< Episode 13: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (6) >
Episode 13: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (6)
From the time he first learned to speak and read, Hyang showed a different demeanor. From that point on, Hyang observed the strictest propriety toward Sejong and his wife. His observance of etiquette was so flawless that Sejong and his wife actually grew worried.
"This child, despite us being his parents, it feels as though he's treating us like strangers."
"I felt that as well. It feels like he's drawn an invisible line and guards it too strictly. Is his cleverness excessive...?"
The only person such a wall-building child was close to was Princess Jeongso.
"Our older sister has maximum sociability, after all..."
Hyang couldn't help but chuckle whenever he thought of his sister. Princess Jeongso, the eldest legitimate daughter of Sejong and his wife, had a bright and clever personality and was beloved by all the royal family, starting with King Taejong and his wife. In 21st-century terms, Princess Jeongso was a 'super socialite.'
After Queen Soheon, who had been enjoying tea together, took her leave, Sejong turned to look at the eunuch.
"Step out for a moment. I wish to be alone."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
After the eunuch left and Sejong remained alone, he murmured quietly.
"Should I have him leave on his own, or should I make him leave? No... should I end this cleanly, or should there be blood?"
Sejong's low voice was filled with murderous intent.
"The current Grand Palace is filled only with my father's subjects. I need my own subjects. Subjects who will listen only to me..."
* * *
When Emperor Yongle's imperial decree arrived and Sejong's decision was made, the Ministry of Taxation began preparing to produce gold brushes to present to Emperor Yongle.
However, a serious problem arose during the preparation process. The production capacity of the merchant guild currently responsible for supplying gold brushes made it impossible to meet the deadline by the time the envoy mission would depart.
Upon receiving a report that the production schedule itself would be problematic, Sejong summoned his ministers and Hyang. After hearing the story, Hyang looked at Sejong.
"Father. I believe we need to know more details. How about summoning Daebang?"
"Impossible! How can a lowly merchant be brought to a place where important matters of state are decided!"
As soon as Hyang's words fell, the Grand Censor shouted his objection.
Sejong glared at such a Grand Censor.
"Then does the Grand Censor have an answer?"
"..."
"Your duty is to offer remonstrance, and I do not take your counsel lightly, but I wish you would learn to read the occasion."
"I am beside myself with gratitude."
Having silenced the Grand Censor, Sejong gave his order.
"Bring Daebang here."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After a while, Daebang, who was summoned to Sejong's quarters by royal command, prostrated himself flat.
"This humble merchant greets the King who is like the heavens."
"The Crown Prince has questions he wishes to ask, which is why I summoned you. Answer the questions truthfully."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Crown Prince, ask your question."
"Yes. Daebang. How are gold brushes made? Does one person take responsibility from beginning to end?"
"Yes. That is correct. Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Is that so?"
Hyang thought for a moment, then looked at Sejong.
"I think the answer lies in bringing the guild's artisans here to speak with them."
"Is that so? Then we must bring the artisans."
As soon as Sejong's words came out, the Grand Censor burst forth again.
"Your Majesty! It is impossible! Bringing merchants was already too much, but bringing artisans into the sacred palace is absolutely not to be done! Please reconsider!"
At the Grand Censor's remonstrance, Sejong answered firmly.
"If it concerns the interests of the state, would I not summon even lowborn peasants? Grand Censor, close your mouth!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Close your mouth! If you do not, I will have no choice but to reconsider your loyalty!"
At Sejong's stern command, the Grand Censor fell silent. In the court atmosphere frozen solid by Sejong's rebuke, Daebang could only breathe while remaining prostrated.
"Daebang, go immediately and bring the artisans."
"Yes, yes!"
Having tasted the murderous atmosphere, Daebang returned to the palace with the artisans in no time.
'Wow! In this Joseon era famous for being slow, he moves really fast! As expected, he moves quickly in a crisis!'
Hyang, who had been frustrated by the excruciatingly slow movements of Joseon people, was satisfied with Daebang's incredibly swift action.
What Hyang taught the artisans was the concept of 'division of labor' and 'rolling,' which were extremely basic to modern people.
"What do you think?"
At Hyang's question, the head artisan stroked his chin for a moment before answering.
"I think it's definitely worth trying. It will take time to become familiar with it, but once we are, I believe we can produce much more than now."
Hearing the head artisan's answer, Hyang turned to look at Sejong.
"Father. The head artisan says it is possible."
"Is that so? I will expect good news from you all."
"We shall obey the King's command!"
At Sejong's command, all the artisans prostrated themselves on the ground and answered.
Five days later, Daebang came to the Ministry of Taxation with the artisans' answer.
"They say they can shorten the delivery deadline."
"Is that so? And the quality?"
"They say they can guarantee the quality as well."
"You've worked hard!"
The Tax Minister, having praised Daebang, immediately ran to Sejong. At the Tax Minister's report, not only Sejong but also the ministers' faces brightened. Sejong tapped the armrest with his fingers while thinking, then looked at Hyang.
"Dividing work to increase efficiency... How did the Crown Prince come up with such a marvelous idea?"
"I once observed the royal kitchen, and there I saw skilled cooks and servants dividing their work according to the head cook's orders. I recalled that memory to come up with this idea."
"You truly are an extraordinary child!"
Sejong greatly admired Hyang's answer.
"To find a marvelous method in what others overlooked is no small feat! What do you ministers think?"
"Truly remarkable!"
At Sejong's bragging about his child, most of the subjects nodded their heads and chimed in agreement. But there were always those who could not read the room.
