Black Corporation: Joseon

“The emperor who will succeed…”

Sejong, who was quietly mulling over Hyang’s words, looked at Hwang Hui.

“Haven’t you heard any stories about the empire’s Crown Prince?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui immediately answered.

“I will give the order right away.”

“Tell them to act quickly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even after giving the order, Sejong didn’t just let it go.

“Hmm… How old is the current Crown Prince?”

To Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun thought for a moment and then answered.

“I believe he’s about to turn 10 years old.”

“10 years old… Hmm…”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, Sejong made a nasal sound and stroked his beard. After thinking for a moment, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“What was our Crown Prince like when he was 10 years old?”

At Sejong’s soliloquy, the ministers made expressions of disbelief.

‘He’s using our Crown Prince as a standard?’

‘If you use our Crown Prince as a standard, everyone else is a fool and an idiot!’

‘Your Majesty! Please find reason!’

Amidst the ministers’ silent outcry, Hwang Hui stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, haven’t you set the standard a bit too high?”

“Huh? Is that so?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Sejong looked at Hyang again and soon nodded.

“I see. I was a bit excessive.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers nodded knowingly or unknowingly. However, at Sejong’s next words, the ministers once again made expressions of disbelief.

“Let’s see, then what was I like when I was 10 years old?”

***

All the ministers remembered clearly. Sejong was the one who had been called a prodigy since childhood.

The best way to pacify Taejong, who was having fierce marital fights with Queen Wongyeong over his womanizing issues and creating a murderous atmosphere, was to praise Sejong’s excellence.

When the ministers praised Sejong’s excellence, the atmosphere would soon turn warm, and they could safely get through that day.

In the end, it was because of such excellence that the competition between Yangnyeong and Sejong occurred.

***

Therefore, when Sejong tried to use his own childhood as a standard, the ministers made expressions of disbelief.

‘Is this man for real!’

‘Is he feeding us this now?’

While the ministers were once again silently crying out, Hwang Hui stepped forward again.

“Your Majesty, weren’t you also called a prodigy? Aren’t you setting the standard too high?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Sejong smiled slightly. After all, it was a compliment saying he was intelligent. However, Sejong shook his head.

“Isn’t it better than underestimating?”

“No, it isn’t. If we set the standard so high and the Crown Prince’s qualities fall slightly short of it, we might end up underestimating him. I think it’s better to set the standard lower and maintain a cautious attitude.”

“That’s right!”

“The Prime Minister’s words are truly wise!”

The ministers enthusiastically supported Hwang Hui’s words. Watching this, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Is this a question of whether the cup is half empty or half full?’

Eventually, Sejong had to ask the ministers.

“Then who would be a good standard to use?”

To Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui immediately answered.

“The current emperor.”

“The current emperor…”

Sejong, who was calculating for a moment, nodded.

“That’s appropriate. Until we get proper information, let’s use him as the standard.”

As Sejong made the decision, this time Hyang made an expression of disbelief.

‘The current emperor is considered moderate? This isn’t some battle manga with power inflation…’

Eventually, Hyang had to speak up.

“Father, aren’t you underestimating the current emperor too much?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Looking at the current emperor, he’s not only restoring the depleted finances but also manipulating the brilliant ministers of Ming like puppets. Isn’t it underestimating Ming too much to consider such a person as moderate?”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong smiled slightly and answered.

“That’s why I’m using him as the standard. Because he’s at least that capable.”

“…Yes.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘So, Father has confidence that he’s above that level?’

While muttering inwardly like this, Hyang turned his gaze to Hwang Hui.

“Prime Minister, don’t you have other intentions?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“While it’s undeniable that Father is excellent, why do you hold me in such high regard? Are you trying to cloud Father’s judgment?”

“Absolutely not!”

Hwang Hui, startled, immediately knelt before Sejong and raised his voice.

“I, Prime Minister Hwang Hui, have absolutely no selfish intentions in assisting Your Majesty and making Joseon strong! I only said the Crown Prince is excellent because he truly is!”

“I know your loyalty well. You don’t need to worry. Stand up and return to your seat.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

After comforting Hwang Hui and sending him back to his seat, Sejong turned to Hyang and gave a sharp rebuke.

“This time, you made a mistake. Apologize to the Prime Minister.”

At Sejong’s stern voice, Hyang bowed his head to Hwang Hui.

“I’m sorry. I said that because I’ve never thought of myself as being that excellent.”

“Not at all. The Crown Prince is truly an excellent person. If Your Majesty and the Crown Prince weren’t excellent, we would be working like Ming’s officials.”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Sejong showed curiosity.

“What’s wrong with Ming’s officials?”

To Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui turned his gaze and mumbled an answer.

“I hear Ming’s officials don’t work overtime.”

“That’s because Ming has far more officials than our Joseon, isn’t it?”

At Hyang’s point, Maeng Sa-seong answered instead.

“But Ming also has a larger territory and more people. Our Joseon has a smaller territory and even fewer people.”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Sejong cleared his throat unnecessarily at Maeng Sa-seong’s indirect criticism.

