise, the literary and noble class – were desperately looking for a way out at a crossroads of choice.

Due to the Giyu Rebellion, a large number of noblemen were purged, and as the number of local noblemen decreased, their influence on society was greatly reduced.

The local nobles, whose numbers and influence were greatly reduced, were largely divided into three categories.

One was ‘Toho caught in the past’.

The tax exemption benefits that had been available since the founding of Joseon disappeared, and economic power decreased due to the damn system of progressive taxation, but the enormous amount of land owned still guaranteed a prosperous life.

Based on this land, they were turning into a more extreme fundamentalist conservative force than anyone else.

These were the people who reacted cynically after reading the official document.

The second group were those who actively wanted to participate in public affairs.

These were people who had less financial resources than the first group and chose to go to work as a means of survival.

However, as mentioned before, they had to make desperate efforts because they were suffering from a personnel shortage and the selection of talent was difficult due to coordination and Sejong.

In order to get elected, they did their best not only by taking the civil service exam but also by posting appeals.

The third group were those who chose a ‘new path’.

As the economy progressed, they saw the explosive growth of commerce and industry and committed themselves to becoming capitalists or managers.

* * *

Those who read the official document with such earnest faces sighed heavily.

“Ha~. After all, the door is being opened even to women….”

“I thought it would have to be at least a few more years….”

Their eyes were fixed on the ‘eligibility to take the exam.’

Eligibility for application: Men and women with an education of at least a social school or middle school.

– Supplementary Provisions:

Those who have not completed the Social Ministries School and the Middle School will be permitted to apply only to those who have received certification through the qualification examination to be held soon. –

The application of

Supplementary Provision (B) and Supplementary Provision (A) shall be suspended for the next two years.

Due to this item, noblemen who read the post said, ‘I don’t have time.’ This made me even more aware of this.

‘I have to pass the exam within the next two years!’

With eyes full of urgency and earnestness, the noblemen read the next item.

Application Procedure.

-Written test on the

1st Four Books and Pentateuch.

A total of 30 questions will be answered in a multiple-choice format.

You must answer at least 25 of the 30 questions correctly to pass.

Industry-academia test.

Solve 20 questions in a choice-answer format.

To pass, you must answer at least 17 out of 20 questions correctly.

-Available for those who passed

the 2nd and 1st rounds.

You must choose one of the three topics suggested by the examiner and write an essay.

Those who pass the 1st and 2nd rounds will receive the rank of Jong 9.

Assignment of work place.

Apply superimposed agent (avoid placement in fat with ointment).

– Supplementary Provision A.

Applies equally to both men and women.

– Supplementary provisions.

Additional points are given to those who volunteer in foreign countries such as the North and Daeseol Island.

– Supplementary provisions.

Those who volunteer for foreign positions are given priority over those who have mastered horsemanship or archery.

“huh?”

Everyone tilted their heads when they saw the final supplementary provisions regarding work location assignment.

“Wasn’t this a liberal arts course?”

While they were tilting their heads, some who had heard the related rumors nodded.

“I heard that working abroad is difficult…”

* * *

Among those who read the post, there were a few women.

“I read it all. “Let’s go.”

When the woman wearing a veil and reading the bulletin board turned around with her horse, the female servant who was with her quickly followed behind and asked.

“Miss, are you really going to see the past?”

“Isn’t that why you came to the government office in broad daylight?”

According to the laws of Joseon, women of noble merchants who were not commoners were not allowed to go out in broad daylight. (Note 1)

However, due to the problems of farming and other livelihoods, the current situation was to show a certain degree of flexibility.

“If women start going out to work, the curfew law will change.”

“Is the law the problem now? “I am worried that the Lord will immediately issue an order against us.”

The woman responded with a small smile to the servant girl’s whining.

“Gannan. “The world is changing.”

* * *

“A woman from a wealthy family is walking down the street in broad daylight! “Do you really have thoughts?”

Jinsa Ahn, reputed to be the wealthiest person in Pyeongtaek County, stood in the main hall and shouted.

The eldest daughter, Munhye, took off her veil and confidently responded to Jinsa Ahn’s shouting.

“I went to the government office because I heard that there was an official document regarding the civil service examination to be carried out this time.”

“Are you really saying you want to look at the past? Huh! “Is there such a thing as this?”

Unlike Jinsa Ahn, who kept saying things like it was absurd, Munhye still insisted on her opinion with a confident voice.

“father. “The world has been changing since His Majesty the Lord introduced the Sutra.”

“Even if the world changes, there are laws that must be followed!”

