# Chapter 92: Outsiders (3)
The cell leaders who had met with King Sejong returned and called for their members with solemn expressions.
"What has happened?"
"A royal command has come down. We must succeed faster than the other cells."
At the cell leader's words, the members' eyes all lit up. Regardless of everything else, since they had become the king's secret subordinates, an opportunity to earn merit had arrived.
"What is the command?"
At the members' question, the cell leader made a troubled expression and explained the order.
"It is a command to find young ladies who meet the following criteria."
"Huh?"
"Hmm?"
The expressions of the members who heard the explanation from the cell leader were also filled with consternation.
"So... you're saying we need to find young ladies renowned for their kind hearts among those of outstanding beauty, or young ladies of fine character among those renowned for their outstanding beauty? And they must also be between twelve and fifteen years of age?"
"With such beauty, their figures would surely be slender and graceful..."
At the members' words, the cell leader nodded silently.
"Are they seeking concubines?"
"It's not Gangnyeong Hall but Donggung Hall. The Crown Prince's residence itself made the request directly."
At the cell leader's answer, the members all exclaimed at once.
"Well now! That gentleman knows how to appreciate romance!"
Regardless, since a royal command had come down, suitable candidates' profiles soon began emerging from the members.
"The other criteria... noble families that have fallen on hard times, or families just beginning to build their wealth..."
"The second daughter of Scholar Jo in West Village nearly fits..."
"The eldest daughter of Commander Yi in Seongbuk-dong is also acceptable..."
When suitable young women came up as candidates, others hurriedly spoke up.
"Scholar Jo's second daughter is dangerous! I heard the Jabi have already started working on her!"
"Commander Yi's daughter is the same! Cell Leader!"
At the members' words, the cell leader's face also grew serious.
"By Jabi, you mean the Gojabi?"
"Yes!"
"Stop them immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the cell leader's command, the members quickly brushed themselves off and went outside.
* * *
The 'Jabi' that the members spoke of were rakes who targeted the daughters of noble households, well-to-do merchants, and farmers.
The origin of being called 'Jabi' began with the drummers and hourglass drum players of the sound troupes. For singers to perform well, masters had to keep good rhythm with drums and hourglass drums, and add vocal embellishments to heighten the excitement.
However, when these drummers and hourglass drum players took offense, they would often beat the drums and hourglass drums wildly and ruin the performance, so singers, especially female singers, had to accommodate their moods and do as they pleased.
For this reason, the nickname 'Jabi' came to be attached to those who seduced women and manipulated them at will.
In the 21st century, there is even a theory that this word 'Jabi' evolved into 'Jebi-jok' (swallow tribe) over time. They were the targets that households with some wealth and daughters of marriageable age guarded against most carefully.
The primary targets the Jabi sought were women who came close to the criteria Hyang desired.
Women from families with some degree of wealth and reputation, and known for outstanding beauty, were the prey of the Gojabi.
Among those women, the first targets were those whose marriages were nearly decided, or women whom influential men had marked to take as concubines and then commissioned the Jabi.
Since going as far as sharing a bed would make the matter too large, the Jabi seduced women only to an appropriate line. Once the women fell for them, the Jabi's associates would approach the women's parents and start the conversation.
"There are some unsavory rumors circulating regarding your daughter. I heard there is to be a marriage soon..."
When this happened, the women's parents would either reluctantly part with a large sum of wealth following their words, or send their daughters as yang-cheop (legal concubines of commoner origin) to the influential family's man who had crossed the line with the Jabi.
* * *
"It seems we're not too late yet!"
Upon the members' report, the cell leaders made their decision.
"Stop the Jabi's work! Stop them for certain!"
"For certain? Should we kill them?"
"You fools! Do you want to see chaos at the police station?!"
After organizing his thoughts briefly, the cell leader gave his order.
"Break all the Jabi's legs! Keep them from wandering outside until the Crown Prince's marriage is decided!"
"Yes, sir!"
Following the cell leaders' decision, a massive Jabi hunt by the Geom-gye began.
* * *
"Hah, hah, hah!"
In the eastern district of Hanseong. A man was running while gasping for breath through alleyways tangled like a maze. Whether he had rolled on the ground, his hat was gone somewhere, and his outer robe was covered in dirt.
