Chapter 195: Dedication. Part.2. (3)
"Phew~, another day has come to an end."
Hyang stretched broadly, then organized the documents in his office and stepped outside.
Mounting the horse that the eunuch had prepared in advance, Hyang gestured to the cavalrymen and eunuchs waiting ahead.
"Then let us return."
"Yes! Depart!"
* * *
"Hmm.... It's quiet and peaceful."
Thanks to his horse, already accustomed to finding its own way, Hyang, now free from distraction, examined the surrounding scenery and murmured.
As Hyang said, the journey from District 51 back to Gyeongbokgung was peaceful.
* * *
After the Malbok incident, there had been several instances of Gyeokjaeng (擊錚, striking a gong or clamor to appeal grievances). However, following the ministers' pointing out that if such events occurred when Hyang or Sejong were away, there could be safety concerns, a new window for receiving civil petitions was created.
With the new creation of a window for receiving civil petitions, the thing most affected was the 'Law Prohibiting Subjects from Suing Officials.'
The Law Prohibiting Subjects from Suing Officials, which contained the provision that 'subjects cannot sue the local officials who govern them,' had long received petitions requesting its abolition.
'Even if corrupt officials commit wrongs, there is no way to report them, so please abolish the law!'
Similar petitions continued to come forward, but Sejong absolutely refused to accept those opinions.
"The sages said that ruler, teacher, and parent are one! Local officials are those sent forth to carry out my will! Just as it is not proper for a child to criticize their parents, it is also not proper to criticize them!"
Whenever petitions arrived, Sejong refused them with such words.
The reason Sejong opposed so strongly was that he viewed allowing residents to sue as a weakening of royal authority.
The absolute majority of those who could write such petitions were the local gentry.
The greatest reason such local gentry wrote lawsuits was to weaken the power of local officials and protect their own interests.
Thus, the 'Law Prohibiting Subjects from Suing Officials,' protected by Sejong's strong will, was gradually losing its effectiveness as the Gyeongjang reforms progressed.
The Monopoly Bureau of the Ministry of Taxation, deployed at least to the county level, was a major institution that checked local officials in addition to its assigned duties.
The household registers and land registers placed in local government offices had to have copies made and stored in the Monopoly Bureau.
Furthermore, inspectors regularly went down each year to audit whether the contents of the household registers and land registers held by both institutions were the same.
And the fact that the power of the local gentry had greatly declined due to the Giyu Rebellion that occurred the previous year was also a reason.
Eventually, in the Gyeongsul year, Sejong officially abolished the 'Law Prohibiting Subjects from Suing Officials.'
"Listening to the people's appeals is the king's duty, so carrying this out is only natural. However, I will certainly punish those who falsely accuse local officials for their own gain with the crime of deceiving the sovereign."
Sejong, having posted proclamation notices throughout Joseon, established independent departments to receive civil petitions at the residences where each province's governors stayed.
This department's duty was to immediately make two copies of any received petition, sending one to the governor and one to Hanseong.
Also, they were required to issue a receipt with the date recorded to the petitioner.
The governor who received the petition would examine its contents, render an appropriate judgment, and report the results to the petitioner and Hanseong.
If the petitioner could not accept this result, they could directly come to Hanseong to appeal.
At this time, the first thing those who received the appeal in Hanseong confirmed was the receipt the appellant had brought.
The officials at the reception office used the date and petition number recorded on the receipt to verify the reports that had come up from the regions.
In this process, if there were any omissions, it was a serious crime that could cost the relevant governor his head.
If everything was in order, the appellant's appeal document went directly to Sejong and the ministers.
Then, after coordinating Sejong's and the ministers' opinions, an answer would be sent down.
And by the time things reached this point, the appellant would accept whatever the result.
It was a judgment handed down by the King.
It was only natural that Hyang's influence touched all of this process.
By incorporating the double-check process that was most basic in the 21st century, the potential for corruption was greatly reduced.
Of course, when Hyang first proposed the measure, the ministers had opposed it, saying it would increase the officials' workload.
