Chapter 167: Aftermath and Currency. (2)
On the day Sejong decided to demolish the hyanggyo,
"Hoo~."
Yi Maeng-gyun, the Minister of Rites, let out a long sigh as he came out after the morning assembly. Seeing Yi Maeng-gyun's face, other ministers comforted him.
"Minister, let's leave work on time today and have a drink. I'll treat you."
"Let's do that, Minister. Let's go together."
At his colleagues' words, Yi Maeng-gyun sighed deeply again and nodded.
"I've stayed away from alcohol for a while, but today I must have a drink. Thank you. Let's go together."
"Let's. Today, let's drink until our noses go crooked."
Thus comforted by his fellow ministers, Yi Maeng-gyun headed toward Yukjo Street, gritting his teeth as he crossed the threshold of the Ministry of Rites building.
"Damn those traitorous bastards! Of all times, it had to be now! They should have their ten generations exterminated, not just nine!"
Cursing those who had started the uprising and grinding his teeth, Yi Maeng-gyun summoned the Ministry of Rites officials as soon as he entered the government building.
Once all the officials had gathered, Yi Maeng-gyun spoke with a heavy expression.
"Just now, His Majesty's decision was made in the private hall. The decision His Majesty has reached is..."
Yi Maeng-gyun paused, took a deep breath, and continued.
"His Majesty has ordered the demolition of the hyanggyo."
"Excuse me?"
"Is that really true?"
"It is true."
At Yi Maeng-gyun's statement, the officials looked at their colleagues with bewildered faces and murmured.
"Then what about the Confucian shrine rituals..."
"Sungkyunkwan exists, so..."
Watching the officials discuss the Confucian shrine rituals, one of the main duties of the hyanggyo, Yi Maeng-gyun raised his voice.
"That is not the problem!"
"If that's not the problem..."
Among the officials with puzzled expressions at Yi Maeng-gyun's words, the faces of the quicker-thinking officials turned pale.
"Surely! Has the early establishment of Samin Hakdang (四民學堂, Four Peoples' School) been decided?"
"Surely! Wasn't Samin Hakdang scheduled to be established after the court's ministry reform was completed?"
When the quick-thinking officials mentioned 'Samin Hakdang,' the faces of other officials also began to turn pale.
Seeing their expressions, Yi Maeng-gyun nodded with a heavy look.
"Not yet, nothing has been said. However, both I and other ministers believe His Majesty will soon present the agenda."
"Why is that?"
To the officials' question, Yi Maeng-gyun answered simply.
"Because of the traitors, an enormous amount of wealth has come in that we didn't expect."
"Ah..."
At Yi Maeng-gyun's answer, the officials fell silent and nodded.
* * *
The educational institution that Sejong named 'Samin Hakdang' was a very progressive and groundbreaking institution that could not be found anywhere in the world by the standards of that time.
At Samin Hakdang, regardless of social status or gender, any child of yangin (free people) could receive basic education.
Sejong thought of Samin Hakdang while listening to Hyang's policy opinion.
- Joseon's land is narrow and barren, and its resources are few. In such a harsh environment, the only thing Joseon can rely on for development is its people. In other words, we must invest in people.
- Investing in people means educating them.
- To raise more talented individuals, the threshold of education must be lowered and the door widened.
Sejong was deeply impressed by Hyang's opinion. Sejong's greatest goal was also the wealth and military strength of Joseon, and Hyang's statement had made him break through the wall that had been blocking him.
"This is exactly the ideal that the ancient sages dreamed of!"
Striking his knee at Hyang's policy opinion, Sejong established policies fitting the basic ideology of 'expanding both the quantity and quality of education' while formulating the Gyeongjang plan.
Of course, most of the Jiphyeonjeon scholars who were helping to improve the completeness of the Gyeongjang that Sejong was planning showed largely negative reactions.
"It may be idealistic, but isn't it realistically impossible?"
"Educating the children of the four peoples, the intention is good but... Would those ignorant people living hand to mouth send their children to school?"
