Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 238

“Hic!”

As the jar of makgeolli brought by the eunuch was emptied and about a third of the newly brought makgeolli was consumed, Chu finally couldn’t overcome the effects of alcohol and started hiccuping.

Seeing this, Hyang smiled brightly, while the eunuch watching from the side broke out in a cold sweat.

‘I feel it occasionally, but His Highness is truly a frightening person!’

While drinking with Chu, Hyang was truly cunning. Although it seemed like they were emptying their cups equally, the amount Hyang drank was only about two-thirds of Chu’s.

However, even two-thirds was a considerable amount, but there was no hint of intoxication on Hyang’s face.

‘Indeed, blood doesn’t lie, does it?’

From Taejo Lee Seong-gye, they were a family that could hold their liquor well.

Moreover, looking at the royal family’s events, alcohol was never absent, and the alcohol used at such events was strong soju.

Therefore, being able to hold one’s liquor was also one of the qualities a king should possess.

And in that regard, Hyang was showing definite talent.

Anyhow, seeing that Chu’s guard had fallen due to the effects of alcohol, Hyang slowly proceeded with the matter at hand.

“So, what is your name?”

“Muh name? Jus’ call me Chu. Wha’s the use of knowin’ the name of a lowly farmer?”

“I’m just curious.”

At Hyang’s words, Chu, who was looking at Hyang with bleary eyes, answered.

“Han, hic! It’s Hansu.”

“Hansu, a good name. Here, have another drink.”

After making Hansu drink another bowl of makgeolli, Hyang asked what he was truly curious about.

“But Hansu, why didn’t you send your children to school?”

“Hic! Ah! I’ll send ’em, I said!”

“Sending them from now on is one thing, but why haven’t you sent them until now, I’m asking.”

At Hyang’s question, Hansu picked up the cup in front of him and downed it in one go. Seeing this, Hyang quickly refilled his cup.

After consecutively emptying three cups, Hansu exhaled roughly and spoke.

“Phew~. Yer Highness. Wha’s the use of the children of a man who barely gets by farming learning to read?”

“Who knows? They might have a talent for writing and serve the country.”

“Puhahaha!”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu laughed loudly and waved his hand.

“As expected, hic! Yer Highness also doesn’… hic! Phew~. Yer Highness also doesn’ know the ways of the world.”

“Don’t know the ways of the world?”

“Phew~. D’ya know how much, hic! One of those books full of Confucius this and Mencius that costs?”

“Ah…”

At Hansu’s question, Hyang let out a short sigh.

***

Although there were metal movable type printing presses, books were expensive items not only in Goryeo but also in Joseon. This was because the characters used to fill the contents of books were in Chinese.

Chinese characters, which are ideograms, had to be made into movable type one character at a time.

Although Hyang had created a cylindrical printing method where text was engraved in units and printed, the books printed in this way were only those used in private schools.

In the end, books were still items that boasted high prices.

How expensive were they? Books like the Great Learning or Doctrine of the Mean cost the equivalent of two to three seom of rice.

In other words, to buy a single book, one had to spend the entire yield of two to three majigi of rice paddies. (Note 1)

***

Seeing Hyang’s expression, Hansu continued speaking with a flushed face.

“Hic! Phew! Listen, hic! Although I may look like this, hic! Listen. When I was young, people called me a, hic! Prodigy. Do ya know how happy muh parents were? Phew! But d’ya know what happens when a child from a tenant farmer’s family is called a prodigy? Hic!”

“Well?”

When Hyang pretended not to know, Hansu raised his voice.

“The young masters of the landlord’s family tormented muh father! They said the landlord scolded ’em, sayin’ they were worse than me!”

“Oh my! Tsk tsk…”

As Hyang clicked his tongue, Hansu beat his chest and exploded with resentment.

“Those immature brats! Hic! They were upset about gettin’ scolded! They beat up muh father on a straw mat! What crime did muh father commit!”

Hyang, whose heart felt heavy at Hansu’s cry, downed his cup in one go.

Still feeling suffocated, Hyang consecutively emptied three cups.

“Your Highness. You’re drinking too quickly.”

When the eunuch approached and spoke, Hyang glared at him.

“If it were you, would you not drink and endure it?”

“…”

At Hyang’s question, the eunuch shut his mouth.

***

Having relieved his stifling feelings with makgeolli, Hyang asked Hansu.

