Black Corporation: Joseon

As soon as King Sejong’s approval came down, construction began quickly despite the harsh winter.

The main reason for starting construction in winter was that they couldn’t keep the “uncivilized” Western men in the palace, which was full of the king, queen, and court ladies.

The location chosen for the research institute was between Area 51 and Mapo Port, which would be around present-day Wonhyo-dong in the 21st century.

After selecting the site for the research institute, Hyang muttered with a regretful expression:

“If I had my way, I’d build it right at the foot of Gwanak Mountain… But transportation is still a mess…”

Hyang, who had only been licking his lips in anticipation, soon put on a determined expression and made a firm resolution:

“Just wait until we build a bridge over the Han River! We’ll move the research institute to Gwanak Mountain right away!”

Hyang still harbored resentment from the college entrance exam stress he had endured in the 21st century for supposedly having a “damn good brain”.

***

Around the time construction began in Hanseong, the Challenger, which had been staying in Dali-do, moved to the naval base in Mokpo.

The sailors who had been confined to Dali-do during the quarantine period grumbled as they disembarked.

“Can’t believe we were cooped up longer than those horse foals!”

“Those little colts had it better than us!”

The horses acquired in Alexandria had already been unloaded and moved as soon as the veterinarians finished their checks.

The sailors who grumbled with protruding lower lips underwent another health check, then quickly left the base after receiving their leave papers and bonuses.

“Shall we grab a drink?”

“Is booze really the issue now? Our kids probably don’t even remember what their fathers look like!”

“Let’s drink later!”

After saying goodbye to their colleagues, the sailors hurriedly made their way to their homes where their families were waiting.

With the sailors gone, only the alchemists and mathematicians remained.

The interpreters from Mansur’s merchant group who had come on the Challenger, along with Joseon’s interpreters, informed them of the upcoming schedule.

“You will take a ship from here to Hanseong. After arriving in Hanseong and having an audience with His Majesty, you will be assigned your work locations.”

The alchemists and scholars nodded at the interpreter’s explanation.

Seeing this, the interpreter spoke again.

“Any questions?”

At the interpreter’s inquiry, one of the monks gathered in one place raised his hand.

“What do you want to know?”

To the interpreter’s question, the monk asked with a troubled expression:

“Do we have to bathe again when we arrive in Hanseong?”

Without even asking the Joseon interpreter, the interpreter immediately answered the monk’s question.

“Of course!”

At the interpreter’s response, the monks muttered with embarrassed faces:

“Oh Lord…”

Unlike the alchemists and mathematicians from the Eastern Roman Empire who were accustomed to bathing culture, for the monks from Western Europe, the act of bathing itself was very uncomfortable.

Because of this, the monks had to struggle with the sailors every time they stopped at ports for supplies and rest, from before departing Suez and at each stop along the way.

“If disease spreads because you don’t bathe, we’ll throw you into the sea right away!”

The monks had refused to bathe until Oh Ha-seok’s threat.

***

Thus, the ship carrying the alchemists, scholars, and monks departed from Mokpo and headed for Jemulpo.

Upon arriving at Jemulpo, the alchemist group traveled up the Han River towards Mapo.

Arriving in Mapo, the group rested at lodgings prepared by the government to recover from their journey.

While they were resting, the female servants assigned to the lodgings had to endure a difficult task.

It was because of the enormous amount of laundry produced by the alchemist group.

The female servants wielded their laundry bats against the filthy clothes, spewing curses.

“Damn it! Even the rags worn by beggars under Cheonggyecheon Bridge would be cleaner than this!”

***

The alchemists and scholars, now dressed in clothes prepared in advance by the government, had already taken out paper and pens to record their experiences.

-The Joseon people are very particular about bathing. Even the sailors who navigate ships bathe immediately upon docking at a port.

It is certain that the Joseon people’s obsession with bathing is not for religious reasons.

Through conversations via the Arab interpreter, we confirmed that Joseon people believe that keeping the body clean through bathing prevents infectious diseases.

-The Joseon people’s belief that bathing prevents disease is not a mere custom.

If the interpreter has translated correctly, this is knowledge acquired through experience.

Therefore, it seems necessary to verify this.

There are several peculiarities in the Joseon people’s way of life, one of which is the toilet.

Unless they are truly impoverished lower-class citizens, they install toilets made of iron or porcelain in their bathrooms.

These toilets are very unique. After using them, when you pull a string, water from a tank flushes down and washes away the excrement.

In the lodgings where we are staying, there is a slave dedicated to filling these toilet tanks with water.

According to the interpreter, in households that cannot afford to keep a slave, they keep a large jar filled with water and fill the tank before or after using the toilet.

The alchemists and scholars meticulously recorded what they had seen and experienced during those few short days.

In the future, the records left by these individuals would become important historical materials for understanding the lifestyle of Joseon during this period.

***

It was only after five days that the alchemist group was able to have an audience with King Sejong.

The reason it took five days was, amusingly, because their washed clothes hadn’t dried yet.

They couldn’t meet King Sejong wearing only undergarments, so they had to stay at the lodgings until their clothes were completely dry.

On the morning of the fifth day, the alchemist group, dressed in their well-dried clothes, boarded carriages sent by the government and headed for Hanseong.

The group in the carriages looked out the windows with keen interest at the scenery outside.

As they entered Hanseong through Sungnyemun Gate, where railway construction was still in full swing, the alchemist group suddenly burst out with exclamations that were almost like screams.

“Oh my God!”

