Black Corporation: Joseon

55Although he had taken on the task, Hyang’s face wasn’t particularly heavy.

“In the past, I would have had almost no cards to play, but now I have quite a few, don’t I? So, first identify the problematic parts, then solve just those parts and add a little MSG, and the situation is over…”

Having devised his own story, Hyang soon called a eunuch and gave an order.

“Prepare a list of those who have come here among the officials, excluding ministers and vice ministers.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the eunuch who received the order withdrew, Hyang, left alone in the room, muttered with a smile.

“I don’t need to run around myself, do I?”

After about 2 gak (about 30 minutes), the eunuch returned with a thick book.

“You brought the results faster than I expected?”

When Hyang couldn’t hide his surprise at the unexpected result, the eunuch answered with a grin.

“There was a register of officials accompanying this trip, Your Highness. If you turn just the first three pages, you’ll find the list of officials you were looking for.”

“Oh? How did you come up with this idea?”

The place that received the evaluation of ‘the most conservative place within the palace’ was where the eunuchs and court ladies were.

However, they had reasons for being that way. All events of the king and royal family members had to follow strict etiquette, and the eunuchs and court ladies were well-versed in all these etiquettes. Moreover, being in the closest proximity to those at the very top of power, like the king and queen, demanded strict conduct from them.

As a result, eunuchs and court ladies received such evaluations, and Hyang couldn’t hide his surprise. It was because it showed considerable flexibility, not typical of a eunuch’s thinking.

To Hyang’s surprised question, the eunuch answered once again with a grin.

“I learned it while serving you, Your Highness.”

“Ah…”

Hyang looked at the eunuch before him with fresh eyes. He was the eunuch who had always been around him since he started his palace life. The once rookie eunuch in his mid-teens, still awkward, was now displaying maturity.

After looking at the eunuch for a moment, Hyang smiled and said to him.

“I’ll be counting on you in the future too.”

“I will do my best, Your Highness.”

***

Having received the register from the eunuch like this, Hyang began to examine the list.

However, Hyang didn’t spend much time finding suitable individuals.

It was because he found suitable candidates right after passing the part where the names of ministers and vice ministers were written.

“Kim Jong-seo is here? Hwangbo In is here too?”

Having found the famous Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In, Hyang immediately closed the register and called the eunuch.

“Have you found them, Your Highness?”

“Go and call Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

***

About half a shi-jin (about 1 hour) later, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In, who had received Hyang’s summons, came to see him.

After paying their respects to Hyang, the two soon sat in chairs opposite him.

“You called for us, Your Highness?”

“Yes. I have some work for you two.”

“Is it about the hot spring issue, Your Highness?”

When Kim Jong-seo pretended to know, Hyang immediately nodded.

“That’s right.”

“If it’s that issue, couldn’t we just create public bathhouses where even commoners can enter for a fee?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hyang shook his head.

“That’s something anyone could think of. If it were just that, would I need to call you gentlemen?”

As Hyang’s tone changed, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In tensed up.

‘When Sejong and Hyang’s speech becomes short, it means the evaluation of the person in charge of that task is changing. And in a bad direction.’

This was an unshakeable truth in Joseon’s bureaucratic society.

And now, despite being the Crown Prince, Hyang’s polite speech had changed. This lit up a warning light in Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In’s minds.

Seeing Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In become alert again, Hyang continued.

“Currency has already settled, and the livelihood of Joseon’s people has become quite comfortable. Thanks to this, people are very eagerly looking for legally profitable ventures in the current Joseon. Yet, the development of hot springs is still sluggish, so there must be some other reason, right?”

As Hyang’s words continued, the two men’s necks stretched out more and more. Looking at the two, Hyang delivered his final blow.

“And you’re talking about creating bathhouses without properly knowing what that reason is? Does that make sense?”

At Hyang’s rebuke, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In immediately bowed their heads and had to beg.

“We have made a mistake, Your Highness!”

“Please give us another chance!”

At the two men’s plea, Hyang gave an order.

“Very well, you two move immediately now to confirm and report the reasons why people are avoiding hot spring development. I’ll give you a fortnight.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Move immediately now!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The two men hurriedly paid their respects and quickly left Hyang’s room.

As soon as they left the building where the Crown Prince was staying, Hwangbo In glared at Kim Jong-seo and got angry.

“Ah! That damn mouth of yours! Calling such a fellow a friend! Ah!”

“S-sorry!”

“Forget it, just get ready to go up! Ah, I’m so frustrated!”

***

Having parted with Hwangbo In like this and returned to his quarters, Kim Jong-seo began to pack his luggage.

“You’ve done well~”

Kim Jong-seo, who was packing with a gloomy face, turned around at Hwang Hui’s sarcastic voice from behind and grumbled.

“Lord! Come on!”

“What are you so proud of? You’ve blown all the points you’ve accumulated in one go.”

“It was just one mistake, Your Excellency!”

“Just one, indeed. The problem is before whom you made that mistake. Understand? You made that mistake in front of the Crown Prince who will succeed to the throne next.”

“Tsk…”

“It would have been better if it was in front of His Majesty. Didn’t you think that when you hear the words ‘minister, vice minister’, it will be the Crown Prince sitting on the throne?”

“…”

At Hwang Hui’s rebuke, Kim Jong-seo closed his mouth. Seeing Kim Jong-seo’s clearly repentant appearance, Hwang Hui rummaged through his sleeve and pulled out a horse token.

