Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 602

602. Opening the Heavens – The Debate on Foundational Law (5)

“It’s good that people are diligently examining the law, but it’s also a problem that so many are waiting to do so. If we aren’t careful, it could disrupt their livelihoods.”

Sejong nodded at Hwang Hee’s point.

“You’re right. How many copies are currently distributed to each government office?”

“Five copies, Your Majesty.”

“Then, would it be acceptable to add about five more copies?”

“That should suffice, Your Majesty.”

As Hwang Hee agreed, Kim Jeom offered a counterpoint from the side.

“Examining the Foundational Law can’t be done in just an hour or two, so even ten copies might not be enough. However, distributing more copies could also be problematic. Right now, they’re flocking out of curiosity, but as time passes and that curiosity fades, it could become a burden.”

Sejong nodded, a slightly troubled expression on his face, at Kim Jeom’s point.

* * *

The current interest in the Foundational Law was likely a temporary fad. Even a child knew that Joseon would soon proclaim itself an empire. Therefore, it was only natural that people were curious about the contents of the law that would become the empire’s foundation.

Furthermore, the notice posted at the government office clearly stated, ‘Discuss the problems.’ This was an invitation to point out any flaws discovered and suggest alternatives.

‘If my proposal is selected, it’s a shortcut to success!’

Those with ambitions for advancement, knowing the precedents, had their eyes shining. They simply laid out mats in front of the legal code and sat down.

Thanks to this, arguments and even fistfights broke out between those who had set up camp and those who were waiting. Reports of people being ‘taken to the *jade room* [jail cell] hand in hand’ were coming in from all over the place.

* * *

“Hmm… what to do?”

Sejong’s eyes naturally turned to Hyang as he pondered the best solution. At the same time, the eyes of the ministers also turned to Hyang.

‘I knew it would be like this. Sigh~.’

Hyang sighed inwardly, took a moment to organize his thoughts, and then spoke.

“If we use the printing method used to supply textbooks to the Samin Academy [a Joseon Dynasty educational institution] and use yellow paper, we can greatly reduce costs. Although it’s printing the legal code, which records the laws of the country, on cheap paper, it’s more important now for more people to have easy access to it.”

“That would be good. The Ministry of Finance should allocate the budget.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer and gave the order to Park Jong-woo.

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

Watching Park Jong-woo’s expression, which was instinctively contorting, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Everyone becomes like that when they go to the Ministry of Finance. Indeed, the world is ruled by the budget… Huh?’

Suddenly, an idea struck Hyang, and he hurriedly reported to Sejong.

“Father, how about adding this plan?”

“Is there something new you want to add?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Do you remember the *Palman Daejanggyeong* [Tripitaka Koreana, a collection of Buddhist scriptures] woodblocks that we sold to the lords of Waeguk [Japan] in the past?”

Sejong and Kim Jeom’s eyes sparkled at Hyang’s words.

“Are you suggesting we make a limited edition of the Foundational Law and sell it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Most of those who have gathered there now are probably there out of curiosity. However, some of them will be genuinely trying to examine the Foundational Law. If the price is right, those people will buy the legal code.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Sejong and Kim Jeom nodded at Hyang’s explanation. Seeing that the reaction wasn’t bad, Hyang breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

‘Phew~. I thought I would be criticized for trying to sell the legal code for money, but thank goodness! Everyone has become accustomed to the taste of capitalism! Viva! Capitalism!’

Gaining energy from Sejong’s reaction, Hyang put strength into his voice.

“It would be good to divide the Foundational Law to be sold into two types. One is a legal code printed in large quantities on yellow paper, and the other is a legal code printed on the finest *Hanji* [traditional Korean paper], and then covered with high-quality sheepskin or cowhide, following the method of the *Seoi* [ancient Chinese scribes]. Of course, the latter would be a limited number, say… only about 100 copies would be made and sold. In the case of the former, we would add a small profit to the production and transportation costs and sell it, and in the case of the latter, we could charge a lot more.”

