Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 102

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

102. Hwang Hee, Crisis! (3)

“Hmm…”

Hwang Hee was blankly staring at the Seogyeong Danja (署經單子, today’s personnel records) for the selection of special administrators when Lee Jik called out to him.

“Minister of the Right, what are you doing?”

“Ah! I was lost in thought for a moment… I apologize.”

Meng Sa-seong, who was next to him, rebuked him for Hwang Hee’s apology.

“There’s a mountain of work to do… The King’s eyes are already not favorable, so let’s do well, do well!”

“I’m sorry…”

‘Geez, that guy’s personality has become so prickly! Where did the Meng Sa-seong I used to know go?’

Hwang Hee, grumbling about Meng Sa-seong, who had become prickly from the harsh treatment and heavy workload from Sejong, muttered softly while looking at the Seogyeong Danja.

“With people like these, I’m sure His Majesty will scold me… I’d rather…”

Hwang Hee, who had suddenly stopped talking, suddenly jumped up from his seat.

“I’ll be leaving work first!”

“No, Minister Hwang! Minister!”

Lee Jik and Meng Sa-seong called out desperately as Hwang Hee disappeared in a hurry, but Hwang Hee didn’t even look back.

* * *

That night. Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

Sejong called Hyang and talked about state affairs.

After some time, Sejong subtly signaled to the historians and Juseo (scribe).

“Wouldn’t it be good for the historians and Juseo to step back now?”

At Sejong’s words, the historians and Juseo all expressed their refusal.

“How can we step back when Your Majesty is handling official duties? We must perform our duties.”

“Keep up the good work. Tsk!”

‘I need those guys to leave so I can tutor the Crown Prince! My study of letters has been a bit blocked lately, so I made time for it after a long time! If you guys are holding out, my precious time will be reduced!’

Sejong, who was clicking his tongue while looking at the historians and Juseo who were steadfastly sitting and recording his every move, eventually quietly organized the documents.

“I’m also now…”

“Your Majesty. The Minister of the Right requests an audience.”

At the eunuch’s words, Sejong stopped organizing the documents and straightened his posture.

“Let him in.”

After a while, Hwang Hee, who came in, politely paid his respects. Sejong, who received the greeting, asked Hwang Hee.

“What is the reason for coming here at this late hour?”

“Would you please dismiss the historians and Juseo?”

At Hwang Hee’s request, Sejong shook his head.

“If it’s something the historians and Juseo can’t hear, I won’t listen either.”

At Sejong’s refusal, Hwang Hee gritted his teeth.

“Then I will report.”

“Report.”

Hyang’s thoughts wandered off the topic of the two people’s conversation.

‘Are you two playing Go-Stop [a Korean card game]?’

Eventually, Hwang Hee brought up the main point.

“It’s about the special administrator to be appointed for this Tuman River reclamation.”

“Hmm… If it’s that issue, wouldn’t it be okay to talk about it earlier in the day, or during tomorrow’s morning assembly? Of course, it’s already been five days since I issued the order.”

‘It’s only been five days! Do you think selecting someone is like roasting beans over a flash of lightning [extremely quick]!’

Hwang Hee shouted inwardly at Sejong’s words.

* * *

Even if the officials worked hard to handle things, Sejong was always dissatisfied.

“Is this the best you can do?”

“Does it take that long to handle this little work?”

When a report was submitted, seven or eight out of ten times, they had to listen to such nagging.

Of course, when Hwang Hee first became Prime Minister, it was ten out of ten times.

However, the Prime Ministers lacked excuses even when they heard these nagging remarks.

It was because of the Crown Prince.

The amount of work Sejong had to handle to proceed with the reforms was enormous. To increase efficiency in this area, a considerable amount of work was also assigned to Hyang.

Hyang, who was in charge of the work, showed a fast processing speed despite the piled-up work at the research institute and Area 51.

And the results of the work processed in that way had almost nothing to criticize, even for the Prime Ministers and ministers.

Thanks to this, the Prime Ministers had almost nothing to say even when Sejong nagged about the work processing issue.

“Well, compared to what I’ve heard, it’s not very good…”

“I will do my best!”

There was Hyang’s ability based on his 21st-century experience in showing this kind of work processing, but there was also something else.

