There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 211

‘Why have these guys suddenly become staunch independence activists?’

It was true that I had consistently advocated for Joseon to be Joseon and Ming to be Ming.

‘That’s why I ignored the ban on maritime activities.’

If Ming’s laws were to be uniformly applied to Joseon, all kinds of maritime trade should be abandoned first.

‘Who cares what Ming thinks?’

But when it came to the Jonggye [genealogy record] issue, I didn’t exactly go to Ming to beg them to fix my family tree.

But I never expected the Confucian scholars to use this sword against me.

‘Damn it.’

Is it normal to be even more pissed off when I’m defeated by my own logic?

Endless slogans like ‘Defend the Sovereignty of the Slaves’ came over the palace walls.

Since Changdeok Palace and Sungkyunkwan [Joseon’s highest educational institution] faced each other closely, the sound was very loud and clear.

I guess those guys are aiming for that with their protest.

‘Where the hell did such nonsense come from?’

The malicious rumor was clearly aimed at Zhu Suohua.

‘A woman is interfering in politics, and a foreign princess is infringing on vested interests… They’ve attached only the kind of talk that’s perfect for inflaming public opinion.’

Zhu Suohua, her face pale, looked at me and said.

“What······ did I do wrong again?”

“No.”

I said, blocking her ears.

“I’m going to make sure they know they messed with the wrong person.”

How dare those Confucian scholars mess with my people?

“So don’t worry and just stay still.”

“Husband······.”

Zhu Suohua looked up at me and said.

“My ears are blocked, so I can’t hear anything.”

I awkwardly let go of her.

I didn’t say anything in particular.

===

The protest by the Sungkyunkwan Confucian scholars was also clearly heard in the throne room.

This wasn’t an era with standards for protest decibels.

As Yi Bang-won silently listened to the sound, the officials, who were watching him carefully, threw out a word each.

“Your Majesty, it seems premature to carry out the slave reform yet.”

“The Great Ming Code restricts the qualification to own slaves, but employing slaves is also necessary for the students.

If there were no slaves, the nobles would have to plow the fields and cook their own meals, so how could they have time to properly study?”

Since Yi Bang-won didn’t make any comments about the Confucian scholars’ protest, the officials brought it up first.

The Great Ming Code prohibited commoners from owning slaves, and the Myunghoe Yo [Ming Dynasty legal code] stated that only meritorious subjects could have slaves.

However, this law didn’t fit reality or reason.

How could slaves be raised to commoner status overnight, and how could high-ranking nobles do the work of the lower class themselves?

Yi Bang-won glanced over their faces and opened his mouth.

“All I ordered was an investigation into the origins of the government slaves, but I don’t know where these words came from.”

“······.”

The officials had nothing to say.

Certainly, what the King had ordered was only the investigation of the government slaves.

However, all the officials here knew that this was only a prelude to the slave reform.

‘Ugh, what’s the point of thinking about it now that it’s gotten complicated!’

Unlike the other officials whose calculations had become complicated, Vice Commander Yeom Chi-yong, who had also attended the recent meeting, was more courageous than expected.

Thanks to this temperament, he was demoted to a government slave in Yeongcheon for ignoring Yi Bang-won’s judgment in the original history.

“Then, Your Majesty, please issue a royal decree to clearly state that this is a misunderstanding and rebuke the lightness of the Confucian scholars. Aren’t they the ones who started the revolt based on mere rumors?”

If Yi Bang-won took a step back, his intention was to thwart the plan to release the slaves by presenting the Great Ming Code at this opportunity.

“Even if I issue a royal decree, will the Confucian scholars obediently end their revolt and return?”

Yeom Chi-yong answered Yi Bang-won’s question.

“If Your Majesty clearly states it, how could they not obey the order as subjects?”

The answer seemed to imply that he could control all the Confucian scholars gathering and dispersing.

Yi Bang-won knew very well what that meant.

‘Greedy monsters are moving behind the scenes.’

As a graduate of Sungkyunkwan from the Goryeo Dynasty, Yi Bang-won could clearly read their movements.

He could dismiss officials who interfered with his power, but it was difficult to ignore the public opinion of the Confucian scholars.

Goryeo and Joseon considered guaranteeing the actions of Confucian scholars as nurturing the nation’s vitality and granted Sungkyunkwan considerable autonomy.

As such, there were various ways for Sungkyunkwan Confucian scholars to protest. If the student council, Jaehoe [student council], gathered opinions, they could submit a collective appeal called Yuso [written petition], refuse classes and protest in a revolt, vacate the dormitory, or leave Sungkyunkwan itself.

If the King didn’t listen to them, no matter what······.

‘He’s a tyrant! A tyrant!’

‘If you’re not going to listen to the Confucian scholars, then get rid of Sungkyunkwan!’

This is how they could create public opinion.

