There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 24

< Hanyang SimCity (1) >

“I entrust the construction of Hanyang to the Heir Apparent!”

It was only natural that the officials were astonished by this earth-shattering declaration.
The officials voiced their opposition to Yi Bang-won, who declared this in my very presence.
The first to step forward was, of course, Kwon Geun.

‘This old man and I must have a very deep connection in our past lives,’ I thought wryly.

“Your Majesty!”

Yi Bang-won picked at his ear and asked, “What is it?”

“Your Majesty, the relocation of the capital is a momentous task that should be entrusted to an experienced prime minister. How can the young Heir Apparent handle it?”

“What makes it impossible?” Yi Bang-won countered.

At Yi Bang-won’s question, the officials hurriedly swallowed their breaths.

“Have you not seen what the Heir Apparent has accomplished so far to say such things?”

Still, the officials did not look convinced.

‘No matter how much you love your son, how can you entrust such an important task to him?’ they must have been thinking.

‘I would think so too,’ I conceded internally.

Being young was a significant disadvantage in my activities. No matter what achievements I made, seeing a beardless face would unconsciously lead to disregard.
Even if Yi Bang-won forcibly pushed it through, he would be criticized behind his back for being a fool for favoring his son.
In that case…

‘I will step forward directly.’

“Father, may I say a word?”

‘That child just needs to refute the people here,’ Yi Bang-won thought, anticipating my move.
I addressed the officials directly. “What do you all think is the most crucial project in building a new capital?”

“Isn’t it building the palace?”

“You’re wrong.”

In fact, before I intervened, the core project of Hanyang’s construction was the establishment of Changdeok Palace. In addition to this, the construction of the Confucian shrine of Sungkyunkwan [Joseon’s highest educational institution], the Byeolchang of Heungdeoksa and Gun Gijam [government-managed granaries], and Pungjeochang [another type of granary] were added.

“These must all be carried out in parallel, but in the end, the core of building a new capital is to promote public welfare.”

“Think about it. Would people want to live in a place where there is no market to circulate goods, and where the roads are too narrow for carts to pass?”

Palaces are important, but basic infrastructure construction must come first.
It might be created naturally if people move in and live there, but there was no need to wait for that. Hanyang should be a model for the Joseon cities that will be built in the future.
I declared, “Rather than starting with the complicated palace construction, the districts must be organized first.”

“When I first went to Hanyang, a man like Lee Geo-in was impeached for taking other people’s land. Such problems must be resolved first.”

Yi Bang-won nodded from behind.

‘Good,’ he seemed to say.

‘Nice assist,’ I thought.

“The construction of the new capital does not only mean building palaces. Relocating the capital means moving the center of the country’s administration and economy.”

From my mouth came a detailed plan: the distribution of residential complexes, the construction of roads and various public facilities, and the creation of commercial districts.
A huge city that would eventually absorb the entire Gangbuk [the northern part of Seoul], not just Seongjeo Simni [an old administrative district].
That was my goal.
In front of the dumbfounded officials, I declared, “If there is anyone who can build a new capital considering all of this, come forward.”

“…”

It was quiet.

This wasn’t just about hiring workers and building palaces.
Even if there was someone who was confident, they would remain silent because they knew they would be stuck doing all the work if they stepped forward now.

‘This is urban planning,’ I thought, emphasizing the complexity of the task.

But the officers of the Office of the Inspector General did not remain silent.

‘Well, I would be disappointed if you guys stayed still,’ I thought, anticipating their reaction.

Didn’t I create the Office of the Inspector General to play the role of a mad dog that bites anyone without fear? It’s frustrating because I’m usually the target.

“However, the Heir Apparent is the one who will inherit the throne of this country. How can you go to Hanyang alone?”

“If something happens to the Heir Apparent’s body, it will be a great disgrace to the nation.”

‘Okay, okay. So that’s how you come out?’ I thought, recognizing their angle.

The logic that a child cannot be left alone in Hanyang without a guardian sounded somewhat reasonable even from the perspective of a modern person like me.
However, one person who had anticipated this situation said quietly, “I will go with him!”

