Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 235

Hmm It seems like it could work

As Sejong muttered with a slightly perplexed expression, Hyang immediately provided additional explanations.

Your Majesty, women with enough scholarly knowledge to teach children would be from noble families.

I suppose so.

Then, wouldnt their husbands also be men from noble families?

Thats right.

Sejong nodded, increasingly furrowing his brows at Hyangs explanation.

Theres something, but what am I missing?

Seeing Sejongs expression, Hyang muttered inwardly.

This person is sometimes weak to irregular attacks

Having confirmed that Sejong was struggling, Hyang explained in more detail.

If the husband hasnt passed the civil service examination

At that moment, Sejong slapped his knee.

Thats it! What does it matter where they study for the exam?! Even if they move with their wife, as long as they have the will and determination, they can certainly achieve good results!

Hyang smiled brightly at Sejongs words.

Thats right. Or, the couple could work together as teachers.

Exactly! Exactly!

Sejong clapped his knee in delight at Hyangs words.

Hyang came up with this idea because of the aristocrats culture at the time.

***

For men born into the aristocrats class, which included both civil and military officials, the ultimate goal was to enter government service. To achieve this, men from noble families, especially civil officials families, had to study diligently.

This was precisely the part Hyang focused on.

According to Hyangs survey of officials, the average age at which boys from noble families began studying was around 5 years old. They started learning the Thousand Character Classic at this age and began studying in earnest around the age of 10.

Through this process, those with excellent abilities passed the civil service examination in their mid-teens, but the average age was in the 30s.

In other words, theyre long-term exam preppers who prepare for nearly 20 years. The difference from the 21st century is that most of them self-study without private tutors or prestigious academies. They solve economic problems through tenant farming and dont even manage it themselves by employing overseers.

Given this situation, Hyang had come up with the idea of having married women from noble families not virtuous women, but those with husbands enter the teaching profession.

If a married woman with a husband entered the teaching profession and was subject to the avoidance system, she would still be able to relocate.

As mentioned earlier, teachers were provided with official residences and public slaves. And if the couple serving as teachers were from a well-off family, they could even bring their familys private slaves.

In that case, even if the husband followed his wifes relocation, he would be able to continue his studies without much issue.

Wasnt there a saying? In the 80s and 90s, pharmacists were ideal spouses, in the 2000s, female teachers, and after that, any kind of civil servant

***

Sejong, after hearing Hyangs explanation, kept nodding.

Excellent! One of the most pressing issues in Joseon was the lack of people, but this could solve that problem!

This time, Hyang showed an expression of incomprehension at Sejongs words.

Your Majesty? Could it be that you intend to open government positions to women as well?

Sejong nodded at Hyangs question.

Of course, there will be many limitations, but if they have the will to do it, why should we stop them?

Hyang spoke with a pale face.

It seems too radical, Your Majesty.

This person! Its already causing an uproar for being too fast! Now youre determined to put people who have just gotten used to the speed of a running horse on a KTX!

Seeing Hyangs expression, Sejong chuckled and continued.

Dont tell me you think it can be implemented right away? It will probably take a long time. Perhaps

Sejong paused for a moment and looked at Hyang with mischievous eyes.

Around the time you ascend to the throne?

Hahaha

Hyang laughed strenuously while breaking out in a cold sweat.

Its late. I should go and rest.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Hyang, leaving Gangnyeongjeon Hall, let out a long sigh.

Phew~. Anyway, you always warp as soon as you take a single step Im afraid to say anything.

Hyang, who had been shivering while recalling the conversation that had just taken place, suddenly counted his fingers.

When I ascend to the throne At least 20 years? No, even now, Your Majesty is properly managing his health, so a minimum of 30 years Thats quite a long time. Your Majesty is taking it easy too.

Hyang, who had been walking with relief, suddenly stopped and was startled.

No!

Yes, Your Highness! Whats the matter?

Ah, its nothing. Its nothing

Hyangs voice trembled as he told the eunuch it was nothing.

Hyangs mind was in a state of panic as he headed to Donggung Palace.

I forgot! How my father ascended to the throne!

Sejong had ascended to the throne through Taejongs abdication.

Having experienced it himself, he could abdicate the throne at any time.

No, not just abdication! Theres also that regent rule!

There was a fact that Hyang didnt know because it wasnt covered in the curriculum and Teacher Samcheonpo didnt mention it.

In the history before Hyangs intervention, during the last 8 years of Sejongs reign, Crown Prince Munjong had served as regent.

Anyway, Hyang desperately tried to organize his thoughts.

Dont panic! This is Gongmyeongs trap No, thats not it! Anyway, its not confirmed yet, so dont be afraid in advance! His Majesty is still vigorous!

As Hyang was struggling to assess the situation, his thoughts suddenly jumped to a completely irrelevant place.

Thats right! Lets quickly produce an heir! Even if His Majesty wants to abdicate or have a regent rule, there will still be at least 10 more years. Lets quickly have an heir, raise them, and then toss them!

Hyangs train of thought had jumped not to Samcheonpo, but to Andromeda.

