Chapter 135: Changing People (3)
It wasn't until the afternoon that the escort officers who had gone to the Podocheong and Malbok returned.
"What happened to that man?"
"He received five lashes of the heavy rod."
"I see."
Seeing Malbok following behind the escort officers, Xiang pointed to a chair in one corner of the office.
"Come and sit here."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As Malbok sat awkwardly on the chair, Xiang shook his head.
"Sit comfortably. Are you perhaps in too much pain to even sit in a chair?"
"Ah, no, Your Highness! It's just that I've never been in a position like this before...."
At Malbok's words, Xiang burst into a chuckle.
"You've never been in such a position, yet you block the path of the Crown Prince?"
At Xiang's words, Malbok immediately dropped to his knees on the floor and bowed his head to the ground.
"I have committed a capital offense!"
"It's fine, so sit in the chair."
"Yes...."
When Malbok sat back down in the chair, Xiang got to the main point.
"You want me to tell you what work you can do?"
"Yes, yes!"
At Malbok's answer, Xiang examined Malbok's appearance.
"I wonder.... You're someone asking for work, yet your clothes are neat and your body is sturdy. You don't seem like someone who's been suffering from lack of work."
"Well, you see...."
Malbok told Xiang about his life story.
When Malbok turned five, both his parents died from an epidemic. Malbok, who lost his parents early, was raised by his grandmother's hand. To raise Malbok, his grandmother did all sorts of menial work.
Seeing his grandmother suffer, when Malbok turned eight, he looked for work and entered a merchant guild as an errand boy.
"Would an eight-year-old child have work to do?"
"Well, I did menial chores inside the shop and ran errands to nearby places. The shop owner was a good person who employed many children like me."
"Is that so? He truly must be a good person. Then you could have continued working there, why are you looking for work?"
At Xiang's question, Malbok scratched his head and answered.
"Most of the friends who started working with me learned letters and arithmetic and now manage the shop's business, but I'm dull and only know about three hundred characters, and I'm poor at calculation too.... Last year, I started carrying loads and received proper wages, but the shop where I work now already has enough porters. So I felt self-conscious being there...."
"So you're looking for work because of that?"
At Xiang's question, Malbok nodded his head vigorously.
"That's right! I thought about carrying loads at Mapo Ferry or Noryangjin, or at the market, but there are already too many people there so it's not profitable. I also considered becoming a soldier or a peddler, but then I worried about my grandmother who would be left alone."
"Hmm...."
At Malbok's words, Xiang put down his brush and fell into thought. Tapping his fingers on the desk while pondering, Xiang threw a question at Malbok.
"You're not completely illiterate but only know three hundred characters, and you can do arithmetic but not well...."
"Yes, that's correct!"
"Truly ambiguous.... Sigh~."
Xiang let out a long sigh.
'Even in the 21st century, the most ambiguous category was friends like these!'
Even in the 21st century, these kinds of friends were truly headache-inducing.
At least Xiang was an otaku, but his grades were excellent so things worked out well.
Friends who played around at the back found their aptitudes and quickly found their own places.
However, quite a few teachers had to suffer from hair loss while worrying about solving career problems for children who occupied this vague middle position like this.
Of course, there were also not a few teachers who just left them alone saying, "They'll figure it out and live well."
Looking at Malbok while pondering, Xiang held his brush and continued his questioning.
"Aside from letters and arithmetic, Malbok, what are you good at, what do you like?"
"I like going around! That's why I always volunteered first when going out for deliveries from the shop!"
"So that's why you thought about becoming a peddler?"
"Yes!"
"Other than that, is there anything else you're good at, anything you can boast about?"
At Xiang's question, Malbok answered excited.
"I have memorized all the geography of Hanseong! I have memorized all the geography inside the Four Great Gates of Hanseong, east, west, south, and north! I've also memorized all the geography of the village where roads were rebuilt after the recent fire. Even places I visit for the first time, if I go there just once, I memorize the roads immediately!"
At Malbok's boast, Xiang sincerely admired it. Though it couldn't be compared to Seoul in the 21st century, present-day Hanyang was also a considerably complex and prosperous city.