“No matter how much of a tenant farmer one is, recklessly using violence against an innocent person is illegal. Did you report it to the authorities?”

“Puhah!”

Hansu, who burst into a hollow laugh, emptied his cup and looked at Hyang.

“Yer Highness. Phew! I, hic! Although it may sound like boasting, my father and I… hic! Phew~. Have heard the saying ‘One can live even without the law.’ But listen. Phew! From what I’ve seen living, there are two kinds of people who live without the law.”

“Two kinds?”

“Yes. One kind is the bastards who can ignore the law and get away with it. The other is the bastards who are ignored by the law. Hic! Which kind do ya think folks like me are, Yer Highness?”

“…”

Hyang couldn’t answer and emptied his cup. Seeing this, Hansu smirked and also emptied his cup, then continued.

“Folks like me are the kind ignored by the law.”

“Then shouldn’t you study hard to avoid such a fate?”

“Fuck…”

As Hansu spat out a curse, the eunuch beside him shouted.

“You bastard!”

“Enough.”

When Hyang raised his hand to stop the eunuch, the eunuch spoke to Hyang.

“Your Highness! That lowly bastard to Your Highness…”

“He’s drunk. He’s just drunk on alcohol and resentment. Just stay still.”

“Yes…”

The eunuch had a face full of dissatisfaction but had to step back.

Hyang filled Hansu’s cup to the brim with makgeolli and spoke again.

“Of course, it’s an ignorant thing to say, but wouldn’t it still be good to have them study?”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu shook his head greatly.

“Yer Highness! What did I say earlier? The cost of books is so damn expensive, but yer tellin’ me to study? Phew! As I said before, I know ’cause I was also called a prodigy. Learning is like drinking salt water. When ya drink salt water, ya get thirsty and look for water, right? Learning is the same. Once ya learn, ya go crazy wantin’ to learn more! Then should I risk pullin’ out muh roots?”

“But with learning, can’t you appeal to the law when you face injustice?”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu pounded his chest.

“Argh! It’s so frustratin’! Even if there are law books, who makes the judgments! It’s people! Then whose side d’ya think they’ll take?”

“…”

Once again, Hyang shut his mouth. Hansu continued, beating his chest.

“Lowlifes like us! We don’t need any laws or anythin’! We just need to grovel and prostrate to survive! We gotta rip out our liver and guts, swallow our pride, and grovel to survive! We gotta give up on everythin’ and live! Hic! But listen! If young punks spout some Confucius bullshit after learnin’ a few lines, it ain’t gonna work! They’ll waste their lives tryin’ to pass the civil service exam and gain fame, or they’ll take the military exam and become arrow fodder for the Jurchen bastards up north! Hic! That’s if they’re lucky! If they thoughtlessly argue right and wrong, their heads will fly off!”

“…”

In the end, Hyang, who was at a loss for words at Hansu’s remarks, had no choice but to empty his cup again.

“Is that so? I see. Let’s have another drink.”

After that, Hyang and Hansu diligently emptied their cups.

Completely drunk, Hansu continued to vent his grievances while beating his chest, and Hyang nodded along, listening to his words.

In the meantime, the eunuch had to go and buy another jar of makgeolli.

After some time passed, unable to overcome his drunkenness, Hansu collapsed sideways, still holding his cup.

“Phew~. Phew~.”

Seeing Hansu, who had fallen asleep while exhaling alcohol fumes, Hyang emptied his last cup and stood up from his seat.

As Hyang stepped down from the wooden bench, Hansu’s wife, who had been anxiously watching, hurriedly ran over and prostrated herself.

“Please forgive my husband for the nonsense he spoke while drunk.”

At the wife’s plea, Hyang smiled and replied. f𝗿𝐞ewebno𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝐨m

“I didn’t hear anything bad. I only heard him lamenting his lot in life. Your husband seems quite drunk, so quickly take him inside. Wouldn’t it be terrible if he caught a cold?”

“Pardon? Yes! Jang-soe!”

At Hyang’s words, Hansu’s wife called her eldest son. Jang-soe, who had deeply bowed to Hyang, hoisted Hansu onto his back and moved him to the room.

Watching this with a smile, Hyang turned to the eunuch.

“Give me the purse.”

“Yes.”

When the eunuch respectfully held out the purse, Hyang took out a banknote worth one nyang of silver and handed it to the wife.

