Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 812

Episode 812: The stars fall. (6)

King Sejong’s funeral lasted for 15 days.

“Isn’t the funeral date too short?”

Regarding the funeral, which lasted for 15 days, most people responded that it was ‘too short.’

When King Sejong’s father, King Taejong, died, it took almost four months to inform the people of Taejong’s death and later bury him in the tomb.

Naturally, the people also had to endure considerable hardship during this period.

Weddings and slaughter were prohibited until the end of the Jolgok (卒哭) ceremony, which was held on the first day or the third day (亥日), three months after the death.

That wasn’t all. I was banned from listening to music for three years. The only cases where music could be used were large-scale rituals.

Accordingly, King Sejong and Hyang established the emperor’s funeral period as 15 days through the first law.

It was not only the emperor’s funeral period that was shortened.

Except for the emperor, everyone, regardless of their high or low status, was unconditionally limited to three days.

Of course, it was natural that there was a backlash against the funeral provisions written in the first law.

King Sejong responded by issuing the following proclamation throughout the country:

-The most important thing in holding a funeral is to remember the deceased and control the sad hearts of the bereaved family.

-But what is the current situation? The basic rule for a loan is that you live for six months.

-The problem is that the original beautiful meaning of ‘to hold a funeral as an example’ has gone nowhere and has become a means to boast about the power and wealth of the family.

-What did Confucius Duna mean when he criticized Tzu-yu based on the ancient laws and teachings of sages?

* * *

When Confucius was seriously ill, the eldest of his disciples made a scholar his vassal and had him prepare the funeral.

However, Confucius, who got up from his seat, found out about what had happened and criticized Tzu Chi. According to the laws of the time, only those who held public positions in the country and sat on the throne could have vassals. However, at that time, Confucius was unable to have a vassal because he had resigned from his official position.

That is why Confucius criticized Tzu-yu.

“I shouldn’t have any vassals, but I do have vassals. Who am I fooling? (omitted) Also, even if I cannot have a grand funeral when I die, will I really die on the street with no one to take care of me?”

* * *

King Sejong, who mentioned the example of Confucius, continued his criticism.

-Confucius’s criticism of Tzu-yu was not simply an issue of overstepping authority. He was concerned about the funeral being too much, to the point of exceeding the authority.

-What the old sage emphasized several times is not to boast about wealth and power carelessly. Looking at the current situation, there are many people whose livelihoods are ruined due to frequent overflowing of water during ceremonial rites, so it is appropriate to prohibit this by law.

Because King Sejong’s will was strong and the reason was valid, Samiljang was soon established.

However, this time, there were those who took issue with the emperor’s funeral period.

“But why is it only the emperor’s full moon?”

“Man, do you think the emperor’s funeral is the same as the funerals of wealthy men and women like us? “When you become an emperor, even funerals are political.”

“Ah… but what is pilbu pilbu?”

“Such a stone… ask your son!”

As the people said, King Sejong’s funeral was an extension of politics, especially international politics.

As soon as they heard the rumor that King Sejong was in critical condition, not only Ming and Japan, but also small Asian countries including Ryukyu, Bengal Sultanate, Portugal, Ottoman France, and Florence immediately appointed envoys and sent them to the empire.

Of course, it could not be said that they had come to pay condolences to someone who had not yet died, so the cause given by the envoys was ‘Sejong’s recovery.’

“I heard that Tae Sang-tae has lost a lot of energy. Accordingly, the Sovereign of God has sent his message, praying for a speedy recovery. “I hope the medicinal herbs I brought will be of great help.”

“Thank you.”

The envoys, who had an audience with the emperor Wan and presented him with precious medicinal herbs, soon found lodgings and began to stay there.

Ming and Japan go one step further here.

It was not enough to simply send an envoy, they prepared the fastest ship to their port and Chemulpo and even appointed a proper condolence delegation.

Meanwhile, envoys from various countries staying in Seoul were busy.

He visited the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance to discuss trade-related issues and meet with envoys from other countries to discuss diplomatic matters.

Thanks to this, the gibangs in Seoul were overflowing with people every day.

Envoys did not only use Gibang for diplomatic meetings.

* * *

Countries that have their own scholars working at research institutes have invited scholars to the Gibang.

-It is to comfort our compatriots who are working tirelessly day and night in a distant foreign country.

The envoys who called the scholars and monks with this justification quietly brought up the main topic.

“I’m talking about Dojeonrok. Is it still impossible to obtain those records?”

“Didn’t I already tell you before? Jeonjeonrok is the object that the Empire cares the most about security. “It’s impossible to get the desired grade out of your home country.”

“Is it really impossible? Hello? “It doesn’t have to be the highest grade among those recorded in the challenge log.”

The scholars all asked with puzzled expressions at the envoy’s words.

“Have you not even inquired with the Empire’s Ministry of Education?”

“huh?”

“uh? Ministry of Education?”

