Chapter 78: SimCity Hanseong, SimCity Joseon (2)
Hyang accompanied Sejong on his journey to Gangwon-do.
"It has been a long time since father and son traveled together."
Though he had been reluctant before departure, once they set out, Sejong began to enjoy the trip.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. However, the roads are certainly a problem."
Sejong nodded at Hyang's observation.
"Indeed so. For the success of the Gyeongjang, we must tend to the roads. We do not know when the railway will be completed, after all."
At Sejong's words, Hyang immediately bowed his head.
"I am overwhelmed by your grace. My abilities are humble..."
"It is not your ability that is the problem, but Joseon's capacity. Unless there is another method."
At Sejong's subtle gaze, Hyang flinched.
He had revealed the railway early as a form of shock therapy, but everyone knew that no one could say when construction would actually begin.
However, in a situation where no one could be certain what results the Gyeongjang would produce, the railway was a symbolic existence that could actually demonstrate those results.
Of course, there were side effects.
At some point, Sejong began frequently giving Hyang subtle hints and pressuring him.
Thus, with Sejong giving hints and Hyang starting to eat humble pie at the center, the procession of heavily armed cavalry escorts moved slowly along the narrow road.
* * *
Though Sejong had been reluctant to leave Hanyang, as the shadow of the capital grew distant, vitality began to return to him.
"It feels truly good to travel outside after so long!"
"Your Majesty has been too immersed in state affairs."
Sejong nodded at the accompanying Chief State Councilor's words.
"That is not untrue. It would be good to rest like this from time to time."
"Indeed, Your Majesty."
Hyang, listening to the conversation between Sejong and the Chief State Councilor from behind, lightly clenched his fist.
'Even if I don't like YOLO, work-life balance is important! Indeed!'
In the 21st century, Hyang, who was a self-proclaimed and publicly acknowledged 'incurable terminal otaku,' surprisingly disliked the word 'YOLO' (You Only Live Once).
'YOLO is a waste of life!'
It was a somewhat contradictory claim, but Hyang didn't particularly like YOLO or SNS.
"Didn't your otaku hobby become your livelihood? And what about posting on SNS whenever you create something?"
To the rebuttal of his friends—strictly dictionary-definition friends, not those he met through otaku activities—Hyang always answered the same way.
"There's a difference in productivity! I'm productive and YOLO people are consumptive! How do you view people!"
Hyang made claims with absolutely no persuasiveness.
* * *
While Sejong was enjoying his leisure heading to Hoengseong in Gangwon-do, flames shot up from a place in Hanyang.
Sejong 8th year, February 15th.
It was the beginning of the 'Great Fire of Hanyang,' an event that would cause unprecedented damage in actual Joseon history, excluding wartime.
"Fire!"
The fire started at the home of Jang Ryong, a male servant of the Insubu.
The flames that burned Jang Ryong's house spread to nearby areas riding on the northwestern wind that happened to blow.
The thatched roofs of the straw-roofed houses where Joseon's common people lived were the optimal material for fire to spread.
The fire sparks riding the wind instantly transferred to the roofs of nearby thatched houses, and the number of burning houses began to increase exponentially.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! A great fire has broken out! You must evacuate immediately!"
"What!"
Upon receiving the urgent news of the fire, Queen Soheon kicked her seat and went outside.
"Please evacuate quickly!"
"Silence! A fire has broken out in the capital, and you speak of fleeing! Immediately summon the guards and suppress the fire!"
At the time, she was pregnant with Grand Prince Geumsung, so with her bulging belly, Queen Soheon began to take direct command.
"Immediately call the ministers! And check how far the fire has spread!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Following Queen Soheon's command, the court ladies and eunuchs began to move busily.
While the palace eunuchs and court ladies were moving frantically, the ministers who received the summons rushed to Queen Soheon.
"Ministers, immediately take command of the police bureau and suppress the fire!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"And send a messenger to Hoengseong to inform His Majesty!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
However, far from being suppressed, the fire riding on the wind continued to widen its scope.
"The fire is continuing to spread, Your Highness!"
After receiving the situation report from Hwang Hee, Queen Soheon bit her lip and made a decision.
"Mobilize all manpower to protect Changdeok Palace and the Royal Ancestral Shrine! Government offices and warehouses may be abandoned!"
