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Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Even when studying in his hometown to prepare for the exam in the past, Yi Soonji enjoyed solving arithmetic problems in a moment of ecstasy more than memorizing Confucian scriptures. His talent was enough to seriously concern his parents.
“My husband, wouldn’t it be better if we let our Soonji take the chwijae examination1?”
“The chwijae examination? Ha! Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that! Even if he passes the chwijae examination, he would only be a petty official, right? We have to consider our family’s reputation! To become more than a low-ranking official even after passing the sogwa (preliminary civil service exam) and daegwa (higher civil service exam) examinations, we need a strong family background. Do we have that kind of power in our family?”
“Cough!”
“Besides, do you think our Soonji is that clever?”
“Co, cough! Well, that may be true…”
Yi Soonji’s father trailed off.
He was well aware of his son’s scholarly talents. While his son’s Confucian studies, essential for becoming a nobleman, were average, his son’s mathematical skills were unparalleled.
The problem was Yi Soonji’s character.
The son liked to laugh and was always jovial, but he was also capable of silencing people with just a few words or turning them into enemies with his sharp tongue.
His father’s main concern was the sharp tongue of his son.
‘Even if he makes great strides, that tongue of his will stir up trouble…’
In the end, Yi Soonji’s parents came to a temporary agreement.
“The preliminary examination is ending soon, let’s make the decision after seeing the results.”
When they found out that Yi Soonji had returned from the exam and had not only passed but had been appointed to an agency directly under the Crown Prince, his parents were astounded.
“Round up all the cattle in the village! Slaughter the pigs and chickens too! Gather everything we can! There’s a great celebration in our family! It’s a feast!”
“Yes!”
“Hold on! Hold on!”
Relatives and friends who had rushed over after hearing the news of the celebration tried to calm down Lee Soon-ji’s father as he started to get carried away.
“Catching cows, slaughtering pigs, you’ll end up getting the roots of the pillar too2! It’s a joyous event, but you’re overdoing it!”
“Is this an ordinary event? Our son, our son! He’s directly under the Crown Prince! What does it matter if we caught the pillar roots!”
“It’s a good thing he’s directly under the Crown Prince, but isn’t the starting position a low-ranking official? Also, shouldn’t we consider the money needed for the Soonji and his wife to live in Hanyang? We’re already tight on money, do you want to make us paupers?”
“Hmm? Oh, I see.”
At the advice of his relatives, Yi Soonji’s father came to his senses.
So the feast was smaller than initially planned, but it was still quite grand. Even the local officials who were in charge of recruitment came to give their congratulations.
* * *
Once he settled into the research institute, Yi Soonji made full use of his talents. He passed the basic mathematics course in just ten days, the intermediate course in a month, and the advanced course, which was administered by regular institute members, in two months.
Hyang, having received the new interns’ mathematics education scorecards, discussed with Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji.
“I want to give Yi Soonji a rank of regular 5th rank.“
“But he has just passed the preliminary exam.”
“We might not care, but others in the court might talk.”
Despite the concerns raised by Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji, Hyang shook his head.
“If one is talented, they should be treated accordingly!”
“That’s true, but…”
“If that’s your opinion, there’s nothing more to say.”
Convinced by Hyang’s argument, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji agreed. They too had received benefits.
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* * *
At the last inspection, the two were recognized for their contributions and were promoted to the positions of senior 2nd rankof Jaheondaebu (2nd class official)3.
Their ranks hadn’t changed, but their official titles had been raised.
The benefits were not only for them. Among the institute members, those with lower ranks were promoted, and those who were of below of senior 3rd rank officials, they were granted a higher title.
These benefits also extended to the craftsmen who had worked together.
Jang Yeong-sil’s position changed from byeoljwa (miscellaneous, lower 5th rank official)4to jeongrang (senior 5th rank official).
“Your—your grace is immeasurable!”
Hearing that his position had changed from byeoljwa (lower 5th rank) to jeongrang (senior 5th rank), Jang Yeong-sil shed tears of gratitude to King Sejong and Hyang.
It was miraculous enough for him to rise from slave status to byeoljwa, but the change from byeoljwa, a murokgwan5 who had no salary, to jeongrang, which actually yielded a salary, held another significance.