"Though His Highness the Crown Prince's brilliance is cause for celebration, I believe it is problematic that he concerns himself only with menial matters. I believe that brilliance should be used for learning and realizing the teachings of the sages. That is the proper path."
At the Grand Censor's statement, Sejong's face turned fierce.
"You had better visit a physician immediately to have your eyes examined. Why can you not see properly? Did I say the Crown Prince concerns himself only with menial matters? Is illuminating principles through repeated investigation instead of passing over situations that ordinary people would simply ignore menial? Is pondering solutions upon seeing the people's distress menial? Did not the ancient sages also contemplate for the peace and prosperity of the realm to reveal its proper way? Why do you see things so narrowly?"
At Sejong's rebuke, the Grand Censor hurriedly tried to make excuses.
"I did not mean that..."
"If not that? As the Crown Prince said before, do you think that I or previous kings all lack legitimacy, and thus continue such absurd remarks?"
"I have never harbored such wicked and disloyal thoughts!"
"Is that really so?"
"Please reconsider!"
The court session ended with this commotion. Near the end of the court session, the historian wrote the following in his draft:
-It is true that the Grand Censor's remarks were biased, but His Majesty's pressure cannot be called right either. Wanting to boast of one's child's excellence is human nature, but using authority to pressure those who do not respond in kind does not befit a monarch.
* * *
Without caring that the historian was writing critical remarks in his draft, Sejong directed his ministers to proceed with the work. Naturally, Hyang had to frequently respond to Sejong's summons like a seasoning.
Sejong summoned Hyang when there was something to discuss. Hyang, when summoned, did his best to provide answers. And the answers he gave satisfied Sejong. After finishing one quest and returning to his room, Hyang always grumbled.
"No matter how I look at it, I think I dug my own grave. I just wanted to stand out a little earlier..."
While Sejong was satisfied and Hyang regretted, the ministers looked up at the sky and sighed.
"Ah! I want to resign!"
"Why do that father and son...!"
Some more extreme ones found a place with no one around, bit their sleeves, and screamed inwardly.
"Both father and son!"
Every time Hyang presented an answer that satisfied Sejong, the work the ministers had to do kept increasing.
* * *
After explaining 'division of labor' and returning, Hyang let out a small sigh.
"Phew~. That was close."
The best solution to solve the merchant guild's schedule problem was 'division of labor' alone. While Daebang was bringing the artisans, Hyang racked his brain.
-It's certain they'll ask what led me to think about division of labor. I can't possibly say "I learned it in my previous life" even if I die.
-I need to find the most appropriate example of division of labor.
The most appropriate example that emerged while searching was 'division of labor in the royal kitchen.'
"That was a close success."
Hyang clicked his tongue while evaluating himself.
"Come to think of it... so the concept of division of labor didn't exist until this period..."
At the thought of 'division of labor,' the voice of Samcheonpo teacher rang out from Hyang's memory.
-Even before Adam Smith spoke of 'division of labor,' division of labor would have occurred naturally. But the full-scale application of division of labor to industry came when 'absolute monarchy' and 'mercantilism' became linked.
"Absolute monarchy..."
Hyang focused on the term 'absolute monarchy.' Samcheonpo teacher had connected absolute monarchy and Joseon as follows:
-What about Joseon? Though nominally an absolute monarchy, if you look closely at history, it can be seen as a power struggle between monarchs who wanted absolute monarchy and subjects who dreamed of a republic.
"After that, he said not to be happy about the word republic. The republic we know requires two more characters 'democratic' in front to be complete. The republic that Joseon subjects wanted was a republic of weak sovereign and strong ministers, he said."
Hyang, reflecting on his past life memories, grabbed his head.
"First of all, for my current self to be comfortable, and for my future to be comfortable, what should I do?"
After pondering for a while, Hyang finally reached a conclusion.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, right? I'll build things one by one too. First, I need to start with what my father also strongly wants... The start is strengthening royal authority."
Hyang looked toward the main palace.
"Extending the King's rule to local closed societies. What's needed for that is... capital."
* * *
Having established the plan to 'expand capital to strengthen royal authority,' Hyang went to find Sejong.
"Father, regarding this envoy mission and trade mission, I believe there is something the chief envoy must do."
"Speak."
"I believe the chief envoy must receive confirmation from the Emperor on certain matters."
"Something he must receive confirmation for?"
"Yes, first, we must receive recognition for exclusive rights to the gold brushes that our Joseon merchant guild sells to Ming. Just from the fact that the Emperor ordered gold brushes to be presented this time, we can see that the reaction to gold brushes is very good. The Ming Empire is several times larger than our Joseon. As I mentioned before, the demand for gold brushes will also be several times greater."
"That is true."
"Then there must be merchants in Ming as well. Would these merchants simply let this pass? There will certainly be those who replicate and sell gold brushes. This must be prevented."
At Hyang's pointed remark, Sejong, after thinking for a moment, nodded his head.
"The Crown Prince's opinion is reasonable."
"However, if done wrongly, it might displease His Majesty the Emperor..."
Just as the Minister of Rites among the subjects was about to raise an objection, Sejong cut off his words.
"Are you a subject of this Joseon, or of Ming?"
"I am beside myself with gratitude!"
At Sejong's rebuke, the Minister of Rites prostrated himself flat. Hyang, glancing at the Minister of Rites, continued speaking. The second was a massive bomb that would shake the entire court.
< Episode 13: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (6) > End
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