Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 391
Episode 391: Small changes. (3)
September, 15th year of King Sejong’s reign (1433, Gyechuk year).
For the first time in a long time, people flocked to government offices across the country.
Applications for candidates to take the civil service examination, which will take place in the near future, have begun.
At the government office of Bu, the central city of Joseon, the head of the General Affairs Department, who conducted the civil service examination, was giving warnings to his subordinates.
“Registration will be accepted for three days from today, so please be aware of this.”
“yes!”
“Well, there was a tiger blocking the road. Don’t do something stupid like make an excuse and accept the humans who come to register later! As you may have heard, last year, Gyeongsang-do accepted it like that, but then the next morning, they were all taken to the record office, right? “You know they can’t come out of there for 10 years, right?”
When the word ‘recordist’ came out, the officials’ faces turned pale. The officials shouted loudly with white faces.
“yes!”
“So take care of yourself.”
“yep!”
“Then go out and do some work.”
“yes!”
The officials, who were very disciplined, hurried to the reception area.
The manager let out a long sigh as he watched the officials heading to the reception area.
“Whoa~. Even though the announcement was made a month in advance, there were definitely people who came on the fourth day and made a fuss, and there will be again this year…” A
month before the law went into effect, notices were posted in government offices across the country, and three days were given to file applications. However, there were always people who showed up after the application period and asked to submit their application.
“It’s not possible this year, so please plan for next year. ah! “Next year, calculate the dates carefully and don’t be late!”
Many people couldn’t hide their disappointment at the officer’s words and turned away, but there were definitely some who couldn’t accept it and started a riot.
And these people were all caught and fined 10 nyang of silver, as well as being banned from taking the civil service exam for 5 years.
* * *
“It’s time for the door to open…”
Many people gathered on the street in front of the government office’s door, waiting for the door to open.
All of them were waiting to register to see the past. Men of various ages, from boys who had yet to put on their topknots to middle-aged men who were bored, were waiting for the door of the government office to open. And in a place a little distance away from the men gathered together, women wearing veils, hats, and long robes were gathered together and waiting for the door to open.
After a while, the side door of the government office opened and soldiers came rushing out.
“Stay back!”
“Step back!”
The people who had gathered in front of the front gate retreated at the shouts of the soldiers.
The soldiers, holding the people back, began using small pillars and ropes to divide the space. A gold cord was put up to prevent people from crowding in at once.
After a while, slaves from the government office brought out desks and chairs and set up a reception desk, followed by officials carrying application forms and stamps and settling down.
“Let the registration begin!”
jing!
After the official’s shout and the gong rang, the people began to move at a brisk pace.
* * *
Thanks to the gold rope, the candidates lined up in a winding line as if they were moving snakes, walking forward step by step as they waited for their turn.
“name.”
“It’s called Hanyangsu.”
“Give me your identification card.”
At the official’s words, Han Yang-soo searched his sleeves and took out his identity card. The official who accepted the identity card asked Yang Su a question.
“Tell me your main residence and residence.”
“The main house is Anpyeong, but now we live down there in Namcheon.”
“Hmm…”
The official checked the personal information written on the identity card and confirmed that there were no abnormalities, turned the identity card over and said to Yang Su.
“I’m sorry, but let’s look at your face. Please take off your hat.”
“yes.”
At the official’s words, Yang Su took off his hat and showed his entire face.
* * *
In the process of making the identity card, Hyang heavily referenced the 21st century resident registration card.
Therefore, similar to the resident registration card of the 21st century, a record of entry and exit was engraved on the back of the identification card every time one moved from one place to another.
Of course, this was closer to the 20th century, not the 21st century, when the administrative network was computerized. In the 20th century, when computerization was not properly implemented, whenever a person moved or reported moving in or out, the rubber coating on the back of the resident registration card was removed and the relevant information was recorded.
“The problem is the photo…”
Since it was an era where there was no surefire way to prove one’s identity, Hyang resorted to other methods.
It was to divide the back of the identity card in half and record the moving-in and moving-out records on one side and the characteristic appearance on the other side.
“It may be nothing more than ‘peeing on one’s feet,’ but we should take the minimum precautions…”
* * *
“Hmm…”
The official snorted and looked at the facial features and amniotic fluid recorded on the back of the identification card. compared the faces of
“It’s you. Now you can use the hat again. “Thank you for your hard work.”
“yes.”
While Yang Su put the hat back on, the official wrote down his name and personal information on the application form and then held out his hand.
“The stamp fee is 80 won.”
“I am here.”
The official who received the stamp attached the stamp to the application, stamped the official seal, divided the application in half, and handed one half to Yang Su.
“Here’s your admission ticket. You must submit this along with your identification card when you enter the department office in 15 days. “If you don’t have this, you won’t be able to get into the department, so be a good guard.”
“yes.”
“Then good luck.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
It was also Hyang’s idea for those who see the past to submit an application and pay a stamp fee.
“Do we need to extend the procedures like this?”
