Black Corporation: Joseon

Following Sejong’s order, the ministers began the work of adding to or subtracting from Hyang’s proposal.

“They say to supplement it, so we should, but…”

However, the officials in charge of the actual work muttered with perplexed expressions.

“How can we supplement something we don’t understand?”

The concept of ‘federalism’ was unfamiliar to them.

“This is really…”

After much deliberation, the working-level officials finally requested help from Hyang.

“Please teach us!”

In response to the officials’ request for help, Hyang sighed softly and answered.

“Sigh~ Neither you nor I have time, so let’s pull an all-nighter.”

Receiving this overnight special lecture, the officials began to grasp the concept of federalism.

“…Any questions?”

“No, sir.”

On the last day of the special lecture, when Hyang asked this question, all the officials shook their heads.

“Then, good work. I look forward to good results.”

“We will do our best.”

After politely bowing and returning to their assigned office, the officials sat around the conference table and discussed.

“I couldn’t say this earlier, but… For a federal system to last long, monopolization of power is impossible.”

“Didn’t the Crown Prince already mention that? He said that except for diplomacy and national defense, the rest would be distributed to the people of the newly acquired territories, be they tributary states, provinces, or whatever.”

“That’s where the problem arises. We distribute power to the newly acquired unclaimed lands, but not to the mainland? Over time, there will surely be those who become dissatisfied.”

At their colleague’s words, the officials’ faces turned serious.

It was just something they were used to and overlooked, but Joseon was an absolute monarchy.

“Looking at that part, doesn’t His Majesty already share some power with his ministers? Couldn’t the tributary states or provinces do the same?”

“It’s not sharing, it’s distribution. Have you forgotten the case of Ryu Jeong-hyeon during the reforms?”

“Ah…”

“Hey!”

When one official mentioned ‘Ryu Jeong-hyeon’, the other officials quickly closed their mouths, and others hurriedly cautioned the one who had spoken.

***

Although it wasn’t openly stated, Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the senior ministers who shared his views were purged because they attempted to share power with Sejong.

Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s faction had made such an attempt because they thought Sejong’s power was unstable at the time. They thought he would compromise with them to stabilize his unstable power, but Sejong responded with a strong offensive.

As a result, Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s faction was purged. And Sejong acquired absolute power even stronger than Taejong’s.

Later, as the reforms entered their latter half, considerable authority was passed to the ministers. However, this was distribution, not sharing.

***

Despite being cautioned, the official who had made the problematic statement continued to speak.

“Think about it! We don’t have to worry about the current King and Crown Prince because their wisdom is extraordinary. We can just follow them. But what about the next generation, or say, three generations later? If a foolish or tyrannical ruler ascends to the throne, what will happen to this country? If we’ve established a country and it’s going to grow into an empire, shouldn’t we build a thousand-year empire? Like Silla!”

“Shh! How dare you speak of foolish or tyrannical rulers!”

“Shh! Empire, you say!”

At these dangerous words, the fellow officials looked around and cautioned him. However, some officials pondered his words with shining eyes.

“An empire…”

“A thousand-year empire…”

“Hey, you all! What are you doing! You should stop this!”

As other officials raised their voices, the door of the conference room suddenly burst open, and Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in entered.

“What’s all this noise about!”

“Is the work done? If it’s finished, let me see it. We need to review it before submitting it.”

At the words of Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in, the top two in the working-level hierarchy, the officials turned pale and stammered.

“Well, that… Not yet…”

“The special lecture just ended today…”

“The lecture is the lecture, and the task is the task!”

“I haven’t been able to go to Hwawolru for five days since I took on this job. Will you take responsibility if Maehyang strays? Huh?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwang Bo-in glared at him and muttered.

“Why bring up Maehyang here…”

“Never mind that! What’s the problem that you’re arguing instead of working!”

“There was a bit of a disagreement…”

“What are you saving your fists for?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwang Bo-in put his hand on his forehead and muttered.

“Hanging out with the Jurchens has completely ruined him…”

At Hwang Bo-in’s words, all the officials inwardly muttered the same thing.

‘If the Jurchens heard that, they’d come running to fight to the death!’

Considering the legendary rumors coming from the Hamgyong region, Hwang Bo-in’s words were completely different from the truth.

Anyway, as the commotion settled down, Kim Jong-seo questioned the officials.

“What on earth were you arguing about so much?”

“Well, that…”

“Don’t drag it out!”

“Ah, yes!”

At Kim Jong-seo’s shout, the officials immediately explained the parts they had been debating until now.

“Hmm…”

Having heard the officials’ explanation, Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in fell into serious thought, their faces completely different from just moments ago.

After a long silence, Hwang Bo-in was the first to speak.

“Isn’t there something prepared since the time of Lord Sambong regarding the issue of successor quality? The Crown Prince’s tutorial office and the royal lectures, I mean.”

When Hwang Bo-in mentioned the royal lectures, subordinate officials raised objections.

“Haven’t those already become nominal?”

“That’s because the current King and Crown Prince are so exceptional that they quickly concluded them, but they’re still firmly in place in the legal code. Now that the royal grandson has reached a certain age, they’ll soon be re-established.”

“I see.”

The subordinate officials nodded at Hwang Bo-in’s explanation.

