Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 13

Jjangra

Helo Bam

13. Sprouting… Cancerous Growth? (6)

From the time Hyang began to speak and read, he showed a different side. From then on, Hyang treated King Sejong and Queen Soheon with utmost courtesy. He was so impeccably polite that King Sejong and Queen Soheon were rather concerned.

“This child treats us, his parents, as if we were strangers.”

“I feel the same. It’s as if he’s drawn an invisible line and is overly cautious about staying within it. Is his intelligence too much, perhaps…”

The only person with whom the child, who built such walls, was close to was Princess Jeongso.

“My sister has extreme sociability….”

Hyang couldn’t help but smile whenever he thought of his sister. As the eldest legitimate daughter of King Sejong and Queen Soheon, Princess Jeongso was bright and intelligent, receiving love from all the royals, starting with King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. In 21st-century terms, Princess Jeongso was a ‘social butterfly.’

Queen Soheon, who had been enjoying tea together, left her seat, and King Sejong turned to his eunuch.

“Leave for a moment. I wish to be alone.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

After the eunuch left, King Sejong, now alone, murmured softly.

“Should I make them leave on their own, or should I force them out? Or… should I end it cleanly, or will there be blood?”

King Sejong’s voice, which flowed out quietly, was filled with chilling intent.

“The current royal court is filled only with my father’s subjects. I need my own subjects. My own subjects who will listen only to me…”

* * *

After Emperor Yongle’s edict arrived and King Sejong’s decision was made, the Ministry of Taxation began preparing for the production of gold brushes to be presented to Emperor Yongle.

However, a serious problem arose during the preparation process: the production capacity of the merchants currently in charge of supplying the gold brushes made it impossible to meet the deadline for the departure of the embassy.

Due to the report that the production schedule itself seemed to be a problem, King Sejong summoned his ministers and Hyang. After hearing the story, Hyang looked at King Sejong.

“Father, I think we need to know more about the details. How about summoning the head merchant?”

“Absolutely not! How can we summon a lowly merchant to a place where we decide important state affairs!”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, the Chief Censor [an official who monitors the actions of other officials] shouted his disapproval.

King Sejong glared at the Chief Censor.

“Then, does the Chief Censor have an answer?”

“…”

“Your job is to offer counsel, and I do not disregard your counsel, but I hope you know the occasion.”

“I am deeply sorry.”

King Sejong, having silenced the Chief Censor, issued an order.

“Bring the head merchant.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, the head merchant, summoned to King Sejong’s presence by command, prostrated himself.

“A humble merchant greets His Majesty, who is like the heavens.”

“The Crown Prince has something he wishes to ask. Answer the questions honestly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Crown Prince, ask away.”

“Yes. Head merchant, how are gold brushes made? Does one person take responsibility from start to finish?”

“Yes, that is correct, Your Highness.”

“Is that so?”

After thinking for a moment, Hyang looked at King Sejong.

“I think we might find an answer if we bring the artisans of the merchant guild and talk to them.”

“Is that so? Then we must bring the artisans.”

No sooner had King Sejong’s words left his mouth than the Chief Censor interjected.

“Your Majesty! Absolutely not! It is already inappropriate to summon merchants, but to bring artisans into the sacred palace is absolutely unacceptable! Please reconsider!”

King Sejong answered firmly to the Chief Censor’s remonstrance.

“If it concerns the interests of the nation, is there anyone we cannot call, even a butcher! Chief Censor, hold your tongue!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Hold your tongue! If you do not, I will have no choice but to reconsider your loyalty!”

At King Sejong’s rebuke, the Chief Censor fell silent. The head merchant, having tasted the chilling atmosphere of the court frozen by King Sejong’s outburst, was lying prostrate, barely breathing.

“Head merchant, go immediately and bring the artisans.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Having experienced the grim atmosphere, the head merchant quickly returned to the palace with the artisans.

‘Wow! In this Joseon era [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897], famous for its slowness, they’re moving really fast! As expected, they move quickly when there’s a crisis!’

Hyang, who had been frustrated by the slow movements of the Joseon people, was satisfied with the head merchant’s incredibly quick actions.

What Hyang taught the artisans were the extremely basic concepts of ‘division of labor’ and rolling (壓延) [a metal forming process] for modern people.

“What do you think?”

The leader of the artisans stroked his chin for a moment, then answered Hyang’s question.

“I think it’s worth trying. It will take time to get used to, but once we get used to it, we will be able to make more than we do now.”

After hearing the leader’s answer, Hyang looked back at King Sejong.

“Father, the leader says it is possible.”

“I see. I expect you all to bring good news.”

“We will obey Your Majesty’s command!”

At King Sejong’s command, the artisans all prostrated themselves on the ground and answered.

Five days later, the head merchant visited the Ministry of Taxation with the artisans’ answer.

“They say they can shorten the delivery date.”

“Is that so? What about the quality?”

“They are also confident in the quality.”

“Good work!”

The Minister of Taxation, having praised the head merchant, immediately ran to King Sejong. The faces of King Sejong and his ministers brightened at the Minister of Taxation’s report. King Sejong, tapping his desk with his fingers, looked at Hyang.

“To divide the work and increase efficiency… How did the Crown Prince come up with such a miraculous idea?”

“I once had the opportunity to look around the royal kitchen, where I saw cooks and court ladies dividing the work according to the orders of the head chef. I recalled that memory and started thinking.”

“You are truly no ordinary child!”

King Sejong was greatly impressed by Hyang’s answer.

“To find a miraculous method in something that others have overlooked is extraordinary! What do you all think?”

“Truly amazing!”