“Hoo~.”

“That is a very good idea, Your Majesty! Truly!”

Sejong stroked his beard and twinkled his eyes at Hyang’s explanation, and Kim Jeom enthusiastically agreed.

However, Park Jong-woo, who could be said to be the person in charge, tilted his head.

“No matter how fancy the cover is, how good the paper is, or how limited the edition is, it seems difficult to put a high price on it. In the case of the woodblocks sold to the Waegu, it was a limited edition of the Palman Daejanggyeong, so it was worth keeping as a family treasure, but the case of the Foundational Law is different.”

“He has a point.”

Sejong nodded at Park Jong-woo’s words and looked back at Hyang. However, Hyang wasn’t flustered and immediately gave an answer.

“There is Father’s handwritten signature.”

“Huh? My signature?”

A signature was a type of signature in which one’s name was written directly in one’s own handwriting instead of a seal on a document.

Sejong pondered Hyang’s words for a moment, chuckled, and asked Hyang.

“Would writing my two names be of great value?”

“It is Father’s handwritten signature. It is a priceless treasure.”

The ministers all nodded at Hyang’s words. However, Sejong did not allow it immediately.

“Simply scribbling my three names is not enough.”

“Then, I will add words of blessing that Father would like to give to the owner of the legal code. However, it is too much to write all the words of blessing in your own handwriting. In the case of the words of blessing, we will print them and only sign the signature in your own handwriting.”

“Hmm… what does the Minister of Finance think?”

At Sejong’s question, Park Jong-woo answered immediately.

“It is the best plan! With this, the price is not a problem! The problem is the quantity!”

At those words, Hyang immediately drove a wedge.

“Please do not forget that it is a limited edition. And, are you going to make Father keep signing signatures?”

Park Jong-woo’s face turned pale at Hyang’s point, and he immediately bowed his head.

“This subject was momentarily out of his mind! Please forgive this subject’s disgrace!”

“Well, it can happen. It’s okay.”

At Sejong’s forgiveness, Park Jong-woo bowed again and raised his voice.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

In the end, Hyang’s proposal was immediately accepted. However, Sejong added a little to it.

“It would be good to have 100 copies of the limited edition with my signature and 150 copies with the Crown Prince’s signature.”

“Yes, even this son?”

Sejong chuckled at Hyang’s bewildered question.

“The more, the better, wouldn’t you say?”

“…Yes. I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

* * *

Not many days after Sejong’s decision was made, notices were posted in government offices and monopoly offices throughout Joseon.

“They’re selling the Foundational Law legal code? The price is two silver coins?”

“Hmm… seems like a reasonable price?”

“Hey! A legal code doesn’t feed you, so I’ll just go and see what’s in the government office!”

The reactions of the people were varied, but those who were genuinely trying to study the legal code nodded, considering it a reasonable price.

However, the eyes of the people who saw the notice that was posted afterwards grew as large as they could.

“A limited edition legal code? The price is… wow!”

“Did they put gold leaf on the cover! Why is it so expensive!”

Those who were shocked by the price nodded at the explanation that followed.

“They really put gold leaf on it. And… huh? His Majesty’s handwritten signature! The Crown Prince’s handwritten signature!”

“30 gold coins for the one with His Majesty’s signature, 25 gold coins for the one with the Crown Prince’s signature? 50 gold coins for the one with both His Majesty’s and the Crown Prince’s signatures?”

The wealthy people of Joseon who heard the rumors moved immediately.

“We must buy this!”

“This is the best opportunity to buy a priceless treasure for 30 gold coins!”

“Go to the treasury right now and get the money!”

“If we can get it, it will be an item that will become a family treasure!”

Hyang chuckled when he heard the story and muttered.

“In about 300 years, at least these things will be items that collectors will go crazy over, if nothing else.”

And Hyang’s prediction came true.

