Chapter 194: Dedication. Part.2. (2)
Caught off guard by the unexpected proposal, Anpyeong momentarily struggled to process the information, so Hyang explained in more detail.
"It starts small—from the games and sounds of the sadangpae, to the songs and amusements of the gisaeng, and of course, recording the sounds and games of the common people."
"For what reason?"
"How much do we know about the games and sounds our ancestors enjoyed?"
At Hyang's question, Anpyeong searched his memory for a moment before answering immediately.
"Almost nothing, Your Highness."
"Isn't that so? Then, our distant descendants. Generations hundreds of years from now—will they know what we did for entertainment, what songs we sang?"
At Hyang's question, Anpyeong fell into silent thought.
'I roughly understand the meaning of His Highness's words...'
Having grasped the significance of Hyang's proposal, Anpyeong pondered seriously.
After thinking for a while, Anpyeong looked at Hyang.
"The ministers and scholars will dislike it."
"Why? Do they not diligently record their own poems, writings, and conduct in books? Are they the only people of Joseon?"
"That is not so."
"Scholars are not the only people of our Joseon. Should we not record and preserve the lives of other people as well?"
At Hyang's words, Anpyeong fell into thought again. But unlike before, the negative energy was gradually fading from Anpyeong's face.
After pondering for a long while, Anpyeong finally made his decision.
'That's right! What I see and enjoy alone ends with me alone, but if I leave it as a record, dozens, hundreds, thousands of people will come to know of it! This too is the work of a scholar!'
Having made his decision, Anpyeong looked at Hyang.
"Though my abilities are meager, I shall undertake this task."
"Good!"
Clapping his hands lightly, Hyang immediately moved on to the next matter.
"You'll need experience to record and organize things properly. Park Yeon, a registrar of the Office of Royal Genealogy, has been tasked with organizing the music used in the palace. Learn from him while gaining experience."
"Pardon?"
"He is exceptionally talented in music and arts. It will be of great help when you do your work later. Mutual benefit—isn't that good?"
"Yes, yes. Then I shall work with him."
"I will speak to Father and arrange a position, so wait a little."
"Yes."
Having finished his conversation with Hyang, Anpyeong continued to puzzle over it as he left.
"Why does this feel so unsettling?"
* * *
Meanwhile, Hyang, having given Anpyeong the task, went straight to Sejong.
"...and so, I ask Your Majesty's permission to have Anpyeong learn under Park Yeon."
As soon as Hyang finished speaking, Sejong answered immediately.
"Granted!"
As soon as Sejong's decision was made, Minister of Personnel Heo Jo stepped forward to object.
"Your Majesty! A Grand Prince's rank is senior first rank. Park Yeon's rank is merely senior fifth rank registrar. How can a senior first rank superior work under a senior fifth rank subordinate?"
At Heo Jo's point, Sejong thought for a moment before reaching a conclusion.
"Until Park Yeon's work is finished, Anpyeong shall maintain the junior fifth rank of Jeongnang. The Ministry of Personnel shall announce the personnel appointment accordingly."
At Sejong's command, Heo Jo had no choice but to bow his head.
"I obey the command."
Even in Heo Jo's thinking, Sejong's order was extremely fair.
And so, in the fourth month of the Gyeongsul year, Anpyeong entered under Park Yeon's command and devoted himself to the work of organizing court music.
* * *
It was six years ago that Park Yeon took charge of organizing court music.
In the sixth year of Sejong's reign, Sejong gave a command to his ministers.
"The music used in the palace needs to be organized. Recommend suitable candidates."
At Sejong's command, the ministers recommended Park Yeon. Receiving the ministers' recommendation, Sejong appointed Park Yeon as Akhak-byeoljwa.
"I command you to standardize the musical scales."
"I obey the command!"
Having received Sejong's command, Park Yeon devoted himself enthusiastically to his task.
Park Yeon examined the necessary items for standardizing musical scales and submitted a report to the Ministry of Rites.
The Ministry of Rites, having reviewed Park Yeon's report, immediately submitted it to Sejong.