However, Sejong accepted Hyang's opinion as it was.
"Officials may say it is difficult, but since the people's grievances will decrease that much, it is right to implement this."
Thanks to this, with those using the Sinmungo appeal drum or doing Gyeokjaeng disappearing, Hyang's commute had become quiet.
* * *
Because he was leaving work late, the streets of Hanseong at night were quiet.
Looking at the quiet streets, Hyang turned his head and spoke to the eunuch following beside him.
"It's too lonely. Wouldn't it be interesting if someone appeared and blocked the way at a time like this?"
At Hyang's words, the eunuch inadvertently spoke his true thoughts.
"Absolutely not! Gasp!"
Realizing his mistake, the eunuch looked at Hyang with a deathly pale face. At that sight, Hyang burst into laughter.
"Haha! That's right! Such a thing must not happen! My jest was too much! I apologize!"
As Hyang laughed and moved past the matter, the eunuch in question as well as the other eunuchs and even the soldiers of the Inner Gold Guard escorting them all breathed small sighs of relief.
* * *
Having returned safely to Gyeongbokgung, Hyang immediately sought out Sejong to report his return.
After having a brief conversation with Sejong, Hyang sought out Queen Soheon and repeated the same thing.
Having thus ended the day according to proper etiquette, Hyang headed to the Eastern Palace together with the eunuchs.
While walking toward the Eastern Palace, Hyang's eyes sharpened upon seeing a young official pacing at the entrance. Soon, having confirmed the official's identity, Hyang tilted his head in puzzlement.
"Hmm? Isn't that Anpyeong?"
Anpyeong, who had been pacing at the Eastern Palace entrance, immediately approached and bowed his head upon recognizing Hyang.
"I greet His Royal Highness."
"What are you doing here at this late hour? Surely you're not working overtime?"
"That is not the case."
"Then you should have gone home. Why are you here?"
At Hyang's question, Anpyeong glanced around briefly and spoke quietly.
"There is something I wish to ask Your Highness for a moment."
"Hmm?"
At Anpyeong's completely unexpected words, Hyang looked at him carefully. Seeing Anpyeong's serious face, Hyang soon began to walk.
"Let me hear what this is about."
* * *
Hyang and Anpyeong entered Hyang's study and sat across from each other with a desk between them.
"Eunuch, bring some tea."
"Yes, Your Highness."
A short while later, with the teacup the eunuch had brought between them, Hyang spoke first.
"So, what is this about?"
When Hyang opened the conversation, Anpyeong let out a long sigh.
"Huu~."
"Just what is going on? Tell me."
At Hyang's urging, Anpyeong carefully opened his mouth.
"Though recklessly criticizing a superior does not seem proper for a scholar...."
As Anpyeong continued to hesitate, Hyang identified the issue first.
"Is it about Magistrate Park?"
"Yes."
"Hmm...."
At Anpyeong's answer, Hyang's face also became serious.
Since Anpyeong was involved, Hyang had also looked into various rumors about Park Yeon.
According to the rumors, Sejong's trust in Park Yeon was considerable.
Furthermore, since his abilities were also excellent, he was scheduled to be promoted from the junior fifth rank of Magistrate to the junior fourth rank of Soyun before long.
"What is the problem with Magistrate Park? Is there an issue with his character?"
At Hyang's question, Anpyeong, who had hesitated for a moment, finally spoke.
"His perspective is too narrow."
"His perspective is too narrow? Explain in a bit more detail."
"Yes. That is...."
Anpyeong told Hyang about 'Park Yeon's narrow perspective.'
Summarizing Anpyeong's story, Park Yeon looked down on music other than Aak.
No, rather than looking down on it, he was disregarding it as having no value of existence.
At the time, Joseon's music was divided into the Left Bureau and the Right Bureau. The Left Bureau was Aak, and the Right Bureau was Hyangak and Dangak.
The Aak that Park Yeon claimed was 'This alone is music!' was originally ancient Chinese music.
