Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 606

Episode 606: Opening of Heaven – Controversy over the First Law (9)

Many people were busy working for the historic event of Joseon’s transformation into the Korean Federal Empire.

The Chamber of Commerce, which was in charge of clothing worn by kings and members of the royal family, was one of them.

“We have to make everything new!”

The craftsmen all screamed at the order to manufacture the tops.

“Aaaah!”

* * *

There was a reason why the craftsmen were screaming.

We had to immediately create a new robe and crown for King Sejong to wear at the opening ceremony and coronation ceremony.

Until then, as it was a country that quickly followed the Ming, according to etiquette, it had to wear a crown of 9 types and 12 jade – 9 tassels made of 12 red, blue and white beads. However, because he became emperor, he had to create a new crown of 12 types and 12 jade.

The same was true for Gonbok.

Previously, there were 9 jangbok (out of the 12 symbols, minus 3 of the sun, moon, and stars), but this time, we had to make a gongbok with all 12 symbols.

“According to etiquette, the crown prince wears nine robes, so wouldn’t it be okay to recycle them?”

There was also the idea of recycling to reduce work, but this proposal was rejected as soon as it was made.

“no! The hardships that have plagued me so far are the clothes given by the Ming Dynasty! It is an honorable occasion for our Joseon to free itself from the Ming Dynasty and declare its empire. Does it make sense to wear the clothes given by the Ming Dynasty? And the coronation will take place shortly after the coronation ceremony ends. What are you going to do then?”

“….”

“Shut up and make a new one!”

“yes.”

The problem was that for that reason, building a new one was not just a matter of hardship.

Not only the ceremonial clothes worn by the Queen and the Crown Princess, but even the Dansam had to be made all over again.

This was also due to the reason that it was a ‘bestowal gift from the Ming’.

In addition, the ceremonial uniforms that the Manjo Baekgwans had to wear also had to be changed because they contained patterns and decorations in accordance with the regulations of the fast-moving country.

Thanks to this, not only the acupuncturists of the Sangsangwon, but also all the artisans who made clothes in Hanseong and the nearby Kiho region had to be mobilized.

* * *

After receiving the report, I tasted the scent with a face full of regret.

“I thought I wanted to change everything, starting with the design…”

In one way or another, things like robes and crowns were all influenced by China. In the case of Danryeong and Dansam, it was a combination of the clothes of the northern horse people and the clothes of China. Of course, there have been many variations since it was introduced during the Three Kingdoms period, and it can be said to be a common attire in the East Asian region, with officials from the Japanese court and even officials from Daeyue wearing it.

But what I didn’t like was that I didn’t like it.

“If I really think about it, I want to completely change it like a military uniform… Tsk!”

The scent could not hide the disappointment, but it was unavoidable.

Unfortunately, Hyang had no talent related to clothing design.

In the case of military uniforms, it was the result of virtue, and in the case of riding pants, which are now commonly worn by women of yeoman’s houses, it was a result of being caught.

* * *

It was created in response to Queen Soheon’s request to make something to replace the skirt that flutters and exposes her underwear every time she jumps rope.

“It’s also great for horseback riding!”

Queen Soheon, who heard Hyang’s explanation at the time, looked at the riding pants and nodded.

“You sure look better than Malgun.”

At that time, women had pants called malgun (襪裙) that they wore over their skirts when horseback riding.

It was a attire that women of the royal family or noble families had to wear when riding horses, and there was even an anecdote about people being treated as gisaengs if they climbed a horse without wearing it.

However, as Queen Soheon said, if you only look at the shape of the clothes, you can never say that they are pretty. The hanbok worn by the royal family as well as noble families and women of wealthy households was a typical example of a lower-lower-higher style. There was absolutely no way that pants worn over such a rich skirt would look good.

* * *

Because of this, the scent was unable to hide its disappointment.

“If I look at my hands now, all I see is those damn civil defense uniforms…” Hyang

nodded, remembering the yellow jumpers that all government officials from top to bottom had to wear when a national disaster or something similar happened in the 21st century. shook it.

“But that doesn’t make sense if we go straight to a gentleman’s suit…”

The attire of Joseon’s upper-class men was gradually changing under the influence of military uniforms, especially trench coats and cavalry boots, but it was difficult to jump straight to a gentleman’s suit.

“And because it’s so Western, there are a lot of things that get caught…”

In the end, Hyang had no choice but to wave the white flag.

“First of all, let’s go in the direction of adjusting my attire little by little so that only the clothes I wear are comfortable for me. Then, some interesting hybrid will emerge. A terrible hybrid could emerge… but you can tell when you see the hat, right?”

As Hyang said, the Spring and Autumn Warring States period was over the heads of Joseon men.

* * *

Since ancient times, it was impolite for an adult male to walk around with his head exposed.

Of course, it didn’t matter much when working or with close friends, but when going to a formal event or going a long way, regardless of whether you were a nobleman or a commoner, you always wore a hat.