The man who had just turned a corner of an alleyway sighed.
"Damn it!"
It was a dead end.
The man hurriedly turned his body but couldn't take even a single step before stopping. Three men in black outer robes were blocking the alley entrance.
"Where do you think you're running?"
"Ah! Brothers! Why on earth are you doing this?"
"It's nothing big. We took on a big job, but you lot were getting in the way. So we're just making you stay quiet for a few months."
"Ah, damn! If that's the case, just tell me to stay locked up at home! Why are you trying to cripple people!"
"Do you think you lot would quietly stay at home if told to? And what do you mean cripple? What harsh words. We're not that scary. We're just breaking one leg, that's all. If you lie down quietly for a few months, you'll be fine. What's with the fuss..."
"Damn! Someone help! Someone help!"
At the cry of 'Someone help!', heads poked up above the walls of nearby thatched houses, but at the fierce glares of the Geom-gye members, they quickly disappeared below.
"Now... it'll be over quickly, so stay quiet."
"If you keep this up, we'll break them thoroughly one by one. What will it be?"
"Damn it!"
Eventually, the man who had given up threw himself flat on the ground.
"Ah, screw it! I don't know anymore! Do whatever you want, roast me or boil me!"
"You should have done that from the start. Making things difficult."
One Geom-gye member walked up to the resigned man and held out a wooden stick.
"Bite on this. You might bite your tongue otherwise."
"Damn! Screw! I knew my dream last night was ominous! Ptoo!"
The man spat, put a branch in his mouth, and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Argh!"
A moment later, a scream burst from inside the alley, and two Geom-gye members came out supporting the man in question.
"We'll take you home. And while we're at it, we'll call a doctor too."
"See, if you'd just ended it at home instead of running, we wouldn't both be having such a hard time."
"Mmm..."
"Let's go. There are still more bastards to deal with."
The Geom-gye's 'Jabi hunt' was persistent and tenacious. There were countless numbers who ran here and there only to be caught and have their legs broken, and countless others who had their legs broken by Geom-gye members who suddenly burst in while they were sleeping at home or in pleasure quarters.
Thanks to this, doctors had quite profitable business.
"Ah, screw it! I need to leave Hanseong for a while!"
Eventually, the Jabi who still had intact legs gathered all their wealth and crossed the Han River.
"I'll have to hold out in the south for a while!"
It was the moment the Jabi disappeared from Hanseong and its surrounding areas.
* * *
At the intelligence report that 'Mysterious assaults are occurring in succession within the capital!', both the Left and Right Police Bureaus went on emergency alert.
"Investigate what is happening and report back!"
At the police chief's command, the police officers and inspectors led their subordinates and began inquiries.
The police officers and inspectors who investigated the victims' backgrounds reported to the police chief with puzzled expressions.
"All those who suffered harm are Jabi?"
"That is correct. It seems someone who suffered from the Jabi's schemes has crossed the line with the Geom-gye."
"The victims are criminals, and the perpetrators are also criminals..."
As the Left Police Bureau chief pondered, one police officer suggested.
"Aren't they bastards we couldn't arrest anyway because there were no complaints and no evidence? Wouldn't it be better to just cover it up?"
"Then why does national law exist, and why do police bureaus exist! Think a little!"
"I beg your pardon!"
The police chief who had rebuked the officer who made the problematic statement reached a conclusion.
"I must seek an answer from His Majesty... I should also visit the Right Police Bureau..."
King Sejong, who read the joint petition submitted by the Left and Right police chiefs, immediately summoned the police chiefs.
"I have read the petition you submitted well. However, I have one curiosity. What is this 'Jabi'?"
Because it was a word made in Idu script, King Sejong, who did not know its meaning, asked the police chiefs about the meaning of 'Jabi'.
"Hmm..."
King Sejong, who heard the meaning of Jabi from the police chiefs, stroked his beard and pondered.
'Oh ho? Is this the answer from the Sal-gye bastards regarding my command? Unexpectedly fast. The effect isn't bad either... I shouldn't use them often, but using them occasionally... No. That would undermine the rule of law. The rule of law must absolutely be maintained.'
King Sejong, who had been considering various thoughts, reached a conclusion.
