Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 521
Episode 521 Roll, roll…. (2)
Wan, the second-generation descendant, and Du and Seul, the princes, turned 14 this year.
* * *
Hyang had a total of 6 sons and 3 daughters through Crown Princess and Emperor Yangwon.
The children born two and three years apart had a unique birth process. Although they were not born at the same time like the Wanduseul brothers, they were born a day or two apart. And unlike when Brother Wanduseul was born, it was an easy birth. There was a lot of talk that this was the result of the Crown Princess and Yangwon Emperor, who had a good relationship with each other but also had a sense of competition.
“This is truly a wonder!”
Ministers and officials repeatedly told King Sejong that he was a knight and congratulated him on the birth of healthy children.
“Thank you. “Isn’t it a blessing for children to be born healthy?”
King Sejong answered the ministers with a happy face.
Similarly, Hyang, who was busy listening to congratulations and responding to them, looked up at the sky and muttered.
“If he was born three times in a row at the same time, it would definitely have been someone’s trick.”
What was interesting was the people’s reaction. Every time a child was born, King Sejong and the royal court held a discount event at the exclusive store. Every time that happened, the people rushed in as if the entrance to the monopoly was about to explode and swept up all the goods.
People who enjoyed these discount events shared these stories half jokingly and half seriously.
“Well… should I at least give it to you to continue giving birth to more children in the future?”
“yes? “For the country to encourage fertility, it is only right for elders to set an example.”
“cancer! cancer!”
“You’ve had nine so far, right? “Wouldn’t it be better to avoid nine moves?”
“Of course!”
They confirmed such rumors by going undercover or through various channels, and as the people began to tell the truth, starting with the eel and the bokbunja, the Hyang screamed loudly.
“What kind of sower am I in the East Palace? And why does the number nine appear here?”
‘The crown prince got angry saying this.’ After hearing the report, King Sejong called Hyang and said just one word.
“Then am I the sower of Gyeongbokgung Palace?”
“….”
* * *
Anyway, all the children born were intelligent.
“They say you can’t really steal seeds…”
Those in charge of raising and disciplining children said this and nodded.
The profound knowledge and outstanding abilities of his grandfather, King Sejong, were admired not only by the people of Joseon but also abroad. In addition, all the results created by his father, Hyang, were beyond admiration and aroused wonder.
The women who were selected as Hyang’s companions were not only beautiful, but their knowledge and intellectual ability were clearly verified during the selection process.
Because they were children born to such parents, their intelligence was enough to be called prodigies.
Just looking at Brother Wan Du-seul, who can be said to be the eldest, he began studying at the age of five, was recognized as having an academic ability at the level of a social democratic school at age six, and was recognized as having an academic ability at a middle school level at age nine.
King Sejong was satisfied with the results, which were better than expected, but he listened closely to the details.
“Are you sure you checked this properly?”
“That’s right. No matter who sees it, they will accept the result.”
“Let’s do it again.”
“yes?”
“I will prepare for the problem, so let’s face it again.”
Due to the firm decision of the village, the official in charge of the brothers’ education, Kang Hak-gwan, had to step back.
Seeing this, Sejong asked Hyang.
“Isn’t that too picky?”
“This is the child and his brothers who will take over the throne of this country in the future. As the author says, ‘The water above is clear only when the water below is clear.’ There is a saying: These children received separate education because they were royal descendants. There will definitely be people who will question it.”
“Shouldn’t such impious people be severely punished?”
Hyang shook her head at Sejong’s words.
“If that happens, they will feel that they have been oppressed by power rather than accepting the result. We must win them over as a result. “If there is no suspicion, there will be no restrictions on the children’s actions in the future, and only if this becomes a tradition can we prevent this country from becoming turbulent.”
‘Well, Sejinyo won’t come out, but…’
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words.
“You are right. Run.”
“yes.”
In this way, Lee Sun-ji and other officials at the institute created a problem to verify the educational background of the Wan Du-seul brothers.
The completed problem was stored in a safe at the institute, and the safe was surrounded on all sides with seals.
And as a control group to objectively determine the level of the brothers’ skills, graduating students from middle schools in Hanseong also took a test with the same questions.
The ministers of the royal court and the noblemen of Hanseong all focused their attention on the results of this test.
* * *
They were students from Hanseongbu’s middle school, which was evaluated to have the highest level of students among middle schools throughout Joseon.
Thanks to this, some local residents not only received private tutoring in order to enroll their children in Hanseongbu middle schools, but also had their children stay in the homes of relatives living in Hanseong to meet the qualification requirement of ‘limited to Hanseongbu residents’. there was.
* * *
As a result of grading the exams conducted in this way, the Wan Du-seul brothers were ranked among the top 10.
“At only nine years old?”
“It is said that blood cannot be deceived…”
While the magnates of Hanseong admired the excellence of the Wandusul brothers, the officials of the royal court began to pay attention to the remaining seven.
“It means the top…”
“If you teach it well, it will come in
handy later…” These were the officials who were eyeing the top scorers with the eyes of a wolf targeting a plump hen.
Through this test, Brother Wan Du-seul’s academic ability was objectively recognized and no one could dispute it.
However, the aftereffects of this test were quite strong.
After hearing the rumor, middle school teachers and parents from all over the country filed an appeal.
-Please let us take that test too!
-This can solidify the prejudice that only middle schools in Hanseongbu are superior! We need to evaluate it nationwide to eliminate disputes!
When the volume of appeals reached a level where they had to be counted by cart, King Sejong made a decision.
“It would be good in many ways if you could objectively know what you have learned. “Those who excel will be more confident and will work hard to learn, and those who are weak will be able to properly understand their shortcomings and make up for them.”
