Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 747

Imperial Calendar Year 16 (1464)

Prime Minister Park Jong-woo of the Empire passed away.

He was 59 years old at the time of his death.

As the third Prime Minister of the Empire, he set a record as the ‘youngest Prime Minister’ when he was appointed at the age of 53 in Imperial Calendar Year 10 (1458).

At the time, there were many rumors about Emperor Hyang’s decision to appoint Park Jong-woo, bypassing prominent officials such as Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Hee.

Among the various rumors, the most plausible explanation was:

-The Emperor’s grand plan.

Hwang Hee and Kim Jeom both lived to be 90 years old.

And they had also served as officials for a very long time.

In addition, they had experienced all sorts of hardships as high-ranking officials during the turbulent times of the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties, from the reigns of Taejo to Sejong. Therefore, their crisis management skills were also excellent.

The problem lay in finding suitable successors for them.

Namely, Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in.

Both possessed excellent work skills and were considered the best candidates to serve as Prime Minister.

Hwangbo-in had a personality that strictly adhered to established standards. If he became Prime Minister, a position of utmost importance, he would be able to firmly maintain his position and assist the Emperor even in the face of unexpected variables or crisis situations.

Kim Jong-seo was different from Hwangbo-in.

If Hwangbo-in stubbornly insisted on his standards, Kim Jong-seo was similar to Hwang Hee in his approach.

“You are right, and you are right. But, given the situation, how about stepping back a little?”

Kim Jong-seo was adept at coordinating between interested parties in this way and achieving the best results. However, when neither side was willing to compromise, he resolutely pushed forward with his decision.

That was why he was able to successfully complete the development of the northeastern region with Hwang Hee in the past.

No matter which of the two became Prime Minister, it would not have been a wrong choice.

However, the problem was their age.

Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in were both in their 70s.

And there was no guarantee that they would live as long as Kim Jeom and Hwang Hee.

Therefore, the theory was that Hyang chose Park Jong-woo, who was considered the most capable among those in their 50s.

And this was only half the answer.

* * *

Hyang pondered over who would be the best person to fill the vacant Prime Minister position.

“Kim Jong-seo or Hwangbo-in would be suitable, but they are too old. And it can be seen as a situation where there has not been a definite verification….”

Hyang, who was slurring his words, suddenly smiled bitterly and continued.

“No, it must be that I don’t trust my own eyes.”

What Hyang was worried about was whether he was overestimating Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in.

Hyang was unsure of his own assessment because of the history he remembered.

In the history before Hyang intervened, Hwangbo-in and Kim Jong-seo were purged through the Gyeyu Jeongnan coup d’état led by Grand Prince Suyang [a historical coup in Joseon Dynasty].

Therefore, Hyang had a hard time trusting his assessment of Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in.

– Even if you look at the Annals [historical records of the Joseon Dynasty] or records of the time, it is said that Hwangbo-in and Kim Jong-seo were outstanding people. But is this an accurate and objective record? Is it just an overestimation due to their tragic end? There are too few accurate records of what abilities they showed when they served as Right State Councilor and Chief State Councilor.

In other words, Hyang began to doubt himself, wondering if he was overestimating them too much because they were ‘loyal subjects who met a tragic end in the Gyeyu Jeongnan’.

“They are definitely outstanding, but I’m still uneasy. Age is also a problem… They must be at an age where they can last for at least 10 years without any problems. And Kim Jong-seo’s love for Seoul is also a problem….”

After serious consideration, Hyang appointed Park Jong-woo as Prime Minister and Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in as Deputy Prime Ministers.

“Park Jong-woo was trained under that Kim Jeom. His abilities have been verified, and if he is assisted by Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in, he can make up for his lack of experience. And if it doesn’t work out, Park Jong-woo can be demoted to Deputy Prime Minister and one of the two can be promoted to Prime Minister. And when the time comes, he can be promoted to Prime Minister again.”

This was not a surprise. Even in the history before Hyang intervened, it was not uncommon for people to take turns holding the positions of Chief State Councilor and Second State Councilor.

Therefore, Hyang appointed Park Jong-woo as Prime Minister.

But then, Park Jong-woo suddenly died.

* * *

Wahn, who was troubled by filling the vacant Prime Minister position due to Park Jong-woo’s sudden death, visited Sejong.

“What’s going on?”

“I would like to get advice on the appointment of the Prime Minister.”

At Wahn’s answer, Sejong put aside the book he was reading and looked at Wahn.

“Yes… Who does the Emperor think is the best?”

Wahn answered immediately to Sejong’s question.

“I am thinking of one of Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in.”

“Aren’t they both too old? Will it be okay?”

“The younger generation lacks experience. For the time being, we need old subjects, even if it is dangerous.”

Wahn continued, seeing Sejong nodding silently.

“Hwangbo-in is upright and has a strong will, so he can firmly continue the national affairs. Kim Jong-seo is excellent in flexibility and can find solutions immediately even in unexpected crises. Considering the situation of the surrounding countries and the circumstances of the Empire, please give me advice on who would be better.”

Sejong thought for a moment at Wahn’s answer and opened his mouth.

“First of all, their personalities are the same as what the Emperor said. Hwangbo-in is firm on the outside and gentle on the inside, and Kim Jong-seo is gentle on the outside and firm on the inside. Hwangbo-in is strict but takes good care of his subordinates, and Kim Jong-seo seems indecisive but is upright and disciplined. They definitely have their pros and cons.”

“That’s why it’s not easy.”

“Hmm….”

After thinking for a while, Sejong answered Wahn.

“The right to decide is with the Emperor, but I think it would be better to have Hwangbo-in as Prime Minister. And send Kim Jong-seo as the Right Deputy Prime Minister.”

