< Chapter 34: Gapjin Reformation (12) >
"The Chief State Councillor has until now blocked the nationwide implementation of smallpox vaccination, claiming 'its efficacy has not been verified' and 'establishing proper legal procedures comes first.' And so, what has happened? A tragedy of smallpox outbreak has befallen Geumcheon County. Look at this tragedy in Geumcheon County. Thus far, 25 people have died, and over 60 have become feeble-minded, blind, or otherwise disabled and crippled. And worse still, we do not know how many more will die or become crippled in the future. Ministers, consider this carefully. If smallpox vaccination had been implemented nationwide without missing the opportune moment, the tragedy of Geumcheon County could have been prevented. The Chief State Councillor, to protect his own power, caused unnecessary sacrifice using the fine-sounding excuse of 'upholding legal procedures' as his shield! Therefore! I will hold Chief State Councillor Ryu Jeong-hyeon accountable for his crimes!"
At Sejong's judgment, the Chief State Councillor prostrated himself and raised his voice.
"Your Majesty! This subject did not do so to protect his own power! The efficacy of smallpox vaccination had not been definitively proven, and employing extraordinary measures was improper, so I spoke thus!"
"Silence! Do you still try to obscure the situation with your cunning words! Someone! Summon the Uigeumbu Jinmu immediately!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"
As soon as Sejong's command fell, the State Councillors, Chief Inspector, and Chief Censor immediately prostrated themselves and moved to intervene. However, Sejong did not yield.
"Reconsider? You ask me to reconsider what deserves reconsideration!"
"Your Majesty! Though the Chief State Councillor's words were somewhat excessive, they all stemmed from his devotion to the country, so please reconsider!"
"Has his devotion to the country frozen to death?"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Amidst the State Councillors and Chief Censor's attempts to stop him, the Chief Inspector remonstrated with a sorrowful voice.
"Your Majesty, though the Chief State Councillor's words were excessive, his devotion to the country is as solid as metal and stone. Please pay no heed to his superficial words and actions, and consider his deeper intent!"
"Shut that mouth! Words are vessels that contain thoughts, so how can the superficial and the deeper intent be different! If the superficial and deeper intent differ, that is precisely duplicity, so how can such a one be called a gentleman!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"Do not test my patience! If you continue to prattle, I will consider you comrades of that hypocrite!"
Though Sejong gave a fearsome warning, the State Councillors, Chief Inspector, and Chief Censor did not yield.
"Please reconsider! Declaring a guilty verdict upon an innocent person is not proper!"
"Please reconsider!"
"When the lord attempts to walk an unjust path, how can a subject stand idly by? Holding the Chief State Councillor accountable is not proper! Please reconsider!"
At the State Councillors' resistance, Sejong struck the armrest and erupted in fury.
"Injustice? Injustice? What is unjust! Over the past years, the number of subjects who lost their lives to smallpox was truly countless! Furthermore, how many were there who saved their lives but became feeble-minded or crippled and now wander begging? When we obtained a method to prevent this, why should there have been delay? Also, there were those who depleted their wealth to offer cattle for their neighbors, yet who was it that blocked this with the paltry excuse of 'capricious changes of policy'! Who indeed is the unjust one!"
Despite Sejong's shouting, the State Councillors, Chief Censor, and Chief Inspector did not yield.
"I remonstrate once more, that part is indeed where the Chief State Councillor's words were excessive! However, in all matters of court administration, the foremost principle is that the will of the sovereign and subjects must align, and once decided, it must not be lightly altered! The Chief State Councillor opposed Your Majesty's decision because Your Majesty's decision violated the second principle! The agreement between sovereign and subject and maintaining gravity in court administration is the most fundamental foundation of the royal politics spoken of by the sages!"
When the Right State Councillor spat out his defense as if vomiting blood, Sejong struck the armrest.
"Truly the height of distorting learning to flatter the world, interpreting things to suit oneself, and clever words with an agreeable appearance! Do you think you blocked my decision by following the sages' intent? You merely moved for your own paltry greed! That paltry greed to suppress me, the sovereign! Was it not your intention to create a court of weak sovereign and strong subjects and make me a figurehead, rather than sovereign-subject agreement! You are even more wicked than that Sambong Jeong Do-jeon! Absolutely unforgivable wretches!"