Yi Seong-gye shouted as he entered the main hall wearing armor.

‘No, the King Emeritus [retired king]?’ I exclaimed internally.

‘He’s even wearing armor…’

The officials were speechless.

Entering the main hall wearing armor was something that even most traitors could not do, but Yi Seong-gye was not an official but the King Emeritus above the King, so it was an exception.
However, the shock was so great that the officials became silent.
The only person who could break the silence in this situation was Yi Bang-won.

“Father, you are going to Hanyang?”

“I heard that you are worried about the Heir Apparent being alone, so I am thinking of protecting him as a grandfather. Can’t you tell by the fact that I’m wearing armor?”

“…Is that all?” Yi Bang-won asked with a subtly jealous expression.

This was not an agreed-upon content between the two.

“Well, as the high and low officials here say, the Heir Apparent, who is still young, cannot wander around alone, can he?”

Even I thought that was a bit much.
Maybe in about 7 or 8 years.

“Hmm.”

Yi Bang-won pondered, but there was no other option.
Having my grandfather with me might give me more freedom of action.

“Father,” I whispered to Yi Bang-won, who was sitting on the throne, “I think that would be better.”

“Why, do you like going with your grandfather too?”

‘No, you old man. Why is it turning out like that?’ I thought.
However, seeing Yi Bang-won’s slightly sulky expression, I realized it was not a joke.

‘This is…my father, who is almost forty?’

“Oh, I wish I could go with my father, but you are too busy with official duties. I like Father much better.”

As I flattered him as if I had oiled my tongue, Yi Bang-won regained his smile.

“Of course, of course.”

Then he looked at the officials and said, “The King Emeritus will also take care of the Heir Apparent, so there will be no worries for the officials. Is there anyone who opposes it further?”

Who would dare to step forward when Yi Seong-gye in armor was glaring?
That’s how my trip to Hanyang was decided.

===

“Hehe, the Heir Apparent is finally taking on the role of governor of Hanyang.”

“There is no precedent for this even in historical records!”

The officials, gathered in small groups, were once again engrossed in stories about the Heir Apparent.

“To enter the palace in armor! It seems the Grand King Emeritus [Yi Seong-gye, the retired king] has been influenced by the Heir Apparent’s eccentric behavior, losing all sense of propriety!”

“…Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

For the sixty-year-old to follow the nine-year-old grandson’s impropriety… unbelievable.

However, Pyongan Lord Jo Joon, a meritorious subject of the founding of the nation, was pleased with Yi Seong-gye’s appearance.

“The Grand King Emeritus seems to have laid down many burdens in his heart.”

“Does that mean he has abandoned etiquette along with his burdens?”

“Well, it’s not the first time he’s entered the palace in armor.”

At Jo Joon’s words, the officials fell silent.

Such a thing hadn’t happened since the founding of Joseon, so Jo Joon was naturally referring to the days of Goryeo.

The memories of Yi Seong-gye’s returning with his troops and killing King Woo and King Chang were vividly recalled.

“The Grand King seems to cherish his grandson very much.”

At Jo Joon’s words, the officials widened their eyes.

Everyone here was well aware of the ill-fated relationship between Yi Seong-gye and Yi Bang-won.

Could it be that he cherishes the Heir Apparent, the son of the current king, so much, despite everything?

“Has there been a change in the Grand King’s heart?”

“What on earth did the Heir Apparent do?”

The officials were puzzled, but Jo Joon simply shrugged.

“Everyone, it would be wise not to do anything foolish. Even though the Grand King has abdicated… a person’s martial prowess doesn’t just disappear.”

Jo Joon, like an elder statesman, left with subtle advice.

Only the Gaegyeong faction officials, who opposed the relocation to Hanyang [modern-day Seoul], remained.

“What should we do now?”

“Thanks to the Chief Censor ruining things, we have no justification to stop the relocation. Are we just going to compete for land in Hanyang?”

As the court began the relocation project, they began to feel the reality of the situation.

“Rather, this is a good thing.”

