Black Corporation: Joseon

As the people scattered with screams, it was the officials of Onsu County who became busy.

“It’s not a monster, please come back!”

The officials of Onsu County raised their voices, but the people paid no heed.

“If that’s not a monster, what is?”

“That must be the Bulgasari we’ve only heard about!”

“Yeah! It’s definitely a Bulgasari!”

“Anyway, run!”

Shouting various nonsensical things, the people vanished in an instant, leaving the officials of Onsu County with bewildered expressions.

“Bul… Sigh~”

When even the ‘Bulgasari^[1]’, a folk tale that had been circulating since the end of Goryeo, was mentioned, the officials placed their hands on their foreheads and sighed.

“Just how far have they run?”

The officials who were looking around to find the scattered people sighed again when they saw the people who had already fled all the way to Namsan in the distance.

“Sigh~. They’re already that far…”

“Did they learn the art of teleportation… Sigh~”

Sighing, the officials got on their horses and headed towards Namsan where the people had taken refuge.

***

After being persuaded by the officials and cavalry to come down from the mountain again, the people gathered near the traction engine, sticking their buttocks out behind them and hesitating. Seeing this, the officials sighed once more.

“Sigh~.”

“Oh my… They’re ready to run away at any moment.”

As the people gathered again like this, King Sejong appeared from the passenger car.

“We greet His Majesty the King!”

“We greet His Majesty the King!”

As the officials led the chant and prostrated themselves on the ground, the people hurriedly followed suit and lay flat on the ground.

King Sejong, who had stepped out of the passenger car, smiled slightly at the sight and replied.

“I’m sorry for startling you. I’ll be imposing on you for a while, so I ask for your kind cooperation.”

“We dare not accept such words of request! Your Majesty is the master of this country, so we will naturally follow your commands!”

The magistrate of Onsu County raised his voice, and the other officials and people could only bow their heads.

However, King Sejong gently shook his head and responded.

“Listen, magistrate. Your loyalty is truly beautiful, but it’s not right. You must not forget that true loyalty is to speak up when an order is unjust.”

At King Sejong’s gentle rebuke, the magistrate raised his voice again with a reddened face.

“I will engrave it in my bones and heart!”

After this brief commotion, King Sejong set off for Onyang Temporary Palace, welcomed by the people.

“We will prepare the palanquin.”

At the Chief State Councillor’s words, King Sejong lightly waved his hand.

“That’s alright. It’s not far, so walking would be good. The weather is nice too.”

“But…”

As the Chief State Councillor showed reluctance, King Sejong smiled and started walking.

“I’ve been nagged so much about how walking is good for health, isn’t this a good opportunity? Hahaha!”

***

Having settled in the temporary palace this way, King Sejong comforted the people’s hearts.

On the third day after arrival.

King Sejong called the people of Onsu County for a feast and distributed a modest amount of money.

“I know it might be a bit inconvenient while I’m staying, but please bear with it.”

“Oh my! Don’t say such things! When would we commoners ever get to sit in a place like this? It’s something to boast about for the rest of our lives.”

At King Sejong’s words, the people bowed their heads deeply and expressed that it was fine.

However, there was a reason why King Sejong had called the people to comfort them like this.

***

Looking at the history before Hyang’s intervention, the kings of Joseon chronically suffered from skin diseases. To treat these skin diseases, the kings regularly visited hot springs.

This was the same for King Sejong.

To treat the persistent skin disease and eye problems that plagued him, King Sejong frequently visited hot springs in places like Baecheon, Pyeongsan, Icheon, and Onyang.

However, as these places were distant, King Sejong had issued an order to find out if there were hot springs closer by.

At that time, a rumor was heard that there was a hot spring in Bupyeong, and King Sejong ordered the magistrate of Bupyeong to investigate, but the answer that came back was absurd.

-The people had destroyed the hot spring.

There had been a hot spring in Onsugol (present-day Onsu-dong) belonging to Bupyeong Dohobu, but upon hearing the rumor, the people had blocked off the hot spring.

This was because the hot spring had become a nuisance to the people.

When the king arrived to enjoy the hot spring, not only did they have to perform various labor duties, but they also had to move around under the fierce gazes of the soldiers guarding the king’s quarters.

This much they could somehow endure. Because it would end when the king left. But the problem came after that.

When rumors spread that ‘there is a hot spring,’ all sorts of people with skin diseases and lepers would flock to the area. As these people gathered, problems arose with public safety, and life became inconvenient. Moreover, if the hot spring water flowed into the rice paddies and fields, it would ruin the crops.

For these reasons, the people had cut off the hot spring’s vein with rocks and soil.

In the end, the magistrate of Bupyeong was reprimanded by King Sejong, and Bupyeong Dohobu was demoted to Bupyeong County. (Note 1)

For these reasons, King Sejong had held a feast for the people of Onsu County and distributed money.

***

While staying in Onsu County like this, King Sejong spent time with the people.

He went around nearby villages and farmed together with the people, and distributed alcohol and meat to the people tired from farming.

“Your Majesty! A commoner from Asan County has come, saying they wish to offer rice cakes to Your Majesty.”

At the Chief State Councillor’s words, King Sejong brightened and ordered.

“Oh! Such deep loyalty! Let them in!”

Following King Sejong’s order, a group of commoners entered, with an old woman leaning on a cane at the front, her back bent with age.

Supported by men and women who appeared to be her family, the old woman staggered in leaning on her cane. When she saw King Sejong, she tried to bow.

“This lowly one, to have the honor of seeing the King…”

As the old woman staggered while trying to bow, not only the nearby eunuchs but also Hyang and King Sejong rushed to get up.

“There’s no need to bow, please sit down. Eunuch, bring a chair!”

