Black Corporation: Joseon

After meeting with King Sejong, the guild leaders summoned their faction members with grave expressions.

“What’s going on?”

“An imperial decree has come down. We need to succeed faster than the other factions.”

Hearing their leader’s words, the faction members’ eyes lit up. After all, this was an opportunity to gain merit now that they had become part of the King’s secret operatives.

“What is His Majesty’s command?”

Facing the members’ questions, the guild leader spoke with an awkward expression.

“The command is to find ladies who meet the following criteria.”

“Yes?”

“Huh?”

Hearing the explanation, the faction members also looked perplexed.

“So you mean, among the ladies who are rumored to be kind-hearted, find one who is exceptionally beautiful, or among those rumored to be beautiful, find one who is exceptionally kind-hearted? And she must be between twelve and fifteen years old?”

“If she’s that beautiful, her figure will naturally be slender and voluptuous…”

Hearing his members, the leader nodded silently.

“Is he searching for his harem?”

“It’s not for the Gangnyeongjeon, but for the Eastern Palace. It’s a direct request from the Eastern Palace.”

Upon hearing this, all the faction members exclaimed.

“Ah! That gentleman certainly knows how to enjoy life!”

In any case, since the decree had come down, potential candidates soon emerged among the faction members.

“Another criterion is… a noble family that was once prominent but has declined, or a family just beginning to rise…”

“The second daughter of the Jo family in the West Village is pretty close…”

“The eldest daughter of the Lee family in Seongbuk-dong is also good…”

As suitable candidates started to be suggested, someone urgently spoke up.

“The second daughter of the Jo family is dangerous; rumor has it that ‘Zebi’ is targeting her!”

“The same goes for the Lee family! Leader!”

Hearing this, the guild leader’s face turned serious.

“Zebi? You mean those lowlife swindlers?”

“Yes!”

“Stop them immediately!”

“Yes!”

At the guild leader’s command, the faction members quickly left the room.

[TL/N: The so-called ‘Zebi’ were scoundrels targeting the daughters of middle-class merchants and farmers. The term originated from drummers and percussionists who played traditional Korean instruments to enhance performances. When these musicians messed up the rhythm, it would ruin the performance, particularly for female performers. 

For this reason, men who manipulated women were derogatorily called “Zebi.” Zebi has evolved into ‘Zebijok,’ which roughly means “swindler,” especially in the context of the 21st century. It is the term most feared by households with daughters of marriageable age and some wealth.]

* * *

The targets of these Zebi were women who closely fit the aforementioned criteria.

These women usually belonged to families with a certain level of wealth and reputation, and were rumored to be good-looking, making them the prime prey for these swindlers.

The women who were most likely to be targeted were either those close to being engaged or those that influential men wanted to take as concubines.

If these Zebi seduced the women beyond a certain point, their accomplices would approach the woman’s parents with rumors.

“Bad rumors about your daughter are circulating, you see. I heard she’s about to get married…”

Then the parents would either have to part with a considerable amount of wealth to silence them or send their daughter as a concubine (yangcheob – a legitimate concubine from commoner background) to the influential man involved.

* * *

“It seems like it’s not too late yet!”

Upon hearing the reports from their subordinates, the guild leaders made a decision.

“Stop those Jeop-ie’s (commoners) activities! Make sure to stop them!”

“Make sure? Shall we kill them?”

“You idiots! Do you want to create chaos in the castle town?”

After a moment to gather his thoughts, the guild leader issued his command.

“Shatter all of the Jeop-ie’s legs! Make sure they can’t roam around until the decision of the Eastern Palace’s marriage is made!”

“Yes!”

Following the leaders’ decision, a large-scale Jeop-ie hunt was launched by the so-called Assasination guilds.

***

“*Pant, pant, pant!*”

In the eastern area of Hanseong, a man was running through the maze-like alleys, gasping for air. His hat was nowhere to be seen, probably fallen somewhere, and his Durumagi (traditional Korean overcoat) was stained with dirt.