The envoys looked puzzled at the scholars’ questions.

The scholars looked at the envoys’ expressions and asked questions with expressions of uncertainty.

“huh? Didn’t you know? About four years ago, the contents of the challenge log and response log were opened to higher education institutions such as technical academies, engineering academies, and industrial academies throughout the empire. “Those who are interested in learning or teaching at the school should do their own research and find the answer.”

“So are there any results?”

“yes. There were quite a few submissions from the institute’s scholars that passed the review process and were included in the response log. Not only that, but there were responses that were even better than the existing responses. Thanks to this, the response from scholars has been positive. “You can encounter very fresh ideas.”

“I see… Then what kind of reward did those who found the answer listed in the response log receive?”

“I was immediately recruited to the research institute.”

“Why did you tell me that now!”

“You wrote it in a letter and sent it?”

The envoys gritted their teeth and burst out in anger at the scholars’ answers.

“That damn thing!”

* * *

All letters sent from scholars and monks working at the institute to their homeland had to be censored.

Those in charge of censorship in the beginning were Muslims who settled in Joseon, such as Hyang and Hassan.

In the early days of the institute’s establishment, most of the letters were sent to Islam and Europe.

Hassan was in charge of the letters going to Islam and the letters going to Europe.

At the time, Latin was the official language in Europe – especially in the academic field – so it was possible to handle the situation alone.

However, as the tasks assigned to the county increased and interpreters who learned the languages of European countries, including Latin, were produced, the censorship work was handed over to the interpreters.

This is where the problem occurred.

Although the interpreters were fluent in the language, they did not know much about the studies covered at the institute.

“Which should be erased and which should be saved?”

“I can’t ask you every time…”

“It’s hard to ask Hassan and his comrades. Those friends are also overworked right now…”

The interpreters, who were worried over and over again, found the easiest and surest way.

-Unconditionally delete all sentences that contain at least one word related to academics!

It was a very reliable method, but there were many things that were missed.

They even erased and sent away all the parts that would have been left alone, saying it was a ‘popcorn scam’ or ‘starting a fire’.

* * *

After hearing the story from the scholars, envoys from each country immediately went to the Ministry of Education.

After hearing the envoys’ request, the Minister of Education looked puzzled and pondered before answering.

“I will report this to Your Majesty and give you the answer.”

After hearing about the situation through the Minister of Education, Wan immediately discussed it with Hyang.

“I want to allow it, but what do you think about the situation?”

Hyang immediately nodded at Wan’s answer.

“I think the emperor’s decision is reasonable. However, considering the value of ‘Challenge Rock’, there will likely be quite a bit of opposition. What answer will you give?”

Wan answered Hyang’s question with a grin.

“If the bait is good, won’t the likelihood of catching a big catch increase?”

In response to Wan, Hyang also smiled and nodded.

The officers and magistrates who watched this scene from the side recorded it as follows.

-… So, when the superior made his decision, he agreed that the situation was reasonable.

The officer says:

I think that attracting talented people by sharing a little bit of knowledge is better than a strategy. The more talented people there are in the country, the more…

“Officer, you are not criticizing me, are you?”

“Oh no!”

-They say you can’t steal seeds….

* * *

In this way, the envoys who requested the Ministry of Education received copies of the challenge record and response record.

“This is a copy of the low-to-medium grade struggle according to the empire’s policy.”

“I am truly grateful for Your Majesty’s decision.”

Although they said so, the envoys’ faces turned white.

‘Why are there so many!’

The envoys screamed inwardly as they looked at the cart full of books.

‘It’s said to be a struggle, reaching a mid to low level!’

Anyway, the envoys who received the Jeonjeonrok called the scholars together again.

The scholars who came after receiving the call from the envoys looked at the records of challenges and responses related to their fields and nodded.

“It’s clear that there are struggles ranging from medium to low.”

At the answers of the scholars from the institute, the faces of the envoys and the scholars who came with them turned white.

“Are you saying this is only a small portion of such a large amount?”

“These are not easy problems at first glance, but these are only at the mid-to-low level of struggling?”

To their reaction, the scholars working at the research institute responded as if it was nothing special.

“Compared to the grades above, it’s not much.”

“You have to risk your entire life just to do horseback riding. No, it’s not just my life, I have to risk my children’s lives as well.”

“Huh…”

The scholars who followed the envoys began to change their expressions little by little after hearing the answer.

‘I want to see a challenge record of a higher level!’

‘How profound would the content be at a higher level?’

‘If I can unlock a higher level, my name will go down in history!’

Meanwhile, the envoys began to get greedy for other reasons.

‘If only I could get a higher level challenge record! And if only I could get the results of that research! There are no people who will harass our country!’

Envoys from Europe began writing reports on this matter.

‘We must have European hegemony!’

In the future, a clear opportunity was created for a bloody war to break out between the industrial spies of foreign intelligence agencies and the Secret Service over the record of the challenge.