The dukes and marquises—who had been tasked with reviewing the plans Sejong had promoted or devised after the empire’s establishment and adoption of imperial titles—immediately latched onto Gyeokbang as their first priority.

To be precise, it was the sport called New Frontier Gyeokbang or New Frontier Gyeokbang-jang, similar to modern golf.

“Hmm… ‘Include New Frontier Gyeokbang facilities within comprehensive entertainment complexes’…”

After reviewing the agenda title, the dukes and marquises simultaneously turned their gazes toward Anpyeong.

Comprehensive entertainment complexes fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Entertainment, and Anpyeong had served as minister since the ministry’s inception.

Receiving his brothers’ attention, Anpyeong shook his head with a troubled expression.

“It won’t be easy. You all know how much space a New Frontier Gyeokbang facility requires.”

The dukes and marquises all nodded at Anpyeong’s words.

***

Not long after returning from New Frontier, Sejong felt restless.

“Ah… I want to play Gyeokbang…”

Even before his trip to New Frontier, Gyeokbang had been Sejong’s favorite sport.

—Every time the Gyeongsin day arrived, the king would summon royal family members and high officials to stay up all night enjoying Bonghui (the stick game).

The historical records, even before Hyang’s intervention, documented Sejong’s love for Gyeokbang to this extent.

Since he had become Emperor Emeritus and retired to the sidelines anyway, Sejong enjoyed Gyeokbang without hesitation.

However, before long, Sejong shook his head.

“This isn’t it!”

Unsatisfied with traditional Gyeokbang, Sejong immediately sought out Wan.

“I’ve come with a request for His Imperial Majesty.”

“Please speak.”

“Please grant me some land.”

“Pardon?”

According to imperial law, all territory within the empire belonged to the emperor. The people merely lived by borrowing this land from the emperor. Therefore, the most basic tax that citizens paid to the nation was this land rental fee.

Of course, Sejong and Hyang hadn’t forgotten to place restrictions preventing the emperor from arbitrarily raising this land rental rate.

This law prevented landlords from charging tenant farmers or renters excessively high rates.

It was a form of public land concept.

And because the law was structured this way, Sejong had to request land from Wan.

After receiving suitable land grants in Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and the southern three provinces, Sejong built Gyeokbang facilities and enjoyed the sport.

Of course, he didn’t enjoy it alone.

Royal family members were invited first, and soon local dignitaries from areas where the facilities were located were also invited to enjoy Gyeokbang together.

For local notables, being invited to a Gyeokbang facility was a family honor that would be passed down through generations.

And so the Gyeokbang facilities that began this way soon started gaining prominence as new forms of entertainment.

The exhilarating feeling of hitting balls powerfully across open spaces was highly addictive. The simple yet mentally challenging rules of determining victory through the minimum number of strokes also provided great enjoyment.

Eventually, those who had developed a taste for New Frontier Gyeokbang petitioned to have the facilities opened to them.

Here, the Treasury Department, smelling profit, made a proposal to Wan. Finding the proposal reasonable, Wan consulted Sejong, who readily nodded his agreement.

“Wouldn’t it be good to let those who want to enjoy Gyeokbang even when I’m not there pay a reasonable fee to use the facilities? Like the hot spring establishments.”

And so, Gyeokbang facilities were opened to the public. When Sejong wasn’t using them, anyone who wanted could use them regardless of social status.

As New Frontier Gyeokbang gained popularity, new New Frontier Gyeokbang facilities began opening throughout the empire’s territory—not just in the mainland and New Frontier, but also in the northern territories, Daeseol Island, and the southwestern provinces.

***

With this background, Sejong had created a plan to include New Frontier Gyeokbang facilities within the comprehensive entertainment complexes managed by the Ministry of Entertainment.

However, Anpyeong, who was in charge of actual implementation, expressed difficulty with this plan.

The biggest problem was the size of New Frontier Gyeokbang facilities, which Anpyeong had already mentioned.

Perhaps because New Frontier, where the sport first began, had vast open spaces, playing New Frontier Gyeokbang required extensive land.

And it couldn’t just be any empty flat ground—it needed to include suitable hills or small mountains.

Installing such Gyeokbang facilities wherever entertainment complexes existed was impossible.

“Maybe in the northern territories, Daeseol Island, or New Frontier… but the mainland is impossible. Space is an issue, but so are wild beasts. Without proper planning, people wanting to enjoy Gyeokbang would frequently need to bring not just clubs and balls, but bows and arrows too.”

Despite the active efforts of the Tiger and Leopard Hunter Corps, fierce predators like tigers, leopards, and bears still roamed the rugged mountain ranges of the mainland.

This was due to the philosophy that ‘wild beasts are also part of this world, so they shouldn’t be hunted unless they harm people.’

Watching Anpyeong’s troubled expression, Duke Imyeong added his thoughts.

“That’s right. And the cost of preparing all the necessary equipment would be substantial as well.”

***

Like traditional Gyeokbang played on the mainland, New Frontier Gyeokbang also required carrying various types of clubs. Different locations required clubs with different heads.

And these Gyeokbang clubs were money-devouring monsters.

While mainland Gyeokbang clubs consisted of heads made from bent wood or bamboo frames covered with cloth or leather attached to wooden shafts, New Frontier Gyeokbang clubs had heads made from wood, iron, or copper attached to shafts made from highly elastic and tough wood.