“Heavens!”

Seeing the group’s commotion at the sight of trains moving along the railway, the carriage drivers and the soldiers escorting them smirked and muttered:

“Country bumpkins…”

Whether aware of this reaction or not, the alchemist group couldn’t take their eyes off the ‘iron horse’. As they watched the iron horse disappear into the distance, the group soon began to have a doubt.

“Why would a country capable of producing such things need us?”

“Will they really need us at all?”

“Shouldn’t we be the ones learning from them instead?”

***

With a mix of anticipation and worry, the alchemist group passed through Gwanghwamun and took their places in the front courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“His Majesty the King approaches!”

At the herald’s announcement, the interpreter hurriedly said to the group:

“The King of Joseon is coming! Pay your respects immediately!”

At the interpreter’s words, the alchemist group bowed deeply in respect.

King Sejong, seated on a chair that had been prepared in advance, gave an order to the group bowing before him.

“You may rise.”

The group, hearing King Sejong’s order through the interpreter, looked up at him. Seeing the foreigners with unfamiliar appearances, King Sejong slowly began to speak.

“Welcome to Joseon. I am the King of Joseon.”

The group, hearing King Sejong’s words through the interpreter, bowed deeply again.

“It is an honor to meet the monarch of the Kingdom of Joseon!”

In this complex situation requiring communication through interpreters, King Sejong addressed the group:

“Our Joseon needs your scholarship. We do not take the value of knowledge lightly. However, we also do not favor those who are idle. Therefore, I hope you will do your utmost.”

The group, hearing King Sejong’s request through the interpreter, bowed politely.

“We will do our best, Your Majesty.”

Hearing the group’s response, King Sejong turned to look at Hyang standing behind him.

“The Crown Prince is responsible for managing them, so let the Crown Prince proceed from now on.”

“Yes, Father.”

Receiving King Sejong’s order, Hyang stepped forward and addressed the group.

“I am the prince of Joseon and the one who will be managing you.”

At Hyang’s words, spoken clearly in Latin, albeit not perfectly natural, the group looked at Hyang with wide eyes.

‘You know Latin?’

‘It’s Latin, even if the sentences aren’t perfect!’

Seeing the group’s surprised expressions, the interpreter hurriedly spoke up.

“What are you doing! This is the Crown Prince of Joseon! Pay your respects immediately!”

Snapping back to their senses at the interpreter’s words, the group hastily bowed.

“We greet you, Your Highness!”

“I’m glad to meet you too. As my father said, Joseon needs your knowledge, so I hope you will do your best.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hearing the group’s response, Hyang moved on to the most important issue.

“I hear there are Catholic monks among you. Who are they?”

At Hyang’s question, five monks gathered in one corner stepped forward.

“We are, Your Highness.”

As the monks came forward, Hyang immediately got to the point.

“What will you do in our Joseon? Academic research, or proselytizing?”

To Hyang’s question, the one who appeared to be the eldest answered.

“We have come primarily for academic research, Your Highness.”

“Primarily, you say… What is your name?”

“I am called Angelo, Your Highness.”

“I see, Angelo. So you’re saying it’s primarily for academic research, and then proselytizing?”

“…”

Seeing Angelo’s silence in response, Hyang gave a bitter smile.

“I see. According to your scriptures, your God commanded to ‘spread the gospel to the ends of the earth,’ so you can’t give up on proselytizing, can you?”

‘Mom, I’m sorry!’

Hyang was inwardly apologizing, remembering his 21st-century mother who had been active as a deaconess in the church.

Meanwhile, not only the monks but also the alchemists and mathematicians who were Orthodox Christians looked surprised at Hyang’s words.

‘He knows the Bible?’

‘I thought people in the East believed in Buddhism, how does he know the Bible?’

Seeing the people frozen in a situation they had never expected, Hyang continued:

“According to the commandments given by your God, it says ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ And another commandment says ‘Honor your father and mother.’ Is this correct?”

“It is, Your Highness.”

“Then let me ask you this. In our Joseon, not only do we practice filial piety towards our parents, but it is also fundamental to respect our ancestors, who are our parents’ parents. Therefore, we prepare food with sincerity according to set dates to express our gratitude to our ancestors. Does this align with or contradict your commandments?”

“Uh…”

Angelo was at a loss for words at Hyang’s question.

Hyang’s question was exquisite.

If he said it contradicted, he would be criticized for why it was wrong when they were following the commandment to honor parents. If he said it aligned, he would be pointed out for worshipping dead ancestors as gods, violating the commandment to ‘have no other gods.’

Seeing Angelo struggling to find a proper answer, Hyang concluded:

“Proselytizing is forbidden until your Pope makes a decision on this matter. Any objections?”

“No, Your Highness.”

Angelo answered with a face of complete resignation.

In fact, not just Angelo, but all the accompanying monks had the same expression.

The monks who came to Joseon had a complicated background.

They were monks belonging to the Franciscan order. But at the same time, they were followers of Roger Bacon’s teachings.

Because of this, like Roger Bacon who had been exiled, they were also in a state of semi-excommunication.

That’s why they had come to Joseon to safely study philosophy and mathematics.

Therefore, even if they sent the issue Hyang pointed out to the Vatican, the chances of it properly reaching the Pope were almost nil, and the chances of getting a good answer were even lower.

In the end, Angelo and his group had to completely give up on proselytizing.

Hyang’s trick to buy even a little time to prevent the explosive collision between East and West had unexpectedly succeeded in an unforeseen direction.

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