There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 70

< The Way of the King (2) >

“I don’t need it.”

Yi Bang-won cut me off after hearing my thoughts.

‘Such a quick reply.’

I thought to myself, taken aback.

Yi Bang-won, who had been staring intently at my face, said,

“Haven’t you been spending too much time with your grandfather lately?”

“Well… do you think so?”

I thought I was seeing Yi Bang-won quite often too.

But Yi Bang-won grumbled, feeling like he was being deprived of his son.

The complaints that followed were a bonus.

“I don’t understand why you’re so eager to take care of useless people.”

“Still, they’re talented enough to be useful anywhere.”

Like Baek Dal-won.

But Yi Bang-won waved his hand.

“You need to take good care of the officials around you from your days as Crown Prince. Those cast aside by me might try to cling to you.

Who knows, even low-ranking officials who couldn’t pass the civil service exam or ignorant thugs might rush in, hoping for a position.”

I wanted to ask, ‘Then why did Yi Suk-beon dump his unwanted tasks on me?’ but I barely swallowed the words.

“I will keep that in mind.”

That was all I could say for now.

Yi Bang-won must have his own reasons.

There’s no point in arguing with him; it would just turn into a father-son squabble.

‘The people Yi Seong-gye introduced aren’t from the officialdom, but well, I’ll judge and use them appropriately.’

My era will have my own politics.

I opened my mouth.

“But the monks are useful right now. That’s why I needed Great Master Muhak’s help.”

“Muhak?”

Yi Bang-won said with dissatisfaction.

“What are you planning to do with that bald-headed monk?”

Seriously, calling Great Master Muhak, who even determined the nation’s capital, a bald-headed monk so casually.

My face must have stiffened too much.

Yi Bang-won said.

“This country is one of Confucianism. Associating with monks will only cause trouble. I am friends with the Retired King, so I won’t say anything bad, but… I’m not very happy about it.”

So that’s why Muhak said Yi Bang-won didn’t like him much.

“Even if Father doesn’t approve, the monks have specialized skills, so they will be helpful in making movable type.”

I reluctantly mentioned movable type, which Yi Bang-won was interested in.

“Didn’t your uncle send a report saying he had successfully created movable type?”

Yi Bang-won said, tilting his head.

Since he’s directly involved and pushing it forward, he probably already knows that Min Mujil has solved the existing problems.

Though my help was significant.

“The newly created movable type is good, but I’m thinking of a way to print much more than that. Of course, it’s impossible in the short term. Various conditions need to be met.”

“Something superior to the current movable type?”

Yes! Yi Bang-won showed interest.

I clenched my fist and said.

“If it’s created, scholars will be able to obtain books easily, so won’t they stop complaining and praise the court?”

There’s no need for truth in persuasion.

You just need to make them believe it.

“Still, I’m concerned about involving even monks…”

“But isn’t using even such people the attitude of a king?”

I asked with a smirk, and Yi Bang-won was momentarily taken aback.

Then, the corners of his lips slightly turned up.

“You’ve learned that well.”

Yi Bang-won said that.

Use every human being you can.

I knew he would like it if I said this.

“Then I’ll take that as permission.”

I quietly replied.

===

“Wasn’t the work already finished?”

The atmosphere among the artisans of the Bureau of Printing was not good.

They seemed to have hurt pride because the Military Supplies Department, an outsider to the Bureau of Printing, had stepped in to solve the problem.

However, they couldn’t openly defy the Crown Prince.

I smoothly calmed them down.

“I’m just seeing some areas that are still rough.”

Even if I say this, I’m not ignoring them. They just did their best.

If it weren’t for them, the development of the Gyeimi type would not have progressed.

With these essential personnel and the monks who can realize my designs, we can move forward.

“I know you’ve worked hard to create the Gyeimi type. But I will create an even greater printing press.”

I declared.

The thing I’m envisioning is the Gutenberg printing press.

After all, wasn’t that the invention that sparked the printing revolution in the original history?

There were quite a few obstacles to overcome.

I presented several tasks to the assembled artisans.

“First is the production of lead type. It’s easier to shape than the existing bronze type, and the manufacturing cost is lower.”

I said that.

“Second, we will create something called a press.”

And the invention of the press had to come first.

The problem didn’t end there.

Even with the improved Gyeimi type, about 40 sheets could be printed per day.

With a shortage of paper itself, simply increasing the printing speed would be useless.

“So, I will entrust papermaking to the monks.”

The monks of this era had a lot of knowledge about papermaking.

‘Is it because they live in the mountains?’

It seems there are still many temples in the cities.

In any case, the labor of papermaking was being largely imposed on the monks for that reason.

Therefore, everyone nodded, understanding to some extent.

‘Of course, I’m not just thinking of using traditional Korean paper.’

At that time, one of the monks stepped forward and asked.

“What does Your Highness intend to publish? Is it to print Confucian scriptures, like why the country created movable type?”

I don’t remember his face, but he must be one of Muhak’s disciples.

However, I shook my head.

Printing Confucian scriptures?

There’s no way I’d go through all this trouble for that.

I declared.

“First, I’m thinking of printing the Tripitaka Koreana [a Korean collection of Buddhist scriptures].”

“… !”

The monks’ faces were filled with surprise.

‘I heard the Japanese are looking for the Tripitaka Koreana so much, right?’

In my opinion, this was also a product that could be sold sufficiently.

“And I will publish practical books. Medical books and agricultural books, things like that.”

Even in this era, Chinese agricultural books such as the NongSangJipYo (農桑輯要) [Important Techniques for Agriculture and Sericulture] had been introduced, and there was much discussion about publishing it in Idu [a system of writing Korean using Chinese characters] to suit the domestic situation.

