Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 12 — Sprout…. Sprout of Cancer? (5)

King Sejong, who had realized his mistake, opened his lips with a reddened face.

“The historians….”

However, when King Sejong looked at the historians who were eager to write with their golden brush, he closed his lips then looked at Hyang.

“Crown Prince, you can continue your talk if you still have something to say.”

“Yes, Father.”

After a brief skit, Hyang continued his attack.

“All the high-ranking officials here and the nobles outside the palace can hold their hunger because they have learned to reason, but people who were lacking knowledge couldn’t fully learn to reason that they can’t hold their hunger. If we want to teach reasoning to these people and build virtue, shouldn’t we at least make them not hungry?! Virtue over wealth is important, but the promotion of public welfare is also important!”

“That’s right!”

King Sejong exclaimed as he slapped his knee at Hyang’s remarks. Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the court froze once again. 

‘This man is too excited, he explodes!’

After letting out a little sigh, Hyang looked at the high-ranking officials. Those officials who were objecting to Hyang's plan were in a dying state because of Hyang’s attack.

‘This is the last card! If I succeed, I can perfectly turn them into porridge!’

Filled with a fighting spirit, Hyang began his last strike. 

“Since ancient times, it has been said that ‘people’s heart is heaven’s heart’. No matter how much virtue we have, how will heaven respond to us when people’s hearts are wailing? ‘Man proposes, heaven disposes’. Doesn't that mean we should do everything we can before we wait for heaven’s response? But, when drought comes, you said it is because of the king's lack of virtue, when an epidemic happens, the king's lack of virtue, people dying from starvation, the king's lack of virtue. The one who tells the king to build up his virtue is you all! This order is wrong! Before drought comes, prepare water control properly. Before the epidemic comes, prepare medicine in advance and store grains before the year of famine comes. Isn’t that the right order? But you didn’t do such preparations and say it is the king who lacks virtue. Don’t tell me ….”

Hyang stopped talking for a moment and glared at the ministers. 

“All the sir here saying that this Joseon lacks virtue? There are a lot of officials here who have been in the government since the previous dynasty. So… it was unfair of King Taejo to establish a nation despite being a subject of Goryeo, and he lacks virtue. It is also injustice and vice of my grandfather to draw his sword, and for my father to ascend the throne instead of my uncle who was the oldest son was also…”

“Your Royal Highness, that is certainly not!”

“We never had such heinous and insolent thoughts!”

The officials were very shocked that they forgot they were in the middle of a meeting and shouted their denials. Some of them who saw unpleasant expressions in King Sejong prostrated altogether. 

“Your Majesty! We never had such a heinous thought! Please show us your mercy!”

“Please show us your mercy!”

Starting from the Chief State Councillor, Ryu Jeong-hyeon, all the officials prostrated while denying the accusations, but King Sejong didn’t easily open his mouth.

After a long period of heavy silence, King Sejong opened his mouth.

“Crown Prince, you’re too harsh.”

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“Be more careful with your words next time.”

“Yes, Father.”

After warning Hyang, King Sejong looked at the officials.

“The tribute problems asked by Ming’s emperor will be executed as the Crown Prince’s plan, so prepare thoroughly. This year, the farm is not good, and the rain is low even though summer is approaching, so I think it is right to prepare grains to relieve people.”

“Your wish is our command.”

There was no one who objected to King Sejong’s decision. After looking at the officials, King Sejong looked back at Hyang. His face softened when he looked at Hyang.

“Is there anything you want to add to your father’s words?”

“When distributing the grains to people, I think it is right to give it in return for work rather than just give it.”

“In return for work?”

“The biggest reason for frequent drought is low rain, but it is also because the irrigation facilities are lacking. Each district should repair its small castle and reservoir. If there is none, they should make a new one, and the riverbed should be dredged to prevent flooding. If we mobilize people to do this work and in exchange, we give them grains, I think we could expand the irrigation facilities and at the same time we could prevent people from idling and starving.”

“Killing two birds with one stone, huh? I think that is good. What about you, retainers?”

All the officials answered King Sejong’s question in one voice.

“We think that is a very good idea!”

“Then let's do it like this.”

“We accept your order!”

King Sejong turned to Hyang after hearing his retainers' answers. 

“Crown Prince, you can go back now.”

“Yes, Father.”

“And when the funeral ritual ends, participate in the political discussion.”

Hyang was surprised by King Sejong’s order that he stared at him but soon bowed his head.

“Your wish is my command. Thank you for giving this young and immature son an honor to participate in Father’s political discussion.”

“Now go back and continue what you were doing.”

“Yes.”

After sending Hyang back, King Sejong looked at the officials with a stiff expression.

His gentle smile when looking at Hyang had disappeared, and he was filled with a coldness like the freezing cold winter wind and snow.

“Let’s end the morning meeting here. Now go and do your work.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Well, that’s all, and I think I should ponder about what you all really think of this Joseon.”

As soon as King Sejong’s words finished, the officials threw their bodies to the floor. 

“Your Majesty! Not even once we ever thought of such disloyalty! Please show us your mercy!”

“Please show us your mercy!”

With all their might, the officials plead for their innocence to the point of straining their neck.

King Sejong, who was looking at them with a cold face, turned his head.

“Go and do your work.”

“Please show us your mercy!”

“I said go and do your work!”

Hearing King Sejong’s roar, the officials left with a confused expression. 

* * *

The officials who had come out of the office where King Sejong was staying let out a long sigh.

“Huff~.”

“Haah~. This is bad. If we make a wrong move, we could invite a bloodbath.” 

“He is someone who has the blood of King Taejo and King Taejong, so…. Huff~.”

