Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 512
Episode 512: Far and near. (5)
“Good. We will know for sure when Oirat’s messenger arrives in Hanseong, but first, let’s focus on the military and prepare. “Do you have any objections?”
Hwang Hee took the lead in answering Hyang’s question.
“No. It is a reasonable decision. No matter how much you think about it, it becomes too much or too little. Otherwise, you may end up going down the wrong path.”
All the other ministers nodded at Hwang Hee’s words.
“great. Then, let’s decide to discuss the Oirat part properly after the messenger comes and move on. Hmm… since we’re talking about Oirat, how about we start talking from the west, i.e. Beijing?”
“I think it’ll be okay.”
“Then let’s take a moment and resume the meeting.”
“yes.”
After a while, the local ministers left Seunghwadang and headed to the common restaurant in the East Palace.
* * *
When King Sejong was there, he and his ministers ate lunch at a communal restaurant next to Geunjeongjeon. But now it has become a daily routine to eat from breakfast to dinner in a communal restaurant built in the East Palace. This was because it was disloyal and unfilial to use the communal restaurant in Geunjeongjeon when King Sejong had neither ascended nor ascended the throne.
Thanks to this, the communal dining hall in Geunjeongjeon was only undergoing maintenance, and the servants and court ladies in charge of the kitchen all moved to the East Palace Hall.
“Just use the Geunjeongjeon communal restaurant. “What is this trouble?”
Occasionally these complaints would pop up, but they disappeared immediately after the next words.
“Hey guys .. hey guys! You guys are lucky! Do you want to be taken to Shinji like the kids in the Junggungjeon?”
“Egg money!”
* * *
While the Hyangs and ministers who had lunch in the communal cafeteria took a short break, the officials and lower-ranking officials went in and out of Seunghwadang’s conference room with necessary documents.
One of the lower-ranking officials muttered softly as he watched the ministers taking a break in the tea room built on one side of Seunghwadang.
“I’m jealous… Do I always get to rest like that?”
In response to the low-ranking official’s complaint, someone who appeared to be superior to him scolded him.
“Even if I look like that, if I mess up even a little, I’ll be a record keeper until I die. Are you jealous?”
“If something goes wrong, isn’t it the same for us as well?”
“For us, unless it’s a really serious crime, it doesn’t last more than 5 years, but for those guys, it lasts a lifetime.”
Another superior continued speaking.
“Still, isn’t it the officials’ wish to hear the word ‘Great Inspector’ at least once in their lifetime?”
“If I just hear the sound of inspiration, I won’t have any wishes.”
“Are you ready?”
“Hi!”
The lower-level officials, who were preparing for the next meeting by joking and complaining, responded with surprise at the sudden sound of Hawiji’s voice.
“It will be over soon!”
“Get ready quickly! “Your Majesty will come in a little while, but what if you are not ready yet?”
“Yes yes!”
At Hawiji’s urging, the lower-level officials quickly finished preparing and left the conference room. Hawiji hurriedly bowed to the low-ranking officials and muttered with a sullen expression in return.
“Newcomers these days have a young mind…”
Kwon Ram, who was next to Hawiji’s complaint, smiled and spoke.
“If anyone hears it, they’ll think you’re really flying around, right?”
“of course! Even though this is the body that passed the state entrance exam! “I’m not someone who got into the office thanks to personal connections like everyone else!”
Kwon Ram’s expression became fierce at Hawiji’s words.
“under! It is true that I entered the office through a special recruitment, but don’t you know that it is more difficult to become successful through a special recruitment? “It’s because of people who narrow their eyes and say that Jangwon passed the state exam like anyone else.”
“joy!”
“her!”
As the two people were fighting with their noses blowing, they heard Hyang’s voice from behind.
“Hey~. “Am I lucky to have such talented people?”
“omg!”
“Oops!”
Hawiji and Kwon Ram, startled by the sudden voice of Hyang, quickly backed away to the side.
Hyang looked at the two people with a wry smile.
