Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 392

The state examination that began in this manner proceeded smoothly.

The supervisors who opened the sealed envelopes and took out the test papers and answer sheets began distributing them.

During this process, an unusual sight appeared: the supervisors distributed the test papers and answer sheets along horizontal rows.

This too was one of Hyang’s clever tricks.

***

“To prevent any potential cheating…”

Following Hyang’s suggestion, the test papers were divided into two types: A and B. And here, Hyang’s cunning plan was in full effect.

There were two types, A and B, but they all had the same questions and the same correct answers. However, the order of the questions was different, and the positions of the correct answers were the same.

For example, question 1 on type A test paper was question 4 on type B test paper, and if the correct answer for question 1 on type A was 2, the correct answer for question 4 on type B would be 4.

Additionally, in the layout of the examination hall, while the front-to-back spacing was narrow, the left-to-right spacing was maximized.

***

The first test that started in this way ended after about 2 shichen (approximately 4 hours).

Ding~.

“Everyone stop! Submit your answer sheets!”

“Wait! Just a moment! Please give us a little more time!”

Some applicants pleaded for a bit more time, but the supervisors showed no mercy and collected the answer sheets.

“This can’t be!”

“People should be more flexible!”

Those who had to submit their answer sheets despite their pleas gathered in one place to vent their frustration.

“This won’t do! Let’s complain to the governor!”

“That’s right!”

The applicants who had agreed on this immediately rushed to the governor and raised their voices.

Faced with the applicants’ protests, the governor asked with an indifferent face:

“So what do you want me to do?”

“If we had been given a little more time, we could have easily written all the answers, but we couldn’t. Please allow us to take the test again! With ample time, of course!”

“Huh…”

The governor, who sighed briefly as if dumbfounded by the applicants’ protest, answered firmly:

“That’s not possible.”

“Your Excellency!”

“The state examination is also official business! How can we use as officials those who can’t properly complete their assigned tasks in the given time! There are no positions available for incompetent individuals who need two days to do what other officials can do in one day!”

“Your Excellency!”

“For people like you, it might just be a delay of one more day, but for someone else, it could be a day that determines life or death in official duties! Get out immediately!”

At the governor’s stern reprimand, the applicants had to retreat with dismayed faces.

While the confrontation between the applicants and the governor was taking place outside, the supervisors inside were checking the answers on the collected answer sheets.

The process of checking the answers was also quite unique, and this too was one of Hyang’s tricks.

***

“Even if it’s objective, or rather, a multiple-choice format, comparing and checking one by one would take time and increase errors…”

While searching for a usable method, Hyang rummaged through his memories of living as Jinho in the 21st century.

It’s not only in the military that all sorts of people gather; homes with many siblings are the same. During holidays, such houses would be bustling with siblings and their families, overflowing with stories of experiences from various fields.

This was also true for Hyang’s, or rather Jinho’s, family. Among the relatives he met this way, there was a retired teacher whose reminiscences were quite interesting.

“Nowadays, even regular schools use OMR as standard, but until before the ’88 Olympics, unless it was a nationwide mock exam, all answers were checked manually. At that time, what we did was…”

Recalling the method that relative had shared, Hyang immediately applied it.

First, he glued together several layers of paper that were meant to be discarded. Then, he attached an answer sheet to match the specifications, and punched holes in the number boxes corresponding to the correct answers.

By overlapping this paper template with the answer sheets submitted by the applicants, the correctness could be immediately checked.

***

Thanks to this method, most of the results of the first test could be known by the next morning.

The applicants who had taken the test the day before nervously paced in front of the government office’s bulletin board.

As noon approached, an official came out and began to post papers on the bulletin board.

“Here’s the list of successful candidates!”

Those who had taken the exam clung to the bulletin board, comparing their application numbers with the numbers posted.

It was a moment of joy and sorrow.

Those who passed the first test then met with the supervisors again to receive their exam numbers for the second test. Of course, they had to pay another 80 won stamp fee as well.

“The second test is in five days, so don’t be late!”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind!”

****

Five days later, the second test was conducted.

Generally, about 70% of the total applicants passed the first test. And in the second test, about half of them were eliminated.

As a result, those who passed both the first and second tests accounted for about 35% to 40% of the total examinees.

“Well, it seems like the number of successful candidates will increase a bit more this year…”

“Because the results of the first test were quite good?”

Even while having such conversations, the supervisors remained tense throughout.

The second test was an essay. It was a test where the subjectivity of the applicants and supervisors clashed, and it was the test where the most disputes arose.

Therefore, when the second test began, additional officials of at least junior 4th rank or higher were dispatched from the court in Hanseong, and the pass or fail was determined through a three-person consensus system.

***

After such a tumultuous examination ended, all the successful candidates who safely passed gathered in Hanseong.

Meanwhile, a new government building had been constructed in Hanseong, which was a training institute.

It was a building created because it was seen as inappropriate to use the palace for the residential examination process – a process of evaluating personality and ability by having teacher candidates live together – which was part of the teacher recruitment examination. However, after its completion, it became one of the buildings that proved useful in various ways.

