Black Corporation: Joseon

The ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ didn’t become essential reading only in Joseon’s rural areas.

Hearing the rumors, envoys from various domains in Japan rushed to Joseon.

In Japan’s situation, where they hadn’t strayed far from the agricultural techniques passed down from the old Three Kingdoms period on the Korean peninsula, the ‘Straight Talk on Farming’ that Joseon began to distribute was a textbook of advanced farming methods that had to be introduced.

***

Citing the example of the ‘Straight Talk on Farming,’ Hyang continued speaking.

“I don’t think there’s a lack of people in Joseon right now. It’s not that there aren’t people, but that those who have learned to write are rare. Ah! To explain this part again, there are many who can read sentences. If we include those who can read characters even sporadically, I can guarantee that those who don’t know characters in Joseon are extremely few. The problem is…”

“The problem is that those who can write sentences are extremely limited. Sigh~”

Interrupting Hyang’s words and summarizing the situation, Sejong let out a long sigh.

***

As Sejong and Hyang said, among those living in Joseon, the number of people unable to read and understand text was very small.

As mentioned before, even the so-called ‘ignorant’ farmers could read several hundred Chinese characters necessary for daily life.

This was to read the official gazettes or various proclamations posted on the walls of government offices, or to check the contents of debt certificates when borrowing goods and to write their own names on them.

The problem was writing. Among those who could read, the number of people who could compose sentences even in Idu script dropped sharply. If we narrow the range to those who could write sentences according to grammar and etiquette, it shrank drastically to a very small number of scholars.

***

“Sigh~ In this situation, can we truly understand the people’s sentiments? No, even putting that aside, can we find proper talent?”

Hyang responded to Sejong’s complaint.

“In about 2-3 years, those educated in the Commoner’s School will emerge, won’t that quench our thirst to some extent?”

However, Sejong’s face didn’t brighten much.

“It seems like it will only make us more thirsty rather than quenching our thirst. The characters are the problem, the characters… Instead of helping talented individuals express their intentions correctly, it’s become a situation where it’s holding them back…”

‘Yes! Accurate situation awareness! Let’s add just a bit more MSG here!’

Inwardly cheering, Hyang suggested to Sejong.

“Then, why don’t we create our own characters for Joseon? Not something that requires knowledge of Chinese characters like Idu, but characters that can be easily written even without knowing Chinese characters.”

‘We’re already on a new historical path anyway! Don’t make it later, make it now! If you create it now when you’re in your prime, I’ll have less trouble later!’

Whether knowing Hyang’s thoughts or not, Sejong slightly shook his head.

“Creating our own characters… The intention is truly good. But it’s not an easy task.”

“The brilliant scholars of Hall of Worthies…”

Hyang, who was about to mention ‘Hall of Worthies,’ quickly closed his mouth. As soon as the word Hall of Worthies came out, Sejong’s face turned fierce.

“Don’t even mention those stubborn fools!”

***

As Sejong’s reforms progressed and Hyang established research institutes, the nature of Hall of Worthies also changed significantly.

Hall of Worthies, which initially was responsible for advising the king and academic research, changed its character to a specialized policy research institution as the reforms progressed.

Their work changed, or rather, was limited to analyzing policies proposed by the king and ministers and presenting improvement plans, or planning appropriate policies based on materials submitted by each department.

However, as things progressed this way, resistance from the Hall of Worthies scholars began to emerge.

“It’s true that the physics research conducted in Area 51 and the research institute is important! However, studying the writings of sages, contemplating them, and clarifying morality is also important!”

“Most of the policies currently implemented by the court deviate from Confucian academic traditions! These policies must be abolished immediately and Confucian academic traditions must be preserved! Practical studies are important, but preserving and studying ancient traditions is even more important!”

The Hall of Worthies scholars who irritated Sejong by advocating for a return to the past went a step further.

“For the people to be comfortable, their food, clothing, and shelter must be stable! For this, we must implement equal distribution of wealth!”

As the argument for equal distribution of wealth emerged again, Sejong pointed out the facts to the Hall of Worthies scholars.

“It was already decided that equal distribution of wealth is unrealistic and empty. So why are you advocating for it again?”

“Practical difficulties are naturally encountered in the process of realizing theory! Although there may be sacrifices, if we continue to implement it, it will eventually take root properly! We must not fear sacrifice!”

At the words of the Hall of Worthies scholars, Sejong became greatly angered.

“Saying not to fear sacrifice is nothing but empty talk! Look at reality when you speak!”

Greatly angered, Sejong conducted a large-scale personnel reshuffle in the year of Sinhae (13th year of Sejong’s reign, 1431) and assigned Hall of Worthies scholars to practical positions.

However, the Hall of Worthies scholars strongly resisted this decision of Sejong’s.

“This is tyranny that blocks the path of speech!”

Most of the Hall of Worthies scholars who resisted like this submitted letters of resignation.

“This is a big problem!”

“Indeed it is!”

Surprised by the mass resignation of Hall of Worthies scholars, the ministers busily went back and forth between Sejong and the scholars, trying to calm the situation.

“Your Majesty, they are still young. It’s something they did unable to overcome their youthful passion, they will soon reflect on their actions. Please give them some time.”

