There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 325

326.

‘Is he possessed by the ghost of Emperor Yang of Sui, or even Qin Shi Huang?’

Hwang Hui pondered seriously.

‘He’s fixated on digging canals like Emperor Yang, and now he’s trying to reorganize weights and measures like Qin Shi Huang. It’s unsettling,’ he thought.

However, in reality, I had been wanting to solve this problem quickly and had been racking my brains for a while.

‘We’ve come this far; the *cheok-gwan* [traditional Korean measurement system] is a bit much.’

What is the reason why the SI unit system is widely used in modern times?

From time, mass, length, area, volume, heat, temperature, to electric current, all units are based on the decimal system, making unit conversion overwhelmingly convenient.

Just as the British and Americans, despite their global influence, haven’t been able to fully abandon yards and pounds, I didn’t want Joseon to be resented by future generations for maintaining such things as the *cheok-gwan* system.

Of course, changing a unit system that has been passed down since ancient times would not be easy.

Even in modern times, there are plenty of people who find it much easier to count in *pyeong* [a traditional Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters] when looking for a house.

But I didn’t think it was impossible.

That soon became a reality.

===

The standard of the meter and its measurement method have changed several times.

In modern times, it is based on the distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds, and before that, it was based on the wavelength emitted by krypton atoms in a vacuum.

However, in this era, that measurement is impossible, and it is not a very meaningful standard.

But that doesn’t mean there’s no way to measure the meter itself.

“What do you think? Isn’t the movement of the pendulum truly beautiful?”

The time it takes for a pendulum with a length of 1 meter to make one round trip is about 2 seconds.

If you only tolerate the slight error caused by the difference in gravity due to latitude, you can easily obtain that length.

Ijae passionately explained, trying to promote the metric system, but the ministers, who did not appreciate the beauty of the pendulum, thought:

‘Your Majesty seems to like grandfather clocks too much.’

Yi Cheon, who received an unexpected glare, felt wronged.

Regardless, Ijae declared confidently.

“The new length standard will be this. The movement of the pendulum is beautifully unfolded, so I named it *meter* (美攄) [using Chinese characters to give it an elegant meaning].”

Now that the meter, which was used as the standard, was created, other lengths could be easily derived.

“I divided this meter into ten equal parts to create a new ‘chi,’ and to distinguish it from the existing ‘chi’ (approximately 3.03cm), I will call it ‘centimeter.'”

“This is again divided into ten equal parts of a centimeter, and it is so densely packed that it is named ‘millimeter’ (密里) [again, using Chinese characters for a descriptive name]…”

The new weights and measures created by Ijae were always named in this way, roughly.

It was the result of Joo Sang Ijae himself thinking hard to come up with familiar-sounding names, but the ministers had subtle expressions.

‘You could just ask the lower officials to submit suggestions after reviewing them, but you’re even naming them yourself.’

‘Qin Shi Huang took care of even the smallest tasks himself, so is he possessed by the ghost of Qin Shi Huang…?’

However, they knew from long experience that they should not interfere when he was explaining with such a joyful expression.

Thanks to somehow fitting the meaning, they were able to understand it, and it was the unit system that His Majesty had established.

‘With my limited understanding, I don’t think there’s a need to do this.’

‘Whatever His Majesty does, the result is always good.’

Therefore, what they had to worry about was a different problem.

“What should we do with the various maps and scales kept in the government offices? Should we make new ones?”

“There is no need to do that.”

I had no intention of recklessly destroying existing objects and changing the unit system used by government offices all at once.

That would rather cause confusion.

‘But we need to add new units.’

The officials breathed a sigh of relief at the news that there would be a period of concurrent use.

His Majesty could end it with just one order, but they were in a position to take charge of the practical work and carry it out.

The fact that the projects they had carried out so far had been running smoothly was largely due to the contributions of those who had worked hard in unseen places, but that didn’t mean they could just throw it at them and leave them to clean up the mess.

However, the story was different in the private sector.

