< Chapter 21: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (14) >
Chapter 21: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (14)
"There is a difference between doing something with understanding and doing something without. The ministers who create and implement policies now may well know why those policies were made, but after just one or two generations pass, most will likely carry them out without knowing why, simply because it is 'custom.' Is that not so?"
'Damn customs! Bureaucracy! I'm sick of it!'
The reason Hyang had even suffered from depression in the 21st century was those very customs, bureaucracy, and desk administration.
However, the ministers' opposition was no small matter.
"That may be so. However, a properly crafted policy will operate without problems whether 100 or 1000 years pass."
"They say mountains and rivers change in ten years. There is even the saying 'mulberry fields become blue seas.' The world continues to change, yet the same policy continues for 100 or 1000 years? That is not a well-made policy, but a sign that the entire country has stopped. If the world changes yet one remains still alone, that is no different from regression."
"Changes in the times are transient things. If one only follows the flow of the times, depth is lost, and eventually even the fundamentals will be forgotten. Seen that way, a policy that is consistent from beginning to end is more ideal than one that drifts like duckweed following the current."
At the Left State Councillor's answer, faithful to Neo-Confucian concepts, Hyang's voice rose.
"It is not that changes in the times are transient, but that people cannot keep up with that flow. If we argue that way, what was the reason for changing the many laws and systems of the former dynasty? These are laws and systems that have come down for hundreds of years at the shortest, and thousands of years from the Three Han period at the longest."
"That is..."
"Let us take war as an example. According to the Left State Councillor's words, we would still be determining the outcome of wars through commanders' single-rider combat. But what is the reality? Various military branches move as one body, and new weapons like cannons are being used. Therefore, the Left State Councillor's words are not 'the virtue of consistency' but merely 'the foolishness of a frog in a well.'"
"Crown Prince! Are your words not too severe!"
When the Left State Councillor's voice rose at Hyang's criticism, Sejong interjected.
"Enough! There is nothing wrong with the Crown Prince's words! As time passes, just as mountains and rivers change, people change and customs change. Therefore, it is right to discuss countermeasures accordingly! Crown Prince! Speak of your countermeasures!"
With Sejong supporting Hyang, the ministers fell silent. Meanwhile, Hyang, now backed by Sejong's firm support, spoke of the countermeasures he had devised.
"All Six Ministries that administer state affairs must keep records. Whether policies that are implemented, rejected, or postponed, everything must be recorded. In monthly units at the shortest, yearly units at the longest. For each policy, the reason it was created, if implemented the results of implementation, if rejected or postponed the reasons for rejection or postponement, all must be recorded and stored."
At Hyang's words, the Left State Councillor immediately objected.
"Everything is already being recorded through the historiographers' drafts or the Royal Secretariat diaries. This is unnecessary duplication of work."
"The drafts and veritable records cannot be seen even by the King. And while the Royal Secretariat diaries do record everything, isn't it completely unclassified? Let just 10 years pass. Days will be wasted just searching for records related to policies. However, if policies implemented by each of the Six Ministries are separately classified and preserved, how much time could be saved?"
"Crown Prince's opinion is correct."
"I also believe the Crown Prince's opinion is correct."
All the ministers of the Six Ministries who heard Hyang's explanation stepped forward in agreement. When most of the ministers agreed, Sejong also nodded.
"Since ancient times, it has been said to 'learn new things by reviewing the old.' However, humans are finite beings, and when time passes they return to dust, so it is inevitable that situations arise where later generations want to know the reasons but cannot. Therefore, it is only right that we, the previous generation, take trouble so that later generations do not lose their way and find the natural order. Ministers of each ministry, accept the Crown Prince's proposal, create records, distribute them, and store them carefully."
"We receive your command."
"Now, and..."
"Father, I have another petition."
Sejong, thinking Hyang's petition was finished and about to raise another agenda item, stopped speaking. After looking at Hyang's face for a moment, Sejong smiled faintly and permitted.
"Go ahead and speak."
"While reporting on the supplementation of the 'Hyangyak Jeseong Jipseongbang' (Compiled Prescriptions of Native Medicines for Saving Lives), I came to a realization. If we examine all of Joseon, there will be no small number of farmers who have not only reached 'Ihsoon' (age 60) but have passed 'Gohui' (age 70)."
"That would be so."
"We must find them, ask about farming, and record it."
At Hyang's suggestion, Sejong stroked his beard and murmured.
"Ask about farming and record it? Hmmm..."
Sejong made a humming sound as he thought for a moment, and his face brightened.
"That's it! As many years as they have lived, they would have much experience! There will be many who know the secrets of bountiful harvests! Just like Soedol knew the secret art of Udoochim!"
At Sejong's words, Hyang nodded his head greatly.
"Yes, and not simply secrets of farming. They would know the omens of natural disasters like drought! Though they may seem like small signs when viewed individually, if we gather such signs and create case collections..."
"We can prepare in advance!"
Sejong slapped his knee and said what Hyang was going to say before he could. At Sejong's words, Hyang bowed his head and answered.
"That is so. Water disasters like floods can be reduced by repairing embankments and reservoirs and dredging, but drought brings enormous damage if we do not know in advance and prepare."
"Your words are right! Minister of Personnel, order the Royal Astronomical Observatory to compile the materials into a book as soon as they come up!"
"We receive your command."
"There is more. During the spring poverty period, and certainly after droughts or floods, epidemics always spread. However, if we know the signs in advance..."
Sejong slapped his knee and cut off Hyang's words.
"We can prepare medicinal materials in advance! Indeed!"
'Indeed, Sejong! His mental rotation is real! But please turn on your blinkers before coming in! And please slap your knees more gently! They'll bruise!'