The man sighed as he rounded a corner.

“Damn it!”

It was a dead-end.

Turning around, the man couldn’t take another step. Three men in black Durumagi were blocking the alleyway’s entrance.

“Where do you think you’re running?”

“Ah! Brothers! Why are you doing this?”

“No big deal. You guys have been causing some trouble while we have an important task at hand. We’re just making sure you stay put for a few months.”

“Ah! Shit! If that’s the case, just tell us to stay home! Why are you crippling people?”

“You think you’d stay home just because we say so? And don’t talk about crippling like it’s some evil thing. We’re just breaking a single leg. You’ll heal after lying down for a few months.”

“Shit! Help! Help!”

Shouts of ‘Help!’ caused heads to pop up over the nearby thatched roofs, but the menacing gazes of the Assassin guild members quickly drove them back inside.

“Alright… Just be quiet. It’ll be over soon.”

“If you keep resisting, we might have to break more than your leg. What will it be?”

“Damn it!”

Finally giving up, the man lay down on the ground.

“Ah, screw it! Do whatever you want, cook me or boil me!”

“Should’ve done that earlier. You’ve been causing us trouble.”

One of the Assassin guild members approached the resigned man and offered him a wooden stick.

“Bite down on this. If you don’t, you’ll bite your tongue.”

“Damn it! Shit! I knew something was off last night when my sleep was restless! Tsk!”

Spitting, the man bit down on the stick and clenched his eyes shut.

“Ah!”

A scream soon erupted in the alleyway, and two members of the Assassin guild came out, carrying the man between them.

“Take him home. And while you’re at it, call for a doctor.”

“Right, we wouldn’t have had this trouble if he’d just stayed home.”

“Ahhhh…”

“Let’s move. We still have others to deal with.”

The Assassin Guild’s “Jeop-ie hunting” was relentless. Countless people were caught after futile attempts to escape, their legs broken. Even those who were home or at the inn were not spared. Their legs were broken by intruding Assassin Guild members.

Thanks to this, the doctors had a lucrative income.

***

“Ah, crap! I’ll have to leave Hanseong for a while!”

In the end, the scammers who still had legs intact took all their belongings and crossed the Han River.

“We’ll have to hang in there in the south for a while!”

The moment scammers disappeared from Hanseong and its surrounding areas, an emergency was declared in both Left and Right Law Enforcement Agencies due to intelligence that ‘a series of mysterious assault incidents are occurring within the city!’

“Find out what’s happening and report!”

Upon the commander’s orders, the law enforcement officers led their subordinates and launched an investigation.

Officers investigating the victims reported back with puzzled expressions.

“Is it true that all the victims are scammers?”

“Yes, it seems someone angered by the scammers’ schemes has taken the law into their own hands.”

“Both the victims and the perpetrators are criminals…”

As the Left Law Enforcement Agency’s commander pondered, one officer suggested,

“Why not just let it slide? These are the same guys we couldn’t catch due to lack of evidence, right?”

“What’s the point of having laws and law enforcement agencies then? Think before you speak!”

“My apologies!”

The commander, having reprimanded the officer for his inappropriate remark, reached a decision.

“We need to consult the King… let’s also visit the Right Law Enforcement Agency…”

After reading the report submitted by both commanders, King Sejong immediately summoned them.

“I have read your report. However, there’s something I don’t understand. What is this ‘scammer’?”

Since the term was newly coined, King Sejong who didn’t know its meaning, asked.

“Hmm…”

Having learned the meaning of ‘scammer,’ King Sejong pondered while stroking his beard.

“Is this their response to the order I issued? Surprisingly fast and effective. I shouldn’t use it often but occasionally it’s useful… No, that would erode the rule of law. Laws must be upheld.”

Finally, Sejong reached a decision.

“If you catch these thugs in the act, arrest them on the spot. Otherwise, continue the investigation until substantial evidence is secured. Personal vendettas cannot supersede the law. Do you understand?”

“We obey your command!”