"If you catch the Sal-gye's ruffians in the act of committing crimes, arrest them immediately. Otherwise, continue the investigation until certain evidence is secured. Even if the person harmed is a shameless criminal who defiled the purity of innocent women, there is a reason national law exists. Private sanctions must be prohibited. Do you understand my intent?"
"We receive your royal command!"
The commanders of the Left and Right Police Bureaus who had received King Sejong's answer and left Gijeong Hall looked at each other.
"Do you understand His Majesty's intent?"
"It seems to mean catch them if they're caught in the act, otherwise just let it pass. Isn't that right?"
"I think so too. Honestly speaking... aren't those Jabi bastards with broken legs ones who deserve to die?"
"That's right."
Meanwhile, the cell leaders who heard King Sejong's command through connections planted in the police bureau using bribes gathered their members.
"...It's His Majesty's command, but what do you think this means?"
"Is he telling us to leave the Jabi alone?"
"No, that would cause problems with selecting the Crown Princess."
While various discussions continued, the clever ones spoke up.
"This appears to be His Majesty's advice."
"Advice?"
"He's telling us not to act openly. Honestly speaking, was the last Jabi hunt a bit noisy? Since we turned all of Hanseong upside down, he's telling us to do things quietly."
"Aha! Just as expected, Jang-gu!"
"Tch!"
The member who heard the nickname he hated glared, then explained to the cell leader.
"If we conduct work as noisily as the last Jabi hunt, the police bureau will move. Then both the palace and we will be in an awkward position. So he's saying if we're going to act, handle it quietly. His Majesty has quietly given us both a warning and a method."
"I see."
At Jang-gu's explanation, the cell leader nodded, and the surrounding members grumbled quietly.
"Really... why are all these royal commands so roundabout in their wording..."
"This is why I hate those high-ranking gentlemen. Why do they act so superior..."
"Quiet!"
The cell leader quieted the members and summarized the situation.
"The cleanup of the Jabi is finished, correct?"
"Yes. Among those still remaining in Hanseong, there are none with intact legs."
"We also hear that the cleanup of those in Bukchon and Unjong-ga is finished."
"Good. Then select as many young ladies as possible who meet the criteria His Majesty has set! We must select many to properly choose!"
"Understood!"
As time passed, Hyang, who received a related report through a eunuch, tilted his head.
"'Jabi'? They act like Jebi (swallows) but only their legs were broken? All the intact ones crossed the river and went south?"
One hypothesis rose in Hyang's mind as he tilted his head.
"Surely... is that Jebi from the Heungbu-jeon story this Jebi?"
* * *
While the 'Jabi hunt' was in full swing in Hanseong, a merchant ship arrived at Jemulpo.
At the dock filled with merchant ships traveling between Shandong and Jemulpo, the workers carrying cargo showed curiosity at the unfamiliar-looking ship.
"Where's that ship from?"
"Doesn't look like a Ming ship?"
While the workers showed curiosity, soldiers in charge of inspections approached the ship that had docked, along with a military officer.
"Where are you from and who are you!"
At the military officer's shout, a foreigner wearing official robes came down the gangplank lowered from the ship.
"Thank you for your hard work. I am Said Hamad Mohammed Al-Otaibi, working as a training official at the Research Institute. I have returned after carrying out a mission by His Majesty's command. Here..."
Said rummaged through his sleeve and took out a scroll.
"This is the document with the royal command written on it."
The military officer undid the scroll's knot and, after confirming its contents, looked at Said upon seeing the date written at the end.
"You are returning after nearly two years?"
"That is correct."
"You have worked hard. Disembarkation is permitted. Ah, do not forget that you must go through customs!"
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work."
At Said's gesture, people began coming down the gangplank.
"Wait a moment!"
The military officer, who was examining those disembarking from the ship, raised his hand to stop them and looked for Said.
"Excuse me! What are those prisoners there!"
Where the military officer pointed, two Westerners were standing with shackles on their hands and feet.
Said, looking at those the officer had indicated, answered with an expression saying it was nothing.
"They are slaves. We did that in case they might escape."
"Escape would only get them inside the ship, wouldn't it?"
"But they've now come onto land, haven't they?"
"That's true, but slaves..."
"To be precise, they are glass artisans."