Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 18

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

18. Germination… Carcinogenesis? (11)

The details of the meeting between Hyang and the envoys were documented and reported to Sejong immediately after it concluded. Sejong reviewed the documents with his ministers.

“Hmm… Indeed, it would be best to proceed with this matter as the Crown Prince suggests.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“And, the Joseon Hall… I believe this is a good idea. If we were to request the establishment of a Joseon Hall from Ming and they agreed, where would be the most promising location?”

“…”

None of the ministers immediately answered Sejong’s question. Sejong’s expression sharpened as he observed their hesitation.

“Why is no one answering? Is it because you disdain mentioning such lowly commerce?”

“N-no, it’s not that…”

“Then why are you silent?”

At Sejong’s urging, Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom stepped forward.

“In my humble opinion, if a market were to be established in the Liaodong region, the presence of our Joseon army would be unavoidable due to the Jurchen issue. Ming would certainly not want this, so I believe it is more likely to be established in the Shandong region.”

“That is plausible. Conversely, what if Ming wants to establish a market near the Amnok River?”

“Then our Joseon must oppose it.”

“Oppose…”

Sejong trailed off, deep in thought, then nodded.

“That would be inevitable. Then, what are your thoughts on making the trading post permanent?”

“I believe it would be better than accompanying each envoy.”

After pondering the Minister of Taxation’s response, Sejong turned to the Chief State Councilor.

“Chief State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Persuade the Ming Emperor during this envoy to successfully establish the trading post.”

“…I shall obey your command.”

Sejong glared at the Chief State Councilor, who hesitated before answering.

“Chief State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I share the Crown Prince’s sentiments. Are you concerned about the safety of Joseon, or are you resisting to undermine me and the Crown Prince?”

“Your Majesty! We would never harbor such disloyal thoughts!”

“I see the shadow of Sambong (Jeong Do-jeon, a prominent scholar and politician in the early Joseon dynasty) in you all.”

“Your Majesty! Our loyalty is as solid as a rock! Please dispel your doubts!”

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider!”

To the ministers who had lived through the Princes’ Rebellion and Taejong’s reign, ‘Jeong Do-jeon’ was a ‘taboo’ that should not even be mentioned. But Sejong bringing up Jeong Do-jeon was like a final warning.

“Please reconsider!”

Sejong rose from his seat, listening to the ministers’ cries as they prostrated themselves on the floor of the throne room.

“That remains to be seen. I need to rest for a while.”

* * *

As Sejong left the throne room, the ministers emerged one by one.

“Hoo~.”

“How stifling.”

“Indeed.”

The ministers’ faces were gloomy. Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-hyeon looked up at the sky with a somber expression, then glared at the Chief Censor.

“Do not forget that the beginning of all this started with the Chief Censor’s slip of the tongue.”

The Chief Censor flared up at the Chief State Councilor’s rebuke.

“Chief State Councilor! That’s going too far! What slip of the tongue are you talking about? I haven’t said a single word today!”

“Who is talking about today? Who gave the Crown Prince the excuse in the first place?”

“Keueung.”

The Chief Censor, with a face like he had eaten dung, could only groan at the Chief State Councilor’s reprimand.

There was some truth in the Chief State Councilor’s words. After the Crown Prince pointed out the issue of legitimacy, Sejong held the reins of power. Except for one instance after the Crown Prince’s remark, Sejong had never brought up related matters again. Nevertheless, the ministers had no choice but to watch Sejong’s every move for a while. But Sejong was one step ahead. Just when the ministers’ tension seemed to ease, Sejong launched a surprise attack. And he did so with one of the taboos, ‘Jeong Do-jeon,’ in tow.

The Chief Censor, who had been groaning, challenged the Chief State Councilor.

“Fine! Let’s say I gave the Crown Prince the excuse! But, Chief State Councilor, you also made a mistake, didn’t you? What did you do to the Crown Prince today? Even a child knows that the Crown Prince is not someone to be underestimated because he is young. If you’re going to start something, you should prepare properly!”

“Keueung…”

At the Chief Censor’s retort, the Chief State Councilor had to make a dung-eating face and groan this time. The Chief Censor, catching his breath, which had become rough due to anger, concluded.

“What’s the point of arguing about whose fault it is? We’ve already missed the opportunity. For the time being, we have no choice but to move according to His Majesty’s wishes.”

“If we fail, the autocracy of the monarchy may become severe.”

“What can we do? We have to hope that His Majesty is wise.”

“Hoo~.”

“How did we build this Joseon…”

“Haa~.”

The Chief State Councilor, the Chief Censor, and all the ministers gathered around sighed.

* * *

They did not share all of Jeong Do-jeon’s ideas, but they agreed on one thing.

-The construction of an ideal Confucianist state.

In order to create such a state, a republic through the harmony of the king and the scholar-officials—originally the high-ranking officials—was essential. And to complete the republic, restricting the king’s power was essential.

When Taejo appointed his youngest son as the Crown Prince, Jeong Do-jeon agreed for that reason. He was also a political ally of Taejo, but Taejo was old, and the youngest son, who became the Crown Prince, was young. Jeong Do-jeon calculated that he could seize the initiative in the post-Taejo political landscape by using the weakness of the monarch and the strength of the ministers.

A plan was even made to absorb the private soldiers of influential families, including Yi Bang-won, the biggest obstacle, into the central army under the pretext of conquering Liaodong, and then deplete them. However, Yi Bang-won, or rather Taejong, made the first move, and Jeong Do-jeon’s dream vanished.

The ministers, who continued to sigh, regained their composure.

“We must make every effort to ensure that His Majesty’s orders are fulfilled during this winter solstice envoy. If we fail, we will all be dead men, and we will never regain control.”