- The standards of music are indiscriminately scattered throughout the classics and historical records, making them difficult to examine.
- There is no one who possesses texts such as the "Wenxian Tongkao," "Chen's Music Book," "Du's Comprehensive Canon," and "Zhou Rites Music Book," making it very difficult for individuals to research musical scales even if they wish to.
Therefore, the current musical scale system is in danger of being lost.
- To resolve this, assign one literary official to compile music books, investigate the scales and modes of hyang-ak, a-ak, and dang-ak, and compile their instruments and musical notation.
- Print the compiled books and store one set in the palace, and one set each in the Ministry of Rites, the Office of Royal Genealogy, the Music Training Directorate, and the Court Music Office.
"The Ministry of Rites' request is reasonable."
Having read the report submitted by the Ministry of Rites, Sejong immediately accepted their request.
Accordingly, Park Yeon, while serving as Akhak-byeoljwa, received the position of registrar at the Office of Royal Genealogy and worked on organizing court music. The reason it was the Office of Royal Genealogy was because that office was in charge of managing musical instruments.
Thus six years passed, and in February of this year, Park Yeon made another proposal.
In his proposal, Park Yeon argued that the instruments and music used in ceremonies should be corrected according to ancient precedents.
"Registrar Park Yeon's words are correct."
Following Sejong's decision, Park Yeon began to move more actively.
In such circumstances, Anpyeong came to work under Park Yeon.
* * *
"I have come to work together by royal command. I ask for your guidance."
"I have received the royal command. Is it acceptable for you to work under someone of my humble station?"
Park Yeon's demeanor toward Anpyeong was very stiff.
This was because he had done everything himself until now, and suddenly an outsider—and a Grand Prince at that—had come rolling in.
"It does not matter. As of now, I am merely a Jeongnang."
At Anpyeong's answer, Park Yeon responded immediately.
"I understand. Then let us begin work immediately."
'Huh?'
At Park Yeon's instantly changed demeanor, Anpyeong was momentarily dumbfounded.
"What are you doing! Are we to work through the night!"
"Ah... I'm coming—I mean, I'm going!"
At Park Yeon's words, Anpyeong hurriedly followed behind him.
* * *
Even after that, Park Yeon showed Anpyeong no mercy.
Having received the royal command, to Park Yeon, Anpyeong was not a Grand Prince. He was simply a subordinate official who had to faithfully execute his orders.
Having heard about this situation through the eunuchs, Hyang muttered quietly.
"This feels like those dramas I watched in the 21st century? A capable manager who mercilessly works a chaebol family's kid who came in as a parachute. The difference from the dramas is that in dramas, they're successors, but here, he's far from the succession structure. But still, isn't he working him too openly?"
No matter how far from the succession structure, Anpyeong was Sejong's legitimate son.
No matter how fair and impartial Sejong was, if he slipped up even for a moment, Park Yeon would fall from grace.
But Park Yeon displayed his abilities without reservation.
When Park Yeon presented a stone chime he had made, Sejong said this:
"People of the world say Park Yeon knows nothing of worldly affairs and only knows music, but that is not so. Park Yeon is a scholar versed in worldly affairs as well."
Park Yeon was trusted by Sejong to this extent.
In the end, all Hyang could do was call Anpyeong, who was leaving work, and offer comfort.
"I hear things have been very difficult lately. Still, don't give up and keep working hard. That way, you'll be able to do your own work properly later, won't you?"
At Hyang's words, Anpyeong answered with a spirited voice.
"Your Highness need not worry! There has not been a day recently where I haven't learned something!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes! I'm starting to see what I need to do!"
At Anpyeong's spirited appearance, Hyang patted Anpyeong's shoulder with a pleased expression.
To Hyang, Anpyeong was just a true fan who had completely fallen for Seong, but even in the history before Hyang's intervention, Anpyeong had been selected as one of the greatest literary figures of early Joseon.