Eunuch!

Yes, Your Highness!

Tell the royal physicians to procure some medicinal ingredients good for nourishing and strengthening the body.

Pardon?

Ill need to exert a lot of effort from now on.

Pardon?

***

Although it was Hyangs momentary wit, Sejong, who liked this plan, told the ministers about it.

so, I had this thought, and it seems quite good. Therefore, I hope you will find and supplement any shortcomings and create a plan.

Pardon? Yes Yes We shall obey your command.

At Sejongs order, the ministers were perplexed, then showed expressions of disbelief, and finally accepted Sejongs command with resignation.

The ministers gathered in the State Councils meeting room let out long sighs.

We already have a lot of work to do, and suddenly this out of nowhere

Heo Jos grumbling was immediately followed by Kim Jeom.

But, doesnt His Majestys words also make sense? Joseon has a long way to go, and there are quite a few things we cant do due to a lack of people.

But to go as far as women

When were desperate for people, should we discriminate between men and women now?

Tsk!

At Kim Jeoms point, Heo Jo and the other ministers ended the situation by smacking their lips.

Although it was a groundbreaking royal decree that shattered the values they had held until now, they empathized with the necessity more than anyone else.

This was something that most officials working in the Joseon court at the time could relate to.

The daily heavy workload made them acutely aware of the need for a supply of talented individuals.

Therefore, the court quickly entered the process of materializing Sejongs command.

Of course, there were also those who refused until the end.

Those who refused in this way eventually fell behind in competition and disappeared, or had to conclude their careers at the Office of Records.

Of course, unlike this ending, everyone who took on the task was curious about one thing.

But who was the first to think of this?

Isnt it His Majesty? Hes the one who issued the royal decree.

Have you worked with His Majesty for just a day or two? Although His Majesty is a transcendent figure, hes not someone capable of such a radical move, is he?

Thats true

Who could it be?

It was a question that everyone from the ministers to the low-ranking officials was curious about.

However, they soon found the answer.

It must have been the Crown Prince

Who else could it be besides His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?

***

Anyway, since most of those in charge of state affairs agreed to it, this soon became a new policy.

And as time passed, it began to produce results that even Hyang had not anticipated.

The way of thinking of Joseon people began to change.

No, the social position of women, which had continued from the Three Kingdoms period through Goryeo and began to be suppressed with the start of Joseon, began to find its place again.

Of course, until this period, womens rights were relatively well guaranteed compared to the later period.

They could travel freely. Although the procedure was complicated for daughters of noble families, they could divorce if they wanted to.

Moreover, when parents passed away, they divided the property equally with their brothers.

However, only their clan origin was recorded in the genealogy as so-and-so clan of such-and-such place.

Women who became official government officials, albeit as teachers, began to have their full names recorded in the genealogy.

Although they were women, it was because they had accomplished the honorable feat of entering government service, which was prestigious for both their husbands family and their own family.

And as womens social advancement gradually increased and their rights improved in this way, historians of the distant future foreign historians studying Joseon history had to rack their brains.

It skipped again!

In response to the screams of foreign historians, Korean historians replied with a calm expression.

Since the ancient times of the Three Kingdoms period, womens social participation was free.

That wasnt the case in Joseon!

It was like that. However, the period of suppressing women was only about 30 years from the early founding of the dynasty to the end of Sejongs reform. It was too short a time to fully take root. Although it seems radical, if you look closely, its correct to view it as a reaction against such suppression.

Does that make sense?!

Yes, it makes sense.

In the end, as various controversies continued, the Lee Hyang Extraterrestrial Theory or Lee Hyang Time Traveler Theory popped up again.

Then, the Korean government intervened once more.

Do you want to die? Do you want to perish? Do you want to go to your grave?

Once again, Sejong and Hyang, who led this period, were sacred and inviolable figures.

***

These matters were for the distant future, and Sejong and Hyang had to spend each day busily.

The Muslim merchant ships have arrived at Jemulpo!

Hyang, who was working in Area 51 and received the report, frowned and grumbled.

They said they would arrive within 3 months They exceeded it by a whole month

However, Hyang quickly composed himself and immediately assessed the situation.

Has the Ministry of Taxation dispatched officials?

Yes!

Since they have passed through the hot season, there may be patients with infectious diseases, so send physicians to check.

Yes!

After giving the orders, Hyang got up from his seat.

I should go to Gyeongbok Palace.

***

While Hyang was paying attention to the Muslim ships, Samin School finally opened across the country.

Children flocked to the schools established nationwide, from large cities to the smallest administrative units, the hyeon (district).

Noble family boys riding on ponies or donkeys pulled by servants, mischievous boys who came with the village children, noble family girls holding their nannies hands, and girls in worn-out skirts and jackets all gathered at the school entrance.

Shortly after, the teachers came out as the doors of the school, renovated from the Community School, opened.

Boys, this way!

Girls, this way!

The official schedule of the school began by separating the gathered boys and girls.

It was the start of a grand journey that would later be called the greatest driving force of Joseons great leap forward.

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