Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 639
Episode 639 Wild Wild North (5)
“Then maybe it would be good?”
Hyang’s eyes were becoming more and more sparkling as he asked the question. Captain Naegeum, who was watching from the side, looked at the staff member who had been asked the question. The staff member was very excited and was thinking of an answer. Naegeumwijang saw Hyang looking at his staff with sparkling eyes and shook his head slightly.
‘Your Majesty, you often make that expression. And every time that happened, someone was specially hired.’
Either way, the staff, whose morale was greatly boosted, answered in a confident tone.
“First of all, we will take four or five gisaengs from this group with good reputations and eight or five other members of our same class and go to the north to begin. “I will also select two or three people who are good at teaching singing and dancing and send them along.”
“Where would you like to start first?”
“If you are looking for the most prosperous place in the North these days, it is Liaodong Province, so it is considered best to set up a military base there. And when the time comes, we bring in colleagues who have been properly taught.”
“Hmm…”
Nodding his head with a snort, Hyang asked the staff member again a question.
“Wouldn’t just being a gisaeng of this group be a bit lower in status? “If I do something wrong, wouldn’t I be treated like a prostitute like you said?”
To Hyang’s point, the staff responded with an expression that said there was nothing they could do.
“The possibility of that happening is quite high. But there is no other way. “This is because it is certain that the gisaeng of the same group will not even give a damn.”
Everyone gathered in the conference room nodded at the staff member’s point.
* * *
In the case of Ilpae Gisaeng, he was famous for his high arrogance. However, if you think about the process of becoming a parasitic gisaeng, his high arrogance was understandable.
I had to rigorously improve my singing and dancing skills at the Customs Dogam, and I also had to acquire enough academic knowledge to be able to study literati and non-fiction. If they became part of a group of gisaeng in this way, they would be mobilized for major events in the country or events to welcome envoys.
Of course, in addition to these official events, sales activities were carried out, but even these activities were carried out by invitation to the homes of famous noble families or high-ranking officials.
And after the creation of a comprehensive entertainment center, he toured the country and showed off his skills, raising the value of his name.
In such a situation, most noblemen and merchants could not even dare to call them. This was not because money was the issue, but because it was a matter of the pride of a gisaeng.
The same was true for Daewoo. Because he was a government official, he was a low-class citizen in terms of law, but in reality, he was treated as a commoner.
* * *
As the topic of gisaeng in one group came up, Hyang suddenly remembered an old thought.
‘I remember what Teacher Samcheonpo said, linking the Japanese invasions of Korea with gisaeng.’
-Just before the Japanese invasions of Korea, an envoy from Tsushima came to Joseon. At the banquet, the envoy pretended to be drunk and spilled pepper, causing chaos. The Tsushima Shinigami laughed when he saw that, and rightly so. Those proud gisaengs and officials lost their minds and created a mess.
“your majesty?”
‘Achacha! I got sidetracked again!’
Hyang came to his senses at the call of Naegeumwiwi and asked the question again.
“Then is it completely unreasonable to recruit a gisaeng from the same group?”
“I think it is impossible. “In the first place, isn’t most of the work that an Ilpae gisaeng has to do in Seoul?”
“That’s not true…”
Hyang nodded at the staff member’s words.
After thinking about a solution for a moment, Hyang looked at the people gathered in the conference room and opened his mouth.
“Among the gisaeng from the same group, are there any who are about to step down or have any ties to former gisaeng from the same group?”
The workers who were looking at each other immediately responded to Hyang’s words.
“There are a few people here.”
“Then tell them to join us and go north together. The job there is to nurture talented girls. So, let’s leave it to them to do the work that the former members did earlier.”
“Are you sure you want to move?”
“Emphasize that if even one or two of the children raised in that way become gisaeng and become famous, the value of their name will increase again. For your information, there will soon be a comprehensive entertainment center in the northern area.”
Milwi’s staff immediately exclaimed in exclamation at Hyang’s words.
“ah! “That way!”
“Your Majesty indeed!”
Hyang’s eyes began to sparkle even more at the reaction of the staff.
‘You noticed it right away? Hey~. ‘Is this unexpected?’
Hyang, who thought he had found talented people in unexpected places, pushed a little further.
“What do you think are other advantages of using that method?”
“….”
At Hyang’s question, the conference room instantly became quiet.
‘huh? Was it too much?’
When Hyang was feeling a little disappointed by the longer-than-expected silence, one of the staff members cautiously opened his mouth.
“Even though you are only one or two gisaengs, the moment you come out, you will become so famous that no one will know you throughout the empire or even within the headquarters. This is because you will make a name for yourself by touring general entertainment venues located throughout the region. If that happens, the pride of the residents of the villages where they came from will also increase. Considering the current reputation of the Northern Territory, even just one gisaeng will play a big part in unifying the empire.”
“yes!”
As soon as the advisor finished speaking, Hyang slapped his knee and exclaimed in admiration.
“That’s exactly what Jim thought! Currently, a significant number of Jurchen people are working as civil and military officials, but it takes a lot of time to produce high-ranking officials. Raising a gisaeng also takes a lot of time, but it takes less time than producing a high-ranking official or a noble family. “For now, it is their home base, but as time goes by and they travel throughout the empire, their existence will soon become a source of pride, and they will even look down on the northern residents!”
‘There are examples of members of famous K-Pop girl groups and examples of famous Canadian hockey players!’
