Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 32
[ Episode 32 Gapjin Kyungjang (10) ] Episode
32 Gapjin Gyeongjang (10)
When the ministers who heard the news rushed to Uijeongbu, Yeonguijeong had just finished writing the appeal.
“Great! Appeal! “What nonsense!”
“How sane is it to appeal in a situation where the grave crime of plaster is not enough?”
The ministers gathered in droves to criticize him, but Yeonguijeong’s expression was calm.
“This is an appeal that must be filed. “If we think about the future of Joseon, not just the present, we must consider this matter and make the Lord Sang agree.”
“Great! “Surely, a ghost has appeared!”
When Judge Hojo shouted, Yeongeuijeong also raised his voice.
“You have forgotten how important it is to run state affairs! “I even forgot why I have subjects!”
“Great!”
Other ministers tried to stop him, but Yeonguijeong, holding the appeal, went into Seungjeongwon and presented the appeal.
“It’s an appeal. “Please present it to the chief minister.”
“… All right.”
Seeing the monks’ shocked expressions and voices, Yeonguijeong added:
“Don’t make those faces. “This is all for the future of Joseon and the Lord.”
Do Seung-ji, with a stiff expression on his face, was handed the petition.
“… I will present this to His Majesty the Prime Minister.”
“Here comes the appeal from the Yeonguijeong.”
“Leave it and go.”
From Do Seung-ji, via merchant ship, Yeonguijeong’s appeal was placed on King Sejong’s books.
King Sejong, who was staring at the scroll of appeal in silence, opened the scroll of appeal and began to read.
“Sosin Yeonguijeong Ryu Jeong-hyeon. I am raising money and submitting an appeal to His Majesty the Lord. “What is state affairs?”
The contents of the appeal written by Ryu Jeong-hyeon were as follows.
-Government literally means running a country. Therefore, deciding and implementing a policy lightly is something that should never be done. It is a fact that even Samcheok-dongja (三尺童子) knows that what must be avoided when deciding and executing a policy is Josammosa (朝三暮四) and Jobyeonseokgae (朝變夕改). This is because it is a matter of people’s trust in the state and its policies.
-However, looking at the issue of nationwide implementation of cowpox vaccination, the government was exercising authority through a unilateral decision by the chief minister. This is not right.
-First, vaccinate residents living in Hanseong. The first plan decided was to implement it nationwide after confirming its effectiveness, and this was something that the Prime Minister also agreed to. However, a small number of people filed an appeal demanding rapid nationwide expansion and overturned the initial plan simply by presenting the lawsuit. What is this other than a case study?
– The Chief Minister criticized the majority of Sarim (士林) for only offering cows to a small number of nobles and merchants, but this is not correct. The efficacy of cowpox vaccination has not yet been proven. Therefore, most people wait until the utility is confirmed. Of course, there may be some who refused the duties of the noblemen due to their own greed, but they are only a small portion. This is because those who are familiar with the sutras, follow the words of sages, and know shame and morality are the noblemen.
-Running a country. In other words, making and implementing policies should be accomplished only through consultation between the monarch and subjects. Why are subjects needed to run a country? This is because it is not easy for the monarch alone to see and judge widely. Only when the monarch and his subjects examine various aspects and come together to make a decision will policy move in the right direction. If everything in state affairs were decided and carried out at the discretion of the monarch, what need would there be for a place called the court, and what would there be for the subjects? All that is needed is eunuchs to take charge of the receipt and disbursement of documents. Of course, this is not the royal road, nor is it a paternal road; it is merely a dictatorship.
-In addition, it is for the sake of the future of the nation that it is not right for the monarch to exercise authority to become a routine practice. I have no doubt that the Lord of Danggeum will not deviate from the right path as he has the qualities of a dragon among people. also. The crown prince also has excellent qualifications, so I am less worried, but what will he do after that? What would be the fate of Joseon if a tyrant like Geolju (桀紂) ascended to the throne and exercised authority as he pleased because of custom? In order to prevent such a situation, consultations between the military and ministers must be observed, and policies decided through such consultations must be carefully prepared and implemented.
