Chapter 130: The Female Servant (婢) (2)
'I have received the order, but the best approach is to proceed carefully. In that case... a preliminary check is essential!'
Hyang, who had been dragged away just as he was about to enjoy 'Hyang's Happy Time,' first began confirming the preliminary conditions.
"First, something comes to mind. If a private slave woman (私婢) wishes to marry a free person, would it not be proper to require notification to her master and obtain a document of permission? In the case of government slave women (官婢), they would receive permission documents from the relevant government office."
Heo Jo immediately answered Hyang's words.
"In the case of private slaves, the master will literally 'take care of' or grant permission. However, most private slaves will likely never marry in their lifetime."
Hyang nodded at Heo Jo's answer.
"I suppose that would be the case."
"And government slaves will not wish to marry either."
"Pardon?"
"A considerable number of government slaves are women from noble families (班家)."
"Ah..."
At Heo Jo's answer, Hyang unconsciously trailed off and nodded his head.
* * *
When officials or scholar-officials committed serious crimes—mostly treason—and received punishment, their relatives were implicated and suffered complete ruin of their families.
Adult men were executed by beheading or hanging, while young boys and women typically became government slaves.
Thus, many women from noble families who became government slaves maintained their chastity—at least outwardly.
It was similar for women who were not government slaves but were given to meritorious subjects or became private slaves for various reasons.
These women, whose status was reduced to that of lowborn, maintained chastity because of the slimmest hope for possible 'restoration of status.'
The family of Sim On, Sejong's father-in-law, had also been restored early in Sejong's reign except for Sim On himself, so these women clung to that thread-like hope.
And they maintained chastity to achieve that hope.
* * *
After hearing Heo Jo's explanation, Hyang organized his thoughts and asked another question.
"Though His Majesty has issued a royal command, considering the resistance from masters who own slaves, it will not be an easy matter. Then as a second-best option, how about making all children born between free persons and female slaves government slaves?"
Heo Jo immediately replied.
"Private slaves all wish to become government slaves. Even now, many private slaves are flooding in, wishing to become government slaves. Therefore, they will naturally become desperate to find free husbands in order to become government slaves." (Note 1)
"Well..."
Hyang wore a hollow expression at Heo Jo's answer.
After staring blankly for a moment, Hyang soon collected himself and answered Sejong.
"Having received His Majesty's command, I will do my utmost as a subject to find an answer."
"I trust the Crown Prince."
"I will devote my very life."
Hyang answered as if making a vow to himself, then paid his respects to Sejong and exited Gangnyeongjeon.
Sejong, watching Hyang leave Gangnyeongjeon, asked Heo Jo once Hyang had completely disappeared.
"If I may ask. If we had not proceeded with the Gyeongjang, and the Crown Prince had not shown such distinction like that, what do you think would have happened?"
Heo Jo, who had been silent at Sejong's question, opened his mouth.
"I am humbled to report... if that had happened, I would have. No, all the ministers would have advocated for the Slave Matrilineal Succession Law. Because if we did not do so, the likelihood of Joseon falling into civil strife would increase."
"Civil strife..."
Sejong muttered with a bitter expression.
'Given Ip'an, that would be expected.'
Heo Jo was a renowned principled man. His foremost principle was 'the peace of Joseon.' Heo Jo was someone who insisted that even laws deemed unjust must be carried out if it was for this purpose. That was why he had strongly advocated for the 'Law Prohibiting Subjects from Filing Lawsuits.'
Following that principle, Heo Jo was also the one who had initially supported Ryu Jeong-hyeon when that incident occurred, then later shifted to support Sejong.
When Sejong trailed off, Heo Jo with an even more serious face admonished.
"Your Majesty. It is not too late even now. You must deal with Grand Prince Yangnyeong."
"Even so, he is my brother, and currently the Gyeongjang is proceeding and the people's hearts follow me, and the Crown Prince is showing outstanding ability, so let us let it pass."
"...I obey the command."
When Sejong decided to bury the matter regarding Yangnyeong, Heo Jo had no choice but to accept.
It was a royal command.
'A subject may advise, but must not recklessly pressure the king.'
This was Heo Jo's second principle.
* * *
"Slaves..."
Hyang, who had returned to his room in Donggungjeon, muttered quietly.
"Will you retire for the night?"
