Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 167
Episode 167: Aftereffects and currency. (2)
The day King Sejong decided to demolish Hyanggyo,
“Woo~”
Lee Maeng-gyun, who came out after finishing the assembly, let out a long sigh. Other ministers who saw Lee Maeng-gyun’s face comforted him.
“Captain, let’s leave the office on time today and have a drink. “I’ll buy you a drink.”
“That’s right, sir. “Let’s go together.”
Hearing the words of his fellow ministers, Lee Maeng-gyun sighed again and nodded.
“I’ve been avoiding alcohol for a while, but I think I’ll have a drink today. Thank you. Let’s go together.”
“That’s right. “Today, let’s drink until our noses are crooked.”
Lee Maeng-gyun, who went out to Yukjo Street while receiving comfort from his fellow ministers, gritted his teeth as he crossed the threshold of the Rites government office.
“Damn traitors! Especially at a time like this! “They are the ones who will destroy the Ten Clans, not the Nine Clans!”
Lee Maeng-gyun, who had been gnashing his teeth while spitting curses at those who had started the uprising, summoned the officials of the royal family as soon as he entered the government building.
When all the officials gathered, Lee Maeng-gyun opened his mouth with a confused look on his face.
“His Majesty the Lord’s decision was made in the previous meeting. “The decision Your Highness made…”
Pausing for a moment, Lee Maeng-gyun took a deep breath and continued.
“Your Highness ordered the Hyanggyo to be demolished.”
“yes?”
“Are you telling me the truth?”
“It is true.”
At Lee Maeng-gyun’s remarks, the officials turned to their colleagues with faces full of confusion and muttered.
“Then how about the Munmyo Ritual…”
“Since there is Sungkyunkwan…” Lee
Maeng-gyun raised his voice as he watched the officials talking about the Munmyo Ritual, one of the main tasks of the local Confucian school.
“That’s not the problem!”
“If that’s not the problem…”
Among the officials who looked puzzled at Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, the faces of the quick-thinking officials turned white.
“no way! Has the early establishment of the Social Democratic School been decided?”
“no way! Wasn’t the Social Democratic Institute planned after the government’s departmental reform was completed?”
When the quick-thinking people mentioned the ‘Social Democratic School,’ the faces of other officials began to turn pale.
Lee Maeng-gyun nodded with a heavy expression, looking at the expressions of the officials.
“No words have come out yet. However, I and other ministers believe that His Majesty the Prime Minister will present an agenda sooner or later.”
“Why?”
Lee Maeng-gyun gave a simple answer to the officials’ questions.
“Because of the traitors, an unexpected amount of wealth came in.”
“Ah…”
At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, the officials closed their mouths and nodded.
* * *
The educational institution that King Sejong named ‘Social Minhakdang’ was a very progressive and unconventional educational institution that could not be found anywhere else in the world by the standards of the time.
At social democratic schools, children of both families, regardless of social status or gender, could receive basic education.
It was while listening to Hyang’s political statement that King Sejong thought of the Social Democratic Institute.
-Joseon’s land is narrow and barren, and there are few products. In this harsh environment, the only thing Joseon can trust for its development is people. In other words, we need to invest in people.
-Investing in people means educating them.
-In order to develop more talented people, the threshold for education must be lowered and the doors widened.
Sejong was deeply impressed by Hyang’s opinion. Sejong’s biggest goal was to make Joseon rich and have a strong military, and Hyang’s remarks made him break the wall that was blocking him.
“Isn’t this the ideal that the saints of old dreamed of?”
King Sejong, who gave in to the political views of the local government, established a plan to ‘expand both the quantity and quality of education.’ We developed a policy that fits the basic ideology.
Of course, most of the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon who helped King Sejong improve the perfection of the sutras he planned responded negatively.
“It may be ideal, but wouldn’t it be realistically impossible?”
“The purpose of educating the children of the common people is good, but… would ignorant worms who are desperate to make a living send their children to school?”
