Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 782

Episode 782: A disaster brought about by oneself… (17)

The next day, Wan called the monks and students who had applied.

“I have read the appeal you submitted carefully. “It is a good thing that you are supporting us to protect the doctrine.”

The faces of the monks and students abroad brightened at Wan’s words.

“So, are you allowing support?”

“I will ask you before that. If we look at your doctrine, there is a phrase that says, ‘Spread the truth to the ends of the world.’ In that case, you will go to the new world and do missionary work, right?”

“That is…”

“Answer in the name of the God you believe in.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“Hmm…”

After hearing the answer, Wan snorted and made a strange expression. Wan, who was silent for a moment, pointed out the problem.

“The problem is that even though the Pope, the head of your religion, has changed several times, there is no answer to the questions sent by our empire.”

* * *

When the monks first entered the empire – Joseon at the time – Hyang, who was the crown prince at the time, again asked two questions.

One was a ritual about ancestors, and the other was about the inerrancy of scriptures.

“If you don’t have an answer to this problem, you can’t do missionary work!”

At that time, the religious world in Europe – Western Europe to be exact – was in a very difficult state.

-Which is greater: the authority of the Pope or the authority of a secular monarch?

-Will the Pope follow the Council or will the Council follow the Pope?

-Will we allow or deny unity between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The religious world in Western Europe was in a tumultuous situation, with pros and cons divided on each of these issues.

To put it simply, a bomb with a burning incense stick was thrown into a warehouse full of gunpowder.

Religious leaders, who were sharply divided over issues that were difficult to coordinate, began to engage in a war of words over the answer to this issue, and soon military force was mobilized.

* * *

Wan continued speaking.

“How much time has passed and how many popes have changed since the situation demanded an answer? And yet your Pope has not responded.”

Wan’s point was not wrong.

Five popes have appeared, starting with Eugene IV, who was the pope when the incense asked the question, and ending with the current pope, Paul II, but the Vatican has still not responded.

The monks and international students bowed their heads at Wan’s point.

“I apologize.”

“I would like you to send me an answer as quickly as possible.”

Wan continued to push the monks and students.

“Does your Pope ignore the burden, the situation and our Empire?”

“Oh no!”

“Absolutely not!”

The monks and students hastily denied Wan’s reprimand.

“To be honest, the situation in the Vatican is not good….”

“The situation has not been good for a while.”

* * *

As the monks and students studying abroad said, the situation in the Vatican has been a mess, even now.

The religious conflict, which involved the use of force, was barely resolved, but not completely resolved.

Religious leaders from various European countries and the Vatican still engaged in a war of words whenever they could.

As military force was mobilized, problems began to arise as the people were squeezed under various pretexts to replenish the enormous funds consumed for war expenses.

“What kind of people are you! “Are you a shepherd wandering around looking for a lost lamb, or are you a merchant selling sacrifices in the temple?”

It was once again noisy as those who criticized the church’s doctrine of reform and called for reform reappeared.

As this vicious cycle continued, the ‘question of fragrance’ had disappeared into the distance.

* * *

“Hmm… I have already heard rumors similar to what you just said. How can those who are supposed to lead ‘lost lambs’ to the truth, as written in your scriptures, show such disgrace? Tsk tsk tsk!”

When Wan clicked his tongue and shook his head, the monks and students lowered their heads in embarrassment.

Wan, who was looking at them with a pitiful expression, came to a conclusion.

“Shinji is clearly a stronghold of the empire. Therefore, it follows the laws and policies of the empire. Until your Pope sends an answer, and until it is concluded that the answer does not disturb the traditions of our Empire, neither the propagation nor the support of your religion will be permitted. “Go back.”

At Wan’s decision, the monks and students bowed with gloomy faces and left Geunjeongjeon.

Wan, who sent away the international students and monks, clicked his tongue once again.

“Tsk tsk tsk! What kind of God’s will and doctrine are these people who make a fuss in Seoul’s gibang whenever they get a chance? What is the difference between the Buddhists of Jeonjo and the Weigunians of the period of Giyu… Eh! Tsk!”

When Wan did not hide his displeasure by mentioning the monks who were notorious for extorting the people during the Goryeo Dynasty and the noblemen who had launched the Giyu Rebellion, all the subjects in Daejeon fell silent and only watched Wan.

‘If you say something wrong here, you’ll be in big trouble!’

‘It’s best not to say anything here!’

‘I don’t know anything!’

“What do you think, Prime Minister?”

When Wan pointedly asked a question, Hwang Bo-in quickly answered.

“I’m getting it back! “This is truly a natural thing to say.”

“That’s right!”

As soon as Hwang Bo-in finished speaking, other ministers also joined in.

“Hmm…”

Wan rested his chin and thought for a moment before giving an order to Hwang Bo-in.

“Please convey my orders to the Crown Prince and Jeong In-ji, who manage the research institute. Let’s classify the international students by looking at their achievements, attitude toward studying and research, and their mindset. And send those of low rank back to their hometowns immediately. “Those who came to search for the truth are causing trouble in the gibang… Tsk!”

