Chapter 139: The Running Crown Prince, I Am the King, The Rolling Ministers. (1)
Starting with the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Taxation, the ministers of the Six Ministries all claimed that Im Sun-uk was necessary for their respective departments. Even Jo Mal-saeng of the Ministry of War went so far as to cry out his necessity.
"Your Majesty! The place most in need of someone with Licentiate Im's insight and ability is the Ministry of War! While those versed in martial arts and military strategy are common in the Ministry of War and the military, such a person as he is rare indeed!"
Eventually, those asserting their respective needs began to engage in verbal disputes with their competitors. The disputes that thus erupted instantly heated up. And inevitably, the situation progressed to the point of inquiring about opponents' parents' well-being, at which Sejong intervened.
"Silence! Be silent! What kind of disgraceful behavior is this!"
"We are terrified!"
At Sejong's reprimand, the State Councilors and ministers all bowed their heads.
Watching the ministers' behavior, Sejong grumbled.
"I can understand coveting Licentiate Im's qualities upon seeing them as human nature, and I can even understand verbal disputes arising accordingly. But! Stop inquiring about parents' well-being now!"
"We shall heed your command."
The historiographer who recorded all these events concluded as follows:
- ...Accordingly, the King commanded the ministers not to engage in immoral criticism.
The historiographer comments:
For those who have learned proper conduct to use immoral language in verbal disputes is certainly a bad thing. Naturally, following the royal command is proper.
The problem is, no one cares that the historiographers are also short-staffed. I also want to return home on time.
The historiographer had a reason for grumbling. As all court affairs were being documented, that work had been assigned to the historiographers and recorders.
From the beginning, among the duties of historiographers and recorders was transcribing memorials and royal edicts, then distributing them to the Six Ministries and the censorate.
However, the problem was that the workload of this task had increased exponentially as the Gyeongjang reforms progressed.
Due to the exploding workload, appeals continued to be submitted to increase the number of historiographers from the existing eight, but with personnel supply for other ministries taking priority, until now in the latter half of the Gyeongjang reforms, the eight had to work in shifts day and night.
* * *
The one who resolved the fierce competition among the ministers to obtain Im Sun-uk was Hyang.
"Father, may this son offer a word?"
At Hyang's statement, Sejong brightened, and the ministers steeled themselves.
'This time, I absolutely won't let him take it to District 51!'
'I must block it no matter what!'
'I need to establish logic! Logic!'
As the ministers prepared firmly and took countermeasures, Hyang spoke.
"Before restructuring the court's ministries this time, isn't there preparation to select some and conduct experiments?"
"That's right... Ah!"
Sejong, who had been answering absently to Hyang's question, let out an exclamation.
"We can have him coordinate that simulation!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty. I believe there is no need to add further burden when the amount of work already assigned to the State Councilors and ministers is considerable. And since he comes from outside, he may find and propose solutions for parts the court has not yet seen."
"I see. Yes..."
Sejong, who kept nodding, looked back at the ministers.
"For now, I wish to entrust the conduct of the simulation to Licentiate Im. What do you all think?"
At Sejong's question, the State Councilors and ministers began calculating gains and losses while gauging each other's reactions.
'It's a bit regrettable that I can't have him under me, but other ministries not being able to get him either is the same...'
'Once the simulation starts, evaluating and coordinating it will also be a major task...'
'Even now there's a lot of work, but if there's more... just thinking about it is terrible!'
The ministers, pondering this and that while calculating gains and losses, soon reached a conclusion.
"I believe the plan proposed by His Highness is most appropriate."
"Indeed! Although it is named a simulation, its importance is incomparable!"
"I believe Licentiate Im's insight will be fully sufficient to fulfill his role!"
Starting with Chief State Councilor Yi Jik, the ministers lined up to express their agreement.
When the ministers lined up to agree, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"Good. Then let us have Licentiate Im oversee the conduct of the simulation. What rank would be appropriate?"
At Sejong's question, another dispute broke out among the ministers. The subject of the dispute was 'whether to recognize the time spent living outside as career experience.'
"Given Licentiate Im's insight, that time should certainly be recognized! Therefore, considering the twenty years and his insight, the rank of Junior Third Rank Councilor and position is appropriate!"
"While I recognize Licentiate Im's ability, recognizing all twenty years lived as a commoner is not permissible! Among those who entered official service around the same time and served in government positions, how many are of Junior Third Rank? Senior Third Rank Investigating Censor is appropriate!"
"Saying we should give Senior Third Rank because few have risen to Junior Third Rank is preposterous! Why should we consider those who failed to be promoted due to lacking ability?"
"Even so, we cannot ignore those who have served faithfully in government positions for decades! How will we solve the problem of their diminished motivation?"
Seeing the ministers disputing, Hyang interjected.
"Father. This son..."
"Permitted. Speak."
Sejong, whose head ached from his subjects' disputes, permitted it before Hyang even finished speaking.
When Hyang joined the conversation, the ministers stopped their dispute and focused their attention on him.
After catching his breath for a moment, Hyang spoke.
"The ministers' opinions all have merit. The experience and insight Licentiate Im gained while living as a commoner for twenty years is certainly worthy of a high rank. Also, it is natural that we must recognize the efforts of those who have served as officials since around the same time. However, isn't the reason we are now appointing Im Sun-uk because there is a shortage of internal personnel? Furthermore, to conduct and coordinate the simulation, we must give him a rank that allows him to command officials."
At Hyang's statement, Sejong nodded.
"That's right. If someone who came from outside has a rank similar to theirs, who would follow his words?"
Seeing Sejong's favorable reaction, Hyang continued.
"Moreover, it is proper to give those who have served faithfully in the court opportunities to rise higher as well. Your Majesty has already prepared such measures using Sungkyunkwan, so I believe it would be good to widen that door a bit more."