“If anyone hears it, they will think that I lasted in a relationship for about 20 years.”
At Hyang’s words, Kwon Ram and Hawiji’s heads gradually lowered.
* * *
The year that Kwon Ram entered government service after being caught in a multi-stage affair by Han Myeong-hoe was the year of Imja (1432, the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign). And the year Hawiji entered government service was Eulmyo (1435, the 17th year of King Sejong’s reign). Although Kwon Ram was a little early in his career, he was much older.
Even so, the careers of the two people who had been in the industry for a little over 10 years were funny to look at.
He was already a prominent figure at the age of eight, interfering with state affairs here and there, and surviving alongside ministers with decades of experience.
* * *
“Still, it’s good to see that you’re confident in your own abilities. “It looks very nice.”
The two, who bowed their heads at Hyang’s words, fell into confusion.
‘Is this a compliment? ‘Is this an insult?’
Hyang, who was contemplating for a moment while looking at the two who were so confused, opened his mouth.
“I wasn’t satisfied with the reports sent from Daeseoldo and Jongjangdo as they were very poor, but it turned out well. “You two should prepare for the business trip immediately.”
The two, who were shocked by Hyang’s command, unconsciously raised their heads and looked at Hyang.
“yes?”
“No way…”
“Go to Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island, properly inspect the local situation, and then submit a report. Since these two are confident in their abilities, they will be able to get the job done quickly, right? “Two months.”
“It takes almost a month just to travel to Daeseoldo Island and Jongjangdo Island, right?”
“Isn’t that enough for your abilities? Is it really possible to be so confident when you can’t even do that? “Is this disappointing?”
As soon as the word ‘disappointment’ came out of Hyang’s mouth, Kwon Ram and Ha Ji-ji quickly responded.
“Oh no!”
“I will definitely complete it!”
“I will prepare for the business trip and leave immediately!”
“I will send you the horse pack through Naegwan.”
“ancient!”
Kwon Ram and Hawiji answered loudly and walked away quickly. Hyang, who saw this, spoke to Han Myeong-hoe and Seong Sam-moon.
“Go and help.”
“Yes old!”
Han Myeong-hoe and Seong Sam-moon, who responded quickly, hurriedly followed the two who went out first.
The ministers who came out of the tea room to see this scene clicked their tongues and shook their heads as they saw the four people moving like that.
“Tsk tsk tsk. Even if you get caught….”
“That’s beyond words.”
Meanwhile, Kim Jong-seo, who felt a strange sense of kinship with the disappearing four people, walked up to Hwang-hee and whispered softly.
“Are you learning? Are you teaching?”
‘Did you learn how to treat people from the crown prince? Or did you teach it to the crown prince?’
Although there was no subject, Hwang Hee, who understood the meaning of Kim Jong-seo’s words, gave a short answer.
“It’s dark with history… so it must be stained.”
‘It was stained by His Majesty the Lord.’
* * *
Meanwhile, Kwon Ram and Hawiji, who were diligently packing their belongings in their office, raised their voices towards Seong Sam-moon and Han Myeong-hoe.
“no! People! “If you are here, you should at least let us know that you are here!”
“That’s right! “If it’s hard to tell, you should have at least noticed!”
Han Myeong-hoe shrugged his shoulders and responded to Kwon Ram and Hawiji’s criticism.
“I wanted to give it to you, but your Majesty prevented me from doing so.”
“That’s right. “We didn’t even notice your presence until you stood right next to us.”
In response to Han Myeong-hoe and Seong Sam-moon’s answers, Kwon Ram and Hawiji gritted their teeth and packed their belongings.
* * *
After a short skit after the meal, Hyang resumed the meeting with the ministers.
“According to the news coming from Beijing, the emperor’s health is not very good. How bad is it?”
“The exact situation is unknown, but it seems to be quite bad. But what is certain is that it has gotten worse these days.”
In response to Heo Hu’s answer, Hyang immediately asked back.
“Is there any way to know more accurately?”