“The princesses, who are the precious daughters of Your Majesty the Lord, are also learning medicine, learning industry and academia, and working as officials. “Is there any distinction between men and women when it comes to using what you have learned and learning to help the country?”

“Eng!”

Jinsa Ahn, who was at a loss for what to say in response to Munhye’s sharp answer, turned around in disgust.

After ending their heated argument, Munhye let out a long sigh as soon as she entered her room.

“Whoa~. “At least I can breathe thanks to the princesses moving first.”

As the princesses who moved first showed decent performance, women were able to gradually advance into society.

Of course, in the lower classes, including most farm households, women actively engaged in outside activities. However, this was a desperate struggle for survival, and Joseon society made it impossible for the middle class and above.

Therefore, starting this year, it was truly a revolution for women to be allowed to stare at the past.

Munhye, who was sitting down and reading an industry-academia book, suddenly got up from her seat.

“You said you get extra points if you volunteer for a foreign job, right? And they said that if you want to go to a foreign country, you have to be good at magic or archery…”

Munhye, who was briefly recalling her memories, lowered the bow that was hanging on one side and used the bow she had released.

“Gannan! Let’s go to the archery range! “Get ready!”

“Yes Miss!”

While the female servant was diligently preparing the food, Munhye, who had prepared the bow and bow, muttered softly.

“Shouldn’t you be a party boss when it comes to running for office?”

* * *

“What is it?”

Munhye was shocked when she arrived at the archery site. This was because more women than usual came out and drew bows.

And many of them were girls of similar age.

“These bitches… they’re jumping at everything…”

Moonhye seemed to know why the girls came out to the archery field.

It seemed clear that they came with similar thoughts as Munhye.

Munhye, who was looking at the girls who were actively protesting, took a seat next to one girl. She was the daughter of a family that was fiercely competitive with her own family and each other.

“Why is it that a kid who barely looks like a librarian is coming to the archery range?”

The girl smiled and responded to Munhye’s words.

“And you? I heard you haven’t even read the Zhou Bishan Classic (a mathematics book published in the Song Dynasty) properly yet? ah! So you came? yes. With your skills in industry and academia, you wouldn’t even dream of working in the Ministry of Finance and Economy or the Ministry of General Affairs, so a career in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport would be the perfect fit. “If you don’t want to get hurt while running in rough terrain, you need to learn archery properly.”

“hey!”

“why!”

At that moment, the two girls grabbed each other’s hair and started fighting.

That evening, the two girls’ mothers both covered their foreheads and lay down.

“What sin did I commit in my past life…”

On the other hand, the two girls’ fathers made a different decision than their mothers.

“good night! “I will support you as much as you want.”

“Thank you!”

“There is only one condition! Be sure to pass the exam. The girl from that damn family got it, but you got rejected? “Either you get married right away, or I’ll shave your head and send you off as a nun!”

The girls responded to their father’s stern command with cold sweat.

“I will definitely pass the exam!”

* * *

The number of women moving toward the past was greater than expected.

There were two main reactions from their parents or husbands.

One was active support and the other was active opposition.

In addition, men preparing for the civil service exam, stimulated by the unusual movements of women, began to prepare even more intensely.

However, what was surprising was that there were fewer appeals against women’s participation in government than expected.

“Crown, what do you think is the reason?”

Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“Isn’t there already a precedent?”

“precedent?”

Sejong, who pondered Hyang’s words for a moment, immediately nodded.

“I see, there are quite a few women who have already worked as teachers at social democratic schools and middle school schools. Hmm… listen to the scriptures.”

The ministers immediately responded to King Sejong’s words by bowing their heads.

“It is difficult to predict the number now, but it is certain that the number of women entering the workforce is not small, so please reexamine the measures regarding this.”

“I follow your orders!”

Following King Sejong’s orders, ministers reexamined related policies.

-We will make every effort to provide official residences for those who entered the civil service but were unable to afford a home due to limited family income.

-If a couple enters the office at the same time, the issue of assignment location is handled as follows.

the former. Both spouses are assigned to the same assignment.

second. The place of appointment is based on the place of appointment of the higher-ranking member of the couple.

– A dormitory will be prepared for those who are not yet married. However, since men and women are separated, men and women are accommodated in separate dormitories.

(Shortly)

Hyang, who was checking the alternatives, looked at the dormitory and smiled bitterly.

“The government feeds you, puts you to sleep, gives you clothes, pays you a salary, and beats you to death… Is this the military?”

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture. Night-time curfew items.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0035247