According to King Sejong’s decision, the exam was held on a nationwide scale.
And this became a tradition and became the origin of the infamous national academic achievement test.
* * *
Brother Wan Du-seul, who was recognized for his middle school education, was scheduled to take classes at a higher education institution.
The question was where to receive education.
“If it’s the crown prince’s temperament, he’ll probably go to the Engineering Academy.”
When King Sejong and most of the government’s ministers thought so, Hyang’s choice was a military academy.
“why?”
When Sejong asked the reason, Hyang immediately went into explanation.
“King Taejo, who founded Joseon, protected the people from foreign enemies from the South and the North. Since they are the children who inherited that blood, it would be natural for them to be the first to step forward when the country faces a foreign exchange crisis. That’s why we have to send them to military academy. It is possible to learn martial arts individually, but if you want to start with learning military techniques and learn the mindset of a soldier and how to operate the military, a military academy is the only answer.”
“Isn’t it true that the royal family also needs to learn administrative skills?”
“The military also needs administration, so we can learn together.”
“Hmm…”
King Sejong was lost in thought at Hyang’s answer, and the ministers were secretly impressed.
‘When foreign exchange comes, the royal family must take the lead! What a famous saying!’
‘It reminds me of the Hwarang of old Silla!’
While all the ministers were admiring, King Sejong pointed out the problem.
“Your thoughts are truly beautiful. But I can’t hide my worries. If you go to a military academy and become familiar with the military, you may end up handling everything in a military manner. No, maybe that could be good too. Since the military is the group that prioritizes efficiency, efficiency can be improved when running state affairs. However, if you do it wrong, you can become a tyrant by insisting on top-down behavior in everything. As the military is placed at the forefront, the people may experience hardships. Crown Prince, there is no way you don’t know this, but I can’t hide my concerns.”
Hyang internally nodded at Sejong’s words.
‘As expected, it’s definitely outside the standard! ‘You’re progressing towards militarism and military-first politics!’
“yes. What Abamama is concerned about is definitely a concern. So, after Seson completes the military academy, he will be entrusted with the operation of Area 51 and the research institute.”
“I knew it!”
No sooner had Hyang finished speaking than the ministers muttered in one voice. Hyang glanced at the ministers and continued speaking again.
“When the research institute and Area 51 were first created, a law was made so that the Crown Prince would be responsible for operating the research institute and Area 51. “We will expand this to include three hands.”
“Would the operation of the research institute and Area 51 be helpful?”
“Most of what the research institute and Area 51 devise is for the convenience of the people, followed by the convenience of the military. In the research lab and Area 51, you will learn to help the people by developing knowledge and technology and making things. But the most important thing is…”
Hyang paused for a moment, glared strongly at Kim Jeom – who was just before becoming the left deputy prime minister from the Minister of Finance and Economy – and then continued.
“You will learn the horrors of budget.”
When the words reached that point, King Sejong came to a conclusion.
“You’d better stick to your plan.”
“I am devastated.”
* * *
On the day when the higher education institution where the Wan Du-seul brothers were decided was decided, the ministers who came out after the meeting asked Kim Jeom.
“By the way, sir. Let me ask you something. “How on earth is being in charge of the operation of Area 51 and the research institute and knowing the fear of budgets the answer?”
In response to questions from other ministers, Kim Jeom explained the reason.
“Like all organizations in the government, the research center and Area 51 cannot function without a budget. And all organizations are making efforts to secure even a penny more of this budget.”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
When the ministers still did not understand, Kim Jeom clicked his tongue.
“Tsk! However, the Ministry of Defense is an exception. ‘If it is absolutely necessary for national defense, there is nothing we can do, even if it is somewhat unreasonable.’ It is a daily routine to use His Majesty the Lord’s authority to steal the budget. However, Area 51 and the research institute are places that can easily secure budget even without the authority.”
Hwang Hee asked a question in response to Kim Jeom’s words.
“I don’t think so, but what about the crown prince?”
Kim Jeom shook his head in response to Hwang Hee’s question.
“no. Looking at the documents they submit to secure the budget, I have nothing to say.
How the budget received this year is used and its results. And the governance effect created as a result (Note 1). Tax revenue increased through the governance effect and tax revenue expected in the future.
In this way, they clearly show their results, then write down the plans for next year and the economic effects that the results of the plans will have, and then write down how much budget is needed.
In this process, we create accurate numbers and submit them. Well, there is no corner to cut.
So, if Seson runs the research institute and Area 51 and learns the process, won’t he be able to clearly understand what the situation in Joseon is and how it is changing? If you gain experience like that, won’t things like Songun disappear?”
The ministers all nodded at Kim Jeom’s words. However, Jo Mal-saeng instead raised his voice.
“Look, sir! Let’s get it straight! What nonsense is it that our Ministry of National Defense received more budget from Gwondo! If our Ministry of National Defense received the budget that way, military officers would say at a drinking party, ‘Our main enemy is the Ministry of Finance and Economy!’ Are you going to shout the slogan?”
Kim Jeom screamed at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.
“Let’s take a look at the ledger! yes!”
* * *
Note 1) In ‘Black Enterprise Chosun’, the word ‘management’ is used instead of the word ‘economy’.
Looking at the etymology of economy, it is said to have been established during the Meiji Restoration in Japan when Yuchiki Fukuzawa replaced the word ‘economy’ with economy.
(https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201701171130037294)
The word ‘Gyeongsejemin (經世濟民)’, which has a similar meaning to ‘economy’, appeared during the Song Dynasty, and the Joseon Dynasty officials who were Neo-Confucian scholars used the word ‘Gyeongse’. I am changing this part at my discretion because I think it would be better to use it, so please be generous.