Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 76
Episode 76 Let’s make money! Let’s do business! (2)
March 7th year of King Sejong’s reign. (1425, Year Eulsa)
While he was busy preparing Sogwa, Kimta of the Saheonbu House filed an appeal.
“The six-year term of office for village members is unfair! This must be set back to three years!” (Note 1)
This appeal led to a war of words between King Sejong and the ministers – to be exact, the ministers’ town hall.
* * *
When Joseon was founded, the term of office of local leaders was three years – 30 months, to be exact. Therefore, work evaluations were conducted once a year, and promotions, demotions, and dismissals were decided through these evaluations.
However, as King Sejong ascended to the throne, the terms of office of local leaders changed.
This was not King Sejong’s dogma.
The first proposer was Ha Ryun.
“Because a local governor is a person from a foreign country who comes to become the head of a town, it takes time to understand the circumstances of that town. The Ming Dynasty also experienced a similar problem, and to solve this problem, it set the term of office for local governors at six years. “We have looked into this and found it to be very effective, so it is right to introduce it.”
Following Ha Ryun’s motion, Heo Jo, who became Judge Lee Jo, and Ryu Jeong-hyeon, the Yeonguijeong, actively supported it, and King Sejong extended the term of office of local officials to six years.
To be precise, it did not increase from 3 years to 6 years, but from 30 months to 60 months. Since the local officers’ work was evaluated every 10 months, including the evaluation period, it was 3 years and 6 years.
When the term of office of local officials was extended, the local officials involved expressed great dissatisfaction.
The reason local officials were dissatisfied was because of promotion issues.
Hyeongam, the lowest local official, was of the Jong 6th rank, while Hyeonryeong, the head of a slightly larger region, was of the Jeong 6th rank.
However, being promoted to a higher rank in the Joseon bureaucracy required a considerable period of time.
Taking Daegwa as an example, the rank of 6th rank was given to a manor of Daegwa, and the rank of 9th rank was given to a person who passed the civil service examination. And it took at least a few years and as long as more than 10 years for this Jeong 9th rank to be promoted to Jong 6th rank.
Therefore, asking someone to work in a local area for 6 years was the same as telling them to build a wall between themselves and success.
“Holy shit! “Even if you are the 9th rank, you have to hold out in Hanseong before you can line up here and there!”
“They say that the 7th grade Jeong in Hanseong is better than the 6th grade Jong in the countryside!”
Even though the local officers complained here and there, they still did their work steadily.
If I made a mistake in the performance evaluation every 10 months, I could lose that good position.
As a result, after the implementation of the six-year system, local administration ran quite well and the people’s livelihoods stabilized.
Of course, there were local officials who had nothing to do with this.
They were Dogwanchalchulcheoksa (都觀察黜陟使), or governors.
The highest rank of provincial officials was Jong 2, and their term of office was one year.
Because of this situation, local officials launched an offensive with gifts to influential ministers, asking them to shorten their terms of office.
Perhaps because of the gift, the subjects continued to insist that 6 years be shortened to 3 years, saying it was too long.
“If local officials are on assignment for six years, problems arise in taking care of their elderly parents in their hometown. “This is unfilial and goes against what Seonghyeon said, so I think it is right to reduce it to three years.”
“Sometimes, there are local officials who narrowly avoid being expelled. “The people of the town where they are local officials are complaining that the hardships they endure for six years are too great.”
“After being away from my hometown for six years, I have a big problem disciplining my children and getting them married. Since ancient times, ‘Sui-sinje ruled the country later.’ It was said. “Six years is too long, so please reduce it to three years.”
Every time his subjects said this, King Sejong clearly expressed his refusal.
“Caring for one’s elderly parents is a good thing, but managing the people is also an important task. Rather, take your parents to your assignment. The same goes for the discipline of children and marriage.”
“What can you do with three years? No matter how small the town is, the number of residents exceeds hundreds, and it would take a year just to know their reality. Since there are frequent changes in leadership, isn’t there a negative effect on the inspection of the warehouse? “Not allowed!”
* * *
In this situation, Kimta filed an appeal again.
After reading the appeal, King Sejong glared at the ministers.
“I think Gwain kept saying that the term of office for local governors should be six years.”
In response to King Sejong’s question, Yeonguijeong Lee Jik came forward and spoke.
“It’s because circumstances have changed.”
“Things have changed? Please explain.”
The reason for this move was explained at King Sejong’s order.