“Listen, you all! Why are you so hasty? Isn’t it good to refine your theories while seeing practical matters?”

The ministers went back and forth busily, but Sejong and the Hall of Worthies scholars remained at a standstill.

“Youthful passion? What they’ve done is trying to coerce me based on their meager knowledge!”

“Hmph! I cannot just overlook such tyranny!”

“Watch your mouth! Have you forgotten whose bloodline His Majesty carries?”

In the end, Sejong approved all the resignation letters submitted by the scholars. And then he issued a royal command.

“Those whose resignations have been processed this time will never be allowed to enter official service again, and they are also forbidden from submitting petitions for life! This measure applies to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as well!”

If the strict regulations related to scholars that had been implemented through the reforms and the Giyu Rebellion were applied, they would not be called scholars for at least 100 years.

After this commotion, Hall of Worthies completely established itself as a ‘specialized policy research institution.’ The law was even changed so that those assigned to the Hall of Worthies were not selected from among those who passed the highest level of the civil service examination, but rather those who had at least 10 years of practical experience.

And another aftershock was a wave of divorces that hit the families of the scholars.

***

Feeling that Sejong’s mood had turned sour over the Hall of Worthies issue, Hyang hurried to defuse the situation.

“Yes. Even without those stubborn fools, there are many talented individuals in the court. So, if Father makes up his mind, you will find excellent talent.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong stared at him blankly.

“I heard you’re having a lot of trouble with document preparation with the scholars from the Western Regions. Is that why?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang gave a bitter smile and nodded slightly.

***

The early appearance of Hunmin Jeongeum^[1] was also what Hyang wanted. Initially, it was just because he found it annoying to write documents in Chinese characters. But now, it was for his hobbies.

“Shit! Is my job from clock-in to clock-out just translating documents?”

Translating while grinding his teeth at the mountain of Latin documents piled up in the Area 51 office was Hyang’s daily routine these days.

“For a peaceful life of indulgence in my interests, Hangul is absolutely necessary!”

***

Seeing Hyang like this, Sejong smiled and continued speaking.

“I see. They have now become people of Joseon, so we should solve their difficulties too. Hmm… But even if there’s a lot of talent in the court, there’s so much work being done in the court now that we can’t easily spare anyone. Creating characters isn’t something that can be done by one or two people’s efforts, so it’s impossible for me alone. Would you help me a bit?”

“Pardon?”

“Your brilliance has been famous since you were young, hasn’t it? I think we could achieve good results if you help. What do you say? Will you help this father of yours?”

At Sejong’s request disguised as an order, Hyang finally had to nod.

“If my meager abilities can be of help, I will do my best.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong’s face brightened greatly.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

After ending this secret talk between father and son, Hyang muttered softly as he left.

“No matter how I think about it, I feel like I’ve been tricked. Of course… I had heard theories that the royal family was involved… But still, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been tricked.”

Unable to shake off the feeling that he had been tricked, Hyang soon came to a conclusion.

“Fuck it! Might as well do it now that it’s come to this! I’ll carve my name firmly in history!”

Meanwhile, inside Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Sejong looked towards Eastern Palace with a satisfied face.

“I’ve finally caught a big fish. Let’s see… The parts I’ve organized and researched so far…”

***

However, as Hyang and Sejong worried, Joseon was now entering a period of stagnation.

Not only the court but also the common people were moving busily, the economic scale was growing day by day, and people’s pockets were becoming more comfortable, but stagnation was stagnation.

The court was moving busily, but it was overwhelmed just maintaining and improving existing policies. At best, only 2-3 out of 10 new policies or systems were being implemented.

The same was true for the people. Those working in the rapidly growing commerce and industry sectors were all screaming the same thing.

“We don’t have enough people to work!”

***

As this problem was unavoidable, Sejong and his ministers put their heads together.

“What exactly is the current population of our Joseon?”

At Sejong’s question, Minister of General Affairs Heo Jo immediately answered.

“According to last year’s population survey, it exceeded 7.5 million.”

“Does that include slaves?”

“Yes.”

At Heo Jo’s answer, Sejong stroked his beard.

“Then the actual number of free people is about 6.8 million?”

“That’s correct.”

As taxes were being imposed on slaves, the number of private slaves was gradually decreasing. Most of the remaining 700,000 or so slaves were government slaves, and most of them were those serving labor sentences in mines for serious crimes.

“6.8 million isn’t a small number, so why…”

To Lee Maeng-gyun’s point, Heo Jo immediately responded.

“Of that population, 800,000 are Jurchen who have submitted to us, and nearly 1.8 million are children under 7 years old.”

“Ah…”

“Oh no…”

At Heo Jo’s answer, all the ministers clicked their tongues.

Through smallpox vaccination and the semi-forced implementation of various hygiene policies, the survival rate of children had greatly increased.

As a result, Joseon’s population had grown significantly, but this was just a numbers game.

Even if the population increased, it wasn’t really an increase until those children grew up and could pull their own weight.

Rather, because of the rapidly increasing number of children, the burden on adults had increased.

1. Hunmin Jeongeum is a 15th-century manuscript that introduced the Korean script Hangul.[↩]