Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 808

808. The Fall of a Star (2)

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

All of Hyang’s brothers, both from the main line and the secondary lines, shuddered with a sense of foreboding.

This wasn’t just a feeling.

Whenever they felt this ominous sensation, hardship would soon follow.

“When did it start? That’s right! It was after I had my coming-of-age ceremony!”

Startled, Hyang’s brothers clutched their heads in dismay.

“What should we do? Is there a good way…”

They racked their brains, but the answer was simple and despairing.

-No escape.

After reviewing it several times and getting the same answer, Hyang’s brothers looked up at the night sky and screamed.

“Why did we have to be born into the royal family! This damn fate!”

The cause of Hyang’s brothers’ despair was Sejong and Hyang.

* * *

Generally, a king’s greatest rival was his successor. And the successor’s greatest rivals were his brothers. Next were the vassals.

King Taejong’s massacre of his brothers and Jeong Do-jeon during the two ‘Princes’ Revolts’ was due to this. The purge of Sim On, and finally, Sejong’s purge of Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s faction, were ultimately for the same reason.

However, for Sejong, who had solidified his royal authority after Taejong laid the groundwork and through the Ryu Jeong-hyeon purge, Hyang was not a rival but his greatest political ally.

Hyang showed absolute loyalty to Sejong, never forgetting constructive criticism, enriching the lives of the people, and creating all sorts of devices to strengthen the nation’s defense.

With the successful suppression of the Giyu Rebellion [a historical event involving a power struggle], the last resistance of the privileged class of Sadaebu [scholar-officials], and Grand Prince Yangnyeong, who threatened Sejong’s royal authority, nothing was impossible for Sejong.

As a result, Hyang’s brothers faced a life of hardship.

Jinpyeong, Anpyeong, Geumseong, and Pyeongwon, Princess Jeongso and Princess Jeongui, who had found their aptitudes early and left—perhaps due to Hyang’s intervention, Sejong’s concubines were greatly reduced, and no Ongju [King’s daughters born to concubines] were born—were the lucky ones.

At least.

The Grand Princes and Princes who had not yet found their aptitudes and were living leisurely lives were all summoned by Sejong, given positions, and suffered through a hellish work life.

Of course, the Grand Princes and Princes did not accept it immediately.

“Your Majesty, my only wish in life is to live in poverty and enjoy nature…”

“Is that so? Then all the stipends given to you will be revoked, and you will be given a suitable amount of land.”

“If you mean a suitable amount of land, how much…”

Sejong flipped through the books nearby, found a book from the Ministry of Taxation, and answered.

“Among the people of Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] who make a living by farming, they have an average of 4 gyeol [unit of land measurement] of fields. So I will give you 4 gyeol. Slaves and residences will also be confiscated.”

“Your Majesty! I am also a member of the royal family, how can I live on only 4 gyeol?”

“You said your wish was to live in poverty and enjoy nature, right? What need does someone who wants to live in poverty have for a grand mansion with slaves, or for vast fields?”

“…”

“Why don’t you answer?”

“I will work in the position Your Majesty gives me.”

“You thought well. You…”

The Grand Princes and Princes, having received their workplaces, positions, and duties, returned with slumped shoulders.

Watching his children’s retreating figures, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! My eldest brother is so slick, yet he earns more than his keep! If you don’t have the knack, your body has to suffer! Tsk, tsk, tsk!”

Sejong, uttering ambiguous words that were hard to tell whether they were praise, insult, reproach, or lamentation, turned his arrow towards Hyang.

“Anyway, this guy does earn his keep, but he’s too slick. Hmm… what should I do…”

At the same time, Hyang suddenly shuddered and looked around.

“Why do I suddenly have goosebumps…”

After that, the Grand Princes and Princes continued to struggle to escape Sejong’s clutches.

“I don’t feel well…”

“I have a cold…”

The answer to the Grand Princes and Princes who applied for sick leave due to illness was a large amount of medicine and royal physicians.

“His Majesty said, ‘What parent would be comfortable seeing their child lying sick in bed? Therefore, I am sending tonics and royal physicians, hoping they will get up immediately,’ and sent medicine and royal physicians.”

At the words of the accompanying eunuch, the Grand Princes and Princes gritted their teeth, got up from their seats, and bowed deeply towards the palace.

“Your grace is boundless!”

And then, the eunuchs sent by Hyang found the Grand Princes and Princes.

“The Crown Prince told me to tell you this. ‘If you give up, it’s easier.'”

“Please tell him that I will engrave his teachings, which are like gold and jade, in my heart.”

“Yes.”

After sending back the eunuchs sent by Hyang, the Grand Princes and Princes cursed.

“Damn it!”

“What the hell!”

* * *

Sejong’s clutches extended not only to his children.

Starting with the children of his brother, Grand Prince Hyoryeong, Sejong brought in as many members of the royal family as possible who could work and assigned them tasks.

There were several reasons why Sejong acted this way.

First, there was a shortage of talent.

Until Sejong began his reforms, Joseon advocated for a ‘small government.’

Therefore, as the size of the court grew through the reforms, vacancies began to spring up like mushrooms.

Although they were filling these vacancies by reforming the civil service examination system, expanding education, and opening doors even to women, the immediate problem remained.

In addition, the departments created through the reforms were positions that officials subtly avoided due to their insignificance.