***

The Crown Prince’s tutorial office and the royal lectures were established to prevent, as much as possible, incompetent monarchs from ascending to the throne and ruining the country. Centered around Jeong Do-jeon, the core intellectuals of Joseon’s founding predicted that if these two were properly maintained, monarchs with at least minimal competence would continue to succeed to the throne.

The problem was that as Joseon entered its later period, the direct line was often broken, and collateral lines frequently ascended to the throne. As this led to the politics of in-law families, the Crown Prince’s tutorial office and the royal lectures became useless.

***

Following Hwang Bo-in’s explanation, Kim Jong-seo continued.

“And regarding the issue of power ownership, His Majesty and the Crown Prince are already aware of it and will have a solution.”

“Pardon?”

“Just before the reforms began, the Crown Prince once presented his political views. It was truly remarkable.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the officials’ eyes widened.

“Did you personally witness the presentation of political views that we’ve only heard about?”

To his subordinates’ question, Kim Jong-seo nodded and continued.

“Some said it was His Majesty speaking his intentions through the Crown Prince’s mouth, but that’s nonsense. Why would His Majesty go to such trouble when he could speak directly?”

“Ah…”

The officials nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“It was the Crown Prince who presented his political views at the mere age of 8. And it was His Majesty who raised him. How could His Majesty and the Crown Prince not know about this?”

“That’s true, but…”

Seeing the officials still wearing puzzled expressions despite their words, Kim Jong-seo shook his head.

“To think I have to rely on these guys…”

“We apologize.”

“Never mind that. It’s just my personal opinion, but considering the number of rice bowls I’ve eaten at the communal dining hall, it should be pretty close. His Majesty and the Crown Prince will divide power. But when they divide it, they’ll divide it into very large and very small pieces.”

“Large and small pieces, you say?”

“Yes. They’ll probably share power with the people.”

“With the people?”

As the subordinate officials mulled over Kim Jong-seo’s words, one of them suddenly exclaimed.

“Ah! Do you mean not just the scholar-officials, but the entire population?”

“That’s right.”

“Is that possible?”

“I think it would be difficult.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s answer, the subordinate officials gave negative responses. Kim Jong-seo snorted at such reactions.

“Hmph! You guys know one thing but not the other! Get rid of the idea that only the monarch or scholar-officials can hold power! Have you forgotten what His Majesty has been constantly calling for since the beginning of the reforms?”

“Equality of the four classes…”

“That’s right! And think about why they’re nurturing merchants and craftsmen with all sorts of benefits, and why they’re operating public schools at state expense even though the finance ministry officials are working themselves to death with nosebleeds every time they draft a budget! Do you think it’s just to increase tax revenue and the number of people to use as officials?”

“Ah…”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the subordinate officials wore expressions as if they’d been hit hard. Seeing his subordinates’ expressions, Kim Jong-seo delivered the final blow.

“Since ancient times, as people’s heads get filled with ink, they naturally develop greed. Power lust can’t be absent from that greed. So, when power is shared with the people, the monarch becomes comfortable. Because the people will fight among themselves. And when authority is given, responsibility comes with it. In other words, the saying ‘I can’t die alone’ doesn’t apply only to officials.”

“Ah…”

Finally, the officials nodded deeply as if they understood.

After confirming the officials’ reactions, Kim Jong-seo shouted:

“So, stop worrying about useless things and quickly write the report!”

Two weeks later, Sejong received the supplementary plan.

“Hmm… Most items conclude that ‘adjusting quickly to local conditions is the best approach.'”

“We apologize. Our abilities are lacking…”

As Hwang Hui bowed his head apologetically, Sejong shook his head.

“There’s no need to apologize. We know almost nothing about the unclaimed land, so it’s inevitable that such conclusions are drawn. However, there is one thing I like. ‘To ensure quick stability and a strong sense of belonging in the tributary lands, someone in a very high position must go and command the site.’ Hmm… Indeed… I also like this phrase. The best form of an empire is like ‘connected branches’. Connected branches… Connected branches…”

Sejong, who really liked the term ‘connected branches’ referring to two trees growing together to become one, mulled over these words and then turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“How much time do we need until we can establish an agency to direct the colonial policy?”

“Five to ten years, Your Majesty. The reason is…”

Jo Mal-saeng gave an explanation similar to what he had given to the ministers before. After listening to Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation, Sejong thought for a moment and then ordered him.

“Finish the preparations within five years.”

“I receive your command.”

After giving the order to Jo Mal-saeng, Sejong looked outside the main hall and muttered.

“The good times are over. Now it’s time to work, isn’t it?”

At the same time, Hyang, who was working in Area 51, vigorously scratched his ear.

“Ow~ Is someone talking about me?”

And so, the seed of the ‘Great Han Federal Empire’ was planted.

This was the beginning of an empire that would later be called everything from ‘the black curtain of global conspiracy’ to all sorts of other names.

Other countries watching the behavior of the Great Han Empire always shook their heads with expressions of incomprehension.

“Ah! Those crazy bastards!”

-Crazy bastards who fight among themselves at every opportunity, but as soon as another country intervenes, they unite as if nothing happened and shout ‘You wanna die?’

-Crazy bastards who know all too well how great they are.

-Crazy bastards who fought for 30 years over the foreign language notation of their country name, and then fixed the international common language to Korean.