“Although the Kyungjang has been implemented since last year, the overwhelming majority of local leaders do not yet fully understand it. As time goes by, the governor will grow in size, but if the local leaders, who are at the lowest level of the government and closest to the people, do not do it properly, the governor will face great obstacles. “If we change the term of office of local leaders to three years and continue to rotate central and local officials, we will be able to proceed more easily.”
“However, if the change of the leader becomes frequent, it will lead to errors in the inspection of the warehouse of goods, including grain. “How can we solve this?”
Lee Jik pointed out Sejong’s point without hesitation.
“Hojo’s monopoly has already been set up at the county level. Although the basic business of the monopoly office is to monopolize salt and candy, another task is to inspect and manage land and land in the county as well as surrounding prefectures, so there is no major problem. Even if a problem arises on the receiving end, it can be prevented by the Hojo.”
“Isn’t Hojo also replaced every year?”
“However, those dispatched by Hojo are professionally trained in industry and academia, and there are few errors in their work except when they are selling salt and candy.”
“Hmm…”
Hearing Lee Jik’s explanation, Sejong stroked his beard and was lost in thought.
Lee Jik, who saw that Sejong’s reaction was not bad, continued to persuade Sejong.
“Think about what happened at Hojo last year. “How much trouble did you go through because you couldn’t properly identify your family register and land?”
Sejong nodded, recalling the famous incident known as ‘Hojo’s death.’
‘Almost there!’
After checking Sejong’s reaction, the transfer was solidified.
“Once the commander reaches the final stage, tax and military affairs are handed over to officials directly dispatched from the military and military divisions. “If this happens, there is no need for local leaders to be tied down for six years.”
“Hmm…”
Hearing Lee Jik’s explanation, Sejong stroked his beard and was lost in thought.
The great and minor officials gathered in front swallowed their saliva as they saw King Sejong like that.
After thinking for a while, Sejong nodded and opened his mouth.
“Your opinion seems to make sense, so let’s think about it.”
Ijik immediately responded to Sejong’s decision with a deep bow.
“I am devastated! “Your Majesty, live forever!”
At the same time as Lee Jik shouted, the other ministers also bowed loudly and shouted.
“I am devastated! Your Majesty the Lord, live forever! A thousand years! “A thousand years!”
The officer recorded all of these scenes without exception.
-… When the king decided to consider the matter, the great and small ministers were so moved by the success that they shouted for a thousand years.
The officer discusses.
It seems like the ministers had a hard time.
The faces of the ministers who came out of Pyeonjeon that day had unusually colored faces.
After passing through Geunjeongmun, Yeonguijeong looked back at his subjects.
“You can’t just ignore a day like today! “I’ll buy it, let’s go!”
“The captain worked hard, so we should pay! “We will take care of you!”
* * *
Meanwhile, Sejong, who was left alone on the sidelines, sighed and burst into laughter.
“Phew!”
“What’s going on, Your Highness?”
King Sejong waved his hand in response to the merchant ship’s question.
“It’s nothing. Nothing.”
Although it ended like that, King Sejong knew how the ministers felt.
‘We can’t die alone! If we’re going to die, let’s all die together!’
Sejong, who was gathering his thoughts while laughing, muttered softly.
“Anyway, the more people who know how to do things, the better, so it’s okay.”
The next day, King Sejong made a decision at a gathering of all major and small officials.
“I will accept the opinions of the officials regarding the local leader. “Set an appropriate implementation date and time.”
“I am devastated!”
“I am devastated!”
* * *
When the past was over and it was starting to get warmer.
Just like last year, Joseon prepared in advance and was able to escape the spring crisis without much trouble.
During the spring hunger period, weirs and reservoirs that had not yet been repaired were repaired and rivers were dredged throughout Joseon.
Residents of Hanseong and its surrounding areas were mobilized to dredge the Han River.
It was quite a difficult task, but since the government paid wages, the residents volunteered for the dredging work.
During this busy period, the government implemented cowpox vaccination again as it had done last year.
Thanks to the fact that it was already done nationwide last year, the second cowpox vaccination was able to be completed faster and more easily than expected.
Meanwhile, Hyang was preparing to unpack the things he and the researchers had developed one by one.
“Lowering. Are you checking inventory?”
Hyang, who was looking at the items piled up in the warehouse in Area 51, nodded in response to Lee Cheon’s question.
“Do you want to solve it now?”
“Yes, I have to let it go now. “If we solve this, Abamama’s concerns will be resolved to some extent.”
Li Cheon nodded at Hyang’s words.
“That’s right.”
When Icheon agreed, Hyang strengthened his decision.
“I have to contact Hopan soon.”
