He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 138

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Matchlock Guns and Northern Expedition (2)

In the Joseon era, the distinction between military and civil officials was not absolute.

Kwon Yul, the supreme commander of the Joseon Army who was Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s superior, was a pure civil official.

Besides that, there were countless cases of civil officials becoming provincial military commanders or naval commanders, which were among the highest military positions.

I knew that fact, but I never expected King Sejong to assign me such a task.

“I am Kim Dae-bung, Assistant Secretary of the State Council, who will be teaching you drill training over the next 40 days starting today.”

The trainees who heard my words, no, the military examination passers, looked completely dumbfounded.

A civil official, not a military one, stepping forward to teach physical training methods to these walking human weapons seemed quite absurd to them.

In fact, it would sound absurd to anyone who heard it.

I really didn’t want to do this job either, but King Sejong, after reading the report I submitted, said that the person who drafted the plan would know it best, so I should teach it myself.

This is why there are rumors that if King Sejong had been born in the 21st century, he would have become a professor who drinks graduate students’ tears.

Well, at least he had others handle things like weapon training and military strategy lectures…

‘I just need to focus on teaching drill training.’

“You may feel it’s absurd for me, a civil official, to teach you who have passed the military examination. However, remember this. This is a solemn royal command from His Majesty.”

Even if your boss declares unreasonable overtime for the entire department after having a fight with his wife, as a department member, you have to follow it.

That’s how the world works.

Moreover, defying a royal command?

Unless there are very special extenuating circumstances, your head will be separated from your shoulders.

“So from now on, you must follow my words as if they were His Majesty’s royal commands.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Good! Then let’s begin training! About face!”

Since the military examination passers here had never received drill training, even the simple movement of turning around was all different for each person and also slow.

It’s definitely not because they’re lacking in intelligence or physical fitness.

It’s because they’re not accustomed to moving in unified motions according to commands.

“From now on, everyone run to that flag over there and come back! First 3 to finish!”

I quickly stopped the successful candidates who were about to rush out following my command.

It was because they hadn’t repeated my orders back to me.

Since it’s not proper to scold someone for not doing something they weren’t taught, I decided to kindly teach them.

“From now on, you will repeat back every last word I say. Do you understand?”

“Yes, we understand.”

“Your voices are too quiet! Speak louder! Is this all the determination you have to protect His Majesty and subjugate those evil Jurchen Tribes?”

“No, sir!”

“First 3 to finish, run!”

“First 3 to finish!”

As soon as my words finished, they ran like their lives depended on it.

And they quickly ran to the flag about 200 meters away and came back.

“Those who didn’t make the top 3 will run there and back again! This time only the first place finisher! Run!”

After thoroughly drilling them, I began the proper Drill Training.

“Though you may have been born at different times and in different places, when fighting for His Majesty, all 100 of you must become one body and fight as one. Only then can you sweep away every last one of those evil Jurchen Northern Barbarians from this land without leaving a single one behind.”

Both Mungwa and military examinations normally select only 33 people at a time.

However, lately Mungwa has been crying out about manpower shortages from the Chief State Councilor at the top down to 9th rank Government Officials at the bottom, so once a year they would select 100 people at once.

In fact, the Ministry of Taxation was clamoring that even this was too few and they needed to select 150 or 200 people.

Nevertheless, the military examinations had not yet increased troop reinforcements, so they always selected only 33 people, but this time they specially selected 100 for the Jurchen Tribes subjugation.

“The training you’re doing now is not difficult at all. Even a 6-year-old child could master it all in one si-jin (2 hours). It’s very simple.”

What you learn in Drill Training actually consists of simple movements that even elementary school students could understand.

Walking with the right arm forward when the left foot steps out, and the left arm forward when the right foot steps out, turning your gaze front, back, left, and right when ordered.

Standing side by side with arms’ width apart, moving forward in a line, forming ranks in columns and rows, and so on…

These are simple movements that even kindergarten children could understand if taught diligently.

“I don’t intend to make today’s training long. If the hundred men here can move as one body in sync with the commands, that will be the end of today’s training.”

“Is that really true?”

