Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 63

Jjangra

Heloam

63. Variables (2)

While the search for a royal consort for the princess caused a commotion, the court was also in an uproar. The cause of the commotion was the ‘candy monopoly.’

“The candy monopoly has been decided, but what would be the best way to implement it?”

To Sejong’s question, the ministers immediately offered answers.

“It is believed that the best way is to hand over the retail rights to appropriate merchants.”

Following that, the ministers argued, saying Song merchants were good, Gyeonggang merchants were good. To Sejong’s ears, it sounded like, ‘I took bribes from Song merchants, I took bribes from Gyeonggang merchants.’

Sejong’s face grew increasingly fierce as he quietly watched the ministers’ debate. Finally, Sejong slammed the desk with his fist and shouted.

“Gal (喝)!” [A Korean exclamation of disapproval or reprimand, similar to ‘Bah!’]

At Sejong’s roar, the ministers who had been arguing shut their mouths and immediately bowed.

Sejong’s scolding continued over the heads of the ministers.

“Are you listening to my words properly and thinking? How many days has it been since I declared a reform, and spoke about the measures for the reform and the preparations for it!”

“We are deeply sorry!”

“Look back at the answers you gave to my question just now! Are your answers truly for the reform? Or are they answers for the gifts that will come to your homes? Are they answers for Joseon [The name of the kingdom]? Or are they for your own coffers?”

At Sejong’s rebuke, the ministers all prostrated themselves and bowed their heads.

“Please kill us!”

“Please kill us!”

The ministers, who were all shouting ‘kill us,’ began to sweat cold at Sejong’s next words.

“Kill me, kill me, you say… I will decide whether to grant your wish after seeing how you create this policy and its results.”

“Heok!” [A gasp of surprise or fear]

Alarmed by Sejong’s warning, the ministers all raised their voices.

“We will do our best!”

“We will dedicate our lives!”

Sejong, watching the ministers trembling as they answered, glared at the chief councilors prostrating in the front.

“I will speak to the chief councilors. The reason I placed you in the position of chief councilors is because I trusted your evaluations. However, lately, I am quite disappointed.”

“We are deeply sorry!”

“Please kill us!”

The chief councilors prostrated themselves so flat on the floor that they seemed to stick to it. Sejong’s eyes were cold as he looked at the chief councilors.

“I hope you will not disappoint me any further. I warn you, if I see shortcomings compared to the rumors I have heard about you, I will have no reason to keep you in those positions. Do you understand? Left State Councilor and Right State Councilor.”

“We will engrave it in our bones!” [A Korean idiom meaning to remember something forever.]

“We will never disappoint you!”

Hwanghee and Maengsaseong, who were publicly singled out, answered with pale faces full of cold sweat.

Unlike the frozen atmosphere of the court, Sejong proceeded with the meeting in a dry voice.

“Then, let’s move on to the next agenda.”

“Yes! The next agenda is….”

“The next is….”

“Tsk!”

Sejong clicked his tongue as he watched the ministers hastily checking the next agenda. He did not like their flustered appearance at all.

* * *

As Hyang regressed and began to intervene in earnest, several variables arose. Some of these variables were expected by Hyang, but many were not.

One of the unexpected variables was that Sejong’s evaluation criteria for the ministers had become extremely high.

‘Why can’t they think of what even a 10-year-old child can think of!’

‘Why can’t they think ahead? If I have to tell them everything in advance, there’s no point in putting them in the positions of chief councilors and ministers, is there?’

Compared to Hyang, who came up with solutions on his own, sometimes even ahead of time, Sejong’s evaluation criteria became Hyang. And the victims of that raised bar were Hwanghee and Maengsaseong.

“I clearly heard from Father that they were highly capable. The evaluations of the surrounding officials were the same. But why?”

They were talented individuals recognized by Sejong’s father, Taejong.

However, after placing them in the positions of chief councilors, Sejong could not hide his disappointment as he examined their work abilities.

“Am I setting my standards too high? Or were the evaluations of the two too generous? There are many who say the same thing to call it the latter, and the lack of skill is visible to call it the former….”

Sejong had to contemplate deeply as he watched Hwanghee and Maengsaseong show abilities that fell short of his expectations.

“Can I really entrust them with important tasks? For the success of the reform, I need someone more outstanding than anyone else.”

* * *

As Sejong’s disappointment grew, Hwanghee and Maengsaseong were also in a desperate situation. Because they were appointed to the positions after the eminent veteran officials were purged, they had to do their best to survive and maintain their power. However, as soon as they took office as chief councilors, they faced a huge wall called ‘reform.’

