Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 606

Episode 606: Opening of Heaven – Controversy over the First Law (9)

Many people were busy working for the historic event of Joseon’s transformation into the Korean Federal Empire.

The Chamber of Commerce, which was in charge of clothing worn by kings and members of the royal family, was one of them.

“We have to make everything new!”

The craftsmen all screamed at the order to manufacture the tops.

“Aaaah!”

* * *

There was a reason why the craftsmen were screaming.

We had to immediately create a new robe and crown for King Sejong to wear at the opening ceremony and coronation ceremony.

Until then, as it was a country that quickly followed the Ming, according to etiquette, it had to wear a crown of 9 types and 12 jade – 9 tassels made of 12 red, blue and white beads. However, because he became emperor, he had to create a new crown of 12 types and 12 jade.

The same was true for Gonbok.

Previously, there were 9 jangbok (out of the 12 symbols, minus 3 of the sun, moon, and stars), but this time, we had to make a gongbok with all 12 symbols.

“According to etiquette, the crown prince wears nine robes, so wouldn’t it be okay to recycle them?”

There was also the idea of recycling to reduce work, but this proposal was rejected as soon as it was made.

“no! The hardships that have plagued me so far are the clothes given by the Ming Dynasty! It is an honorable occasion for our Joseon to free itself from the Ming Dynasty and declare its empire. Does it make sense to wear the clothes given by the Ming Dynasty? And the coronation will take place shortly after the coronation ceremony ends. What are you going to do then?”

“....”

“Shut up and make a new one!”

“yes.”

The problem was that for that reason, building a new one was not just a matter of hardship.

Not only the ceremonial clothes worn by the Queen and the Crown Princess, but even the Dansam had to be made all over again.

This was also due to the reason that it was a ‘bestowal gift from the Ming’.

In addition, the ceremonial uniforms that the Manjo Baekgwans had to wear also had to be changed because they contained patterns and decorations in accordance with the regulations of the fast-moving country.

Thanks to this, not only the acupuncturists of the Sangsangwon, but also all the artisans who made clothes in Hanseong and the nearby Kiho region had to be mobilized.

* * *

After receiving the report, I tasted the scent with a face full of regret.

“I thought I wanted to change everything, starting with the design...”

In one way or another, things like robes and crowns were all influenced by China. In the case of Danryeong and Dansam, it was a combination of the clothes of the northern horse people and the clothes of China. Of course, there have been many variations since it was introduced during the Three Kingdoms period, and it can be said to be a common attire in the East Asian region, with officials from the Japanese court and even officials from Daeyue wearing it.

But what I didn’t like was that I didn’t like it.

“If I really think about it, I want to completely change it like a military uniform... Tsk!”

The scent could not hide the disappointment, but it was unavoidable.

Unfortunately, Hyang had no talent related to clothing design.

In the case of military uniforms, it was the result of virtue, and in the case of riding pants, which are now commonly worn by women of yeoman’s houses, it was a result of being caught.

* * *

It was created in response to Queen Soheon’s request to make something to replace the skirt that flutters and exposes her underwear every time she jumps rope.

“It’s also great for horseback riding!”

Queen Soheon, who heard Hyang’s explanation at the time, looked at the riding pants and nodded.

“You sure look better than Malgun.”

At that time, women had pants called malgun (襪裙) that they wore over their skirts when horseback riding.

It was a attire that women of the royal family or noble families had to wear when riding horses, and there was even an anecdote about people being treated as gisaengs if they climbed a horse without wearing it.

As Heo Hu assessed, the situation of the war in Europe and Africa was a patchwork and tangled mess.

On the surface, there were six countries involved in the war.

Portugal France Ottoman

VS.

Spain Holy Roman Empire Mamluk

However, if you look closely, the six countries above were not all. First, the Italian city-states were supplying military funds and mercenaries to one of the two camps in pursuit of their respective interests.

The Byzantine Empire, which had signed an armistice with the Ottomans, was diligently trying to recover its strength, but it was not an easy situation.

The Vatican was also in a difficult situation.

“You join hands with heretics just for worldly gain!”

They tried to coordinate the war under religious justification, but the people involved did not even listen.

There were economic issues, but there were also issues of borders and securing influence on the European continent.

In addition, noise continued to arise even within Christianity, symbolized by the Vatican.

There was still a war of words between the Pope and the Council, and bloody disputes continued between the reformists, conservative fundamentalists, and moderates.

Those who were divided in this way lined up against either the Portuguese camp or the Spanish camp to increase their power.

This was because they were the ones with the most solid financial power, receiving not only funds secured through continued overseas trade but also support from Italian city-states.

Those who visited both camps requested support for them. Instead, in return, free entry and tax cuts were promised only to Portuguese or Spanish merchants.

It wasn’t a bad thing for Portugal or Spain at all, so they provided adequate funds, which made Europe even more chaotic.

Naturally, those who suffered the most in this mess were the most helpless commoners.

The people, who had been harassed by the lords and the church, began to long for the appearance of a powerful person who could stamp them out.

The first country to react to this movement was France.

* * *

The national sentiment of being ‘French’ was established through the 100 Years’ War.

Charles VII’s situation was also appropriate.

After the armistice in 1444, rebuilding the country that had been devastated by war was Charles VII’s greatest task.

However, the nobles who were against him revolted. In the process of suppressing this, Charles VII was keenly aware of the need to suppress the power of the nobility.

In this situation, the people’s desire for a strong leader was Charles VII’s best weapon.

‘Peace to the people!’

‘One France! ‘One monarch!’

Charles VII, who raised the above slogan, began to put pressure on the nobility and the church. The nobles, who had already had to keep an eye on Charles VII due to the previous rebellion, had to give more and more.

It was a prelude to the emergence of an absolute monarchy much earlier than in history before Hyang intervened.

* * *

Thanks to the situation in Europe, which could easily be called a mess, Portugal and the Ottomans mobilized all their might to attack the North African region.

Against this, the Mamluks and Spaniards also mobilized their forces.

Topographical issues also played a role. Both the Ottomans and Portuguese Spain had the problem of maintaining long supply routes.

Thanks to this, the war continued for nearly three years.

But that war was slowly coming to an end. And it was also evidence that the main role on the battlefield was shifting from cold weapons to gunpowder weapons.

Portuguese infantrymen, borrowing the same combination of pikemen and musketeers used in Joseon, began to dominate the battlefield.

In history before the intervention of incense, ‘tercio’, developed and used by Spain, first appeared in Joseon due to the intervention of incense, and paradoxically, flowed to Portugal.

Hyang, who heard the story through a different route than Mansour, thought for a while and came to a conclusion.

“What do you know!”