"That's amazing!"
"Heh heh! It's a humble skill!"
At Xiang's praise, Malbok scratched his head and looked sheepish.
Seeing that sight, Xiang smiled slightly, but immediately made a troubled expression.
'It's really ambiguous....'
However, Xiang couldn't disappoint Malbok who had trusted him and risked his life.
'But I can't lie either.'
Xiang honestly explained the situation to Malbok.
"I want to give you an answer right now, but it's not easy."
"Yeees...."
At Xiang's answer, Malbok made a dejected face and trailed off.
"Come back in half a month. I'll have found an answer by then. In half a month, wait for me at the main gate of District 51. Until then, work hard where you're working now."
"Huh? Yes! Yes!"
Malbok, who had been dejected, nodded his head repeatedly with a brightly blooming face at Xiang's words.
"Then go back. Your grandmother will be worried."
"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Malbok, who rose from his seat, repeatedly bowed deeply with his head touching the ground and went outside.
After sending Malbok out, Xiang let out a long sigh.
"I made the bold claim, but.... This is tricky."
* * *
That evening, Sejong visited Xiang who had returned to the palace.
"Did you call for me?"
"Yes. I heard a subject gave you a difficult problem?"
At Sejong's question, Xiang answered with an awkward smile.
"Yes, it's not easy."
"Even so, this father believes in you. If it's you, you will create a good result."
"I will do my best."
At Xiang's answer, Sejong smiled and nodded. The ministers who remained in their seats also looked at Xiang with warm smiles for the first time in a while.
"That the people trust and rely on you is the greatest blessing and gift for a ruler. It is truly a good thing."
At Chief State Councillor Yi Jik's words, Sejong nodded and responded.
"Indeed. It is a good thing."
At the warm atmosphere between Sejong and the ministers, Xiang poured cold water on it.
"But speaking of which, shouldn't new laws be established?"
"Laws? What laws?"
At Sejong's question, Xiang pointed out reality.
"The people who witnessed today's events are not just one or two, will they stay quiet in the future?"
At Xiang's point, not only Sejong but even the ministers simultaneously cursed.
"Damn it! Hup!"
Sejong and the ministers who unknowingly spat out curses looked at each other with embarrassed faces.
"Cough! Hem!"
Sejong, who gave a fake cough, ordered the ministers.
"It seems certain that similar incidents will occur frequently. There is also the Petition Drum, but those who submit petitions are not just one or two, so let us consider this."
"Yes."
Xiang, who examined the atmosphere, quickly withdrew.
"This son will return and contemplate Malbok's matter."
"...Do so."
Sejong, who glared at Xiang who was quickly escaping, made a hand gesture to leave, and Xiang hurriedly paid his respects and exited Gyeongjeon Hall.
The historian who recorded all these events ended as follows:
-...Thus the Crown Prince and the ministers discussed laws to prepare for cases like today's events occurring again.
The historian says.
It seems Gwanghwamun will be noisy for a while.
* * *
"This isn't easy...."
Though he had made a bold claim to Malbok, Xiang, who couldn't find a clear answer even after five days, muttered with a troubled expression.
"I thought I could find an answer quickly after hearing Malbok's specialty.... Tsk...."
Xiang clicked his tongue at the difficult problem that wasn't easily solved.
The first thing Xiang thought of was 'parcel delivery.'
"He says he knows Hanseong's geography well...."
He thought he could just give him a handcart, but Xiang soon found a problem.
"There are too many things that already substitute for the delivery business!"
If you just went to the ferry or in front of a merchant guild, not only the guild's deliverymen but also day laborers carrying jige on their backs looking for work overflowed. And, households that could afford to have goods delivered already had slaves.
"The conclusion is that the delivery business is a bust...."
With no easy answer coming out, Xiang, whose head started hurting, opened the office window.
"Damn! The weather is annoyingly nice!"
Cursing at the spring scenery, the sound of soldiers' laughter reached Xiang's ears.
"Haha! Run, run!"
"Run!"
"Hmm?"
From where the soldiers' voices were heard, two handcarts carrying soldiers were racing. It seemed they were returning from construction work at the jinji, as pickaxes and shovels were loaded in the cargo area of the carts carrying the soldiers.
