Black Corporation: Joseon

Upon returning to Hanseong, Hwang Hui reported his return to Sejong. At that meeting, Sejong appointed Hwang Hui as Prime Minister.

“Now, I’m entrusting you with a great responsibility. I hope you’ll do your best as the Prime Minister of the court.”

At Sejong’s request, Hwang Hui bowed his head and answered.

“I will devote my life to it.”

After leaving the court that day, the ministers took Hwang Hui to a gisaeng house.

“Congratulations, my lord!”

“Congratulations, my lord.”

“Prime Minister, what a great promotion!”

Hwang Hui, receiving congratulations from his fellow ministers, looked at them with a strange expression.

“No matter how I think about it, it feels like I’ve been set up as a scapegoat…”

“Ahem!”

“Cough!”

As the ministers cleared their throats and turned their heads at Hwang Hui’s words, Maeng Sa-seong intervened.

“How could that be? It’s simply that your capabilities best suit that position, which is why we recommended you.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Hwang Hui let out a small sigh and raised his cup.

“Let’s believe that.”

***

With Hwang Hui becoming Prime Minister, Sejong’s “Second Cabinet” began to move.

Some historians dismissed it as “just a change of one Prime Minister,” but most historians disagreed with this opinion.

This was because Hwang Hui’s capabilities were so outstanding.

Looking at those who served as ministers and cabinet members during Sejong’s reign, it was an unprecedented gathering of brilliant individuals in Joseon’s history.

It was evaluated that Hwang Hui’s merit should be recognized for coordinating policies between these individuals and Sejong, and for stably advancing Joseon’s expansion, and that it was natural to recognize it as the “Second Cabinet”.

“You’re right, and you’re right too.”

There was much talk about Hwang Hui’s way of handling affairs, expressed by the above sentence, but Hwang Hui was also someone who would stand up to Sejong when necessary.

And Hwang Hui also garnered a lot of sympathy votes.

This was because, due to his and his children’s “unseemly incidents,” he was one of the “few people whose day of death was the day of resignation,” and in fact, the first such person.

With Hwang Hui becoming Prime Minister like this, many people, including Sejong, were satisfied.

But there was one person who couldn’t be happy.

His name was Kim Jong-seo.

“Why can’t I be happy!”

***

Kim Jong-seo, who returned to Hanseong with Hwang Hui, was assigned to the “Office of State Affairs Coordination” directly under the Prime Minister.

And not just as a regular official of the coordination office, but as the head of the office.

There were numerous policies that the court established and implemented, and policies that divided interests between departments were not uncommon. In such cases, the final decision was Sejong’s, but it was the job of the Office of State Affairs Coordination to set some framework before that.

Naturally, all kinds of pleas and appeals from the involved departments flooded into the coordination office. But because coordination had to be fair, officials from the coordination office had to run here and there to visit work sites.

Among them, the one who had to run around the most was, of course, Kim Jong-seo.

“I hear there’s been a big flood in the Jeolla region. Go and conduct a field investigation.”

“Are there still bold ones who skim off the middle these days?”

“That’s why I’m telling you to go check. And while you’re at it, take a look at the progress of the road construction from Hanseong to Jeolla…”

“My lord, I’m the office head, aren’t I? Do I have to go out myself?”

“Then should I go? Can’t you see we’re short on people?”

“Still…”

As Kim Jong-seo hesitated, Hwang Hui grabbed the nameplate on the desk.

“Do you want to go back to Hamgil Province? Or should I make you see nothing but snow for 30 years on Daeseol Island?”

“I’m going, I’m going!”

Even as he turned to leave, Kim Jong-seo kept grumbling.

Seeing Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo like this, the officials of the coordination office whispered softly.

“They’re really something, both the office head who always tries to wriggle out and the Prime Minister who manages such an office head…”

“Even though he tries to wriggle out like that, he does the assigned work perfectly, which is also amazing.”

“Who’s chattering over there? If you’re so idle, should I send you on a business trip to Gaema Plateau?”

“Eek!”

At Hwang Hui’s words, the officials became turtle-necked and buried their heads in documents.

***

In such a peaceful, daily life that flowed like a calm river, a small whirlpool occurred in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

‘Princess Jeongui is meeting a man!’

A scandal had broken out.

Upon hearing the rumor, Sejong immediately mobilized eunuchs and court ladies to investigate the truth.

As it involved his younger sister, Hyang also took a deep interest in the investigation.

And as a result of the investigation, the scandal turned out to be true.

Receiving the facts, Sejong called Hyang separately and lamented.

“An unmarried young woman meeting an outside man… How could such an unsavory thing happen…”

Hyang responded to Sejong’s lament.

“Wouldn’t it be a bigger problem if a married woman met an outside man? Isn’t this rather a good opportunity? Haven’t you been worried that Jeongui hasn’t gotten married?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong squinted his eyes and glared at Hyang.

“Are you covering for him because that man belongs to the research institute?”

“Of course not! Absolutely not!”

“Sigh~.”

Sejong, who let out a long sigh, seemed to have given up.

“Since it’s already happened… Alright. Tell me about this Kim Dam fellow’s background.”

“Yes.”

The culprit who caused the scandal with Princess Jeongui was Kim Dam.

