Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 443

443. Laying the Groundwork (5)

Following Sejong’s orders, the ministers began adding to or subtracting from Hyang’s proposal.

“They tell us to supplement it, so we have to supplement it, but…”

However, the officials in charge of the actual work muttered with troubled expressions.

“How can we supplement it if we don’t know anything about it?”

‘Federalism’ was a foreign concept to them.

“This is just…”

After much deliberation, the working-level officials eventually asked Hyang for help.

“Please, give us your guidance!”

At the request of the officials seeking help, Hyang sighed softly and replied.

“Haa~. Since neither you nor I have time, let’s just pull an all-nighter.”

As they received the all-night crash course, the officials grasped the concept of federalism.

“…Any questions?”

“No, sir.”

On the last day of the special lecture, the officials all shook their heads at Hyang’s question.

“Then, thank you for your hard work. I look forward to good results.”

“We will do our best.”

The officials bowed politely and returned to their assigned offices, where they sat around the conference table and talked.

“I couldn’t say it earlier… but for a federal system to last, the monopoly of power is impossible.”

“Didn’t the Crown Prince already say that? Except for diplomacy and national defense, the rest will be distributed to the people of the newly acquired territories, whether they are tributary states or colonies.”

“That’s where the problem arises. You distribute power to the newly acquired ownerless lands, but not to the mainland? Over time, there will inevitably be those who are dissatisfied.”

The officials’ faces turned serious at their colleague’s words.

They were so used to it that they were overlooking it, but Joseon was an absolute monarchy.

“Looking at that part, doesn’t His Majesty the King share power with his subjects to some extent? Shouldn’t we do the same with the colonies or tributary states?”

“It’s not sharing, it’s distribution. Have you forgotten the Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s purge that occurred during the Gyeongjang [a period of political reform]?”

“Ah….”

“Hey!”

When one of the officials mentioned ‘Ryu Jeong-hyeon,’ the other officials quickly shut their mouths, and others urgently warned the one who had made the problematic statement.

* * *

Although they didn’t say it outright, Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the veteran ministers who shared his views were purged because they tried to share power with Sejong.

The Ryu Jeong-hyeon faction made such an attempt because they thought Sejong’s power was unstable at the time. They thought he would compromise with them to stabilize his unstable power, but Sejong responded with a hard line.

As a result, the Ryu Jeong-hyeon faction was purged. And Sejong acquired even more powerful absolute power than Taejong.

Later, as the Gyeongjang entered its second half, he handed over considerable authority to the ministers. However, this was distribution, not sharing.

* * *

Despite being warned, the person who made the problematic statement continued to speak.

“Think about it! His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince are so intelligent that there is nothing to worry about. We just have to follow them. But what if, say, three generations from now, an incompetent or tyrannical ruler ascends the throne? If we are going to build a country and grow into an empire, shouldn’t we build a thousand-year empire? Like Silla [an ancient Korean kingdom]!”

“Shh! An incompetent or tyrannical ruler!”

“Shh! An empire!”

At the dangerous remarks, fellow officials looked around and warned him. However, some officials’ eyes lit up as they pondered the remarks.

“An empire….”

“A thousand-year empire….”

“Hey! What are you doing! If you can’t stop him, at least don’t encourage him!”

As the other officials raised their voices at the sight, the conference room door burst open and Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in entered.

“What is it! What’s all the noise about!”

“Is the work finished? If it is, give it to me. I have to review it before submitting it.”

At the words of Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in, the first and second in command of the working group, the officials turned pale and stammered.

“No, that’s… not yet….”

“The special lecture just ended today….”

“A special lecture is a special lecture, and a task is a task!”

“I haven’t been able to go to Hwawollu [a famous courtesan house] for five days since I took on this job. If Maehyang [a popular courtesan] cheats on me, will you take responsibility? Huh?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwangbo-in glared at Kim Jong-seo and muttered.

“Why is Maehyang there….”

“Enough! What’s the problem? Why are you arguing instead of working!”

“There’s a slight conflict of opinion….”

“What are your fists for?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwangbo-in put his hand on his forehead and muttered.

“He’s completely ruined after hanging out with the Jurchens [a Tungistic people who lived in Northeast Asia]….”

The officials all muttered the same thing in their hearts.

‘If the Jurchens heard that, they would rush to fight to the death!’

Considering the legendary rumors from the Hamgil Province, Hwangbo-in’s words were completely different from the truth.

In any case, when the commotion subsided, Kim Jong-seo asked the officials a question.

“What on earth were you arguing about so much?”

“That’s….”

“Don’t drag it out!”

“Ah, yes!”

At Kim Jong-seo’s roar, the officials immediately explained the part they had been arguing about until now.

“Hmm….”

After listening to the officials’ explanations, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in pondered with serious faces, completely different from before.

After a long silence, Hwangbo-in was the first to speak.

“Isn’t the issue of the successor’s qualifications already being prepared since the time of Sambong Daegam [Jeong Do-jeon’s pen name]? I’m talking about the Crown Prince’s Office and Gyeongyeon [royal lectures].”

When Hwangbo-in mentioned Gyeongyeon, subordinate officials raised objections.

“Hasn’t that already become nominal?”

“That’s because His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince are so outstanding that they quickly abandoned it, but it still has a place in the legal code. The great-grandson has reached a certain age, so it will soon be re-established.”

“I see.”

The subordinate officials nodded at Hwangbo-in’s explanation.