"If we do so, we will lack the manpower to suppress the fire!"
"If the fire spreads to private homes, evacuate the people first rather than extinguishing the fire."
It was a heartless command in some ways, but it was a command that both Queen Soheon giving it and the ministers receiving it understood the necessity of.
If the Royal Ancestral Shrine and palace burned, setting aside political responsibility, enormous wealth would be needed for restoration.
* * *
"Your Majesty! An urgent report from the capital!"
"What urgent report?"
Sejong, who was resting at a point nearly at Hoengseong, stood from his chair at the Chief State Councilor's words.
"They say a great fire has broken out in the capital!"
"What! Turn the horses around immediately!"
At Sejong's command, a military officer who was accompanying him stepped forward to stop him.
"Your Majesty, the sun is about to set. Night travel is dangerous..."
"Go! Immediately send messengers to all government offices stationed on the way to the capital! Order them to mobilize soldiers to light the way!"
"I obey your command!"
At Sejong's command, the military officers selected messengers and delivered Sejong's order.
"Hyah!"
The messengers who received Sejong's command drove their horses and ran out, and Sejong gave orders to those accompanying him.
"We return to the capital immediately! Finish preparations!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Thus, while Sejong urgently led the people and rode horses, the sun completely set.
"This is a bit dangerous..."
As Hyang worried looking at the darkening road, the road brightened.
Local magistrates who received orders through messengers Sejong had sent ahead had mobilized soldiers to light the way.
With soldiers holding torches standing in lines on both sides of the road, the horses Sejong's party rode galloped down the road with rough thunder.
And Hyang realized one fact.
'This gentleman rides horses well?'
* * *
Thanks to riding without rest, Sejong was able to return to the palace that night.
"Please come in."
"I am glad you are safe. You have worked hard."
At Sejong's praise, Queen Soheon finally seemed to relax.
"Escort the Queen inside."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After sending in Queen Soheon, who was struggling with her full term pregnancy, Sejong immediately began checking the situation without even changing his traveling clothes.
"What is the situation?"
"For now, the major fire appears to be mostly extinguished."
"What is the extent of the damage?"
"Currently being tallied. Fortunately, the Royal Ancestral Shrine and Changgyeong Palace escaped the flames."
"Hoo~."
Sejong let out a long sigh and examined the situation in more detail.
"What of the displaced persons?"
"Currently being tallied."
"Thieves stealing goods will emerge amid the chaotic times, so strengthen security."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The weather is cold, so contact the military camps to set up tents."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Thus the urgent night passed, and a report came that the major fire was fully extinguished.
"That is fortunate."
Just as Sejong was about to express relief, screams of people were heard from outside.
"Fire!"
"It's fire!"
As the cry of 'Fire!' began to be heard again, Sejong kicked up from his seat.
"Where!"
"Currently confirming..."
Just as Hwang Hee was about to give an order, an official hurriedly entered from outside.
"Your Majesty! A fire has broken out!"
"Where!"
"Near the prison!"
"Immediately suppress the fire!"
"Yes!"
At Sejong's command, the officials delivered Sejong's order with urgent faces.
Sejong's face, who had been briefly organizing the situation, grew sharp.
"It is strange that a fire that was almost contained flares up again! Someone set this fire! Find the arsonists!"
"I obey your command!"
Through the desperate efforts of officials and people, the great fire of Hanyang could be contained.
Amidst the smell of burning everywhere, Sejong organized the situation.
"Report the confirmed damage so far."
"Yes, first, excluding infants and the elderly, 9 men and 23 women have died. Those who burned to death inside homes are being identified by comparing with household registers."
"Hoo~. And the houses?"
"Currently being tallied, but excluding the Insubu's annex and prison, at least 1,800 houses."
"This... To lose homes in this winter..."
As Sejong lamented, Hyang, who was beside him, interjected.
"Your Majesty. Losing homes is a great matter, but losing food is an even greater one. People without food are highly likely to commit crimes."
"That is true! We must immediately contact the rice warehouse in Bupyeong."
At Sejong's words, Hyang pointed out a problem.
"Even if we contact the rice warehouse, bringing it and milling it will take a long time. There is a considerable amount of rations stored in Area 51, so please use those first."
"There are more than one or two who have lost their homes. Is it possible?"
