Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 20

Jjanggeura

Hello, Bomb!

20. Germination… Carcinogenesis? (13)

After about ten days, Hyang had fully recovered. Sejong summoned Soedol, who had been imprisoned.

“The Crown Prince has regained his health. Are you truly certain that the Crown Prince will not contract smallpox?”

“I am certain, Your Majesty. It is what I experienced, and those who live with me have also not contracted smallpox.”

“I am still uneasy. Therefore, I will inoculate everyone in Hanseong [Seoul, the capital city] who hasn’t had smallpox with cowpox vaccine. Can you prepare enough for everyone?”

At Sejong’s question, Soedol calculated for a moment before answering.

“To do so, we will need at least 50 cows infected with cowpox.”

“Use the royal cattle you are raising. How long will it take?”

“Preparations will be completed within fifteen days. However, even if a cow is infected with cowpox, it recovers in as little as a week or as long as ten days, so we will need an exact date for the implementation.”

“Be fully prepared and on standby so that you can execute it immediately when you receive a call from the Royal Clinic. And…”

Sejong paused, glared at Hyang standing next to him, and continued.

“I am appointing you as a ranch supervisor (Mokchambong) of the royal ranch located on Neobeol Island.”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

At Sejong’s words, Soedol immediately prostrated himself in a deep bow. Although he was a commoner, he was being granted an official position, despite being a herdsman, which was close to *sinnyangyeokcheon* [status is commoner but doing the work of the lowborn, a socially undesirable situation].

“Then begin preparations immediately.”

“I shall obey your command!”

Soedol answered loudly and left the palace, elated.

Meanwhile, Sejong, who had returned to the throne room, glared at Hyang.

“First, Crown Prince, congratulations on your recovery.”

“Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful.”

“However, I will not tolerate such an incident again. You must report in advance and receive my permission.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong muttered to himself.

“The little rascal answers well… Huh!”

Realizing what he had said, Sejong looked towards the scribes. However, seeing that the scribes’ golden pens were already moving busily, Sejong clicked his tongue and continued.

“You and that man Soedol seem certain that cowpox inoculation will prevent smallpox, but I am uneasy. Therefore, I will conduct an experiment on the people of Hanseong. What do you think, Crown Prince?”

“It is a wise decision, Your Majesty. However, I would like to add a few things.”

“Add? Speak.”

“First, the first to receive the cowpox inoculation should be the physicians and female doctors of the Royal Clinic. If smallpox spreads during the cowpox inoculation process, then the physicians and female doctors who received the cowpox inoculation should be sent out. That way…”

“We can know more certainly whether Soedol’s words are true or false, right?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a moment at Hyang’s suggestion, Sejong turned to the Minister of Personnel, who oversaw the Royal Clinic.

“When Soedol’s preparations are somewhat complete, have half of the physicians and female doctors of the Royal Clinic inoculated with cowpox first.”

“Not all of them, but half?”

“Seeing the case of this brat… no, the Crown Prince, it seems he will not be able to move properly for at least fifteen days. So, I think it is appropriate to divide them in half.”

“I will do so.”

After hearing the Minister of Personnel’s reply, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Is there anything else you would like to add?”

“Yes. When administering the cowpox inoculation, it would be better to visit each house (*gaga hoho*) directly rather than calling people in.”

“The reason?”

“Cowpox inoculation is unfamiliar. Smallpox is scary, but who would easily step forward to receive something they have never seen before?”

“That’s true. So, we should go directly and inoculate everyone without exception? That makes sense.”

“In addition, when visiting to administer the inoculation, officials from the Ministry of Personnel (吏曹) should accompany them to conduct a census.”

“That’s right! That’s a brilliant idea (*myosu*)!”

Sejong clapped his knees in admiration at Hyang’s suggestion. Investigating the census register (戶籍) was a truly difficult task. Many people fled whenever the census was conducted to avoid taxes and labor (役). As a result, even Hanseong, the capital where the royal palace was located, did not have a proper census register.

“A twofer (*ilgeo yangdeok*)! What else would you like to add?”

Sejong, who was very pleased with the plans Hyang was putting forward, asked with a smile on his face.

Hyang quickly answered Sejong’s question.

“Although Your Majesty is not yet certain, I am confident that this cowpox inoculation will succeed. Therefore, it will be natural to implement this cowpox inoculation not only in Hanseong but throughout the country.”

“That could be.”

“If so, please receive wealth from the ministers as well as the local gentry (士大夫).”

At Hyang’s suggestion, Sejong’s face became serious.

“Receive wealth from the gentry?”

“Yes. Like smallpox, a cow that has had cowpox once will not get it again. That means we have to keep finding new cows and infecting them with cowpox. This alone will cost a considerable amount of money. In addition, dispatching physicians, female doctors, and officials to conduct the census will also cost money.”

“That’s true.”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong and the ministers nodded.

“It is also difficult to ask the people to pay money. Most of them are not even properly prepared to get through the spring famine.”

“Sadly, that is true. It is all due to my lack of virtue (不德).”

At Sejong’s self-reproach (自責), the ministers bowed their heads in unison.

“No, Your Majesty! All the people know of Your Majesty’s high virtue! This is an unavoidable natural disaster (天災地變), so do not worry!”

“Do not worry!”

Hyang, hearing the ministers speaking in unison (異口同聲), clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Those who used to whine that the king was lacking in virtue at every turn… is it case-by-case?’

Hyang, who was grumbling inwardly, continued speaking as the ministers’ words subsided.

“In this situation, how can we ask the people for money? However, the situation is different for the local magnates (土豪) and the gentry, is it not? It is just my personal opinion (私見), but if we receive the value of half a cow from those with a hundred *seok* [a unit of measurement, approximately 180 liters] of land, the value of three cows from those with a thousand *seok* of land, and the value of twenty cows from those with ten thousand *seok* of land, we will be able to cover the costs.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers all began to calculate the profits and losses. After a while, the Right State Councilor opened his mouth.