When Sejong mentioned Jeong Do-jeon again, the State Councillors unanimously denied it.
"Your Majesty! We absolutely have no such intention!"
"Your Majesty! Please recognize our loyalty!"
At the war of words between Sejong and the State Councillors, the court froze solid. The ministers watching with their waists bent low already seemed to smell thick blood.
"Your Majesty, the Uigeumbu Jinmu has arrived to attend."
At the Chief Eunuch's words, Sejong did not hide his anger and immediately gave his command.
"Uigeumbu Jinmu, hear me! Immediately, this instant, imprison those hypocrites—the Chief State Councillor, Left State Councillor, Right State Councillor, as well as the Chief Censor and Chief Inspector! And prepare the Na-jang and Dobuoe to carry out my command the moment it falls!"
"I obey the command!"
As soon as Sejong's order fell, the Uigeumbu Jinmu called the Royal Guards and dragged out the Chief State Councillor and his party.
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"
"Your Majesty! This is forsaking the sages' will!"
"Your Majesty!"
The Chief State Councillor's party strove to change Sejong's will until the very moment they were dragged out. However, Sejong did not waver.
"Ministers, hear me."
"We will wash our ears and listen attentively!"
As soon as Sejong's words fell, the ministers straightened with tension and answered in one voice.
"Ministers, take today's events as a lesson from another's mistake and refrain from reckless actions."
"We will engrave it in our hearts and carry it out!"
"The positions of the three State Councillors, Chief Inspector, and Chief Censor are vacant, so select suitable candidates and report to me. I give you five days."
"We obey the command!"
Sejong, glaring at the frozen ministers, turned his gaze to the Chief Royal Secretary.
"Chief Royal Secretary, inform the Uigeumbu to imprison all the families of those criminals and seal all their assets."
"We obey the command!"
"We shall end here for today. Go and attend to your duties."
At Sejong's dismissal order starting with the incense, all ministers paid respects to Sejong and exited the main hall.
Sejong, left alone in the main hall, placed his hand on his forehead and let out a long sigh.
"Haa~."
* * *
Hyang, who had returned to the Crown Prince's residence, organized the situation with a serious face.
"If this were a TV drama, the instant viewership ratings would have shot up. Though the actors memorizing their lines would have had a hard time... So that's why traditional historical dramas got pushed out and fusion historical dramas became popular..."
Hyang muttered to himself unknowingly, then shook his head.
"Damn! Am I following Samcheonpo Teacher too? Why am I going off track?"
After finishing his self-reflection, Hyang reorganized the situation.
"With today's events, there won't be anyone making noise for a while. The problem is filling the empty seats... Finally, is it time for Hwang Hee and Maeng Sa-seong to deploy? Formation of Sejong's Avengers?"
"His Majesty the King arrives!"
At the eunuch's announcement from outside the door, Hyang rose from his chair. Having straightened his attire, Hyang immediately bowed his head as Sejong entered.
"Father, have you come?"
"Yes, what were you doing?"
"I was reflecting on today's events."
"Is that so? I see. First, let us sit."
"Yes."
The father and son sat in chairs with a table between them.
"Shall I have tea brought?"
"Yes, let us have a cup. But you won't serve Ryu Pi-cha here too, will you?"
"No, I will not."
At Sejong's words, Hyang smiled bitterly and shook his head. The Ryu Pi-cha Sejong mentioned was tea made from well-dried willow bark.
* * *
"The biggest problems for our King Sejong's longevity are diabetes and vascular diseases..."
While searching for various methods for Sejong's longevity, Hyang recalled Samcheonpo Teacher's digressions.
Samcheonpo Teacher, who had been explaining the beginning of the Imjin War, suddenly went off track at the part about Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
-When Admiral Yi Sun-sin took the military examination and broke his leg, he wrapped it with willow bark, right? Now why did Admiral Yi Sun-sin use willow bark? Simple splint? Or perhaps a painkiller?
Samcheonpo Teacher's digression, having thus gone off track, eventually flowed all the way to aspirin.
