< Chapter 29: Gapjin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (7) >
At Hyang's words, the ministers hurriedly tried to offer counterarguments, but had none to give. Nevertheless, the ministers could not retreat.
"Crown Prince! Even though you are the Crown Prince, you cannot arbitrarily order the punishment of ministers!"
When the Chief Royal Secretary, who was directly responsible, stepped forward, Hyang immediately countered.
"Why is that? I too am His Majesty's subject! The duty(道理) of a subject is to speak upright words to the monarch, and the responsibility(責務) of a subject is to comprehend the monarch's commands and faithfully execute them! Yet this fellow tries to cloud the monarch's eyes with clever wordplay, so how can I not impeach him as a subject?"
"Crown Prince! Your words are too severe! I do not know the exact contents of the memorial, but luxury is a disease of a falling nation(亡國之病) that must be kept at a distance, something the sages have repeatedly taught! Yet how can you speak such sophistry(詭辯) that luxury is better than frugality(儉約)?"
"Their frugality is not frugality but extortion(喝取)! Did the sages tell them to lend at usury(長利)? Or did they tell them to suck the blood and sweat(膏血) of the people with high-interest private loans(高利私債)? A wealthy person who enjoys luxury is more helpful than misers(守錢奴) disguised as frugal! At least they scatter their wealth, do they not!"
"Luxury must never be defended(擁護)!"
"Then how will you extract the wealth sleeping in those landlords' storehouses to share with the people?"
"A stern admonition(訓戒) will suffice! If they are scholars who have mastered the classics..."
"Do they truly not know the classics to commit such evil(悖惡)? Do you know what percentage of them are minor examination passers(小科及第者) before you say such things? These are people who use the policy of granting tax exemptions to those who pass the minor examination or higher as a means to enrich themselves(致富)!"
"Scholars with land giving tenant farming(小作) and usury has been their livelihood since ancient times! To call this a crime is truly an incoherent(語不成說) sophistry!"
"If wrongdoings are left unaddressed simply because they have been practiced since ancient times, that is a crime! Commoners are increasingly becoming slaves due to high land rent(地代) and interest! For the nation to flourish(勃興), commoners must increase, yet now it is going backwards! Yet you say we should just overlook it because it has been practiced since ancient times? And you still call yourself a subject of this Joseon?"
"Crown Prince!"
"Enough!"
Seeing the war of words(舌戰) between Hyang and the Chief Royal Secretary exceeding proper bounds, Sejong immediately intervened.
At Sejong's command, Hyang and the Chief Royal Secretary ceased their argument and immediately bowed their heads. Looking at the two and the ministers, Sejong spoke.
"While the positions(軌) expressed by the two differ greatly, I understand well that both are for the sake of our Joseon. However! No matter how correct an opinion may be, if it exceeds propriety, it becomes a fault(過)! It would be best for both to stop here."
"We are humbled beyond measure."
"We are humbled beyond measure."
At Sejong's rebuke that was not quite a rebuke, Hyang and the Chief Royal Secretary bowed their heads.
"Crown Prince, show that memorial to the Chief Royal Secretary."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Chief Royal Secretary, read the part the Crown Prince did not mention from that memorial."
At Sejong's command, having read the problematic portion from the memorial, the Chief Royal Secretary was greatly shocked and prostrated himself flat.
"Such an outrageous matter! Your Majesty! This is merely the personal view of that official, not the intention of the entire Saganwon!"
"Knowing that, the Crown Prince did not mention it. I am the same."
"We are humbled beyond measure!"
At the response of Sejong and the Chief Royal Secretary, the faces of the ministers filled with curiosity. Looking at those ministers, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"I will take some time to think before deciding on that fellow's punishment. Let us end here for today."
* * *
With Sejong's command, Hyang and the ministers had to exit the Pyeonjeon. Ministers friendly to Hyang paid their respects courteously as they left, but unfriendly ministers paid only formal respects and immediately turned away. At the forefront was the Chief Royal Secretary.