“Seriously… does that family only have monsters living in it!”

Hwanghee, after reading over 20 books on reform-related measures, lamented while drinking with Maengsaseong.

If the late king Taejong maintained power through fear politics and oppressed his subjects, the current king was oppressing his subjects with work. Moreover, he didn’t just throw work at them and end it, but he set everything up with a level of perfection that was difficult to touch carelessly, and then evaluated how the ministers did.

If the ministers simply followed, they would become rice-eating parasites who wasted the budget. They had to find and supplement the shortcomings in the reform measures to be worthy of the name of minister.

In the case of chief councilors, they had to create improvements that could produce results beyond simple supplementation.

Of course, all of this was not a clear and official standard set by Sejong. However, they could feel it clearly every time they examined the measures put forward by the ministers. And the rumors about it had already spread throughout the capital.

Men who finished their day and emptied takbaeggi [a type of Korean alcohol] in taverns brought up the hot topics of the capital as drinking snacks.

“Do you know what the most common saying in Yukjo Street [The street where the main government offices were located] these days is?”

“’Is this the best you can do?’”

“You got it right!”

“Then, it’s my turn this time. Do you know what the next most common saying is?”

“’Compared to what I’ve heard…’”

“Puhahaha! That’s exactly it! And finally…“

”Tsk tsk tsk!“

“Puhahahaha!”

The men who were talking emptied their glasses while laughing out loud. It was because the pretentious nobles were being taken down a peg.

However, the expressions of the nobles who happened to hear the rumors were not very good. In fact, that was the most common thing they heard from their superiors. And the first start was Sejong.

“Is this the best you can do?”

Every time Sejong asked this, the ministers had to sweat. And, for Hwanghee and Maengsaseong, one more sentence was added.

“Compared to what I’ve heard, it’s not very….”

Finally, Sejong clicked his tongue, nervously clearing the report.

In the end, the two men, who had not been chief councilors for even a few months, had a strong desire to throw their resignation letters.

“I want to quit!“

* * *

In the end, the ministers who were scolded by Sejong had to rack their brains to find new measures.

“After all… shouldn’t the Ministry of Taxation dispatch people directly?”

“From the Ministry of Taxation? To all eight provinces of Joseon? Up to where?”

“For the monopoly to be properly implemented, it should be at least up to the Dohobu [A major administrative division in Joseon]…”

“Then the government offices of the Ministry of Taxation will be empty!”

“Then what should we do? If we leave it to the merchants, we will all be dismissed.”

“No, it’s fortunate if we only get dismissed. Have you forgotten what happened last time?”

The ministers all knew that Sejong wanted the Ministry of Taxation to manage it directly. However, realistically, there was a shortage of officials, so they were circling around without coming up with a clear answer.

In the end, Hwanghee stepped forward to solve the same situation as a squirrel running on a wheel.

“Let’s hold a civil service examination.“

* * *

“Hold a civil service examination? Hmm….”

As Sejong stroked his beard and trailed off, Hwanghee explained in more detail.

“That’s right. In order for the expansion of finances through the monopoly to be properly achieved, the Ministry of Taxation must manage it directly. However, the number of officials currently in the Ministry of Taxation is too insufficient. Therefore, we should supplement the number through a civil service examination.”

Hwanghee’s explanation continued, but Sejong’s expression did not improve much. After pondering for a while, Sejong tossed it to Hyang.

“It’s a little lacking… Crown Prince, what is your opinion?”

Hyang, who received the toss from Sejong, answered immediately.

“Holding a civil service examination is a good thing, but time is short and it costs a lot.”

“That’s right.”

“Therefore, if I may offer my opinion, I would say that we should immediately put the students of Sungkyunkwan [The highest educational institution in Joseon] into practical work.”

“The students of Sungkyunkwan?”

“Yes, Father. Please think about what happened in the year of Imin last time.”

“The year of Imin? The year of Imin… Ah!”

In the 4th year of Sejong, the governor of Jeolla Province submitted a petition.

-Sungkyunkwan students who care for elderly and sick parents are appointed as headmasters in their hometowns to support their parents. However, they are restricted from taking the civil service examination because they lack the number of days of attendance at Sungkyunkwan, so please resolve this.

Upon receiving the petition, Sejong allowed Sungkyunkwan students who cared for elderly parents to take the civil service examination regardless of the number of days of attendance through the Ministry of Rites.