‘Not very satisfactory, though.’

Extracting only what suits the domestic situation from foreign agricultural books and writing it in Idu was not such a groundbreaking idea.

But if even that was distributed, it would be of great help.

‘I heard that the Nongsa Jikseol (農事直說) [Straight Talk on Agriculture] comes out during Sejong’s reign.’

I recalled with my meager knowledge of Korean history.

The atmosphere became strange at the words that he would publish the Tripitaka Koreana and practical books that would help the people.

It was like they were touched.

The monk who had asked me the question closed his eyes and said.

“Indeed… I am impressed by Your Highness. We monks will devote ourselves to work until our bodies are broken.”

No, there’s no need to go that far.

===

While Crown Prince Yi Je was running around busily like this, the officials of the Office of the Inspector General were also gathered, venting their frustration.

Jipyeong Song Heung (宋興) was one of them.

He had been temporarily transferred after being involved in a mess where officials from the Office of the Censor-General and the Office of the Inspector General impeached each other in the first year of Taejong’s reign, but he had returned this time.

However, as it was not of his own volition, his sense of justice was burning more than ever.

“I heard that His Highness visited Bojesa Temple this time!”

People from Gaeseong gathered like clouds to hear the royal preceptor preach, so this news could not help but spread.

As a scholar, Song Heung could only lament the Crown Prince’s rash actions.

“Wasn’t it because the Retired King went to listen to the sermon, so he followed as a grandson?”

When someone asked that, Song Heung beat his chest.

“If the Retired King does so, it is the duty of the descendants to strongly advise him, but how can he go with him?”

What the people gathered here feared most was that the evils of Goryeo would once again eat away at this new country.

And the most hateful of them were the bald-headed monks who deceived the people with vain words.

“What on earth is His Highness thinking!”

Song Heung exclaimed.

Then, the people next to him hurriedly stopped him.

“Shh, don’t you know those who were dragged to the gulag for slandering the Crown Prince?”

“Wasn’t it because they leaked military secrets? I am only sincerely worried about the future of the country.”

Song Heung protested like that, but they all knew that everyone was the same once they were dragged to the Uigeumbu (義禁府) [State Tribunal].

Instead of useless and dangerous remarks, they decided to discuss in a more constructive direction.

“We have already made a statement, so if we are disgraced at this conference, we may not be able to avoid His Highness’s wrath. Isn’t His Highness sharpening his sword?”

When they mentioned the bet with the Crown Prince, the officials’ expressions turned pale.

It was natural.

They had no desire to be dragged to the gulag called the Training Institute and serve as the Crown Prince’s slaves.

“What book is the Grand Prince going to finish at this book ceremony?”

They had already been disgraced at Grand Prince Hyoryeong’s book ceremony, so they had been tricked once.

It was not difficult to finish the Elementary Learning, but they did not expect Grand Prince Hyoryeong to answer so skillfully.

Therefore, they had no choice but to prepare thoroughly.

“He says it’s the Great Learning.”

“No, he’s already finished the Great Learning?”

Grand Prince Hyoryeong, who is one year older, is now finishing the Elementary Learning, and even that was thanks to the Crown Prince’s help.

But the youngest Grand Prince is already at the Great Learning.

“Don’t worry.”

The officials’ expressions changed noticeably.

But Song Heung calmed his colleagues.

“Don’t you know how enthusiastic the Queen has been about educating her children recently?”

“Is that so?”

Colleagues who were unfamiliar with the affairs of the inner court asked.

“Even if the Grand Prince reads the Great Learning, he will not know its meaning, just like he memorized the Elementary Learning and took the exam before.”

The officials nodded.

Yes, Grand Prince Hyoryeong answered the meanings diligently, but no one here thought that he actually knew the true meaning.

Only the perception that the Crown Prince had come up with another amazing trick this time was widespread.

“If His Highness educates him so recklessly again, we will have no choice but to lose this time too!”

“Well, we just went over it at first because we didn’t know, but if we know His Highness’s method, we can deal with it.

Even if the Grand Prince memorizes the answers, if we thoroughly question him, the bottom will be revealed.”

Everyone nodded at Song Heung’s words.

The Elementary Learning and the Great Learning are different.

The Elementary Learning is literally a book for teaching young children, but the Great Learning is one of the Four Books.

Even if you memorize it halfway, the fact that you studied in vain will be revealed to the world.

“Who is in charge of the Grand Prince’s education?”

“I know that officials dispatched from the Office of Royal Lectures are in charge.”

The Office of Royal Lectures was an institution established for the Crown Prince’s education, but the Crown Prince had run away, so it was in a state of shutdown.

The officials staying there were turned to the education of the royal family by Yi Bang-won’s order.

“This time, let’s all work together to have His Majesty visit the conference. If he doesn’t answer properly in front of His Majesty, the whole world will know.

That His Highness’s method is wrong.”

And His Majesty, who has a deep love for his son, will have no choice but to admit his mistake.

The result of letting the Crown Prince, who should still be sitting and studying the scriptures, go free and indulge himself.

“All of this is for the future of Joseon.”

The Gaegyeong faction acted for their own interests, but they act to protect the Confucian classics and stop the Crown Prince’s recklessness.

“Let’s do our best, everyone.”

===

“My ears keep itching.”

I scratched my ear.

Is it because I have a big event ahead of me? It seems like someone keeps talking about me.

I’m just lazing around.

Rather, it was my close aides, the Hwang Maeng-heo trio, who were eager.