Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 429

429. What Was Expected and What Was Not (6)

“The next emperor…”

Sejong pondered Hyang’s words and looked at Hwang Hee.

“I haven’t heard anything about the Crown Prince [Sejong’s heir] lately, have I?”

Hwang Hee responded immediately to Sejong’s question.

“I will issue the order right away.”

“See to it quickly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Although he gave the order, Sejong didn’t just let it pass.

“Hmm… How old is the Crown Prince now?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun paused to recall before answering.

“I believe he is turning ten years old.”

“Ten years old… Hmm…”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, Sejong made a humming sound and stroked his beard. After thinking for a moment, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“What was the Crown Prince like when he was ten?”

The ministers wore dumbfounded expressions at Sejong’s words.

‘Is he using the Crown Prince as the standard?’

‘If you use the Crown Prince as the standard, everyone will look like a fool!’

‘Your Majesty! Please be reasonable!’

Amidst the ministers’ silent cries, Hwang Hee stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you setting the standard a bit too high?”

“Hmm? Is that so?”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong looked back at Hyang and soon nodded.

“That’s right. I was a bit harsh.”

The ministers nodded knowingly at Sejong’s words. However, the ministers were once again dumbfounded by Sejong’s next words.

“Let’s see, what was I like when I was ten?”

* * *

The ministers all remembered clearly. Sejong had been called a prodigy since he was young.

The best way to soothe Taejong [Sejong’s father], who was engaged in fierce marital fights with Queen Wongyeong due to his womanizing issues and creating a tense atmosphere, was to praise Sejong’s excellence.

When the ministers praised Sejong’s excellence, the atmosphere would quickly turn warm, and they could safely get through the day.

In the end, it was thanks to such excellence that the competition between Yangnyeong [Sejong’s older brother] and Sejong arose.

* * *

Therefore, the ministers were dumbfounded when Sejong tried to use his childhood as the standard.

‘Is this guy serious!’

‘Is he messing with us right now?’

As the ministers were once again silently crying out, Hwang Hee stepped forward again.

“Your Majesty, weren’t you also called a prodigy? Aren’t you setting the standard too high?”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong smiled slightly. After all, it was praise that he was smart. However, Sejong shook his head.

“Isn’t it better than being dismissive?”

“No, Your Majesty. If you set the standard so high and the Crown Prince’s qualifications fall slightly short, you might end up being dismissive. It is better to set the standard low and not lose a cautious mindset.”

“That’s right!”

“The Prime Minister’s words are truly wise!”

The ministers enthusiastically supported Hwang Hee’s words. Watching this, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Is it a matter of the glass being half empty or half full?’

In the end, Sejong had no choice but to ask the ministers.

“Then, who would be a good standard to set?”

Hwang Hee answered immediately to Sejong’s question.

“The current Emperor [of Ming].”

“The current Emperor…”

After calculating for a moment, Sejong nodded.

“That’s appropriate. Until proper information comes in, let’s use him as the standard.”

As Sejong made his decision, Hyang wore a dumbfounded expression this time.

‘The current Emperor is moderate? What is this, some battle manga power creep…’

In the end, Hyang had no choice but to speak up.

“Father, aren’t you being too dismissive of the current Emperor?”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Looking at the current Emperor, he is someone who not only restores the riddled finances but also wields the stellar officials of Ming. Isn’t considering such a person as moderate too dismissive of Ming?”

At Hyang’s criticism, Sejong smiled slightly and replied.

“That’s why I set him as the standard. Because he is someone who is at least that capable.”

“…Yes.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘So, Father has confidence that he is more than that?’

As Hyang muttered inwardly, he turned his gaze to Hwang Hee.

“Prime Minister, do you perhaps have other intentions?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“It is an undeniable fact that Father is excellent, but what is the reason for praising me so highly? Are you perhaps trying to cloud Father’s eyes?”

“That is absurd!”

Hwang Hee, horrified, immediately knelt before Sejong and raised his voice.

“I, Prime Minister Hwang Hee, have no selfish intentions in assisting His Majesty and strengthening this Joseon! I only said that the Crown Prince is excellent because he is excellent!”

“I know your loyalty well. You don’t have to worry. Get up and return to your seat.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

After soothing Hwang Hee and sending him back to his seat, Sejong turned to Hyang and said sternly.

“You made a mistake this time. Apologize to the Prime Minister.”

At Sejong’s stern voice, Hyang bowed his head to Hwang Hee.

“I am sorry. I said that because I never thought I was that excellent.”

“No, Your Highness. You are truly an excellent person. If His Majesty and the Crown Prince were not excellent, we would be working like the officials of Ming.”

Sejong showed curiosity at Hwang Hee’s words.

“What about the officials of Ming?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hee turned his gaze away and stammered.

“The officials of Ming do not work overtime.”

“Isn’t that because Ming has far more officials than our Joseon?”

Meng Sa-seong answered instead of Hyang’s criticism.

“But Ming also has a vast land and many people. Our Joseon has a small land and even fewer people.”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Sejong coughed unnecessarily at Meng Sa-seong’s indirect criticism.

The historian who recorded all of this added the following.