“Tomorrow, make a good pot of hangover soup for him.”

“Such a large sum! I truly don’t know how to express my gratitude!”

“Raise your children well.”

After giving the wife his well-wishes, Hyang turned around.

“We’ll have to impose on the local government office’s guesthouse today.”

“I have already sent word.”

“Good work. And…”

Hyang lowered his voice.

“Make sure no unnecessary rumors spread.”

At Hyang’s warning, the eunuch immediately bowed his head.

“Yes.”

The next morning, Hyang, who had risen early from the magistrate’s residence, headed to Hansu’s house with his entourage.

“Did you sleep well? Is your stomach alright?”

At Hyang’s question, Hansu prostrated himself flat on the ground and answered with a trembling voice.

“This lowly one committed a capital offense yesterday!”

“Crime? What crime?”

Hyang laughed playfully and turned to the eunuch beside him.

“Do you know?”

“I do not know.”

“There you have it. Ah! We did make one promise! Starting from today, you said you would send your children to school. Have you prepared them?”

“Pardon? Yes!”

Hearing Hansu’s answer, Hyang shifted his gaze.

Beside Hansu and his wife, the three siblings were also prostrating themselves on the ground, only observing the situation.

“You children must study hard! For the sake of your parents, for your own sake, and lastly, for the sake of this Joseon. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

When Jang-soe, the eldest, answered loudly, Hyang, who was watching with a pleased expression, spoke to Hansu.

“Trust in His Majesty. I apologize for only being able to say this much now.”

“Oh, not at all!”

“Then take care.”

After bidding farewell to Hansu, Hyang stopped by Jugyohyeon’s private school to encourage the teachers.

Lastly, Hyang visited the magistrate of Jugyohyeon to commend him, then turned to his entourage.

“We’re returning to the palace!”

“Yes!”

***

“Your subject has returned.”

When Hyang announced his return, Sejong welcomed him with a delighted face.

“Good work. So, how was it?”

The petition had not only come from Jugyohyeon.

Similar petitions had come from all over Joseon, and Sejong had to suffer from stress.

“Why in the world…?”

In the end, unable to bear seeing this, Hyang had personally taken action.

Jugyohyeon was chosen because it was the first place the petition had come from.

‘If they were preventing the children from going to school for an absurd reason, I was going to punish them severely!’

It was with this determination that Hyang had gone down.

At Sejong’s question, Hyang smiled and answered.

“I met a good teacher.”

“Oh? A good teacher?”

When Sejong showed curiosity, Hyang reported his conversation with Hansu.

“My word!”

When Hyang’s long story ended, Sejong exclaimed in admiration.

“They say ‘Among any three people walking, there must be one who can be my teacher’! You met a good teacher! You gained a good teacher! What do you think, ministers?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Jik stepped forward and answered.

“Although he was called a mere peasant, his words are full of profound wisdom.”

Following Lee Jik, the Minister of Justice continued.

“That is so, Your Majesty. When making judgments, we must take to heart the saying ‘Even if there are law books, it is people who make the judgments,’ and ensure there are no unjust verdicts.”

“Truly so. And…”

Sejong paused for a moment, then continued with a face of genuine admiration.

“‘Learning is like a thirsty person who drank salt water seeking fresh water. The more one learns, the more one wishes to learn.’ This is indeed the proper attitude of those who pursue learning, is it not? I believe it is our duty to quench this thirst of the people.”

“It is indeed so, Your Majesty!”

“Then let us devise a plan.”

“We heed your command!”

The ministers answered in unison.

The ministers also had no reason to oppose.

One of the ideals of Neo-Confucianism was to educate the people. And part of that education included the people learning.

Therefore, the ministers participated enthusiastically.

Two things came out of that meeting.

One was making it mandatory for children to attend private schools.

It was not merely a recommendation but was made into something that must be done, implementing the world’s first compulsory education and the world’s first free education.

The second was the creation of a scholarship system for students studying at secondary schools who came from poor families.

As these systems were established, many historians in the future had to suffer from stress, clutching their hair and going bald. And on the Korean internet, the number of people looking for the culprit increased.

***

Note 1) “The History of Books and Knowledge in the Joseon Dynasty” by Kang Myeong-gwan. Cheonnyeon’s /site/data/html_dir/2014/01/04/2014010400558.html

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