Chapter 205: Dilemma - Odori (2)
Thus, King Sejong's royal decree was issued to the entire Joseon army.
"Military etiquette is the practice of respect toward rank! Therefore, even if one is not a Joseon person, if one fails to perform military etiquette, one must naturally be punished for violating military law!"
Since a solemn royal decree had been issued, the Joseon army strictly performed etiquette toward superiors, whether they were Joseon people or not.
During this process, there were unexpected beneficiaries - the surrendered Japanese (Hangwae).
Since the late Goryeo period, there had been a small number of surrendered Japanese, and most of them served in the military.
The problem was that most of them faced discrimination simply for being Japanese, the same as the Wokou raiders, regardless of their rank.
Even surrendered Japanese who had accumulated military merit and risen to officer ranks faced similar discrimination.
However, with King Sejong's decree, they too came to receive proper officer treatment.
* * *
The situation did not end with their incorporation into the Joseon army.
Like their kin who had gone to Hanyang, they too had to engage in fierce competition.
"Since you've entered the military, you should aim to become a general, right?"
"Yes, that is correct!"
"Then you'll need to work hard. For now, ranks were assigned based on tribe size and origin, but that privilege ends there. After that, it's up to you to bear your share."
At the words of the Joseon Cheonjong (Company Commander) in charge, the Jurchen officers swallowed nervously.
"As for who advances quickly in their careers, those who command well will rise faster than those who simply fight well alone. Keep this in mind."
"Yes, sir!"
When receiving the Jurchens, the Joseon army had imposed two conditions:
- Must be literate in Chinese characters.
- Must be able to speak Korean.
The first condition was necessary because document work was an essential duty for commanders, and the second condition was equally indispensable.
Thanks to this, there were no Jurchens starting from the Thousand Character Classic, but 'military strategy' was not an easy field of study, so they had to rack their brains.
"Studying at this age!"
When the Jurchens gathered among themselves, they lamented to one another, but they too had to study intensely.
Right now, the Joseon officers serving beside them were studying intensely.
And they had to face a reality that stirred their anger.
The reality they faced was that they had to perform strict military etiquette and treat properly those superiors who were 'wet-behind-the-ears youngsters.'
The royal decree that 'military etiquette is respect toward rank, not toward the person' did not apply only to Joseon people.
Jurchens and surrendered Japanese also had to show strict etiquette toward their Joseon superiors.
* * *
In traditional cases, and since most of the Joseon army still had older superiors, there was little psychological discomfort in performing etiquette.
Even among the Jurchens, called 'barbarians,' showing respect to elders was fundamental.
However, through the military reform process, the Joseon army was growing younger.
Therefore, while high-ranking officers were still middle-aged and elderly men with gray beards, mid-level and lower-level officers were becoming increasingly young.
Thus, many Joseon officers desperately studied military strategy and strove to accumulate achievements to avoid seeing 'unsightly situations.'
And this atmosphere spread to the Jurchens and surrendered Japanese as well.
* * *
Hyang's influence was also behind this change in the nature of Joseon's military.
The rule circulating openly among officials that 'behind all change lies the Crown Prince' could not bypass the Joseon army either.
Hyang played a major role in supplying new weapons and establishing tactics for those new weapons to achieve maximum effectiveness.
This was because Hyang was a military enthusiast, but also because he had knowledge and experience gained during his military service in the 21st century - though the knowledge was merely superficial, and the experience was at the enlisted soldier level.
Military knowledge that had developed continuously over the long period of more than 500 years heading toward 600 years was not something whose value could be discussed lightly.
While carrying out reforms at the level of disassembling and reassembling the Joseon army, Hyang and the highest-ranking officials of the Ministry of War and the military command devoted themselves to the problem of 'cultivating commanders to lead the new generation.'
"Even now, the military has many young military officers. And through the Military Academy created by His Majesty's military reform, more and more military officers will enter."
"That would be so."
At Hyang's words, the old generals and old ministers nodded. They too seemed to have expectations for King Sejong's policies.
Confirming the elders' favorable response, Hyang continued speaking.
"However, isn't the most important thing selecting talent from among them? Looking at the history of our Haedong and that China, aren't there more than a few wars where missing talent led to great losses?"
"That's right!"
"Correct!"
At Hyang's words, the elders nodded vigorously.
Having weathered all kinds of battles and hardships, Hyang's words struck them to the bone.
"I too have much interest in the military and military studies, and have read many books. I've obtained and read all the war chronicles I could find. Through such reading and contemplation, I reached the following conclusion. Eunuch."
"Yes, Your Highness."
At Hyang's command, the eunuch hung a chart. Hyang continued speaking while flipping through the chart with a pointer.
"So, I've classified military commander types as follows."
What Hyang had written was the famous 'Four Types of Officers.'
On the chart paper, four types were written:
-Clever and Diligent (聰勤), Clever but Lazy (聰怠), Foolish but Diligent (愚勤), Foolish and Lazy (愚怠).
Hyang continued his explanation.