While proceeding with the Gyeongjang reforms, Sejong had also revised the civil service examination system. Through the preliminary and main examinations, he made the supply of lower-ranking officials easier. And the existing Sungkyunkwan was transformed into a place where officials who received excellent evaluations in career and performance assessments prepared for examinations to rise to high office.
Hyang was proposing to increase the number of those entering Sungkyunkwan slightly more.
"We think the Crown Prince's proposal is good. What do you ministers think?"
At Sejong's question, the ministers tensed up.
'He even used the term "We," and on top of that, the honorific form. It's a warning!'
'Even if we follow His Majesty's words, we won't suffer losses! This is something we must yield to!'
Having detected the warning mixed in the speech, all the ministers bowed their heads.
"Let it be done according to Your Majesty's will!"
When all the ministers agreed, Sejong made his decision.
"Then we shall grant Licentiate Im Sun-uk the position of Junior Third Rank Councilor. And when Licentiate Im Sun-uk officially begins his attendance, let us entrust him with the duties of preparing and executing the simulation."
"We shall heed your command!"
Thus, Im Sun-uk's position was decided.
* * *
After the meeting ended and Hyang returned to the Eastern Palace, he smiled bitterly and muttered.
"The passive behavior of these officials... truly boasts a long history and tradition."
When 21st-century Hyang began his public service life as a Grade 5 Administrative Officer, the first things he experienced were the passive public service attitude of 'only doing what is told' and 'kkondae (authoritarian elder) mentality.'
"Hey! You don't need to work that hard! It's not like you get paid more for that!"
"Making that much effort is pointless. They say once the Blue House owner changes, everything goes back to nothing."
Though it was the administrative service of the central government teeming with people from famous universities known by name alone and possessing outstanding abilities, the work behavior of most civil servants was like that.
Even worse was that 'kkondae' types overflowed.
"Hey! Back in my day!"
This was mild and could even be considered charming.
"What are you doing making a fuss?"
"There's no precedent, is there? No precedent!"
"If you want to do as you please, build up some achievements first!"
Whenever Hyang, who had passed the high-ranking Grade 5 Administrative Officer position, and his colleagues heard such words from their superiors, they gradually lost motivation.
What made them even more angry was that a considerable number of those superiors were people who had quit after being fed up with such 'kkondae' types, left, and then returned.
And among those who returned as officials again, many had become even worse kkondae than the ones they had cursed.
Thanks to that, Hyang, already in a situation where the job didn't suit him well and fed up with his superiors' kkondae behavior, fell into depression and had to submit his resignation.
Recalling the painful memories of the 21st century, Hyang gritted his teeth.
"I must change it!"
* * *
Meanwhile, Im Sun-uk's appointment caused huge repercussions throughout Joseon.
'Twenty years after passing the civil service examination, and from the Northwest on top of that, someone has been appointed as a high official of the court!'
Those who heard the rumor showed various reactions according to their respective circumstances.
First, those from the Northwest region burned with ambition.
"We can do it too!"
"We can't miss this heaven-sent opportunity!"
"The King's mind may change again, so if we miss this opportunity, it's the end!"
If those from the Northwest region burned with ambition, many in the Three Southern Provinces showed the opposite reaction.
"Did you hear? They say someone who just passed the exam and then did mere commerce has become a high official?"
"Hah! Has that fellow become some kind of Ye Bulwi? It's the end times! The end times!"
There were many who criticized like that, but in the shadows, there were also those showing ambition again. Such people were a small number of independent farmers or sons of humble families.
"This father was content to live farming fields all his life, but you must succeed."
"Yes, Father."
"His Majesty this time shows great zeal in seeking talent, so work even harder."
"Yes, Father."
"Do not forget that this is an opportunity to raise our family."
"Yes, Father."
While such various reactions emerged, Im Sun-uk, having organized his trading company, reported to the Record Office and analyzed records on the Gyeongjang reforms and 'Dongjin.'
"Sigh..."
Im Sun-uk, examining the records, let out a long sigh.
"If it proceeds just like this, our Joseon would be more than sufficient to claim imperial title. The problem is that path is not easy."
Having made his assessment, Im Sun-uk smiled bitterly.
"Should I have just done commerce? But..."
Though he said that, ambition was sprouting in Im Sun-uk's heart.
'If it succeeds properly, this Joseon can certainly be called an Empire! A second founding, so to speak! If my name is recorded together in that glorious moment...'
Im Sun-uk, thinking this and that while envisioning the distant future, reached a conclusion.
"Indeed! Having something worth risking one's life on is also a blessing as a man!"
Having made his heart's decision, Im Sun-uk immediately moved on to the next matter.
"The biggest problem is the shortage of talent!"
Having found the problem, Im Sun-uk sought an official of the Record Office.
"May I obtain writing materials?"
"Please wait a moment."
The official who had heard rumors about Im Sun-uk answered respectfully and immediately found writing materials and handed them to Im Sun-uk.
Having received the writing materials, Im Sun-uk returned to his seat, spread out paper, and fell into deep thought.
After contemplating briefly, Im Sun-uk soon began writing a memorial on the paper.
This was the famous 'Im Sun-uk's Memorial on Current Affairs.'
Three days later, the Chief State Councilor delivered the memorial to Sejong.
"Your Majesty, this is Licentiate Im Sun-uk's memorial."
"A memorial?"
At the words that Im Sun-uk had submitted a memorial, Sejong unrolled the scroll with a curious face.
Having finished reading the memorial's contents, Sejong spoke to the court attendant.
"Where is the Crown Prince now?"
"He is in District 51."
"Send someone to tell him. That we have found a good person."