"We can create time while milling and bringing from the rice warehouse."
"Good! Do so!"
"I obey your command!"
When Sejong permitted, Hyang immediately called an official and delivered the order to Area 51.
When security became an issue, Sejong gave orders to the ministers regarding this matter.
"Immediately order the military camps to detach troops. Let us maintain security with the detached troops and the personnel from the police bureau."
"I obey your command!"
"And, set up tents on the empty lots where houses burned, so that those who lost homes can rest."
"I obey your command."
"Finally, for places that escaped the flames, station 5 guards each at the centers of each bang and dong, and have inspectors and assistant inspectors inspect each gyeong."
"I obey your command!"
After giving orders regarding security maintenance, Sejong paused for a moment and organized his thoughts.
"There is something I found strange during this disaster. The first fire was almost extinguished, so why did a second fire break out? Originally, fire can spread greatly with just a little carelessness, but I cannot understand this. This must certainly be someone's arson, so post a notice."
Sejong decided on the content of the notice to catch the arsonist as follows:
-Those who capture and report the arsonist, regardless of whether they are yangmin from the noble or common class, will all be given government positions, and commoners will be freed from their base status. Additionally, 200 bolts of cotton cloth will be given as a reward.
* * *
The great fire that turned much of Hanyang to ashes was, surprisingly, cleaned up quickly.
The first reason was that the household registers secured through continuous smallpox vaccinations were of great help.
Since they knew exactly how many people lived where, damage investigation proceeded quickly, and mobilization of manpower was also smooth.
The second reason was that Hyang's rations played a large role.
For those who suffered great physical and mental damage in the cold winter, warm porridge with plenty of meat became a great strength.
Thus, the rations Hyang had created and stored fully served their role until the rice sent from the Bupyeong rice warehouse after milling arrived.
However, if there was a side effect...
"Here, receive the rice."
"Um, my lord..."
"Why?"
"Could you give us rations instead of rice?"
"Huh?"
"The jang (soybean paste) all burned up in the fire."
"..."
The pickled vegetables also all ripened and became inedible. There's no salt either... Can't you just give us rations?"
A fatal side effect occurred: the palates of the displaced persons had been adjusted upward.
And merchants visited Area 51 to meet Hyang.
"What is the reason you seek me?"
"I wish to produce rations."
"Huh?"
"It is very useful as food to eat while traveling, and can be stored for a long time, making it suitable as emergency rations. Also, with good taste and flavor, it is fitting as a special dish."
Listening to the merchant's explanation, Hyang shook his head.
'The instinct of merchants!'
* * *
Meanwhile, many people actively tracked the arsonist following Sejong's order to arrest them.
"We have captured the arsonists."
"How many?"
"A total of 11 people."
At the Minister of Justice's answer, Sejong ground his teeth.
"What kind of wretched bastards were they?"
"They are from Bukcheong, Gilju, and Yeongheung regions, and most are water sellers."
"Water sellers? Don't tell me!"
"It is as Your Majesty suspects."
At the Minister of Justice's answer, Sejong struck the armrest.
"What audacious wretches! To commit such acts for their own gain! Execute them by slow slicing, and among their families, execute all men by hanging, and make their wives and daughters slaves!"
"I obey your command!"
Due to this ruling, tragedy struck many families, but few felt pity for them. Those who lost their property and even their families in an instant needed targets for their anger.
* * *
After the execution of the arsonists and the distribution of relief rice and 300 seok of jang to the displaced persons, the first phase of cleanup ended.
"Even if they say they will rebuild the lost houses on their own, we need measures regarding the fire..."
Sejong, trailing off slightly, looked back at Hyang.
"Crown Prince. Would you like to try? No, you are still young, so I should entrust it to someone else."
"I will do it! Please entrust it to me!"
"Can you really do it?"
At Sejong's question with skeptical eyes, Hyang answered firmly.
"I am confident!"
"I will trust you."
"I obey your command!"
Hyang, who answered confidently, left the administrative hall to prepare.
Watching Hyang's back as he left the hall, Sejong smiled slightly.
"Well then, what will you show me this time?"
"I can't miss the live-action version of SimCity... huh?"
Hyang, who came out of the hall with great spirit, momentarily stopped walking and tilted his head.
"Why do I feel like I was tricked?"