-…The Vice Minister’s answer caused His Majesty to cough and remain silent.

The historian says.

I also heard that I was a prodigy, but being in the court only brings self-loathing. Should I resign?

* * *

“Let’s leave the matter of the Crown Prince here and talk about the Iron Horses [early trains] again. Crown Prince, do you think it is good to accept Ming’s proposal?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“I agree to accept it, but we also need to prepare.”

“Prepare? Hmm…”

Sejong pondered for a moment what Hyang’s words meant and nodded.

“That’s right. No matter how much the Emperor guarantees the merchant guild, a merchant guild is still a merchant guild. It is not fitting for our court to directly confront a merchant guild.”

“That is correct.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s words.

And the ministers who heard their conversation also nodded.

“That’s right… It could become a diplomatic issue.”

“Even if we are a vassal state, directly confronting the merchant guild of the suzerain state would certainly set a bad precedent.”

The ministers, who were chatting, immediately reached an agreement, and Hwang Hee stepped forward to inform Sejong.

“The Crown Prince’s words are extremely reasonable.”

“I think so too. Then, what is the best way to tell the envoy?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang stepped forward to answer.

“How about saying that a merchant guild specializing in the production of Iron Horses will soon be launched, so let’s talk again then?”

“A merchant guild for a merchant guild?”

“That is correct.”

Sejong, stroking his beard and calculating, pointed out the problem.

“It’s a good idea, but… I see that you are really going to create a merchant guild to produce Iron Horses, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that the Iron Horses and railroads should not be entrusted to a merchant guild?”

“What should never be entrusted to a merchant guild is operation. Rather, production should be returned to the private sector. That way, we can secure jobs for the people and foster skilled artisans.”

“Separation of production and operation… That’s good.”

Sejong, nodding at Hyang’s suggestion, asked the ministers.

“What do you think?”

The ministers began to calculate diligently.

‘If we separate production and operation, we will definitely create a lot of jobs.’

‘Even now, many things are concentrated in District 51. It would be best to return what can be returned to the outside.’

‘The skill gap between the artisans in District 51 and the private artisans is widening. Starting with the Iron Horses, we need to return what can be returned so that private artisans can also develop their skills.’

Even after considering this and that, Hyang’s proposal was more beneficial, so the ministers, having reached an agreement, informed Sejong.

“We believe that the plan proposed by the Crown Prince is the best!”

“Really? Is that so? Then, organize this well and proceed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs should think of an appropriate answer to give to the envoy, and the Prime Minister and other ministers should prepare a plan for the launch and personnel composition of the merchant guild related to the production of Iron Horses and submit it to me.”

“We obey the order!”

The ministers, bowing their heads and answering, looked at Hyang and all thought the same thing.

‘He creates work every time he comes, and then he insists that he is ordinary?’

‘He’s messing with us! I’m sure of it!’

‘Seriously! The father and son are a pair!’

* * *

After the meeting ended and the ministers left, Sejong had a conversation with Hyang.

“The story of Ming’s Crown Prince came up earlier, but how are the Great-Grandson and Royal Grandchildren growing up?”

“Yes. Fortunately, they are growing up well without any minor illnesses.”

“What about their talents? They are your children, so I have high expectations.”

“They seem quite bright.”

Answering Sejong’s question, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like it’s the second round [reincarnation]. Or maybe he’s a very talented actor… Anyway, the plan to raise him well and abdicate as soon as possible remains unchanged.’

Whether he knew Hyang’s heart or not, Sejong was lost in memories.

“I remember when you were young. A child who was only three or four years old had mastered not only the Thousand Character Classic [a foundational text used to teach Chinese characters] but also the scriptures.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang wore an embarrassed expression.

‘I was desperate at that time.’

“Since he is your child, I have high expectations. And the Crown Princess and Yangwon and Yangje are pregnant with their second child?”

“Yes.”

“Seeing many children is also your duty, so do your best.”

“…Yes.”

After finishing the conversation with Sejong, Hyang looked back at Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace] and grumbled.

“I’m already trying so hard… What am I, a human seed drill?”

Hyang pondered deeply to prevent conflicts between the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje.

“Should I follow Islamic law in this area?”

The Islamic law that Hyang mentioned was about marriage and family.

According to Islamic law, one husband and one wife were the basic principle, but up to one husband and four wives were possible. However, in the case of having multiple wives, the husband had to love and treat all his wives equally.

Therefore, to prevent conflicts between the women and to prevent this from causing tragedy later, Hyang had to treat the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje as fairly as possible, like a Muslim.

And since the biggest cause of conflict was the issue of children, Hyang had to work hard every night.

* * *

In the end, after fierce negotiations between Ming’s envoy and Lee Maeng-gyun, it was decided that the negotiations on Iron Horses and railroads would be reopened in two months.

“I hope there will be good results in two months.”

At Ming’s envoy’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun smiled and replied.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a postponement due to administrative issues, isn’t it? Next time, we will be able to talk with each other with a smile.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who escorted Ming’s envoy who paid his respects to Sejong and left, looked back at his subordinates.

“Let’s go to the Ministry of Finance! You must have calculated well how much to skim off!”