Hyang clicked his tongue softly with mixed feelings of admiration and irritation, then nodded.
"That is correct. If the Ministry of Benefitting the People, the Office of Saving Lives, and the East-West Great Compassion Office can prepare in advance, and furthermore if local government offices can also prepare in advance, the number of people suffering from disease can be greatly reduced."
"The Crown Prince's words are right! Minister of Personnel, implement this as well!"
"We receive your command!"
No ministers were seen opposing Sejong's order. In an agriculture-fundamentalist nation, nothing was as important as bountiful harvests, and freeing the people from the suffering of disease was also important from a Neo-Confucian perspective.
Sejong was in a very good mood. The petitions put forward by Crown Prince Hyang were worth a thousand gold. Moreover, the ministers who used to oppose first whenever the Crown Prince brought up any agenda were this time responding in harmony without offering any particular counterarguments. Sejong looked at Hyang with a bright face.
"Is there another petition?"
As soon as Sejong's words ended, Hyang's mouth opened.
"Yes. Looking not only at our Joseon but also the former dynasty, there is no proper geography gazetteer. It is said that the products of our Joseon are few, but this is few compared to Ming, and in absolute terms it is certainly not small. Therefore, we must properly examine Joseon's territory and create a geography gazetteer."
"A geography gazetteer... that is work that requires much public labor."
"That is correct."
At the criticism from Sejong and the ministers, Hyang nodded.
"Of course. However, if we create a proper geography gazetteer, we can reduce the people's suffering."
"Reduce the people's suffering through a geography gazetteer? Crown Prince, explain in more detail."
"Yes. If we create an accurate geography gazetteer, we can accurately know the products produced in each county throughout the country, and this can reduce the burden of tribute goods. That the people suffer greatly from tribute goods has been the biggest problem continuing from the former dynasty, and to solve this, we must first accurately know what products come from each county."
"That is true, but..."
Sejong trailed off, and the Vice Minister of Taxation, attending in place of the Minister of Taxation who had left on a trip, spoke up.
"I also agree that the Crown Prince's words are correct and should naturally be carried out. However, the public labor required is not insignificant."
At the Vice Minister's criticism, Hyang pointed out what the ministers had forgotten.
"Of course, that is true. However, we are already in a situation where personnel are moving nationwide for the supplementation of the 'Hyangyak Jeseong Jipseongbang' and to record farmers' knowledge. Since we are dispatching personnel from the central government to the provinces anyway, we simply need to assign one more task."
'Is 1+1 such a big deal!'
"Ah!"
At Hyang's point, not only Sejong but also the ministers simultaneously exclaimed in admiration.
"We did not think of that!"
"I also did not think of that!"
"We can greatly reduce the budget!"
As Hyang was about to click his tongue at the sight of Sejong and the ministers, the words of Teacher Samcheonpo resonated in his head.
'People of the past were not all imbeciles, and modern people are not all geniuses! It's just that people of the past had less influx of information, and the vision of modern people, who have absolutely more information, has simply become a bit wider! Shall I give an example? Multitasking, which is now basic of basics, became commonplace only after the mid-1990s! Before that, even that amazing computer lord performed only one task at a time, and people were satisfied with that!'
As Sejong and the ministers achieved a kind of great awakening, Hyang's petition immediately took its place as official policy.
And from that day on, the famous 'Sleepless Six Ministries Street' began.
* * *
That night.
"Historiographers, do not follow."
"But, Your Majesty."
"This is a private conversation between father and son."
When Sejong spoke firmly, the historiographers stepped back. Sejong, having dismissed the historiographers, led the eunuchs toward the Eastern Palace.
"He is still awake."
Seeing the brightly lit room of the Eastern Palace, Sejong spoke, and the Chief Eunuch following behind answered.
"I heard that the earliest he sleeps is between the second watch (9-11 PM) and third watch (11 PM-1 AM), and he is often awake until the fourth watch (1-3 AM)."
"He is still a young child, yet how does he drive himself so hard."
Unable to hide his concern for Hyang, Sejong continued walking.
"His Majesty the King arrives!"
The eunuch standing outside Hyang's room, upon seeing Sejong, announced to Hyang and immediately opened the room's door.
Hyang, who had risen from his seat and stepped aside as soon as the eunuch announced, bowed his waist as soon as Sejong entered.
"What brings you at this late hour?"
"I was taking a brief walk when I saw the light on and stopped by. What were you doing not sleeping at this hour?"
"I was reading a book for a while."
"Is that so? Let us sit first."
Sejong sat in Hyang's seat and shone his eyes looking at the book spread on the desk.
"A book of the Western barbarians? What is it about?"
"It is a book titled 'A Small Inquiry into Alchemy.' As the title suggests, it is a critical work on alchemy."
"What is alchemy?"
"It is research on methods to create gold by adding various things to metals like lead or iron."
At Hyang's words, Sejong's eyes sparkled.
"Is that possible?"
"According to the author's writing, the Western barbarians also researched for hundreds of years but could not find an answer. The author's preface states, 'Alchemy is impossible. However, researching this further to create alloys helpful for daily life is true alchemy.'"
"'Creating alloys helpful for daily life is true alchemy'..."
Sejong, savoring Hyang's words, briefly concluded.
"He is a wise man."
"I also think so."
Sejong smiled at Hyang's appearance and began reading the alchemy book spread out.
"There is a translated version, would you like to see it together?"
"No, I am simply looking to see what the Western barbarians' writing is like."
However, Sejong did not put down the book in his hand for quite a while. Just when Hyang's waist, standing at attention, was starting to ache, Sejong put down the book and spoke.
< Chapter 21: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (14) > End
ⓒ Gukppong