Late in the evening of the day Choi Man-ri was appointed as the head of the Office of Correct Sounds.
In a gisaeng house in Dadong, Sejong and Hyang were having a private drinking session between father and son.
“It’s truly surprising to have a drinking session with Father outside of the palace or hunting grounds.”
Sejong smiled at Hyang’s words and responded.
“It gets tiresome to always eat in the palace, and going out hunting is bothersome.”
Hyang’s face changed slightly at Sejong’s words.
‘Oh! This man, really!’
Whether aware of Hyang’s thoughts or not, Sejong immediately continued.
“If you’re going to start with that ‘not rising’ nonsense again, I’ll make you regent right away. Don’t worry, this father of yours is still doing everything he needs to do.”
“…Yes.”Having silenced Hyang, Sejong ordered the gisaengs.
“The cups are empty. Fill them up.”
“Yes.”
As the cups were filled, Sejong raised his cup and ordered Hyang.
“Come, let’s drink.”
“Yes.”
After several rounds of drinks, Hyang asked Sejong.
“By the way, what’s the occasion for this drinking session today?”
“Didn’t we catch a big fish today?”
At Sejong’s words, which mixed jest and seriousness, Hyang asked with slightly surprised eyes.
“Was it planned?”
“A bigger fish than expected was caught.”
“How did you anticipate it?”
“What’s the most lacking thing in the court right now?”
Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.
“People.”
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer.
“That’s right. We’re short on people. Aren’t the current court officials those who are accustomed to working late nights and overnight? I expected they would spread bait here and there just to survive.”
Hyang nodded unconsciously at Sejong’s explanation.
“Ah… So that’s why you didn’t issue an order prohibiting handwritten copies?”
“They would do it even if told not to. And don’t they know capable people through various academic and regional connections, like that Han Myeong-hoe boy from before? I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch those who slipped through my net, and it was successful. A bigger fish than expected was caught.”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang muttered unconsciously.
“Are you the Fishing King of the East Sea?”
“Ha, that’s a good nickname. Hahaha!”
Sejong, who burst into laughter at Hyang’s words, continued speaking with a grin.
“Thanks to catching this big fish, it seems we’ll be able to see those stubborn fellows again soon.”
As Hyang searched his memories at Sejong’s words, he asked Sejong.
“By stubborn fellows, do you mean the dismissed scholars from Hall of Worthies?”
“That’s right. They’re stubborn, but they’re talents too good to be left idle. We should put them to use.”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang thought for a moment and asked with a worried expression.
“Will they return? No, is it possible given Your Majesty’s previous royal decree? If we’re not careful, some impudent fellows might call it a flaw in Your Majesty.”
Sejong drained his cup lightly and answered Hyang’s words.
“That’s why I asked the Prime Minister earlier, wasn’t it? Since the Prime Minister answered like that, even if some nonsense comes out, he’ll step up to block it first.”
Hyang nodded at Sejong’s words, but he hadn’t completely erased his worries.
In the end, Hyang continued his questions.
“But will those stubborn fellows really come back? Weren’t they the stubborn ones who threw in their resignations even before they were dismissed?”
Sejong’s smile deepened at Hyang’s observation.
“I’m thinking of giving Choi Man-ri temporary authority over personnel and appointments. However, with the condition that for officials already working in the court, permission must be obtained from the head of the relevant department. What do you think will happen then?”
Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.
“It will be impossible to secure those already working as officials. The ministers will absolutely not let them go. In the end, he’ll have no choice but to exercise his appointment authority… So, to properly run the Office of Correct Sounds, he’ll have no choice but to bring in the dismissed scholars. But will Chief Choi Man-ri be able to easily bring in those stubborn fellows?”
Sejong emptied his cup and answered Hyang’s question.
“One of the things that scholar-officials must absolutely uphold is loyalty. They have loyalty built up from Hall of Worthies, so they’ll have no choice but to come.”
“Ah…”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang momentarily recalled a variation of a movie scene.
‘We Hall of Worthies scholars! Eui!’
“Thanks to this, we’ll be able to put those stubborn fellows to good use under Choi Man-ri’s responsibility. This is all thanks to you.”
Hyang’s eyes widened at Sejong’s words.