In response to the words of the Jiphyeonjeon scholars, King Sejong swore at them in a harsh voice.
“Shut your damn mouth right now!”
“Baby…”
“Your Highness! The words….”
The scholars of Jiphyeonjeon tried to protest against King Sejong’s abusive language, but King Sejong immediately cut them off.
“I told you to shut up! Do you really want to spread the way of sage in this world? You have become blind, possessed by a sense of superiority as small as millet! Take a look at those who passed the state exam right now! Are all the people who take the civil service examination and pass the civil service exam a nobleman? There are quite a few sons of farmers! But what? Do you think idiots would send their children to school? What did you guys see in these Joseon people? “Isn’t it unfair to be called a fool after all this?”
“Please forgive the gods’ outrageous words!”
The scholars of Jiphyeonjeon had no choice but to bow down to King Sejong’s shouting.
In this way, the Social Democratic Institute was created.
According to the content planned in the sutra, all citizens of Joseon were to send their children, regardless of gender, to socialist schools when they were 5 to 7 years old, that is, when they were old enough to express their opinions to some extent.
What was taught at the Social Democratic School was basic Chinese characters, arithmetic, and morals.
Children who received education at social democratic schools were later able to advance to higher educational institutions depending on their circumstances and aptitude.
The basic idea was that those who wanted to advance into government positions or commerce would be in charge of education at local schools, and those who wanted to enter the military or sailors would be in charge of education at military academies.
And the administrative department in charge of this was scheduled to be the Ministry of Education.
Through Gyeongjang, the Ministry of Education was scheduled to be separated into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Education was scheduled to take charge of the management of the entrance examination system, including the management of academy and local schools, and other overall education policies.
However, due to this uprising, this schedule was seriously disrupted, and Hyanggyo, which was designated as a hotbed of impure elements, was destroyed.
* * *
Lee Maeng-gyun continued his explanation.
“It’s just what I heard at first glance, but it seems His Majesty the Lord is planning to use this unfortunate incident as a distraction to pay more attention to education. “That means…”
After clearing his throat for a moment, Lee Maeng-gyun looked around at each of the officials and continued speaking.
“That means that depending on what we do, the size of the budget can increase or decrease significantly.”
When Lee Maeng-gyun mentioned the budget, the eyes of the royal officials began to shine brightly.
The revenue coming into the government continued to increase through encouragement of commerce and implementation of various economic policies. But there was as much going out as coming in.
Therefore, the six dynasties that made up the government were fighting hard to secure even a little more budget.
As the budget increased, the number of people could be increased and experimental policies could be implemented boldly.
The most representative departments were the military service and military service. And recently, air conditioning was following closely behind.
Lee Maeng-gyun encouraged the officials of Yejo.
“The traitors’ property confiscated this time will not be used up all at once, but it is certain that the next budget will be significantly increased! Let’s say that the budget taken by military and mutual aid is unavoidable, and mutual cooperation is also unavoidable because of the newly implemented policy! But you can’t lose your budget to other departments! especially! “We cannot have our budget stolen by the crown prince’s research institute and Area 51!”
“That’s right!”
To Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, the royal officials responded with one voice.
“Do you want to leave the office on time?”
“Yes that’s right!”
“Do you want a lot of new officials to come in and work more comfortably?”
“yes! That’s right!”
“Then we must move one step ahead! Only then can you secure a more abundant budget! “Isn’t that so!”
“yes. That’s right!”
“Then move!”
“yes!”
The officials of Yejo, who answered with shouts, quickly returned to their seats.
At the same time, similar movements were taking place in other government offices. The thoughts of all the officials were the same.
‘Bigger budget ⟶ More staff ⟶ Flexible working environment ⟶ On-time dismissal ⟶ Family happiness’
When he actually came out of Geunjeongjeon, it was the ministers who comforted Lee Maeng-gyun, but that was all people thought about.