At the eunuch's question, Hyang answered briefly.
"I have work to do. For the time being, I will sleep alone. Convey this."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Hyang's lips, which were giving orders to the eunuch, protruded by several fingers' width.
"Just try saying I'm slow to produce an heir, or whatever. I'll overturn everything."
After sending away even the eunuch and remaining alone, Hyang sat at his desk and muttered.
"Slaves... it's truly not easy. To put it bluntly, they're the economic foundation and military foundation of those fellows, whether they're local powerful families, scholar-officials, or Sarim..."
Hyang, grumbling while confirming the current situation, recalled Teacher Samcheonpo's words after a long time.
-It's thanks to Joseon that there are abundant records like the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and other documents, allowing for rich research. Thanks to that, the figures of the Joseon era have overflowing fans and critics.
Shall we go back from recent times?
First, the couple Yi Myeong-bok and Min Ja-yeong.
There's much debate about whether they were those who made every effort to protect the nation during the imperialist era, or deluded dreamers who dreamed of reviving outdated absolute monarchy and in-law political power.
Above them is Jeongjo, with controversy over whether he was a reformist monarch or a master of rigged games.
Yeongjo, a prime suspect in his brother's death and a power addict who killed his son, or a seasoned politician who maintained an exquisite balance of power.
Gwanghae, whether a madman or a master of balance diplomacy during the Ming-Qing transition.
If we speak of the most famous, there's Chungmugong, who sparked controversy over whether he was a savior of the nation or was overhyped because the military regime praised him, and Won Gyun, on the contrary, said to have been excessively vilified.
And recently, critics have started appearing for our 'Sejong the Great.'
Those who criticize King Sejong mainly cite the 'Law Prohibiting Subjects from Filing Lawsuits,' the 'Slave Matrilineal Succession Law,' and 'Forced Migration Policy' as famous examples. Based on these, those who criticize King Sejong evaluate him thus.
'An absolute monarch and a sage king for the haves.'
But you know what?
If he only served the haves, why did he create Hangul? If it were for the convenience of the haves, making the lower classes entirely into ignorant masses would be the best, so why did he create Hangul?
Out of intellectual vanity to show off his own intelligence? Does this make sense? Don't you feel something is misaligned?
* * *
"So in the end, it was a compromise for political stability?"
Hyang, recalling Teacher Samcheonpo's words, muttered with a serious face.
According to Teacher Samcheonpo's 'self- and other-acknowledged miscellaneous theory,' the 'Law Prohibiting Subjects from Filing Lawsuits' and the 'Slave Matrilineal Succession Law' were created by compromise between the Joseon royal family, originating from northern warlords, and the powerful figures of southern Joseon.
King Taejong, who strengthened royal authority, created the 'Law Prohibiting Subjects from Filing Lawsuits' together with Sejong to extend central power to the regions.
The local powerful families of the fertile regions, who lost their military foundation through the abolition of private armies and the conquest of Tsushima Island, had to accept the Law Prohibiting Subjects from Filing Lawsuits.
Conversely, what local powerful families pushed for, using the successive poor harvests starting from around Sejong's enthronement to accelerate land consolidation—Teacher Samcheonpo cited as an example those who aggressively accumulated wealth during the IMF period—and Sejong had no choice but to accept, was the 'Slave Matrilineal Succession Law.'
Teacher Samcheonpo, who had been telling his own miscellaneous theories, concluded as follows.
-Sejong inherited King Taejong's powerful royal authority, so why did he have to be pushed back after only a little over 10 years? First, the Jurchen problem in the north. Second, Joseon's primitive land transportation at the time.
If an anti-government movement using military force started in the south, it would be difficult to recklessly withdraw the military power concentrated in the north, and even if they tried to move troops scattered across the southern regions to suppress it, the terrible road conditions would make it difficult to time things properly. Then only the damage on both sides would grow.
So they made a kind of agreement. With the 'Slave Matrilineal Succession Law.' 'I'll guarantee your interests to some extent. So listen well to the central government.' That's what it means.
Hyang, ruminating on Teacher Samcheonpo's words, chuckled.
"Come to think of it, that gentleman was so convincing whenever he spouted his miscellaneous theories that we used to wonder among ourselves if he was an alien..."