-It has only been about 30 years since our Joseon Dynasty was founded. If we compare it to a house, we are just getting started. Consolidating the consistency of military mythology and policy implementation is the only way to avoid the ideological trap and promise endless prosperity for Joseon. The reason why Jeonjo headed down the path to ruin was because he neglected this.
-To conclude, the nationwide implementation of cowpox vaccination through Gwondo should be stopped. As initially decided, we must first confirm its effectiveness and then decide whether to implement it nationwide.
“… If it is actually useful, I will gladly give away all my assets to Shin Ryu Jeong-hyeon.”
After reading the Yeonguijeong’s appeal to the end, King Sejong put down the appeal and gritted his teeth.
“What a cunning man!”
Sejong, holding on tightly to Seo-an with both hands and suppressing his boiling anger, gave an order to the merchant ship.
“What are those proud ministers doing now?”
“I am currently committing the grave sin of plaster in front of Geunjeongjeon.”
“Tell them to come into the blackout right now! “Every single one of you!”
“I follow your orders!”
The ministers, who had received orders via merchant ships, quickly entered the truce.
When the ministers, starting with the Yeonguijeong, sat down, King Sejong handed over the appeal in question to the Merchant Marine.
“Read it loudly so that all ministers can hear.”
“yes.”
At King Sejong’s command, the merchants read the Yeonguijeong’s appeal aloud.
As the story progressed, the faces of the ministers, who had been stiff from the beginning, became even harder. Although it was written in polite words, it was criticizing King Sejong’s decision-making as dictatorial. The sentence added at the end said that it would be enjoyed, but in reality, it could be interpreted to have the completely opposite meaning.
-I was told to take cowpox, but is it really effective? If you have it, I give it all I have!
After finishing reading, the merchant quietly folded the scroll and placed it on King Sejong’s books.
Meanwhile, the power outage was as quiet as ever. The officer and Juseo also stopped using their gold pens and were only swallowing their saliva.
It was Sejong who broke the silence.
“When he first learned about cowpox, he immediately thought of implementing it nationwide. However, Woo Ui-jeong said that it was too hasty, and Gwain also accepted it, thinking that it made sense. I will ask the gentlemen. “What kind of advice did Gwain use?”
“….”
“Before and after that, did Gwain always use guidance? All issues were discussed with the police and everyone chose the plan that they thought was right. “Is this also an exercise in authority?”
“….”
“The person called Yeonguijeong considers exercising authority as a sin, but authority is also one of the ruling tools of the monarch. When running a country, there are situations that require quick decisions. However, if you are in a situation where you need to make a decision quickly, but you are in a sluggish state, you will eventually have no choice but to resort to authority. Isn’t a monarch who loses time while waiting for his subjects to come to a conclusion a truly incompetent monarch? Whose responsibility is it that a custom is created where Gwondo becomes a daily routine? “Lord or subject?”
“….”
As King Sejong’s reprimand continued, the ministers’ heads sank more and more to the floor.
“The more you read Yeonguijeong’s appeal, the more cunning it becomes. The sentences are beautiful, but they are full of stench. Most of the Sarim (士林) are people who know shame and morality? Then why do we reward noblemen who open their treasures and provide relief to the people during a drought? If you follow the path of the sage and know shame and duty, isn’t it a natural thing to help the people? But since that wasn’t the case, wasn’t the reward meant to encourage others to follow suit? “Why is the reality different from what Yeonguijeong said?”
“….”
“Younguijeong! “Answer me!”
At King Sejong’s command, Yeonguijeong bowed his head.
“… I am devastated.”
“What are the noblemen who, whenever there is a smallpox or a plague, use their wealth to find medicinal herbs to treat their neighbors, and at the very least, call shamans to perform exorcisms to pray for the power of a supernatural god? What is it about the noblemen who spend their wealth to buy cows and offer them as gifts like this time? Are they acting hastily because they have shallow discipline?”
“… I am devastated. However, in the case of cowpox, its utility has not been clearly proven…”
“What are the shepherds of Nubeol Island? Generation after generation, we got cowpox and avoided smallpox. “Wasn’t this proof enough?”
“I’ll say it again. The shepherds alone are too few!”
“this!”
Sejong, who had been clutching the inkstone placed in the West Bank, relaxed his hands.