The vast majority of the work that Hyang received and processed was related to the finances of the Six Ministries, starting with the Ministry of Taxation.

“There’s a limit to mental arithmetic… Using counting rods is… I’d rather just tell fortunes.”

One of the things that Hyang had the most difficulty adapting to while living in Joseon was the ‘counting rods’ [ancient calculating device].

To solve this, Hyang actively promoted the abacus, which had just begun to enter the country.

However, those who actually saw the abacus, whether they were nobles or merchants, all showed a lukewarm reaction.

“Counting rods are enough, so why bother learning and using an abacus?”

No matter how many times he tried, Hyang had no choice but to wave the white flag in the face of the same reaction every time.

“These people only look at pictograms every day, so they’re calculating with pictograms…”

In the end, the abacus became a tool used only by a few people, including Hyang.

Anyway, Hyang, who was overwhelmed by numbers, had to complain while looking at the report.

“Ah… I miss the CASIO calculator that was on my desk in the 21st century.”

Hyang, who was thinking of the calculator that was always placed wherever calculation was needed, from the cash register (계산대) of the corner store to the desk of the public official, suddenly snapped his fingers.

“If it’s a calculator, there’s a very good calculator here! Hey!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Go and bring Chief Lee Soon-ji!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

In the end, thanks to saving the glass craftsman, Hyang was able to use the ‘human supercomputer’ with the ‘high-performance telescope’ as bait.

Of course, Hyang clenched his fists at Lee Soon-ji’s expression, which occasionally gave off a strong feeling of ‘Don’t you even know that?’

“I will definitely make a calculator! Even if I have to grind Jang Yeong-sil [renowned Joseon inventor] to dust!”

* * *

Although he grumbled inwardly at Sejong’s nagging, Hwang Hee gritted his teeth and continued to speak because there was something he had to get.

“It is truly 황공하옵니다 [I am deeply humbled] that I have disappointed Your Majesty due to the lack of ability of us. Therefore, I have paid special attention to this special administrator…”

“Paid attention?”

“I recommend myself (自薦)!”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Sejong and Hyang’s eyes widened when Hwang Hee recommended himself as the administrator.

“Why are you trying to go? Even giving up the position of Prime Minister? There is no one among those who have risen to officialdom in this Joseon who does not want the position of Prime Minister?”

Hwang Hee explained the reason for Sejong’s question.

“The special administrator to be appointed this time must operate a group composed of officials from the Six Ministries under his command.

In order to operate this group smoothly, someone who has experienced all six ministries is needed.

I dare to say that I have experienced all the positions of Minister of these six ministries, so I can fully control them.”

“That’s true, but that’s not enough.”

At Sejong’s first refusal, Hwang Hee gave another reason.

“In the process of reclamation, conflicts are bound to arise between those who oversee the military and those who oversee the administration.

In this case, if the rank of the administrator is low, of course, there will be 승차 (陞差, promotion), but even so, it will be difficult to coordinate easily due to the lack of experience.

I dare to say that if I take office, I can facilitate such coordination based on my experience.”

“Hmm… That could be true. But it’s still not enough.”

“Reclamation is almost like creating something out of nothing. In the course of work, many unexpected variables that need to be dealt with immediately arise.

In this case, the decision of 선행후고 (先行後告, act first, report later) and 선고후행 (先告後行, report first, act later) can determine success or failure. However, if someone with a low rank or little experience is sent, they may hesitate to miss the opportunity for fear of 후환 [future troubles], so someone with a high rank and a lot of experience must go.”

“That’s right. So, you’re going?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hee answered in a firm voice.

“That is correct.”

“It’s a rough job. Are you confident in making it a success?”

“It is a hundred-year plan for the country. I must succeed.”

“Hmm…”

When Sejong showed hesitation, Hwang Hee rummaged through his sleeves and took out a scroll.

“I will present this to Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who received the scroll through the eunuch, looked at Hwang Hee without even untying the knot.

“What is this?”

“It is a list of all my assets. If I fail to carry out the great task, or if it does not meet the standards that Your Majesty thinks, please put all my assets into the national treasury. It is a punishment for not doing the job properly, so I will gladly accept it.”

Hyang, who had an interesting face at Hwang Hee’s words, relayed inwardly.

