Chapter 783

Episode 783: Internal sorrow (1)

Hwang Bo-in immediately conveyed Wan’s orders to the crown prince and Jeong In-ji.

“His Majesty’s command is a solemn one, so it must be followed.”

The Crown Prince and Jeong In-ji, who received the order, nodded with calm faces. Hwang Bo-in was slightly embarrassed by the two people’s calm reaction and asked a question.

“Your Majesty the Crown Prince, you have been complaining every day that there are not enough people. Is that okay?”

In response to Hwang Bo-in’s question, Crown Prince Hyeon nodded with a calm face.

“It’s okay. No, it’s actually good. It’s okay if you’re lazy, but there were a lot of people who influenced the people around them, and it’s time to sort them out.”

After Crown Prince Hyeon finished speaking, Jeong In-ji continued.

“Sunji Lee, the head of the Department of Industry and Academic Affairs, says, ‘These are people who only make shit and shit,’ so it is better to get rid of them because it will save the budget.”

Hwang Bo-in felt a little worried at Jeong In-ji’s words.

“If you are Sunji Lee, aren’t your standards too strict?”

* * *

Along with Hyang Jang Yeong-sil, it was Lee Sun-ji, who was called the Unfathomable. He was famous for his outstanding abilities in industry and academia, to the point where he was called inscrutable, but he was also famous for being someone who rose to prominence solely through his own skills without any background.

The person who first joined the research institute where Hyang was created as the person in charge of industry and academia was Sunji Lee. Afterwards, he continued to be promoted beyond his seniors and classmates due to his outstanding industrial and academic skills. In the end, as the reorganization was expanded, he took on the role of head of the newly established Department of Industry and Education, and it was natural that he would succeed Inji Jeong in the future.

The reason that the theory of Lee Sun-ji’s succession was taken for granted was not only because of Lee Sun-ji’s qualifications, but also because of the power of the department called the ‘School of Industry and Education’.

* * *

As the size of the research institute grew, the ‘Industry-Academic Department’, which was in charge of industrial expansion, was created as a formal department. The duties of the Department of Industry and Academia were education of graduate students at industry academies and research assistance for scholars researching physics and mechanics.

It was the job of the industry-academic department to help physicists and epidemiologists express their concepts in formulas.

Thanks to this, the people who had deep knowledge of the entire research field at the research institute were academics affiliated with the industry and academia.

As a result, it was a great honor for scholars who studied abroad and those who completed the industry-academia course to enter the institute’s industry-academia department.

The problem was Lee Soon-ji, a ‘monster’ who existed in the ‘glorious industry-academia department.’

* * *

Lee Soon-ji was worthy of the nickname ‘impossible’. No matter how difficult the concept or theory was, Sunji Lee was able to create a formula within a few days.

Thanks to this, researchers at the institute were able to say this publicly.

“If I tell a concept, no one can understand it, but they can understand Lee Soon-ji’s formula. Only those who have the ability.”

The problem was that Lee Sun-ji’s harsh words were as famous as his abilities.

If I was even the slightest bit unfaithful or couldn’t properly formulate or prove the formula, I had to shed tears while listening to his harsh words.

‘An artist of formulas and a murderer of vitriol.’

Professors and students from Europe gave him this nickname.

However, there were few people who hated Lee Sun-ji. There were very few people he hated. The only cases where he threw harsh words were when he failed to properly carry out his duties. On the other hand, if a job was done properly or a good result was achieved, he would clearly record it and report it to the top.

Thanks to this, this kind of talk has been circulating among academics and professors belonging to industry and academia for some time.

“I’m not saying his harsh words are wrong, so if you can’t avoid them, enjoy them.”

After hearing this later, Sunji Lee looked like she didn’t understand.

“If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it? Why do you enjoy being criticized? If you enjoy it, you’re crazy, right?”

* * *

In order to suppress the samurai who were hired by the Zonchi faction and committed terrorism, the shogunate established the Baldo Corps.

