Black Corporation: Joseon

Through this process, the Won-Du-Seul brothers came to receive higher education at the Military Academy.

This was quite different from how Hyang had received his higher education through the Crown Prince’s Tutorial Office.

***

In early Joseon, according to the system established primarily by Jeong Do-jeon, officials belonging to the Crown Prince’s Tutorial Office were exclusively responsible for educating the Crown Prince.

The aim was to ensure that even if the heir to the throne lacked natural talent, they would acquire above-average governing ability through strict education.

If this was properly implemented, it could prevent the emergence of incompetent rulers who had historically been the catalyst for national ruin.

-Build a system where even a ruler of lesser talent would have at least average ability, collaborating with ministers thoroughly armed with Neo-Confucian principles, even if on a smaller scale.

This was the ideal system dreamed of by the politicians who founded Joseon.

However, ideals were ideals, and reality was reality. While they dreamed of harmony between royal authority and ministerial authority, in reality there were countless struggles between the king and ministers over control of state affairs. And starting with Jeong Do-jeon, many lost their lives.

Yet Sejong and Hyang had quietly changed this system.

Instead of the existing practice of entrusting royal children to favored ministers’ households when they reached studying age, they raised the children in the Eastern Palace.

They secured education up to Public School and Middle School levels through the Royal Educational Institution called Ganghakgwan.

Then, they sent them to the Military Academy, an external educational institution, for higher education.

Of course, the ministers could have found plenty to nitpick about in this process, but they didn’t.

The first reason was Sejong’s active support, backed by absolute power, and the second reason was their excessive workload.

“We’re already dying from overwork, and now you want us to take on another job? Are you crazy?”

But the third reason, which was never revealed outwardly, was the most powerful.

“When educating someone, you often have to be strict. That could become problematic later.”

They worried about possible future retaliation if they educated the next generation’s ruler too strictly.

Their concerns were valid, considering that in the history before Hyang’s intervention, those who had been responsible for Prince Yeonsan’s education later suffered his retaliation.

However, if the education took place at an external higher education institution, such worries could be reduced. Additionally, they thought it would strengthen competitive spirit and desire for improvement by competing with others.

“While the Way of the King and virtuous rule are important, one’s perspective must broaden to properly see a changing world.”

***

After completing four years of education at the Military Academy, Won returned to Gyeongbok Palace.

-As Won is the Crown Prince’s son, he must now gain practical experience.

This was why Won returned to Gyeongbok Palace. His half-brothers Du and Seul remained at the Military Academy, wanting to complete the advanced course.

“But something feels off about it.”

Back in his room at the Eastern Palace, Won wore an unsettled expression as he recalled that time.

It was because of Prince Pyeongwon, who had visited to congratulate them a few days before his return to the Eastern Palace.

***

“So, you’ve decided to stay at the academy? Will you continue in the military?”

At Prince Pyeongwon’s question, Du and Seul nodded.

“Yes, Uncle Pyeongwon. I want to join the navy and cut through the vast seas.”

“I want to master artillery that annihilates enemies in one shot and create the finest cannons.”

Prince Pyeongwon nodded at Du and Seul’s answers.

“Indeed. Those are grand dreams. Do your best.”

Though Prince Pyeongwon praised Du and Seul’s decisions, his face was filled with inexplicable complexity.

***

Recalling the meeting with Prince Pyeongwon, Won muttered with a face full of regret.

“Though the studies were hard, it was an enjoyable time…”

Among their Military Academy classmates, the Won-Du-Seul brothers were the youngest. The other classmates ranged from 15-year-old boys who had just completed their coming-of-age ceremonies to young men in their mid-to-late twenties.

On the first day, the academy directors declared to the cadets:

“Once you’ve entered the Military Academy, you’re all classmates! You must learn together, eat together, sleep together, and live together! When you leave after completing your academy life, only one thing determines where you start – how hard you worked at the academy!”

The director’s declaration wasn’t mere words. There was no discrimination between the Won-Du-Seul brothers and other classmates. Therefore, the Won-Du-Seul brothers had to compete fiercely with their classmates.

However, fierce competition wasn’t all that existed among the academy cadets. During their once-every-ten-days outings, the Won-Du-Seul brothers followed their classmates around, enjoying sights and entertainments they couldn’t see in the palace.

Except for one thing – the gibang (courtesan houses).

No matter how equal the relationship between classmates was, no one was bold enough to take these blood-fresh youngsters who hadn’t even had their coming-of-age ceremonies – and the Crown Prince’s son and his brothers at that – to gibang.

***

The next day, Won visited Seunghwadang for a private meeting with Hyang.

“You’ve worked hard studying at the Military Academy all this time.”

“Not at all, father.”

“Well then, did you enjoy your life at the academy?”

At Hyang’s question, Won answered with a smile.

“Though the studies were hard, it was truly an enjoyable time.”

At Won’s answer, Hyang’s face turned bitter. For a moment, memories from the 21st century surfaced. Quickly composing his emotions, Hyang smiled and spoke.

“Then that’s truly fortunate. It’s a good thing.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

After this conversation about Won’s school days, Hyang went straight to the main point.

“Now that you’ve completed the Military Academy, you should experience practical administration. You must properly experience what administration is to reduce mistakes when you later ascend to the throne.”

“Yes.”

