< Chapter 31: Gapjin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (9) >
Chapter 31: Gapjin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (9)
Ten days later, the Chief Royal Secretary reported to Sejong.
"Your Majesty. The Great Head of the Song Merchants has presented thirty pairs of cattle as tribute."
"Thirty pairs of cattle? Why?"
At Sejong's question, the Chief Royal Secretary reported the reason.
"He says he presents them to be of even a little help for the smallpox inoculation being implemented by the state."
At the Chief Royal Secretary's report, Sejong's face brightened.
"Is that so? I must meet him personally."
"Your Majesty! Meeting directly with lowly merchants is an act that harms Your Majesty's dignity!"
The Chief Censor stepped forward to dissuade him, but Sejong snorted and rose from his seat.
"Hmph! That lowly merchant presented thirty pairs of cattle that even the ministers would not offer! Ask yourselves who has truly harmed my dignity!"
At Sejong's rebuke, the Chief Censor's mouth shut, and Sejong, guided by the royal attendant and secretaries, left Gyeongjeon Hall.
In the large courtyard in front of Gyeongjeon Hall, merchants stood in rows.
"His Majesty the King approaches~."
At the royal attendant's call, the gathered merchants all prostrated themselves on the ground and made deep bows.
"Rise."
At Sejong's command as he sat on the chair brought by the eunuchs, the merchants respectfully rose from their places, folded their hands, and stood.
"So, you presented cattle?"
"Yes, I heard the rumor that His Majesty needs cattle for the smallpox inoculation, so I presented them."
"Thirty pairs of cattle would have required no small amount of wealth. What made you think of doing this?"
"Even if one accumulates wealth, it is useless without people, and if the people are not at peace, commerce cannot be conducted."
At the Great Head's answer, Sejong slapped his knee.
"A foolish question met with a wise answer!"
Sejong, impressed by the Great Head's answer, glanced at the ministers who had followed him out and murmured as if for them to hear.
"If the people are not at peace, commerce cannot be conducted. Is that not far better than certain people who sit in comfortable places and only talk?"
"..."
At Sejong's indirect criticism, the ministers had no choice but to remain silent.
Having dealt a blow to the ministers, Sejong posed a question to the merchants standing in the courtyard.
"So. Did you present the cattle to be used for smallpox inoculation?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thirty pairs matched as females and males, cattle that have just fully grown. And they have never had smallpox even once."
"Hohoho! How truly thoughtful! Indeed! Thirty pairs that have never had smallpox will be of great help! You have given such great assistance for the nation's work. Is there anything you desire? Do you wish for official positions? Or something else?"
At Sejong's question, the Great Head bowed his head and answered.
"How could a lowly merchant of the lowest sort desire an official position? Also, I have merely done what I can do as a subject of Joseon, so how could I desire a reward? If I have but one small wish, our family members all live in Gaeseong. Thus, I have a small hope that when you expand the smallpox inoculation, you would start with Gaeseong."
Pausing briefly, the Great Head observed the expressions of Sejong and the ministers, then immediately added.
"It is merely a small wish of a lowly merchant who knows only how to do business."
"Regarding smallpox inoculation, there is much debate about its efficacy. Yet, you are certain that smallpox inoculation will certainly work?"
"As a father with children, who does not wish for their children's safety? Furthermore, since His Majesty the wise King has decided upon this matter, is there any need for doubt?"
At the Great Head's answer, Sejong burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha! Good! I shall issue a decree to begin with Gaeseong!"
At Sejong's confirmation, the merchants immediately prostrated themselves on the ground and shouted loudly.
"Your grace is boundless!"
"Your grace is boundless!"
While the merchants were crying out words of gratitude, Hyang, who had heard the news, entered the courtyard.
"Crown Prince, have you come?"
"Yes."
Sejong raised his hand and pointed at the merchants.
"Are they not truly admirable subjects?"
"They are indeed, Father. I would like to express my gratitude to them, may I?"
"I permit it."
"I am deeply grateful."
Having received Sejong's permission, Hyang descended the stairs and walked toward the merchants. As Hyang approached, the merchants all bowed in unison.