The problem was that the carpentry workshops selling clubs, wanting to show off their skills and earn more money, made the club shafts increasingly elaborate.

For mainland Gyeokbang, painting five colors representing the five elements on the shaft was sufficient. However, New Frontier Gyeokbang clubs typically had shafts with vermillion or lacquer finishes as a base, with gold or silver thread inlays for decoration.

Sejong and Hyang shared responsibility for this trend.

Since they had been the first to start, craftsmen had put their heart and soul into making clubs for them.

The club heads faced the same situation. Since victory went to whoever could get the ball into the hole with the fewest strokes, clubs with heads advantageous for long drives were essential.

To create such heads, blacksmiths racked their brains and conducted endless research.

Clubs that produced good long drives could be sold for high prices.

Within ten years, the mainland saw the emergence of renowned craftsmen known for making excellent clubs. Thanks to registering their developed club head designs with the Intellectual Property Office, these craftsmen’s reputations continued to grow.

It wasn’t just clubs that became expensive.

Balls were also getting more costly.

For mainland Gyeokbang, balls were simply carved from wood or agate.

However, for New Frontier Gyeokbang, where a single hit could easily send the ball dozens of jang away, balls were made with bright colors for easy spotting or crafted from agate stones with distinctive stripe patterns.

Furthermore, as it became known that perfect spheres flew better and straighter, ball-making craftsmen strived to create increasingly perfect spheres.

This naturally led to price increases, and a well-made box of five balls typically cost 2-3 nyang in silver—enough for a family of four to live on for half a month, even with inflation.

***

Anpyeong sighed and continued speaking.

“The situation is already difficult with frequent memorials claiming New Frontier Gyeokbang is the root of extravagance and moral corruption. Some people swing things other than Gyeokbang clubs at the facilities, you know.”

As Anpyeong spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Duke Imyeong. Receiving Anpyeong’s pointed look, Duke Imyeong made an innocent expression.

“Who, me!”

“You fool, the rumors have already spread throughout the mainland.”

“As if I’m the only one!”

“That’s exactly the problem… sigh…”

As evident from the clubs and balls, New Frontier Gyeokbang was an expensive pastime. While it could be enjoyed with cheap clubs and wooden balls, most New Frontier Gyeokbang players were local wealthy individuals.

Naturally, these men would bring courtesans to enjoy while playing, inevitably leading to scandals.

Since Duke Imyeong was notorious as a womanizer, he naturally occupied a place in these scandals.

***

After days of contemplation without finding an answer, Anpyeong made a decision.

“There’s only one person who can solve this kind of problem.”

Anpyeong turned his head. His gaze fell upon Hyang, who was clutching his head and glaring at books.

“Your Imperial Majesty—no, brother.”

“What!”

At Hyang’s irritable voice, full of edge, Anpyeong froze completely.

“What? What’s the matter!”

“Well, the thing is…”

Barely collecting himself, Anpyeong explained the problem to Hyang.

“Hmm…”

After hearing Anpyeong’s story, Hyang crossed his arms and fell into thought. Shortly after searching his memory, Hyang recalled the existence of ‘golf driving ranges.’

Most neighborhoods had at least one. Screen golf facilities were even more common…

Having found the answer, Hyang soon responded to Anpyeong.

“—Most comprehensive entertainment complexes are located in scenic areas. Scenic locations usually border large rivers or streams.

—Most people who enjoy New Frontier Gyeokbang are actually enjoying the thrill of long drives.

—Therefore, build elevated platforms within the entertainment complexes where people can hit balls toward the rivers or streams.

—For locations without rivers or streams, set up nets at suitable distances for people to hit balls toward. Draw targets on these nets for practicing accurate shots.

—Those enjoying Gyeokbang at entertainment complexes can use their own clubs, but must use only the facility’s balls. And the facility’s balls must be made exclusively from wood.

—Install nets in the streams and rivers where balls land to prevent them from flowing downstream and make retrieval easier.

—Gyeokbang facilities within entertainment complexes must operate on half-time intervals (about 1 hour), with one basket of balls provided free. Additional time and balls require additional payment.”

“Of course, the number of balls in the basket should be just slightly, just slightly insufficient for a full half-time session, right?”

“Ah! I see!”

Watching Anpyeong’s face brighten with understanding, Hyang continued.

“—The number of New Frontier Gyeokbang facilities should be gradually increased while monitoring people’s economic circumstances. This applies equally to Gyeokbang facilities installed in entertainment complexes.

—Entry to New Frontier Gyeokbang facilities prohibits the accompaniment of courtesans, regardless of reason. However, groups of courtesans or women among themselves may enter. In such cases, specific dates must be designated when this is allowed.”

Having explained this far, Hyang looked at Anpyeong.

“How does that sound?”

At Hyang’s question, Anpyeong bowed with a bright face.

“You truly are amazing, brother!”

“With a bit more refinement, it’ll be even better.”

“Yes!”

Watching Anpyeong excitedly return to his seat, Hyang turned his head and glared at the book before him.

“What on earth was Father thinking…”

Hyang’s expression as he examined the book’s contents was literally one of shock and terror.

Why does nuclear physics appear here?!

The thoughts—truly miscellaneous thoughts—of Sejong written in a book titled ‘Miscellaneous Thoughts Record’ had thrown Hyang into shock.