King Sejong, who personally held the old woman’s hand and seated her in a chair, looked at the men and women who came with her with a pleased expression.

“Is he your son?”

“Yes.”

“How old is your mother?”

“She is ninety-four this year.”

“Ninety-four!”

Everyone, including King Sejong, was greatly surprised at the old woman’s age.

“Longevity is truly the greatest blessing given by Heaven, so congratulations. You have received a great blessing.”

At King Sejong’s words, the old woman bowed her head and replied.

“This old one has seen many good things and many hardships in my life. Especially when the Japanese pirates were rampaging in the past, I wished for death, and I often cursed at the sky for my tough life persisting. But since Your Majesty became our king, such things have disappeared, and I don’t know how good that is. So I made rice cakes and came, though they’re made by this lowly one, please accept them.”

Her words were far from formal etiquette, but they were full of sincerity.

King Sejong nodded with slightly moist eyes.

“I will eat them well. Sangseon, bring the rice cakes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sangseon brought a basket filled with rice cakes and presented it to King Sejong. King Sejong took a rice cake from the basket held by Sangseon, immediately put it in his mouth, and chewed.

“It’s truly delicious. Thank you.”

King Sejong patted the old woman’s hand and, as he returned to his seat with the basket of rice cakes, he ordered the Chief State Councillor.

“Award this old woman with 10 nyang of gold.”

“I receive your command!”

Seated, King Sejong took another rice cake from the basket and put it in his mouth. Although not as refined as the rice cakes eaten in the palace, the taste felt even more delicious.

“May I have one too, Father?”

At Hyang’s question, King Sejong smiled and held out the basket.

“It contains the heart of the people, so let’s share it together.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

(Note 2)

***

That evening, King Sejong and Hyang shared a moment together after a long time.

“Do you remember what the old woman we saw today said?”

“Yes.”

“I wish the happy times that old woman spoke of could last longer.”

“You will surely achieve it sufficiently, Father.”

“You must work hard too.”

“I will also work hard.”

“By the way, it’s truly convenient now that currency is widely used and Joseon’s capabilities have grown.”

At King Sejong’s observation, Hyang unconsciously nodded.

Before the reforms, when a large-scale event like this occurred, it would have caused quite a commotion. Preparing the vehicles and horses to carry the royal personnel was one thing, but preparing clothing, food, cloth and other items for rewards, and even medicines for emergencies was an even bigger task.

As a result, when they moved like this once, a follow-up group larger than the main group had to move.

However, as currency became commonplace and the scale of Joseon’s commerce grew, this burden was greatly reduced.

Of course, clothing and medicines still had to be prepared in advance, but the food portion, which boasted the largest bulk, was significantly reduced. What was prepared when departing from Hanseong was just the basic food to eat until arriving at the temporary palace. The rest could be purchased immediately using currency at government stores or markets located in the villages they passed through.

It was the same after arriving at the temporary palace. What was distributed to comfort the people was not cloth or grain, but money, and the food consumed during the stay and the alcohol and meat given to the people were all supplied through nearby markets and government stores.

This was beneficial for both sides. The markets and government stores cheered at meeting unexpected big spenders, and the royal side was pleased to be able to purchase fresh ingredients immediately.

The biggest background that made this possible was, as mentioned earlier, the widespread use of currency and the growth of Joseon’s commercial scale. Particularly noteworthy was the fact that they could supply food and goods without problems to an enormous group that included almost the entire royal family and about 1/3 of the court moving together.

Although he had come to the hot springs for treatment, King Sejong, having seen the results of the reforms with his own eyes, wore a more relaxed expression while also renewing his determination.

“Having seen with my own eyes that what we’ve done so far hasn’t gone wrong, I must work even harder from now on.”

“Please take care of your health, Father. Your health is the top priority.”

“Thank y…”

As King Sejong was about to reply with a pleased expression to Hyang’s advice, he suddenly stopped speaking and glared at Hyang.

“Speak straight. What do you mean by what you just said?”

“Of course, I’m wishing for your long life and good health, aren’t I?”

“So, what’s the reason for wishing for my long life and good health? Isn’t it with the mindset of enduring as much as possible to receive regency or abdication as late as possible? And during that time, you’re thinking of just doing what you want to do?”

“Of course not!”

Although Hyang strongly denied it, inwardly he was breaking out in a cold sweat.

‘Did he find out? No, that can’t be, right? He’s just guessing, right?’

Seeing Hyang’s expression, King Sejong growled.

“If I had my way, I’d hand over everything, be it the research institute or Area 51, to the court and make you serve as regent…”

“Oh my, Father!”

“I’ll be watching you.”

***

‘I’ll be watching you.’

King Sejong put it into action the very next day.

“I will command the Crown Prince. In our Joseon, there are already places with hot springs, and there are many places where rumors of hot springs are circulating. According to medical books, hot springs are places that greatly benefit people’s health, but the people are hesitant to develop them. Come up with a plan to address this. The deadline is two days before we return to the palace.”

After giving the order to Hyang, King Sejong added.

“The reason I’ve given such a task to the Crown Prince is because the ministers who have accompanied us are still busy. Fortunately, as the Crown Prince is no longer handling the affairs of the research institute and Area 51, I thought he was suitable for this task as his hands are free. Therefore, I hope the Crown Prince will do his best.”

At King Sejong’s order, Hyang bowed his head and replied.

“I humbly accept your command.”

‘Ah, he’s so petty!’

***

Note 1) The story of Guro in Oryugol.

https://m.blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=localpr&logNo=110169916547

Note 2) This is a creative work by the author based on the Annals of King Sejong, which records that when King Sejong stopped at Onyang Hot Springs, a 94-year-old woman from Asan County presented rice cakes.

The Annals of King Sejong in One Volume. King Sejong 15th Year Edition. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.