This Aak came from Song during the Goryeo King Yejong's reign and was used in royal ceremonies.
Accordingly, Park Yeon dug through Chinese classical materials to create reference materials, and based on those materials, he created Aak instruments and Aak scores.
What Park Yeon aimed for was a return to the original Aak written in Chinese classics—that is, the Aak performed during the Zhou Dynasty period. (Note 1)
"Hmm...."
Having heard Anpyeong's explanation, Hyang contemplated with a serious face.
'So... simply put, it's like arguing whether to pour sauce or dip in sauce, but originally you could only eat it stir-fried at the restaurant, so it's like saying neither pouring nor dipping makes it sweet and sour pork?'
Having organized the situation in his own way, Hyang's contemplation deepened.
'But here's the thing. This doesn't make sense... According to the memories I memorized like my life depended on it in middle and high school Korean history class, Park Yeon's achievement was organizing Aak and creating the foundation for Joseon's independent music? Is this also an effect of my intervention?'
Troubled by a story greatly different from the memories he had learned, Hyang raised his head and turned his gaze out the window to cool his head.
While looking around, when Hyang saw the roof of Geunjeongjeon, he fixed his gaze there.
A short while later, a smile began to form on Hyang's face.
'That gentleman was there!'
With a much more comfortable expression, Hyang looked back at Anpyeong.
"Park Yeon's narrow view will soon broaden."
"Excuse me? Will Your Highness intervene?"
At Anpyeong's question, Hyang shook his head.
"No, I have no expertise in music. Someone far more outstanding than I will step forward."
"Someone more outstanding than Your Highness...."
Anpyeong's face, pondering Hyang's answer, instantly brightened.
"I see! His Majesty was there!"
When Anpyeong's face brightened, Hyang continued.
"Therefore, you return and do your utmost."
"Yes!"
After the brightened Anpyeong left, Hyang looked at Geunjeongjeon and murmured.
"As for me... I'm a cheat key, but the frightening fact is that gentleman is literally beyond the standard."
* * *
-'I will perfectly restore the Aak appearing in the "Rites of Zhou"!'
Park Yeon, having set such a goal and fiercely striving, immediately reported the results to Sejong.
"Truly excellent! Your efforts during this time are visible!"
At Sejong's praise, Park Yeon bowed his head and replied.
"I am overwhelmed by your excessive praise."
"Then, what is next?"
"Yes. It is to use only Aak in all royal ceremonies and memorial services (祭享, rituals)."
"Use only Aak? Are you saying we should not use Hyangak and Dangak?"
At Sejong's question, Park Yeon made a puzzled expression and asked in return.
"Is that not obvious? Though not completely restored yet, since the Zhou Dynasty's Aak has been restored, things of lower class like Hyangak or Dangak...."
"Your thinking is not correct."
Sejong interrupted Park Yeon's words with a stern expression.
"Aak was originally not our country's music but China's music. Since Chinese people would have been accustomed to hearing it ordinarily, it would be normal to perform Aak at rituals. However, our people listen to Hyangak all their lives—if they hear Aak when they die, would that not be strange?"
After pausing briefly, Sejong continued, looking not only at Park Yeon but also at the ministers.
"Park Yeon wishes to rectify the court's music, but to rectify properly is no easy task. The 'New Book on the Pitch Pipes (律呂新書, a music treatise written by Cai Yuanding of Song)' also merely has the form in place. Though our country's music cannot be said to be all well-established, there is no need to be ashamed before China. Can we say that even Chinese music is properly established?" (Note 1)
At Sejong's point, the ministers nodded.
For if Chinese music texts like the New Book on the Pitch Pipes had been properly composed, there would have been no need for Park Yeon's restoration work.
After that, Park Yeon had to continue being rejected by Sejong while organizing the music.
In another sense, he too began to be ground down.
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(Note 1) Reading King Sejong's Annals in One Volume. Park Yeon chapter. Written by Park Yeong-gyu. Published by Woongjin Knowledge House.