As Won bowed his head and responded to Hyang’s words, he muttered inwardly.

Where will I be assigned? Surely not the Ministry of Finance? I’ve heard such notorious things about them…

“From now on, you will be responsible for managing the Research Institute and Area 51.”

“hic!”

Won, who had been wondering about his assignment, looked at Hyang in shock at his following words.

“F-Father! Your son is still a child who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony! Asking me to manage such important institutions is too much!”

“Weren’t you first in administrative studies at the Military Academy?”

“Theory is just theory!”

“That’s why you need to get beaten up in practice. Report to the Research Institute and Area 51 five days from now.”

“Yes…”

Seeing Won’s dejected appearance after being shouldered with an unexpected heavy responsibility, Hyang added:

“Master Jeong In-ji of the Research Institute and General Lee Chun of Area 51 are extremely capable individuals. They will be of great help to you.”

“Yes…”

Seeing Won’s completely deflated face, Hyang shouted:

“You brat! I’ve been managing the Research Institute and Area 51 since I was much younger than you!”

At Hyang’s words, Won inwardly protested.

Well, that’s because you created them, isn’t it!

“Starting tomorrow until you report for duty in five days, examine the records of how the Research Institute and Area 51 have operated until now. If you study those properly, you can reduce trial and error in practical work.”

“Yes…”

***

As Won returned to his room in the Eastern Palace, an enormous volume of reports flooded his study.

“Are these all records from the Research Institute and Area 51?”

The official checking the documents immediately answered Won’s question.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“There’s quite a lot.”

“This is already cut down to the minimum.”

“Hah…”

Won was left speechless at the official’s response.

However, Won quickly gathered himself and ran straight to Seunghwadang.

“The volume is too much to digest in five days! Please extend it to a month!”

“Five days is sufficient time to read and analyze everything.”

“No one in the world could do that!”

“Your grandfather and I did it though?”

“Shi-“

Won barely stopped himself from letting out a curse he’d learned at the Military Academy and pleaded once more.

“I’ll do my best, but it’s unreasonable. If not a month, please give me twenty days!”

After a long tug-of-war, Won managed to secure fifteen days.

***

“What’s done is done. No choice now…”

Accepting reality, Won soon sat down and began examining the documents.

After reading documents for several days, forgetting meals and sleep, Won soon shook his head with a face full of disbelief.

“Is this really possible with one person’s ability?”

The beginning of almost every report he’d read was similar.

-By the Crown Prince’s command…

-The Crown Prince proposed…

-The Crown Prince pointed out the problem…

Finally, Won sought out Hyang.

“Is this truly possible?”

At Won’s question, Hyang answered with a slight smile.

“Because I enjoyed it.”

At Hyang’s brief answer, Won unconsciously shook his head.

“Though I’m embarrassed to say it myself, I’ve been called bright since childhood. So I had some confidence, but now I truly realize there’s always someone better.”

“Your grandfather is even more so.”

“You mean great-grandfather?”

At Won’s question, Hyang nodded and muttered inwardly.

I’m just using cheat keys, but that man is completely outside the norm!

Seeing Won’s dejected appearance once again, Hyang consoled him.

“You say you’re far below heaven, but that’s not right. In mathematics, you can’t match Jeong In-ji and Kim Dam of the Research Institute, and in crafting, you can’t match Jang Yeong-sil in New Territory. No, you can’t even match the level of other researchers and craftsmen. The only things I can confidently say I excel at compared to them are…”

Hyang paused briefly, tapping his head with his finger before continuing.

“Imagination and analytical ability. Because I could imagine what they hadn’t yet imagined, and quickly analyze the progress and results of projects to minimize risks.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s words, Won unconsciously nodded. Seeing this, Hyang continued while still smiling.

“I still remember how you loved looking at all sorts of device models when you were young. Though you’ll face many difficulties now that you’re entering practical work, don’t stop imagining. Who knows? You might also create devices or discover principles that will remain in history.”

After imagining for a moment at Hyang’s words, Won soon answered with a bright smile.

“I’ll work hard.”

“Good, good…”

Won, who seemed to have found confidence from Hyang’s advice, soon asked Hyang with an expression of having just remembered something.

“Ah! There was something I forgot I wanted to ask father.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about mukseok. While examining the reports, I saw that you first called it heukyeon but soon changed it to mukseok. What was the reason?”

At Won’s question, Hyang lowered his head and grumbled inwardly.

Ah! These record fetishists! They recorded even that!

However, Hyang had forgotten. Though he had decided on mukseok instead of heukyeon, he had often used heukyeon instead of mukseok afterward – even in front of Sejong.

How should I explain this…

While thinking of a plausible excuse, Hyang soon explained to Won.

“It’s somewhat embarrassing, but I’m weak at naming things. You can tell just by looking at your names, can’t you?”

After struggling to name the Won-Du-Seul brothers himself, Hyang had passed off the naming of children born afterward to others.

“A name, properly speaking, should immediately convey what something is when heard. When I first saw mukseok, the word that came to mind was heukyeon. However, none of mukseok’s characteristics matched the ‘yeon (鉛)’ character meaning lead. Therefore, I changed the name.”

“Is that so?”

Seeing Won slightly tilt his head, Hyang muttered inwardly.

This kid’s sharp in unnecessary places!