Yoshinori, who needed a visible achievement to quell the increasingly severe internal chaos, mobilized diplomatic means.

* * *

“Why, please call me Japan?”

Yoshinori’s son Masahiro, who came as an envoy, bowed his head and answered Wan’s question.

“That’s right. Our country has been using the name Japan since the Silla era. Not only that, but it is also clearly stated as the country of Japan in the national records of the upper empires and Ming countries.”

“That is correct.”

Wan nodded at Masahiro’s words. In the state letters sent by the Joseon Dynasty and later empires to the Japanese Empire, the shogunate’s shogun was written as ‘King of Japan’.

This was also the case for Myeong. The official letter sent from the Ming to the Japanese was written as ‘Country of Japan’.

In response to Wan’s affirmation, Masihiro bowed his head again and continued.

“However, the scholars and commoners of the upper kingdom call our country the country of Wa (倭國) and our people the Wa people. This word Wa comes from the word Wa (矮), which means small.”

“Hmm... That’s right.”

Masahiro bowed down and raised his voice as if he was vomiting blood.

“I earnestly inform your Majesty! Decades have passed since our country looked up to the empire as its superior country! Our literary men admire the imperial way and do not hesitate to follow it, and our warriors imitate the imperial army and refine their bodies and minds. We are devoting ourselves to national defense. The people also adore the empire! In such a situation, the literary people and people of Shang Dynasty belittle our country and its people. How can this be right? Please call us Wae. Please prohibit the use of and command us to call it Japan! This will become the cornerstone of the good relations between our two countries for generations to come.”

“Hmm...”

Masahiro finished speaking, but Wan did not open his mouth easily. Wan stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“I will give you an answer after discussing it with the ministers. The envoy should wait at the envoy hall.”

Masahiro politely bowed to Wan’s command and left Daejeon.

After sending Masahiro out, Wan asked the ministers.

“It seems like what the messenger from Waeguk said is definitely wrong. What do you think?”

Hwang Bo-in answered Wan’s question first.

“It is certainly true that the country of Japan has been written in national records since ancient times. Also, it is not proper to belittle a country and its people that are maintaining good neighborly relations. The question is why.”

After Hwang Bo-in finished speaking, Kim Jong-seo spoke.

“The reason we call it Wa is not just because the people are small in size. It is because the judgment and actions of the Wa people are small-minded. They follow their will rather than the cause, and they often betray trust in the pursuit of immediate profit. This is how trust is lost. “I call them ‘why’ because they are small people who cannot do anything. To be honest, it is difficult to trust their convictions when they talk about good neighborliness that will be passed on for generations.”

In response to Kim Jong-seo’s words, Wand also spoke honestly about his true feelings.

“Is it only the Dae-jang who does not believe in the good neighborliness and faithfulness that the Japanese speak of? What Tae Sang-tae and Sang-taek continued to say was the same. ‘Yesterday and today are different, and it is the Japanese who overturn their decisions more easily than flipping their palms. They can never be trusted. ‘I can’t do it.’”

“I’ll fight back.”

“I’ll buy it back.”

The ministers all shook their heads at Wan’s words. Hwang Bo-in spoke on behalf of those ministers.

“What the messenger said is certainly true. But what he said about ‘good neighbors for generations’ cannot be trusted. It is in their interest for the Ouchi, who currently rule the Japanese country, to be kind to us and continue good neighbors. We “If they think that harming them will bring greater benefit, they will not hesitate to betray their trust. The problem is that if we reject Ouchi’s request, we can give them a good cause.”

“That’s the problem.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Ha came forward after Wan’s words.

“As the Prime Minister said, there is no need for us to instill ill feelings towards them first. Also, since Ouchi, who currently rules over Japan, is providing help to our empire, it would be good for us to respond accordingly. To be honest, they are suddenly making such a request. “Is it really for that reason? Isn’t it to gain momentum in the current chaotic situation?”

“That’s right.”

In the end, Wan concluded to accept Ouchi’s request.