“Kim Jong-seo as the Right Deputy Prime Minister?”

“That’s right.”

“May I ask why?”

“Think about it, Emperor.”

Wahn’s face became serious at Sejong’s words.

‘It’s a test!’

Wahn, who realized Sejong’s intentions, pondered over what the reason might be.

After thinking for a long time, Wahn told Sejong his thoughts.

“Kim Jong-seo has experienced war in the northeastern region. Considering the current situation in the surrounding area and the situation in Suez, we cannot neglect national defense. Kim Jong-seo is a civil official, but he also knows war, and he is disciplined, so he can avoid excessive national defense. Therefore, he can be said to be suitable for the Right Deputy Prime Minister.”

Sejong smiled broadly at Wahn’s answer and replied.

“That’s what I think. In addition, even if there are people who are dissatisfied with Hwangbo-in’s rigidity, Kim Jong-seo will appease them.”

“In that case, if Kim Jong-seo is the Prime Minister, things will get bigger. If it is a person or matter that makes Kim Jong-seo angry, Hwangbo-in will also be angry.”

“That’s right. We must prevent something like fire overlapping with fire and becoming flames (炎) [a metaphor for escalating conflict] from happening.”

“That’s right.”

That’s how Hwangbo-in was appointed as the new Prime Minister. Following this, Kim Jong-seo was appointed as the Right Deputy Prime Minister, and Lee Gyeon-gi, the Minister of Finance, was appointed as the Left Deputy Prime Minister.

Finally, Im Soon-wook was appointed as the new Minister of Finance.

Im Soon-wook’s inauguration as Minister of Finance was one of the butterfly effects created by Hyang.

He was a person whose existence was not even known in the history before Hyang intervened, but he rose to the surface of history.

As time passed, Hyang frowned as he received the related report from Shinji.

“Hwangbo-in as Prime Minister, Kim Jong-seo as Right Deputy Prime Minister? This is like Hwangbo-in as Chief State Councilor and Kim Jong-seo as Second State Councilor….”

Hyang tapped the desk with his finger, pondered for a moment, and then looked out the window and muttered.

“Is it safe because I brought Jinpyeong here?”

* * *

While Hwangbo-in was rising to the new Prime Minister and the Empire was moving busily due to the subsequent personnel changes, an accident occurred in Ming [China during this period].

The Jingtai Emperor had died.

He had survived 7 years longer compared to the history before Hyang intervened.

Everything else around him had changed, but some things had not.

The Jingtai Emperor had no heir.

He had 1 son and 2 daughters, but his son, Zhu Jianze, died at a young age from illness.

After that, he tried to have a son with several concubines, but he did not bear fruit.

As the Jingtai Emperor died without an heir, the Ming court was turned upside down.

“Who should we pass the throne to….”

The ministers desperately searched the imperial family tree to find a suitable person to inherit the throne.

But it wasn’t easy. Even the previous emperor, the Xuande Emperor, had only two sons. One was Zhu Qizhen, who committed suicide in Liaodong, and the other was the Jingtai Emperor.

“Should we go further up….”

“If we do that, we will fall into a collateral line, and if we make a mistake, a civil war may break out again over the throne.”

While the ministers were at a loss and floundering, someone found an answer.

“The legitimate son of the King of Liaodong survives in Joseon!”

“The legitimate son of the King of Liaodong?”

“Oh!”

The ministers were delighted with the information that Zhu Qizhen’s legitimate son was alive, but they soon faced another problem.

-Although he was pushed out as the King of Liaodong, Zhu Qizhen is the eldest son of the Emperor.

-Therefore, if he is the legitimate son of Zhu Qizhen, there is no problem with legitimacy. Rather, he is the best existence with no problem with legitimacy.

-However, the only problem and the biggest problem is that the legitimate son is now living in Joseon.

“He has lived in Joseon for almost ten years. Shouldn’t we see him as a Joseon person?”

“No matter how I think about it, that’s probably right.”

“Will the people welcome him?”

“Then do you have another alternative?”

“How about choosing from among the sons of Emperor Hongxi, the previous emperor?”

“Are you talking about Prince Yang, Zhu Zhanze?”

“That’s right.”

“Isn’t he not a legitimate son? And he’s already 64 years old!”

“Then as the Prince of Yang….”

“A collateral line of a collateral line that is not even a legitimate son? Do you think the other imperial family members will just stand by and watch?”

What the ministers were worried about was a power struggle among the imperial family members. Having already experienced the Jeongnan Rebellion, the Zhu Gaojiu rebellion, and the civil war waged by those who impersonated Zhu Yunwen and his son, the ministers wanted to avoid such an event from happening again.

Tired of intense deliberation, the ministers sighed and complained.

“Hoo~. We should have had an elder in the imperial family at times like this….”

The ministers recalled Empress Xiaogongzhang, the empress of the Xuande Emperor, who had died a few years ago.

However, they could not leave the throne vacant forever. After much deliberation, the ministers came to a conclusion.

“Let’s send someone to Joseon.”

* * *

A month later, a Ming envoy arrived in Seoul.

Huh Hoo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who greeted the envoy, reported to Wahn immediately after hearing Ming’s request.

“Give back Zhu Qizhen’s son?”

“That’s right.”

Wahn, who was recalling his memories for a moment at Huh Hoo’s answer, looked back at the ministers with an expression of not knowing.

“But where does that son live now?”

“Ah….”

At Wahn’s question, all the ministers wore the same expression as Wahn.

‘Oops! I completely forgot!’

‘I only executed the budget, but I didn’t pay attention to it properly!’

The person who had been completely forgotten because he was already in a situation of ‘a kite with a severed string’ [something lost and beyond recovery] was Zhu Qizhen’s son.