"Wait, Chief Royal Secretary. No matter what, he is the Crown Prince. Are you not afraid of future consequences(後患)?"
Seeing this, the Chief State Councillor, who was also part of the anti-Crown Prince faction, gave a warning, but the Chief Royal Secretary scoffed.
"Hmph! When His Majesty is still in good health(康寧), what is there to worry about?"
"Is not the problem that His Majesty favors the Crown Prince?"
"I can simply quit this measly official position!"
"Wait!"
"I have urgent business, so I will take my leave first."
Watching the Chief Royal Secretary disappear with large strides, the Chief State Councillor clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk tsk... He will meet with great misfortune at this rate..."
The place the Chief Royal Secretary hurriedly went to was the Saganwon.
Bang!
Roughly throwing open the door to the Saganwon, the Chief Royal Secretary looked around, then rushed to one of the secretaries and grabbed him by the collar.
"You scoundrel!"
"Gack!"
When the Chief Royal Secretary grabbed the secretary's collar and shook him, the surrounding secretaries rushed in.
"Please restrain yourself, old sir!"
"Calm yourself!"
"Don't stop me! Because of this damned fellow, we are all going to die!"
"Pardon?"
Still holding the collar, the Chief Royal Secretary growled.
"You... who are you to speak of deposing the Crown Prince(廢世子)? What are you!"
"Gasp!"
As soon as the words 'depose the Crown Prince' left the Chief Royal Secretary's mouth, the surrounding secretaries hurriedly stepped back.
"Speak! What did you say to speak of deposing the Crown Prince!"
"How can one who has abandoned Neo-Confucianism and is tainted by the wicked path(邪道) be kept in the position of Crown Prince?"
"So you spoke of deposing the Crown Prince? Deposing a Crown Prince who is only nine years old? Did you think that made sense?"
"In keeping the way of the sages, what does age matter..."
"You fool! To change the direction of great power(大權), the timing(天時), the terrain(地利), and human harmony(人和) must all align! The current His Majesty could become Crown Prince because the late king's royal will(御心) existed, so the timing was right, and because there was someone with outstanding qualifications who could replace the Crown Prince, namely the current His Majesty, the terrain was right. Finally, because most subjects consented(贊同) and human harmony was achieved, it was possible! But now, which of the three—heaven's timing, terrain, and human harmony—is properly aligned? Due to your nonsensical judgment, not only you but the lives of other secretaries are in imminent danger(頃刻)!"
At the Chief Royal Secretary's words, the faces of the surrounding secretaries turned pale. But the secretary who had written the problematic memorial did not yield.
"Even so, one called a scholar cannot call wrong right! For a secretary to remonstrate(諫爭) is a matter of course(當然之事) that requires risking one's neck!"
"What a fool!"
* * *
While the Chief Royal Secretary was fuming in the Saganwon, Hyang, who had returned to the Donggungjeon, was letting out a long sigh.
"Hoo~. This is why I hate traditional historical dramas... trendy fusion historical dramas are the best."
Preparing for the policy announcement, Hyang had to prepare expecting considerable opposition.
"The only way to respond to their eloquence is with eloquence, but the problem is that those gentlemen's specialty is dragging out old stories(古事) and spinning them."
To win the war of words, Hyang set expected questions and searched through numerous classics to find appropriate idioms(故事成語) to use as responses.
Though Hyang boasted excellent memory through his previous and current lives, this preparation was no easy task. Whenever he was exhausted from memorizing and took a moment to rest, Hyang kept muttering.
"As expected, historical dramas should be fusion historical dramas... they don't use difficult words..."
Having soothed his exhausted body and mind from the argument, Hyang moved to his study and prepared writing materials.
"Damn! Do they think only they can write memorials!"
* * *
The next day, as soon as the morning assembly began, a eunuch from the Donggungjeon visited the Seungjeongwon.
"What brings you from the Donggungjeon?"
In response to the Royal Secretary's question, the eunuch held out a tray containing a scroll.
"This is the Crown Prince's memorial."
"Gack!"