***

The successful candidates who gathered at the training institute in Hanseong were provided with official uniforms and hats – in the case of female successful candidates, they were given garima (Note 1) made of blue cloth with gold lines. The successful candidates, now dressed as officials, had to pass the ‘devil’s 3rd examination’.

The training process involved living together while receiving practical education and handling basic practical work at government offices.

And throughout this entire process, supervisors and senior officials were watching with eagle eyes.

Having passed the exam, a government position was guaranteed. However, this training process determined whether one would continue to rise through the ranks or retire at the 8th or 7th junior rank.

That’s why it was called the ‘devil’s 3rd examination’.

***

After about a month had passed, the career paths of the applicants began to be determined.

Those who had excellent scores in the first and second examinations and received good scores in practical skills – especially in mathematics – were mostly dragged into the General Affairs Department and the Finance Department.

And those who were chosen in this way became objects of envy.

No matter what anyone said, the most powerful departments in the current court were General Affairs and Finance. Of course, the officials already working in those departments would curse whenever they heard such talk.

“Shit! We’re just good-looking crab apples!”

“The only good thing about coming here? We can eat as much health tonic as we want!”

As an aside, starting from the period of major reforms, Joseon’s medicinal herb industry developed remarkably, and later became the foundation of the bio-medical industry.

***

The remaining individuals were assigned to departments based on their aptitudes and practical skills that had been assessed during this time.

After the departments were decided, the next step was to determine the place of appointment.

“Those who wish to volunteer for the regions of Hamgil-do, Daeseol-do, and Unwol Peninsula, step forward.”

At the words of the General Affairs Department director who was conducting the appointment process, the successful candidates furtively glanced at each other. Seeing this, the director continued:

“As you already know, those who volunteer for these regions will receive additional points.”

However, not many stepped forward easily.

The additional points were tempting. But unlike Hamgil-do, which had become somewhat stable, Daeseol-do and the Unwol Peninsula were still risky ventures.

Moreover, if one stepped forward immediately, they might be talked about as ‘someone blinded by additional points’.

“No one? Then, I’ll have to assign randomly…”

“This girl will go!”

Just as the director was about to move on, a female successful candidate suddenly stood up. Following her, several men and women stood up and came forward.

The director gestured as he moved:

“Follow me.”

***

After moving to the adjacent office, the director looked at the volunteers, especially the women, and asked:

“Hamgil-do is one thing, but Daeseol-do and the Unwol Peninsula are harsh places. It might be difficult for women, so how about withdrawing now?”

“I entered government service with the sole intention of dedicating myself to the country. How could physical hardships be a problem?”

“That’s right!”

Hearing the female successful candidates’ responses, the director explained the situation to the woman who had stepped forward first and spoken first:

“To be honest, we can solve the problems of food, clothing, and shelter, but we don’t have the resources yet to make special preparations for your safety.”

To the director’s words expressing concern for the safety of the female successful candidates, the woman responded firmly:

“I understand that officials going to outer regions must learn horseback riding and artillery skills. I, your humble servant, am lacking in horseback riding and don’t know how to use artillery, but I’m confident I can learn better than anyone else. I also have some skill in archery, so I’m confident I can protect myself.”

“Hmm… Do the others feel the same way?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

After confirming the spirit of the other successful candidates, especially the women, the director examined the records of the female candidate who had moved first.

‘An Munhye… Her grades are second-highest, but her adaptability and practical skills are top-notch. She’s already assigned to the General Affairs Department… If she can endure safely in the outer regions, her future looks promising…’

The director, making a mental note, stood up.

“Follow me.”

The place they moved to next had a large circular board hanging on a pillar. The board was divided into sections of various sizes, and these sections were labeled with names of outer regions such as ‘Hamgil-do’, ‘Daeseol-do’, ‘Dongbinghang’, ‘Unwol Peninsula’, and so on.

“What is this, sir?”

To An Munhye’s question, the director answered calmly:

“This is how you’ll choose the regions you’ll be appointed to with your own hands. We call it ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’.”

“Bbaeng-bbaeng-i?”

“It’s the fairest and most impartial method, free from any external pressure.”

***

In this way, those to be appointed to outer regions were determined through the ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’.

“We’ll still need to fill the remaining positions from outside. Check and implement it.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the vacant positions for those to be appointed to outer regions were added, the sections of the ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’ located on the outer part were readjusted.

There were eight ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’ in total, representing the eight provinces of Joseon. The applicants were divided into eight lines according to their province of origin.

“As you can see, your province of origin is excluded from these ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’. It’s to apply the rule of avoiding conflicts of interest.”

“Ah…”

The successful candidates standing in front of the ‘bbaeng-bbaeng-i’ nodded at the official’s explanation.

“Then, I wish you luck. Spin it!”

At the official’s command, a successful candidate vigorously spun the circular board.

‘Please Hanseong! Please Hanseong! Land on Hanseong!’

***

Note 1) Garima (加里亇)