In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang explained the reason.
“This is to prevent any possible corruption.”
“Even if you have a receipt, can’t someone else see the past for you?”
“That’s why you receive it together with your identity badge and compare it. “Isn’t it a serious crime to show someone else’s identity card?”
“Hmm… I see.”
Sejong, who nodded, pointed out another problem.
“But why are you receiving a stamp allowance? At 80 won, it is not a small amount of money. “If done incorrectly, mediation can be criticized as a business.”
At King Sejong’s point, all the ministers except Kim Jeom nodded.
But this time too, Hyang answered clearly.
“This is to make us look at the past seriously rather than looking at the past with a momentary excitement or childish energy. In addition, we will also address the financial costs incurred in the process of preparing and executing the examination.”
“Let’s deal with the past seriously…”
King Sejong, who seemed to like Hyang’s words and thought about it a few times, looked back at the ministers.
“How can the sutras….”
“What a clear vision! Of course, most of those who take the civil service exam have the mindset to go to war and serve the country, but there are always a few who muddy the waters! “It’s not a small amount of money, but it’s not so much money that you give up the challenge, so only those who are truly willing to take on the challenge will accept it!”
Even before Sejong finished speaking, Kim Jeom poured out his words, and Sejong took a small sip and came to a conclusion.
“The crown prince’s plan is reasonable, so please improve it a little more and implement it.”
“I follow your orders!”
The officer who recorded all of this added the following:
-…So the king accepted the crown prince’s plan (readily listened to his recommendations), and all the ministers followed his plan.
The officer says:
In some ways, receiving money from those who see the past can be seen as mammonism. But the problem is that it is not completely wrong. Even when I was taking the civil service exam, there were many people who did not have the purpose of passing the civil service examination but rather wanted to go out to the city and enjoy entertainment.
Some people go to great lengths to pass the civil service examination to save their poor family, but some people do it just for the purpose of entertainment, so these three generations are completely ruined… This
was an officer who poured out harsh words for nearly three pages in an instant.
It was one of the side effects that occurred as I became accustomed to Hunminjeongeum.
Officers who used to write down everything they could or could not say when using only Chinese characters became like a tiger with wings after learning Hunminjeongeum.
* * *
The application process, which had been proceeding smoothly, became difficult as women submitted their applications.
“I’m sorry. “I know it’s not legal, but we have to check your face to verify your identity.”
“Haa~.”
“Huh~.”
Faced with the difficult question of ‘identity verification’, both the women taking the test and the officials in charge of registration could not help but sigh in frustration.
According to the laws of the time, a woman from a wealthy family could not show her face to outsiders.
Therefore, it was customary to wear a veil or a jangot over a full hat whenever you went out.
At the very least, even the gisaengs were in a situation where they were in full danger when they went out on the streets.
In the end, the female candidates had to make a decision to resolve this difficult situation.
“I can’t help it. “But I won’t take it off like other men do.”
“I don’t even want that!”
When the official agreed, the female candidate slightly lifted the cotton thread of the veil she was wearing and showed her face.
When the female candidate showed her face, the official compared it with the record written on the identification card as quickly as possible. If there was a delay, a scandal could spread that he had insulted a woman under the pretext of submitting an application.
“That’s it!”
At the shout of the official who finished checking, the woman quickly took off her cotton thread.
The official who sent the woman away after receiving the stamp and handing over the receipt muttered softly.
“Is this a problem? This kind of thing happens again in the department department, right? “We need an alternative.”
* * *
As if there were more than one person who had similar thoughts, official letters requesting a solution to this issue through mediation poured in during and after the application process.
“Hmm…”
After checking the report posted through Seungji, King Sejong thought for a moment and immediately gave an order.
“Assign one medical woman to each section manager throughout Joseon. “Let medical women take full charge of verifying the identities of female applicants.”
Heo Jo immediately responded to King Sejong’s command.
“I follow your orders.”
* * *
After the application was completed, time passed and the past began.
In the section sections installed in gamyeong (places where inspectors performed their duties) throughout Joseon, mats were laid out according to the number of people taking the test, and wooden tablets and ink trays for writing were placed on paper.
With preparations made in this way, applicants in the past could only bring a gold pen among the Munbangsau.
After completing the identity verification process through officials and medical staff, test takers were given precautions as they went inside.
“You can prepare for the test by sitting on the mat with the number written on the admission ticket! Well then, good luck!”
“Thank you.”
Candidates who passed the preliminary examination and entered the manager’s door looked around to find a mat with the same number on their admission ticket.
“ah! It’s here!”
The candidate who sat down in his assigned seat took a deep breath and calmed his heart.
* * *
After a while, when all the test takers came in and took their seats, the supervising officials came in and compared the numbers written on the test takers’ registration sheets and seats.
Once everyone was confirmed to be seated, the observer came in and took their seats.
When all those who would supervise and observe the test were seated, a soldier with a good voice shouted loudly.
“Then let’s begin the first test!”
The first period of stagnation had begun.