"We greet the Crown Prince!"
"It is good to meet you."
The sight of a young child speaking with proper etiquette like an adult was amusing, but the merchants, who were extremely nervous, were in no state to notice this.
Hyang, having walked briskly before the merchants, took the Great Head's hand.
"I am truly grateful."
"Oh my! To grasp the hand of such a lowly merchant! Such an honor!"
"These are the hands of those who do their utmost in their calling. What problem is there? Rather, these are truly precious hands."
At Hyang's words, the Great Head sincerely moved, bowed his waist.
"Honor! It is an honor!"
"Neither Father nor I will disparage your hard work. We will not look down on you for being merchants. However, if I may make one request, please walk the righteous path. As long as you do not cause suffering to other people while seeking instant wealth, you will not face persecution simply for being merchants."
At Hyang's request, the Great Head answered in a loud voice.
"We will engrave it in our hearts and faithfully carry it out!"
Having met the King and Crown Prince, the Great Head of the Song Merchants left the palace and looked back at the palace with a satisfied face.
"A sage king has emerged. A sage king. And two of them at that."
"Indeed that is so."
"We had heard much that His Majesty is extraordinary, but His Highness the Crown Prince was also extraordinary. Though the meeting was brief, he was by no means of ordinary talent. Having only heard the words and rumors of those who participated in the Golden Brush Competition, I had thought him merely an eccentric person..."
At the Great Head's words, the accompanying merchants each added their own comments. The Great Head, nodding at the merchants' words, turned his body.
"Let us place a little hope. If the master of the palace has such character, we may be able to roam the four seas like our ancestors of old."
"Yes, Great Head."
The Great Head, walking with a satisfied face, suddenly turned fierce.
"Come to think of it... the Crown Prince is like that, so why is my grandson in such a state! Hah! My insides burn with anger!"
As the Great Head grumbled, recalling his troublemaking grandson, someone behind him murmured quietly.
"The seed is different..."
"Hush!"
* * *
The rumor that 'the Song Merchants had spent wealth to present cattle to the King' spread quickly.
"As expected of the Song Merchants."
"Who says they're not merchants?"
"They may be merchants, but look at the result. They say smallpox inoculation will start from Gaeseong."
Among the common people discussing the rumor, the influential figures of their own villages and surrounding villages became the topic of conversation.
"It's not just the Song Merchants. Have you heard the news about Scholar Gang of Gamgol beyond the back mountain?"
"Why Scholar Gang of Gamgol?"
"They say he obtained five pairs of cattle that have never had smallpox and has set out to present them."
"Is that so?"
"It's not just Scholar Gang. They say Scholar Choe of Narut-gol is also busy running around to obtain cattle."
A farmer who heard the conversation spat out a curse.
"Damn it! What is our village's scholar doing that it's so quiet?"
"Probably too busy spanking the concubine he took in the autumn before last."
"That's right... He doesn't move an inch when his wealth is about to be lost, but he's only busy when filling his own belly."
"He only spends his wealth when buying silk to wrap the concubine's behind... Our fate is truly wretched."
As the rumor spread, a gap gradually widened between the local influential figures and the common people. Of course, the influential figures who had first stepped forward to spend wealth to obtain cattle and submitted petitions advocating nationwide implementation of smallpox inoculation received absolute support from the people of their own counties. However, such influential figures did not exceed three tenths of the entire country.
Having received reports including the petition that came up through the Provincial Governors, Sejong glared at the ministers.
"What did you say before? That it is not proper for the state to interfere in the small matters of the villages? That harsh government is fiercer than a tiger?"
At Sejong's rebuke, the ministers of the anti-Crown Prince faction, including the Chief State Councillor, had to bow their heads.
"We are boundlessly ashamed!"
"We are boundlessly ashamed!"
The ministers bowed their heads and sought forgiveness, but Sejong, without hiding his anger, waved his hand.
"Enough. Prepare for the nationwide implementation of smallpox inoculation."
"Though we are boundlessly ashamed, the finances are not good enough to implement it nationwide."