Jang Yeongsil wasn’t the only one who benefited.
There were changes in rank and department for the master craftsmen, including Ko Yajang.
They moved directly under the research institute. During this moving process, master craftsmen at the managerial level like Ko Yajang had their ranks elevated from chambong (9th rank) to bongsa (8th rank).
“We are immensely grateful!”
“We will dedicate our all!”
At the news of their elevation in rank, the craftsmen, like Jang Yeong-sil, shed tears of gratitude.
It was because a ‘rise in status’, allowing them to hear the term ‘my lord’, was made possible in the Joseon society where there was class discrimination of the four classes6, where they were treated worse than peasants.
What particularly moved them was the fact that the newly elevated ranks were directly bestowed by Sejong. This was Hyang’s achievement.
“Would it be alright if Your Majesty personally congratulated them?”
“Me?”
“If Your Majesty personally congratulates them, they will have hope and be absolutely loyal to Your Majesty.”
At Hyang’s words, Sejong fell into thought.
Hyang’s suggestion was quite excellent.
Right now, between him and the common people like them, the aristocrats had taken their place. For a king like Sejong, these aristocrats were a ‘double-edged sword’. They were a solid support force for the king, but at the same time, they were the ones who tied the king’s hands and feet.
After a moment’s consideration, Sejong made his decision.
“You are right!”
And so, Sejong personally summoned Jang Yeong-sil and the craftsmen, bestowed the ranks himself, and encouraged them.
“The reason I, the king, personally distribute these ranks to you is to commend the merits you have accumulated so far and to give a warning at the same time. The rise in rank implies that your responsibility has increased equivalently. Do not forget this and do your best.”
“We will keep your royal command in mind!”
“We will do our utmost!”
Seeing the craftsmen full of tears responding, Sejong saw Hyang’s face, filled with pride.
Looking at this, Sejong added on a whim.
“Currently, I address you all as ‘you’, but I hope the day will come when the prince and I can call you ‘honorable’ instead of ‘you’. Can I expect that from you?”
“We will stake our lives to meet Your Majesty’s expectations! We will never disappoint you! Long live Your Majesty!”
“Long live the King!”
“Long live the King!”
This was the moment when a support force, almost ‘religious’ for Sejong and Hyang, was formed.
* * *
Because there was a precedent like this, Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji agreed to Hyang’s words without any particular resistance.
When the two agreed, Hyang immediately requested approval from Sejong.
“Senior 5th-rank? Isn’t that too high?”
“The case of the last Sungkyunkwan students and the recent top-ranked candidates also ranked at senior 6th rank. So…”
“So, my point exactly. The ones with the best grades even start at senior 6th rank, isn’t senior 5th rank too much?”
“They are fully qualified for it.”
At Hyang’s words, Sejong firmly expressed his refusal, “If their qualification is merely academic performance, I cannot accept it.If you want to give that rank, bring a result that can prove it. The rank that I can permit now is senior 6th rank at most.”
“Yes, Father.”
As Hyang tried to refute, Sejong raised his hand to stop him. “Crown prince. I know you’re smart and competent. And, I know you value integrity. However, the most fundamental thing for all this is ‘fairness’ and ‘justice’. This Yi Soonji might be a talent as you say. No, he must be talented. However, if I give him senior 5th rank immediately as per your request, will others working in different departments accept it? They will think it’s not because they recognize Yi Soonji’s talent, but because he entered your research institute. So, I can only give him senior 6th rank. Do you understand what I mean?”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang nodded his head. “Yes, Father. I will follow your will.”
“Right.”
So, Yi Soonji started as senior 6th rank
***
“Ah, it’s impossible!”
“I’m dying, I’m dying!”
“This is hell!”
The newcomers who had joined the research institute with Yi Soonji began to whine.
The industry-academia education that started as soon as they joined was tough, but the practical training was even tougher. When the new researchers began to groan, the senior researchers who were watching them said a word.
“Tired? Can’t handle it? Then tell the Crown Prince and change your position. We only need those among you who want to come here. Instead of dragging those who are forced to work, we just have to endure a little more hardship.”
At the words of the senior researchers, the new researchers immediately surrendered. Life in the research institute was hell, but the outside world was just as hellish. Getting out of this hell meant resigning and leaving, but under the newly changed system, if you quit, you simply became a commoner.