Secondly, there was also the issue of finances.

As the reforms took effect, Joseon’s economy grew significantly, and finances also grew significantly. However, in the early stages, there were still financial problems.

The best answer to solving these accumulated problems was the royal family’s relatives.

As members of the royal family, they had received a considerable level of education. Also, the aversion of officials could be reduced as the royal family’s relatives took positions.

In addition, a major reason was that there was no need to pay additional stipends because they were already receiving stipends or salaries. This was because it could reduce the burden on finances.

As the situation flowed in this way, the royal family’s relatives were suffering from overwork due to the collaboration between Sejong and Hyang. It was Hyang who came up with the idea of using even the royal family’s relatives.

“Isn’t it a hereditary kingdom anyway? It’s easier to think of it as a family business with a much larger scale…. ‘A family-friendly, family-like court,’ how great is that? And it’s more reassuring to have them sitting in front of you and running them than to be anxious about what they’re plotting somewhere!”

And Sejong readily accepted this proposal.

“As expected of the Crown Prince! As expected of the Crown Prince!”

As time passed, the following saying circulated among the Grand Princes, Princes, and relatives.

“Not a family-like court, but a fake…”

“Shh!”

At least, the relatives who were distantly related could eventually retire with hope over time, but Sejong’s Grand Princes and Princes had no such thing.

This time, Hyang stepped in and tied them down.

“Isn’t it natural filial piety [respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors] for children to help their parents! Am I not a child!”

“…That’s right…”

* * *

Three days after shuddering at the unknown foreboding, the foreboding became a reality.

“His Majesty has ordered you to enter the palace.”

“…I understand.”

At the message from the eunuch sent by Hyang, the Grand Princes and Princes put on their official robes and left their homes.

The expressions on their faces as they headed to Changdeok Palace, where Hyang resided, were like cows being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

Hyang, who received the greetings of the arriving Grand Princes and Princes, immediately got to the point.

“…So, we have to finish the work that the Retired Emperor couldn’t finish. That’s why I called you here.”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong stepped forward.

“How much is it?”

At Jinpyeong’s question, Hyang gestured to the eunuch. The eunuch, seeing Hyang’s gesture, went outside without a word. After a while, a dozen eunuchs came in carrying large trays filled with thick books and scrolls.

The eunuchs brought in books and scrolls in two batches.

The Grand Princes and Princes, seeing the books and scrolls piled up like mountains in front of them, turned pale and involuntarily blurted out their true feelings.

“What the hell…”

“What on earth is His Majesty…”

“Quiet!”

Hyang stopped the Grand Princes and Princes from murmuring, but Anpyeong stepped forward to protest.

“Perhaps it’s because I’m getting older, but my body feels different every day. But to have me handle so much work is too much.”

Hyang briefly retorted at Anpyeong’s protest.

“Raise your hand if there’s anyone here older than me.”

“Still, the Retired Emperor is the Retired Emperor…”

“You are all Dukes and Marquises.”

“…”

Hyang, stopping Anpyeong’s words, looked at the Grand Princes and Princes and continued.

“These are plans that the Retired Emperor has pondered for the future of the empire and the peace of the people. But since the Retired Emperor’s energy has weakened and he couldn’t properly finish them, isn’t it our job as children to take over and complete them? If this isn’t filial piety, what is?”

“…That’s true. I understand.”

“What should we start with?”

As the Grand Princes and Princes accepted reality, Hyang began to divide the work in earnest.

“First, let’s divide into groups centered around Anpyeong and Jinpyeong and start. I’ve already classified them once and prepared the necessary materials, but we’ll need to reclassify them or need additional materials. Let’s figure that out.”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong immediately questioned him.

“What will Your Majesty be doing in the meantime?”

“Me? I’ll first look after the Retired Emperor’s well-being and classify these.”

At Hyang’s answer, the Grand Princes and Princes looked at the books piled up next to Hyang. The Grand Princes and Princes, seeing that there were less than ten books, although they were thick, involuntarily muttered.

“That’s it?”

At the reaction of the Grand Princes and Princes, Hyang smiled and opened his mouth.

“It doesn’t seem like much, does it?”

At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong honestly answered.

“Yes.”

“Really? Then, Jinpyeong, would you like to step up, read all of this, classify the grades, and then register them in the Challenge Records?”

“Ch, Challenge Records?”

“Challenge Records.”

At Hyang’s answer, Jinpyeong turned to Anpyeong.

“How should we divide the younger brothers?”

“Hey, gather around!”

At Jinpyeong’s words, Anpyeong immediately called the Grand Princes and Princes together. At Anpyeong’s call, the Grand Princes and Princes quickly gathered and put their heads together.

Seeing his younger brothers’ 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’], Hyang put his hand on his forehead.

“To call those guys younger brothers…”

Although he heard Hyang’s grumbling, the Grand Princes and Princes didn’t even pretend to hear it.

‘Challenge Records? Challenge Records, you say?’

‘I’d rather lay railroad tracks than classify Challenge Records!’

‘It’s better to be stuck in the archives!’

For those who were not experts in the institutions related to the Challenge Records, the Challenge Records were something they didn’t even want to look at.

It was common for non-experts to react this way when they saw the Challenge Records.

“White is paper, black is ink.”

Therefore, they all stepped back at the mention of classifying the grades before registering in the Challenge Records.