"Was it not decided that the financial problem would be resolved by collecting surtax from the local powerful families?"
"If we collect surtax when the efficacy of smallpox inoculation is not yet certain, the scholar-officials will oppose..."
"Shut that damn mouth right now!"
At the Chief State Councillor's continued opposition, Sejong exploded. The main hall froze at the words that came out not in formal language but in crude speech.
Sejong roughly rummaged through the petitions and reports placed on the desk. Having pulled out a report, Sejong threw it at the Chief State Councillor.
"Two-faced. Two-faced, I had only heard of it, but such two-facedness was right before my eyes! Do you know what that report is? It concerns the smallpox inoculation implemented in Hanyang this time! Among you ministers, there is not a single one who has not had smallpox inoculation performed. Not a single one! If you have a mouth, try to make an excuse! You yourselves step forward to have your family members inoculated, yet you say nationwide implementation should not be done because the efficacy is unknown? You two-faced hypocrites! Bah! I don't even want to see your faces! I will handle this matter personally through extraordinary measures, so do not even open your mouths! Financial problems? If wealth is lacking, I will confiscate the salaries and property of you ministers and the fellows of the Office of Censors! For you scoundrels, it will end after receiving a few of those great gifts! Get out right now!"
At Sejong's furious shout, starting with the Chief State Councillor, all the ministers smashed their heads against the floor and cried out.
"Please kill us!"
"Your Majesty! Please kill us!"
"Get out right now!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Fine! I will leave instead!"
Unable to contain his anger, Sejong kicked his seat and stormed out.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
The ministers called out desperately in unison, but Sejong left the main hall without looking back.
The ministers remaining in the main hall all fired arrows of blame at the Chief State Councillor.
"You, who are the Chief State Councillor!"
"Why can you not distinguish between words that should and should not be spoken? Have you gone senile?"
"..."
Under the ministers' concentrated barrage, the Chief State Councillor kept his eyes closed and maintained silence. However, his bright red face and trembling beard spoke for his emotions. Leaving behind such a Chief State Councillor, the ministers sought a solution.
"What should we do now?"
At the question from the Minister of Personnel, who was of the pro-Crown Prince faction, the Minister of Taxation answered gruffly.
"What do you mean what to do! Is there any answer other than prostrating in repentance on straw mats? After prostrating in repentance, we must devise a plan for nationwide implementation."
"That would be the best course."
The Minister of Taxation glared at the Chief State Councillor and spoke as if for him to hear.
"My knees are already aching, and now prostrating in repentance! And in the severe winter cold! Does he have a mind or not! Hah! Let us go!"
"Let us go."
With the Minister of Taxation leading, the pro-Crown Prince faction ministers poured out of the main hall. The anti-Crown Prince faction ministers, who had been watching, also soon followed them out of the main hall, and eventually only the Chief State Councillor, the historiographers, and the record keepers remained in the main hall.
The Chief State Councillor, who had been left alone with his eyes closed, let out a long sigh.
"Hoo~. I have lived too long. Too long."
* * *
The commotion that occurred in the main hall immediately reached Hyang's ears.
"So, where did Father go?"
"His Majesty went to find the Queen."
"I understand. Good work."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Having sent away the eunuch, Hyang let out a small sigh.
"Hoo~. Have the ministers' learning abilities degenerated? Having experienced so many things, they should know how to avoid it by now... Or are they still fighting a battle of wills?"
The pro-Crown Prince faction ministers were wondering the same thing.
"My lord! My lord!"
The Minister of Taxation, who had been preparing straw mats for prostration in repentance, turned his head at the Minister of Personnel's urgent cry.
"What is it, my lord?"
At the Minister of Taxation's question, the Minister of Personnel caught his breath and spoke.
"The Chief State Councillor is writing a petition saying that it is not right for His Majesty to exercise extraordinary measures!"
"What!"
At the Minister of Personnel's words, the Minister of Taxation was shocked and sprang up from his seat.
"Has this man truly lost his mind!"
< Chapter 31: Gapjin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (9) > End
ⓒ Gukppong