The memorial Hyang submitted was processed at super-speed and delivered to Sejong. Receiving the memorial scroll, Sejong placed his hand on his forehead and muttered smallly.
"This child..."
Sejong had experienced time and again that when Hyang moved with determination, a storm would arise from clear skies(平地風波).
"Hoo~."
Sighing, Sejong unfolded the scroll and began reading Hyang's memorial.
As the contents of the memorial progressed, Sejong's body straightened and his face turned serious. Finally, having read the memorial to the end, Sejong looked toward the Donggungjeon and laughed loudly.
"Hahahahaha!"
With a bout of laughter, Sejong's chest, which had been stuffy, felt cleared. He held out the memorial to the Chief State Councillor.
"Let the Chief Minister and the Chief Royal Secretary read it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The face of the Chief State Councillor who read Hyang's memorial turned red. The Chief Royal Secretary who read the memorial after him was the same.
"Mmm..."
"Ahem!"
Seeing the expressions of the Chief State Councillor and Chief Royal Secretary either groaning or clearing their throats, the other ministers could not hide their curiosity, so Sejong called the Chief Eunuch.
"Chief Eunuch, deliver the Crown Prince's memorial to the Minister of Taxation."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Minister of Taxation, read it aloud so all may hear."
"Yes? Yes..."
Having received Sejong's command, the Minister of Taxation began reading Hyang's memorial in a loud voice.
"Hyang, the Crown Prince and faithful subject of His Majesty, writes this petition(訴). Several officials have criticized(責) me for following the path of Legalists in my policy views. They cited Shang Yang's self-destruction by his own law(作法自斃) and the fall of Qin(亡國) as examples. However, through Shang Yang's laws, Qin became the hegemon(霸者) of the Warring States Period(戰國時代), and finally became an empire that unified the Central Plains(中原). Thereafter, Shang Yang's laws remained the most basic law even as dynasties(王朝) and state names(國號) of the Central Plains changed.
Ah. In the long history of the Central Plains, how many Confucians(儒者) have strived to follow the will of the sages(聖賢) and perfect the Way of the King? For what reason did those Confucians who made such efforts establish legal systems(法制) based on Shang Yang's laws? Also, was the fall of Qin truly the fault of the Legalists?
Qin fell because Qin Shi Huang(秦始皇) and his subjects abandoned the right path. They extorted the people, killed innocent commoners at will, and abandoned heaven's right path—how could the nation not fall?
(Omitted)
A great tree that does not fall even in fierce winds has firm roots, and a well that does not dry even in drought is said to be deep. Examining this, the great tree's roots spread wide and deep, giving it the strength to withstand fierce winds, and to dig a deep well, one must dig widely from the surroundings.
The way to seek the Way or the method of governing the nation(治國) is the same. Our Joseon has only just passed thirty years since opening its doors. For our Joseon, which has only just taken root, to grow into a great tree and bear the flowers and fruits of the King's Way(王道), and to become a deep well that quenches the thirst of the thirsty people, it must become wide and deep.
Therefore, I believe that for our Joseon's flourishing(勃興) and the perfection of the King's Way, we must see widely and accept diverse thoughts. How can the Confucian school(儒家), which has strived to follow the high will of the sages, be only Neo-Confucianism? Similarly, is not the ultimate goal of the Hundred Schools of Thought(諸子百家) the same? (Omitted)"
The Minister of Taxation finished reading, but the main hall was quiet. Though the ministers were famous for being talkative, no one easily opened their mouth.
To that extent, Hyang's memorial was unprecedented(破格).
As the silence continued, Sejong spoke.
"He is my child, but truly brilliant, is he not? What do you think, Chief Minister?"
"...I think so."
Looking at the Chief Minister answering in a sour voice as if pleased, Sejong continued.
"The Crown Prince's memorial is unprecedented, but I think there is much to reference in various ways. Therefore, I wish to hear the ministers' opinions. Think well and give me your answers."
"We receive your command."
"Then let us rest briefly before continuing."
< Chapter 29: Gapjin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (7) > End
ⓒ Gukppong