***

The time when Princess Jeongui entered the research institute saying she would learn mathematics and work there, and the time when Kim Dam entered the research institute were almost the same.

Although Kim Dam had outstanding mathematical skills, he was lacking for practical work. Therefore, Hyang and Jeong-cho put him in the research institute’s affiliated educational facility.

At that time, only a very small number of people were receiving education at the educational facility. Therefore, those who needed to receive intermediate and advanced education were gathered in one place for education. And that’s where he met Princess Jeongui.

***

“Hmm… His family background seems appropriate, and his character doesn’t seem likely to stray elsewhere… He seems fine.”

“He seems to be a very good match for Jeongui.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! What does compatibility matter when they’ve already done the deed! And aren’t you thinking about the repercussions this scandal will bring!”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang’s face also became serious.

“It will certainly have some impact on women entering government service.”

***

After confirming the scandal, Hyang immediately summoned Jeongui and Kim Dam.

“How did you two end up like this?”

At Hyang’s question, Jeongui kept her head down and only fidgeted with her fingers, while Kim Dam turned his head towards the window.

“Speak up now!”

At Hyang’s shout, Kim Dam hurriedly opened his mouth.

“While putting our heads together to solve mathematical problems and exchanging opinions, we ended up…”

At Kim Dam’s answer, Hyang put his hand on his forehead.

“You should have stopped at putting your heads together. Why did you have to put your lips together too…”

The scandal started when they were caught kissing in a secluded corner of the research institute by the eyes of court ladies.

“Sigh~.”

Hyang, who let out a long sigh, continued.

“Now that it’s happened, you know what will happen next, right?”

“Yes.”

The faces of Jeongui and Kim Dam, who answered, had turned red.

“It seems you don’t dislike it. Well, that’s why you caused such an accident…”

As Hyang poked at them, the heads of the two gradually dropped lower.

Smiling slightly while watching the two, Hyang thought about what was to come and became serious.

“Probably, to erase your scandal, the wedding will proceed quickly. This is not only a matter of royal dignity, but also because the success or failure of the policies implemented by the court is at stake.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeongui and Kim Dam raised their heads.

“Is it because of women entering government service?”

Hyang nodded at Jeongui’s question.

“You know well.”

***

Although it was decided to allow women to enter government service to solve the shortage of talent, the court had a separate concern.

“Will educated women really respond properly?”

Most of those with enough education to work as officials at this time were daughters of noble families.

The question was whether the scholar-officials of these noble families would accept women entering government service.

In the worst case, a disaster could occur where it would become nominal until women who had gone through the Commoner’s School and middle schools came out.

***

“You two caused trouble in such a situation. That’s why the wedding needs to be held before your scandal spreads. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“We’re sorry.”

At Hyang’s point, Jeongui and Kim Dam looked genuinely sorry.

It was certain that not a few scholar-officials would completely block women’s attempts to take the civil service examination using their scandal as a reason.

Seeing the two like this, Hyang leaned back in his chair and gestured.

“Go and do your work. You know well that work here means the research you’re in charge of, right?”

“Yes.”

After sending the two out like this, Hyang’s face became troubled.

“How should I solve this problem…”

After pondering to find the best solution, he had to come to a conclusion.

“Is there no choice but lightning speed and making noise in the east while attacking in the west? Damn it…”

Hyang’s face was full of bitterness as he mentioned “making noise in the east while attacking in the west”.

It was because he remembered a common saying from the 21st century.

-When a political scandal breaks out, the entertainment industry gets turned upside down.

***

“It will certainly have some impact on women entering government service. Therefore…”

Answering Sejong’s point, Hyang explained the method he had thought of.

“I think the best method is lightning speed and making noise in the east while attacking in the west.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong immediately asked back.

“Lightning speed would mean holding the wedding as soon as possible, and making noise in the east while attacking in the west… Don’t tell me you’re suggesting fabricating a treason plot? That’s not possible.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang continued his explanation.

“In the current stable political situation, treason would be even more suspicious. Isn’t making noise in the east while attacking in the west about diverting the enemy’s attention? Then doesn’t Father have the best means?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s face brightened as he searched his memory for a moment.

“You mean to use the state monopoly stores!”

“Yes. It’s almost time for the first birthdays of the royal grandchildren and great-grandchildren anyway. Add to that celebrating Jeongui’s wedding and hold a large-scale discount event at the state monopoly stores.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded and summarized the situation.

“I see. While everyone’s attention is focused on that, it will be time to hold the civil service examination. That’s good.”

Seemingly satisfied with Hyang’s proposal, Sejong, with a brighter expression, chewed over Hyang’s plan once more and called the Chief Secretary.

“Give the summons to the Royal Secretariat, and tell them to call Lord Jeong-cho.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After giving orders to the Chief Secretary, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“It seems better to add one more thing to that.”

“What is it?”

“Three men make a tiger (a lie becomes truth if many people repeat it).”

“Ah!”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately exclaimed.

When time passed and Jeong-cho arrived, Sejong immediately got to the point.

“You need to become the old man under the moon.”

“Pardon?”

Jeong-cho only blinked his eyes at Sejong’s sudden words.

However, with Sejong’s following explanation, Jeong-cho immediately nodded.

“I will gladly become the old man under the moon.”1