Most of the officials nodded and agreed with King Sejong’s praise of his son. However, there were always those who couldn’t read the room.

“While the Crown Prince’s brilliance is something to celebrate, I believe it is problematic that he is only concerned with trivial matters. I believe it would be more appropriate to use that brilliance to learn and understand the teachings of the sages.”

King Sejong’s face turned fierce at the Chief Censor’s remark.

“It would be good for you to visit a doctor immediately to examine your eyes. How can you not see properly? Did you say that the Crown Prince is only concerned with trivial matters? Is it trivial to not simply pass by situations that ordinary people overlook, but to repeatedly ponder and investigate to reveal the truth? Is it trivial to see the plight of the people and contemplate solutions? Did not the ancient sages also contemplate for the peace and prosperity of the nation and reveal the truth? How can you be so narrow-minded?”

The Chief Censor hurriedly tried to make excuses for King Sejong’s rebuke.

“I did not mean that…”

“If not that, then what? Are you continuing such reckless remarks because, as the Crown Prince said before, you believe that the late kings or I have no legitimacy?”

“I have never had such wicked and disloyal thoughts!”

“Is that really so?”

“Please, have mercy!”

With a commotion, the morning assembly ended. As the assembly was ending, the historian wrote the following in the historical record:

-While it is true that the Chief Censor’s remarks were narrow-minded, the King’s pressure cannot be said to be right. It is human nature to want to boast about one’s child’s excellence, but to use one’s authority to pressure those who do not respond is not befitting of a monarch.

* * *

King Sejong, not caring that the historian was writing critical words in the historical record, directed his ministers to proceed with the work. Of course, Hyang often had to respond to King Sejong’s calls as a seasoning.

King Sejong would call Hyang when there was something he needed to discuss. Hyang, when summoned, would tell the answer to the best of his ability. And the answer he gave satisfied King Sejong. After finishing one such task and returning to his room, Hyang would always grumble.

“No matter how I look at it, it seems like I’ve dug my own grave. I only wanted to stand out a little earlier…”

If King Sejong was satisfied and Hyang was regretting, the ministers looked up at the sky and sighed.

“Ah! I want to resign!”

“Why are those father and son like that!”

Those who were a little more extreme sought out places where no one was around, bit their sleeves, and shouted inwardly.

“Like father, like son!”

This was because every time Hyang gave an answer that satisfied King Sejong, the ministers had more and more work to do.

* * *

Hyang, having explained ‘division of labor,’ let out a small sigh.

“Whew~. That was close.”

The best way to solve the merchant guild’s schedule problem was ‘division of labor.’ While the head merchant was bringing the artisans, Hyang was racking his brain.

-It is certain that they will ask the reason for thinking about division of labor. I can never say, ‘I learned it in my past life.’

-I must find the most appropriate example of division of labor.

While searching for the most appropriate example, what popped out was ‘the division of labor in the royal kitchen.’

“It was a close success.”

Hyang smacked his lips as he evaluated himself.

“Come to think of it… there was no concept of division of labor until this time…”

As Hyang thought about ‘division of labor,’ he heard the voice of Teacher Samcheonpo in his memory.

-Even before Adam Smith spoke about ‘division of labor,’ it would have already occurred naturally. However, division of labor was fully applied to industry in connection with ‘absolutism’ and ‘mercantilism.’

“Absolutism…”

Hyang focused on the word absolutism. Teacher Samcheonpo connected absolutism with Joseon and said the following:

-What about Joseon? It is nominally an absolutist state, but if you look closely at history, you can see it as a power struggle between a monarch who wants absolutism and officials who dream of a republic.

“After that, he told me not to like the word republic. He said that the republic we know needs the two words ‘democracy’ in front of it to be complete. He said that the republic that Joseon officials wanted was a republic of ‘weak monarch and strong subjects.’”

Hyang, reflecting on his memories of his past life, grabbed his head.

“First of all, what should I do to make myself comfortable now, and to make my future comfortable?”

After much deliberation, Hyang finally came to a conclusion.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? Let’s achieve it one by one. First, I have to start with what my father strongly wants… The start is strengthening royal authority.”

Hyang looked towards the main hall.

“Extend the king’s control firmly to the closed societies of the provinces. What is needed for that is… capital.”

* * *

Hyang, having established a plan to ‘expand capital to strengthen royal authority,’ visited King Sejong.

“Father, I believe there is something that the chief envoy of this mission and trade must do without fail regarding the mission and trade.”

“Tell me.”

“I believe the chief envoy must obtain confirmation from the Emperor without fail.”

“Something that must be confirmed?”

“Yes, firstly, our Joseon merchants must be recognized for their exclusive rights to sell gold brushes to Ming [Chinese dynasty from 1368 to 1644]. Just looking at the Emperor ordering us to present gold brushes this time, we can see that the response to gold brushes is very good. The Ming Dynasty is several times larger than our Joseon. Then, the demand for gold brushes will be several times greater, as I have already mentioned before.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, there must be merchants in Ming who will not simply let this pass. There will surely be those who copy and sell gold brushes. We must prevent this.”

King Sejong nodded after thinking for a moment at Hyang’s point.

“The Crown Prince’s opinion is valid.”

“However, if we make a mistake, we may cause offense to His Majesty the Emperor…”

As the Minister of Rites tried to raise an objection among the ministers, King Sejong cut him off.

“Are you a subject of Joseon or a subject of Ming?”

“I am deeply sorry!”

The Minister of Rites prostrated himself at King Sejong’s rebuke. Hyang, glancing at the Minister of Rites, continued. The second was a huge bombshell that shook the court.

End

ⓒ Gukbbong