Therefore, various types of hats, such as chorip hats and bamboo hats, as well as various hats, were passed around.

In history before the intervention of Hyang, foreigners who visited Joseon commented, ‘Joseon is a country of mother and child.’ This was also true during this period.

In this situation, hats that imitated the military hats made by Hyang appeared on the market, and various decorations that matched the hats were sold in the marketplace, leading to the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period.

* * *

With D-Day just around the corner, there were more than one place that was busy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was one of them.

Every day from morning to evening, Foreign Ministry officials came in and out of Foreign Minister Heo Hu’s office without stopping.

“So far, which countries have envoys arrived at or sent messages to?”

In response to Heo Hu’s question, the person in charge hurriedly checked the list and answered.

“The messenger from the Daenae clan and the messenger from Yugu have already arrived, and Daewol Seomra Melaka Cheonchuk has responded that he will send a messenger. ah! “I heard that an envoy is coming from Aden.”

“What about Portugal?”

The person in charge responded to Heo Hu’s words with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Portugal is still at war, so the only answer I got was that they would do their best.”

“Tsk!”

Heo Hu, who clucked his tongue at the person in charge’s answer, frowned and grumbled.

“So why start a war… it only increases work.”

This was precisely the reason why Heohu was complaining.

-Only when trade with the West is done properly will the economy of Joseon be safe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should do its best to find out the situation of the war in the western region!

Since not only Hyang but also King Sejong had issued the same order, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was observing the trends of the war in Africa and Europe by mobilizing as much manpower and connections as possible.

“How many years has it been already?”

“It’s been three years?”

“Is three years not enough?”

“….”

Heo Hu, who had given a reprimand to his subordinate, grumbled as he looked at the map of the world hanging on the wall.

“What kind of situation is this… patchwork?”

* * *

As Heo Hu assessed, the situation of the war in Europe and Africa was a patchwork and tangled mess.

On the surface, there were six countries involved in the war.

Portugal France Ottoman

VS.

Spain Holy Roman Empire Mamluk

However, if you look closely, the six countries above were not all. First, the Italian city-states were supplying military funds and mercenaries to one of the two camps in pursuit of their respective interests.

The Byzantine Empire, which had signed an armistice with the Ottomans, was diligently trying to recover its strength, but it was not an easy situation.

The Vatican was also in a difficult situation.

“You join hands with heretics just for worldly gain!”

They tried to coordinate the war under religious justification, but the people involved did not even listen.

There were economic issues, but there were also issues of borders and securing influence on the European continent.

In addition, noise continued to arise even within Christianity, symbolized by the Vatican.

There was still a war of words between the Pope and the Council, and bloody disputes continued between the reformists, conservative fundamentalists, and moderates.

Those who were divided in this way lined up against either the Portuguese camp or the Spanish camp to increase their power.

This was because they were the ones with the most solid financial power, receiving not only funds secured through continued overseas trade but also support from Italian city-states.

Those who visited both camps requested support for them. Instead, in return, free entry and tax cuts were promised only to Portuguese or Spanish merchants.

It wasn’t a bad thing for Portugal or Spain at all, so they provided adequate funds, which made Europe even more chaotic.

Naturally, those who suffered the most in this mess were the most helpless commoners.

The people, who had been harassed by the lords and the church, began to long for the appearance of a powerful person who could stamp them out.

The first country to react to this movement was France.

* * *

The national sentiment of being ‘French’ was established through the 100 Years’ War.

Charles VII’s situation was also appropriate.

After the armistice in 1444, rebuilding the country that had been devastated by war was Charles VII’s greatest task.

However, the nobles who were against him revolted. In the process of suppressing this, Charles VII was keenly aware of the need to suppress the power of the nobility.

In this situation, the people’s desire for a strong leader was Charles VII’s best weapon.

‘Peace to the people!’

‘One France! ‘One monarch!’

Charles VII, who raised the above slogan, began to put pressure on the nobility and the church. The nobles, who had already had to keep an eye on Charles VII due to the previous rebellion, had to give more and more.

It was a prelude to the emergence of an absolute monarchy much earlier than in history before Hyang intervened.

* * *

Thanks to the situation in Europe, which could easily be called a mess, Portugal and the Ottomans mobilized all their might to attack the North African region.

Against this, the Mamluks and Spaniards also mobilized their forces.

Topographical issues also played a role. Both the Ottomans and Portuguese Spain had the problem of maintaining long supply routes.

Thanks to this, the war continued for nearly three years.

But that war was slowly coming to an end. And it was also evidence that the main role on the battlefield was shifting from cold weapons to gunpowder weapons.

Portuguese infantrymen, borrowing the same combination of pikemen and musketeers used in Joseon, began to dominate the battlefield.

In history before the intervention of incense, ‘tercio’, developed and used by Spain, first appeared in Joseon due to the intervention of incense, and paradoxically, flowed to Portugal.

Hyang, who heard the story through a different route than Mansour, thought for a while and came to a conclusion.

“What do you know!”