“It is said that the emperor’s eyes and ears have become more harsh these days.”
“It’s a shame.”
The scent could not hide its sincere regret.
‘Contrary to what I first read, this is a situation that will endure for a long time. If this happens, there will be too many variables… It would be nice if it could be a little easier…’
While Hyang was feeling regretful, Hwang Hee asked Heo Hu.
“If the emperor’s health is so bad, wouldn’t it be a good idea to start paying attention to the crown prince?”
“We are still collecting information about the prince, but this is not good.”
“Not good?”
Hwang Hee’s face became serious at Heo Hu’s answer.
“Which way is bad? health? Heart? ability?”
Heo Hu immediately answered Han Myeonghoe’s question.
“Unlike the emperor, I heard a rumor that his health is good, and his abilities seem to be slightly lacking, but the assessment is that it is not a big problem. The problem is mentality. “The evaluation is very extreme.”
“Rapid?”
“There are rumors that you don’t have a very good relationship with the emperor.”
Heo Hu’s words made the ministers’ eyes secretly focus on Hyang.
‘The relationship between father and son was so good that the father passed on all the work and left…’
“Hasn’t there already been a rumor that the relationship between the emperor and crown prince is not good?”
Heo Hu answered Hwang Hee’s question in more detail.
“I’ve become more estranged from you these days. “They say the reason it happened was because the emperor killed the eunuch who was the crown prince’s closest confidant.”
* * *
“Is it really right to entrust this country to the crown prince?”
This was one of the worries that was bothering Emperor Seondeok these days.
Prince Joo Jin-jin’s personality was somewhat temperamental, but he became quite serious as he got older.
The problem was that the crown prince’s insight and ability to handle tasks were very lacking – of course, by the standards of the Emperor Seondeok.
“The crown prince may seem to have shallow insight, but this is a problem that will be resolved over time. “There is no need to worry as the management of state affairs is also improving.”
Every time they heard Emperor Seondeok’s complaints, the ministers said this and defended the crown prince. These were not simply words to flatter the crown prince. In reality, Joo Joo-jin’s ability to run state affairs was average, but not outstanding.
The reason why Emperor Seondeok so harshly evaluated the crown prince was because of the incense.
Emperor Seondeok, who had a strong impression of Hyang, who was not intimidated and confidently discussed interests with himself despite his young age, was evaluating the crown prince by setting all standards for Hyang.
“Even the Crown Prince of Joseon does that, this guy called the Crown Prince!”
Emperor Seondeok disciplined Ju Ji-jin harshly from an early age. Joo Ji-jin, who suffered excessive stress during this process, developed a violent personality.
However, as he got older and was able to control this personality to some extent, Joo Ji-jin gradually began to receive positive evaluations.
However, not long ago, a major incident occurred that chilled the relationship between Emperor Seondeok and Joo Jin-jin.
Emperor Seondeok executed the eunuch Wang Jin, who was Joo Ji-jin’s closest associate.
* * *
Wang Jin, the eunuch who had been by Joo Ji-jin’s side since he was young, was someone whom Joo Ji-jin greatly relied on.
His job was to console Joo Jin-jin, who was stressed out by Emperor Seondeok’s harsh discipline. As he handled the matter well and received praise from Emperor Seondeok, Wang Jin showed even more enthusiasm for Joo Ji-jin.
Wang Jin, who acted like a tongue in his mouth and gained Joo Jin-jin’s trust, became ambitious as time went by.
‘It is an immutable fact that the crown prince becomes emperor! Then, the position of one-man and all-man is mine!’
Wang Jin, who was ambitious, began to secretly build a faction.
As Wang Jin built his faction like this, the existing factions began to feel a sense of crisis.
‘This little brat already!’
In the end, the existing eunuch factions reported Wang Jin’s misconduct to Emperor Seondeok, and Emperor Seondeok ordered Wang Jin’s execution.
“A crime that blinds the prince’s eyes and serves his own self-interest! “You deserve to die!”