-Since humans began recording history, one of the most important topics has been creating a 'panacea.' And the thing closest to that panacea is aspirin. Not only its original purpose of fever reduction and pain relief, but also treating vascular diseases and even use as an anti-cancer drug.
For reference, among the people Jin-ho's parents hated most in Jin-ho's previous life, which was Hyang's past life, was Samcheonpo Teacher.
"He doesn't do the lessons he's supposed to and just rattles off strange digressions, ruining the kids!"
Anyway, recalling Samcheonpo Teacher's memory, Hyang immediately ordered the Royal Medical Office to make tea from willow bark and present it to Sejong.
"Drinking this will alleviate headaches, thin the blood, and prevent chest tightness and stroke."
"...The taste is not very good."
"It is medicine. Is there such a thing as good-tasting medicine?"
Thus having presented Ryu Pi-cha, Hyang gave strict warning to the royal physicians.
"While long-term administration is necessary, this must never be taken unconditionally. Thin blood means difficulty in stopping bleeding, you see. Provide appropriate rest periods and offer it to His Majesty."
"Yes, Your Highness."
* * *
With a teacup between them, the father and son continued their conversation.
"Crown Prince, I intend to execute the Chief State Councillor. I will also purge those who conspired with him. Do you think this is excessive?"
"If done frequently it would be problematic, but if not, I think it is sufficient as an example to warn the hundred."
At Hyang's words, Sejong wore an expression of relief.
"Is that so? I am relieved you think that way. I thought it would be truly lonely if even you opposed."
"The origin of this matter was those cunning old State Councillors."
"That is true. But then, what do you think of the Chief State Councillor's memorial regarding sovereign-subject harmony?"
"At first glance, there is a correct part. It has become routine for the king to employ extraordinary measures, and if a future successor to the throne turns out to be like Jie and Zhou, it would lead to the nation's ruin. No one knows about the future."
'The representative of those who caused such controversy is Yeonsan-gun and Gwanghae-gun. Gwanghae-gun has been somewhat resolved, but Yeonsan-gun is definite! Ah... or is he not?'
-The mainstream view is that Yeonsan-gun was a tyrant, but there are counterarguments. Looking at Joseon's central politics after King Sejo, the trend of weak sovereign and strong subjects continued. Though King Seongjong strengthened royal authority, it wasn't completely overturned. However, the one who completely overturned that was Yeonsan. Using his mother's demotion to commoner status and death as a pretext. But, to show off the royal authority he strengthened, he committed strange acts and lost justification and the people's support—that was the losing move. Thanks to that, the Jungjong Coup occurred and it became weak sovereign and strong subjects again. Well, Jungjong wasn't exactly a pushover either.
At Hyang's answer, Sejong nodded.
"That is correct. I didn't know a child like you would be born either... Ah! In a good sense!"
When Hyang made a slightly pouty face, Sejong hastily added. Hyang, who was grumbling inside, continued speaking.
"If a tyrant were to appear and practice tyranny, it would naturally lead to national ruin. To prevent this, guaranteeing and maintaining subject power is certainly necessary. However, looking at the current state of Joseon, subject power still threatens royal power. To be precise, compared to the power of the court subjects and the sarim, royal power is very weak."
Hyang pulled over paper he had set aside. Drawing a square on the paper and then dividing it again into 4 sections, Hyang drew diagonal lines through 3 of those 4 sections.
"This is the current state of Joseon. These diagonal-lined sections are the power held by the sarim, and the remaining one section is royal power."
"No matter what, isn't it more than one section?"
At Sejong's rebuttal, Hyang shook his head.
"This only appears so because those sarim cooperate with royal power for their own power struggles. If it becomes visible that royal power will take away their interests, they will immediately combine forces."
"That would be the case."
At Hyang's explanation, Sejong nodded and sighed.
"Huu~. It won't be easy to ask them to give up what they possess."
"We must use a different method. Rather than directly taking what they possess, we expand the playing field entirely."
At Hyang's words, Sejong's eyes began to shine.
< Chapter 34: Gapjin Reformation (12) > End
ⓒ Gukbbong