‘Hwang Hee, all-in! Jackpot or all-out!’

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who made a small humming sound and unfolded the scroll, looked at Hwang Hee.

“There have been rumors circulating in the 민가 [common folk] for some time that you will be 분재 (分財, dividing property) to your children, so your children are excited. Is this list before or after 분재?”

‘How did you know that!’

Hwang Hee, unable to answer properly to Sejong’s unexpected question, paused for a moment before answering.

“It is before 분재.”

“The Ministry of Taxation will find out everything.”

“It is definitely before 분재.”

“Is that so…”

Sejong, who blurred his words, looked at Hwang Hee while looking at the 물목 [inventory list].

“Minister of the Right.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you really confident?”

“I will do my best.”

“Like your words, it is our Joseon’s hundred-year plan. There must be no slightest deficiency. I will ask again? Are you confident in taking all the responsibility and completing the great plan?”

“If I fail, I will bury my bones there!”

“If you fail, the place where you will bury your bones will be the record office.”

“I will engrave it in my heart!”

At Hwang Hee’s answer, Sejong rolled up the scroll and put it aside, then answered.

“I understand your determination well. However, this is not something that can be decided on the spot. Let’s talk about it at tomorrow’s morning assembly.”

“I obey the order! Then I will step down. Please have a comfortable 침수 [sleep].”

“Go carefully.”

Hwang Hee, who came out, looked at the moon in the night sky. It looked so gloomy at other times, but today it looked even refreshing for some reason.

Hwang Hee clenched his fist.

“I got it!”

After sending Hwang Hee out, Sejong looked back at Hyang with a face full of regret.

“I had a lot to talk about with you, but I have to stop here today. Let’s talk again next time.”

“Yes, Father. Please have a comfortable 침수 [sleep].”

“Okay.”

Hyang, who came out of Gangnyeongjeon Hall, looked at Gangnyeongjeon Hall with a face full of anxiety.

“I have a bad feeling…”

The reason why Sejong called today was somewhat unclear. It was to discuss state affairs, but the importance of the issues that were discussed was low.

Hyang, who was looking at Gangnyeongjeon Hall with the lights on, turned his body and muttered.

“Isn’t it me who has to run away, not the Minister of the Right going?”

* * *

The next morning.

As soon as the morning assembly began, Sejong immediately brought up the agenda.

“Has the selection of the special administrator to lead the administrative part in this reclamation project been completed?”

At Sejong’s question, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik bowed his head.

“I am 황공하오나 [humbly apologize] to report that we are 不敏 (총명하지 못하다, not intelligent)…”

“Hmm… There is no time to spare…”

“황공하옵니다!”

“So, I have been thinking. The Minister of the Right will take on the role of special administrator. With your years of experience, you will be able to solve various variables well.”

At Sejong’s decision, the eyes of all the ministers were focused on Hwang Hee. Receiving the attention of the officials, Hwang Hee bowed deeply and answered.

“I, Hwang Hee! I will 분골쇄신 [spare no effort] and complete this Joseon’s hundred-year plan!”

“I will try to believe it.”

“Absolutely! I will not betray the trust that Your Majesty has shown me!”

Meanwhile, all the ministers who were listening to the conversation between the two had the same thought.

‘This smells fishy?’

* * *

That afternoon, a report came in that the Jurchen tribal chiefs who had visited Hanseong at the invitation were returning.

The tribal chiefs gathered in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon Hall bowed all at once when Sejong appeared.

Sejong, who lightly returned the greeting, immediately went to the main point.

“Yes. Have you come to a conclusion?”

At Sejong’s question, Hatuyi and Mutuyi stepped forward.

“The base of our tribes was originally the base of King Taejo, so it is 천리 (天理, natural law) for Your Majesty to inherit it. Also, the oath of loyalty we gave to King Taejo is still valid! Therefore, we are 감읍 (감읍, deeply grateful) for the kindness Your Majesty has shown us, and we gladly obey Your Majesty’s command!”

At Hatuyi’s answer, Sejong answered with a bright expression.

“Thank you so much! Now that you have entered our Joseon, you will never regret it!”

“성은이 망극하옵니다! [We are overwhelmed by your grace!]”

Hatuyi and the tribal chiefs expressed their gratitude.