Of course, a truly insane person like Yeonsangun would tear down Sungkyunkwan and turn it into a hunting ground as they wished, but unless you were that crazy, it was difficult to stand up against them.

So, they were trying to create so-called public opinion by moving the Confucian scholars behind the scenes and using it as a shield to preemptively block the situation.

But Yi Bang-won tapped the desk and said.

“What if I don’t want to issue such a royal decree?”

“Yes?”

“Following Jaehoe, they held a Hogok revolt [protest to protect the nation]······. Next will be Gongjae [refusal to attend lectures] and Gonggwan [closure of the institution]. Sungkyunkwan will be deserted.”

“However, Your Majesty! Ignoring public opinion is going against the will of heaven······.”

“Wasn’t it the Confucian scholars who slandered the Crown Prince and his wife based on unfounded rumors!”

Yeom Chi-yong, who had stepped forward, flinched at Yi Bang-won’s rebuke.

“The Great Ming is very interested in the safety of the Crown Princess, and envoys are coming to Joseon three times a year. What will happen if the Emperor finds out that the Confucian scholars dared to slander the Crown Princess?

Wouldn’t I have to treat this as treason to have something to say to the Emperor?”

‘Treason!’

The officials widened their eyes.

“Your Majesty! The Confucian scholars were only trying to prevent foreigners from disrupting politics and disturbing customs!”

“You must not treat the Confucian scholars as traitors!”

As soon as they heard those words, the officials prostrated themselves in a row.

Among them were not only those who had been at the previous meeting but also the Crown Prince’s confidants such as Hwanghee and Maeng Saseong.

They also cried out that it was impossible to suppress the Confucian scholars.

The prostrated officials hurriedly exchanged glances.

‘Surely, Your Majesty wouldn’t really mobilize the Uigeumbu [royal investigation bureau], would he?’

‘Unless His Majesty wants to become the tyrant of the world.’

‘His Majesty is just putting on a show of intimidation.’

Although he was a king who had killed his own relatives like dogs, it was mostly because there was a reason.

However, it was impossible for Yi Bang-won to break away from the Sadaebu [scholar-officials].

‘The King can’t directly control the mouths of the Confucian scholars yet······.’

Unlike the tyrants who would appear in later generations, Yi Bang-won was not the kind of person to make such an unreasonable move.

Yi Bang-won looked down at them and opened his mouth.

“What if I don’t directly punish the Confucian scholars with criminal law?”

The officials looked at each other.

What they had initially wanted was only for Yi Bang-won to issue a royal decree stating that he had no intention of abolishing the slaves.

However, the issue had already shifted to ‘how to disband the Confucian scholars.’

“Since you are so vehemently advising me, I will refrain from giving criminal punishment. However, I cannot leave the reckless revolt to continue!”

Yi Bang-won slammed the desk hard with his fist.

“I will order the Crown Prince to disband this revolt!”

===

“I expected them to bring in the Confucian scholars anyway.”

Yi Bang-won said that.

The ‘true power of the Sarim faction [group of scholars]’ is not in the court officials.

Their power is the public opinion disguised as Sarim. The ones who can best express it in Hanyang [capital city] are the Confucian scholars of Sungkyunkwan.

“If an official criticized the Ming princess, he would deserve to die, but if public opinion is clamoring like that, who can be punished?”

‘If it were Emperor Yongle, he would have caught all the people who were clamoring like that and shown them a hot time.’

First of all, I can’t act like Emperor Yongle, and I can’t bring him in either.

If this fact is known to Ming, they might catch all the Confucian scholars who insulted his younger sister and put on a dismantling show in Nanjing, but what would happen to the prestige of our court?

Then, secondly, do I beat down the ‘rude’ Confucian scholars with force?

This was also a story that would be heard as a tyrant and chewed on for a long time.

“Sungkyunkwan has issued a final ultimatum, haven’t they?”

Those arrogant bastards.

When these guys didn’t get their father’s reply, they finally declared that they would start Gonggwan.

In other words, they would empty Sungkyunkwan and go on an indefinite strike.

“Gonggwan is the most powerful expression of protest they can make. If there are no Confucian scholars, Sungkyunkwan must close, and a country that cannot raise Confucian scholars will soon have no future.”

Yi Bang-won said that.

However, his expression didn’t show any particular concern.

“If you stay in this position, you will have to go through the protests of those shaggy-haired Confucian scholars countless times. Think of it as experiencing it in advance.”

“What if I fail to resolve it?”

“Then I’ll have to step in······ but it doesn’t look like that will happen?”

When Yi Bang-won asked, I smirked.

You’re quick to notice.

===

At Sungkyunkwan, there is a ceremony to inform the spirits of Confucius and Mencius before Gonggwan.

When the head of the student council, Jangeui [head student], was solemnly reading the memorial address, the entrance of Sungkyunkwan became noisy.

Crown Prince Yi Je himself had visited Sungkyunkwan.