However, due to an incident that occurred outside, the township had to temporarily suspend its plans.
Emperor Honghui of the Ming Dynasty had died.
‘The new emperor of the Ming Dynasty has died.’ The news put the government on alert.
“What the physiognomist and the medical doctor said at that time were right.”
“That’s right.”
Ijik immediately responded to Sejong’s words.
“Please prepare the condolence envoys and prepare the condolence center.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And do you have any information about the crown prince who will be the new emperor?”
As soon as King Sejong finished speaking, Hwang Hee came forward and answered.
“There is a rumor that the previous emperor’s favor was great.”
“exactly? “Personally, what would you say your personality is?”
“There are rumors that you have both civil and martial arts skills. It is said that that is why the previous emperor was so favored.”
Hwang Hee had no trouble answering King Sejong’s questions.
It was a moment when all the hard preparation that had been done over the years, as we had been dealt a big blow last year, shone.
“Hmm… Then do you think the crown prince who will become the new emperor will be biased towards external affairs like the previous emperor?”
“They say he is very cautious about doing that. “… It’s hard to even say it, but there’s a rumor that came through my superiors.”
“rumor? what?”
Sejong expressed interest in the words, ‘a rumor that is difficult to talk about.’
“There are rumors that the King of Han is very ambitious.”
“Hoo? “Is this a reliable source?”
Hwang Hee immediately answered King Sejong’s question.
“They say it is a rumor that is slowly circulating among merchants in Beijing.”
“Hmm…”
In response to Hwang Hee, Sejong, who was stroking his beard and organizing his thoughts, gave an order.
“Choose a suitable merchant and send it to Shangguan to convey my orders to the merchants and officials staying there. “I tell you to gather all the information about the new Crown Prince and the King of Han.”
“I follow your orders!”
“And send a messenger to the border and tell them to strengthen their guard. “If the Ming Dynasty falls into chaos, the Jurchen people will also go crazy.”
Sejong, who gave orders to Hwang Hee, sighed.
“Whoa~. This is it… When I try to do something, something happens.”
* * *
“Ah-oh! “No matter what, that damn China is no help!”
“Lowering!”
As Hyang grumbled, the eunuch who followed him was startled.
“I didn’t say anything. Say nothing! got it?”
At the warning of the scent, the eunuch looked down and nodded.
“Yes sir.”
“Anyway, there is no privacy in this damn palace. “Privacy…”
Hyang, who covered the eunuch’s mouth, grumbled and walked towards the research center next to the East Palace.
“Your Majesty the Crown Prince….”
“Shh! “Everyone is busy with work, so please be quiet.”
“yes.”
Hyang covered the mouth of the eunuch who was about to gag and walked quietly down the hallway.
When Hyang arrived in front of the room with the train model, his expression was wrinkled.
“Ha~. Haha~. Awesome! the best!”
Hyang, who heard the words mixed with excited moans that could easily be misunderstood if anyone heard them, asked the eunuch standing in front of him.
“Yu?”
“Yes, this is Prince Yu.”
Hyang sighed at the eunuch’s answer.
“That’s serious…”
Hyang suppressed the next words to himself.
‘Even in the 21st century, I wasn’t like that when I was that age!’
* * *
After the death of Emperor Hongxi, the Joseon Dynasty government could not relax its tension due to information coming from the Ming Dynasty.
Upon hearing the news of the emperor’s death, the crown prince, who had been staying in Nanjing, immediately departed for Beijing.
Zhu Zhu, the king of Han who dreamed of usurping the throne, attempted to assassinate him, but Zhu Chuanqi, who overcame the crisis safely, arrived in Beijing and ascended the throne.
Afterwards, Zhu Chuanqi, who became the new emperor, like his father, gave many gifts to appease Zhu Zhu.
However, according to information obtained from the officials and merchants staying in Shangguan, Chu Jufu was waiting for an opportunity.
King Sejong, unable to let his guard down due to the ongoing crisis, complained to his ministers.
“If I’m going to start a rebellion, I’m going to start it right away. “Why are you looking at people? Making people tired…”
“That’s right.”
The ministers nodded at Sejong’s words.
This was because the work intensity of the ministers had doubled due to the foreign exchange crisis that had come while the restoration was still ongoing.
“Whoa~.”
Sejong let out a long sigh and looked at the minister.
“ruler! Let’s get to work! Day! After all, the best thing to do when you have a headache is to work! “Let’s work!”
At King Sejong’s words, the ministers let out silent screams.
‘When you have a headache, isn’t it best to rest!’
—-
Note 1) In actual history, the appeal was filed in June.