“good night. Then let me ask you one question. What should you do if smallpox occurs in Gangwon-do instead of Hanseong? Should we wait until it spreads from Gangwon-do to Hanseong? “Does it matter if many people die or turn into idiots in the meantime?”
“….”
“Even though there is a plan to prevent smallpox, is it worth the sacrifice of not getting vaccinated because it has not been sufficiently proven, giving up the law and only following the will of the military?”
“It is heartbreaking to make sacrifices, but solidifying the rules of national management is worth more. Although I pity the people suffering from smallpox, victims of smallpox have been around for a long time. “I think we can endure that level of sacrifice in order to get Joseon’s laws right from the start!”
“her!”
In response to the Yeonguijeong, lamentations broke out among the ministers. Even in the eyes of the ministers, Yeonguijeong’s answer was stubborn. King Sejong gritted his teeth at Yeonguijeong’s answer.
“good night! Be sure to prove its effectiveness! From today, when there is a report that smallpox has occurred anywhere in the eight provinces of Joseon, everyone, starting with Gwain, and all 103,328 residents of Hanseong, will be immediately moved to the outbreak site! “We will investigate those who contract smallpox among those who were moved to check whether it is effective or not!”
All the ministers rose up in response to King Sejong’s explosive remarks.
“majesty! “Please inform me!”
“Please inform me! “This is impossible!”
“Moving 100,000 people is an impossible task!”
All of the subjects opposed King Sejong’s decision. However, King Sejong’s intentions were firm.
“Shut up! If you have your way, you will have to wait until smallpox originating somewhere other than Hanseong spreads to Hanseong, or until smallpox occurs in Hanseong! Then, who will bear the outcry of the people who were sacrificed in the meantime? And moving 100,000 people is impossible? Then how did the military move? “This is just an excuse!”
After pausing for a moment to catch his breath, King Sejong concluded by glaring at Yeonguijeong.
“This is to solidify the law to protect the harmony between the king and the gods, so I will not accept any objections! And listen to the spirit! “If its effectiveness is confirmed, I will firmly hold my Lord responsible for the crime!”
After finishing speaking, Sejong stormed out.
The officer recorded all of this without exception.
The Yeonguijeong’s appeal was like adding fuel to the fire and made the situation even worse.
The officer who finished recording continued immediately.
The officer says:
In implementing royal politics, the harmony between the military and the gods is essential. However, republicanism is only a tool and not a goal. Today’s appeal and remarks by the Young Ui-Jeong can be said to be a reversal of the original point. It is heartbreaking to see the fall of the famous old man.
Hyang clicked her tongue when she heard about the conflict between King Sejong and the minister.
“It’s completely become a chicken race. “They say politics is a cause, but isn’t this going too far?”
Hyang, who had been clicking his tongue at the situation in which the government was heading to the end, suddenly became stern.
“If this continues, isn’t there going to be an unprecedented rebellion in history?”
With a serious expression on his face, Hyang folded his arms and was lost in thought. After calculating in his head for a while, Hyang came to a conclusion.
“Just in case, I guess I’ll have to start preparing soon.”
That night, King Sejong visited Hyang’s room.
“Cesar, you probably heard what happened today, right?”
“yes.”
“Do you also think this father’s behavior was excessive?”
“I am just frustrated by the old-fashionedness of Yeonguijeong. “I think the cause is important, but the practical benefits are also important.”
In response to Hyang’s answer, Sejong smiled and patted Hyang’s shoulder.
“I feel confident because I have you.”
“That’s too much praise.”
“Whoa~.”
Sejong let out a long sigh and complained.
“With things happening like this, I’d rather have smallpox break out somewhere nearby.”
“You will definitely get good results.”
* * *
Five days later, an urgent report was sent to the royal court.
“I have smallpox!”
“Where is it?”
“This is the Yeongdeungpo area of Geumcheon-gun!”
King Sejong and the ministers who heard about the outbreak area looked relieved. This was because both King Sejong and the ministers were exhausted from the stress brought on by the situation, which felt like walking on thin ice.
“It worked out better. It worked out well.”
[Episode 32 Gapjin Gyeongjang (10)] End
ⓒ Gukbbong
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