Black Corporation: Joseon

Calculus, probability and statistics – Hyang ground his teeth thinking of them.

These were what made Hyang choose liberal arts instead of science in the 21st century. Of course, liberal arts students also learned calculus and probability/statistics, and they appeared on the college entrance exam. But not at the science track’s level.

As a side note, when Hyang took the Grade 5 Finance Service exam, accounting and statistics were the subjects he struggled with most, caused him to fail, and barely passed above the failing threshold when he finally succeeded.

***

After briefly recalling his past memories, Hyang returned to reality.

“Though there are some risks, if we do well, this could be the best opportunity to absorb talented people from Europe and the Middle East. Considering the current situation.”

The European and Middle Eastern situation, confirmed through Mansur, Portugal, and Alexandria, was at the extreme of chaos.

Just how bad was it? Hyang muttered this after checking the reports:

“Is this the Mad Max era? Or should a King Arthur pop up somewhere?”

The biggest cause throwing the Middle East and Europe into chaos was religious conflict.

And not clashes between Christianity and Islam, but struggles within each religion.

In Europe’s case, fierce factional realignments and bloody struggles occurred over issues like ‘Council vs. Pope,’ ‘Authority of Bible and Gospel vs. Papal Authority,’ ‘For vs. Against Unity with Orthodox Church,’ ‘Sale of Church Offices,’ ‘Clergy Marriage,’ ‘Fundamentalism vs. Secularism.’

Especially, kings of various countries and governors of city-states didn’t hesitate to use force to protect their power.

On top of conflicts arising from religious differences, power struggles between rulers and conflicts of interest between states created armed conflicts that kept fights continuing throughout Europe.

The Islamic situation was equally complex. The largest forces, Sunni and Shia, clashed. And like Europe, conflicts erupted between sultans dreaming of monopolizing power and religious figures, while small mystical sects absorbed in mysticism became common enemies persecuted by both Sunni and Shia. Christianity likewise persecuted mystics.

In this situation, Hyang judged it worth taking risks for the opportunity to recruit talent.

Those with knowledge of or researching classical chemistry like alchemy, ancient Greek and Roman science or mathematics were in perfect position to face life threats, being branded as heretics after being judged as mystics.

Of course, some rulers and nobles with foresight supported them, but such patrons were extremely few.

Of course, there was a possibility – the risk Hyang worried about – that some might realize the reality through letters sent by monks and alchemists staying in Joseon and begin supporting scholars.

But despite such risks, what gave Hyang confidence was the existence of the Research Institute he established.

During this period, Joseon was unique in systematically providing large-scale government budget support, whether in the East or West.

Only Joseon’s Research Institute guaranteed both personal safety and economic security while allowing full focus on research.

Another strength was the materials accumulated at the Research Institute over time.

The Greek and Roman texts collected since Hyang’s appointment as Crown Prince, and the data secured from numerous experiments at Area 51, were unmatched in both quantity and quality.

***

There was an interesting fact, or more accurately a sad truth, related to Joseon during this period.

Despite being a chaotic time with endless armed conflicts and death overflowing everywhere, Joseon’s trade volume didn’t decrease at all but steadily increased.

European and Middle Eastern people endlessly craved Joseon goods.

The reason they craved Joseon goods while squandering their fortunes was because they lived in times of chaos and conflict.

People driven to situations where they couldn’t think of tomorrow due to religious conflicts or conflicts brought by other political issues extremely craved today’s pleasures.

Nobles endlessly held banquets, while lower-class people symbolized by farmers flocked to various church-designated festivals craving alcohol and food.

Especially, to soothe lower-class people’s rising dissatisfaction with harsh reality, churches increasingly added festival numbers and durations, creating a situation of ‘festivals happening in this village today, the next village tomorrow’ that made such trends more prevalent.

And Joseon profited amid these trends.

Nobles enjoyed alcohol and food sitting at tables full of crystal glasses and bottles, precious porcelain plates under brilliant chandeliers in banquet halls, dreaming of one night’s secret meetings. And noble men’s essentials for such secret meetings were Joseon-made perfume cases, fragrances, traditional hats and fans.

Especially Joseon-made porcelain, with its superior luster, became must-have items even for households just claiming some wealth, not just nobles.

The same was true at festivals. Merchants targeting festival-goers’ pockets mass-released ‘Ponsu (sprite)’.

Joseon sold carbonated water at higher concentrations than domestic sales to compensate for carbonation lost during long-distance transport.

Thanks to this, Ponsu arriving in Europe had stronger fizz and sweetness than the beer European people drank.

And European people addicted to this intensely fizzy taste and sweetness fanatically indulged in Ponsu.

Of course, some did express concern about such social trends. Philosophers or religious figures advocating ‘Christian asceticism’ or ‘pursuit of healthy wealth’ called for eliminating such trends, but few listened to them.

Those criticizing the current situation thus concluded:

“The first nation to break out of this shell of corruption will soon become Europe’s ruler.”