The theme of conversation between the high-ranking officials, who were worried about when bloodshed would occur, changed to Hyang.

“His Majesty the King is an outstanding person, but the Crown Prince is also outstanding.” 

“He is not only outstanding but scary. He dominated the political situation with his small tongue….”

“He is just about to reach nine, but if we only look at his speech, he is cunning, like an old man over sixty….” 

“He’s definitely not an ordinary person….”

“By the way, I’m worried about His Majesty’s heart.” 

The officials who couldn’t hide their wary stared at the main culprits of this incident.

“Why did you uselessly open your mouth!” 

“Don’t you know that mouth is a door to disaster!”

Inspector General and Chief Censor, also Minister of Rites, continued their steps in silence despite criticism from other officials.

“Hey! Say something if you have a mouth!”

“You talked well at the meeting, but why are you silent now!”

“How will you solve this situation!”

As the other officials flooded them with critics, Seong Eom spoke as their representative. 

“Sorry.”

“Do you think sorry is enough!”

“….”

The inspector general and his party moved to one side to avoid the other officials.

After they passed the palace gate and came out to Yookjo Street, Inspector General and his party let out a breath.

“Huff~.”

“We have been struck hard. We took him too lightly because he is young.”

The three people nodded at the Chief Censor’s words.

“What do you think is the best for us from now on?”

The Inspector General answered the Minister of Rites’ question.

“If nothing’s working, we have no other choice than to give our resignation letter, right?”

“Resignation… letter?”

“That’s right. Since suspicion already bloomed in the King’s heart, disaster will come. What kind of blood does the King have? It is the blood where you can’t save yourselves when he makes up his mind. If it’s not like that, then there would be no dispute with his brothers and he wouldn’t stay still when his wife’s family were broken apart. Handing out our resignation letter may be the only way to prevent the disaster coming to our family.” 

Chief Censor and Minister of Rites nodded with a gloomy expression at Seong Eom’s words. Seong Eom then let out a long breath.

“Huff~. Even though I want to build this nation with the rule of right and virtue….”

* * *

At the same time, Hyang, who had come back to the east palace, twisted his head and reflected back.

“I used the phrase ‘promotion of public welfare’, but did I use it correctly? I said that because I get carried away by the situation….”

The moment the opposition of officials that was filled with ‘Confucianism Principles’ and ‘four occupations hierarchical theory’ came out, anger filled Hyang from head to toe. 

‘Woah! Watching this live makes me even angrier!’

The angered Hyang mobilized all ‘historical miscellaneous knowledge’ he had learned in his previous life. Among all of them, he took out ‘promotion of public welfare’ which could be said to be the foundation of silhak from late Joseon, and slapped back the high-ranking officials who opposed him. 

Thinking back about it, there was a high possibility that he would be the one slapped by those opposers if they gained even a little of time. 

Hyang burst into laughter while thinking of that critical moment.

“This is all thanks to Father.”

Right at that time, the shout of King Sejong the Great became ‘a miraculous move’. 

The appearance that he never showed even once since he became a king had made the officials stop their minds. 

“But the historians were eager to record that. I wonder how this will be recorded in the annals.”

Hyang scratched his head while remembering the historians who recorded with the golden brush as if they were possessed. Then he looked far away.

“I’m thankful to teacher Samcheonpo.”

* * *

While the officials were worried about their futures and Hyang was reviewing his actions, King Sejong was talking with Queen Soheon. 

Queen Soheon sat in front of the door of the chamber that was made for the mourning period, and King Sejong sat inside the chamber. It was because according to Confucianism manners, a married couple was prohibited to sit or sleep together while mourning. 

“Did you have your lunch?”

“I ate thin rice gruel.”

“Your Majesty is this nation’s pillar. Only when the king is strong, the nation will stay strong. Please have your meal properly.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

While they were conversing about King Sejong’s health, the tea had been prepared. The tea for King Sejong was brewed by a eunuch and for Queen Soheon was brewed by a court lady.

After taking a sip, Queen Soheon spoke.

“I heard that the Crown Prince caused an uproar at today’s morning meeting.”

“He didn’t do anything. He talked about a very good policy. It was me who caused the uproar.”

“Sorry?”

“I couldn’t beat my excitement that I used my speech back on our old house. This is why the dignity of a king is….”

“What? Hohoho!”

Queen Soheon burst into laughing at King Sejong’s complaint. After wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, Queen Soheon looked at King Sejong.

“Even so, your complexion looks far better. Why don’t you just talk comfortably? Is there any need for you to worry about the historians’ brush?”

King Sejong nodded at Queen Soheon’s words. The skit that happened today had made him embarrassed, but it made him feel better inside. It felt like his stiff neck and shoulders were released at once.

King Sejong opened his mouth after finishing his thought.

“You’re right, my queen. My comfort is the first priority.”

“Your Majesty, that is a wise judgment.”

“I also asked the Crown Prince to participate in my political discussion after the funeral ritual ended.”

Queen Soheon let out a worried expression at King Sejong’s words.

“Will that be fine? He is still young….”

“Just like the golden brush, looking at his actions today makes me think it is fine.”

King Sejong stopped for a moment, then let out a sigh.

“Huff~. Our son isn’t ordinary. You also know that, right, my queen? His action, speech, everything is like a subject in his forties….”

He said ‘precocious child’ with a troubled tone, but King Sejong was drawing a proud expression. Looking at King Sejong, who showed such an expression, Queen Soheon also smiled.

“Not a long time ago, you were worried because he is too smart, and he built too many barriers between you. But it seems like you are reassured now.”

“I am.”

King Sejong nodded his head.