Upon receiving King Sejong’s guidance, both commanders looked at each other.

“Do you understand what the King meant?”

“Catch them in the act or let them go. Right?”

“To be honest… those crippled scammers deserve to die, don’t they?”

“Indeed.”

Meanwhile, the schemers, who had heard the King’s orders through their connections in the law enforcement agency, gathered.

“What does the King mean?”

“Should we just let the scammers go?”

“Wouldn’t that cause problems with the selection of the Crown Princess?”

Amid various discussions, the smarter ones spoke up.

“This seems like a warning from the King.”

“A warning?”

“He’s telling us not to make a fuss. The last scam hunt was too noisy, wasn’t it? We turned Hanseong upside down. He’s probably telling us to keep it down.”

“Ah! You’re really smart!”

“Ugh!”

Annoyed by the nickname he hated, one schemer glared before explaining to the chief.

“If we create a commotion like the last scam hunt, the law enforcement agencies will take action. It’s uncomfortable for both the palace and us. So if you’re going to do something, do it quietly. The King has given us a quiet warning along with a strategy.”

“Ah, I see.”

The guild leader nodded at the schemer’s explanation, while the surrounding members of the organization softly grumbled.

“Sheesh… What’s with all the roundabout talking?”

“This is why I dislike high-and-mighty people. Always acting so superior…”

“Quiet!”

Having silenced the members, the leader summarized the situation.

“Is the roundup of the ‘Jeop-ie’ finished?”

“Yes. Among those still in Hanyang, there’s no one with an able body.”

“I’ve heard that the cleanup of people in Bukchon and the Unjong-ga families is also complete.”

“Good. Then, according to His Highness’s criteria, select as many suitable members as possible! Only by selecting many can we properly sift through!”

“Understood!”

As time passed, Hyang, who received the report via the inner chamber, chuckled to himself.

“‘Zebis’? What they’re doing is like sparrows? Just because their legs are broken? All the able-bodied ones have crossed the river to the South?”

A hypothesis popped up in Hyang’s mind, who was chuckling.

“Could it be, the sparrow from the Heungbujeon tale is this ‘Zebi’?¹”

***

Meanwhile, as Hanyang was in the midst of a ‘Zebi hunt,’ a trading ship arrived at Jemulpo.

Amidst a dock full of ships going back and forth between Shandong and Jemulpo, the laborers unloading cargo curiously looked at the unfamiliar ship.

“Where’s that ship from?”

“It doesn’t look like it’s from Ming.”

As the laborers showed curiosity, the soldiers in charge of inspections approached the ship that had just docked, along with military officials.

“Who are you and where are you from!”

Responding to the military official’s shout, a foreigner in official attire disembarked from the ship on a small boat.

“Greetings. I am Sayid Ahmed Mohammed Al-Otaibi, working on the Korean Peninsula from a research institute. I am on my way back from completing a mission under His Royal Majesty’s decree. Here…”

Sayid rummaged through his sleeve and pulled out a scroll.

“This document contains the decree.”

After untying the scroll and checking its contents, the military official looked at Sayid.

“It’s been nearly 2 years since you returned?”

“That’s correct.”

“You’ve had a hard journey. Permission to disembark granted. Ah, don’t forget to go through customs!”

“Understood. Take care.”

Following Sayid’s signal, people started to disembark through the small boat.

“Wait!”

The military official who had been scrutinizing those disembarking raised his hand to halt them and then searched for Said.

“Look here! What’s the deal with those prisoners!”

The military official pointed at two Westerners, hands and feet shackled.

Looking at the individuals pointed out by the military official, Sayid replied with an expression indicating it was not a big deal.

“They are slaves. Shackled in case they attempt to escape.”

“Where would they escape to, they’re on a ship?”

“We are now on land, are we not?”

“Well, yes, but they’re slaves…”

“To be precise, they are glass artisans.”

__

Note 1: Korean University Newspaper, 2003.09.25.

1. It’s from a folklore of Heungu and Nolbu.[↩]