In this era focused only on today, this age of conflict, there were some countries showing different paths in Europe and the Middle East.

The Iberian Peninsula nations symbolized by Portugal and Spain, and the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires.

Spain and Portugal focused on trade with other countries while suppressing conflicts as much as possible, except when meeting each other at sea. And they built national power through wealth gained from such trade. The same was true for Ottoman and Byzantine. Ottoman, temporarily pausing expansion into the Balkans after Byzantine, began reorganizing their army while reorganizing their state system. Byzantine, having barely survived, also steadily began rebuilding strength while not provoking Ottoman.

And this situation became kindling that would bring even greater conflict.

***

King Sejong’s 27th year (1445, Year of the Ox).

In October, a merchant group sent from Portugal arrived.

“This will be your last from Portugal this year?”

To the customs official’s question greeting the merchant group, the group leader nodded and answered in fluent Korean:

“Yes. We’ll return next spring.”

“I see.”

After this brief conversation, quarantine officials boarded the fleet’s ships to check for patients.

While safety was confirmed and crew members disembarked, the merchant group leader carefully said to the customs official:

“There’s a letter for the court. From our country’s regent.”

At the merchant leader’s words, the customs official also looked around seriously before whispering:

“Follow me.”

***

The Regent Pedro’s handwritten letter brought by the merchant leader arrived at court with him.

“This isn’t just a Foreign Ministry matter.”

After confirming the contents, Heo Hu immediately headed to the Prime Minister’s office with the original letter and translation.

“Finally made a decision…”

Hwang Hui muttered quietly after confirming the translated contents Heo Hu brought.

“You say they finally made a decision?”

“That’s right.”

Answering Kim Jeom’s question briefly, Hwang Hui handed him the translation.

Reading the translation’s contents, Kim Jeom’s face brightened.

“Such wonderful news! 3,000 rifles! At 50 taels of silver per rifle, that’s 150,000 taels total!”

Seeing Kim Jeom’s delight, Heo Hu shot back:

“Given Joseon’s current economy, isn’t 150,000 taels of silver not much? Aren’t you too happy despite that?”

Watching Heo Hu indirectly criticize him as ‘narrow-minded,’ Kim Jeom clicked his tongue lightly and countered:

“Tsk tsk… Why do you only see what’s right in front of you? Look at the bigger picture, the bigger picture!”

“Bigger pic~? This guy really!”

As Heo Hu burst up angrily from his seat, Kim Jeom also immediately stood up glaring.

“Both of you sit down, what disgraceful behavior! Will you act like this before His Highness the Crown Prince too!”

At Hwang Hui’s scolding, both men sat down while glaring at each other.

“Left Deputy Prime Minister, don’t just state the conclusion, explain in more detail.”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jeom immediately began explaining:

“Looking at that European world now, it’s an era of warfare reminiscent of the Spring and Autumn Period. Thinking of that, the 3,000 percussion rifles Portugal is ordering now can be seen as bait. Other countries seeing their performance will try to acquire these rifles too. If you properly read the Foreign Ministry’s reports so far, such judgment should naturally come quickly.”

Haven’t you properly read reports from your own ministry too?

Kim Jeom struck sharply at Heo Hu while explaining. At Kim Jeom’s attack, Heo Hu demanded with a face turning red and blue:

“Isn’t that just a mere possibility? Couldn’t they make something similar themselves after seeing the percussion rifles sold to Portugal? Why are you so confident they’ll buy from our Joseon?”

To Heo Hu’s point, Kim Jeom immediately answered:

“Those Portuguese took these percussion rifles over a year ago. Don’t you think that’s enough time to examine and study them, even accounting for the long sea route? And since they got no answer even after that, they’ve come to buy ours!”

“…”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Heo Hu’s mouth firmly closed. Though his face still turned red and blue, he was at a loss for words to counter with.

Hwang Hui summarized the situation:

“I’ll submit this letter to His Highness immediately. Since a meeting will certainly proceed right away, prepare in advance.”

“Yes.”

“We shall do so.”

Answering Hwang Hui’s order, Kim Jeom and Heo Hu left his office.

Watching their expressions showing clear winner and loser, Hwang Hui let out a long sigh.

“Whew~. Master Uichon’s caught a really bad habit.”

Kim Jeom was one of those who had worked firmly planted in the court since the early Reforms. Hwang Hui had at least spent time away developing the northeast region, but Kim Jeom had to continuously endure harassment in court from Sejong, sometimes from both Sejong and Hyang simultaneously.

In that process, Kim Jeom had unknowingly come to resemble the father-son pair.

Along with positive aspects like quick analysis and judgment, he’d also picked up their bad habits.

Most representative among these was the habit of turning people’s insides out with tongue-clicking sounds and Zen-like speech giving only conclusions without explanation. Not ending with Zen dialogue, but turning people’s insides out while clicking his tongue at those who couldn’t understand it.