Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: 19. A Certain Gangnam Cram School District (2)
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It's hard for me to sneak out of the capital on my own.
That's just how it is for officials. You never know when assembly will be called.
So Lee Jaemun handled the transaction for me with an old real estate broker. Jangbok can play butler at home, but outside, he's too young and a lowborn, so that's tricky.
I turned my attention to something a bit more important.
How could I open an academy with a foggy mind?
So, I properly purified myself with baths and abstained from alcohol for a few days.
In other words, I prepared to use my skills. When the time came and the bean sprouts had all grown, I donned my clean official robes and fluttered my overcoat.
Sehwa asked me,
"It's a day off from the office. Where are you going?"
I replied,
"I'm off to spread the way of the sages."
[Special Skill: Purity of the New Host]
[Activated]
I've said it a few times before, but as the saying goes, the superior man wins before the battle even starts.
Tutoring is the same.
It's easiest to teach only those kids who show promise of doing well from the get-go.
The greatest civil service exam tutor in history, Master Kong, would cut ties with anyone who couldn't master calculus after learning trigonometry from him. "If you can't infer the other three corners from one, then there's no point teaching you further" (Analects).
So I do the same.
We're scholars who emulate the Master, after all.
I went to Park Jiwon myself for the first time in a while.
And confirmed he had talent worth cultivating.
Almost on par with Sehwa. Impressive, considering he's still a minor. As expected of the prodigy.
In my opinion, the reason Park Jiwon failed the exams before was simple laziness.
I'll fix that slacker attitude for him.
Park Pilgyun, who was idling while holding onto his concurrent post as Commissioner of the Office of Diplomatic Correspondence during his waiting period, was thrilled by my sweet talk about his grandson being a once-in-a-century genius.
"We should be the ones begging you, and here you are, the most promising young talent around, coming to us first. What could be better?"
He immediately entrusted his grandson to me. That's the Noron network of trust for you.
Park Jiwon's opinion? Even I can't decide everything for myself while my father's alive. As for that kid who isn't even an adult? Please.
Park Pilgyun, knowing his place, wanted to treat me to drinks as his grandson's future teacher, but a sudden summons from King Yeongjo came at night, so he rushed to the palace. Perfect.
Left alone without his grandfather (his father is alive but holds no office, so he's irrelevant to me), Park Jiwon realized his predicament.
He expressed his reluctance to study in a lofty way befitting a future great scholar.
"How could a scholar be so attached to worldly glory and riches, striving only for office? From ancient times, the exams have been but one path, and a scholar's duty to spread the Way lies not merely in fame..."
"Eoji, pick him up."
"Gah! The world's upside down!"
And among the sons of prestigious families, I excluded anyone whose skills didn't measure up to at least Hong Daeyong or Park Jiwon levels.
Like the Master said, you can't fix a rotten fence, and a Bronze III player can't become Diamond no matter how many placements.
So I gathered the ones I knew from Korea—famous historical figures or kids from good families likely to succeed.
Every family approved as readily as Park Pilgyun's. If any refused, their father got a talking-to. And of course, they paid generous tuition to save face.
That made our first batch of students about seven or eight.
Why so few? Most of the kids I scouted had lower spirit pressure than those two exam failures, Park Jiwon and Hong Daeyong.
That surprised even me.
These two were wasting that kind of talent?
But now that a modern history buff has arrived, it's time to let it bloom.
Practical Learning has no place in my Joseon.
From now on, if I find any Practical Scholars, I'll steer them away from weird ideas and onto the righteous path with me.
The academy I set up is administratively in Gwangju County, Gyeonggi Province.
In 21st-century terms, that's part of the "Gangnam Three Districts." Gwangju's name really means vast territory.
Even though it's Gangnam, I won't see sweet real estate speculation in my lifetime.
No Hangang bridges. Even the king has to gather boats from all directions to make a pontoon to cross.
Of course, they can't afford that luxury all the time, so every crossing turns into a plundering march.
Luckily, this "Gangnam" has nothing much now, so the king usually crosses from Mapo toward Yangcheon. He doesn't come here often.
We crossed the Hangang on an old ferry we got. From the dog-meat faction at Songpa Ferry.
Normally you'd pay the ferryman, but I decided otherwise. There are things I don't want seen.
Eoji nearly snapped the oars, which worried some young scholar into asking,
"Why come all the way across the Hangang? If you wanted somewhere quiet, places like Bukhansan or Inwangsan..."
I shot a glare at that scholar—Shim Hwanji.
I brought him because he's a future close friend of King Jeongjo (I don't know his achievements exactly; just that he'll be tight with the king). But he's too chatty.