“A new system of weights and measures is scheduled to be promulgated soon.”

“Oh my, new things to learn keep popping up as soon as I turn around.”

The explosive technological development during King Sejong’s reign was largely due to the emergence of various machine tools, including lathes.

Of course, the ministers did not want to release these machines to the outside, but Ijae, like a generous king, ordered that they be sold to the public as much as they wanted if they paid the cost.

‘There’s no way to stop it from leaking out anyway.’

It’s better to sell it openly.

Thanks to the king who provided technology, machines, and everything else, the growth of artisans was encouraging for the first time in a long time.

In the original history, the development of handicrafts became visible around the late Joseon period, but the current Joseon is in a situation that cannot be compared to that.

However, these machine tools are scheduled to be manufactured and sold according to the new unit system.

Even the artisans who had tasted money for the first time would not be able to use machines or anything else and would be left behind if they did not become familiar with this, so they had no choice but to learn it, whether they liked it or not.

“If those guys take the lead in getting used to the new units, others will have no choice but to follow and become subordinate.”

Their customers will also have to discuss orders based on the new units, and their apprentices will have to learn according to the units taught by their masters.

Therefore, at least the engineers in this country will be completely accustomed to the new units before a generation passes.

‘That’s where it starts.’

Ijae rubbed his hands together.

What modern people hate is not only Chinese characters.

The phasing out of the *cheok-gwan* system was also progressing step by step.

===

“The clock tells the time so accurately; it’s really amazing.”

I nodded at my father’s words.

It was indeed Yi Cheon’s masterpiece. He will be remembered in history as the person who created the grandfather clock, so it’s good for him too.

However, he was about to collapse from exhaustion, so I sent him on vacation to Onyang [famous for its hot springs].

‘He’s going to a hot spring that I can’t even go to; he’s so lucky.’

I’ll make him work as much as he rested when he comes back.

“My younger brother is a little dissatisfied.”

Do quietly put down his teacup while enjoying the tea.

Of course, what’s inside is *Hwanta* [a type of tea].

“It’s just noisy, and it only dampens the morale of the officials. What does it matter if the clock strikes 24 or 25 when the work is not finished properly?”

The *Jiphyeonjeon* [Hall of Worthies, a royal research institute] officials, who are marked as people of interest and work overtime, flinch every time the clock rings, and that seems to be very annoying to Do.

‘Wasn’t this guy supposed to be a science-loving monarch?’

That’s why Sejong’s name is attached to any science-related institution that is built.

I rubbed my forehead.

Well, this guy complains with his mouth, but he doesn’t leave work until he’s satisfied.

Only the subordinates who serve such a boss will suffer.

I kindly told him about the proper attitude of a boss.

“People are not parts. You have to let them rest when they need to.”

“…Are you the one saying that?”

Yi Bang-won asked with a dumbfounded face, but I was confident.

Yi Cheon, who won the Onyang travel ticket, proves this.

“My younger brother is definitely taking care of that part.”

Do patted his chest.

“We have placed a mobile bed (*nakgeo nakgeo*) [a type of portable resting device] in *Jiphyeonjeon* so that they can sleep comfortably at any time.”

“…”

Yi Bang-won, who looked at us alternately, sighed deeply.

“I wonder if the ministers in the court miss the time when I was the king.”

When we heard that, Do and I looked at each other and said in unison.

“Hey, no way.”

“You’re worrying for nothing.”

How many purges were there during the reign of the *Sangwang* [retired king]?

Wouldn’t our subordinates prefer to voluntarily contribute to the development of the country rather than being caught in a *Yangwi* show [a show of power] and losing their heads?

“You have to wield the sword when you wield it. Just look at that small fry named Jeong Chang-son this time.”

Yi Bang-won scoffed.

“How dare you insult the king with evil rumors? I was going to take care of it myself, but you took him away with an external investigation.”

“I didn’t take him away… Well, he’s probably paying the price now.”

Shivering in a cold boat.