“The Crown Prince’s plan is the best, but will they readily give it up?”

“We have to make them give it up. If they voluntarily give it in advance, we will build a stele of praise (頌德碑) or bestow a signboard (懸板), and if they do not give it, we will have to collect it by force. If they refuse to pay until the end…”

Hyang’s eyes were shining coldly as he paused.

“We will simply not administer the inoculation in the village (洞里) to which that family belongs.”

“That seems like a harsh measure.”

The Minister of Personnel expressed his opposition in a loud voice at the Right State Councilor’s criticism.

“It is not harsh! Even those with a hundred *seok* of land are the most respected elders in that village! If they are gentry and elders, they should naturally step forward! But they refuse? They are not qualified to be gentry! What is the point of reciting the scriptures with their mouths if they do not act? Knowledge and action must be one (知行合一)!”

This time, the Left State Councilor stepped forward to counter the Minister of Personnel’s rebuttal.

“But isn’t the cost the problem?”

“No matter how expensive a cow is, can’t those with a hundred *seok* of land pay the value of half a cow? They are just not paying!”

Starting with the conflict between the State Councilors and the Minister of Personnel, the ministers split into two and began to argue.

“If they are gentry, they should naturally pay!”

“But the state cannot force them to pay!”

Sejong, watching the ministers’ debate, looked at Hyang with tired eyes.

“You have a remarkable talent for creating trouble (平地風波).”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Does that sound like a compliment to you?”

Hyang gave a strange smile in response, and Sejong clicked his tongue softly.

“Tsk!”

Sejong, clicking his tongue at Hyang’s reaction, watched the ministers’ debate and clicked his tongue loudly.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk!”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

As Sejong clicked his tongue, the ministers cleared their throats and straightened their postures.

“I have heard your words well. Let’s share our opinions again on the cost issue after seeing the results of the cowpox inoculation to be implemented in Hanseong. The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Taxation should thoroughly check and report not only the census process but also the cost consumption during the inoculation process. It would be better to discuss it again after seeing the results.”

“We shall obey your command.”

As the issue of ‘cowpox inoculation for the residents of Hanseong’ seemed to be somewhat resolved, Hyang quickly opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, I have a petition (請願) to make.”

“A petition?”

As soon as Hyang uttered the word ‘petition,’ Sejong and the ministers tensed up at once. This was because every time Hyang made a petition, a whirlwind swept through.

“… Do you really have to make that petition?”

“I believe it is absolutely necessary.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. Speak.”

“Yes. First of all, I would like to talk about the Royal Clinic (內醫房).”

“The Royal Clinic?”

“Yes. It was a topic that the Ministry of Personnel raised a few years ago, but the physicians are only interested in passing the exams and raising their ranks. Therefore, they are only focused on memorizing books of prescriptions and neglecting treatment.”(Note 1)

“Yes, I remember.”

Following Sejong’s answer, the Minister of Personnel interjected.

“I also remember that we discussed that issue publicly. At that time, Your Majesty ordered that ranks be raised based on treatment performance.”

“That’s right. I remember.”

Sejong nodded and looked at Hyang. Hyang continued.

“At that time, Your Majesty made a wise decision (處決).”

“But what’s the problem?”

“It’s the same problem as this cowpox inoculation. Although there are many physicians, there are still many diseases (病症) that physicians do not know, and there are many treatments that they do not know.”

“I see. Then we should get more medical books from the Ming Dynasty.”

“New medical books from China are helpful, but they are not the answer. The mountains and rivers of China are not the same as those of our Joseon, and the people are not the same. Therefore, ‘*Hyangyak Jeseong Jipseongbang* [Collection of Native Korean Prescriptions]’ was already compiled during the reign of King Jeongjong. We must augment (增補) it.”

“Augment… I see. That’s reasonable. What do you think, Minister of Personnel?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Personnel bowed his head.

“I think the Crown Prince’s words are truly reasonable!”

“Are there any other opinions?”

None of the officials raised objections to Sejong’s question.

“Good. The Minister of Personnel should cooperate with the Royal Clinic and the Hall of Worthies (集賢殿) to implement the augmentation of the medical book.”

“I shall obey your command.”

After deciding to augment ‘*Hyangyak Jipseongbang* [Collection of Native Korean Prescriptions],’ Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Is there anything else?”

“Yes. I have been watching Your Majesty and the ministers discuss state affairs, and there was one problem.”

“Problem?”

“When a problem arises in the operation of state affairs, the ministers recall and reflect on whether there were similar cases. Isn’t that what you just did?”

“That’s right.”

“In particular, the veteran ministers (元老大臣) here have experience working in the previous dynasty (前朝).”

“That’s right.”

“Similar problems always repeat themselves. In the short term, it will be 10 years, and in the long term, it will be 30 years before the current veteran ministers as well as the young officials retire. What will you do then? What will happen when a generation with no memories or experiences to reflect on operates state affairs?”

“That would be a problem…”

Sejong answered with a serious face at Hyang’s point. As Sejong became serious, the Left State Councilor joined the conversation.

“As the Crown Prince said, in 30 years, old men like me will have already returned to the soil, and those red-faced (紅顔) young men will have almost retired. However, policies and systems are constantly *이어지는* [continuing] like a flowing river, so there will be people with experience even then. Even if problems arise, they will be able to solve them.”

‘Is it the same today as yesterday, and the same tomorrow as today?’

Hyang, who was dumbfounded by the Left State Councilor’s words, immediately retorted.

* * *

Note 1) March 18, Sejong 3rd year.

End

ⓒ Gukbbong