Chapter 13 — Yulli Selection Exam (3)
After the three yulli candidates were selected, the Ibang visited Kim Jiseok's office to report the results.
"Many people applied, but only three produced answers worth considering."
Oh?
Instead of being disappointed that only three had succeeded, Kim Jiseok seemed pleasantly surprised.
"There is no reason to lament that few applicants found the correct answer. The fact that three people solved such a difficult problem is itself something worth celebrating for this county."
"You are correct."
"Then who are the three?"
"The first is a man named Hajeong from the lower village. He has spent many years preparing for a miscellaneous examination and applied in order to gain experience."
"Hajeong."
Magistrate Kim nodded.
"How was his answer?"
"He reached the correct conclusion that sikri should be paid. However, his reasoning was that a county magistrate judging such a petition should practice virtuous rule and take pity on a citizen in hardship."
"...I see."
The magistrate clicked his tongue.
From a Neo-Confucian perspective, Hajeong's answer might not necessarily be wrong.
But he had answered like a scholar.
His conclusion was correct.
His reasoning wasn't exactly incorrect.
Still, it was difficult to call it the proper legal answer.
"Then who is the second candidate?"
The Ibang concealed his nervousness.
"...The second is Kang Doyul."
"As expected. How was his answer?"
Kim Jiseok smiled immediately upon hearing Doyul's name.
The Ibang hesitated, then shut his eyes briefly before answering.
"...It was almost unbelievably perfect."
"Oh? That impressive?"
"His argument was extraordinarily precise. He went beyond judging the petition and even included additional recommendations."
"He included additional recommendations despite barely having enough time to answer the question itself?"
"...Yes."
The Ibang explained Doyul's answer in detail.
After hearing it, Kim Jiseok smiled in satisfaction.
"Haha! What a splendid answer. I chose that petition question because I myself felt uncomfortable with the obvious judgment regarding sikri. His answer feels as though someone scratched an itch I couldn't reach."
"..."
The Ibang lowered his head silently.
He wanted to diminish Doyul's answer in order to make his son Isu shine.
But Kim Jiseok was not a man who could be manipulated with shallow tricks.
Trying anything too obvious would be worse than doing nothing.
"So if Hajeong gave the answer of a scholar, Kang Doyul gave the answer of a jurist."
A yulsa was a legal specialist.
"Then who was the final correct candidate?"
The Ibang answered carefully.
"...The final candidate was my son, Isu."
"...I see."
The magistrate merely nodded.
The Ibang suddenly became anxious and hurriedly continued.
"...I-I shall report Isu's answer. Like the others, he reached the correct conclusion, and..."
"There is probably no need."
"...Excuse me?"
"He is your son, is he not? I am sure he found an excellent answer."
"That..."
The Ibang couldn't reply.
He lowered his head.
"My apologies."
"What is there to apologize for in raising an excellent son? As a father, it should make you proud."
Kim Jiseok fell into thought.
...Isu.
He knew how much the Ibang loved his son.
If Isu truly had greater ability and gave a better answer than Kang Doyul, Kim Jiseok would naturally choose Isu despite his personal preference.
But...
This has become awkward.
Of all things, Isu had passed the first stage while his own father supervised it.
There was nothing impossible about Isu succeeding through genuine ability.
Still, Kim Jiseok didn't want to suspect a loyal subordinate over something that might be innocent.
"Then post the list of successful candidates and prepare the oral examination."
"...Understood. Shall I prepare the oral examination as originally planned?"
At the question, Kim Jiseok hid his thoughts and answered calmly.
"Yes. Do so."
"...Understood."
After finishing work that day, the Ibang returned home and immediately pressured Isu, who was studying diligently.
"Isu! You must devote everything to preparing for the oral examination! The level of the other candidates is no joke."
But Isu remained full of confidence.
"Father! Stop worrying! Who am I? The talent the magistrate needs! A man destined to serve Yeongsan County as both a local clerk and a yulli! That's me!"
The Ibang became deeply worried about his son's flower-filled brain.
So he couldn't help adding something.
"...Criminal litigation will probably be important."
Isu froze.
"Father...?"
The Ibang turned away and continued with a stiff expression.
"The magistrate used the first examination to identify candidates with minimum qualifications. For this examination, he seems to want to judge whether someone can wisely resolve problems that occur in the county. And when it comes to serious incidents in the county... fistfights and murder would naturally be likely."
"...Father, what are you saying?"
Only then did Isu realize something was strange.
Come to think of it, shortly before the notice announcing the yulli position was posted, his father had suddenly recommended a useful book.
And the exact question from that book had appeared on the examination.
At first, Isu thought his studying had simply paid off.
But he wasn't foolish enough to miss what was happening now.
"The Yuchwibo contains many precious legal writings. Study it closely. This is merely advice from your father... so please don't think too deeply about it."
The Ibang wanted to reveal the exact question.
But knowing his son's personality, he couldn't commit such blatant wrongdoing.
Even this small hint made Isu stare at him with shock.
If he pushed further, his unruly son might cause an enormous scene.
I know your heart is righteous...
But just this once, please understand your father's intentions.
The Ibang hoped his son would accept what he was trying to do.
However...
"..."
After hearing his father, Isu's tightly clenched fists slowly loosened.
His thoughts grew complicated.
Dun!
"I have arrived!"
Several days later, after the first-round results were posted, Isu appeared proudly before Doyul.
"...What is it this time?"