The one who stepped forward was Yoon Sa-soo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

“If the Heir Apparent fails in this endeavor, the construction of Hanyang will surely be thwarted. Using that trouble as justification, we can settle back in Gaegyeong, can’t we?”

The officials thought Yoon Sa-soo’s words made sense.

Except for one problem.

Someone pointed it out.

“But what if the Heir Apparent succeeds?”

“Heh heh.”

Yoon Sa-soo gave a good-natured smile.

“Since the manpower and materials are all mobilized by the people of Gaegyeong, why would we wish for his success? We just need to subtly insert a few words here and there.”

As Yoon Sa-soo finished speaking, the Gaegyeong faction officials looked at each other and smiled.

===

Gaegyeong and Hanyang are not that far apart.

It’s a place you can travel to and from in a day by horse, so you can go back and forth between Gaegyeong and Hanyang frequently.

That was fortunate for me.

‘Won-ja [Crown Prince], come back soon.’

Even because of Yi Bang-won’s nagging, who held my hand and repeatedly urged me.

‘No, I’m just going to look at the site and come back, why are you like this?’

Right now, it was just the stage of examining the situation in Hanyang and formulating a plan.

I wasn’t going to stay there.

But Yi Bang-won repeated those words until the end.

‘Sigh.’

It’s because I have such fatal charm.

As I sighed, Yi Seong-gye approached.

“How is it?”

“It’s good. It’s nice to get some fresh air after being in the stuffy palace.”

You might think, ‘He just got back from drinking,’ but Gaegyeong’s palace is terribly stuffy.

I could understand why the Joseon Dynasty kings went on secret excursions.

‘Ugh, to have to live in the palace for the rest of my life.’

For a moment, I even thought about handing it over to my younger brother and just living as a Grand Prince.

However, what Yi Seong-gye asked wasn’t about my feelings.

“No, what are your impressions of seeing Hanyang again?”

It was a question filled with the pride of someone who had decided on the new capital.

But what came out of my mouth was a disappointing answer.

“It’s nothing special.”

“What?”

Let me tell you, Hanyang is completely different from the Seoul I lived in.

Hanyang only included a part of Gangbuk [the northern part of Seoul], and it was dirty, like any pre-modern city.

It was quite large, as it had been treated as Namgyeong [Southern Capital] during the Goryeo period, but it didn’t feel as bustling as Gaegyeong.

“It would be good to build a capital from scratch.”

“What did you say?”

At Yi Seong-gye’s words, which seemed to have hurt his pride, I pointed to the scenery of Hanyang.

– Ouch!

– Watch out, you!

A narrow road that was difficult for even one cart to pass through.

– Where can I find silk fabrics?

– Next to the fish market, no, no, not the left, go around half a circle to the right. Then someone there will tell you.

– What is this, the market is not a market but a mess!

A market that was weak and unnecessarily tangled compared to Gaegyeong.

– Splat!

Even the excrement and urine that were poured out in front of the door without being treated separately.

The last part was especially serious.

It wasn’t just this neighborhood in this era, but when the outhouse was full, they would just pour the feces and urine onto the street.

‘That precious poop and pee.’

I clicked my tongue.

It was a valuable resource that could be used to make saltpeter fields and fertilizer.

If it’s thrown away on the street like that, it will only pollute the water and become a source of epidemics.

Anyway, if Hanyang grows, some problems will be solved naturally, or they will be patched up in their own way.

‘There’s no need to do that. It’s just a matter of building the city properly.’

My heart started to beat faster.

Rather, if Hanyang had been as bustling as Hangzhou in the late Joseon Dynasty or Ming Dynasty, I wouldn’t have felt this way.

‘I’m glad I can develop it from the beginning.’

I’m probably a pervert for feeling this way.

But that’s me.

I had no intention of denying it.

“Good!”

I clapped my hands once and turned around.

Behind my back was Hanyang, which I would now develop.

I looked at Yi Seong-gye and declared.

“Let’s start anew from here.”

From one.

No, from zero.

End

ⓒ Pitkong