* * *
As the method of ‘recruiting a retired gisaeng’ was decided, the meeting gradually began to speed up.
“For now, it is only in Liaodong Province, but soon bases will be created in major cities in the North. How should we build a communication network to connect them?”
At Hyang’s question, the conference room became quiet again and Hyang started counting in her mind.
‘One, two, three…’
When the count reached over 400, one of the staff members stood up.
“How has it been to create a drinking school?”
“Are you drunk? “Please tell me in detail.”
‘430! That’s a good reaction speed! If you do well, you’ll get some less work!’
The staff member who made the suggestion to Hyang’s command began to explain in more detail.
“If a comprehensive entertainment center is created in the northern region, of course a lot of alcohol will be sold. However, most of it is horse liquor or takju, and soju is a rare commodity.”
“Isn’t that the same as seeing it?”
Soju, made according to a traditional method, was a very expensive alcoholic beverage because it required a lot of work.
The staff member immediately nodded and responded to Hyang’s point.
“That’s right. But the situation is better than in the north. Therefore, if we build a soju brewery near the Yalu River and in Liaodong Province and create a supply chain connecting major bases there, regular communication will naturally become possible.”
“It’s okay. No, it’s a good way.”
After hearing the story, Hyang nodded repeatedly.
‘The chain network that supplies alcohol becomes a communication network, and just crossing the Yalu River is connected to Seoul. ‘It’s okay.’
After thinking that far, Hyang came to a conclusion.
“For Giru and Suldo to establish a plan for establishing a base connecting general entertainment venues and connecting a communication network. Also, analyze and upload the funding issues needed and the issues that need to be resolved. “The deadline is… two days, right?”
The faces of everyone in the conference room turned white at Hyang’s question.
“Only two days?”
“It’s been ‘two days.’ Why is it not enough?”
Hyang frowned slightly at the sight of him not being able to answer properly.
“Huh? What a disappointment. “Where have all the talented people who were admiring me just now gone?”
At Hyang’s words, the executives of the Mill Committee, especially the staff, immediately added strength to their voices.
“No! Two days is enough! “I will come up with an answer that will satisfy Your Majesty!”
“I’m not looking forward to it. “I’m really looking forward to the day after tomorrow.”
“You will definitely be satisfied!”
“Good luck.”
With those words, Hyang smiled and stood up.
“Jaeumwiguk!”
After receiving Milwi’s courtesy, the scent disappeared. As the scent disappeared, the workers came to their senses and let out a long sigh.
“Whoa~. It’s a big problem….”
“It’s a mess….”
Naegeumwijang muttered to himself after seeing the expressions on the workers’ faces.
‘You guys were caught…’
* * *
Two days later, Hyang returned to Milwi’s conference room.
“Hmm…”
Hyang, who was looking at the report submitted by the executives of the Mill Committee with black spots under his eyes, put down the report and began evaluating it.
“Not bad.”
“Whoa~.”
Those who unconsciously sighed at Hyang’s evaluation, soon fell to the floor without realizing it.
“I’m sorry! “Please forgive me for my indecency!”
“It’s okay, please take a seat.”
“Here comes the Emperor!”
When those who had prostrated themselves on the floor sat down again, the full-fledged evaluation of the smell began.
As the analysis continued, many parts were left out and added. The part that was cut the most from the first plan was the part related to gisaeng – more precisely, the supply and demand of gisaeng.
“Unconditionally exclude cases where children are offered to repay debt. Excluding the link to human trafficking as well. However, the sisters must admit it.”
“yes.”
“Exclude women wearing foot bindings as much as possible. “But only if you have talent for singing and music.”
“yes.”
* * *
The meeting between Hyang and Milwi lasted for almost two days. As time was invested, Milwi’s plan became stronger.
“The last thing left is the problem of Jeonju. Hmm….”
After thinking for a moment, Hyang looked back at the executives of Milwi.
“Let me borrow your name.”
“yes? “Do you mean the names of the little people?”
“Do you have a penny or two worth of capital to make the giru and the drinking house? Do you think the National Tax Service will just overlook it? “The moment the name of the luggage or the name of the Naegeumwijang, or even the name of the eunuch or the court lady, is included, the Board of Audit and Inspection will go wild.”
“Ah…”
“So let’s make a top with your name on it.”
“Are you talking from the top?”
“okay. Congratulations, you have become the owners of the empire’s first large-scale liquor distribution and entertainer training business.”
“Hahaha…”
At the congratulations given by Hyang, the executives of Mill Wi made strange expressions and burst into laughter instead of laughter.
One of the staff members who heard Hyang’s dialect stood up and asked a question.
“Isn’t there too many poles?”
“Didn’t I just say that? How to deal with the IRS? If one or two of you had paid all that money, wouldn’t the National Tax Service immediately want to investigate the source? However, if the number is in the dozens, you will think it is a selfish ploy by the gisaeng houses. “You probably think of it as investing all the money you’ve accumulated.”
“Ah…”
While the staff members were nodding their heads at Hyang’s explanation, Hyang hit his knee.
“ah! Great idea! If you register properly at the top and get the basics right, register in the adventure investment safe and raise more funds! Then the financial problem will be easier to solve and disguised as well!”
“ah! “That’s right!”
“That is so!”
In this way, the empire’s first large-scale liquor distribution and entertainment planning business, ‘Juyerak (酒藝樂)’, was born.
“The name is a bit…”
“Unfortunately, Jim is not good at naming.”