At the Jiphyeonjeon scholars' words, Sejong cursed at them in a rough voice.
"Shut those damn mouths right now!"
"Your..."
"Your Majesty! Your words..."
The Jiphyeonjeon scholars tried to protest at Sejong's cursing, but Sejong immediately cut off their words.
"I told you to shut up! Do you truly wish to spread the way of the sages in this world! You've become blind, possessed by petty superiority like millet grains! Look at the civil service examination passers right now! Are all those who challenge and pass the examination from the yangban class! There are quite a few sons of farmers! And yet, what? You ask if ignorant people will send their children to school? What have you seen of the people of Joseon! And you still feel wronged at being told to shut your mouths!"
"Please forgive our foolish words!"
At Sejong's shouting, the Jiphyeonjeon scholars had no choice but to prostrate themselves flat.
Thus was created the Samin Hakdang.
According to the contents planned in the Gyeongjang, all people of Joseon had to send their children to Samin Hakdang when they reached the age of 5 to 7, that is, when they could express their own will to some extent, regardless of gender.
What Samin Hakdang taught was basic Chinese characters, arithmetic, and morality.
Children who received education at Samin Hakdang could then advance to higher educational institutions according to their circumstances and aptitude.
Those who wished to enter government service or commerce would receive education at hyanggyo, and those who wished to become soldiers or sailors would receive education at military academies - this was the basic framework.
And the administrative department in charge of this was planned to be the Ministry of Education.
Through the Gyeongjang, the Ministry of Rites was to be divided into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, with the Ministry of Education taking charge of the management of schools and hyanggyo, the management of the civil service examination and other entrance examination systems, and other general education policies.
However, due to this uprising, a serious disruption occurred in this schedule, and the hyanggyo, designated as a hotbed of subversive elements, was to be eliminated.
* * *
Yi Maeng-gyun continued his explanation.
"I only heard this in passing, but it seems His Majesty intends to use the recent treacherous incident as a negative example and pay more attention to education. That means..."
After briefly wetting his throat, Yi Maeng-gyun looked at each official and continued.
"That means, depending on how we handle things, the budget scale could increase significantly or decrease."
When Yi Maeng-gyun mentioned the budget, the eyes of the Ministry of Rites officials began to shine fiercely.
Through the encouragement of commerce and the implementation of various economic policies, the revenue coming into the court was continuously increasing. However, as much came in, just as much went out.
Therefore, the six ministries that made up the court were fighting bloody battles to secure even a little more budget.
If the budget increased, they could hire more personnel and boldly implement experimental policies.
The most representative departments were the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Taxation. And recently, the Ministry of Works was closely following behind.
Yi Maeng-gyun urged on the Ministry of Rites officials.
"His Majesty won't use up all the confiscated traitors' wealth at once, but the next budget will certainly see a significant increase! Let's say the Ministry of War and Ministry of Taxation's budgets are unavoidable, and the Ministry of Works is also unavoidable due to newly implemented policies! But we cannot let our budget be taken by other departments! Especially! We cannot let the budget be taken by the research institute and District 51 that the Crown Prince operates!"
"That is correct!"
At Yi Maeng-gyun's words, the Ministry of Rites officials answered in one voice.
"Do you want to leave work on time!"
"Yes, we do!"
"Do you want new officials to come in so you can work more comfortably!"
"Yes! We do!"
"Then we must move one step ahead! Only then can we secure a more abundant budget! Isn't that right!"
"Yes. That is correct!"
"Then move!"
"Yes!"
The Ministry of Rites officials, who answered like a shout, quickly returned to their positions.
At the same time, similar movements were occurring in other government offices. The officials' thoughts were all the same.
'More budget ⟶ More personnel ⟶ Comfortable working environment ⟶ Leaving work on time ⟶ Family happiness'
Though they were ministers comforting Yi Maeng-gyun when they came out of Geunjeongjeon, what people think is all the same.
* * *
While court officials were fighting bloody battles to secure even a little more budget, the execution of those who had started the rebellion was steadily continuing.