“Pardon? What did I…”
“Have you forgotten what you said before? The words that the king of the Western barbarians said to the prince who would inherit the throne. ‘Become the bee that sucks the sweetest nectar from all flowers.’ Wasn’t that a good saying?”
“Ah…”
Nodding at Sejong’s words, Hyang muttered inwardly.
‘It’s a thousand blessings that there’s no court historian here. If there had been, I might have been recorded as some kind of shadowy figure… By the way, this man is really out of the ordinary… How can he apply things so terrifyingly well?’
***
While the drinking session continued like this, the head gisaeng entered.
“What is it?”
“Some of the girls from the gisaeng house say they have a request for His Majesty and the Crown Prince, so this lowly woman has come in.”
“A request, you say?”
At the head gisaeng’s words, Sejong’s expression filled with curiosity.
“A request from the gisaengs… Well, let’s hear what kind of request it is.”
“Yes.”
As soon as Sejong’s permission was given, the door to the room adjacent to where Sejong and his son were seated opened.
As the door opened, the waiting gisaengs made a deep bow to Sejong with nimble movements.
Seeing this, Sejong nodded his head with a constant smile.
“Hahaha! Truly swallow-like swift movements. Well, what is your request?”
At Sejong’s question, the gisaeng sitting at the front carefully opened her mouth.
“Please teach us lowly women a new song.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
At this unexpected request, Sejong and Hyang tilted their heads. After observing the gisaengs for a moment, Hyang exclaimed when he saw the gisaeng sitting at the front.
“Ah! You’re that girl from before!”
The gisaeng sitting at the front was the one who had previously asked Hyang to teach her “The Virgin Boatman.”
When Hyang recognized her, the gisaeng raised her head gently and answered with a seductive smile.
“Yes, this lowly woman is that gisaeng from before.”
Seeing this, Sejong opened his mouth with a slightly regretful expression.
“Oh my, it was the Crown Prince, not me. Anyway, a new song… You, tell me more about it.”
At Sejong’s command, the gisaeng elaborated more on her story.
***
“The Virgin Boatman,” which Hyang had taught while shouting “A cliché is a cliché,” spread throughout the eight provinces of Joseon in an instant. The trend was so fierce that even the residents of the Nakdong River were bewildered.
However, like any popular song, the craze cooled down quickly. But the cooling of the trend meant that people were tired of “The Virgin Boatman,” not of adult songs in general.
As a result, as time passed, songs with different lyrics set to the tune of “The Virgin Boatman” circulated, but none of them achieved the same hit status as “The Virgin Boatman.” It felt like wearing ill-fitting clothes.
In the end, the gisaeng who had first learned the song from Hyang desperately wished to meet him again.
‘If all else fails, I’ll have to enter the palace! Sheesh! Those stuck-up Ming envoys never come at times like this!’
While she was waiting for an opportunity like this, Sejong and Hyang happened to visit the gisaeng house.
***
At the gisaeng’s request, Sejong looked at Hyang with eyes full of expectation.
“I’d like to hear a new song too.”
“Yes…”
Hyang, who answered briefly, racked his brains hard.
‘What would be good…’
As Hyang searched through the songs he had memorized while diligently serving as a source of joy for the elderly in 21st century Yangsan, and songs he had heard and memorized from various places, he soon chose one.
‘We started with a river, so let’s continue with a river!’
The new song Hyang chose was “The Maiden of Soyang River.”
“Ahem! Ahem!”
After clearing his throat for a moment, Hyang soon began to sing.
“As the sun sets~”
After the song ended, Hyang asked Sejong for his opinion.
“How was it?”
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s question and answered.
“The sorrowful emotions of a young woman anxiously waiting for her departed lover were well conveyed. It was a good song.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, you must never become like that bad fellow in the song. One must not give affection carelessly, and if affection is given, one must take responsibility, whether man or woman.”
Grasping the hidden meaning in Sejong’s words, Hyang answered with a bitter smile.
“Even three is difficult for me.”
“Huh? Already? Should I call for a royal physician…”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang waved his hands.
“I’m still in top shape!”
After ending this brief interlude, Hyang asked the gisaeng.
“How was it?”
“Please, you must teach us! We will do our best to learn it!”
And so, a new popular song began to spread, starting from Hanseong.