* * *

The Crown Prince’s Office and Gyeongyeon were established to prevent incompetent monarchs from ascending the throne and ruining the country as much as possible. The core intellectuals of Joseon’s founding, led by Jeong Do-jeon, expected that if those two were properly maintained, monarchs with at least minimal abilities would continue to inherit the throne.

The problem was that as Joseon entered its later period, the direct line was cut off and collateral lines frequently ascended the throne, and as it led to Sedo politics [rule by powerful in-laws of the royal family], the Crown Prince’s Office and Gyeongyeon became useless.

* * *

Following Hwangbo-in’s explanation, Kim Jong-seo took over.

“And His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince are already aware of the issue of power ownership and have solutions.”

“Yes?”

“The Crown Prince announced his views just before the Gyeongjang began. It was truly amazing.”

The officials’ eyes widened at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“Did you see the announcement of views that I only heard about directly?”

At his subordinates’ question, Kim Jong-seo nodded and continued.

“Some say that His Majesty the King spoke his will through the Crown Prince’s mouth, but that’s nonsense. Why would His Majesty go to such trouble when he could just say it himself?”

“Ah….”

The officials nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“The one who announced his views at the age of only eight is the Crown Prince. And the one who raised him is the King. Would His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince not know this?”

“That’s true, but….”

Even though they said that, Kim Jong-seo shook his head at the officials’ still puzzled expressions.

“To trust these guys….”

“We are sorry.”

“Enough, it’s just my personal opinion, but considering the number of bowls of rice I’ve eaten in the communal cafeteria, it’s almost close [a Korean idiom meaning ‘I’m pretty sure’]. His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince will share power. But they will share it, but they will divide it very largely and finely.”

“Largely and finely?”

“Yes. Maybe they will share power with the people.”

“With the people?”

One of the subordinate officials, who had been pondering Kim Jong-seo’s words, suddenly exclaimed.

“Ah! Are you talking about not just the Sadaebu [scholar-officials] but the entire people?”

“Yes.”

“Is that possible?”

“I think it’s difficult.”

The subordinate officials gave negative reactions to Kim Jong-seo’s answer. Kim Jong-seo snorted at such reactions.

“Humph! You only know one thing and don’t know two! Get rid of the idea that only the monarch or the Sadaebu can have power! Have you forgotten what His Majesty the King has been shouting since he started the Gyeongjang?”

“Equality of all people….”

“Yes! And think about why they are nurturing merchants and artisans while giving them all kinds of benefits, and why the Ministry of Finance officials are bleeding from their noses and suffering so much every time they draw up the budget, but they still operate the Samin Academy [a school for commoners] with national funds! Do you think that’s just to increase revenue and increase the number of people to use as officials?”

“Ah….”

The subordinate officials looked like they had been hit by a blow at Kim Jong-seo’s words. Kim Jong-seo put the finishing touch on the expressions of such subordinates.

“As a rule, the more ink that goes into a person’s head and the blacker it becomes, the more greed they have. Power lust cannot be left out of that greed. So, if you share power with the people, the monarch becomes comfortable. Because they will bite and tear each other apart. And when authority is created, responsibility is created together. That means that the saying ‘I can’t die alone’ doesn’t only apply to officials.”

“Ah….”

Only then did the officials nod their heads greatly as if they understood.

Kim Jong-seo, having confirmed the officials’ appearance, shouted.

“So, put away your useless worries and quickly write a report!”

Fifteen days later, Sejong accepted the supplement.

“Hmm…. Most of the items conclude that ‘it is best to quickly adjust to the local situation.'”

“I am sorry. The abilities of the ministers are insufficient….”

As Hwanghee bowed his head and apologized, Sejong shook his head.

“There is no need to apologize. It is inevitable that such a conclusion will be reached because we know almost nothing about the ownerless land. But there is one thing I like. ‘In order to quickly stabilize the territory and have a strong sense of belonging, someone in a very high position must go and lead the site.’ Hmm…. As expected…. This saying is also good. The best image of the empire is like a ‘connected tree’ [trees that grow together until they fuse]. A connected tree…. A connected tree….”

Sejong, who liked the word ‘connected tree,’ which refers to two trees that are in contact with each other and become one, mulled over the word and turned to Jo Malsaeng.

“How much time will it take to establish an organization to oversee colonial policy?”

“It will take 5 to 10 years. The reason is….”

Jo Malsaeng gave a similar explanation to what he had given to the ministers before. After listening to Jo Malsaeng’s explanation, Sejong thought for a moment and then ordered Jo Malsaeng.

“Finish the preparations within 5 years.”

“I will obey your command.”

Sejong, who gave the order to Jo Malsaeng, looked out of Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace] and muttered.

“The good times are all gone. Now I have to work?”

At the same time, Hyang, who was working in Area 51, vigorously scratched his ears.

“Ouch~. Who is talking bad about me?”

This is how the seed of the ‘Great Federal Empire’ was planted.

In the future, it was the beginning of the empire that heard all kinds of words, starting with the ‘black hand behind the world’s conspiracy’.

Other countries watching the actions of the Korean Empire always shook their heads with incomprehensible expressions.

“Hey! Those crazy bastards!”

-Crazy bastards who grab each other’s hair and fight at every chance, but when another country intervenes, they unite as if nothing happened and shout ‘Do you want to die?’

-Crazy bastards who know too well that they are good.

-Crazy bastards who fought for 30 years over the problem of transliterating the country’s name into a foreign language and then fixed the international common language to Korean.