"Follow quietly. Mingling with the crowd gets you only the crowd's rewards."
No one dared object.
I'm a Zhuangyuan graduate and nearly the youngest Third Rank official. Like a god of studies.
The Hangang is big, but not some scam "river" like the Yangtze or Yellow River that's basically the sea.
Even with Eoji and Jangbok's novice rowing, the boat didn't capsize and chugged along. Being January, ice lingered on the banks, so no need for long rowing.
We soon reached a riverside spot with a small hall.
The old-timers were right about white sandbars on the Hangang back in the day.
I'd learned that. The yard sparkled gold like sand. "Mommy sister let's live by the river." A prophetic song foreseeing Gangnam's boom. That sand was placer gold.
Meanwhile, the Joseon locals who saw this as a backwater were shocked by our Great Success Academy.
A lone academy in a deserted riverside spot, fenced with thorny trifoliate orange like a criminal's exile home.
And before their surprise faded, I delivered another shock.
I unhesitatingly set fire to the boat.
That Xiang Yu burning his boats resolve shook everyone. Only Hong Daeyong and Park Jiwon, who know me well, stared blankly at the sky.
Yu Eonho, a scholar I'd brought for his decent combat skills (his dad's a county magistrate), hurriedly said,
"I-I think I need to head back now."
Haha. Sure. Burning the boat doesn't stop you from leaving. Plenty of ferrymen to take you north.
But you have no money.
That's why you couldn't bring servants to chase you down. No self-respecting scholar would carry vulgar coins in their sleeve, right? Park Jiwon looks suspicious; I'll check him later.
Out here, I've basically taken their wallets and phones.
Try that on modern folks—payments and ID checks blocked. Even a dimwit couldn't find a bed that night.
Of course, Joseon's bonds are warmer than Korea's.
So begging or mugging easy marks are options, but none here have that cunning.
That "isolation" was a big reason for choosing Gangnam.
Yeouido or Bamseom would be better, but those are crown land or populated and pricey. Good for farming, apparently.
They stood stiff on the sandbar, realizing my intent like the geniuses they are.
I paced before them and began my speech.
"You are all promising sons of noble houses, each capable of ascending to greatness in my eyes. Yet here you are, frittering away your days as 'romantic scholars,' squandering family wealth until you're thirty—standing on your own—and worse than lowly serfs tilling fields."
My tirade against these unfilial backbone-breakers crumpled their faces.
But I didn't care.
Have you endured years of civil service exam ronin life like me? Felt that misery to the bone?
If it stings, pass the exams like I did. I'm an official, higher than you. I can talk down.
"Study here at Great Success Academy, and you'll surely rank in the exams. It's nothing special—plenty of scholars study quietly in temples.
But those who go to temples end up sightseeing or fooling around with pious ladies, coming back empty-handed. I've already promised your fathers and elders, so I won't tolerate it."
Then I spotted a eureka look on Hong Daeyong's face.
Brother-in-law. I know what you're thinking.
Figured a way back by boat?
I quashed it immediately.
"If you still want to leave, go now. Hand that bitter hat and robe to a lowly ferryman, and he'll ferry you north pronto. However!"
I glared at them with eyes pure scholar essence. Especially Hong Daeyong.
"Who will call you scholars after you pawn your robes to a commoner out of study aversion? You'll never speak of the resolve that kept your crown straight even in death!"
Hong Daeyong's face twisted in shock.
But true to form as a Practical Scholar, he countered another way.
"Why drag us to a place like this? My uncle (my father-in-law Hong Eok) studies fine in Seoul!"
Tsk tsk. No helping it.
Time for some ultra-practical Neo-Confucianism over "Practical Learning."
I turned aside.
There stood Go Bonghwan, my scout invitee.
For our respective dignities, we treated each other politely.
"Professor, you've had it rough. Seeing your nephew equate himself with you, we must start with elder-junior propriety."
"Lesser Learning is meant to be read till memorized anyway. No issue. These are bright talents; they'll pick it up fast."
I introduced Go Bonghwan.
"Without him, I wouldn't have topped the exams. You may not know his name due to his hidden sage aura, but he's my teacher, so study diligently under him. I'll visit every tenth day off to check progress and scold slackers."
Then I handed out copies of Standard Strategy for Mathematics.
They took them quietly. Honestly, half came for this.
Meals, necessities, urgent messages via Lee Jaemun's merchant group at Songpa Ferry. Already paid from tuition.
Now a small study group under ten, but maybe Gangnam's cram district in the future.
Then I can charge way more tuition.