Many officials followed him in a row.

‘His Highness is coming in person.’

‘Has the East Palace [Crown Prince’s residence] finally surrendered?’

Visiting Sungkyunkwan in person must be to stop Gonggwan.

‘Strong. Sungkyunkwan is strong after all!’

‘Shouldn’t we take this opportunity to strongly urge His Highness to stop the Crown Princess from interfering in politics?’

‘Jangeui will take care of it. He’s the one who got the Crown Prince to surrender.’

The sound of the Confucian scholars whispering made Jangeui’s neck even stiffer.

“What are you all doing?”

When the Crown Prince asked, Jangeui, who was full of spirit, replied.

“Since the country has not accepted our Confucian scholars’ appeal, we have no choice but to empty Sungkyunkwan. So, we can’t manage the spirits in the meantime, so we were informing the two sages.”

“There’s no need to do that.”

When the Crown Prince answered coolly, Jangeui’s eyes widened.

Doesn’t that mean that he will accept all the demands and withdraw Gonggwan?

Jangeui, whose thoughts had reached that point, cleared his throat and said.

“If Your Majesty withdraws his blind adherence to Ming and clarifies that he has no intention of abolishing the slaves······.”

“Ah, that’s ridiculous.”

When Yi Je said firmly, the expressions of the Confucian scholars hardened.

“······Then we have no choice but to continue Gonggwan!”

“Gonggwan.”

In response to Jangeui’s protest, Yi Je looked around Sungkyunkwan.

“It doesn’t seem like Sungkyunkwan will be empty.”

“What do you mean?”

Yi Je pointed to the officials lined up behind him.

“The officials here will study at Sungkyunkwan.”

“······?”

What does it mean for those who have already taken office to study at Sungkyunkwan?

“That’s right! What justification do they have to return to Sungkyunkwan after they’ve already become officials!”

In other words, it’s the same as re-enrolling in their alma mater after graduating.

However, the Crown Prince smiled and replied.

“These people were originally part of Sungkyunkwan.”

In Joseon, officials were usually appointed through the civil service examination, but they could also be appointed through patronage or meritorious service.

However, unlike the Goryeo Dynasty, it was difficult for them to rise to high positions due to the original sin of not having taken the formal route of the civil service examination.

“There has been a lot of discussion in the court about supporting those who have worked hard for the country to temporarily return their positions and focus on the civil service examination, and since Sungkyunkwan is empty, we were planning to have them prepare for the higher examination here.”

It was the same now.

“We have exempted those who have worked hard for the country from the preliminary examination, so if they have passed the preliminary examination, wouldn’t it be reasonable to consider them qualified to enter Sungkyunkwan?”

“What······.”

“So Sungkyunkwan will not be empty, hahaha.”

The Crown Prince, who was laughing like that, clapped his hands as if he had thought of something.

“Ah, wait a minute. Come to think of it, I heard that Gonggwan can only be implemented with the consent of half of the students.”

Yi Je looked back at the officials and said.

“Do you agree with Gonggwan?”

“Why would we?”

“A student’s duty is to study, so we will protect Sungkyunkwan to the end.”

How could the officials who had happily entered Sungkyunkwan answer that way?

Yi Je nodded and said.

“Hmm, in this case, we’ll have to decide whether to have Gonggwan again, including the votes of the newly admitted students. Jangeui is the head of Jaehoe, so have him vote again.”

===

“This is a scam, a scam!”

“Where is it that Gonggwan is neutralized in this way!”

The executives of Jaehoe, who led Gonggwan, protested like that.

“We cannot recognize the rights of those who were brought into Sungkyunkwan by the country’s trick! We must carry out Gonggwan as it is!”

The thoughts of the Jaeim [Jaehoe members], including Jangeui, were like this, but in reality, the minds of the general Confucian scholars were a little different.

“Do we really have to go out together?”

“If we leave Sungkyunkwan, we won’t have a place to stay, so we’ll have to go down to our neighborhood······.”

“The seniors are forcing us to participate in the revolt, but my family doesn’t have money or slaves, so why should I participate in the Gonggwan that the Jaehoe guys are doing?”

The Confucian scholars’ commotion grew louder and louder, so no matter how much the Jaeim shouted, it wouldn’t be heard.

“Comrades! If we give in, the Confucian scholars of Joseon will give in!”

“Let’s not participate in the vote to overturn the already decided Gonggwan and leave together!”

“If you want to leave, pack your bags and leave!”

“Do you think Jaehoe is an organization that only does Gonggwan!”

There was no prospect of carrying out Gonggwan together.

The Jaeim unconditionally insisted on Gonggwan and left, but not many Confucian scholars followed them.

The resolution for Gonggwan, which had lost its momentum due to the remaining Confucian scholars and the pro-government freshmen, was safely thwarted, and Sungkyunkwan became quiet as if nothing had happened.

End