Even if they went back to the past and started again, they had to start all over again in the same hell.
As the new researchers were disheartened, the senior researchers subtly offered a carrot. “Don’t just think about how hard it is, look for satisfaction in your work. If you do well, not only the Crown Prince but the king will reward you greatly. And this work will also become enjoyable in time.”
The senior researchers of the research institute had reached a state of ‘enjoying the pain’ in just a year. No, they had become fans, traveling around the country and conducting various experiments in Area 51.
While the other newcomers were going through a hard time, Yi Soonji was actually enjoying every day.
* * *
Thanks to his exceptional talent demonstrated in industry-academia education, Yi Soonji was able to be deployed in the field in less than four months. However, as he was so talented, it was only natural that people who envied him emerged.
Furthermore, Yi Soonji was the youngest among those who came in with him. And he was also the one who received the highest rank.
In the end, they started calling Yi Soonji a ‘freak’.
“Hey, freak!”
“Where are you going, freak?”
Every time they called him a freak, Yi Soonji dealt with them with laughter.
“Hahaha! Why are you doing this?”
However, as soon as he judged that those who were jealous of him had crossed the line, Yi Soonji immediately began to hit back. One of her weapons was the highest rank among the newcomers, ‘Jwarang‘, and the other was a talent known only to his family—sharp tongue.
It was Yi Soonji’s job to review the assignments brought by the researchers.
“Here are the results. Please review them.”
Yi Soonji, who received the result, began to check it while snorting.
“Let’s see. Hmmm… Hmm? Uh? This calculation is wrong.”
“Eh? Where?”
“Here, this part. You got such an easy thing wrong… Were you thinking of the courtesan at your regular brothel while calculating?”
“Uh…”
From then on, Yi Soonji’s biting remarks began to pour out to the researchers.
“Hehe… You got such an easy thing wrong… You need to take industry-academia classes again.”
“Oh my… Isn’t this the most basic addition? If you get the addition wrong, use the formula, use the formula!”
“You used a formula for this? Do you have leftover paper?”
“You got this wrong? You should do the calculation by counting your fingers and toes! What’s the point if you get the most basic one-digit addition and subtraction wrong!”
“What’s that thing on your neck, something you wear because you feel empty without it, or something you wear to think?”
“Is your skull three times thicker than others? If not… You could solve it with the same size brain as others… It’s impossible to get this easy thing wrong! Unless your brain is much smaller than others, it’s an impossible problem to get wrong!”
“Do you use your power well at night? With your work like this, promotion is out of the question, you have to use your power well at night to avoid poverty, don’t you?“
“……”
“Ahhh!”
“Ah, that freak!”
The researchers who were shaken down by Yi Soonji had to vent their frustration as soon as they left the palace gate after being dismissed.
The notoriety of Yi Soonji even reached the ears of higher-ups like Jeong Inji and Jeong-cho.
“It seems this official is quite tough in his work.”
Jeong-cho’s words were immediately answered by Jeong Inji.
“Yes, he is. But it’s also true that the products are turning out better as a result.”
“Sometimes it’s necessary to be tough to handle subordinates, let’s leave it for now.”
Jeong-cho and Jeong Inji nodded at the suggestion of Lee Cheon, who was listening to the conversation.
“Right.”
In fact, the three of them didn’t say it out loud, but they all had similar thoughts.
‘It might be harsh, but this officer might get along well with His Majesty or the Crown Prince. Neither of them has a good temperament.’
The truth is, the three of them also couldn’t hear any good words about their temperaments from their subordinates. Rather, they were all talking behind Yi Soonji’s back, who was trusted by Jeong Inji and Jeong-cho.
“Birds of a feather flock together!”
“Do one needs to have a bad temperament to receive a high rank?”
- Basic aptitude test[↩]
- A saying that its too much or exaggerated or going overboard[↩]
- Individuals with the title of 2nd class or Jaheondaebu can be appointed as Governors or heads of the six ministries[↩]
- In today’s words would be unpaid interns[↩]
- non-salaried officials[↩]
- The social status of people during Joseon’s time is divided into four classes (from highest to lowest}: scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants[↩]
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