It was common for envoys from Ming to seek out Anpyeong to request his writing, and he was so famous as a master calligrapher that even the Emperor of Ming admired his work. He was also skilled at the gayageum and other arts, a man rich in artistic temperament.
Such an Anpyeong, being properly trained by Park Yeon, was developing his professional capabilities in earnest.
This became an opportunity to accelerate the court music organization project Park Yeon was pursuing.
* * *
Having seen Anpyeong spiritedly handling his work, Hyang sought out the Crown Princess.
"I'm sorry, but could you look after Anpyeong's wife?"
"You mean the Grand Prince Anpyeong's wife?"
"Yes. It's good that he's set his mind to work hard, but he's working too hard. They've only been married a short while, yet Anpyeong's wife is constantly alone—how can this not be heartbreaking? Family peace brings peace among siblings, so I ask that you take some trouble over this."
At Hyang's words, the Crown Princess nodded readily.
"I shall do so. Grand Prince Jinpyeong's wife also comes frequently, so the two of them should get along well."
"That's right. That works out well. Let's leave it at that."
* * *
At a gathering where Jinpyeong's wife and Anpyeong's wife had also come together, conversation turned to their respective husbands.
After talking about their husbands for a while, the Crown Princess sighed softly and grumbled.
"How can these three brothers be so identical...?"
"Indeed, you're right."
At the Crown Princess's words, not only Hyang's consorts Yang-je and Ya-won, but also Jinpyeong and Anpyeong's wives nodded their heads.
Hyang, of course, and both Jinpyeong and Anpyeong were all living lives of "unity of work and passion."
Jinpyeong's wife, nodding at the Crown Princess's words, let out a long sigh and poured out her grievances.
"At least His Highness the Crown Prince and Grand Prince Anpyeong maintain some degree of moderation, do they not? But look at my husband—it seems the railroad is his proper wife, and I am the concubine."
"Oh my..."
At the grievance mixed with moisture in her voice, the Crown Princess genuinely sympathized.
* * *
Jinpyeong's life, having become "railway-obsessed," was literally "of the railroad, by the railroad, for the railroad."
He spent most of his time participating in railroad-related experiments at the research institute and District 51, and whenever he had a spare moment, he scoured all of Joseon to survey "planned railroad construction sites."
Jinpyeong's horsemanship and martial arts skills were exceptional, but even reaching this level was all because of the "railroad."
In the case of horsemanship, it was to move quickly and comfortably when surveying areas where railroads were to be laid or planned.
Martial arts were the same.
Though he had to learn martial arts according to royal protocols, the purpose of his training was different.
Not only the traditionally learned archery and swordsmanship and unarmed combat, but seeing Jinpyeong even learning musket marksmanship and spear techniques, Hyang asked the reason.
Jinpyeong's answer to Hyang's question was simple.
"When traveling around to lay railroads, might one not encounter wild beasts or bandits? This is to prepare for such times."
"...Is that so. Work hard."
Having offered encouragement and turned away, Hyang muttered with a troubled expression.
"If I think about my child, this is something I should be happy about, right? But why... does it feel like I've ruined a perfectly fine child?"
* * *
Perhaps because they shared similar pain of kindred suffering, the Crown Princess and the consorts, as well as Jinpyeong and Anpyeong's wives quickly bonded.
The women who had become close in this way enjoyed tea together, shot arrows at the archery range, or enjoyed musket shooting.
And the princesses also began to join their ranks.
Having received a report on this, Hyang scratched his head and muttered.
"Is this going to end up forming a Gyeongbokgung mafia or something?"
* * *
Anpyeong carried out his duties spiritedly. Thanks to this, Park Yeon came to trust him and gradually entrusted him with more responsibility.
However, in the process, sounds of discord began to emerge between Anpyeong and Park Yeon.
It was due to the difference in perspective between Park Yeon and Anpyeong regarding a-ak, hyang-ak, and dang-ak.
* * *
Note 1) Reading King Sejong's Annals in One Volume. Park Yeon Chapter. Written by Park Young-gyu. Ungjin Knowledge House.