And the residents of Chuncheon began to grumble.
“Is it Soyang River this time?” (Note 1)
***
Meanwhile, at the public debate between Sejong and Choi Man-ri, there were also some merchants from Ming.
Through them, information about Hunminjeongeum and the content of the debate was transmitted to Beijing.
Upon receiving the report, the Cabinet Secretary immediately rushed to the Xuande Emperor to report and add his opinion.
“I believe we must immediately send an envoy to Joseon to question them!”
“What is there to question?”
At the Xuande Emperor’s question, the Cabinet Secretary immediately answered.
“There are two things, Your Majesty. One is the creation of an independent writing system. The other is about their respect towards the superior country.”
“Hmm…”
After pondering for a moment at the Cabinet Secretary’s words, the Xuande Emperor reached a conclusion.
“Not permitted.”
“Your Majesty! You must strongly question them! Right now, there are unspeakable words circulating in both the court and among the people. To quell this…”
“Enough.”
Raising his hand to stop the speech, the Xuande Emperor looked at the Cabinet Secretary and ministers and opened his mouth.
“Unspeakable words, you say… They’re saying I’m not the Emperor of Ming, but the Emperor of Joseon? Who would spread such words? The common people naturally like to talk, so that’s understandable, but who in this court has spread such treasonous words?”
The Xuande Emperor spoke in a leisurely tone, but as soon as his words ended, the interior of the Wénhuà Palace froze solid.
“Hmm… I wonder who it could be… Cabinet Secretary, you said both the court and the people, so you must know who in the court has been talking. Would you tell me?”
As soon as the Xuande Emperor’s words ended, the Cabinet Secretary prostrated himself on the ground and shouted.
“Your Majesty! It was not me! My loyalty remains unwavering!”
“I’m not doubting your loyalty, I’m just curious about who has been talking.”
“I do not know, Your Majesty!”
At the Cabinet Secretary’s cry, the Xuande Emperor muttered softly.
“Well, we’ll find out if we investigate.”
The Xuande Emperor spoke in a calm voice, but the officials and eunuchs turned pale. Since the Emperor had spoken, the Eastern Depot would investigate the officials, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard would investigate the eunuchs. And a bloodbath would ensue.
“I’m not unaware of what the Cabinet Secretary is worried about. Most of those with independent writing systems are indeed barbarians. But can we view Joseon as barbarians? The relationship between Joseon and Ming is one of lips and teeth. And the current king of Joseon said, ‘Respecting the superior country is a diplomatic method.’ Is that statement wrong? And when I send envoys to Joseon or when Joseon’s envoys come here, have they ever been disrespectful? Have they shown any selfishness in performing rituals? Why do you keep trying to worsen relations with Joseon? Etiquette should not be forced, but should come from the heart. Have you forgotten that emphasizing etiquette only breeds resistance? Is that your loyalty?”
At the Xuande Emperor’s rebuke, all those led by the Cabinet Secretary prostrated themselves on the ground.
“Your Majesty! Please forgive our oversight!”
“Please forgive our narrow-mindedness!”
Looking down at such ministers, the Xuande Emperor continued.
“My empire is like a roc. Just as a roc does not move carelessly, the movements of the empire should have weight. So why are you trying to make the empire move like a mere sparrow? Don’t you know that the more you act like this, the more countries will raise flags against the empire?”
“We are deeply sorry!”
Hearing such answers from the ministers, the Xuande Emperor concluded.
“I had been turning a blind eye to the sudden disappearance of some eunuchs recently. But if you act like this, I can no longer ignore it. Keep that in mind.”
“We will engrave it on our bones and hearts!”
“Therefore, regarding the recent events in Joseon, it is not permissible as it could be seen as interference in internal affairs. This is an imperial decree.”
“We receive your command!”
***
Note 1) It is not known exactly when the name Soyang River began to be used. However, given that Soyang River Granary was established on Soyang River during King Sejo’s reign, it is assumed to have been used from the late Goryeo or early Joseon period for the purpose of this writing.
Soyang River Granary. Korea Creative Content Agency.
http://www.culturecontent.com/content/contentView.do?search_div=CP_THE&search_div_id=CP_THE010&cp_code=cp0616&index_id=cp06160041&content_id=cp061600410001&search_left_menu=2
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