Seeing that sight, Xiang burst into a chuckle.
"Right, even such small pleasures exis...."
Suddenly stopping his words, Xiang snapped his fingers.
"That's it! Attendant!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Summon Director Go!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
* * *
On the day of the promised half-month, Malbok paced anxiously in front of the main gate of District 51.
At Malbok's appearance, the gatekeeper said a word.
"There's still a long time before the Crown Prince comes, why are you already here struggling?"
"Still, how could a lowly subject arrive later than the Crown Prince?"
At Malbok's words, the gatekeeper unknowingly nodded.
"Well, that is true...."
It wasn't something where a mere subject could make the Crown Prince wait.
About one shichen (two hours) passed? From afar, a group of cavalry approached District 51.
"His Highness the Crown Prince approaches!"
At the gatekeeper's shout, the soldiers guarding the main gate straightened their posture. And, people gradually gathered around.
"What kind of people are those?"
At the thoroughly tense gatekeeper's question, one subordinate answered.
"They heard the rumor about that Malbok. They gathered out of curiosity."
"Well, I guess you can't call them Koreans for nothing...."
At the gatekeeper's grumbling about the characteristic of Koreans who would be aggrieved if told they weren't second to anyone in curiosity, he ordered the soldiers.
"Just in case, tell the people to step back!"
"Yes!"
Following the soldiers' control, the people gradually stepped back.
A short while later,
"The Crown Prince approaches! Open the way!"
At the attendant's clear call, Malbok and the surrounding people immediately prostrated on the ground, and the gatekeeper and soldiers saluted.
"Loyalty!"
"Good work. Here is the identification token."
The gatekeeper who confirmed the identification token received through the attendant stepped back.
"I have confirmed it. Pass! Open the gate!"
"Open the gate!"
While waiting for the gate to open and examining the surroundings, Xiang saw Malbok prostrated on the ground and brightened.
"Hey! Malbok! You follow me inside! I think I've found a suitable answer!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
At Xiang's answer, Malbok answered vigorously and rose from his spot.
* * *
Having entered District 51 with Malbok, Xiang moved to a place with Malbok.
"This is the answer to the problem you raised."
"What is this?"
At Malbok's question upon seeing the object standing before his eyes, Xiang answered with a smile.
"It's called a jinrikisha (human-powered carriage)."
"Jinrikisha?"
Xiang slowly explained while walking around the jinrikisha with Malbok.
"...so you load passengers in this seat made in the back and transport them to their destination. You receive fare for that. How is it? You said you like going around?"
"Thank you so much, Your Highness! Your grace is boundless!"
At Xiang's words, Malbok prostrated flat on the ground and expressed his gratitude. Seeing that sight, Xiang smiled and spoke.
"Haha! Seeing you satisfied, I feel good too! But how will you pay for it?"
"Yes?"
As Malbok made a bewildered expression, Xiang put on a deliberately fierce expression and asked.
"Were you thinking of using the Crown Prince of Joseon for free?"
"Ah, no, Your Highness! That is absolutely absurd!"
"Do you have the means to pay?"
"...I will earn and pay it back. If I can't pay, you may make me a slave."
"Enough! Let's do this! Once every half-month, for half a year, come here and drive the jinrikisha and report your observations."
"Report?"
"Yes. Things like where the problems are while pulling it around. Or which road in Hanseong has problems, things like that. If you report properly once every half-month for half a year, that jinrikisha will be yours."
"I will certainly do so!"
"Don't forget. It's a promise with the Crown Prince."
"I will absolutely never forget!"
"Then...."
Xiang climbed onto the jinrikisha seat and looked at Malbok.
"Let's run to Gwanghwamun!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The jinrikisha that Malbok drove out of District 51 soon attracted the interest of Hanseong residents.
When they arrived at Gwanghwamun, Sejong, who had heard the story, came out personally and examined the jinrikisha.
"Is your name Malbok?"
"Yes, yes! Your Majesty!"
"Work hard and serve your grandmother well."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Thus Malbok became the world's first jinrikisha puller.