* * *
While government officials were fighting to secure as much budget as possible, the execution of those who had committed treason continued.
After the execution of those who participated in the uprising was completed, all that remained was the execution of Yangnyeong and Seoseon.
“The punishment of Seo-seon and Seo-seon’s family shall be as prescribed by law.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The ruling on Seoseon was easily concluded, but the problem was Grand Prince Yangnyeong.
King Sejong had to think for a long time until Grand Prince Yangnyeong’s decision was decided.
I wanted to end it by handling it according to the law, but Yangnyeong was Taejong’s legitimate eldest son, the former crown prince, and his own older brother.
It was certain that no matter what decision was made, whether it was death or life, it would continue to be a political burden for King Sejong himself.
“What should I do with this?…”
In the end, King Sejong’s worries about the punishment for Yangnyeong could not help but deepen.
“This is a problem I can’t touch…”
Hyang knew very well what Sejong was worried about, but this time, Hyang couldn’t interfere.
This was because, no matter how crown prince he was, it was a very fatal political issue involving the king, the father of the crown prince, and his brothers.
When Sejong’s worries were deepening, Hyoryeong visited him.
“Your Majesty, your complexion is not very good. “Your face is full of sorrow.”
King Sejong let out a long sigh at Hyoryeong’s words.
“Whoa~. “The burden I have taken on is too heavy.”
Hyoryeong, who was quietly looking at Sejong as he spoke, asked.
“Is it because of your eldest brother?”
In response to Hyoryeong’s question, King Sejong nodded silently.
Hyoryeong, who was looking at King Sejong’s face, quietly said something to him.
“Punish them according to the law of the land.”
“But you are my brother. “He was Abamama’s eldest son and he was the eldest son.”
“However, Abamama handed over the position to Your Majesty instead of your eldest brother. That’s where everything comes to a close.”
“Whoa~.”
King Sejong let out a long sigh at Hyoryeong’s words. Hyoryeong continued speaking quietly and in a calm voice.
“No matter what decision you make, it will be a great shackle for you. If so, decide to follow the strictness of the law. “If we focus on recognition, it could set a bad precedent when something similar happens in the future.”
“I guess so.”
Hyoryeong continued speaking in response to Sejong’s voice, which had no strength at all.
“Anyway, living in this world means going through suffering. You must be hurt and in pain endlessly. You will feel regret and guilt over what happened to your older brother. But please rise above him and make Joseon bigger and more prosperous and allow the people to live more peacefully. Then the people will praise you.”
“I guess that’s paying for my sins.”
At Hyoryeong’s words, King Sejong seemed to have made up his mind. Sejong’s face gradually regained peace, and his voice began to regain strength.
“Thank you, brother. “Thanks to you, I woke up from my dream.”
Hyoryeong smiled calmly and answered King Sejong’s words.
“It is the grace of Buddha.”
* * *
King Sejong, who had made up his mind based on Hyoryeong’s words, announced it at a gathering of ministers the next day.
“I will decide on the punishment for the criminal Yangnyeong.”
At King Sejong’s announcement, the ministers swallowed their saliva with an expression that said something was coming.
Sejong took a moment to catch his breath and continued speaking.
“According to the law, the criminal Yangnyeong and his sons over the age of 15 are to be put to death. However, since he was a member of the royal family, he was not executed by beheading or hanging, but by execution. Additionally, the criminal and his family will all be deleted from Seonwonrok (璿源錄 royal genealogy), and all remaining people will be demoted to commoners. All property belonging to the criminal’s family shall be confiscated, but 10% shall be distributed to those who have been demoted to the status of servants so that they can make a minimum living. Lastly, those demoted to Seoin are divided into family units and exiled to the South Sea Islands.”
When King Sejong finished speaking, the ministers bowed their heads in unison.
“I follow your orders!”
On the day the sentence was executed, Yangnyeong heard the story about his family and bowed in the direction of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
“Thank you for your kindness.”