Sejong’s funeral was held over a period of fifteen days.

“Isn’t this funeral period too short?”

Most people reacted to the fifteen-day funeral with “It’s too short.”

Even when Sejong’s father Taejong died, it took almost four months from announcing Taejong’s death to the people until his burial in the royal tomb.

Naturally, during this period, the people had to endure considerable hardship.

Weddings and slaughter were forbidden until the end of the jolgok (final crying ceremony) held on either a jeong day or a hae day three months after death.

That wasn’t all. Listening to music was banned for three years. Music could only be used in large-scale ceremonies.

Therefore, Sejong and Hyang had used the first law to establish the imperial funeral period at fifteen days.

It wasn’t just the emperor’s funeral period that was shortened.

Everyone except the emperor, regardless of high or low status, was unconditionally limited to three-day funerals.

Of course, opposition to the funeral provisions written in the first law was a natural result.

In response, Sejong immediately posted the following proclamation throughout the nation to refute the opposition:

—The most important aspect of holding funerals is commemorating the deceased and managing the bereaved family’s sad hearts.

—But what is the current situation? Nobles have six-month funerals, and scholars have month-long funerals as standard.

—The problem is that the original beautiful meaning of ‘holding proper funerals as a matter of etiquette’ has disappeared, becoming merely a means to boast about family power and wealth.

—Though we base this on ancient customs and the teachings of sages, what was Confucius’s intention when he criticized Zilu?

***

When Confucius fell critically ill, Zilu, the eldest among his disciples, appointed a retainer to prepare for the funeral.

However, Confucius, rising from his bed, learned of this and criticized Zilu. According to the laws of the time, only those who held government office as nobles could have retainers. But at that time, Confucius had retired from official duty and could not have retainers.

Therefore, Confucius criticized Zilu.

“I originally should have no retainers, yet I have them—whom am I deceiving? […] Even if I cannot have a grand funeral when I die, would I really die on the streets with no one to take care of me?”

***

After mentioning Confucius’s example, Sejong continued his criticism:

—Confucius’s criticism of Zilu wasn’t simply about overstepping authority. He was worried about funerals so excessive they exceeded one’s station.

—What ancient sages repeatedly emphasized was not to carelessly boast of wealth and power. Looking at the current situation, it’s appropriate to prohibit by law these excessive practices in coming-of-age ceremonies, marriages, funerals, and ancestral rites that cause financial ruin for many people.

Because Sejong’s intentions were strong and his reasoning sound, three-day funerals soon became established.

However, this time people emerged who found fault with the emperor’s funeral period.

“But why is only the emperor’s funeral fifteen days?”

“Listen, how can the emperor’s funeral be the same as us common folk’s funerals? For someone like the emperor, even the funeral is politics.”

“Ah… but what does common folk mean?”

“You fool… ask your son!”

As the people said, Sejong’s funeral was politics, especially an extension of international politics.

As soon as rumors spread that Sejong was critically ill, not only Ming and Japan but also Asian small countries including Ryukyu, the Bengal Sultanate, Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, France, and Florence immediately selected diplomatic missions and sent them to the empire.

Of course, since they couldn’t say they came to pay condolences for someone who hadn’t died yet, the missions’ stated purpose was “Sejong’s recovery.”

“We heard His Former Majesty’s strength has greatly weakened. Our sovereign, wishing for his swift recovery, has sent me. We hope the medicinal materials we’ve brought will be of great help.”

“Thank you.”

After meeting Emperor Wan and presenting precious medicinal materials, the envoys soon established residences and began staying.

Ming and Japan went one step further.

Not only did they send diplomatic missions, they also prepared their fastest ships at their own ports and Jemulpo, and even finished selecting proper condolence delegations.

Meanwhile, the delegations from various countries staying in Seoul moved busily.

They frequented the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Treasury to discuss trade-related issues, and met with other countries’ envoys to negotiate diplomatic matters.

Thanks to this, Seoul’s gisaeng houses overflowed with people every day.

The envoys didn’t frequent gisaeng houses solely for diplomatic meetings.

***

Countries with their own scholars working at the research institute called these scholars to gisaeng houses.

“—To comfort our compatriots working tirelessly day and night in this distant foreign land.”

Using such pretexts to summon scholars and monks, the envoys subtly broached the main topic.

“About the Challenge Records. Is it still impossible to obtain those records?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? The Challenge Records are the most security-sensitive materials even within the empire. It’s impossible to extract the levels our home country wants.”

“Is it truly impossible? Really? Even if they’re not necessarily high-level records from the Challenge Records.”

At the envoy’s words, all the scholars looked puzzled and asked.

“Haven’t you inquired with the empire’s Ministry of Education?”

“Huh?”

“What? The Ministry of Education?”

At the scholars’ question, the envoys looked bewildered.

Seeing the envoys’ expressions, the scholars in turn asked with puzzled faces.