"Clever and Diligent refers to those who are intelligent and hardworking. Being intelligent, they know military strategy well, and being hardworking, they do their work well. However, such people have set frameworks, and when situations arise that deviate from those frameworks, they cannot easily find solutions. Also, being intelligent and capable, if they harbor wicked intentions, they will cause great harm. Therefore, they should be assigned to staff or administrative positions, and there must be firm application of rewards and punishments."
"Indeed...."
At Hyang's explanation, the elders nodded.
"Next, Clever but Lazy refers to those who are intelligent but lazy. Their characteristic is...."
Hearing the explanation of 'intelligent but lazy,' the elders looked at Hyang with curious eyes.
'Isn't he talking about himself?'
Based on what they had seen and heard, Hyang was the quintessential example of 'intelligent but lazy.'
Looking at the development of new weapons and various devices, no one could match his brilliance. But when it came to passing off work to others, Hyang was also unrivaled.
'This sounds like self-praise.'
'But based on my experience, the clever but lazy type is indeed suited for supreme command.'
Such were the thoughts of the elders as they listened to Hyang's explanation.
"...That is all."
As soon as Hyang's explanation ended, all the elders nodded.
"Truly a lucid classification. Indeed, when observing military commanders, they do fall into such categories."
"I'm reminded of a former superior of mine. He was the very exemplar of the foolish but diligent type. I don't know how many times I nearly died in crises because of him...."
The elders, who had been through every kind of battle and hardship, strongly empathized with Hyang's classification. Once the elders empathized, Hyang moved forward.
"Therefore, I believe commander evaluations should proceed based on these four criteria. Of course, evaluation alone won't suffice. Tactics must also align with this."
Hyang began explaining the 'Mission-Type Command System' to the elders.
* * *
The military elders who strongly empathized with Hyang's proposal immediately began applying it to the military.
Accordingly, not only officers but also soldiers began moving busily.
In particular, the Jinmu (Military Prefects) who had been assigned ranks from unranked to Junior 9th Rank, and soldiers scheduled for promotion to Jinmu, had to suffer to pass the new standards.
* * *
The 'Four Types of Officers' Hyang spoke of clearly demonstrated what 'one wave creating ten thousand waves' meant.
Upon receiving the report, King Sejong posed a question at a gathering of ministers.
"Have you all heard about the 'Four Criteria' the Crown Prince spoke of?"
"Yes."
"That the Crown Prince shows such insight at his young age is indeed Joseon's great fortune."
As the ministers vied to praise Hyang's insight, King Sejong wore a pleased smile.
No parent dislikes hearing their child praised.
Soon composing his expression, King Sejong brought up the main topic.
"In my view, the 'Four Criteria' the Crown Prince divided should not end with application only to military officers. Is fierce struggle for survival and victory limited only to war? Daily life is just as fierce as war, so how about applying these criteria to evaluate the promotion and demotion of officials in all government departments?"
"...."
At King Sejong's words, the ministers fell silent and began pondering.
'There is no error in His Majesty's words.'
'But... why do I have a foreboding that things will become more difficult? Why?'
'It's certain that personnel evaluations will become more arduous!'
As if knowing the ministers' thoughts, King Sejong continued.
"Of course, work related to personnel matters will become somewhat more difficult, but there is a saying that 'personnel is everything,' and if we consider Joseon's future, I believe we must apply this."
Recognizing that King Sejong had already made his decision, the ministers had no choice but to raise white flags.
"Please proceed as you wish!"
Thus, the criteria for evaluating government officials changed.
The reactions of officials who heard the news were largely divided into two.
One group was those who would work even harder, and the other was those who would simply work diligently at their assigned tasks.
"I know my own capacity well. I don't have the vessel to dream of becoming a Chief State Councillor or Minister, so I'll advance moderately and later receive my pension, I suppose."
At the officials' reactions, the ministers clicked their tongues.
"It actually becomes easier to distinguish them. Is this also a good thing?"
* * *
Because of this situation, in the northern border regions and in the Six Ministries' offices in Hanyang, the Jurchens had to suffer to the point of bitterness.
"You live an ordinary life!"
"Don't even dream of eating the king's rice!"
The heads of households who had suffered and returned spoke thus to their children, but whenever they said such things, their wives' eyes blazed with anger.
"Say something that makes sense!"
"Are you telling him to just farm the land?!"
No matter what anyone said, in Joseon's situation at that time, the fastest path for social advancement was becoming a government official who ate the king's rice.
Therefore, in the households of surrendered Jurchens, they began pressuring their children to study.
This was the same in neighboring Joseon villages.
* * *
As an epilogue, after private academies were established and Jurchen and Joseon children began learning there, competition became even fiercer.
In particular, because graduation certificates from higher educational institutions were required to enter government service or become regular employees of large merchant groups, fierce competition for entrance examinations arose.
Joseon and Jurchen mothers began fluttering their skirts and running about for their children's education.
Thanks to this, Joseon's renowned educational institutions came to be located either in Hanyang or the northeastern region.
The period that was a nightmare for Joseon and Jurchen children had begun a full 500 years early.
* * *
Leaving the epilogue aside, as Joseon accelerated the absorption of surrendered Jurchens in this way, there were those who found themselves in difficult circumstances.
Those who had become thus troubled were those symbolized by Odori, who had chosen Ming over Joseon.