“That’s right.”

“Let’s start by thinking about that. How can we make it a success?”

“Indeed, Chief State Councilor.”

As the Chief State Councilor concluded, the other ministers agreed and moved their feet.

* * *

The story exchanged by the ministers quickly reached Hyang’s ears.

“If it reached my ears, then Father must have already heard it.”

Hyang marveled at the speed of the ultra-fast information network created inside the palace. Like the saying, ‘The walls of the palace have eyes and ears,’ the eyes and ears of the eunuchs, court ladies, and guards scattered everywhere were acquiring and transmitting the ministers’ every move in real time.

“Now that Father has even mentioned Sambong, Father will definitely wield the initiative for the time being.”

Looking at the history Hyang learned in his previous life, the reign of Sejong was the most successful example of collaborative politics between the monarch and his subjects. However, Sejong’s reign in this life was a little different. Consultation was taking place. However, it was only on the surface.

The ministers were constantly trying to take the initiative in state affairs, and Sejong was blocking those moves and launching counterattacks as a daily routine.

Hyang’s attack on the ministers, using the winter solstice envoy as an issue, was an opportunity given by heaven to Sejong.

Justification and practicality, everything was perfectly passed on to Sejong. And Sejong was thoroughly taking advantage of that opportunity.

“The next step will be a cabinet reshuffle. Is it finally the appearance of the famous Hwang Hee and Maeng Sa-seong?”

Hyang shook his head, anticipating the future for a moment.

“I’ll think about the future when it comes. What’s important now is not that. Eunuch!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The eunuch, who had been standing guard outside the door at Hyang’s call, quickly entered.

“Go and bring the Minister of Taxation!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

A short time later, the Minister of Taxation came to see Hyang.

“You summoned me?”

“Yes, I’m sorry to call you, who is so busy preparing for the envoy.”

“Don’t mention it. So, is there anything you want to ask me separately?”

“I would like you to obtain some books for me.”

Hyang handed over a bundle containing a scroll and a small wooden box.

“The scroll contains the names of the books I have been looking for, and the box contains silver to be used as payment for the books. Please obtain as many as you can with that silver.”

“The payment can be covered by the taxes paid by the merchants accompanying the envoy, though?”

“That is money that will go into the national treasury. Even if I am the Crown Prince, squandering that money is embezzlement.”

At Hyang’s answer, the Minister of Taxation unconsciously made a startled expression.

‘To be so clear about the distinction between public and private matters at such a young age! It’s not just surprising anymore, it’s even a little scary!’

“Ahem! Ahem!”

The Minister of Taxation quickly cleared his throat and organized his expression, then untied the scroll and examined the list of books.

“Hmm… So, you want me to obtain miscellaneous books other than the books on this list?”

“That’s right.”

“Understood. I will put in the legwork.”

This time, Hyang was surprised by the Minister of Taxation’s calm response.

“Are you not bothered by it, Minister of Taxation? Others have been saying things about me buying miscellaneous books?”

“It’s not like Your Highness is obtaining miscellaneous books without a reason. It serves as the foundation for doing things that benefit the country, whether big or small, so there is no reason to stop you.”

“Is that so?”

At Hyang’s answer, the Minister of Taxation stroked his beard and replied.

“To be honest, when working in the Ministry of Taxation, there are always two things that are lacking. One is time, and the other is the budget. Time cannot be increased, but the budget can be increased, can’t it? The more the budget increases, the more things the country can do, and most of the things Your Highness does help to increase the budget, so there is no reason to stop you.”

“Thank you for seeing it in a good light. Then, I’ll leave it in your capable hands.”

“Yes. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

The Minister of Taxation took his leave and left Hyang’s room. Hyang, left alone in the room, muttered with a regretful expression.

“It would be so nice if all the other ministers were like that old man. Should I tell Father to make sure that those who become ministers must go through the Ministry of Taxation first?”

* * *

As the days passed, the winter solstice envoy departed for Beijing. As the weather grew increasingly cold, Hyang was deep in thought.

“It’s already a cliché that’s been milked to death…”

Hyang, who had been pondering for a long time in front of the brazier, jumped up from his seat.

“It’s the most overused cliché, but I have to do it to live long and prevent the death of my sister, who is the most popular person! Eunuch! I’m going to see Father. Inform the throne room!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Hyang, who arrived at the throne room, informed Sejong that he wanted to go out.

“Go out?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you going in this harsh winter?”

“I’m going to Neobeol Island (present-day Yeouido in Seoul).”

“To Neobeol Island? Why?”

“There is a very important matter that I want to check.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong made an expression that he could not understand the reason at all.

“There are only animals raised by the royal family on Neobeol Island…”

‘That’s why I’m going.’

“I must go.”

At Hyang’s firm answer, Sejong pondered for a moment and soon nodded.

“I permit it.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“What grace…”

Sejong burst into laughter at the sight of Hyang bowing deeply and leaving excitedly.

“Hahaha! A child is still a child!”

However, before the sun set that day, Sejong had to burst into a roar instead of laughter.

* * *

While Sejong was holding an afternoon meeting with the ministers, an eunuch came in, his face pale.

The Chief Eunuch, who received the report from the eunuch, looked at Sejong with a white face.

“Your Majesty…”

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty…”

“What is it!”

“The Crown Prince has committed self-harm!”

“What!”

Sejong, greatly alarmed, jumped up from his seat.

“Where is the Crown Prince now!”

“He is just returning to the palace…”

Crash!

Sejong kicked away the desk that was obstructing him and ran out.

“Self-harm?”

“Self-harm!”

“Why would His Highness!”

The ministers, who were unable to grasp the situation they had never imagined, also ran out after Sejong.

End

ⓒ Gukbbong