Black Corporation: Joseon

The Crown Prince’s son Won and the Princes Du and Seul had turned fourteen this year.

***

Through the Crown Princess and Yangwon and Yangje, Hyang had seen six sons and three daughters.

Born two to three years apart, these children had unusual birth circumstances. While they weren’t born simultaneously like the Won-Du-Seul brothers, they were born within a day or two of each other. Unlike when the Won-Du-Seul brothers were born, these were all easy deliveries. Rumors spread widely that this was the result of the friendly but competitive relationship between the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje.

“Truly a miraculous occurrence, Your Majesty!”

The ministers and court eunuchs repeatedly reported to King Sejong, calling it a miracle and offering congratulations on the birth of healthy children.

“I’m grateful. Isn’t the birth of healthy children the greatest blessing?”

King Sejong responded to the ministers with a pleased expression.

Similarly busy receiving and responding to congratulations, Hyang muttered while looking at the sky:

“If they’d been born at the exact same time three times in a row, someone’s trickery would’ve been certain.”

The people’s reaction was interesting. Every time Hyang’s children were born, Sejong and the court held discount events at the state-run stores. Each time, people would crowd the entrances nearly to bursting, clearing out all the merchandise.

Having developed a taste for these discount events, the people would half-jokingly, half-seriously exchange such conversations:

“Say… should we pray for them to have even more children?”

“Right? When the state encourages having many children, it’s only proper for those above to set an example.”

“Damn right! Damn right!”

“They’ve had nine so far, right? Shouldn’t they avoid stopping at nine?”

“Absolutely!”

After confirming such rumors through his incognito outings and various channels, and then receiving offerings from the people ranging from eels to black raspberries, Hyang exploded:

“What am I, the Eastern Palace’s breeding stud?! And what’s this nonsense about the number nine!”

Upon hearing reports that ‘the Crown Prince burst out in anger saying this,’ Sejong called Hyang and said just one thing:

“Then am I Gyeongbok Palace’s breeding stud?”

“…”

***

At any rate, all the children born were brilliant.

“They say you can’t steal good breeding…”

Those in charge of the children’s upbringing and education would nod while saying this.

Their grandfather Sejong’s profound scholarship and outstanding abilities were admired not only by Joseon’s people but also by foreigners. Added to this, their father Hyang’s various achievements inspired not just admiration but awe.

Moreover, the women chosen as Hyang’s companions were not only beautiful but had their scholarly knowledge and intellectual abilities thoroughly verified during the selection process.

Born to such parents, the children’s brilliance was sufficient to earn them the title of prodigies.

Just looking at the Won-Du-Seul brothers, the eldest among them, they began their studies at age five, earned recognition for academic achievement equivalent to the Public School level at six, and Middle School level at nine.

While Sejong was satisfied with these better-than-expected results, Hyang scrutinized them thoroughly.

“Are you certain these results were properly verified?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Anyone would acknowledge these results.”

“Let’s have them take it again.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll prepare the questions myself, so let’s have them take it again.”

At Hyang’s firm decision, the educational official in charge of the brothers’ education had to step back.

Seeing this, Sejong asked Hyang:

“Aren’t you being too stringent?”

“These children will inherit the protection of this nation, along with their brothers. There’s a saying in the marketplace that ‘clear water upstream makes for clear water downstream.’ These children received special education because they’re royal descendants. There will certainly be those who question this.”

“Couldn’t we severely punish such disrespectful individuals?”

Hyang shook his head at Sejong’s words.

“Then they would not be submitting to results but feeling oppressed by power. We must make them submit through results. Without suspicious gazes, these children’s future paths will be unrestricted, and this must become tradition to prevent this nation from becoming corrupt.”

Well, at least we won’t see another Sejin-yo…

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words.

“Your words are right. Proceed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Thus, Lee Soonji from the Research Institute and other officials created questions to verify the Won-Du-Seul brothers’ academic achievements.

The completed questions were stored in the Research Institute’s vault, with the question vault sealed on all sides with official seals.

Additionally, to objectively gauge the brothers’ abilities, graduating students from Middle Schools in Hanseong took the same test as a control group.

The court ministers and Hanseong’s prominent figures all focused their attention on these test results.

***

The Hanseong Middle School students were considered to have the highest standards among all Middle Schools throughout Joseon.

As a result, some provincial dignitaries not only arranged private tutoring to get their children into Hanseong Middle Schools but even had them board with relatives living in Hanseong to meet the “Hanseong resident only” qualification requirement.

***

When the test results were graded, the Won-Du-Seul brothers ranked within the top ten.

“At just nine years old?”

“Indeed, blood will tell…”

While Hanseong’s prominent figures marveled at the Won-Du-Seul brothers’ excellence, court officials began eyeing the other seven top scorers.

“Top rank, you say…”

“With proper guidance, they could become quite useful later…”

The officials stared at the top scorers with wolves’ eyes fixed on plump hens.

Through this test, the Won-Du-Seul brothers’ academic achievements were objectively recognized, and no one could dispute it.

However, the aftermath of this test was quite powerful.

Teachers and parents from Middle Schools nationwide simultaneously submitted petitions to the court.

-Let us take that test too!

