Black Corporation: Joseon
Chapter 234

While the highest echelons of the court were establishing and executing various plans regarding Japan, Joseon’s internal affairs were steadily progressing.

“This is indeed the best outcome obtained through the reform.”

Hyang was making a positive assessment as he observed the court operating without issue.

***

From the perspective of Hyang, who had experienced the 21st century, the court before the reform was an embodiment of irrationality, given tasks and authority beyond its capabilities.

The founding group of Joseon, believing that a ‘big government’ close to ‘Confucian ideals’ was not good for the people, intentionally created a small government.

Before the reform, the total number of civil service positions in the Joseon government was around 500. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NʘvᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

However, this small government placed excessive burdens on its members. Lower-level officials were replaced every few months by new officials, and it was common for officials of considerable rank to concurrently hold at least two positions.

No matter how capable one was, there was a limit to the work that could be handled in a day. As a result, the mindset of ‘what’s good is good’ inevitably spread, leading to subpar administrative handling.

This situation posed a serious burden to both those working as officials and those aspiring to become officials.

Only 33 individuals could pass the higher civil service examination and become officials through the regular triennial examination. Naturally, competition was fierce.

Moreover, even after becoming an official, it was difficult to lead a proper life on salary alone.

There were many ‘che-a-jik‘ positions, where people worked irregularly and received salary only when working, despite having a rank. As mentioned earlier, even officials who entered through the civil service examination were replaced every 3 to 6 months. There were also many ‘mu-rok-jik‘^[1] positions without any salary at all.

Of course, most of the mu-rok-jik positions were honorary positions given to long-lived elders, but there were also a significant number of other positions.

This salary issue was even more serious for officials who entered through the miscellaneous examination (jap-gwa) recruitment.

Therefore, factors such as excessive workload, frequent job rotations due to the absolutely small number of positions, and insufficient salary levels to ensure a comfortable life led to subpar administration and corruption.

Despite this precarious and unstable situation, the Joseon court somehow functioned.

The reason was that the king was as overburdened with work as the court. Thus, unless the king possessed exceptional abilities, many issues were overlooked.

The most striking example of this, before Hyang’s intervention, was the case of Seo Dal’s assault and manslaughter involving Hwang Hui, Maeng Sa-seong, and Seo Seon.

If Sejong had not ordered a reinvestigation, stating that the fabricated report ‘differed from the previously received records,’ the incident would have been buried.

These problems and irrationalities accumulated over time, becoming solidified as traditions and precedents. The festering boil that burst as a result was the turmoil of the mid to late Joseon period.

During Hyang’s high school days, Teacher Samcheonpo left a critical assessment.

-Joseon ended up in that state because of the Japanese invasions and the Manchu invasions? Nonsense! The internally festering boil ate away at Joseon, leading to its collapse in the face of foreign invasions! Simply put, it caught the flu and held a funeral in a situation where its immunity was a mess!

Therefore, Hyang had advocated for the ‘expansion of government organizations’ from the moment he presented his political views.

And Sejong, greatly accepting those political views, significantly expanded the size of the government through the reform.

***

Although Hyang was making such a positive assessment, he was not satisfied.

“However, it’s still not complete. Complaints about overtime work are popping up everywhere… But this part requires time. It will probably take my father laying the foundation, me refining it, and my son fine-tuning it for things to settle into place. That way, it can endure well in the future.”

The court Hyang envisioned was as follows:

‘A court that supports rapid progress when encountering a wise ruler, enables steady development under an average monarch, and allows the country and people to endure even under an incompetent ruler.’

Having organized his plans for the court, Hyang moved on to the next matter.

“Once the court is somewhat complete like this… The next step would be to properly determine a successor, right?”

Hyang, who had been muttering the word ‘successor,’ shook his head.

“This issue should be pondered after the successor is born first. Right now, the problem is the birth…”

***

Although it had been over three years since Hyang’s wedding, there was still no news of an heir. This deepened the concern of Sejong and Queen Soheon, and the royal physicians had to take every opportunity to check the pulse of the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje. It was not limited to the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje. Hyang also had to undergo continuous examinations by the royal physicians.

“There are no particular abnormalities. All four of you are very healthy.”

The royal physicians’ reports only deepened the concerns of Sejong and Queen Soheon.

“Then why is there still no heir?”

“They are still young, so you can relax a little…”

At the royal physician’s words, Queen Soheon remarked.

“When His Majesty was the Crown Prince’s age, he already had two children.”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

At Queen Soheon’s words, Sejong coughed awkwardly for no reason.

Princess Jeongso, the eldest, was born when Sejong was fifteen, and Hyang was born when Sejong was seventeen.

Given this situation, Hyang was also secretly worried.

“Why? I’m diligently trying whenever I have the chance, but why? Could it be…”

As Hyang pondered the reason for the lack of an heir, he came up with a plausible hypothesis.

“Even if the exterior is like that, could it be because the core, me, is an Irregular?”

Hyang’s worries were deepening. However, without knowing the correct answer, there was only one conclusion Hyang could reach.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll just have to try harder.”

***

As various matters continued in this manner, time passed, and the opening of Samin School was just around the corner.

“I’m going to die because of this!”

With a pile of documents stacked like a mountain in front of him, the Minister of Rites had a haggard expression.

