“Who has the loudest voice?”
“The chicken seller Park has the loudest voice!”
Since the promulgation of Jeongeum (Hangul), illiteracy had nearly vanished among imperial citizens, especially those from the mainland. However, waiting one’s turn to read the proclamation would take time. Therefore, someone with a loud voice from among the locals would read the proclamation aloud to inform those nearby of its contents.
“Ah! Why call on a busy person!”
“Just read that proclamation over there!”
“With nothing in return?”
“I’ll buy you a chicken later!”
“Hmm, well then. Ahem! AHEM!”
After clearing his throat, the chicken seller Park began reading the proclamation in a booming voice.
***
The proclamation posted on the government office wall read as follows:
-Much time has passed since our Empire discovered the new territory called the New Frontier.
During that time, we have devoted much effort to developing the New Frontier and finding and enlightening the natives.
The Emperor Emeritus and Venerable Emperor have made considerable efforts in all these matters, so how can we not be grateful?
Long passages praising Sejong and Hyang followed, and the citizens reading the proclamation unconsciously began to grumble.
“Damn! These high officials… They don’t understand brevity!”
“Must they always show off how well-read they are!”
“My taxes paid for the printing of that proclamation!”
The citizens’ complaints stretched on as long as the verbose text.
“Alright! Enough complaints! Let’s get to the main point!”
“Indeed!”
But after hearing the main point, all the citizens became indignant.
“How can such despicable creatures exist!”
“To think there are still beings worse than beasts!”
-During exploration of the uncharted areas of the New Frontier, we encountered a group of natives.
As they had something resembling a national framework, the Venerable Emperor sent a diplomatic mission with proper courtesy.
However, what our Empire’s envoys witnessed in their capital was a horrific sight too terrible to describe in words.
They were a tribe that practiced cannibalism.
According to natives who were captured by them but miraculously rescued with help from our envoys, they were beings who had abandoned human principles.
They attacked neighboring tribes, captured people, performed sacrifices, and ate the corpses.
I declare firmly:
Not knowing the way and performing human sacrifice because they had no opportunity to learn the principles might be overlooked.
But if such sacrifices occur daily, and the victims number in the thousands, this is not ignorance of principles but abandonment of them.
Thus, natives who escaped with the help of our envoys tearfully implored the Venerable Emperor to punish them.
Alas, what a tragedy!
Although the Venerable Emperor requested help for their punishment, our Empire’s strength is still insufficient, how can we not be frustrated!
Though our Empire’s army and navy are strong, they have no capacity beyond protecting the Empire!
Therefore, I appeal to the people for help!
Those among the reserves who wish to punish them and teach them principles should report to the government office!
We need those who will punish these principle-abandoning people on heaven’s behalf and teach principles to those who still live like beasts due to ignorance of the way!
Of course, this is not an easy task.
It is dangerous work; one might lose life or limb in battle.
As compensation, volunteers will receive the following rewards:
- Those who die or become disabled during combat will receive the same veterans’ benefits as imperial soldiers.
- Among volunteers with education at or above middle school level, those who wish may work as teachers at public schools in the New Frontier region. In this case, they will be guaranteed the same qualifications as formal teachers.
- Among volunteers, those who wish may receive cultivation rights in the New Frontier. In this case, they will be granted cultivation rights to land at least three times larger than what they could receive in the mainland or northern territory.
“Ohhh~”
The indignant citizens’ eyes sparkled at the following compensation.
Those who died, became disabled, or were injured in various situations, including war, as imperial soldiers received compensation according to their grade. And this compensation was by no means light.
The same applied to public school teachers. Since the establishment of public schools, teacher selection had been rigorous, making public or middle school teachers highly respected professions.
Cultivation rights were also a mouth-watering reward.
As the Empire’s statecraft developed day by day, more people earned money as merchants, artisans, and workshop laborers. However, there were still many who considered agriculture supreme.
“As long as there’s no bad harvest, you’ll never starve with farming!”
Moreover, post horses and farm cattle could be obtained if one set their mind to it, and steam-powered agricultural tractors were also available.
As a result, farming no longer required as many hands as before.
This meant that the larger the cultivated land, the more advantageous it became, and being able to receive cultivation rights to land at least three times larger was an enticing reward.
***
Before long, men began flocking to government offices across the Empire’s mainland to volunteer.
The first to volunteer were people from scholar-official families.
“As one who has learned the principles of the sages, how can I ignore this!”
“Naturally, a gentleman must sternly reprimand and enlighten those who have abandoned principles!”
While some volunteered to practice what they had learned and believed, others were pushed.
“You’ve been wasting time relying on the family fortune, and I can’t watch any longer! Volunteer at once!”
“A golden opportunity to elevate our family name has arrived! Volunteer immediately!”
Those who had been living idly relying on family wealth and those who had to step forward to enhance family honor came to government offices to volunteer.
However, most volunteers from scholar-official backgrounds were voluntary.
This was because, as Hyang said, the number of “rigid traditionalists” had increased.