Yi Bang-won’s eyes were still sharp, but I couldn’t help but smile.

‘You can’t stop your love for your children.’

Even though he seems to be only doting on Dan these days, he became very upset when his son was targeted by Madu, who risked his life.

At that time, he was so angry that he wanted to put him in a rice chest.

Yi Bang-won changed his expression and said again.

“A memorial has been submitted to revive *Hwangu-dan* [an altar for sacrifices to Heaven].”

“Did *Abamama* [father, used by royalty] also see it?”

Yi Bang-won is *Sangwang*.

Yi Bang-gwa, who was also *Sangwang*, was a puppet ruler, so it’s not relevant, but most of the reports go to Yi Bang-won even after the fact.

However, Yi Bang-won, after stepping down as *Sangwang*, stopped paying attention to political affairs and refrained from commenting as much as possible.

It was to give me strength.

He said he was no longer interested in politics….

‘Considering that, he was so excited during the war, taking Dan, who was in charge of *Daeri Cheongjeong* [ruling as regent], next to him, like a fish in water.’

Well, anyway, Yi Bang-won seemed to be paying close attention to this matter.

“I am willing to accept it. If I revive *Hwangu-dan*, people will know what I mean.”

*Hwangu-dan* was an altar for offering sacrifices to the sky, which had been passed down since the Goryeo Dynasty.

Yi Seong-gye only changed the name to *Wondan* but kept it, but his father accepted the memorial and abolished it.

However, it is still being held under the name of *Namdan*.

It’s just a matter of changing the name back to *Hwangu-dan* and reviving it in accordance with the standards, so there’s nothing difficult about it.

It’s just that what this means is so clear that Yi Seong-gye and Yi Bang-won couldn’t keep it going.

“Do you think it’s time?”

Yi Bang-won asked.

“I changed the *Sibeop* [calendar system] and the weights and measures that have been passed down since ancient times. Grand Prince Chungnyeong was even made a *Gukgong* [Duke of the Nation] in the Liaodong land.”

Since the war, I have been violating the taboos of a vassal state.

*Hwangu-dan* is the same. Only the son of Heaven, the emperor, can directly offer sacrifices to the sky.

If I revive this, everyone will think:

Our king is trying to get rid of the vassal state status.

‘No, but the ministers didn’t really stop me.’

If there was anyone who foamed at the mouth and opposed it, I would have reconsidered.

‘Do you really believe that Ming is weakening?’

Yi Bang-won asked directly.

“Are you planning to proclaim yourself emperor?”

Grand Prince Chungnyeong also swallowed and looked at me.

But I shook my head.

“It’s not time yet.”

Although it suffered a lot of damage, Ming’s potential is great.

The fact that they mobilized hundreds of thousands of people to fight in the civil war means that the interior is a mess, but conversely, the fact that they can mobilize that many troops in just a civil war shows Ming’s potential.

Perhaps Ming is the only country in this era that can do that.

‘I don’t know about *Oehwangnaeje* [outwardly recognizing the emperor, but inwardly acting as emperor].’

Even that doesn’t feel very necessary at the moment.

In the current situation where envoys come and go several times a year, Ming will also notice the signs.

It’s okay for them to turn a blind eye to a few breaches of vassal state etiquette, but it’s a different story to put the title of emperor on the job title.

Besides, the problem is that I am formally a Ming Dynasty prince.

How can the Joseon emperor also serve as a prince under the Ming Dynasty?

Even if it’s *Oehwangnaeje*, our ministers won’t be able to accept it?

So, at least until I absorb Liaodong, I’ll postpone proclaiming myself emperor.

“But there is a good reason to justify this.”

I spun the globe, where most of the world was still unfinished.

“The emperor told us to collect tribute on his behalf, so he entrusted the mandate of heaven to us.”

I liked Heo Jo’s logic.

In other words, Ming has divided the world with us.

So, you take the Central Plains.

But don’t worry about what we do elsewhere.

We’ll take care of it.