Hwang Bo-in and the ministers immediately responded to Wan’s command by bowing their heads.

“I follow your orders!”

* * *

After the assembly, Hwang Bo-in, Kim Jong-seo, and Lee Gyeon-gi sat separately.

“It seems that His Majesty’s order to liquidate the Europeans was not just a matter of defense. What do you think?”

Lee Gyeon-gi responded to Kim Jong-seo’s question.

“You said it was a good time to sort things out, right?”

Hwang Bo-in shook his head at Lee Gyeon-gi’s words.

“I think the issue of defamation is an excuse. “There are rumors going around these days that some of those international students and professors are trying to do something other than their main job.”

“Something else?”

When Lee Gyeon-gi expressed doubt, Hwang Bo-in continued.

“It would be more correct to say it was something else. “I’m trying to do ganja…”

“Ganja!”

When Hwang Bo-in mentioned ‘ganja’, Lee Gyeon-gi’s face hardened.

* * *

The number of international students staying in the empire was gradually increasing.

In the past, Japanese people made up the largest number, but now international students and professors from Europe boast the largest number.

What most students studying abroad in Japan learned was Confucianism and public administration. Of course, efforts were made to learn the technology of the empire symbolized by ‘Area 51’, but the empire did not leak any advanced knowledge and technology beyond Gihakdang.

For this reason, the Japanese government established a technology research institute. In this research institute, craftsmen who had previously been brought in from the Ming Dynasty and returned after learning at the Gihakdang were gathering and conducting research to catch up with the technology of the empire.

Most international students and professors from Europe were active in fields such as industry, academia, physics, and mechanics.

From the beginning, the scent was received only by those involved in this field.

Among those who learned or participated in research at industrial academies and research institutes, those with excellent grades were actively recruited and allowed to take up positions in the empire, and the level of the empire’s basic science was gradually increasing.

Of course, there have been a steady stream of people returning home every year without giving in to this kind of accommodation or because they were unable to keep up with the progress.

However, when these people returned home, they were treated as valuable talents. This was because the level was higher compared to those who were currently staying in their home countries in Europe.

It was only natural that those who saw this from the side would go on to study abroad in the empire.

As the ‘imperial study abroad craze’ spread, new high-income occupations were created.

He was a ‘home tutor specializing in studying abroad’.

In order to study in the empire, one had to first pass an exam conducted by the empire.

In order to pass this test, the number of people who returned from studying abroad in the empire was increasing as tutors for their children. And those who gave up studying abroad and returned began working as tutors.

I returned home because I could not keep up with the progress, but the fact that I studied abroad was proof that I had the skills to pass the exam.

Through this process, as the number of people who came to the empire to study and returned after completing their studies increased, people with other purposes began to slowly come in.

While working as a student studying abroad for 2-3 years, those who sought to recruit and take the empire’s craftsmen or acquire the empire’s technology began to mix together.

They were well aware that it was impossible to recruit artisans from Area 51, so they moved to acquire artisans or their skills that were well-known in the public.

Their movements were immediately noticed by the Milwi, and over time, they became known to officials through Pocheong and Dangol Giru’s gisaeng.

“Hmm… what should I do with this?”

After receiving Milwi’s report, Wan struggled to find an answer.

The most important and lucrative technologies were located in Area 51.

If those Europeans had touched the craftsmen in Area 51, they would have immediately mobilized the Secret Service to deal with it, but that was not the case.

“But we can’t just leave it like that…”

Perhaps because of the belief in heaven, the craftsmen who were recruited so far have not come out. The leaked technologies were also at least two generations behind.

While I was pondering the answer, something like this happened.

“Did you say ‘Jihwaja!’ at a time like this?”

* * *

“Think about it. Didn’t all the former Sungkyunkwan Confucian students just study to death? “Were there just one or two people who went out and ran around whenever they got the chance?”

Kim Jong-seo and Lee Gyeon-gi nodded at Hwang Bo-in’s words. Looking at the two people’s reactions, Hwang Bo-in continued speaking.

“There were not just one or two people like that, and it happened more than once or twice. Were there people who were expelled?”

“Hardly any.”

“Your Majesty wants to use this incident as an excuse to weed out those who came in for other purposes. Of course, you can be caught and punished outright. However, there is no solid physical evidence, and if we do something wrong, we may miss out on the talent we want.”

“Are you saying we’re all going to get scared and go back?”

Hwang Bo-in nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s point.

“exactly. But that can be avoided if we follow His Majesty’s orders. What’s even better is that they will work harder on their studies and research to avoid being expelled.”

Hwang Bo-in, who had spoken up to this point, sighed.

“Whoa~. Every time something like this happens, I become aware of whose blood your Majesty inherited.”

Hearing Hwang Bo-in’s words, Kim Jong-seo and Lee Gyeon-gi sighed at the same time.

“Whoa~.”

Sejong and Hyang never did anything that would result in loss, and the principle of ‘getting two benefits at once’ was basic. And it was Wan who clearly proved that he inherited that blood.