“If you finish the training within the next 2 si-jin (4 hours), I’ll use my own money to prepare a feast of precious food and alcohol for tonight’s dinner.”

Even though they’re military examination passers, they’re still human.

This means that having 100 men perfectly master Drill Training they’ve never done before and execute it with razor-sharp precision within 4 hours would be impossible.

Because one of them is bound to make a mistake.

“However, if you can’t finish the training within two si-jin, you’ll have to do Loyalty Calisthenics (Guerrilla Calisthenics) and running until sunset today. Can you do it?”

“However, if you fail to complete the training within two hours, you will have to do calisthenics and jumping exercises until sunset today. Can you do it?”

“Yes, we can do it!”

“Yes, I can do it!”

“Good, then I’ll demonstrate for you, so watch carefully and memorize it.”

“Good, then I’ll show you a demonstration, so watch carefully and memorize it.”

I demonstrated the basic movements of drill training to them while explaining in detail.

I demonstrated the basic movements of military drill to them while explaining in detail.

Movements like attention, at ease, right face, left face, and how to walk properly.

This includes movements like attention, at ease, right face, left face, and how to walk properly.

After confirming with their eyes that these weren’t particularly difficult movements, I could see the corners of their mouths rising.

After confirming with their eyes that it wasn’t such a difficult movement, they could see the corners of their mouths turning upward.

They all seemed excited, expecting to finish today’s training quickly and enjoy the delicious food and alcohol I promised…

Everyone seems excited to finish today’s training quickly and is looking forward to the delicious food and drinks I promised…

Well, enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content while you can.

Well, enjoy it to your heart’s content while you can.

When I was receiving officer training, guys who knew nothing would look down on ‘Drill Training’ thinking it was nothing special, then they’d all be gasping because the drill training that wouldn’t end even after doing it all day.

Since they knew the basics, I tried giving instructions with some variations added.

Still, I thought they would all follow along well, being military examination graduates…

Exactly two people made incorrect movements.

One stepped forward with his left foot first when turning right forward, and the other cheerfully turned left instead of right, creating the mishap of facing a colleague who was following behind him.

“Return to your positions! Attention. Eyes front!”

“Eyes front!”

“Is turning right and left according to commands really that difficult? Does it make sense to make mistakes in such simple movements?”

“No, sir!”

“Can you who can’t even do such simple things lead soldiers in battle against the Jurchen Tribes? Everyone assume the push-up position!”

They must be frustrated inside.

They’re elites who passed the difficult military examination testing Mounted Acrobatics, archery, Martial Arts, and even military text memorization abilities, so why are they getting confused by simple instructions to turn right and left while marching in step?

But what can be done?

Drill Training is something that anyone who hasn’t done it before will make mistakes in.

“On one, go down while saying ‘Loyalty’! On two, come up while saying ‘Patriotism’! Begin!”

“One!”

“Loyalty!”

I made them do about 20 Push-ups and then conducted drill training again.

This time too, many made mistakes in the applied movements, and naturally as I expected, the Drill Training couldn’t be finished within the two time periods I had designated.

They burned through the end of today’s training with Loyalty Calisthenics.

Hang in there, military examination graduates.

You only need to endure this training for 39 more days and it will be over.

**

When the training was finished, naturally the military examination graduates had to demonstrate what they had learned so far before King Sejong.

The one commanding them in the demonstration was not me but another military officer.

“Aim!”

The trained military examination graduates precisely aligned their angles and aimed their matchlock guns at imaginary enemies.

“Fire! After the 1st row fires, 2nd row take position! After 2nd row, 3rd row, then 4th row in sequence!”

They performed every movement without a single error.

After Sequential Shooting, the graduates with long spears stepped forward to cover those with matchlock guns and aimed their spears.

The sight of everyone moving in perfect unison as if they were one body was truly magnificent.

Just watching it made me naturally want to serve Joseon with loyalty and patriotism…?

Ah, of course that doesn’t mean I have any intention of enlisting in the military.

Unless I’ve gone crazy, why would I re-enlist?

King Sejong also spoke with a pleased smile.

“From now on, when training all soldiers of Joseon, use this method.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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