As the Empire’s statecraft expanded, it was not only commoners who benefited.
Many of these “haves” among the scholar-officials had jumped into the capital market and grabbed even greater wealth. Of course, they had to pay more taxes, but even after paying those taxes, they enjoyed lives several times more abundant than commoners.
Unlike commoners, scholar-officials who enjoyed abundance without needing to work all day delved deeper into Neo-Confucianism, which could be considered their main occupation.
And through this, the “Hundred Schools of Thought Contending Era of the Empire” was born.
The Dogmatic School of Principle, which argued that the Neo-Confucianism organized by Zhu Xi should be followed literally.
The School of Mind, which argued that while Zhu Xi’s School of Principle was important, the mind (心) of the gentleman, emphasized by Lu Jiuyuan and Wang Shouren, also had value.
The School of Textual Criticism, which argued that since much time had passed since Neo-Confucianism emerged and it had been heavily embellished, they should revisit based on the “Five Classics Interpretation” from the Tang period.
The School of Evidential Learning and the School of Practical Learning, which advocated “practical application of classical learning” after seeing the success of economic reforms.
The Complementary School, which analyzed the Bible brought by European monks and sought to complement the deficiencies of Confucianism.
Representative mainstream factions and branch factions engaged in debates and arguments.
And the battlefield was the Institute of Principle. While Hyang’s established research institute and Areas 51 and 52 dealt with science and technology, the Institute of Principle was a place to study thought and philosophy.
And so, the rigid scholars who had been engaged in debates rushed to volunteer.
This was also to overwhelm competing factions.
“While those who are all talk make noise about Confucius says this, Mencius says that inside rooms, we will spread the principles of the sages through action!”
Beyond this justification, what they were aiming for was “military merit from the battlefield.”
It was difficult to decide the winner through debates at the Institute of Principle. However, if the value of medals and decorations earned through military achievements on the battlefield was added, the winner could be determined.
Imperial citizens had tremendous respect for medals awarded by the Emperor, especially military merit medals.
‘Military merit medal earned on the battlefield = loyalty to the country = loyal subject’
Because of this, the words of those who had received medals carried different weight.
“An elder with medals is speaking; how could it be wrong!”
Because this was the perception of the citizens, many scholar-officials volunteered for the faction they supported.
***
As an aside, because citizens’ perceptions were like this, the Empire closely examined the subsequent actions of those who had received medals.
If there was even a slight rumor, they thoroughly investigated to determine its truth. If the investigation found it to be true, they reclaimed all medals, decorations, and various compensations that had been awarded to the individual and announced this nationwide. This was such a great dishonor that many who received such treatment committed suicide.
But even when such incidents occurred, the citizens’ reactions were cold.
“What kind of object is a medal! If they did such a thing, they should pay for their crime! Hmph!”
***
As scholar-officials flocked in this way, government office administrators faced unexpected hardships.
“Oh my, sir! At your age, how can you go to such a dangerous place?”
“Bah! What does age matter when spreading the principles of the sages? Write down my name immediately!”
“Look here, young master. You don’t seem to have had your coming-of-age ceremony yet; go back quickly.”
“Though I haven’t had my coming-of-age ceremony, I can already do a man’s share!”
“Haven’t you seen His Majesty’s official document? Didn’t it say those who belong to the reserves? Young master, you’re too young! Go back quickly!”
“Waaaah~”
“Why are you making the child cry!”
Though work increased as people too old or too young volunteered, administrators breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s fortunate that His Majesty set criteria.”
- Those whose names are registered in the military roles as reserves.
Because Wan had set age criteria, they could process those who were too old or too young without worry.
***
After about three months, the number of volunteers from the mainland surpassed 30,000.
Upon receiving the report, Wan summarized the situation with his ministers.
“It seems we’ve gathered the necessary troops.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
Following Hwangbo In, Kim Jong-seo continued.
“It would have been a major issue if we had drawn from the imperial army, but we’ve been able to form troops smoothly.”
Nodding at Kim Jong-seo’s words, Wan turned to the Minister of Defense.
“What is the schedule from now on?”
To Wan’s question, Lee Jing-ok, the newly appointed Minister of Defense, answered.
“As autumn has already begun, they will undergo training during the winter. Then, as soon as the sea routes open in spring next year, we will send the troops. If transportation proceeds without incident, all troops and supplies should arrive in the New Frontier by summer the year after next.”
“It takes longer than expected?”
To Wan’s observation, Lee Jing-ok immediately responded.
“That’s because it’s by sea, not by land.”
Though the Empire’s ships, especially transport ships traveling to and from the New Frontier, were continuously growing larger, there was a limit to how quickly they could accommodate 30,000 troops and the weapons and supplies they would use.
“Hmm. I see…”
As Wan was nodding, Lee Jing-ok pulled out a letter from his bosom.
“What letter is that?”
“My resignation, Your Majesty.”
“Resignation?”
“Because I cannot miss the opportunity to thrash those human-skinned beasts.”