A pile of documents regarding the selection of envoys to secretly dispatch to Japan and the selection of diplomatic mission to openly send formed a large stack. On one side, there was another pile of the latest information on the situation in Ming, sent from the trading post established there.

And on another side, reports related to Samin School were piled up.

“At least with Samin School opening soon, the number of reports coming in has decreased…”

The Minister of Rites’ eyes were fixed on the pile of documents next to it.

Documents related to the establishment of Middle School and Military Academy, which were set to open next year, formed a large stack.

“As for the Military Academy… We’ve been preparing step by step, so it’s not an issue… But Middle School…”

The Minister of Rites ground his teeth as he examined the documents.

“Damn those bastards! Raising a rebellion for no reason!”

The targets of the Minister of Rites’ teeth-grinding were those who had rebelled in the year of Gi-yu (11th year of Sejong’s reign, 1429).

Before they staged the rebellion, the plan established by the Ministry of Rites was as follows:

-Construct a new building for Samin School and teach the children there. For those who wish to study further after completing Samin School, their education will take place at the local Community School. The teachers to instruct them will be recruited from the local Hyangban (rural elites) with excellent skills.

However, when the rebellion broke out, all plans were disrupted.

In particular, as the aristocrats who participated in the rebellion were all purged, there was a shortage of those who could take charge of Middle School.

As a result, the establishment of Middle School, which was supposed to be established simultaneously with Samin School, was delayed by a year.

To do it properly, at least three more years were needed, but due to Sejong’s pressure, it was reduced to one year.

And the officials of the Ministry of Rites had to suffer due to the stress.

“But now, Samin School is opening! We’ve overcome one hurdle!”

Positive officials rejoiced at having overcome one hurdle.

However, the pessimistic officials’ complexions worsened even further.

“And reports on unexpected problems will pile up like a mountain. We’ll suffer trying to find solutions to them…”

***

Sejong was also deeply interested in matters related to Samin School.

“The condition of the buildings to be used as schools is also fine, and the deployment of teachers is well done.”

Hyang, observing Sejong assessing the situation while looking at the reports, opened his mouth.

“Is there anything that displeases you?”

“No.”

“It seems like there’s something bothering you.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong let out a sigh.

“Phew~. It’s just that there are some issues with the teachers who will instruct the girls.”

“Their qualifications don’t seem to be a problem, though?”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s point.

“There’s no problem with their qualifications. As for qualifications…”

Sejong, who paused for a moment, let out another long sigh.

“However, the shackles are too heavy.”

“Ah…”

Hyang nodded, letting out a brief groan at Sejong’s words.

The women who would educate the girls at Samin School were those who had received the titles of virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law in each town. Among them, those with deep scholarly knowledge would teach academics, while those with shallow knowledge would teach weaving or other necessary life skills.

However, the shackles Sejong referred to were the societal notions regarding women.

Because they were women, they could not leave their hometowns. As a result, efficient deployment became impossible, and in places with many women, the number of male teachers had to be reduced.

This was quite a daring attempt.

“How can a woman teach a boy?!”

When the proclamation regarding the deployment was first posted, there were quite a few who protested like this. However, Sejong did not allow opposition.

“It was Mencius’ mother who raised Mencius! The content of the teaching is important, not the gender of the teacher!”

With this justification, one issue was overcome, but there was no answer to another problem even for Sejong.

That other problem was the ‘avoidance system.’

Since teachers were also government officials, they had to be subject to the avoidance system.

This was where the problem arose.

In the case of male teachers, there was no issue with deploying them to places other than their hometowns. Official residences and even public slaves to assist with chores were assigned for them.

However, this was not possible for women.

“I must guard the family.”

“I must serve my elderly in-laws.”

Because all the female teachers had received the titles of virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law, the avoidance system could not be applied to them.

Therefore, in places with many such women, the number of male teachers had to be reduced.

“Should we select unmarried women from now on?”

Hyang immediately shook his head at Sejong’s words.

“There will be an uproar about blocking their marriage prospects.”

“I suppose so… Phew~.”

Sejong sighed at Hyang’s answer.

Sejong had also anticipated this part.

If the avoidance system were applied to unmarried female teachers and they were sent to other regions, there would be an immediate uproar.

The Office of the Inspector-General and the Office of the Censor-General would be the first to be turned upside down, citing chastity and virtue.

To prevent this, strict security measures would have to be implemented at the women’s residences, which would be an unnecessary waste.

Of course, unlike the notorious late Joseon period, women’s rights and freedoms were still guaranteed, but sending women to other regions was a risky move.

‘Wait? No… No…’

Hyang, who had been making various judgments, came up with a compromise.

“Your Majesty, unmarried women may not work, but what about married women?”

“Huh?”

“Now, we have recruited teachers from among virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law. However, as time passes, even they will have to step down due to age. And as the population grows, the number of those who need to be taught will also increase, resulting in a constant need to fill vacancies.”

“That’s true.”

“It is impossible to fill these vacancies solely with virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law. Right?”

“Right.”

“In that case, we select talented individuals from among married women to fill the positions.”

“Select married women?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Official residences are already prepared. Then, there should be no problem even if a couple moves in.”

“Wait a minute? Wait…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong began to seriously consider the possibility with a sincere expression.

1. Voluntary officials[↩]

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