The historian who recorded all of this added these words:

-…At the Deputy Prime Minister’s answer, His Majesty cleared his throat and remained silent.

The historian says:

I was also called a prodigy, but being in the court only makes me feel inadequate. Should I resign?

***

“Let’s stop here regarding the Crown Prince of Ming, and talk about the iron horse again. Crown Prince, do you think it’s good to accept Ming’s proposal?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“We should accept it, but I think we need to make preparations as well.”

“Preparations? Hmm…”

Sejong, who was pondering for a moment what Hyang’s words meant, nodded.

“I see. No matter how much the emperor guarantees it, a trading company is still a trading company. It’s not appropriate for our court to directly deal with a trading company.”

“That’s right.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s words.

And the ministers listening to their conversation also nodded.

“That’s right… It could become a diplomatic issue.”

“No matter how much we’re a vassal state, directly dealing with the suzerain state’s trading company would certainly set a bad precedent.”

The ministers, who were murmuring in conversation, immediately reached a consensus, and Hwang Hui stepped forward to report to Sejong.

“The Crown Prince’s words are extremely reasonable.”

“I think so too. Then, how should we respond to the envoy?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang stepped forward to answer.

“How about saying that a trading company specializing in producing iron horses will soon be launched, so let’s talk again then?”

“A trading company for a trading company, is that it?”

“That’s right.”

Sejong, who was stroking his beard and calculating, pointed out a problem to Hyang’s words.

“It’s a good plan, but… from what I see, you’re really planning to create a trading company to produce iron horses, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that entrusting iron horses and railroads to a trading company shouldn’t be done?”

“What should never be entrusted to a trading company is the operation. Rather, production should be turned over to the private sector. That way, we can secure jobs for the people and cultivate skilled artisans.”

“Separation of production and operation… That’s good.”

Nodding at Hyang’s suggestion, Sejong asked the ministers.

“What do you think?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers began to calculate earnestly.

‘Certainly, if production and operation are separated, many jobs will be created.’

‘Even now, many things are concentrated in Area 51. It would be best to turn out what can be turned out.’

‘The gap in skill level between the artisans in Area 51 and private artisans is widening. Starting with iron horses, we should turn out what we can to allow private artisans to develop their skills as well.’

No matter how they considered it, Hyang’s proposal was more beneficial, so the ministers who reached a consensus reported to Sejong.

“We believe the plan presented by the Crown Prince is the best!”

“Really? Is that so? Then organize this well and proceed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs should think of an appropriate answer to give to the envoy, and the Prime Minister and other ministers should prepare and submit to me a plan regarding the launch of a trading company related to iron horse production and its personnel composition.”

“We receive your command!”

The ministers, who answered while bowing their heads, all had the same thought as they looked at Hyang.

‘Every time he comes, he creates work, while insisting he’s ordinary?’

‘He’s feeding us this! For sure!’

‘Really! Like father, like son!’

***

After the meeting ended and the ministers withdrew, Sejong had a conversation with Hyang.

“Speaking of Ming’s Crown Prince earlier, are the royal grandchildren growing well?”

“Yes. Fortunately, they are growing well without any minor illnesses.”

“How about their talents? As they are your children, I have high expectations.”

“They seem quite intelligent.”

While answering Sejong’s questions, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be a second round. Or they’re very good actors… Either way, the plan to raise them well and abdicate as soon as possible remains unchanged.’

Unaware of Hyang’s thoughts, Sejong reminisced.

“I remember when you were young. A child of just three or four had already mastered not only the Thousand Character Classic but even the classics.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang made an embarrassed expression.

‘I was desperate back then.’

“As they are your children, I have high expectations. And I heard the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje are expecting their second child?”

“Yes.”

“Having many children is also your duty, so do your best.”

“…Yes.”

After finishing the conversation with Sejong and coming out, Hyang looked back at Geunjeong-jeon and grumbled.

“I’m already trying so hard… Am I some kind of human seeding machine?”

To prevent conflicts from arising between the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje, Hyang had been pondering deeply.

“Should I follow Islamic law for this part after all?”

The Islamic law Hyang referred to was about marriage and family.

According to Islamic law, one husband and one wife was the basic principle, but up to one husband and four wives were possible. However, in such cases where there were multiple wives, the husband had to love and treat all his wives equally.

Therefore, to prevent conflicts from arising among the women and leading to tragedy later, Hyang had to treat the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje as equally as possible, like an Islamic believer.

And since the biggest cause of conflict was the issue of children, Hyang had to work hard every night.

***

Eventually, after intense negotiations between Ming’s envoy and Lee Maeng-gyun, it was decided to reopen negotiations regarding iron horses and railroads two months later.

“I hope there will be a good result in two months.”

At the Ming envoy’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun smiled and answered.

“Don’t worry. It’s just been postponed due to administrative issues, isn’t it? Next time, we’ll be able to talk with smiles on our faces.”

After seeing off the Ming envoy who had paid respects to Sejong and was leaving, Lee Maeng-gyun turned to his subordinates.

“Let’s go to the Ministry of Finance! They must have calculated well how much we need to skim off!”