As Sejong nodded as if he remembered, Hyang continued to speak.

“The biggest goal of Sungkyunkwan students is to become officials by taking the higher civil service examination. Then what problem is there in putting them into practical work a few years earlier?”

Hwanghee intervened in Hyang’s words.

“The Crown Prince’s words seem right at first glance, but what is the reason for taking the higher civil service examination? It is to select those with excellent abilities. If we send Sungkyunkwan students to official positions unconditionally, we may end up giving hats to incompetent people.”

Hyang made an incredulous expression as Hwanghee pointed out the problem.

“What is the exam that Sungkyunkwan students take every month? Shouldn’t we prioritize selecting those with excellent grades? And, it is even better to see this as a type of exam. Shouldn’t the administration run well when those who know practical work well become officials?”

Some ministers sighed and nodded at the word practical work. In particular, the heads and vice-ministers in charge of the Ministry of Taxation were nodding greatly.

In the meantime, Hyang’s words continued.

“In particular, there is a reason why students must see the work related to the budget. The more those who know the importance of the budget, the more they can create proper policies rather than armchair theories. Therefore, this can be the most important test.”

“…I believe that His Highness’s words are correct.”

Hwanghee had to wave the white flag at Hyang’s rebuttal. Sejong, who was watching the scene, came to a conclusion.

“Order Sungkyunkwan to supplement the officials of the Ministry of Taxation. Thus, the monopoly office directly under the Ministry of Taxation should be established up to at least the county level.”

“We obey the order.”

The ministers bowed their heads and answered at Sejong’s decision. It was a natural result that the voice of the Minister of Taxation, whose manpower replenishment had been decided, was the loudest.

However, Hwanghee’s face was crumpled. It was because Sejong’s gaze towards Hwanghee was not very favorable.

In the end, Hwanghee, who left work that day, had to vent his frustration while drinking heavily.

“Damn rich people!“

* * *

While the monopoly offices directly under the Ministry of Taxation were being created nationwide, an urgent report came from Ming [A Chinese dynasty].

“Death of the Ming Emperor!”

The Yongle Emperor had died. Sejong received the urgent report and discussed countermeasures with the ministers.

“Form a condolence group as soon as possible.”

“We obey the order.”

“Do you know anything about the Crown Prince who will become the new emperor?”

The ministers were silent at Sejong’s question. Sejong clicked his tongue at the sight.

”Tsk!“

As soon as Sejong clicked his tongue, the ministers shouted reflexively.

“We are deeply sorry!”

“Enough! You immediately find a physiognomist who is said to be good and include him in the condolence group! And also select someone among the royal physicians who is good at looking at the face and join the condolence group!”

“We obey the order!“

* * *

While the delegation was being hastily formed to offer condolences for the death of the Yongle Emperor, Sejong sought out Hyang.

“Will you be seeking books through this envoy as well?”

“It is not an envoy going for a good reason, but we cannot miss the opportunity, can we? When the trading post being built in Shandong is completed, it will not be so complicated then.”

“I see.”

Sejong, nodding at Hyang’s answer, rummaged through his sleeves and took out a piece of paper and handed it to Hyang.

“Then please get some books related to this as well.”

“Yes? Yes.”

Hyang, who received the piece of paper and looked at the contents, looked at Sejong with wide eyes.

“Father. Is it phonology that you want?”

“That’s right.”

‘No way! Already?’

Hyang barely composed his trembling heart and asked Sejong the reason.

“Father. May I ask the reason?”

“It’s because I’m frustrated. Frustrated. The ministers who fill the throne room are only ministers in name. They are rice thieves. If they only do what they are told, what need is there for ministers? New people are needed. But, looking at the situation in this Joseon, that is not an easy task either.”

Sejong shook his head and sighed, then continued.

“There are too few people. No, there are many smart people, but there must be more than one or two who are buried because they don’t know the damn Chinese characters. Then, if we create and distribute characters that they can easily learn, they will also be able to get opportunities, and I will be able to find talented people, so wouldn’t it be killing two birds with one stone?”

Hyang nodded without realizing it at Sejong’s explanation. However, Hyang wanted to know more.

“But why phonology?”

“The characters I saw in the books of the Westerners you obtained were all characters that expressed sounds. I thought that expressing sounds would be easier to read and understand than expressing meanings.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be better for Father to issue an order directly?”

Sejong chuckled at Hyang’s question.

“Those damn ministers wouldn’t just let it go.”

“Ah…,”

That’s how Hyang became Sejong’s purchasing agent.