-This could solidify the prejudice that only Hanseong Middle Schools are excellent! We must evaluate nationwide to eliminate disputes!

When the volume of incoming petitions had to be measured by the cartload, Sejong made a decision.

“It would be beneficial in many ways if one could objectively know their level of learning. The excellent will gain more confidence and strive harder in their studies, while those lacking can properly identify and supplement their deficiencies.”

Following Sejong’s decision, the test was administered nationwide.

And this became tradition, becoming the origin of the notorious National Academic Achievement Test.

***

After receiving recognition for Middle School-level achievement, the Won-Du-Seul brothers were set to attend higher education institutions.

The question was where they would receive their education.

“Given the Crown Prince’s disposition, it would obviously be the Engineering Academy.”

While Sejong and most court ministers thought this way, Hyang’s choice was the Military Academy.

“Why?”

When Sejong asked the reason, Hyang immediately began his explanation.

“The Great Founder King who established this Joseon protected the people from foreign enemies in the south and north. As his descendants, these children should naturally be the first to step forward when foreign threats face the nation. Therefore, they must enter the Military Academy. While martial arts can be learned privately, to learn military strategy, a soldier’s mindset, and how to command troops, only the Military Academy will suffice.”

“But the Crown Prince’s son must also learn administration?”

“The military needs administration too, so he can learn both.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong fell into thought, while the ministers inwardly admired the reasoning.

‘The royal family must lead when foreign threats arrive! What profound words!’

‘It reminds me of Silla’s Hwarang!’

While the ministers were all admiring this, Sejong pointed out a problem.

“Your thinking is truly beautiful. However, I cannot hide my concerns. If they become accustomed to the military by attending the Military Academy, they might handle everything in a military fashion. Well, perhaps that could be good too. The military prioritizes efficiency above all, so state affairs might become more efficient. But if mishandled, they might insist on absolute obedience in everything and become tyrants. Moreover, by putting the military first, the people might suffer hardships. Crown Prince, you surely must know this, but I cannot hide my concern.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang inwardly nodded.

Indeed, he’s definitely outside the norm! To progress all the way to militarism and military-first politics!

“Yes. The concerns Your Majesty raises are certainly worrisome. Thus, after completing the Military Academy, the Crown Prince’s son will be put in charge of managing Area 51 and the Research Institute.”

“As expected!”

The moment Hyang finished speaking, the ministers muttered in unison. Glaring briefly at such ministers, Hyang continued.

“When we first established the Research Institute and Area 51, we created laws making the Crown Prince responsible for their operation. We’ll extend this to include the Crown Prince’s son.”

“Will managing the Research Institute and Area 51 be helpful?”

“Most of what’s developed at the Research Institute and Area 51 is aimed at improving the people’s convenience, followed by military convenience. Through the process of developing knowledge, technology, and devices at the Research Institute and Area 51, he will learn to help the people’s convenience. But most importantly…”

Hyang paused briefly, then shot a strong glare at Kim Jeom – who was just about to become Deputy Prime Minister from Minister of Finance – before continuing.

“He will learn the fearsome nature of budgets.”

Right as those words came out, Sejong reached his conclusion.

“It would be good to proceed according to your plan.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

***

On the day it was decided which higher education institution the Won-Du-Seul brothers would enter, the ministers leaving the meeting asked Kim Jeom:

“By the way, sir, let me ask you something. Why exactly does learning the fearsome nature of budgets while managing Area 51 and the Research Institute become the answer?”

To the other ministers’ question, Kim Jeom explained the reason.

“Like all government institutions, the Research Institute and Area 51 can’t function without a budget. And all institutions strive to secure even one more coin of budget.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

When the ministers still didn’t understand, Kim Jeom clicked his tongue.

“Tch! But the Department of Defense is an exception. They routinely drain the budget using His Majesty’s discretionary authority, saying ‘if it’s absolutely necessary for national defense, we have no choice even if it’s somewhat unreasonable.’ However, Area 51 and the Research Institute secure their budgets smoothly without needing such discretionary authority.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Hwang Hui posed a question.

“Though I don’t think it likely, the Crown Prince…?”

To Hwang Hui’s question, Kim Jeom shook his head.

“No. Looking at the documents they submit to secure their budget, there’s nothing to say.

The use of this year’s allocated budget and its results. The governance effects (Note 1) created by those results. The increased tax revenue from those governance effects and expected future tax revenue.

After clearly showing their results like that, they list next year’s plans, the governance effects those plans will bring, and then write how much budget they need.

They submit everything with precise figures in this process. There’s simply nowhere to cut.

So, won’t the Crown Prince’s son definitely learn how this Joseon’s governance situation is and how it’s changing while managing the Research Institute and Area 51? With such experience, wouldn’t issues like military-first politics disappear?”

The ministers all nodded at Kim Jeom’s words. However, Jo Mal-saeng rather raised his voice:

“Look here, sir! Let’s speak properly! What nonsense is this about our Department of Defense getting extra budget through discretionary authority! If our Department of Defense got budget that way, would military officials be shouting ‘Our main enemy is the Ministry of Finance!’ at drinking parties?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Kim Jeom shouted:

“Shall we open the books?! Huh!”

***