Plus, these scholars will learn Kim Unhaeng's exam secrets, adopt my mindset, and become my allies.
Not original. That's how factions grow in Joseon. Mindset here is called "school of thought."
What if they take the secrets and bail?
Possible.
But suspects will get caught cheating on exam day and face harsh punishment. I'm a Third Rank official; I can pass "notes" to the Ministry of Rites.
Office work's like that. Everyone knows it happens, but once reported, can't ignore. Like punishing a few internet trolls or threats as examples.
Finally, facing the river wind, I gazed solemnly at the sky.
"I tell you truly: In 300 years, tens of thousands of students will gather here to hone their scholarship. I sense the spirit of diligence already."
Silence. Park Jiwon outright ignored me. Hey, it's real. I saw it.
"Now, we'll build leg strength—the most vital exam quality! Run like it's the military exam! Sweat it out, then enter the hall!"
The scholars trembled like running would kill them. But under my prodding, they ran—something they'd never done.
Thus, Great Success Academy of Gangnam began its glorious leap with the scholars' first footprints on the sandbar.
With a Songpa inn and Gangnam academy, I've secured some Seoul income sources.
Salary? Told you, none. That's how Joseon officials roll.
No problem. Except one worry.
I have no clue what this active skill "Affinity of King Seongjong's Blood" does.
Didn't work on Kim Seonhaeng or anyone else I tested.
Affinity with who, exactly?
I wondered if it's Seongjong's skill, so only royalty? Tried collateral royals (basically commoners), no dice. No chance to test on Yeongjo.
I learned its true nature around when Sado Seja started wriggling again after lying low.
Later, when compiling the annals after Yeongjo's death, this month—Yeongjo 27th year, January—the Crown Prince, as regent, received envoys from mourning vassals.
Big event. Probably pissed him off.
Meanwhile, the king, to solidify legitimacy, started groundwork honoring Dowager Queen Kim, Sukjong's consort.
Honestly, she's barely older than his sister, but the filial piety cosplay is intense. Shows how big a deal filiality is in Joseon.
Normally, vassals gather and petition first.
But with the king in hysterics since last winter, silence reigned. Refusing audiences gave perfect excuse.
Most kings would drop it, but Yeongjo pushed. Got the Dowager's (reluctant) okay too.
Seizing the moment, Sado prepared his pitch.
And laid it out before me.
"The Book of Songs says, 'Four fine steeds prance, dangling reins sway' [Four steeds trot trot, reins hang loose]. And in another Qi wind song, 'Shoots all day without missing—truly our lord's nephew' [All day shooting, never misses; show my nephew]. Princes must practice mounted archery. How not hold it once?"
His sincerity is touching. Studied hard.
That Qi wind has a "miracle morning" poem nagging dawn audiences. I won't mention skipping them for eunuchs.
Do what you want.
But don't ask me.
Stop plugging me into the Behind plot's wave function that only spells doom.
No matter what I say or think, the Crown Prince resolves to inspect the Eastern Palace guards' discipline. Just sigh.
Sado didn't just compile erotic novel reviews.
Despite son Jeongjo's hype, there's a lesser-known martial arts manual.
New Edition of Military Arts. Less important than reviews, lost by 21st century.
Sado favored testosterone-fueled stuff like fighting or porn.
But I'm a civilized man, unlike you.
Why raid women and crack rival chiefs' skulls in 18th century BCE? This is Crown Prince in CE 18th.
I pondered how to fake injury dramatically.
Polo, long out of fashion? Aftermath's not the issue now.
I can't ride well. Literary exam passer.
From Chungcheong, I can mount and walk, but polo? No way.
Yet he thinks I'm a martial master.
Admit it now? Won't believe. Hesitate, and he'll see defiance.
Should've gacha'd "Ancestor Speed" from Behind chest. Nah, it'd be top-tier anyway.
Plus, he "favors" me with a rare thoroughbred.
You madman. What if I break its leg?
Trembling, I met the horse's eyes.
High shoulders, sharp ears—pricey.
Horses are smart. It knew instantly I'm unreliable.
It snorted and turned away. Doesn't accept me as rider.
Get closer, it'll kick.
With people, easy to befriend. But beasts don't care about money...
Wait.
Befriend?
Then, a revelation flashed in my mind.
[Active Skill: Affinity of King Seongjong's Blood]
[Activated]
The man who loved pure, loyal animals over treacherous humans.
Borrowing animal friends' power to finish Sejong's conquests, thwarted by foolish vassals, returned to Mother Earth's embrace.
Joseon's Druid King, Seongjong Ihyeol's specialty activated.