When the executions of those who participated in the uprising ended, what remained was the execution of Yangnyeong and Seo-seon.
"Punish Seo-seon and Seo-seon's family according to what the law prescribes."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The sentence for Seo-seon ended easily, but the problem was Grand Prince Yangnyeong.
Sejong had to think for a long time until Grand Prince Yangnyeong's sentence was decided.
In his heart, he wanted to end it by handling it according to the law, but Yangnyeong was Taejong's eldest legitimate son, the former Crown Prince, and his own older brother.
Whether he killed him or spared him, whatever judgment he made, it was certain to remain a political burden for Sejong himself.
"What should I do..."
Ultimately, Sejong's concerns regarding Yangnyeong's punishment could only deepen.
"This is a problem I can't touch either..."
Hyang knew well what Sejong was worrying about, but this time even Hyang couldn't say anything.
No matter how much he was the Crown Prince, this was a very fatal political problem involving the king, who was the Crown Prince's father, and his brothers.
While Sejong's concerns deepened like this, Hyoeryeong visited Sejong.
"Your Majesty, your complexion does not look good. Your face is full of worry."
At Hyoeryeong's words, Sejong let out a long sigh.
"Hoo~. The burden I carry is too heavy."
Hyoeryeong, who had been quietly watching Sejong, asked.
"Is it because of my eldest brother?"
At Hyoeryeong's question, Sejong nodded silently.
Hyoeryeong, who had been looking at Sejong's face for a while, quietly offered counsel (諫) to Sejong.
"Please handle it according to national law."
"But he is my brother. He was Father's eldest son, and was the Crown Prince."
"Nevertheless, Father passed the throne to Your Majesty instead of my eldest brother. Everything was decided with that."
"Hoo~."
At Hyoeryeong's words, Sejong let out a long sigh. Hyoeryeong continued speaking in a quiet, calm voice.
"Whatever decision Your Majesty makes, it will be a great shackle for Your Majesty. Then make the decision to uphold the strictness of the law. If you are swayed by personal feelings, it could remain as a bad precedent when similar incidents occur in the distant future."
"That would be the case."
At Sejong's voice, which had no strength at all, Hyoeryeong continued speaking.
"Anyway, living in this world means crossing the sea of suffering (苦海). You will be endlessly wounded and hurt. You will have regrets and guilt regarding my eldest brother's matter. But rise above it and make Joseon even greater and stronger, so that the people can live more peacefully. Then the people will praise Your Majesty."
"That would be paying for my sins."
At Hyoeryeong's words, Sejong appeared to have solidified his resolve. Sejong's face gradually regained peace, and strength began to return to his voice.
"Brother, thank you. Thanks to you, I have awakened from my foolish dream."
At Sejong's words, Hyoeryeong answered with a faint smile.
"It is the grace of Buddha."
* * *
Having solidified his resolve at Hyoeryeong's words, Sejong announced the decision the next day in the gathering of ministers.
"I will decide on the punishment for the criminal Yangnyeong."
At Sejong's announcement, the ministers swallowed dry saliva with expressions that said it had finally come.
After briefly catching his breath, Sejong continued.
"According to the law, the criminal Yangnyeong and his sons over 15 years of age shall be executed. However, as he was of the royal family, the execution shall be carried out not by beheading or strangulation (絞刑), but by sasa (賜死, giving death by poison). Also, the criminal and his family shall all be deleted from the Seonwonrok (璿源錄, royal genealogy), and the remaining persons shall all be demoted to seoin (庶人, commoners). All property possessed by the criminal's family shall be confiscated, but one-tenth shall be distributed to those demoted to commoners so that they can manage a minimum living. Finally, those demoted to commoners shall be divided into family units and exiled to the islands of Namhae."
When Sejong finished speaking, the ministers all bowed their heads together.
"We receive your command!"
On the day of the execution, having heard about his family, Yangnyeong bowed toward Gyeongbokgung Palace.
"Thank you for granting mercy."