“Here. Ask for the best horse at the post station and go and come back as quickly as possible. How many days did His Highness give you as a deadline?”

“A fortnight.”

“Finish it within ten days. Only then can you earn back the points you’ve lost.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Thanks, my foot. And have me check it before you submit it. Don’t deliver it directly saying His Highness ordered it, but follow the proper chain of command.”

“Yes.”

Despite Kim Jong-seo’s answer, Hwang Hui continued to give warnings.

“I’ve told you many times, haven’t I? You and I go together till the end. But if you don’t do well this time, I’ll send you straight to Daeseol Island. No, maybe Jongjang Island would be better?”

“I’ll be back! Please give me the horse token!”

As Hwang Hui was about to hand over the horse token at Kim Jong-seo’s words, he suddenly pulled his hand back and gave another warning.

“Reflect thoroughly on this incident. You have a good grasp of work and do it well, but you’re too light on your feet. You need to become more serious.”

“…Yes.”

After listening to Hwang Hui’s nagging like this, Kim Jong-seo packed his horse token and luggage and went outside.

As a side note, Kim Jong-seo’s personality became much more serious after this. As seriousness was added to his violent personality that was called a ‘tiger’, his talents finally blossomed.

***

As promised to Hwang Hui, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In completed a report and a plan containing their own solutions in ten days and submitted them to Hwang Hui.

After meticulously examining the report and plan, Hwang Hui marked them here and there with red and returned them.

“Reinvestigate the data for this part, revise the sentences here, and… the numbers are wrong in this part. Are you trying to get scolded after all your hard work? Recalculate immediately and rewrite it!”

“Yes, sir!”

After receiving Hwang Hui’s review like this, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In finally submitted the report and plan to Hyang.

“Let’s see…”

Hyang, who opened the report, nodded.

“As expected…”

The content written in the report was an investigation into why hot spring development was sluggish.

The first thing pointed out was geographical issues. Most potential hot spring sites were mostly located away from villages. Because of this, there were problems with transportation and public safety. Not only that, but attacks by wild beasts were also a problem in such remote places.

The next thing pointed out was, as mentioned before, the problem of skin disease patients and lepers who flocked when rumors of hot springs were heard. There were rumors that diseases were transmitted from these flocking patients, and it also caused problems with public safety.

Especially regarding lepers, all sorts of gruesome rumors circulated, such as lepers kidnapping children and eating their livers. It wasn’t just rumors; such incidents had actually occurred, so the influx of such people had to be prevented at all costs.

The last thing pointed out was the management issue of hot spring water. This, too, was mentioned before, but if hot spring water entered rice paddies or fields, it would ruin the crops.

“These parts are definitely problematic…”

After confirming the contents of the report, Hyang opened the plan next.

The plan contained strategies for overcoming these situations and developing hot spring bathhouses.

“Hmm…”

After examining the plan for a long time and nodding, Hyang looked at Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In.

“You’ve worked hard. It has been a great help. Thank you very much.”

At Hyang’s praise, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In bowed their heads and replied.

“Not at all. We’ve only done what we should do.”

“Then, I’ll have to ponder a bit based on your plan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The two paid their respects to Hyang and left the room.

“Phew~”

“Ahh~”

Once outside, the two let out sighs of relief.

“Do you think we’ve earned back the lost points?”

“Thank goodness, thank goodness.”

***

Three days later, Hyang reported the plan to King Sejong.

“You’ve completed the plan?”

“Yes, Director Kim Jong-seo and Deputy Director Hwangbo In’s help was very significant.”

“Is that so?”

At Hyang’s answer, the gazes of King Sejong and the ministers turned to Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In. Receiving the gazes of King Sejong and the ministers, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In slightly bowed their heads.

Looking at the two, King Sejong opened his mouth.

“I’ve heard they are truly outstanding talents. Since their help was so significant, my expectations are high. Begin your explanation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At King Sejong’s order, Hyang cleared his throat and began to explain.

Hyang’s explanation was as follows:

-Select and develop hot spring bathhouses where the water quality is good and has medicinal effects.

-This development project will be carried out by the country. The reason for the country to carry it out is to prevent problems caused by indiscriminate hot spring development.

-When a suitable hot spring is found and developed, a royal hot spring bathhouse will be installed first.

-Installing a royal hot spring bathhouse first is not only for the health management of royal personnel including the king but also to increase the value of the developed hot spring bathhouse.

At Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong nodded.

“That’s right. A hot spring bathhouse that the king has visited naturally carries a different weight from one that’s just developed.”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

Agreeing with King Sejong’s words, Hyang continued his explanation.

-After the royal visit to such a created hot spring bathhouse is realized, bathhouses for the people will be constructed, separated from the royal bath.

-Additionally, a comprehensive entertainment center will be built at this bathhouse for people to enjoy bathing and entertainment. However, the games allowed in the entertainment center installed at this bathhouse will be limited to baduk (Go).

“Why?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“Enjoying hot springs while gambling is quite an expensive event. If not careful, people might abandon their livelihoods and gamble at the hot spring. This would lead to impoverished families and eventual ruin.”

At Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong nodded greatly.

“I see! So you’re saying to limit those who will enjoy leisurely activities to those with plenty of wealth!”

“That’s right. For ordinary people, it should be thought of as a short excursion.”

“That’s good.”

As King Sejong responded positively, another famous attraction that would become well-known not only in Joseon but also abroad was gradually taking shape.