Hyang, recalling Teacher Samcheonpo, continued speaking while chuckling repeatedly.
"Looking at the recent situation, maybe he really was an alien."
* * *
The next day, Hyang went to work at District 51 and sought out Jang Yeong-sil.
While waiting for Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang muttered quietly.
"It's a cliché, but I have to do what needs to be done."
After a while, Jang Yeong-sil, who had been summoned, respectfully paid his respects to Hyang.
"Your Highness, did you summon me?"
"It has been a while, Director Jang. Is the Anyeo project progressing well?"
At Hyang's question, Jang Yeong-sil's face turned pale and he immediately knelt.
"I am deeply sorry! No useful results have emerged yet."
At Jang Yeong-sil's appearance, kneeling and apologizing, Hyang clicked his tongue and commanded.
"Rise. And sit in the chair, for I have quite a bit to say."
"Yes."
After seating Jang Yeong-sil in a chair, Hyang confirmed the situation.
"It has been quite some time since Anyeo's development began, has it not?"
"It is entering its second year by the calendar."
"Then what is the problem?"
"To achieve self-propulsion, a mechanism is needed to supply the power for movement. Since a steam engine has not yet appeared, we are researching to use springs."
"Good heavens..."
'If I used that and broke Anyeo, my head would have flown off!'
"Springs are heavy. Can Anyeo's frame withstand that?"
"That is why we are planning to make the frame out of iron."
"Then the weight would..."
Hyang, who was exchanging opinions about Anyeo, urgently stopped speaking.
"No, no. That's not the urgent matter. The reason I summoned Director Jang today is due to an urgent command from His Majesty."
When Sejong was mentioned, Jang Yeong-sil immediately straightened his posture with a face full of tension.
"Please command me."
"I need you to make a loom."
"A loom, you say?"
"Yes. Looking at current looms, a person's strength and hands are greatly needed in the process of weaving cloth. Modify this to create a machine that uses water power or animal power to weave cloth and spin thread."
"Hmm..."
At Hyang's command, Jang Yeong-sil tapped the desk with his fingers, lost in thought.
"Would it be difficult?"
'Do I have to step in again? I have so much to do...'
When Hyang asked cautiously, Jang Yeong-sil shook his head.
"No, Your Highness. First, I would need to see and study an actual loom, but it seems possible."
"I understand. Arrange to procure a loom immediately. I will give you one year for development."
At Hyang's words, Jang Yeong-sil answered with a troubled face.
"If you could give me a little more time..."
"It is a royal command."
"...Yes."
"Then go and begin preparations. I will soon procure and send a loom."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After sending Jang Yeong-sil away, Hyang looked toward Gyeongbokgung and grumbled.
"How am I going to extract the budget again..."
* * *
Having passed the burden to Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang holed up in the records office and examined the records.
"With the textile industry alone, it won't be easy to produce quick results..."
Hyang, rubbing his tired eyes while examining the enormous amount of records, spread out blank paper and muttered to himself.
"If they insist it's property, then I'll have to treat it as property."
* * *
Four days after receiving the command from Sejong and passing the burden to Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang gathered some papers and sought out Sejong.
"I have come to report what appears to be an answer to the command His Majesty gave me."
"Speak."
Sejong and the ministers concentrated with interest, waiting for the answer Hyang would present.
Hyang, standing in the center of Gangnyeongjeon, lightly drew a breath and opened his mouth.
"His Majesty commanded me to contemplate an answer to solve the problem of slaves. I believe this requires combining several policies and implements that I have devised."
"Using several methods in combination..."
When Sejong pondered Hyang's words, Hyang immediately continued.
"Yes. However, first and foremost, securing a livelihood for those who have been freed from slavery, and making slave owners recognize that the more slaves they own, the greater their loss."
After pausing briefly, Hyang looked at the ministers and spoke.
"The implements for securing livelihood are currently being researched at District 51. And to change slave owners' perception, I believe the tax system (稅制) must be changed."
"Change the tax system?"
At the ministers' question, Hyang nodded.
"Yes, if they say slaves are property, then we must treat them as property."
* * *
(Note 1) Sejong 14th year (1432, Year of Imja)
This is an adaptation centered on Hyang of the dialogue between Sejong and his ministers regarding the Slave Paternal Succession Law and Matrilineal Succession Law.