“Huh? Didn’t you know? About four years ago, content from the Challenge Records and Response Records up to the ‘Struggling Hard, moderate-moderate-low’ level was opened to higher educational institutions like technical academies, engineering institutes, and mathematics academies throughout the empire. Those studying or teaching at such institutions who show interest are told to think and find answers themselves.”

“And are there results?”

“Yes. Quite a few answers that passed the research institute scholars’ review process and were registered in the Response Records have appeared. Moreover, responses even better than existing ones in the Response Records have emerged. Thanks to this, scholars’ reactions are good. They can encounter very fresh ideas.”

“I see… Then what rewards did those who found answers registered in the Response Records receive?”

“They were immediately recruited by the research institute.”

“Why are you only telling us this now!”

“I wrote it in letters and sent them?”

At the scholars’ answer, the envoys ground their teeth and exploded in frustration.

“Those damn censors!”

***

All correspondence sent by scholars and monks working at the research institute had to be censored.

Initially, those responsible for censorship were Muslims who had settled in Joseon, like Hyang and Hassan.

In the early days of the research institute’s establishment, most letters went to Islamic countries and Europe.

Hassan handled letters to Islamic countries, while Hyang handled those to Europe.

Since Latin was the common language in Europe then—especially in academic fields—Hyang alone could manage.

However, as Hyang’s responsibilities increased and interpreters who had learned Latin and other European languages were produced, the censorship duties passed to the interpreters.

This is where problems arose.

While the interpreters were fluent in languages, they weren’t well-versed in the academic subjects handled by the research institute.

“Which parts should we delete, and which should we keep?”

“We can’t ask His Excellency every time…”

“It’s hard to ask Hassan and his colleagues too. Those guys are also overworked now…”

After much deliberation, the interpreters found the easiest and most certain method.

—Unconditionally delete all sentences containing even one word related to academics!

It was a very certain method, but they missed a lot.

Had it been Hyang, he would have said “popcorn time” or “let’s start cooking” and left those parts alone, but they deleted everything and sent it.

***

After hearing stories through the scholars, envoys from various countries immediately went to the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Education, hearing the envoys’ requests, pondered with a troubled expression before answering.

“I’ll report to His Majesty and give you an answer.”

Hearing the situation through the Minister of Education, Wan immediately consulted with Hyang.

“I want to grant permission, but what does Your Highness think?”

At Wan’s response, Hyang immediately nodded.

“I think His Majesty’s decision is appropriate. However, considering the value of the ‘Challenge Records,’ there will be considerable opposition. What answer will you give?”

At Hyang’s question, Wan grinned and answered.

“If the bait is good, doesn’t the chance of catching big fish also increase?”

At Wan’s answer, Hyang also grinned and nodded.

The court historians and secretaries watching this scene recorded it thus:

—…Therefore, when His Majesty decided, His Highness also agreed it was appropriate.

The historian says:

I think the strategy of attracting talent by releasing some knowledge is more orthodox than trickery. The more talent a country has…

“Historian, you’re not writing bad things about me, are you?”

“N-no, sir!”

—As they say, you can’t steal seeds…

***

Thus, the envoys who made requests to the Ministry of Education came to receive copies of the Challenge Records and Response Records.

“Due to imperial policy, these are copies up to the ‘Struggling Hard, moderate-moderate-low’ level.”

“We are truly grateful for His Majesty’s decision.”

Though they said this, the envoys’ faces were pale white.

‘Why are there so many!’

Looking at the books piled high enough to fill a cart, the envoys screamed inwardly.

‘They said up to Struggling Hard, moderate-moderate-low level!’

Anyway, having received the Challenge Records, the envoys again summoned the scholars.

The scholars who came at the envoys’ summons examined the Challenge Records and Response Records related to their fields and nodded.

“Indeed, up to the ‘Struggling Hard, moderate-moderate-low’ level is completely here.”

At the answer from the scholars from the research institute, not only the envoys but also the scholars who came with them turned pale.

“You mean this enormous amount is just a part?”

“Even at a glance, these are difficult problems, yet this is only the ‘Struggling Hard, moderate-moderate-low’ level?”

At their reaction, the scholars working at the research institute answered with faces that said it was nothing special.

“Compared to the upper levels, this isn’t even that much.”

“Even ‘Carpenter’s Awl’ level requires dedicating one’s entire life. No, not just my life, but my children’s lives as well.”

“Geez…”

The scholars who came with the envoys began to change their expressions after hearing this answer.

‘I want to see the higher-level Challenge Records!’

‘If it’s content from higher levels, how profound would it be?’

‘If I could solve higher levels, my name would go down in history!’

Meanwhile, the envoys began to covet for different reasons.

‘If we could obtain higher-level Challenge Records! And if we could get the results of those research projects! No one could trouble our country!’

The envoys from Europe began writing reports about this.

‘We must take European hegemony!’

Later, this would create a definite trigger for bloody wars between foreign intelligence agencies, industrial spies, and secret guards over the Challenge Records.