* * *

Amidst such a commotion, memorials pointing out the problems of the Foundational Law began to pour into Hanseong [the historical name for Seoul].

“These are memorials related to the Foundational Law.”

Sejong, who received a tray full of scrolls, asked the Chief Royal Secretary.

“The memorials were divided into two, what does this mean?”

“Your Majesty ordered that all memorials related to the Foundational Law be submitted, regardless of their merits, so I divided them into two. One is what I thought was reasonable, and the other is what I thought was worthless, but I picked it out just in case.”

“Is that so? You have worked hard.”

“You flatter me. It is my duty to do so.”

Sejong, who praised the Chief Royal Secretary, looked at the divided memorials.

“What should I look at first?”

After pondering for a moment, Sejong picked up the memorials that were classified as worthless.

“Let’s see how bad it is.”

Before long, Sejong threw the problematic memorials to one side.

“The paper and ink are a waste!”

-There is already the *Gyeongguk Daejeon* [the Grand Code for Governing the State, a comprehensive legal code of the Joseon Dynasty] of Joseon and the Great Ming Code, so a new legal code is useless.

-Writing the contents of the legal code in *Jeong-eum* [Hangul, the Korean alphabet] damages the weight of the law, so it must all be changed to Chinese characters.

“Even though so much time has passed, are there still people with such outdated ideas left? Chief Royal Secretary! From now on, send back all memorials that come up with such content!”

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

Sejong, who gave the order to the Chief Royal Secretary, held the memorials on the opposite side in his hand.

“Let’s see….”

Sejong nodded as he examined the contents written in the memorials and muttered.

“There are definitely many good ideas.”

There were several decent opinions, including the opinion to write Chinese characters and explanations together to solve the problem of homonyms.

Sejong nodded and recorded the pointed out problems separately, and then clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

“Everyone is pointing out similar things. Most of them are focused on the appearance. Are there any fresh ideas that pierce the problems of the heart?”

Sejong, who was looking for a fresh opinion that would catch his eye, soon sparkled his eyes.

“This is it!”

-Applying the three-*審* [trial] system to the enactment of laws is certainly a great intention to prevent the law from being reduced to something for the benefit of a minority. However, there is a problem with the first trial (*初審*). If all the authority of the first trial is entrusted only to the officials, the officials will only think of their own convenience and interests and disturb the will of the people. Therefore, the Emperor must attend the first trial process. Since the Emperor already knows the contents, the officials can prevent tampering with the bill as much as possible.

“Good. Good.”

Sejong nodded and handed the Chief Royal Secretary the memorial in question.

“Bring this person to me and bring a copy of this person’s family register.”

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

To copy the family register of the person who wrote the memorial meant that if he passed the interview properly, he would be specially hired immediately.

The Chief Royal Secretary, who received Sejong’s order, muttered softly.

“Is this finally the beginning of fishing? How big of a catch will be caught this time?”

There were memorials that received such favorable reviews, but there were also memorials that aroused Sejong’s anger.

The most certain example was about suffrage.

-Even if they are all the same *Yangin* [commoners], there are differences in the depth of learning and living. The world is such that the greater the depth of learning and the greater the wealth, the greater the influence on the surroundings, but it is too idealistic to say that everyone has the same one vote. The number of votes must be distributed differently according to reality.

Sejong, who received a memorial with such contents, was greatly angered and issued a royal decree.

“According to your logic, how many votes should be given to the teachers who teach the children who are the future talents at Samin Academy, and how many votes should be given to the soldiers and police officers of the *Po Cheong* [police agency] who protect the lives and property of the people? And how many votes is it appropriate for the Emperor of the Empire to have? If it is as you say, why are judges needed and why is the three-*審* [trial] system needed? Even if your learning is deep and your wealth is great, there is always a sky above the sky! There is no more value in considering it!”

After the official document with Sejong’s decree was posted in the government office, there were no more memorials coming up for similar reasons.